by Carsen Taite
Lily’s smile was sunshine. “Yes, I am, although I fear that if I do, I will not have the pleasure of your company on the ride home.”
Peyton reached for Lily’s hand. “Then we should probably make an adventure of this.”
“Why do I have a feeling everything with you is an adventure?”
“Maybe you just like adventure,” Peyton said, hoping it was true.
CHAPTER FOUR
The doorbell rang and Lily glanced at her watch. Courtney was right on time. Damn. She’d been hoping she’d be her usual tardy self and she’d have a few more minutes to get ready. This Saturday morning had flown by, likely due to the fact that she was dreading the lunch they were about to attend. Nothing to be done about it now. It was just one more obligation that came with the Gantry name. She grabbed her purse, took one last look in the mirror, and headed downstairs.
Courtney was waiting in the foyer and she drew her into a hug. “Where’s your mom?” Lily asked. “Did you forget it’s a mother-daughter lunch?”
“In a stroke of luck, she volunteered for your mother’s committee and she’s already at the hotel. I don’t for the life of me know what they’re doing. It’s not like the folks at the Adolphus haven’t thrown a banquet before.”
Lily laughed. “They wouldn’t be our mothers if they weren’t micromanaging every last detail. I’m just glad they didn’t make us show up early too.”
“Especially since it appears we have some things to dish about,” Courtney said. “I’m not sure how mad I should be at you.”
“What are you talking about?”
Courtney poked her in the arm. “Don’t play dumb with me. It’s Saturday. That’s five, count ’em, five days since you and Peyton Davis not only had a date, but bought a car together. And you haven’t had the decency to pick up the phone and tell me all about it.”
“You’re crazy. It’s true, she bought a truck and I drove her to the dealership—tell your father he’s welcome, by the way—but I would hardly call it a date. It was just…I don’t know…nice.” Lily looked out the window and imagined she could see Peyton driving off in her brand new, midnight blue truck. The whole thing had been surreal, from running into Peyton on the street in downtown Dallas, to accompanying her on what seemed like an impromptu shopping trip for a truck of all things.
“Are you seeing her again?” Courtney asked.
“Tomorrow. I’m meeting her at the ranch and she’s taking me riding.”
“She’s living at the ranch?”
“I suppose. Why?”
“No reason. Zach made it seem like he hoped she would stay, but he wasn’t sure she would.”
“So, it sounds like I’m not the only one who’s seen more of the Davis clan since last weekend.”
“We’ve talked. And we have a date Friday night. He’s a doll. Nothing like his older brother Neil who’s kind of a jerk.”
“Family. You don’t get to pick ’em that’s for sure.”
“Speaking of which, here we are.”
Courtney swung her Mercedes sedan into the valet loop at the Adolphus Hotel, nearly taking out a cluster of men in business suits waiting for their cars. Lily shook her head at the doorman who opened her door. Once inside, they made their way to the ballroom where they were greeted by a tall, broad-shouldered woman who had a panicked look in her eyes.
“Ladies, your mothers have been looking everywhere for you.” She clutched her chest. “We are shorthanded at the registration table, and they said you would help out. I’ve been posted here waiting for you to arrive, and I was beginning to wonder if you were going to show up at all—”
“Of course, Mrs. Kaufman.” Lily interrupted for fear the woman might have a heart attack detailing the stress of the ordeal. “We’re on it.” Lily waited until Mrs. Kaufman left before exchanging an eye roll with Courtney. She didn’t mind helping, but she did think the drama associated with the request was a bit overdone.
A few minutes later, she and Courtney were busy checking names off the guest list and handing out name tags. It sure beat making small talk with a bunch of women she hardly knew even though she’d grown up with most of them. She was so enmeshed in the routine she barely noticed when Courtney started poking her in the leg.
“Stop it. You’re hurting me.”
“Don’t look now, but trouble’s in the house.”
Lily looked up from the list in her hand and locked eyes with Virginia Taylor, mere steps away. Scalding memories of Virginia wrapping her body around Peyton at the Cattle Baron’s Ball surfaced. “Damn,” she muttered under her breath.
