First Last Chance, page 14
“Hey,” she said, giving him a smile as he turned to watch Lisa.
“She okay?”
“Lisa?” Ashley watched her too. “Yeah. I think she will be. I’m taking her out for lunch in a bit, do some shopping. You want to come along?”
“Hell no.” She got a big grin. “I want to show you something, though.” Cody tugged her over to the barn and opened the door to flip on the light.
“Wow, Cody.” Ashley went in. “This…this is some music studio.” She’d forgotten about how he’d grown up with a guitar never far away, although it had been locked away in a case lately. Ashley gazed around at the posters covering the walls and the electronic equipment set up in one corner.
He glanced over at the guitar resting against some speakers. “Been tough getting back into it all. I wanted it to be a secret until it was finished. Dad and I laid the carpet and painted the walls.” He went over and turned some knobs on a sound system. “Thomas and Ed said they would come over sometimes to practice. We’re hoping to start a rock band.” He shrugged. “Maybe we’ll get to play locally.”
“Okay. Let’s hear what you’ve got.” She got comfortable on a guitar seat.
“You sure? I’m rusty.” He picked up his guitar and ran his fingers over a couple of strings.
“Oh yes.” She needed the distraction.
Giving a grin, he played a song she didn’t recognize, but his skill had come on since last time she’d heard him.
“Not that rusty, I see.”
He laughed. “Maybe not.” He pulled his phone from his pocket and checked the time. “Sorry, I’ve gotta get my homework done before dinner.”
“What you doing?”
“Math.”
Ashley got to her feet. “Well, let me know if you need any help. It’s kind of my area.”
“Oh yeah,” he said with a wide grin, and Ashley rolled her gaze at all the cheek that came out with maybe get out of doing it himself.
She levelled a finger his way. “Professor of,” she said, adding a narrow of eye. “One who knows how to make you work it out yourself.”
“No mates rates?” He looked so much like Susan in that moment.
“Okay, maybe one, but only one, mind.”
His laugh played around her as Ashley pulled up the collar of her coat against the cool breeze blowing down from the north while Cody closed the barn door. They walked back to the house and Cody rushed upstairs no doubt to tug Lisa down to his studio, so Ashley headed to the library to grab a book. As she pulled a novel from the library shelf, voices echoed in the hallway then entered the library. She turned to greet them, but Gabe and Lisa hadn’t seen her and went to stand by the fireplace. She looked around for another way to leave unseen, let Cody know Lisa was in here, but there wasn’t a way out behind her. Feeling like an intruder, she stayed where she was.
Gabe took Lisa’s hand in his and looked awkward, as if holding it would break her too somehow. “You all right?” He always had this quiet calm around family.
Lisa gave a hard sigh and hugged him. “I’m trying to be.”
“Yeah, I know, kid. How’d it go at the docs?”
Lisa had told him she was going? That she was pregnant?
“Scared me.” She buried her head in his chest. “Relieved…made me want to throw up, then not at the same time.” A few tears streaked her cheeks. “You disappointed in me?”
“What?” Gabe placed his chin on the top of her head. “Commit murder and I’d still blame the cop for catching you.” He eased into a smile. “No, never disappointed. Just worried.” He pulled back and looked at her. “Love you, kid.”
She nodded. “Dr. Thompson said the test was a false positive. Said it happens sometimes.”
“You went alone?” Gabe eased her over to one of the chairs in front of the fireplace, and Ashley tried to shrink further into the corner.
“No.” Lisa rubbed roughly at her cheeks. “Ashley went with me. She’s taking me out for a few hours.”
A soft smile crept up on Gabe’s lips. “Yeah, I thought she might.” He searched her look. “Not your dad?”
“No.” Lisa stiffened. “He doesn’t know. Don’t tell him, okay? Me and Michael had a long talk. We’re not ready for something like this. I mean, I like him but...”
“Yeah.” Gabe sighed and pulled her in. “You need time to grow into who you are without me telling your dad.”
“How’d you find out?”
Ashley turned her ear. So Lisa hadn’t told him about the appointment and pregnancy.
