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“Because Liberty has always been the stubborn one while you’ve always been more levelheaded. And you can’t hide in that trailer forever.”
“I’m not hiding. I showed up to help with the Memorial Day picnic.”
“And that was real nice of you. Cloe and Sweetie don’t know a hill of beans about event planning. I hope you’re going to help them with the rest of the events while Liberty is gone.”
Belle had already decided she would. She couldn’t let her two expecting sisters be stressed out. That, and she missed the chaos of her job. She’d thoroughly enjoyed the Memorial Day picnic . . . even after Corbin had accused her of trying to trick him with hot kisses.
Hot kisses.
Her stomach tingled at just the thought of him thinking her kisses were hot.
“And I have another job for you.” Mimi cut into her thoughts. “You need to make sure everything is okay at the ranch while your daddy, mama, and I are visiting Hallie and Noelle.”
“What? You’re going to visit my sisters now? Why wouldn’t you wait until July after . . .” She let the sentence drift off, but Mimi finished it for her.
“We’re kicked off the ranch.”
“I don’t think Corbin will kick you off the ranch, Mimi. But you did tell him you’re going to leave at the end of the month. And I know you’d never go back on your word.”
“You’re darn right I wouldn’t.” Mimi hesitated. “But Corbin could still have a change of heart.”
Belle knew her grandmother was hoping for a miracle and she hated to burst her bubble, but she couldn’t allow her to keep hoping for something that wasn’t going to happen.
“Corbin isn’t going to change his mind, Mimi. If you could see the pictures Sunny drew of the ranch, you’d understand why. Sunny has dreamed about living on the Holiday Ranch for a long time. Corbin is only giving his sister her dream.” She thought the information would help her grandmother to see the truth. She should have known better.
“The ranch is big enough to fulfill a lot of families’ dreams, Belle. Including ours. We just need to keep the faith. Now are you going to come check on the ranch while we’re gone or not?”
“I don’t think Corbin would appreciate my help.” That was putting it mildly. “He doesn’t trust me.”
“He doesn’t trust a lot of people. After his childhood, you can’t very well blame him. But that doesn’t mean you give up on him. That’s exactly what his parents did. Corbin needs to know there are people in this world that will be there for him no matter what.”
“Fine. I’ll check on the ranch while you’re gone. But are you sure Daddy shouldn’t stay and just you and Mama go see Hallie and Noelle? Sunny and Corbin aren’t ready to start taking care of a ranch.”
“I guess we’ll see, won’t we? Now I need to go finish packing. I’m planning on taking both of your sisters some potted flowers. They might live in big city apartments, but that doesn’t mean they can’t enjoy the glory the good Lord made. When I get home, I’ll bring you some to plant in front of the trailer.”
“No, thank you, Mimi. I’m planning on moving out of the trailer today.” She had no intentions of staying there when Corbin thought she was manipulative and untrustworthy. Nor did she plan on going out to the ranch and checking on things. She would call Sunny and make sure everything was okay. Corbin she planned to steer clear of.
It was late afternoon by the time she had packed all her things, fed Gilley and taken him for a long walk, and changed the sheets and cleaned the trailer. She was headed to Tito’s Tacos to get some fish tacos before she decided what hotel to check into when her cellphone rang. She didn’t recognize the number, but since it had a Texas area code, she answered it. Corbin’s deep, panicked voice took her by surprise.
“I need your help.”
“What happened?”
“It’s Sunny. She fell getting off her horse and I’m here at the county hospital.”
“Oh my God. Is she okay?”
“Do you think I’d be at the hospital if she were okay?”
Sunny’s voice came through the speaker. “Yes, because you’re a controlling, overreacting fool! I’m fine. It’s just a little sprain.”
“I’m not overreacting. We won’t know it’s only a sprain until the x-rays come back,” Corbin said. “Either way, we won’t be back to the ranch in time to take care of Tay and the horses.”
As much as she didn’t want to help Corbin after what he’d accused her of, she couldn’t leave horses and a kitten to go hungry.
“I’ll take care of them,” she said. “You just worry about Sunny.”
There was a long pause before he spoke. “Thank you, Bella. Tay’s in the laundry room and her food is in the pantry.”