“Why hello, Lily. I saw your mother, but I didn’t realize you two were close enough to attend this event together.”
Virginia reached out her hand, and Lily’s good manners dictated she do the same. The shake was strong, borderline bone crushing, but Lily schooled her expression into what she hoped was pleasant indifference and purposely ignored the remark about her mother. “Why, Ginny Taylor, so very nice to see you.”
Virginia frowned at Lily’s use of the despised nickname, but refrained from voicing her displeasure. Instead, she flipped her hair and waved her mother, a well-kept, vintage version of herself, over to the table. “I’m not sure we’re on the list, but I know we have seats reserved since we’re the platinum sponsors of the event.”
Of course you are. Lily scoured her copy of the list and found their names and table assignments. She relayed the information, hoping they would leave her in peace, but no such luck. Virginia leaned in close and whispered, “Lily, I wonder if I might have a word with you?” She pointed to a space some distance from the registration table. “In private.”
Lily looked at Courtney who only shrugged. Lily could think of a thousand things she’d rather do than have a word in private with Virginia Taylor. They’d known each other since high school and, although social status meant they ran in the same circles, Virginia had always done her level best to try to make Lily feel like an outsider. Like she needed any help. Curiosity was the only reason she gave in to Virginia’s request.
They’d barely made it across the room before Virginia started in.
“I know you’ve been gone a while, so you probably missed out on this, but Peyton Davis is off limits.”
Whoa. This was way out of left field. “I’m sure I don’t have any idea what you’re talking about.”
“It’s one thing for you to be strolling around downtown with her. I’ll assume that perhaps you just bumped into each other on the street, but now that you know where things stand, there’s no excuse for you to spend time with her.” Her eyes narrowed and she fixed Lily with a hard stare. “Do we have an understanding?”
Lily’s mind whirred. Peyton sure didn’t act like someone who was off the market, Virginia’s very public display of affection notwithstanding. Besides, Peyton had just moved back to Texas. Even if she and Virginia were dating, how close could they be? Peyton had asked her out, so she must not think things with Virginia were exclusive. She resolved to ask Peyton about it when she saw her. On their date. A date that was none of Virginia’s business. She met Virginia’s eyes and offered the only response she could. “I understand you perfectly.”
She returned to the registration table, but everyone had scattered to take their seats for the lunch. Courtney waved her over to their table, and Lily gave a silent thanks that the platinum sponsors had their own table far across the room. She’d barely slid into her seat before Courtney asked, “What was that all about?” Before she could offer an explanation, her mother sat down next to her, effectively killing any chance of gossip. Lily turned to greet her mother and counted their differences. Her mother’s fair skin versus her own dark tone. Fine, blond waves instead of thick, dark tresses. Lapis blue eyes so unlike her own deep brown ones. Unlike Virginia and her mother who were practically carbon copies of each other, Lily and Rose Gantry were complete opposites in appearance, among other things.
For the first time in a very long time, Lily wondered what her b
irth mother was like. Did they share the same looks? Did they dream the same dreams? She shook away the thought, certain that the only reason she went there was the information about the trust that had been pawing at her subconscious all week. Despite their differences, Lily loved the woman who had raised her. She was the only mother she’d ever known. Lily leaned over and whispered, “Everything looks amazing.”
“Thanks, dear. I appreciate you helping out earlier. I know the hotel catering staff does most of the work, but there are always little details that need to be attended to.”
Lily nodded. She’d been raised with constant reminders about how important all those little details were. Don’t stare too long, fork on the left side of the plate, don’t cross your legs at the table. She’d always resisted complying with the rules, but they were sacrosanct to her mother who insisted the wrong move, however small, could derail her daughter’s future, or at least the future she envisioned for her. As they listened to the speaker and ate their dainty lunch, Lily contemplated her future as she saw it. Soon she’d need to have a talk with her mother about what she actually had planned—a career without regard to social status—but today was not the right time or place. Today she would enjoy having a mother who loved her and wanted the best for her, even if they defined best in very different ways.
