Chapter Eleven
Sunday evening as Grady pulled into his driveway, he could feel the anger boiling inside him like a pot about to boil over. He shut off the truck and stormed into the house, slamming the door behind him. The hardwood floors echoed with his heavy footsteps as he made his way toward the kitchen. But headed for the laundry room first, dropping his duffle bag abruptly onto the floor. He’d deal with it tomorrow. Right now, all he wanted was a hot shower and some much-needed sleep.
Ever since that prick answered Savannah’s phone and she didn’t have the courage to tell him herself that she was going back to her ex-husband, Grady hadn’t slept. The betrayal cut deep and all he could think about was how he shouldn’t have gotten involved with her in the first place. He should have listened to his instincts and kept things casual, but no, he had to go and fall for her.
“Fucking dumbass,” Grady muttered as he walked toward his bedroom. He entered the bathroom, stripped, turned on the shower, and stepped inside, letting the hot water cascade over him as he tried to clear his mind.
The next morning, Grady went about his routine of checking the stalls in the barn when he saw Maverick mucking out one of them.
“Hey, is it your turn already?” he asked.
Maverick looked at him, wiping sweat from his brow with the back of his gloved hand. “No, but Charlene called to tell me Steve is sick so I’m filling in for him. She said he’d been throwing up all night. I told her to keep him home so none of us catch whatever he has.” He leaned against his rake and took off his gloves. “How was your time away?”
Grady shrugged nonchalantly. “It was fine.”
Maverick gave him a knowing look before crossing his arms over his chest. “What’s really going on?”
“Nothing,” Grady insisted.
“Bullshit. I’ve known you long enough to know when something’s bothering you. Why did you leave in the first place?”
“Savannah and I had a fight. She hung up on me, so I figured I’d give her some space.”
“And how did that work out for you?” Maverick pressed.
“I called her but her... ex-husband answered and told me she didn’t want to talk to me.” Grady shrugged, trying to brush off the hurt he felt.
“Bullshit! You don’t believe that, do you?” Maverick asked.
“Why else would he be answering her phone?” Grady snapped back.
Maverick took off his hat and ran a hand through his hair before putting the hat back on. “I don’t know about that, but something doesn’t seem right. She’s not in love with him, she’s in love with you.”
Grady scoffed. “No, she’s not.”
Maverick laughed. “You are one blind son of a bitch. Of course, she is. And I’d bet money that you’re in love with her too.”
“I am not in love with her,” Grady protested, feeling a twinge of guilt at his own denial.
Maverick just chuckled. “Sure man, whatever you say.”
“I have work to do,” Grady muttered, needing to get away from this conversation and his thoughts.
“For someone who supposedly isn’t in love, it seems like it’s really eating at you that her ex answered her phone and fed you a line of bullshit,” Maverick commented slyly.
“Go fuck yourself, Whitaker,” Grady growled as he stormed off toward his horse’s stall.
He quickly saddled his horse and rode out to check the fence line in the west pasture. A new section had been strung and he wanted to make sure it had been done correctly. But deep down, he just wanted to get out and clear his head of thoughts of Savannah.
But Maverick’s words kept nagging at him. Was there something off about the situation? Why did her ex answer her phone? Grady couldn’t come up with any answers, but he knew one thing for sure, he wasn’t calling her again. If she couldn’t be honest with him about her ex, then there was no point in pursuing anything further. It was over and he needed to accept it, as much as it hurt.
Two days later, he stopped at The Feed Store to pick up a new set of reins. After paying for them, he walked outside into the heat and stood on the steps, looking around. He smirked at all the people in town. Tourist season was great for the three towns, bringing in a lot of revenue, but he wanted to be anywhere else but here.
He looked up the street to see Savannah’s shop and wondered how he’d go on without her in his life now. Would she sell the shop or stay in Clifton? Hell, that sure didn’t sit well with him about her leaving. How was he supposed to be in the same town and not run into her?
Taking a deep breath, he jogged down the steps, climbed into his truck, started it, and pulled out onto the street. He swore as his truck seemed to have a mind of its own as he parked across the street from her shop.
He stared at the store, wrapping his hands around the steering wheel until they ached. Opening the door, he stepped out, and slammed it shut a little harder than necessary. She owed him an explanation.
