When You Fall... (35 page)

“So is Rafael, the hot Latino lover, still living next door?” Sandra asked.

“Yes. He’s also turned into this really good friend that listens and supports me.”

Her friends looked at each other, exchanged knowing glances.

“It’s not like that, really. We’re just friends,” she said, taking in their expressions of disbelief. She told them about his list.

“Sleeping with him?”

“Yes.”

“Good, huh?” Gwen asked. Carter sighed.

“He’s addictive, and sexy and commanding and…”

“Okay, we get the picture. But you’re just friends?”

“Yep, just friends. I have the ranch now, and that should keep me busy. Besides, Rafael doesn’t believe in that love-and-bells and seeing stars,” she said and stopped. She was quiet for a minute. “When I fall in love, it will be with someone that believes in love, too. Someone who believes that I’m the only one for him.”

“All… righty then,” Frankie said.

#

Sunday

“Are you ready?” Courtney asked, looking over at Carter, who sat staring out the window. They were seated in Courtney’s car, parked outside her father’s home. They were the last to arrive. Carter had taken vehicle inventory, more than once. She checked her bag for her inhaler. It was there, not that she felt she’d need it. She felt stronger today, had been feeling it more and more lately.

“I am. I need to do this,” Carter said.

“Yes, you do.”

“They are my family and now yours. I didn’t think it would be this hard.”

“Still needs doing and you should be the person that does the talking. It shouldn’t come from me, or they’ll think I’ve manipulated you.”

“You haven’t,” Carter said, taking a deep breath while opening the door. “But I’m glad youre here, an ally in the fight to uphold our great-grandfather’s wishes. Let’s do this,” she said.

#

The front door was unlocked, as she knew it would be. Most everyone would be seated around the table by now. Promptness was a virtue in the Woodson household. Her sisters were beside themselves with excitement. Several of them had texted her earlier, some had called, all wanting to apologize, to make a new start.

Carter could tell that Courtney was impressed with her parent’s home and working hard to maintain that nonchalant air. Her father and Gloria had built themselves a beautiful two-story home—although it was really three, but the blueprints listed two—and as such was not subject to taxes, taking away from all that dealership income.

“Hi,” Carter said, scanning the table. Everyone was here and seated around the table. Her sisters—a mix of shades and beauty, all with their matching husbands.

“Sorry we’re late. I got lost getting to Carter’s apartment,” Courtney said. Her father came over to greet Courtney, his hands extended.

“Welcome to our home,” he said, all pleasantness and graciousness from the reigning leader of his clan.

“Courtney, have a seat there, next to me. That is my lovely wife, Gloria, at the other end of the table. Carter, you can take the empty seat next to Gloria,” he said, escorting Courtney to her seat.

“Courtney, these are Carter’s sisters and their spouses,” he said, pointing to each of them as he made the introductions, his pride on display for the world to see.

“How about we save the serious talk for after dinner? We can have coffee and dessert in the solarium,” her father said, looking at Courtney for agreement.

“Sure,” Courtney said, glancing over at Carter, who shrugged. What did she care, she thought and spent most of the meal trying to quiet her companion—anger. It had flared to life at her father’s new diss.

Dinner was talk—nothing new there—from the sisters and their husbands. Carter liked her brothers-in–law, as much as she knew of them. She hadn’t really gotten to know them very well because of her me-against-the-world thing, but they were an impressive group.

#

Two hours later, dinner was thankfully over. They were all seated in the solarium now, covered and cool. All eyes were on Courtney.

“Courtney, you have our complete attention,” her father said, smiling.

“Thank you, sir,” Courtney said, moving her eyes to touch those present. “As you know, your father has hired me to make an assessment of your family’s property and to develop a plan to bring it to a saleable state.” She took a deep breath. “Fortunately I’ve had the pleasure of having Carter to assist me. She will be the one to present our plan to you.”

“Of course. I’m pleased that you have been such a help to Courtney,” her father said.

Carter stood, taking a moment to scan the room and gather her emotions.

