The Rancher Meets His Match (The Millers of Morgan Valley #4) - Kate Pearce Page 0,105
live anywhere.”
“Trying to get rid of me again?” Kaiden sat back.
“I’m trying to make up for keeping you here after Ben flaked out.” Jeff grimaced. “I was afraid you’d make the same mistakes so I clipped your wings. That’s one of the reasons why I let you go from the ranch. I wanted to give you back your freedom.”
Kaiden stared at his father for a long moment. “Do you really think I’m going to buy that crock of shit?”
His father slowly smiled. “Why not? It’s the only one I’m selling.”
* * *
Julia settled her father into bed and walked through to the kitchen to fetch him a glass of water. She snapped on the lights and gasped. The new accessible appliances gleamed softly and the cabinetry . . . was so beautiful, and so Kaiden that she wanted to bawl like a child. She smoothed her hand along the work surface, admiring the line of the grain and the intricately carved edging. She’d wondered if he’d pass the work on to someone else, but she could feel him in every curve.
She took the water back through to her father and lined up the many pills he had to take. There were five for his MS, and two for high blood pressure, a side effect of the other drugs.
“Here you go, Dad. I’m sorry we had to leave so early. I had a really long day, and I was just exhausted.”
“To be truthful, I was getting rather tired myself.” He patted her hand. “I’m not used to such big crowds.”
Julia waited as he took his pills, and tried to think of how to phrase her next question.
“How is Beth working out for you?”
“She is an angel.” His smile widened. “I don’t know what I would do without her. Even after all the amazing improvements to the place I was beginning to wonder how I’d manage all on my own after you’d left. And Beth is such sunny company. She cheers me up without even trying.” He hesitated. “It’s been hard to deal with the thought that I’m stuck in this chair for the rest of my life. It made me miserable as hell.”
“I’m not surprised.” Julia nodded, amazed that her father was actually confiding his feelings in her. “It’s a big change for you.”
“I’ve tried to accept it as God’s will, but I’ve still got a long way to go with that.” He smiled up at her. “I guess that’s why I’ve been so intent on getting Miguel home where he belongs.”
Julia sensed her opportunity. “Dad, is it true that Miguel came here?”
“Yes.” Her father’s smile disappeared. “He was very pleasant until I refused his request to sell the ranch.”
“Did he say who he planned to sell it to?” Julia asked.
“He brought a proposal from that colleague of yours.” Juan pointed to an MZB folder in the stack by his bed. “They wanted to build three hundred houses on my land.”
“That’s awful.” Julia shook her head. “Is it okay if I read this?”
“Of course.” Juan handed over the file. “Miguel said you agreed with him.”
“Did you believe that?” Julia met her father’s gaze.
“No, because why would you have spent so much time and money making the ranch a better place if you planned on tearing it down?” He met her gaze. “When I saw the final bills for the remodel I was horrified. It never occurred to me that you would have to keep working to pay for everything. I was too worried about myself, and didn’t think about the cost for you.”
“That’s okay, Dad.” Julia swallowed hard.
“I told Miguel that too. He was very unhappy with me.”
“I wish you’d called me. I would’ve set him straight.”
“I was too embarrassed to call you.” Juan sighed. “You’ve been telling me that Miguel didn’t have my best interests at heart for years and I’ve refused to believe you. He threatened to have me declared incompetent. He said that Blaine would find a way to do it legally.”
“You should have called me immediately.” Julia said.
“I was too ashamed to admit that my son, the person I’d wanted to continue our family legacy, had so little regard for me or the place of his birth that he was willing to sell it to strangers.”
She reached out to hold his trembling fingers. “You don’t need to worry about Blaine anymore, Dad. He’s been fired. And, I wouldn’t have agreed to let Miguel get power of attorney over you anyway.”