by Judy Duarte
Okay, so that was only partially true.
“But honey, isn’t it great? One man took all three of your paintings, and Mr. Montgomery thinks he can sell him more.”
What neither Alex nor her mother knew was that she could sell that same buyer paintings directly—and without a commission—if he actually had reason to stage another ranch house for potential buyers. But Jason Rayburn wasn’t interested in her style of art. Not for himself, anyway.
“I hope you’re not upset with me,” her mother added.
How could Juliana ever be mad at her mom? The woman was practically a saint and had a heart of gold. “No, it’s okay.”
“So how is the job on the ranch going?”
“It’s coming along fine. I should be done soon, then I’ll search for work in the city.”
“I wish you’d reconsider and look for a job around Brighton Valley. I’m sure you can find something here. I can post an ad in the church bulletin to see if anyone in the congregation is aware of an opening.”
Just what the church secretary needed her daughter to do—parade herself around town, unwed, barefoot and pregnant. Sure, times had changed. Not everyone would point their fingers at her. But her mom didn’t need to be embarrassed about Juliana’s short sight when it came to choosing a mate worthy of a lifetime commitment.
“I actually have a few potential job opportunities already,” Juliana said. “And they’re all in the city. But I’ll let you know if I need your help.”
A double click sounded, letting her know another call was coming through. She took a peek at the display. Sure enough, it was Alex’s cell number. She’d love to let it go to voice mail, but he’d just keep trying until she answered.
“Listen, Mom, that’s Alex now.”
“I’m sorry for letting him know how to contact you.”
“That’s okay. I love you. Talk to you soon.” Then she switched over to the incoming call.
“Hey,” he said when she answered. “Why did you change your number? You weren’t avoiding me, were you, baby?”
“Just looking for a brand-new start. That’s all.”
“No need to do that. Listen, I’m not sure if your mother told you or not, but I sold all three of those paintings. The buyer loves your work. How soon can you bring me something else?”
“I’m not interested in working with La Galleria.”
“But I have a buyer on the hook. You’re losing money by dragging your feet and being stubborn.”
“So be it.”
He paused a moment, as if plotting his next move. “Did you take care of...the little problem?”
The jerk. “I took care of it.” But not the way he’d expected her to. She’d gone to see a doctor and was due to have a baby girl in late December. And she would continue to take care of her daughter for as long as she needed her. “Not to worry, Alex. All is well.”
“Good. I’ll be happy to reimburse you. Let me know how much you need.”
“I don’t need anything from you. Ever. Not a dime, not a phone call, not anything.”
“But what about the buyer? I have his name, remember?”
“And I’m not interested. Remember?”
Then she did what she should have done the moment she’d heard his voice the very first time he’d asked for a date and suggested they keep it their “special little secret.”
She hung up the phone and disconnected the line.
* * *
On Monday afternoon, Jason left Ian and the boys painting the barn and drove into town to pick up a few supplies at the hardware store. He’d noticed the engine knocking a couple of times on the way in and thought he ought to stop by Harv’s Auto Repair and have him take a look at it.
If he were going to keep the ranch, he’d actually consider buying a new truck since this one was nearly twenty years old and had more than its share of wear and tear. The odometer showed fourteen thousand miles, but it had clearly made at least one lap around—maybe two.
After picking up the items on his list, he returned to the truck. But when he turned the key in the ignition, the damn thing wouldn’t start. The lights worked, so he knew it wasn’t the battery. He sat behind the wheel for a moment, then blew out a sigh.
Moments later, he’d dialed 4-1-1 and had Harvey Dennison on the line. “This is Jason Rayburn from the Leaning R. I’m parked on Main Street in the old Dodge pickup, but I can’t get it to even turn over. Can you come out and have a look at it? I think it might be the starter.”
“Nope. That’s not it. We replaced that a couple of weeks ago. It’s also got a new battery and an alternator. I’ll come and bring the tow truck.”
“So you’re familiar with the engine?”
“Yep. Told your great-grandma it was time to buy a new one, but she passed on before she could do that.” The mechanic blew out a sigh. “By the way, son, I’m sorry for your loss. Rosabelle Rayburn was a fine woman.”
“Thank you.” Not many days went by that he didn’t hear someone in town tell him how much they thought of Granny. “Do you have any idea what’s wrong with the truck?”
“I worked on it a couple of times for Ian. Told him what I told Mrs. Rayburn. But he said your daddy wasn’t going to put any more money into the ranch. I’ll do my best to fix it one more time, but it’s going to need a new engine. That’s for sure.”
“Well, do what you need to do. I’m parked about two doors down from the hardware store. Since no one’s going to steal it, I’ll leave the keys on the floorboard.”
“All righty, son. I’ll be there in about an hour.”
At least Jason wouldn’t have to worry about getting a parking ticket, but he was stuck in town until he found a ride home.
He hated to bother Ian, who was knee-deep in the corral repair and overseeing the boys’ painting. So he dialed the house.
Juliana answered on the third ring.
“Hey, it’s me,” he said. “The truck broke down while I was in town. Can you come and get me?”
“Sure. Where are you?”
