8
Rhett
Florence walked into the kitchen from the side door just as Rhett handed over a mug of hot tea to Heath. She sat opposite him at the table, so Rhett poured her a drink as well.
‘I sense seriousness,’ she said, eyeing them both.
‘I’m just here to talk to Rhett about her selling this place,’ Heath told her.
‘Oh.’ Florence’s smile was filled with sympathy as Rhett crossed the room to join them at the table. ‘If it helps, the lady I was just with has booked her daughter in for riding lessons each Saturday for the next two months.’
Rhett nodded her gratitude. ‘Thanks.’
‘Have you lost all your regulars?’ asked Heath.
‘No. It’s just not enough.’
‘Summer’s coming.’ He turned to Florence. ‘We get lots of tourists around these parts. The stables are at its busiest during the warmer seasons.’ He looked back at Rhett. ‘Normally sees you through. What’s changed?’
Embarrassment took charge, leaving her speechless for a moment. It wasn’t the kind of thing she wanted to share, even though she believed she had nothing to be ashamed of. Still, she was, and she couldn’t shift the feeling.
It was Florence who seemed to understand her loss of words.
‘It’s okay, Rhett. Money can be a hard subject to talk about.’ She scooped up her ponytail, tying it into a loose bun at the back of her head as she glanced at Heath. ‘I should know. I used to live in rich circles, and when I ended up with nothing, I certainly didn’t want to make it topic of the day.’
Rhett swallowed hard and had a silent word with herself. Without making eye contact with Heath, she allowed the words cramping the back of her throat to flow. ‘I normally dip into my savings to help fund this place throughout the winter if need be, but I haven’t been able to do that for the last four years, so now I’m in the red.’
Heath’s dark eyes narrowed, and she was sure he already knew the answer to his question. ‘What happened to your savings?’
‘Dennis stole…’ Her voice cracked, and she stopped talking.
Florence immediately reached out to hold her hand across the table as Heath swore.
Rhett took a breath and sat up straight, removing her hand from Florence’s light touch. ‘I’m okay. It was a long time ago, but it was my safety net. With two sick horses, repairs on the stables, and helping Willow through uni, everything started to eat into my income, and I didn’t have anything extra coming in to rebuild my savings, so my finances have just gone down and down. I honestly thought I’d bounce back.’
‘Did the police ever catch Dennis?’ asked Florence softly, looking as though she could cry for her new friend.
Rhett could feel Heath’s eyes boring into the top of her head. It was obvious what he would say when she replied to the question. She struggled to form the words, then he beat her to it.
‘You didn’t tell them, did you?’
Florence was still showing full support with her facial expressions, but Heath looked livid.
‘I was embarrassed, all right,’ Rhett snapped. ‘He didn’t love me. He was just here to steal my money, and I didn’t want the whole of Pepper Bay knowing I’d been conned.’
‘That’s how they get away with it half the time,’ said Florence. ‘I’ve seen it happen before.’
It wasn’t the best news to hear, but somehow that snippet of information made Rhett feel a tad better about her foolishness. ‘You have?’
Florence nodded. ‘Yes. Someone I know lost a lot of money to a con artist. They didn’t tell either, even though it was common knowledge in our circle. Ooh, I could help you with that if you like. I don’t have any friends back home anymore, but I do have an old work colleague whose husband is an investigative journalist who has uncovered these types before, and she owes me big. I can send her an email with the info. You never know, this lowlife might show up on his files.’ Her eyes held warmth as she smiled softly. ‘You probably weren’t his only target.’
Heath agreed. ‘She’s right. These people make a job out of it.’ He told Florence to contact her old work friend.
Rhett frowned at him. ‘I haven’t agreed yet.’
‘It’s worth a shot, Rhett,’ he told her firmly. ‘Your money’s probably long gone, but you might help save his next victim.’
I hadn’t thought of that. They must think I’m so stupid.
She nodded slowly, keeping her gaze fixed on her mug of cooling tea.
‘A picture would help,’ said Florence, gesturing at Rhett’s phone over by an empty fruit bowl by the sink. She wrinkled her button nose as Rhett leaned back to a drawer and pulled out a photograph of Dennis standing by Tourmaline.
