“You know I have a weakness for chocolate.” He watched Mindy take a plate and a cup and walk toward a group of children sitting at a table.
“Is that your only weakness?”
“I do like ice cream and French fries. Both probably aren’t too good for you.”
“Oh, my, with weaknesses like those, you’re in big trouble.” Tory splayed her hand over her chest in mock shock.
A serious expression descended on Slade’s face. “I wish that was all.”
“What deep, dark secrets could you possibly have?” Tory asked, thinking of her own that she kept close to her heart.
“We all have secrets we want to protect.”
“Not from God.”
Slade’s frown evolved into a scowl, his lips clamped together. When Reverend Nelson joined them, Slade relaxed his expression into a neutral one, but Tory saw the slight stiffening to his shoulders that indicated his tension. When had she come to know Slade so well? They had been married only a few weeks, and yet she knew his moods even when he was trying to mask them.
“It’s good to see you at church, Slade.” Reverend Nelson shook his hand. “I hope this means you’ll be coming more often with Tory and Mindy.”
“Possibly, when work permits.”
“We could use someone with your expertise on our budget committee.”
“I don’t know if I have that kind of time.”
“I hope you’ll think about it. Tory, I like your idea about using your horses for the summer carnival. The kids will enjoy riding.”
When the reverend left, Slade asked, “What summer carnival?”
“The one we’ll be hosting over the Fourth of July weekend.”
“Hosting!”
Tory automatically took a step back. “I know I should have said something sooner, but it was just decided yesterday. Once I volunteered the horses, the committee liked the idea of moving the carnival to the ranch. There’s more room and I won’t have to transport the horses. It’s good advertisement for the riding stable especially now that it’s being fixed up.”
“But the Fourth is a week away.”
“I know. Mindy will be excited.”
“You mean she doesn’t know yet?” His frown returned.
Tory closed the space between them, placing her hand on his arm. “I haven’t had a chance to tell her, either.”
“Sometimes I think I’m the last to know what’s going on,” he grumbled. “How many people come to this carnival?”
“Probably over a hundred. The church uses it as a fund-raiser.”
“Have you volunteered me for any jobs?”
“Of course not. I hope you’ll help me with the rides, but you don’t have to do anything if you don’t want to. In fact, you can spend the day at work if you want to escape.”
Slade snorted. “Not if I want to come home to two ladies who will be speaking to me.”
“I’d better tell you also that my family has definitely decided to visit over that weekend. They come every year and believe me, this one will be no different.”
“Checking me out?”
Tory nodded.
“I can live with that. Thank goodness I didn’t make any plans for the holiday.”
“I’m not used to running my plans by someone. I haven’t had to before.”
“We’re a family, Tory. Don’t forget that.”
She inhaled a calming breath and braced herself. “I also think we should go to Carol’s grave site today after church. I know the past month or so has been hectic with you looking for a housekeeper then us getting married so suddenly.”
Slade closed his eyes for a few seconds, and when he opened them again, Tory saw the anguish in his gaze.
“Mindy needs to say goodbye to her mother.”
“I know. We’ll go.”
“Do you want me to go, too?”
“Do you want to?”
“Yes, we’re a family, Slade. And don’t forget that.”
“Then let’s get Mindy and go now.”
The ride to the cemetery was done in silence with a quick stop at a grocery store for some fresh flowers. Slade pulled up to the grave site and helped Mindy from the back seat. Tory followed the pair to the marble headstone with Carol Marie Donaldson’s name. Mindy put the assorted flowers in the vase at the base of the headstone, then stood back.
“They—die—with-out—wa-ter.”
Tory scanned the area and found an outdoor faucet nearby. “We can fill the vase with some water before we leave.”
With a somber expression, Slade placed his hands on Mindy’s shoulders and stood behind her. “Mommy’s buried here.”
“She’s—with—God—now.”
“Yes, sweetheart.”
“Can—she—hear—me?”
“I believe she can. I’m sure she’s watching over you. She loved you very much.”
Mindy leaned her head back until she stared at the sky above her. “Mom-my, I—love—you.” Tears roughened her voice. “Tell—God—hi—for me. Goodbye, Mom-my.”
Tory fought to keep her own tears at bay. Carol, I promise I’ll look out for Mindy and love her as you would, Tory vowed, brushing the back of her hand across her cheeks.
CHAPTER NINE
The sun dipped below the tree line as Tory approached Slade by the fence. With his forearms propped on the top of the railing, he stared at the horses eating grass in the field. For the past three days he distanced himself from her until he hardly said a word tonight at dinner. Even Mindy had noticed and said something to her while she was putting her to bed.
“Are we having our second fight?” she asked, stopping only an arm’s length away from him.
He threw her a glance, then resumed watching the horses. “No. What makes you think that?”
She shrugged. “Oh, I don’t know. Maybe the fact today we have exchanged no more than a handful of words.”
“Got things on my mind.”
“About the church carnival in a couple of days? I’m sorry I didn’t consult you first. I—”
“I’m not upset about the carnival, Tory.”
She shifted so she faced him. “Then what are you upset about?”
He didn’t look at her, but tension vibrated the air between them. The silence stretched to a full minute, and Tory began to wonder if he’d even heard her question.
“It’s really not a secret. Today is the second anniversary of the car wreck.” He leaned into the fence, his gaze still trained forward on the animals in the field.
The tension sharpened,
