Oh, Zach. She put a sympathetic hand to his cheek.
He covered it with his. It wasnt that bad. Schoolyard fights were worse. But it toughened Alex and me up. By the time we left, there wasnt much the world could throw at us that we couldnt take.
She didnt buy his dismissal. She knew how cruel kids could be, and shed always had her parents as champions. And she also had her brothers and sisters by her side. Though Seth and Travis would tease them at home, theyd staunchly defended them to any outsiders.
It had been interesting when she started dating.
Did you go to a local school? she asked Zach.
Classes were at St. Stephens.
So, boys only.
Boys only.
How did you date?
We didnt. From about fifteen on, we had supervised outings. We sometimes came across girls, at local fairs or movie nights. But it was always in groups, always supervised, never a chance to steal a kiss or cop a feel.
Howd you learn about sex? she asked. Somewhere along the way, hed become awfully good at it.
He grinned. Hearsay and rumor, and the occasional contraband girlie magazine.
She smiled along with him. And how old were you when you left St. Stephens.
Eighteen.
So, how long did it take you to get lucky, Lucky?
His gaze warmed on her. A long time. I got very lucky a few weeks ago, in Lyndon, Colorado. With a woman who was ten times more beautiful than anyone Id ever seen in a magazine.
Oh, good answer, she approved with a nod.
I mean it.
Youve learned a lot about women along the way, Zach Rainer.
Id like to learn more about you.
She sobered. Youve got about two hours.
He drew her closer. Two hours. And thats it?
Thats it. Shed been absent from the ranch far too much since the election. It wasnt fair to Travis. And for the next week, they were also helping to take care of the Terrell place next to theirs while Caleb and Reed were on their honeymoons with Mandy and Katrina. She couldnt afford even one more day in Denver.
Back in Houston, two hours after his plane had landed, Zach sat across the boardroom table from Alex.
Youre serious, Alex stated unnecessarily.
You dont think Ive come at this from every possible angle?
Alex drummed his fingers rhythmically on the tabletop. And you trust her?
Whats not to trust? Theres nothing in this for her.
It gets you to Lyndon.
I dont think she wants me in Lyndon. Zach could get bigheaded about this and decide that Abigail had some interest in him beyond their brief fling. But he was realistic. Her goodbye this morning had been final.
Not that he blamed her. Hed forced her to go against her family. And if he knew anything about Abby, it was that she was loyal to the core. Though their lovemaking was explosive, it was temporary and in some ways selfish. She wasnt going to let herself do that again.
Alex leaned back in his chair, twirling a silver pen between his fingers. Then I guess we get the legal department assembled this afternoon.
And Accounting, said Zach. Relocating is going to be expensive. Well have to break our lease. I cant imagine what itll do to our taxes. And we should offer employees some kind of moving allowance.
Are there even enough houses for everybody in Lyndon, Colorado?
Zach realized it was a good question. I wonder if we could stage it out, maybe plan the bulk of the move for next summer. That way, people with kids wouldnt be so inconvenienced.
You think people will quit?
Some might, Zach reasoned. But at least theyll have the option.
Alexs frown deepened. You are absolutely sure theres no other way?
I am absolutely sure. Hed had three of their lawyers look over the moratorium and Abigails suggestion. They proclaimed her a genius and told Zach theyd hire her as a researcher in a heartbeat.
There is a bright side, said Alex.
Yeah?
Im starting to think Stephanie might have been bluffing.
Will you take her back? Zach was often baffled by his friends relationship with his girlfriend Stephanie. It seemed to cause him a whole lot more angst than happiness.
Will you take her back? Zach was often baffled by his friends relationship with his girlfriend Stephanie. It seemed to cause him a whole lot more angst than happiness.
When she wasnt angry, she was pouting. She demanded nearly all his attention. If he was half an hour late leaving the office, she was on the phone. And when he traveled on business, she was always convinced he was going to spend time with other women.
I dont want her back, said Alex. But she does have her ways. I figure its safer if I leave the state. Ill go be the advance man in Colorado. Keep me away from temptation.
I dont understand how you can possibly be tempted.
Thats because youve never been in love.
Zach might not have ever been in love, but he couldnt imagine love was anything like Alex and Stephanies relationship. If a guy was going to go to all the trouble to be with one woman, she should at least make him happy. A vision of Abigail flashed through his mind. Okay, he wouldnt exactly call every moment with her happy. Exhilarating, yes. Exciting, absolutely. And the highs were very, very high. But the lows sure sucked.
Then again, the lows were mostly when she left him.
