Her Hometown Hero(22)

"There is no way I'm going to that ranch for Thanksgiving dinner."

Sage sat at her grandmother's table with her lips pursed in frustration.  Her grandma always cooked Thanksgiving dinner. It was tradition. Eileen  always joined them, and they ate a scrumptious meal, then watched the  football game on TV. That's what they did. Always.

"I'm sorry, darling. I just haven't been feeling well enough to cook a  big holiday meal this year, and when Martin invited us over, I just . .  ."

Sage instantly felt like the most horrible person on the planet. "I'm  sorry, Grandma. I didn't know you weren't feeling well again. I can  cook-okay, I can try, at least. I'm sure it wouldn't be that bad."

She couldn't go to the Whitman place. No way. She'd managed to avoid  Spence last night, since he'd first been in surgery and then she'd been  in a roomful of people when he'd emerged from the OR. Thankfully, he  didn't attempt to kiss her in front of the rest of the hospital staff.  That would have been mortifying.

Now, if he'd pulled her into one of the on-call rooms, slowly stripped .  . . No! When had her mind started dwelling in the gutter? She'd been a  straight-A student. She was controlled. Cautious. Responsible. Unlike so  many others, she didn't have affairs in on-call rooms. That wasn't who  she was. She'd screwed up in his hot tub, but no one was perfect. Still,  she tried.

Why she was thinking about sex more than she was thinking about surgery  was beyond her. She must be losing her mind. Maybe it was Montana.  Probably something in the water. The population was so sparse, and  because there weren't enough people around, the politicians were  secretly drugging their water with aphrodisiacs, making everyone want to  mate and bring children into the world.                       
       
           



       

No! No! No! She would not think about children and Spence-and  aphrodisiacs-at the same time. This was getting out of hand. She had to  pull herself together. She was strong, dang it!

"I guess we could just stay home and have leftovers. I'll have to break  it to Eileen. She was really looking forward to spending the evening  with Martin. I think there may be something going on between the two of  them. They've been making googly eyes at each other for months now, but  neither one wants to admit they have feelings. Oh, yes, Thanksgiving . .  . Grace also said she wanted to come with us. You know she's had a  mighty heavy crush on Camden for a long time, and she'd never go without  you, but I understand . . ."

Sage didn't think it was possible, but she now felt even lower than low.  How could she live with herself when she was clearly such a worthless  human being? Because she was afraid to be in the same house as Spence,  she was going to deprive everyone else of a happy holiday. They might as  well call her the Thanksgiving Grinch and get her a green costume-no,  make it in harvest colors-and a big bag to steal all the pies and all  the paper turkeys and Pilgrim decorations while she was at it.

"I'm sorry, Grandma. I just wanted to have you and Aunt Eileen and Grace  all to myself, but if you want to go out there for Thanksgiving, I'm  sure that would be fine. I'd better call the hospital and double-check  that they won't need me, though. I'm sure if they do, I can at least  drive you out to the Whitmans' first," she said, feeling inspired.

She'd just volunteer, whether they needed her or not. That would solve  everything. Everyone would then have a great Thanksgiving, including  her. Lonely, but great.

"You can't work on Thanksgiving, sweetheart. You already have the day  off. I called the hospital to verify before I made any plans. They don't  put any elective surgeries on the board on the holidays and they  already have an on-call doctor set up for emergencies, so you're free.  I'm so happy. This will be a beautiful holiday." Bethel had perked up as  she spoke.

Sage knew when she was beaten. It looked like she was going to have to put her acting skills to the test.

"I'd better get to making the pies," Bethel said. "After all, Thanksgiving is tomorrow."

Sage watched her grandma move with slightly too much grace and purpose  around the kitchen for a woman who claimed she wasn't feeling well. Then  Sage felt guilty again. She was certain Bethel was pushing herself to  make sure she had something to bring to the dinner.

Sage would have liked to help her, but she had to leave for the  hospital. "Don't work too hard, Grandma. I'll see you in the morning."

As she left, she hoped she could make it through tomorrow without getting burned.


SAGE WATCHED AS all the color left Grace's cheeks. "I did not tell your  grandma I'd go to the Whitmans' place for Thanksgiving," Grace almost  wailed. "I thought we were having it here."

"The car is here, girls. Don't bother taking your coat off, Grace."  Bethel shut and locked the door with Sage and Grace still standing on  the covered front porch.

Sitting in the driveway was one of the Whitmans' large SUVs, looking sleek and warm as it waited for passengers.

"Grandma said you really wanted to go," Sage said, looking at the open  back door of the SUV. She didn't know what to think now. Her grandma  wouldn't have intentionally lied. Certainly not. Bethel was as honest as  the day was long.

"I'm sure she just got confused," Grace said, feeling the same way as  Sage. There was just no possible way that Bethel Banks would lie. All  the kids who'd known her called her Grandma and had been eating her  cookies and special lemonade for as long as Grace could remember.

"Well, I'm not going alone, so suck it up," Sage growled through her  teeth just as Bethel leaned out the door and called for them again.  "Coming, Grandma."

"I have a bad feeling about this," Grace said as she and Sage stepped  off the porch and began walking toward the waiting vehicle. They looked  as if they were going to a funeral, not to a holiday feast.

By the end of the night, they might be. It very much depended on the  behavior of both Spence and Camden, because, with the way those boys  were playing with Sage's and Grace's emotions, the two women were likely  to team up and off one or both of the men.





"I didn't think you were ever going to arrive," Martin called out from  the wide-open front door as Bethel and her group made their way up the  ornate front steps of the Whitman ranch house.                       
       
           



       

"You know how girls are," Bethel said, leaning in to kiss Martin on the  cheek. "They like to take their time getting all pretty."

"It was well worth the wait. You ladies are stunning, and now we won't  have just a bunch of old men sitting around the table," Martin replied, a  special light overtaking his features as he glanced over at Eileen.

"Thank you for inviting us, Martin. I'm sure this will be the best  Thanksgiving I've ever had," Eileen said shyly, surprising them all when  a rosy color suffused her cheeks.

"I know it's already my best," Martin said, taking Eileen's arm and running it through his.

"Yes, thank you for having us," Sage said as she followed the group inside.

"I swear I'm going to kill you for this," Grace whispered as the door shut behind them. "You could have warned me or something."

"I couldn't warn you. Up until you arrived at the house, I thought you  wanted to come. Besides, you won't have to kill me-I just might take my  own life," Sage replied. "I'd rather eat crickets than be here and make  small talk with Spence."

"Welcome, ladies," Michael said as they stepped into the parlor. "Would you like a predinner drink?"

"Yes!" Sage and Grace said in unison, grinning at each other. They might need five or six to get through the evening.

"Well, then, you're in luck-I've prepared my special eggnog," Spence  said as he walked into the room. He was wearing a nice pair of slacks  that were custom tailored and hugged his thighs to perfection. The green  sweater covering his sculpted chest matched his eyes to a T and looked  exquisite. Sage found herself wanting to run her hands over the fabric  to see whether it felt as soft as it looked.

She forced herself to turn away as she struggled to find her tongue. She  looked to Grace for assistance, but her friend wasn't in a position to  provide it. Camden had just stepped into the room and was looking quite  suave himself.

When Jackson came in with his new wife and stood side by side with his  three brothers, Sage could understand why they'd been considered the  cream of the crop during her school years. They commanded the room with  their confidence, good looks, and incredible bodies.

What she didn't understand was how three of the four were still single.  But men like them seemed to take forever to settle down because they  could have anyone they wanted. Why should they choose just one woman  when the world was their oyster?