The landline rang as Katie fumbled with the front keys, unlocking the door. What now? She dashed into the kitchen and picked up the phone on the fourth ring.
“Hello?”
Dad coughed. “Wasn’t sure you’d be home yet.”
She tugged at her hair at the sound of his voice, so weak and raspy. A lone tear traced down her cheek. “Dad! Oh, Dad. I’m so sorry I didn’t come in to visit.”
The floor creaked behind her and she looked up to see John standing in the kitchen doorway. She motioned him in as she listened to her dad speak. The sight of his familiar form made her feel obscurely better, like he was a rock of stability in this flood of confusion that had struck her family.
“They have to fix a blockage,” Dad said.
“Did they say how aggressive they needed to be? Or how long you would have to stay there?” When it came to being a nurse, she’d always been able to keep calm in emergencies. That was one of the reasons she’d been in the top five percent of her graduating class.
John placed a cup of coffee on the table in front of her before retreating to the bench at the far end of the kitchen with his cup, not in her space but there if she needed him. She wasn’t sure if that was deliberate, but she appreciated it.
“They said minimally invasive. Just think of it as an extended vacation,” Dad said. “Sure, I’d rather be spending it at the beach, but the nurses are taking really good care of me.”
She picked up the coffee. The aroma took her back to the night shift at the wards. “Dad! Thanks for the visual. Remember, I know most of them. Ugh. Yuck.” She turned toward John. “So, does that mean I’m in charge around here now? I mean, do you even know what happened here last night?”
John choked, sputtering coffee. He raised one palm and waved it, trying to signal her not to say anything.
Did he really think she was going to tell her father about the suspected break-in here at the house? Or the little show she gave?
“While you were busy having a heart attack, I was bailing our ranch manager out of jail.” She winced at the cavalier tone of her words—but her doubt was dispelled as she heard her father splutter.
“What on earth are you talking about, Katie?”
Her eyes sparkled wickedly. That’s the spirit, Dad! “Just what I said. John didn’t tell you?”
John hung his head.
Old man—or naughty child? Doing something normal—even if it was teasing her dad at John’s expense—felt so good. For a moment, the fear and tension of the night eased.
“See, apparently our new manager decided to take a drive and got into a little too much of a hurry to get back home. A nice man in a uniform wrote him a free pass to stay overnight at their place, but I thought we might need our foreman here so I went and got him. Had to pay for the night’s lodging, but it was worth it.” She savored the shocked silence. “Uh—Dad? You still there?”
“What are you trying to do, give me a second heart attack?”
“Motivating you to get out of there faster,” she retorted. “Don’t want you enjoying your stay you forget about us. Do everything they tell you to do and rest up. We’ll take care of the ranch. All right?”
She smiled listening to her dad grumble, and watching the massive man in front of her pouring a second cup of coffee.
“Listen to me,” her dad said. “Now, John likes to play the tough guy, but I think he’s hurting a whole lot under that exterior. He doesn’t ever talk about what happened to him, but you can tell something pretty bad happened. Something more than just getting hit by an IED.”
“I know. And I think you’re right. He’s been a big help around here, especially today. I, uh—I promise I’ll take care of this place while you’re resting up. Okay?”
“Okay. I couldn’t ask for anything more.” Her dad’s voice was heavy with exhaustion.
“I’ll talk to you later.” She hung up the phone with a definitive click. For a moment, she simply stood, staring at the wall. When she was talking to her father, she could pretend everything was okay. But as soon as she couldn’t hear his voice, the fear flooded back.
“So, he’s doing okay?”
“He’s gotta stay in the hospital for a couple more days while they finish checking him out. But, yes, I think he’s doing okay.” She let out her breath.
“Good, because it’s time for us to get to work. I’ve got several ideas we need to discuss.”
She laughed. “Excuse me, but who put you in charge?”
“Your father.”
She crossed her arms. “No. He. Didn’t.”
“Yes. He. Did.” He put his cup down, eyeing her squarely. “I went in and talked to him, remember? That’s when he left me in charge. If you don’t believe me, ask him next time you speak to him.” He leaned against the counter, his arms folded over his chest, challenging her.
Her mouth formed a tight frown. “Listen, jerk,” she began, as her face began to heat. “My father wouldn’t—”
“I’m telling you he did.” He held up his hand boy scout style, his expression solemn. “Thug’s honor.” He turned back to his coffee cup.
Before she could think twice, she snatched up the kitchen towel, twirled it, and whipped his butt with it.
He jumped and spun around, gaping at her in disbelief. He rubbed his ass. “Did you just—”
She barely suppressed the urge to laugh. His expression was priceless.
“Cracking the whip.” She smiled sweetly. “Letting you know who’s really in charge. Now, I’m going to make myself something to eat. I’m starving. You want some eggs, too?”
“It’s lunch time.” He eyed her as though he was unsure of how to respond.
