It’s barely light when the alarm wakes me. I look at the clock and groan, regretting staying out so late when there is so much to do. I take a peek out the curtains from the kitchen as I put on a pot of coffee.
The same little red sports car from last night is still sitting in the driveway, and it’s like I can feel those eyes boring into mine, just like when he was watching me on the pole. Why this man has chosen to take on one of the meanest men in Deadwood is beyond me.
The old grandfather clock my gramma left me strikes seven just as Garrett turns on the engine and backs out of the driveway. I don’t know what I did to deserve his protection, but at least last night I didn’t have to deal with Jake Eldridge trying to bully his way back into my life or trying to steal my gramma’s prized possession right out from under my nose. I’ll be buried six feet below the earth in the cemetery in Deadwood right next to her before he and his family get their hands on this house.
It belongs to me, and if the neighbors weren’t so scared of his family, they would put up a fight too. I grab a cup of fresh brew, head upstairs, and jump in the shower, unable to keep my mind off the man with dark wavy hair and crystalline blue eyes that took over my dreams. The ones that held mine locked with his crystalline blues as he ravished my body with a passion that kept me tossing and turning with desire all night long.
There is no time to daydream about tall, well-built men with snug blue jeans that hug a powerful-looking ass and thighs when there is so much to do. I head into the master bedroom, dry, and wrap in a long, soft bath sheet. The room is still decorated in that old worldly lilac color that makes me remember my gramma. It may not be trendy, but it’s home to me.
I slip into the forest green uniform that says Kenny’s in white embroidered lettering, right above the pocket over my left breast, finish my coffee while drying my hair, and then race down the stairs, grab the mail, and head out.
This town wakes early, no matter how late many of the establishments stay open for tourists to stop for a bite to eat, have a little fun gambling, or do a little shopping while traveling through to see the rest of the state’s beauty.
I take a right at the light and head downtown to the assisted living center, and pull into the parking space that should have my name on it by now. The receptionist behind the glass smiles at me as I walk up. “Your dad is waiting for you in the dining room,” Glenda says.
The gray-tiled dining room is large enough to function as a dance and bingo hall when not being used for the seniors’ meals. My dad sits at the same table at the back of the room where I find him every morning that we have breakfast together. I slide in across from him and take his hand. “Morning, Dad.”
He smiles at me, his eyes faded from age, but still vibrant with love. “Morning, Lacy. Do you want some orange juice? They said it’s freshly squeezed this morning.”
I give my dad a smile. “Sounds amazing. How about some eggs and toast to go with that too?”
He nods and when the waitress comes, he orders for both of us. When she leaves, he focuses those knowing eyes on me. “I got another visit from your ex.”
My jaw locks tight. “We’re not selling Gramma’s house. I won’t do it, and I don’t really want to talk about it. I’m sorry he came and bothered you again, but the answer hasn’t changed.”
Dad shifts in his chair and looks out the window toward the meadow before he turns to me. “Jake had his dad with him this time. It didn’t sound like they were planning to take no for an answer, Lacy. How are we supposed to fight this? I feel so damn helpless.”
I suck in a breath. “I don’t have all the answers, but selling out to a bunch of bullies who want to run a strip of their own casinos through town and wipe out all of our friends’ businesses in the process is not something I plan on helping them do. Besides, no amount of money would get me to sell Gramma’s house.”
The waitress brings us our order, and we eat in relative silence because I don’t know what to say that will bring him any relief or change a damn thing. Dad drinks his coffee and then puts his cup down. “It’s been a year on Saturday. In three days, it will be an entire year since we buried your mom. Every day I still wake up thinking it was a horrible dream,” he says, pushing the eggs on his plate around.
I swallow past the lump in my throat. “She’s in a better place. We can take solace in that, and that we’ll see her again.” I don’t really know what else to say to make the pain of her loss any better for either of us. Maybe in time the hurt will grow less, but I don’t think that’s going to be any time soon.
The waitress takes our plates when we’re finished and I can tell Dad’s already getting antsy, always one to keep busy. “What are your plans today?” I ask.
He grins. “A few of us are going fishing today. Cody is having the staff pack us all a lunch, and he’s taking us to the river.” He checks his watch. “I better get moving. We would have been out earlier if Cody didn’t have to work at his other job this morning too,” he says.
I smile. “Cody is a good man. Tell him I said hello, and I hope you all have fun. I have an appointment tomorrow, so I won’t be by for breakfast, but definitely on Friday.” He stands and gives me a hug. “I love you, Lacy. I wish you would reconsider. I worry about you. No house or land is worth your safety. Your grandmother would understand.”
“We’ll just have to convince them to build around us,” I tell him, knowing full well that once Eldridge Senior sets his mind on something, everyone drops what they’re doing to do his bidding, including his maniacal son who in my opinion is worse than his dad.
My dad gives me an extra squeeze. “Love you,” he tells me.
“Love you too,” I whisper before heading out for the day. I make it almost to the car and check my watch. Just enough time to rummage through the mail and stop for some stamps before punching in down at the diner. I slide into the front seat of my car and open the envelope from the assisted living and the dam of tears begins to steadily flow down my cheeks as I scramble for my cell.
I hit Patti’s number. “What’s the matter?” she asks, instantly going into mother hen mode. “The son of a bitch finally hit my weakness. His dad must have put pressure on the assisted living owners. The monthly payment is going up far more than I can afford. I’m working two jobs and can barely make the payments after they raised them the last time. Jake and his father know this will force my hand.”
Patti sighs on the end of the phone. “Fuckers. Lacy, I know you don’t want to do it, but maybe it’s time to sell. They’re still willing to pay you what they started with; take it and buy a newer place. If you do that, maybe they’ll negotiate a contract that won’t get broken for your dad’s monthly payment. You’re killing yourself at the club and the diner; for what? You’re barely at the house anyway. You come home, sleep, shower, and turn right around and go back to work.”
It’s not that I don’t hear her; it’s just that I’m not that girl. I’m not the girl who gives up without a fight, and there’s a hell of a lot more fight in me to give.