Caitlyn’s Prize

by Linda Warren

  “Then leave.”

  Judd glanced at Cait. “Is this your kind of trust?”

  She couldn’t answer. Her whole body was frozen in abject misery. She dropped her gaze and he walked to his horse and rode away.

  And out of her life for good.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  CAITLYN TURNED and walked into the barn. Maddie and Cooper were right behind her.

  “Please,” she said over her shoulder, “I need some time alone.”

  “Cait…”

  She faced her sister. “Please, give me a moment.”

  Maddie hesitated. “Okay. I’ll go check on Gran.”

  “Tell her I’ll be there in a minute.”

  Maddie nodded.

  With methodical movements, Cait went into the supply room, which still had a roof, and mixed milk for Solomon. It was mundane work and she needed that. She carried the bottle to the stall and opened the gate. Solomon trotted to her, eager for food. He bumped his head against her leg and she sank into the straw and held the milk out to him. As he grabbed the nipple, she gripped the bottle tightly because she knew he’d jerk it out of her hand.

  He drank the contents in no time and curled up beside her, satisfied. She wished her problems could be solved so easily. Setting the bottle aside, she drew up her knees and wrapped her arms around them. She glanced toward the end of the barn and the gray sky peeping through the gaping holes of the torn-off tin. Destruction was all around her. But life was, too. Solomon was new life, a new beginning.

  She stared at that patch of sky and wondered if her father was looking down and saying those words she hated to hear. I told you so. Maybe he was right. Ranching wasn’t women’s work.

  The odds had always been against her, but she’d been too stubborn to see that. Now she had to admit defeat and say goodbye to her beloved High Five. Uninvited tears slid from her eyes. She slapped them away, but more followed. She wasn’t sure what she was crying about—losing High Five or losing Judd. Again.

  There was no way they’d survive this. Their love wasn’t meant to be, and she had to accept that and move on. She took some solace in the thought of Judd rebuilding High Five. It would prosper like in the olden days.

  But she wouldn’t be here.

  More tears followed and she didn’t try to stop them. She was a woman, and damn it, women cried.

  After a moment she drew a shaky breath. Now she had to find the strength to look at the damages to the house. And she had to find the strength to tell Gran. That was her responsibility.

  Cait got to her feet and headed for the house, her boots sinking into the sodden ground. As she opened the door, lingering traces of smoke filled her lungs and nausea churned in her stomach. One wall in the parlor was scorched and the velvet drapes were gone. The fire had spread up the wall to the bedrooms, and those walls were burned, too. They would have to be ripped out and replaced. That would take money—dollars she didn’t have.

  She did have insurance, but it would take weeks before she received funds. Where would they live in the meantime?

  Nothing else was insured. She couldn’t afford it. That meant High Five would not be able to recover from the losses.

  Giving up wasn’t easy, but this was destruction Cait couldn’t beat. Stoically, she marched to her bedroom, which miraculously hadn’t been touched, and stripped off her wet clothes. Her wet braid was heavy, so she undid it and towel dried her hair. After that she put on clean, dry clothes and went downstairs and out the door to talk to Gran.

  The cabin was small, with a combination kitchen, dining room and living area, along with two bedrooms and a bath. When Cait had the strength, she’d talk to Judd about letting Etta and Rufus stay here.

  In the living room, she hugged Etta.

  “Lordy, Lordy, it’s awful. Just awful,” the housekeeper moaned.

  “How’s Gran?”

  “She’s resting.” Etta wiped away a tear. “Maddie’s with her.” The woman gave Cait a push toward a bedroom. “You better go in there. She’s worried about you.”

  Caitlyn walked into the room. Maddie sat cross-legged on the bed, talking to Gran, who was propped up with fluffy pillows.

  “Hi, Gran,” Cait said as she sat beside her. She looked so pale with her white hair hanging around her face. Cait felt a catch in her throat.

  Dorie reached for her and hugged her tightly. “My baby, I’ve been so worried.”

