He grunted indifferently.
“I authorized the draw because you three were in agreement and the price for the steer was very good. You could have said no. You could also have done more research before agreeing, possibly learning about the spread of red nose.”
Cole nodded and he sat back. “I did agree. And it’s a decision I hope I don’t regret.”
“What about our immediate plans?” Josh asked, his demeanor also less antagonistic.
Reese squared her shoulders. “I suggest we wait a week, until after Christmas. If the steer don’t improve, then we sell off the healthy ones, using the money to pay the most pressing bills, buy antibiotics when they become available and supplemental feed for the remaining cattle.”
“Should we talk to Raquel and Cara?”
“Let’s revisit that next week. It won’t make much difference before then, and why ruin the holidays? The steer could improve, after all.”
She wished she sounded more convincing.
“There’s one more solution we haven’t discussed,” Cole said tersely. “Selling the ranch.”
Gabe slammed the table causing Violet to jump. “That’s always your answer. Sell the ranch and get your share of the money so you can leave.”
Reese hoped Gabe kept his raging emotions under control. To help, she delivered her next words calmly and rationally. “Selling may be a little premature.”
“At the rate we’re going,” Cole said, “we could lose everything.”
“We have weeks, if not months, to spare. And other solutions to try first.”
Gabe pushed back from the table, setting off the musical Christmas tree again. He shot it a dirty look before turning that look on Cole. “You agreed to stay in Mustang Valley and work the ranch for a year.”
“I did. Before you set out to ruin us by buying sick steer.”
“Set out?”
“Why not? For all I know, you could have misled Josh and me on purpose.”
“What would that have gotten me?”
“You want us gone.”
“No fooling.”
The Christmas tree finally stopped playing. Reese stood, picked up the tree and activated the off switch.
She faced the table and planted her hands on her hips. “The purpose of this meeting was to discuss viable options for the immediate future. Not pick fights with each other.”
The three men quieted. She allowed herself a small sigh.
“Unless someone has a better idea, then I vote we wait a week and reassess the situation after Christmas. In the meanwhile, we focus all efforts on the sick steer.”
“I assume we’re done here.” Cole pushed to his feet.
“Unless you have any objections.”
Avoiding eye contact with each other, the three brothers exited the room. Violet followed, giving Reese a one-shoulder shrug.
She sagged into her chair. The last thirty minutes had been stressful. Rousing herself, she headed for the kitchen, the direction Gabe had taken. She assumed he’d be waiting for her and was surprised to find the kitchen empty.
Reese returned to the dining room, gathered up her briefcase, coat, umbrella and purse, turned on the musical Christmas tree then left out the front door.
Gabe waited for her by her car, his face unreadable. He’d donned his jacket and cowboy hat, which he’d pushed low on his head to ward off the rain and not, she assumed, to look tough.
Something told her he wasn’t in the mood for a friendly chat. Nevertheless, she smiled in greeting.
“Hi.”
He nodded in return.
She stopped at her car, holding the umbrella over them both. Water pooled at their feet. “I know the meeting didn’t go exactly as you wanted.”
“Exactly?”
His sharp retort put her on the defense. “I was doing my job, Gabe. And from what I could tell, it went reasonably well. The decision to wait a week is a good one.”
“I’m not arguing your decision.”
She lifted her chin. “Is that what we’re doing? Arguing?”
“You know how important the sanctuary is to Cara and how much my mother needs the insurance money.”
“And you heard Cole in there. I can’t, we can’t, allow our romantic involvement for each other to affect our judgment or give anyone a reason to think it is.”
He visibly bristled. “I couldn’t have said it better myself.”
She wasn’t stupid. Something more was going on with Gabe than residual anger after the meeting. “Why were you waiting for me?”
“I still have no idea what there was between us other than a few kisses.”
His remark stung. “It was more than that. Was I wrong?”
“You’re the trustee of my father’s will.”
“For now. But later, when—”
“Not later,” he said. “Not ever. I think today proved it.”
The wind tugged at her umbrella, and she gripped the handle harder, feeling a little unsteady. “I don’t understand.”
Gabe shook his head and, for the first time, she noted the hurt in his dark eyes. “I’m not the man for you, Reese. I never was. And I was stupid to think we had a chance.”
“Stupid?” Was that what he thought? Her chest hurt, more when she tried to draw a deep breath. “My mistake. I thought you cared about me.”
“It’s not going to work. You’re Theo McGraw’s daughter.”
“That’s not why I sided with your brothers.”
“So, you admit it.”
“No. I was...” She faltered, struggled. “Let’s wait until after Christmas to continue this conversation. You’re worried about the sick steer. Once they improve, you’ll feel different about us.”
“I won’t.”
“I see.” She had her pride and refused to beg.
“I alone am to blame for buying the sick steer,” he said.
“Not true. Me, your brothers—”
“It’s completely true. And Cole was right about what he said in the meeting, only he had it backwards. I let my feelings for you affect my judgment.”
“I don’t agree.”
