Reese grimaced and turned Smoke toward the south pasture they were all working to repair. “None of us knows Crawford that well. I have no idea what he’ll do.”
They would spend two hours working, ride back to the barn, and then get ready for their day jobs. Garret would go in and fix them all a hearty breakfast before the four of them scattered in all directions. Shay was going to drive down with Reese to the Wind River Ranch to have a final planning session with Steve regarding the activities for the weekend.
*
Shay had a burgeoning headache when she and Reese returned from the Wind River Ranch. Her head swam with the hundreds of details it would take to make the arena-raising a success this coming weekend. She had dropped the keys to the truck into a carnival bowl on the foyer desk when the phone in the kitchen rang. It had been ringing constantly that morning; many of the vendors who were coming with supplies for the weekend were making final calls to check in with Shay.
Groaning, she said to Reese, “Another one . . . I’ll get it.” She hurried into the kitchen, grabbing the phone.
“Hello?”
“Shay?”
Her father’s voice was grating. Instantly, she froze, her fingers tightening around the phone. Reese stopped at the entrance, his eyes changing, as if realizing it was her father on the line. Her mouth went dry. She forced out, “Hold on, Reese is right here—”
“No! I want to talk to you.”
Reese drew closer, concern on his face.
Shay was torn. She didn’t want to talk to her father. But she’d lain awake last night knowing that while Reese had protected her, in the end, she had to deal with this herself. Right now, Reese stood, his hands relaxed at his sides, his eyes reflecting concern. Holding up her hand, silently asking him to wait, she managed to ask in a low tone, “What is it you want, Father?”
“I need to see you. Alone.”
“That isn’t going to happen, Father.”
“I promise, I’ll try to respect you, Shay.”
Her heart dropped. She heard a new, emotional tone in her father’s gruff voice. “I don’t know if I can trust you or not,” she whispered, her heart pounding.
“Then come with Lockhart, but he keeps his mouth shut! This is between you and me. All right?”
Shay heard an almost pleading tone in her father’s voice. Glancing up at Reese, who had moved closer, as if to shield her from the call, she met his dark green eyes. She felt his care surround her. “Reese and I will come tomorrow morning, then. I have the arena-raising and—”
“No, come now!” And then Crawford added, “Please?”
Shutting her eyes for a moment, Shay heard the desperation in her father’s voice. She’d never heard him plead like this before. Looking up at the clock above the stove, she saw it was 4:00 P.M. “Hold on,” she whispered, placing her hand over the phone.
“It’s my father. He wants to talk with me in person, right now.”
Reese nodded. “Okay, we’ll drive over if you want.”
Moistening her lips, Shay gave him a long look. “Are you sure? It’s been a busy day.”
“I’m sure. We’ll be back in time for dinner at six.”
“Right.” She felt relief tunnel through her. She wasn’t going to have to do this alone. Reese would be at her side, a silent partner of sorts. She’d fill him in on the rest of the conversation on the drive up to the nursing home.
*
Shay tried to gird herself for another angry session with her father. The staff at the nursing home, when they saw her come through the door, gave her a pitying look.
Reese was at her side as they walked down the hall to her father’s open door. Taking a deep breath, she felt Reese’s hand on her shoulder for a moment. He would never realize how grateful she was for his company. He fed her strength when she had no energy left. Whatever her father wanted, Shay knew she had to confront him herself. It wasn’t something Reese could do for her. They’d discussed it on the drive. He was in agreement. His hand briefly touching her shoulder, supporting her, meant so much to her.
She met her father’s eyes as she entered the room. He was sitting in the wheelchair. Surprised, she halted.
He glared up at her and then tried to hide his reaction. “Thought I’d finally try it out,” he grumped. He waved his hand toward two chairs sitting near his bed. “Sit down.”
Gulping, Shay gave Reese a panicked look. He knew that her father had angrily vowed to never use a wheelchair. The steadying look Reese shared with her, helped.
She sat down, gripping her purse on her lap. He sat down next to her, his attention focused on Crawford. She could feel tension in Reese, as if he were getting ready to defend her, should it become necessary. Above all, Shay scrambled to find some safe words to use with her father. He was dressed in jeans, cowboy boots, and a bright red cowboy shirt. Shock rolled through her over the change in him.
“Does it feel good to be able to get around?” she asked him in a low voice.