She glanced toward the windows, her face drawn and looking far older than a moment earlier. Im not sure I want to dredge up the past. Some things are best left alone. But, let me think about it. Then she gave him a weak smile.
Fair enough. Disappointed, Cameron knew he couldnt push for the information. Hed planted the seed, now hed stand back and wait to see if it grew into enough trust that his mother would tell him what hed always wanted to know.
Molly grabbed his arm and dragged him toward the door. Ill help you find the saddle. Ive reorganized the tack room in the barn. Come on.
See you soon? Cameron waved a hand toward his mother.
She nodded. Count on it.
When Molly had him outside, she dropped his arm. I thought Id never get you out of the house. Mom doesnt like to talk about the feud and the Wards. Theres a lot of bad water under that bridge.
Why? Do you know anything about it?
All I know is that I heard Mom and Dad arguing one night when I was little. I remember hearing Dad shouting something about Hank and Louise and him being wrong about something.
Cameron planted his heels in the dirt and turned to Molly. Wrong about what?
His sister shrugged. I dont know. I was too little to understand, I just remembered the names.
It would help to know whats gone on between them to create such a rift they havent talked in over thirty years.
Ill dig around and see what I can find out.
With a crooked finger, Cameron chucked his sister beneath her chin. In the meantime, watch out for yourself. Never go out alone.
Her lips twisted. Give me a break. I can take care of myself.
He grabbed her shoulders and forced her to look him in the eye. Promise me. His words werent a request.
For a moment, she hesitated, a stubborn frown marring her freckled forehead. Her face softened and she nodded. Okay, Ill be careful and never go out on my own. There, does that make you feel better?
He loosened his grip and let her go. Yes.
A blond-haired cowboy Cameron didnt recognize led a bay gelding out of the barn and stopped to adjust the cinch strap. When he looked up, he swept the straw cowboy hat from his head and smiled. Hi, Miss Molly.
Mollys face transformed from serious to all smiles. Hi, Brad. Her cheeks turned an attractive shade of pink and she clutched at Camerons arm, dragging him forward. Cameron, meet Brad Carter. Hes one of the new hands Dad hired a couple weeks ago to help out while Tys out of commission. Brad, this is my brother, Cameron.
Brad held out a hand and shook Camerons. Mollys told me all about you. Said you were in the army.
Thats right. Camerons gaze raked over the man from his crisp blue chambray shirt down to his ostrich skin boots. You been a ranch hand before?
Brad laughed. I did some ranching out in Montana, then tried my hand in Denver real estate. Found out I liked working with animals better than people. It had been a while since Id been on a horse, but your father gave me the benefit of the doubt. Ive been here ever since.
Dont let him fool you. Hes great on a horse and good with cattle.
You staying in Tys quarters? Cameron asked.
No, I have a room over Mrs. Greens garage in Dry Wash.
Cameron nodded, suspicious of any stranger, but not yet alarmed. Nice to meet you.
If youll pardon me. I have a fence to mend out on the south border. He glanced at the sun angling toward the horizon. Id better get going if I want to get back before dark. Brad swung up into the saddle, tipped his cowboy hat at Molly and touched his heels to the horses flanks.
What happened to Ty? Cameron and Ty Masters had played football at the same high school and dated some of the same girls. When Cameron left to join the army, his father had hired Ty to shoulder the workload Camerons departure left.
He was thrown by his horse and broke his leg pretty bad. Pretty freak accident. Said his horse stumbled coming down a hill hed ridden more times that he can remember and never had a problem with before. If Mom hadnt been out riding, hed have been there awhile. Hes been laid up for three weeks and has another three to go before he gets out of the cast. Dad thinks itll take him another month or so before hes up to riding. Maybe longer. Thats why he hired Brad.
Camerons brows dipped. How come I havent heard about Ty?
Must have slipped my mind during all my finals at school. She swatted at his arm. If youd wanted to know, you could have called Mom for your personal news service. Im only here on vacation now.
I keep forgetting youre a college student. I still think of you as that gawky girl with the ponytail always following me around.
I havent been that for a while now.
I noticed. Cameron stared out at the pastures and surrounding hills, speckled with evergreens and aspens. The clean, fresh air lightly scented with the distinctive aroma of spruce filled his lungs. Topped with sparkling blue skies, the scenery tugged at his heart. Hed always loved the ranch, loved working with the animals and probably would have stayed on the way his brother Logan did, had he not fallen in love with the neighbor girl and stirred up a hornets nest of hatred.
So, hows Jennie? Molly might as well have been reading his mind.
Her question jolted him back to the present and his purpose for being there. Shes good. Beautiful as ever and just as stubborn as he remembered. If not for the dark smudges beneath her eyes, hed say she hadnt changed a bit.
Molly hooked her thumbs in her belt loops as she walked. Shes had a tough time of it.
How so?
Stuck out on that ranch, not dating. I hope she wises up and gets a life before shes too old to enjoy it.
Its her choice.
Maybe so. Molly ambled toward the barn, kicking at the gravel with her dingo boots. From what I understand, shes pretty bitter about marriage and men in general.
Despite his resolve to stay out of Jennies business, he couldnt help asking, Why?
Molly glanced up at him, her eyes wide. You dont know?
Know what?
Gosh, thats such old news I thought for sure youd have heard it long before I did. I was only eleven at the time.
Cameron stopped outside the barn door and grasped Mollys arms, his patience for guessing at an end. What are you talking about? Why is Jennie down on men and marriage?
Her ex-husband. I thought you knew.
Cameron knew Jennie had married shortly after he left. Hurt by how quickly shed got over him, hed cut ties and moved on with his life in the military.
Molly shook off her brothers hands. He abused her. Slapped her around mentally and physically. Thats why she filed for divorce. Mollys lips twisted. The bastard really messed her up. He deserved to die.
What do you mean?
Vance Franklin died in a car wreck after Jennie filed for divorce.
Cameron withheld comment, holding back the string of curses he wanted to let loose. How could any man be cruel enough to hit a woman? And to hit Jennie, that was unconscionable. If Vance were still alive, hed take the man out. He agreed with his sister, the man deserved to die.