“Let me finish.” He let out a harsh breath. “I don’t needyou turning noble and leaving town because that meddlesome billionaire threatened your mother or me. I can take care of myself and her. If you leave town, you do it of your own accord.”
He finally drilled her with his gaze.
“I won’t have that on my conscience.” He took off his glasses and began to clean them. “I have plenty enough about you and your mother and sister as it is. I told Ben last night that Amber was a serious threat to you, and that’s true. But I’d rather you face her down than give in to Taft. Someone clearly needed to make a stand, and even thoughwe’re estranged from each other…I think you’re strong enough to do it.”
She had to press her lips together to hold back her tears. He stood slowly and walked over to her. “Even more so, I’d be proud of you for doing it.”
A softness flickered in his eyes, and her breath froze in her chest.
“You should also know your mother hasn’t had a spell this bad…for a long time. If the thought of you leaving caused her this much pain, then perhaps you should stay. I know you don’t believe it, Hannah, but I don’t like seeing your mother in pain.”
A tear slipped down her face before she brushed at it.Oh, Daddy.
“Thanks for taking care of your mother.” He patted her arm and took a step, pausing, his throat moving before he continued out of the house.
For the first time in…years…her father not only said something positive to her, but he was also kind and…well, human.I can’t remember the last time I experienced that from him.
“I told Ben last night that Amber was a serious threat to you, and that’s true. But I’d rather you face her down than give in to Taft. Someone clearly needed to make a stand, and even though we’re estranged from each other, I think you’re strong enough to do it.”
“Oh, Dad, you have no idea how much I needed to hear those words.”
And then the ones she knew had cost him the most to say.
If the thought of you leaving caused her this much pain, then perhaps you should stay.
She needed a hug and a quiet place to think. Grabbing her phone, she dialed the one man she desperately needed right now.
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
Ben headedout to Big Red after Hannah had called him and told him to meet her there.
Luke had filled him in, his brothers nodding along. As he’d left them and sent them back to the worksite, all he could think was how sad and painful it all must have been to Hannah. After checking on Cooper, he’d saddled Flame and headed after her.
She was lying on a blanket with one booted foot up when he arrived, hands tucked behind her head, studying the sky while she was chewing on her troubles. Her cowboy hat was tipped low over her forehead, even though Big Red’s mighty branches gave her dappled shade. In a Western plaid shirt and jeans, her hair braided, she looked very much like the young girl who’d first taught him what it was to love and want someone with all your heart.
He tied Flame to an aspen where Orion was busy chomping at sweetgrass and walked over to where she was resting.
She rolled to her side, her eyes red and puffy from crying. “Fair warning, I’m a mess right now.”
He plunked down next to her and pulled her into his arms. “Never.”
She fitted her arms tightly around him after nestling into his chest. “Oh, Ben, it was awful. And I hear you’re going to try to talk me into leaving. Everything hurts so much right now.”
“I know it does.” He caressed her hair, wanting to comfort, praying for the right words. “I’m sure you feel kicked in the guts with all that’s happened.”
She angrily sniffed and wiped her nose. “I do.”
His heart, already hurting, tightened in response to her torment. “Well, I do too. You’re right. I am going to tell you to consider going. Not because I don’t love you and want you to stay, but because I have to be fair to you. Jolene was right about that.”
That earned him a good poke in the side. “It hurts, knowing you two want me to go.”
“We don’t. Dammit, I’m not saying this right.” He tipped up her chin. “Hannah, I come with a hell of a lot of baggage. Even catching up with Amber this time doesn’t mean she’s going to go away. She threatened you. I’ll do my best to protect you, but I can’t live with the thought of you getting hurt because of me.”
She sat up and crossed her legs. “I’ve been sitting here under Big Red, thinking about how simple I wish everything was. That we could build the wellness center in peace, just love each other, and build a home together like we always talked about. But now…your gramps would say everything we’re trying to do is like walking uphill both ways. Neil also made me realize something I hadn’t fully.”
He braced himself. After knocking on the door last night with Hannah in his arms, he’d had a strange moment having the man open the door. Like he’d been the one waiting at home for Hannah, which he had. After depositing her upstairs, he’d come down and briefly told the man aboutTaft’s visit. Walking back to his own home, he’d wondered if Neil would be quietly pleased or tortured, knowing the decision before Hannah was one of her toughest.
“What did Neil say?”