Its not all laughs and sunshine, Alex put in.
Apparently not.
The good is very good.
And the bad is very bad. Zach shifted his mind back to Alex and Stephanie. Seems to me it should at least be a fifty-fifty proposition to make it worth a guys while.
Itll happen to you one day.
Not like Stephanie.
Yeah, well. Alex brought his hands down on the arms of his chair. Stephanie aint going to happen for me either. To make sure of that, Im going to Colorado.
No forwarding address?
Probably for the best. Alex stretched. Damn, this is going to be expensive.
That it is, Zach agreed. Only thing its got going for it is thats its better than the alternative.
True enough.
Zach started to rise, but Alex spoke again.
So, you going to call her?
Abigail?
Alex set his pen down on the table. Yes, Abigail. The woman you slept with last night.
I never said I slept with her.
Are you going to call her?
No. Zach would like to call her. Hed love to call her. But hed bothered her enough for one lifetime. It was time to back off.
You mind if I call her? asked Alex.
What for?
To ask her out.
Zachs fingers curled tightly around the arms of his chair. On a date?
Theres got to be some kind of nightlife in Lyndon.
Over my dead body.
So shes off limits?
Zach leaned forward. Look me in the eye, Alex. What do you see?
My body chopped up into tiny little pieces if I so much as look sideways at Abigail Jacobs.
Close enough.
But youre not going to call her.
Zach wished he could. She doesnt want to hear from me.
Got a minute? Lisas head popped up above the roofline of the shed where Abigail was perched while she replaced some broken shingles. Seth was perpetually busy on civic matters in Lyndon. Mandy and Caleb were honeymooning in Hawaii. Katrina and Reed had opted for Australia. Abigails parents were staying in Denver for a while, to be close to the medical facilities while her father completed his recovery. As expected, Travis and Abigail were left holding the fort.
Ozzy gave a belated, warning bark from his post at the bottom of the ladder.
I didnt know you were coming today. Abigail pulled a couple of roofing nails out of her mouth and dropped them back in the pouch on her leather tool belt.
Drove in with Seth. Lisa stepped up two more rungs and maneuvered herself around the top of the ladder.
Careful, Abigail cautioned. She was wearing heavy, leather work boots with thick-tread soles, while Lisa sported a pair of expensive pumps.
Lisas gauzy, pastel-patterned blouse billowed in the breeze above her skinny jeans. Wow. Quite the view up here.
Abigail glanced around. Shed been focused on work for the past few hours, but now she noted the fall colors against the evergreens and newly snowcapped peaks in the nearby foothills. October was well under way, and they could expect the first snowfall in a few weeks.
Lisa sat down next to her on the sun-warmed, black shingles. Hows it going?
Abigail shrugged. Busy. Fall was a frantic time on the ranch. Along with roundup, they had to make sure everything was winterized and battened down. Colorado was a beautiful state, but it had its fair share of rain and snow. How about you?
Busy in Lyndon, too. Were knee-deep in next years budget. The environmentalists have turned the Canada goose into a poster child, and the flocks are wreaking havoc at the airport. You know, the usual.
Abigail scooted backward on her canvas work pants, setting another shingle strip in place.
Saw an interesting application at city hall today, said Lisa, swiping her hair back from her face as the wind raced up the pitch of the roof.
Abigail hammered in the first nail.
For a business license, Lisa continued. Corporate headquarters of DFB Incorporated.
Abigail hit her finger with the hammer. Ouch!
Its the parent company for Craig Mountain Brewery.
I know who they are. Abigail shook the pain out of her hand, her mind reeling. Zach was going to do it. It had been three weeks since shed presented her idea, and she hadnt heard a word about his decision.
Did Zach tell you he was doing this?
He didnt.
But it was your idea, Lisa guessed.
It was, Abigail admitted, taking a breath and setting the next nail.
It was absolutely brilliant.
It had been a brilliant idea. But it was also a very radical idea.
I didnt think hed actually go through with it. Hes uprooting more than two hundred people.
The water license exemption was attached to the business application.
Abigail looked up. So its signed, sealed and delivered?
She wanted to ask if Lisa had seen Zach, if he was in town. But she forced herself to stay silent. He knew full well where she was, and how to get hold of her. The fact that he hadnt bothered contacting her told her everything she needed to know.
They want to take over the Buskell Building on Fourth. That means a variance to zoning, and theyll need to make provisions for parking. But all thats minor stuff compared to the water license.
So hes really doing it.
Looks like.
Abigail let the hammer rest on the roof, gazing across the river, trying hard not to remember her last night with Zach.