Page 79 of Cowboy of Convenience
Grady collected the stack of documents and bundled cash. “There’s no telling.”
“Sounds like we might have to start an investigation.” Evelyn almost sounded excited at the possibility. “See what sneaky Harold left as his legacy.”
Her words lodged a lump in his throat.
This ranch was his father’s legacy. His whole family’s really. There was no way he’d ever be able to give it up. “I think I might want to move here, Ev.”
Evelyn chewed her lower lip, tilting her head to one side. "It's a pretty big house, husband." She backed out into the hall, looking back-and-forth between the doorways of the second floor. "Did I count five bedrooms up here?"
Grady gave her a grin. "And there's one on the main floor." They’d converted what used to be the office into a master bedroom when his parents hit their mid-fifties, thinking they'd eventually reach an age where they couldn't easily go up and down the stairs. Sadly, neither one of them had the opportunity to reach that stage of life.
Evelyn’s brows lifted. "There'ssixbedrooms?" Her expression turned sad. "Why are you an only child?"
He’d asked his mother that same question, so he offered up the answer she gave him. "My mom said I was already everything she wanted."
Evelyn’s face fell a little more. "My mom told me I was more than she could handle."
Of course she did.
"I don't think I should ever meet your mother, Ev." Something told him they'd barely scratched the surface of the bullshit Evelyn's mother had put her through. And the chances of him being able to stay civil staring that woman down were already slim.
"I don't think that's anything you'll ever have to worry about. She’ll never come here, and I don't have any reason to go back to New York." Evelyn pressed her lips together, sliding one hand down the casing of the door in a tender touch. "When would you want to move?"
He knew Evelyn would be okay with living at the ranch, but he didn't expect her to look so excited about it. "Whenever you're ready."
Evelyn gently stroked the wood, like she was already becoming attached. "I'm ready whenever you are." She paused, a hint of uncertainty pinching her features. "I do have a question though." Her lips twisted into a devious little smile. "Have you ever heard of something called goat yoga?"
* * *
GRAM-GRAM SLID A stack of papers across their table at The Wooden Spoon. "I think I have everything organized."
Evelyn's grandmother was turning out to be one hell of an asset. From what Evelyn said, the woman had planned every kind of event in existence, and she wasn't afraid to throw around money or connections to make shit happen.
She did both while organizing the gathering that would take place after his mother's services. In less than twenty-four hours, she'd pulled together a venue, a caterer, decorations, and sent every picture he and Evelyn collected from the house the night before to a videographer who was putting together some sort of slideshow.
"I really appreciate you doing this." Grady flipped through photographs of the banquet hall and the chosen menu.
Gram-Gram reached across the table, taking his hand in hers. "I wish I'd had more support when my husband died. It was a very difficult time and I—" She took a sharp breath before offering a tight smile. "I'm just glad I came here when I did so I could be of assistance."
It was shocking to think that just a week ago he’d looked at this woman as his enemy. As someone planning to take Evelyn away and dictate her life. The same life she’d worked so hard to escape.
Nothing could have been further from the truth.
"I'm sorry no one was there to help you when he died." Evelyn's face fell. "If I'd known—"
"It wasn't your responsibility to know, Evelyn." Gram-Gram shut her down abruptly. "I'm just glad we’re here now." Her eyes dropped to the menu in front of her as she flipped it open. "Now what should I order?" Her lips flattened. "Because I don't believe I'm as big of a fan of tuna casserole as your friends."
They spent the next hour chatting about everything except his mother’s death, which he was almost as grateful for as he was Gram-Gram's attention to detail and willingness to take on the load.
By the time their late lunch was over, he was feeling a little more relaxed and less overwhelmed by everything that had to be done. Grady walked Evelyn and Gram-Gram out to her SUV, pulling Evelyn in for a quick kiss before packing her into the front seat and closing the door.
Evelyn rolled down her window before pulling away. "We'll see you at the ranch?"
He nodded. "I'm gonna go check in at the station and touch base with a few people about next week." He leaned to look across the console at where Gram-Gram sat in the front seat. "Thanks for coming to help me pick out something for my mom to wear. I'm sure she'd be much happier with what you two come up with than whatever I’d put together."
Gram-Gram gave him a little smile. "Of course. And if we don't find anything we can agree on in her wardrobe, I'm happy to purchase something we know she would love."
He considered telling Gram-Gram he was more than capable of buying his mother something new, but he knew her offer wasn't really about the money. Gram-Gram seemed to struggle with knowing how to act in a situation like this almost as much as Evelyn did. It made him think she might have developed a fondness for him. He was positive that woman knew how to handle every casual social interaction in existence—It was the more emotional situations she struggled with.
