She drew back a little more. I wasnt actually including you in that we, Landon.
Right. He sounded rueful. You were talking about yourself and Maddie. But Im not going to stop trying to help, so doesnt it make sense to pool our resources and work together?
It makes sense when you put it that way, but Im not sure Maddie will agree.
Well, suppose you take me to her, and well ask her? There was that smile again. It almost broke through her common sense. Almost, but not quite.
Ill take you out to the ranch, she said slowly. But only if I have your word that youll leave without argument if Maddie says so.
Agreed, he said promptly. My car is right across the street. Ill follow you.
Violet nodded, taking out her car keys. It made sense. She just hoped she was doing the right thing.
* * *
Landon hopped into his car and pulled onto the road behind Violet, not wanting to give her time to change her mind. But she didnt seem to be having second thoughts, and soon they were out of Grasslands and on their way to the ranch.
Not that it took very long to get through Grasslands. The town was about what he had expected: a small community with shops and businesses catering to the residents of the surrounding farms and ranches.
Acres of grassland stretched out on either side of the two-lane blacktop road, with low hills in the distance under the huge blue bowl of the sky. The few houses were built well back from the road. Pretty country, the sort of place hed think would bore Maddie stiff in a day or two at most, if not for the novelty of having discovered her twin.
Thanks to him. What would have happened if he hadnt walked into the coffee shop at just that time? Or if, having seen Violet, hed gone quietly on his way and never mentioned it to Maddie?
He couldnt have, naturally. But the results were, in a sense, his responsibility, so he couldnt just walk away from the situation.
Each minute he spent with Violet went a long way toward dispelling whatever suspicion hed entertained as to her motives. Too bad it also had such an unsettling effect on her emotions. Still, even if she were being completely honest, somebody hadnt been. Somebody had split up those children, and finding out who and why might lead to heartache.
What if Maddie ended up devastated by what she learned? It would be his fault for bringing Maddie and Violet together in the first place.
Ahead of him, Violets right-turn signal blinked. She slowed down and turned on a gravel road that led through impressive stone gates and under an arched sign with three intertwined Cs. This, obviously, was the Colby place.
The gravel road stretched, straight as a ruler, between barbed-wire fences along pastureland on either side. It ran about half a mile, hed guess, before ending at a two-story brick house. Good-sized, the house had a porch across the front and what seemed to be wings going back on two sides. Outbuildings scattered behind it like so many Monopoly houses dropped on the land.
Violet pulled up on the gravel sweep in front of the house, and he drew his car in behind her. A fine layer of dust from the lane settled immediately on his hood.
He got out, wondering if Violet had taken the lane at that pace deliberately to mar the glossy finish of his car. But she was waiting for him, and she didnt seem antagonistic. In fact, she looked at him with a question in her eyes.
I was wonderingI assume you know Maddies father and her brothers?
He nodded, jingling his keys in his hand for a moment before slipping them into his pocket. I cant say I know her father very well, but I do know him. A doctor, busy as most doctors are, I guess. Grayson and I are the same age, and weve always been good friends. Carter was just a kid then, tagging along, but hes grown into quite a guy.
A question in those chocolate-colored eyes deepened. Have you talked to either Grayson or Carter about all this?
He shook his head. Graysons a cop, and hes on an undercover operation right now, which makes it virtually impossible to contact him. And Carters in the military overseas. Hasnt Maddie talked about them?
Not much. She went through a wrought-iron gate, started toward the porch and he fell into step with her. Im not just being curious. Maddie sent an email to her dad, but he hasnt answered. She doesnt seem interested in contacting her brothers, but I thought maybe they should know about all this.
He frowned, thinking about it. Maybe she feels she should tell her father first. And since neither Grayson nor Carter can do anything about it right now, maybe shes right about that.
She really is alone, then, Violet said softly, her eyes shadowed.
Are you worried about Maddie? he asked, trying to get a sense of what was behind the comment.
I cant help but feel responsible. She paused, her hand on the handle of the heavy-looking front door. If I hadnt started off half-cocked looking for my father, I wouldnt have found Maddie. So if we end up getting hurt by what we find, Im responsible.
He couldnt quite suppress a smile. Oddly enough, I was just saying that very thing to myselfthat I brought you two together, so if it goes badly, its my fault.
She smiled back, somewhat ruefully. Guilt trips. Maybe we should stop overanalyzing things. My mother always says if God puts you in a situation, its for a reason.