But her choices, like her salary, were limited. She had to live with her mother until she could make better arrangements.
Clark was watching her with open sympathy. “She probably doesn’t even remember saying it,” he murmured. “Drunks aren’t big on memory.”
She glanced at him, curious. “How would you know that?”
He hesitated, but only for a minute. “After Boone’s fiancée threw him over, he went on a two-week bender. He didn’t remember a lot of the things he said to me, but I’ve never forgotten any of them. The crowning jewel,” he added with taut features, “was that I’d never measure up to him and that I wasn’t fit to run a ranch.”
“Oh, Clark,” she sympathized. She could only imagine being a man and having Boone as a big brother to try to live up to. Those were very big shoes to have to fill.
“He sobered up and didn’t remember anything he’d said to me. But words hurt.”
“Tell me about it,” Keely sympathized.
He turned to her. “We’re both in the same boat, aren’t we? We’re people who don’t measure up to the expectations of the people we live with.”
“Winnie and I think you’re great just the way you are,” she replied doggedly.
He laughed, surprised. “Really?”
“Really. You’ve got a wonderful sense of humor, you’re never moody or sarcastic and you’ve got a big heart.” Her eyes narrowed. “If I’d told you that Bailey needed emergency care immediately, you’d have packed him into the car and taken him right to the vet.”
He sighed. “Yes, I guess I would have.”
“Boone thought it was a pitiful plea for attention on my part,” she added sadly. “I guess my mother’s said a lot of things to him about me.”
“Apparently. She doesn’t like you, does she?”
“The feeling is mutual. We’re sort of stuck together until I can get a raise or a second job.”
“How would you manage a second job?” he asked.
“Getting away from my mother’s constant abuse would make me manage. I can’t imagine living in a place where nobody makes fun of me.”
“You could work for me,” he suggested.
She shook her head. “Thanks, but no thanks. I want to be completely independent.”
“I figured that, but it didn’t hurt to ask.”
She smiled. “You really are a nice man.”
“I’ll pick you up next Saturday morning. We can go riding at the ranch. We might as well make a start at getting on Boone’s nerves,” he added with a dry chuckle.
“Take all his bullets away before I get there,” she pleaded.
“He’s not so bad,” he told her.
She shivered. “Sure he isn’t.”
The front door opened and Keely’s mother came out onto the porch. “Who’s that out there?” she drawled, hanging on to one of the supporting posts. She was wearing floral silk slacks with a fluffy pink robe. Her hair was disheveled and she looked sleepy.
“Don’t pay her any attention,” Keely advised Clark with a sad little sigh. “She doesn’t even know what she’s saying. I’ll see you next Saturday.”
“Thanks, Keely,” he told her with sincere affection.
She shrugged. “You’d do it for me,” she said, and smiled. “Good night.”
“Good night.”
