by Jill Snow
Adam didn’t respond. Who cared what Henry thought of him? He was more concerned about his family and friends than a ranch hand with an attitude problem.
Adam stayed behind to help Loretta. He liked talking to her; she reminded him in lots of ways of his ma.
“Poor Mack, his wife isn’t doing so well today. Thanks for changing the subject. He only really talks about it with me or Ashley.”
“Where is Ashley today?” Adam busied himself with the dishes, his curiosity overcoming his wish not to seem interested.
“She stays home with her parents some Sundays but she usually turns up here sometime during the day. She’s a saint, that girl, putting up with her mother. I’d have run away long ago.”
Adam stayed silent, hoping Loretta would continue talking about Ashley but she didn’t. She chatted about this and that, asking him a little about Ireland.
“Always wanted to go there and check up on the family tree. Guess you get sick of that, don’t you?” she asked.
“What?” He wasn’t sure what she had asked as his thoughts had been on Ashley.
“Everyone in America thinking they came from Ireland?”
“Not really. It’s important people know their roots. But the Ireland those emigrants left is a far cry from the one we have today.”
“I read lots of books set in Ireland. It would be wonderful to do a sightseeing trip to all the tourist centers. Wouldn’t mind a drink of Guinness, either.” Loretta chatted as her hands scrubbed the pots before putting them in the dishwasher.
“Yuck.”
“You don’t like Guinness? I thought every man liked that stuff,” she said.
“Not when your granny used to feed it to you as a kid,” Adam said.
“Your grandmother gave you alcohol?”
“Yeah. It was a known cure for anemia. I was super skinny as a lad. Mam was always worried about me as I got sick a lot. Granny gave me Guinness with milk to boost my iron levels.”
“Did it work?”
“No idea, but the doctor told her to stop so I guess not. But I can’t stand the smell of the stuff since.”
“Is your grandmother still alive?”
Adam shook his head. Thankfully she wasn’t there to see what a mess he had gotten into. Granny Malone would have boxed his ears, no doubt.
“Sorry, Adam, I should mind my own business. Mack always tells me off for gossiping,” Loretta said.
“Don’t worry about it. We were just chatting. I best get outside and see if they need help.”
“You go put your feet up. Read a book or listen to some music. You’ve done enough for today. Work starts again tomorrow with that drive Mack mentioned earlier. That won’t be any picnic.”
“Thanks, Loretta.”
“For what?”
“For talking to me like a real person rather than some dirt bag.”
“I don’t agree with what you’ve done but I am a great believer in not being the one to throw stones. You had your reasons, I guess. Just don’t go making the same mistake again.”
“No chance of that happening.” He would sooner walk the length and breadth of the ranch barefoot before falling for another woman again.
Chapter 13
Opening the door, she couldn’t hear anything. Not even the TV. She walked in calling out “Hi,” but there was no answer. She peered into the living room. Her dad was just sitting there. Staring at nothing. Where had the man who had sat beside her that night at the river gone? The fight to get back to normal hadn’t lasted long.
“Dad? You alright? Where’s Mom?”
“She went to bed. She got upset. I didn’t mean to upset her.”
Ashley crouched down beside her dad’s chair. “I’m sure you didn’t. What did you say?”
“I told her we should look at getting a smaller place. I didn’t want to talk about our financial problems but, well…”
Oh no, why hadn’t he waited until she was home too. Her dad meant well but sometimes he could be too blunt. “She didn’t take the news well?”
“She told me she was never leaving this house. It had all her memories of Kayleigh. Ashley, you should have seen the look on her face. It was like that first night, when the policeman came.” Her dad swallowed hard. “I feel so useless. I can’t do anything to help her.”
“That’s not true, Dad. You and mom are doing great. It’s just this time of year. It brings everything back. I will just go up and check on Mom, okay?” She didn’t wait for an answer but ran up the stairs. Knocking she pushed the door open catching her mom unawares. She was staring at a picture of Kayleigh.
“She always had a smile on her face. That’s what I remember most.”
“She did Ashley. She adored you. Her big sister. She wanted to do everything you did and more.”
Ashley knew Kayleigh had experimented more than she ever had, with boys, dressing up, going out, drinking – not to mention the drugs but now was not the time to tell her mom. Let her have her memories of her angelic little girl.
“I loved her too mom. I miss her every day.”
Her mom looked at her as if seeing her for the first time.
“I guess you do. The two of you were like twins, never saw one without the other. People used to tell me I was so lucky to have such close girls. Most siblings fight like anything. But you and Kayleigh, you didn’t.”
“We did sometimes. Do you remember that time with the pillows? You went nuts because we got feathers everywhere.”
“Yes, I had just painted and they stuck to the walls.”
Her mom laughed and cried. Ashley moved closer to her and sensing no resistance, she put her arm around her mom and hugged her close. Her mom didn’t exactly hug her but at least she didn’t push her away.
“Would you like me to call Father Michael? He could come and have a chat with you?”
“It’s a miracle I need not a priest. Did your father tell you what he has planned? I can’t believe he expects me to give up my home. After everything else.”
“Dad doesn’t want to move, Mom.”
