Elana glared at her father. “What is he talking about?”
He lifted his chin and looked away.
Her grandmother took her hand in hers and patted it. “Your father wants me to go to the nursing home so he can have total control of my money. You see, dear, he’s so far in debt he’ll never get out.”
Elana gasped and placed a hand over her mouth. “Is that true?” She stared at her father.
He looked away.
“It’s true, Elana.” Her grandmother squeezed her hand. “About three months ago, he came to me asking me to sign over control of the company. He said it was time for me to retire and enjoy life. Knowing your father, I decided to have my attorney to investigate his finances. Turns out he’s basically broke and wanted control of my money so they won’t foreclose on his house.”
Elana stared at her father. “What do you have to say for yourself?”
He ran a finger around the neck of his shirt. “It’s a little more complicated.”
Her grandmother nodded. “It seems he’s also being blackmailed by the twenty-three-year-old girl in his office that he’s been sleeping with.”
Her father looked away.
Elana glared. “You’re cheating on Mother?”
He sighed and looked away. “My marriage is not any of your concern.”
Grandma Cecilia sighed. “Once I realized what was going on, I opened up an account here in Montana and started moving my money here. Away from your father.”
Elana glared at her father. “How could you?”
He lifted his chin and glanced away, refusing to answer.
Elana swallowed hard and started for the door.
“Where are you going?” her father demanded.
“I need some fresh air. It seems like the family I thought I knew was an illusion.” She patted her leg for Jack, who followed her outside.
CHAPTER36
Elana stormed out the door onto the front porch. She bounced down the steps with Jack on her heels.
She passed close to the SUV her father had arrived in and saw Mr. Collins sitting in the passenger seat talking on his cell phone.
Elana changed her mind. Instead of heading to the VW van, she changed direction and headed to the backyard. She didn’t stop but continued walking out in Ronald’s massive land.
She saw the red barn in the distance and headed in that direction.
When she reached the arena near the barn, she saw a group of cowboys working their horses with roping calves.
She rested a foot on the bottom rung of the fence and watched.
She glanced down. Jack was sitting and watching intently.
Elana reached down to rub Jack between his ears. It was weird, he always made her feel better.
As if hearing her thoughts, he looked up at her and licked the back of her hand.
“Your dog looks like a cattle dog. Is he trained?”
She’d not heard the blond, blue-eyed cowboy approach her on a black horse.
