Page 57 of Fool's Gold

Sarah smiled while tears ran down her cheeks unchecked. "So many years have been stolen from us." She felt like some part of her that had been dead was now coming back to life. "I missed you, too. We've got so much time to make up for."

Granny smiled and squeezed her hand. "We will, baby Sarah, we will."

"I missed you, too," Grandfather said roughly. "It's been ten long years since I last saw you. I admit, after losing my son, I latched onto you. I know I was never good at showing it, but I loved you very much. Still do, for that matter. What I did waswrong, and I'm sorry for all the hurt I've caused. Can you ever forgive me?"

Sarah took a calming breath, swallowing the lump in her throat. She saw the lines of sorrow on his face and heard the genuine regret in his voice. This humble old man was very different from the stiff autocrat that had raised her.

She reached out to take his trembling hand. "I guess we'll have to start fresh, won't we?"

Tears misted his eyes as he glanced at her and then at Granny Blake. "We all will."

Sarah cleared the lump in her throat. "Tell me, Granny, how did you find me after all these years?"

"That nice husband of yours did some checking and got my number. Then Pipi called me last night and told me you were hurt. She chartered a plane, and before long, we were here. It was just like being caught in a whirlwind. Before I knew it, I was here looking at your sweet face."

Sarah smiled. This was just like Rafe's typical high-handed style to go behind her back. But considering the results, she didn't mind. "That was so nice of Rafe. I should be mad at him for being so sneaky, but I can never stay mad at him for long."

Granny smiled understandingly, then glanced nervously at Pipi. "Yes, he said you'd want family around you when you woke up this morning."

Sarah's heart melted. What a sweet thought. Rafe loved her. He'd shouted it at the campsite. And his actions proved it. He’d always said actions counted the most. She hugged the thought to her.

She looked around the hospital room, but didn't see any sign of him. "So, where is he?"

"He went home, Sarah," Pipi said quietly.

"Why?" she asked, knowing somehow, Pipi wasn't telling her everything.

Pipi huffed a breath. "Rafe said he didn't want to push you anymore. He said he'd conned you into staying here, which I always suspected, and that was no basis for a marriage." She pulled a document out of her bag. "He waited for me to get here and signed off before he left."

Sarah gasped.

Pipi continued, "I told him I figured it was because he found out you weren't rich, after all. That you weren't really an heiress."

"What do you mean she's not an heiress?" Grandfather asked.

"Well, you cut her off when she left the family fold, didn't you?"

Grandfather looked away. "I couldn't bring myself to do it."

Pipi sighed. "Rafe told me he wouldn't accept your money. Is that true?"

"Yes, it's true. He was majorly teed off when he found out I planned to help finance the dude ranch."

"Why didn't you come to me for the investment?" Grandfather demanded.

"At the time, we weren't exactly on good terms. I didn't want to put up with the strings that might be attached."

He looked down. "I guess I've been a little heavy handed over the years."

"Don't fret over it, Granddad, it's all water under the bridge now."

Sarah glared at Pipi. "You as much as called him a fortune hunter. No wonder he took off. This is terrible."

She closed her eyes. This couldn't be happening.

"Cheer up, Sarah," Pipi said brightly. "He's giving you an easy way out."

"I love him."

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