After checking traffic, he crossed the street, stepped onto the sidewalk, opened the door and entered the shop. He saw her waiting on a customer but her eyes widened and her mouth dropped open when she saw him. She said something to the woman, then had Maggie help her as Savannah walked toward him.
“Where have you been?” she whispered.
“Why did he answer your phone?” he asked, avoiding her question.
She frowned. “What? Who?”
Grady inhaled and blew it out, trying to keep from shouting at her. He leaned closer to her and said through clenched teeth.
“Why did he answer your phone? Didn’t you have the guts to tell me yourself?” he snapped.
Savannah glanced around the store and gave the customers staring at them, a tightlipped smile.
“We need to go to my office,” she said, then turned and walked away from him.
Grady looked around, then followed her into the office, slamming the door behind him He leaned back against it, crossed his arms, and narrowed his eyes, when all he really wanted to do was pull her into his arms and never let her go.
“Do you want to tell me what you’re talking about?” she said, as she moved behind her desk.
He scoffed. “As if you don’t know.”
“Obviously, I don’t!” she snapped.
They stared at each other until he huffed.
“If you wanted to break it off with me and go back to your ex, you should have had the balls to tell me yourself,” he growled.
Savannah shook her head as if to clear cobwebs, then strode around the desk, marched toward him and stared into his eyes.
“What in the hell are you talking about? I didn’t want to break it off with you and if I did, I would have had the balls to do it.”
“What?”
“What do you mean what?” she blew out a breath. “Let’s start over here. Who told you I wanted to break it off with you?”
“Come on, Savannah. Your ex. Didn’t I just say that?”
“No—”
“I did,” he said with frustration, through clenched teeth. “I said, if you wanted to go back to your ex, you should have had the balls to tell me yourself.”
“Where did you get such an idea?” Then she gasped. “Who answered my phone?”
“Kirk!” Grady removed his hat and ran his fingers through his hair.
“He told you I wanted to break it off with you?”
“He said he answered your phone because you didn’t want to talk to me.” He shrugged. “I figured it meant you were breaking it off with me.”
“When did he say that?”
“Holy shit, you’re driving me insane. When I called you Sunday!”
“I lost my phone—” She gasped. “That son of a bitch. He took my phone.”
“What?”
“Grady, I lost my phone. Well, I thought I had. Now I know better.” She paced across the room. “It must have been Sunday. He was at my house when I returned from shopping.” She looked at him. “And from your house to find you so we could talk. Anyway, he came to the trunk of my car, asking if he could help. Of course, I said no, hoping he’d leave. Then I picked up the bags and went inside. Either my phone fell onto the grass, and I didn’t hear it, or he—”
“Removed it from your purse,” Grady said, shaking his head.
“Yes. He actually told you I wanted him to answer so I wouldn’t have to talk to you?”
“Yes—”
“ And you believed him? After I told you everything he put me through?” She punched his arm, making him wince. “How dare you even consider I would do that.”
Grady reached for her. “Savannah—”
“Don’t. Don’t you dare touch me right now. I am so pissed and I’m not sure who I’m madder at. Him for stealing my phone and lying to you, or you for believing him.”
“What was I supposed to think when he answered it?”
“That he was a lying son of a bitch. How dare you even think I would go back to him.”
“Because he answered your phone.” Grady tried to rein in his temper.
“And you immediately jumped to the conclusion that I would go back to him.”
“I think we need to sit down and talk this out.”
“Oh, you do, do you?” She opened the door, then looked back at him, and stared at him. “I am not in the mood to talk to either of you right now. You should have trusted me, not him.” She left the room.
Grady sighed, tilted his head down, and wondered if he’d ever get her back into his life again without messing it up. He understood where she was coming from, and she was right. He should have realized that she wouldn’t go back to a man who blamed her for the death of their child but hearing him answer her phone and hearing him say Savannah didn’t want to talk to him, cut Grady to the core and all he could think now was that he lost the one thing that mattered more to him than anything. The best he could do was leave her alone for a while.
“Yeah, look how well that worked out from the last time you thought she just needed some space.”
Walking out of the office, Grady went through the showroom, out the door, and to his truck without saying a word to anyone.
After climbing into the vehicle, he sat there staring out the windshield. His heart ached knowing he probably just blew it with her for good.
