The laugh lines in Preacher’s face deepened. “Leaving just makes coming home sweeter.”
Ryder laughed with him but couldn’t help noticing the shadow that crossed Preacher’s normally open expression. Immediately he thought of the notebook Preacher was seldom without. Seems like everyone had their demons.
“Nell’s a nice girl,” Preacher said casually, running a hand down a pinto’s neck.
“Are they really that hard up?”
Preacher sighed. Ryder wasn’t sure he was going to answer. “The ranch was struggling back when cattle prices dropped and we had a couple years of drought. But it ran in the family, and I don’t think they owed anything on it, other than maybe a small mortgage for a few outbuildings.” He rubbed his hand down his leg as a horse came over to nuzzle his pocket. “Tom was a good man. He worshipped Nell’s mother. When she got sick, he let things go. I’m not sure exactly what happened, but I know when she got cancer the second time, he changed.”
Ryder’s chest constricted. “He’s not abusive?”
“I don’t think so. Just, Nell’s mother was his rock, and when she got sick, he couldn’t be the strong one.”
Ryder thought back to what Preacher had said about married couples needing each other. A soul-deep connection that one would rather die than live without. It kind of sounded like Tom lost the will to live.
“So there’s money there, they just need to pull through?” He had this need to make sure Nell was taken care of. He didn’t want to examine where it came from.
Preacher walked over to the fence and slapped his gloves on it. “Far as I can tell, Tom isn’t doing much ranching.”
“He’s working in the oil fields.”
“Yeah. And drinking his wages.” It wasn’t very often that there wasn’t even a ghost of a smile on Preacher’s face, but it was as serious now as it ever was. “The ranch was never that profitable, but they made enough. Although I’m not sure...”
His voice trailed off. Ryder wanted to grab him and shake him. He kept his tone level. “Not sure what?”
“I think he resents Nell for some reason.”
“Resents her?”
Preacher slipped through the fence rails and straightened, pushing his hat down on his head.
Impatience balled up in Ryder’s chest. He followed Preacher through the fence. He made sure his voice was modulated when he asked again, “What do you mean, ‘resents her?’”
Preacher blew out a breath, seeming to debate with himself as to whether or not he was going to say any more. Ryder held his breath, unsure why he felt this overwhelming need to know about Nell.
Finally Preacher pressed his lips together. “I’m not sure why, but he doesn’t seem to like her. It makes sense that he would favor his own children, but he treats Nell like a hired hand, only she doesn’t get paid.”
“Nell should leave. There’s no reason for her to put up with that.” He would see to it that she left.
“I told you about the ranch. But her mother is her hero. And her mother was a saint—never angry, just a sweet lady who would do anything for anyone. Nell wants nothing more than to be just like her mom. But, probably more than that, she told me once she made a promise to take care of Vinton. She’ll put up with whatever favoritism her stepfather shows. You’d be hard-pressed to find a more virtuous woman than Nell.”
“Sounds like she’s perfect for you.” Ryder heard the bitterness in his voice but couldn’t stop it. Especially because it was true. Preacher deserved a girl just like Nell.
“No.” Preacher didn’t elaborate, but there was no doubt in his tone.
“Sounds like Nell deserves a man like you.” Ryder spoke the truth. As much as he tried to convince himself he wasn’t interested in a saint, he knew it wasn’t really true. But he did know that if Nell were everything Preacher claimed, she deserved someone better than him.
“I think Nell should get to choose for herself what kind of man she wants.” Preacher’s tone was easy, conversational, like he didn’t care one way or another who Nell chose.
His words sent a shock through Ryder. It wasn’t easy to forget that he was supposed to be choosing a wife for himself at the ball that was being held in what seemed like a very short time, but somehow he’d managed it. He hadn’t planned on finding a love match. His plan was that there would be women attending who would marry him and live in North Dakota for the right amount of money.
“I agree,” he finally said.
