away, tossing the bag in the truck with a thump. Leaning over, he snagged an elastic cross tie and secured it across her belongings. Then he straightened, walked the few feet to the passenger door and jerked it open. Leveling a blue-eyed stare at her, he rocked back on his heels. “You getting in or not?”
Eve sucked in a breath. Remember. You can handle this—no matter how he behaves. “Of course.” Deliberately taking her time, she strolled over and climbed unhurriedly into the cab. Looking out at John, she smiled her most gracious smile. “Thank you.”
“Sure.” He slammed the door, walked around and climbed in on the driver’s side. Neither of them spoke as he started the truck and put it in gear.
Eve stared fixedly outside, watching the familiar landscape roll by. The sky was a vast expanse of cloudless blue that seemed to go on forever. On the far horizon, the mountains rose in shades of gray and plum, their jagged peaks frosted with snow. Closer in, a few head of cattle grazed, all that was left of the once vast Chandler herd.
Regret rocked through her. It came despite her confidence that the ranch would prosper again; the Texas consortium that had bought it had deep pockets and a good reputation. Nor did it seem to matter that in addition to making one year’s guaranteed employment for the handful of loyal hands who’d opted to stay on a condition of the sale, she’d also seen to it that they received every dime of their back pay, the best she could do under the circumstances.
She just wished she knew what had prompted her grandfather to make that first risky investment. Or why, when things started to go sour, he hadn’t simply accepted his losses instead of stubbornly throwing good money after bad.
She swallowed a sigh. If only she’d paid more attention, instead of blithely assuming that everything was all right. If only she’d come home last spring, instead of letting Granddad convince her the timing was bad. If only she’d behaved more responsibly, he might have felt he could confide in her, instead of believing he had to protect her the way he always had.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were broke? That you had to sell the ranch?” John asked abruptly.
The question caught her off-guard. Her stomach twisted even as she gamely raised her chin. “Whatever makes you think that?”
“Don’t try to snow me, Eve. I’d already heard some rumors. After you gave me that story about needing a ride today because you were ‘between cars,’ I got to thinking. I called Eldon Taylor and he filled me in.”
Eldon Taylor was the president of Lander Savings and Loan. Eve had never particularly liked him, but until now she’d always thought he was discreet. “He had no right,” she said woodenly.
“Maybe not. But the point is, he did.” They rattled over the last cattle guard, then drove beneath the carved wooden arch that marked the ranch entrance. After checking for other traffic, John pulled out on the sparsely traveled two-lane highway and accelerated. “And you still haven’t answered my question.”
“Unlike Mr. Taylor, I didn’t think it was any of your business,” she said coolly. “I don’t recall asking you for a loan. Or a handout.” She glanced challengingly at him. “Or do you make everyone who works for you fill out a financial statement?”
A muscle flexed in his jaw. “I’m not entrusting ‘everyone’ with my daughter. I’m entrusting you. I think that entitles me to ask a few questions.”
As much as it rankled, Eve had to concede he had a point. “All right. What is it you want to know?”
“I thought you had a trust fund, money that came from your parents.”
“That’s right.”
“What happened? You blow through it already?”
Before, she’d only suspected he thought she was a spoiled brat. Now she knew. Yet she was darned if she’d defend herself. Not now, and not to him. She shrugged. “As a matter of fact, I did. But don’t worry. I swear I won’t steal your silver or anything. I’m not that desperate. Yet.”
To her satisfaction, his mouth tightened.
Deciding to press her advantage, she added, “What made you change your mind about hiring me, anyway?”
One shoulder rose and fell dismissively. “I don’t have time to run the ranch and also take care of a kid. Once I thought about it, I decided that any help was better than none. Even yours.”
It was hardly a ringing endorsement, but Eve told herself she didn’t care. His opinion wasn’t the one that mattered. “What about your daughter? What does she have to say about this?”
He shrugged again. “I’ve got a meeting in Missoula this Saturday, the same time that one of her classmates is having a birthday party. Your being here means she can go, so I’d say she’s for it.” He paused, then added almost defensively, “She’s not a real big talker.”
Eve stared at him in surprise, suddenly wondering if there was something he wasn’t telling her. Pursing her lips, she tried to decide how to broach the subject, when suddenly his whole big body stiffened.
“Damn,” he said fiercely.
“What’s the matter?”
“The bus must’ve been early.”
A quick look around made her realize they were coming up on the entrance for the Bar M. But it wasn’t until she followed his gaze that she noticed the forlorn little figure who stood half-hidden next to a large metal mailbox boldly marked MacLaren.
Eve wasn’t sure what she’d expected, but it wasn’t this.
John’s daughter was small and pale, with big blue eyes set in a delicate face and a wild tangle of butterscotch curls that spilled from a bedraggled, off-center ponytail. She was also atrociously dressed in a peagreen nylon slicker, a too-big canary-yellow dress that sported an oversize Peter Pan collar, and a pair of sagging navy kneesocks.
Yet what captured Eve’s attention was the way the child took several spontaneous steps forward when she saw the truck, then stopped, as if uncertain of her reception. She hesitated, then raised her hand in a tentative wave.
The vulnerability of the gesture tugged at Eve’s heart.
She glanced at John as he pulled over onto the verge. His face was granite hard as he slammed the transmission into park. He was out the door almost before the pickup had come to a full stop. Yet for all his urgency, he stopped several feet short of his daughter, and he made no attempt to touch her. “You okay?” Although his back was to Eve, his gruff voice carried clearly on the breeze.
The little girl nodded.
“Sorry I’m late.”
“It’s okay. I just…I thought you forgot.”
There was a moment’s silence. When he spoke, his voice was even more clipped than before. “I wouldn’t do that.” He reached down and picked up the small backpack that was lying on the dusty ground. “Come on.” He straightened. “There’s someone I want you to meet.”
The child glanced toward the truck, apprehension suddenly filling her face. “Is that her? Is that the lady who’s going to stay with me?” she asked anxiously.