Gabe looked down. “I was the one who found your test, remember? But when it came to the doctor’s, Ruth heard you make the appointment and was concerned.”
“She didn’t say anything to Dad, did she?” She brushed hair from her face.
“No. I asked her to leave that to you.” He winked. “I pay her for her counsel, it seems.”
Lisa grinned, but it soon fell. “Do I have to tell him?”
“That’s up to you.” Gabe stroked at her cheek. “Lord knows I could never force your mother to do anything when it came to Jason, so there’s no way I’m pushing her daughter.”
“In that case…thank you for being...you.” She got up, leaned over to kiss his cheek, then turned and left. As she did, Gabe stood and his gaze met Ashley’s.
“So sorry,” she said quickly, going over. “I didn’t know how to slip out without Lisa seeing me, and I didn’t want to interrupt.” She didn’t know what else to say, and she turned to leave.
“Hey.” He gently caught her arm. Always that touching and breaching personal space despite the sting that came with it sometimes. “Thanks for being there for her today.”
She turned back. “I always will be.” Sadness rushed the blue in his eyes, and she frowned. “I’m sorry to hear about the death of your friend—the senator.”
He offered a shrug. “I’ve got a lot more to be sorry for. I…” He struggled, so badly. “I had a word with Jason yesterday and—”
“Ashley?” Cody came over, a textbook in his hand, not looking where he was going until Gabe stopped him bumping into him. “Sorry.” He always had been naturally accident prone. “So, it seems I have a question about this trig problem,” he said distractedly to Ashley. “It has to do with cosine and calling in mate’s rates.” He smiled at Gabe. “Hey.”
“Hey back.” Gabe let go of his shoulders and turned him toward Ashley. “You’re getting out of homework again, huh? That something else I don’t tell your dad?” Gabe gave a heavy sigh. “I’m out of here and over to the hospital with Sam.” He moved to the door, then stopped and scratched at his head, a blush brushed his cheek and the change confused the hell out of her.
“Can we try and catch a few minutes later?” He frowned over at her. “Talk? Mostly for me to try and say sorry.”
Ashley raised a brow. Now that did take her back a little. It didn’t let him off the hook, but apologies, when it came to focusing on these kids without the emotional jousting…yeah, she could maybe handle that. “Sure,” she said gently, and he nodded before turning away. “Come find me later.
Chapter 21
Gabe stood in Sam’s hospital room as the machines beeped around his bed. He hadn’t come around yet, and Gabe lowered his head before leaving him in peace. Dr. Mathis and Megan were waiting for him in the corridor, and he gave them a nod. He’d made sure Jason took some time away from here today. Jason was still barely talking to him, but he’d gotten a relieved smile his way when Gabe had offered.
“Let’s go to my office, shall we?” Dr. Mathis led the way before she took a seat behind a large desk littered with papers and folders. “Have a seat.”
Gabe pulled out a chair for Megan, then took a seat across from her, surprised the doctor would speak to someone outside of family. Perhaps Megan had pushed for it.
“As I was telling Megan earlier, Sam’s neurological tests came back, and I’m glad to say we didn’t find any brain damage. He does have a little swelling, but it should subside in a few more days. We’re keeping him in an induced coma because he was fighting the medications.” Dr. Mathis adjusted her computer screen. “He has a broken tibia and a few cuts and bruises, but I believe he’s going to be fine.”
Gabe frowned. Megan had been under the impression her dad would be awake, and Gabe hadn’t realized his assault had left in such bad ways. Megan struggled more, and he realized he was here more for her reaction as everything tried to sink in. He helped her to her feet. “Okay, no questions yet. Let’s get you back.” He nodded his thanks to the doctor. It had been a mistake to push everything so quickly. But then he was screwing things up a lot along the way lately.
As they made it back, Gabe pulled the Tahoe to a stop in front of the High Mountain garage, and T.J. came out to meet them and opened the door for Megan before looking Gabe’s way. “I was thinking we—” He pointed to Megan and himself. “—could stop by for an hour later.” He checked his watch. “A couple of hours later?” Looked like he had something to say, but caught that Megan needed a break.
