She nodded. “That makes sense.” She should have known this wouldn’t work. It was too perfect.
The thought of going back on the road filled her with anxiety, though. Her supply of money was dwindling, and so was Leo’s patience.
This place was perfect for Leo.
She tried to hang on to the pastor’s words from this morning. What was the verse? I know the plans I have for you...
God has a plan for us.
She straightened her spine. “We’ll get our things together tonight and move on tomorrow.”
Her phone buzzed for about the twentieth time. Impatient, she pulled it out. She read through the texts from her friend Janice, back in Arkansas, her anxiety growing.
Don’t come back under any circumstances.
He tore up your place.
He’s raving that he’s going to find you.
Get a PFA, fast.
She sank into a kitchen chair, her hand pressed to her mouth, her heart pounding. What was she going to do now?
“Listen, Kayla, I didn’t mean you had to leave this minute,” Finn said. “You can stay out the week, like we discussed. We can even help you figure out your next step. I just don’t think...” He paused.
There was a brisk knock at the screen door, and then Penny walked in. “I called the last reference, and they raved about you,” she said to Kayla. “So as far as I’m concerned, you’re hired.”
Kayla glanced up at Finn in time to see his forehead wrinkle. “Temporarily,” he said.
“Long-term, as far as I’m concerned.” Penny gave him an even stare.
“We need to talk,” he said to Penny.
“All right.” She put a bunch of paper in front of Kayla. “Start signing,” she said. “Look for the Xs.”
Finn and Penny went out onto the porch, and she heard the low, intense sound of an argument.
From the living room, she heard Leo laughing at the television.
Finn didn’t want to hire her. That was clear, and it wasn’t only because she’d been nosy. Something else about her bothered him.
Which was fine, because he kind of bothered her, too. She didn’t think he was dangerous himself, but he was clearly linked up to the veteran old boys’ network. If Mitch started yelling at one of his meetings about how they were missing, the word could get out. Paratroopers were intensely loyal and they helped each other out, and a missing child would definitely be the type of thing that would stir up their interest and sympathy.
She needed to be farther away, but for now, the protection offered by the ranch was probably the safest alternative for Leo. A week, two, even a month here would give her breathing room.
Or maybe Mitch’s rage would burn out. Although it hadn’t in the year since the divorce he’d fought every inch of the way.
Finn didn’t want her here, but she was used to that. She’d grown up in a home where she wasn’t wanted.
And Penny had seemed to intuit some of her issues when Kayla had probed about Finn and the ranch during a lull before the church service. She’d said something about men, how women needed to stick together. Penny was on her side.
She could deal with Finn. She didn’t need his approval or his smiles.
And she didn’t want to depend on anyone. But here, she could work hard, pull her weight.
Finn and Penny came back in. Finn’s jaw jutted out. Penny looked calm.
“You can have the job,” Finn said.
“However long you want it,” Penny added, glancing over at Finn.
Kayla drew in a deep breath, looking at them. “Thank you.”
Then, her insides quivering, she picked up the pen and started signing.
Finn headed for the kennels around eight o’clock the next morning, enjoying the sight of the Sangre de Cristos. He could hear the dogs barking and the whinnying of a horse. They only kept two, and Penny cared for them up at the small barn, but she sometimes took one out for a little ride in the morning.
Up ahead, Kayla’s cabin door opened, and she and Leo came out.
He frowned. He wasn’t thrilled about her working here, but he was resigned to it. He just had to stay uninvolved, that was all.
He watched her urge Leo into the car. Leo resisted, turning away as if to run toward the cabin, but she caught him in a bear hug.
Uh-oh. Wherever they were going—probably down to the church day camp—Leo wasn’t on board.
She set Leo down and pointed at the back seat, and with obvious reluctance, the boy climbed in. Through the car’s open windows, he heard Leo complain, “I can’t get it buckled.”
She bent over and leaned in, and he noticed she didn’t raise her voice even though Leo continued to whine. She spoke soothingly but didn’t give in.
Finn looked away and tried to think about something other than what it would be like to parent a kid Leo’s age.
Derek’s age.
When she tried to start the car, all that happened was some loud clicking and grinding. A wisp of smoke wafted from the front of the vehicle.
She got out and raised the hood. From inside the car, Leo’s voice rose. “If I have to go, I don’t want to be late!”
By now, Finn had reached the point where her cabin’s little driveway intersected with the road. He looked out over the valley and sniffed the aromatic pines and tried to stay uninvolved. She hadn’t seen him. He could walk on by.
He tried to. Stopped. “Need a jump?”
She bit her lip, its fullness at odds with her otherwise plain looks and too-thin figure. She looked from him to Leo. As clear as the brightening blue sky, he could see the battle between her desire for independence and her child’s needs.
“I think my starter’s bad.”
“You need to call for a tow?” He stood beside her and pretended to know what he was looking at. Truth was, despite the fact that he’d sold farm machinery in one of his jobs, car repair wasn’t in his skill set.
She shook her head. “I can fix it, if I can get down to town and get the part.”
He looked sideways at her. “You sure?”
She blew out a pfft of air and nodded. “Sure. Just takes a screwdriver and a couple of bolts. Trouble is, Leo needs to get to camp.”
His glance strayed to her mouth again but he looked away quickly, glancing down to the cross around her neck. She wasn’t a girl up for grabs, obviously, and even if she were, he couldn’t partake. One, because she was sort of his employee—Penny was technically her boss, but he was her direct supervisor. And two, because of what he’d done. He didn’t deserve to connect with a woman. He needed to remember his decision in that regard.
No one had ever tested it before, not really.
But there was nothing wrong with giving her and the boy a ride, was there? Any Good Samaritan