Tommy let his hands fall to his sides. His eyes narrowed and his mouth curved wryly. "Those men aren't here because they want to get paid, Lexie. They're here because they want to help you in any way they can. So don't go insulting them by talking about money."
Lexie nodded. "You're right. I know they're here because they care.” She looked over at Mitch and found his gaze pinned on her. One corner of his mouth curved.
“Go talk to the boy," Tommy said. "I’ll come by again tomorrow. We’ve got business to discuss.”
Before she could ask what kind of business he'd walked away toward his car. Mitch had his back to her when she walked up to him. Her heart tumbled in her chest and her stomach trembled. His hair was mussed and windblown. She remembered how his warmth and solid male strength had calmed her the night before. Her knees suddenly felt weak.
He tossed a quick glance at her over his shoulder then hammered a nail home. “Morning. You look rested for once. I'm glad.”
She shoved a hand into the pocket of her coat and waved at the men with the other. "I don't know what to say except thank you. But I can't quite figure out why you're helping to build this barn when you're still planning to take the ranch."
"Your horses need to come home if only temporarily," he said as he reached for another nail out of the tool box at his feet.
Home. This was their home as much as it was hers and Dani's. Even though things looked bleak right now, she refused to give up. “This is just a set back. I’ve still got cows left to sell and horses to train. I’m not finished yet.”
Mitch shoved the hammer through a loop in the tool belt around his waist and looked at her. His eyes appeared more green than gray in the bright sunlight. "Maybe not, but soon.” He turned and looked up at the construction completed so far then back at her. "We should have this barn finished by the end of the day. I'll notify the neighbors who picked up horses last night and tell them when it's ready.” He cupped her chin. "In the meantime, why don't you go up to the house and rest a while.”
# # #
Mitch watched Lexie walk away until she disappeared around the front of the house. He turned back to his work, hammered in a nail then grabbed another. Contentment settled over him, as the force of the hammer zinged up his arm. He smelled the scent of the new lumber, listened to the buzz of a drill and realized how much he’d missed working on a ranch. For the past couple of years, he'd been thinking about trying his hand at designing furniture but he'd never done anything about it. Maybe he should. He’d become so absorbed in his work, that he’d forgotten the simple pleasure of working with his hands.
And now he could add new pleasures to his life. The feel of his daughter’s arms wrapped tight around his neck, her sweet voice, the tender touch of her lips on his cheek. When she’d told him this morning that she loved him, he’d almost bawled like a baby. Now he just had to convince Dani that taking the ranch and building the hospital was the right thing to do. But now, he was beginning to have doubts. Did he really need to convince himself first?
# # #
The next day, with the barn completed and the horses settled safely inside, Lexie lounged in her father’s study and worked on the ranch’s books. She’d sent Hattie home right after lunch. Friends had dropped off covered dishes and desserts throughout the afternoon, enough to feed an army. She guessed they thought in the midst of everything, it would be easier if she didn’t have to cook. Her heart warmed at their thoughtfulness. Friends had rallied when she’d needed them.
The thought of their loyalty helped to dispel the sick feeling that swept through her every time she added up the numbers against her debts. And still came up with a negative. Her fingers cramped from using the calculator. Her head pounded. Tension hardened the muscles in her back.
She fingered the check Skinny had brought her earlier from the sale of a few cows. She even traced the zeros, but it barely scratched the surface. The money would hardly cover the cost of feeding the horses, of keeping a roof over their heads and food on the table; much less begin to make a dent in the mountain of debts she owed.
Lexie reached back to massage her neck when she felt her fingers brushed aside. Mitch’s warm, rough hands took their place. She shifted at his touch.
"Relax," he murmured.
Relax. How could she relax when every time he touched her a little more of her resistance crumbled? His thumbs rubbed over the knots between her shoulder blades easing them, loosening them. Warmth suffused her skin and pleasure rippled down her spine. His hands comforted and massaged away the tension that gripped her in a hard vice.
