of her parents have a mature bone in their body? Really!
“I was thinking …” Dad changed the subject. “Next month, when the longhorn herds start to calve, we would invest in one of those side-by-sides. It might make getting around a bit easier.”
Faith’s hands hovered over the cards. “That’s the first time you’ve said anything about working together after Christmas. What are you thinking?”
Dad frowned. “What do you mean?”
“I mean I need to know specifics before I decide if staying is what I want.”
Dad’s frown turned into a full scowl. “You live here now.”
“No.” She carefully set down the deck and the words. “I came to help while you recovered. No one’s said anything about moving here.” Least of all you, she added silently.
“I just did.” Dad folded his arms. “It only makes sense. You don’t belong in that city clinic—you belong out here.”
Faith blinked, insulted that he didn’t think she belonged in her own business. “I built that city clinic from nothing. It’s not an investment I can just toss away.” Although now that she thought about it, she hadn’t checked in with them in days … maybe a week.
“You’re happier here.”
“What does happiness have to do with it? It’s my job.”
“Your happiness has everything to do with it.”
“What if I asked you to move closer to me? Would you do it?”
“No. This is my home, and the reindeer need me.”
An old wound cried out and forced Faith to take a look at it. She gritted her teeth. I am not my mother. I am not my mother, she repeated in her head. “Dad, I need you. I want you to be a part of my life.”
“Great.” He swiped his cards off the table and began sorting his hand. “Then it’s settled.”
“Nothing’s settled.” Faith tossed her cards face down. “You’re asking me to uproot my life to move here but won’t do the same thing for me—doesn’t that seem a bit hypocritical?”
Dad’s lips formed a thin line. “It would, from your perspective. I can see that. But if you knew what I knew, you wouldn’t ask it of me.”
Irritation at her irrational parents bubbled over. “Then tell me. What would open my mind and make everything suddenly seem clear?”
Dad opened his mouth once and then shut it quickly. “I can’t tell you.”
Fed up with the game, Faith stood and yanked her coat off the chair. “Then I’m leaving. I told Mom you were being honest with me and we were healing old hurts. Well, you just created a new one—congratulations.”
“Faith, wait!” Dad called after her as she quick-stepped down the hall and out to the frigid North Dakota winter. Hugging herself, she climbed into the still-warm cab of the truck and fired up the engine.
Dad acted like he had some big secret. Whatever. She didn’t want to be toyed with anymore. All she really wanted was to fall into Caleb’s arms, where the world made sense and no one was mad at her. She started up the truck and headed out to Reindeer Wrangler Ranch. Even if Caleb was busy training, she’d talk to Dunder. The reindeer had more sense in him than both her parents combined.
She tried to call Caleb to see if he was available, but he didn’t answer. Great. At least she knew she could find him in the workout arena. She pressed on the gas and took the truck up to top snow-packed-roads speed. She couldn’t get to Caleb fast enough.
Chapter 31
Faith
The more she thought about the parental hand she’d been dealt, the more upset Faith became. Why was it Caleb’s parents could manage to stay married and civil and hers were a couple of candy canes short of a stuffed stocking?
She made it out to the ranch, ready to launch herself into a tirade about her bad luck and let Caleb soothe her troubles away with a couple dozen kisses. The lights were in on the barn and this was the usual time for him to get done, so she headed that way.
Stepping inside, she called out a “hello.” No one answered back, so she went all the way in, happy to warm up for a moment. The walk from the truck to the barn had chilled her to the bones. She rubbed her arms, noting the lack of human noises. “Might as well check on Dunder.”
As if he’d heard his name, she heard a deep grunt for an answer.
“I could use someone who is happy to see me.” She opened his stall, but