“S-Seth and I are...going to be evicted at the first of next month.” She trained her eyes on her tightly clasped hands on the top of the table. “The taxes haven’t been paid since my father got sick.”
When T.J. set his coffee cup down, he reached out to cover her hands with his and she had to fight to keep her tears in check. Keeping her gaze fixed on their hands, she refused to look at him. Her pride was taking a direct hit as it was, and she didn’t think she could stand to see his eyes filled with pity.
“Sweetheart, that’s not going to happen,” he said gently.
“Yes, it is,” she said, nodding. “Just before Christmas I received a notice from the county telling me they were starting the proceedings to seize all of my assets to satisfy the debt.”
“Heather, look at me,” he commanded. When she looked up, instead of sympathy his hazel eyes were filled with determination. “I’m telling you that you aren’t going to lose the Circle W.”
Something in his tone and confident expression caused a cold feeling to spread throughout her chest. “How can you be so sure?”
“I didn’t intend to tell you like this,” he said slowly. “But the other day when I got your mail there was a final notice from the county about the ranch.”
“You opened my mail?” she asked as anger began to replace the dread that had filled her.
He shook his head. “I didn’t have to.”
“Then how—”
“When I noticed the return address, I went online to the county government’s website. It’s a matter of public record, sweetheart.” He gently squeezed her hands with his a moment before he reached into the inside pocket of his jacket to remove some folded papers. Laying them on the table in front of her, he added, “But as of this morning, the debt has been settled and you’re no longer in danger of losing your ranch.”
She stared at him for endless seconds as his words settled in. Then jerking her hands from beneath his, she jumped to her feet. “You didn’t!”
“Yes, I did,” he said firmly.
“Have you listened to anything I’ve told you these past two weeks?” she demanded.
“I’ve listened to everything,” he said, nodding.
“You couldn’t have.” His calm demeanor infuriated her even more. “If you had, you would know that I don’t want anyone—and especially you—feeling sorry for me. I’m not a charity case. I pay my own bills.”
“I don’t feel sorry for you,” he insisted. “This is not charity. I just want to take care of you and Seth and make your lives easier.”
“Do you even hear yourself?” She shook her head. “If that isn’t pity, I don’t know what is.”
“M-Mom-mom,” Seth said uncertainly, his little chin wobbling as he looked from her to T.J. Their raised voices were upsetting her baby and she walked over to take her son from T.J.
“I’d appreciate it if you would leave now,” she said as she hugged Seth close. “You’re upsetting my son.”
T.J. slowly stood up. “This isn’t over, Heather.”
“Yes...it is.” She took a deep breath to keep her voice from shaking. “You can’t always have your way, T.J. When you care about someone, you have to listen to what they want. But since you didn’t, the Circle W and everything here, with the exception of our personal effects, is yours now.”
“Like hell,” he said angrily. “I paid the back taxes so that you can hang on to this place for Seth, not because I wanted it. I’ve got my own place. I don’t want yours.”
“Well, whether you wanted it or not, it’s yours.” When Seth started to cry, she pointed toward the door. “Now please leave so that I can take care of my son.”
“This isn’t over,” T.J. said angrily.
“Yes, it is.”
Walking over to the door, he turned back. “Don’t let your stubborn pride do this to us, Heather.”
She stiffened her spine and straightened her shoulders. “There is no us, T.J. If there had been, you would have discussed what you intended to do with me before the fact, not after you’d already done it.”
He looked as if he wanted to say more, but instead he just shook his head, opened the door and left. She heard him rev his truck’s engine a moment before gravel spun and the truck sped down the driveway toward the main road.
“Hossy!” Seth cried, reaching his little hand toward the door as if he knew he’d lost his best friend.
“He’s gone, sweetie,” she finally said, feeling as if her heart had shattered into a million pieces.