Winning Over the Rancher by Viv Royce

Author:Viv Royce
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2023-06-09T13:13:07+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHT

“WHERE DID CADE say he was going?” Mrs. Williams asked. They had just finished dinner and she was clearing away the plates. Gina had taken the girls to get ready for bed.

Lily shrugged. “He had to check on his ranch hand who was repairing fences. I had the impression it wasn’t a major thing.”

Mrs. Williams sighed. “Cade hired Jeb Mahoney because his father asked him to give the boy a chance. He loves ranch work and is a really hard worker, but he has a lot to learn. I guess Cade should have said no as he needs a ranch hand who can work on his own so it actually saves him time. Now he has to check up on Jeb several times a day...” She shook her head. “But Cade believes it will get better.”

Lily picked up the tea towel to help with the dishes. “We were at the house of his friend Wayne and he teased Cade about a band they used to have. The Heartmont Heroes? Cade seemed different after that. Like he...didn’t want to be reminded.” Lily twisted the tea towel in her hands. “I uh...wonder if it was such a good idea to dive into Apple Fest. I mean, you must all have lots of memories of it when... Cade’s dad was still alive. Maybe it’s painful for him to think of happier days?”

“We were happy then for sure. But his father died ten years ago. I can’t imagine...” Mrs. Williams stared ahead with a frown. “Of course I don’t really know how Cade feels. He won’t tell me.” She gave Lily a sad smile. “He’s like his father. The two of them were very close. Now when I say that, you probably imagine they talked a lot. But they didn’t. They worked together all the time before Cade left for college and during college holidays and that connected them. They were of one mind about the ranch, the orchards, everything. His death was a shock, and I wished Cade hadn’t been forced to step into his shoes so soon. When he was still so young. It’s the same with Gina now. Being a widow at her age, having two young children and a third on the way...” She shook her head. “I sometimes can’t understand it. But we have to make do. You don’t have to worry about Cade though. He’s good for his word. He said he’d help you and he will. No matter what’s troubling him now.”

But I wish I knew what it was. That he would talk about it. Talking is so much better than silence. If I had only talked to Barry before he died... Mrs. Williams didn’t need to tell her how men reasoned. Barry had been like that. Always a smile, a pat on her head. “Don’t worry, sis, it’ll be alright. I know what I’m doing.” And she had believed him. She had wanted to believe him. Because she loved him and couldn’t imagine he would do anything to hurt his family, or their parents’ legacy.

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