by Regina Duke
Kenzie seemed to cringe as she reached for her phone. She glanced at it, then shoved it back in her purse. “It’s probably spam or a sales call.”
Clayton wondered if he should tell her that he knew her life in Denver was nothing like she’d let on. He decided instead to offer advice.
“You can block unwanted callers.”
She nodded. “Yeah, I know. But I need to keep tabs on him.” She looked puzzled. “He keeps texting threats, but he never acts on them. Not a word about calling the police. He just seems to get increasingly frantic.” She chewed her bottom lip. “Lately he’s begun using the word ‘please’ a lot. He never once said ‘please’ to me when we were together.” She stared into her lap. “Meanwhile, I’m afraid to turn the phone off because Mom might need me.”
Clayton wished her ex would disappear off the planet. “Look, Kenzie…. I like you. A lot.”
She smiled like Mona Lisa. “I figured. Why else would you be driving me to work and back home every day? And buying me adorable little gifts?”
Clayton slowed down for a cow in the middle of the road. “Gee, those signs aren’t kidding.” He nodded at the “Watch for livestock” warning by the edge of the road. He glanced sideways at Kenzie and let his eyes linger. She was gorgeous and didn’t seem to know it. How many women looked good in jeans and a flannel shirt? He returned to his original thought. “Am I wasting my time? I mean, you’re on the rebound. Maybe I should just drive and keep my feelings to myself for six months.”
Kenzie looked at him, eyes wide. “After tempting me with priceless statuary? I called you Jerk Face and here you are buying me gifts.” Her tone lightened. “By the way, I give you blanket permission to buy me little gifts any time.”
Clayton smiled at the way she had turned his phrase around. “I brought coffee and muffins today. As for the Jerk Face thing”—he shrugged—“I’ve been called worse. And I’ve been known to irritate people from time to time.”
The cow finally plodded off the highway, and Clayton eased the Mercedes forward.
He could feel Kenzie’s eyes on him as he drove.
At last she said, “Whatever was supposed to be happening between me and Todd was over at least six months ago. I just stayed because…. I don’t know. It was like I was paralyzed. Couldn’t make a decision.”
Clayton said, “Sounds like you might have been depressed.”
Kenzie laughed sharply. “Oh God, that certainly fits.” She leaned in his direction, a nice change from having her practically ride with one hand on the door, as if she were ready to jump out any second. She continued, “There is no rebound issue. There’s definitely a ‘How could I be so stupid’ issue. Mixed in with a little bit of ‘I wish Todd would drop dead.’ But mostly it’s me wondering why he hasn’t reported his car stolen.” She straightened up abruptly, as if she’d said too much.
Clayton played it cool. “Was that the car you ‘borrowed’ to get to Eagle’s Toe?”
“Yep.” She was staring out the window again.
Clayton pulled up to the curb in front of the Feed and Grain. “Hey, for what it’s worth….”
She looked at him warily.
Clayton gave her his best little boy grin. “I’ve been known to make a bad decision here and there.”
Something like gratitude flittered across her perfect face before she got out.
Clayton watched her move as she headed into the store. She had a natural grace that mesmerized him. Once she was inside, he drove off before lifting his phone to his ear.
“Hello, Thor? Here’s another little detail that might help. But you didn’t hear it from me. Her ex—first name Todd—had a classic Mustang that he might be looking for. Kenzie says she thinks it’s strange that he hasn’t reported it stolen.”
Thor’s voice sounded like he was on speakerphone. “Thanks. Now do me a favor and call Uncle Plano so he’ll quit pestering Polly. She’s driving us crazy with her complaints.”
“Sure. Of course. Be glad to.” Clayton hung up. “Rats.”
CHAPTER TEN
Kenzie found the distraction of work a blessing. It left her little time to worry about her father or her ex. When one o’clock rolled around, she explained to Taylor that she needed to pop over to the Itty Bitty for a moment, and Taylor liked the sound of that so much, she handed her a twenty and asked her to pick up one of Mrs. McAvoy’s pizzas for lunch.
