Page 59 of Trails of Temptation

“I think that time has come and passed for me, Keely.” Again, his face changed, a shadow of regret passing behind his eyes. “I’m okay being by myself.”

“I guess we have that one thing in common, then,” I replied. I set down my wine, having only taken a few sips at the most. I slid it over the table toward him. “I think you need this more than me right now,” I said knowingly, then rose from the couch and grabbed my purse.

“Keely, I am sorry, you know. For what I said to you and what I did to George.”

“You should tell him that yourself if you can,” I said softly, walking toward the door. “I’ll see you later, okay?”

I left Pete’s apartment and drove back to Grant and Moira’s house feeling surprisingly better about… practically everything. It was pretty late, so I snuck into the house as quietly as possible as to not disturb anyone.

But a few hours later I awoke to the sound of Grant walking around the lower level of the house. I rubbed my eyes and glanced at the clock. It was barely five in the morning. His voice was low, like he was trying to be quiet.

“Take as much time as you need to settle things there,” he said, but no voice answered. He was on the phone with someone. “You sure you’re all right?”

My heart leapt in my chest.

“She’s… I think maybe you need to ask her that yourself, George. I’ll see you in a few days.”

ChapterTwenty-Eight

George

Isent my aunt home, telling her I’d handle everything. I felt like I was barely lucid as I signed the release paperwork at the hospital to have my mom’s body moved to the funeral home. Signature, after signature, after signature… I wasn’t even sure what I was signing at that point. I took a moment to grip her hand, finding it cold. I brushed a soft kiss over her forehead and closed my eyes.

I was thankful she’d known this was coming and had left me with the comfort that she was excited to be reunited with my dad. He’d been the love of her life and his loss haunted her. Now, I could rest easy knowing they were together again. I felt at peace, as silly as that sounded, as I walked out of the hospital and started the daunting task of making calls.

I called the family lawyer, finding out Mom had already settled the matters of her estate. Everything would go to me, of course. I was her only child and all she really had otherwise was her sister, my aunt. I had the lawyer stipulate a sum of the estate, which wasn’t much at all, really, go to my aunt to take her of her for the rest of her life, at least.

I visited the funeral home where my mom’s body was going to be end up. I arranged transportation for her to be moved to Hot Springs. She hadn’t wanted a big, flashy funeral. In fact, it was clearly stated in her will that she just wanted to be laid to rest beside her husband in the local cemetery, no fanfare included.

An entire day and night passed in a blur, honestly. I was barely aware of the fact I was tying off all the loose ends of her life until I woke up around four in the morning two hours before my alarm.

I was heading back to Hot Springs today, but not right away. I’d found out something huge and had to make a stop before I finally faced whatever was waiting for me at the Hallston Ranch.

I packed up my things and sat down on the edge of the bed, feeling slightly guilty for the call I was making so early in the damn morning, but it was overdue.

“Grant,” I said. “Sorry it’s so early.”

“I was already awake,” he said over the sound of coffee being poured. “It’s no bother. Is everything okay, George?”

“Uh, well. My mom passed away.”

Silence fell for too long of a moment as the words left my lips. I found it hard to swallow. I hadn’t said the words out loud to anyone yet.

“I’m sorry to hear that, George,” Grant replied, exhaling deeply. “I didn’t know that was the reason you took off—”

“She had a heart attack, Grant. That’s why I left so abruptly. I didn’t have my head on straight and still don’t, I don’t think. I’m headed back to Hot Springs today but I have to stop—” I paused, sighing heavily. “There’s a big plot of land east of Hot Springs, a ranch called Edgewater. It used to belong to my father’s family, got passed down to him before I was born. I was born there, actually. After he died, I thought my mom lost the property, but I found out yesterday it’s still in our possession and I… I own it now. Three thousand acres,” I whispered, damn near choking on the words.

“How did you not know?”

“She kept it from me, I guess. I don’t know why. Maybe it was too painful for her to sell, but anyway, I need to go take a look around and see if it’s worth it to keep, or if I need to sell. I haven’t been there in at least thirty years.”

“I think I’ve heard of that property,” he mentioned.

“You might’ve,” I replied, nodding my head. “Pretty overgrown now, I’m afraid.”

“We can move some of the cattle over and they’ll take care of the problem in a few weeks,” Grant said with a soft chuckle.

I grinned despite myself. “Yeah, well, I’ll check it out. Not much that can be done right away.”

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