A few days later, the entire Broward clan was sitting in the kitchen at the BWB Ranch. While the mood was happy, it was also slightly subdued because of the fact that Samara was there, too.
She had been invited by Gwen, who, to the amazement of everyone, had shown an incredible amount of compassion to the movie star that many didn’t think she deserved.
Earlier that hour, Samara had confessed that she was the sole cause of the recent trouble in Granger, including all the land that was being mysteriously bought. She’d acted as “The Cobra,” the blackmailer who’d taken money from Laney and had leaked her pregnancy to the tabloids. To top it off, she’d even orchestrated the accusations of Austin manipulating Laney’s athletic achievements.
“Thank you for not pressing charges,” Samara said in a stunned voice. She looked down at the floor and picked at her long nails. “I know you have more than enough grounds to sue me.” She lifted her head and said in an unsteady voice, “But as we agreed, I promise I’ll get counseling so I can finally get my life and my emotions under control.”
“I still don’t understand why you did all those things,” Wes said. “Why were you so hell-bent on hurting us?”
Samara paused and gestured toward them. “I wanted what you all have, and what you probably take for granted every day.” Her voice was raw and choked with emotion. “I wanted a family to love me. It’s all I ever cared about. I’m just sorry I went about getting it in the wrong way.”
Steven walked over and embraced Samara, and his heart welled up in his chest when this time she did not pull away. “I’m sorry about everything. I promise I’ll make it up to you. At least I can try. If you’ll let me,” he added.
Samara nodded, threw her arms around his neck and the tears began to flow again. “I’d like that very much.”
“You’re always welcome here at the ranch,” Gwen said, watching her husband. She knew it would continue to be difficult to accept Samara’s existence, but she had to try, for the sake of her family. All the Browards agreed: Samara had suffered enough. It was time to move on.
“What’s going to happen with all the land you bought up around Granger?” Jameson asked.
“Most of it I’m going to return, except for the ranch I bought from Wes,” she said, turning in his direction. “If it’s okay, I’d like to turn that into a summer camp and retreat for children who have lost their parents.”
“It’s your land now,” Wes grunted. “You can do whatever you’d like with it.” Steven and Gwen nodded in agreement.
“That’s a wonderful idea!” Brooke exclaimed.
Samara smiled shyly. “I hear you are a wonderful artist. Perhaps you would consider teaching a pottery class there someday?”
Brooke grinned. She’d always wanted to share her love for art with others. “I’d love to.”
Samara turned to Jameson. “And I’ve decided to back out of the deal to purchase Meredith’s half of the Palmer Ranch. Besides, I hear you love ranching a whole lot more than I do.”
Jameson nodded gravely in appreciation, as he breathed an inward sigh of relief that the land would become part of the Browards’ vast empire. He couldn’t wait to sit down with his father and plan how to best utilize it.
“Well, good,” Grandpa Charles said. “Maybe now things will get back to normal around here.” He reached for a cookie. “Be even better if we saw more of Wes in jeans working the land, rather than in a suit and tie playing on that high-tech phone.”
Everyone laughed.
“No can do, Grandpa,” Wes said, draping an arm over his fiancée’s shoulder. “Lydia and I are heading to Los Angeles permanently. We’ve decided to launch our own entertainment company.”
“Yes, thanks to the contacts I have from when I was working with Samara, we’re confident we can build our client base fairly quickly,” said Lydia.
Steven felt immediate sadness at the news, but refused to allow disappointment to well up inside him. He quickly released Samara and went over to Wes and shook his hand.
“So you’ve finally decided to chase Hollywood sharks instead of Granger cattle. I’m sorry to see you go, but I wish you both much luck and success.”
With an equally heavy heart, Gwen drifted over and hugged her firstborn son. She was happy that he’d finally discovered his dreams and had the courage to pursue them, but she wished it wasn’t so hard to let go.
Wes hugged his parents back. “Look on the bright side, L.A. is beautiful year-round.”
“We expect you all to come visit,” Lydia added.
“Where do I sign up?” said Grandpa Charles. “I love Montana, but the winter is brutal on these old bones.”
“Nobody better go anywhere for the next few months,” Laney commanded.
“Why, are you going to hold us hostage?” Wes taunted.
“If that’s what it takes to get you to come to a wedding, then yes!” She laughed.
“Whose wedding?” Grandpa Charles demanded in a light tone.
Austin squeezed Laney’s hand. “Ours. Laney and I are getting married, as soon as possible.”
Lydia and Brooke squealed with delight, and even Samara looked pleased.
Gwen released Wes so she could hug her daughter. “That’s wonderful, Laney. I’m so happy for you both.”
Austin took turns shaking hands and exchanging high fives with Steven, Wes and Jameson.
“Now you can show your family the ring you’ve been hiding,” Austin said.
Laney twisted the huge rock from where it had been nestled against her palm and flashed it in front of everyone.
“Woot, woot!” she cried, to the oohs and aahs of the women.
“What about me?” Grandpa Charles asked in a playfully brusque tone. “I’m getting married, too! I may not have a huge rock on my hand, but don’t I deserve some attention around here?”
Wes and Jameson did a double take. “Grandpa! Get out of here,” said Jameson. “Who is she?”
“Miss Polly Ann Wier, if you must know.” He scratched his chin. “She’s taken quite a shine to me these past few months and, well, I decided I’m not too old to get hitched.”
Steven laughed and shook his head in amusement. His father had met Polly Ann as a result of a cowboy auction held a few months ago. His mother had passed away three years earlier and he knew the kind woman had been a much-needed ray of sunshine in his dad’s life. “Why, you old devil!” he remarked, a smile of pure happiness on his face.
Grandpa Charles spread his arms wide and pumped out his chest. “Son, if you’ve still got it, you can still flaunt it,” he cackled. “Now, where’re my hugs?”
All the women in the room flocked to the Broward patriarch in a group embrace.
“Wow! Two weddings, a baby on the way and a new sister,” Laney exclaimed. “Whoever said life in Granger was boring?”
* * * * *
We hope you enjoyed meeting the Broward family. Next month, don’t miss Harmony Evans’s new book, WHEN MORNING COMES, coming from Harlequin Kimani Romance, and available at your local bookstore or e-tailer!
[Fluffer Nutter]