Page 12 of Taming His Brat

“Um, not right now, no. I’m living over in the foreman’s cabin … with Sam.” She wasn’t sure why she felt embarrassed to admit she was living with a man. It wasn’t like her mother had any parental authority over her, nevertheless she could feel a slight heat rising in her face. “He’s the foreman,” she added.

“I’m aware. Your father mentioned him a few times.” Vicky’s tone and expression were hard to read. She seemed to be going for neutral but under that, Charlie sensed something else … disappointment maybe?

“We’re seeing each other. He’s a really great guy. I think you’ll like him.” Charlie stopped short. Why was she explaining that to her mother or acting like the woman would even be staying around to meet him?

She changed the subject, “Anyway, it made more sense to live over there. Less chaos once the renovations start.”

“Are you starting soon?” There was more than casual curiosity there.

Charlie glanced at her and then looked away. “Um, not sure. I have to accept one of the bids first and then schedule things. It might take a while to actually get things going, but I’m hoping to make progress before winter slows things down.”

“Hmm.” Vicky began to move around the room, touching things and picking them up with a restless energy.

Charlie wondered if she was looking for memories. If so, she probably wouldn’t find much. Jimmy hadn’t been the sentimental type and he’d gotten rid of most of the knick-knacks years ago. “Is … something wrong?”

Her mother stopped and let out a long sigh. “The truth is, Charlie, I was hoping your father would let me stay here for a few days. And now, well …”

“Stay here? With Dad? Uh, why would—” She cut herself off abruptly because her first reaction was not a very nice one. She couldn’t imagine why her father would have wanted the ex-wife who left him to come and stay in his house.

“I don’t want to speak badly of your father, Charlie, but heclearlyleft you out of the loop on a number of things. The reality is, we’ve stayed in contact all these years and if I’m being honest, he owed me for giving in to his wishes with you.”

She held up a hand, even though Charlie hadn’t made the slightest motion to interrupt. “I know, Jimmy was always your favorite. From the moment you could walk it was always him you ran to, but he wasn’t a perfect man, Charlie. I’m sure you’ve gotten a few ideas about me from the way I left, but things were more complicated than you know.”

Charlie’s eyes narrowed and she stayed silent as she tried to work through that. Since learning that her father had kept a few secrets from her, she had to accept that it was possible that there were more. Her mind flashed to the letter he’d left her. The one she’d yet to read. Maybe it had some of the answers she was looking for.

“So, you think Dad was going to let you stay here? I really don’t—that doesn’t sound much like Jimmy.”

“Heowedme. He made certain promises that, well, he didn’t keep. I’m in a rough spot right now, partly because of him, so yes, I was hoping to stay here while I sorted things out. I didn’t realize … no one told me that …” She trailed off with another long sigh and then she took a seat on the couch as though all the energy had gone out of her.

Charlie felt awkward standing there alone, so she moved over and sat in the chair across from her mother. “What do you mean he owed you for giving into his wishes? What wishes?”

Vikki sniffled. Her eyes were wet with tears, but as always, the tissue was there to catch them before they could ruin her eyeliner. “Oh, Charlie, you didn’t really think I wanted to leave youhere, did you? A ranch is no place for a little girl. I wanted to take you off to the city where you would have every advantage, but your father …” She waved a hand sharply.

Charlie stared, stunned. It was the biggest shock in a day that had been filled with them, and she could feel her heart starting to thump hard in her chest. Suddenly she wished Sam was there. She always felt better when he was there and the last thing she wanted to do was breakdown in front of this stranger.

Her mother had wanted her? Had wanted to take her? Jimmy had never said, never even hinted, that Vicky would have brought Charlie with her. He certainly had never mentioned that he was the one to insist Charlie stay.

She felt sick. Her head was spinning, and her mouth was filled with cotton. How could he have kept this from her, and more importantly why? She loved the ranch, always had since she was too young to even walk, so moving to the city would have sucked. Part of her was glad if Jimmy did put his foot down on that.

But he’d never told her or given her the slightest hint that her mother hadn’t just strolled out the door into a new life, and never looked back. It would have meant so much to the lost little girl she’d been to know that her mother had regretted leaving her and had wanted to take her too.

Maybe she wouldn’t be such a mess of anxiety and relationship issues if she’d known … her hands were starting to shake, and she forced those thoughts down. Just because her mother said something didn’t mean it was actually true and she needed to remember that.

Believing it would have been easier if Jimmy’s death hadn’t already left her feeling confused and betrayed.

Chapter Six

Sam walked through the door whistling as he dropped his keys on the counter with the usual clatter. He’d been in a good mood all day, the night before had kept a smile on his face, and he noticed some of the hands giving him the side-eye as they wondered what was going on. But the truth was his mood had improved drastically ever since things with Charlie had started to go right.

It all felt right. Too good to be true really, but it seemed like they’d worked through the hardest parts and he was looking forward to smooth sailing. Which was why, when he came in to find silence and a dark house he was confused, but not really worried. Charlie hadn’t worked that day. The labor was tapering off as they headed into winter and she wasn’t needed most days.

She could have been out running errands, but one of the rules they’d put into place was that she was supposed to tell him when she went off the property. Not that he was being overprotective, but a lot of things could happen on the back roads, especially once the weather started getting bad. He wanted to know if she was out just in case.

And besides that, she’d been making an effort to have dinner waiting, or at least a plan for their meal when he came in from working a long day; something he’d come to appreciate highly. It had been her idea, an activity to keep her busy since she wasn’t working much, but he had to admit it made his life a lot easier.

The kitchen was dark and there was no sign of food, but he’d been wrong. Charliewasthere, sitting on the couch with the lights off. A small sniffle caught his attention and when he turned on the lamp there she was.

“You okay, baby?” He moved to her side quickly, concerned.

---