Blue Ribbon Summer (The Baltimore Banners Book 3) (17 page)

"Kayli, it's not--"

"Don't." She cut him off before he could say anything, before he could tell her that his midnight visit and whispered words had nothing to do with any of it. Before he could lie to her.

Again.

She took a deep breath, then another, fighting for control when all she wanted to do was rail and scream. But the numbness still controlled her, muting the edges of her anger. And her pain.

She looked around the barn again, registering the mixed aromas of cattle, hay and dirt. Comfort smells, for as long as she could remember, in a barn that had been standing since her grandmother was a young girl.

A barn on property that had been in her family for generations. Property that no longer really belonged to her family.

But the pain of that loss still paled in comparison to the pain of knowing that Ian's words of love meant nothing. She took another deep breath and looked at a spot over Ian's shoulder, unable to look directly at him. "So, um, I don't have the money to buy you out, you know that. And I guess you'll want us out of here so--"

"Dammit Kayli, I don't...look at me!" He stepped toward her and reached for her arms, pulling her closer until she had no choice but to look at him. "I don't want the property! I don't want anything to do with any of it! I didn't do this for me. I did it for
you
."

She pulled out of his hold and took a step back, folding her arms across her chest and staring at him in silence. Ian shifted and ran his hands over his face, cursing under his breath.

"I told Jake this was a mistake."

"So you're saying this was all Jake's idea?"

"Yes. He's convinced that something is going to happen to him and he didn't want to worry about you and Lori after he deployed and...shit." Ian closed his eyes and stepped back, the color draining from his face.

"What did you just say?"

"Nothing."

"What did you just say, Ian?" The cold numbness morphed into dread and fear at the look on Ian's face. Kayli swallowed against the irrational panic building inside her. "Jake's been deployed again? When?"

"Kayli--"

"When?"

"A few days after he left here."

Kayli wrapped her arms more tightly around herself. Jake was overseas now, God only knew where, doing only God knew what. But she should have known. Jake talked to Lori once a week, usually over the computer, but neither of them had heard from him in the past ten days.

Which meant nothing. Absolutely nothing.

Kayli took another deep breath, forcing the panicked worry to a far corner of her mind, letting her building anger take its place. Jake had been overseas since he left, and Ian had known about it all along. And Ian now owned a third of her family's heritage. Her anger grew at the realization that was dawning on her.

"The last few weeks have been nothing but lies, haven't they?"

Ian straightened, his eyes focusing on hers. "What? No."

"Yes, they have. You lied about Jake. You lied about the property. You lied about...everything."

Ian shook his head in denial, but the guilt was clear in his eyes. "No, Kayli. Not everything. I wasn't lying when I told you I--"

"Don't." She held out her hand, cutting him off, unable to bear hearing him repeat the words. She took a step back, then another, her hand still held out in front of her as if that would stop him. "Just...don't. I don't need to hear any more of your lies."

"Kayli..."

She shook her head and looked around, searching for an escape. This barn had always been her refuge, her place to come to when she needed to be alone, to think.

Except it wasn't her barn anymore. It was Ian's. Bought and paid for with his money and a few lies.

Lies she had willingly believed.

Kayli cast one last look at him, at the desperation in his eyes, then turned and walked out of the barn. She kept to the shadows as she skirted the laughing crowd gathered around the bonfire, then quickened her pace as she headed back to the house.

Kayli pulled on the halter, coaxing the steer into the chute. She tied the halter off and tightened the latch, securing his head before reaching for the clippers. The steer startled at the sound, and Kayli murmured mindless words to calm him. This one was always a little skittish, and the loud sounds and large crowds at this year's fair didn’t help.

So she murmured more mindless words, ignoring the other sounds and smells and sights, even ignoring Lori and the twins in the stall next to her, talking quietly amongst themselves and shooting cautious glances her way.

Something they had been doing since they got here two days ago.

Kayli shook her head and tried to lose herself in the trimming and fitting, tried to get her mind empty of everything, tried to let the last few days just...disappear. Kayli told herself it should have been easy, that worse things had happened.

Her heart thought otherwise.

And it didn't help that Jake said she was overreacting.

She finally had a chance to speak with him yesterday--after sending him one short email the night of the bonfire.
I know you're not in Cali. Call me.

Jake had been surprised that Ian had told her about the property. He was even more surprised that Kayli was upset about it. He didn't view Ian's lying in quite the same light as she did, not when he considered it worthwhile if it meant protecting her and Lori.

She didn't bother to tell him that Ian had said he loved her. It was obvious that Jake was firmly entrenched on Ian's side. He wouldn't understand how she couldn't trust the words, not when they were uttered on top of all the lies. Jake was so wrapped up in making sure she and Lori were 'protected'.

"Dammit, I don't need protection!" She muttered the words on an angry breath and turned the clippers off. Lori and the twins turned to watch her, their expressions confused. She met Lori's gaze then quickly looked away, setting the clippers off to the side.