“Make it a big one,” she said. “There are three of us here at the moment.”
“Thanks,” said Kenzie, all too happy to let her three-day-old bread and its limp slice of American cheese rest in her purse all day. Emma would enjoy it.
At the Itty Bitty, Alice Kate McAvoy put their order in right away. Then she wanted to catch up with Kenzie.
“How are your parents doing? Reese and I have been concerned. They used to come over to the Cattleman’s for dinner almost every week.”
“I think they’re a little short on funds right now,” said Kenzie. “And my dad isn’t feeling too great. Mom says it’s probably the flu.” She looked away to hide the little white lie. She changed the subject. “Mrs. McAvoy, can I ask a favor? Could you have one of your cooks save the vegetable ends and pieces for me? Fruit cores, lettuce ends, whatever? Mom has been too worried about Dad to keep up with her garden, and the pigs are feeling neglected.”
“That’s a lovely idea,” said Alice Kate. “I feel so bad throwing out leftovers. You stop by on your way home and I’ll have the first load for you.” She shook her head sadly. “I was really hoping Marigold would have a surplus crop. Some of my patrons are very dedicated to eating local food grown without pesticides. When she’s up to it, you might give her a little reminder.”
“Sure. Will do.”
“They are so lucky to have you move home when they need you most.” Alice Kate’s sympathetic gaze felt like laser burns to Kenzie. She shuffled her feet.
“I don’t know how much help I really am,” she demurred.
“Well, don’t sell yourself short. You’re here, you’re working already, and I’m sure you’re handling most of the farm chores.” Alice Kate tipped her head to one side. “I hope I’m not being too nosy, but I thought when they took out that second mortgage they were going to use it to paint the house. And the barn, too, for that matter.”
Kenzie was taken aback. Her mother hadn’t mentioned any of that to her. A second mortgage? She thought the first one had been paid off years ago. Were they in that much financial trouble? Could they actually be in danger of losing the farm? What could have happened? The Shanes had been working that land for three generations. The thought of losing the farm made her stomach churn. She realized that Alice Kate was waiting for her to say something.
“I’m sorry, I was sort of out of that loop,” she said lamely. “Do you happen to remember how long ago they took out that second?”
Alice Kate’s eyes narrowed as she gazed into space, as if the past were being replayed on a big movie screen. “I’m thinking it was about two years ago,” she said. Then her face lit up. “Oh! I know exactly when. It was right after Mr. Patterson was kicked by that cow and ended up in a wheelchair. So it was two years ago, maybe two and a half. Mrs. Patterson thought they were going to have to sell, but people got together and did a fundraiser for them, out at the Rocking Eagle. So they could stay on. And maybe pay some medical bills.” She shook her head. “You know what a mess it is to get insurance these days. And it wouldn’t surprise me a bit if poor Mr. Patterson had let his premiums lapse.”
Kenzie processed Alice Kate’s information. “He’s selling his leather goods now,” she said. “Taylor has him all set up to sell on-line. She says he’s making good money at it, too.”
Alice Kate looked relieved. “That’s wonderful. I guess we all go through rough patches now and then. Glad to hear they’re coming out of theirs.”
Kenzie smiled as Alice Kate turned her attention to a newly arrived customer. But inside, she was trying to put the pieces of the puzzle toget
her. She would have to ask her mother about that second mortgage. About everything, come to think of it. Kenzie hadn’t told her parents the truth about Denver, and now she was finding out they hadn’t exactly been truthful with her either. In a strange way, that made her feel better. She guessed the acorn didn’t fall far from the tree after all.
The pizza smelled great, and back at the Feed and Grain, it tasted even better than it smelled. Kenzie ate two big slices and had to fetch paper towels from the restroom, because the little napkins from Itty Bitty weren’t nearly enough to wipe the heavenly grease from her fingers.
She and Cody watched Taylor open the Coke dispenser and they each took a can before she locked it back up. “Employee perks,” laughed Taylor. After Cody headed back to the loading deck, Taylor watched the cash register while Kenzie worked at stocking shelves.
