“Why didn’t you tell me about this before?”
Wincing inwardly, Shay tried to protect herself from his sudden anger. “I tried, Father. Several times. But when I started to tell you, you shut me off. You didn’t want to hear what I had to say.”
Ray scowled. “Well, maybe I shouldn’t have.”
That was as close to an apology as Shay was ever going to get from him.
Crawford focused on Reese. “Mr. Lockhart, I heard that you’re headin’ up this effort?”
“Well,” Reese said, giving Shay a glance, “it’s under your daughter’s direction. She’s the one who has asked Steve and Maud Whitcomb, plus myself and our wranglers at the Bar C, to coordinate the raising. If it wasn’t for Shay, none of this would be happening. Plus, the vets at the Bar C are all involved in the details of coordinating this huge two-pronged effort. We couldn’t do it without them.”
Shay’s stomach knotted. Her father had forgotten that Reese was a vet out at the Bar C. Sooner or later, Ray would find out, and then what? Would he hate Reese as much as he disrespected the other three vets who lived on the ranch? Her hands became damp in her lap as she gripped them, waiting and hoping the subject would not come up.
Snorting, Crawford said, “I’m surprised. They’re worthless.”
“Father—” Shay pleaded.
Reese sat a little straighter in the chair, his gaze on Crawford. “Sir, with all due respect, I’m one of those vets you’re referring to.”
Shay winced and gritted her teeth, watching her father’s eyes suddenly widen in shock.
“You are? How could that be? You’re smart and you helped me protect my savings.”
Shay dragged in a ragged breath, feeling Reese’s anger, although he hadn’t changed his expression at all. What was going to happen now? Would Ray fly into a rage as he always did? Her father’s face went from shock to grudging contemplation as he stared hard at Reese, the silence becoming heavy in the room.
“Your daughter was kind enough to take me in,” Reese told him quietly, keeping his voice neutral. “She gave me a roof over my head, food, and something that money can’t buy, a chance to pull myself up by my bootstraps.”
“I see,” Crawford grumbled, rubbing his chin, staring at Reese. And then he looked at Shay. “Maybe you didn’t do half bad on this one,” he grumped. “At least”—he waved his left hand toward Reese—“he has some redeeming qualities.”
“All the vets do,” Shay said firmly.
Reese reached out, placing his hand on her lower arm. “Let me handle this, Shay?”
Gulping, Shay felt the steadying strength of Reese’s calloused hand. She gave him a swift glance and then settled her gaze on her scowling father. “Okay,” she whispered.
Reese released her arm and focused on Crawford. “The other three vets that Shay has hired for the Bar C are good men, sir. Every one of them. Each of them works and brings money into the ranch, helping Shay meet that monthly mortgage payment so the Bar C doesn’t slide into foreclosure.” His voice lowered to a growl. “If it wasn’t for them, you wouldn’t have a ranch anymore. It’s time to take stock of how you see these men who have sacrificed so much for their country, and give them the respect they deserve.”
Shay’s breath jammed in her throat. Oh, God, no one had ever spoken to her father like that before! She saw his eyes widen and then shrink to slits as he glared at Reese. It felt like two alpha wolves circling one another before they lunged at one another’s throats. Her fingers were icy cold as she sat rigid, her heart pounding with dread as the two men faced off. Reese looked relaxed, but Shay knew differently. She could feel the fine tension running through him.
“I don’t believe in what my daughter’s done,” Crawford growled defensively.
“They’re saving the ranch, sir. They deserve your respect.”
Cursing under his breath, Ray looked away, staring at Shay. “You never told me this. What’s the matter with you?”
“I tried to,” Shay said, defensiveness in her tone. “But you always shut me down, Father. You don’t think anything I have to say has any importance.” Her breath was coming out ragged, her voice tight and accusing. With Reese beside her, Shay had decided to fight back, to tell her father the truth. And she saw his eyes grow angry and then, to her surprise, thoughtful looking. His anger was gone. She waited, feeling like a dog that was going to get kicked by its owner sooner or later. Because that’s how Ray handled everything in his life.
“Your daughter has a lot of good ideas, Mr. Crawford. She’s single-handedly kept the ranch from going into foreclosure. For that, you should be grateful. What you don’t know is she is working sixteen hours a day to get the place back on its feet.”