“I was gung ho to buy the steer because I thought I could turn a quick profit.”
“There’s nothing wrong with that, Gabe. It was a business decision.”
“So I could buy out my brothers.”
“Which would make them happy. And you, too.”
“I also did it because the sooner I got sole ownership of the ranch, the sooner you and I could start seeing each other.”
“None of those are bad reasons.”
“I could lose everything important to me.” His voice changed. Deepened. “Because I wanted you.”
“Quit being so hard on yourself.” She was losing him. She could feel it, and her heart started breaking.
“Will you be saying the same thing when we’re selling what little is left of the ranch?” He shut his eyes. “It was a mistake. All of it.”
“Not all of it. There were some incredible moments.” She reached for him, but her hand fell short.
“I think you should leave.”
Her lower lip trembled. Dammit, she wasn’t like prone to tears. She was strong, and had been that way since her mother left. The night of her senior prom, when Gabe had held her, was one of the few times she’d allowed herself to cry.
She fumbled for the car door handle.
Gabe didn’t stop her. Why would he?
She snapped closed her umbrella, practically dropping it as she slid into the car. Before she could close the door, Gabe bent low, one hand resting on the roof.
“I’m sorry,” he said.
“Me, too.” Despite her best efforts, her voice shook.
&n
bsp; He stepped back. She shut the door and drove away.
God, how could she have made such a mess of things? She’d fallen for him. Gabe Dempsey. The most inappropriate man in all of Mustang Valley.
She didn’t cry on the ride home. Silent tears streaming down her cheeks didn’t count. Neither did quiet sobs. Crying wasn’t real unless a person made noise.
That was what she told herself, anyway.
The moment she walked in the house, her father confronted her.
He took one look at her and pulled her into his embrace. “What happened, sweetie?”
Her reply was to make noise. Lots and lots of it as she cried hard enough to soak the front of his shirt.
Chapter Fourteen
“That’s the last of it, boss.” Violet swiped her palms down her coat, brushing away the bits and pieces of hay clinging to her.
Gabe wondered how long she’d be calling him boss, then supposed it didn’t matter. The name had lost its shine, the result of his short and disastrous run in charge of Dos Estrellas.
“What do you think?” he asked.
“We have enough hay for a few more days.”
He’d been inquiring about the health of the steer, not the feed supply, but he could see how Violet made the leap. She and Gabe had just finished unloading a truck bed full of hay into the metal feeders, one on each end of the barn. The sick cattle, moving lethargically, vied for available space around the feeders. The fact they had an appetite at all was heartening.
“On the plus side,” Violet continued, “the grass is making a comeback.”
Good news indeed. The recent rains had worked their magic. Three days since the torrent, three days since his meeting with Reese and his brothers, and new shoots of grass could be seen poking up from the ground, encouraged by the shining sun and sudden warm spell.
Unfortunately, growing grass was the only good news. They had run out of antibiotics two days ago, after moving twenty-five of the sickest steer to the undersized cattle barn. Their inspection of the herd this morning had added six more infected steer, bringing the grand total to fifty-three.
Quarantining helped but not enough. Like humans, cattle were contagious for one or two days before displaying any symptoms. By then, the virus had continued its destructive rampage through the herd.
A larger cattle barn might make a difference. Like the one in the mustang sanctuary. Gabe refused to ask Cara. He might still refuse at the end of the week. Yesterday, Josh had remarked about them missing the opportunity to sell mustangs as Christmas gifts. Gabe had walked away in disgust, mostly at himself. He’d been thinking the same thing.
He’d also been thinking Reese was right to support Josh’s suggestions. His mother and Cara deserved a say in the decisions and an opportunity to assist if they chose. Excluding them was unfair.
On the other hand, putting undue pressure on them was also unfair.
Reese was on his mind a lot. All day, all night. He regretted blindsiding her after the family meeting. It wasn’t nice. Telling himself that a quick and clean breakup was best didn’t alleviate his guilt. He felt precisely like the heel he was. He’d made the right decision, spared her from losing her heart to, and subsequently being hurt by, a guy completely wrong for her. It was his execution that stank.
“As least these fellows aren’t getting any sicker.” Violet patted a steer’s brown rump through the railing.
“Yeah.” Try as he might, Gabe couldn’t muster any enthusiasm.
There were still the cattle in the pastures to consider. More could be coming down with red nose. The last of the line of credit was slated for the antibiotics due to arrive on the twenty-eighth—if the shipment wasn’t delayed. Snowstorms back East were finally easing and shipping services resuming.
Hopefully, they could hold out until then. Less than a single tower of hay remained from the additional supply they’d purchased. Then again, if steer started dying, supplementing the feed would no longer be a problem.
Gabe was glad none of the other ranches were affected with red nose, and that he hadn’t been run out of town. At the community center last night, the other ranchers had sympathized. It was a small consolation.
“I have something to tell you,” Violet said, her manner reserved. “If you don’t mind.”
“Fire away.”