At ten to four, Taylor took a hundred dollars out of the till and tucked it into Kenzie’s back pocket.
“You don’t have to do that,” said Kenzie. “This is only my fifth day.”
“And you haven’t had a paycheck yet. This week’s check will come next Friday. I saw your sandwich yesterday. I assume today’s was similar. I like you, Kenzie. I hope you stay and run your parents’ farm. Consider this a little gift. It sounds terrifying to be broke.”
It was the most pleasant day Kenzie had had in a long time. Everything about it had been positive. She pushed worry to the back of her mind and chatted with Taylor, or rather listened to Taylor go on and on about her husband Axel and their reindeer.
When she had a chance, she said as casually as she could muster, “Say, you haven’t heard anything else about that fellow who thought he found a wreck at the quarry, have you?”
Taylor shook her head. “Not about him, no. But Axel said one of the ranch hands from the Lazy B was thinking about sniffing around over there for car parts to salvage.”
Kenzie’s heart pounded against her breastbone, and she felt a sudden need to lean against the counter.
“Time flies,” said Taylor. “It looks like your chauffeur is five minutes early this afternoon. Why don’t you go on? Sunny will be here any minute.” She grinned.
Kenzie grabbed her purse and headed for the door. Halfway there, she turned around and went back to give Taylor a hug. “Thanks for everything.” Then she left.
* * *
After Clayton dropped Kenzie off at work that morning, he’d headed back to his hotel room. It was getting smaller by the day, or so it felt, but he needed the protection of walls before calling his father. And he certainly didn’t want to engage him in conversation while sitting behind the wheel of his borrowed Mercedes.
He had gotten so wrapped up in Kenzie and his growing fondness for her that he’d practically forgotten the reason for running away to Colorado. His father’s voice brought it all back to him.
“You irresponsible pup! What am I going to do with you? Didn’t Polly tell you I was calling?”
“Actually, Dad, she told everyone else many times over. Does that count?”
“Don’t start with that smart mouth. I told you, what happened with Lulamae years ago is none of your business, and Polly agrees.”
“Really? I had the distinct impression that if I bought her another chocolate milkshake, she would reveal every secret she possesses.”
Plano made a rude noise. It took Clayton a moment to realize his father was stifling a laugh.
“Don’t worry, Dad. I’m not going to pry information out of her. You said you wanted me to leave that all alone, so…are you sitting down? I’m not going to go there. If you don’t want me to figure out what kind of hold Lulamae has on the family, then I’m not going to waste time on it.”
Plano’s tone turned suspicious. “What are you doing up there in Eagle Town?”
“Eagle’s Toe,” corrected Clayton. “Austin sends his love. Thor and Ashley are doing great, and frankly I don’t know how they put up with Polly. She comes to visit for three months! She plans to stay until New Year’s.”
“She is besotted with her grandchildren.”
“Is that what you call it?”
Plano made another strangled noise.
“Are you all right?”
“I’m trying not to laugh at my poor sister.”
“Well, she’s anything but poor. She was complaining at dinner that her caretakers at the Texas ranch want a raise. And she cannot understand why they refuse to take care of the dogs while she’s gone.”
“What happened to her kennel workers?”
Clayton stretched out on the bed and turned on the Weather Channel. He punched mute. “She said they got a better offer. Her caretakers are nice enough, she says, but they’re afraid of the Dobermans.”
“She told me she was downsizing,” grumbled Plano.
“She is. She brought the Chihuahuas with her, but Thor didn’t want six more Dobermans in the house with the little ones. The kids, I mean.”
“Are they cute?”
Clayton smiled at the thought of those angelic faces. Then he frowned. “Wait a minute. You haven’t seen them?”
“Polly sent pictures. But kids are different in three-dimensions.”
It was Clayton’s turn to chuckle. “They are the cutest darned things I ever saw.”
“Hmmm,” said Plano. “That’s something I never heard you say before.” His tone grew suspicious again. “Are you thinking of hiring a girl to play your wife so you can trick me into letting you have your inheritance?”
Clayton’s face fell. How did his father know he’d even considered such an option?