“He does. You should have heard him talking about those new homes closer to town. You would think he was a real estate agent.”
“Mom, he doesn’t. He can’t bear to let this place go but he might not have a choice.”
“What?” Her mom pulled back. “Ashley Margaret Baker, you tell me this second what you know about this.”
Ashley wanted to run and keep running until she was back on the ranch. But instead she faced her mom, looked her in the eye and said, “Dad doesn’t know how to pay off his debts. He didn’t want to tell you as he was worried you would be upset.”
“Upset!” her mom screeched before she threw back the covers. “We can’t lose this place. It’s our home. The only one Kayleigh ever had. I will not let that happen.”
Ashley couldn’t reply. She was too stunned. Maybe they should have told Mom sooner.
“We have to get the bank to send someone to talk to us. They can help. We have held our accounts with them for years. They know us. They won’t make us leave this house regardless of what your dad thinks.”
Ashley was thrilled to see her mom fighting back but she didn’t want her going downstairs and making her dad feel worse than he did. Nobody needed to be told they made a mess of things.
“Mom, go easy on Dad please. He thinks he has let you down.”
“Why? It wasn’t his fault. None of this was. He wasn’t the one that invited that horrible boy to our home and introduced him to Kayleigh.”
Ashley pulled back, the pain in her heart too much to bear. There it was again. The insinuation she was to blame for her sister’s death.
She stood up and moved to the door.
“Ashley wait, I didn’t mean it like that. I …”
“We both know what you meant, Mom. I promised Dad a hot drink. Could you make it for him please? I think I will go straight to bed.” She walked out of the room determined not to show her mom how deeply she was hurt.
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Chapter 14
Ashley pulled up outside the ranch on Wednesday morning. It had been a difficult few days. Her mom had either been crying, her eyes all swollen, or shouting. Her dad just sat in silence. She didn’t know how to make either of them feel better. It was always this way when the anniversary came close. She’d phoned the bank and set up a meeting with a financial adviser to call to the house.
She saw Adam in the distance, he seemed to be singing to the horses as he worked. There was something about him. He seemed honest and hardworking, kind and all sorts of other things you would never associate with someone involved in drugs.
What was she doing thinking about a drug smuggler? Could she have picked a worse guy if she had tried? But he seemed so different from the usual guys here. He hadn’t told her who he was despite admitting he’d sung to Greybird. He must have thought she was being unkind when she said he didn’t look like a singer. From what the guys had said, Adam’s band wasn’t half bad. Why would he hide his talent or connections? Most of the guests here were the first to tell people they were somebody, even if that meant they were related to the clownfish they’d modeled Nemo after. If she didn’t know better, she would think he was innocent. But he’d admitted to it at dinner. What had he said? Oh yeah “a little bit of coke.” How could he be so dismissive of something responsible for ruining people’s lives?
Her parents would be horrified. Not that it was unusual for her mom to react that way, but her dad—he would be gutted. It wasn’t worth it. No guy, no matter how cool he seemed, was worth hurting her parents over. They had been through enough.
“Hey, Ashley, what’s with the long face? The sun’s shining and the horses need exercising. You’re usually the first one out the door. Anything I can do?”
“No thank you, Loretta. Nothing wrong with me. Just thinking.”
“Of Kayleigh? It’s her anniversary soon, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, next month. It’s kind of you to remember.”
“Bit hard to forget. Such a tragedy. She was a lovely girl, your sister. Kind, beautiful and so strong-minded. Nobody was going to tell her how to live her life. It was her way or the highway. I liked her spunk, but I didn’t envy your parents.”
“Never heard her described that way before. You know when someone dies, they become a saint and all that.” That was how her mom remembered Kayleigh.
“I guess that is some people’s way of coping. Only the good die young and all that. Don’t get me wrong, Ashley. I loved your sister, but she wasn’t like you. She didn’t have your heart or your loyalty. You know, those very things that are making you throw your life away here. You should head to LA or farther afield. Find something you love and do it. Just for you. Not for your parents or Kayleigh, but for Ashley.”
Ashley didn’t know how to react.
“Sorry, I shouldn’t have said all that. Sometimes my tongue runs away with me.”
“You’re looking out for me. It’s cool. Maybe someday I will travel a bit, but I’ll always come home. All I ever wanted was to run the ranch and hang with the kids. I wish I could take over my parents’ place and make it suitable for the children. Have a sensory room to calm them down when things are getting too much for them. And a pool. So many of them love the water. They can get around better than on dry ground. But I might as well wish for the moon. Right?”
“You could marry someone rich? One of the guests maybe. It’s not like you haven’t caught their eye. If I had a dollar for every guest who wanted to go on a date with you, I would be a wealthy woman.”
“Loretta. I couldn’t do that. Date a drug addict or, worse, a smuggler. With my history? That would destroy my parents, never mind insult Kayleigh’s memory.”
“Everyone deserves a second chance, don’t they? Particularly if they are kind and helpful and it seems like they just screwed up that one time. Someone like Adam for instance. He seems like a genuine guy. Not like the usual goofballs we get coming around here.”
“Adam Malone and me? No way. Why would you even put us together? We aren’t in the least bit alike.”
