Return to Homecoming Ranch (Pine River #2)

“I’m in,” Emma said.

Madeline looked at her with surprise. “Geez, Emma—do you mind at least telling us why, after months of silence, you’re suddenly on board? And here? And do you plan on sticking around this time, or disappearing again?”

“Who knows?” Emma said. She stood and stretched her arms high overhead. “For the moment, I’m in.” She walked out of the living room into the kitchen.

Madeline stared at Emma’s departing back.

“Madeline, let’s try it,” Libby said. “We have nothing to lose by trying.”

Madeline sighed. She rubbed her temples a moment. “Okay,” she said, and looked up. “But prove that we can do it, Libby. Prove to me that we can raise funds to support this . . . camp, or whatever we’re going to call it. And I want to see that business plan. I want to know what we’re in for.”

The sound Libby imagined was her page being turned. “We’re going to call it Homecoming Ranch, because that’s what it is—a homecoming.” She handed Madeline her papers. “It’s all there.”

The first thing Libby did was call and arrange a meeting with Michelle. She was prepared for resistance, for disdain, for a flat-out no. Nevertheless, she dressed in her best outfit, stuffed her presentation into a briefcase she’d borrowed from Madeline, and marched into the bank as if she took out loans all the time.

Much to her surprise, Michelle loved the idea. “It’s a great use of the ranch,” she said as she pored over Libby’s presentation again. “Personally, I think this is something our community would get behind. But in order to lend you money, I am going to need to see some sort of plan for how much you anticipate in fundraising and federal grants in one-year, two-year, and three-year outlooks. Come back with more details, and we’ll see what we can work out.”

Libby walked out of the bank feeling as if she were walking on air. She stopped on the sidewalk and pulled out her phone to call Madeline and give her the good news when she saw Gwen Spangler walk out of a dress shop. Gwen saw Libby at the same moment, and she instantly turned the other way.

“Gwen!” Libby shouted.

Gwen walked faster.

Libby ran to catch up. “Gwen, please,” she said. “Just give me a moment. One moment.”

Gwen’s shoulders sagged with a heavy sigh, but she turned around. “What, Libby?”

Libby hadn’t really thought through exactly what she’d say when she saw Gwen again, so she said the simplest thing that came to mind. “I’m sorry. I am so very sorry for scaring you. I should never have taken Alice to get her costume. But, Gwen, you know me. I would never in a million years harm one hair on either of their heads.”

“Okay, you’re sorry,” Gwen said, and turned to go.

“Can I just . . . Gwen, wait. Please.”

Gwen sighed and turned partially toward her. “What?”

“Here’s the thing, Gwen,” Libby said, taking a cautious step forward. “You have two exceptional children. Beautiful, exceptional children. And I . . . I love them so much,” she said, alarmed that her eyes would water so quickly. “There is a huge gaping hole in my heart where they were, but I want you to know that you don’t have to worry about me anymore.” A tear slid down Libby’s cheek, and it appalled her. She swiped at it. “Ignore the tears, will you? Anyway, I know I should have let go the minute you were back in the picture, and I didn’t. I have no excuse but that I was bruised and I loved the kids so much, and they were suddenly ripped from my life, and I . . . I couldn’t deal with that. It didn’t help that Ryan wasn’t exactly straight about what was going on, or that I never saw it coming, or that I was apparently the only one in Pine River who didn’t see what was happening between you and him . . .”

God, she was mangling this. She sighed.

“Look, I made some horrible decisions. I’m not offering an excuse. I only wanted to tell you that I am sorry. And that I love your children.”

Gwen folded her arms. Her eyes narrowed. Libby expected her to say she was going to call the cops. But she said, “Are you being real with me now?”

“Yes,” Libby said, nodding. “Completely.”

“Well then this is the first sane thing you’ve said since I came back to town,” Gwen said.

“It is?”

“My kids have missed you, too, Libby. Honestly? I think part of me didn’t want them around you because of that. Do you know how many times I hear Libby this or Libby that? Do you know how guilty I have felt that I had to leave them to go and get my license? I thought Ryan would take care of them. I thought he would live up to the promises he made, but I should have known he wouldn’t or couldn’t do it by himself.”

Libby’s heart began to swell with relief. She couldn’t suppress a small smile.

“And you’re right, Ryan isn’t the most truthful guy in town. I wondered what bullshit he fed you.”