Return to Oak Valley (47 page)

Aware of Shelly in the loft, hoping she was hearing this damning conversation, Sloan murmured, “Suppose I agree. Once you leave here, you have no way of keeping me to my word. I could renege.”

“Hmm that's true, but you won't for two reasons; one if you give me your word, you'll keep it, and two…” Her eyes full of malice, she said, “And number two—if you were not to keep your word, I'd find another way to turn Shelly against you. And I could do it. Look how easily this little tableau was arranged.”

And Pandora bit her in the butt.

Chapter Twenty-Two

I
n the loft, her blouse clutched to her breasts, Shelly listened in amazement to Reba's words. The full significance didn't fully penetrate—at least not immediately—she was too shocked at the woman's gall. And furious!

Scrambling into the rest of her clothes, the light of battle in her eyes, she was preparing to charge downstairs when Reba's shriek rent the air. Curious as well as furious, Shelly stalked out of the loft and into a scene of bedlam.

Reba, naked breasts bouncing like balloons on a windy day, had leaped to her feet and was twisting around, slapping at her rear end. Sloan, his face alight with unholy glee, was attempting to grab Reba, and as Shelly approached, above Reba's screams she heard a noise that she imagined would come from a stuffed toy—a very angry stuffed toy.

“Get it off me!
Get it off me!
” shrieked Reba, her face contorted with fury.

“Give me a second,” Sloan said, choking back a laugh. “Pandora! Bad dog! Let go.” He said the right words, but his heart wasn't in it and Pandora, hanging by her teeth to Reba's nicely rounded butt, only growled more fiercely.

Shelly's own amusement bubbled up, and, trying to keep her face straight, she grabbed Pandora and tapped her smartly on the nose. Startled, Pandora let go of her victim and for one split second looked like she'd latch onto Shelly's hand. They eyed each other, then Pandora, deciding that Shelly was probably the lesser of two evils, turned to glare at Reba, still growling and ready to do battle.

Reba's face flamed as she met Shelly's amused eyes, and, snatching up her blouse, she put it on. Sending a lethal glance at Pandora and taking the offensive, Reba said, “I could sue you for what that vicious animal just did. And if there's any scarring, I
will
sue.”

Thoroughly enjoying himself now, Sloan grinned. “Of course, that's your right. But if you
did
, then we'd have to explain how you were half-naked and threatening me with blackmail when the, er, incident occurred. Might make it easier for Bob to get a better divorce settlement, don't you think?”

Eyes hard as diamonds, Reba stared at Sloan. “It would be my word against yours.”

“Ah, no, that's not true,” Shelly broke in. “You're forgetting that I was in the loft…and heard every word. I found the part about how Josh and Nancy parted Sloan and me especially interesting. Oh, and I'm so sorry that you and Bob are getting a divorce, but I don't really think that Sloan should help support you in a lifestyle you'd like to become accustomed to.” She smiled blindingly at Reba. “You see, poor Sloan is about to take on added responsibilities, and he'll need every penny he has.” Shelly walked over to stand next to Sloan, who promptly put his arm around her waist and pulled her tightly to him. With Pandora cuddled against her chest, Shelly looked at Reba, and murmured, “Since you seem to take such a big interest in Sloan's, ah, affairs, you should be the first to know—we're getting married. Soon.”

Aware that she had gambled and lost, only boredom showing on her face, Reba said, “Congratulations.” Brushing past them, she added, “You'll understand if I don't wish you well.”

The door slammed behind her, and Sloan and Shelly looked at each other and burst out laughing.

“My God,” Sloan said, “I knew the woman was ballsy, but I didn't know that they were made of brass!”

“I feel like sending her a thank-you note,” Shelly said, smiling at him. “Thanks to her, we now know exactly what happened that night seventeen years ago.” She pressed a light kiss on top of Pandora's little head. “And this young lady deserves her very own piece of steak. Wasn't she brave?”

Sloan scratched Pandora's ears. “No. She was jealous as hell and was staking out her territory—but I agree about the steak.” His eyes on Shelly's, he asked quietly, “How do you feel about learning about Josh's and Nancy's parts in our breakup?”

Shelly made a face and put Pandora down on the floor. “It's not the shock it could have been—Roman already warned me that Josh might have had a hand in the breakup.” Her expression pensive, she leaned into Sloan. “I always looked at Josh like he walked on water, and since I've come home, I've learned that not only did he
not
walk on water, but that he wasn't always a nice man.”

