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“It’s too late now.”
She shook her head. “I really think this is a dumb idea.”
His chest grew tight. He hated disappointing his sister. Hated having her think less of him. “He’s waiting for us.”
“Hmm. Maybe Fido will eat him.”
“Ellie.”
“What? Don’t hate me for not wanting to sell.”
“Nobody is saying anything about selling things today.”
“But you may in the future?”
Exasperation heated his chest. “We need a way to survive, Ellie. The ranch needs to run in the black, not the red.”
“I just don’t think this is the right way. Are you trusting God? Hasn’t He provided with an answer for Mom?”
“If this even works out,” he said.
“Who is to say it won’t? I thought you liked Lexi. Why are you so resistant to her working here?”
“It’s not safe.”
“For who? For her?”
“For me.”
She studied him. “I don’t get it.”
“If she’s here, and if she stays here, then what do you think all the gossips will say? They’ll think she’s my girlfriend, that she’s living in sin or something. I don’t want to do that to her.”
“You wouldn’t be,” she said. “That’s on them, not on you.”
But it felt like it would be his fault, something else he’d bear the blame for. And worse than that, if he didn’t take care, he might find himself doing something he wanted to do but knew he shouldn’t.
Like kissing Lexi.
CHAPTERTEN
“Mrs. Reilly? Would you like me to make you a cup of coffee?”
Stringy gray hair blew around the older woman’s face as she turned to Lexi. “Thank you.”
Lexi squatted beside the bed, covering the woman’s hand with her own. “Do you like it with milk and sugar?”
“Black is fine, no cream or sugar.”
“I’ll be right back.”
She returned to the kitchen, glad for the chance to exhale and breathe in some fresher air. Mrs. Reilly’s room could do with a good airing and a deep clean, like much of the rest of the house. But she knew that was something that could be dealt with another time. Right now was all about trying to establish some kind of a bond with this woman who had birthed and raised Jackson and Ellie. So far things seemed to be going well, but having nursed other patients with similar kinds of symptoms, she knew it didn’t take long for things to become strained.
She switched on the coffee-maker, then glanced out the window. Jackson and Ellie stood with an older man, the realtor, or so Ellie had assumed before she’d rushed out, complaining about her brother’s illogical state. She didn’t seem any happier now, standing there with a scowl and crossed arms.
But Jackson had Lexi’s sympathy. She’d seen the way he’d looked yesterday, the wash of sadness on his features something she couldn’t forget, now seemingly seared onto her heart.
“Lucy?” Mrs. Reilly’s faint call came.
