“You bet!”
“Your father told me he figured you’d insist on running the place because you’re so stubborn,” she said. “As best I can remember, his words were, ‘Once she gets an idea in her head, Gladys, she won’t let it go. She’s a schoolteacher, not a rancher, but just you watch.’ He left you those instructions because he figured you’d need the help.”
Jody struggled to absorb the implications. “What did he want to happen to the ranch?”
“He didn’t say.”
It wasn’t like Gladys to act so cagey. “Why didn’t you tell me this before?” Jody demanded.
Her forewoman wedged the cap onto her head. “Because, you see, Louise and I…” She broke off to clear her throat.
“You and Louise what?” Jody prompted.
“We’re both ranchers by nature,” Gladys said. “But she knows how hard it was for me to find anyone that would hire me, so she’s studying transcribing although she doesn’t give a darn about it. As for me, I’d like to buy the place if I could work out the financing, but I doubt any bank would take a chance on me. In any case, it wasn’t my place to tell you what to do.”
In other words, Jody thought, she could have arranged a year ago to sell the ranch to Gladys and carry the financing herself, but her forewoman had been too ethical to take advantage of the situation. “I’m glad you told me this.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Gladys said. “I’m glad you’re running the place. Just as long as you don’t sell it to some male chauvinist, I’m happy. I’m sure Bo and I will get along fine.”
“What’s Bo got to do with it?” she asked.
“You mean you’re not going to let your husband be involved with the ranch?” Gladys asked.
Jody wondered what on earth she was talking about. “What husband?”
“You and Bo,” said her forewoman. “The other day in town, he said you two were engaged.”
This was getting weirder and weirder. “When was this?”
“I was at the drugstore restocking our supplies and some of those ladies who’ve got nothing good to say about anyone started pumping me for information about Callum.”
“Oh, great.” Every town had its busybodies. Everett Landing was no exception.
“Melody Lee, that old witch who always looks like she’s sucking a lemon, said wasn’t it too bad you couldn’t hold on to a man and how glad she was you weren’t teaching school anymore and corrupting the children with your loose ways. You know how she is.” Gladys shook her head. “Well, Bo overheard and he said, ‘A lot you know. The fact is, Jody sent him packing because she and I are engaged, only we haven’t announced it yet.”’
“Bo said that?” She had to smile at the image of her friend flying to her defense. “I appreciate the impulse, but it’s not true.”
“It’s not?” Gladys let out a snort. “It sure did shut up those gossips.”
“No, it didn’t.” Jody sighed. “They must have told everyone in town. That’s why people kept congratulating me. What a mess!”
“It’s not so bad,” the older woman said. “It wouldn’t hurt if Callum heard that rumor himself.”
“Don’t you dare!”
A piercing whistle from the barn drew their attention to Freddy, who was signaling for Gladys’s help with a stubborn horse. “Got to go, boss-lady. I’ll see you later,” said the forewoman.
“Thanks for telling me about Dad. And about Bo.”
“My pleasure.”
Jody marched into her office and dialed the newspaper. Bo’s secretary put her through.
“Jody!” His voice rose half an octave on the end. It sounded as if it were in danger of breaking.
“I heard we’re engaged,” she said. “It came as kind of a surprise.”
He issued a choking noise. “I meant to tell you about that.”
“When?” she asked. “On our wedding day?”
“I’m really sorry.” Bo sounded so miserable that she took pity on him.
“I appreciate that you were trying to help. Gladys told me about Melody and her remarks,” Jody said. “Couldn’t you have said something less extreme?”
“We could make it true,” said her friend. “We could get engaged. Married, even. I mean, if you want to. I’d sure be honored.”
Although she’d set aside any notion of marrying him after Callum returned, Jody allowed herself to toy with the idea once again. Having a husband would protect her and the boys from gossip. And with Bo, she could truly have a marriage of convenience.
She doubted that was what he had in mind, however. It certainly wasn’t what she wanted or needed. “Thank you, but I’m afraid I’m not in love with you,” she said. “Besides, it would break Evelyn’s heart.”
“Evelyn?” he asked in confusion.
“The waitress at the Downtown Café.”
“Oh, that Evelyn,” Bo said. “I eat lunch over there two or three times a week. She’s so pretty, I figured lots of guys ask her out.”
“Bo, you’re the one she wants,” Jody said. “Callum said it, so it must be true.”
“Callum found out that Evelyn likes me?” He sounded baffled but not displeased. “That’s amazing. I mean, a woman like her could have anybody.”
Jody supposed she should be offended that a man who’d just proposed to her was flattered by another woman’s interest. On the other hand, since she’d rejected him, his ego deserved massaging. “You should ask her out.”
“Are you matchmaking?” Judging by his tone, the prospect amused him.
“I like happy endings,” Jody said. “If I can’t have one for myself, I’d at least like to see one for you.”
“How’m I going to explain my chasing another woman when I’m engaged to you?”
“Tell people the truth,” she said. “It hurts less in the long run.”
“You’re a wonderful woman. If Callum can’t see that, he doesn’t deserve you,” Bo said. “I guess I’d better take your advice. If I eat dinner at the café tonight, I can ask Ella Mae to spread the word that I spoke in haste.”
“Oops. I just remembered, I volunteered to help at the charity bazaar at church tonight,” Jody said. “I guess that means I’ll get lots of opportunities to set the record straight.”
“I could stop by and help.” His statement lacked enthusiasm.
“Go to the café,” she said. “I’m a big girl. I can take care of myself.”
By the time she hung up, the boys were awake. Jody had no more time to think until much later. As it turned out, Gladys’s revelation about the ranch had given her plenty to chew on.
BY CALLUM’S USUAL STANDARDS, the week had been a triumph. On Friday afternoon, the entire staff celebrated the plans for the cable series. He sent out for champagne and chocolates, and everyone was having such a good time that an hour later he ordered pizza so they could party into the dinner hour.
It was a lot better than going home alone to his empty condominium. Despite its prized beach view-at an angle from the balcony-and trend-setting decor, he now found the place less than satisfying. There was no one to play cards with and no one to accompany his trumpet playing. The steady boom of waves and the mutter of passing cars were no substitute for childish shouts and womanly laughter. He even missed the smell of manure from the barn.
Until last week, he could have sworn no one in L.A. looked like Jody. Now he saw her everywhere. A ripple of brown hair going into an elevator had pumped adrenaline through Callum’s veins only this morning, and yesterday he’d quickened his stride on the sidewalk to come alongside a shapely brunette in jeans and a bandanna. Each time, his spirits had plummeted when he angled into position and saw that, of course, it wasn’t her.
“You can’t be having much fun, standing over here wearing a lost-puppy expression.” Tisa paused in front of him. Around them, he realized, the room was emptying as co-workers finished their pizza and departed for the weekend.
“Sorry. Am I putting a damper on things?” he asked.