His arms around her, his cheek resting on the top of her head, Sloan murmured, “He was only human, honey. Just like us.”

“Oh, but Sloan, the years we lost.” She glanced up at him. “I'm sorry that I was such a fool and didn't give you a chance to explain.”

He kissed her. “We can't do anything about the past—we've only got the future. Let's make it a great one, shall we?”

Misty eyed, she smiled up at him. “Oh, yes! And it will be great, just because we're together.”

Naturally he kissed her again. And again. And again, which led to a slight detour into the loft….

When Roman arrived just after seven he found Sloan and Shelly sitting on the front porch, Pandora between them. They looked contented and happy.

A smile on his handsome face, Roman said as he walked up the steps, “So, anything interesting happen before I got here?”

They both laughed and rose to their feet. Shelly set Pandora down and put an arm through one of Roman's. “You're not gonna believe what happened,” she said, laughter dancing in her eyes. “Wait 'til you hear.”

Dinner was a happy affair, and the three lingered outside at the back of the cabin long after dark, just talking, enjoying the silence of the night and each other's company. It wasn't until Roman and Shelly were on their way home that Roman was able to ask Shelly how she felt about Reba's revelations about Josh.

He was driving, and, shooting a look in her direction, he asked, “You OK about Josh's part?”

Shelly smiled sadly. “I think so. It hurts. And I guess I'm bitter. But like Sloan said, we've got the future.” She looked across to Roman. “I feel such a fool for having worn blinders for so long where Josh was concerned.” She bit her lip. “And I get angry when I realize that if he hadn't died, if I hadn't come home, that Sloan and I would have never gotten together again…and for that I can't forgive him.”

“He's dead, Shelly. And you have to remember most of what he did was done for love of you. Never forget that he adored you. He wasn't trying to hurt you—in his mind, he was trying to make certain you didn't make a mistake. It could be argued he was trying to protect you.”

“Yeah, right.” She sighed. “I know. I know he loved me. And he tried to do his best, but sometimes…sometimes, you have to let people live their own lives—make their own mistakes.”

“Everything cool between you and Sloan?”

She smiled. “Everything is A-OK.”

“So, when's the wedding?”

“Couple of weeks.” She flashed him a look. “And that's all I'm telling you.”

Shelly woke Monday morning with a smile on her face. She hummed as she showered and dressed and fairly danced down the stairs on her way to the kitchen. Acey was in his usual place at the kitchen table; Roman sat across from him; Maria was turning pancakes; and Nick was pouring himself a cup of coffee.

There was an unmistakable glow on her face, and Nick grinned. “What, you won the Lotto?”

Since her announcement to Reba of their plans, Shelly and Sloan had decided that there was no chance of keeping their impending marriage a secret. The when and the where they could keep to themselves, but not the news that they would marry.

“Better,” she said, helping herself to coffee. “Sloan and I are getting married.”

“And this is a surprise?” Nick asked, one brow cocked. “Anyone with half a brain could see how things were between you.” He thought a moment. “Er, I know this is self-serving, but does your marriage change the plans for Granger Cattle Company?”

“No. The only change will be that you'll move here. Sloan doesn't want to live in this house, and I don't want it to sit empty.” Ignoring Nick's sudden intake of breath and Maria's gasp, Shelly went on calmly, “It's a good plan. You're the manager, and you get stuck with most of the physical work.” She smiled at him. “My work is more PR, telephone, paper, and office stuff. This place is where the action is—the breeding barns, the lab, the office, everything. You should be here—not stuck up on the mountain, miles away. You're
needed
here. I'll be living at Sloan's place, and I can drive in to take care of the office—some of it I can do at home. I don't see a problem, do you?”

Nick cleared his throat. “Uh, not exactly.” He leaned forward. “Shelly, are you sure?”

She smiled at him, affection in her gaze. “Yeah, I'm sure. This is where you belong—in more ways than one.”

Nick's face worked with emotion. He stood up, swallowing hard. “I, er,” he managed gruffly, “have to check some things in the barn.” And rushed from the kitchen.

She met Maria's brown eyes. They were not friendly. “It is not kind of you to encourage him,” Maria said grimly.

“And it is not kind for you to deny him the truth,” Shelly said bluntly.

Maria's mouth tightened, and she put down the spatula. Turning on her heel, she stalked out the back door.