The catch was that at the ball, everyone would be wearing masks. He needed to plan ahead. He wasn’t the kind of person who left things to chance.
Chapter 8
Nell stepped out of her room at six thirty the next morning. She’d figured she was in plenty of time to be early for her meeting with Mrs. Stryker. But the agitated voices that floated up the stairs seemed to indicate that business had already commenced.
She hurried down, hoping that the anger wasn’t directed at her. She hadn’t done anything. But maybe that was the problem—there had been plenty of time to do something yesterday afternoon when she arrived. But Roxie had said she wasn’t starting until today...
She avoided confrontations whenever possible. She would much rather that everyone just got along.
Her heart hammered in her chest as she walked to the side office and the voices got louder and the words clearer.
“I told you. I will not allow that man back on the property.” It was Roxie’s voice.
“I’m not sure you understand. There are three landscaping companies within two hours of here. He was our last option. This is not New York.” Ryder’s voice held a lot of irritation. It was also husky, like he hadn’t been up long.
“You keep saying that. Like I can’t look out my window and know.” She snorted. “I can just smell the air and know I’m not in New York.”
That was probably true, but Roxie didn’t say it like it was a good thing.
“I’m just trying to get you to understand that if you want your landscaping to be perfect for the ball, you’re going to need to work with one of the companies that you’ve fired.”
“I will do no such thing.”
“That’s fine with me. I don’t care what the plants look like. I don’t even care if there are decorations. It’s all your show.”
“You’re the reason for the show.” Nell thought maybe she detected a note of bitterness in Roxie’s voice.
“We’ve been through this. I know if I refuse to participate in the ball or refuse to choose a wife and get married, everything goes to you.” The frustration level of Ryder’s voice increased. “I can’t do that.”
“I’ve never asked you to.”
“Right. I get it. It’s the fact that you’re older, but I’m first in line.”
“Because you’re a man.” There was no doubting the bitterness in Roxie’s voice this time.
“That might be true.”
“Might be?” Roxie spit out. “You know it is.”
“Have you ever thought that it could be because I’ve been working in the company for over ten years? Maybe I got first dibs because I earned it.”
“It could have been divided up equally.”
“And they could have just given it to me without making me move to North Dakota and having a stupid ball and getting married, too.”
“Well, if anything happens and you don’t fulfil your terms, I have terms, too.”
“Slightly different ones.” Both of them laughed without much humor, which made Nell wish she knew what the inside joke was.
She’d reached the doorway to the office. Because it was early morning and she’d learned from experience that not everyone woke up as happy as she did, she tried to temper her smile as she poked her head around the corner, looking to see if Mrs. Stryker was in yet.
“Good morning,” she said.
They both looked up. Roxie actually seemed to be happy to see her. Ryder, dressed in jeans and a plaid shirt, had his arms crossed and leaned against the counter. His expression wa
s harder to read. Nell guessed he wasn’t a morning person.
“Good morning,” Roxie said.
Ryder jerked his chin at her and pushed off the counter. She got the feeling he was leaving. Because she walked in?
Mrs. Stryker sat behind the desk. Her eyes brightened, and she echoed Roxie’s “good morning.”
“I hope I’m not interrupting?”
“There’s always work going on here. If you’re going to be staying here, you might as well get used to the fact that people will be in and out, talking ranch business all day long.” Mrs. Stryker arranged the papers on her desk. “Come on in. If anyone wants to have a private conversation, they’ll do it somewhere else.”
“Did you eat yet?”
Ryder’s voice startled her.
“No. I heard voices here and thought maybe I should have been early. I feel like I haven’t done anything.”
“We’ll work you. Don’t worry about that.” Mrs. Stryker laughed.
“There’s breakfast food laid out buffet style along the side of the dining room. Make sure you get some.” Ryder’s eyes met hers before he pulled his phone out of his pocket and turned from them slightly to answer it.
Roxie gave Nell a thoughtful look. “You’re from around here, aren’t you?”
