Youre selling? asked Seth, an obvious note of incredulity in his voice. Why on earth would you do that?
Yes, Caleb answered shortly, pivoting in the dust and starting to walk away.
Whoa, Seth caught up to him, but Travis, at least, had the good grace to stay behind. What gives?
What gives is that Im not explaining myself to you and Travis in the middle of a rodeo crowd.
Fair enough. Seth nodded easily, keeping pace. But what about Reed? He get a say in this?
Reed left town, no forwarding address, no phone number.
But how can you sell it without him? Seth paused. You know, I honestly thought hed inherit the whole thing.
Caleb altered his course to angle toward the concession stands. Well, he didnt. I did.
Not the whole thing.
Yes, the whole thing.
But-
Havent a clue, Caleb preempted the obvious question.
Seths tone turned thoughtful. And thats why Reed disappeared.
I would think so. They came to the lineup and joined the end.
Are you getting a funnel cake? Caleb asked Seth.
Just keeping you company.
Not necessary.
But Seth didnt leave. After a few minutes of silence, he spoke up again. Do you need the money?
Caleb laughed darkly at that suggestion. The moneys Reeds. Its going to sit in a bank account until he shows his face.
And the rush is?
Has it occurred to you that this is none of your business?
Absolutely.
Then, go away.
Has it occurred to you that Im your friend?
Caleb couldnt form an answer to that one. He liked and respected Seth, but he was beginning to feel as if he was surrounded by kind, well-meaning, meddlers, pushing him in a direction he didnt want to go.
Seriously, Caleb. This is a huge decision.
Its already listed.
Unlist it.
I dont want it, Caleb barked. I dont need it. And Reeds better off without it. He glared at Seth, while the festival swirled around them, midway rides jangling, children shrieking and the rodeo announcements blaring in the distance.
After a long minute, Seth gave a curt nod of acquiescence. And Caleb turned to the teenager in the paper hat and placed his order.
Eleven
The trip to Lyndon and the rodeo day over and done with, Mandy and the local vet were working their way through a list of minor injuries and ailments in the ranchs horses. Midafternoon, they were inside the barn looking at a quarter-horse colt whod been limping on and off for about a week. The colts left fetlock felt warm, and Mandy was worried about infection.
Mandy? a whispered voice questioned from behind them, the person obviously being careful not to spook the colt.
Mandy smoothly rose from the colts leg and turned to find Robby, one of the young hands, waiting.
Theres someone on the office phone for you, he told her quietly. Danielle something? Shes pretty insistent.
Ill take it, Mandy agreed, optimism rising within her. Can you give Dr. Peters a hand while Im gone, Robby? She dusted her hands off on her jeans and moved from the stall to the main barn aisle.
The young man set aside his manure fork and took Mandys place in the stall.
Anticipation tightened Mandys stomach as she paced her way quickly to the small office that sat just inside the main door of the barn.
She closed the door behind her for privacy and picked up the phone. Danielle?
Mandy?
Its me. Mandy forced herself to sit down on the leather chair with wheels, telling herself to stay calm. You have news?
I do. Enrico found Reed.
Mandys spirit soured. Yes! Theyd found him. Theyd finally found him. Thank you.
Right now, hes staying at a hotel in Helena.
Really? That information surprised Mandy. Reed is in Montana? Shed assumed he was at least still in Colorado.
The Bearberry Inn. Hes been there a couple of days, but theres no way of knowing how long hell stay.
Dont worry. Im leaving right away. Mandy hopped up from the chair, cataloging exactly what shed have to do to get to the airport, get to Helena and find Reed. When she did, she was cornering him and demanding to know what the heck he thought he was doing.
Okay, maybe she wouldnt demand. Maybe shed just ask him. But, first, maybe shed just hug him. After the past few weeks like hed had, the man was going to need a hug.
Call me when you get there, said Danielle. And please, please convince him to come home. Whatever it takes.
I will, Mandy promised.
If we can wrap this up by Wednesday, my life gets a whole lot easier.
Uh, okay. Two days. Ill do my best. Mandy signed off.
As she headed across the yard, toward the house, she remembered the Brazilian deadline was looming. That was obviously the rush. Danielle was going to do everything in her power to get Caleb to Sao Paulo in time to deal with the banking regulators.
That meant there was every chance hed be gone before Mandy got back. As soon as Reed agreed to return, shed have to call Danielle. Danielle would obviously call Caleb, and Caleb would have no reason to stay in Colorado, especially if his business depended on him getting to Brazil.
