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“It’s pretty amazing how fast your grandfather can pull things together.” Jared whizzed around a slow poke on the freeway who had yet to read a single sign that reminded drivers the left lane was for passing only.
“If I had a nickel for every time the Governor spouted the old adage,it’s not what you know but who you know, I’d be a very rich lady.”
“Sorry to point this out,” Jared smiled at her, “but you already are a very rich lady.”
She shrugged. “Okay, more rich. Between all his connections, and his tendency to run every project he was involved with the same way he ordered around his troops, I have no doubt this new charity will shine sooner than later.”
“Agreed.” Jared shifted gears. “I know I’ve already said this, but it merits mentioning again. Thank you for coming with me today.”
When the evening and plan making was finally over, she’d politely offered to go with Jared today to pick up Mary’s grandson. To her surprise, Jared had taken her up on the offer before she’d even finished her sentence. So now, instead of heading to church with the family this Sunday morning, she was on her way to the other side of Hill Country to accompany Jared in his task of retrieving little Jake.
“Penny for your thoughts?” Jared barely glanced in her direction.
“Not worth that much.” Smiling around her grandfather’s neighbor was easier than she might have imagined.
“I doubt that.” He kept his gaze on the road ahead.
“Back at you.”
He blew out a deep sigh.
“By the time we get back to the ranch with Jake, we’ll still have the better part of the afternoon ahead of us and frankly, I’m not sure what to do with him. Especially if he’s upset about his grandmother, which I expect will be the case.”
“Don’t know about that.”
“What to do with him or how upset he’ll be?”
“I don’t know a huge amount about kids, but I do remember a thing or two about both my half sisters. One of those things is that at Jake’s age, kids still have unwavering faith in whatever adults tell them. If you tell him everything will be all right, that his grandmother will be home soon, he’ll believe you.”
“And if she doesn’t come home soon? Then he’ll never believe me again.”
This time she blew out the sigh. “I suppose the doctor’s optimism will have to be carefully portrayed, but if we go about life as normally as possible, so will he.”
Jared tipped his head to one side. “I sure do hope you’re right, but that still leaves me wondering what we’re going to do with him this afternoon.”
“Well.” One side of her face scrunched up. “This may be overkill, and I have no idea how Jake feels about water.”
He shrugged. “Neither do I. What are you thinking?”
“Kyle is in town. This is an off weekend for racing.”
Jared nodded, but kept his silence.
“Some of the family is going to spend the day on theBaroness. A kid might find it fun.”
The idea had possibilities. The few interactions he’d had with Jake replayed in the back of his mind as Jared tried to determine if boating was something the boy would enjoy. It was a bit of a shock to realize that for the most part the kid just stared at him and he’d made little effort to engage the boy. He really didn’t have a clue if Jake enjoyed outdoor activities or not. On the other hand, what did it matter? At least on the yacht, he’d have adult help. “I suppose we can ask him?”
Eve smiled. “I suppose we can.”
The twinkle in her eyes he’d grown so fond of told him she was politely teasing him. “Ask him we shall.”
Her head bobbed and he hoped that bringing Jake home was going to be as easy as being with Eve. Despite the miserable circumstances surrounding Mary, he wanted to believe that Eve’s analysis of the situation would be correct. He also wanted Mary to get well sooner than later and he really wanted the Barons help making everything right. Including finding a way to make Eve feel for him what he felt for her. A tall order as he saw it. Maybe it was time he said a few extra prayers during the rest of the drive, because right now the two things he wanted most in this world, bringing a healthy Mary home from the hospital and making Eve Baron a permanent part of his life, seemed pretty dang far out of his reach.
“Relax.” Eve’s brother Kyle handed her an iced tea. “Craig may occasionally be an overbearing—”
“I never said that.” And she never would. At least not to his face. But Kyle was right, working more often than not with overly confident Hollywood types brought out her brother’s pricklier side. Thankfully a few days grounded in Texas hard clay soil snapped him back around. “I had just hoped that Jake would be more enthusiastic about the boat and some of your toys.”
“The kid’s a little young to set loose on the Wave Runner.”
