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“Fortunately your daughter isn’t so inclined.”
“Laura likes anything beautiful, and Sundance is definitely a beautiful pony. It was very generous of you to buy him—” Jessy began.
Monte cut her off. “What good is money if you can’t spend it to bring some joy into the life of a child?” He gave her no chance to reply. “Shall we get Sundance settled in his new home? You take the lead while I fetch his saddle and tack from the van.”
But Jessy didn’t find his beneficence so easy to dismiss. She tried again. “Still—”
“If you feel the need to repay me in some way, invite me to dinner.” His smile was quick and teasing.
Giving up, Jessy smiled back. “Consider yourself invited.”
“When?” he challenged lightly.
“Tonight if you’re available.”
“I am always available to dine at the Triple C. What time?”
“Around seven.”
“I’ll be here.”
It wasn’t until after he left that Jessy recalled the suspicions Chase and Laredo had voiced about Monte. It was a possibility that Jessy couldn’t bring herself to dismiss out of hand. She remembered too well that once she would have regarded any suggestion that Dick Ballard might have had something to do with Ty’s death to be completely preposterous. It made her much more hesitant to jump to conclusions about anyone’s innocence again.
At the same time, she had no regrets about inviting Monte to dinner, convinced it was better to learn as much as she could about him, and certain it was what Chase would do.
As always, Monte was undemanding company, proving to be both entertaining and comfortable to be around. Any concern Jessy might have felt that he might read something into the fact that he was her sole guest for the first time turned out to be unfounded. Nothing in his manner indicated that he regarded it as anything more than two friends sharing a meal. In light of Laredo’s insinuations that Monte might be interested in the “widow Calder,” it was an observation that secretly pleased Jessy.
At dinner’s conclusion, Jessy followed the Calder custom by asking Sally to serve their coffee in the den. She never thought twice about the request until she noticed a white-faced Sally standing frozen in the doorway, pain-filled eyes staring at the empty chair behind the desk. At that second Jessy realized it was the first time guests had been entertained in the den since Chase’s supposed death.
“Sally.” Jessy reached out a hand in instant apology for her thoughtlessness.
“Ah, the coffee has arrived.” Monte immediately crossed to the doorway, eliminating any moment of awkwardness. “Let me carry that tray, Sally. I insist,” he added when she attempted to protest. “It’s much too heavy for you.” Avoiding the desk, he carried it straight to the coffee table. Sally trailed after him, all flustered and upset. After placing the tray on the table, he turned back to her. “Forgive me for failing to compliment you on a delicious dinner. The Beef Wellington was magnificent.”
“Thank you. I—” She stole a glance at the desk and immediately choked up.
Monte took her hand, clasping it warmly between both of his and then giving it a comforting pat. “I know. It’s very hard for you, isn’t it?” he murmured, all solicitous concern. Unable to speak, Sally merely nodded. Gently Monte slipped an arm around her shoulder and turned her away from the desk to walk her back to the door. “I won’t tell you that it becomes easier with time, because it doesn’t. It merely becomes bearable.”
After Sally had left, he returned to the leather sofa. Jessy poured coffee for both of them and passed him a cup. “That was very kind of you, Monte,” she said, touched by his sensitivity.
“It is rather obvious that she was very fond of him.”
“They were friends for years.” It took a conscious effort to refer to Chase in the past tense, and Jessy wasn’t used to watching her words.
“I haven’t met anyone who didn’t think well of Chase.” Monte stirred milk into his coffee and flashed her a quick smile. “But let’s speak of other things. We can’t escape sadness, but we don’t have to dwell on it.”
“I agree.” Cup in hand, Jessy settled back against the sofa cushions.
“My brother phoned today,” Monte began, then stopped, raising a forefinger to interrupt himself. “I just remembered something. I was told by . . . I don’t know, someone . . . that the Triple C has a feedlot that isn’t being used. Is that true?”
“There’s one up on the north range, but we haven’t run any cattle in it in years. It was an experiment we tried, but after the losses we suffered from a bad storm, we decided to stick to being a cow-calf operation. Why?”
“When I bought my ranch, it seems I stirred up a bit of envy back home. I think you would be surprised to learn the number of people from various walks of life who fancy getting into the cattle business,” he said with amusement. “Several have been pestering me to put together something for them. My first thought was a feedlot operation, since I don’t think they would want to commit to anything long-term. I have been looking for a place to lease for the last two or three months. Then I heard about yours. Its proximity to my ranch makes it ideal.” He paused, his mouth crooking with a rueful twist. “Although to be frank, I have been reluctant to even bring up the subject. I value our friendship very much. I wouldn’t want any business arrangement to interfere with it.”
“Neither would I.”
“Think it over,” he inserted before Jessy could say more. “In addition to paying a fair price to lease the feedlot, the investors would also contract with you to furnish the labor to run it. Financially you would have absolutely nothing to lose. According to Ben Parker, arrangements such as this have become fairly common.”
“True, although it would be a first for the Triple C.” That alone was reason enough to make Jessy reluctant to give his proposal any consideration at all.