He started the truck and with one last look toward her shop, he pulled out, spinning tires on the blacktop, then drove home. He planned to drink until he passed out. Maybe then he’d get her out of his mind.
****
Savannah watched him walk out the door, cross the street, and climb into his truck.
“Are you alright?” Maggie asked as she stood beside her.
“No.”
“I take it you didn’t work things out?”
“You and I will talk once we close. We’re too busy right now and I need to keep my mind off it for a while.”
“Of course.”
“Maggie? I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sound bitchy. I just need a little time so I can get through it without crying.”
“I understand,” Maggie said with a smile, then headed for some customers to help.
Savannah wanted to curl into a ball and cry, but she got busy helping people and soon it was time to close.
When the last person walked out, Savannah locked the door and turned the ‘closed’ sign over.
“Do you want to go up to my place?”
“Yes, if you don’t mind.”
“Of course, I don’t.”
They gathered up their things then walked out the back door used for deliveries. After locking it, Savannah followed Maggie upstairs and waited while she unlocked the door. They stepped inside, set their purses down, then headed for the sofa.
“Would you like a glass of wine?”
“Oh, Maggie, that would be wonderful, but just one. I have to drive home.”
“No problem.” Maggie poured them each of a glass of red Merlot and handed one to Savannah.
“Thank you.” Savannah took a sip and sighed. “That’s good.”
“What happened?”
Savannah told Maggie everything. From Kirk being the one who stole her phone, to answering it and telling Grady she didn’t want to talk to him.
“Maggie, I understand Grady getting upset, but I’ve already been with one man who lost trust and faith in me. Two totally different ways, but no trust from either of them. After everything I told Grady about how Kirk treated me, he still believed him without talking with me. I know I didn’t have a phone then, but the minute Kirk fed him that line of bullshit, he should have come to me.”
“When did Kirk tell him that?”
“Sunday. Apparently, Grady called my phone, I suppose to talk about our argument about him asking me if I still had feelings for Kirk. It was while Grady was away. He tried to call me, but when Kirk answered and said what he did, Grady should have talked with me. Even being away, when he came back, that should have been his first priority. Not to question me about going back to Kirk, but to tell me what Kirk had said to him.” Savannah sighed then took another sip of wine.
“Grady had to have been upset, Vanna. I mean, he went away because you two argued and I know you would have worked that out, but then he calls your phone, and Kirk answers and feeds him a line of bullshit. And since you didn’t have your phone, if he would have tried to call you again and you didn’t answer, he would have believed Kirk. Can’t you see that?”
“The argument about him asking me if I still had feelings for Kirk should never have crossed his mind. He knew what that prick put me through, and yet he still asked me. Oh, I have feelings for Kirk alright, but they aren’t good ones. I understand the saying, there’s a thin line between love and hate all too well. It doesn’t take much for love to turn to hate.” She sighed. “It hurt me so much that Grady would even think, for one second, that I’d go back to Kirk, or not want to talk to him if he called.”
“I get what you’re saying, but as I said, if he did try to call you back, and you didn’t answer, he would think Kirk was telling the truth, especially if Kirk answered again, and I know I don’t know him very well, but I’d bet he would when he saw Grady’s name on the screen again. I just think Grady is unsure of your feelings about him. From what you’ve told me, he never wanted to settle down, and now he’s in this relationship with you. I think he’s in love with you and it terrifies him.”
“Why would you think he’s in love with me?”
“Vanna, I’ve seen him looking at you. He is head over heels for you, and I know you’re in love with him. You light up every time you talk about him. I think you both need to talk this out. Don’t let a good man slip through your fingers and I’m sure he’s also scared that he’s lost you.”
“I know, but for him not to come to me and tell me what Kirk said, makes me think he doesn’t trust me or believe in me. He just believed Kirk.” Savannah shook her head. “Grady should have come to me before jumping to conclusions,” she repeated.
Maggie touched her hand. “Vanna, you’re not listening to me. Think. If Grady did call you back, say even the next day, he wouldn’t have gotten an answer because you didn’t have your phone. Kirk did and being the dick Kirk is, I know he would have enjoyed answering your phone again, if it was still on. Just to fuck with Grady. What do think would go through Grady’s head? You two belong together. You have to get past this. All couples argue and trust is a huge issue when you’re in love, but you still have to talk things out. Both people in a relationship must communicate. You love him. Do you want to lose him?”
