“I do appreciate the offer, though.” The exchange didn’t leave her feeling as reassured as it should have. He hadn’t tried to talk her into hiring someone he knew, but now she was left with the impression that he thought she was liable to hire an idiot. Landon seemed more than happy to see that happen.
He shifted on the couch. “What did your parents say when you told them about Dewayne?” His tone was wry, almost wary. He seemed to know it wouldn’t be good. Was wariness a normal reaction?
She was second guessing everything now. “Dewayne told them that youbribed him to keep the ranch in the red. Of course, I gave them your version of the story, but they don’t know you like I do. They’re not sure who to believe.” Not the truth. They clearly believed Dewayne.
“But you believe me.” A bit of a question lined that statement and a bit of accusation too. He’d picked up on her doubt and didn’t like it.
“I told them Dewayne was a liar. He also claims that when he refused your offer, you punched him. I assured my parents you weren’t the sort to hit people.”
“Mmm.” Landon let go of Kate’s hand and raked his hand through his hair. “I hope you didn’t assure them about that too much.”
So it was the truth. “Why did you hit him?”
Landon’s gaze slid to the kitchen where Audrey was making Playdoh tents. He didn’t speak for a moment. Either he didn’t want to tell Kate what had happened or he was coming up with a story.And there she was again, second guessing him.
Landon lowered his voice. “He insulted you.”
Oh. Landon had been defending her honor. “Did he say I sucked at ranching or something?” Dewayne probably had a litany of complaints against her: she was inexperienced, disorganized, and had no head for business. The man had seen her struggle enough times.
“He called you a slut.”
A gasp escaped her lips. “What? Why would he saythat?”
“He was making guesses about why I was really in the barn with you last night. And then he brought up the cattle drive andI snapped. I guess I’m a mite touchy about that seeing as it was my fault you got in trouble for it.”
“How did Dewayne know about the cattle drive?”
Landon shrugged. “I didn’t ask.”
Dewayne had been working at Coyote Glen at the time, but her grandfather wouldn’t have discussed that sort of thing with him. One of the ranch hands must have overheard what happened and talked about it.
Landon ran his hand against the arm rest. “So now your parents not only think that I want to cheat you out of the ranch, but I’m the violent sort too. It’s a good thing Dewayne is already gone or I might prove them right.” His eyes went to Kate’s. “I’m guessing they were less than thrilled to hear we’re dating.”
She didn’t answer.
“They dislike me that much, huh?”
She bit her lip.
“Did you even tell them?”
She didn’t want to admit what their response had been. No point in getting into that yet. “Do you have any proof I can give them that things happened the way you said they did?”
Landon’s eyebrows lifted with a measure of incredulity. “What sort of proof would that be? I didn’t record the conversation. I couldn’t have known beforehand what Dewayne was going to say, and I certainly never thought it would lead to your parents taking his side. Because they have, and now you’re not sure they’re wrong.”
His anger seemed unfair. She believed him, but anyone in her situation would need to be cautious. He should understand that. She teetered between apologizing and defending herself. Before she could respond either way, Audrey flounced around the side of the couch. She handed Landon a container of Playdoh to open. “Uncle Landon, you aren’t very good at sweet talk.”
“What?” Landon forced a patient tone and popped the lid off the container.
“You’re not using your nice voice.” Audrey tilted her head, making her pigtails go lopsided. “Remember how you told Daddy and Uncle Preston that you could sweet-talk Miss Benton just fine without their help?”
Kate felt as though her breath had lodged somewhere inside her body. She only managed to make a choking noise.
Landon’s attention whipped to Kate. “That isn’t what it sounds like.”
She still couldn’t breathe. “You told your brothers you would sweet-talk me?”
“No.” Landon held his hands up, uncharacteristically flustered. “Those words are out of context.”