the children, and Kate was excited to see them. The sisters hadn’t all been together since Thanksgiving, it had been four months. And they were all getting together again in May, for the memorial for their father on the one-year anniversary. It seemed like an enormous number of things had happened in the ten months their father had been gone. But the ranch was running smoothly, and Thad’s new ideas were working out well. He was handling the whole breeding operation now, and they were both involved in the auctions.
When Rufus saw the ranch, he fell in love with it. He spent hours riding with Thad to get a feel for the size of the property. And Gemma rode with him for part of it. He got on well with Peter too, so the sisters left him to look at the livestock with the men, and the breeding operation.
The girls had a glass of wine at Gemma’s house, where she and Rufus were staying, and Caroline looked at them both sheepishly.
“I have something to tell you. I feel stupid saying it.”
“He’s not cheating on you again?” Gemma almost leapt out of her seat as she said it, and Caroline shook her head.
“I went off birth control when Peter left. I figured I didn’t need it, and took a break. He spent New Year’s Eve with me, when we got back together. I didn’t even think about it….I’m two months pregnant. I’m going to be forty when I have this baby…and ninety when it goes to college.”
“Oh my God.” Gemma laughed at her. “You’re a geriatric mother! That’s what they call it when you’re over forty.”
“Oh shut up, you will be too, if you and Rufus decide to have a child. You’re older than I am!”
“I don’t want babies. And he has two kids already, and I take the pill like a good girl!” Gemma said and Kate smiled at the exchange.
“I think that’s good news. It’s like a renewal of everything and new life. What did Peter say?” Kate asked her.
“He was shocked. It didn’t occur to him either. We haven’t told the kids yet. I don’t know how happy they’ll be about it. Morgan will be seventeen when it’s born, and Billy will be thirteen. That’s embarrassing for them. But Peter is happy about it now.”
“Are you? Never mind them,” Kate reminded her.
“I think I am. It’s like starting all over again, with nursing and diapers.”
“I’m taking two pills tonight,” Gemma said fervently.
“I haven’t made up my mind yet,” Kate said cautiously. “If we have a baby, I’d be forty-four when it’s born. That’s really old.”
“Not if you want it,” Caroline said kindly. “What does Thad say?”
“I think he’d like it, but he says he’s fine either way. He’s leaving it up to me.”
“We could start a nursery for elderly mothers,” Gemma said, laughing at the thought. “An old age home for unwed pregnant mothers. Well, you two are braver than I am.” She hugged Caroline then, and the men arrived a little later. And the whole group went into town for dinner. Rufus was having the time of his life, exploring Santa Ynez and the ranch. He had never imagined his glamorous star on the ranch, riding horses, with cowboys, and a family he liked so much. They were varied and interesting, outspoken, and kind to each other.
He knew that Gemma was coming back for her father’s memorial in May when they were on hiatus, and he promised to try and come with her.
And when they flew back to London, Rufus had a whole group of new friends, and understood Gemma better after meeting her family. They were unique and very special people.
* * *
—
A month after they’d been there, Kate called Caroline in a panic on a Tuesday morning. It reminded her of when she’d called to say their father had a heart attack. She sounded terrible.
“What’s wrong? Did something happen to Thad?”
“No. I have to talk to you. We’ve had an offer. I got a call from a realtor in Santa Barbara. There’s someone who breeds horses who wants to buy the ranch. They’re willing to offer an obscene amount of money.”
“How obscene?” Caroline asked her, instantly curious. Kate told her and she gasped. “That’s way more than obscene.” The buyer was Russian.
“I know. What do you want to do? They want a rapid answer. They’re considering another property. But our seven thousand acres is bigger so they prefer ours. Caro, do you want