“Well, then I guess I should make it an egg sandwich,” she said, opening the refrigerator.
“Just let me know when you’re done laughing, so we can get some work done.”
She placed the Tupperware of ham and loaf of bread down on the counter. She pulled a knife from the block, pausing before cutting into the bread. “Sure, you don’t want anything to eat? You’ll be less grumpy, old man.”
She snickered as he fumbled with the files in his hand. “Your dad mentioned hiring at least one other employee while he’s out. We especially need someone to look over these financial records—”
“That’s my job.” She set a plate down on the counter with a thump.
“Doing the finances? Or making this call?”
The knife slipped from her fingers, hitting the granite so hard, it bounced and clanged on the floor below. She leaned across the counter, glaring at him. Her chest tightened into a knot like a cramp and a quiet rage built inside.
“Look,” he said. “According to your dad, we’re both in charge. Which means we have to work together. Without fighting.”
And whose fault is it we keep fighting? “I promise I’ll try to be less bitchy, if you’ll try to be less of an ass.”
“Fine.” He slammed the files down on the counter sending a light breeze her way. “Just stop calling me old.”
“That’s what you’ve been mad about? All this time?” She stared at him, her eyes wide in disbelief.
“What? No.” He jerked back, standing straight. “Believe it or not, I don’t have a problem with you.”
“Yeah, right. You go out of your way to antagonize me.”
“By suggesting you might want to upgrade your accounting system?”
A low groan rumbled in her throat. When he put it that way, it did sound like she’d overreacted. “It was the way you did it.”
He shuffled his feet. “I’m not exactly good at people stuff. Especially when it comes to women.”
You don’t say.
“I never mean to offend you. Mitch—Mitch gave me a job. He trusts me. You’ve got no idea how much that means. Last thing I ever want to do is fuck that up.”
Her heart stammered. “Blunt is not the word I’d use. More like downright aggressive.”
His face tightened and turned red. “Listen. I’m sorry. I never meant to be aggressive. Wasn’t even aware that’s how you took it. But I’ll dial it down, be more conscious of it. Think you can meet me halfway?”
He knows.
She scratched her forearm, her anger dissipating. But embarrassment took its place along with confusion. “I guess I can try.”
“Good. So, boss, do you think we have the money in the budget?” he said, clearly trying to move on. “For the new employee, I mean?”
He knows and he’s treating me like nothing’s changed.
She nodded, raising her chin. If he could pretend he didn’t know what had happened to her, she could, too. “We do.”
“Good. I don’t think we should use it to hire another wrangler, though.”
“Oh?”
“I figured I could help you with the wrangling.”
“You? Sure you can work that in, among the rest of your duties?” She noticed him glance at the sandwich on the plate beside him. “That’s for you. And in case you were worried, no, I did not add salt.”
She pushed the plate closer and he picked up one half of the meal. “Thanks. I’m starving. And yes, I can take care of the wrangling on top of everything else. You need to ride out, I’ll go with you.”
Her stomach growled and she squirmed, trying to hide the rumbling. She picked up her own food, pinching off a piece of the corner and popping it into her mouth. “If we aren’t going to hire another wrangler, what do you suggest we use the money for?”
“A housekeeper.”
She coughed hard, sending a tiny speck of cheese across the table. “A—what? Are you joking? Why would we need a housekeeper? I take care of the house!”
“Your hands are already full running the ranch. Your dad will need to take it easy when he gets home. A housekeeper will be able to take care of the cooking and cleaning and leave you free for more important things. Simple as that.”
A sharp retort about interfering in other people’s lives was about to leave her lips. But he picked up one of the folders in front of him, turning to the next page as if the matter was closed.
He’s not trying to piss you off. He’s trying to help.
She picked off another small piece of the sandwich. The moist bread and lightly salted ham swirled around her mouth. Each bite was careful, buying her time to calm down. “When you put it that way, hiring a housekeeper does make sense. I’m terrible at cleaning. We’d be doing my dad a favor.”
His eyes twinkled when he looked up at her. “Think you’ll be ready to go in ten minutes?”
“What are you talking about? Go where?”
“Town. I’ll meet you at the car.” She gasped as he shoved the entire half of a sandwich into his mouth.
“Sure.” She placed their plates in the sink, walking cautiously in case she needed to perform the Heimlich maneuver on him. “Care to tell me what it’s about?”
He swallowed whatever food remained in his mouth then said, “You’ll see when we get there.”
Her throat began to close. The familiar swarm of bats beating around in her chest arrived. Sweat covered her palms. Since her attack surprises only caused her anxiety. She wanted to tell him, to relieve the chaos that erupted inside of her. But she couldn’t. She didn’t want to have that talk with him.
So, she focused on what she knew. He made her feel safe. He was a soldier, and always seemed to have a plan. He was methodical and observant. Too observant. She needed to do this. She needed to learn to trust him. Completely.
For the sake of the ranch.