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“Don’t you want to stick around and see the show Shane’s putting on for you?” Nicolino feigned shock that she’d dare leave in the middle of such an event.
“Eh, you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all.”
Nicolino’s laughter followed her through the open doors.
Rivaling the size of a football field, the country French stone-and-stucco facility featured Craftsman-style windows and timber archways. A ground-level covered walkway with exposed rafters encircled the building. A large second-story cupola was perched atop the center of the sand-colored structure and housed the ranch’s main office, while miniature cupolas lined the roof on either side, allowing extra light to filter through to the stalls below.
Joe Langtry had called the building his horse mansion. A better description didn’t exist in Lexi’s mind. Grooms and trainers hurried about, placing the finishing touches on everything before today’s events.
Lexi made her way down the exposed timber interior hallway. Horse stalls with full-height mahogany-stained doors and bars prevented cribbing or chewing. Otherwise the horses could gnaw on the wood and wear down their teeth or cause colic and stomach ulcers.
Not wanting to waste time today with so much to do, she plucked her phone from her pocket and called Billy. “Vaccination lesson today. Meet me in the office so I can show you the forms and then we’ll check on Crystal.”
Crystal was carrying Joe Langtry’s dream baby. Dam Tenny Bay and sire King’s Obsession were two of the highest earners in cutting horse competition. Bridle Dance didn’t own either horse, but Joe had arranged the match before his death last year. Determined to see the surrogacy all the way through, the Langtry family had continued with Joe’s plans and were anxiously anticipating the foal’s arrival. It was the very last project Joe set in motion, and eleven months later, the day was almost upon them.
A few hours later, Lexi gathered her bags and headed outside the stables. She loved a day without problems, especially when she finished ahead of schedule. She swung by the rodeo school and saw Kay Langtry resting her arms on the top rail of the round pen.
“You got it!” Kay shouted to one of the teens astride a bucking horse. “You boys look great out there.”
Shane stood outside the pen, Ever perched on a bale of hay next to him. “Ride ’em high like Uncle Shane!” the little girl shouted. Shane lifted her onto his shoulders, giving her a high ride of her own.
“He’s really good with her and the rest of the hippotherapy kids,” Kay commented, her mood pensive. “How different everything was a year ago.”
Lexi draped her arm across the older woman’s shoulders and rested her head against Kay’s. Joe’s heart attack shocked the entire community and the family infighting that ensued for months afterward had taken its toll on the Langtry matriarch, but Kay stuck with her husband’s wishes and built the nonprofit hippotherapy facility. Joe wanted a place where anyone who needed help could get it, paying only what they could afford. Converted bunkhouses accommodated families from out of town during long-term therapy. After a battle with Shane and Chase that would have torn most families apart forever, everything finally came to fruition.
“I can’t tell you how glad I’ll be when this day is over,” Kay confessed. “I know it sounds strange, but honestly, once that ribbon is cut on the front door, I’ll feel like this family will finally be at peace.”
A gangly boy approached Shane and handed Ever a bottle of water. Lifting her from his shoulder, Shane returned the little girl to her hay bale alongside some of the other hippotherapy kids while he watched the students and joined the boy at the rail.
Lexi smiled at his inherent teaching instincts. “I don’t think I’ve seen Shane this content before.”
“That Hunter Rathbone sure does dote on him.” Kay nodded in the direction of the boy next to Shane. “I can’t believe how much he acts like Shane at that age.”
Hunter stood on the second rail and waved his hat in the air to cheer on his classmate. His features no longer shadowed, Lexi saw a mop of dark brown hair, ice-blue eyes and a strong angular jaw with the hint of a cleft chin. She felt her stomach turn ever so slightly at the remarkable resemblance to Shane.
Lexi white-knuckled her grip on her satchel. “Where—where is he from?”
“Colorado,” Kay replied. “Shane calls him his Mini-Me.”
The ground beneath Lexi all but disappeared. Squatting down on the grass next to the pen, she feigned fumbling through her bag. Confident she’d regained her footing, she stood and tried to cover her bewilderment. “I must have left my camera in the truck. I—I thought the school would draw mostly a local crowd.”
“Next door or the next continent, I think Hunter would follow Shane wherever he taught,” Kay continued. “You should hear the child prattle on how Shane’s his hero. When Hunter heard about the school, he begged his parents to send him here. Good heavens, are you all right?”
“It must be the heat.” Lexi’s knees betrayed her and she found herself back on the ground. “I just need a cold shower and I’ll be fine.”
