Letting Go (Triple Eight Ranch) - By Mary Beth Lee Page 0,51
more than anything she’d ever seen from him. Even the tornado hadn’t been this terrifying.
“Bethany’s name is on this petition.”
Chapter Thirteen
When Jed picked her up for dinner, Clarissa knew she had to talk about the Van Neys. About how her life could impact the outcome of the suit.
“You talked to a lawyer?”
Jed nodded. “I did, and it’ll be fine. If they wanted to be part of Mack’s life they would’ve been there before today.”
She bit her lip and then said the words that had troubled her all day. “They’re going to use me against you.”
He shook his head. “No worries there. Just like I told Joan, your past has no bearing here. They’re welcome to try, but I think if they tried the whole city’d come out in support of you. We’re not going to worry about it.”
Clarissa wished she could put the worry away so easily.
A small sports car was parked in front of the family house at the Triple Eight.
“Your sister’s?” Clarissa asked in surprise and Jed laughed.
“Sure is. She’s a little different.”
They parked the truck and the “little different” sister flew out of the house and to the truck then wrapped her brother’s waist in a giant hug before turning to her and giving her the same treatment.
“I’m so glad to meet you,” she said.
Clarissa looked above the girl’s head to stare at Jed who just laughed.
Callie Dillon was shorter than Clarissa with long blonde hair that fell in waves around her shoulders. She wore a yellow sundress and sandals with turquoise and silver. Her nails were manicured perfectly, and she looked like she spent her days soaking in sunshine.
She looked like what she was: the youngest daughter of a wealthy Oklahoma family.
Only instead of the ranching business, Callie worked in advertising in Dallas. Currently she was interning because “finding a full-time job in this economy isn’t exactly easy.” She had one more semester to turn the internship into the real deal, find a different job or Susie and Paul were cutting her off.
She told the story with such good nature Clarissa couldn’t help but smile. Paul and Susie looked none too thrilled.
“Auntie Callie, look what I can do!” Mackenzie ran into the room and started spinning around and around so her dress would billow out.
Jed’s sister clapped her hands in glee until Mackenzie fell at her feet.
“I’m dizzy, Auntie.”
Then she got up to go again, only this time Jed walked in and scowled. “Mackenzie Renee, you know better than to cut up in the house.”
“Come on, Jed, she’s just playing,” Callie said, which earned her an even bigger scowl.
Clarissa agreed with his sister on this one, but she wasn’t about to voice that opinion. At least not in public, and not when it was obvious he was stressed over the Van Neys petition.
Mackenzie said “Yes, sir” and ran to Jed to give him a hug before pulling her aunt to the bedroom to see Kitty.
“Clarissa had to give her back ‘cause she moved into the apartment again,” the little girl was explaining as the two disappeared.
“I think Mackenzie and your sister have a lot in common,” she said, and Jed agreed.
“She’ll get you alone as soon as she gets the chance,” Jed warned. “You want me to run interference?”
“You’re just worried she’ll tell me your secrets,” she teased.
Callie walked back in then and shot her a thumbs up. “Smart girl. Wait until I tell you about the time he nearly burned the house down.”
“You mean you nearly burned the house down,” Jed corrected, but his sister stood firm on her opinion.
“You were supposed to be the firefighter. My Barbies were innocent victims.”
Jed laughed, and Clarissa breathed a huge sigh of relief at his joy. He needed this tonight.
Clarissa left the two to reminisce and walked into the kitchen to ask Susie if she needed any help. Susie pointed to a pan of potatoes on the stove and walked her through the ingredients necessary for the best mashed potatoes ever. Following instructions Clarissa added the cream, parmesan cheese, cream cheese, butter and chicken stock then whipped them up.
She had to admit Susie was right. The potatoes looked amazing. Susie used a spoon to test and agreed they were ready.
And then she rested a hand on Clarissa’s shoulder and looked solemnly into her eyes.
“This will work out how it’s supposed to. Don’t fret.”
She’d thought she’d covered her worry.
“How can you be so sure?”
Susie waved a hand at herself. “Child, you don’t live to be my age and not