Chapter 18
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
S tewart sat on the porch, staring at a note in his hand. Unbelievable . They’d talked not two hours ago. She had left, completely breaking ties with him. She’d blocked his number.
She was planning to leave in a week or two. Part of him had wanted her to stay the whole two weeks, but part of him knew one week would be best. And now it didn’t matter because she was gone. Why? How had things altered in two hours?
He read the letter again. He did not have a savior complex. He was not too overwhelmed to run the ranch. What did she mean by those words?
If she had wanted to leave, she could have just left. He would have driven her to the bus terminal. She could have at least said goodbye instead of this lousy note.
His concern wasn’t driven by a savior complex but by genuine care.
He watched as Katie drove up and groaned softly. He wasn’t in the mood.
“Hey! I’m here for my first lesson. It’ll have to be short. No one took into consideration that I teach horseback riding and dressage classes.”
What was it like to be so happy all the time?
“I’ve decided to take things over again,” he announced abruptly. “After the FBI is done with the main house, I’ll be moving back and bringing Flora.” He sighed. “Aurora left. I’d just spoken to her about staying until her stepfather’s sentencing was over. People are going to eat her alive. She talked about going home to her mother, but that woman seems to hate her, and Aurora has no one.”
“Her stepfather is being sentenced soon?”
“Tomorrow.” He huffed out a short breath. “Well, she made her choice. Look, I have a lot of work to do. You’d think someone who claimed he was without the password wouldn’t make such a mess, but McKenna did.”
“Any word about the charges or taking the ranch?” Katie asked, creasing her forehead.
“Our lawyer told me since I reported it, we won’t have to give up our land. If law enforcement had gotten wind of it, we’d be off the property with our assets frozen. I’m struggling to come up with an answer. Why did he need so much money?”
“There’s been rumors of gambling debts, but I don’t know if it’s true or not.” Katie bent and kissed his cheek. “Take care of yourself!”
She certainly had a spring in her step. But then, he’d had one too when McKenna had fired him. Riding the range with the ranch hands had been good for him, and despite all their troubles, he felt renewed.
He folded the letter and put it in his jacket pocket. Why did he wear suits all the time? No one saw him most days. His father always wore a suit and tie. Did Eion McKeegan wear business clothes? He snorted. Probably not.
Aurora almost bought a bus ticket, but in the end, she walked with her suitcases to Gus’ house. Hopefully, no one would look for her there.
She’d gotten a stare or two, but none were hostile.
By the time she stood in Gus’ house, she was tired and thirsty. She handed Gus the rent and moved herself into the apartment about the garage.
Did it make sense to unpack? Maybe not. Finally, she unpacked her toiletries and a few of the new clothes she’d bought.
She hadn’t been looking forward to having to go to the community center and work with Ethel Holmes. And now she wouldn’t have to. So there was that, at least.
After making herself a cup of tea, she sat on the old but comfortable couch and turned on the television. She was just about to take a sip when the news mentioned her stepfather. She quickly set the cup down and flipped through channels, searching for more news about him.
It hurt to see him in a prison uniform. It hurt to just see him. His actions had been heinous. How many people wouldn’t be able to retire because they’d been scammed by him? He’d propelled her into homelessness. She’d been blessed to have been helped by so many. More than she deserved.
How had she not known? How had she not seen anything? The same questions had tortured her every night since his arrest.
She heard the word s fifty years and waited for without parole, but it didn’t happen. Why not? He stole billions.
A law firm would be in charge of recovering funds for restitution. Good, perhaps people would get some of their money back.
The pain in her heart was massive. Part of it was from leaving the ranch and having to block Stewart’s number. Part of it was for all the victims, and part of it was because everything she’d ever been told was a lie.
What else had her mother and stepfather lied about? How dare they use other people’s money to live it up?
Sleep came hard.
The next morning, as much as she hated it, she needed to eat. After getting dressed, she decided to skip putting on make-up. Who cared?
Gus was outside, and he gave her an encouraging smile. One person didn’t think she was a thief. It was a start. Dare she hope?
Keeping her head down, she walked the block and a half to The Daily Provisions. The store was closed, and defeat washed over her. No. She squared her shoulders. This was not the way she was going to live. There was no point in feeling guilty and defeated.
Continuing up the walk, she paused outside The Morning Glory Café but couldn’t bring herself to go inside. Maybe it would be best to go back to her apartment. She’d eat later. Just as she started to turn around, Ruby Lou opened the door. Aurora stiffened.
“You might as well come in. You look as though you just lost your pet.” She frowned and angled her head, considering Aurora. “Did you have a pet growing up?”
Aurora shook her head.
“In, come on. I’ll even pour you some coffee.” Ruby Lou smiled.
Why not? It wasn’t as though there would be any other offers. She walked into the restaurant and cringed, waiting for one of the customers to insult her.
“Hey, Ruby Lou, you hirin’ her back? We sure could use someone who smiles around here,” one of the regulars called out.
“I might. I haven’t made up my mind yet.” Ruby Lou gestured for Aurora to sit at the counter.
Aurora was aware of someone standing directly behind her.
“I certainly won’t be back if you hire this?—”
“Ethel, put a sock in it. If it’ll keep you out of here, I will hire Aurora.” Ruby Lou stared at Ethel, who threw a five-dollar bill on the counter and then stormed out of the café.
“Ruby, I didn’t ask for a job.”
“Ahh, you forget. Gus owns half of The Morning Glory. He called me last night. I heard him out, and he was right. Your name never came up during the whole nasty business with your stepfather. I learned long ago you can’t choose your family. So? Do you want a job or what?”
“I don’t know how to thank you.”
“Yes, you do. Eat, then put your apron on.” Ruby Lou went into the kitchen and walked back with a plate of scrambled eggs with rye bread.
The man at the end of the counter cleared his throat.
Ruby Lou gave him a look. “Don’t worry, you’ll get yours in a minute. It just so happens, Aurora’s order is the same as yours.”
Aurora held back the laugh that threatened to escape. God had blessed her once again.