She looked again at the phone number. It was a Portland area code. That would be quite a trip. But her father was doing better, and she could leave the dealership in Ed’s capable hands for a few days.
“You going to call her?” Her father slowly scuffled into the great room, a cup of coffee (decaf) in his hand. He was dressed as if he was going to the office, which he wasn’t. The only difference was the brand spanking new slippers with the nonslip surface he was wearing instead of his dress shoes.
“I don’t know. It’s a risk.”
“It surely is.” Sam sat down next to her, his weight causing the cushions to jiggle. “Likely he’s not going to take kindly to the interference.”
“So you don’t think I should call.” Libby looked up, searching her father’s face for the answer.
“Depends on what you’re hoping to accomplish.”
“I’m curious, of course. Given what you told me, seems she had her reasons, reasons he needs to hear. I guess, ultimately, I’m hoping for a reconciliation.”
“A happily ever after?” Her father took a sip from the cup.
“That’s the goal. Because maybe if Chance had someone he could call family, he’d understand the ties of family and the choices I’ve made.”
“Can’t blame him for not being happy you’ve come back here and left him.”
“I’m surprised you don’t blame him. He’s not your favorite person.”
“He hasn’t been,” her father acknowledged. “But once I was convinced you loved Chance and he loved you…”
Libby didn’t hide her surprise or skepticism. “How can you say that now, while I’m sitting here alone?”
“Seeing you at his ranch, seeing the way you looked at him and he looked at you, didn’t take much to figure out. And he actually was civil to me.” Her father laughed. “I didn’t expect that. That’s when I knew he must love you very much. And one thing’s clear—I won’t be around forever. I’d like to see you settled and happy before my time is up.”
“Daddy, don’t talk like that.” His words sent a chill through her.
“It’s the truth. And I’d do something if I could, but it’s for you two to work out.”
“Now you decide not to interfere.” Libby shook her head. “I wish I was as sure as you. I don’t know what else to do to get his attention and change his mind about letting people into his life.”
“He may resent your meddling. What then?”
She let out a deep sigh. “I’ll have tried.”
*
Chance stared at the pretty, young blonde-haired woman dressed in a pink T-shirt and a denim skirt standing by the registration desk at the Western Hotel in Puyallup. As he strode closer, he was barely able to believe his eyes. He’d just come off a terrible ride where he’d scored a mere seventy-nine points, and he’d been beating himself up the whole way over to the hotel. The score was enough to keep him in the hunt for tomorrow, but not enough, he knew, to win significant prize money. That had been the story of the last four weeks.
His heart rate kicked up a notch as his eyes reassured him that it was indeed Libby. What was she doing here? Why had she come? But at the moment, he didn’t even care to know the answers. She was here, and he had missed her.
“Libby?”
“Hi, Chance,” she said, her hand smoothing back her hair as she stepped forward to meet him. “Surprised?”
“Yes.”
“So am I.”
He wanted to reach for her, hold her, kiss her. He had missed her more than he thought possible. But something held him back. Something in the way she looked at him, like she was nervous and uncertain.
Well, he could understand that. They hadn’t spoken since that day he left. The daily text messages were more ritual than substance. He was feeling a little nervous and uncertain himself.
“What brings you to Puyallup?” Me, I hope. Although what he would do if she said that, he wasn’t sure. She’d made her choice. There was no going back.
“I…I wanted to talk to you.” He noted the thin veneer of perspiration on her brow. It wasn’t particularly hot out.
He pulled up, afraid to get too near, lest he reach for her. Given how they’d left things, that wouldn’t be a good idea.
“Is there anything left to say?”
“Yes.”
“Let me get cleaned up, and I’ll meet you at the bar.” He’d need a stiff drink if he was to get out of this without leaving his heart on the table.
“I need you to come up to my room. I’ve got something for you to see.”
What could she possibly have for him to see? It wasn’t like Libby to play games, like making up a reason to get him alone. He’d take her at her word, but for the life of him, he couldn’t imagine what she had to show him that he hadn’t seen before, or that would make a difference.
“Sure you can’t wait? Sure the bar wouldn’t do?” Being alone with Libby in a hotel room wasn’t the best idea for either of them, given the issues that separated them.