  “I got caught in the storm, so I had to wait it out.” Cait drew back and tucked loose strands of black hair behind her ears. “I got a little wet, but I’m fine.”

  “I’ll go help Etta with supper,” Maddie said, sliding off the bed.

  Gran picked up Cait’s cold hand. “Don’t look so worried, my baby.”

  She tried to wipe her feelings from her face, but couldn’t—not even for her grandmother. “I’ll try,” she made herself say.

  “How’s the house?” Dorie asked.

  “It’s going to need a lot of repairs.” She didn’t lie. The time for that was over.

  “I figured,” Gran said, surprising her.

  It must have shown on her face, because Gran added, “I know you girls think I’m a senile old woman living in the past.”

  “Oh, Gran.” Cait squeezed her hand.

  “It’s okay, because most of the time I am. But I know what’s going on, Caitlyn.”

  Gran never called her that unless she was serious, so Cait listened closely. “What are you talking about?”

  The old woman pushed herself up against the pillows. “I know Dane sold Judd our oil and gas royalties.”

  “What?” She had her full attention now.

  “Dane told me what he had to do. It was his only way out of all his gambling debts.” Gran sighed. “I spoiled him terribly and I’m afraid he never learned to live within his means. He had too many bad habits that I ignored because I loved him.”

  Cait was speechless, so she just kept listening.

  Gran twisted her hands together. “He assured me that everything would work out and that he had made the right decision for you, Maddie and Sky.”

  “Selling our means of livelihood was the right decision?” The words came out angry, but Cait couldn’t stop them.

  Gran patted her hands. “Don’t fret, child. I know Judd will be buying High Five now. I’ve resigned myself to that. Your father wanted you to have a life, and now maybe you can find the one you want.”

  “My life has always been here.”

  “I think that was to defy your father.” Gran looked into her eyes. “What do you really want, baby?”

  Judd had asked her the same thing.

  Instead of answering, she burst into tears. Gran held her as if she were six years old. “Don’t cry, baby, and don’t worry about me. I’m a strong old woman and I’ve survived worse. You do what you have to.”

  Cait brushed away tears—once she started crying she couldn’t seem to stop. “I’m not sure what that is yet. But High Five has received a death blow. I’m not certain what to do next.”

  Her grandmother stroked her cheek. “You’ll know, baby.”

  Cait stood and stared at her. “What else do you know, Gran?”

  “Everything,” she replied with a secret smile.

  “Everything?”

  “That’s one good thing about spoiling my son. He told me everything.”

  “You mean…” Cait wasn’t sure how to finish the sentence without betraying Maddie or Sky.

  “Yes, I know, Maddie has had a fight with cancer and won, but now she won’t be able to have children. I also know about Kira. Dane gave me a photo that I’m very proud of. I wish I could say the same about my granddaughters keeping secrets. But I promised Dane I would let them tell me. Sometimes that promise was hard to keep.”

  Her grandmother was stronger than they had ever given her credit for, and Cait resolved never to keep anything from her again.

  Maddie walked in. “Would you like to get up, Gran?”

  Dorie swun
g her feet over the side of the bed. “Yes, I would. I’m ready to handle whatever comes next.”

  “And that means you,” Cait whispered to her sister.

  Maddie frowned, not understanding.

  “She knows—everything.” Cait emphasized the last word.

  “Oh.” Realization dawned in Maddie’s blue eyes.

  Cait walked out, leaving them to talk. Maybe now they could come together as a family without secrets.

  THE NEXT FEW DAYS passed in a blur, but Cait kept busy assessing all the damages to High Five, which were extensive. Cooper was optimistic that they could regroup and overcome. Cait wasn’t.

  The sheriff called and she went to his office to file more charges against Harland. That gave her some satisfaction.

  By the end of the week, Coop and Rufus had a new roof on the barn. She called a man to get an estimate on repairing the windmill. The rest of the time they worked on the house, trying to eradicate the smoke smell and pull off the burned wood. It was a monumental task, but there was something cathartic about toiling until you were so exhausted you fell instantly asleep.

