Lloyd comes around the corner with a shovel in his hand. “Breakfast is on the table.”
“I’ll be right in.”
Laura is standing at the counter, eating eggs. “Good morning.” I say to everyone, but I’m looking at her.
“Good morning, Grayson.” She says pleasantly.
“Hey, Grayson.” Johnnie says and runs some things by me that he wants to do for today. “You think that’ll work?”
“Yeah, sure.” I agree, taking my plate from Grace with a nod in thanks. “Just, you boys make sure that those horses get exercised every day.”
“Trough’s done.” Lloyd announces.
“Excellent.” Laura says, impressed.
We eat breakfast in relative silence, and then one-by-one, we each scurry on out the door to get the day started. I’ve noticed that the whole time, Chip has remained at Laura’s feet. She fed him, and he cleaned his bowl, but otherwise, he’s stayed with her the whole time.
As I rise to leave with the boys, Laura asks. “Do you think we should put the cone back on him for the day?” she looks down at him. “I can probably keep him with me so I can make sure he won’t chew his bandage.”
I cross one leg over the other. “If you can keep an eye on him, I suppose there’s no need for him to wear it.”
Grace walks out of the kitchen, taking the garbage with her. Laura looks at me. “We must have fallen asleep last night.” her face is forcibly impassive, like she’s fishing but trying to keep it on the Q.T. “When did you…leave?”
Drawing in a deep breath, I can see that her eyes are trained on Chip. She can’t look at me.
“We didn’t….” she trails off.
“No, ma’am. We fell asleep, that’s all.” Then the lie becomes apparent as I remember her pulling me to her as she slept. But that pleasant memory is quashed as my subconscious reminds me that she wasn’t pulling me to her, rather, she was pulling Quentin’s memory to her.
“I had a very strange dream, that’s all.” She explains.
I lift a brow. “Was it a good one?” I ask, teasingly.
That gets a giggle. “A girl doesn’t tell.”
“Well, not to brag, Laura. But, I think that if you and I had…” I gesture with my hand. “You would distinctly remember.”
“I’m sure I would.” She says, and I can tell that she feels silly for asking. “So, what time did you actually leave?”
“It was around four o’clock, I think.”
“Well, you’re as quiet as a mouse. I didn’t hear a thing.”
I look up at her and give her a wink. “Story at eleven.”
Chapter 12
Laura
I see Lisa’s car pull up, and I roll my eyes. Here we go…I say to myself. She has six clear plastic bags full of buns in her hands as she climbs up the stairs. I meet her at the front door.
“Hey, twice in one week, eh.” She comments. It looks like the buns have some weight the way that she’s carrying them. “I have more in the car.”
“Geez…I thought you said you were bringing a couple dozen.”
“This is a couple dozen. The buns are huge.” She comments. “And for that, I’m glad that we’re talking about these buns, and not my own.”
That gets a laugh. “Please. You’ve been fit as a fiddle for as long as I’ve known you.”
“Pilates.” She brags, smiling. “Any action here today?”
“In what sense?”
A brow lift. “Grayson.”
“What kind of action are you referring to?” I ask, trying to keep my voice down, since Grace and Wendy are in the house.
She notices my trepidation. “Let’s put these in the kitchen and go outside to the porch, huh?”
Oh…God.
As we get the rest of the buns, Lisa notices Chip, as he follows me around. But then he sees Grayson and runs to him. Grayson looks at Lisa and I, and he waves to Lisa. He gestures to Chip, and the fact that he’s running around as if he doesn’t have an injured paw. “He’s coming around nicely.” He says from the horse’s pasture. He’s getting Weasel ready to take him for a bath in the stable.
“Yes, he is. I don’t think he’s going to need that cone, after all.” I yell back.
“What’s with the dog?” Lisa asks as we sit on the porch.
“He’s a stray. We’ve put signs out all over, but so far, nobody’s claimed him.”
“Well, he sure seems to have claimed you two.”
“He has.”
She looks at me. “There’s something different about you.”
