When the Glitter Fades (Cowboys of Whispering Winds) (16 page)

“We’ll know in a few months. I’ve been in talks and have a good lead on a stock contract.  If we can win it, the deal could be lucrative, but the competition is tough. We have an advantage, because Whispering Winds’ broncos have made a name for themselves at the local rodeos so we have a jumping off point.”

Lanie’s lips twisted. “Will that mean more traveling?”

“Some, yes. We’ll need a team to transport and care for them. Shorty and Trevor volunteered to cover the bulk of it since they’re single, but Jase and I will still have to go at times.” He saw the concern in her eyes, and it stung. He sought to reassure her.  “I’m not that person. I’m not going to stray if I have to go away. I’m not going to cheat. Period. ”

She looked startled and he wondered if he’d read her wrong. Her hand reached to his. “The thought didn’t cross my mind. I was thinking more about how empty the bed will be without you,” she told him with a devious grin.

What a relief, but he looked forward to the day the past didn’t haunt him. Lanie and he stood at the same time. She gave him a quick kiss before gathering her purse. “I’ll see you later. Stop by for lunch if you have time. Cook will have it ready at noon.”

“I’ll try. Have a good one.”

A few minutes later, he was out the door also, with a full thermos of coffee in hand. Winter was setting in, but the cold air invigorated his body against the few hours of sleep he’d had last night.  Jase was already in the stable, nailing a shelf up to one wall in the tack room.

“Need help?”

“Can you hold this end up for me?” His voice lacked its usual bite.

Taking the indicated end, Jeremy held it steadily against the wall, while Jase hammered nails to the attached bracket on the other end. “Thanks for keeping Cody yesterday.”

“No problem. He’s a fun kid; we like having him.”

“Hand me the hammer, I’ll get this side.”

“Lanie told me about your dad.”

Jeremy tensed his arms. “No one was supposed to know.” He pounded the nail with unnecessary force.

“I’m not going to tell anyone. She called while you were filling up on the way home, felt she had to explain getting back so late. I’m sorry your dad’s going through that and all the rumors we believed.”

“Thanks,” he muttered apathetically, not yet willing to trust Jase’s change of heart.

“I want to put an extra shelf on each wall and get everything up off the floor,” Jase told him, explaining his plan of action. “I don’t want anything on the floor that will invite critters in to find warm homes for the winter. How’s your leg feeling? Up to climbing a ladder?”

“It’s fine. What did you have in mind?”

“We’re replacing the netting around the rafters to keep the birds from coming in and nesting. There’s too many holes in what’s up there now to be effective. If you can tear the old stuff down, I’ll help string up the new netting when I finish the last shelf.”

“Where am I putting it?”

“My truck’s parked out back. Throw the old stuff in the bed. I’ll be making a stop at the landfill before going to pick up a load of salt. Trevor and Shorty are out now, getting a load of sand.”

“Just in time for the snow coming up in the forecast,” Jeremy commented.

“Surprised we haven’t seen any yet.”

The conversation came to a natural end. Jeremy grabbed the ladder and went to work bringing down the old netting. The morning passed without much to note, the men involved with their preparations. Shortly before noon they broke for lunch. Before going in to Lanie, he gave his phone a cursory glance.

A voicemail from Seth.

Good news. The board was able to convene on short notice. They want the lease. They’ll agree to the ten years, but will only do six months upfront. Still win-win situation. Call me.

The man was more obnoxious than an itch on the bottom of a booted foot, but he worked fast.  Six months up front would give the money needed to pay off most Whispering Winds tax debt. The difference he could cover from his own account, and he wasn’t up for playing hardball.  Returning Seth’s call, he listened impatiently to the ringing.

“Didn’t I tell you I’d get the ball rolling?

The man was entirely too eager for Jeremy’s liking. He reminded Jeremy of a fat cat eyeing his next meal. Or a weasel. “How soon can we get this done?”

