He pushed a stack of papers into a folder, closed it then gave her his undivided attention. He finally smiled, but the expression didn’t quite reach his eyes. “What was that?” Rusty Sage’s eyes appeared paler against the backdrop of his weathered skin.
“What is he doing on this ranch?”
He swiveled in the chair. “I don’t know. Who is he and what was he doing?”
“Creed. Looked like he was fixing a fence to me.”
“Now, now. Don’t get yourself all in a mess, girl. He’s working.” Rusty waved his gnarled hand.
“Why is he helping out?”
Her father showed his growing impatience by rubbing his wrinkled forehead. His eyes almost looked haunted. What was he not telling her? “Mindy, did you come all the way to Cooper’s Hawk to grill me?”
Was that the way he saw it? “I’m only asking why Creed’s working here? Daddy, you know—”
“Yes, I know,” he said in a whispered tone. “I wanted to tell him but it’s not my place.”
She swallowed hard. “I’m sorry that I asked you not to.”
He lifted his gaze, holding hers. “I told you how I felt. Won’t do any good now,” he muttered.
Lowering her gaze to gain her equilibrium, she asked, “Daddy, I don’t think I should be judged—”
He lifted his hand, stopping her. “It’s not my place to judge you, especially when I don’t know all the details, but take it from an old man, clear the air.”
“Is that why you hired him? Do you feel guilty?”
Rusty stood, wobbled, and gained his balance by holding the corner of the desk.
“Daddy, are you okay?” She went to his side to help him.
“I’m doing okay. No worrying. You’re at Sage Ranch. You’re home.” He patted her shoulder and winked.
Although the conversation was far from over, she’d save it for later. “Come help me put away the groceries. I grabbed you a jar of those pickled sausages you love, and I have some news I want to share.”
“I haven’t had one of those good sausages in a long time.” His eyes twinkled.
In the kitchen, Mindy opened the jar for him and he took one of the sausages out. This was the happiest she’d seen him since she’d come home. While he munched on the snack, she opened a tray of chicken, took down the cast iron pan from the cabinet and set it on the stove.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“I’m making dinner.”
“I always eat dinner over at the club on Cow Tuesday,” he mumbled.
“Tonight you don’t have to go anywhere. I’m cooking and we’re eating healthy.”
“I like eating unhealthy,” he grumbled. The bear had returned.
“You only like eating that way because it’s easy. The market in Cooper’s Hawk now has a great selection of lean meats, nuts, and other clean items. Here, try this.” She handed him a plastic container.
“What’s this?” He held it at arm’s length to read the label.
“It’s hummus. Don’t knock it until you try it. And I’ll also make us roasted cauliflower.”
His nose wrinkled and he pushed the container far away from him. “I don’t want to try something that I can barely pronounce, and I don’t like cauliflower. I’m not a rabbit.”
“Rabbits like carrots not cauliflower. Be open minded.”
He looked concerned. “It’s steak and potato night at the club. The cook always prepares mine perfectly with a baked potato full of butter and bacon.” He rubbed his stomach.
“You can miss steak and potato night for one evening. Anyway, we are celebrating that I got a job.” She sprinkled the chicken liberally with seasoning, poured on soup from a can and placed it into the prewarmed pan to sear it.
“A job? What about helping here? Learning the ropes.”
“I will. I wasn’t looking for a job, but I was at the ice rink and ran into Isabella. She asked if I would help out coaching the kids.” Mindy felt proud of herself, until she saw her father’s disapproval.
His shoulder’s slumped. “If that’s what you want. You know I don’t like chicken though.”
“I’m making the meal that mama used to make with a few healthy tweaks.” She washed her hands and dried them of on a towel. “You know, the casserole with mushrooms and onions? I’m adding asparagus—”
“Humph. Onions give me heartburn and asparagus turns my pee green.”
“Don’t be a booger.”
“I’m going to starve to death.”
“Daddy, are you intentionally giving me a hard time?”
He huffed a sigh, shrugged a shoulder, then left the room.
Breathing in a calming breath, she busied herself cutting up vegetables and thinking about Creed.
How dare he work here at Sage Ranch.
This was her home and he shouldn’t be here.
Why didn’t Daddy tell me?
Setting the knife aside, she dropped the veggies in with the chicken and placed the pan in the oven.
She didn’t come to Cooper’s Hawk to feel bad.
Last night she’d tossed and turned. She guessed she knew why.
Going up the stairs into her childhood bedroom, she was met with the decorations of a teenager. The posters on the wall and the pink blanket screamed youth.
Ripping the pictures off the wall, she shoved them into a cardboard box.
Opening her closet, she dragged out her wooden chest and opened the lid. Inside she found memories that she no longer needed—or wanted. Movie tickets. Letters. Pictures…all connecting her to Creed. Had she ever had her own existence?
Why did she need to keep this stuff?
She didn’t.
Grabbing armfuls
