“Grandpa and Grandma, this is Stu—Mr. Hagman,” Abby said. “He works on the ranch with Mom and he has the coolest dog. Dex is almost as smart as a goat.”
Stu tipped his hat at the Rhodeses. “How you doing?”
Bev smiled tightly. “It’s very nice to meet you.”
“Well, Miss Abby”—Stu held his hand out to the horse, and Sunny immediately responded to him—“I suppose it’s a good thing we have three more stalls in that barn, huh?”
“Sunny, you’re going to meet so many new friends!” Abby hugged his neck again. “You’re gonna meet Moxie and PJ. And Magnum and Lucy. Uncle Ox, isn’t he the most handsome horse ever?”
Greg left Abby introducing Sunny to Ox and Emmie. He drew Melissa to the side, and she grabbed Cary’s hand to come with her. Greg cut his eyes toward Cary but didn’t say a word.
“I’m glad the ranch is doing well enough to hire some help,” Greg said.
“Tell your lawyers they can expect a check next week. It’ll be coming from my bank.”
“Melissa—”
“No.” She raised a hand. “I should have paid off the note long before this. If I’d known I could, I would have. It’s left this… thing between us. And it’s better that it’s gone.”
Greg crossed his arms over his chest and stared at the ground. “Fair enough.”
“I want you to take that house out of mine and Calvin’s name,” Melissa said. “If you want to put it in Abby’s name to do what she wants with it when she’d older, that’s up to you. But it’s not my house. It’s not my home. This place is my home, and it always will be.”
Greg nodded slightly. “Yes, Abby made that point in the letter she sent us.”
“Gifts aren’t gifts when they come wrapped up in strings, Greg.”
Greg looked at Abby and Sunny. “That’s why we brought the girl her horse.”
Cary rubbed Melissa’s shoulder. “Can I offer a suggestion as someone who loves Abby and sat with her while she wrote that letter?”
Melissa nodded. “Yeah.”
He looked at Greg. Then Melissa. Two very stubborn and opinionated people who would probably never see eye to eye in their entire lives. But Cary could also see the love on Greg’s and Beverly’s faces. They might have had their issues, but they adored their granddaughter.
He looked at Melissa. “I think you should let Abby get a phone. She’s a smart, responsible girl. It doesn’t have to be a fancy one, just one so she can call her grandparents directly without asking you. And they can call her.”
“But—”
“You’re busy, and she knows the three of you don’t always get along. She needs to be able to call them without asking you for permission.”
Melissa took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I think we can work something out.”
Greg smiled. “Thank you.”
“Just know that I will be checking that phone, Greg,” Melissa said. “No subtle suggestions about moving. No hints about school at Saint Anne’s.”
He held up a hand. “I get the idea.” He glanced over his shoulder. “She’s an extraordinary girl, Melissa. You’ve done so well with her.” Greg grimaced. “It kills me that Calvin can’t…” He took a rough breath.
Melissa dropped Cary’s hand and put her arms around Greg. The older man hesitated for a moment before he hugged her back hard.
“I miss him every day,” Melissa said. “But he’s here. He’ll always be here.”
God, she was tough. Cary watched her hugging the man who’d threatened her ranch and her community with his arrogance and selfish intentions. He was also the man who had raised Melissa’s husband, lost his own son, and loved his granddaughter fiercely. He wanted the absolute best for her, as misguided as his methods could be.
Cary asked, “Why don’t you and Bev and your guy stay for dinner? I promise there’s plenty of food.”
The groom was saddling Sunny as Abby held the reins. She was patiently explaining the differences between English and Western saddles to Leigh, who had come over to see what was going on. In short order, Abby was on Sunny’s back and Stu had ridden PJ over, mounting up so he could ride with the little girl.