Page 24 of Christmas with the Cowboy
“I’ve always liked gloves,” Audrey said. “My mom bought them for me and my sister for Easter when we were little. We were so fancy.”
Trenna laughed as Audrey struck a pose. Even with Reed on the ranch, this was going to be fun.
She’d agreed to give Audrey four hours a day, five days a week, which left her plenty of time to work on her cottage and to prepare for the new class she was teaching online. And by carefully timing her arrival, she could be in and out after Reed went to work and before he returned home for lunch. His daughter was with him today, brushing up on her chore technique, but Audrey said Lex might be joining them in the future.
“The girl loves history.” Audrey looked up from the box she’d just lifted onto her desk. “Kind of like you did. She’s more into Vikings and Scots at the moment, but I see definite parallels with you.”
“I’m sure her father loves that,” Trenna said without thinking. The words sounded churlish, but she didn’t attempt damage control.
“Reed’s a very supportive father.”
Trenna opened a box and then shook her head at the papers jammed in at all angles. Gloves did seem a little silly at this point, as did the archival paper she’d spread over the long folding table Daniel had set up for them to work on.
“How long will he and Lex be here?” That very morning, while brushing her teeth, she’d promised her reflection that she wasn’t going to ask. And here she was—asking.
“That depends on the success of the cancer treatments.”
Trenna’s stomach did a freefall. “Cancer treatments?”
“I’m sorry. I thought”—she waved a hand—“Lex’s stepdad, Gregg, has cancer. He’s on the East Coast with Candice, Lex’s mom, and they’re going to be there for a while. Then when they come home, there’ll be follow-up treatments, and the three of them—Reed, Candice, and Gregg—thought Lex would be better off here with Reed. And us, of course.”
“Of course.” Trenna lifted a handful of dog-eared pages from the box and set them on the table. “What’s Gregg’s prognosis?” She’d lost her mom to cancer as an eight-year-old and she hated to think of Lex going through the same kind of pain.
“Because they caught it early, and they’re treating it aggressively at a top-notch clinic, his odds are in the seventy percent range.”
“That’s a relief.”
“To all of us. Lex is handling it well, and I’m glad we can truthfully tell her that we believe that everything will be fine in the end.” Audrey sent her a look. “My granddaughter is very perceptive. I can’t remember the last time I got away with a fib.”
“That must keep you on your toes.”
“Oh, yeah,” Audrey said with feeling. “Lex is taking online classes right now, but if all goes well, she may reenroll at her former school for the fourth quarter, but again, she might continue online for the remainder of the year. We don’t know yet. A lot depends on the treatment schedule.”
“And Reed?”
Audrey gave her an empathetic look.Damn.Had she appeared overly interested? Shewasinterested—as any person might be interested in an old beau. Except that Audrey’s expression told Trenna that Reed’s mom suspected it was more than that.
“I think he’s going to settle here. Daniel needs the help.”
“Reed needs the ranch.”
Audrey gave Trenna a surprised look, but she figured,what the hell?“Reed needs roots. He doesn’t think he does—or rather, he didn’t—but I knew.”
“Did you?”
Trenna gave a slow nod. “I always figured he’d be back. He’s like his dad. Even as a self-centered teen, I could see that.”
Audrey cocked her head in a do-tell way, so Trenna continued. “I’ve heard the stories about Daniel.” Some of which were legendary. “But when he settled, it was permanent, which makes me think he only needed a reason.” Trenna pointed at Audrey, and the older woman’s cheeks bloomed. “Now Reed has a reason. Lex.”
Trenna had expected Audrey to applaud her conclusions, but instead, Audrey shook her head. “He does have a reason, but I wonder how long he and Daniel can work together.”
“You think they’ll fall back into their old roles?”
“Ask any family who gets together for the holidays what happens. They’re on their best behavior now. I just wonder if it will last and if Reed will stay after Gregg and Candice come back.”
“Good question,” Trenna murmured. She worked up a smile. “Let’s hope for the best, shall we?”
“I always do,” Audrey said, picking up a tattered invoice. “With four kids and a strong-willed husband, you kind of have to.”