The events vividly replayed in her mind. Years ago, in late October, Shane surprised Lexi and whisked her away for a romantic weekend at the Devil’s Thumb Ranch Resort, a stone’s throw from her college campus. They didn’t emerge from the cabin until Monday morning, and she barely made it to her first class. Perfect in every way imaginable, their getaway reassured Lexi that they could maintain their relationship while she continued school.
A few weeks later, when Lexi discovered she was pregnant, she rationalized that it had happened for a reason. Planning to have a family one day, Lexi wasn’t sure she wanted one now. When her doctor confirmed a July due date, she put faith in perfect timing. She’d be able to continue with college in the fall without missing any classes. Not wanting to discuss it with Shane over the phone, she decided to wait and tell him in person, during winter break. Only he had a surprise of his own.
Devastated by his infidelity, Lexi was scandalized by his quick decision to marry Sharon Vincent, so she immediately returned to school. Clearly showing by spring break, Lexi lied to her family and said she’d enrolled in an internship to avoid coming home. She hated the deception, but after hearing how happy Shane was with his son, Lexi didn’t want to ruin his new family. The entire town knew he didn’t have an ounce of love for Sharon but Shane tolerated her for Dylan’s sake and Lexi resolved that someday he’d learn to love his wife.
Determined to move forward with her career, Lexi painfully gave her baby up for adoption immediately following his birth, believing he’d have a better life with a strong, stable family. It was the hardest thing she’d ever had to do. A mother should never have to give up her child, but it was a sacrifice she willingly made for her son’s future.
Not wanting to wonder if every child she saw on the street was hers, Lexi transferred to New York’s Cornell University.
A day hadn’t passed when she didn’t think of him, but she refused to doubt her decision. When she found out Dylan wasn’t Shane’s, the realization that they could have been a family if he hadn’t cheated on her drove her to pieces some nights.
On her visits home, she avoided him at all costs, fearing he would know what she’d done. No one questioned her attitude, since his betrayal was public knowledge, but the guilt she felt whenever someone told her how shattered Shane was and how much he’d changed from a family man, to being wild and reckless since Tab took Dylan away, almost killed her.
Not allowing herself another glance at the boy again, Lexi took Kay’s outstretched hand and managed to stand. This can’t be happening.
* * *
“SOMETHING’S WRONG WITH Lexi.” Shane started to walk toward his mother and Nicolino as they escorted Lexi to her car. “Ever, stay right there and don’t go near the rails. Hunter, will you watch her for a minute?”
“Come on, bro.” Chase beckoned to him from the arena. “Let’s show them how it’s done.”
“In a minute.” Shane headed in Lexi’s direction until he heard her car start and saw Nicolino pat her trunk, seemingly unconcerned as she drove out of the parking area.
A few hours in this heat was enough to wear anyone out and Shane reasoned Lexi had probably overdone it, rushing around trying to be Wonder Woman. The rising temperatures were getting to all of them and Shane decided to end class early so the kids could go down to the river for a swim and cool off before they demonstrated some of their techniques for the crowd later.
Opting to stay behind, Shane had successfully avoided spending any length of time around children since he lost Dylan. One-or two-day rodeo clinics meant attachments were impossible. When Cole and Tess adopted Ever, he became an instant uncle to a precocious four-year-old. By her fifth birthday in April she’d grown to be such a part of his life, he actually sought her out every day. It pained him to think he’d once stood in the way of her progress at the ranch. In eight months, her ability to walk doubled. And with a hippotherapy facility in her own backyard, she didn’t have to travel the three hours to therapy anymore.
Once Shane saw the children and adults come to Dance of Hope for therapy evaluation before the grand opening, he finally understood why this project was so dear to his father. It might be too late to apologize for trying to block the facility from being built, but it didn’t mean he couldn’t do everything in his power to make his family proud of him. He not only wanted their approval, but he also wanted Lexi’s.
With all the children on the ranch, thoughts of Dylan had hit him harder than they had in a decade. Shane wondered if the teen ever sat in the stands during his rodeo events. There were times he caught himself checking the rider roster for Tab’s name even though Shane knew he’d long since retired.
Plodding toward the small stand-alone office behind the main stables, Shane entered the air-conditioned building. A built-in table wrapped around the entire room and the computers were connected to the main office inside the barn, saving people from traipsing across the courtyard. Shane logged on to the system and opened the web browser.
