Ronald gritted his teeth. “I promised Cecilia I wouldn’t say a thing. This is her business to tell. But I will say this. I’ve asked Cecilia to marry me, and she said yes. She’s not going back to South Carolina.” He gave her one last look and headed down the stairs.
Elana slid down the wall. She wasn’t sure she could handle one more piece of news. Her phone buzzed in her pocket. She dug it out and saw a text from her father stating he would be in Montana tonight. She rested her head against the wall.
Jack came bounding up the stairs with a stick in his mouth. He set it at Elana’s feet.
She bent and picked it up. “I can’t play fetch with you right now, Jack. We have a serious situation going on.”
Jack sat and stared at the stick in her hand. Sighing she patted her leg. “Come on. Let’s go outside.” She headed down the stairs with Jack beside her.
Ronald was standing at the fireplace, resting one arm on the mantel and staring down into the flames.
“Father sent a text. He’ll be here tonight.”
Ronald looked over at her. “If that man steps one foot on my property, I’ll shoot him.”
Elana cocked her head. “I don’t think the police will let you get away with that.”
He arched a brow. “Who said I would call the police?”
Elana shook her head. “Look, don’t do anything crazy. Give me some time to talk some sense into him. Once I talk to him and allay his fears that Grandma Cecilia is of sound mind and body, he’ll relent.”
Ronald shook his head. “I love your optimism, Elana. But I’ve lived a lot longer than you. And you are putting your hope in the wrong person.”
Elana sighed. “I’m not giving up. Not yet.”
He gave her a nod.
“I’m going to head back to the cabin with Jack. I need some time to think.”
Ronald shoved away from the mantel. “Do you want me or one of my men to follow you and make sure you get there safe? I know you must be shaken up after what happened.”
She smiled. “No. That’s okay. I have Jack. But I appreciate the offer.”
He nodded.
She looked down at her dog. “Come on, Jack. Let’s go.”
CHAPTER35
Elana took a long shower when she got back to the cabin. Just like before, Jack sat on the bathmat and waited for her.
She put on a black sweater and black jeans. It was the dressiest thing she had brought. Her father wouldn’t approve, but frankly, she didn’t care. She was more concerned about her grandmother’s well-being.
She grabbed her coat and reached inside the pocket to retrieve her gloves. Her hand brushed against the notepad.
She pulled it out and sat down on the couch.
Elana looked back at the sketch of the mountain and cocked her head. Grabbing her pencil, she filled in some areas. When she was done, she turned the page.
“Look, Jack. That’s you.” She held out the sketch of the dog digging in the prairie dog hole. “I’ll have to show Grandma Cecilia.”
Jack let out a sharp bark.
Elana stood and slipped her coat on. She knew it was time to head back to Ronald’s ranch, and she grabbed her keys.
She loaded Jack up in the VW before getting behind the wheel. They drove in silence.
When she pulled up to the house, she spotted an unfamiliar black SUV.