That meant the two brothers might not even see each other. They might not get a chance to talk. And once the crisis was over, things could easily go back to the status quo, Reed here, Caleb there, still estranged from each other.
Mandy trotted up the stairs, across the porch and into the ranch house foyer. Maybe keeping Danielles search a secret from Caleb had been the wrong idea. Taking Caleb with her to Helena made much more sense. If hed come, hed have to talk to Reed. That would break the ice. And hed still have time to make it to Brazil. And, afterward, maybe hed come back.
She pulled off her boots in the front foyer and headed for the second floor, intending to have a quick shower and pack an overnight case.
She warmed to her modified plan. Reed was sure to be happy with Calebs honor and generosity. The two brothers could talk in Helena, resolve things and then Well, the plan got a little fuzzy after that, but at least it was a start.
She stripped of her shirt, peeled off her jeans, discarded her underwear and stepped into a hot shower.
She hadnt talked to Caleb since theyd returned from Lyndon last night after the rodeo. Seth and Travis had finished in second place, and after a celebratory beer and a round of burgers, she and Caleb had driven back together.
Hed been unusually quiet on the drive, but had kissed her good-night, and hed told her he was going to miss her overnight. Nothing wrong with that. Everything was fine between them. She could safely broach the subject of Reed.
Perhaps she could do it between kisses. That would be manipulating the situation. But it was for a good cause.
Then again, that was probably a bad idea. Shed go with a straight-up outline of the facts. Caleb liked facts, and the facts were on her side in this.
She dressed, blow-dried her hair, put on a touch of makeup, a pair of clean jeans, a striped T-shirt and a navy blazer. Then she tossed a few clothes into the overnight bag, left a note to her brothers, saying shed call them when she got to Helena, and jumped into a pickup truck.
The ride to the Terrell ranch took its usual twenty minutes, but it felt much longer. She pulled up to the house, took a very deep, bracing breath and set out to reason with Caleb.
When she knocked, he called out a huffed come in.
Caleb? she called back as the door opened. She could hear scraping sounds coming from the living room.
She followed the noise, rounding the corner from the foyer to find him surrounded by cardboard packing boxes, a tape dispenser in his hand, as he sealed one of them up.
What are you doing? Her tone came out sharper than shed intended.
Packing. He voiced the obvious.
But, why? What had happened? Had she missed something? Had he already sold the ranch?
Mostly, because its not going to pack itself, he answered.
But I thought-
Can you hand me another box?
Mandy was too stunned to move. She felt sick to her stomach.
Did you sell? she managed on a harsh whisper.
Not yet.
She put out a hand to brace herself against the back of the sofa, all but staggering in relief. There was still time.
A box? he asked again.
Sure. She picked up a flattened box from a pile beside her feet and handed it over. She met his gaze. And, if we find Reed?
His jaw tensed. Seriously, Mandy. Im not having that conversation all over again.
She swallowed against her dry throat. But, if we did find him. Like, right away. Would you be willing-
He smacked the box on the coffee table in the middle of the room, startling her. The thread of anger in his voice was crystal clear. What is with you people? This isnt a Jacobs family decision. Its my decision.
His tone set her back. But-
No. He jabbed his finger in her direction. No, Mandy. I am packing. I am selling. I am going to Brazil and then back to Chicago. And Im not changing my mind. You wont change it. Seth wont change it. And neither will Travis.
So much for gentle. So much for reasonable. Youre a stubborn fool.
Youre not the first one to notice.
She came around the end of the pile of boxes, staring straight into his eyes, lowering her voice. You step over this cliff, Caleb, and we cant come back.
He went still for a very long moment, staring levelly back. We, as in you and me?
As in your brother, your family, your heritage.
I can live with that. It was obvious he was serious, completely serious. There was no way shed get him to Helena.
Though she told herself it was a much less significant matter, she couldnt seem to stop herself from asking. What about me and you?
His expression didnt change. He leaned in and gave her a fleeting kiss. It wasnt exactly a cold kiss, but it didnt invite anything further. Me and you are still going to Rio.
She tried not to let his words hurt her, but they did. So her voice was laced with sarcasm when she answered. Is that an Ill call you sometime, babe?
Thats not what I said.
She bit her tongue. He was right. Hed been up front and honest all along the way. All hed ever offered was Rio and New York City. If it wasnt enough for her, she should have spoken up a long time ago.
She knew she couldnt change Caleb. But she could still help Reed. Pretending everything was fine, she stretched up and kissed Caleb on the cheek. Rio sounds good. I gotta go. The vets working with the horses today, and hes, well, theyll need me down there.