Page 59 of The Cowgirl's Forever Love
George opened his mouth then snapped it closed. “I don’t like being interrogated by my daughters in front of my son-in-law and a total stranger.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” Caleb leaned back in his chair then did a good imitation of a rock. “Seems as if you’ve got something big on your plate you need to clear and if it’s going to affect Tamara, I’m not leaving her alone. Not now. Not ever.”
George glanced briefly at Josiah.
“You can pretend I’m not here, but Lisa’s going to tell me everything anyway,” Josiah said blandly. Taking a clue from Caleb, he leaned back and folded his arms across his chest. He wasn’t about to announce thenot leaving her alonepart, although he was sorely tempted to.
Karen spoke softly. “Dad. What’s wrong? Do you know Julia?”
“No.” Instant denial. Sincere and strong, and a little—hurt?
George pushed up from the table and marched toward the kitchen, jerking back and pacing toward the living room as if his tangled thoughts wouldn’t let him stay in one place.
“Do you know the name Sharon Blushing?” Lisa didn’t demand, she didn’t roar. She was squeezing Josiah’s fingers as if she was about to explode.
George twisted toward them, misery on his face. He nodded. A sharp, blunt motion, as if that’s all he could get out.
Then he took a deep breath, just like Josiah had told him to. He let it out slowly, his gaze meeting each of his daughters in turn. He paused on his son-in-law and once more on Josiah. Clearly confused whyhewas there.
George squared his shoulders. “I don’t know Julia. I’ve never heard of her, but a long time ago I had a brief—” He swallowed. “Ah, hell. I was with this woman for about a week. Her name was Sharon Blushing, and when I said goodbye, I never heard from her again. Swear to God.”
A pin drop could’ve been heard in the room as the three women registered exactly what their father’s confession meant.
Caleb rose from his chair and met his father-in-law in the middle of the room. He placed a hand on his shoulder, and Josiah wasn’t quite sure what was going to happen.
Then like the rock he was, Caleb cut through the tension and took control.
“You’ve had a shock. We don’t know exactly what’s going on, but you deserve some time to process before anyone asks you more questions.” Caleb glanced back at the table, warning in his eyes. But Tamara nodded in response, cradling Tyler against her chest.
Caleb pushed his father-in-law toward the door. “Come on. I’ll walk you to your room.”
None of the women protested as the two of them pulled on coats and boots and left the house.
It was the strangest situation. Outside of reality, yet most definitely happening and real, and life-changing in ways no one could yet understand. A small part of Josiah wished at that moment that he too was out in the barn, innocently chasing down kittens.
The bigger part of him was so very glad he was there as Lisa squeezed his fingers and held on as if she was never letting go.
13
“Does that mean—?” Karen shook her head. “Of course, it means Julia’s probably our sister. That’s not what I’m asking.”
“How old is Julia?” Tamara asked.
“That’smy actual question,” Karen said.
“Twenty-five.” Lisa was tapping her fingers on the countertop. Counting. When she glanced up there was relief in her eyes. “Young enough that our mom was already dead when Julia was conceived.”
All three of them relaxed like wilting balloons.
At her side, Josiah shifted until his hand could slide around her waist. “Are you guys okay? I mean, as okay as you can be? And if you want me to leave, let me know.”
Karen waved off that suggestion. “Forget it. It’s not as if you’re getting information that won’t be out on the street in a short while. Seriously, Dad had anaffair?”
“Not that my brain wants to go there at all, but he is a guy. Mom would’ve been dead for at least a year.” Lisa glanced at Josiah. “Mom rolled a tractor. I was about one, so I don’t really remember her.”
“Neither of us remember her that well, either,” Tamara said. “I mean, things we think are memories might just be our imagination, or stories we were told by others.”
Silence fell again, all of them staring at the table, lost in thought.
