Gift-Wrapped Family

“That’s quite a lot for me, actually,” Mia said pertly.

“But you could do much more.” Caleb turned off the highway toward Buffalo Gap and Riverbend Ranch. “You have opportunities now, Mia. You should take advantage of them.” When she didn’t immediately answer he glanced her way and found her studying him, a pensive look on her face.

“Opportunities like what?” she asked.

“Do you drive?”

“No. I don’t know how.” She shook her head, her amazing hair trembling with the motion. “My mother wasn’t in favor of me learning.”

“You were only seventeen then,” he reminded her. “Your mother probably thought she’d get you lessons later.”

“Maybe. Harlan didn’t want me to drive,” she said thoughtfully.

Caleb wasn’t surprised by that. Freedom to drive anywhere meant Harlan risked Mia seeing him with Reba.

“Why did you ask?” She studied him, her head tilted to one side.

“Wouldn’t now be a good time to take driving lessons? When you get your driver’s license you can buy a car.” Caleb watched her eyes flare, heard her gasp.

“I can’t afford a car!”

“I think if you ask Bella she’ll tell you that you can afford to buy a car,” he said, hiding his smile. So she still didn’t know. “Maybe two of them.”

“Why would I need two cars?” Though Mia frowned at him, she was clearly captivated by the possibility of learning to drive wherever she wanted to go. “I suppose I could learn to drive Harlan’s car, though it’s very big and fancy. I wouldn’t want fancy. I might ruin it.”

“A car can be fixed,” Caleb said, irritated that Mia was so willing to deny herself a simple thing that would bring her freedom. “If you like trees and open spaces, you should consider moving to the ranch.”

“I couldn’t do that.” Mia looked shocked by the idea. “It’s not mine.”

“It will be.” He took pity on her confusion. “I did some investigating. I was trying to figure out how to get some money for Lily from Harlan’s estate.”

“Oh.” Mia frowned at him, obviously troubled by his admission.

“I learned that the ranch is fully paid for. There is no mortgage or lien on it. Harlan is listed as the sole owner, so it will pass to you.” He paused for a moment. “If you lived there, you could have Lily visit.” He let out his pent-up breath, hoping she wouldn’t be repulsed by the idea of seeing her husband’s child.

“No, I couldn’t. I could never have Lily visit,” Mia said in a very firm tone.

Caleb stared, surprised by how adamant she sounded. He didn’t ask why. Mia’s world had already been turned upside down. He didn’t want to add to that now.

“Anyway, I thought you said she was being adopted?” she added.

“Actually, I didn’t say that. Abby Lebret runs Family Ties. She’s the one who will find Lily a home,” he said in his most calming tone. “I’m just trying to help. Don’t worry. Sooner or later Lily will have a family.”

“Everything is such a whorl.” Her confusion tugged at him. “Nothing is what I believed it to be, especially Harlan having an affair.” She blinked furiously. “I didn’t see that coming.”

“Because he didn’t want you to. Because you trusted him,” Caleb said. How could he have ever thought her capable of dissembling? “Don’t blame yourself. I’m sure he went to great lengths to make sure you didn’t suspect him.”

“Proof that I’ve been living in a fairy world.” Mia blew out a sigh that ruffled the hairs across her brow. “I feel like Alice in Wonderland after she fell down the rabbit hole. Everything is bewildering.” Fear crept across her face. “I should go home and wait until it’s all sorted out.”

“You can’t run away from the truth, Mia.” Caleb’s heart ached for her. It had to be horribly confusing to have your entire world turned upside down. “This is just a visit. You don’t have to decide anything. You’re only going to take a look at Riverbend.”

“I guess.” Mia gazed out the window with appreciation, repeatedly commenting on the glorious colors of the hillside foliage. “I wish I had my camera,” she said wistfully. “I’ll never remember these exact shades of red and orange.”

“Why do you need to?” Then Caleb remembered her paintings. “You can use my phone,” he offered, pulling to the side of the road. “I’ll email the pictures to you. You do have email?” he asked as an afterthought.

“Of course. I have to. That’s how I connect with my employers.” Mia’s impish grin made his heart rate pick up. “I don’t live completely in the Dark Ages, you know.”

“I never said—” Caleb took a second look at her face and chuckled. When he’d first met Mia he never expected her to be such a delight.

One that he wanted to know much better.

* * *

“I’ve probably drained your battery and clogged up your data space with all my pictures,” Mia said as she handed over Caleb’s phone. “But I just can’t get enough of these colors.”

“How will you transfer them to fabric?” he asked as he helped her back into his car.

“I’m not sure I can.” She smiled, feeling more carefree than she had felt in ages. “But I have to try. Those brilliant reds and oranges would make wonderful quilts combined with leafy greens and silvers, and those subtle shades of browns. Maybe if I—”

Realizing she was chattering, Mia went quiet, pretending to ignore Caleb’s searching look. He was a nice man, sometimes gruff and grouchy, but she was fairly certain that was a mask to hide his soft inside. She knew no one else who would have dived into her affairs, helped her find a lawyer and then taken her for this ride. With every mile her questions about Caleb Grant grew.

Suddenly Mia’s mind went blank as a lovely log home appeared before her, two stories with fence-post railings and a swing on the deck that exactly matched one she’d dreamed about in the days when dreams still seemed possible.

“Welcome to Riverbend Ranch,” Caleb said. She felt his stare even though she wasn’t looking at him.

“It’s so beautiful.” Mia gaped at the magnificent house. Set against a stand of dark green evergreens, the log home stood proudly, waiting to welcome whoever stepped through the massive door. She could feel its warmth and hospitality drawing her from here.

“Come on.” Caleb waited for her to exit the car, then shoved the door and grabbed her hand. “Let’s explore.”

Walking beside him, Mia felt funny, odd and yet somehow wonderful with her hand dwarfed in his. Tall, strong, dependable Caleb. Though leery of trusting anyone, she somehow felt Caleb Grant was the kind of man you could always depend on. Still, mistrust had taken root in the past few hours. She wasn’t going to depend on Caleb for anything more than some help.

“I grew up in a house like this.” He paused to gaze at the structure. “My parents still live there. I’ll take you to meet them sometime.”

Questions about Caleb’s family multiplied. Maybe someday she’d know him well enough to ask them. Her thoughts scattered at the sight of the roses climbing the railings.

“Aren’t they glorious?” Mia let go of his hand because his touch made her stomach woozy. She bent to inhale the scent of the whitest bloom. “Persians always smell the best.”

“You know roses?” Caleb looked surprised.

“I grow them in my back garden, though never as big as these.” She climbed the three front steps, turned and took in the view. “I can see for miles. So beautiful yet so odd.”

“Why odd?” Caleb sank down on one of the rockers.

“Harlan hated the outdoors, animals, anything not city. He liked sleek and modern, not oldie moldy, as he called it.” She shrugged. “Maybe he bought this place for Reba.” She turned to look at him. “Do you think so?”

“Why would he? Reba had a condo in Calgary. Besides, her name isn’t on the deed, only his. And he’s owned this place for several years.” He voiced his theory. “For the past three years there’s been an upswing in ranch sales around Buffalo Gap. I wonder if he hoped to resell this place for a nice profit over what he paid for it.”

Mia waited, realizing Caleb had something else to say.