On the drive back to Jackson, snow and sleet pounded the windshield and danced in the beam of his headlights.
What had he been thinking to move so fast in his friendship with Hayley? Obviously she returned his interest, but where could this really go except giving them both a broken heart and putting a wedge between Hayley and her father?
Ty was surprised the man had been so congenial, because no way was Hayley’s father going to let her be with a guy like Ty—someone who hadn’t made something of himself. Ty couldn’t blame the man. If he were Hayley’s father, he’d want her to have the best sort of person for a husband.
Right now, Hayley didn’t seem to care about Ty’s simple occupation, and there was nothing wrong with it as long as you did something solid with it. Something besides working part-time. That wouldn’t take care of a family.
But her father cared about it, and eventually Hayley would care, too. Ty couldn’t stand to think of a day when she might be disappointed in him. Or come to resent him.
Given half a chance, he would change his future for himself.
For her.
Thanksgiving proved to be ridiculously busy, with Ty’s parents coming to town. They stayed with his grandmother, thank goodness, but he still cleaned his bachelor pad just in case. Plus, he worked double shifts at the ski resort and the National Elk Refuge, driving the sleighs for the tourists wanting to see the herd that wintered near Jackson.
He’d only had a short visit at the Covington Ranch, meeting Hayley’s sisters, their families, and other relatives. Wow, she had a big clan. She’d held his hand and acted proud enough to introduce him. Of course everyone asked what he did for a living, and after his reply, he couldn’t help but notice the questions in their eyes, her father notwithstanding. But maybe his own doubts and insecurities made him see questions that weren’t there.
On Friday, he’d managed to tear away from his work schedule and bring Hayley to his grandmother’s to meet his family. They were all duly impressed, and unfortunately, he could read his parents well enough. They didn’t think it would work.
Instead of letting anything get him down, Ty focused on making something of himself. Just like he’d always dreamed of doing, only different. He couldn’t be a champion ski racer, but he could do something productive, and that would last even longer. At the end of the day, when he had the evenings to himself, he worked on creating a business plan for a ski lodge on Nanna’s plot of land. Researched possible venture capitalists, and he found he enjoyed the business side of things.
He hoped he’d get the chance to share his plans with Hayley before it was too late.
Saturday morning, Ty worked at the refuge as usual, driving the horse-drawn wagon-sleigh. The sleigh took the tourists right to the elk herd of about seven thousand head. Today’s group had him a little nervous, with a few members of Hayley’s family, including her father, in the twenty-plus group. They’d said hello, and were warm and friendly enough, but mostly left him to do his job.
He couldn’t help but wonder if they were there to enjoy the herd—people who, for the most part, lived in this region—or if they’d come to watch Ty work. Maybe even put him in his place, as it were. He wasn’t good enough for Hayley. For a Covington. As he directed the sleigh back he left those kind of thoughts behind. They wouldn’t do him any good.
When the group exited the wagon, Hayley’s father hung back.
“Did you enjoy the ride? Seeing the herd?” Ty asked, trying to ignore how much her father intimidated him.
Hayley adored her father, and Ty wouldn’t give the man a reason to hate him, if he could help it.
The man thrust his hand out and shook Ty’s. “You do a good job, Son.”
“Thanks.” Ty suspected that wasn’t all he would say.
“Hayley’s a special girl,” her father said.
“I know.”
“And I know you care about my daughter.”
Pulse ratcheting up, Ty nodded. “Yes, I do.” Where was he going with this?
“And that’s why I want to ask you to do what’s best for her.”
“Sir?”
“Since you care about her, then surely you can see that you can’t offer her the best future.”
Heart thrumming, Ty didn’t know what to say. He couldn’t believe the man would actually say those words to him. How did Ty respond?
“Let me rephrase that for you, Son. If you care about Hayley, like you say you do, then you will let her go. You want the best for her. We both do.”
And you’re not the best man for her. That’s what he was saying.
Hayley’s father walked off, leaving Ty standing there to reflect on his statement.
Today was Ty’s grandmother’s birthday.
There was a party to attend. Somewhere. Sometime. Staring at the teakettle she’d created for Ty’s grandmother, Hayley chewed on her nails. She’d never done that before. But she’d never been in this position before.
He’d been busy the weeks since Thanksgiving, or so he’d claimed, so he hadn’t had time to see Hayley. Still, he should have contacted her about the gift and the party.
Something was wrong. Very wrong.
