Calder Born, Calder Bred (Calder Saga 4)

The doors to The Homestead burst open as the pickup stopped in front of it, and Cathleen came racing out, ropes of long black curls bouncing around her shoulders. She shrieked with joy when she saw Ty step out of the pickup and hurled herself off the steps into his arms.

“Hey, you’re getting heavy, Cat.” He smiled into her wide green eyes, beguilingly outlined with sooty lashes. She was remarkably beautiful for a girl who had just turned seven years old.

“Nobody told me you were coming home today.” She pouted for an instant, then laughed and hugged his neck.

“They didn’t?” Ty shifted her in his arms to smooth out the skirt of her ruffled white pinafore. “And I thought you were wearing this pretty dress just for me.”

“I put it on for my Uncle Culley, but I would have worn it for you,” she assured him quickly.

“Culley.” Ty shot a look at his father, seeking an explanation, as he set his sister down.

“Yes,” came the confirmation. “He’s been released from the hospital. Maggie’s bringing him home this afternoon.”

“He’s been sick,” Cathleen informed Ty with an adultlike air and reached to take his hand and lead him up the steps to the house. “But he’s better now. ’Course, Mommy said he still has to rest a lot.”

“When did this come about?” Ty eyed his father, trying to discern his reaction. He was well aware of the bad blood that had been between his father and uncle, and seriously doubted that his father was pleased by O’Rourke’s release from the mental institution.

“It’s been discussed frequently these last few months, but the doctor notified your mother of his intention shortly after you phoned last week. We had planned to tell you when we flew down for your graduation.” It was a statement of fact with no opinion offered, and none was visible as Chase Calder opened the front door and the three of them trooped into the house.

“I’ve never seen Uncle Culley before. Have you?” Cath-leen’s patent-leather shoes made tapping sounds on the hardwood floor as she skipped along beside her older brother.

“Yes.” But his memory was of a wild-eyed, paranoid man, trembling on the brink of madness. It was hardly an image he wanted to relate to his little sister.

“What was he like?”

“It was a long time ago, Cat. He’s probably changed a lot since the last time I saw him.”

Her look became thoughtfully troubled. “Do you think he’ll like me?” Cathleen Calder was the darling of the Triple C, adored by everyone. With the sharpness of a child’s perception, she had sensed the undercurrents surrounding her uncle’s imminent arrival and guessed there was something about her uncle that made him different. Not having love and approval was the worst thing she could imagine.

Her question wasn’t one Ty wanted to answer, because he knew how much Culley O’Rourke had hated anyone attached to the Calders in the past. But it wasn’t something his little sister needed to know, and she wouldn’t understand even if he attempted to explain.

So he merely laughed aside her question and playfully tapped the end of her button nose. “I’ll bet he won’t like you as much as I do.” Cathleen beamed, finding reassurance in his avowal of affection.

“Nanna Ruth!” Cathleen spied the elderly woman as she entered the living room from the kitchen hallway, and let go of Ty’s hand to run to meet her. “Look who’s here!”

“Ty. My gracious.” She rested a trembling hand below her throat, her voice weak with surprise. “I didn’t know you were expected.”

“I wasn’t. I thought I’d surprise everybody.” It was to become his standard explanation.

“You certainly surprised me,” Ruth Haskell declared, then bit her lower lip. “We’ve been so busy helpi

ng Maggie get things ready for her brother that Audra hasn’t had time to air your room or have clean linen put on the bed.” Audra Cummings was the wife of one of the cowboys employed by the Triple C. She did most of the heavy cleaning at The Homestead.

“Since it’s my fault for not letting anyone know I decided to skip the graduation exercises and come home early, I’ll take care of it,” Ty volunteered.

“You’re going to skip the graduation ceremony?” Her brow became furrowed with lines of concern and regret. “Your mother has been looking forward to seeing you in your cap and gown.”

“She’ll have to be satisfied with the diploma.” He smiled to lessen the sting of his disregard for his mother’s wishes.

“Did you bring your girl?” Ruth looked at him expectantly. “Or will she be coming later?”

“No.” Ty sobered, his expression hardening. “She won’t be coming.”

“Oh.” Ruth made a small sound as she realized her query had been a mistake. In her lifetime, she’d seen many such reactions—the closed-in look of a man whose feelings had been deeply bruised.

The thick walls of the house muted the slam of a car door that was closely followed by the sound of a second one. “That must be Mommy with Uncle Culley!” Cathleen was about to run to meet them, but Ty caught her by the shoulders.

“Let’s wait for them here,” he said and caught the glimmer of approval in his father’s glance before he turned to face the entrance.