“I don’t know. I—where? When?” It didn’t matter. She was stalling until she recovered from the shock. He wanted her to meet his folks?
“At their place. Next Wednesday. It’ll be small, just the immediate family.”
“Um, wouldn’t that be awkward?” She glanced over her shoulder and saw Liberty and Woody, still a ways off, loaded with paint supplies and heading toward the barn.
“If I thought so, I wouldn’t have asked.” He sounded tired. She turned back to him and saw the weariness in his eyes. “Think it over. We should also consider including Liberty.”
She gaped at him. “Why? Because today is her last day? Nothing’s changed. She’s told me you and Woody said she’s welcome to come back anytime, which I appreciate—”
“Is that what’s stopping you from telling her about us?”
The question took her by surprise. Yes, their relationship had been evolving into something more intimate, at least in her mind. But they hadn’t discussed it. “What do you mean by ‘us’?” she asked, and waited, letting the silence stretch until it nearly snapped. “We’re friends who have sex...is that something I should explain to my fifteen-year-old niece?”
She noted the sudden tightening of his mouth, but she didn’t regret speaking candidly. If she was upset, it was with herself for foolishly hoping he’d suddenly blurt a confession that he cared for her.
But he just studied her for a long, uncomfortable moment, then stared off in the direction of Lib and Woody.
Dammit, she wished they hadn’t broached the subject now. Not out here where she couldn’t touch him. “You know, it wouldn’t be a bad idea,” she said with a teasing smile. “Letting Lib meet your brothers. Maybe she’d transfer her crush to one of them.”
He gave her a faint smile. “Am I that easy to replace?”
“No.” She shook her head, horrified at the surge of emotion that blocked her throat. She’d entered their arrangement confident that good sex was all that mattered. Building a friendship would be a bonus. But they’d already passed that point...at least she had. “I’ll talk to Liberty,” Beth said. “About going to dinner.”
Nathan nodded and flexed his hands. She knew he wanted to touch her, just as she wanted to touch him. But they couldn’t. “Liberty is on her way over here. If dinner doesn’t work out, no sweat, okay? I don’t want it causing problems—”
The way he cut off the sentence bothered her. Maybe he was having second thoughts about going so public? “I’ll call you later.”
“Any chance I’ll see you tonight?” he asked.
“I hope so.” She glanced over her shoulder and waved to Liberty, wishing they could talk now. “I want to make sure Candace will be home.”
Nathan abruptly changed the subject to the Arabians, and seconds later Liberty joined in the conversation. Beth mostly stayed quiet, observing and listening. She liked seeing the passion in Liberty’s eyes, discovering how much she’d learned from Nathan. They had forged quite a bond. And when was the last time she’d seen Lib this happy?
Beth prayed she’d stay that way.
* * *
NATHAN LISTENED TO Big John’s concern about why the hay in the east barn should be moved, but he was aware the second Beth’s truck disappeared from view. He wasn’t sorry their conversation had been interrupted. Nathan didn’t think he could’ve stood another minute of watching Beth slowly withdraw from him. Sure, he knew her silence had been intended to give Liberty the floor, but there was more to it.
He was beginning to read Beth pretty well. Too often they only had time for a quick lunch in her office, a cup of coffee here and there, a few kisses, but the late-night phone conversations? He’d never done so much talking in his entire life. And one thing was perfectly clear to him—Beth would do anything to protect Liberty. Even if it meant cutting ties with him.
While he admired her loyalty and commitment, he doubted her ability to rationally assess the situation. Liberty was still a kid. He didn’t know anything about young girls’ crushes, but he knew kids had short attention spans, and that Liberty was more interested in the Arabians than anything else.
Dammit, what was he supposed to do? Discourage Liberty from hanging out with him? Stop seeing Beth before things went too far?
He was as surprised as anyone that he’d told his brother about Beth. That he was considering letting Liberty in on their secret. Now he kicked himself for even mentioning the party. What if they let the cat out of the bag and Beth decided she couldn’t handle it? It hurt like hell knowing she might kick him to the side instead of looking for another solution.