"That’s better," he said continuing to knead her tight shoulders.
His touch felt heavenly. It had been a long time since she’d had a man to massage away her aches and pains. She arched into him, closed her eyes and sighed.
"Still trying to figure out how to rub two dollars together and make four?"
Lexie stiffened at his words and pulled away. Her back tingled from his touch. The warmth still pulled at her, but she rose from her chair and walked over to the window.
From this side of the house, she couldn’t see the new barn but her gaze swept over the hill where her father was buried. "I know you don’t think I can pull it off, but I can. I will. I have to."
She felt Mitch move up behind her. He turned her around to face him. When he put two fingers under her chin, he forced her to look at him.
His hair was ruffled, his face still ruddy from the cold after helping Dani gather leaves for her science project at school. "Sell the ranch, Lexie. You know you’re going to in the end."
She pushed back the tears that threatened and stilled her heart after hearing those final words. End. The end would come to her struggle and the end would come for her and Mitch. She knew when the end came, he would turn and walk away from her. But would he walk away from his daughter? "Yes, there will be an end. One way or the other. But I can’t give up trying to make things end in mine, and Dani’s, favor. I can’t quit until the last minute, of the last hour, of the last day."
She watched annoyance dance in his eyes. He huffed out a heavy breath and dropped his hand. "Tommy’s in the kitchen. He wants to talk to you. Listen to him, Lex. He only wants what’s best for you."
Lexie found Tommy dipping into a dish of macaroni and cheese with a large spoon. His keys lay on the table along with a folder.
"Mitch said you wanted to talk," she said trying to sound unconcerned.
Tommy glanced up at her. He swallowed, blotted his mouth and gestured to the table. "Sit down, honey."
Dread settled like a leaden brick in her chest. She moved to the table, pulled out a chair and sat down. "I’m not selling. Period."
He threw her a pained expression and pulled out a chair for himself. When he was settled, he pushed a file folder in her direction. It had the Hudson Real Estate logo on it. Her gaze flicked back to his. "What’s this about?"
"Open it," he said leaning back in his chair.
Lexie frowned, opened the folder and flipped through the papers. She saw flyers advertising different properties for sale in the area. They were small, with only a few acres, but enough so she and Dani could keep the horses. They all had houses on them. Two bedrooms, less than half the square footage, but attractive and well kept.
For a moment, she let herself feel what it might be like not to wake up under so many burdens. But then she heard the sigh of the wind around the house, heard the windows rattle. Outside, sunlight dimmed under a passing cloud and shadows crept over the floor.
She closed the folder and slid it back over the top of the table. "No," she said simply.
Tommy folded his hands and placed them on the table's surface. "Why not?"
Lexie rose from her chair and walked to the window over the kitchen sink. Small containers of pansies bunched in the kitchen garden. The blooms had faded a bit, but their bright colors managed to cheer her up. She looked out over the land, watched the grass bend against the wind and let her gaze wander over
the few cattle she had left. She looked toward the new barn. "I’m not licked yet, Tommy."
She heard his soft chuckle and the scrape of his chair. In a moment, he stood beside her, shoved his hands in his pockets and stared out the window. "You’re licked, honey. You just won’t admit it. Your daddy was stubborn as an old, twisted weed. You’ve got a good wide streak of stubborn in you, as well. But, stubborn won’t pay the debt you owe on this place. I wish I had the money to give to you, but I don’t.” He lowered his head then looked back up at her. "As far as my mind and heart are concerned, you'll always be my daughter.” His voice trailed away in a husky tone.
Her heart softened at his words. For a moment she wished he had been her father then everything would have been different. She put an arm around his waist and leaned her head against his shoulder. "You've always meant the world to me too, Tommy, and I know you would have helped me financially with the ranch if you could have. But you have to understand why I can’t let go of this place. Not yet."
