A Rancher's Christmas (Saddlers Prairie) (15 page)

“I’ll bet the people you work with will be glad to see you back.”

“I’ll be glad to see them, too.” Except for Carrie. According to Marsha, she’d been coming to work on time but leaving at five o’clock sharp. Employees at Andersen, Coats and Mueller rarely left at five, and it was obvious that her heart was no longer in the job. Either she was going to quit, or Gina would have to let her go.

“I’ve been wondering, Zach. When the ranch sells, where will you go?”

“Maybe you’ll keep it and I won’t have to go anywhere.”

“Very funny. I can’t keep it. How many times do I have to tell you that?”

“Hey, I’m just doing what I promised Lucky I’d do.”

She couldn’t help admiring him for his persistence. “You should’ve been in sales,” she teased. “You’re great at refusing to take ‘no’ for an answer.”

“But not so hot at closing the deal.”

“Not this deal. So what are your plans for after the ranch sells?”

“Haven’t thought much about that yet.”

Of course he hadn’t. Which just underlined how different he was from Gina.

Suddenly her cell phone rang. Before 6:00 a.m.? She pulled it from her purse and glanced at the screen. What she saw worried her.

“It’s a call from Flagg Memorial Hospital.” She bit her lip. “Don’t tell me Redd had another attack of indigestion. He needs to get that physical.” Zach shot her a worried look before she answered. “Hello?”

“It’s Sophie.”

“Hi, Sophie. What are you doing at the hospital?” Gina asked. “Before you answer that, I’m putting you on speaker so Zach can hear.”

“Hi, Zach.”

“Hey, Sophie.”

“We missed you at dinner last night. In case Gina didn’t tell you, Gloria slipped on black ice and twisted her ankle on our own walk. She skinned her hand pretty bad, too, trying to break the fall. It’s not your fault, though. You did a fine job clearing off the snow and ice. I guess Gloria found a patch you missed.”

“But she swore she was all right,” Gina said. The sun wasn’t close to rising, and outside it was still pitch-black. She frowned. “You shouldn’t drive in the dark, Sophie, especially on the slippery roads. Why didn’t you call and let me come get you?”

“Because you have a long travel day ahead of you, and you needed your rest. But don’t worry, cookie, I wasn’t about to drive. I called Uncle Redd instead.”

“He isn’t supposed to drive in the dark, either,” Gina said. “That’s why Zach is driving me to the airport instead of Uncle Redd.” She realized that her uncle was just as invested in her getting together with Zach as her cousins.

Zach shook his head. “Tell us what’s going on, Sophie.”

“Gloria’s hand is pretty banged up, and X-rays showed that her ankle is broken. They’re keeping her in the hospital for a few more hours. She’s sleeping right now, which is a blessing, if only because she’s stopped complaining.”

Despite the seriousness of the situation, Zach’s lips quirked. Gina couldn’t stifle her smile, either.

“When we get her home, she’s supposed to stay off her foot and rest her hand for a few days,” Sophie went on. “Can you imagine? Gloria hates for other people to take care of her.”

“No kidding,” Gina muttered.

“The nurse says she’ll need crutches, but with her poor hand, how is she supposed to use them?” Sophie sighed. “I just wish we had an extra bedroom downstairs so she could sleep on the main floor. Hold on.” She covered the phone for a moment and then returned. “I have to go—someone else needs to use the phone.”

“Call us back,” Gina said, wishing her cousin owned a cell phone.

“If I can. Have a safe flight.”

“Bummer,” Zach said when Gina disconnected.

“Oh, man, a broken ankle. I could’ve taken Gloria to the hospital last night, only she insisted she was fine. I don’t see how Sophie will be able to take care of her.”

“She’s an Arnett, and Arnetts always manage,” Zach said. “That’s what Lucky used to say.”

Manage or not, Gina couldn’t leave her family, not like this. Praying that Kevin would understand, she glanced at Zach. “Please take me to the hospital.”

