Chapter 6
“I’ll never understand why you’re moving to Gillette for all of six months. And because of one event?” Her father stood in Kristy’s living area in khakis and a polo shirt, having stopped by that morning, on his way to his weekly golf game, to say goodbye. Hands on hips, a frown on his face, his disappointment was clear.
Without commenting, Kristy downed a mouthful of coffee, hoping it would keep at bay the exhaustion from packing up her small Cheyenne apartment. This had been her first apartment, having moved in right after college. Her father had co-signed the lease and helped her with rent for the first year, but eventually she had landed a job with An Affair to Remember and had taken on the costs herself… with occasional help from her father. Help she was determined not to take this time around. Sam Winslow’s help came with too many strings.
“I’m hoping it will be permanent, and we are already getting other clients.”
“What if I decide to make that run for governor? Or get a cabinet appointment? I’d want you on my team. I talked to Marcia, you know, before all this.” He waved a hand.
“You talked to Marcia?” He had no right to meddle, but when had that stopped her father.
“I called her a few weeks ago. We have a lot of events that she could bid on right here.” He pointed a finger in her direction. “That you could have bid on for her.”
Why did she suddenly feel like someone had shoved a pillow over her face? She gulped for air. “This is a big opportunity for me. Not to mention that Marcia needs all hands on deck, particularly as she’s recovering.”
“I thought I had convinced her to give someone else this Gillette venture, but now that she’s landed in the hospital…”
Perspiration broke out on her forehead, on her neck, under her arms. “You asked her to replace me? When this might mean I could be a partner in the business?” She’d told both her parents what this could mean for her.
Her father crossed his arms over his chest. “Your family, your home, your friends are all here. If she wanted you to get a piece of the business, she’d have given it to you already. She’s taking advantage of you. I’ll eat my hat if she goes through with it.”
She rubbed a temple. There was no reasoning with the man. “You had no right to say anything to her. These are my decisions. I want to go to Gillette. And I’m hoping to make it my home, so you’d better get used to it.” His attitude gave her more reasons to stay in Gillette, not fewer.
Her father came over and wrapped his arms around her. “You know I don’t mean any harm, princess. I just want to save you from making mistakes.”
She nestled against his broad chest, succumbing to fatigue. “I know you want what is best for me. But it’s time I find my own way. And it would really help if you could be supportive. But if you can’t be, can you at least fake it?”
He took a step back and looked directly at her, a smile on his face. “I’ll try. I’m not a very good actor though.”
“You’re a politician. And a trial lawyer. You’re a great actor.”
“Touché.” He leaned over and kissed her cheek. “You’re taking a big risk, and I guess I don’t like that you’re going so far away, where I can’t protect you.”
“If I need you, I’ll call.” But even if she needed his help, she wouldn’t call him. She needed to prove to him, and herself, that she could be successful on her own, for her own sanity, or there would be no end to his interference.
“Deal. I best get going. Your mother will be stopping by and… well, you know.” He fished his car keys out of his pocket, along with a wad of money. He put the wad on the counter.
“What is that? I don’t need money, Dad.” Not entirely the truth, but he didn’t need to know that. She reached to give the wad back to him, but he stayed her hand. His grip was firm.
“Take it. A housewarming gift. Buy something you want with it.”
She sighed. There was no winning an argument with her father. He kissed her cheek again. “Love you, kitten,” he said as he walked out the door.
Kristy slid onto the counter stool. She was always worn out after being in her father’s presence, and it was worse today because she was so tired. And to think the man had called Marcia and suggested Marcia not give her the Gillette job. Part of her was angry. Part of her was just exhausted from the seemingly endless battle for some independence.
Having visited Marcia in the hospital, where the woman had said over and over what a blessing it was that Kristy was handling Gillette, it was clear Marcia had no intention of listening to him, thankfully. Her boss had said more than once how much she needed Kristy to lead the gala project and how much she was counting on Kristy and Ariel. And how miserable she felt being laid up for so many weeks.
Marcia said she intended to follow the doctor’s directions, which was so not Marcia. Clearly the heart attack had scared her. The doctor had declared the operation a success but that it would be many weeks before Marcia was back in the saddle.
Kristy washed the coffee cup and packed it with the other last-minute items, hoping to take her mind off her father’s visit. She reached for the wad of bills on the counter and fanned them. At least she had more than enough money to tip the movers and pay for dinners on the other end.
The thought of Rusty brought a smile to her face. Knowing he was at the other end, waiting to help, gave her more confidence than he could ever know. Silly as it was, there was something about the guy that made her feel she could do things, anything, if he was around. Sort of like having a guardian angel.
