then?” Harlan asked impatiently. “The woman’s had eyes for you ever since she set foot on this ranch. Nobody around here’s missed that.”
Now that he was into the subject, Slade decided to lay all his cards on the table. “To tell you the truth, I made a couple of tactical mistakes. I haven’t been able to recover from them yet.”
Harlan’s eyes took on the excited glint of a man rising to a challenge. He hoisted himself up onto a railing, clearly settling down to listen. “Tell me,” he commanded.
Slade described how he’d reached the conclusion that Val would be the perfect mother for Annie.
“And you told her that?”
“Yes.”
“And that’s when you asked her to marry you?”
Slade nodded, wincing under the old man’s incredulous look.
“Whoo-ee, I’m surprised she left you standing.”
“To be honest, so am I. She wasn’t happy, that’s for sure.”
“Well, can you blame her? No woman wants to sign on as mother for a kid without getting a little something for herself in the bargain. If raising a child’s all she wants, she could hire on as a housekeeper or open a day-care center, and be done with it. That’s not Val’s style. Any fool could see that.”
“Well, I missed it,” Slade said defensively. “At least, until it was too late to take the words back.”
Harlan subjected him to a penetrating stare. “Is this still all about Annie?”
“No. The minute Val stormed out, I realized I loved her.”
Harlan gave a little nod of satisfaction. “Good. Now we’re getting somewhere. Why haven’t you just flat out told her?”
“After what’s happened, she’d never believe me. She’d figure I was saying all the right words, just to get my way.”
The rancher’s expression turned thoughtful. “You could be right about that. Timing’s important in a situation like this. So, if words won’t do it, you’ll have to take action.”
“Such as?”
“Prove to her how much you care. Court her, Son. Flowers, candy, the whole nine yards. I’ve seen some mighty fine courtships around this ranch in my time. Been party to a few of them. You just have to listen real close and do exactly what I tell you.”
“Won’t that seem a little obvious?”
“More than likely, at least at first. You’ll have to prove you’re in it for the long haul. Never let up. Don’t give her a second’s peace. Sweet-talk her every chance you get. Worked on Janet and she was a tough one, let me tell you.”
“I’m afraid sweet talk’s not in my nature,” Slade objected.
“You’ll learn, Son. When the stakes are high enough, a man can do most anything.”
“What stakes?” Annie demanded, slipping up behind them, her face alight with curiosity. “Are you gonna play poker? Will you teach me?”
“Poker’s a game for grown-ups, young lady,” Harlan told her. “But when you’re old enough, I’ll teach you how to play and win. Right now, though, your daddy and I are talking about something else.”
“Val, I’ll bet.” She grinned up at Harlan. “Thanks.”
He reached down and ruffled her hair. “Glad to help out. You here for your riding lesson?”
She nodded. “Want to stay and watch?”
“Afraid not. I’ve got to get back up to the house before Janet gets home. I might be able to sneak a cup of real coffee and a couple of Maritza’s sugar cookies without getting caught.” He winked at Slade. “You remember what I told you and keep me posted on what’s happening. Sometimes a plan requires a few adjustments before it starts to work.”
Slade shook his hand. “Thank you, sir. I won’t forget.”
“See that you don’t. I haven’t had a failure yet. I don’t aim to start now.”
After his boss had headed back to the main house, Slade noticed Annie grinning from ear to ear. “You sent him down here, didn’t you?” he demanded.
“What if I did?” she asked defiantly. “Somebody had to do something. If I wait around for you and Val, I’ll be too old to even need a mother.”
“Thanks,” Slade said, clearly catching her by surprise.
Prepared to make her case, she seemed startled by his response. “You’re not mad?”
“No, though as a general rule, we don’t go around sharing our private business with outsiders.”
“Grandpa Harlan’s not an outsider.”
“He is not your grandfather,” Slade pointed out.
“But he said I could call him that, so that makes him practically family, right?”
Annie’s convoluted logic silenced him.
“Well?” she prodded.
“Close enough, I guess.” Slade waved her toward the barn. “Go on and bring your horse out and saddle her up.”