Page 32 of The Breakdown

“Great. I’ll also show you some of the job listings I want to publish.”

“Okay.”

Natalie seemed to sense her mood. “I’m sorry, Vaughn, I just don’t want to do anything without you getting a look see first.”

“And why is that?”

“Because…it’s your ranch and—”

Vaughn stopped. “Gram told you, didn’t she?”

Natalie shifted her gaze and Vaughn knew. “Christ.”

“She didn’t tell me a lot,” Natalie hurried to say. “Just that…you were betrayed. And I don’t want to cause any trouble. I don’t want to risk doing something you don’t like.”

“Fine, I’ll look things over.” They walked up onto the porch where Gram stood waiting with her apron on, wringing it with her hands. She was smiling, but Vaughn could tell she’d heard some of their conversation.

“Gram,” Vaughn said by way of greeting. She was furious at her for telling Natalie about Jeanie and more furious at not knowing just how much she had told her.

“Vaughn.”

“You and me,” Vaughn said. “We’ll talk. Later.”

“Alrighty.”

The three of them headed inside and the boys bounded up behind them. Vaughn held the door open for everyone and just before she closed it, she closed her eyes and sighed. It was going to be a long day.

* * *

After breakfast Vaughn walked quietly back to the guesthouse with Natalie to look over her work. They hadn’t spoken at breakfast, both of them choosing to sit and listen to Gram and the boys rather than talk. Gram had sensed Vaughn’s mood too, especially after Vaughn had told her they needed to talk, and she’d watched her and Natalie both closely across the table. She’d wanted to speak to them, to illicit conversation, Vaughn could tell, but she’d wisely refrained, leaving things be. And now it seemed, that Natalie, too, was wary about speaking to her, because they walked in silence and things remained that way until they got inside and sat at the small kitchen table.

Natalie opened her laptop and woke the screen. She brought up the website and turned the laptop to face Vaughn. Vaughn looked at it quietly, checking out all the pages as Natalie coursed through them, explaining things.

The site was brilliant and beautiful and very professional looking. Vaughn was moved, almost to tears. It wasn’t just her photos, the ones she’d avoided looking at for two years, that had moved her, it was Natalie’s work, her attention to detail, her above and beyond effort. She’d really done her a huge favor and she was sitting there patiently waiting for Vaughn to speak, awaiting her approval with a look of terrible trepidation.

Christ, am I that scary? Have I been a big ass about this?

Vaughn looked at her. “It’s…” She nearly choked, her throat tight with rising emotion. “Wonderful.”

Natalie’s face softened and her eyebrows lifted. “Really?”

“Yes.”

She let out a small yelp and threw her arms around Vaughn, hugging her tight. “Oh my God, thank you,” she said into her ear. “I’m so glad you like it.” She drew away, smiling at her, but Vaughn was too shocked and too moved to return the smile. She was too busy trying to control her reaction at having Natalie in her arms. Of feeling her firm body pressed against hers and inhaling the scent of her soap and shampoo. It had stirred her, and her mind was spinning. She hadn’t been prepared to feel these feelings. Hadn’t been prepared at all. So, she did the only thing she could do. She stood and scooped her hat up off the table.

“Wait,” Natalie said, looking incredulous. “Don’t leave. Not again.”

“I really should get back to it,” Vaughn said, trying to avoid her heavy gaze. Why did she have to have eyes like she did? So crystal clear and green? Like a lush, green meadow leading up to a lake?

“No,” Natalie said, clenching her wrist. “Sit.” She tugged on her and insisted she return to her seat.

Vaughn sank back down into the chair, but she didn’t remove her hat.

“Now, I’m going to push this button and publish the website. You ready?” She hovered the cursor over a yellow button that said PUBLISH.

Vaughn nodded.

Natalie published the site and smiled. “We’re online!” She clapped. She stopped when she saw that Vaughn didn’t join in. “Okay, now I’ll show you the job listings I worked up.”

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