Their Ranch Reunion

The corners of his mouth slowly lifted as he wagged a finger her way. “You had me going for a second.”

Looking up, she sent him a mischievous grin. “Good.”

She moved back toward the island, glad she had potatoes to keep her busy for a few minutes. Was it her imagination or did Andrew’s brown eyes seem a touch lighter tonight? Like coffee with a splash of cream. Maybe it was the blue-gray mix in his flannel shirt. Whatever the case, it might be best if Megan kept him occupied for a while.

When they sat down to dinner a short time later, Andrew surveyed the table. “This is quite the spread.” His gaze settled on Carly. “I wasn’t expecting you to go to all this trouble.”

Again, her insides betrayed her, quivering at his praise. “No trouble.”

“Yeah. My mommy cooks like this all the time.”

Suspecting her daughter was attempting a little matchmaking, Carly added, “Not all the time. And we rarely eat in the dining room.”

He glanced about. “That’s a shame. This is a nice room.”

“Oh, it gets plenty of use with the bed-and-breakfast.” She eyed her daughter across the table. “Shall we pray?”

After dinner, Andrew followed through with his promise and taught Megan Livie’s favorite card game while Carly cleaned up the kitchen. Not only was she surprised by his patience with Megan and the gentle way he encouraged her, she greatly appreciated it. While Dennis had been a good father, he always seemed to have more time for his work than he did for his family. A fact that had Carly practicing the art of overcompensation long before his death.

With the dishes done, Carly joined them in the dining room.

She smoothed a hand across her daughter’s back. “I hate to put the kibosh on your fun, but tomorrow is a school day.”

“But I’m beating him. Please, can we finish this game?”

As much as Carly wanted to resist, to tell Megan it was time for Andrew to leave, she didn’t have the heart. “Go ahead.”

Fifteen minutes later, with her first win under her belt and promises of a rematch, a happy Megan scurried off to get ready for bed.

Andrew pushed his chair in as he stood. “Think we could talk for a minute?”

“Um...” Carly’s body tensed. While she had planned to reissue her offer to purchase his half of Livie’s house, she wasn’t sure she had the energy tonight. Then again, maybe he’d had a change of heart and was willing to accept her offer. “Okay. Let’s go out front.”

He followed her through the living room, past the carved wooden staircase and Victorian-era parlor chairs. “You’ve got a bright kid there. She’s a fast learner.”

Carly tugged open the heavy oak and leaded glass door. “I’ve always thought so.”

Outside, the chilly evening air had her drawing her bulky beige cardigan around her. Moving to the porch swing, she sat down and stared out over the street. Once upon a time, she used to dream of finding someone who would sit with her and hold her hand while they talked about their day, the way her parents always had. Like she and Andrew used to do. And Dennis was too busy to do.

Now she knew better than to dream.

To her surprise, though, Andrew joined her on the swing. Close enough that she could feel the warmth emanating from his body.

“This has been a full day,” he said.

If she thought her mind was muddled before he sat down... “Yes, it has.” And she could hardly wait for it to be over.

He stretched his arm across the back of the swing, his long legs setting them into motion as he surveyed the neighborhood without saying a word.

For a split second, she wondered what he would do if she were to lean into him and rest her head on his shoulder. Would he wrap his arm around her and hold her close, the way he used to? Or would he push her away?

Feeling the cold seep into her bones, she pushed to her feet. “What was it you wanted to talk about?”

He hesitated a moment before joining her. Took in a deep breath. “I’m willing to pay you the full value of the house for your half.”

Her jaw dropped. “Do you have any idea how much property values have risen around here?”

He shrugged. “I can afford it.”

His words sparked a fire in her belly. He hadn’t changed a bit. With Andrew, everything was about money. Making it, having it... Just like her late husband had been.

Well, he’d sorely underestimated her.

“I don’t care if you offer me a million dollars. There are some things that just can’t be bought. Including me.”

Refusing to listen to another word, she stormed into the house and slammed the door behind her.

* * *

By noon the next day, Andrew was at his wit’s end. Carly’s adamant refusal last night, coupled with his former admin assistant’s acknowledgment that a certified letter from Ouray had indeed come for him a few months back and was left on his desk, had him more confused than ever.

Tucked in a corner booth at Granny’s Kitchen, a local diner he remembered as The Miner’s Cafe, he listened to the din of the early lunch crowd and pondered what remained of his burger and fries. One would think he’d be used to Carly’s rejection by now. At least last night’s dismissal hadn’t stung as much as when she’d refused to marry him.

He sighed, dipped a french fry into some ketchup and popped it in his mouth. Seventeen years later, he still wasn’t sure what had gone wrong. But last night revealed something he hadn’t expected. Despite everything, Carly still held a very special place in his heart. Simply being near her stirred up what-ifs and could-have-beens.

Rather absurd, if you asked him. They didn’t even know each other anymore. Besides, he was headed back to Denver just as soon as he finished Grandma’s house. And he knew all too well how Carly felt about the big city.

His phone vibrated in his pocket. He wiped his hands and slid out the device, happy to see his attorney’s name on the screen.

He pressed the phone against his ear. “Hey, Ned.”

“Judging from all the missed calls I have from you, I’m guessing you’re eager to talk to me.”

“Yes.” He straightened in the wooden bench. “I was beginning to think you were avoiding me.”

Ned laughed. “Sorry, buddy. I didn’t think you’d be in need of my services so soon. Don’t tell me you’re bored with Ouray already.”

Surprisingly, Ouray had been anything but boring this time around.

“No, but I do have a problem.” He pushed his plate aside and proceeded to explain the change to his grandmother’s will. “Is there any way I can get this will revoked and the original reinstated?” He reached for another fry, awaiting his lawyer’s response.

“Was your grandmother of sound mind? Did she have dementia or anything?”

“Not that I’m aware of.” Though given her decision to split the ownership of the house, he was beginning to wonder. If it had been one of his brothers, he could understand it. But Carly wasn’t family.

“Then it’s highly unlikely you’d be able to get it overturned.”

Andrew wadded his napkin, tossed it on the high-gloss wooden tabletop and raked a hand through his hair. He’d anticipated as much. Still...