A Father's Stake (8 page)

Gabriella came up behind Grace and touched her on the shoulder. “I’ll watch her while I get things out of the car.”

“Okay, but please, watch out for snakes, or...things.”

“Come on, pumpkin,” she said, offering her granddaughter her hand. “Let’s go explore.”

Grace watched Lilly jump from the porch to the ground, bypassing the stone step completely. Putting both hands high above her head, she began to twirl and laugh.

The stable doors moved back and Parrish stepped out into the sun. He looked up at the house, then smiled and waved to Grace. “Welcome back,” he called.

She returned his smile, then saw Lilly shrink back a bit toward her grandmother. Grace had drilled into Lilly never to talk to strangers or go with them. And Parrish was a stranger.

The older man strode up toward them, and as Grace reached her mother and Lilly, he took off his straw Stetson. “Mom, Lilly,” Grace said. “This is Parrish, the caretaker. Parrish, my mother, Gabriella Michaels, and my daughter, Lilly.”

“Right glad to meet you both,” he said, then turned his attention to Lilly. “Ever been on a ranch before?”

Lilly was still a bit hesitant, pressing against her grandmother’s leg. Shaking her head to make her ponytails dance, she said, “Never. But I was at the zoo once and they had lions and tigers and a really weird alligator.”

“Sounds great, but a ranch is more about horses and cows and chickens.”

That did it for Lilly. Grace could see her ease a bit. “Horses?” she asked in that young awestruck voice again. “Really?”

He glanced at Grace, as if to say, “What do I tell her?”

“Yes, most ranches have horses,” Grace said, “and maybe we’ll get one someday. Who knows?”

Parrish nodded. “We’ve got the perfect stall for a horse, maybe a Paint, really pretty, with brown spots. We can get it all fixed up so it would be ready if you ever get one.” Parrish looked at Grace. “You all want to come down and look at the stables?”

Grace shook her head. “I’ve seen them, but I know Lilly and Mom would love to take a tour.”

“Great,” he said, motioning them to follow him. Lilly took off at a dead sprint and was waiting by the open doors by the time the other two got there. Grace watched all three disappear into the darkened interior, then she turned to the house

She stepped inside, feeling good about her daughter’s total happiness. So far, so good, she thought with real relief. So far. Slowly, she walked around, just touching the walls and fireplace, inspecting things she’d missed on her first visit, and ended up in the kitchen. When she opened the refrigerator she was surprised to see replenished staples...milk, eggs, bacon and butter. Parrish must have done that and she appreciated it.

She went back to the front door and out onto the porch. But instead of going to the car to start unpacking, she sank down on the stone step and just sat there. The peace was almost tangible, the same way it had been the first day before Jack had broken it. Complete and so very welcome. With her arms around her knees, she looked off into the distance, and the only sounds she heard were coming from the stables, laughter and a high-pitched squeal, then more laughter.

No matter what his motives, her father had done a good thing for all of them. “Thank you,” she whispered into the air, and felt an almost childish wish overcome her that her father could see all of this.

At that moment, a sharp cry came from the stables and Grace was on her feet running before she even began to figure out what she’d heard. Almost out of breath, she raced into the semidarkness of the stable and headed down the aisle to her left. “Lilly? Lilly!” she called.

Rounding the corner near the tack room, she came to a stop to find her mother sitting on a hay bale, holding Lilly to her, while Parrish hunkered down in front of the two. “What happened?” she asked breathlessly, grabbing Parrish by the shoulder.

“It’s okay, Grace,” her mother said in an even voice. “She’s okay, just a bump.”

Parrish was putting down a towel and picking up a bandage. “She’s fine,” he said as he eased the bandage onto a small scrape on Lilly’s elbow. The child whimpered, but the tears were gone. “She tripped over a rake I should have put away and scraped her arm on the side of the stall.” He slowly stood and looked at Grace. “Nothing at all.”

Lilly was already squirming off her grandmother’s lap. “Nothing at all,” she echoed, and showed her bandaged arm.

“Okay,” Grace said. “If you’re sure?”

Lilly nodded. “I’m sure.”

“Ready for some lunch?” she asked.

Lilly hesitated. “But Mr. Parrish said he’d show us where the rabbits run.”

“It’s a pasture to the east, a nice little nook that is sort of a rabbit haven at the moment, since the land isn’t being worked.” He looked down at Lilly and held his hands about a foot apart. “Some of them rabbits have ears this long!”

She started to bounce in place. “Please, Mama, can’t we go see?”

Grace looked at her mother. “Why don’t I get the things out of the car and you go on a rabbit hunt.” When her mother nodded agreement, she looked at Parrish. “Just, please, be careful of the snakes. I need to get Lilly boots as soon as I can.”

