perfect exactly.” That was what she found most compelling about him—that he was a little rough around the edges. “He’s got a fairly big scar on his face.” She indicated the line of her jaw. “Right here.”
“What’s that from?”
“I didn’t ask.” And now that she’d read the article chronicling some of the abuse he’d suffered, she wouldn’t. “As far as I know, he’s already married.”
“Did you see a ring?”
“I didn’t look,” she said, but that was a lie. She had looked—and seen no ring. She’d been curious about Elijah from the first moment they met. But she’d also been apprehensive about the fact that she’d had an ulterior motive for applying at New Horizons, had known he probably wouldn’t appreciate that she wasn’t being fully transparent.
Her mother grinned at her. “You should have.”
“Matt and I barely broke up, Mom. I’m not ready to start dating again, especially in a place where I don’t plan to stay.” Besides, she wasn’t sure she’d be capable of taking on a man as complex as Elijah. There was no telling what kind of scars his upbringing had created, and she wasn’t referring to the one on his face, although that could easily be part of the legacy his parents had left him.
“So you’re only staying there a year?” her mother said.
“That’s right.”
“I can’t tell you how happy I am to hear it’s temporary.” Lilly bent to give her a hug. “I love you, you know.”
Cora did know. And she was grateful. She could easily have gone to a family who weren’t so kind and accepting—a family like Elijah had known. “I love you, too,” she said and tried to ignore how selfish she felt for doing what she was doing in spite of the fact it would hurt Lilly if—or when—she found out.
* * *
Elijah Turner was brushing down his horse when Aiyana found him. At the sound of her footsteps, he didn’t need to turn in order to see who it was. If he didn’t come for dinner when she invited him, she tracked him down. She always acted as if she had some official reason, some business question to ask him, but he knew she was simply assuring herself that he was okay. Whenever he complained that he was too old for that kind of coddling, she’d say it didn’t matter, that he’d always be her boy.
“How was your ride?” she asked.
He lifted Atsila’s foot and used a pick to gently clean his horse’s front left hoof. “Relaxing.”
“Cora Kelly arrives tomorrow.”
“I know.”
“Is the cottage ready?”
He moved on to the other front hoof. “Of course.”
“Are you ever going to explain that decision to me?”
“What decision?” he said, but he knew what she was going to say before she explained.
“To hire Cora Kelly. You knew, as well as I did, that Gary Seton, from right here in Silver Springs, was waiting for that job to open up.”
“I interviewed Gary, too—gave him a chance.”
“And...”
“I thought Ms. Kelly was better suited for the position.”
“She’s pretty.”
“That had nothing to do with it.”
“Let’s say that’s true—you’re not worried that she might be a distraction to the boys?”
“You’re saying I should’ve discriminated against her because she’s attractive?”
She gave his shoulder a little shove. “Stop it.”
“You were talking about her looks!”
“Because I wanted to see if you agreed with me.”
“That she’s pretty? I’d have to be blind not to see that.”
“So...do I surmise a bit of interest on your part?”
“None. I’m not the marrying type. You should know that by now.”
“I’d like grandkids at some point.”
“You have plenty of other sons to give you grandkids.”
She sighed as if he was being purposely stubborn. “Fine. Obviously, you don’t like talking about this subject.”
He didn’t argue. There were moments he wondered if he truly wanted to be alone for the rest of his life. But he also saw nothing to be gained from allowing his happiness to hang on the love or will of another person.
“You missed dinner tonight,” his mother said.
“You said to come by if I was hungry.”
“You should’ve been hungry. It’s nearly eight.”
“We’ve talked about this before,” he responded. “I’m too old for you to worry about.”
“You’ll never be too old for me to worry about. And you know why? It’s called caring.”
His problem was that he had the tendency to care too much, to be too intense. “I’m fine.” He started on Atsila’s fourth and final hoof. “I’ll grab a bite while I’m in town tonight.”
She leaned against the fence post. “Whoa, don’t tell me you’re leaving the ranch for a social outing. You don’t do that very often.”
He gave her a look that let her know he didn’t appreciate the sarcasm.
Unperturbed, she smiled. “Your dark looks don’t frighten me the way they do everyone else.”
“They should.”
“Why? I know you love me, even if you rarely say it.”
“What good are words?” His parents used to claim they loved him, but they only loved themselves and the twisted joy they received from tormenting him. “Words are empty, meaningless.”
“Hopefully, someday, you’ll regain your trust.”
He winked at her. “Don’t hold your breath. But... I am very grateful for everything you’ve done for me. I hope you know that.”
“Stop!” She started to walk away.
“What?” he called after her.
“That wasn’t a leading statement. I’m not looking for your gratitude.”
She wasn’t comfortable with it, either. “You want me to fall in love.”
“I want you to be able to fall in love. I want to see you lose your heart—and not be afraid to let it go. Then I can rest easy, knowing you’re completely fulfilled.”
“You never married,” he pointed out, but she offered the usual lame excuse.
“Because I’m married to this place.”
Knowing that was all he’d ever get out of her on the subject, he studied her retreating figure. “Yeah, well, so am I.”
Cora was using her Bluetooth to talk to Jill when she passed through the wrought iron arch at the opening of the school, her car packed full of her belongings. “I’m here,” she announced as she wound slowly around to where she’d be living.
“That didn’t take long. What time did you leave again?”
She’d gone in to hug her friend goodbye, but Jill, dead asleep, had mumbled