by Janet Dailey
Clara meant well—she always did. But if Ellie burst through the door flushed and breathless, her mother would want to know why. And for now, Jubal would want to keep anything between them private.
At least she could talk about her ideas for helping Merle market her wares online. She also needed to break the news that she wouldn’t be going to the Cowboy Christmas Ball. Even with Jubal and Gracie there, she didn’t feel up to it. She could just imagine people eyeing her middle and taking bets on how soon she was going to pop.
As luck would have it, when Ellie went into the living room to put her gift under the tree, she found her mother asleep on the couch. She was lying with her hands folded and her ankles neatly crossed. A dainty snore escaped her lips.
Ellie slipped the package under the tree and stood for a moment, gazing down at her. In sleep this woman, who’d been a tower of strength all her life, looked like a frail child—too thin, with lines of weariness creasing her face. Clara had always made sure her daughter had everything she needed—the nicest clothes, dancing and music lessons, even a car of her own when she was old enough to drive. It couldn’t have been easy for her, but no sacrifice had been too great for her children.
Ben had been worth it. He’d always been the perfect son. But Ellie had been a self-centered, willful little drama queen.
If only she could go back in time. She would have been kinder and more appreciative. She would have gone out of her way to make her mother’s life happier. But it was too late to change the past. She could only touch the future.
Weeks, maybe days, from now, Ellie would have a daughter of her own—a daughter who would be her own little person from her first breath of air. What would their relationship be like?
Clara stirred, opened her eyes, and smiled. “So you’re home. How did the doctor visit go?”
“Everything’s fine. Can I make you some tea?” Over tea at the kitchen table, she could tell her mother about her ideas for Merle’s shop and broach the news that she’d be skipping the Christmas Ball.
“The tea can wait, dear. Right now, I have a surprise to show you.” Clara pushed herself up, took a moment to right herself, and hurried off down the hall.
Ellie took off her coat and hung it in the closet. She was about to go in the kitchen and start some tea when her mother came back with something hanging over her arm.
“What do you think, dear? Isn’t it pretty?” She held up a dress of blue and burgundy flowered chintz with puffed sleeves and a high waist with sashes to tie in back. The lower part of the dress was full enough to accommodate a small circus . . . or a full-term pregnancy. It was for her, Ellie realized with a sinking heart. How could she stay home now?
“It’s, uh, roomy,” Ellie hedged. “You must’ve been saving that much cloth for some big project. There’s enough fabric in that dress to reupholster the couch.”
“I was actually saving it for new curtains in my bedroom,” Clara said. “But yesterday I looked at it and thought, why not? Now you’ll have something to wear to the Christmas Ball!”
Ellie stifled a groan. Her mother was trying so hard to make her happy. She hugged her fragile shoulders. “Thanks, Mom. I guess if Scarlett O’Hara can wear her mother’s curtains, so can I.”
“It’s not my best work, mind you. But I realize you’ll only be wearing it one time. After that, maybe I can make some pillow covers or a bed ruffle out of that skirt.”
“Then I’ll try not to spill on it.” Ellie took the dress and laid it over her arm. “I’ll put this away upstairs. Then I’ll make us some tea. While we drink it, I’ll tell you about the great new idea I had at Merle’s today. If you have any suggestions, I’d love to hear them.”
* * *
The next morning, when Ellie drove into the Shop Mart parking lot, Jubal was standing outside his truck, waiting for her. Even from a distance, she could see the tension in his rigid posture. His future, and his daughter’s, could hang on whatever happened today.
With a murmured greeting, he helped her into the high passenger seat. He’d mentioned earlier that she’d be briefed on the way to the bank, but she knew better than to distract him with chatter. Jubal would talk when he was ready—and he did.
Hearing his plan didn’t make her feel any more confident. So many things could go wrong. But she had to agree it was worth a try. And since it didn’t involve money or the law, Jubal had nothing to lose.
They parked at the bank, and Jubal helped Ellie climb to the ground. She’d dressed up a little—if makeup, earrings, and a clean sweater counted as dressing up. She didn’t plan on saying much, but for Jubal’s sake, she wanted to make a decent impression.