  All the time they were working she kept thinking it was useless. They were wasting time and resources. Soon Judd would make an offer for High Five, as he’d promised her father. He’d keep his word, so it was only a matter of time.

  But they went on working.

  Gran stayed at Etta’s, and Cait and Maddie moved into the bunkhouse with Cooper. The arrangement worked well and it kept them on the ranch—for now.

  Cait received the estimate for the windmill and the cost of repairing the house. Her eyes bulged at the figures. The insurance adjuster looked at the house and took the estimate, saying he’d be in touch. She had no idea when that would be. She needed the money right away, and told the man that.

  Mr. Bardwell had stopped buying sand and gravel because the pits were too wet. He said he’d try again in a month or so, but that would be too late.

  She thought of selling the herd, but that was just putting off the inevitable. At the end of the second week she called Judd. Brenda Sue answered.

  “Brenda Sue, this is Caitlyn. May I please speak to Judd?”

  “He’s not here and I don’t know where he is. He pretty much does what he wants and, believe me, I don’t interfere. You know how men are, but then you may not. You’ve always been sorta—”

  “I’d like to make an appointment to see him.” Cait cut her off, trying not to scream.

  “I don’t make his appointments. He’s funny about that, too. You’ll have to call back or whatever. I’ve got to go. I’ve got things to do and Judd doesn’t like me talking on the phone. Did I tell you I have a boyfriend? His name is Monty and…”

  Cait gritted her teeth and shut out whatever Brenda Sue was rattling on about. “Tell him I’ll be there at ten in the morning to discuss High Five. You can give him a message, right?”

  “Of course I can, and that’s just like you, Caitlyn. You always have to have your way. That’s why you’re still single and—”

  “Give him the message,” she yelled, and slammed the phone down.

  Cait went into her office, which was still usable, and took several deep breaths. Then she sat down and made out a list of points she wanted to negotiate with Judd. She would like for Etta, Rufus and Cooper to be allowed to stay on the property. She, Maddie and Gran hadn’t made plans yet. They would decide at the end.

  At the bottom she scribbled “I love you. Why wasn’t that enough?”

  Maddie rushed in, her cell in her hand. She shoved it at Cait. “Sky’s on the line.”

  “Hey, sis, where are you?” Cait asked.

  “In this hick town in Tennessee.”

  “I would tell you to come home, but we don’t have too much of a home at the moment. We just about got out all the smoke smell, though.”

  “Maddie told me. I’m sorry, Cait. I know how hard you’ve worked.”

  “Thanks. I guess it wasn’t meant to be.”

  “You sound resigned to the whole thing.”

  She wasn’t. She was dying a little inside, but no one would ever know that.

  “Gran’s okay with it, so that makes it better for me.”

  “Speaking of Gran, I hear we haven’t kept a thing from her.”

  “Nope, and I suggest you call her as soon as possible.”

  “I will, and Cait? Whatever you decide is fine with me.”

  “Really? Wouldn’t you rather have the money?”

  “Of course, but you’re my sister and I love you and want…” Her voice trailed away.

  “Is ‘bitchy’ getting soft?”

  “Not on your life, sister dear.”

  “I didn’t think so.” Cait laughed, and it felt good to talk to her sister. “Call Gran,” she shouted before clicking off.

  “She sounds great, doesn’t she?” Maddie asked.

  “Yeah. She’s a survivor.”

  “Just like you and me,” Maddie stated. “We’re going to make it.”

  “We sure are.” Cait stood. “Now let’s go make Cooper nervous.”

  Maddie grinned. “He does get rattled when we walk around in nothing but a towel.”

  “Mmm. I guess we need to be more respectful of his privacy.”

  “Maybe.” Maddie made a face. “But then we’d have no fun.”

  They giggled and went out the door arm in arm.

  JUDD SAT IN HIS STUDY staring at a glass of bourbon, but all he could see was Caitlyn’s face. He couldn’t seem to get it out of his head.

  Please leave. I’ll get with you later about the details. I can’t handle any more right now.

