Page 19 of A Rancher's Love
Caleb shrugged. “If it hadn’t happened, like Kelli said, we would’ve been perfectly happy.” His lips curled upward. “But I’m not turning it down. Not the chance to give Tamara and my kids a future with a bit more ease.”
“Like I said, good people.” Tucker dipped his chin to Tamara and headed after his uncle.
Ginny’s ears were ringing.She wasn’t sure if it was because blood pounded through her hard enough to echo inside, or because the house had finally quieted down.
After Caleb’s momentous announcement, the family continued to chat for a little longer, but then Luke and Kelli left to rejoin their guests. Walker and Ivy slipped away, her brother pausing to kiss Ginny’s cheek and give her a squeeze along with a reminder of her promise to visit that coming week.
Tyler was asleep, and the girls were still watching their movie.
Ginny remained behind because, truth was, the whirling emotions inside her ran the gamut from joy to full-on anger, and she needed to deal with that last one before it became something bitter and sharp.
Confession was the only honest thing to do with people she loved so much.
Tamara settled in what had obviously become her corner of the couch, close to her husband’s easy chair. Caleb brought her a cup of tea, and she blew him a kiss. “Thanks, hon.”
“You’re welcome.” Caleb turned to Ginny. “Here’s yours. It’s not as good an herbal blend as you used to make, but it’s close.”
She took it carefully before sitting on the couch opposite the two of them. “Can we talk?”
“Of course.” Caleb lifted the footrest on his chair and leaned back with a contented sigh. “You’ve got to have all sorts of ideas. I’m excited to hear them once you’ve had a chance to make a list.”
Ginny felt like shit for not following that trail. Her big brother was so obviously thrilled at the good news he’d shared that evening. She was as well, and yet…
Should she put this conversation off for a while longer? What right did she have to dump her anger on him now?
They can’t fix it if they don’t know it’s broken.
Her mother’s voice arrived, as always, right when she needed it. Guardian angel or just a really well-balanced psyche that knew when enough was enough?
Ginny sighed.
Tamara’s gaze sharpened, and she spoke before Ginny could. “What’s wrong? I know we haven’t had that much time together, but it’s clear something’s bothering you.”
Ginny nodded then met Caleb’s gaze straight on. “Why didn’t you tell me when things got bad with the ranch?”
Caleb blinked. “We did. We called and got your ideas about ways to—”
“That was at the eleventh hour, when the options were a miracle or selling out.” Ginny spoke slowly, but her usual firm optimism had changed to a nearly quivering whisper. “I wasn’t here, and I should have been.”
“You were taking part in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity—”
“—that would have meant nothing if we’d lost Silver Stone.” Her throat was closing up, but she had to get this out. “In some ways, it feels as if my work means nothing anyway, because I wasn’there, wasn’t part of the family to deal with the worry and the day-to-day struggles.”
“I didn’t want you to have to face that. None of us did.” Caleb leaned forward on his elbows, every bit of attention focused intently on her. “You were a part of us, though. Your calls and visits were highlights for everyone.”
“I’m glad to hear that, really. But still, there was a solid year and a half where things could have gone badly, and you never told me. I was even home for a month in the middle of that time, and no one said a word.” She shook her head. “Maybe you didn’t want me to face that worry, but by not telling me, you left me out, Caleb. You didn’t give me the chance to be a part of the solution. To be here to help make things easier to face.”
“You would have had to give up your apprenticeship.”
“And I would have done it in a heartbeat. Because I’m a part of this family, and I want to be here for you. You’ve always been there for us. Finding out later that I wasn’t a part of it doesn’t make me feel protected. It makes me angry. I should have been told.”
Tamara had sat quietly throughout the entire conversation up to now, her grip on her cup growing tight enough that her knuckles turned white.
She put the cup down and faced Caleb. “I never knew this.”
This time he turned his confused glance on his wife. “Knew what?”
Tamara gestured at Ginny. “That your sister wasn’t fully aware of the challenges we were facing. We talked about her all the time—about the things she could do to help when she got home, with the gardens and other areas. But it sounds as if you never passed on any of those thoughts.”
