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“Yes, ma’am. And Three Sisters Ranch is owned by a husband and wife—the Rutherfords. They’re good people, and I could have fought harder for the job, but I didn’t want to create family friction.”
“Maybe it was time for you to move on.”
He drew several cards, finally finding a two of spades to play. “You’re probably right.”
She placed a two of hearts on the two of spades. “I won!”
Well, okay.
Beth looked over to Tally, then back to him. “Another round?”
“I need to feed first.” He returned the rest of his cards to the deck and gave them a shuffle. “Want to help?”
They worked in tandem, dropping several bales of hay down from the loft, loading the hay cart, and feeding the entire herd before filling the outdoor water troughs.
Ordinary, mundane tasks he’d done hundreds of times at Three Sisters.
And it didn’t go unnoticed how well Beth worked with him. But he should be in Oregon. Working on the ranch. Training horses. Alone.
Instead of whatever this was. Because he didn’t like how easily a guy could fall into the comfort of having someone to help him out. Someone to laugh with. Someone to catch his eye across the room.
Nope. He didn’t need or want any of that.
Thirty minutes later, he parked the hay cart in the barn, and Beth stopped at Tally’s stall. The buckskin backed away, and Beth let out a sigh, then turned. “Ready for another round?”
“You sure? It’s getting late.”
“I still don’t want to leave her.”
“You know, my apartment is right there.” He pointed to the apartment door at the front end of the barn. “I can keep an eye on her.”
“That’s not the same.”
She wasn’t leaving. At least, not for now. “Okay, maybe Go Fish this time.” He laughed. “I haven’t played cards since I don’t even know when.”
They drew up their chairs and he dealt the cards.
“You’re really going to sell the lot?” she asked.
“I have to.” He blew out a breath. “Robin doesn’t want me to, and I get that. It’s a piece of our past. Feels a little like letting go of their plans. Permanently. Does that make sense?”
Her green eyes met his. “I kept a jade horse necklace my mom gave me. It’s broken, but it represents what was meant to be.” She let out a sharp laugh. “And I suppose it being broken is symbolic, huh?”
“Dylan said you guys never hear from her.”
Beth shook her head. “Nope—but still remember the day she left.” Beth picked at a seed head sticking out of a bale they’d been using as a table. “Every crazy detail like it’s tattooed on my soul. I used to think the worst part was her leaving. But it wasn’t. It was what it did to my dad.”
She paused. Busied herself organizing her cards.
He waited.
“She drove off. Not even a goodbye.” She cleared her throat. “Dad was sitting in his recliner late that night after he thought I was in bed.” She reorganized her cards a second time and set them face down. “I’d gone to the kitchen to get a glass of water. That’s when I heard him.” She rubbed her hands together. “Weeping. I mean weeping from the depths of his soul.” She looked over at Tally’s stall, then back to Grayson.
“I climbed into his lap with a box of tissues, and I promised him I’d never leave him.”
Oh, Beth. “I don’t think he took your promise literally,” Grayson said. “You were, what, nine?”
She nodded and looked up at him. “It sticks with a child, you know?”
