It definitely did not work for Carolina. Things were awkward enough as they were without adding a sleepover with Jake to the mix. “Thanks for the offer, Edna, but I’m sure the roads will be safe for travel again in a couple of hours.”
Conversation stopped as the back door opened, followed by heavy footsteps. A few seconds later, Jake joined them in the den.
Jake’s six-foot-plus frame and commanding demeanor dominated the scene even before he said a word.
“Any storm problems?” Edna asked.
“Some of the horses needed a bit of calming down, as usual, but no wind damage that I noticed except for a couple of limbs down in that stretch of pines along the creek.”
“Did you check the entire ranch?” Peg asked.
“Not enough time for that, but we’ve been through enough storms to know where floods and the wind usually do their damage.”
Edna straightened the skirt of her blue-flowered housedress. “You should have seen the pictures of the flooding in Austin.”
“Too much rain or not enough. That’s Texas.”
“I invited the ladies to spend the night,” Edna said. “No use for them to risk facing a flash-flooding situation.”
For the first time since he entered the room, Jake turned and looked directly at Carolina, his dark eyes peering into hers. Her chest grew tight.
“If you want to stay, there’s room.”
That wasn’t exactly what she’d call an eager agreement.
“We’ve already been far too intrusive in your lives,” Carolina said. “I’m sure the roads will clear up enough that we can get back to our hotel tonight.”
“Suit yourself, but the offer stands. Now if you ladies will excuse me, I need to make a few phone calls.” He started toward the hallway, then stopped and turned back to face Carolina. “If you had no problems with Tilson today, I’ll assign him to assist you in any way he can during the training session. If you need other wranglers, he can line them up.”
She wondered if that offer was to make up for Jake’s less than enthusiastic offer of hospitality.
Even so, she could use the help. “I appreciate that, and I’m sure Tilson will do fine.”
“Does that mean you’re neglecting us?” Peg asked, her voice bordering on outright seduction.
“I’ll be around if you need me, but I’ll do my best to stay out of your way.” He stopped next to Lizzie and put a hand on her shoulder. “Don’t even think about leaving the house tonight.”
“Wasn’t planning to.”
“I’d better get back in the kitchen and get started on those chicken enchiladas,” Edna said.
“Please don’t go to any extra trouble for us.”
“No trouble at all. Nothing more fun than having a full table to cook for. Is dinner at seven okay?”
“Perfect,” they said in unison.
“I’ll give Edna a hand,” Mildred said, following the housekeeper to the kitchen.
“You know, Lizzie, I don’t think your dad’s as excited as Edna about having a houseful of women around,” Sara said. “Not that I blame him, since he doesn’t even know us.”
“No. That’s just how he is,” Lizzie said. “He doesn’t get excited about much. But if he didn’t want you here, you’d know it.”
Lizzie’s cell phone rang. She grabbed it and answered quickly, “What’s up?”
She left the room before she said more, but it was clear from her suddenly strained expression that the phone call was upsetting.
Lizzie was vivacious and smart, but Carolina had a feeling she was also as complex and troubled as many of the youngsters who’d show up for the Saddle-Up summer-camp program.
Now that she thought about it, Lizzie, with her knowledge and love of horses and riding, would be a perfect junior volunteer for the session on Sara’s ranch. Not only would the participants learn from her, but the interaction with young teens so much less fortunate than herself might do Lizzie some good, as well.
Her involvement would require Lizzie’s willingness and Jake’s permission. The latter might be the more difficult to obtain, but worth a shot.
Determined to face the issue before she changed her mind, she went off in search of Jake. It didn’t take long to find him. He was at a wide wooden desk in his home office, staring at a table of figures on the computer screen. She tapped lightly on the open door.
He looked up. “Come in.”
“Is this a bad time?”
“No. Can I help you with something?”
“Hopefully. It’s about Lizzie.”
His brow furrowed. “What about her?”
“She’s a really nice kid. Smart and great with horses, too.”
“Thank you.”
“She’s got a lot going for her, but she’s—”
“Look, Mrs. Lambert, if you’re here to tell me that she has a problem with me, don’t bother. I’m quite aware. It’s not for lack of trying on my part. It’s just...”
“Carolina.”
He frowned. “What?”
“You can call me Carolina. And I’m not here to criticize but to ask a favor of sorts. I’d appreciate it if you’d hear me out before you say no.”
“Go ahead.”
“I’d like your permission to invite Lizzie to be one of our junior counselors this summer. She has so much to offer, and I think it might even be good for her.”
“Exactly what would that involve?”
“One month of working with the underprivileged campers on Sara and Jess’s ranch. It would be voluntary, but she could stay on site with the other camp counselors so she wouldn’t have to be on the highway driving back and forth.”
“Have you mentioned this to Lizzie?”
“No. I wanted to clear it with you first.”
Jake swiveled his chair so that he was facing Carolina. Concern etched his face. “If you can persuade my daughter to give up sleeping until noon and then spending the rest of the day either texting or hanging out with her friends, I’d say you’re a miracle worker.”
“I’ll take that as a yes.”
“Definitely. Go for it. You do the asking. If it comes from me, the answer would be an unqualified no.”
Perhaps if you set a better example with the way you treated your own father.
Those were the words Carolina wanted to toss back at him. She bit them back. Lizzie needed her father, and if they didn’t find a way to connect soon, they might never find it.
“Carolina. I’ve been looking all over for you.”
She looked up as Mildred rushed into the room, her face a pasty white. “What’s wrong?”
“Thad. He’s not giving up.”
Jake was not surprised. He had sat out the storm at ranch headquarters, checking the internet for anything he could find about the arrest and trial that led to Caffey’s conviction.
There hadn’t been much. As rotten a crime as spousal