“I can draw the papers up today. If everything’s agreeable to both parties, it’s just a matter of signing them.”

“Email the documents for review when you’re done.  I’ll forward them to my attorney and have him read them. Connect with Helping Hands, do the same for them,” Jeremy dictated, maintaining control. “Make an appointment at your office to complete the transaction the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. I want to enjoy the holidays with this behind me.”

“You bet. I’ll have them over by this evening.”

Jeremy could picture the man rubbing his hands together, envisioning the hefty finder’s fee he’d have coming his way.  Ending the call, he went inside to find Lanie, who was in the main dining room, sitting at a table with Allie, Jase, Trevor and Lexie.  He slid into the empty seat beside Lanie, grabbing a chip off her plate.

“You’ll still be joining everyone for Thanksgiving dinner, right?” Allie asked Lanie.

“Why wouldn’t I?

“Just making sure. Didn’t know if you two had private plans this year.”

Lanie looked at him.  “We don’t, do we?”

Actually they hadn’t talked about it, but he’d assumed they’d spend it with her family.  “It’s been years since I’ve had Cook’s Thanksgiving Dinner.  I’m not about to pass up a meal like that.”

“I heard my name,” Cook spoke loudly, coming out from the kitchen. He laid a plate with a thick sandwich and pile of homemade potato chips, in front of Jeremy. “Next time, the latecomer’s on his own.”

“Thanks for the exception, Cook,” he replied, not bothering to hide his smirk. Everyone knew the man was more bark than bite.

“While you’re all here, are there any special requests for the big day? Speak now or forever hold your piece.”

“The usual is good for me,” Jase answered, followed by murmurs of agreement from the others.

“The meal will be served promptly at two on Thanksgiving afternoon. No one be late.” Cook gave a pointed stare toward Jeremy, sending guffaws around the table and an elbow nudge from Trevor.

Taking a large bite from the roast beef sandwich, he listened to the conversation around him. Whispering Winds was becoming home, but he still had the house outside Rawlins. Lanie and he had talked about the future, but not in definite terms. There was an understanding that they’d be together in a permanent relationship, but there hadn’t been talk of remarrying, or where they would live. They’d been content to coast along, still rediscovering the other; after all, it had only been a month and it was impressive they’d even made it to where they were. Regardless of the progress, he wasn’t naive. Soon they’d have to have an open dialogue about the future and make some decision.

“Is there something going on between you and Trevor?” Allie asked Lexie while they were up in the attic sorting through Christmas decorations.

Lexie appeared nervous to answer the question. “Why do you ask?”

“Because you both are obvious in your attempts to avoid eye contact,” Lanie explained. “A sure sign that there’s something amiss.”

Looking back and forth between the two, Lexie hesitated. “We’ve gone out a few times.”

“And?” Lanie and Allie both asked at the same time.

“And nothing. We decided that a relationship wouldn’t work out between us.”

Allie grabbed a box from an abandoned dresser. “No spark?”

“Oh, there was spark,” Lexie came back with vigor, then blushed at her outburst.

“Then what’s the problem?” Lanie prodded.

“I can’t be distracted from my brother.”

“Good grief, Lexie. That is the flimsiest excuse I’ve ever heard because I know you better,” Allie chided.

“Trevor’s a good man,” Lanie defended. “I’m sure he understands your obligation to your brother.”

“He does.”

Lanie and Allie both stopped what they were doing and stared at Lexie, waiting for the real answer.

“I really don’t want to talk about Trevor. Can we talk about something fun?”

Exchanging a glance with Allie, Lanie picked up a tinsel tree from the box she was sorting through. “Who brought this hideous thing here in the first place? I’m tossing it. Every year we run across it and every year we talk about how it’s the ugliest thing we’ve seen.” She carried the old tree over to the top of the stairs and dropped it into the box of items to discard, which was almost filled.