If all they had between them was sex, he wouldn’t blame her for ending things. But their relationship had crossed over to something more intimate a while ago. He felt certain she could see that, too. Neither of them had said anything, but their feelings were as clear as day, so what was there to discuss?
Maybe he was worried for nothing.
Or just maybe the situation with Candace had Beth thinking about leaving Blackfoot Falls and taking Liberty with her. The way she cared about her niece, if she thought it necessary, even having all her money tied up with the boardinghouse wouldn’t be enough to keep her here.
And neither would he.
“Well, don’t you look as happy as a pig being dragged away from a feed trough.” Woody took off his hat, glanced toward the road and scratched his head. “Want to tell me what’s going on? Big John thinks you’ve gone loco. I might have to agree.”
Nathan looked around. Big John stood near the barn shooting him puzzled looks. No wonder. He didn’t even know the guy had left. “He’s worried about the hay getting wet,” Nathan muttered.
“Yep, and he’s going to take care of it. Right now I’m more concerned about you.”
“Why? I’m fine.” He turned toward the house but stopped. “Next week is Dad’s birthday. You’re invited to dinner.”
“You going?”
Nathan nodded. He’d missed the celebration for the past two years. Time to quit being a self-absorbed ass.
“Good for you,” Woody said quietly. “You taking Beth?”
“I asked her. Told her to bring Liberty.”
“She turn you down? Is that why the long face?”
“She’s thinking about it.” Nathan shrugged, then eyed his friend. “You writing a gossip column for the Gazette?”
“Maybe. You got something juicy for me?”
Chuckling, Nathan shook his head. He stared up at the dark clouds coming from the north. Only a week ago he’d been studying the stars with Beth. “You think Liberty has a crush on me?”
Woody barked out a laugh. Then frowned. “Well, hells bells, I think she just might. Wouldn’t that be something? Here you being old enough to—”
“Yeah, I know.” Nathan sighed. “Big John is right. Looks like rain, maybe even snow by tonight. Let’s get the hay moved.”
“Hold on there, son. I don’t know what’s got you all twisted up inside, but whatever it is...don’t you let that gal go.”
Nathan paused, though he wasn’t about to get into a discussion about Beth. Not today. “I might not have a choice.”
Woody’s eyes narrowed. “Now, that’s something I never expected to come out of your mouth. You’re the most single-minded, bull-headed person I know. You want something, it’s as good as got. So I reckon that means I was wrong. You mustn’t want her so badly.”
The old-timer jammed his hat back on his head and ambled toward the barn. Nathan knew damn well he hadn’t heard the last of it. Woody liked to dispense words of “wisdom” whenever they popped into his head. He’d only made it a few yards before he turned and walked back to Nathan. Had to be a record, even for Woody.
“You been sitting on that pity pot so long I expect you must have a ring around your ass by now,” Woody said, holding up a gnarled finger. “Get off, Nathan. Right now. It’s past time.”
Shocked, Nathan watched his friend turn on his heel and head back to the barn. Peop
le thought he was feeling sorry for himself? What complete bullshit.
* * *
AFTER PUTTING IT off for two days, on Monday Beth decided she’d have that talk with Liberty. Not just about going to the birthday dinner, but about her relationship with Nathan. No, he hadn’t admitted that his feelings for her had changed, but that was because he was gun-shy after all he’d gone through with Anne. Beth wouldn’t give him a pass forever, but she could for now.
Candace wasn’t there when Beth got home from work, and shock of all shocks, Liberty was at the kitchen table doing homework. That alone justified another delay, except it wasn’t fair to Nathan. He hadn’t pushed, and in fact hadn’t even mentioned it the few times they’d talked over the weekend, but she needed to give him an answer.
While she waited for Lib to finish her history paper, Beth made grilled-cheese sandwiches and heated a can of tomato soup for their dinner. Tomorrow she’d pick up stuff for salads at the Food Mart. Maybe she’d even put together some homemade soup.
Out of her peripheral vision she saw Lib close her book and the laptop Beth had given her. “Hey...do they still teach home-ec courses in high school?”