  Why couldn’t she trust him not to hurt her again? But of course, she couldn’t recover from the enormous loss, and he had to buy High Five. He’d promised Dane. Judd couldn’t go back on his word.

  That would destroy all the progress they’d made in the last few months.

  Could he hurt her that way?

  So many times she’d tried to tell him about love, and each time he’d resisted.

  Love starts by caring.

  Well, he cared. When she was on that windmill, he knew if she fell and died, life wouldn’t be worth living, just as it hadn’t been for the past fourteen years. That was a wad of truth to swallow.

  Love is a special connection between two people.

  They’d certainly had that from day one, even fourteen years ago. He was just too pigheaded to see it or to admit it.

  Let go, open your heart and trust me. Trust me.

  She’d trusted him on the windmill, and she probably had always trusted him.

  Love is something you feel in the heart.

  When she saw her family home in ruins, the pain in her eyes had cut through his gut. He’d wanted to take that pain away, but she’d told him to leave.

  Trust me.

  “Judd,” Brenda Sue called a moment before opening the door.

  He clenched his jaw at this intrusion.

  “Oh, good, you’re here,” the secretary said. “I didn’t know if you were back or not, and I was leaving for the day. I was going to write you a message, but now I can just tell you. Caitlyn called and wanted to make an appointment to see you. I told her I didn’t make your appointments and she got huffy. You know how Caitlyn is. She said to tell you she’d be here at ten in the morning to discuss High Five. You know, I heard there was a lot of damage there and—”

  He held up a hand to stop the endless chatter. “Call her back and tell her I have appointments in Austin tomorrow. I’ll meet with her later.”

  Brenda Sue pointed to his phone. “Why don’t you call her?”

  He lifted an eyebrow. “And what do I pay you for?”

  “Oh, okay, but Caitlyn’s going to bite my head off. I’d just as soon not go another round with her if you know what I mean. But if it’s my job I guess I have no choice.”

  Judd leaned back in his chair. “Try not to criticize. That might help. Just give her the message and don’t elaborate
on anything else. It’s that simple.”

  Brenda Sue scrunched up her nose. “I’ll try to be short and brief. I better hurry. I promised to meet Monty and I don’t want to be late. It’s our—”

  “Short and brief,” he reminded her, and she hurried out the door.

  He flipped through his Rolodex for Frank’s number. Before talking to Caitlyn, Judd had to know his legal rights concerning High Five.

  Could he take everything she loved?

  CAITLYN WAS MIFFED when she got the call from Brenda Sue. She tried to question her, but the blasted woman hung up on her. Was Judd avoiding her? They had to talk. There were no ifs, ands or buts about it.

  After the fire, she hadn’t been too nice to him. She’d been in shock, but now they had to find a way to communicate. And she had to find a way to let go. Of High Five.

  And Judd.

  In the late afternoon, Chance drove in with the bed of his truck filled with lumber and building supplies. She and Maddie ran out to greet him.

  After hugs, Cait asked, “Are you going into construction?”

  “Nope.” He removed his hat and bowed from the waist. “I am at your service, ma’am, to help rebuild the house.”

  “But I don’t have any money to pay you. I’m waiting on the insurance money.”

  “Miss Dorie never asked for money all the times I ate at her table, so I’m just repaying High Five’s hospitality.”

  “Chance Hardin, you’re an angel.”

  “I’ll get Cooper so he can help you unload this,” Maddie said.

  Chance grinned. “I’d appreciate it.” As Maddie walked away, he turned to Cait. “Could I talk to you for a sec?”

  “Sure.” He sounded serious and she wondered what this was about.

  He removed his hat and slicked back his dark hair in a nervous gesture. “I’ve been offered a job—a really good job. I could stay in one place and not be on the road so much. Also, I would be around to help Etta and Rufus when they need it.”

  “So the job is in High Cotton?”

  “Yeah.” He shifted from one booted foot to the other and she was taken aback by his nervousness. He looked up. “Judd offered me the foreman’s job at Southern Cross.”