Love Finds You in Last Chance, California (31 page)

She pushed aside the sash covering the window and watched riders pull up in front of the barn. Justin, Davis, and Frank swung down off their dusty horses. Alex sat back in her chair and clenched her teeth. She dreaded this meeting with Justin, but it couldn’t be avoided. Not only did she want a report on the sale of the horses, but she also needed to know the truth about his relationship with her father and what brought him to the Circle T.

The dull thud of boots on the front porch and a rap at her door brought Alex back to the present. Her heart rate accelerated and she pressed her hand to her chest. Uncle Joe wouldn’t knock. Justin still felt uncomfortable entering the house without knocking, although Martha had told him repeatedly to make himself at home.

“Come in.” She sat up straight and made her expression as calm as possible.

Justin stepped inside and hung his hat on a hook. To her dismay, Alex discovered that her heart still wouldn’t behave. Why couldn’t she react to him like she did to any other wrangler? Walter and Charlie didn’t stir this type of feeling, and they openly displayed their desire to court her. As far as she could tell, Justin had never so much as entertained the idea. And now why should that thought send a pang of disappointment swirling through her mind?

He swung around, his dark brown eyes meeting hers with a direct, inquisitive gaze. “Joe said you wanted to see me?”

She nodded toward a horsehair chair on the far side of the desk. “Yes. Have a seat. I’d like a report on the trip to Foresthill.”

His brows rose and surprise lit his face. “Why from me? Frank and Davis have been with you longer.”

“I know, but I’d hoped to speak to you about another matter, as well. If you’d prefer I speak to one of the other men about the trip…” She leaned back in her chair and clasped her hands in her lap, trying to still the shiver that coursed through her at the look in his eyes.

He shook his head. “No need. Just wondered. I figured you’d been thinkin’ about giving me my walking papers.”

“I beg your pardon?”

Justin crossed one dusty booted foot over his knee. “Kinda thought Davis or Frank would be telling me in Foresthill that you were cutting me loose. ’Course, there’s Toby, and I’d have to return for him.”

She placed the palms of her hands on the desk and leaned forward. “If I ever decide to let you go, believe me, I’ll do the telling myself, not send word through one of my other hands.”

He gave a curt nod. “Fair enough. Now to answer your first question, the meeting with your buyer went well. The horses more than met his expectations, and he didn’t quibble over the price. Seems the gold rush has increased the demand for horses and pack animals.”

“You brought payment back with you?”

He shook his head. “I didn’t care to handle it. Frank took charge, and I believe he delivered it to Joe before taking his horse to the barn.”

“That sounds fine.” She hesitated, and an uneasy silence settled over the room. The clanging of pots in the kitchen drifted in on the still air. She made a quick decision and started to rise. “I’m sure you’re anxious to see Toby, so I won’t keep you.”

Justin didn’t budge but fixed his intense gaze on her face. “He doesn’t know I’m back, and while I do want to see him, I don’t think we’re finished.”

Alex kicked herself for telling him she had something else to discuss. Too late now. But truth be told, she was glad for the nudge to pursue the subject heavy on her mind.

She settled back in her chair. “You’re right, we’re not. I’d like to know about your relationship with my father.”

Surprise flitted across Justin’s face but then quickly disappeared and was replaced by a flat stare. He didn’t respond.

Alex bristled. “You knew my father before you came here. He sent for you, and you’ve kept that fact from me this entire time. It’s been hard enough discovering that my father kept secrets from me, so please don’t make it worse by denying it. You owe me an explanation.”

He seemed to consider the request and come to a decision, as he nodded and the tension in his shoulders relaxed. “Of course. May I ask you a question first?”

She inclined her head.

“How long have you known that your father sent for me?”

“Just a couple of days.” She laced her fingers together. “He left a letter for me in his Bible, explaining some of his actions.” She didn’t care to say more at the moment and sat back, waiting for his reply.

