posh.” Gran knelt at the trunk, pulling out more clothes. She held up a white blouse with a big bow. “I know you remember this line. ‘Fasten your seat belts. It’s going to be a bumpy night.’”
Cait could say that was apt, but decided to leave her grandmother with her playful memories for the moment. Cait was worried whether Gran was ever going to be able to cope with her son’s death. Soon, though, she was going to have to face facts. Cait hoped to make it as easy as possible.
She hurried down the wooden staircase and across the wide plank floors to her study. She had to call her sisters. Since Cait was in charge of their inheritance, they depended on her to make decisions that would benefit them. How did she tell them they wouldn’t be receiving any more checks? By being honest.
She called Madison first. Their middle sister was easy—that’s what she and Skylar often said. Not easy in the sexual sense, but with her emotions. Madison was easygoing, loving, compassionate, and felt other people’s pain. Cait and Sky often played on Maddie’s sensitive nature because they knew she would never do anything to hurt or disappoint them. Cait was counting on her understanding today.
Madison answered on the second ring.
“Maddie, it’s Cait.”
“Hi, big sister. What’s going on? Is there a ranch crisis?”
It was the opening Caitlyn needed. “Yes.” She told her about her meeting with Judd.
There was a long pause on the other end. “Cait, I need that money. I depend on it.”
Cait was taken aback. This didn’t sound like her easy, understanding sister.
“I’m sorry, but it’s gone.”
“Can’t you do something?”
Cait heard the desperation in her voice. “You need to come home so we can discuss this.”
“I…I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“I just can’t, okay?”
“Maddie, we need to discuss our options face-to-face. That’s all I know to do.”
There was another long pause.
“I’ll try to get the next flight out of Philadelphia. I’ll let you know.”
“Good. I can’t wait to see you.”
“Cait…”
“What?”
“Nothing. We’ll talk when I get there.”
Cait hung up, knowing something was going on with Maddie. But what? She’d find out soon enough.
Sadly, as they grew older, the sisters spent less and less time together. Maddie had come home when their father became ill, and had stayed until he died. Before that Cait hadn’t seen her in three years.
Maybe they could reconnect and become family again. There was that hope, but she knew her sisters would pressure her to sell. She closed her eyes briefly, realizing she was facing the biggest fight of her life. And not only with Judd.
Calling Skylar was more difficult. She was the wild, defiant one, and was not going to take this news well. When Sky came to visit their father in his last days, it had been four years since Cait had seen her. Skylar had her own life, living in Lexington, Kentucky, with her mother, but had a stake here, too.
Without another thought, Cait made the call. Usually she had to leave a message on voice mail, but today her sister answered.
“Hi, Sky. It’s Caitlyn.”
“What’s wrong? You only phone when something’s wrong.”
As with Maddie, she told her the truth, not sugarcoating any of it.
“You’re kidding me.”
“No. The cash flow has stopped and the ranch is in dire straits.”
“Why, Caitlyn? Why isn’t High Five making a profit? It’s a big ranch with a lot of cattle, and it’s always been profitable. What’s the problem?”
Skylar was pointing the finger straight at her. How dare she! “Maybe if you came home more often, you’d know.”
“Maybe if you were a better manager we wouldn’t be in this fix.”
“If you think you can do a better job, then get your ass here and try.”
“Don’t get huffy with me. If you’d just married the damn man, we wouldn’t be in this mess.”
“Excuse me?” Both of their tempers had flown the coop, so to speak, and Caitlyn wasn’t backing down or admitting fault. This was typical of their relationship, with the two of them always at loggerheads.
“You know what I mean.”
“My relationship with Judd or lack thereof has nothing to do with this. Dad sold our oil and gas royalties and now we have to decide what we’re going to do. You need to come home.”
“There is no way I can just drop everything and leave at a moment’s notice.”
“That’s up to you. Maddie and I will make decisions without you.”
“Like hell.” There was a momentary pause. “Listen, Cait. I need that money.”
“I heard the same thing from Maddie. And I might remind you that I put my money back into High Five. You two have been living free and easy. That’s going to stop. I’m sorry, but it is. If you want to change things, then come home. That’s my last word.”
“Cait—”
“No, Sky. I’m not listening to any more of your mouth. If you think you can run this ranch better, you’re welcome to try. Just get here!” She shouted the last words into the receiver and slammed it down.
Caitlyn stood and paced, trying to release her pent-up emotions. Sky didn’t know how bad their father’s drinking and gambling habits had been, nor did she know about Gran’s fragile state of mind. Neither did Maddie.
Cait had shouldered the burden, while her sisters had lived a life of luxury. She ran her hands over her face with a deep, torturous sigh. She should have told them. Was this her fault?
Dropping her hands, she glanced out the window toward the Southern Cross. I’ll take everything you love. Judd’s words took root in her thoughts, her emotions. Yes, it was her fault. All because she wouldn’t marry a man who didn’t love her.
At nineteen, she’d believed in love and happily ever after. She’d thought she’d hit the jackpot, only to discover that the marriage had been arranged between Jack Calhoun and her father. That’s why Judd had shown an interest in her, after ignoring her for years.
It was all planned. Caitlyn was to do as she was told. But her father didn’t count on her stubborn streak.
She’d wanted to marry for love, and wouldn’t settle for less.
Now, years later, she had to wonder if love was real or just a fantasy that lived inside foolish women’s hearts and minds.
For her, it was something she’d never experience again.
Love had died.
Only revenge remained.
CHAPTER FOUR
“CAITLYN, WHERE ARE YOU? I can’t traipse all over the house looking for you. I’m too old for this. You have a visitor, so get your butt out here.”
Etta’s annoyed voice snapped Caitlyn out of her malaise. She hurried to the door and yanked it open, finding the housekeeper there with a wooden spoon in her hand.
As a kid, Cait had often felt the sting of that spoon on her legs, mostly for doing something she’d been