“I told them and I’m telling you, I call the shots around here. Marry Wye, and you’ve got yourself a slice of the ranch.”
“Pardon my frankness, sir, but that’s not going to work. You can’t shove Wye and me down your daughters’ throats and expect one big happy family—unless you’re looking to start trouble. Is that it? Are you bored?”
The General’s eyebrows shot up, but just as Emerson had hoped, his blunt assessment of the situation cut through the man’s ire. “Hell, yeah, I’m bored. But I’m not starting any feuds because of it. My daughters know what you’ve done for me. So do their husbands. How can they object to my giving you a share of my ranch?”
“Amelia’s ranch,” Emerson corrected him. “I know what you mean,” he added as the General moved to protest. “Amelia’s property is yours, of course, but your daughters feel a strong connection to their mother here. Giving her land away is like giving a piece of her to a stranger.”
“Wyoming isn’t a stranger.”
“No, she’s not, but they hardly know me, and you’ve got to learn to suggest things rather than order people around. I can’t stay here if I’m not wanted, and I’m sure Wye feels the same way.”
The General leaned back in his chair and studied him.
“I suppose you’re right, son,” he finally said. “Rankles a man to ask his children their opinion, though. What if they don’t agree with you?”
“Then I guess you have to try and win them over.” Emerson hesitated, knowing what he needed to say might ruffle the General’s feathers but knowing he had to say it anyway. “I appreciate the sentiment when you call me son, sir, but I don’t think your daughters do. I wonder if you should stop.”
The General considered this, peering at Emerson over the rims of the reading glasses he wore when his office door was closed. “I guess all those years my girls were fighting me, I started to think of you as the one child I hadn’t lost,” he said slowly. “My girls should understand that.”
“I don’t think they do.” Emerson was firm. “You’ve been more of a father to me than my own father ever got to be, or my uncle cared to be, and I’ll always be grateful for that. But I need to hang in the background for a while. Not steal your own children’s thunder. It’s the only way my living here can possibly work. Out of sight, out of mind, right? If I move down to the Park, your daughters might stop thinking of me as a threat.”
“They need to understand you’re going to be just as much a part of this ranch as everyone else. You and Wyoming. That’s my decision.”
“At least give it time,” Emerson argued. “Let me prove I can be an asset rather than a liability to the operation.”
“I’ll parent as I see fit,” the General said, ending the discussion. “Go get me a bowl of ice cream.”
“Yes, sir.” Emerson knew better than to keep arguing when the General got stubborn. He’d try again tomorrow.
He got to the kitchen in time to see Cass answer her phone. “Hey, Wye, are you on your way? I’ve been holding dinner for you.” She paused to listen. “It’s no trouble. I figured you’d be here soon.”
“Is that Wye?”
Cass nodded and held up a finger. “No, I think I’ve got everything I need. I’m going shopping tomorrow anyway.”
“Can I talk to her?”
Cass was listening to something Wye said. “Emerson wants to talk to you.” She was quiet a moment. “Oh. Okay. I’ll tell him.”
“Tell me what?” He held out his hand for the phone, but Cass had already ended the call.
“She’s on her way, and she doesn’t want to talk while she’s driving. She’ll be here in a few minutes. You can wait, can’t you?”
“Sure.” But wouldn’t a woman want to talk to a man if she was seriously thinking of marrying him?
Emerson’s spirits sank.
“Long day, huh?” Emerson asked, startling Wye. She’d just parked and gotten out of her car, not noticing that he was standing at the base of the back steps. He was half-shadowed in darkness, and she wondered if he’d done that on purpose. Was he afraid she’d pull right back out if she spotted him there?
“It was a long day,” she agreed. “My sister-in-law still hasn’t come home, and my brother is pretty worried.”
“Has she ever taken off like this before?” Emerson took the cloth bag she’d brought with her to her brother’s house. It had an extra sweater and a novel in it and was easy enough to carry, but she appreciated his solicitude. Especially when he took a step and she saw him wince. She’d noticed that his ankle still bothered him sometimes even if he tried hard not to show it. She knew better than to mention it, though.
“Once or twice she’s stayed out with friends, but nothing like this. Ward has called everyone he can think of, and no one saw her last night.”
“Do you think she ran away?”
“God, I hope not.” Wye hadn’t let her thoughts stray that way. “What kind of a woman leaves her child behind—” She broke off and shook her head. “She wouldn’t be the first woman who did,” she said bitterly. “It’s still hard to believe her capable of it.”
“I hope she turns up soon.”
“I keep wondering if she’s been kidnapped—or worse. Half the time I’m thinking awful things about her, and the other half I’m scared stiff.”
“Your brother called the sheriff?” When she nodded, he went on, “Cab Johnson seems like a capable guy.”
“He is. I trust him to do everything he can. I’ve got to go back tomorrow and watch Elise again—unless Mindy turns up overnight.”
Emerson hesitated, one foot on the bottom step. “You’re a good sister. I hope your brother knows that.”
Wyoming stood with him, noticing the glittering stars above them for the first time. It was a beautiful night despite all the trouble in the world. “I think he does on some level, but he’s not one for showing it.”
“That’s what you said yesterday. Sounds to me like he takes advantage of you.”
What did Emerson know about her family? “I’m happy to help in a situation like this,” she said tightly. “He’s my brother—family sticks together, right?” At least, that’s what everyone said. She certainly wouldn’t know.
Emerson shrugged. “I suppose so.”
Wyoming blew out a breath. The strain of the day had left her with little energy. “Look, I’m tired and hungry. I’d like to go inside.” He didn’t shift to let her past, and she had a feeling he would bring up the standing stone and the possibility of marriage again. That was the last thing she wanted to discuss right now. “It’s just… my brother didn’t even pay me back for the groceries. He acted like I should be grateful he let me cook for him. He’s always been like this.” Wyoming stopped herself before her rant escalated and she ended up ticking off her father’s offenses, too. “Sorry. Like I said, it’s been a long day.”