The Staying Kind

by Cerian Hebert

  Jessa had helped her to her room with all her purchases, and now perched at the edge of the bed. In the living room there were about half a dozen bags belonging to her.

  “That’s Aunt Sadie,” Jessa said with a chuckle. “Share the wealth, it’s her motto.”

  “This isn’t sharing the wealth, this is giving it all away.” Rio grabbed the first bag, one with the logo of a galloping red horse. She pulled out a pair of black winter riding gloves. She’d be needing those soon, Sadie had assured her. And the two pairs of breeches and winter paddock boots. A rider needed to be properly attired. And that’s why she now had her own riding helmet, a new winter jacket especially for riding, fleece-lined sweatshirts, a dozen pairs of socks and new, heavy-duty duck boots. She could finally trash the old, used pair.

  And those purchases had only been made at the tack shop. As if all that hadn’t been enough, they’d headed to the nearest department store.

  “You can’t go through the winter with only three pairs of jeans and a few shirts. You’re a pretty young woman and a pretty young woman deserves some pretty clothes,” Sadie had declared while she pulled clothing off racks left and right, not even looking at the price tags.

  Rio couldn’t seem to talk her out of it. And really, the woman had enjoyed herself so much it wouldn’t have been right to squash such joy.

  Jessa had come along with them, as sullen as usual. Surprisingly, she didn’t seem to mind Sadie’s lavish generosity. Maybe she was used to it, and had realized long ago that arguing against it was futile, because as much as Rio had protested, Sadie kept on shopping.

  What did she need all this for? Okay, the riding gear would come in handy if she had to ride Dante throughout the winter. The gorgeous bomber jacket, however, for “non-horse occasions” seemed over the top. A trip to the local Salvation Army would’ve been sufficient, and she’d have spent a fraction of the money.

  How in heaven’s name would she be able to move on now?

  Despite her newly discovered love of riding, anxiety prevailed each time she thought about sticking around. Her stomach tightened and the sensation of being trapped overwhelmed her. Would she ever move past that?

  “You need help hanging it up?” Jessa asked.

  Rio glanced up at her and gave her a distracted smile. “Don’t you have a new wardrobe of your own to deal with?”

  “Yeah. Then I have to start dinner.”

  “I’ll put all this away and come help in the kitchen.”

  Jessa nodded and stood. Rio watched her closely, wishing the girl would smile. They’d been living under the same roof for two weeks now, and sometimes Jessa seemed as detached as she had been the first night.

  Today, while they’d been out shopping, Jessa had dropped her defenses slightly, but as soon as they walked through the door she began to build them again. Rio wondered if Travis would ever be able to breach it.

  She dug out the packs of coat hangers they had picked up at Wal-Mart and started hanging up the clothes, then filled the small dresser with other items. She left her old clothes where they were. Just in case. If she ever had to leave she’d take what she came with. It wouldn’t be right to keep anything Sadie had bought for her.

  Jessa had already started making the sauce for their spaghetti when Rio joined her in the kitchen. Travis was working late again. He’d need something for dinner when he arrived home. She pulled out the makings for a salad and began chopping up tomatoes.

  This was the closest thing to a normal home she’d ever been in. While she often felt as if she shouldn’t be there, she had to admit she could get used to this.

  I won’t. I can’t.

  A loud knock on the front door drew her out of her thoughts. Jessa left the kitchen to answer it. Rio stayed put. Even when she heard a woman’s voice she didn’t recognize, she continued chopping a cucumber and added it to the bed of lettuce. The guest didn’t concern her, and she didn’t want to be nosey, even when the newcomer’s voice rose in apparent outrage.

  “I can’t believe your father has done this.” The stranger’s voice got closer to the kitchen, pulling on Rio’s curiosity. She fought it and instead stirred the sauce. Her gaze slid to the door anyway.

  A woman strode into the kitchen like she owned the place, then stopped abruptly. Her cold gaze fell on Rio.