Justin brushed at a patch of dust on his trousers then looked up. “I’m sorry you had to find out that way. I wish I’d told you sooner.”

“Why didn’t you? Why all the secrecy? If Papa asked you to come and he’d known you in the past, why hide it from me?”

He drew a deep breath and released it between his teeth. “I probably shouldn’t have, but I didn’t arrive under the best circumstances.”

She raised her brows and waited, unsure of his exact meeting.

“Getting flattened by Ralph at the church wasn’t a good introduction, along with being accused of decorating a Wanted poster.”

Alex felt the blood rush to her cheeks as she remembered the question she’d posed to the sheriff. “But the sheriff didn’t appear worried about it. Besides, after I hired you, there was plenty of opportunity to clear the air and tell me the truth.”

His intent gaze remained fixed on her flushed cheeks and then traveled to her eyes. “But you’ve had your doubts, haven’t you?” He spoke softly but without the censure Alex expected to hear.

She started to shake her head but then paused. “To be honest, a few. I didn’t see how you could love Toby like you do and not be what you claimed, but I also know there are evil men who love their children.” She held up her hand when he started to speak. “Please, let me finish?” She waited for his nod. “When you arrived I figured you for a drifter—until I saw Toby. When I heard about your wife, I assumed you might be running from the pain and wouldn’t be here long. Then when your sister-in-law showed up last week—”

Justin shot upright in his chair. “She’s not my sister-in-law,” he growled. “Well, I suppose she is legally, but I don’t remember her. Molly had a half-sister who stopped by a couple of times after Toby was born, but she seemed to make a point of coming when I was gone. Besides, I don’t look at her as family after what she tried to pull.”

“I understand that, but you must try to see how it appears to me. Her accusations, combined with your not telling me that you knew my father and the mysterious things happening on the ranch—well, I guess I began to wonder.”

“Whether I was honest or not?”

“My heart knew you were, but I’ve been feeling the weight of the ranch on my shoulders and my mind didn’t want to trust my heart. Even my faith in God has wavered as a result of all of this. My father left me with a legacy of strong faith, and I truly want to trust God. But I’m still not sure I’ve gotten past the hurt and betrayal I’ve felt—the feeling that God somehow abandoned me. Does that make sense?” She leaned her forearms on the surface of the desk.

He gave a slow, thoughtful nod. “Yes, I suppose it does. And I’ve not helped by keeping quiet. I’m sorry, Alex. My silence was meant to honor your father’s request, and then as time went on, I wasn’t sure how to open the subject. I see now it’s done you more harm than good.”

She met his eyes and reached up her fingers to wipe a hint of moisture from her cheek. “Thank you. So you knew my father years ago?”

“Yes. He came by our place a couple of times and visited. Pa told me how Mr. Travers helped us out of a bad spot with some money a few years back, and it rode Pa hard that he never managed to pay it back.”

“Papa said he told you the debt would be square if you came when he needed you.”

Justin crossed his arms and frowned. “He did, but I have no intention of not paying back every penny Pa borrowed. Since your father is gone, the money will go to you. Feel free to start holding back my wages.”

She sat back against her chair. “That’s kind, but Papa was very clear—the debt is settled. I just wish he’d seen fit to take me into his confidence rather than leave me to find out by accident.”

“I’m sure he’d have told you, if he hadn’t died.”

“True. But it still rankles that he felt the need to bring in help.”

Justin settled his hands on his knees and leaned forward. “Your father wanted someone on the ranch who wasn’t known around here—someone who could keep his eyes and ears open for trouble. It sounded like he thought he and the ranch might be in danger, and I’m guessing he didn’t want to put you in the middle of it. Hiring a new hand wouldn’t raise any suspicion to whoever was trying to sabotage his ranch, but keeping quiet about it was important if your father didn’t know who he could trust.”

She sat upright and frowned. “He could trust me. He could have told me about his plan.”

“But he needed everyone, including you, to believe that I was just another hand. I’m guessing he wouldn’t have kept it from you for long, but your father was a smart man. He’d have had a plan worked out.”

