“What’s the problem?” Caroline asked, her eyes meeting his above the rim of her mug.
“I’m afraid he’s going to abuse her generosity.” In Grady’s opinion, the wrangler was already guilty of that and more.
“Don’t you trust your sister’s judgment?”
“Of course,” he flared. “It’s just that she’s naive and vulnerable. Savannah doesn’t have a lot of experience with men, especially smooth talkers like Laredo Smith.”
“Laredo’s a smooth talker?” Caroline echoed. “I hadn’t noticed.” The mug was at her lips again, and it seemed to him she purposely held it there to hide a smile. Apparently his concern for Savannah amused her.
“Is something funny?” he challenged, disliking the way she made him the target of her humor.
“Of course not.” The amusement left her eyes, replaced by a mock seriousness that infuriated him even more.
“I can see coming here was a mistake,” he said, putting the mug down with a clatter. “I should have known you’d find this all a joke.” He turned away, but she stopped him.
“Grady.”
He hesitated.
“Listen, I doubt there’s as much to worry about as you think. Savannah’s the most levelheaded person I know.”
Grady used to believe the same thing. “She’s not herself. He’s changed her.”
“Yes, he has,” Caroline admitted.
At last they could agree on something. “Then you know what I’m saying?”
“Grady,” she said, her look gentle, “Laredo has changed Savannah, but he’s changed her for the better. Don’t you see how happy she is? You can’t be around her and not feel it. I might not be the best judge of character, but I don’t think Laredo is evil incarnate the way you seem to. Maggie was full of stories about him Monday night after I picked her up. She thought he was great. It isn’t every man who’d sit and read to a five-year-old until she fell asleep. Savannah said the three of them spent an hour in the calving barn, showing Maggie the newborn calves.”
“In other words she likes Smith,” Grady muttered. Maggie liked Smith but not him. Caroline apparently didn’t realize the insult she’d delivered.
“It’s much more than that.”
“Really?” He didn’t even try to hide his sarcasm.
“What is it you’re really afraid of?” she asked.
For the first time Caroline sounded concerned. He held her gaze a long time, then finally said, “I don’t want anyone to take advantage of her.”
“She’s old enough to know her own mind.”
“She’s too damn trusting.”
“Is that bad?”
“Yes,” he stormed. “I’m afraid he’s going to take advantage of her. I’m afraid Savannah’s going to end up alone and pregnant.”
The eyes that had just a moment ago revealed the first shred of understanding and compassion flickered with a jolt of unanticipated pain. It took Grady only an instant to realize what he’d said.
“In other words you’re afraid your sister will end up like me?”
Grady struggled for the words to apologize. They didn’t come easy to a man like him. “I didn’t mean that the way it sounded,” he said.
“Of course you did.”
He probably should have left well enough alone, but he was desperate and he knew Savannah would listen to Caroline before she would him. “Will you talk to her?” he asked hopefully. At her absent look he continued, “About getting rid of Smith before he can hurt her.”
“No,” she said flat out.
“No?”
“You heard me. If I was going to talk to anyone about this, it’d be you.” Caroline’s voice gained strength. “And what I’d say, Grady, is leave Savannah to live her own life.”
“And make a fool of herself?”
“Yes, if that’s what it takes. She’s not a child to be chastised and ridiculed; she’s a woman with a woman’s heart. Grady, I swear if you do anything to spoil her chance of finding happiness, I’ll never forgive you.”
“Happiness with a saddle bum like Smith?” He might have laughed if there’d been any humor in the suggestion.
“Yes,” Caroline responded without hesitation.
Furious, more with himself than with Caroline, Grady stalked out of the office. He should have known better than try to reason with Savannah’s best friend. She was as stubborn as his sister. And less tactful about it, too.
***
“Good afternoon, Laredo,” Savannah said shyly as she joined him in her rose garden. She carried out a tray and two tall glasses of iced tea. Rocket was at her side, so old now that he found it difficult to move. Generally he stayed in the house, but he appeared to be a little more energetic than usual just now and had followed her outside and into the warm sunshine.
Laredo’s efforts were in evidence in every corner of her small paradise. Never had her garden looked more beautiful. The beds were meticulously groomed. Even the roses themselves had responded to his care. They’d burst into flower days earlier than anticipated. Some would claim it was due to the unusually warm spring, but Savannah chose to believe it was because of the love and care she and Laredo had given them.
“Afternoon,” he said, leaning on the hoe.
It never failed. Her heart—like her beautiful roses—bloomed with excitement and joy whenever she saw him. He was tall and strong and lovely. She realized that “lovely” wasn’t a word often associated with men, but she could find none more appropriate. Beyond everything else Laredo had given her, the most precious was the way she felt around him. Savannah had never considered herself beautiful, but that was how he made her feel. Beautiful. Feminine. Desirable.
“Would you like some iced tea?” she asked.
“That’d be great.” He set the hoe aside, removed the tray from her hands and led the way to the small wrought-iron table in the farthest corner of the garden. She’d purposely placed it there amidst the old roses in order to enjoy their fragrance and special beauty. Rocket followed them there and with a groan sank down in the table’s shade.
“I’m about finished with the hoeing,” Laredo said, bending down to stroke the dog’s ears.
This was a problem. He completed each task with speed, skill and determination. She longed to urge him to slow down, to linger over each small assignment so that the work would last, but he never did. From the first he’d set out to prove his worth and he’d done so, many times over.
Another day, two at the most, and he’d have completed her list. Everything thereafter would be a make-work project. Not that she couldn’t come up with some.
“Wiley stopped by earlier,” he said, and downed half the tea in a series of deep swallows. He wiped the back of his hand across his mouth, then leaned forward and stroked Rocket’s ears again. Savannah’s gaze rested on the dog who’d once belonged to her father and she smiled as he snored softly, already asleep.
“He told me about Roanie’s sore leg and he asked me to look at it. You don’t mind, do you?”
If anything, Savannah was relieved. All three realized it’d be best if Grady didn’t know about Laredo doctoring one of the horses. Nevertheless it’d be a shame to let the old roan suffer. Especially when Laredo could help—save them the expense of calling the vet.
“Of course I don’t mind,” she assured him.
“I’ll probably need to rub in some ointment and wrap up the leg.”
She nodded. “I’m grateful.” If Grady wouldn’t say it, she would, but her appreciation extended far beyond any expertise Laredo offered in the area of horses. He’d blessed her life in the week since his arrival. One week. Seven fleeting days, and yet it felt as though he’d always been part of her life. People would say it was fanciful or ridiculous, but in an odd way, Savannah felt as if her life had been on hold while she waited for Laredo to find her.
She smiled to herself, amused that Grady was making such a fool of himself, all the while calling her the fool. Considering the fuss her older brother had made, anyone would think she’d become Laredo’s lover when in reality he hadn’t so much as kissed her.