The Road to Reunion

“I’ll bring her home.”

During the surprised silence that followed Kyle’s blunt announcement, he had time to wonder what on earth had made him say that. He’d had no intention of offering to drive Molly back to Texas. But something about Shane’s attitude irked him. He didn’t like the thought of someone coming to collect Molly as if she were a runaway child. And since she couldn’t drive herself…well, that left it up to him.

“You’ll bring her?” Shane repeated as if he wasn’t sure he’d heard correctly.

“Yeah. I’ll drive her car, then fly back. It’s the least I can do since she fell through my porch.”

“You’re sure that isn’t too much trouble?”

“It’s no trouble at all,” Kyle lied. “We’ll head out to morrow morning if she’s feeling up to it. I doubt she’ll be able to make the trip in one day, so we’ll probably have to stop in Memphis overnight.”

He was pretty sure he wouldn’t be able to make a drive that long without a break; his entire body would likely stiffen up if he tried. No need to mention that to Shane, of course.

“If you’re sure you don’t mind, that would be great,” Shane said in relief. “Any other time I’d be on a plane as soon as we hang up, but the way things are now…”

“You don’t have to worry about her. I’ll get her home safely.”

“I’m sure you will. It will be good to see you again, Kyle.”

Kyle shook his head in bemusement. Shane, as Molly had, acted as though there was no question that she would be safe with him. They continued to treat him as if they knew him well, even though it had been more than ten years since they’d last seen him. They had no idea of the things he had seen and done since he’d left the ranch—no way of knowing how those experiences had changed him.

“Yeah, well, I’ll keep in touch. Let you know our itinerary.”

“Thanks. Tell Molly I’ll talk to her later, okay?” “Yeah.” Kyle was tempted to order Shane not to yell at his sister when he did speak with her, but he supposed that was none of his business. Still, it griped him to think Molly would be chewed out for something that really wasn’t her fault.

It occurred to him that he was doing a lousy job staying detached and objective with Molly, as he had tried so hard to be from the time she’d shown up at his door. And now he had committed himself to chauffeuring her all the way back to Texas—back to the ranch he’d had no intention of revisiting for now.

It looked as though he was going to have to face his past again, after all. Ready or not.

Molly was a little embarrassed to awaken on the McDooleys’ couch and realize she had slept through lunch. Jewel quickly put her at ease again, assuring her that she knew what it was like to be temporarily overcome by the effects of medication.

Feeling much more clearheaded now, she reached for her crutches and hobbled into the kitchen with Jewel. “Where are Mack and Kyle?”

Motioning her into a chair at the table, Jewel helped her prop her injured foot on another chair. She then walked over to the stove, removed the lid from a large pot and scooped soup into a bowl. “Mack’s taking care of a little problem in one of the motel rooms. Kyle’s gone back up to his house to pack a bag.”

The food Jewel had set in front of her looked delicious, and the aromas rising from it were inviting enough to make Molly’s mouth water. She was suddenly starving. Picking up her spoon, she scooped up a bite of the homemade beef and vegetable soup, repeating absently, “Kyle’s packing?”

“Yes.” After setting a glass of iced tea and a plate of corn bread muffins on the table for Molly, Jewel settled into another chair with a cookie and a glass of tea for herself. “He’s planning to drive you back to Texas tomorrow in your car. He figured it would take a couple of days to make the drive tolerable for both of you.”

She took a sip of her tea, then added, “He’s bringing your bag with him when he comes back. I told him you might as well both spend the night here and then leave early in the morning after a good breakfast.”

Jewel had managed to draw Molly’s attention away from the food. “Kyle’s driving me home tomorrow?”

Nodding patiently, Jewel smiled. “He knew you wouldn’t be able to drive in that bulky brace. You have to get back home somehow, so the logical thing is for him to drive you, then fly back here. I believe your brother offered to send someone for you, but Kyle told him that wasn’t necessary.”

“Wait.” Her head swimming, Molly set her spoon on the table. “Kyle talked to Shane?”

“Is that your brother?”

She nodded.

“Then, yes, he did. Your cell phone rang while you were asleep and Kyle answered, in case it was an important call. He told your brother what had happened, and they made the arrangements to get you back home.”

Her jaw tight,

Molly muttered, “Did they?”

“Now, honey, don’t go getting all chippy,” Jewel ad vised in a motherly tone. “I’m sure you’re used to making all your own decisions, but in this case, it was necessary for Kyle to make the arrangements.”