And then, of course, he was easy on the eyes. Too easy. There was no denying, at least to herself, that she was attracted to him. Who wouldn’t be? But she’d vowed to get the business on firm ground before she succumbed to any man’s charms, and she intended to keep that promise.
As she loaded a box with her last-minute things from the kitchen, the intercom buzzer sounded. Kristy pushed the button, and her mother’s voice crackled over the static-filled speaker. Kristy buzzed her in.
“I’m just sorry you’re moving so far away.” Her mother stood surveying the chaos.
Sylvia Winslow, always stylish, was dressed for clients. She wore a classic uniform of heels, a light-gray short-sleeved dress, and black-and-white costume jewelry. She wouldn’t be helping to load the van in that outfit, not that Kristy expected such help. That was why she’d hired professional movers, at least on this end, and at considerable expense.
Her mother sat down on the only seat not covered with items, the counter stool.
“You’re one of the few people who have supported me in this, Mom, so don’t change now. I need all the support I can get.” She had to hold at bay all the doubts crowding her mind. Doubts about her ability to get clients, to survive, to thrive.
“I do support you. But it is four hours away. That’s a very long drive, Kristy.”
“And I feel bad about that. You know I do. But this is a huge opportunity. And now, more than ever, Marcia needs me and Ariel.”
“I hope she was serious about giving you a potential cut of the business. Your father…”
“I know what he thinks. But I believe her. She’s never seriously mentioned it before. And it’s not a big cut. Just ten percent, but it’s a start.”
“Well, with this health scare, she’d be a fool not to do right by you. “
“And this way I can be the boss of my own life.”
Her mother stood up and faced her. “You mean without your interfering father. I knew he’d push you away. Just like he pushed me away.”
Her parents had divorced when she was twelve. For much the same reasons she had broken it off with Dean. Dean had a lot—too much—in common with her father, which she hadn’t realized until she was out of the relationship.
“Daddy isn’t the main reason, Mom. I really do need to go out there and try. Like you did.” And put Dean in the rearview mirror. Too much in Cheyenne reminded her of her time with Dean, and too many mutual acquaintances made it difficult to avoid him. He seemed to be everywhere. And always trying to persuade her to give him another chance. “You’ve been a good role model for me.”
After the divorce, her mother had gone into interior design and started her own business, and while it had taken some time, she’d parlayed it into a decent enterprise while raising Kristy.
Her mother beamed. “Thank you for saying so.” But a frown quickly found its place on her mother’s brow. “You know, Aunt Beth blames you for taking Ariel away. She tells me that several times a day.”
“I’m sorry about that. But Ariel is a creative genius when it comes to decorating. You know that. It’s why you used her for some projects. And why Marcia jumped at the chance.”
Her mother placed her hands on her hips. “Yes. So I’m not only losing a daughter but a valuable collaborator.” Her mother’s smile suggested her annoyance was feigned.
“I truly am sorry.” She hugged her mother and laid her head on her mom’s shoulder, breathing in her mother’s signature luxury fragrance. “I love you.”
Her mother patted Kristy’s head. “I know you do. And I love you. That’s why this is so difficult.”
Kristy lifted her head, and her mother stood back, holding Kristy’s shoulders. “So go fly. And I’ll come out soon and help decorate, although with Ariel you won’t need my help, but I’ll come anyway. I’ll have to get out there while the weather is still good.” She squeezed Kristy’s shoulders. “And you will come back for holidays?”
“We promise, Mom. Ariel and I will drive back on the holidays. As long as we don’t have events to plan.”
Her mom frowned. “That’s not good enough, my dear. You will come back regardless. Promise.”
Kristy sighed. “I promise, even if I have to fly into Denver to get to Cheyenne.”
“Then I can let you go. I’ll just think of it like you’re off at college.”
College seemed so long ago, though only six years had passed since she’d traveled down the aisle to get her diploma. And now she would truly be on her own, without the benefit of even Marcia’s wisdom, at least for the time being.
A twinge of panic sidled up her spine. She had to ignore it. No time for second thoughts.
As if to keep herself from caving in to fear, Kristy glanced out the window. “The moving truck is here. I’ve hired some guys to move the stuff into the truck on this end.”
“And the other end?”
“I’ve a friend who’s helping.”
Her mother’s face lit up. “You’ve made a friend already. A male friend?”
“He’s a guy, but just a friend. I’ve too much on my plate to think about a relationship.” She needed to nip her mother’s imagination now or her mom would have Kristy walking down the aisle in no time. Her mother had proved that with Dean, having started to collect bridal magazines after only three dates
“Or babies?”
“Babies are the furthest from my mind.”
