The trip back to the cabin was slower than the one on the way up. Usually it was the reverse, but Rachel kept having to stop and rest. It wasn’t a particularly strenuous hike, so it gave more credence to the exhaustion she said she was feeling.
Katie had once again taken his hand and was asking him all sorts of questions. It was enough to take his mind off figuring Rachel out, but not off keeping a watchful eye on her.
She was definitely not feeling well.
But she also didn’t look or act sick.
What stresses could be in her life that would bring her here?
None of his business. Ricky liked to say that everyone had their reasons for their hearts needing a connection to the mountains. For Ty, that meant never leaving. But he knew, from many of their past guests, that coming here did provide a special healing they couldn’t get anywhere else.
Whatever healing Rachel needed, he prayed she found it.
Just as long as it didn’t involve hurting Ricky or the ranch.
Maybe he was a fool for spending so much time thinking on these things. But he loved the Double R. Loved Ricky. Sick or not, if Rachel was a threat to everything they’d built, he’d have no problem dealing with her.
But as the little girl beside him tugged at his hand and pointed to the hummingbirds whizzing by, he wasn’t sure it was going to be as easy as getting rid of every other crazy who’d come by.
Chapter Three
Rachel had been so tired when they got to the cabin that she’d wanted to lie down for a while before dinner instead of letting Ty bring his dog over. She hadn’t pushed herself so hard physically in a long time, and it had definitely been too much. Katie had grumbled at having to watch a movie on Rachel’s laptop, and while Rachel wasn’t proud of using the electronic babysitter, she didn’t know enough about Ty to trust him with her daughter. For her, it was the lesser of two evils.
“Let’s get ready for dinner,” Rachel said, climbing out of the bed. It had been one of the most comfortable beds she’d been in, a surprise since this was a guest cabin. She’d been expecting rougher conditions, but the more she’d observed since being here, the more it seemed Ricky spared no expense in giving everyone a good experience.
Katie jumped up from the couch. “Do you think Ty will bring his dog? He said he was coming to dinner, but he didn’t say anything about his dog.”
It killed Rachel to have to keep saying no to a pet. But they hadn’t been able to keep a goldfish alive, and it seemed unfair, with Rachel’s medical situation, to bring an animal that needed more care into the mix. Especially because, if the worst happened, what would become of a beloved dog? No foster home would let Katie bring it, which meant Katie would have to endure two heartbreaks, not one.
Men like Ty weren’t genuinely interested in a relationship with a child, or with anyone. It was all about the image and getting what they wanted. Chris used to tell her that he’d stay married to her if only she’d do more to present the image he wanted. He needed the perfect arm candy, not a woman who thought for herself. And when he didn’t get what he wanted... Rachel shivered.
Katie had never seen her father hit Rachel, and it had only taken a couple of times for Rachel to realize that despite all of Chris’s promises and apologies, it was never going to end. Which was when she’d left. Chris had made sure to discredit Rachel in every way he could, getting people to lie about her and ultimately proving her an unfit parent. Even though it made her feel like a horrible person, she was grateful for the skiing accident that took Chris’s life before the divorce was finalized and she’d completely lost custody.
Chris had been so charming when they’d first met—even later, in between the times when things had been bad. To trust Ty, who had been so gruff with her when they first met, was too much of a risk.
She’d let Katie see the dog, but she would also stand guard. Make sure Ty did not get close enough to her daughter to hurt her.
They walked over to the main house. She imagined that at one time it had been a bustling family home, and something about the thought put a strange longing in her heart she hadn’t expected. Rachel had given up on the idea of having a traditional family when she realized that the happily-ever-after she thought Chris would give her would never happen.
She paused at the front door, not sure if she was supposed to knock first or just go in. As she hesitated, Ty came bounding up the front steps.
“You’re just in time,” he said. “You can go on in. They’re probably already gathering in the dining room.”
Something about the way he said they’re put an uneasy feeling in her stomach. It hadn’t occurred to her that anyone other than Ricky, Ty and maybe the housekeeper would be at dinner. But as she followed Ty into the dining room, the people gathered reminded her that nothing was ever as simple as she hoped.
Ricky broke free from the crowd and approached them. “Welcome. I’m glad you could join us. We’re running a skeleton crew, and while some of our ranch hands prefer to have their meals on their own, when we’re this thinly staffed, everyone eats in the main house. Even if we’re busy, anyone who needs a meal is welcome at my table.”
The warmth emanating from the older man made her