He shrugged, “Of course.” He looked down at Lilly’s sandals. “Thing is, you gotta have on good shoes to do this, not necessarily boots, but not sandals.”

Lilly’s face fell. “I don’t have any boots.”

Grace broke in. “She has high-topped tennis shoes, and Mom has some too. Would that be okay?”

He nodded. “Sure would be better than sandals.”

Five minutes later, the three of them set off with bottled water to see the rabbits’ run.

Grace managed to make some sense out of Lilly’s bedroom and her own, and by that time the rabbit hunters were back. Lilly was glowing. But as Parrish headed back to the stables and the others went into the house, the little girl yawned, then rubbed her eyes.

“How about you take a nap, and when you wake up, we’ll have a late lunch?” Grace suggested.

Remarkably, there were no cries of, “naps are for babies,” or “I’m too big for a nap.” Lilly just nodded and took her mother’s hand. Within a few minutes, she was fast asleep on Grace’s bed.

She went back out to find her mother in the kitchen. “Did she really go down that fast?” Gabriella asked. “She’s exhausted.” Grace sank down in a chair at the table. “Just worn out.”

“No wonder.” Gabriella came to sit across from Grace. “She never stopped running the whole way there, and when she spotted the rabbits, it was off to the races! Even if she caught up to one of them, she wouldn’t have known what to do with it.”

They both laughed, then her mother said softly, “It’s lovely in here. It’s so much more than I expected.”

“Me, too.” Grace laid her hands flat on the table top. “You know, no matter why or how Dad did this, it’s perfect. He’ll never know how perfect.”

Gabriella sat silently for a long moment. “Just because he couldn’t use it for himself doesn’t mean he didn’t know it would be good for us.”

She was right, not defending the man, just seeing the way it all came about. “Yes, absolutely. I just wish that there wasn’t baggage with it.”

“Baggage?” Gabriella frowned.

“Just Jack Carson, the man who wants it back. I wish he wasn’t in the picture.”

“I thought we agreed that his wanting it makes it more secure for us if things don’t work out. He’s our backup plan.”

Again, she was right, but it didn’t feel as comforting to Grace as it had before.

CHAPTER EIGHT

G
RACE
MOTIONED
TOWARD
the hall that led to the bedrooms. “I put your bags in your room, the first door you come to, and Lilly’s room is next. She’s sleeping in my room at the end of the hallway, in the back, for now. There are two bathrooms, and the bigger one has an old claw-foot tub.”

“Better and better,” her mother said, leaning back in her chair. “What was Parrish saying about a horse? I thought you hadn’t decided yet.”

“I asked him to look around for me, for a smaller horse, safe for kids, and for someone to give her riding lessons. I don’t even know what a horse costs, but I’m sure it won’t be cheap.”

“You might be surprised.”

She looked at her mother and narrowed her eyes. “What do you know that I don’t?”

“Parrish wants to talk to you about it, but Jack Carson told him about a nice horse that the man in the General Store owns. Used to be his granddaughter’s and she’s getting too big for it. She wants a horse she can use for ‘barrel riding,’ whatever that is.”

“How does that make it cheap?”

“Parrish spoke to Oscar and Oscar said that he’d let you take the horse for one month, as a trial, and if you like it and Lilly likes it, he’ll take three hundred for it.”

Grace was surprised. “I’d heard a good horse was more like three thousand.”

“He said that she’s a good horse, but not a purebred. Her name is Mosi—it means cats or something like that.”

“Wow, you two worked in a good conversation on your rabbit hunt.”

“He seems to be a really nice man, very good with Lilly.”

“I’m glad he’s here,” Grace admitted. She shifted in her chair, then brushed at the hair that was coming loose from her ponytail. “That horse sounds perfect. I mean, there is a trial period and all. I just wish I knew more about horses.”

“Jack Carson recommended it, so that seems like a seal of approval.”

“Lilly’s going to want it, I know. And once it’s here, it won’t go back, not unless it’s mean or bites.”

“That’s all good,” her mother said.

A rap on the door caught their attention and Grace went across to answer it. Parrish was standing there. “Ma’am,” he said. “I was wondering if you want me to start doing anything with the irrigation. I got the wells primed and they look good. Next step is trying them out.”

“Oh, I guess we should. Sure, if you can.”

“No problem.”

She felt her mom come up behind her, and Parrish flashed her a smile. “So, where’s the little one?”

“Sleeping,” Gabriella said. “We wore her out.”

“Parrish,” Grace said. “That horse of Oscar’s, it sounds good, but I don’t know.”

“If you’d like, why don’t you go ask him about it, then go see it. He lives on land south of town, not too far.”

“I don’t know.”

Her mother spoke up. “Go now. Then you can figure this out for yourself.”

“But Lilly needs to eat and—”

“Since when are you the only cook around here?” her mother teased her.