He gave her his arm as they crossed the slippery parking lot. In his free hand he carried the manila envelope with the contract and other documents in it, which he planned to show to Clive Huish. As they passed through the double doors, she was tempted to squeeze his hand. But that, she feared, would only distract him.
The receptionist showed them back to Huish’s office, which was smaller than the bank president’s but furnished with a vast mahogany desk and a kingly red leather chair. The walls were decorated with photos of Huish with prominent Texas people—the current governor and his wife, a senator, even a former president of the United States. The man made no secret of his political ambitions. Ellie remembered her mother saying that he’d run for mayor in the last election. Evidently, he’d lost.
He rose from behind his desk, a big man, putting on weight and losing hair in middle age. His brown suit looked expensive.
“We haven’t met, but I’d know Ben Marsden’s sister anywhere. My wife mentioned meeting you at the baby shower.” He extended a hand to Ellie, all smiles and charm. “Please take a seat.”
Ellie accepted the handshake. “Thank you, Mr. Huish, but your business is with Jubal, not with me. I’m just here to listen.”
A startled look flashed across his face but he made a swift recovery. “So what can I do for you, Jubal?” he asked, sitting again. “If it’s a small loan, I’m sure we can work something out.”
His condescending manner made Ellie want to punch him, but she moved back to a chair against the wall and sat down.
“This isn’t about a loan.” Jubal was still on his feet. His voice showed no emotion. “It’s about the ranch that was stolen from my father.”
“Stolen? What makes you say that?” Huish’s expression betrayed nothing.
“I found the contract he signed—when he borrowed five thousand dollars from your wife’s elderly grandfather.” Jubal drew the papers out of the envelope. “It was a scam, Huish. A scam to take the ranch for the oil rights. And you knew about it all the time. I can’t prove it, but I’d bet money you were the one who set it up.”
“Let me see that!” He snatched the contract out of Jubal’s hand. His eyes scanned the pages, as if he already knew what was written on them. “This document is perfectly legal,” he said. “Your father signed a note and put up the ranch as collateral. He received his money and evidently never paid back a cent of it.” His gaze narrowed. Both men seemed to have forgotten Ellie, who sat with her hands gripping the arms of her chair and her heart in her throat.
“My father wasn’t in his right mind,” Jubal said. “If he had been, he would never have signed this contract.”
Huish rose. Standing, he was tall enough to look Jubal in the eye. “Exactly what is it you want?” he demanded.
“I want my ranch,” Jubal said. “Transfer the deed back to me, and everything I know about what you did, and how you lied to me, stays right here in this room.”
There was a beat of silence. Then Clive Huish laughed—a harsh, almost evil sound. “Who do you think you’re talking to, Jubal? So what if my wife’s grandfather made your dad a loan with terms that only a fool would accept? Do you see my name anywhere on this document?”
“No.” Jubal’s voice was flat and cold. “But I know that your wife’s grandfather was a recluse. My father could never have gained a
ccess to him without a family member to act as a go-between. I also know that you and your wife moved to Branding Iron six years ago to look after the old man. He wasn’t competent to draw up a legal document. Somebody had to do it for him and get him to sign it.”
A bead of sweat had formed on Huish’s temple. “That’s pure conjecture!” he snapped. “All your so-called evidence proves is that J. D. gave your father a loan on terms he agreed to. So if it’s legal action you’re planning, I’d advise against it. You’d be laughed out of court.”
“Maybe so.” A bitter smile twitched at a corner of Jubal’s mouth. “But that doesn’t mean I can’t tell folks what I know you did. An old classmate of mine works the local news in Cottonwood Springs—does one of those features where they root out cheaters and scammers and exposes them on TV. He’s always on the lookout for a good story. Then there’s social media—the Internet’s great for spreading news. I could also put in a word to your boss about how you flat-out lied to me when I tried to get a loan here. Even if you don’t lose your job, I can’t imagine you’ll have much of a future in politics.”