He placed an arm around her shoulders and squeezed. "I know why. You’re trying like hell to hold on to Parker, even hold on to your daddy. You think by keeping this place going, your brother’s memory won’t die.” He drew her away, grasped her shoulders and looked in her eyes. "He’s gone, honey. And keeping this place won’t bring him back. If you go ahead and sell to Mitch--"
Annoyance slapped the ends of her nerves. She tried to jerk out of his hold, but he held her fast.
"Now wait a minute and listen. If you sell, that hospital will be built and Parker’s name put on it. That will keep his memory alive, Lexie. Not this ranch.” He exhaled a breath and kissed her lightly on the forehead. "Think about it."
# # #
A couple of days later, a knock sounded at the back door just as Lexie pulled the last batch of peanut butter cookies from the oven. She set them on the counter, drew off her oven mitts and walked to the door. Morning sunlight streamed through the windows making the kitchen bright and cozy. With Dani at school and the cookies made, she planned to head to the barn.
Upon reaching the door, she peered through the glass window in the upper portion of the door and saw Jake Ellis smiling back at her. Shock fluttered through her and mingled with irritation. Of all the people on this planet, he was the last person she ever expected to see again. She grasped the knob and swung the door open. "Jake, what a surprise," she said with warmth in her voice that she didn't feel. "It's nice to see you."
He pulled the light grey Stetson from his head and held it by the brim between nervous fingers. "I wasn't sure if you would want to see me or not. I mean after what happened and everything...” His gravelly voice trailed away.
Jake stood just under six feet with a thick crop of sandy hair and eyes the color of cocoa. She supposed he was cute in a boyish kind of way with a ready grin and the hint of a dimple in his chin. Although he had never appealed to her in a man/woman kind of way. Jeans covered his lean frame along with a red flannel shirt and black boots.
What else could she do but invite him in? Lexie shifted to the side and opened the door wider. "That was seven years ago, Jake. I'm over it," she said. Then why didn't it feel like she was over it? She admitted to herself that the stunt her father and Jake had pulled still stung. "Come in and have a seat."
He shuffled over the threshold and inhaled. "Something sure smells good."
Now I have to offer him cookies. "I'm baking cookies for a bake sale that Dani's class is having. I'll let you sample a few."
He pulled out a chair from the breakfast table, sat down and laid his hat on top of the table. Lexie placed several cookies on a small plate, poured a glass of milk and brought them to the table.
He picked up a cookie and devoured it in two bites. "They're awesome, Lexie. But you always were a great cook.” He cocked his head to one side. "I remember you having a special talent for pies."
Lexie slid onto a chair at the table. She smiled even as the bittersweet memory of making Parker's favorite chocolate meringue pie came flooding back. It was the last one of her pies he would ever eat before his death. "Thanks. So what brings you back to town?"
He polished off another cookie and gulped down some milk. "I heard about what happened...you losing the barn and cows in that storm and another ranch hand leaving.” Since that time she'd actually started to consider selling the ranch, something she thought she would never do. Some of the real estate brochures Tommy had brought her advertised some really nice houses with prices she might be able to afford.
Jake straightened in his chair and leaned forward. "What I’m trying to say is that I'm here to help. I have a new job over in Pine Bluff but I don’t start for two more weeks. I can give you some work before then--free of charge."
He obviously still felt guilty about what he had done and for some perverse reason she was glad. His feelings of guilt made up in some small way for the trick he and her father had perpetrated. Despite that, his offer touched her. Lexie reached over, squeezed his hand briefly and leaned back in her chair. "Nice offer, but I can't let you do that."
He nodded. "I figured you'd say that," he said with resignation in his voice. "How about half-wages? You can pay me when you get back on your feet."
As much as she'd like to take him up on it she knew she couldn't. "Your offer means a lot to me but I wouldn't feel right accepting it.” She pushed some stray hair away from her face then rested her elbow on the table's surface. "Things aren't great around here...but they're getting better."
He gestured toward the door. "I saw the new barn out there."
She smiled. "My neighbors helped out...and Mitch too."