“Okay, but I won’t be long.” She looked back at Parrish. “Thanks for finding out about the horse.”

“No problem.” He looked past her. “Finger okay?”

Grace turned and noticed a bandage on her mother’s right forefinger. “What did you do?”

“Nothing, just got a sliver in my finger from the fence, but it’s fine. Mr. Parrish gave me the same treatment as he did Lilly.” She held up the finger. “See?”

“And she didn’t cry,” the man said, deadpan, then turned and ambled off.

“I need to go into town to find mattresses for you and Lilly,” Grace said, “and I could check on the horse while I’m there.”

“Good idea, the mattresses, I mean. What’s a bed without one?”

“Uncomfortable,” Grace said and they both laughed before Grace hurried to get her bag, and with one last look at a sleeping Lilly, she headed into town. As she drove onto the main street, she resisted the urge to stop at a couple of the shops, but kept going. The day was clear and warm, no clouds in sight, and the town seemed to gleam in the sunshine. She spotted the General Store, then glanced across the street and one down to see a faux wood-fronted, two-story building with a shingle, Law Offices, hanging from the front fascia. The building sat between a real estate office and a rug shop.

On impulse, she swung left to park by the law offices instead of the general store. Her mother needed a job and she’d been a part-time paralegal on and off. Maybe she could find out if there was any work like that in the area.

She pushed open the door and stepped into the reception area as a bell sounded above her. She stopped by a large desk in the wood paneled space that fronted three doors in the back wall. There was no sign of anyone, and the only sound was soft music coming from hidden speakers. “Is anyone here?” she called out.

Footsteps sounded on wooden floors, then the middle of the three doors opened and Jack Carson stepped into the room. He wore an open-necked white shirt, dark slacks and boots and his face was stamped with the same surprise as she knew hers must be.

* * *

J
ACK
HAD
SPENT
most of the day in the office trying to concentrate on a case of disputed water rights and going over one of two applications for a replacement for Maureen. But his ability to concentrate had been close to none, the way it had been since Grace Evans had showed up at the old ranch two weeks ago. He’d been fighting the urge to call her again and now she’d materialized out of nowhere right in his office.

His breath hitched in his chest as he crossed to the desk. “Welcome back.”

“Thanks,” she said, glancing at the application he still had in his hand. “I’m sorry if I’m interrupting a meeting with your attorney.”

She was as small and blonde as he remembered, the blue shirt she wore with jeans and those sandals only emphasizing her delicateness. She looked up him, waiting, and he finally got himself on track.

“I’m the only attorney in the place, and my assistant has obviously gone on some errand.”

She looked flustered and shook her head. “Oh, I didn’t know you’re an attorney.”

“You were looking for one?” he asked, part of him thinking she wanted to get paperwork ready to sell and the other part thinking she wanted to have someone check the papers so she could keep the ranch.

“No, well, yes. I was just going to ask if there are any openings for a paralegal position here.”

He knew she was a waitress, so why would she be asking about a paralegal position? “You’re looking for work?” His heart sank at the logical conclusion. She was staying. When he found out from Maureen that she’d given up her lease on her apartment in Los Angeles, he’d thought that was that. She was going to come back and stay. Then he’d decided that she could be giving up the lease and moving to a better place.

He knew he wasn’t going to stop hoping he could get back his family’s land until she told him for sure that she wasn’t selling. “Just seeing what’s available,” she said.

He wasn’t a liar, but he wasn’t about to tell her about the position for an assistant in his office that would be open at the end of the month. Instead, he hedged with a partial truth, “The office isn’t running up to speed right now. Maybe in the future.”

She turned away with a quiet, “Thank you.”

He didn’t mean to cut her off, to have her leave, but before he had a chance to stop her, she turned back to him.

“You know, I’m glad I ran into you,” she said. “I really wanted to thank you for telling Parrish about the horse that the man at the General Store wants to sell.”

Jack was blank for a minute, then remembered his talk with Parrish. “Oh, sure, are you going to try her out?”

She grimaced. “I’m on my way there, but I don’t know anything about horses.”

“I grew up with them, had one since I was old enough to walk.” He hesitated a moment. “If you’re on your way there now, I can go with you. I can tell you if she’s good or not.”

He could almost see her thinking, should she or shouldn’t she, then she nodded. “That would be a huge help.”

He went around the desk, tossed the application he still held onto the file cabinet by Maureen’s chair, then crossed to where Grace stood. He wanted time with her, ways to make her see how challenging ranch life could be, and that a large chunk of money was much better than a chunk of dusty New Mexico land that meant nothing to her.

They went out together and crossed the road to the General Store. Once inside, Jack spotted Aaron, Oscar’s nephew, a tall, gangly boy of seventeen. “Is your uncle around?”

“No, he’s back at the place, got problems with the irrigation, so I get to hold down the fort. You need something I can help you with?”