“I suppose. I just wish he’d seen fit to let me and Uncle Joe know. We could’ve helped.”

“I doubt he meant it as a slight to your ability. Remember, he was your father first and a businessman second. Knowing how I’d protect Toby with my last breath, I can only imagine your father felt the same about you. I imagine he thought I could help you, in case anything happened to him.”

Alex sucked in a small breath and her eyes widened. Of course. She was, after all, his daughter—his only child—not his business partner. For so long she’d dreamed of following in his footsteps, making him proud of her ability to run the ranch. How long had it been since she’d thought of herself as his daughter—someone he’d want to protect? “I think you’re right, and I won’t say anymore about it. I shouldn’t be upset with you for following my father’s orders. Please consider the matter closed.”

Justin nodded and smiled. “Happy to, Miss Alex.”

Her eyebrows rose and she narrowed her eyes. “
Miss
Alex?”

He flashed a heart-stopping smile. “Well, you are the boss of a successful horse operation, and I’d hate to get too familiar.”

She tipped her head against the high back of the chair and laughed. “I see. I’ll have to remember that.” She met his eyes and saw something there she couldn’t quite identify. Need? Yearning? Or was her own desire driving her to see more than was truly there? “I won’t keep you any longer.” She pushed back from her desk and started to rise then sank into her chair. “Wait. One more thing.”

Justin gave a half smile. “Sure.”

“I’m not saying I’m going to do this, as I haven’t spoken to Martha or Uncle Joe yet. But in case they agree and I don’t have a chance to talk to you again, I don’t want you surprised.” She paused for breath, but when he didn’t comment she rushed on. “While you were gone Christy Grey was attacked and badly beaten. Broken ribs, cuts, bruises, possible organ damage.”

Shock showed on Justin’s face and he leaned forward. “You don’t think I had anything to do with it.”

“Of course not! It didn’t even occur to me.” Shame swept over her at the haunted look on Justin’s face. “The sheriff is investigating, but no one has suggested you. I’m sorry you’d think that.”

He sat back with a groan. “No, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have assumed….” He ran his hand through his hair and looked up. “Is she going to make it?”

“Yes, the doc thinks so, but he’ll know more in the morning. But there’s one more thing….”

“Yes?”

She drew a deep breath and plummeted forward, her words nearly tripping over themselves trying to discover the correct route to take. “I’m considering taking her in until she gets well.”

The words dropped into stillness so deep it felt bottomless. The flat expression on Justin’s face gave nothing away. Had the shock driven the man dumb?

Alex pushed to her feet and stepped around the corner of the desk. She reached out a hand. “I’m sorry—I knew you wouldn’t be happy, but I can’t leave her to the wolves in town. She has no one. I know she’s not my responsibility, but I felt sorry for her, lying there broken with no place to go.” She was babbling but felt powerless to stop. “Please understand? I’m not trying to bring more trouble to you or Toby. But maybe it would be better to have her here and know what she’s up to.”

He brushed the back of his hand across his eyes and gave a small shake of his head. “Not my business what you do. Like I said, you’re the boss.” He started to rise.

“Wait. I forgot to ask…did you find a copy of your marriage certificate?”

His shoulders slumped. “No. The sheriff sent a wire saying the pastor died and the courthouse burned. I’ve no proof I married Molly.”

“I see.” She didn’t, but the past few minutes had been painful enough without pressing the issue of his marriage or his right to Toby.

He pushed to his feet and a hollow smile appeared. “I’ll go see Toby now, Miss Travers. Thanks for your time.” He jerked his head in the semblance of a bow and turned to the door.

“Justin, if you don’t want me to ask Christy—I haven’t said anything yet.” She reached out and touched his arm, but he stepped closer to the door and her hand fell to her side.

“Like I said, it’s your ranch.” He slipped out the door and closed it softly behind him, leaving Alex with numbness in the region where her heart had once resided.