“No.” She sighed. “I love him more than I thought I could love any man. We do have to talk. I want him to know how he hurt me by taking Kirk’s word over something like that.”
Maggie shook her head. “I know he shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions about you and Kirk, but if it were reversed, what would you have done?”
“I—” Savannah shook her head. “I don’t really know. Looking at it from Grady’s point of view, I can see where he’d think the worst. Especially if he did call again. It’s such a mess. I have to talk to him.”
“You should.”
Savannah stood up, walked to the kitchen, set her glass in the sink, then looked at Maggie.
“I will. I just need a few days to calm down. Thank you. I appreciate you listening to me.”
“What are friends for?”
Savannah smiled. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Alright.” Maggie walked her to the door. They hugged, then Savannah walked down the stairs, got into her car, and drove home.
****
The next morning, Grady entered the barn to muck out the stalls. It was his day for it, and he was glad to be inside the barn because the glare of the sun was making his head pound. He drank way too much last night.
“Morning, Grady,” John said as he walked past him.
“You don’t have to shout,” Grady said in a low voice.
“Was I shouting?” John stared at him with raised eyebrows.
Grady shook his head, then groaned when it hurt. He sat down on a haybale, removed his hat and clasped his head in his hands. He heard John leave the barn, but he had to sit still for a minute because if he didn’t, he was going to throw up.
“Grady?”
He raised his hand to stop Maverick from saying anything more. He felt his friend sit beside him on the bale.
“Are you alright?” Maverick asked quietly.
“I have the hangover from hell,” he whispered.
“Shit. That means you and Savannah still aren’t talking.”
Grady slowly turned his head to look at him.
“What am I supposed to do, Maverick? I fucked up. Not once, but twice and she is so pissed that I doubt she’ll ever see me again.”
“Is this about her ex answering her phone?”
“Yeah, she’s pissed that I believed him without even talking to her.” He looked at Maverick. “What was I supposed to think when he answered her phone? And he acted like he asked her if she wanted to talk to me. Her phone that he stole from her.”
“Man, you are not making sense. Why don’t you just go home and sleep it off? I’ll take care of the stalls.”
Grady took a deep breath and slowly blew it out, then told Maverick about what happened yesterday.
“Well, I can see where she’s coming from. You should have talked to her. Even though you didn’t know he had taken her phone, you should have called back and if that asshole answered again, you should have gotten your ass back here to talk to her.”
Grady glared at him. “Ya think?”
Maverick bit his lip and Grady knew he was biting back a grin.
“Grady, go home.”
“I can’t.”
“Yes, you can. We’re not doing anything with the cattle today. You need to rest. Take some aspirin and go to bed.”
Grady sighed. “Alright.” He got to his feet and groaned as the pain pounded inside his head.
“Can you drive?”
“Yeah, I’ll make it. I’ll talk to you later. Thanks.”
“Hey, I’ve been there. The best thing you can do is sleep it off.”
“Yeah.” He walked out of the barn and into the bright sunshine and his head felt like it was going to explode, but he climbed into his truck, closed the door, and groaned again at the sound, then drove home.
He entered the house and sighed at the cooler interior then slowly made his way to his bedroom. He sat on the edge of the bed, took off his boots, and laid down. He hoped the room would stop spinning soon.
Friday morning, Grady entered the barn, saddled his horse, and rode out into the sunshine to head for the west pasture. The transmitter showed a section was down and he needed to get it fixed. He just hoped it wasn’t wolves that took it down.
Ever since the day they tried to catch him, he’d been antsy about being anywhere near them.
Nudging Onyx into a run, they tore through the field. As he arrived at the section of fence that was down, he glanced around. Damn, he hoped no wolves were around. Just because it was summer didn’t mean they wouldn’t attack if they felt threatened. Especially if they had pups with them . Wolves normally breed in February and March, and litters averaging about five pups are born in May or early June . It’s not just the mother wolf that cares for the pups, the entire pack does, so it’s best to stay away from them.
