Danny was still thinking about his mother’s last words long after she’d left him sitting alone in the shadowed kitchen. If his parents could find common ground twenty years after their horrible divorce, then surely couldn’t he and Faith do the same?
He checked his cell phone and his heart stuttered as he saw the new text from an unknown number.
Hey, as I’m not even sure I’m staying, can I take a rain check on that?
Danny contemplated Faith’s words for a considerable amount of time as he weighed up whether to reply or not. If she wasn’t staying, what was the point of opening up all those old wounds? And if she was, he’d get another opportunity to talk to her at a later date. But maybe next time he wouldn’t be so quick to reach out.
He turned off his phone, stuck it in his pocket, and decided to go out to the barn to finish his chores for the day. With two of his brothers currently off the ranch, his sister in San Francisco, and his dad restricted to light work, the burden of keeping the family business going fell increasingly on his and Evan’s shoulders. Not that he minded the work. In fact, with his father out of the way, he could implement a lot of the new ideas he’d learned during his agricultural degree classes without constant opposition. He’d be able to improve the herd, introduce new grass and wetland management processes, and make the ranch both environmentally and economically more stable.
With that thought firmly in mind, Danny pushed away from the table and went through into the mudroom to put on his boots. Whether Faith left or decided to stay, his future was here on the ranch, and taking his family safely into the future was his number-one priority.
* * *
“We own the land, there are no mortgages on either of the two properties, and there is almost no debt—except for patient bills debt, but as you probably know that’s a common problem around here.”
Faith’s father passed a thick accounting book over to her and sat back. They were in his book-lined study with the drapes closed while Dave and her mother watched some terrible reality show they both loved in the family room.
“You don’t have your accounts online? How do you manage payroll?” Faith asked.
“Same way as I always have. I look at the book, total up the hours worked from the staff sign-up sheets, and write the checks.” He shrugged. “It’s not exactly complicated.”
Faith ran a quick eye over the columns of figures that reflected exactly what her father had just told her.
“You do all the bookkeeping yourself ?”
“I get Derek in town to help me with my taxes each year.” He pointed at a shoebox. “I stick all my receipts in there and just hand them over when he asks for it.”
Faith tried not to shudder at the very idea and instead concentrated on the surprisingly healthy state of the business. She supposed that because there was no competition except from Jenna in Morgan Valley, her father had something of a captive market.
“Have you ever considered taking out a loan to improve the facilities?” Faith asked.
“Well, I thought that should be Dave’s decision. I didn’t want to saddle him with a load of debt he didn’t ask for and had to pay off when I was gone.”
Faith nodded. “If I did take over the practice with Dave, I would want to change quite a few things.”
Her father nodded. “I know that, and if it’s something you and Dave both want to do, then it’s nothing to do with me.” He chuckled. “I’m not expecting any income from this place to fund my retirement, Faith. Your mom has a good pension from her teaching job, and I’ve done okay with my investments. I’m not worried about being stranded in Europe and having to call home for funds.”
Faith smiled back at him. “I just don’t want you thinking that you’d made a mistake handing over the business if I start doing things differently.”
“Honey, if I sign the place over to you two, trust me, I’ll skip away without a care in the world and leave you to it.”
“Are you sure about that, Dad?” Faith leaned forward, her hands clasped together on the table. “I mean, you’ve worked here all your life and built this business into a great success.”
“And now it’s time to pass it on to the next generation, just like my father did for me—except he stuck around and criticized everything I did, and I’m not going to be that guy.” He patted her hands. “I believe that you and Dave can make this business even better and I trust you.”
The gruff sincerity in her father’s voice made Faith want to cry.
“Thanks, Dad. I swear I’ll do you proud.”
His eyes lit up. “So, is that a yes, then?”
Faith nodded and he shot to his feet. “Wonderful! Let’s go and tell your mother to pack her bags!”
* * *
Faith checked her phone again the next morning. There was nothing from Danny Miller, but why would there be? She’d shut him down and what was the point in him replying to her? At least he’d had the sense to let it go. If she was staying, and, as she was currently sitting in the local lawyer’s office signing papers with her father and brother, she supposed she was, she’d find a way to talk to him soon.
Even on the short walk from her father’s truck to the lawyer’s office on Main Street she’d noticed a few pointed stares being sent in her direction. A couple of people had said hi to her dad and Dave and completely ignored her. Dave had warned her that she might experience some backlash from the local community, but she hadn’t really taken him seriously. What had she even done? She’d left town and hadn’t returned. She was fairly certain she wasn’t the only person to run away from Morgan Valley.
After they left the lawyer’s office her father suggested they have a celebratory lunch in town. Faith was still wondering where on earth he expected to get fed in Morgantown at lunchtime when her nose caught the scent of coffee.
“Come on, partner.” Dave took her hand and led her along the raised wooden walkway to a shop with black and pink awnings and tables set outside. “Lunch is on Dad so we should exploit him while we can.”
“When did this place open?” Faith stared in awe at the glass-fronted cases filled with beautiful cakes and pastries.
“A few years ago. The coffee is good and Yvonne, the owner, bakes everything here and makes amazing wedding cakes.”
Their father had already found a table and was chatting to the waitress.
“Hey, Lizzie!” Dave grinned at her as he took a seat. “Have you met my sister, Faith, yet? You’re going to be seeing her around a lot more.”
Lizzie turned to Faith, her smile dimming slightly. “Hi!” She immediately looked back at Dave. “I’ll give you guys a moment to check out the specials, and then I’ll come and take your drinks order, okay?”
“Lizzie manages the café side of the business for Yvonne,” Faith’s father said. “She’s dating Adam Miller.”
“Oh, right.” Faith busied herself looking at the extensive menu. How could she have forgotten that Danny had five siblings who were all still around, and all aware of her past relationship with him? She reminded herself that it was a small town and that everything would blow over once she was accepted back into the fold.