Regardless of how she felt about him, Rick was certain Kendall did adore her sister. But before he could begin to make Hannah see the truth, he needed to know what Kendall planned. “Well, where did your sister say you’d be going when she takes off?” His stomach churned as he used words that put an end to their time in Yorkshire Falls.
Hannah sighed. “Kendall said she’d take me with her but I don’t want to go anywhere.”
Her voice trailed off in a long sigh.
Clearly she wanted more than Kendall was willing to give. Join the club, Rick thought silently. But knowing Kendall was doing right by Hannah filled Rick with relief and eased the vise gripping his heart. If Kendall was giving up her solitary roaming, then she’d begun to face her fear of commitment and stability. She was fighting harder than he’d given her credit for, but he didn’t delude himself into thinking she’d take that next step and do right by herself. At least she’d opened her heart and her life to her sister at the moment the young girl needed her most. That counted for a lot in Rick’s book.
He glanced at Hannah out of the corner of his eye. “You know your sister’s way of thinking. She doesn’t know anything other than a transient kind of life. For her even to take you with her is a huge leap. You need to go. To bond with her. Get to understand her.”
He drew a deep breath, forcing himself to make a bleak situation look great to a teenager.
“Besides, I hear Arizona has amazing weather, no humidity, and you’ll be able to learn horseback riding,” he said, figuring Kendall planned to head west as she’d told him a while back. He put his hand beneath her chin. “Look at me.”
She glanced up but instead of excitement he saw desperation in her young eyes. “You have to try and stop her,” she said, pleading with no shame.
He’d grown to love Hannah like he loved his own family and he’d do anything for this kid. Anything he could, Rick amended. Unfortunately that excluded what she wanted from him most of all. “I can’t.”
She blinked and turned away, that mutinous, stubborn tilt to her chin returning. “Because you don’t care if we stay or go either.” Her stubborn bravado faltered when her voice caught on her words.
“Untrue and you know it.” He still held her tight, no matter that she tried to pull away and put distance between them. She obviously wanted to blame him, force him to share the brunt of her anger.
“Then why won’t you help me get Kendall to stay?”
Because Rick refused to shoulder the burden for Kendall’s impulsive actions. She obviously wasn’t facing her feelings and Rick wouldn’t be the one to make her life any easier. She didn’t deserve it. If her pint-sized, hellion sister wanted to torture her a little, maybe she’d be forced to take a good look at her decisions and their consequences.
“Because Kendall’s a grown woman,” he explained, gentle in tone but firm in his intention. “She knows her own mind. I can’t make your sister do something she doesn’t want to do, Hannah.”
“Yeah, yeah. Thanks for nothing.” She jerked out of his grasp and rose to her feet.
Rick followed, standing on the step above hers. “Promise me something?”
“Maybe.”
He loved this kid despite her wise-guy mouth. He shook his head and stifled a laugh.
“Just think about what I said and give your sister a chance. She loves you.”
“Says you.” She turned and started to bound down the stairs.
“Hannah, wait.”
The young girl pivoted back to face him. “Yeah?”
“I just want to know where you’re going.” He couldn’t help looking out for her.
“To Norman’s for a soda. Jeannie’s there and since I don’t know when Kendall will decide to take off, I want to hang out with her as much as I can.”
Rick nodded. He’d felt the same about Kendall. “Need money?”
Hannah shook her head. “I earned some yesterday. But thanks anyway.”
His cell phone rang, disturbing their exchange. “Hang on a sec.” He unclipped the phone from his belt and answered on the second ring. “Chandler.”
“Hi, Rick.” There was no mistaking the soft voice on the other end.
“Kendall.” His heart picked up rhythm, kicking into high gear, and his mind began a steady whirl of questions. Had she changed her mind? Decided to stay? Did she need a friendly ear?
Did she need him?
All of those things, he hoped. “What’s up?” he asked her.
“Have you seen Hannah?”
His personal hopes plummeted and common sense took over. This was Kendall and she didn’t want to stay in town or with him. She never had. To her credit, she’d been honest about her intentions from the first. If he had anyone to blame for falling into a deluded trap, it was himself.
After all, he’d done it once before, with Jillian. “Your sister’s here.” He covered the receiver and gestured for Hannah to come closer. “In case she wants to talk to you,” he whispered.
“I have nothing to say to her,” Hannah said, her lips set in what he figured was a permanent pout.
“I heard that,” Kendall said, obvious disappointment and hurt in her voice.
And it was the hurt that got to him. Considering the woman was breaking his heart, he shouldn’t care. But he did. Too much.
“Can you get her to meet me at Norman’s?” Kendall asked, keeping things between herself and Rick strictly business. As if they’d never made love, as if he’d never declared his.
He swallowed hard. “Sure thing.”
“Thanks. I’ll see you both in a few minutes.” She hung up, dismissing him as if he meant nothing to her.
Get used to it, buddy. Rick turned to Hannah. “We need to meet your sister at Norman’s.”
She folded her arms across her chest. “I’m not hungry.”
He rolled his eyes. “Then don’t eat. Besides, you were going there anyway. I’m sure Kendall just wants to talk, so for your own sake, try meeting her halfway.” He braced his hands on her shoulders and looked her in the eye. “I know it isn’t easy and I know you’re not happy. But this is your life and only you can make it better.”
“Geez you are so full of it.”
He cocked an eyebrow, knowing he could only allow her big mouth to go so far. “Excuse me?”
“So full of wisdom, Officer Chandler.”