“What’s that?”
“Guess that answers my question.” Beth would’ve been surprised if the program still existed. She’d only wanted to start some conversation. “You want to learn how to cook?”
“From you?” Liberty sounded genuinely horrified.
“I’ll have you know from the age of ten I did most of the cooking for your mom, Grandma and myself.”
“Seriously? That’s not very encouraging.”
“Yeah.” Beth laughed. “I can follow a recipe, though.”
Liberty didn’t look convinced, but she said, “You do make good grilled cheese.”
“Thanks.” With a rueful smile, Beth handed her the plate with her sandwich and a cup of soup. “Speaking of dinner, Nathan invited us to his folks’ place next Wednesday,” she said on her way back to the stove. “It’s his dad’s birthday and they’re having a small get-together, mostly family. Woody will be there, too.”
She’d kept her tone casual and purposely hadn’t looked at Liberty. But when the silence lasted too long, she turned to check Lib’s reaction.
Her niece was staring at her. “He asked both of us?”
Beth froze at Liberty’s devastated expression. “I think he meant your mom, too.”
“Yeah, right. I know you guys have been sneaking around. I’m not stupid.”
Beth’s heart sank. “What do you mean?” she asked weakly, feeling guilt heat her face.
Liberty stared at her. “Oh, my God. It’s true.” She let out a small gasp. “You’ve been seeing each other and lying. Those weekends away, you were with him....”
Too late Beth realized that Liberty hadn’t known anything. She’d been fishing, and Beth had fallen for it. “Liberty, please...yes, Nathan and I are friends, but that doesn’t change how either of us feels about you—”
“You’re just like Candace.” Liberty pushed away from the table, her chair screeching against the floor, her face red with anger. “You’re both mean and selfish and take whatever you want. You don’t care about me. She won’t let me see my dad, and now you’ve stolen Nathan from me. I can’t have anything for myself. Ever.”
“Liberty, please try to calm down.” Beth put a hand out to her, but Liberty jerked away and ran out of the kitchen. Seconds later her bedroom door slammed.
Beth felt as if the wind had been knocked out of her. Trying to take a deep breath made her lungs burn as if they were on fire. She smelled her grilled-cheese sandwich burning, turned off the stove and slid the frying pan off the red-hot coil. What the hell was she supposed to do now? Give Liberty time to cool off or plead to let her explain?
Oh, God, explain what? That her aunt was a liar. That Beth, knowing how it could affect Liberty, had continued to see Nathan. She had no excuse. She could apologize until she was blue in the face, but those were just empty words. When put to the test, she’d risked her relationship with Liberty and chosen Nathan. This time she couldn’t even blame Candace.
To think Beth had been furious to learn of her sister’s overnight disappearance last weekend while Beth was away. She was no better than Candace. No, she was worse, because Candace was clueless and Beth knew better. Yet she’d hurt Liberty anyway.
Queasy from guilt and the smell of burned bread, she sank onto a wobbly kitchen chair. A few weeks ago Beth had questioned Spike’s motives and urged Liberty to evaluate the supposed friendship. Beth had asked her niece if she trusted her...asked if she believed Beth had her best interests at heart.
Liberty had looked so young and fragile when she’d met Beth’s eyes and nodded. The memory pierced her heart like a stab to the chest. Feeling sick to her stomach, she bent to tuck her head between her knees. As soon as the nausea passed, she got to her feet. She couldn’t let this ugliness between them fester overnight.
She knocked on Lib’s door, prepared to bare her soul, beg for forgiveness, promise Liberty anything.
At first she didn’t answer. Beth knocked again, and Lib screamed, “Go away.”
“Please, Liberty,” Beth pleaded. “Please talk to me.”
In answer, Lib cranked her CD player to an earsplitting level.
Beth pressed her cheek to the door and closed her eyes. “I love you, kiddo,” she whispered, and then slowly straightened.
The short walk to the living room seemed to take a lifetime.
