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You’re in trouble, Tova.
Thinking about his offer taxed my sated brain. I should be wary. I should pass. Risk the pay cut for four days off. But I was tired of fighting everything. So I answered now and hoped I wouldn’t regret it later. “No problem.” I even sounded sleepy. “I can go with you.”
“All right. I’ll get more details for you tomorrow.”
“Okay,” I murmured and stared at the phone and the seconds ticking by. For once, I didn’t feel so lonely.
Another pause. “I’ll let you go and finish, uh, whatever you’re doing.”
Oh, Stern Daddy. I already finished.
Nine
Tova
“Tova.” Thelma didn’t have to say more than my name. That alone radiated all her disappointment.
“I know.” I leaned against the counter by the sink in the galley kitchen. Thelma was at the table, her damp hair hanging to dry before bed.
For two days, I’d ruminated over my decision to tell Cody I’d go with him. I’d vacillated between berating myself up one side and down the other to being completely chill. The trip would be fine.Fine.
“You’re going to the middle of nowhere with a man you’ve only known for a few weeks, and you’ll be surrounded by his family—his people—and not know a single soul.”
I nodded, my mouth dry. He’d been locked in his office all day Monday and Tuesday, only coming out to give me information for the days and times we’d be leaving. He’d thoughtfully decided to go to Buffalo Gully on Friday so I could work with Catherine on Thursday night.
I fought off more guilt. I lusted after the considerate, off-limits man.
“What the hell, Tova?” She slid out a long Newport and looked around like she was going to find a lighter and smoke for real.
“I’ll have my phone with me. I can report in regularly. The kids are there. Nothing will happen around the kids.” Any smart woman would have reservations about going away with a man she’d just met. A lot of my brain cells didn’t work around the man, but he was a dutiful father.
She tapped the filtered portion of the cigarette against the table. “You like him.”
“I do.” I sighed and sat across from her. “I’d like to think he’s legitimately a good man, but I’ll be careful. I’ll send updates on my location, and I have money if I need to make a quick getaway.”
She grunted. “Good luck finding public transportation in the Wild West.”
“There’s an airport. Flights come in the morning and leave before noon or in the early evening. If all else fails, I’ll steal his truck. But...I don’t think I’ll have to.”
“You didn’t think Frederick would take control of your whole life and try to traffic you either.”
I slumped in the chair. “I gambled with Frederick and the house won.” Panic about supporting myself and Mom had gotten to me.
She nodded, her mouth pursed. “What’s going on with him?” She gave me a steady look like she knew I wasn’t telling her everything I knew.
“He’s tried getting in to see Mom.” I wouldn’t have told her, but she was worried about the Montana trip. So was I, but not for my safety. My heart was in danger more than anything else. I didn’t need to get wrapped up in the Cody fantasy more than I was. Being in Crocus Valley, working as his nanny, I could be rational. I didn’t need him to be real, attainable even. But since we would be returning to his home, the one he had with his wife, I might also realize just how unattainable he was.
Besides, he was shipping his kids off, and the idea still broke my heart.
“What are you going to do about him?” she asked.
It took a second before I realized she was talking about Frederick. “Nothing.” He’d take one look at Mom and see that she couldn’t tell him anything. Mom was mostly nonverbal. She could communicate with one-word answers, but they were slurred thanks to the stroke and lack of care afterward. “I’m more afraid his attempts to get to her will make the staff think having Mom around is a danger to the other residents and kick her out.”
“Can they do that?”
“I don’t know. Frederick isn’t an idiot.” Saying it out loud was freeing. He was a clever man, and I’d lost in the battle of wits. I’d had to worry about survival, and he didn’t.
I had even more worries now, but being with Cody didn’t resonate as a gamble. I had rapidly developed an affection for him I hadn’t had for anyone.