“I don’t know about that. You are both kind, generous of spirit, hard working. I know the reasons why he is here, but it just doesn’t fit for him to be a drug smuggler. He’s not the type.”
“Type? Sure he is. He’s rich and thinks he’s above the law. Just like the rest of them.”
“You don’t believe that any more than I do. Whatever else Adam is, he isn’t a bit like Tyler or the usual contenders. He’s different. There was a rumor it was his girlfriend who smuggled the drugs. Maybe he thought he was being a gentleman taking the blame. Maybe he loved her so much, he couldn’t bear to see her in trouble.”
Adam loved someone. She didn’t like the sound of that. “If that’s the case, he’s stupid on top of being a drug smuggler. Either way, he’s not a good match.”
Loretta stayed silent but she had a smug look on her face.
“What?”
“I think the lady doth protest too much.” Loretta took out a dishcloth and began rubbing the sparkling table. “Face it, Ashley. You like him. A lot. You light up when he comes near you. The same for him. The two of you could have something special.”
“Oh, Loretta. You’ve been watching too much Days of our Lives again. It’s only on TV that millionaires fall for dirt-poor ranch girls.”
“He isn’t a millionaire.”
“You know what I mean.”
“Try billionaire. Seems he had some help from a friend who invested his money in a combination of property and new IT companies. Wish I had a friend like that. Maybe I wouldn’t be sitting here dishing up meals to this group.”
“They aren’t so bad. Not now that Tyler has left.”
“Now I know I am right. You, Miss Ashley Baker, have it bad. You’ve fallen for Mr. Malone whether you like it or not.”
Loretta turned away, whistling the tune of Days of Our Lives. Ashley opened her mouth, but the words stuck in her throat.
Chapter 15
Ashley seemed to be avoiding him. He could be paranoid but he always seemed to end up being paired with Bill or Henry, sometimes even Mack, but never Ashley. Bill was alright, but he couldn’t stand Henry. The man seemed to think he was number one on every woman’s wish list. Adam was used to the vulgar talk from the band scene but if his mam caught Henry speaking the way he did, she’d be likely to wash his mouth out with bleach.
Ashley rode with them if a group of them were going out but never near him. The other ranch hands teased her over being a cowgirl. They suggested she should become a real woman in their eyes, someone who was married, had kids and did the household chores. She handled them brilliantly. She constantly showed them she was as good, if not better, than they were.
One day, Mack called an end to work early. They had an hour or so before dinner so the ranch hands decided to hold a shooting contest. Ashley outshot everyone apart from Mack. The guests weren’t allowed to have a gun but even if they had, Adam wouldn’t have dared try. He had never handled a gun before, never mind shot one. He would make a right fool of himself.
He found himself watching her, the way she spoke to the other guests. All of them were there for reasons similar to his. So he didn’t understand why she wasn’t as friendly to him. Had he blown it when he asked her about her sister?
Adam cleaned out the stables. It was his turn at the filthy job, only it wasn’t that bad once you got used to the smell. He liked the physical labor—it took his mind off his problems and it meant once he hit the bed, sleep came relatively easy. Well, that was the theory anyway. In reality, he was lying awake most nights thinking of Ashley Baker. She reminded him so much of his mother and sister, their neighbors and friends. She was a real person. She wasn’t full of airs and graces, and she didn’t play games. She didn’t lie like most women did. What she said, she meant. Or at least he thought she did.
“We don’t pay you extra for daydreaming, you know.”
“You don’t pay me
at all,” Adam joked back to Mack.
“You seemed miles away. Were you thinking of home?”
“Yes.” Adam wasn’t lying exactly. He had been thinking of his mother and sister.
“I thought you might be thinking of someone else. A tall strawberry-blonde, for instance.”
“Not me. I’m off women for life. They’re too much trouble.”
“You’re a bit young for that attitude. Believe me, son, when you find the right woman your life will be better than anything you ever hoped for.”
Adam worked harder hoping Mack would take the hint. He didn’t want to talk about this. Not now, not ever.
“So this girl, the one who broke your heart? She the reason you’re here?”
“Don’t know what you’re talking about. You know why I’m here. I got caught.”
Mack rubbed the side of his nose as his eyes studied Adam. The sweat trickled down his chest under the intense scrutiny.
“What do you want me to do next?” Adam asked as the silence between them grew too tense.
“What are you looking for, Adam? Why here? You could have asked to be sent back to Ireland, couldn’t you? I don’t know much about the law but for a first-time offense, I would have thought it was possible. Likely even.”
“My mam and da will kill me when they get their hands on me. I let them both down.”
“Never mind your parents, they’ll deal with it. What about you? What was missing from your life that you had to turn to drugs?”
Now wasn’t the time to admit he had only ever taken prescription drugs. He had a cover to maintain.
“There was a girl,” he admitted hoping that would be enough to satisfy Mack’s curiosity.
“There usually is.”
“No. I mean, I was serious about this one. I thought I had it all. I was ready to settle down and get married. I wanted to have what my parents have. You know? Like you and Charity.” Adam paused trying to keep his voice calm. “I thought Camilla wanted the same.”