“On Main Street, by the hardware store. But if you haven’t had lunch yet, you can meet me at Caroline’s. I’ll wait to order until you get there.”
Silence stretched across the line.
“What’s the matter?” he asked. “Did you already eat?”
“No. It’s just that I...well, I was trying to stay out of the public eye since I’ve started to show.”
And Caroline’s was a gathering place for the locals.
“If you feel better about it, I can order take-out and meet you at the car when you arrive. But why don’t you come on in? You aren’t showing all that much yet. Besides, I doubt anyone will notice anything except how pretty you are.”
He hoped she didn’t think he was feeding her a line—or trying to sweet-talk her into doing him this favor. Every time he looked at her, he forgot she was pregnant. And when he remembered, he actually found it amazing to imagine a little one growing there.
“All right,” she said. “But I can’t get there for at least a half hour. Maybe a bit more.”
“No problem. I’ll wait for you at Caroline’s.”
After disconnecting the line, he crossed the street and entered the local diner. The lunch crowd was long gone, which ought to make Juliana happy. Her pregnancy was apparent to him now that he knew, but he couldn’t imagine that anyone else would spot it so easily, especially since she wore loose clothing.
He suspected she’d be a loving mother. And while her child wouldn’t have a father, Juliana would more than make up for that loss.
“I’ll be right with you,” Margie called from the kitchen. “But feel free to take a seat anywhere you want.”
He had his choice of chairs at the counter or any of the tables, but before he could take a step toward a corner booth, Shannon Miller entered the diner.
Braden’s mother seemed surprised to see him, although she had to know he was in town. She’d always been an attractive woman, a shapely brunett
e with green eyes and a sprinkle of freckles across her nose. From what Jason had heard, she’d been a real knockout as a teenager, but she’d downplayed her beauty after she’d had Braden.
She’d only been eighteen at the time, which made her about forty-five now. Her hair didn’t have any gray, although he wasn’t sure if that was because of her age, her genes or her hairdresser.
“Hello, Jason.” She offered him a smile. “I heard you were back in Brighton Valley.”
“Good to see you, Shannon.” He’d like to talk to her, to ask some of the questions he had for Braden. Maybe he should he invite her to join him. “Are you meeting someone?”
“No, I only stopped by to pick up some of Megan’s muffins. I’m hosting my book club tomorrow morning and don’t have time to bake anything myself.”
“They must taste good if you drove all the way into town to buy them.”
“They are. But this wasn’t my only stop. I had to meet with the family attorney and make sure everything is in order. My dad has been pretty sick, but I didn’t know how serious it was until now. He’s been keeping it to himself.”
Her smile faded, leaving her looking worn, troubled. After Jason had talked to Ralph Nettles earlier and learned about the conversation the men had had at the oncologist, Jason had connected the dots and assumed the worst.
Did Braden know? Maybe not, because if he did, he’d probably come home and leave the Camilla Cruz mystery alone, at least for the time being. He’d always been close to his mom and his granddad.
Jason had never really talked at length to Braden’s mother. He’d told himself that he’d never had a reason to. He supposed that’s because he felt as if he’d be disloyal if he did. But he wasn’t sure to whom. His mom, maybe? His dad? Himself?
But Shannon Miller seemed like a nice woman who’d been through a lot—thanks to his father. And now she was facing more trouble. Besides, she might have some answers for those questions he hadn’t been able to ask Braden.
“Can I buy you a cup of coffee?” he asked.
She paused for a moment, then said, “Yes, I’d like that. Thanks.”
He led her to the corner booth he’d been eyeing before. They’d no more than taken a seat when Margie arrived with a carafe of coffee and filled both mugs that had been waiting on the table for the next diners.
“With your father sick and Braden gone, you must be pretty stretched,” Jason said.
She sighed and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “It’s been tough. I’ve been tempted to call Braden and let him know about my dad, but I haven’t done it yet.”
Good luck trying to get through to him, Jason thought. “Did he tell you why he went to Mexico?”
“He wanted to find out what Charles...or rather, your dad, had been doing there.”
Jason knew that much. “Do you know anything about a woman named Camilla Cruz?”
“Just that she was Reuben Montoya’s daughter.”
Granny’s previous foreman? The news took a moment to register. Jason knew Reuben well, but he’d never met Camilla. Or, if he had, he didn’t remember her.
“Why do you want to know about Camilla?” Shannon asked.
“Because that’s who Braden was looking for in Mexico. At least, he was following Dad’s trail, and that’s who Dad was looking for.”
Her brow furrowed, but she didn’t speak. Instead, she lifted her mug and took a sip of coffee.
“Do you have any idea why Dad would have been looking for Camilla?” Jason asked, prodding.
“No, other than the fact that she was young and beautiful.”
Jason knew what Shannon was implying. Charles Rayburn liked pretty women. But something told Jason the mystery wasn’t that simple. His father had never had to chase after a woman before or hire a PI to find her. Jason would be more inclined to think the woman had stolen something from him and he’d wanted it back.
“Did Braden mention anything to you about Dad hiring a private investigator?”
Shannon took another sip of coffee. “Braden’s pretty tight-lipped.”