Chapter Fifteen

Zach was more than a little surprised by Gina’s request to go to the hospital. Just as he was starting to relax. Keeping his distance the past few days hadn’t been easy, and knowing he was taking her to the airport and wouldn’t see her again for several months had been a big relief.

But now... “Are you sure?” he asked. “Your flight leaves in ninety minutes.”

“I wasn’t around for Uncle Lucky. I’m not going to make that same mistake again. I’ll have to fly out later.”

He gave her a sideways look. “Will your boss be okay with that?”

“He’ll have to be.”

Zach wasn’t okay. He understood about Gloria, but he wanted Gina far away, out of temptation’s reach.

Thirty minutes later, he and Gina were headed down the hospital hall toward Gloria’s room. Even before they reached the room, he heard Gloria’s querulous voice. “I want to go home.”

“You know we have to wait for the doctor to discharge you,” Redd replied.

“That’s right,” Sophie said. “Be patient.”

“Don’t you boss me around, little sister.”

Gina rolled her eyes at Zach. “They don’t sound any different than they always do.”

Pasting a smile on her face, she entered the room. “Hi, Gloria.” She bent over the hospital bed and kissed her cousin’s cheek.

Not wanting to interfere, Zach hung back.

Instead of seeming glad to see her niece, the older woman glanced from Gina to Zach and frowned. “What are you two doing here? You should be on your way to the airport.”

“I’ve decided to stay for a few more days,” Gina said. “Until I know you’re okay.”

Sophie looked relieved, but Gloria’s lips tightened. “Of course, I’m okay. It’s not like I’m dying. How are you, Zach? We missed you at dinner last night.”

“So your sister said. How’s that ankle?”

“I’m on pain meds and I feel pretty good. I just wish people would stop fussing over me.” Gloria wore a stubborn look that reminded Zach of Gina. “I want to go home.”

Her younger sister let out a fed-up sigh. “Yes, you keep telling us that. You—”

Redd quickly cut in. “Once we leave, we have a bit of a problem. Glo needs crutches, but with her sore hand she’ll only be able to use one.”

“I’m afraid that’s true,” Gloria admitted. “But I’ll make it work.”

Zach had his doubts. She wouldn’t be able to get around easily. As independent as she was, she wasn’t going to like that.

Suddenly Gina’s stomach grumbled.

Gloria raised her eyebrows. “Skipped breakfast, did you? You better head on down to the cafeteria and get yourself something to eat.”

“But I just got here,” Gina said. “I don’t want to leave you, except maybe to talk to the doctor.”

“There’ll be time for that after you’ve eaten. You must be hungry, too, Zach. Both of you—go. And bring us back something. Hospital food is dismal, and we’re all running on empty.”

“What would you like?” Zach asked.

“A cinnamon roll or doughnuts would be nice.” Sophie looked hopeful.

“Not for me.” Redd rubbed his chest, as if remembering his bad case of indigestion. “I better stick with a bagel and jam.”

“That reminds me,” Gina said. “You need to schedule a physical.”

Moments later, Zach and Gina entered the empty elevator. He smelled her perfume. His body stirred and he wished to hell that Gloria had never slipped and that Gina was on a plane that would take her away.

“Gloria seems in decent spirits,” he said.

“As argumentative as ever. This isn’t going to be fun for her—or any of us.” She tapped her finger against her lip. “Gloria needs a place to sleep where she doesn’t have to climb the stairs. I’m thinking she should stay at the ranch and sleep in the downstairs bedroom.”

“Good plan—if you can convince her. I’m happy to continue staying in my trailer.” Which would help him keep his distance. If he had to see Gina, he would make sure he wasn’t alone with her.

The elevator dinged and opened its doors on the lower level and they stepped off.

“I’m going to call my boss now,” Gina said. “I’ll meet you in the cafeteria.”

Zach was selecting a variety of bagels and sweet breakfast treats when she joined him.

