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Tom came out at once. “Glad to hear it. I was getting kind of peckish.” He took a seat at the table. “This looks good, Elizabeth. This is what I’m talking about, Kim. Elizabeth here does a fine job of cooking and taking care of us.”
“So she wouldn’t get to eat if she didn’t work?”
“Of course she would. But she willingly offered to keep the house and do the cooking. It’s like she joined in with us, making life better. Believe you me, me and Jack got tired of those danged sandwiches.”
“Well, you should have gone out to eat. That’s what I would’ve done.”
“Maybe,” Jack said. “But you might not’ve had enough money.”
“Why, I wouldn’t have paid. Reggie always paid for me.”
“There wasn’t someone to pay when he was out with another woman. That must’ve made things difficult.”
“Awkward might be a better word.”
Elizabeth didn’t like the conversation. She’d known women like Kim. She didn’t like them then and she didn’t like them now.
Looking for an excuse to call a halt to the line of dialogue, Elizabeth asked if Brady wanted more milk.
“No, thank you, Mommy. I’ll wait for dessert.”
He beamed at her, and she gave thanks for having such a good son.
Taking the shortcake out of the refrigerator, Elizabeth squirted whipped cream on each piece she cut and covered each with fresh-cut strawberries.
“This is great, Elizabeth!” Tom exclaimed when he took a forkful of his.
“Thank you, Tom.”
“It is, honey. You did a great job.” Jack sent her a special smile.
“Thank you.” She looked at Kim. “I hope you like the dessert, Kim.”
“It’s fine but I would’ve preferred fresh whipped cream.”
“It’s great just like it is!” Tom said forcefully.
Kim stared at Tom, startled by his words. “Well, of course,” she said as she gave Elizabeth a fake smile.
Brady reached out and claimed his mother’s hand. “I like it the way Mommy made it.”
“Thank you, Brady.” Elizabeth squeezed Brady’s hand.
Elizabeth couldn’t wait to get away from the dinner table and Kim. When dessert was finished, she reminded Tom of a TV program he wanted to watch.
Tom and Brady immediately got up from the table.
“Is that show all right for Brady to watch, Tom?” Elizabeth hurriedly asked.
“Sure is. They don’t hardly even have any women, much less ones in skimpy clothes.”
“All right. Mind your manners, Brady.”
“I will, Mommy!”
Kim looked at the disappearing pair and then turned back to Jack. He, however, had begun carrying dishes to the sink. Finally, she said, “I guess I’ll go watch television too.” She paused at the door, apparently hoping Jack would offer her an alternative, but he didn’t.
“I think you disappointed Kim,” Elizabeth told him when Kim was out of earshot. “She was waiting for an invitation.”
Jack looked at her blankly. “To do what?”
“I’m not sure, but I think she was hoping for something more romantic to do.”
He snorted, an inelegant sound, but Elizabeth seemed pleased. “Unless I was paying through the nose, I don’t think she’d be pleased.”
They continued to work for a few moments before Elizabeth said, “Did you talk to Tom again about buying the ranch?”
“He sounded like his mind was made up.”
“I’ll talk to him. I don’t think it’s okay for you to be denied the right to buy the ranch just because Brady is here.”
“That’s what I like about you, Elizabeth. You don’t just think of yourself. Or your kids.”
“I favor my children, Jack. But I also know what’s fair.”
“Well, I like your style, but I can fight my own battles.” He put away the last dish, then asked, “What do you have planned for the morning?”
“Nothing, other than fixing breakfast and doing laundry.”
“I think you need to plan on coming to town with me.”
“Why?”
“I’m going to the bank to open an account for you and transfer the contents of Reggie’s bank account. I don’t know how much was left, but you deserve it, not some woman who went out with him a couple of times.”
“Do you think he has any money left?”
“He should have. He was winning a lot of rodeos.”
“But shouldn’t Tom have the right to the money?”
Jack shook his head. “As his wife, you’re entitled to the money. Tom knows that.”
“I’ll go with you if you think it will help.”
“Okay, we’ll go at nine tomorrow and—”
“But I can’t go then. I’ll have to be here to fix Kim’s breakfast. I don’t think she’ll be up early.”