I look at her. “What do you mean?”
“Your…eyes don’t look as puffy today.”
I stare at my hands. “Probably because I had a good night’s sleep.”
“Oh yeah? What did you do differently? Did you get some new kind of essential oil or something?”
I blurt. “It happened by accident, but…Grayson slept with me last night.” I lift a hand as her jaw drops. “And when I say we slept…we slept. Nothing more than that happened.”
Her eyes widen. “I want all the details, girl. Spill.”
Explaining how it happened, I gloss over the fact that I woke up in the night, and his arm was around me, and I didn’t move it.
“So, you slept on one side, while he slept on the other.” She says flatly, like she’s not impressed.
“Well…yes.”
“And you never bumped uglies at all…” her voice is still flat and unimpressed.
“Yes, but…technically, we still slept together.”
She sighs. “No, that’s hot, Laura.” She’s teasing, feigning boredom.
I nudge her with my elbow. “Shut…up. It’s the first time in ten years that I’ve slept with a man.”
“Well, it must have sat well with you, judging by how refreshed you look.”
I look over at him. “It did. I hate to admit it, but I slept better than I’ve slept in years.”
She takes another look at me. “Why, Laura Warner, you’re lying through your teeth. More than that happened, and you know it.” her smile is slick. Lisa loves it when she can read my mind…and I hate it.
“Nothing…happened…he just…held me. He had his arm around me.”
Her smile looks like the Cheshire Cat. “Well, there you go.”
“But it doesn’t mean anything, Lisa. He probably thought that I was his wife.”
“Or not.” She looks at me like she has a dark secret.
“Well, the point is moot. He’s an employee. I’m his boss. We can’t be involved.”
“And where…pray tell…in the rule book is that listed?”
“Well…it isn’t. I don’t have a rule book. I don’t even have an employee handbook. Here, we run on the honor system. And I can’t be involved with an employee.”
“Because of your own twisted morality.” Lisa points out. “Laura, how many men have I tried to fix you up with?”
“More than I care to remember, frankly.”
“And how many of them have you gone out with?”
“None.”
“That’s right. Because you weaseled your way out of every date I’ve arranged for you. There’s always an excuse.” She looks at me pointedly. “It’s been ten years, Laura. You can’t tell me that you still feel obligated to my brother, can you?”
“He’s all I ever knew, Lisa. You know that.”
“And that’s a damn shame, too, so don’t get me started on that tangent.” She says flatly. “I think if you had gone out with other men before marrying Quentin, you wouldn’t be so damn scared to venture out there now.”
“Well, that’s neither here nor there, isn’t it.”
“Not anymore, Laura.” She argues. “Give yourself permission to feel again. It’s okay.”
“But…but what if he really did think that I was his wife last night? What if he’s not ready to move on?” I ask. “His wife died only five years ago, Lisa
. I’ve had five extra years to mourn.”
“Five years is a long time, Laura. Both of you are still young. And the fact that he stayed in your room with you last night, proves that he’s ready to move on. He would have left…no, he wouldn’t have even set foot in your room had he not been okay with it.”
I’m silent, staring at the morning sun ahead of me.
“Has he been odd with you this morning? Quiet? Standoffish at all?”
I shake my head no.
“Then, what does that tell you?”
“I still don’t feel right about it. It’s not right, Lisa. Getting involved with someone who works for you isn’t right.”
“Always giving yourself obstacles.” She says under her breath. “When are you ever going to bend the rules for yourself, Laura? You seem to have no problem bending them for everyone else.”
Grayson walks by with Weasel. When he’s past us, Lisa rises, watching his behind as his back is to us. “Damn, girl. You don’t know what you’re missing.”
I slap her, giggling. “Would you stop ogling my staff?”
“That’s the first hand you’ve hired that looks like that.” She points out.
“And probably the last, with the way that this is going.” Another giggle.
“Alright, that’s enough. I’ve got to go. Got a photo shoot.”