Hayley knew she’d been dumped, and the hurt was palpable, even as she tried to comprehend the truth of it. What else could it be? But she couldn’t figure out why, unless … unless Daddy had interfered. But she couldn’t fathom him doing that. Not this time. Couldn’t he see that Ty was a good man? A hardworking man. A man who wasn’t interested in the ranch because it was worth millions. What did it matter if the guy didn’t have money of his own?
Hayley had decided she didn’t care what he did for a living—he wasn’t the bum he had termed himself at all. She had hoped that over time she could convince Ty to spend time with her on her ranching chores. Maybe she could transform him into a cowboy or a rancher, and they could all be happy. But if not, it wouldn’t change how she felt about him.
They’d had such a good friendship, and Hayley hurt that their friendship had been ruined because they’d taken things a step further, but it was the only natural course. No point in dancing around the obvious.
No point in sitting around feeling sorry for herself either. Ty had been straight with her from the beginning. She wouldn’t let him change that on them now.
She grabbed a box and gently packed the teakettle inside. Then pasted a few Christmas stickers on and decorated with some ribbon and bows she kept handy for this time of year. She would deliver this present to his grandmother, whether he liked it or not.
And after she’d have her say with Ty, then she’d face Daddy, if he was involved in Ty’s backing away.
An hour later, Hayley drove the curvy mountain road to Clara Walker’s home. Unsure if she would be early or late to the party, though she wasn’t even sure she was still invited. Hayley had called and left a voice mail with Ty that she would stop by to deliver the gift, and she’d texted him to give him an out if he didn’t want to call her back.
Whatever.
Her relationship with Ty aside, she’d put time and effort into this project, and the more she thought about it, the more aggravated she grew. This wasn’t like him at all. She hoped it was all a misunderstanding. That he was really busy and she’d become some dependent, clingy girl. Wow. The option didn’t sound any better.
Hayley steered down Clara’s steep driveway and saw Ty’s vehicle. Her heart jumped to her throat.
He hadn’t called her back.
He didn’t want her here.
What am I doing? Deliver the gift.
She had to at least give Clara the gift she’d created per Ty’s request. But that was just it—Ty hadn’t requested the teakettle at all. Hayley had been the one to insist.
As she parked the car, she debated over following through and shifted into REVERSE. But just like the first time she’d come here, she was caught before she could leave. Ty opened the door and stood on the porch, hesitant.
Oh. Not good.
Panic inserted itself in her chest. She couldn’t breathe.
He closed the door behind him and walked out to her. Hayley let the window down. “Hey,” she said.
“Hi.” He tucked his hands in his jeans.
With no jacket on, he would probably get cold. Maybe he wanted that as an excuse to make this quick.
“I brought your grandmother’s gift.”
He nodded and glanced at the house then back to Hayley.
“Look, I’m sorry for coming out here. I was invited to her party, remember? But you didn’t get back to me.”
Regret flickered in his gaze. Mingled with longing. So … he wasn’t over her?
“What are you kids doing out here?” Clara’s aged voice called from the door. She pulled her wrap closer and stepped off the porch, making her way toward Hayley. “Hayley, dear, come on in.”
Ty opened the door before she could protest.
Hayley got out and went to the back of her Explorer, popped the hatch and lifted the gift, handing it over to Ty, her vision blurring. “Here. I hope she enjoys it.”
“You might as well come in and see her open it,” he said.
That was it?
Hayley wasn’t sure she could stay with the hurt pinging through her. Daddy was right. He’d been right all along about Ty hurting her.
Clara’s loving arms wrapped around her. “Hayley, Ty has missed you something awful. I’m so glad you could be here today. Please come inside. Have some cake. Ty is cooking me dinner.”
Ty had missed her? Hayley looked at him, hoping he saw the accusations—and the questions—in her eyes. She had a few questions for him all right. And she strongly suspected her father had everything to do with this. The thought eased her pain, if only a little. She’d give Ty a chance to explain.
“Hayley made something special for you, Nanna.” Ty escorted the two women back to the house, holding the box close.
“Oh?” Nanna said. “I can’t wait to see it.”
Hayley laughed, feeling better by the moment. “I guess you could call it a joint project. Ty wanted something special for you.”
“And I commissioned Hayley to make it.”
Hayley glanced at Ty, and he winked. She smiled back, glad she made the decision to come here, but she couldn’t wait to get Ty alone so they could talk.