“That’s all you’re going to eat?” her mother asked. “You need to take care of yourself.”
“Thanks, Mom, this is plenty.” She smiled. Apparently mothers never outgrew worrying over what their kids ate.
“You’re too skinny,” her father said. “A man likes a little meat on a woman. About time you found a man for you and Cal, don’t you think?”
“I do,” Cal said. “I want a little brother or sister. So Mom has to get married first.”
“She sure does.” Her father nodded. “I wouldn’t mind a few more grandkids.”
“Woodrow,” her mother interrupted. “Can you pass the pepper?”
The smile he shot her mother was full of real affection, prompting India to say, “I see the way you look at Mom, and I want that, too.”
“Guess you learned something the first time around.” Her father’s brows rose. “If a man doesn’t put you on a pedestal, he doesn’t deserve you.”
Her mother nodded. “But you can’t afford to be too picky. Slim pickings here about.”
“All too true.” Her father nodded. Conversation shifted to the Monarch Festival and the various booths and committees, which led to the news. “They gave five minutes’ time to promoting the festival, something that will bring in money to the town. But they find the time to sing Brody Wallace’s praises all week. I’m not sure what this reporter’s trying to prove—that he’ll be a good mayor or that she’s sweet on him.”
“She was there when Tanner got bit.” Cal served himself some macaroni. “They didn’t act sweet on each other. And I’m real thankful Brody got Tanner to the vet clinic so fast. Tandy says he might not have made it if it wasn’t for him.” Cal promptly shoved a forkful of macaroni into his mouth.
India watched her parents closely. It was plain to see how much the Wallaces loved their grandchildren. But to see it on her parents’ faces as they listened to Cal was a shock. Not her mother; she adored Cal. But her father... He was listening to every word Cal said. And it touched her heart to know her boy mattered to him. Even if it took a dangerous snake incident for her dad to show it.
“He carried Tanner, and Mom and that lady carried his girls, and we all ran to his truck,” Cal said, shaking his head. “I was so scared, but he was real nice to me.”
“Nice to know the boy doesn’t take after his father,” her father said. “Maybe his time away from home took some of the Wallace starch out of him.”
India didn’t say a word, hoping conversation would move into
more neutral territory. Eventually it did. Possible changes to the dude ranch’s long-standing theme nights, Cal’s schoolwork and her mother’s regular plea for a vacation filled the rest of the meal. Her mother had been trying to tempt her father into a romantic getaway since India could remember.
“Your anniversary is coming up. Maybe, this year, you could go somewhere, Dad?” Scarlett suggested, smiling sweetly.
“It’s not a good time to be leaving Fire Gorge,” he said, avoiding eye contact with everyone around the table.
“It’s never a good time.” Their mother sighed. “Maybe we should go, girls. A mother-daughter trip.” This was the first time their mother had suggested going somewhere without their father.
And the look of surprise on her father’s face was priceless.
By the time dessert was cleared away and Scarlett and Cal had returned to their checkers game in the den, India was wiped out. She was just about to doze off in the recliner opposite her father when he woke her. “See what I mean?” He pointed at the television.
Brody was there, walking along the fort, smiling—looking charming and sweet and warm. She knew just how warm he could be. How strong and giving he was. He would give all to this town, to his daughters and the woman he picked to spend the rest of his life with.
“Damn shame he’s a Wallace. If he wasn’t, I might actually like the boy.” Her father’s words were soft.
She wanted to defend Brody—to tell her father all the reasons his last name shouldn’t matter.
“When is your truck going to be ready?” he asked, out of the blue.
“In a week.”
Daniel wasn’t in any hurry, but he was charging half what the garage wanted, so she’d wait for him.
“Good.” Her father glanced at her, the ghost of a smile on his face—then it was gone. “Good.” There were times she could almost convince herself that he respected her and truly cared for her. Almost. But if that were true, he wouldn’t have turned her away when she needed him most, wouldn’t look at her like he did most days.
She nodded and pushed out of the recliner, said her goodbyes and walked the path to her cabin—eager to put some distance between her and her father.
When Brody’s text rolled in, she stared at it for a long time.