Her Hometown Hero(6)

"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.