* * *
SUNLIGHT WAS SEEPING in between the curtains when Beth awoke. Startled, she glanced around the room, then at her phone lying on the cushion next to her. The last she’d checked, it had been 5:15 a.m. Apparently she’d fallen asleep sitting up on the couch sometime after that. Her neck and back were both stiff and her vision was blurry.
She picked up her cell, blinked and focused. Holy crap! How could it be 8:30 a.m. already? Forcing herself to her feet, she studied her phone. She had several missed calls...none from Candace, three from Nathan. After the blowup with Liberty, Beth had let his calls go to voice mail. No, it wasn’t fair to ignore him, but she was incapable of speaking to him without making everything worse.
She checked Lib’s room, not expecting to find her there. It was the usual mess, clothes in piles on the floor, the bed unmade—but at least it had been slept in—and the backpack she used for school was gone. Homeroom had just started, and Beth prayed Lib had caught the bus the way she always did.
The kitchen hadn’t been touched since Beth had left the frying pan in the sink and dumped their dinner in the trash. Still, it bothered her that she hadn’t heard the girl moving around. Of course, Liberty had probably gone into stealth mode, hoping to avoid another confrontation.
Stretching her neck and back, Beth glanced out the window. Candace wasn’t home. Yeah, big surprise.
She needed a hot shower. But first she called Joe to tell him she was running late. Good thing she’d given him a key to the boardinghouse last week.
She made it into her closet-size room before it registered that her purse wasn’t hanging from the doorknob where she’d left it. She searched the floor and behind the door. Her pulse slowed when she spotted the brown leather bag, except she never hung it on the door hook. She brought it down and looked inside. Her wallet was unsnapped. Even before she checked she knew her cash was gone. So was her debit card.
“Jesus, Liberty,” she whispered, frozen with shock.
Forcing her feet to move, she raced to the kitchen and ripped the list of emergency numbers off the fridge. Her hand shaking, she called the school.
Liberty hadn’t shown up for homeroom.
Not expecting her to answer, Beth tried Lib’s cell anyway, and was sent to voice mail. She left a brief message, then tried calling Candace with no luck. Her bedroom door was closed, which probably meant nothing. Driven by a funny feeling, Beth knocked once then opened it.
Something was off. The room was too neat. No dirty c
lothes littered the stained carpet, and the dresser wasn’t covered with trays of makeup. The room seemed...empty. On the nightstand, tucked under the red lava lamp, was an envelope. Her stomach coiling into a knot, Beth walked over and picked it up. The power company’s return address had been crossed off, and in Candace’s handwriting, Beth’s name was scrawled across the used envelope.
With shaking fingers, she opened it up and read the short message.
It’s better for everyone if I’m out of the picture. Besides, you always wanted to have Liberty to yourself. Now you’ve got her. No hard feelings. This is better for her. Tell her goodbye for me and not to worry. I found me a real good guy this time.
17
NATHAN HAD JUST pulled up in front of the boardinghouse when his cell buzzed. Relief rolled through him when he saw it was Beth. They hadn’t spoken at the appointed hour last night because she hadn’t answered his calls. And now her truck wasn’t parked in its usual spot. Something was wrong.
“Beth? Where are you?”
“Nathan...thank God.” She sounded out of breath. “By any chance have you seen Liberty? Is she at the ranch?”
“No. Wouldn’t she be in school?”
“Yes, she should be.” Her voice broke. “We had an argument last night and now she’s missing. She won’t answer her cell.”
“She’ll show up,” he said calmly. “Every kid runs away at some point. Hell, she’s probably blowing off steam with a spray can.” Not a pleasant thought. Maybe he should’ve left that out.
“I’m afraid it’s more serious than that. Is it possible she’s there with Woody and you just haven’t seen her?” She paused, and he heard her sniff. “She might be avoiding you, too.”
“I’ll check with him. Where are you?”
“At home, but I’m getting ready to go look for her.”
“Stay put. I’m in town. I’ll pick you up in ten minutes.”
“No,” she said, her voice shrill with panic. “You can’t go with me. You’ll only make things worse. She knows about us, Nathan. She tricked me into admitting it. I feel so stupid. I’m a liar and a hypocrite and I—I have to go.”
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