“Kind of. A couple hours west of here.”
“Right. I need a landscaper. Someone who is willing to look at my vision and do what I want, not tell me that it can’t be done.” Several large rings on her fingers glittered as she waved her hand around. “Do you know anyone like that?”
Mrs. Stryker tapped a pen on the desk. “We’ve looked online. There’s just three and...” She glanced at Roxie. “They didn’t work out.”
Roxie tossed her head. “I fired them. I need people who are going to work, not whine that I’m asking them to do something impossible.”
Nell thought for a minute. “There’s a place an hour to the west of me, which would make it three hours from here, and I don’t think Marshall would be willing to travel that far every day.”
“We’d pay him,” Roxie said quickly.
“Or he could stay here,” Mrs. Stryker added.
“I suppose it depends on how hard up he is for work. But he’s the only one I know.” Nell couldn’t think of anyone else.
It was hard to think, actually. Ryder was on the phone by the door, talking in low tones. She tried not to eavesdrop.
“Do you have his number?” Mrs. Stryker asked.
“No. But his name is Marshall Rupert, and he lives in Minch.”
Immediately Mrs. Stryker’s fingers began tapping on the keyboard in front of her.
“I think Preacher said you had a way with plants.” Ryder took a step back toward them, shoving his phone in his pocket.
“There’s a lot more to landscaping than being good with plants.” Roxie crossed her arms over her chest. “I can see that look in your eye, Ryder, and no. Whatever business idea is going on in your head, I’m saying no to right now.”
Nell tried not to fidget. Business idea?
“There’s no ‘look’ in my eye.”
“Whatever it is, usually you have everyone around you snapping to your commands, then you slip away.” Roxie put her hands on her hips. “This is a huge undertaking, and you’re not going to sneak out. If you’ve got some finagled plan, you’re going to be here, implementing the plan.”
“Of course I’m going to be here. I have to be here.”
“No. Not just here. Whatever you’re thinking about the landscaping, you’d better have a place for yourself in those plans.”
Ryder stared at Roxie, his eyes narrowed, but he didn’t seem angry, just considering.
“We might not have needed to have this conversation. I found Marshall’s number. Would you like to give him a call, or should I?” Mrs. Stryker’s cheerful face peeked out from behind her computer screen.
Roxie whipped her phone out. “I’ll do it.” She punched the number in as Mrs. Stryker called it out and walked out of the office.
Nell’s heart had started to thump. She wasn’t sure what was going on, exactly, but she didn’t have a great feeling about it.
Roxie’s phone call didn’t take long.
“He’s out. Not interested,” she said without fanfare when she walked back in about thirty seconds later.
“Then we’re down to my idea.” Ryder leaned a hip against the counter.
Roxie’s lip twisted, but she lifted her chin. “You can tell me your idea first, and I’ll let you know if it works.”
“I’ll just head out to the kitchen.” Nell started to duck out the door. She’d only planned on coming in and talking to Mrs. Stryker about her duties and what was expected of her. She felt like she’d walked in on a family/business discussion that was none of her business.
“Just wait.” Ryder put his hand up. She was used to people ordering her around. Her stepsisters and stepfather did it a lot, so his command didn’t really bother her. But Roxie’s eyes narrowed. Whether it was because of the command or because of something else, Nell couldn’t say.
Nell stopped.
“My plan involves you.” His words were confident, like he didn’t expect her to protest, but when he directed his gaze at her, there was enough question in his eyes that she almost felt like he was asking if she’d agree to stay, at least.
“Okay.” She felt compelled to answer that unspoken question.
“Preacher said you know a lot about plants.”
He studied her, and for some odd reason, her heart started that heavy beating thing again.
“Yes.”
She wasn’t sure her knowledge was up to Roxie’s standards, but she was known for being able to get anything to grow.
“We have some extra ranch hands, and you—” his gaze broke from Nell’s, and he looked at Roxie “—you know exactly where and what you want. I don’t see why we can’t do this ourselves.”