CHAPTER FIVE
“That’s a beautiful truck, Peyton.”
Peyton shut the tailgate and looked back at her mother who, even on a Sunday morning, was dressed to work. There was always something that needed to be done around the ranch, and with her father ill, the bulk of the duties fell to the rest of the family. “I think I might have been a bit impulsive when I bought it.”
Her mother shook her head. “Nonsense. Impulsive is not a word I would ever use to describe you. Besides, I don’t think you’ve ever bought a new vehicle before. You deserve to spoil yourself every now and then. You headed somewhere?”
“No, I was just checking out a few features I haven’t had a chance to explore since I brought her home.”
“You’ve had a busy week. I thought you were going to have a few days to get settled in before Hershel started working you to the bone.”
“Me too, but something came up.”
Her mother’s eyes pried hard, but she didn’t feel like getting into the gruesome details of the case that had dropped into her lap. Agent Nelson had sent along a few preliminary reports from the crime scene analysts, and the early bet was full money on the Zetas as the culprits. The how and why could wait until her official start date tomorrow, but she’d spent a large part of the week sorting through the information they had so far.
Her mother finally broke her gaze. “All right then. I was hoping maybe you and I could take a walk and talk for a few minutes.”
Peyton read the shift to serious mode in her mother’s eyes. She didn’t bother mentioning that Lily Gantry was scheduled to arrive any minute. She didn’t want to do anything to break the moment. Maybe now she’d find out what was going on behind the scenes here at the ranch. Throughout the week, she’d sensed troubles in addition to her father’s battle with cancer, but she hadn’t been able to pinpoint the source of her concern. She took her mother’s arm and led her to the path behind the stables. “I’m all ears.”
A good hundred yards passed in silence, and Peyton didn’t attempt to fill the void. Finally, her mother cleared her throat and said, “I’d like you to stay here at the ranch. For good.”
Peyton nodded, not in agreement, but in acknowledgment. She sensed her mother had more to say on the subject.
“Your father isn’t himself and Neil has taken over,” her mother said. “I must confess I’ve let him. He needed it…”
Peyton resisted the urge to point out that Neil’s needs were rooted in his inexplicable insecurity and would likely never be met, no matter how much everyone around him conceded for his benefit. His jealousy, his needs, were the primary reason she’d left in the first place, but the pain in her mother’s eyes told her she already knew all that to be true. “But now?”
“But now Zach is interested in the business, and he needs a proper role model. Neil has made some decisions that could compromise the legacy of this place, and I need your help to rein him in.”
“Dad’s always been best when it comes to Neil.” Peyton watched as her mother glanced away, clearly hiding something. “Dad’s condition is worse than you first thought, isn’t it?”
Her mother still didn’t face her, but she answered, “Early onset Alzheimer’s. He knows, most of the time, but sometimes he doesn’t. It’s made his treatment difficult. He forgets to take his medicine, to eat, but there’s no telling him he needs help. If it wasn’t for Fernanda helping out…” She took a deep breath. “Neil has stepped up and is doing his best to fill your father’s shoes, but his ambition is sometimes misplaced.”
Peyton’s laugh was humorless. “And you think I’m the one to redirect his ambition? Has it been so long you’ve forgotten what happened the last time Neil and I were on the opposite side of something?”
It was her mother’s turn to laugh. “Frankly, I can’t remember the last time you were on the same side of anything.” Her face settled back into a somber expression. “Last week Neil signed an agreement with Ray Explorations to let them drill an exploratory well on the back half of the ranch.”
“What the hell?” Peyton stopped walking and leaned back against a tree. The revelation triggered a memory. “That explains the trucks I saw earlier in the week. I kept meaning to ask about them.” She let the words trail off rather than admit that she hadn’t been willing to let anything about the ranch be a priority.
Her mother raised her arms. “I’m mad as hell about it, but I didn’t find out until after the fact.”