  “So it’s true,” she said in a voice as chilly as her icy grey eyes. She examined Rio up and down, her lips curled slightly.

  Rio didn’t respond. She returned the older woman’s stare. Rio had been through enough in her life, met plenty of people in her life who looked down on her. This was just one more.

  “Gram, this is Rio. She’s working over at Aunt Sadie’s,” Jessa tried to explain, coming up behind the woman.

  Rio saw the resemblance between the girl and the older woman. She figured this must be Jessa’s maternal grandmother, although the title “grandmother” hardly fit the woman who appeared anything but grandmotherly. Tall and slim, her silver hair swept up in a neat twist at the nape of her neck, she looked elegant and well off.

  Her derisive stare should have made Rio feel inferior. Rio gathered herself up and stood firm under the contemptuous examination.

  “Yes, I’ve heard all about her. I could not believe Travis would have so little sense or care than to invite her to live under his roof, with my granddaughter.”

  “Excuse me, ma’am,” Rio said politely and set down the ladle. She kept her own regard steady, refusing to show any sign of being rattled. “I would prefer if you didn’t speak about me as if I weren’t standing right here.”

  Rio’s suggestion didn’t seem to help. A delicate blush colored the woman’s cheeks and she lifted her chin. “I will not be addressed in such a fashion. Sadie Kerr may choose to employ vagrants and keep them in any manner she sees fit, but I’ll be damned if my granddaughter will share a home with one.”

  Vagrant? Well, okay, that was more or less true. Still, the woman made it seem so dirty. So vile.

  “I can assure you I don’t intend to cause any trouble for Travis or Jessa. They’re simply being helpful until I can find a place of my own.”

  “Where? Never mind, I don’t want to know and I certainly don’t think Jessa should be exposed to the kind of life I’m sure you’ve lived.”

  Grandmother or no, Rio’d had enough. She held on to her manners as best as she could, but she refused to be insulted by someone who didn’t even know her.

  “I’m not exposing her to anything.” Rio took a step toward the woman. “I don’t act in any way that would harm anyone, especially Jessa or her father. They have been nothing but kind to me and I wouldn’t repay it by acting in a disrespectful or hurtful manner.” Not like how you barged in and attacked me, lady.

  Jessa’s grandmother, whatever her name was, understood too. She straightened her back and stared down her slim, regal nose at Rio. Her lip curled more. Rio didn’t care. She’d stood against worse.

  She should have cared, because this wouldn’t be happening if she had moved on weeks ago. No matter; she was here and she planned on defending herself.

  The scene awaiting him when he came through the front door amazed Travis.

  No one heard him walk into the house. He’d done it quietly on purpose. As soon as he saw Daphne’s Cadillac in the drive, he knew trouble brewed inside. What kind of trouble, he wasn’t sure. Daphne didn’t lower herself to visit him for anything menial, so this had to be something big.

  He should’ve known word of Rio’s living situation would reach his ex-mother-in-law’s ears. Although the woman hadn’t lived in New Forest for more years than he could count, had moved before Jessa had been born, she kept her fingers on the pulse of the town. Plenty of her old friends would be more than delighted to pass along tidbits, the more damning the better.

  And so she had dec
ided to take it upon herself to come and check out the situation, making sure to stir things up.

  Most people quaked under the cold glare of Daphne Montague. Even Laura hadn’t stood up to her mother. That’s what made this scene so amusing. Rio, a slip of a thing, stood nearly toe-to-toe with the tall woman, matching glare for glare. He tried not to grin at the sight of the two women staring each other down. He’d put his money on Rio.

  He couldn’t let this go on. He had a responsibility to deal with his ex-mother-in-law, no matter how unpleasant. No matter what he thought of Rio, she didn’t deserve to be left to the woman’s mercies.

  “Okay Daphne, I think you’ve made your point.” He strode into the kitchen, glancing at Jessa, who stood by the stove, stirring spaghetti with tense shoulders. His attention swung to Daphne. “If you want to discuss this, can we please do it quietly? You and me, alone.”

