"Don't you be fussing over me, young lady. I may have a few years on you, but I can handle myself just fine. A bit of heat won't slow these bones down. Now be a good girl and come inside. I've made you muffins and there's fresh lemonade chilling in the fridge."
"That is just what the doctor ordered," Sage said with a grin.
"You will make a terrific doctor, darling. It makes me feel so safe having you back home again." Bethel scooted over to the fridge and filled a glass with icy-cold liquid.
Bethel's reference to home sent a pang through her. How in the world was she supposed to tell her grandma she wanted to live with Grace? What if the woman was really crushed and thought Sage didn't love her enough to stay?
"I met up with Grace down at the diner for lunch," Sage said as she sat back. "I've missed her so much. I can't believe how long it's been since the two of us have gotten to hang out. Did you know that Kelly Purly is going to have another baby?" Kelly had gone to school with Grace and Sage. It was strange to think that she was a mother now.
"Yes, it seems that everyone is having babies," Bethel grumbled. "It sure would be nice if I got to be a great-grandma before the good Lord decides to pull me from this world."
"Grandma, you look tired. Why don't you go lie down?"
Bethel let the change of subject pass, much to her granddaughter's relief. The last thing Sage wanted to do was have another discussion about eligible men and to field questions about whether she was ever going to have a family. She was only twenty-six, not on the verge of retirement.
"You're right, dear. A nap would do wonders for this old body," Bethel said, then she took her time leaving the room.
Sage watched her go with a worried frown. She needed to discuss her plans with her grandma, but she didn't have the energy for it right now. Or that's what she told herself. In reality, she was just too chicken. Maybe over dinner . . .
Suddenly, the afternoon caught up to her, and she felt completely drained, so she decided to lie down for a few minutes. Famous last words-sleep claimed her instantly.
"TIME TO GET up, sweetheart," her grandmother said, shaking her awake. "We have a party to go to."
"What? What party?"
"Oh, sorry. I forgot to mention that Martin Whitman is having a giant gathering at his place this evening. We can't miss it." Bethel was the picture of excitement.
"Are you up for it, Grandma?"
"Listen, girlie, I was dancing long into the night when you were still in diapers, so don't try mothering me. I feel just fine and I deserve to go to this party."
"I'm sorry, Grandma, but I'm a little tired." So tired, in fact, that she didn't notice that her grandma sounded awfully hearty for someone supposedly under the weather. "Would you mind going with Eileen so I can stay home and rest?" She really didn't want to go to the Whitman Ranch, not now that she knew Spence was in town. He was sure to be there.
Just the name Whitman had her on edge again. But that was ridiculous. If Spence was going to be in town often, she'd have to get over it. Besides, her reaction was so over the top. Maybe if she'd taken Grace's advice and had a few solid flings while away at college-no time in med school!-she wouldn't be harboring these feelings for her childhood obsession.
"I suppose I could go with Eileen, but her eyes aren't so good these days. We were kind of hoping you would drive us, but I understand if you aren't up for it."
Sage couldn't stand to disappoint her grandma-plus she really didn't want the two women to be out driving the winding country roads, especially after dark.
"I'm sorry, Grandma. I'll just take a quick shower and drink a strong cup of coffee, and then I'll feel much better. I'll take you."
Sage climbed out of bed, kissed her grandma on the cheek, and rushed into the bathroom. When Spence hadn't even known who she was last week, her childhood embarrassment had been renewed. She'd compared all men to him through the years, and he hadn't even thought of her once. How mortifying was that? To be around him now just wasn't something she could handle. It was best to move forward with her life, focus on who and what she wanted to be, and let go of her childhood crush.
Easier said than done.
After showering and dressing quickly, Sage put on mascara and lip gloss. She couldn't decide what to do with her long red hair, so she threw it up in a ponytail and called it good, if boring. She looked at herself in the mirror with a tentative smile.
There had been men who'd told her she was beautiful, but she always had a hard time believing it. She was considered short at only five foot four-that was average height, dammit!-and even if she had been acceptably tall, she wasn't model material. She just didn't have the exotic look that Grace did. Her curves certainly stood out, but who needed curves when they weren't being used?
She wanted to tell herself that if she stopped comparing herself to other people, maybe she'd appreciate what she did have. Didn't quite work. But she wasn't without good points, and she knew it. She examined her deep emerald eyes critically. She'd always wanted to have blue eyes that shone like the sun reflecting on a lake, but she could live with green. In fact, a friend had once told her that her eyes were her best asset. Sage had laughed at the time and glanced pointedly at her chest. Men seemed unable to look past her cup size long enough to notice anything about her eyes, and she'd always been irritated by that. She refused to date a guy who couldn't pick her face out of a lineup. Hmmm, was that why she'd hardly ever dated?
She ran a finger over her full lips and smiled once again. At least her lifelong diligence in wearing sunscreen had spared her from a superabundance of freckles, but she'd have killed for the ability to tan. Darn Celtic blood.
"We have to leave, Sage," Bethel called out from the kitchen.
"Coming." Sage turned her back to the mirror, squared her shoulders, and walked out of the bathroom.
"You look beautiful, dear," Bethel said as she surveyed Sage's outfit. Her granddaughter wasn't dressing up, dang it, but then again, no one really did at these country parties. The evening had cooled as soon as the sun had set, so Sage wore her favorite pair of jeans and a thick sweater over a modest blouse.
"You look great, too, Grandma. Do you have a hot date tonight or something?" Sage had been teasing, and was shocked when her grandma turned a shade of pink. Wow. The young woman's eyes grew wide as she realized the woman who'd raised her might actually be sweet on someone. "Uh . . . are you . . . dating someone, Grandma?"
"No, no, nothing like that," Bethel replied hastily, then rushed over to grab her purse and jacket.
Sage wanted to fire questions at her, but she could see she'd flustered the poor woman, so she let the subject drop. She'd be keeping an eye on her grandma tonight, though. She wanted to know who had her acting like a teenager going to her first boy-girl dance.
The idea of sharing her grandmother with someone else sparked a smidgen of jealousy in her, but Sage pushed it back. She wasn't always around, and if Bethel could have someone to love her, she more than deserved it. Plus, this meant her grandma might not be so opposed to Sage's plan of moving in with Grace.
Her grandfather had been gone for sixteen years. It was long past time for Bethel to move forward with her life.
"You deserve whatever happiness you can find," Sage said, embracing her beloved grandmother.
"Now you quit fussing over me and worry about yourself," Bethel grumbled, but the pink still hadn't left her cheeks. "We need to get going. We're running so late that I'm sure Eileen is wearing a hole in her living room carpet."
Sage wrapped an arm around her grandma's shoulders and led her to the car. She could do this-she could attend the party even with Spence there. Tons of people always showed up for these country blowouts. She probably wouldn't even see him.
Of course, when had fate ever been that kind to her? She shut the front door, resigned to whatever the night held.
"Come on, Michael. Are you going to put some oomph in that or ride like a girl all day?" Spence yelled at his little brother as they raced across the wide-open pastures.
"I have no trouble keeping up with you, old man," Michael yelled back, then leaned down over his horse's neck, pushed his knees in, and shot forward to take the lead. They rode fast and hard over the flat land, exchanging front position every few minutes. After they made a tight loop, they raced back toward the stables, crossed into the yard in a photo finish, and looked toward Camden, who was laughing at them.