“Well, there's goes breakfast,” Acey said, disgust evident. “Couldn't you have waited until she finished the pancakes?”

“I can cook pancakes,” Shelly said, standing up and going over to the stove. She glanced back at Acey. “Anything else you want to say?”

He smiled that slow, almost shy, kinda sly smile of his. “Congratulations. I hope you and Sloan will be very happy. And I think it's about time that Nick came into his own. He's a good boy. I'm glad you're doing the right thing.”

Shelly looked troubled. “Maria's not.”

Acey stood up, putting his hat on his head. “Don't you worry none about Maria. She'll come around—she loves Nick—most of her fussing is because she don't want to see him get hurt. And she knows she hasn't been fair about this whole thing—it's hard, sometimes, to get out of the corner you've backed yourself into. She'll do it. She loves you, and she loves her son. Don't fret.”

After Acey ambled out, Shelly looked at Roman. “You have anything you'd like to add?”

Roman grinned. “No way. I want those pancakes you're trying to burn.”

It proved to be a productive and busy morning. She and Nick packaged up the semen straws for shipment for DNA testing and took them into town to send overnight via UPS. They also sat down and worked out a breeding plan using the remaining straws in the semen tank—provided they were all viable, which was a real concern. The most pressing needs taken care of, after lunch and several phone calls, Shelly had the name of a physician in Santa Rosa who worked in the DNA field. He would take hers, Nick's and Roman's DNA samples and send them to a lab that specialized in that type of work.

Seated at the desk in Josh's old office, she stared off in the distance. Nick's words in the lab yesterday tumbled over and over in her brain. Hers and Roman's DNA would settle the question of whether or not Nick was a Granger, but it wouldn't prove that Josh had been his father—nothing would except Josh's DNA. Nick needed more than just the knowledge that he was a Granger. He needed to know that he was Josh's
son
. And while they would never be able to obtain a sample of Josh's DNA, she could, maybe, get a sample from someone more closely related to Nick than Roman. A lot more closely related. If they could get the sample…it would take them several steps closer to proving that Josh had fathered Nick. And if they could get Maria to tell the truth…Lots of ifs.

The phone rang, jerking her from her thoughts. It was Mike Sawyer in Ukiah.

“You are not going to believe this,” the lawyer said. “But Milo Scott was just in here, looking like he had been dragged through a knothole backward, I might add, and he said that he didn't want the lease. He told me to draw up whatever papers were necessary to void the lease, and that that would be the end of it.” Curiosity evident, he asked, “What did you do? Put the fear of God in him? After you beat him up?”

“Um, I don't know what you're talking about…but it's great news, isn't it?” Shelly said, thinking of Sloan's bruises.

She had barely put the phone down when the sound of a vehicle driving up to the back of the house had her wandering in that direction. Her pulse raced when she saw that it was Sloan.

Rushing up to greet him, she kissed him and batting her lashes, murmured, “My hero.” At his look, she said, “I just got off the phone with the lawyer, and guess what? Scott is canceling the lease. You wouldn't know anything about that, now would you?”

Sloan's bruises hadn't faded much, and he looked like a slightly battered tomcat. “Nah. Haven't a clue.” He bent his eye upon her. “But I do have a bone to pick with you…”

It was Shelly's turn to look surprised. “Me? I haven't done anything.”

“Funny, but I got a telephone call this morning from Principal Hickman. He wanted to thank me for my generous donation.” He gave Shelly a small shake. “The scholarship fund I so magnanimously funded? Ring any bells?”

Shelly grimaced. She peeped up at him. Toying with the top button of his brown plaid shirt, she muttered, “It's that damn right-of-way. You tore up the check, and I didn't see much use in giving you another one.”

“So you funded a scholarship in my name with the money?” he asked incredulously.

She smiled. “Yes, I did. Wanna fight about it?”

He laughed, shaking his head. “Am I marrying a woman determined to get her way or what?”

“You aren't angry?”

He pulled her into his arms. “Right now, not much could make me angry. I'm just too happy that things are good between us. You want to waste your money on setting up a scholarship in my name—go ahead.” He kissed her, his lips warm and compelling. “Forget about that damned right-of-way,” he muttered when he finally lifted his mouth from hers. “I paid Josh for it and while he may have skinned me, I'd have paid him double just to have one more thorn between our two families removed.”