Also, he was a disaster.If he could understand her, what did that say about her?
Thankfully, the back door opened, and Grandma stepped in.She closed the door behind her, her gaze steady on Cal as she stomped the snow off her boots.
Cal looked up at her.The tension andweightcrept back on him, enough for Jill to realize that for a little while there, their conversationhadrelaxed him.The focus on her instead of his issues had allowed him to probably set it all aside for a little while.
Now, he was fully tense again.
“Hi, Glenda.I want to talk about our last conversation.I think Jill should stick around for it, but that’s up to you.”
Glenda slowly turned her gaze from Cal to Jill.Jill couldn’t read Grandma’s expression.It reminded her of that sad, wistful one she got during the very rare times something about the grandfather Jill had never met came up.
Cal kept talking, even as Glenda gazed at Jill.
“Landon and Nate… and Aly, and probably Sam, seem to think these… factions Dad kept us in for so long was on purpose.Was to helphim.Well, I’m done helping him.So no more factions or hiding—even beyond the Bennet Ranch.You were a part of this somehow, so we’re all in this together.Jill’s part of that together right now.Whether you’d like to protect her from that or not, she’shere.”
Jill frowned over at Cal.Protect.What would Grandma be protecting her from?
Cal stood, offered his seat at the table to Glenda.Grandma still hesitated another moment, but then she slid into the offered seat.Jill was about to get up to offer Cal hers, since he was the guest, but he shook his head and leaned against the counter.
He almost looked more like the man she’d first met back in the spring.In control.Self-possessed.But the harsh lines of a face too skinny for his frame undercut it.
“The first thing you should know, Jill, is that when the detective talked to Glenda, he asked her about a man named Bowman Lake.A man who is one of Sam’s newest clients.He was found as a child, abandoned.Doesn’t know his true identity.”
“Nowthere’sa book,” Jill muttered.How many more twists could one turn make?
One side of Cal’s mouth quirked into analmostsmile.“Glenda didn’t give me much to go on the other day, but she did say that I should get Bo far away from here, and I shouldn’t tell anyone.”
Grandma made a few signs that basically translated to,Not a very good listener, are you?
Cal didn’t pick up on it and Jill didn’t think she needed to fill him in.
“So, you know this guy Sam’s investigating?”Jill asked her grandmother.
Grandma made asort ofgesture.Which made no sense.
“How can yousort ofknow someone, Grandma?”Jill asked.
Grandma pressed her lips together, a sign of irritation.And she was not forthcoming with answers.
“Landon has suggested weallget together, sort it out and talk it out.Tomorrow.Dinner at the ranch.Including Bo Lake.With as much… truth telling as we can suffer through.”His gaze was fierce on Grandma’s.
Grandma made no real reaction.But after a few tense moments, she inclined her head.Silent agreement.
“Tomorrow night then.Aly said five.”He set his coffee mug in the sink.“Let’s get this shit over with,” he muttered as he moved for the door.
“Tell Aly I’ll bring brownies,” Jill said, hurrying to trail after him, wishing she had something more profound to say.
“I will.”He didn’t look back at her.Just opened the front door and left.
Leaving Jill standing there looking at a closed door.She felt like a whirlwind had passed through.Those quiet moments talking about themselves wiped away with the bombshell he’d dropped and run away from.
Jill looked back at her grandmother.Who had theanswers, even if she was trying to protect Jill in some way from them.Maybe even protect the Bennets from them.“Grandma.Do you know who this guy is or not?”
Grandma took her time, as if thinking that question over when it was a clear yes or no.
She inclined her head.Yes.
“Is it going to be more trouble?”