Cole dropped paperwork into the inbox on the wall as he entered the office. “I’m surprised you didn’t go with everyone else down to the river.”
“Nah.” Shane typed Dylan Fanning into the search engine. “I have some things to finish up.”
“Don’t do it, Shane.” Cole stood behind him, staring down at the words on the screen. “Leave it in the past. You know he has a good life with Tab. Why are you dredging this up now?”
Because all these kids remind me of what might have been.
“Note to self, buy a laptop so I can have some privacy.” If he knew more about Dylan, he’d have some peace and closure. Anything was better than not knowing. At the very least Shane wanted to find out if he was riding in any of the junior rodeos.
“For the little you use the internet, I’d go with an iPad,” Cole said.
“You know you sound just like Dad?” Shane glanced up at his brother, wishing Cole would leave him alone. This wasn’t a moment he wanted to share with anyone.
“Dad would have told you to look it up on your phone. It’s capable of doing the same thing.”
Shane continued to stare at his brother incredulously. Turning back toward the screen, he let his finger hover above the enter key. Shane swore silently, knowing his brother was right. He pressed and held the delete key until all the letters in Dylan’s name disappeared. Annoyed with himself, he stormed from the office and went to check on Siempre, one of their newborn foals. Animals loved you unconditionally, no matter how much of an ass you made of yourself.
* * *
LATER THAT AFTERNOON Mayor Darren Fox stood before a microphone in front of the equine facility, Kay by his side. “Thank you for joining us today for this momentous event. I am pleased to introduce Kay Langtry, CEO of Dance of Hope.”
Applause spread throughout the ranch when Kay took her place at the microphone, the townsfolk gathered before her.
“Thank you.” Pulling a tissue from her pocket, Kay looked into the crowd. “Dance of Hope was my husband’s dream. A year ago, I stood by Joe’s side when he started designing this facility. And though he’s not with us today, I know he’s up there watching.
“No amount of words can describe my gratitude to everyone who’s participated in this venture. Cole, Jesse, Shane and Chase. My four boys carried out their father’s dream, adding the Ride ’em High! Rodeo School to the original plans. Your father would have been so proud of you, as I am today. I love you with all my heart.”
The Langtry brothers surrounded Kay, linking their arms in a protective circle around their mother.
Shane looked skyward. “I love you, Dad. This is for you.”
Each brother made a brief speech of his own, splitting off to stand beside the covered statues on either side of the facility’s entrance.
Jesse and Cole tugged on the cloth, revealing a life-size bronze statue of Ever atop Paco, her hippotherapy horse, with Joe by her side.
“To say our father was smitten with my daughter is an understatement,” Cole said. “She inspired him to help others and I’m grateful she had the opportunity to know her grandfather.” Holding up an enlarged framed copy of the inspiration photograph for the statue, Cole continued.
“My mother took this the first time dad met Ever. The photo sat on his desk and a day didn’t go by that he didn’t look at it. Together, we can look upon his memory as he saw it.”
Shane and Chase pulled away another cloth, uncovering a bucking horse with a younger version of Joe in the saddle, one arm in the air.
“Our father was a rancher by blood,” Shane said, “but a true rodeo cowboy at heart. Back in his day, he outrode the best of them and taught all of us and many of you how to get in that saddle and stay in it.” Holding up a photograph, he said, “This is our father’s last competitive ride. He held on for eight seconds then walked away from the sport. The next day Cole was born and the tradition was handed down to his children.”
The boys joined their mother at the entrance to the facility, the five of them reaching up to unveil the sign above the carriage house doors:
Dance of Hope & Ride ’em High!
In memory of Joseph Langtry
Lifting the oversize silver scissors, Kay cut the white ribbon spanning the facility’s doors. The crowd applauded when the doors swung wide. Leading the way, Kay walked into the stone entryway that divided the two companies and hung both photographs on the awaiting wall hooks.
She turned and opened her arms to the crowd. “Welcome, Ramblewood!”
After the facility tours, the waitstaff bustled in and out of the tent while people milled about the property. Shane swore he shook hands with more people this afternoon than in his entire life.
“You had a great dad,” Hunter said beside him. “I think I would have liked him.”
“He’d have liked you, too.” Shane ruffled the boy’s hair. “Let’s get something to eat.”
Shane had spotted Lexi in the crowd throughout the afternoon, glad to see she felt up to attending the ceremony. Usually composed and in control, she seemed a bit harried and hung near his immediate vicinity, yet still managed to keep her distance. He resisted the urge to check on her, as he was busy with the media. The Ramblewood Gazette took photographs while Nola West interviewed Chase for KWTT’s evening news.