“Whatever happens, I want you to know what a good job you’ve done.”
He almost laughed. “You’re in the minority.”
“No, really. It can’t be easy, and you’ve stepped up, Gabe. A lot more than your bro—” She winced. “Sorry, but that’s my opinion.”
He smiled. “Thanks for the support. It means a lot.”
“We’re going to get through this, boss.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“Rest assured, you’re stuck with me till the bitter end.”
Smiling for the first time all day, Gabe pushed off the fence. “Come on. Let’s get out of here.”
A late model pickup traveling the narrow dirt road behind the horse pastures had them pausing. It turned onto the property and headed straight for them. Gabe didn’t recognize the vehicle. Then he spotted the occupants. What in the world?
Enrico, the Small Change’s livestock manager, pulled up alongside Gabe’s truck and cut the engine. He and Theo McGraw emerged, Theo with some difficulty. Planting his feet on the ground, he used a cane to steady himself.
Gabe stepped forward, ready to assist if necessary.
Theo dismissed him. “I’m fine.”
“Of course.”
“Young lady.” He spoke pleasantly to Violet. “Would you be kind enough to give us a minute?”
“Yes, sir.” She glanced at Gabe, then backed away. After a brief, uncertain pause, she made for the Small Change truck.
She and Enrico met up at the tailgate where they began conversing.
Gabe studied Theo for a moment. How much did he know about Gabe and Reese, and was this unexpected visit related?
“What can I do for you?”
“I’m thinking, it’s what I can do for you. I understand you’re fighting a red nose breakout.”
Theo hadn’t been at the community center last evening, but had obviously heard the news from Reese.
“I am.” Gabe was curious. This was no casual visit.
“I can help. I have a supply of antibiotics.” Theo hobbled toward the fence, leaning heavily on his cane, his gait unsteady. “You’re welcome to them.”
Gabe chuckled. “I need a lot.”
“I have over two hundred bottles.”
Wow. That was more than enough to carry Dos Estrellas through until their shipment arrived.
“We’ve placed an order,” Gabe said. “Should be here on the twenty-eighth. But, if you’re offering, I’d like to buy fifty bottles from you.”
“Take it all.”
“I won’t leave you in a lurch.” The outbreak could hit the Small Change.
“Fine. But it’s there if you need it.”
“Thank you.” Gabe was grateful. And overwhelmed by Theo’s generosity. Removing his cowboy hat, he knocked it against his thigh, needing a moment to compose himself.
“Come by whenever you’re ready,” Theo said. “No cost. You can replace what you’ve used when your supply arrives.”
Gabe couldn’t accept the offer without first knowing the reason for it. “Why are you doing this?”
“Isn’t it enough we’re neighbors and should look out for each other?”
“You and my father were rivals.”
“He would have done no less for me.”
Gabe could easily see his father helping Theo in a crisis.
“But that’s not the reason I’m offering you my supply of antibiotics.” The older m
an smiled. “It’s Reese.”
Gabe said nothing, unsure how to explain what had transpired between him and Reese or how much to reveal. Theo should be reading Gabe the riot act, given he’d hurt his daughter, not offering him his precious supply of antibiotics. “About that...”
“You didn’t have to keep Reese’s secret all these years, but you did.”
“Secret?”
“Don’t play dumb. I know she had a baby.”
Gabe’s jaw dropped. He hadn’t been this thrown for a loop since kissing Reese in the garage. “She told you?”
“No, though I wish she had.” Theo seemed to lose himself in memories. “I gave her a difficult time when she set her sights on Blake Nolan, though I blamed him more than I did her. He was engaged. And older. In college. He took advantage of her naivety.”
“When did you find out?” Gabe asked.
Theo leaned against the fence, his left leg trembling slightly. He absently rubbed it with his free hand. “Right before her high school graduation. I’d suspected something was going on for a few weeks.”
That would have been about the time of Gabe and Reese’s senior prom. Theo was clearly astute. Or, he loved his daughter and paid attention to her.
“She spent a lot of time in her room on the phone,” Theo continued. “I became concerned. One afternoon, she thought I wasn’t home. I heard her talking to her cousin Megan. They were making plans.” He paused. “When she told me she wanted to take a year off before college and stay with Megan, I pretended I didn’t know her real reasons. I agreed with her decision to give up the baby and figured she’d tell me when she was ready. She hasn’t yet.” His voice grew husky.
“She loves you, sir,” Gabe said. “She didn’t want to disappoint you.”
Theo turned misty eyes on Gabe. “She couldn’t if she tried.”
“Maybe you should tell her and not me.”
“Maybe I should.” The older man studied Gabe. “You’re pretty smart. Like your dad.”
“I consider that a compliment.”
“I owe you for protecting Reese.”
“You don’t owe me a thing, Theo.” Gabe had never called his neighbor by anything other than Mr. McGraw. Using his first name felt right under the circumstances. “Certainly not your supply of antibiotics. It was my honor to help Reese. I...I care about her.”
Her Holiday Rancher Page 18