Mothers never changed.
“They weren’t so far from your mind just a year ago.”
It was true that she had planned on having children shortly after marrying Dean. She’d had it all mapped out. Marriage, a house, baby number one in the first year. Working close by.
Aunt Beth had offered to look after the baby-to-be, since her aunt was home during the day and loved children. It would have worked beautifully, but for the man on which she’d pinned her hopes and dreams.
“My priorities have changed. And they don’t include a man or babies for the foreseeable future.”
“Well, priorities can change again. We will just have to see.”
Her apartment buzzed. Saved by the bell.
***
He owed Mel and Stetson one. And Cort for letting Mel take time off. And his sister June for finding another driver to fill in for him. He owed a lot of people just to help a woman he barely knew.
But looking at her as she bit her lip and stared into the truck crammed with boxes and furniture, something told him it would be worth it. Ariel had stepped out of Kristy’s red Civic and was sauntering over.
Considering it was typically warm in Gillette in June, they’d lucked out, as the temperature hovered at eighty, but the sky was overcast, with a dry breeze coming off the mountains. It would be sweaty work, but it could have been a lot hotter.
“You drove this truck here?”
Kristy nodded. “Ariel drove my car.” Ariel, who’d drawn beside Kristy, nodded.
Rusty raised his eyebrows. Driving a truck wasn’t the easiest thing if you’d never done it before. This wasn’t a huge truck, more like a larger delivery van, but it was still different from driving a car. “I’m impressed.” Much about Kristy Winslow impressed him.
He heard a car door slam and saw Mel. When he joined them, Rusty began the introductions. “Kristy, Ariel, this is Mel Carson. He works for my brother-in-law, but this afternoon he’s agreed to help you two move.” Rusty checked his watch. “Another guy, Stetson, should be along in a few minutes.”
Mel smiled, shoved his hands into his jeans pockets, and nodded toward Ariel. He might not look like a muscular guy, seeing as he was thin and lanky, but Mel was a hard worker, always pulling more than his weight.
“That’s so nice of you.” Ariel beamed at Mel, as if he were the target and she was the laser.
With that, a black pickup pulled into a space nearby.
“Speaking of the devil.”
Stetson climbed out, and all eyes, including Kristy’s and Ariel’s, turned in his direction. Rusty guessed Stetson might be attractive to a woman. He was just under six feet, had a wrestler’s body, and always looked like he was amused at something. He was a good friend. Had been there back in the day when Tamara had stabbed Rusty in the heart, and Stetson had supported Rusty’s decision to join the air force despite everyone else telling him not to.
Stetson looked the ladies over, as if aware he was the center of attention.
Rusty thrust out his hand. Stetson shook it. “Let me introduce you. Stetson, this is Kristy…” He said her name with emphasis, hoping Stetson would remember his admonition. “And her friend Ariel.”
Ariel stepped forward, her hand outstretched. “Actually, Kristy and I are cousins.”
Stetson shook her hand, looking her straight in the eye. “I see the resemblance.”
Strange, because Rusty didn’t, as Ariel, being small, looked like a good wind could blow her away. But at least Stetson focused on Ariel.
Rusty clapped his hands. “Let’s get this thing unloaded.”
It took a few hours, but between the five of them, with Rusty, Mel, and Stetson doing the heavy lifting, the truck was finally empty. Rusty didn’t mind admitting that he felt every bit of furniture he’d lifted. He needed to work out more. Since leaving the air force almost six months ago, he’d obviously let himself go.
But he wasn’t too tired to collect the “fee” as he stood in the air-conditioned living room of the apartment and took in the clutter of stacked boxes. He took a swig of water from the bottle he’d filled at least three times. “You promised dinner. That was my bribe to Mel and Stetson.”
Kristy sat on one of the boxes. “So I did.” She checked her watch. “If you can return the truck to the rental company’s lot in Gillette as you offered, Ariel and I will be ready in a few.”
Though her hair was tumbled from the wind, with strands sticking to the side of her neck and beads of perspiration dotting her brow, she still looked good to him. She’d worked like a trouper, carrying box after box up the stairs to the second floor, working just as hard as he, Mel, and Stetson had. Ariel too. He like a woman who was not afraid of hard work. A woman like that would make someone a good wife and partner.
Now where had that thought come from? He shrugged, hoping the funny feeling the thought engendered would leave his stomach.
He took a breath. Nope. Still there.
He’d better watch or he’d be fantasizing about something that could never be.
“Come on, Mel. You can ride with me. Stetson, you can pick us up in your truck.”
No woman wanted a guy whose demons wouldn’t go away, much as he tried to rid himself of them.