Those were the wrong words to say. “I don’t need trust,” she said. “I have leverage.” She held up her cell phone. “I recorded your confession. If I don’t get my cattle back, I’ll send it to the police.”
After Kate left Gary,she forwarded the recording to her father’s phone number. That way, he’d know what sort of friends he had and what position he put her in.
Her parents called a few minutes later, and Kate explained about the employee theft exclusion in the insurance.
Her mother drew in a sharp breath. “We can’t lose Coyote Glen because of a technicality.”
The sentence made something inside Kate snap. “Wearen’t losing it.I’mlosing it. Grandpa trusted me with his ranch, and I’ve been the one out here running cattle for the last six months. And nowI’mgoing to lose it becauseyouinsisted on hiring a felon as my foreman. I can’t believe you didn’t do a background check on him when you knew he would be alone on a ranch with your daughter. If I’d just trusted Landon, none of this would have happened.”
“Kate,” her father cut in, “we’re sorry we didn’t do a background check, but the fact that Gary turned out to be untrustworthy doesn’t automatically make Landon trustworthy.” He sighed. “We’re all upset now—too upset to talk. I’ll look into the insurance terms, and then we’ll discuss our options.”
Her parents were right. Kate was too upset to talk. “They’remyoptions,” she emphasized. “I’m making the decisions now, and I’ve decided that Gary is going to return my cattle or go to jail. I’ll tell you how that goes.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
That Sunday,before the sermon, several people told Kate they’d seen her flyers advertising Coyote Glen. Mrs. Bassencherry and Mrs. Reynolds sat down next to her on the pew and leaned over to talk. To Kate they were, respectively, the gossipy one who knew everyone’s business and the one who’d been mean to her in the feed store.
Mrs. Bassencherry’s large glasses and gray permed hair made her look a little like a studious poodle. “Does your venture into weddings mean you’re planning on staying here after next fall?”
“I haven’t decided,” Kate said. That wasn’t quite a lie. She had moments when she envisioned herself living here. If Gary produced some cattle, it might still be an option. She’d given him a week. Two days of that had passed.
“You’ll have to stay,” Mrs. Reynolds announced as though she could make up Kate’s mind for her. “Some brides plan their weddings a year in advance. You can’t book them at your place and then cancel come September.”
Kate smiled politely. “I guess I’ll worry about that when someone books a date after September.”
Mrs. Reynolds didn’t look satisfied with this answer, so Kate added, “I’ve really liked working at Coyote Glen these last six months. It’s great to be outside with sunshine and fresh air. Such a nice change from the city congestion.”
Mrs. Reynolds nodded in agreement. Mrs. Bassencherry glanced at the pew where Landon and his brothers sat, and gave Kate a knowing, meaningful look. “You’ve got nice neighbors too.”
She was asking for confirmation that Kate liked Landon. Their weekly conversations in the foyer clearly hadn’t gone unnoticed. But Kate didn’t want to be the subject of talk. Vagueness was the best response. “The Wyles are very nice.” The phrase might have come off sufficiently uninterested if Kate hadn’t blushed while she said it. She felt her cheeks heating like she was a school girl caught in an adolescent crush.
Mrs. Bassencherry didn’t miss this detail. The woman’s knowing look grew into smug satisfaction. “Landon is quite the catch. Salt of the earth, that’s what he is.”
Salty earth didn’t sound like a good thing, but Mrs. Bassencherry’s tone made it clear she was giving him the highest compliment.
Mrs. Reynolds leaned in. “Cal would approve.”
Kate’s blush went full blast. The women’s assumptions felt doubly embarrassing since Landon had already dumped her. Now people were forming expectations.
When the service was over, Kate considered bolting for her car just to curb the gossip, but decided she should let Landon know what people were saying.
She waited by the bulletin board, reading the same announcements that had been there last week.
Landon joined her a couple minutes later. “How are the Gunthers?”
“I don’t know. They checked out a day early and were speaking in German when they left. Either they were unhappy about their stay or the German language just sounds disgruntled.”
Landon leaned against the wall, looking casual and handsome. “Mr. Gunther should’ve been grateful to meet me. He wanted to experience the Wild West. Being threatened by an irate cowboy is as close as he’s going to come.”
She smiled, despite herself. “I should’ve listed that as one of the amenities.”
Landon nodded. “Any time you want me to come yell at your guests, I’ll be happy to oblige.”
Kate glanced around to make sure no one was close enough to overhear their conversation. “Mrs. Bassencherry and Mrs. Reynolds sat by me today.”
“I noticed. I’m glad people are warming up to you.”
Landon clearly didn’t understand today’s momentary friendliness. “They aren’t warming. They wanted to find out if you and I are an item.”