“Even with you?”
She smiled. “Your brother is a man of few words, but when he speaks, it’s from the heart. Genetically speaking, he received the finest qualities of both sides of the family.”
Jason had to chew on that for a minute. Was that a loving mother defending her son? Or was it the truth?
Sadly, he didn’t know Braden well enough to determine the answer for himself.
Shannon reached out and placed her hand over the top of his. “I’ll bet you received the best qualities of both your parents, too, Jason.”
Their gazes met, and he saw something warm and tender in hers. Something kind and almost...loving? Not that he wasn’t happy to hear her say it—or that he didn’t want to believe her. But at the same time, the unexpected words and maternal touch unbalanced him.
“I didn’t know your mother very well,” Shannon added, “but I was sorry to hear of her death. I felt somewhat responsible, although I think we were both victims in a sense.”
“I felt responsible, too,” Jason admitted, “even though I was only ten. Dad had me in therapy for a while, and I came to realize she made her own choices. She could have taken her medication and seen her psychiatrist regularly. She’d had issues long before Dad and you...” He paused, not wanting to point fingers at her or anyone. There wasn’t anything anyone could do to fix things now. It was all in the past.
“I was young and rebellious back then. And I made a mistake. But fortunately, I didn’t compound it by marrying Charles.”
“He asked you?”
“Yes, after your parents’ divorce. But I realized he didn’t really love me. I’m not sure he was able to fully love anyone. But while I’m sorry about the scandal and the embarrassment it caused my parents and Granny, I’m not sorry about the pregnancy. Braden turned out to be a real blessing in my life, and I have no idea what I’d do without him.”
When she withdrew her hand, a sense of loss threatened to leave Jason more unbalanced than ever.
A couple of times, when he’d been at Granny’s for Christmas, Braden’s mom had sent gifts to him and Carly. His sister had always accepted hers happily. But Jason hadn’t known what to do with his, especially since Shannon often gave him things like board games that were meant to be played by two or more.
Had she been trying to encourage the two brothers to play together, to become friends? Looking back, as an adult, it seemed that way.
He wondered why she’d never married. He could see why she wouldn’t accept his father’s proposal. But had there ever been another special man in her life? He wouldn’t ask, of course, but he was curious.
Granny had said that Shannon had devoted her life to Braden and then, after her mama had died, to her daddy. And if Granny had been embarrassed or upset by the scandal, she hadn’t held it against either Braden or his mom. She’d always had a loving heart—and a forgiving nature.
“I’m sorry that my father wasn’t the man he should have been,” Jason said.
“It’s not your fault. You can’t make up for his shortcomings.”
Like making a lifetime commitment to a marriage, he supposed. Or to a woman in general.
“Your father saw his value in his success,” she added. “But there’s more to life than money, stock holdings and property. There’s love and family.”
“That’s true, but you can’t live on love alone. You do have to be able to pay the mortgage.”
“I agree,” she said. “And while your father had his faults, he had good qualities, too. He had a love for children, even if he didn’t spend any time with his own. He financially supported many organizations that benefited underprivileged kids.”
Jason agreed. “It would have been nice to have had more of his time, but you’re right. He always did have a soft spot for kids. And he put his money where his mouth was.”
“He also sent his child support checks regularly. Some men aren’t t
hat generous or supportive. Braden could have had it much worse.”
It sounded as if Braden might have had it much better than Jason had. He’d had less of Charles, more of Granny—and a mother who’d loved him. Shannon had also lived long enough to be there for him. And unlike Carly’s mom, Shannon hadn’t put her dream of being on the stage ahead of her child.
Braden was lucky to have her.
Something told Jason that Juliana’s baby would be just as fortunate. All she’d be missing was the financial support.
But maybe it was best if they steered clear of the touchy subjects, like Charles Rayburn. So Jason let the conversation drift naturally to a reminiscence of Braden as a child and Granny, who’d been as loving and maternal as Shannon.
Still, he continued to glance at the door, waiting for Juliana, who took much longer to arrive than the estimated thirty minutes. But Jason didn’t mind. Not when he finally saw her walk in.
She’d taken time to style her hair, although the curls still fell long and loose along her shoulders. She’d also put on makeup. Apparently, his comment about looking pretty had caused her to take some extra time with her appearance. Not that she didn’t set his heart racing in faded jeans and bare feet.
As she swept into the small-town eatery in her yellow sundress and a pair of sandals, he had an almost overwhelming urge to take her in his arms and welcome her with a hug and a kiss.
And while he managed to tamp down the sudden impulse to embrace her, he couldn’t seem to wipe the silly smile from his face as he stood and made room for her to join him and Shannon at the booth.
Juliana had expected to find Jason seated at a table waiting for her, but she hadn’t expected to see him having coffee with Braden’s mother.
Apparently, by the look on her face, Shannon Miller was taken by surprise, too.
“I’m sorry I’m late,” Juliana said as she slid into the corner booth.
“No problem.” Jason returned to his seat.
Shannon didn’t say a word, but she lifted a brow.
“I’ve been working for Mr. Rayburn,” Juliana told her.