The Texan's Tennessee Romance / The Rancher & the Reluctant Princess: The Texan's Tennessee Romance / The Rancher & the Reluctant Princess. Christine Flynn
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with you.”
Giving his knee one last pat, she sat back. “You needed this vacation. Needed a chance to think, away from the craziness back home. I don’t think that’s so strange. And heaven knows we needed your help right now. So don’t let everyone else make you question yourself, okay? Do what you have to do.”
Molly knew all about following her own path. To the consternation of almost the entire Walker clan, she’d left her family ranch, the teaching position she’d held there and everything she’d known back in Dallas to move to Gatlinburg with Kyle. Though she would always be close to her family, Casey didn’t think she’d had one day of regret about leaving behind the life she’d always expected to have among them in Texas.
Maybe that was part of what had drawn him to Molly when he’d made his great escape. She had made a huge change that had left everyone else bewildered and worried, and it had worked out for her. He wasn’t saying that he wanted to make a huge change, really—he wasn’t sure yet just what he wanted—but it was nice to see that it could be done, and successfully, by someone from the same family boat in which he’d been floating so safely for the past twenty-six years.
Do what you have to do. Sounded simple enough. Now all he had to do was figure out what that was.
Natalie was on the phone with Amber when she heard Casey’s truck in the drive the next morning. Her pulse rate jumped involuntarily, but she made an effort to concentrate on the call.
“So Cathy’s sporting some new clothes,” she said as a way of reminding herself what they’d been talking about.
“A whole new wardrobe,” Amber emphasized. “Not just a few new sweaters or anything. And from what I can tell, she’s scored some expensive designer stuff.”
“And she hasn’t said where all this money is coming from?”
“No. She just giggles whenever anyone asks and sort of coyly says she’s found a new source of income. She won’t say anything more about it. Which makes me wonder if her new source of income is selling client information to the tabloids.”
“What bothers me is that she’s so open about the spending,” Natalie fretted. “Is she really foolish enough to brag in the firm if she’s making the money by exploiting her job?”
“Have you met Cathy?” Amber asked drily. “She’s stupid enough to think no one would even notice.”
“Has anyone noticed? Anyone in the upper tiers of the firm, I mean, not the other clerical staff.”
“I don’t know. If they have, nothing’s been done. I mean, she’s still here.”
Natalie sighed in frustration. “And I suppose there have been no more information leaks since I left.”
“None,” Amber said, sounding almost apologetic. “The leaks stopped the day you left.”
“Which only makes me look more guilty.”
“I, um…”
“Never mind.” There really was nothing Amber could say to make this situation any better. “I know you need to get to work. Thanks for calling.”
“I just wanted to check on you. You’re sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine.” She was already hearing noises from outside that indicated Casey had started working. “Really.”
“I hope you took my advice the last time we talked. Have you done something fun while you’re there?”
“I went hiking yesterday, actually. I had a very nice time.”
“Hey, that’s great. Got any big plans for today?”
Another thump sounded from outside. “There are a few things I could do,” she replied vaguely.
“Good. Take advantage of the time off. I’d love to be in a cabin in the Smokies right now instead of just about to start a day of boring filing.”
“Yes, well…”
“Have you heard from any other firms yet? I mean, you are sending out résumés, aren’t you?”
“I haven’t heard anything yet,” Natalie said evasively. She saw no need to mention that she hadn’t quite gotten up the nerve to send out any inquiries yet. How could she, before she’d found some way of clearing her name? Who would hire her now?
“Well, hang in there, okay? You’ll find something. You’re too good at what you do not to. Not everyone’s going to believe the accusations against you, especially after they meet you and realize you’re not like that.”
Natalie wasn’t so sure of that.
They disconnected only moments later. Natalie tried immediately to call Beecham, but was routed to his voice mail again, to her annoyance. Tossing the cell phone aside, she rubbed her temples where a dull ache threatened. A tapping sound made her look up, and her eyes met Casey’s through the sliding glass door that led out to the deck. Seeing his look of concern, she pasted on a smile and moved to open the door.
Chapter Seven
“Are you okay?” Casey asked before she could even speak.
“Yes, I’m fine. A little headache.”
He didn’t seem entirely reassured, and she wondered just how disheartened she’d appeared after her talk with Amber. “Is there something you need?” she asked to change the subject.
“Yeah. The dog bowls.”
“He’s back?”
“Yes.”
“He’s earlier than usual.”
“He’s hungry, I guess.”
She moved toward the kitchen. “I’ll get the bowls.”
The dog sat at the edge of the woods again, but maybe a bit closer to the cabin than he’d ventured before. His tail wagged against the ground when Casey and Natalie brought the bowls. And Natalie would have sworn the dog smiled just a little when they set them in front of him.
The dog ate part of the food, and drank a little of the water. And then he just sat there, watching them.
“He doesn’t seem to be as hungry as he has been,” Natalie remarked.
“Well, yeah. We’ve been feeding him. Maybe he just wanted to make sure we were still here with the food.”
“Maybe he did.” She studied the dog, then on impulse knelt down and held out her hand.
“Hi, buddy,” she said, using the same soft tone and nickname that Casey always employed with the stray. “Have you figured out we’re not going to hurt you?”
It was almost as if he’d been waiting for her to reach out. The dog rose, walked straight toward her, sniffed her fingers, then licked her hand. His tail wagged behind him as he gazed up at her with what could only be called a melting look.
“Wow,” Casey said, sounding both startled and amused. “He’s certainly taking to you. Are you wearing beef-scented perfume or something today?”
Tentatively, she patted the dog’s dirty head. The matted tail wagged more eagerly. “I don’t think he understands that I’m not really a dog person.”
“He thinks you are.” Casey knelt beside her and the dog sniffed his hand, then allowed Casey to pet him briefly on the head. And then the dog turned back to Natalie, moving closer to her, his body touching her knees.
Though the mutt was in dire need of a bath, Natalie didn’t recoil. A little dirt wouldn’t hurt her jeans. And she had to admit that she was rather touched that he seemed to have taken to her. Maybe it would be easier to find a good home for him if they could convince him that humans could be nice to have around. “How old do you think he is?”