tea told Jed that Chaney wasn’t looking forward to going back to the ranch and breaking the news to everyone. When the hostess started aiming subtle but meaningful glances their way, Jed knew it was time to face the music. He paid the bill.
“So, now what?” he asked into the silence enveloping the car.
Chaney didn’t respond.
“We didn’t discuss many particulars, Chaney. I’m just asking if I should stop and pick up my things from my uncle’s or drop you off.” He heard her inhale deeply and saw her fingers twist around each other in her lap.
“Your uncle’s. It would look pretty strange if we didn’t live in the same house.”
Jed wanted to know about the rest of the living arrangements but decided this wasn’t the time to push. Chaney was wired again. The tearoom had been like when they were young. They’d laughed and talked about old friends. She had been the girl he remembered.
Now she was the woman he’d lost again. The woman who hated him.
“It won’t take long. I only have what I brought from back east for Steve’s wedding. I’ll have to have the rest of my things shipped.”
“You’re going to have all your things shipped out here?” she asked seemingly amazed. “You’re giving up your place back there?”
Jed cast a considering glance her way. “I would have had to anyway since my plan was to move and open up a shop. I’ll just do it a little sooner than expected.”
“Are you sure you want to give up everything you had back there?”
There was only one reason he would stay back east, his daughter. Nothing else there mattered. He could buy a house or rent an apartment anywhere. Starting a new shop would be a challenge but again, he could do it anywhere. Here was where he had his best memories, except for the ones about Chaney’s father, not back east. He’d been stationed there, leaving him little choice about where he lived. This was as close to a home as Jed got.
“Yeah, it’s not a problem.”
“What about your shop? Your customers?”
“I was working on a deal to sell it before I left, remember? I signed the papers and faxed them to him this morning. The guy’s a quality woodworker, so I know he’ll do right by my regular customers. Some of them are buyers for other shops and they want mostly smaller items. Those I can do anywhere and ship. Why, were you hoping this would be a long distance marriage?”
“No,” she answered quickly. A little too quickly Jed thought. “I mean--”
“That’s all right,” Jed interrupted her, covering her fidgeting hands with one of his. “I know I’m not your first choice for a husband. I imagine that to convince your father’s attorney we’re really married and for you to keep the ranch we’ll need to keep up appearances. If I was gone all the time, selling him that bill of goods would be difficult to say the least.” Her hands were still beneath his but they weren’t relaxed. He gave them a squeeze trying to will some hope into her then released them.
“You’re right. I can’t imagine what I was thinking.”
Jed could, but he kept it to himself as he turned into his uncle’s driveway. Pulling up in front of the house, he climbed out of the car and walked around to her door.
After opening it, he bent down. “You ready?” he asked, offering his hand.
“As I’ll ever be.”
Not exactly the glowing declaration he’d hoped for, but better than her refusing to come in with him.
“Dale doesn’t bite,” he told her with a grin. “Despite you being the competition as far as business goes, and the fact that he and Travis had some kind of grudge going, he likes you.”
Chaney laughed softly. “I’m not afraid of your uncle. Dale’s always been very sweet.”
“Dale? Sweet? How come I never saw this side?” He’d hooked her hand through his arm and they walked to the door.
“My guess is because you were making him pull all his hair out trying to keep you out of trouble with your pranks.”
“If I
“So, now what?” he asked into the silence enveloping the car.
Chaney didn’t respond.
“We didn’t discuss many particulars, Chaney. I’m just asking if I should stop and pick up my things from my uncle’s or drop you off.” He heard her inhale deeply and saw her fingers twist around each other in her lap.
“Your uncle’s. It would look pretty strange if we didn’t live in the same house.”
Jed wanted to know about the rest of the living arrangements but decided this wasn’t the time to push. Chaney was wired again. The tearoom had been like when they were young. They’d laughed and talked about old friends. She had been the girl he remembered.
Now she was the woman he’d lost again. The woman who hated him.
“It won’t take long. I only have what I brought from back east for Steve’s wedding. I’ll have to have the rest of my things shipped.”
“You’re going to have all your things shipped out here?” she asked seemingly amazed. “You’re giving up your place back there?”
Jed cast a considering glance her way. “I would have had to anyway since my plan was to move and open up a shop. I’ll just do it a little sooner than expected.”
“Are you sure you want to give up everything you had back there?”
There was only one reason he would stay back east, his daughter. Nothing else there mattered. He could buy a house or rent an apartment anywhere. Starting a new shop would be a challenge but again, he could do it anywhere. Here was where he had his best memories, except for the ones about Chaney’s father, not back east. He’d been stationed there, leaving him little choice about where he lived. This was as close to a home as Jed got.
“Yeah, it’s not a problem.”
“What about your shop? Your customers?”
“I was working on a deal to sell it before I left, remember? I signed the papers and faxed them to him this morning. The guy’s a quality woodworker, so I know he’ll do right by my regular customers. Some of them are buyers for other shops and they want mostly smaller items. Those I can do anywhere and ship. Why, were you hoping this would be a long distance marriage?”
“No,” she answered quickly. A little too quickly Jed thought. “I mean--”
“That’s all right,” Jed interrupted her, covering her fidgeting hands with one of his. “I know I’m not your first choice for a husband. I imagine that to convince your father’s attorney we’re really married and for you to keep the ranch we’ll need to keep up appearances. If I was gone all the time, selling him that bill of goods would be difficult to say the least.” Her hands were still beneath his but they weren’t relaxed. He gave them a squeeze trying to will some hope into her then released them.
“You’re right. I can’t imagine what I was thinking.”
Jed could, but he kept it to himself as he turned into his uncle’s driveway. Pulling up in front of the house, he climbed out of the car and walked around to her door.
After opening it, he bent down. “You ready?” he asked, offering his hand.
“As I’ll ever be.”
Not exactly the glowing declaration he’d hoped for, but better than her refusing to come in with him.
“Dale doesn’t bite,” he told her with a grin. “Despite you being the competition as far as business goes, and the fact that he and Travis had some kind of grudge going, he likes you.”
Chaney laughed softly. “I’m not afraid of your uncle. Dale’s always been very sweet.”
“Dale? Sweet? How come I never saw this side?” He’d hooked her hand through his arm and they walked to the door.
“My guess is because you were making him pull all his hair out trying to keep you out of trouble with your pranks.”
“If I
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