“We are not going to sell,” she said. If she hadn’t been so hurt and angry, she would have reveled in the expression of shock and confusion that was present now on just about everyone’s face, particularly her uncle/dad. Shock was her calling card, from Bentley’s wedding to this. She reached for her briefcase and pulled out copies of their great-grandfather’s will, and handed them to Courtney, who distributed them to the family.

“Courtney is not who she says she is.” she said, scanning the faces staring back at her, stunned.

“What? Who is she then?” Madison said, torn between trying to read the will and stay focused on the conversation.

“Courtney
is
a property manager. Yes, that is her occupation. But she is also your cousin, Uncle Raymond’s child. My half-sister.”

“He’s gay,” Savannah said.

“And dead,” June said.

“Yes. He was gay, and he is deceased. Both of those statements are true. But he has also fathered a child—another child—and that child is Courtney. She agreed to work with your father, and us, as a way to get inside our family, to learn as much as she could about us. She does not want us to sell the ranch either. She, like me, has an affinity for the land.”

“What?” her dad said, moving to stand beside Gloria. He’d known. It showed in the eyes that stared back at her.

“I can’t believe you,” Carter said, eyes locked with her uncle/dad now. “That’s not the kicker,” Carter said, looking around the room, taking in the shock on everyone’s face, reminiscent of the expressions from the wedding.

“The kicker is that after having read the will, I’ve discovered that I am the only person who has the power to decide the ranch’s fate. As it turns out, I am the only person who has ever held that power. Another small detail your father failed to pass on to me,” she said, looking around the room again.

“I’ve met with my attorney and the family’s attorney that holds the trust established for the oil and gas proceeds. All of those funds are at my discretion, too,” she said, holding up a copy of the will again. “Did I mention I wasn’t going to sell? If I didn’t, I’ll say it now. I’m
not
going to sell.” She felt good, at finally able to speak those words to her family.

“Carter,” Madison said, glancing around the room, before she continued. “I can speak for all of my sisters when I say we had no idea.” She looked over at their father, questioning, and hurt. “What are you doing?” she asked him.

He didn’t respond. Madison turned her eyes back to Carter’s.

“You have to sell. We need the money. We won’t survive without it,” she said, moving into panic mode. “I mean… you have to think about us at least, don’t you?” she asked, looking around the room at the surprised, shocked expressions on the faces of her sisters and their husbands. “I know what you must feel, how much this must hurt you. It would hurt me. I understand that, but Carter, we really do need the money. Our future lives depend on it. Our family’s futures depend on it. What do you expect us to do without it?” Madison asked.

Carter turned away and looked at her father. “Why?” she asked.

“I have six girls that I have to look after, and I don’t have enough to help all of you on my own,” he said.

Carter shook her head.

“Okay, I understand. But now you don’t have any of it. Maybe if you’d been honest from the start, I would have helped. We could have found a way to do both, to help them and keep the ranch. But you didn’t trust me enough to tell me the truth, or is there some other reason behind all this?” she asked.

Her father remained silent.

“What, nothing to say now?” she asked, putting her copy of the will back into her briefcase. “Thanks for listening, everyone.”

“Wait. What are you going to do?” Madison asked.

“I’m not selling. So that means that you’ll have to find some other way of digging yourself out of debt, since you’re the one responsible for getting yourself there. Ask the father you love so much for help.”

“Courtney,” Madison said, walking over to her, reaching for her arm, preventing her from leaving.

“I’m on her side,” Courtney said, pointing to Carter. “I wanted to do more to hurt you—anything to make it worse for your family,” she said.

“Goodbye,” Carter said, and followed Courtney out of the room. It was silent as they made their way to the front door. Courtney drove back to Carter’s apartment while Carter stared out the window, tears falling again. She’d gotten through. Hadn’t needed her inhaler at all. She’d come a long way in really a short time. She was proud of herself in spite of the hurt she felt.

“I can’t imagine how hard that was for you, but you needed to do it,” Courtney said, passing a tissue package over to Carter. Carter took the package, her eyes glued to the view outside.

#

Tuesday

Carter stared out the window. It was raining, and it had rained all morning. The dreary weather seemed to echo her mood. She couldn’t seem to get past this glum place. Her mind was preoccupied with her ex-father and her sisters.

