Chapter 28
Chapter
Twenty-Eight
Traffic was light now, and Lana sped through the twilight toward the Lazy C.
Convincing Cousin Tim to drop his lawsuit might be impossible, but she was determined to try.
Not that she had any idea what she would say, but she’d figure it out.
For the sake of her peace of mind and the future of her and Sly’s unborn child, she had to.
She passed the black-and-white Pettit Ranch sign and her heart lurched painfully. She couldn’t help wondering whether Sly was at home or if he’d gone out. What would he think if he knew where she was headed?
Cousin Tim’s ranch was a couple hundred feet ahead.
With a sigh, she slowed and pulled into the driveway.
It was early evening, not quite dark yet but getting there.
Yet there were no house lights on. Her cousin’s truck was parked near the front door, though, which meant that he was probably at home.
She pulled to a stop beside the truck and slid out of the car.
Every bit as nervous as when she’d talked to her parents, she climbed the steps and knocked at the door.
A few seconds later, her cousin answered with two bottles of beer in hand. “You sure got here fas—Lana.” His face was a mask of surprise. “What brings you out here?”
“Sorry, I should have called first, but I took a chance you’d have a few minutes to talk.” Her entire adult life, she’d never stopped by to visit her cousin. He seemed to take it in stride.
“Sure, but I’m expecting someone. Come in.”
He left the door cracked open, maybe for his company. A girlfriend no one was aware of? Interesting idea, but just now she couldn’t spare a moment to speculate. She had more important things on her mind.
“Uh, you want a beer?” her cousin asked, offering her one of the bottles.
Lana shook her head. “No, thanks.”
The entry opened into the living room. She still hadn’t decided exactly what she was going to say, but as she crossed the worn carpet, she realized that if she spoke from the heart, she couldn’t miss.
Her cousin sat down in a chair facing the door, probably to watch for his mystery guest. Lana took the armchair across from him, the one that faced the backyard. The drapes were open, and she briefly noted the fenced lawn and beyond that, rolling fields extending as for as she could see.
As soon as she settled into her seat, she got straight to the point. “I’m here to talk to you about Sly Pettit.”
Sly returned from the meeting with Haggerty in good spirits.
The engineer had recently built a new home and needed help with the landscaping.
He’d agreed to drastically reduce his fee for the drainage system if Sly would lay down sod and fence the front and backyards.
Sly also promised to provide Haggerty with a free side of beef every year for the next ten years.
The large quantity of meat would feed Haggerty’s family for months.
In a few weeks, the engineer would start work on the new system. By then, Sly figured he’d be finished with the man’s yard, and he and his crew could do some of the grunt work on the new drainage.
He was finishing dinner when Carpenter called. “Get your butt over here,” he said. “I have great news to share.”
Anticipating a celebration, Sly had grabbed a couple of cold beers. Then, for the second time that day, he headed for the Lazy C. As he rolled up the driveway, he spotted Lana’s light green sedan next to Tim’s truck. He braked to a stop. What was she doing here?
He’d bet the ranch Carpenter had no idea that he and Lana knew each other. As curious as he was about her reasons for being here, he was in no mood to face her. He almost turned around and left. But he was no coward. Besides, Carpenter was expecting him.
He was about to start up the front steps when he noted the door was cracked open. In the still twilight air, Lana’s voice carried easily.
Sly paused where he was, knowing he should announce his presence. But something made him keep quiet. He silently placed the beers on the second step and eavesdropped.
“Sly would never poison your cattle,” she said.
What the hell? Sly frowned.
“You’re friends with Pettit?” Tim asked, sounding puzzled.
“I met him before I heard about his lawsuit against you.”
“You never said anything, not even when I came to your folks’ for Sunday dinner last month.”
“I was afraid of how they’d react, and even more scared of you. But I’m not anymore.” Despite her brave words, Sly heard her swallow hard. “I just came from my parents’ house, and I told them exactly what I’m telling you—Sly and I have been seeing each other.”
She’d talked to her parents. He could only imagine how difficult that must have been for her.
“You mean dating?” her cousin said.
“Something like that.” Her voice seemed to grow stronger with each word.
“You’re my cousin and you’re family, and that means a lot.
But I can’t sit by quietly and let you countersue Sly.
He’s a good man, an honest man. He values all cattle too much to harm them.
” Sly was so surprised he had to sit down. He joined the beers on the step.
“For you to vouch for him this way, you must know him pretty well,” Tim said.
“I do. Besides my dad, Sly Pettit is the best man I’ve ever met. I would trust him with my life.”
Realizing his jaw had dropped open, Sly shut his mouth.
“That’s quite a statement,” Tim said.
“It’s the truth. I wouldn’t fall for a man I couldn’t trust.”
“You’re in love with Sly Pettit.” Carpenter sounded shocked. “Is he aware of this?”
“Not yet. I know in my very bones that he would never poison an animal. Well, maybe a mouse or a rat. I’m asking you to please drop your counter lawsuit.”
“You’d side with him against me?” Gruff Tim Carpenter sounded like a hurt kid.
“I’m not siding with anyone,” she said. “I don’t believe you poisoned his cows, either. Sly would realize that, too, if you’d just sit down with him and talk. Before he sued you, he tried to do that, but you wouldn’t give him the time of day.”
“Pettit never wanted to talk. From the get-go, he came at me with accusations.”