Gabe nodded. “That’s fine.” He didn’t linger, and once Megan had gotten out, he turned back to the main road. He was anxious to get back to the ranch to see Ashley, apologize, or try to at least. It hadn’t been the right time this morning, not with the state Lisa had been in.
A call came through a moment later, and he stared at the dust on the road, letting it ring for a long time. “What now?” he mumbled under his breath as he eventually thumbed Answer.
***
Frustrated, Gabe rubbed at his head as he headed for his office. Ashley was still out at lunch with Lisa, leaving a note that she’d be back around three. That gave him half an hour of trying to fill time before he could try and sort this mess out and settle into the news he’d just received.
“How’s Megan doing?” Jason came in, working on his iPad tablet as Gabe sat at his desk and wrestled the paper trail Clay had uncovered. “You get chance to talk to Sam?”
“Not yet, he’s still out of it.” Gabe caught sight of something and tugged the note over.
“Yeah?” Gabe got a serious eyebrow raised in his direction as Jason sat down. “You get chance to talk to Ashley yet, then?”
Gabe stopped messing with the file and flicked a look up. Jason had been sorting the ranch roster. With Clay having his nose shifted away from the ranch, they’d needed to shuffle staff around here too.
“I’m working on it, I swear. Just been so swamped with everything.” He rubbed at his head. “Jean called on the way back with details over Bob’s funeral, also the official coroner’s report.”
Jason eased off and gave a sigh. “You know, this is why I’m here, Gabe: to help out. You keep trying to steer the horse away from me and the kids when we’ve tamed it already. Stop thinking of us and take time out to deal with your grief. It’s taking you bad places. You’re not usually this…self-destructive. An asshole sometimes, but not to the point you sabotage someone like Ashley. She’s one of the good guys.”
Gabe gave a rough sigh and slumped back in his seat. “I know. Sorry,” he said softly. “I’m saying that so much lately. Or need too.” Then he held up Clay’s memo. “I now know why Sam took the deal, though. Evans paid him above the odds for the land.” He read off the number to Jason. “And from Clay’s uncovered, Max, High Mountain’s foreman, is up to his neck in this mess. He’s worked with James Harris of Evans Development before.”
Jason cocked a brow. “Okay, you let me deal with that. I’ll fax it over to the sheriff.”
Gabe nodded. “Megan needs to know he’s got to handle if from here. It’s out of Clay’s hands.”
A knock came on the door, and Ashley eased through the gap a moment later but didn’t come over.
“Hey…” Gabe started to get to his feet, felt awkward with it, then stood anyhow. He ran a hand through his hair. “Did… did you enjoy shopping?”
Jason winced at him, even shook his head as Ashley frowned his way.
“Erm, yeah…?” She didn’t look like she knew how to really answer that one. “Sorry.” She thumbed behind her. “Just wanted to let you know Megan and another gentleman’s here. You want Ruth to send them through?”
Christ. He’d forgotten T.J. said he needed to come over. “Thanks, yeah.”
She went to head out but a kick at Gabe’s desk off Jason had Gabe jolting, then—“I’ll be done as soon as I can, then…” What? He needed to talk, but not here. “Go grab a coffee with Ruth and I’ll find you, yeah?”
Ashley threw Jason a look, another frown, then nodded Gabe’s way. “Okay, sure.” She still looked like she didn’t know how to answer that, and Gabe kicked himself for forcing that “you gonna bark or bite?” look into her.
After she left and Jason coughed “goofball” a few times, a knock came.
“Come in,” called Gabe, and T.J. and Megan filed in. “Take a seat.” Gabe waved to his desk, and Jadon got up and let Megan take his.
Gabe went back behind his desk. “You said you needed to talk, T.J.?”
T.J. pulled out his phone and started flicking through something, then handed it over to Gabe. “Since Max took over, there are errors in High Mountain’s accounts. Along with helping Evans to seal the deal with Sam, he’s been skimming off decreasing profits.”