“Come and try this, Rafe,” Courtney said. She was standing over a pot on the stove. She’d been working on recipes all morning, and of course, Rafe was on board. He’d stopped by to check on them near lunchtime. He loved to eat whatever Courtney cooked.

He walked over to join Courtney at the stove and once again Carter was struck by what an attractive couple they made. Courtney in her apron, hair pulled up on her head, spoon in one hand, the other hand she held under Rafe’s chin to catch whatever he might spill.

She turned away and tried to focus her attention on her work, a proposal for the cost to rebuild the old stables. Okay, she was more than a little twisted about Courtney, and Rafael’s reaction to her. Was he interested in her sister? Did his basic list make everyone a potential marriage partner?

She could hear Rafe’s pleasure-filled groan, similar to another pleasure-filled groan she was familiar with—which she hadn’t heard in a while. She stood up abruptly.

“I’m going over to see the twins. I’ve haven’t seen them much lately,” she said, and walked out the back door.

They waited a while, maybe five minutes, before Rafe walked over to the front window in the living room to watch her cross the street. Courtney stood over his shoulder and giggled, turned and caught Rafael’s matching grin on his face. They gave into their laughter then.

“Maybe we shouldn’t do this,” Courtney said, turning serious now. “She’s been hurt so much. You know, I thought I had it rough, but at least I grew up surrounded by people that loved me. I couldn’t imagine growing up with her stepsisters or that man who called himself her father,” she said.

“She needed to stand up to them, as painful as it was. She’ll be okay. She’s tougher than she looks,” he said.

“And you love her,” Courtney said.

“And I love her,” he said, and smiled.

#

“Knock. Knock,” Carter said, to accompany her knocking on the twin’s front door. She was standing at the door, looking back over her shoulder at he-who-will-not be-named‘s house. It was quiet, and come to think of it, she hadn’t seen him around all that much.

“Hey, Al, it’s Carter,” Ernie said over her shoulder, as she opened the door. “Come on in,” she said, stepping aside to let Carter enter.

“Where have you been? What’cha been up to?” Ernie said, as she went back to her spot on the couch. “Al, we have company. Bring out some of those cookies I just made!” she shouted. She smiled at Carter. “Set your umbrella down,” she said, pointing to Carter. “Oh, and don’t forget the lemonade!” she shouted toward the kitchen, before standing up. “I’ll be right back,” she said.

“Sure,” Carter said, and looked over the twins’ home. Festus, the twin’s little Shorky, came forward, sniffing at her feet.

“Okay. Here we are,” Ernie said, bringing over a tray filled with lemonade and cookies. Ernie passed her a cloth napkin. Carter got a kick out of the twins and their tea service, surprised by the refinement—the presentation of it so at odds with the twins themselves. They were usually in overalls, or shorts and oversized t-shirts; not the type of folks she’d imagine would serve tea and cookies.

“I needed a break from ranch stuff,” Carter said. She had introduced Courtney to the twins last week. They also discussed some of their long-range business plans for the ranch with them.

“A break is always welcome. We were about to enjoy a good book on tape. It’s the perfect day for it, don’t you think? How is your ranching going?”

“Fine. I left Rafe with Courtney. She was cooking,” Carter said.

“Oh, I’m so happy. Finally Rafe has found a woman that he can marry,” Ernie said.

“Oh,” Carter said, choking on her bite of cookie. “Has he said something about marrying her?” Carter asked, hoping she was being nonchalant.

“No, but she is a beautiful girl, hardworking, and she cooks. I bet she would make a fine mother,” Ernie said.

“Oh,” Carter said, no longer hungry and feeling worse now. “So where is your neighbor? He wasn’t outside when I came over,” Carter said, hoping to change the subject.

“You know, he’s been sicker than usual, one of his church members told us. Me and Al made up some chicken soup and took it over to him. Of course he didn’t open the door, but we left it on the porch with some fresh bread and cookies. Who could resist that?” Ernie asked.

No one. Good cooking seems to do the trick for all manner of men, Carter thought, her thoughts returning to Rafe, which it seemed to do a lot these days.