  Daphne, whose face had darkened to a lovely shade of wine, kept her glare on Rio for several seconds before switching it to Travis. “It’s about time you got home. It’s a disgrace for you leave your daughter in the care of this . . . this vagrant.”

  “Rio is not a vagrant and I did not leave Jessa in her care. Jessa is fifteen now. Old enough not to need a babysitter.”

  No way would he mention his current behavioral issues with his daughter. Daphne didn’t need to know about that. It would make things worse.

  “Bad influence. God only knows what she’s been teaching Jessa.”

  “She’s not teaching her anything. I trust her.”

  Daphne made a sound of disgust.

  Travis pointed toward the door. “In the other room. Now.”

  Daphne gave Rio one more withering glare and then strode by Travis. She waited in the living room for him to follow.

  “I want her out of here.” Daphne certainly had never been one to mince her words, and this was no exception.

  “This is my home. I make the decisions as to who is welcome here.”

  Daphne’s eyes blazed with anger. “She’s a disgraceful influence on my granddaughter. She’ll lead her into trouble, you mark my words. I will not stand by and let it happen.”

  “You have no choice. And if you think I would allow a troublemaker into my home, you are mistaken. I’ve done a background check and she hasn’t been so much as arrested for jaywalking. I’m an excellent judge of character and I trust Rio. Aunt Sadie will vouch for her as well.”

  Daphne dismissed his words with a wave of a slim hand. “Your Sadie has a habit of taking in the unwanted. This time we’re not talking about a horse or a cat. We’re talking about someone who’s been homeless for the better part of twelve years. I won’t stand for it. Jessa would be better off with her mother than here with some kind of hobo.”

  Travis had managed to rein in his anger during this conversation. Daphne’s claim pushed him too far. How dare this woman insinuate that Laura, who’d walked out on her child, would make a better parent?

  “I think it’s time for you leave. Now,” he said coldly. “There are no problems here. Rio is a good person, I don’t care what you’ve heard.”

  “I’ll leave, but you make no mistake, Travis Lithgow, this is not over. I would suggest you decide if you’d rather have that woman here, or your daughter.”

  “Are you threatening me?”

  Daphne pursed her lips into a tight line and didn’t reply. Instead she strode toward to the door. With a punctuating slam, she was gone.

  “Damn,” he muttered and ran a hand through his hair. He should’ve seen this coming. Should’ve prepared Rio, or at least warned her.

  “Everything okay?”

  Rio stood in the doorway to the kitchen, a bowl of salad in her hands.

  “Yeah. I’m sorry about her. I should’ve known she’d hear about this.”

  “I should go. I don’t want to cause trouble for you or Jessa.”

  “No, you’re not going anywhere. Don’t let her chase you away. You’re fine here. She’s full of hot air.”

  Rio sighed. Though hurt and worry shadowed her face, she didn’t argue. “We’ll see. Dinner is ready. Why don’t you go and, um, change? Jessa and I will take care of everything.”

  Travis nodded and headed upstairs to his room, stunned by what just happened. Two weeks ago he had been ready to throw this woman out if she made one misstep, yet today he defended her to his ex-mother-in-law. Truth be told, he would’ve defended Satan himself to that woman.

  He had to admit in the time Rio had been there, he’d grown to like her. Most of the time she moved around the place as if she wasn’t there, and spent much of her day over at Cobble Creek. When she was here she always helped out.

  What’s more, Jessa seemed perfectly comfortable around her. She hadn’t yet come out of her funk with him; continued to give the cold shoulder. Despite the fact driving her to and from school annoyed her, she worked at Sadie’s place, and according to Sadie, she worked hard.

  At least she hadn’t tried to sneak out again. Regardless, he kept his guard up. He had a sneaking suspicion those days weren’t over.

  After a strained dinner, Jessa mumbled something about her room and homework, which left Rio and him alone. Quietly, she gathered the dishes, something she insisted doing from the first day. Tonight he joined her and they worked side by side. He needed to keep busy. Daphne’s visit bothered him more than it should have.