“He knows neither you nor Dad would ever let him drill.”
“And now you see why I need your help. With your father’s health the way it is, he thinks he’s de facto in charge, and he doesn’t think he needs to listen to me.”
Peyton looked down at her boots, scuffed and dusty even after only a week back on the ranch. This wasn’t her fight. She’d made it clear when she left, that she’d moved on and the ranch was Neil’s inheritance, his legacy to build or break as he saw fit. “Even if Dad isn’t up to telling him no, you still own half this place. Neil can’t just act on his own.”
“You’re right, he can’t, but he’s stayed on, taken charge. If someone else is going to make the hard decisions about keeping this place running, they need to have more than just a financial stake in the business.”
Peyton looked out over the vast acreage and a childhood memory surfaced. She and Neil riding in the far pasture, planning their futures.
“I’ll raise the cattle and you’ll breed the horses,” Neil said. “We’ll be the biggest working ranch in north Texas, and buyers will line up to buy our stock. We can compete to see who gets to be in charge.”
“Why can’t we just run the place together?”
“Because someone has to be in charge to get things done. That’s what Joe Taylor says.”
“You shouldn’t pay so much attention to folks like him. He doesn’t know jack about running a ranch. His family makes their money tearing up land, not respecting it.”
“Well, they’re rich, aren’t they?”
“Rich isn’t all about money.” Peyton pointed to the ridge. “All of this? It’s worth more than every penny the Taylors have in their fat bank accounts. And it’s all ours.”
Neil delivered a mock salute. “You’re right, sis. And that’s why I’ll always be one step behind you.”
The bright light of childhood dreams fades for a reason. As they’d grown older, she and Neil had grown apart. His obsession with the ranch had fueled one-sided jealousy, ugly and dark. Peyton had turned to other pursuits, college, law school, hoping one day Neil would realize they made a better team than opponents, but nothing changed. Her father, pleased at Neil’s apparent devotion, seemed to miss the fact his o
ldest had steadily eased out of the operations, but their mother watched, silent, but knowing. Only when Peyton decided to take the transfer to D.C. had she expressed her dismay at Peyton’s choice.
“I should’ve insisted you stay.”
Peyton touched her mother’s arm. “It wouldn’t have made a difference.”
“If there’s one thing you have in common with Neil it’s that you’re both stubborn. I wish that trait had skipped a generation.”
“At least we come by it honestly.”
“True.” She sighed. “When your father’s condition started, we met with Roscoe.”
Peyton smiled at the reference to the family lawyer. He’d written one of her recommendation letters to law school. “How’s Roscoe?”
“He’s good. He agreed with us that it would be best if your father went ahead and signed papers. Papers that would give someone else the right to make decisions on his behalf.”
Peyton held her breath, waiting for her mother’s next words, knowing they would be important, dreading what they might mean.
“He gave you power of attorney along with me. Between us, we’re in charge of all the decisions having to do with the ranch, if we choose to be. I’ve been waiting for you to come home so we can discuss things, but it’s time to take over and let Neil know that he’s not in charge anymore.”
A childhood dream fulfilled, but would it be an adult nightmare? Peyton could see the resolve in her mother’s eyes and knew she hadn’t made the decision to go against Neil lightly. But she hadn’t come home to take over control of the ranch. She’d come home to work the career path she’d chosen and, although it hadn’t been her first choice, she’d made a commitment and that commitment was even more important after the horror she’d witnessed this week. Her mother had clearly thought this through, but she needed time to process. Time to sort out her feelings.
Tire wheels crunching the gravel drive interrupted her thoughts, and she turned to look. Lily Gantry’s Lexus. Then Lily Gantry, tall and pretty, but dressed to ride in well-worn denim and not new boots. She looked at her watch. She hadn’t forgotten, but her mother’s news had thrown her off kilter. Thankfully, she’d gotten out to the barn early to get the horses ready, but she would’ve preferred a little more time to make sure everything was just right before Lily arrived. Shouldn’t surprise her—nothing since she’d been back had gone according to plan.