Page 4 of Reuniting with the Rancher

“You own all this and do Uber Eats?”

Greyson laughed big again, switching his hold on the food and shrugging off Caleb’s nonverbal offer to help. “I was picking up my supper, and they told me they had another order for the ranch. Figured I’d get it here while it’s hot.Andit was a chance to meet you and your aunt. Is she a bit stubborn? Is that why she won’t use the cane?”

“No, I think she’s trying not to show weak-,” Caleb shook his head slightly and stood up a little straighter and looked stiffly ahead. “I’m sorry. I don’t feel comfortable sharing my aunt’s private information.”

The sudden change in Caleb’s demeanor and tone took Greyson by surprise. He went from regular kid to someone who sounded like he had media training. The response piqued his curiosity, but his counseling training kicked in and he instead sought to show Caleb he respected his boundaries.

“I’m sorry Caleb, I wasn’t trying to pry. I was only asking from experience. I refused to use my cane until not using it caught up with me. I was stubborn as a mule but had to get out of my way for my own healin’. You’re right, your aunt’s privacy is her own and I’m her employer. I’m sorry for asking an inappropriate question. Thank you for sharing your boundaries.”

Caleb gave him a long look with a bit of a side eye like he expected pushback or an angle and when Greyson offered him none, he relaxed a bit and nodded. “You sound like my mom.”

“Will she be joinin’ you and your aunt soon? I’m sorry I’m clomping in like a big oaf who hasn’t done his homework. My assistant found your aunt and put in all the work. There’s a lot to get ready before our first set of visitors arrive.”

“Mom died a couple months ago.”

Greyson’s heart broke for the kid. His entire demeanor shifted, and he seemed to shrink into himself.

“That’s a rough road man, I’m sorry... How can we support you?”

Caleb shrugged.

“Well, if you need anything. Anything at all, even if it’s to talk, I’m a good listener. And if not me, we’ve got a couple of animals that are better than any licensed human.”

That made him smile.

“I’m serious. This whole place is dedicated to healin’,” he gestured with a nod to the land off to his left. “Sometimes the goats will whip out their little glasses and notepad when I’m having a tough day, and I tell them all my problems.”

Caleb laughed wholeheartedly at his antics. It transformed his face, and Greyson got another strange feeling of familiarity. The kid was still laughing as Greyson described the problems with having goats as therapists.

“That laugh is music to my ears, Boogie Bear. What’s so funny?” a quiet, slightly hoarse voice said from behind the screened-in front door.

His heart knew it before his brain could catch up. It beat in triple time and threatened to gallop out of his chest when the door creaked open.

Expecting to see platinum blonde, wavy hair against deep mahogany skin, fluffy obsidian curls tied up in threw him off and overflowing the top of a purple satin scarf. Her signature sunglasses, ones she’s worn for every performance and interview, were gone and in their place were simply those eyes.Eyes that in his weak moments he raged against and in his even weaker moments, dreamt about. Those eyes, make up free and widened in shock, mirrored the same eyes that were also his peace - his daughter Ivy’s eyes.

Lily swallowed hard, twice, and stepped forward, a slight rock to her step as she went. His eyes dropped to her legs as she moved and she halted, shifting her weight and standing taller. She lifted her nose and peered down at him from her position on the porch.

Shock and something else quickly shifted to something darker and Greyson’s heart hardened. A rage he thought he’d worked out and buried on the arid battlefields of Afghanistan and fields of Silver Creek Ranch resurfaced at this, his symbol of triumph and healing - Crystal Fountain Ranch. It shook him to his core, and he felt himself reverting to the cruel and angry man he’d been for far too long. Just as that old demon threatened to unleash, Caleb spoke.

“Auntie Lily, this is Mr. Greyson Monroe, Mr. Greyson. This is my auntie–”

“Dr. Lily Belmont.”

“LaLa Fair.”

4

TOO CLOSE

Lily

It had beenten years since she heard her name on Greyson Monroe’s lips and when he finally said it, he used her stage name.

Dick.

The flash of venom in his eyes first chilled then angered her as flashes of his vile behavior ten years ago super-heated her blood. It was his lucky day because she refused to subject Caleb to an ugly scene, but in her mind? In her mind, she was stomping on his balls in glee.

Pull it together Lily. Caleb is watching.

---