“Because it’s going to be a ton of work, and I want it to look amazing when we’re done. Not like it was patched together by a bunch of cowboys.” Roxie rolled her eyes and put both hands on her hips.
Nell had the feeling Roxie was getting ready to dig in to fight.
“I will fly a landscaper in from New York. But we’ll supply the manpower and the design, and Nell will supply the expertise. If we’re going to spend the time and money, we want it to look good for years to come.”
“The most important thing is that it creates the feeling of magical beauty the night of the ball. It has to be perfect.” Roxie tilted her nose into the air, like a challenge.
“Did that sound like something you would be able to work on? If Roxie designs it, can you help her pick plants that will grow and thrive in the North Dakota climate and soil?” Again those dark eyes were on Nell, and she felt their touch to her toes.
“Yes.”
Satisfaction flashed for a brief moment in his eyes. It gave her an oddly good feeling to have done something that made him feel good.
“You work with Nell. She’ll design what she wants. I’ll get the landscaper here that will know how to implement what she decides and what you say will work, and I’ll make sure we have the manpower. Deal?”
Roxie pursed her lips. Her long fingernails drummed on her arm that was still crossed over her chest.
“You know, Ryder. I’ve seen you in boardrooms. I’ve watched you maneuver the situation until everything turns out the way you want. I know you don’t know squat about landscaping or plants or anything. But I also know that pretty much anything you touch is a success.” She lifted a brow at Nell. “I haven’t known Nell long, but she won’t be hard to work with.” Finally, Roxie blew out a breath. “Okay. I agree.”
There was no doubt of the triumph that flashed in Ryder’s eyes. “Great. Mrs. Stryker, you can still give Nell her duties, but her work on the landscaping comes first.”
Mrs. Stryker nodded, giving Nell a friendly look. “We can talk about that in a bit. You go get somethin
g to eat first.”
Chapter 9
Wednesday night, Nell sat on the back stairs watching the sun go down. It had been warm since Sunday, and the snow was all melted. The grass hadn’t started to green up yet, and wouldn’t for another month or so, but she’d been inside all week, working with Roxie who wasn’t just doing the landscaping and who was determined to make the ball the biggest thing North Dakota had ever seen.
Nell could have told her that it didn’t have to be that big to be the biggest in North Dakota, but she didn’t think Roxie would find the humor in that. She wasn’t a native anyway, and typically North Dakotans could poke fun at each other with other natives but not with outsiders. They didn’t get it.
Despite her perfectionist tendencies, Roxie was capable and kind, and Nell liked her. She enjoyed helping her design the gardens and landscaping. The design was almost finished. Next week, the landscaper would be here, and Nell would be, for the most part, doing the work she’d been hired for.
She hadn’t seen Ryder much. He didn’t take his meals with them. In fact, Nell would have eaten alone except for Vinton and Spencer and Gina.
Just because she hadn’t seen him didn’t mean she didn’t think about him. Part of that might be because he seemed to be everyone’s favorite topic.
That and the ball and how Ryder was choosing a wife, which made Nell not want to go.
Unfortunately, because of all the help she’d given Elaine and Rem with their kids, they wanted to take her shopping for a dress for the ball. They’d been the first people she’d shown her invitation to. How could she decline now?
Okay, so maybe she still did want to go to the ball. Maybe there was a little part in her that thought she had a chance to be chosen. Although Roxie had said something about Michelle, her friend from New York City, being perfect for Ryder. Roxie was definitely expecting Ryder to choose Michelle; there was no question about that.
“Hey, Nell. We found a flashlight!” Vinton came running out the back door with Spencer and Gina right behind him. The kids had taken to each other, thankfully. Spencer wasn’t quite as daring as Vinton, and Vinton wasn’t quite the student Spencer was. Nell thought they balanced each other out with Gina being the glue that stuck them together. She wouldn’t be surprised if they all became lifelong friends.
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