  “Do you remember how you mentioned I should take some driving lessons?” Rio asked as she closed the dishwasher and switched it on.

  “Yeah.”

  “I’d like to give it a try. I have money saved up. I think it would be a big help if I could drive. Legally.” She shot him a wry grin, the first of the night.

  He chuckled. “As the chief of police, I appreciate it. But you don’t have to enroll in Drivers’ Ed classes.”

  “Oh, what a relief. I wasn’t psyched about sitting in a class with a bunch of sixteen-year-olds. I’d feel rather foolish. Besides, I have driven before. I could probably stand a refresher.”

  “Not with Sadie.” As much as he loved his aunt dearly, Sadie behind the wheel didn’t garner confidence. A bold driver, Sadie unfortunately tended to be distracted by conversation.

  “But . . . Who? She’s the only one I know.”

  “You know me.”

  Rio paused and studied him, her slim brows slightly puckered. She didn’t smile. “Travis, I can’t impose on you more than I already am. I don’t feel comfortable—”

  Travis held up a hand. “Stop it. I wouldn’t have offered if I thought it was an imposition. Really. Aunt Sadie is, well, she’s the best riding instructor I know. As far as driving goes? She’s hell on wheels. I don’t think I’d put anyone in her care in such a situation.”

  Rio paled. “She took us shopping today. Jessa and me. I’m sorry. Had I known how you feel about her driving, I would’ve come up with an excuse not to put Jessa in that situation.”

  “Shopping.” Travis grinned. “How many stores did she empty? No, it’s okay. She tends to be more careful when Jessa is in the car. I can see her with you, carried away with horse talk and completely forgetting what she’s there for.”

  “Can’t argue. Okay, then I guess I’ll have to accept your offer. Again. Seriously, only when you can. I don’t want to impose.”

  “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you won’t. Now relax. How is it over there?”

  Rio shrugged. Her lips curved into a smile that told him she enjoyed it. “Different than what I’d expected. Your aunt is a tyrant, but I’m loving it.”

  “Glad to hear it. Her horses and farm mean the world to her. Anyone she takes under her wing she expects to work as hard, be as dedicated.”

  A coolness replaced the smile that had been on Rio’s face. “I work hard for her. I never slack off, no matte
r what I’m doing.”

  He didn’t mean to put her on the defensive. Maybe he had in the beginning, when he had cause to be suspicious of her. Although he still wasn’t one hundred percent sure of who she was and how she’d spent the past twelve years, he knew enough not to hang on to his initial distrust.

  “Easy.” He laid his hand on her shoulder.

  Instantly her body went rigid, so he withdrew his touch. “I didn’t mean to imply you were a slacker. Sadie tells me on a daily basis what a gem you are. I’m only saying the farm is her world and she expects her employees to feel the same.”

  Rio leveled a gaze at him. “I promised Sadie the winter and into next summer, unless I’m a complete disaster as a rider, then all bets are off. I’ll keep my word to her, Travis. I don’t want to let her down. She means too much to me.”

  Rio turned away quickly, but not before he saw her eyes glitter with unshed tears. He’d never seen that side of her and apparently she meant to keep it that way.

  “I’m going to my room to read. Goodnight, Travis.”

  Chapter 9

  Damn that man anyway.

  Rio slid under the covers and glared at the clock. It was barely seven-thirty, but she couldn’t go back out there now. Not after she’d nearly made a fool of herself by crying in front of Travis. What possessed her? And when did she let herself become all emotional over a job or an employer?

  As soon as she started working for Sadie Kerr, that’s when. As soon as Sadie had taken her under her wing and made her want to stop running.

  If it hadn’t been for Sadie and her marvelous horses, Rio would probably be working her way down south now, stopping along the way to earn a few bucks. Always traveling. Always searching for something without figuring out what. She wouldn’t admit she searched for anything. Dreamed for anything. She’d never allowed herself to do either since escaping her mother’s hellhole.