She pulled the comb from her back pocket and began brushing the steer out, her mind going back to her conversation with Jake. He told her he did it in case anything happened, that it was to protect her and Lori's interests. In the furthest reaches of her heart, she understood that, knowing that Jake didn't completely trust Cole, knowing how her parents had set up the stupid inheritance to begin with.

She understood that, and in some ways, she couldn't fault him for doing what he did. But for Jake to take such a drastic move and sign his ownership over to Ian on blind faith...how did he know that Ian wasn't going to turn around and sell it? Or decide to build a McMansion right smack in the middle of the place?

I trust him, Kayli. Don't you?

Jake's softly spoken question echoed in her memory. Did she trust Ian? Maybe the bigger question was: could she have allowed herself to fall in love with someone she
didn't
trust?

Kayli straightened from combing the steer and blew the hair out of her eyes, trying to release all her frustration and hurt and confusion in that single breath.

Because the answer was no. No, she wouldn't have fallen in love with someone she couldn't trust. But that didn't excuse the lies, no matter what the reason for them.

"Excuse me. I'm looking for Kayli Evans."

The feminine voice startled Kayli and she whirled in surprise, holding the comb in front of her like some pathetic shield. The woman standing in the aisle offered her an apologetic smile, then took a tentative step closer, her eyes surveying the surroundings before coming to a rest on Kayli. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you. I'm Bobbi Petrovich."

Kayli lowered the comb and quickly swiped her grime-covered hand on the rag hanging from the chute as the woman offered her own for a shake. Kayli was surprised at the strong grip of the cool fingers, surprised the woman didn't shy away from the dirt and hair clippings and manure surrounding them. "I'm Kayli. Is there something I can help you with?"

The woman stepped back and looked around again, her sharp eyes assessing. "Ian Donovan is my client. I came about the property. Is there somewhere we can go to talk?"

Kayli's breath froze in her lungs as the world shifted, throwing her off-balance. Was this her worst nightmare come true? It had to be. Why else would she be here?

She heard a surprised murmur and something that sounded suspiciously like a giggle from the stall next to her and she quickly glanced over her shoulder at the girls. All three suddenly seemed preoccupied with the deck of the cards they had been playing with. Kayli frowned at them, then turned back to the woman next to her.

She stared at the woman for a long minute then snapped to her senses, realizing the woman had asked to talk. She looked around her, trying to decide if she should say yes, trying to decide where to go for privacy if she did.

Then she decided she didn't really have time. It had nothing to do with denial, nothing to do with putting off the inevitable. If she didn't talk with the woman, then she wouldn't be able to hear whatever bad news she had come to deliver.

Kayli turned back to the girls, who still looked entirely too preoccupied with playing cards. "Sara, Shelly, where's your mom? It's almost time to show. Lori, could you get the other steer ready?"

"But Aunt Kayli--"

"No buts, Lori. Please?"

"Miss Evans, I understand you're busy but this really is important. I only need a few minutes of your time."

"I really don't have time, I need to be in the ring in a few minutes." Damned if she was going to stand on ceremony and let the woman mess up her schedule. She didn't have the time, or the inclination. Let her deliver whatever bad news she had and be done with it, she wasn't going to make it easier on her.

Kayli released the steer from the chute and ran the comb over him once more, then grabbed her show stick and began the walk to the ring. She looked back once to make sure Lori and the twins were following, wondering why they were so giddy, wondering where Bonnie was.

And wondering why the woman was walking along beside her.

But she had to give the woman credit: she didn't seem upset about Kayli's lack of manners. She merely kept pace with her and scrounged through her oversized bag, ignoring the piles of muck and manure on the floor as she pulled out a thick folder.

"Ian said you'd probably be busy so I won't keep you." She thumbed through the folder, then pulled out a folded set of papers. "I just wanted to make sure you got this."

Kayli stumbled to a stop, her eyes focused on the folded papers, her lungs burning from holding her breath. The woman stepped closer, the papers held out in front of her. She tilted her head to the side, watching, and Kayli realized she was waiting for her to take them.

Kayli switched the show stick to her right hand and reached her hand out for the papers. She wasn't surprised to see the trembling in her fingers, wasn't surprised that her heart beat loud and hard in her chest. Her hand closed around the thick stack and she cleared her throat, refusing to look down at them. "What's this?"

"The deed to the property."

Kayli's head jerked up, her gaze narrowing on the woman. "I'm sorry, excuse me?"

But the woman was already closing up her bag and hoisting the oversize thing over her shoulder. She paused and looked at Kayli, her eyes clear but assessing. "It's the deed to the property. Anything secured by the property has been paid, and your brother also accepted an offer to sell his portion. Ian has now signed it over to you."

