Sophia’s heart warmed. Amanda had been a mixed-up kid who’d needed guidance in her life and some professional counseling. Sophia was glad to have helped her see that her life was worth salvaging. “I’m glad to hear it. Please give her my best.”
“I will.”
“What can I help you with?” She tilted her head, still curious why he’d shown up here. She knew darn well buying a horse wasn’t the only reason. That had been the excuse.
He smiled again, his eyes crinkling heavily at the corners. “I came to buy a stallion and I have, but I’m also here to honor a promise I made to Louisa.”
At the mention of her mother’s name, Sophia’s shoulders slumped and she was struck with immediate sadness. All of the brassiness she’d summoned to deal with Gordon disappeared. “Wh-what promise?”
“To make sure you were all right. To make sure you were safe. You see, your mother may have pretended not to know how sick she was, but she knew. We would have candid talks about it. Louisa and I had actually become very close in the end. She never wanted you to worry. She knew you had enough to deal with. You marrying me gave your mother peace of mind.”
She’d hoped so. With her whole heart, she had truly hoped so. Sophia closed her eyes, momentarily absorbing the truth of his words. Her mother always pretended to feel better than she actually felt to ease Sophia’s mind. She’d been a trouper about her treatments and always tried to put a smile on her face even when her health had begun to decline. Sophia wished she could be as strong and capable and caring a woman as her mother had been.
“I think she would’ve liked you to stay married to me,” Gordon said.
“I might have, if you hadn’t pressured me.”
“I was very patient with you, Sophia. I was good to you.”
“Yes, I can’t deny that. You were very good to my mother and me.”
“So can you blame me for wanting a real wife? Your mother was gone, God rest her soul, and you were safe, away from a stalker’s threats. I figured—”
“I’d owe you?”
“No, Sophia. I had hoped you’d have real affection for me.”
“I appreciate everything you did for me, but contrary to what some might believe, I can’t be bought. You put pressure on me shortly after my mother died and made me very uncomfortable. Gordon, you’re not a man who takes no lightly. You pressed me until I had no choice but to walk away.”
Gordon actually looked contrite. “I’m sorry. It was a mistake on my part to pressure you. I’m a bit spoiled. I usually get what I want and, beautiful Sophia, you were my wife.”
Sophia had walked away without a dime of Gordon’s great wealth. She’d insisted on a prenup that said exactly that. She’d never wanted his money. She’d never wanted to be beholden to Gordon. “I know,” she whispered, “but I couldn’t give you what you wanted.”
Gordon put his head down. He steepled his fingers and spoke quietly. “You may think me a silly old man for saying so, but I fell in love with you, Sophia.”
Sophia was touched and she believed him, but Gordon Gregory fell in love a lot. He’d been married and divorced five times in his seventy-one years. “And you deserve a woman in your life who will give you love back.”
“I see that now.” A shrug rolled off his shoulder. “Well … I’ve done my part, Sophia. I’ve checked on you for Louisa’s sake. I see you’ve made a life for yourself here. Are you happy?”
Sophia didn’t have to think twice. “Yes.”
He nodded and gave her a thoughtful look. “Then I’d venture to guess Logan Slade is a very lucky man.”
After Sophia bid farewell to Gordon, she sat in her office staring at the paperwork on her desk. The numbers on the account sheets made no sense. She wouldn’t even try to turn on her computer. She couldn’t concentrate. She couldn’t seem to think of much else but Gordon Gregory’s appearance here today. She’d never expected him to seek her out. That part of her life, a trying, difficult part of her life, was over. Seeing Logan drive up in the limo with Gordon had really rattled her.
While she’d silently grieved for her mother all these months, speaking with Gordon today and hashing over their lives had brought fresh pain to her heart. From her grave, her mother was still trying to look out for her—still trying to protect her. It served to make Sophia miss her mother even more.
She’d married a man for what he could give her, yes. But it wasn’t a selfish money-grubbing move. It had been for her mother’s sake. Gordon had provided safe haven in his mansion for both the Montrose women and hopefully now that she’d grown closer to Logan, he would believe her.
With that resolved in her mind, Sophia managed to struggle through her work. Apprehension gripped her stomach tight. Logan had been a wonderful lover and they’d shared so much with each other, but the one thing that Sophia needed from him now was his willingness to see her in a different light. It mattered now. So much. She wanted his trust. She wanted him to believe in her.
The brim on his hat cocked low, Hunter Halliday gave a light rap at her opened office door. “It’s that time,” he said, stepping one foot into the office.
For the past week, Hunter had come in the late afternoon to alert her it was time to feed the horses. Aside from her time spent with Logan, hand-feeding the horses with Hunter was the best part of her day. “Thank goodness. I am so ready to call it a day.”
Hunter waited for her to straighten her desk and lock up the office. They walked out the side door that led toward the lodge stables, making pleasant small talk. Several of the lodge guests were about, the scent of horse dung and straw giving them the full ranch-type experience. She waved to them and walked farther down to where Hunter kept a jumbo-sized bag of carrots.
At the corral, five horses trotted over and nudged each other out of the way trying to get their fair share of food. Sophia let each horse take a carrot out of her palm and then patted their foreheads, one right after the other. Hunter took a few carrots over to an elderly couple who stood watching from several feet away. He gave them each a turn feeding the horses.
Sophia walked over to them. “They love getting extra treats.”
The woman smiled. “Well, then we’ll have to come by tomorrow at this time, too.”
Hunter agreed and started up a conversation with the two of them while Sophia bid them farewell. Her mood lighter, she felt a little better about talking to Logan tonight.
“Ms. Montrose?” Hunter called as she approached her car. “You heading over to the main house?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Will you say hello to Luke for me?”
Confused, Sophia gave Hunter a shake of the head. “Luke?”
“Yes, ma’am. I saw him going into the house an hour ago. Luke’s back.”
Ten
A