‘He hated having his picture taken, so this is the only one I have. I was going to put it in a frame, but then…’ Rhett sighed. ‘It wasn’t until I knew he’d stolen from me that it made sense.’
‘Probably didn’t use his real name, so this will help, even if he’s dyed his hair since.’ Florence whipped out her phone and took a picture, then proceeded to tap out an email to her old colleague, and Rhett knew it was too late to change her mind.
Part of her didn’t want to dig up old ground, but another part would be happy to see the man brought to justice.
‘Did you report the theft to the bank at all?’ asked Heath, whilst Florence was busy.
‘I didn’t see the point. He had been drawing money out of my account for months using my card at the cash machine, so I didn’t have any proof.’
‘When did you notice?’
‘Not till a few months after he’d left. It was coming up to Christmas, so I checked my other account, as I use a different one for my savings at another bank. I really shouldn’t use my old current account for savings, but it was there doing nothing, so… Anyway, I was hoping to buy Willow a new horse. She was upset after Lotus died. And it was then that I saw what had happened. Suddenly, his disappearing act made sense.’
‘Did he not say he was off?’ asked Heath.
Rhett was sure she was shrinking with each word that left her lips. She figured herself for smart, so having to publicly admit her ignorance was causing a giant lump to stick in her throat, a pain to burn the back of her eyes, and a sickness to swirl in her gut. ‘He left a note.’
Heath’s fists were clenched tightly by his untouched tea, and part of Rhett wanted to place her hands over the top of his white knuckles. She knew how he was feeling. She had also gone through the anger stage. Now she preferred denial.
‘What did it say?’ he asked flatly.
‘This life isn’t for me. Sorry, love. See you around sometime.’ She waited for Heath’s reaction to Dennis signing off, but he took a sip of his tea before turning his attention to Florence, who was still glued to her phone.
‘Any luck yet, Florence?’ he asked, his tone changing to light for her, Rhett noticed.
I wonder if he likes her. Oh, shut up. This isn’t the time to worry about that.
Without looking up from the small screen, Florence hummed her response, leaving Heath and Rhett none the wiser.
Whilst still looking at Florence, Heath asked Rhett, ‘How long have you got left before there’s nothing left?’
She waited for his eyes to meet hers. They almost looked as deflated as she felt, but she couldn’t be entirely sure. For all she knew, he was just annoyed at her for losing their daughter’s inheritance. ‘If I don’t hire anyone, I’ll make it to September, at a push. The income that’s about to come in will keep me even, but I’ll have to start selling by the end of summer.’
‘Why was Wendall James up here already then?’
She crunched one shoulder to her cheek. ‘I was hoping I might get a quick sale, then I wouldn’t have to deal with another season.’
I can’t take the heartbreak. I don’t want to watch it fall away bit by bit. Not my stables.
Heath lifted his chin and started to scan the kitchen, looking deep in thought. ‘You know, if you had something else going on here, you’d have an income that lasts all year.’
She followed his gaze, seeing only cracked cupboard doors and a temperamental boiler. ‘Like what?’
He scratched his stubble and looked back her way. ‘You could make this place a BB. Make money that way.’ His gaze went to the dark beams on the ceiling. ‘This could easily be turned into a guesthouse, and lots of horse lovers would want to stay here. They get bed and breakfast and riding all included in the price. It would make a lovely escape for a week or two.’
Would it? Could I run something like that? What do I know about the hospitality business?
‘You’d have to look into the finer details,’ added Heath, focusing back on her. ‘But it’s worth looking into. Some sort of horse-riding retreat would do the trick.’
It was definitely worth investigating, but there was one problem.
‘I don’t have the funds to make changes, Heath. I can barely afford to heat this place.’
‘That’s true,’ said Florence, without looking away from her phone. ‘It’s so cold in here first thing in the morning.’
‘I’m sorry, Florence.’
‘Oh, it’s okay, Rhett.’
Rhett shook her head. ‘It’s not. We get up before the sun. The least I can do is keep us warm while we get ready.’
Heath’s eyebrows had knitted again. It was bad enough she was spilling her guts, the last thing she needed was him getting annoyed at her stupidity.