Huish glared up at him. “I could rip up this contract and swear that you’re lying and that this conversation never happened.”
“Go ahead. It’s a copy. The one with the real signatures is in my safe. And my friend Ellie, here, has a great memory. She can back up everything we said.” Jubal paused to let his words sink in. “You don’t need that ranch, Huish. You’re not cut out to work it. There’s not a damned drop of oil under the land. And if you try to sell it, your dirty trick will go public. I don’t want to ruin you. I just want my family’s property back. This is your one chance to set the record straight and keep your reputation out of the mud.”
Clive Huish had gone white around the mouth. Little by little, Ellie saw him crumble. His shoulders sagged. He took a handkerchief out of his pocket and dabbed his sweating face.
“It wasn’t me who did this,” he said. “It was Donetta, my wife. She was the one who came up with the scheme and got the old geezer to sign. As his heir, the property belongs to her.” He glared up at Jubal. “She’s a stubborn woman. Give me till the end of the week. If I can convince her to sign the deed back to you, we have a deal. If not, there’s nothing I can do—and Lord help us both.”
“You have my number. Either way, I’ll expect your call. And you can keep that copy of the contract.” Still stone-faced, Jubal turned away from the desk and extended his hand to help Ellie out of the chair. Together they walked out of the bank and into the clear morning air.
Only after they’d reached the parking lot did Jubal break into a grin. The war wasn’t over but at least he’d won the battle. He squeezed Ellie’s arm. “Thanks. It isn’t a done deal yet, but I owe you,” he said.
Ellie laughed, happy for him. “You don’t owe me a thing. The entertainment was worth my time.”
“This calls for a celebration,” he said. “What do you say we go pick up Gracie for double cheeseburgers and shakes at Buckaroo’s?”
“That sounds like just the thing!”
They had reached the truck. Jubal opened the door and offered his hand to help her in. Suddenly he paused.
“Oh, what the hell, girl!” he muttered, taking her in his arms. With that, he kissed her, deep and long and hard, by the open door where anybody could look.
Ellie kissed him back, the joyous tingle surging all the way to her toes. The colored lights on Main Street swirled in her head. Carols sang in her ears. For the first time since coming home to Branding Iron, she felt like Christmas.
Chapter 14
Dressed in baggy blue sweats, with her hair caught back in a scrunchy, Ellie sat at the kitchen table, sipping her coffee and studying the screen on her laptop. She’d spent much of the week working out the plan to put Merle’s business online. The idea that had begun as a spark had turned into a major project, one that would involve setting up a secure Internet account, photographing the items and writing descriptions, creating a Web page, and inserting links on sites like Facebook, Pinterest, Google, and Amazon.
Getting ready for the launch would take weeks, if not a couple of months. No way would she be able to get more than a start on it before the baby was due. But Merle had been patient and understanding. The sharp old woman also had plenty of business savvy. Her ideas, and her excitement about the new venture, made the work a pleasure.
Ellie was grateful for the distraction. She’d needed it to take her mind off Jubal and the ranch. Every day he’d called her with the same update—no word from Clive Huish. Feeling the worry Jubal was trying so hard to hide had almost undone her.
Now it was Friday morning, the last workday of a week that would end with the annual Christmas parade and the Cowboy Christmas Ball. If the banker hadn’t yet talked his wife into returning Jubal’s ranch, it wasn’t likely to happen. Whatever went down, she would be there for Jubal. But failing to save the ranch would crush him. Ellie had done all she could to help. All she could do now was hope.
She was still gazing at the computer, trying to focus, when her cell phone rang. Her pulse skipped as she reached for it. But the caller wasn’t Jubal. It was Jess.
“Hi, Ellie.” Her sister-in-law was upbeat as usual. “Are you good for a girls’ lunch today? My friend Kylie will be in town for some shopping. Since her husband and kids will be home with the baby, she wanted to get together and catch up. She says she could use a break. Something tells me you could, too. So what do you say?”
Ellie hesitated, thinking of the work she had to do. But she did need a break, and the company would cheer her. “Sure,” she said. “Can I meet you somewhere?”