Dismounting from the horse, he dropped the reins, removed his rifle from the sheath, took his tools from the saddlebag and repaired the fence, then mounted the horse and rode back to the barn. He didn’t see any wildlife which was fine with him, but he did see moose tracks, so that’s probably why it was down.
Grizzly bears were in the area too, but they mostly left people alone unless threatened. The bears were generally peaceful and intelligent animals that prefer to avoid humans.They are most likely to attack when provoked, surprised, or defending their young.Female grizzlies are especially protective of their cubs.Spring and fall are times when grizzly bears may be more likely to be defensive because they are protecting their young or food sources. But the cubs stay with their mother for about eighteen months, so the mother was still very protective of her babies.
Grady had come upon them before, but if they were alone, they usually ran off. He knew those bears could reach thirty-five miles per hour, but a horse was faster. Grady never bothered them in any way.
With a ranch the size of The Triple C, there was an abundance of wildlife. Moose, bear, wolves, elk, and foxes. He’d seen them all, but as long as he didn’t bother them, they didn’t bother him. Except for the wolves and that’s because they don’t hibernate and take food where they can find it in the winter season.
As he got closer to the barn, he thought about Savannah and if she would ever talk to him again. He missed her and he had no one but himself to blame. Just as he told Maverick, he’d fucked up.
Was she even thinking about him at all? He hoped so. What he really hoped was that he’d run into her ex and lay him out. What a prick. It was bad enough what he put Savannah through, but then to try to tear them apart by lying to Grady and stealing her phone, made Grady clench his fists in anger. He never started a fight but this time he just might.
He rode Onyx into the barn, cooled him down, then led him outside and let him run through the south pasture. The other horses were out and he grinned as he watched them running around.
“Hey, how’s your head today?” Maverick asked him as he placed his arms on the rail of the fence.
“It’s better. Damn, I overdid it.”
Maverick chuckled. “Yeah, been there and I swore I’d never do it again.”
Grady grinned. “I was praying, God, if you let me get over this, I’ll never drink again.”
They laughed together because they both knew that even though they made that promise, they knew it was a lie.
“Have you talked to Vanna?”
“Not yet. I know I have to, but I don’t want her slamming the door in my face.”
“Women. Can’t live with ‘em and can’t live without ‘em.” Maverick grinned.
“I shouldn’t have gotten involved in the first place, but…” Grady shook his head.
“But you did. Vanna is great, Grady. You just need to get her back in your life. You had a moment of doubt. Everyone does over something in a relationship.”
“I know, but I messed up twice.”
“Hell, do you know how many times I’ve made Parker angry? You can’t count that high, and it was usually after something stupid, but when I had to, I went to Oregon to make things right. If I hadn’t, I’d doubt we’d be together. Sometimes you have to do what you must, even if it means begging.” Maverick shook his head. “I’d get on my knees for that woman and beg her to forgive me even if I didn’t know why she was angry.”
Grady chuckled. “My dad says my mom is always right even when she isn’t.”
“I’ve heard that before too. Happy wife, happy life.”
“I don’t like Savannah being angry with me, but she definitely has the right to be.” He shook his head. “I can’t believe how much I miss her.”
Maverick slapped him on the shoulder. “You’re in love, whether you admit it or not.”
Grady looked at him, then back at the horses. “I admit it, but I’m scared I blew it.”
“Grady, she loves you. She’ll get over it, but you need to apologize to her.”
“I just saw red when he answered her phone and tells me she doesn’t want to talk to me. I couldn’t understand, but it kept going through my head that he answered her phone. Damn it. I should have known better.” He looked at Maverick again. “I’m new to this being in love thing. I know that’s not an excuse but it’s the only one I’ve got.”
“I know if it had been Parker, I would want to explain myself and apologize if I had any hope at all in getting her back. I told you, I’d get on my knees for her if I had to.”
“Yeah, you’re right. I think I’ll stop by her place tomorrow evening.”
“It couldn’t hurt. I should get back to work. Did you check the fence?”
“Yeah, it was down. I saw some moose tracks. Maybe wolves were chasing it and ran into the fence.”
“It’s happened before. I’ll see you later. Come to dinner one night.”
“I’d like that. Have a good rest of the day.”
Grady watched as Maverick walked out of the barn. Huffing out a breath, he knew he had to see Savannah whether she was ready to talk or not.