Shadows from the Past

Rudd grinned. “I don’t want to go bald, Iris.”

“Well, then, let me put out feelers to the employment office in Jackson and let’s see what I can scare up for you.”

“Maybe it’s time,” he agreed. “Besides, I’m better served dealing with daily ranch life. I hate the office.”

“Not much of a saddle to sit in, is it?” Iris quipped with a laugh.

Shrugging his broad shoulders, Rudd smiled sheepishly. “No, it isn’t.”

Allison shook her head and rolled her eyes again. She’d played with the food on her plate. “If you’ll excuse me…”

“You’ve barely eaten a thing,” Iris said.

“I like keeping my svelte figure. If Hollywood calls asking me to fly in to try out for a part, I can’t look fat.”

“Hazel made a special dessert tonight,” Iris said, ignoring her response. “Your favorite.”

Groaning, Allison rose with grace and placed her napkin on her plate. “Thank you, Hazel, but I simply can’t do it.” She turned and left the room.

Kam took note that Allison didn’t deign to look at her or say, “It was nice to meet you,” or anything else. She had a gut feeling that the woman didn’t like her and would just as soon see her leave the ranch in a month.

“Son? I think you hit pure gold when you hired Kamaria. I’m pleased as punch.”

“I’m glad, Iris. She seems a good fit for you. I just hope she wants to stay for more than a month.”

“Why would I ever want to leave after a month?” Kam asked politely. Based on the family drama, she knew the answer.

“Your predecessors just didn’t seem to fit into our laid-back ranch lifestyle,” he said uncomfortably.

“Actually,” Iris said darkly, “Allison chased all of ’em off. She’d just as soon see me die of a stroke and be out of the picture so she can take over.”

“Iris…” Rudd protested, frowning. “That’s not so. Allison does not want to see you die. And I really don’t think she chased off the other caregivers.”

Snorting, Iris said, “Well, I know better, son. And you’re just gonna have to take my word for it.” She cut Kam a sharp look. “You seem pretty smart. And you seem to see through people quickly. I’m sure you’ll ask questions before jumping to conclusions if Allison starts stirring the pot again.”

“Of course I would,” Kam reassured her. She saw Becky coming around to pick up their emptied plates. “I work for you. My only focus is you, Iris. You and your health. That’s why I’m here. Mr. Mason made it clear that I was to be with you most of the time.”

“And you’ll help me plant and weed the garden?”

Grinning, Kam said, “Wild horses wouldn’t stop me from helping you do that.”

“Music to my ears,” Iris sighed, giving her son a beaming smile of pure pleasure.

Rudd smiled. “Mine, too,” he told Kam, gratitude in his tone. “I think you’re going to fit in well here, Kamaria.”

“Call me Kam, if you want,” she told them. “Most people do.”

“Kam it is,” Rudd said, raising his head to see Becky coming out with dessert.

Patting her arm, Iris said, “Tomorrow is a bright new day around here with you being on board. I have a nice feeling about you, Kam. You’re fun to be around, you’re prudent and you’re a good judge of character, unlike some of the family.”

“Thanks, Iris. I’m really looking forward to being here.” Kam felt a warmth in her heart toward the older woman. Iris was a kick-butt, take-names-and-no-prisoners kind of lady, but she had values, morals and integrity, too. In contrast, Allison was a woman in a mask, playing a part. At least Rudd and Iris were real, down-to-earth people who weren’t narcissistic. Kam figured she could avoid Rudd’s wife most of the time. Or, at least she hoped she could.

“Tomorrow afternoon,” Iris told her, “I want you to take a ride with Wes and start familiarizing yourself with the Elkhorn Ranch. Sound exciting?”

“Yes, it does. I love riding horses.”

“Ah,” Iris sighed, “yet another plus in your column with me. I have a black Morgan mare that I ride almost daily. I’ll tell Wes to assign you a nice horse that you can use as your own. I often ride out into the hills to gather my flower essences and you can tag along.”

“Sounds great,” Kam murmured. Her heart skipped a beat. Wes. She gazed at Iris whose features looked perfectly innocent. And yet, Kam knew this woman had acumen when it came to evaluating people. Did she see something between her and Wes? Could she be aware of how Kam’s heart beat a little harder when she saw that lanky, wolflike cowboy? Tomorrow was going to be an exciting day for her in many ways, Kam suspected.

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