“Didn’t you hear me? We don’t have outings. He says there’s the whole resort to run around in, the great outdoors, and Seth shouldn’t worry about the bears—”
Elizabeth’s throat seized. “Bears?”
“Not grizzlies, black bears,” Jordan explained as if that made a difference. “We didn’t see any. I could be home, Mom.” He paused, and Elizabeth could hear a sly note enter his voice. “I could rodeo with Nick and the other kids on Saturdays. Wouldn’t that be safer?”
Elizabeth didn’t think so. She remembered watching rodeo on TV with Dallas, seeing the cowboy who’d flown off the bull onto the dirt. For a few too-long seconds, he hadn’t stirred or gotten up. Even the kids’ event each weekend made her shudder.
Jordan’s voice gained strength. “Nick’s already riding. Why can’t I? He’ll be better than me while I’m wasting my summer here.” His best friend did have an advantage. Nick was Logan and Olivia’s son. His parents were also divorced, and Nick divided his time between the Circle H with his dad, Logan Hunter, and Wilson Cattle, where Olivia, who’d married Logan’s twin brother, Sawyer, lived. Nick was a real ranch kid, twice over, when Jordan only dreamed of such a life. Elizabeth suppressed a flash of guilt. Frankly, she’d been almost relieved when he left home with Harry and was no longer around Dallas. She didn’t want the cowboy to become her son’s idol.
Elizabeth yawned. “Put your father on.” And Jordan went off to find him. Most of her conversations with the children ended with another quarrel between Elizabeth and Harry. What was he doing on the computer when he should be bonding with their kids?
Jordan returned. “He says don’t bother him. He’s busy.”
“Doing what?”
“Finding a new job, he says.” She could imagine Jordan’s shrug. Elizabeth barely had the energy to deal with Harry herself.
“Please tell him I need to speak to him. Now.” When he finally picked up the phone, she spoke through gritted teeth. “Your job at the moment is taking care of three minor children. We’ve talked about this before. Jordan, Stella and Seth need your full attention.”
“I’ve tried, Elizabeth. Have you ever taken them to the Buffalo Bill Museum? No,” he said. “The gondola ride up the mountain? An evening powwow by a campfire with Native American dancing?” He didn’t wait for her answer. “Well, I have. I’ve busted my...” He took a breath as if to calm himself. “None of that was more successful than our miniature golf adventure or swimming in this resort’s Olympic-sized pool.” He scoffed. “With Jordan, there’s always something wrong.”
“Yes.” He was angry with his father. “What’s the common denominator?”
“Three spoiled kids,” Harry said.
“No, it’s you. I don’t want them to be spoiled, but instead of firing off résumés—”
“You’d better hope I find a new job or there won’t be any support payments coming your way. What will you do then?”
“Don’t threaten me, Harry. I’ve already found a job myself. Just live up to your obligations, preferably with a smile on your face.” As the storm broke outside, Elizabeth felt the beginnings of a headache. What is happening to my children? She’d never felt this worn-out or utterly helpless. What can I possibly do to make things better for them from so far away?
AT THE FAIRGROUNDS on the edge of Barren, Dallas surveyed the abandoned site surrounded by a rusted chain-link fence. Logan and Sawyer had been right. There wasn’t enough money in this world, or enough time, to make the fairgrounds suitable for a rodeo this summer. His usual positive outlook took a nosedive. He could have saved himself the effort to see the place. A permit was the least of his problems.
He glanced at the falling-down grandstand. So, now what?
“I’ve got a bunch of riders with no place to ride.”
“Broaden your horizons.” Finn Donovan, the county sheriff, shifted from one booted foot to the other. As usual, he wore jeans and a Western-style shirt instead of a uniform. Finn preferred a more casual approach. He liked to fit in with the community, not to play up his position of authority. “The rodeo’s a good idea, Dallas. With a charity aspect, even better. This town needs something to get people excited again. There’s been a dark cloud hanging over Main Street ever since Harry Barnes resigned as mayor.” Finn pulled off his trademark aviator sunglasses to reveal earnest hazel eyes. “I’m glad he’s away this summer. His family went through a bad time last year. His three kids were confused, as was Emmie. His love child, some of the older residents call her.” Finn half smiled. “I just call her my daughter.
“Nobody gets to that kid,” he added with a proud grin. He and his wife, Annabelle, were now Emmie’s adoptive parents, and Harry Barnes had given up any claim to her. Dallas figured she’d lucked out, like him with the Maguires.
He walked with Finn across the dusty fairgrounds, which contained more ruts than even ground. “My brother tells me Emmie couldn’t have a better home than she does with you and Annabelle. At least some good came of all that.”
Finn frowned. “I wish I could say the same for Elizabeth. I know Annabelle worries about her,” he said. “Having to see Harry all over town again this fall, the walking reminder that her marriage went down the tubes...” He didn’t go on.
And not to call attention to himself, Dallas didn’t respond. The day of her divorce he’d only made things worse for her. Fortunately, as far as he knew, no one else had
