Chapter 7
CHAPTER SEVEN
H ad she spoken out of turn? The light in Stewart’s eyes suddenly dimmed.
“I’ll show you the garden,” he offered.
They walked in silence out of the building. The path to the garden was short, and they quickly reached a bench.
“Why don’t we sit for a minute?” she suggested.
He nodded and sat down after she did.
“Did I say something wrong back there? You look troubled.” She stared intently into his blue eyes.
“I’m feeling foolish, incompetent, and easily tricked. I’m certain I can keep funding this for a couple more years, but what happens after that? I have strong investments and enough money to get by for the year, but it’s still a concern. But what if something comes up and we need that money?”
“Didn’t you say you bought equipment? Even if the equipment had been delivered, wouldn’t the money still be gone?” She should have kept her mouth closed and changed the conversation.
“Not for long. The improvements we could have made would have allowed us to be able to handle more cattle. We could grow and bale enough hay for a change. We always need to buy extra, and it adds up. The equipment would have made things easier and faster. But that’s only part of it. My family relied on me to make the decisions. They counted on me, and I let them down. I’m still in disbelief that I was scammed. That man somehow had me trusting him. I was certain I could recognize a man like him from afar.” A sigh escaped his lips.
If only she could get the money back for him. The FBI had searched extensively but couldn’t locate the money. Her mother and stepfather’s rich lifestyle was financed by numerous scams and excessive spending. Her lifestyle. Her face heated. Stewart needed to hear the truth.
“At last, I’ve found you!” Ethel exclaimed as she walked down the path. “I was hoping you wouldn’t slip away without saying goodbye. She scrutinized Aurora from head to toe. Her look of disdain was fleeting, lasting only a few seconds.
“I would have found you before we left,” Stewart said. He smiled at her. Her disdain apparently went unnoticed by him.
“And you, my dear, I’m confident we’ll have a delightful time working on the fundraiser together. I’ve come up with some new ideas that I think you’ll be interested in.
What a phony…
“Naturally, I’d love that,” Aurora replied, her voice sugary sweet.
Beside her, Stewart stiffened. She’d explain later.
“It’s a privilege to have you here, Stewart,” Ethel stated warmly.
“The honor is all mine,” he replied.
Ethel’s face lit up like a Christmas tree. Oh… so she was completely smitten with Stewart.
“We must be going. It was a delight to meet you, Ethel. I’ll be in touch.” Aurora rose to her feet and started walking toward the parking lot. She should have walked faster. Maybe then she wouldn’t have to hear Ethel gush over Stewart as he tried to say goodbye.
But keeping her footsteps slow, she waited for Stewart to catch up. They walked in silence until they got to the truck. No matter how hard she fought it, her laughter erupted. She swiftly shielded her mouth with her hand, hoping to appear more composed in his eyes.
Stewart’s answering laughter was surprising. There was merriment in his eyes. It seemed like he could use more laughter in his life.
“Ethel has a crush on you.” She smiled slyly.
“What’s not to like? She’s a bit too old for me.” He opened the passenger door and put his hands on her waist. Before he put her on the seat, he winked. “I like woman closer to your age.” He waited until she settled in then shut the door.
Had her face ever felt so hot? There was no way to hide her red face. Just how red is it?
He pulled his door closed after he got in. Then he cast her a glance and chuckled.
“It’s that red?” She put her hands on her cheeks and felt the scorching heat.
“No, not at all,” he lied with another chuckle. He started the truck and drove toward the ranch.
“I told you my problems,” he said after they left the small town. “Are you going to share yours?”
Her heart pounded. She hesitated. How much should she divulge? Inhaling deeply, she clasped her hands together before releasing the breath.
“What if one day you found out everything you thought to be true was a lie?”
Pausing, she tried to gather her thoughts. When he said nothing, she went on.
“I was born into what I thought was a wealthy family. They might have been wealthy at some point. I never knew my father, but my stepfather took care of me and my mother. I had nannies. Yes, more than one. I had a tutor until I was seven. Then it was boarding school for me. I had more clothes, shoes, and handbags than I could ever need. My mother insisted on me dressing in fine clothes.
“The other girls at school were attracted to me because of my family’s money. It was a tough lesson to learn. Unlike the many snobs around, I wasn’t one.
“I recently learned that my stepfather stole money to support our lifestyle. I was sick hearing about it. The FBI came and took him away. My mother was in such denial. A swarm of reporters and YouTubers surrounded our home.
“I was the target of vicious hatred from all around. People made death threats. I was blamed by my mother, and I still don’t understand how she reached that conclusion. I packed my stuff and left. I foolishly used my credit card, and the reporters found me because of it. So I drove and ended up here.”
As tears streamed down her face, she stared at her hands, feeling the hot wetness of each drop.
The truck came to a stop and its engine was turned off. Stewart unfastened his seatbelt and then hers. Pulling her onto his lap, he held her tightly. He appeared unconcerned about his wet shirt.
It was the only comfort she had been given, and it caused her to weep even harder. While her own mother and all her acquaintances offered no solace, a stranger comforted her. He whispered soothing words as he rubbed her back. Not wanting to leave the security and safety of his arms, she stayed there longer than she should have.
Finally, she slipped back into her seat. “I’m sorry, but thank you.”
“Let’s get back. Flora can bring you coffee and I can get my own.” He smiled.
Aurora lingered in his thoughts long after she departed for the day. What if everything you thought to be true was a lie? He couldn’t get the thought out of his mind. The fact that a good, honest life wasn’t enough for people was beyond his comprehension. It was bad enough there were so many corrupt leaders…
Following his ancestors’ example, he believed in working for what he had. Eion McKeegan, his great-great- well he wasn’t sure exactly how many greats were in front of grandfather, had worked this land and worked hard.
They all still worked hard. Sure, new innovations made it easier, but any cowboy worth his salt would tell you it was hard work. He, Reilly, McKenna, and Katie were from Aiden McKeegan’s branch of the family. Ranch life wasn’t for everyone. If you stayed, you worked. No handouts. Of course, there had been the occasional exceptions for widows and people hurt on the job.
Members of the family could wander far and wide, but they were always welcomed home. If they needed a hand up, they got it. If they expected a handout? Well, that was a different story.
Eion had raised six sons, Aiden, Brayden, Miles, Caden, Nolan, and Carrick.
Aiden’s descendants oversaw finances. That’s the way it always had been. There was a fine line between taking charge and being a dictator. He tried to ask for opinions, and most of all, he listened. No idea was a bad idea; it just might be an idea that didn’t work.
Pride came from understanding where you were from. There was no way to imagine how Aurora felt. He’d be feeling lost and scared, for sure. It was a shame he didn’t know how to help her, but it wasn’t his concern, not really.
Checking the clock, he groaned. Morning would be here too soon.