Gabe ran a look over the figures as Jason came over. “Okay.” He went and crouched by Megan. “I know you didn’t want this because of what might come out, but this all has to be handed over to Sheriff Logan for an official investigation now. Do you understand?” Although most of it had already been handed over, but Megan didn’t need to know that. “Even if Max and Evans wasn’t responsible for his kidnapping, which something’s telling me they wouldn’t be that obvious, there’s too much going on over the deal and with other sources I’ve spoken to not warrant Logan’s involvement.”
Megan nodded, but the look in her eyes said she’d been expecting it.
Chapter 22
Tired of all the driving to and from the doctors and town, Ashley headed to the kitchen for a cup of tea. They’d hunted out shoes, more makeup and jewelry, and anything else Lisa needed to match her new dress, and with Lisa gone for her hair appointment with her friends, Ashley had placed them on her bed so they would all be in one place when she got back.
For once Ruth didn’t haunt the kitchen, and she took her drink and sat at the kitchen table, wondering what was going on with Gabe. He’d looked…petrified, and it bit at her inside. He was guilty over something, and pictures of him letting her know he was going to come clean to Marilyn over their kiss had her feeling sick. That had to be it, right? His time away over the death of his friend snapped him out of the game he played. Now she had to stand at his side and come clean to Marilyn.
“Like hell,” she mumbled over her tea.
“What was that, love?” Ruth came in, removing her jacket.
Ashley waved her off. “Just talking to myself.” She frowned at her. “You okay? You look harassed.”
“Me? I’m running late.” Ruth turned the oven knob and removed two homemade pies from the fridge and placed them on the counter. “I’ll stick these in the oven and join you for a cup of tea.” She glanced down the hallway. “They still busy with Megan?”
“Yeah.” Ashley rose from her chair and tugged another mug out of the cupboard. “I’ll get you a drink.”
“Thanks. I was at church earlier. We’re planning a gathering for the new assistant pastor. I think he’ll fit in nicely…”
Ashley sat and hugged her tea to her, a little too lost to pay attention until someone called her name. “What?”
Gabe sat down by her, and Ruth looked between them before giving them some space. “We lost you there for a while, huh?”
Ashley snorted a slight smile. “Had my Loading sign going on there, right?”
Gabe smiled as he rested an elbow on the table. “Just a little.” He went to say something else, then wiped a hand over his mouth. “Listen, I’m taking a drive up to a summer pasture just to clear my head and check out some fencing that’s been reported. Can you take a ride with me?”
“Gabe.” Ashley rested her cup down. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, do you? Marilyn—”
“Yeah, I know.” Gabe frowned. “You have my word it’s just to talk, but I…” He offered such a boyish half smile. “I might just need you away from sharp knives in order to do this.”
Unease didn’t bite into her stomach, it dug deeper into lungs, heart, and most vital organs. “For clarity here…” She searched his gaze, trying to find signs of any spoilers. “I don’t carry a knife either, nor gun. Just in case you were wondering.”
He gave a soft laugh, but his look strayed to her bag, and she choked a laugh, nearly spilling her tea. “Joke, Gabe. Joke.”
“City girls,” he said to her. “Can’t be too careful.” Then he winced. “Nor with country girls when they’ve been hurt either.” He eased out of his seat and dug his hands in his pockets. “Five minutes, yeah? Outside.”
She took a sip of tea and made it slow. “When I’m done.” She winked up at him. “City girl here.” She’d make him work for this talk, no gun needed.
***
Ashley grabbed her favorite wool sweater, pulling it down over her shoulders as she met Gabe outside. On their way to the Tahoe, she took a deep breath of fresh air and glanced up at the wide sky darkening with clouds, not wanting to take this drive now she was out here. “It’s cool today.”
Gabe opened the door for her. “You may want to run in for a jacket. It’ll be even colder up there. We’re heading up to one of the high pastures used for summer grazing..”
“I’ll be all right.” She shivered. She wasn’t, but she wasn’t about to admit it either or help prove him right. She got in and buckled her seatbelt, wanting to get this talk over with. “What are you checking?”
He started the engine. “Fencing and if we can take the cattle up soon. I don’t want them to have to dig beneath snow for food.”