Plano laughed out loud. “I guessed right, didn’t I? Your old man has been around the block a few times, you know.”
“Well, for your information,” said Clayton, gathering his wits, “I have no intention of doing any such thing. In fact, if I do get married, I won’t even tell you about it. How’s that?”
“What? Are you saying you actually met someone? Is this one of those sob-story waitresses you used to date?”
Clayton marveled at how different the world looked to him now. “I’m not telling you anything, Dad.” He kept his tone civil. “No matter what I do, you will accuse me of trying to trick you into releasing my inheritance. So I guess the best thing would be to never tell you anything about her.” He bit his tongue.
“So there is someone.”
“It doesn’t matter, Dad. It’s not like I could invite you to a wedding now, is it? You wouldn’t believe it was real.”
“Well, that Mercedes you’re driving is real, and it belongs to me.”
“You don’t sound too upset about it.”
Plano hemmed and hawed. “I guess it’s fine. I don’t want you driving some POS rental car. What do you want me to do with this here Maserati parked in my garage?”
Clayton stood up and pulled a can of Coke loose from its plastic mooring. Then he sat down at the table and popped the top. “I’ll tell you what, Dad. You were right about that car. It’s too expensive for me, and it’s not good for anything but showing off. Did those repo people leave you a card? Call them up and have them take it. I’m thinking of buying a tractor.”
“What kind of fool stunt are you pulling? I asked Austin what you were up to, and he put that perky little wife of his on the phone. I thought she’d never hang up. Now you listen to me, Clayton. You are actually starting to make sense, giving up on the Lulamae thing and letting repo take the Maserati. But don’t you go and marry any little spitfire babblefest like Erin. You hear? I’m going deaf in that ear, and I don’t need another in-law talking in the other one. Now who is this girl you’re seeing?”
Clayton sipped at his soda. “Dad, you only think I’m making sense because I actually agree with you about a couple of things. Crazy, huh? But you accused me of planning to trick you by getting married. Sorry. I can’t let you anywhere near this woman. You’ll mess things up for sure. So, even though you won’t hear anything more until our first child is born, I still love you.”
“Just trying to save your hearing, Dad. Bye-bye.” He ended the call and muted the phone. Sure enough, it began to vibrate like mad. He knew he would probably rue the day he’d hung up on his father, but Plano had thrown him for a loop. Not that Clayton wanted to involve Kenzie in a fake marriage. No way. And he couldn’t stand the concept of pretending with someone else. The very thought disgusted him.
No. The idea of marrying Kenzie—now that his father had planted it in his mind—dazzled him. And think of how cute their kids would be!
“Good Lord, Clayton,” he muttered to himself. “You’ve got it bad.” He tossed the empty can in the trash and grabbed his keys. At least his dad wasn’t too upset about him borrowing the Mercedes. And when Clayton told him to let the repo team take the sports car, be darned if he wasn’t knocked back on his heels.
Clayton had seen a flower shop west of the elevators. He wondered if Kenzie liked roses. It was worth a shot. He’d told her he liked her a lot. Time to start showing it a bit.
He headed downstairs. In the elevator, he dialed the number he’d seen on the side of Brady Felton’s tow truck. “Hello, Brady? This is Clayton Masters. You know, Jerk Face.”
Brady laughed.
Clayton went on, “Say, I know this is a crazy question, but how much are tractors going for these days?…No kidding?…Do you mind if I drop by and ask you a few questions?… Thanks. See you soon.”
Clayton ended up having lunch with Brady Felton. They actually did look at tractors, and Clayton was stunned at how much tractor he could get for one-fifth the price of his Maserati. They also checked out several other vehicles. Brady was a nice guy, and Clayton knew he had made a good impression when Brady took two hundred dollars out of his till and handed it over.
“What’s this for?”
“That first day in the parking lot? I wasn’t there looking for your Mercedes. I just took it so I could pretend to Kenzie that I was using your money to pay for repairs on her father’s old truck.”
“Keep it,” said Clayton. “After all, I’ll just be giving it back to you soon, if everything goes okay.”