Jake nodded and reached for his hat. "I'm glad. I hope things will finally work out for the two of you.” He stood up and placed the Stetson on his head. "Thanks for the cookies. I'd best be going."
He walked to the door, turned and smiled. "Look out for yourself, Lexie and good luck with the ranch. I mean that."
Lexie returned his smile. Because she'd decided to forgive him despite the past though there was never anything romantic between them, she put her arms around him. He smelled of pine and soap. "You take care too, Jake," she said and gave him a pat on the back.
When she pulled from his arms, she caught a movement out of the corner of her eye. Mitch stood on the porch with a bouquet of flowers in one hand and a mixture of pain and shock blanketing his face. He tossed the flowers onto the floor of the porch, turned and sprinted down the stairs.
"Damn, I'm sorry, Lexie," Jake said in a contrite tone. "I'll go and talk to him.”
He started out the door but Lexie laid a hand on his arm. "No, I'll go after him. It would be best if you just left."
"Are you sure?”
She nodded. "I'm sure. Thanks for stopping by."
Whatever else he might have said was lost to Lexie's ears as she scooted around him and ran down the steps after Mitch. Mitch had just reached his car when Lexie rushed up beside him. "Mitch, wait," she said in a pleading voice. "That wasn't what you think!"
He threw her a sharp look and gripped the handle of the car door. "Right. You played me for a fool once. I won't let you do it again," he added with bitter irony.
Mitch yanked the door open but Lexie slammed it shut again. He jerked his head and glared at her with anger and hurt shining in his eyes.
She grasped his arm. When he tried to pull away from her, she held on. She had to make him see the truth. "No, it wasn't," she stated firmly. "You need to get it through that thick skull of yours that nothing happened between Jake and me seven years ago and nothing happened today."
He wrenched his arm from her hold. "You expect me to believe that?" he asked in an incredulous tone.
The wind blew a strand of hair into Lexie's face and she hastily brushed it away. "Yes. I do. If you care about me at all."
His mouth fell open. "If I care," he shouted as he jabbed a finger into the center of his chest. Mitch stepped forward until the tip of his nose almost touched hers. Green fire
blazed in his eyes and the muscles in his face appeared hard and rigid with anger. A vein pulsed in the side of his neck. "Let me tell you something about caring," he growled between clenched teeth.
"When a man finds the woman he's just made love with two days before in the arms of another man, he figures she doesn't give a hoot in hell about him," he said in a tight, clipped voice. When she started to say something he held up his hand stopping her. "Stupidly, after seven years he still can't get her out of his mind so he comes back," he said with sarcasm ripe in his voice.
"Just when he thinks they can build a life together, he sees her in the same man's arms.” Mitch raised his hands palm up. "Again," he yelled and dropped his hands to his sides. "So don't question whether I care about you or not when it's you who doesn't give a rat's ass about me."
He dug the keys out of his pocket and turned toward the car. He couldn't leave like this or she'd lose him for good. Lexie grabbed the keys dangling from his fingers, drew her arm back and tossed them over the top of the car.
Mitch looked in the direction she'd thrown the keys then back at her. "Oh, that's mature.” He started to walk around her to retrieve the keys, but she stepped in his path. Lexie laid her hand on his chest just above his heart and felt the rapid thump of his life's blood against her palm. In that one, brief moment, recognition dawned in her heart. She'd fallen in love with him or had she been in love with him from the beginning? She jerked her hand back as if she'd touched fire and inhaled a deep, calming breath to steady her nerves. A voice inside her head mocked her. What the hell are you going to do now? "I couldn't bear it if you thought I'd betrayed you all over again. Hear me out. Please.”
He glanced away and squinted against the sunlight bathing his eyes. Wind blew the scent of him past her nose and ignited a deep longing in her soul. She was scared more scared than she'd ever been in her life. Losing the ranch would be bad enough but losing Mitch twice...she didn't think she'd ever get over it. After a moment, he looked back at her. "Five minutes.”
The Secret Truth at Dare Ranch Page 11
