Summer Days (Fool's Gold #7)

“That’s not true.”


“Then what’s it about? Why didn’t you tell any of us that you were planning this? I didn’t know how to stop you, so, yes, I created the cave paintings and planted the artifacts. I was wrong, and I have to tell you, it’s a relief to be caught. I’ll accept the consequences of my actions.” She swallowed. “I was trying to protect my home, to make sure that Glen and I could stay here.”

She turned to May. “I should have come to you. That’s my mistake, and I’m sorry. I was so scared when I found out what Rafe wanted to do. And hurt. You’ve been nothing but gracious and warm since you arrived.” She drew in a breath. “I’m so sorry.”

May’s lower lip trembled. “I understand.” She stared at Rafe. “Why didn’t you say something to me? You had the perfect opportunity to explain

everything when Glen and I talked to you about the vacation homes.”

May glanced at Heidi. “Your grandfather and I were thinking of having small vacation homes built on some of the land. Enough for the carnival workers to winter here. They could be rentals in the summer. You know, for families who want to come to Fool’s Gold.”

A single tear slipped down Heidi’s cheek. “I would have liked that.”

Rafe felt a growing sense of unease. The situation had slipped out of his control, and he wasn’t sure where it was going.

“Heidi still lied,” he pointed out. “She tricked us all.”

“So did you,” his mother snapped. “Rafe, I would never agree to give up the ranch for a housing development. A few acres, maybe. At the far end and closest to the casino. But not much more. And I would never allow you to throw out Heidi and her goats. You took charge, like you always do. You assumed you knew best.”

She rose. “I know some of that is my fault. I depended on you too much when you were little. I made you grow up too quickly. Now you steamroll over everyone.”

He felt the ground shifting as the attention focused on him.

“Wait a minute,” he began.

“No. I don’t want to talk about this anymore.”

His mother walked out of the kitchen. Glen followed.

Rafe walked to the table and took one of the chairs. “Happy?” he asked as he sat.

“Of course not. This isn’t what I wanted.”

“What did you want?”

“Not to lose my home. I thought about coming to you, trying to reason with you, but…” She shook her head. “You have to win. Always. I can’t believe your mother talked to you about those vacation homes and you didn’t tell her what you had planned.” Her eyes narrowed. “I’ll bet you were figuring out a way to have both. Put in the vacation homes she wanted, and use the extra land to build your development.”

He didn’t have an answer to that, mostly because it was true.

“I see,” she said quietly. “Let me guess. There wasn’t any room for me in the new plan, either.”

He shifted on the chair, feeling guilty and uncomfortable.

“Heidi,” he began.

“No,” she told him. “You can’t talk your way out of this. As far as you’re concerned, I’m someone you slept with. Nothing more. You don’t care about me or what happens to me. You would be very content to toss me out.”

“That’s not true.”

“Okay, prove it. Show me where I fit in your plan. Point out one square inch of this ranch you had left for me.”

He stood. “I don’t have any details,” he hedged.

“You don’t have anything.”

She stared at him for a long time. He waited for her to start yelling, but instead, she was quiet. Her eyes grew sad.

“I was wrong,” she said quietly. “I accept that. I did what I did to protect my home, and while that’s not good enough, at least it’s a reason I can accept without feeling like a jerk. You did what you did for profit. You ignored everyone but yourself. Your mom is right. You force your will on everyone, consequences be damned. The reason you didn’t feel anything when your marriage ended is because you don’t know how to care about anyone but yourself. Using a matchmaker is a really good idea, Rafe. Just make sure Nina explains to your prospective bride that the man she’s marrying was born without a heart.”

* * *

RAFE HAD ALWAYS THOUGHT he had a pretty good handle on his world. He understood the rules, the consequences, and he played to win. Sometime in the last two days, he’d completely lost control. Heidi had lied to him and his mother, tricked the town and been outed by a reporter. But instead of anyone standing up and asking what the hell she’d been thinking, he had become the bad guy.

His mother had asked him to move out of the ranch and back to the hotel in town. He hadn’t seen Heidi, Glen wasn’t speaking to him and everywhere he went in Fool’s Gold, he was getting angry stares.