head. “That’s why his presentation was so good. You wrote it for him, didn’t you?”
“I did,” Julia agreed. “He threatened to give me a crappy yearly review if I didn’t.”
Miley snorted. “I can just hear him saying that. I’m sorry he put you in that position.”
“I’m sorry he’s put us all in that position,” Julia said, and then paused. “Now that the major crisis has passed, will you have time to look into something else for me?”
“Always, boss.”
“I don’t want you to make a big deal out of it, but I’m looking to connect with a small boutique house builder that specializes in limited-sized sites, and is highly sensitive to the historical and environmental aspect of their work.”
“In San Francisco?” Miley was writing notes in her book. “Like there is any space left to be sentimental.”
“There must be some builders like that. Maybe out in Marin County, or the East Bay?”
“I’ll definitely look into it for you. Anything in particular you want me to say, or don’t want me to say?”
“I’m particularly interested in builders who have dealt with ranch owners. I’d rather you kept the name of our law firm out of it as much if possible, and focus on this being a personal inquiry rather than on behalf of a client.”
“Got it. Unlike Blaine, I can do discreet.” She hesitated. “By the way, I heard him mouthing off in the break room about you coming from a really ‘poor and rural’ environment.”
Julia swallowed hard as she thought of the almost century of work her family had put into maintaining their land, and how much it meant to them.
“Hopefully, no one will listen to him,” Julia said.
“If he says anything to my face, I’ll be sure to set him straight. In fact, it would be my pleasure.”
“Please don’t worry about him. He’s really not worth you losing your job over,” Julia reminded her.
“Sometimes I doubt that because the satisfaction I’d get from dragging his ass would be such a high,” Miley rallied. “Will we be seeing you back at the office any time soon?”
“In another week or so. The electrician and the plumber are coming today to discuss the remodel. If things go to plan my father will at least have a user-friendlier environment, and will be able to cope by himself. That’s all he tells me he wants.”
“He sounds like a tough old bird.”
“He is.” Julia smiled. “All ranchers are.”
She ended the call and went back in to check on her father, who was happily finishing his lunch and watching TV.
“Mike Betts the plumber will be here in about ten minutes,” Julia told him. “He just sent me a text.”
“Good, you can deal with him, can’t you, Julia? Or do I need to call Kaiden?” He rubbed his forehead. “I’m exhausted right now and my brain gets fuzzy. I definitely need all the help I can get.”
Julia sat opposite him. It was so weird to hear her father admitting he needed help. “Kaiden’s probably busy right now—what with his father coming back from the hospital sometime today.”
“Well, we know what that’s like.” Her father sighed. “No fun at all. Have you heard from Miguel yet?”
“No.” Julia picked up the various fishing magazines and tidied them into a neat stack.
“Did you tell him what’s going on?”
“You know Miguel, Dad. If he doesn’t want to be found, he’ll just stay quiet until we stop bothering him.”
“But this is different. I really need to talk to him about the ranch.”
“I know.” Julia patted his hand. Her dad’s fixation on Miguel riding in to save the day was beginning to worry her. “I can’t do anything unless he contacts me. I don’t even know if he’s in the US right now.” She paused. “Have you ever considered that he doesn’t want to come back and run the ranch?”
A familiar stubborn look passed over her father’s face. “It is his duty to come home. He will be the fifth generation of Garcias to manage this land.”
“If things go on the way they are, there won’t be a working ranch for him to come back to, Dad.” She gentled her voice. “Have you thought about what you want to do if Miguel doesn’t come back? What you want to happen to the land?”
He went silent for so long that she was afraid he wasn’t going to answer her. When he finally lifted his head, his mouth was set in a firm line that reminded her of herself.
“As long as I’m alive and functioning, the