Chapter 9
CHAPTER NINE
H e slammed his hand against the steering wheel. How dare she? His own mother? He drove past the main house and pulled into his sister Katie’s driveway. She was Mother’s favorite. If anyone knew about what had happened, Katie would.
Short Stuff came out of the house and stared at him. He caught himself before he spoke. He’d better not call her Short Stuff. She had a punishing right hook.
“Katie! You look wonderful!” He smiled as he walked toward her.
“If you were home more than once a century, you’d already know I look wonderful,” she scolded. A smile broke across her face, and she gave him a big hug. “I’ve missed you. How long are you staying?”
He stepped back and followed her into the house. “I’m not sure, yet.” He stopped short and glanced around the nearly empty room. “Katie, why didn’t you furnish the place? A couch and gigantic flat screen?”
“I have a table to eat at, but as you can see, I have all my computer stuff on it. I don’t need things,” she explained with a shrug.
“Whatever makes you happy, I guess. Still doing riding lessons?”
She shook her head. “The money is in teaching dressage, barrel racing, and jumping. You know how Montana loves its rodeos.”
“Sounds great. I bet it keeps you busy.”
She smiled. “All that and competing myself.”
“Win anything?” he asked.
“My ribbons and belt buckles have their own room. I’ll show you later. Have a seat.”
He occupied one side of the couch while she lounged on the other.
“I need to talk to you about Lynne.”
Looking away, Katie became engrossed in studying her hands.
“Katie, I know you know. Spit it out,” he urged.
Finally, she nodded and looked at him. “Mother never thought Lynne was good enough for you or the McKeegan name. She thought she was after you for your money and the prestige you’d have as a lawyer. She had this crazy idea Lynne was two-timing you. She couldn’t see how much in love you two were. Mother vowed to make sure you never married Lynne. I do know she went to Lynne’s ranch and told her how she felt. I wasn’t mature enough then to tell you. I didn’t know anything about heartache.”
“So, it's true. I just heard about it today, and I immediately knew she did something to break us up. I should have seen it, but I just didn’t want Mother to be the one responsible. My heart feels so heavy. Lynne was never anything but polite to Mother. Lynne told me Mother didn’t approve of her, but I told her she must be imagining it.” He nervously ran a hand through his hair.
“Why would she do it?” Katie asked softly.
“I told Mother I was going to propose.”
“Oh Reilly, I’m so sorry. I know you had a hard time with Lynne leaving.” Emotion choked her voice. “I wish there was something I could do.”
The silence grew.
“Mother was very convincing about Lynne cheating on you. I never thought to ask who it was or how she knew,” Lynne commiserated.
“Lynne is living on our property near the house on the mountain,” Reilly disclosed. “Dr. West practically ran her out of town. I came back home to figure a few things out and get my head straight and I found her living there. She hadn’t been there long. She was counting on a job in Billings. But West also tanked the job for her.” He shook his head, unwilling to get into the details for now. “It’s a long story, but she bought a trailer and it’s parked near the house. I also gave her permission to use the land up there for her animals.”
“Horses?”
Smiling, he nodded. “Among other things. There’s a llama, three horses, two opossums, a potbelly pig, and a few others. No one wanted them, so she took them to the barn up there. She didn’t ask because Stewart made it known she wasn’t welcome on the ranch, but she had nowhere else to go.”
“Like an animal rehab?”
“Something like that.” He rose. “I need to get going. I appreciate your land use and how you're teaching others.”
Katie stood, and he followed her to the door. With an upward reach, she embraced him.
“I forgot just how short you are,” he teased.
“I forgot just how overly tall you are.” She grinned.
She’d matured over the years, and her plans were sound. He had no doubt she’d do well.