“We just wanted to talk to him about Ashee’s horse, the Paint. He said he wanted to sell it and get his granddaughter a cutter for barrels.”

“He’s out there, if you want to go and see the horse.”

Jack turned to Grace. “What do you say? Like to drive out there with me, and we can both check out the Paint?”

“I guess so,” she said without a lot of conviction. She turned to the teenager. “Do you by any chance have mattresses for sale?”

“No, don’t have any, but I’m sure someone around here could get you one.”

“I need two, actually.”

Jack watched the exchange. “None at the house?”

She looked at him. “Just one, but I need two more.”

He nodded, then without saying anything else, the two of them headed to his parking spot behind the law office and got in his Jeep. As they drove through town, they passed a huge glass and iron building, the sign announcing Wolf Lake Hospital
.
The building was as modern as the rest of the town was determinedly quaint.

On the other side of a huge parking area stood a massive brick building with Wolf Lake Family Center chiseled over the entry portico. Grace had been silent until then, but she finally spoke.

“For a small town, Wolf Lake has the best amenities I’ve seen in a long time, even in Los Angeles. The school, that Family Center, and the hospital. Are they all flash and show or are they well run, too?”

“They’re every bit as good as they look,” he said and told her about the Family Center’s work with local kids who were challenged or needy. He found himself telling her about Gage and Merry. “My brother helped design both places, and he and his fiancée are going to adopt a little girl whom Merry’s been helping at the center.”

As the hospital fell away behind them, he kept talking. “The hospital is really good, too. Exceptional, actually. One of my oldest friends, Moses Blackstar, is the chief of staff, and a terrific doctor. He oversees the twenty-four hour emergency care and a clinic on the Rez as well.”

Jack stopped himself, wondering how that was going to discourage her from living here permanently. He’d forgotten for a bit that his job wasn’t to sell Wolf Lake to her. He glanced at Grace, but she was staring out the side window. He found himself reaching out to touch her arm and he could tell he startled her. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I just wondered if you had any more questions.”

She finally turned and met his gaze before he looked back to the road that was now cutting through pastureland on both sides. “No, just thinking,” she said softly.

“I was wondering what you’re thinking about this place, about your ranch and this town? Is it too isolated? Too rough? Too bleak?” He stopped himself. He was being too obvious. He had to keep quiet and let her ask questions, then go from there.

“Actually, I like both the town and the ranch, I think. I know the ranch needs a lot of work, and it’s a whole different way of life for me, that’s for sure.”

“Yes, I’d expect it is.”

He heard her take a deep breath, then let it out softly. Finally, she said, “There is something I need to tell you.”

Jack flashed her a look, but she was staring at her hands clenched together in her lap. “What is it?” he asked, hoping against hope she’d already figured out that this place wasn’t for her.

“I need to be honest with you. I should have said something earlier, but was worried if I did that you would withdraw your offer on the ranch permanently.”

He slowed the truck as the entrance to Oscar’s ranch came into view. “What are you talking about?”

“I want to give living here, running the ranch a try. I need to, but if I fail, if it all goes wrong, I don’t want to just lose everything.” He stopped by the closed gates and turned to her. The knuckles of her clenched hands were white. “My mother always taught me to have a backup plan.” Those violet eyes met his. “You’re my backup plan.”

He stared at her, then realized what she was saying. She’d try, and if she failed, she wanted him to bail her out by buying the ranch. “If you mess up, you’ll sell the land to me?”

“Basically,” she murmured.

It wasn’t the clean break he’d hoped for, and it wasn’t going to happen tomorrow, but soon, it would happen soon. He knew it. She’d cave sooner or later. A sense of relief seeped into him. Up to now he’d been afraid she would shut the door forever, but she hadn’t. She hadn’t even locked the door, let alone shut it for good.

She stared at him, then finally said, “Well?”

“Well, what?”

“What do you think?”

“I don’t believe I’ve ever been anyone’s backup plan before.”

She blinked twice, then managed a slight smile. “You’re not angry?”

“No, I’m not angry,” he admitted truthfully. As high color tinged her cheeks, he wondered when the last time was that he’d seen a woman blush.

* * *

G
RACE
FELT
FOOLISH
, unable to keep eye contact with Jack. She’d thought he’d be offended by the truth—that he’d walk away, but he appeared to be fine. She felt her tension ease, and was grateful. The minute she’d seen Jack come into the reception area at the law firm, she’d known she couldn’t lie to him anymore. And she’d expected him to ask her about her decision right then and there. When he hadn’t, she’d decided she had to be honest with him. Just to get it over with. And now she had.

He wasn’t angry, he wasn’t pouting, and he was actually taking her to see the horse for Lilly. It was amazing. “I’m sorry,” she said softly, just to make very sure he understood she really was.