“Okay. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Bright and early.” She says, her voice singing. I give her a quick hug and see her off. Just as a truck pulls up. It’s Matty from the lumber store in town.
Lisa looks over at me, stopping in her tracks and doing a one-eighty degree turn right back to me. “What’s he doing here?” she thumbs in his direction.
“Dunno. I ordered railroad ties to fix the trough a couple of weeks ago. He delivered them, poured it on thick like he usually does, and then he left. I haven’t seen him since.”
“Did he short-ship or something?”
“Not as far as I know. Louie had placed the order.”
She gives me a knowing look. “Want me to stick around?”
Matty Herald and I went to high school together. Since Quentin and I started going out, he was like a lost puppy, following me around. He always had a crush on me, and it never went away. Matty is very awkward socially. Not many people in town like him, including his own father, who he works for. When Quentin and I married, he laid low for a number of years, still making it his personal effort to deliver any materials Louie ordered for the ranch. Since Quentin died, though, Matty’s presence has become more of a pleasant nuisance. He’s asked me out on a date a hundred times, which I’ve said no to him each time, growing more and more irritated.
The man has never done well with women. He tries too hard. If he just acted natural, and stopped trying to make out like he’s more than he is, he’d do a lot better. Matty is the only man that Lisa does not flirt with.
He walks out of the flatbed truck, carrying a sheaf of pink paper in his hand. “Laura…how are you today, beautiful?” Matty is a decent-looking man. It’s his personality that is the turnoff. With a full head of short, well-kept dark hair and straight, white teeth, blue eyes and a lean body, he could pass for a handsome man.
“I’m just fine, and you?” I say, not hiding the icy tone.
“Much better now.” He says arrogantly.
I fold my arms over my chest. “What can I do for you, Matty?”
He ignores my question. “That’s a pickup I don’t recognize. You get a new one for the ranch?”
Lisa scoffs. “You don’t have any business here. You just came to check out the new Lead Hand.”
Matty lowers his head and shakes it a little. “That’s a terrible thing what happened to Louie.”
“It is. Thank you for your condolences.” I say curtly. “I’m pleased that you delivered them personally, like you do everything.”
He lifts his head and takes a step towards me, and I step back. “Well, I’m glad you appreciate that. I’m glad to do it.”
Lloyd and Grayson come around the corner, carrying a large bag of feed for the horses. Once they lay the bag down, Lloyd gestures that the lumber truck is here. They both approach.
Matty tips his head. “Lloyd,” he says in greeting, and then he looks at Grayson. “Well, I presume that you’re the new kid in town.”
“That’s right. Grayson Thomas. Pleased to meet you.” Grayson gives him a hand to shake.
“Matty Herald. I own the lumber store here in Huttonville.”
“He doesn’t own it, he works for it.” Lisa corrects. “His father owns it.”
Matty’s face turns slightly pink. “I’ll own it some day.”
Lloyd cuts in, tipping his chin. His tone is cool. “What can I do for you? You delivered the ties already, and they were paid in full.”
“Yes, sir. Yes, they were.” Matty nods. “In fact, I was just delivering the sales slip. I forgot to give you a copy with your signature on it.”
Lloyd laughs without a trace of humor. “You could have easily given that to me on the next order. You know we place orders pretty often, what with all the materials we need around here.”
“That’s true. Yes, sir. I just thought I’d—”
“Check up on Laura.” Lisa says. “Word gets around town pretty quick, don’t it?”
Lloyd grabs the pink sheaf of paper out of Matty’s hand. “Have a nice day.” He says curtly.
“You all enjoy your day.” Matty says, tipping his hat. “It was nice meeting you, Grayson.”
“Likewise.” Grayson says.
We watch him trot up into the cab of the truck, wave, and pull out onto the street.
“Dang boy can’t leave you alone.” Lloyd seethes. “I hear he’s got a brand-new car again. That boy’s as spoiled as a lone, three-year-old grandchild.”