"But...I don't understand. Why..." Kayli cleared her throat and finally looked down at the papers. Cole sold off his portion? And everything was paid off? It had to be a misunderstanding. Why would Ian...? She unfolded the sheets and scanned the pages, her vision swimming as she read the clear black print.

The property was deeded to Kayli Marie Evans. Her. Ian had signed everything over. To her. Kayli's eyes scanned the rest of the print. The papers were dated a week after Jake had left.

Before Ian had said he loved her.

She blinked against her blurred vision and looked back up. The woman was still watching her, her expression carefully blank. Kayli cleared her throat again and shook her head. "I don't understand. Why did Ian...I mean..." She didn't know what she meant, still couldn't quite believe what she was seeing with her own eyes. It didn't make sense.

"I'm sure Ian would be able to explain it better, but from what I understand, there was some concern about the safeguarding of the property. I believe Ian gave your brother his word that he would make sure nothing happened."

Kayli folded the pages, smoothing the crease over and over as her mind whirled in disbelief. In the background, she heard the announcer's voice over the speaker, calling all first place steers to the ring. She looked up and met the woman's steady gaze, then looked toward the ring and back at Lori, who was watching her carefully. Kayli cleared her throat and turned back to the woman. "I told him I couldn't afford to pay him."

"For...?"

"For...all of this. I can't afford to pay him back."

The woman sighed and adjusted the bag over her shoulder. Her smooth brow creased and Kayli could see her mind working...but she couldn't begin to imagine what the woman must be thinking. Which made her next words even more surprising.

"This is a gift, Ms. Evans. There's no repayment involved." Kayli opened her mouth to reply, but quickly closed it again at the expression in the other woman's eyes. Silence settled between them, and Kayli struggled to find the right words to break it. But the other woman spoke first, her words gentler than before.

"Perhaps we can speak more later. It looks like you need to go."

"I don't understand."

Bobbi shifted the bag, then motioned toward the ring. Kayli looked over, not really surprised that the other exhibitors were already lining up, not surprised that the woman had misunderstood her. Intentionally? But why?

Kayli shook her head, still reeling from the news as her body went on auto-pilot. She hastily shoved the papers in her back pocket with the comb and blindly led the steer into the ring, only vaguely aware that Lori was still standing with the other steer, that Bonnie was nowhere in sight.

But her mind wasn't really on the show ring, or the cattle, or anything else. She blinked her eyes against the moisture building in them and shook her head again, trying to clear it, trying to make sense of everything that had just happened.

Ian had signed the property back over to her. All of it. According to the woman in front of her, it was a gift. Hers, free and clear. No repayment expected or necessary.

That should have made Kayli happy. Ecstatic even. It meant she had less to worry about, less to keep her up at nights. It meant just a little more security for Lori down the road.

She should have been happy. So why was she suddenly filled with a bitter sense of loss?

Kayli swallowed and tried to push all those thoughts out of her head, tried to focus on setting the steer. Shoulders back, head up, eyes on the judge...

Except the judge wasn't even looking her way. In fact, he wasn't looking at any of the exhibitors. His attention was focused behind them, at the entrance of the show ring where some commotion was erupting.

Kayli refused to look behind her, using the time to try to compose herself. But the grumbling and shouts grew louder, punctuated by several giggles and girlish laughter.

"But Uncle Ian, you don't know what you're doing!"

Kayli stiffened at the voice, ringing so clear across the noise. It couldn't be...

She had to be imagining things. It wasn't possible. Kayli didn't want to turn around but she was helpless to stop herself, as helpless as the rest of the exhibitors who were now turning to see what was going on.

Ian was walking into the ring, leading the other steer. And if she hadn't known it was him, she would have had to do a double-take. In fact, she nearly did. He was dressed like many of the other exhibitors: jeans, boots, and plaid shirt. He held the steer's halter lead in his right hand and a show stick in his left, and walked the steer toward her. His eyes never left hers, even as he stopped beside her and set the steer.

Correctly.

Kayli swallowed and tried to look away but his gaze held hers with such a serious intensity that she couldn't. She was aware of the commotion still going on behind them, not as loud as before--except for the girlish giggling that had followed Ian into the ring.

"Ian." Kayli's voice caught in her throat, making his name come out in a hoarse whisper. "What...what are you doing here?"

His steer tossed his head and Ian pulled on the lead then reset him, using the show stick as if he had done this kind of thing before. He nodded at the judge, who was watching both of them with unshielded curiosity.

"So am I doing this right?"

"Uh, yeah. Yes. But Ian..." Her voice drifted off and she looked around them, noticed that the attention of everyone in the ring--and around it--was on them. "I don't...how..."

"I guess I actually picked up something all those days watching you with the girls." He offered her a small smile, just the briefest lift of the corners of his mouth, but his eyes were serious, the expression in them solemn and intent. "I'm not an idiot, Kayli, but I am an ass. I should have told you the truth. I'm sorry."