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Calvin came in not too long after that and looked like he was trying to figure something out. I had a feeling I knew what it was about, but I was not going to assume anything. That would be my first mistake.
Soon, we all went our separate ways. I headed for the office, where I almost had the paperwork under control and we were all supposed to meet this evening and go over the numbers. I hoped that they would keep me around after it was done.
Eddie had found out a bit more about me than I wanted him to, and I worried that he was going to tell Calvin. I didn’t want to see the pity on their faces, but if it meant they would trust me, things would be a lot easier.
* * *
It had been a long day,but I was confident that the books were finally in order. I had already dealt with the auditor from the IRS, and everything was looking up. They could probably go another couple of years before they were audited again.
After being unwanted for so long, I had found the last few weeks at the ranch to be better than I could have imagined. I hoped Calvin and Eddie would see that I had value and not get rid of me. That’s what I was afraid of.
I know that pity and desperation were likely why they had taken me in to begin with. It was Calvin’s pity that made him say all those nice things to me. I didn’t want that, though. I wanted to be worth something and for people to see me that way. After being nothing for so long, showing my worth was far more important than it should have been. I shouldn’t have to prove it to people, but I was in the unique position to know that I had to.
I knew that Sterling was the alpha of the Dark Riders, though I had never met him. I’d heard about him and was warned against him, and I knew what was said about him in my old clan. I didn’t hold any of that to be true. Everything that I had heard about the Dark Riders was wrong. They treated me far better than my own people, so to think that they were evil and cunning and trying to take over just didn’t make any sense.
Everyone had a purpose in this pack and nobody was beating anyone. If they were going to let me stay, I was certainly going to do everything I could to make them happy. I just wanted to be a part of something, even if it wasn’t perfect.
Eddie finally showed up and asked, “Where’s Calvin?”
“I’m not sure.”
“Good, then it’s just the two of us,” he said, and took a seat on the couch.
Maybe it was the way he said it, but I got a little nervous as I sat down beside him. I liked Eddie, I was attracted to him, but maybe my nerves came from the fact that he had seen so much of me. Maybe I didn’t want him knowing truth about me.
To be accepted by the other ranch hands, I cooked, most days making something in the crockpot. Today was no different; I had thrown something in it before I left in the morning.
“It smells amazing in here,” Eddie said, and I looked away, unable to keep the intensity of his stare for long.
“How was your day?” he asked.
“It was alright, Eddie, how was yours?”
“It was good.”
“So, I have something to tell you,” I blurted out. I couldn’t wait any longer.
“What is it?” he asked.
I smiled at him. “I got all the papers worked out, and I spoke with the IRS today. Everything is done, the audit is complete, and it’s all going to be okay. I wanted to tell you and Calvin together, but I don’t know where he is or when he’s going to be back.”
“That’s great, Eliza! I can’t believe you did it so quickly. I thought it was going to take months, maybe even years. Calvin is going to be happy to hear that.”
I pressed my lips together and finally asked what was on my mind. “Do you think that he’s going to ask me to leave now?” I didn’t like to make myself feel so vulnerable, but there was nothing else that I could do.
“I don’t think so. I don’t think Calvin has any intentions of making you leave.”
I truly wanted to believe that, especially when I was just starting to get comfortable here. I didn’t want to have to leave. It felt like I actually belonged here, and I didn’t want to let that feeling go. Belonging was more important than I realized.
“Good,” I tried not to get emotional, but I was feeling it right now. If I gave myself even a moment, I was sure tears would start falling down my face. Instead of giving them a chance, I asked, “Is there anything else you need help with? I don’t mind helping with the feedings or any physical work. I learned fast.” If I could help in another real way, I wanted to, desperately.
“Well, if you can figure out how to bring in some more money with these riding lessons that Sterling wants us to do, that would be nice. He just decided that we were all going to start giving lessons to the public, but it’s not as easy to make money as I thought it would be. I don’t have a head for numbers, and Calvin doesn’t really either. If you could put something together, maybe some ideas or just let me know what it costs now. That’s what we need to know.”
“I’ll look into it and do my best to figure something out.” I didn’t know much about horses or training or lessons, but I was determined. I had learned a long time ago that determination would take me anywhere I wanted to go.
“About earlier, Eliza…”
“Don’t worry about it. Just forget it ever happened.”