“Born to an Italian family.” Lisa adds for humor. She places her hand on Grayson’s shoulder. “You should know that Matty Herald has been a thorn in Laura’s side since high school. Stay clear of him.”
“I’ll do what I can.” Grayson says, walking out of Lisa’s grip. He and Lloyd head back to the pasture, and I see Lisa off.
Lunchtime rolls around, and I make it a point to sit down with the boys; something I do often, to take advantage of the time to go through what’s been done and what needs to be done. All the guys are hungry as ever, and sweating like dogs, proof that they all have been working hard. There is never a question with this bunch. I’m standing at the counter, and Grayson scoots over one, insisting that I sit down to eat. “Stat.” he teases, and I can’t help but listen.
“Fine. But just for a minute.”
Chip barks out loud and we all get a little giggle out of it. “See? Even he agrees that you should sit down and eat your lunch.” Grayson says.
I play along. “I think he was barking at you for raising your voice at me.”
“Keep quiet, or I’ll take you to the vet again.” Grayson says to Chip, pointing a finger at him, but his smile betrays him as the dog walks over and licks his finger.
“He’s a charmer.” I chuckle. “Besides, it’s clear that going to the vet isn’t punishment.”
“It is now.” Grayson refutes, good-naturedly. “He was not a fan of getting them stitches, that’s for sure.”
Overhearing the conversation, Grace asks me. “You haven’t heard anything from his owners yet, have you?”
“No. Nothing yet.” I answer. “I’ll give it a few more days.”
“I can take him off your hands if you like, Ms. Warner.” Lloyd says.
Chip is sitting like a king, and his wagging tail is telling. He knows we’re talking about him.
“Thanks, Lloyd. But I’ve grown rather attached to him. I think I’ll keep him here at the ranch. He seems to have made himself very comfortable here.”
“Little Elizabeth is sure going to be upset.” Grace comments.
“I’m sure it’s much better this way.
” I say. “At least this way she can visit him and take him for walks. Myrtle would never let her keep a dog, and if we took him to a shelter, there’s no telling where he’d end up.”
“That’s true.” Grace agrees.
As I finish the last of my sandwich, I run through some of the things that I need to be done around the ranch, in order to prepare for tomorrow’s party. “Now, remember that you’re all invited. So, you don’t have to hide out in your quarters while everyone is mingling and having a good time. You’re all welcome. Everyone is family here. This is no different than any other gathering that we have here at the ranch.”
Grace speaks up. “Shall I go pick up the rest of the food and things this afternoon?”
I nod. “Yes, I have a list. And I’ll be preparing some food in the kitchen this afternoon while you’re gone. The things I need we already have here.”
Hours later, as I sit on the porch, watching the sun set, Chip is at my feet. I hear someone come around the corner, and I look to see that it’s Grayson. “Hey, I was just looking for the little fella. Thought he’d flown the coop.”
I sip my tea. “Nope. He’s just hanging here with me, while I watch the sun set.”
Grayson’s hair is damp. He’s not wearing his hat, and he’s got a white t-shirt on. Why, I don’t know, but I think he looks very attractive the way that he’s dressed. Jeans and a white t-shirt are very striking on him. But I don’t tell him that. “Care for some tea?” I ask. “It’s chamomile. It’ll help you sleep.”
“Haven’t you had your essential oil ‘put me in a coma’ bath yet?”
“No.” I giggle. “Not yet. I’m going after I finish my tea. Do you want some?”
“What…tea or a bath?” he jokes.
“Either one.” I shrug.
“Well, seeing as I just had a shower, and I’m not thirsty, I’ll pass. Why is it that everything you make or do smells good?” he asks, but the look on his face says that he wishes he didn’t say it out loud.
“I don’t know.” I say simply. “It’s probably because you haven’t been around a woman so frequently in a long time. I thought you mentioned that you had a sister.”
“I do.” He nods, taking a seat next to me. “Rachel. She’s a lawyer and very busy. I don’t see her or talk to her much, except for at family gatherings…those she can make it to, that is.”
No More Tears Page 10
