Charlotte was quiet for a minute as she navigated through town and drove out the other side. “What if they think I tried to connive my way into their family? All I was trying to do was feel out Gavin, see if he’d be the kind of person who’d want to know he had a secret sister. But now it seems like I’ve become tangled up with the whole family!”
“You’ve gotten tangled up because they’re very welcoming people. And if they give you half a chance, they’ll get to know you and see that your motives were pure.”
She blinked rapidly in response.
Gunner turned to stare out the window at the passing scenery, giving her a little privacy. If the Robinsons reacted negatively to Charlotte’s secret, he wouldn’t sit by and let them make her feel bad.
A few minutes later she turned into the ranch and proceeded up the drive. Twilight draped over the rolling pasture, and the moon hung over the silhouetted mountaintop. She’d been awfully quiet the past few minutes.
When she pulled up to the barn, she shut off the engine.
“Sorry if I spoke out of turn. I don’t normally jump into other people’s business like that.”
She slid him a sideways glance. “Let’s face it, I invited you into my business. And to be honest, it’s nice to talk about it with someone. My sister—she doesn’t understand. And my best friend, Brianna, has a lot going on right now with her grandma. I don’t want to burden her with this.”
“Well, it’s no burden to me. I don’t mind being a sounding board.” He removed his buckle. “Or keeping you company if you still want to head down to Weaverville tomorrow night.”
She gave a long sigh and stared out the windshield as if she might find answers out there somewhere. “I still want to see if it’s him. I still want to find him. Does that make me selfish?” She turned to find him in the dimness of the cab.
“You couldn’t be selfish if you tried, Charlie.”
Her lips lifted in a grin that went wider as their gazes held.
“What? What’s that look for?”
“No one’s ever called me Charlie before.”
He hadn’t realized he’d done that. But now that she mentioned it... he had been thinking of her by that name sometimes. When he thought of her. And that happened more often than he cared to admit.
He opened his mouth to apologize for the informality.
“I kinda like it,” she said. Then without another word she exited the vehicle.
Seventeen
Charlotte twisted the seat belt’s shoulder strap. Her palms grew sweatier with each mile. Was she about to meet her biological father? What would he think of her? Maybe she should’ve worn something nicer than a scoop-neck tee and jeans. She’d been thinkingcomfort—and heaven knew she could use that about now—but maybe she should’ve been thinking about making a good impression.
“Doing all right over there?” Gunner asked from behind the wheel. When he’d noticed how nervous she was, he offered to drive.
“I feel sick to my stomach.”
“Should I pull over?”
“No. I’ve been anticipating this for days, and I just want to get it over with. It probably won’t even be Craig working the register.”
“Is that what you’re hoping for?”
She gave him a wobbly smile. “I have no idea.” She’d been praying about this ever since she’d seen his name in the newspaper.I could really use Your help. Copy that, God?
“I noticed you got a new tire,” he said as they passed the spot where she’d broken down.
“It didn’t set me back too much.” Still, it was an expense she hadn’t counted on. She really needed business to pick up, but she was doing all she could to get the word out about the grand opening. “How’s it going with Midnight?”
“He’s coming around a bit. But he’s still a loner where the other horses are concerned.”
“Maybe they just need to earn his trust. It’ll take some time.”
“He may have been rejected by his last herd—or maybe he just prefers being alone.”
