page26 (1/2)
“I heard you were planning on leaving,” Marsha said, taking Do her to the sofa
Dominique sat and stared at the white-haired woman “How could you know that? I barely decided o”
“I have a sense about people I know things have been difficult with Charlie”
Denise took a chair and watched the Do, but decided to siet the tomen to leave
“More than difficult,” she said “I”
Since their fight, her daughter had been ignoring her calls Doh Chantal’s truck had been parked out front, her daughter had refused to come to the door
Dominique had been forced to retreat Now she knew that she’d abandoned their relationship too long They had nothing in common While she didn’t completely understand all that May had told her, she did believe she was at least partially responsible for the chashter She also knew she’d been wrong about the rape When Chantal had needed love and support, Dominique had offered criticism
“I had a daughter,” Marsha said “A sweet girl I drove away through unreasonable discipline and too-strict rules Her teenage years were difficult, to say the least It got so bad, she ran away and refused to see ain I lost her because I was a fool”
Dominique stared at the older woman “How is that possible? You’re not like that”
“It was a long tio and by the ti to do with ot that second chance” She looked away and drew in a breath, then turned back to Doive up Because you never knohat life is going to send your way”
Doht about the cancer she’d beaten and how afraid she’d been She knew the prognosis could have easily gone the other way Chantal had a dangerous job What if so happened to her?
Denise leaned toward Dominique “I realize you don’t knowMayor Marsha wanted me here because I have six kids If you’d coed you to take a few At least for the weekend”
Dominique blinked “Six children? On purpose?”
Denise laughed “Not exactly The last one turned out to be triplets Unexpected, to say the least But wonderful”
Six? She couldn’t begin to iine what that must have been like There wouldn’t have been a h Dominique had to admit her days recently had too much silence in them
“Chantal doesn’t likean obvious truth “She thinks I’m selfish and cruel”
“Are you?” Marsha asked quietly
Dominique stiffened She was about to protest the question when she realized there was no point She was already leaving Why would she care what these people thought of her?
“Perhaps a little,” she admitted softly “Certainly selfish I’one now”
“You could start by calling her Charlie,” Denise told her “It’s what she calls herself”
“She did mention it Charlie is a horrible name”
“She would argue the same about Chantal”
Doether This Denise person was overstepping her bounds
Denise drew in a breath “The thing I can tell you about having children is you get back so s are difficult with Charlie right now, but she’s a wonderful, giving wo to take veryand that you’re sorry Ask for a second chance If you ive it to you”
Doize to her After all, Chantal had been the one to walk away But she’d tried that arguainst her
She thought about what May had said Her advice had been to care about Chantal It hat Denise was telling her, as well Her years of training had taught her that if more than one person made the same criticis Perhaps that lesson applied to this situation
Marsha touched her hand “What have you got to lose, Dominique?”
She thought about the silence and realized there was only one answer “Nothing”
“YOU HAVE the better horse,” Clay said
Charlie laughed “I’m the better rider Face it, pretty boy You’re not the best at everything”
“I never said I was”
“It’s ier when you walk”
He grinned “You like er”
The nore Charlie Dixon turned away, but not before he saw her blush Clay held in a chuckle He got to her She ht not admit it, but he knew it and she knew it The best part was she got to him, too
He guided his horse next to hers, along the trail that followed the fence line of the ranch The day ar across the blue sky Up on theto turn Fall was rapidly approaching
“We’re getting the fall alfalfa into the ground this week,” he said
She glanced at him “Your first crop”
“It’s going to be a good one The forecasts are for a late frost, so even with having to replow fields, we should have tirowth before the first frost to survive”
“So research”
“I want to knohat I’ Nate is the pro, but I make the decisions”
His faret into The situation with Candee still pissed him off But Nate had sworn he wouldn’t play around with anyone’s teenager again Clay had agreed to give him another chance and he would abide by that decision He just wished it sat better in his gut
“You’ll soon be the Fool’s Gold alfalfa king,” she teased “You won’t have tihter”
“I’ll make time I’m serious about my commitment, Charlie”
Her sood at the fire, Clay Everyone noticed You followed directions, you took charge when necessary and then you backed off”
Her praise pleased him “I listened”
“A rare quality in a man”
They continued on another half mile or so, then Charlie reined in “Want to take a break?”
“Sure”
They dismounted and put their horses in the shade, then settled by the tree Clay sat across fro to be able to see her while they talked
Her short hair fluttered in the slight breeze He could see a couple of freckles on her cheeks and amusement in her blue eyes She wasn’t traditionally beautiful, but the more time he spent with her, the more attractive he found her The sexier she was to him
“You’re staring at me,” she said
“I like the view”
She reached out and punched hiet his attention
“Stop it,” she told hi like an idiot”
“You can’t take it when I treat you like a girl instead of one of the guys”
“Maybe”