“Did you talk to your boss?” he asked.

“He didn’t answer, so I left a message. That’s a lot of food.”

“We’re a bunch of hungry people.”

“We better get back upstairs and feed my cousins before they bicker to death.”

* * *

“P
LEASE
GIVE
ME
the remote,” Gloria said. It seemed to be her umpteenth demand since Gina had helped her to the living room sofa. “Then I want some tea. I have tea bags in my purse.”

Gina handed her cousin the remote. “I’ll go heat up the water and add tea to the grocery list.”

She headed for the kitchen, wishing her family would hurry back. Zach had taken Sophie to get her car and pack some of Gloria’s belongings. Uncle Redd had gone home to feed Sugar and Bit.

Gina microwaved a mug of water. She brought the mug, a tea bag from her cousin’s purse and a bowl of sugar to the living room. Busy channel surfing, Gloria took one sip and then yawned and set the mug down. “I think I’ll take a nap.”

“But what about your tea?”

“I’ll drink it later.”

Gina nodded. “I’ll get you a blanket.” When she returned with a quilt, Gloria was snoring away, her foot propped on a pillow on the coffee table.

After tucking the cover around her, Gina tiptoed out. She needed to drive to Spenser’s and stock up on groceries, but she wasn’t about to leave Gloria alone.

She was sitting at the kitchen table, making a grocery list, when her cell phone rang. It was Kevin.

Before answering, she closed the door between the kitchen and hallway.

“That’s too bad about your cousin, but we need you at the office,” Kevin said after she explained the situation.

“I know, and I really want to be there, but this can’t be helped. She’s in a lot of pain and her sister can’t care for her by herself.”

“There are nurses and licensed caretakers for that sort of thing.”

True, but if Gina so much as mentioned hiring someone to take care of Gloria, her cousin would have a fit. “For now, it’s best that I’m here,” she said. “Just give me a few more days.”

“You said the same thing when you were stuck in the blizzard. That was bad enough, but there was nothing you could do about it and I understood. But this... I don’t understand. If it was something life threatening, sure, but it’s a broken ankle.” Kevin made a disapproving sound.

Gina wasn’t about to explain that she felt guilty for neglecting her relatives. “She’s family, Kevin, and she’s old. She needs me.”

“Your clients need you, too. Maybe you’ve forgotten them.”

“I’ve worked for you for nearly seven years. You know I’m not like that. I’ll call them in the morning and explain, and I’ll be back as soon as I possibly can. It won’t be long, I promise.”

“This elderly relative of yours isn’t going to heal quickly. You could be gone weeks.”

Gina hoped not, but unfortunately, Kevin was likely right.

She was silent a moment too long. He harrumphed. “You need to get your priorities straight.”

“Work is my priority, just as it always has been.”

“I’m beginning to doubt that. Christmas is only two and a half weeks away. You stay in Montana and use the time to think about what you really want.”

“But—”

“I’ve always liked you, Gina, but I don’t think you fit at Andersen, Coats and Mueller anymore.”

“You’re firing me?” Her heart nearly stopped. “But I’m on track to be your next vice president.”

“Things change. Lise has been handling Grant Industries quite well, and Evelyn requested that she take over the account. I was going to talk to you about that tomorrow, but you’re not coming in. I’ll parcel out the rest of your accounts to our other associates.”

Gina swallowed around her suddenly dry throat. “But I’m sure that if I talk to Carrie, she’ll—”

“We both know that Carrie isn’t working out. Since you won’t be here to fire her, I will.”

“I understand.” She bit her lip. “What about my year-end bonus?”

She needed that money to pay her current bills.

“You’ll get your salary through the end of the year, and you can cash out any vacation time you haven’t taken. I don’t think you’ve earned your bonus.”

She couldn’t bear to think of what would happen without it. Creditors would hound her to death. She might even go bankrupt. Humiliation for what could be made her feel sick. She refused to be like her parents.

