The oldest Montgomery son released a deep sigh. “I honestly don’t know. I can understand both Lance’s and Lyle’s opposing positions. I need time to think about this. How about if we talk again this weekend? Whatever decision is made, we all need to support it.”
They all agreed.
PART 3
In three words, I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life. It goes on.
– Robert Frost
CHAPTER 12
Danielle
Dani leaned back in the chair, glancing around Wade Harrison’s office before looking out the window. Wade Harrison had a beautiful ranch. Richard and Libby’s spread was massive, but the Harrisons’ was just as large.
When she arrived at nine-thirty yesterday morning, she was greeted by Elena. The older woman had opened the door with a huge, welcoming smile, then disappeared. As Wade had said, she hardly noticed the housekeeper was there. Now she understood why. His ranch house was spacious, and his very roomy office was tucked away in a huge wing by itself, with a beautiful view of plains, valleys, and an oval-shaped pond from a wall-to-wall window. How was she supposed to get anything done with such a beautiful view? And the surroundings were peaceful, even more so than at Richard and Libby’s place. There were no sounds of cows and horses. She figured it was because all the ranch hands had taken the cows to another part of Wade’s spread to be branded.
Both today and yesterday, Elena had surprised Dani by knocking on the door around noon with lunch. She hadn’t expected it but was grateful for the woman’s kindness. She would have to say that yesterday’s chicken salad sandwichhad been the best she’d ever eaten, and the homemade tortilla chips had been to die for. The lemonade had been delicious as well.
Today Elena brought Dani a Mexican salad with grilled chicken, enchiladas, and iced tea. It had been delicious, too. When she delivered lunch, Elena stayed and talked for a while. She told Dani that she and her husband Carlos had worked for the Harrisons since before Wade had been born, and they’d always been treated like family.
Wade had told her that she probably wouldn’t see him until Wednesday or Thursday. Well, today was Wednesday. Would he return today? Elena had mentioned that usually, during branding, Wade and his men would stay a couple of nights on the range.
That sounded like heaven. Dani had been the only one of her father’s daughters who had been interested in going camping with him. She now knew she’d only started doing that because she was hoping he would see that being born a girl didn’t make her delicate.
Dani checked her watch. She’d be finished her work for the day in another couple of hours or so. She enjoyed the pace she’d managed to set, and was surprised at how much she had accomplished. If she kept it up, she would finish earlier on Friday than she had originally thought. Even Paula had seemed surprised by her progress when Dani had called to give her an update.
Libby had called this morning, too. She’d wanted to know how things were going before they boarded the river cruise ship from Paris, headed to Germany. Dani mentioned the problem she’d had with the internet service and how Wade Harrison had come to her rescue. She didn’t mention herrudeness. She hoped that since she and Wade had started over, that little incident would be kept between them.
Libby told her that she didn’t know Wade very well, since he spent most of his time on the rodeo circuit, but he seemed like a nice guy. Richard and Cal definitely liked him because the three of them had been friends since childhood. Then Libby added that it had been kind of Wade to let her use the internet at his home. Dani wholeheartedly agreed.
She’d also heard from her oldest sister, Kim, who’d also called to see how she was doing…and to inform her that Steve had called her the previous day. Like their mother, Kim hadn’t accepted his call. But Kim did add that she should stop giving Steve a hard time and make up with him.
Dani set Kim straight—something she should have done long ago. She told her sister that, contrary to what Kim and Libby thought, she had no intention of going back to him. And then she added that she’d appreciate it if Kim didn’t tell Steve where she was. She was done with him, once and for all.
Pushing all thoughts from her mind except for the Barker project, she turned her attention to the marketing campaign, determined to make it a success.
“I didn’t expect you guys back until tomorrow,” Elena said when she came downstairs to find Wade in the mudroom, removing his boots.
“There were only a few steers left to brand, so I cut out early. I wanted to sleep in my bed tonight,” he said. That was partly true. But the main reason he’d wanted to come home was because Dani Manchester was here. For some reason,she had been on his mind. He wanted to scowl at the thought, but on the ride from the branding area back to the ranch, he kept telling himself that his attraction to her was normal. After all, she was a beautiful woman, and he was a hot-blooded man. One who hadn’t been involved with a woman for more than a year.
“I’m afraid, I didn’t cook dinner. I wasn’t expecting you back so soon,” Elena said, interrupting his thoughts.
“No problem. I can fend for myself. If you recall, I’m a pretty darn good cook.”
“Only because I taught you.”
“True,” he said, grinning. “I noticed Dani’s car is still here.”
“Yes. She’s in your office, but she usually leaves around four. I like her.”
Wade thought that said a lot, considering Elena hadn’t liked his former girlfriend, Gail. “What is it you like about her?” he asked. “You’ve only known her a couple of days.”
“I know,” Elena said, straightening off the counter. “She’s friendly, respectful, and appreciative.”
He nodded. All the things she thought Gail hadn’t been. Unfortunately, he had to agree with her. He had met Gail on the circuit where she performed as a barrel racer. They had dated a good seven months before he’d brought her home, but that was when her true colors showed. She’d treated Elena like hired help instead of family, acting as if the older woman was at her beck and call during the week she was there. However, when he had walked in from the barn one evening and caught her talking down to Elena, that had been the last straw. He had asked her to pack, then hadn’t wasted time in getting her to the airport and putting her on a plane. Thatwas one of the reasons Dani’s attitude had angered him when they’d first met. He’d thought her temperament had been no better than Gail’s.
“Do you think Dani got a lot done?” he asked.
