Page 34 of Faith for the Cowboy
“Hi, Mom. I’m so happy to be here.”
“Oh, me too, sweetie. I’m so glad you’re home. Come inside. Your father is waiting.” Mom held onto her hand as if she might turn and walk out again, but Harper knew she had no intention of leaving. Silently, she promised herself that it would never be this long again.
“Walter, she’s here,” Mom announced, though it wasn't necessary. Harper could see that her father already knew. He didn’t get up from his chair, so she moved forward and wrapped her arms around him in a hug.
“Hi, Daddy.”
“Pumpkin,” he said, “it’s good to see you.”
“It’s good to see you too.” She noticed that when she released him and stepped back, he looked a little tired and was favoring his right side. She chose to ignore it for the moment and took a seat across from him on the couch.
“You must be worn out from the drive,” Mom said. “Do you want something to drink? Coffee, tea, water?”
Harper smiled. Her mother had always been quite the hostess. “Water would be great,” she said, knowing that if she turned down the offer, her mother would bring her something anyway. Mom hustled off to the kitchen, and Harper settled into her seat. As she looked at her dad, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.
“So, what’s new, Dad?”
“Not much,” he said, but his eyes told a different story. Harper wanted to ask questions but refrained. If he had something to tell her, he would. Maybe he just wanted to enjoy a few moments of normalcy first.
Mom walked back into the room and handed Harper a glass of water before taking a seat next to her. “Now then, catch us up. How was your drive? Are you liking your new car?”
Harper pressed her lips together to keep from laughing at her mother’s rapid-fire questions. She had always been that way, not able to let her answer one question before asking the next. “Yes, it was fine, and I like the car. I hope it’s going to last me a long time. I didn’t want to buy the first thing I looked at, but I really needed a vehicle, and everything checked out.”
“And did Lawson help you look at it?” Mom asked.
Harper bit her lip. “No, he’s very busy working at the ranch. But his brother, Colton, took me and helped look it over.”
“That’s very kind of him,” Mom said. “I hope one day we can meet all the Macklins.”
Harper nodded. “I hope so too. They are very nice people, and I will forever be grateful that they helped me when I needed it.”
“I am grateful too,” Mom bit her lip, and Harper knew what she was thinking.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t get here. I know you would have helped me any way you could.”
Mom gave a half-hearted smile. “Yes, we would. But we’re happy you had help.” She took a deep breath and put on a happy face. “And we’re happy you’re here now.” Mom stood then. “I’ve got your room set up for you. I can show you where the towels are in the bathroom and help you carry your stuff in.”
Harper nodded, a crease forming between her eyebrows. “Alright,” she said as she followed Mom out the door.
Once outside, her mom made her way to the back of Harper’s car, and the two of them pulled out her suitcase and toiletries bag. Harper smiled, but inwardly it pained her to see the luggage that Katie Macklin had loaned her. Harper had tried to refuse, but Katie insisted. “I’m not going anywhere anytime soon. And even if I was, I have to pack for three kids,” she had laughed. “What I need won’t fit in this adorable suitcase.”
Now, as she and Mom carried the luggage into her childhood home, she felt very far away from the home she had found with the Macklins. Still, she knew she should spend this time with her parents.
That night at dinner, Harper decided she had waited long enough. In between bites of her mom’s delicious meatloaf and potatoes, her dad’s favorite meal, Harper spoke up. “I’m sorry to ask, but is everything alright? Don’t get me wrong. I’m very happy to be here and I know I should’ve come home a long time ago. But what made you call now?”
Her parents exchanged a glance, and Harper knew her suspicions had been correct. Mom opened her mouth, but Dad reached over and took her hand in his. “It’s alright, I’ll tell her.”
Harper’s heart picked up speed. She had hoped she was wrong and that nothing serious was going on. Now she waited, practically holding her breath for her dad to speak.
“Sweetheart, there is something we need to tell you. We’re okay, but I had a fall last week.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Harper interrupted. “I would’ve come home.”
Dad shook his head. “I’m fine. Don’t worry. It really wasn’t that serious. I have some bruises and sore muscles, nothing was broken. But it did make us realize that we’re not as young as we used to be. Now, I’m not saying that anything is going to happen to us right now, but we need to start thinking about the future.”
Harper nodded slowly, trying to comprehend what he was saying. “So what does that mean?”
“For starters, we are making a plan for retirement. You know I’m not one for keeping up with details too much, but I didn’t realize that I could retire in about six to eight months.”
