“As you see, he’s done all right for himself.”
“Yes, he has. But now that he’s about to become a father, I can’t help hoping he’ll change his mind.”
Tess’s pulse slammed. “Are you saying the offer’s still on the table?”
“It was never off the table. My one try at marriage convinced me that I’m not parent material. Shane’s the closest thing to a son I ever had—the closest I’ll ever have. If he were to come back to me, his family would want for nothing—education, travel, the best of whatever they need. And his descendants would be heirs to the Tolman Ranch. How could a man with his family’s best interests at heart turn down an offer like that?”
Tess fell silent as they entered the elevator for the ride to the top floor of the arena. At home, Shane and Lexie had the master bedroom to themselves, with a private bath. Everything else was shared. They didn’t even have space for a nursery. Shane was a partner in the Alamo Canyon Ranch and was entitled to a share of the profits, but the ranch barely made enough to pay its bills, and money was a constant worry. When Lexie wasn’t working cattle, she was helping Shane with the many small tasks that challenged his disability. In a few months she’d have a baby to care for. How could they not take Brock Tolman up on his offer? It would be a dream come true for them.
And what would the Alamo Canyon Ranch do without their help? Tess had come to depend on Shane’s management skills in the office and on Lexie for her knowledge of modern animal care. The ranch didn’t have money for more hired help, and Val was as flighty as a sparrow. Odds were Tess would have to sell out—and a ready buyer was standing right next to her.
As the elevator stopped, her simmering anger rose to a high boil. Brock Tolman had tried to buy her bulls. He had tried to get his hands on her ranch. And now he was trying to take her family.
If his plan worked, he would end up with everything he wanted.
* * *
Val and Lexie sat side by side in the pink mani-pedi chairs, chatting while their feet were being smoothed and softened, the toenails trimmed, filed, and polished. Val had chosen traditional red, to match her fingernails. Lexie was going with bright blue.
They’d had a relaxing time in the hotel spa, enjoying a sauna, a massage, a facial, and the mani-pedi treatment that would soon be finished. Next they would have their damp hair styled and makeup applied before getting dressed and going to lunch.
The spa routine was nothing new to Val. She’d had it done on a regular basis when she was still trying to be a movie star. Today she realized she hadn’t missed it. But Lexie was having a good time, and Val enjoyed spoiling her little sister.
Earlier that morning, she’d booked the last seat on a flight that left Las Vegas at 11:15 tomorrow morning. She’d hoped to get away sooner, but at least it would buy time for the agency she’d contacted to sell her three remaining PBR tickets. Meanwhile, she would keep to safe surroundings, just in case the threat that had thrown her into a panic last night was real.
“Val?” Lexie’s voice brought her back to the present. “Could I ask you a question?”
Val glanced down at the two young Asian pedicurists, who appeared to be sisters. They spoke minimal English and weren’t likely to be interested in a personal conversation.
“You can ask, honey. But I won’t promise to answer,” she said.
“What really happened between you and Casey?” Lexie asked. “What made you leave without telling him? Did you have a fight?”
Val suppressed a sigh. She should’ve known this was coming.
“I mean, Casey’s such a great man,” Lexie chatted on. “Any woman would be lucky to have him. And I’ve talked to him. I can tell he still loves you.”
Val took a moment to weigh her answer. She didn’t want to lie, but neither did she want to reveal too much of the truth.
“Casey might have feelings for the girl I was back in high school. But the person I am now—he doesn’t even know me. And if he did, I can’t imagine he’d like me.”
“But why did you leave, Val? You were so young, just out of high school and not even eighteen yet.”
Maybe a half-lie wouldn’t hurt, Val thought. “Casey and I had been dating for a couple of years. I knew he wanted to marry me as soon as I finished school. His folks still had their ranch, and he was going to take it over when they passed on. But I had my dreams, and I didn’t want to give them up. I couldn’t see myself herding cows, scrubbing floors, and changing diapers for the rest of my life. It wasn’t what I wanted. So I left before he could change my mind. End of story. Does that make sense?”
“Yes, but . . .” Lexie paused. Val waited, sensing another question.
“What about Dad?” Lexie asked. “You never came home while he was alive, not even when Jack died. And you didn’t come to his funeral. You didn’t even send flowers.”
“Our father disowned me when I left,” Val said—the truth but not all of it. “He forbade me to go to Hollywood—said that I’d fall into bad ways. He swore that if I ever came back, I wouldn’t be welcomed. He was a hard man, Lexie. You know that.”
“Yes, I know. I saw how he drove Jack and Tess to make something of the ranch—his legacy, he always called it. But he was always kind to me. I loved him.”
Of course, she did, Val thought. Lexie loved everybody, and everybody loved her. She had all the good qualities that had passed down through the family and, unlike Val, none of the bad ones.
“That’s enough questions for now,” Val said, pretending to admire her fresh crimson toenails. “Where in the hotel would you like to go for lunch when we’re finished here?”
“I saw this cute-looking French place on the mezzanine,” Lexie said. “We passed it on the way here. French food might be a nice change from the ranch. And after that, maybe we can go outside and do some window-shopping. Even if we can’t afford the clothes and jewelry, it’s always fun to look.”
Warning bells went off in Val’s head. She’d felt safe enough in the spa, and the restaurant would probably be all right. But if the unseen presence she’d sensed was more than just her jumpy nerves, leaving the hotel to shop would be too risky. Taking a chance with her own safety would be foolish enough. But exposing Lexie and the baby to danger would be unthinkable.
“Sorry, honey,” she said. “By the time we finish with lunch, I’m going to be ready for a nap. And with the baby, you should rest, too. There’s always tomorrow. Maybe some of those cowboy wives you met would like to go with you.”
Lexie didn’t argue, but disappointment was written all over her pretty face. Val felt like a spoilsport. But she couldn’t take a chance, not with Lexie.
Not even if she was only jumping at shadows.
What if the fear she felt was all in her head? With all the booze and cocaine that had gone through her system before rehab, a little craziness would come as no surprise. She had no solid evidence that she was being watched. Even the phone call could’ve been a simple misdial. Hearing an unfamiliar voice, the caller could have simply hung up. But her instincts were warning her of danger. And Val trusted her gut more than she trusted the flawed logic in her brain.