“I’ll pick you up around noon,” Jess said. “Glad you can make it.”
Ending the call, Ellie glanced at the time. It was almost eleven. She’d get cleaned up now, then work until Jess arrived. Her mother was watching TV and surely wouldn’t mind keeping an eye on Beau.
Half an hour later she was showered, dressed, and ready to go. She was back at the computer when she heard voices from the living room. Jess had come inside to greet her mother-in-law. They were visiting when Ellie came in with her coat. For an instant she felt a flicker of envy. Ben’s wife was glowing with the joy of her pregnancy. Why shouldn’t she be? She had a husband who adored her, a town and family waiting to celebrate her little one. Ellie faced nothing but an uncertain future here. Could she really build a life in a place where she’d never wanted to be, with a man who still had every reason to turn his back on her?
Jubal seemed to want her, but he hadn’t said he loved her or asked her to marry him. Had he thought about the challenge of raising another man’s child? When faced with that reality, would he get cold feet? How could she blame him if he did? She’d be a fool not to expect it.
“You girls have a nice time.” Clara smiled from her rocker, where her hands were busy crocheting a baby sweater with soft, variegated pink and blue yarn from Merle’s shop.
“You’re welcome to come with us.” Jess had her keys out and was starting for the door.
The crochet hook paused. “Thanks, but I’ll be better off here, where it’s warm and cozy. There’s supposed to be a storm blowing in later today.”
“Thanks for watching Beau.” Ellie glanced at her dog, sprawled in his favorite spot under the Christmas tree.
“No trouble at all. He’s good company. My, but he does love that tree.” Clara returned to the sweater and her TV talk show.
* * *
Kylie was holding a booth at Buckaroo’s when Ellie and Jess arrived. The place was busy at this hour with people stopping by for lunch.
“I hope you don’t mind,” she said. “I ordered an extra large Hawaiian pizza and Diet Cokes for us when I got here. Otherwise, we’d have to wait, and I don’t have much time.”
“You told me you had all afternoon.” Jess took a seat, making room for Ellie to slide in next to her. Their drinks were already on the table.
“I know.” Kylie laugh
ed. “But Shane phoned me just as I got here. The baby threw up on the couch, Hunter and Amy are in time-out for fighting, and he got a call from the neighbor that a section of the east fence is down and needs to be put up before any cows wander out. Poor man. I’ve got time to eat, but then I really need to get home and free him from kid duty.”
“You’ve got to hand it to him.” Ellie had been told how Kylie, a military widow with two children, had come to Branding Iron two years ago and married the handsome, single rancher. “Being a stepfather to two teenagers can’t be easy.”
“Oh, I know,” Kylie said. “But he’s come through like a champ. Hunter and Amy adore him. Their father was hardly ever home. They love having a full-time dad. Shane’s even petitioned to adopt them.”
“Wow, that’s great!” Jess glanced at Ellie. “But you’ve had some adjustments, too, Kylie. Going from army wife to ranch wife must’ve been a challenge.”
“You mean all that ropin’ and ridin’ and brandin’?” Kylie’s blue eyes twinkled with laughter. “Who’s got time for that? I’m raising a family with the man I love. That’s a full-time job. I wipe those big muddy boot prints off the kitchen floor and count my blessings.”
The pizza had arrived. Ellie helped herself to a slice. Here she was, sharing lunch with two city women who’d come to town, married Branding Iron men—with children in the mix—and made it work. And now they were talking to her about it. This couldn’t be a coincidence. Maybe it was time she called them on it.
“Why do I get the feeling I’ve been set up?” she demanded.
“Set up? By us?” Jess was all big-eyed innocence.
Kylie laughed. “All right, but give us a break, Ellie. We want the best for you. Anybody with eyes in their head can see how things are between you and Jubal. Now don’t deny it. You’ve been seen together all over town.”
“We understand that you have your doubts about staying,” Jess said. “We just wanted you to see that it’s possible to be happy here, even on a ranch.”