Charlie Grace pulled her truck into the yard at the ranch house, filled with elation. Sure, she remained overwhelmed and nervous. There was a lot on the line. Yet her girlfriends’ enthusiasm had gone a long way in helping her see the cup half full. Absolutely, there was a risk. There was also a good chance this endeavor would be a success…or at least hit near that benchmark.
She cut the engine and grabbed her purse, along with the folder containing a duplicate set of the signed loan papers.
The truth was, some of her elation could be attributed to the bottle of champagne Reva uncorked when the sign was finally in place. As soon as the equipment lumbered back down the road, the girls insisted on offering up a toast. Then, they’d insisted on taking her photo in front of the gate. “It’s for the website,” Lila insisted.
Charlie Grace smiled again, pushing the door open and heading into the house.
“What was all that damned commotion out at the gate?” her father demanded the minute she entered the kitchen.
“Oh, Clancy,” Aunt Mo admonished, wiping her hands on a towel. “Language.”
He ignored his sister. “Why all the equipment?”
In turn, Charlie Grace ignored him. “What are you still doing here, Aunt Mo? I thought your pinochle club was this afternoon?”
“It is, dear. But I wanted to get a casserole started for you.” She pointed to the oven door. “The dish should be ready shortly. Mac and cheese with chunks of ham and a little diced jalapeño—not a lot, just a dab for flavor. You can heat it up later tonight for dinner.”
Charlie Grace leaned and kissed her aunt’s cheek. “Thank you. I don’t know how to keep thanking you for all you do.”
Aunt Mo drew her into a hug. “No thanks needed, sweetheart.”
Her aunt released her grip and grabbed her purse from the counter before moving for the back door. With her hand on the knob, she turned and pointed at her brother. “You be nice.” She winked in Charlie Grace’s direction and left, closing the door behind her.
“Well, are you going to answer me? What was all that equipment down there?”
Charlie Grace sat at the kitchen table and pulled off her cowboy boots. “They set a sign on the gate leading into the ranch.”
Her father huffed at her from his wheelchair. “What kind of sign?”
She lifted her chin slightly. “Teton Trails Guest Ranch.”
Her father’s eyes darkened. “Mo tells me you signed the loan paperwork today.” He stared at her with contempt.
“Dad, we’ve been over this a thousand times. I know you don’t like it, but I don’t have a choice. This ranch is going broke for all the reasons we’ve discussed on more than one occasion.”
“Oh, here we go. You think I drove this operation into the ground. That an old man like me didn’t know what he was doing.” He jabbed his finger at her. “Listen here, sister. Ranching ain’t for the faint of heart. We’ve weathered worse on more occasions than you can know. That’s when you pick yourself up and work harder. Things always come back around.”
“Not this time, Dad. And you’re wrong. I don’t blame you. The cash flow simply wasn’t there. We had no way of meeting expenses.” Charlie Grace groaned inside. Despite promising herself she wouldn’t have this conversation with him yet again, he’d pulled her into hashing out her reasons all over again. “Dad, your accident changed everything. You know that. I’m doing the best I know how. You’re going to have to trust me.”
“If trusting you means turning this ranch into a glorified hotel for rich families and their brat children, then no thanks.” He locked his gaze upon her. “Your grandfather, who homesteaded this place and built it from nothing…well, he’d turn over in his grave.”
The intended barb hit its mark. She winced with the sting of it.
Before this conversation blew up into another heated exchange, Charlie Grace reminded herself there was no winning him over. For her sanity, she had to ignore the insults he continued to throw her way. She loved her father, but he could turn a cupcake into a pickle. She wasn’t about to eat what he dished out tonight.
Instead, she’d focus on the few things she could control.
“Are you hungry, Dad?” She went for the cupboard and set the table, knowing he watched her. “Jewel should be home at any time. She had 4-H club, and Annie Cumberland promised to drive her home for me.”
As if on cue, the sounds of a car on gravel pulled her attention to the kitchen window. “Looks like they’re here.”
Minutes later, Jewel came bounding through the door. “Hi, Mom! Guess what? 4-H camp will be only a few weeks after my birthday this summer. The cut-off is ten. I’ll be old enough this year!” She ran and wrapped her arms around Charlie Grace’s waist. “Can I go, Mom? Huh, can I?”
Charlie Grace had no way of promising that. At least not right now, not when so many expenses related to the opening were looming. “We’ll see, honey.” She ruffled the top of her daughter’s head. “Go wash your hands. Dinner is nearly ready.”
She turned her attention to the woman standing at the door. “Thank you so much for bringing her home, Annie. I appreciate it.”
“No problem, Charlie Grace. Happy to do it.” Annie turned her attention to Charlie Grace’s father. “Missed you at church last Sunday, Clancy.”
