Whirlwind - Janet Dailey Page 0,102

seat when Aaron struck his knife against his glass for attention. At the sharp ringing sound, the buzz of conversation stilled around the table.

“I have an announcement to make,” he declared in a loud voice. “The sale of my property has finally gone through. I’ll be going into Tucson to sign the papers and deposit the check on Friday. Then I’ll be packing up for a move to Vegas.”

There were murmurs of congratulations around the table. Tess looked sour but managed to be polite. Lexie and Val glanced at each other in alarm. They had yet to find a time when Aaron was safely gone, so they could check his house. Once he started clearing the place out, any evidence that might be there would disappear.

Friday could be their last chance.

Tess cleared her throat. “I know we’re supposed to be celebrating. But as long as you’re all here, I want to go over the plans for what’s bound to be a busy weekend.”

She glanced around the table. “On Friday, I’ll be driving Whirlwind to Santa Fe. Ruben, you and Pedro will be taking four bulls to Prescott—we can decide which ones.

“Val—” She fixed stern eyes on her sister. “I’ll need you to take the truck and drive Chet and Ryder to Ajo, where their parents will meet them. While you’re there, you can pick up the shipment of Total Bull at the freight office and buy any other supplies we need. Got it?”

Val glanced at Lexie with a barely noticeable shrug. “Got it,” she said.

“Shane and Lexie, you can stay here and keep an eye on things. The boys can do chores before they leave Friday morning. Val, can you help Lexie with chores on Saturday and Sunday?”

“Sure,” Val said.

“I’ll take the stable all three days,” Shane offered. “I can muck out a stall and pitch hay as well as the next cowboy.”

“That’ll be great.” Tess nodded. “So, is everybody good?”

“Right as rain.” Val’s lack of enthusiasm was clear.

Shane spoke up. “You deserve a round of applause for this great meal, Val. Come on, everybody, show some appreciation.” He began to clap. The others at the table joined in until Val waved them into silence.

“Fiddle-dee-dee. All in a day’s work,” she said in a perfect Scarlett O’Hara imitation. “But I’ll be damned if I’m doing cleanup.”

Picking up her plate of cake and a fork, she walked out the front door and closed it behind her.

Half an hour later, with the table cleared and the dishwasher humming, Lexie headed for the porch to join her sister. Ruben, Aaron, and the boys had left. Tess was on her computer, and Shane was doing his nightly workout on Jack’s old exercise machines. Lexie heard the familiar clink of the weights when she passed his closed door. The sound brought back bittersweet memories of her brother—even as it stirred images of the man who had shut her out of his intimate life.

Now that he was settling in, it appeared that Shane might have found a home here. But the barrier of polite distance between them remained the same, with no sign that it would ever change. Maybe she should be the one to leave. Why not? There was nothing to stop her. Certainly Shane wouldn’t care.

Walking out onto the porch, she found Val in the lounge chair with the dogs curled at her feet. The night was warm and sultry. Insects buzzed around the porch light.

Lexie sank into a chair with a long sigh.

“What is it, girl?” Val asked. “Man problems? You can talk to me. I’m an expert.”

“No . . . it’s just, maybe I’m being selfish. I wanted things to work out with Shane. But nothing’s changed. I know you told me to be patient, but he treats me like a sister, and I’m getting tired of it. Maybe I should just leave—go back to college, or move to Tucson and get a job.”

“How can you even think like that?” Val asked. “This is your home. The family needs you. I never told you this, but the main reason Tess offered Shane a job was to keep you here. She was afraid that you’d go off with him, and she’d end up losing you. Hiring him was Callie’s idea, and Tess agreed to it—that’s what Tess told me. I’m not sorry about that—he’s settled in and become a real asset to the ranch. But the whole idea behind this arrangement was to make you happy.”

“Thanks a lot.” Lexie’s words dripped sarcasm. “Maybe