Page 35 of The Rancher

Ray chuckled and wrapped his arms around his daughter. “Well, I guess it’s time then. Next time you can host. We have plenty of extra bedrooms. As a matter of fact, you can have the entire west wing, and I’m sure you can ask Amy for some special treats for that night.”

Maddy hugged him again. “You’re the best.” Then she let him go and hurried into the kitchen. Dinner was being served.

With the corners of her mouth tipped up, Lyris watched Maddy go, then she turned toward Ray. “She’s a good kid. You should be proud.”

He smiled wide. “Oh, I am. She reminds me of her mother more and more each day. Francie would be so proud of her. The house was Francie’s doing. She liked the idea of a house a multi-millionaire would have, but didn’t want it to look too pretentious so we designed it to hide the size. It’s much bigger because the house is much deeper than it is wide.”

“Speaking of Francie—I don’t know how to tell you this other than to just say it—Ted said he caused the accident that killed Francie. He needed money and Marissa had it. She wanted youand Francie was in the way. Could that be true? I didn’t think you’d gotten together with Marissa until years after Francie’s death.”

“I’ll kill him.” He began to pace. “Are you sure that’s what he said? And no we didn’t. But I started being around her after I bought this place. She’s had her stable longer than I’ve had mine. It was her father’s before he died.”

“I’m sure that’s what he said. He said he’d see that Maddy had an accident just like Francie. I don’t suppose Marissa’s father had an accident, too?”

His mouth was in a flat line and he turned red with anger.

She couldn’t imagine what he was feeling right now. Anger, of course. The need to avenge Francie…probably. “Ray?” Lyris reached out to touch his shoulder. “Did he die in an accident?”

He seemed lost in thought, then he nodded. “Not a riding accident. He had a car accident. Hit a tree on the ranch. Marissa had him cremated and the car destroyed. I always wondered about that. It seemed a bit drastic, destroying the car before it could be checked for tampering, but it wasn’t my call, and the police didn’t seem to have a problem with it.”

She noticed he gripped his glass until his knuckles were white, but he never raised his voice.

Maddy came back downstairs.

Amy put dinner on the table. “Lyris gave me her meatloaf recipe since it didn’t look like she would have time. So I hope you like it.”

The four of them sat around the table and then the dishes of food were passed.

Conversation during dinner concerned sleepovers and what to wear to them.

Maddy was particularly animated. “Dad, can I get some new pajamas? I don’t really have pjs that I wear anymore. I sleep in gym shorts and a one of your old t-shirts.”

Ray took a bite of his meatloaf. He chewed and swallowed. “Hey, this is good. I guess you do have a good recipe. I could get used to this.” Then he turned his attention to his daughter. He was doing very well at keeping his concerns from his daughter. “I think new pajamas are a necessity. I’ll take you to town in a couple of days. Plenty of time before the slumber party.”

Maddy cocked her head, widened her eyes and pursed her lips.

Lyris hid a smile behind her hand. She was glad to see the smile but knew it was costing him. Yet she also knew he couldn’t let Maddy know.

The teen rolled her eyes. “Sleepover, Dad. They don’t call them slumber parties anymore. God, you’re so old.” The girl whispered the last part.

Her father just chuckled. “Okay. Sleepover. You’ll get your jammies in time for yoursleepover.”

She grinned. “Great. Thanks. And, Dad, it’s pajamas. Jammies make it sound like I’m two years old.”

“Oh, if only,” muttered Ray under his breath. “You’re welcome, my darling daughter,” he said louder so Maddy was sure to hear.

By the time Maddy went to bed, Lyris had drunk two glasses of wine and she’d discovered that a Smuggler is hot chocolate with peppermint schnapps, which went down way too easily. She was feeling just a little tipsy. Thank goodness she’d eaten dinner. She was a lightweight when it came to alcohol, and three drinks would have made her falling-down drunk without food. She sat in the family room with Ray. He didn’t seem even a little bit affected by the bourbon he’d consumed. Of course, he was much bigger than she was and he’d eaten a lot more food than she had. She’d been too nervous to eat much

“So, what will you do about Ted?”

Ray shrugged. “I’ll fire him. I can’t have him sabotaging my ranch or hurting my animals or more importantly, Maddy. I don’t have any proof that he did any of the things he said he did, but I don’t put it past him. He’s always been money hungry. In any case, I don’t think he’ll be back. If he does show his face, I’m firing him.”

“At least he can’t sue you.”

“He can’t. There is nothing he can do. Colorado is aright to workstate. I can fire him with or without cause. Though I don’t know if he knows that.”

She cocked her head to the side. “Really? Does that apply to me, too? I do have a contract.”

“With your contract, I can’t do that. If either of us want to terminate the contract, we have to notify the other, in writing, thirty days before.”