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I lay back on my bed, telling myself to lie. I bet she didn’t know he was living here at the Ranch. That wasn’t in the paper. Surely they didn’t have a private investigator following him now. It still didn’t sit right with me that they had before. Obviously, it was good to know he was cheating on me, but to think my parents would hire a PI to spy on my fiancé bothered me on so many levels.
“Well, Shelby Katherine?”
“Yes, I’ve seen him. Not by choice. He’s here with Bobby Jay.”
“That overgrown oaf.”
I sat up and took a deep breath and let it out. “Bobby Jay is one of the kindest people I know. And for your information, they’ve both made a lot of money over the last year.” Money made people, in Momma’s opinion.
“You can’t buy class, darling.”
“You’re right. Good thing it doesn’t cost a dime.”
“What are you implying?” Her voice was telling me to proceed with caution.
Well, I was past living under her rules. “Only that some of the classiest people I’ve known have had little to no wealth.”
“What a charming thought. Just remember you used to think that way about the boy.”
“Will you please stop calling him that? He has a name. A name that no longer means anything to me, and I would rather not discuss him further.”
“Yes,” she responded curtly, “best not to ever talk about him again, or see him.”
“I have no intention of seeing him again.”
“Then I suppose my work is done. By the way, darling, Barrett would love a chance to catch up with you. I believe he has a business trip to Colorado scheduled. Be a good girl and say yes when he calls you.”
There was no doubt who passed along my number. I had to take several breaths to hold myself together. How dare she continue to treat me like a child. “I don’t believe I will have the time. Goodbye, Momma.” I hung up.
I’d never hung up on anyone before. It was liberating. I let out a huge sigh of relief and stood, ready to face the day, my life. My life.
I faced myself in the mirror. I touched my pulled-up blond hair, making sure the tendrils fell just right. “You got this, Shelby Duchane,” I said to myself out loud.
I headed downstairs via the back spiral staircase that led to the kitchen. It was closest to the part of the house I was living in. I was staying in Emma’s old room. It had a full private bath and sitting area. It was smaller accommodations than I was used to, but I’d never felt so at home. That wasn’t exactly true, but life with Ryder felt like make-believe now.
I entered the kitchen to find Mr. Carrington helping himself to the spread that Frankie, the Ranch’s head cook, always prepared for us on Sunday. I could smell her blueberry muffins from upstairs.
“Good morning, Mr. Carrington.”
He turned from the counter, holding a large muffin topped with streusel, smiling. “Good morning, Shelby. Are you ever going to call me Dane?”
I returned his smile. “No, sir.”
“Then maybe you can teach my youngest daughters some of those manners.”
I walked toward the refrigerator to get a bottle of water. “They do just fine at the boutique. They are the best sales associates I have.”
“Glad to hear that. Make sure you help yourself to a muffin.”
“I will, but it will have to be to go. I’m headed to church before I open the boutique.”
“Are you going with Marlowe and those new guests? I believe they’re from your neck of the woods.”
I froze, staring into the contents of the refrigerator, forgetting what I was looking for. “Umm . . . No . . .” I stuttered.
“They seem like good men.” He was half right. “I met them last night.”
“Did Dolly’s foal arrive?” I blurted, changing the subject.
“Yes, and she’s a beauty. You should go have a look at her later.”
I remembered I was in search of water and finally grabbed a bottle before shutting the refrigerator door. “I’m happy to hear that. I will after work. I should probably get going. Have a great day.” I hustled out of the kitchen.
“What about your muffin, honey?”
I waved at him. “I’m not really that hungry.”
“Have a good day,” he shouted out. “Don’t forget about the family barbecue tonight. Frankie’s making your favorite, pecan peach cobbler, for dessert.”
I stopped, touched that he always made me feel so included. I turned and faced the handsome older man. He had thick gray hair and soulful brown eyes like someone else I knew. “Mr. Carrington, if I haven’t said it lately, thank you. I’ve treasured my time here.”
The tips of his ears turned pink. “You’ve been good for this place and all three of my girls. You’ve brought back some of the sweetness that my wife used to breathe into this home, so thank you.”