“Then it’s all the more important for the two of you to talk now. The sooner, the better. Otherwise, you’ll never get to the bottom of this mess.”
“You’re comin’ at me with a damn lecture, just like Michele. Don’t get me wrong, I love your mother, but her lectures give me a headache.”
“I’m not my mother, and I’m not lecturing you.
” Lana sounded indignant. After a pause she said, “Well, maybe I am. I’ll think about that later.
What matters is that I’m here for a good reason.
You and Sly are both hardheaded, and this lawsuit business is out of control.
Someone levelheaded has to intervene. That would be me. ”
Him, stubborn? Sly barely stifled a loud snort.
But he had to admit she was right. His head was as hard as the concrete step under him. Instead of approaching Tim Carpenter as someone who could help him find the answers he sought, Sly had accused, tried, and found the man guilty. In jumping to conclusions, he’d created a world of trouble.
Tuesday night he’d done the same thing with Lana, brushing off her suggestion that they talk. He’d been suffering mightily ever since, and guessed she had been, too.
But even hurting, she was here, fighting for him because she loved him. She loved him.
Sly thought he might love her, too. No, he knew—he did love her.
Accepting and admitting this blew him away. He should’ve been scared but wasn’t. The truth was, he didn’t feel half bad—except when he realized he’d almost lost out on a lifetime with her.
What a damn fool he’d been.
He stood, brushed off his butt and grabbed the beers. Making no effort to be quiet, he strode up the steps. Neither Lana nor Tim was speaking, and he figured they’d heard his footsteps.
He knocked, then without waiting for an answer, stepped inside. The shock on Lana’s face was comical, but this was no time for laughter.
“I was starting to wonder if you’d ever show up,” Tim said.
“I’ve been here for a while now. Hold these, will you?” Sly handed him the beers, then turned to Lana. “Did you mean what you said? Do you really love me?”
“You were eavesdropping?”
Unashamed, he nodded. “I didn’t expect to find you here tonight, but I spotted your car next to Tim’s truck. He left the door open, and I wanted to hear what you were saying.”
“You heard it all?” she asked, looking wary.
“I heard what matters—that you believe in me.” Needing to touch her, Sly clasped both her hands and pulled her to her feet. “That’s awesome—you’re awesome.”
Holding back none of his feelings, he kissed her thoroughly.
When he pulled back, she wore a dazed expression. “I love you, Sly.”
Smiling, he gently brushed the hair out of her eyes.
“Don’t fall over when I say it, but I love you, too.”
Tim growled. “If you two don’t quit with the mushy stuff, I swear, I’ll bring the hose in here and spray you down.”
Sly and Lana laughed.
Not about to let go of his woman, he sat down in the armchair and pulled her onto his lap.
“I can’t believe you’re sitting in my cousin’s living room,” she said. “What are you doing here—with two beers each?”
“Sly’s here because I invited him to come back,” Tim said.
“Come back?” she echoed, confused.
Sly nodded. “I was here this afternoon, when Tim and I patched up our differences.”
“Hold on a darned minute.” Lana slanted her cousin a look. “You let me go through my whole spiel about how stubborn you and Sly both are without once mentioning that you’d already settled things?”
“I wanted to hear what you had to say,” Tim said. “And it wasn’t quite settled, but it is now.”
“Will one of you please explain what’s going on?” she asked.
Sly caught her up on what he knew, then turned to Tim. “I’m guessing Sheriff Dean called.”
“About an hour ago. It took a while for him to find Pitch and get him to talk, but he finally confessed. It’s just as I figured—he set us both up.
I talked to my lawyer. First thing in the morning, he’ll contact yours.
He doubts either of us is likely to get any restitution from Pitch.
He’s broke—he’s always broke. But he’ll probably spend a few years in jail. ”
“That’s good enough for me,” Sly said.
Carpenter nodded. “From now on, if we have issues with each other, let’s talk them through.”
“You have my word on that.” Sly raised Lana’s chin and kissed the tip of her nose. “So do you.”
“All this talk has made me thirsty.” Carpenter reached for the bottle opener on the coffee table. “Have a cool one with us, Lana? There’s a glass in the kitchen.”
“Um, I can’t.” She looked at Sly. “We should tell him.”
“Before your sister or your parents or Dani?”
She nodded. “After watching us get all mushy, it’s the least we can do. Okay with you?” When Sly nodded, she glanced at her cousin. “Do me a favor, and don’t contact the family for another forty-eight hours.”
Carpenter seemed surprised by the request but shrugged. “I guess I can do that. What’s this about?”
Before making their announcement, Sly and Lana stood up. She threaded her fingers with his, and he nodded at her to do the talking.
“Sly and I...we’re expecting a baby.”
Her cousin almost choked on his beer. “Say what?”
Sly nodded. “It’s true. The due date is early January.”
“That’s not long to wait,” Carpenter said. “Congratulations, you two. It’s a damn good thing we settled this cattle business.”
He shook hands with Sly and patted Lana’s shoulder. “I know how difficult your parents can be, Lana,” he said. “If you want me to be there when you give them the news, I’ll vouch for Sly.”
“You’d do that?” She smiled at him. “Has anyone ever told you you’re a nice guy?” Standing on her toes, she kissed her cousin’s cheek. Even his ears turned red. “Your offer means a lot, but Sly and I will do it together.”