‘I think selling is the best option.’ She made sure her words were strong, hoping the tone would end the conversation.
‘How do you feel about having a business partner?’ Heath’s tone was gentle now, surprising her along with his question.
‘It’s always just been me. My sister’s money is tied up in the Gatehouse.’
Heath placed one hand over his heart. ‘I meant me.’
Kiss him or run away were her immediate thoughts.
‘Good thinking, Heath,’ said Florence, breaking through the silence.
The smallest of creases formed in the corners of Heath’s eyes, and Rhett knew he was being serious. He wanted to bail her out.
Pride rattled, but that was no help. It certainly was difficult for Rhett to swallow it down though. ‘How would that work?’ she asked quietly, but only because she wasn’t sure she was able to talk at all.
‘I’d be a silent partner. We’d use my finances to rebrand this place, that’s all.’
‘Why?’
‘What?’
‘Why would you do that?’
‘For Willow,’ he said, after a slight pause.
Rhett didn’t feel she could argue with that. It didn’t matter her daughter’s only interest was plants, it was still a business that belonged to her family and was supposed to be handed down to her one day.
Heath was looking at the wall. ‘I can renovate this house, and you can carry on concentrating on the stables. By autumn, you’ll have a guesthouse.’
‘You’re helping rebuild the Gatehouse, plus you have your own business, and you put in more hours at the garden centre now, not to mention the farming. You only have time to volunteer with the RNLI during the night, and—’
‘Yes, I know my schedule, thanks.’
You look tired, Heath.
‘I’m just pointing out that it’s all a bit much.’
Heath offered a warm smile that hit her straight in the heart. ‘Let me worry about that. Right now, this place takes priority. So, are you in? Are you going to let me help you save Lucky Riding Stables?’
She could have bitten his arm off if she wasn’t so fiercely independent.
‘Rhett,’ he said calmly but firmly, ‘it’s time for change. You’ve got an opportunity to finally make this house a happy place.’ He raised his index finger as she went to speak. ‘Don’t. This is me you’re taking to. Let’s not pretend.’
Rhett assessed the kitchen as she reviewed the situation of her life for the umpteenth time that day.
‘Fine, glad that’s sorted,’ said Heath, standing.
Rhett shot out of her seat. ‘You can’t make the decision for me.’
‘Just did. It’s settled. I’ll make a start first thing tomorrow.’ He tapped his pocket. ‘Actually, I’ll do some measuring now.’
‘Well done, Heath,’ said Florence, clapping quietly.
Rhett watched him smile her way, then wander off to wherever he felt necessary, she gathered.
That’s it? I’m going into business with Heath Silver? Am I?
Florence touching her hand brought her back down to earth. ‘Hey, good news, my old work colleague has got her husband on the case. I’ll let you know if he discovers anything.’ She squealed quietly, squeezing Rhett’s fingers. ‘How exciting is this, lovely? We’ll catch the criminal, save the stables, and change both our lives. You know what, Rhett Smithson, I’m glad I came here. I feel so much better already.’
Funnily enough, I feel a little better myself.
Florence took her cup to the sink. ‘Got to head off. I’ve got a couple to take out for a ride in half an hour.’ She trotted over to Rhett. ‘Go and check out the sexy carpenter. I bet he looks even hotter when he’s working.’
Rhett felt a rush of heat climb her neck. There was no way she was going to spy on Heath, even if Florence was nudging her to do so. She brushed off the comment, deciding to join the ride instead.
As she headed to the front door, which was a completely unnecessary route to the stables, Heath cast a lazy smile her way, causing her to bump into the door frame before making her quick exit. She stood on the porch steps and looked out at her land, relieved she could stay, even if it dented her pride.
Dad would hate this.
The thought made her smile. She hated him, so it seemed fair, not that any decisions were based on spite.
Rhett peered over her shoulder at the dark hallway. Somewhere inside was the love of her life, and it all seemed so surreal, but also so peaceful. She inhaled the warm air and smiled on the inside at just how relaxed she felt. She silently prayed the new connection she was making with Heath didn’t destroy what little they had left of their relationship.