“Allow me to introduce myself.” A man held out his hand to Shane. “I’m Ryan Hammershimer, from Keeping it Reel Pictures, and we’d like to build a reality show around you and your rodeo school.”
Shane laughed. “You want to give me a television show?” Wait until his brothers heard about this.
* * *
“WHAT ARE YOU doing?” Mazie peered over Lexi’s shoulder. “Are you taking pictures of that kid?”
“What kid?” Startled, Lexi quickly saved the photo of Hunter to her phone. “I—I’m trying to get a shot of those statues. They’re truly a work of art. I can’t believe they were commissioned this quickly.”
“What are you hiding?” Mazie insisted. “That was no picture of a statue. What’s up?”
“I’m not hiding anything, and even if I were, why would I tell you?” Lexi snapped.
“Well, thanks a lot.” Mazie turned her back on Lexi and started to walk away.
“I’m sorry Mazie, I didn’t mean that.” Lexi caught up to her sister and grabbed her arm. “I have a foal on my mind. I truly am sorry.”
“You need a vacation, sis,” Mazie said. “You can’t worry about work all the time.”
“This coming from someone who eats, sleeps and breathes the Bed & Biscuit.”
“That’s different and you know it. I happen to live there. You don’t live in a stable.” She turned to leave. “I’m going to get you something to eat, you look like you need some sustenance.”
Angling away from her sister, Lexi tried to move closer to Hunter without him noticing. When he laughed, her breath caught in her throat. He has my laugh. A mother dreamed of the day she heard her child’s laughter for the first time. Today she heard hers.
Lexi watched Shane and Hunter pose for a series of photos for a man she’d never seen before. The stranger looked out of place in perfectly creased jeans and a snap-front shirt that was probably fresh out of the package. Side by side, Hunter looked almost identical to Shane at that age. How could someone not question this child’s paternity, especially after knowing Shane’s reputation when it came to women?
Lexi had lived wondering about her son for too long. She wanted proof the boy in front of her was hers, but swore it wouldn’t change anything. She needed the confirmation for her own peace of mind and sanity. Nobody else needed to know. She turned and stumbled over one of the folding chairs as she tried to escape the confines of the crowd.
“Lexi?” A strong male hand lightly touched her shoulder. “Are you all right?”
Clay Tanner. It had to be fate, Lexi thought. “If I retain your services it’s illegal for you to disclose my case to anyone, right?”
“Private investigators don’t have that privilege in this state, but you wouldn’t have to worry.” Clay ushered Lexi outside the tent and away from prying ears. “You don’t have to hire me, Lex. Just tell me what you need and I assure you it will remain confidential.”
“Promise me, Clay,” Lexi pleaded. Her heart beat wildly in her chest. Her throat began to close, tears threatening to spill with one more blink of her eyes. “I need your help.”
“You have it. Sit down before you pass out and then you’ll really have some explaining to do.”
Lexi looked toward the facility and the people gathered around the Langtry family, Hunter still by Shane’s side.
“Tell me what you need.” Clay said.
Lexi breathlessly gripped her friend’s arm. “I need you to find out if Hunter’s my son.”
Chapter Four
“You think that boy is your son?” Clay led Lexi away from the crowd. “I think you better start from the beginning.”
“I can’t.” Lexi frantically looked over her shoulder to double-check no one was listening. “Not here. I can’t risk someone overhearing. Can we go to your place?”
Leaning into him for support, Clay protectively wrapped an arm around her and guided Lexi to her car. This was not the norm for her, Lexi thought. She prided herself on strength and perseverance no matter the obstacle. Yet twice in one day, she had found herself relying on someone else to walk her to her car. After reassuring him she was able to drive on her own, Lexi pulled out of the parking lot behind Clay’s pickup.
The twenty-minute drive to Clay’s gave Lexi far too much time to second-guess asking him for help. She figured shouting “Happy belated April Fool’s” wouldn’t fly with the detective. After keeping her secret hidden for the past thirteen years, she found the idea of unburdening it both terrifying and a relief.
Stopping behind Clay in the gravel driveway, Lexi death-gripped the steering wheel, uncertain she wanted to turn off the engine. A quick shift into Reverse seemed like a wiser option. Not giving her much of a choice, Clay strode to her car, reached across her and removed the keys from the ignition. Damn convertibles.