Allie marched over and grabbed it right back out of the box. “I don’t think so.”

“Really Allie? Even you admit that it’s hideous.”

“It is, but it has memories.”

Arching an eyebrow, Lanie asked, “like what?”      

“When we were little, Jase would put my present under this tree so I’d always know which one was from him.”

“Pregnancy is making you too sentimental,” Lanie charged, but didn’t say anything else about getting rid of the tree.

“I think it’s sweet,” Lexie piped up.

“Don’t you have anything like that about Jeremy?”

Lanie stopped to think. Did she? She couldn’t think of anything and that depressed her.  The first time around, their lives had been so busy and hectic, constantly on the go. Maybe if they’d focused more on each other, they’d have had more than the fire burning between them to sustain their relationship.  The past didn’t matter anymore. What did matter was that this time they were already doing a better job of building their relationship.

“No, I don’t think so. But you and Jase have also known each other your entire lives; of course you’d have those things,” she added trying to reconcile the lack of sentimental keepsakes from her relationship with Jeremy.

“Alright girls, I think we’re done here,” Allie announced.  “Lexie, can you carry down the box of items we’re not keeping.  I can’t believe it took us this long to finally clean some of the old holiday items out of here. Lanie, could you help me carry this box down? I’ll send the guys up to bring down the rest.”

“Where do you want them once they’re down?” Lexie asked.

“In the office for now. We’ll keep them there until we decorate Friday morning. Are you going to be able to help us?”

“I wouldn’t miss it. Since I won’t be spending Thanksgiving Day here, I won’t feel so much like I’m missing out on the festivities.”

At Whispering Winds, decorating for Christmas the Friday after Thanksgiving was an annual tradition; one that everyone involved with the ranch in any way, whether employee, family or friend, was invited to participate in.  By Friday afternoon, the ranch would became a winter wonderland. In years past, they’d put on an elaborate light display throughout the grounds; but this year it was being scaled back due to financial strains.

“Go on ahead of me, Allie. If I go down the steps backwards, I can get the box by myself, sliding it one step at a time. Both of us carrying it will just make it more awkward and the last thing we need is you falling down the stairs,” Lanie told her sister-in-law. The time she was pregnant with Cody and fell down a flight of stairs still brought back horrible memories. She’d been further along than Allie currently was and terrified she’d hurt Cody. Fortunately, no damage had been done, but she didn’t want to put Allie at risk.

Allie was posed to object, then shut her mouth. “Is this what I have to look forward to for the next seven months?”

“Only because we love you,” Lanie shot back with a smile.

The two boxes and three woman made it down the attic stairs and from the second floor to first floor without any incident. 

“You’re officially off work until Friday,” Allie told Lexie once the boxes were in the office. “If you change your mind about Thursday, you’re always free to join.”

“Thanks but I’ll be at the hospital with Rylan. Of all times, he needs me on the holidays.” Lexie blinked back a tear.

Lanie stepped forward and gave her a hug. “He’s a trouper. Give him our love.”

“I will.” Lexie gathered her things and left.

“Makes our troubles here not seem so bad, doesn’t it?” Allie said.

“I know. I wish there was more we could do for her and Rylan.”

“There is one thing…” Allie trailed off.

“Spill it.  I know how your ideas often end up.”

“This is a good one, I promise; but it would involve Jeremy.”

“Oh? What are you thinking?” Lanie sat casually on the edge of Allie’s desk.

“When Lexie first found out your connection with Jeremy, she mentioned Rylan’s a huge fan. I thought you could talk to Jeremy, see if he’d be willing to visit Rylan.”

She perked up. “That’s a great idea. I’m sure he’ll go for it. When do you think? It will take a whole day with the driving, so we have to find a day he’s not needed here.”

Allie laughed at Lanie’s enthusiasm.  “Why don’t you talk to Jeremy first and make sure he’s willing.  If so, we’ll talk to Lexie and find out when would be a good time.”