“I’m not just talking about Grant Industries,” she argued, emboldened out of desperation. “I brought in several new clients this year and earned quite a bit of money for the company. I deserve to be compensated.”

“You almost cost me the Grant account. No bonus, Gina, but if you want to come back, you can take Carrie’s job.” Kevin disconnected.

In shock, she gaped at the phone. Kevin had never been the most compassionate man. His main interest had always been the bottom line. How many employees had come and gone because they fell short of his expectations? Gina had always produced. She’d prided herself on earning his trust and had never imagined she would one day join their ranks.

After putting in all those years of hard work and loyalty, it hurt. Now what was she supposed to do, and what would she tell her family and friends here in Saddlers Prairie? They all thought she was a rich and successful marketing professional, and she couldn’t bear to lose their respect.

What to do, what to do? Her mind working furiously, she prowled around the kitchen. Finally she came up with something. She would explain that she’d decided to stay through December so that she could take care of Gloria and spend Christmas with her family.

Footsteps thudded across the back stoop, and she barely had a moment to compose herself. Sophie, Uncle Redd and the two dogs crowded through the door.

And, oh, dear God, Zach. Why did he have to be here now, when Kevin’s words had barely sunk in? More than anyone else, Gina couldn’t bear for him to know the truth. She wasn’t sure why she needed him to believe she was successful, but she did.

Forcing a cheerful expression, she held a finger to her lips and kept her voice low. “Gloria’s asleep in the living room.”

Avoiding Zach’s gaze, she bent to pet the dogs as they licked her face.

“Gina?” Zach said.

He sounded concerned. Realizing she was frowning, she quickly smoothed her expression. “Yes?”

“Where do you want me to put these suitcases?”

“Just leave them in here. When Gloria wakes up, I’ll move them.”

“One of those is mine,” Sophie said. “I don’t like staying alone in that house.”

With Sophie here, too, Gina would have to pretend she was happy all the time. Wonderful. “That’s fine,” she said brightly. “There’s certainly room for you. What about you, Uncle Redd?”

Her uncle shook his head. “I’d rather sleep in my own bed. But the dogs and I will stay for dinner tonight.”

“Will you join us, Zach?” Sophie asked.

“Sorry, I can’t.”

That was a relief—she wouldn’t have to pretend quite so hard at dinner. “Now that you’re here to keep an eye on Gloria, I’m going to drive to Spenser’s and pick up some groceries,” she said.

“I’ll follow you out.” Zach shot her a questioning look and reached for the doorknob.

He was going to ask her what was wrong. Great, just great. Gina shrugged into her coat and grabbed her purse. In an effort to forestall any questions, she turned toward her cousin and uncle. “You should all know that while you were gone, I talked with my boss. I’ve decided to stay here through the holidays.”

Redd grinned, and Sugar and Bit wagged their tails and yipped with excitement.

“That’s wonderful, cookie.” Sophie laid her palm over her heart. “I know your uncle Lucky is smiling down at you. He’ll be downright euphoric when you put up the Christmas lights and a tree.”

* * *

S
OMETHING
WAS
WRONG
. Zach couldn’t put his finger on exactly what, but Gina looked shell-shocked.

“Are you sure you want to be here for three more weeks?” he asked as he shut the back door behind them.

“This way, I’ll be able to spend Christmas with the family and do a few more things at the house before the Realtor lists the property.”

“Your boss is okay with that?”

Instead of meeting his gaze, she pulled the key to Lucky’s truck from her purse. “I decided to use up some of my vacation time.”

“But this won’t really be a vacation. You’ll still be working with your clients.”

She seemed to find the keys fascinating. “I’m going to let people at the office handle my clients.”

She was a workaholic, she wouldn’t meet his gaze and nothing she said made sense. Zach gave her a sideways look. “Tell me you’re not doing this out of guilt.”

“Partly. Look, I don’t want to be away from Gloria for long—I better get going.”

She left him scratching his head, wondering what was really going on.