“She’s really not who she says she is?” he asked once more.
“And she’s notwhereshe says she’s from either. So just ask her, okay? Get things out on the table. It’s one thing to be undercover, like for an investigation or something. Cops do it all the time. But if she plans to take off anytime soon, she shouldn’t be toying with your emotions along the way.”
Those final words felt like razors—cutting and sharp—leaving wounds in their wake as he pressed a hand over his face.
“Your line’s about to float away, Trent,” he heard Betty say. But Trenton didn’t care if his line, the tackle box, and everything else he owned went rushing down the depths of the river. Toying with his emotions? If she planned to leave anytime soon? Had he been right all along?
A deafening pulse throbbed in his head, pressing from deep in his ears. He’d called it, hadn’t he? The time Andie tried convincing him that she had no intentions to go anywhere. Ever. What did they say about people protesting too much? That they were lying. And it turned out Andie was doing that very thing.
“I’ve got to get out of here.” He raked a hand over his head, barely resisting the urge to dig his nails into his scalp along the way.
“We can leave, dear, if you’d like. I can help you pack up your things—”
“I mean get out of Haven Hills. I’m putting my property back up for sale. And this time, I’m going for good.”
“Oh, Trenton, no—”
“You can’t talk me out of it, Betty. I’m sorry. I’ve stuck around to help the…” He put up finger quotes. “New ownersget settled. If Andie’s going to just take off as quickly as she came, I’m not going to stick around to watch it.”
He gathered his things.
Betty did the same. Neither spoke as they made their way to the truck, but once inside, Trenton offered one last thing.
“I’ll tell Don to take you fishing this week,” he said without looking at her.
He felt terrible for hurting Betty, and that’s what leaving would do. He’d known it from the start. But Trenton would not stick around to be kept in the dark from yet another secret.
The thought planted an idea in his mind. One that touched on something Betty had said about undercover cops and investigations. Is that what they were? Perhaps Milt had really handed the shares over to the FBI. Did Andie’s real job include getting close to him so she could get details about his past life? About Milton and his connection to the underground ring he left behind? Or perhaps she’d known about it all along.
In retrospect, Andie had been highly perceptive when it came to Milton’s past. She’d been the first to suggest that he’d been hiding here at Haven Hills. Was that because she’d already known? Maybe the crime ring was at it again, wanting to finish off the entire family line.
Betty lifted a finger to gain his attention as he drove. “I’m not going to pester you all day and I know you’ll do what you want to do either way, but I told you so that you could confront her and get the truth. Running off without giving her a chance to explain—that would be a real cowardly thing to do. I expect a lot more of you than that.”
Talk to Andie, huh? Did Trenton even need to if he’d figured it all out on his own? Why confront her now—so she could just lie to his face even more? And even if shedidfess up and let him in on whatever it was she was doing here under the false pretense, it wouldn’t change the fact that her stay there was temporary.
And that’s what hurt most of all.
Well,hisstay was temporary too. In fact, Trenton’s was over completely. Come tomorrow, he’d be all cleared out of his home and headed for greener pastures. Sure, he’d have to make arrangements for his livestock, bring on another ranch hand or two in his absence, but that’d be fine by him.
Trenton didn’t want to see Andie or her fake family ever again. Sure, he once thought she could be part of his future. Instead, Andie would be only one more figure from his past.
Chapter 21
Warm rays of sunlight beamed through Andie’s windshield as she headed down the quiet street. With one hand securing the wheel, Andie stretched her left arm out the open window of the small sedan she’d purchased last month. It was a humble and practical car, black with faux leather seats, but she loved it all the same.
It had taken Andie some time to discover what she wanted to add to The Homestead to make it her own, but the idea had finally come to her, and she couldn’t wait to share it with Trenton. Yes, he was busy fishing for the day, but if the timing was right, she’d get there just before he returned.
And if he took a little longer to get back, Andie wouldn’t mind. She enjoyed being at Trenton’s ranch. Especially on warm days like this where she could sit on one of his rocking chairs and take in the stillness, the beauty, and the breeze.
She imagined the two of them, many years from now, lounging as a group of little ones played in the yard. It was crazy, but as Andie reflected on her time at The Homestead Inn, she realized that none of it would have ever happened if Grandpa hadn’t done what he did. After struggling for months to forgive him, Andie had done much more than that. Now, she was actually grateful for what he’d done. It’s what led her to Trenton McGrath.
She put her mind back on the plans she’d made. Trenton might not be too surprised by them, seeing that he knew she’d lived a pampered life before. But her intent went beyond bringing old luxuries back into her life. What she truly hoped was to provide a taste of that luxury to the guests of The Homestead.
Andie had met enough families to see that not many mothers took time to do things for themselves. Why not offer some quiet moments of reprieve? A steam room, a dry sauna, and a few massage and facial options too.
The interior designer in her came to life as she’d considered the perfect way to keep in line with The Homestead’s unique, country shabby chic charm. It would be a separate dwelling of its own, just beside the small workout center. It was so small, in fact, that Andie considered lettingthattake the focus, but Richard or Emmitt could do that if they wanted; they were the ones complaining about the lack of weights and equipment.
A new burst of excitement shot through her as she pictured the mockup version she’d drafted. It had taken her back to her school days, using a blend of colored pencils and pastel markers to complete the computer layout of her design. And now, it was time to see what Trenton thought about it.