“First of all, you need to ignore Kim. Secondly, Carol will be here tomorrow. She comes in about seven, so she’ll feed everyone after we leave.”
“I forgot about her. That will be helpful.”
“See? I told you that you had nothing to worry about.”
Elizabeth stepped back from him. She didn’t want another kiss to give her fantasies.
When Elizabeth got up at six, she immediately dressed and went downstairs to start Jack’s breakfast. She knew he liked to go talk to the cowboys before he left the ranch for any period of time.
She also fixed her own breakfast. Breakfast was nicer when it was shared. She smiled as she thought about the breakfasts she’d shared with Jack and Tom the last few days.
If they didn’t have Kim intruding into their little family, she would be perfectly happy.
As she heard Jack coming downstairs, she brought two plates to the table.
“Morning, Liz.”
“Jack, I’ve told you not to call me that. My name is Elizabeth.”
“Didn’t your family ever call you Liz or Lizzie?”
Her face shut down, her good mood flying off like a kite in the wind. She put his plate in front of him and turned away.
“Elizabeth?” She didn’t respond to him. He tried again. “Honey, didn’t you hear my question? Didn’t your family ever call you nicknames?”
“No.”
“Never?”
“No.”
“You seem upset.”
She walked over to the sink and threw her breakfast down the disposal. “When you finish, put your plate in the sink.”
With her stomach rolling, she ran for the stairs and rushed up to hide away in her room.
Jack sat there in stunned silence. He’d known she’d been irritated when he called her Liz or Lizzie, but he hadn’t expected such a harsh emotional reaction.
He thought about following her upstairs and asking for an explanation. But he was afraid to press her now. He’d try again when they drove into town.
Right now he had other things to occupy his mind, like disabling the Mercedes Kim drove to the ranch. He didn’t want her trying to close the account that she’d already stripped of probably fifty thousand dollars.
He ate his breakfast and put his dishes in the sink. Then he went outside to the Mercedes, lifting the hood. After a couple of minutes, he took the battery out of the car and carried it into the barn.
Still, he couldn’t keep his mind from Elizabeth. He hoped she’d come downstairs and answer a few questions.
He hated to think he’d hurt her.
When Jack got back to the house, he found a group circled around the table. Carol was there, as was Tom and Brady. And Elizabeth.
“Morning, everyone. Is there any leftover breakfast?”
“Are you hungry, Jack?” Carol asked, immediately standing up. “I can cook you some eggs and—”
“No, Carol, I ate breakfast earlier. I just thought you might have some leftovers. There’s no need to cook anything.”
“It won’t take a minute. I’ve got pancake batter ready. I like to make them. Tom loves them.”
“Yes, I do. Brady did a good job, too.”
“Did Elizabeth eat some, too?”
Carol stared at Elizabeth. “She said she’d already eaten.”
“I’m not hungry, Carol. I’ve just enjoyed visiting with you.” She stood up. “Well, I guess we should get going.”
Jack cut her off. “We’ll leave in a few minutes. You need to eat first.” He turned to Carol. “Would you please fix her a couple of pancakes?”
“I don’t need—”
He ignored her irate look. “We’re not leaving until you eat.”
Jack quietly watched the struggle on Elizabeth’s face. If she left, as he knew she wanted to do, she would hurt Carol’s feelings. If she sat down again she’d feel he had won.
It wasn’t a surprise to him that she agreed to eat just a little. He knew she wouldn’t be rude to Carol.
He then initiated a conversation with Tom, hoping to divert attention from her so she could relax.
“Any sign of our guest?” he asked Tom.
“Nope. Carol checked on her before she started cooking. Still asleep.”
“I don’t think she’ll be able to leave until I get back from the bank.”
“Why?”
“I removed her car battery. I don’t want her to leave until we’ve transferred whatever money is in the account.” He paused to take a bite.
“Why would she leave money in the account?” Carol asked.
“I don’t think she knew exactly what was there.”
“Elizabeth, do you have any idea how much money is in Reggie’s account?” Tom asked.
“No, Tom, I don’t. I only know he had an account because he occasionally wrote me a check on it, but that’s all I knew.”
“Well, it’s up to you. Just tell Jack what you want, and he’ll make it happen.”
