“I didn’t have time before I left.”
“Then we’ll do it today and get your meds. Dee wants to take Justin shopping for some school clothes and a few toys. He’ll need some things to play with, and we don’t have anything for him here.”
“Books. He needs some books. There are a couple of boxes of things in the back of my truck, but I don’t have much. I appreciate anything you do for him.”
“She’d also like to get you some things. You’ll need a new coat.” He swept his gaze over Blake’s jacket engulfing her tiny frame. “If you’re going to work with the horses, you’ll need some boots, warm sweaters, and jeans. It’s dirty work, and you’ll need the clothes for it.”
She frowned, but accepted her grandfather and Dee’s help and support. “Okay, but if that doctor comes at me with a needle, I won’t be held responsible for what happens.” She pointed a menacing finger at both of them, death in her eyes.
Blake laughed. “Don’t worry, sweetheart, I’ll protect you from the big, bad doctor.”
She eyed him. “I have a feeling you’d be the first to hold me down if she said something was wrong with me.”
So, she did feel the connection between them. He didn’t expect her to acknowledge it outright so soon, but he’d take the small opening and go with it. “I want to make sure your body is as beautiful as your heart.”
She rolled her eyes. “Ken’s got nothing on you. That was smooth.”
Blake glared. “Let’s get something straight. I’m nothing like Ken. I’d think you’d recognize the difference.”
She’d hidden behind her walls and defended herself against his kindness with sarcasm. He shouldn’t let it bother him, but it did.
Blake walked over to Justin and Dee. He plucked Justin from the horse’s back and put him up on his massive shoulders. Stunned, Gillian stared at Blake’s retreating back. She’d never intended to anger him with her teasing.
“I’ve never seen Blake like this,” her grandfather said. “Usually, he’s all business. He’s a hard worker. Got his heart broke once. He’s had his share of relationships over the years. They’re usually short-lived, but the women never seem angry with him in the end. He’s different with you. I can only say that he cares about you, and it’s taken him by surprise. He’s a good man. He’d never hurt you intentionally, and if he did by accident, I think it would hurt him deeply.”
“He just met me.”
“Sometimes it’s like that. It was for me with Dee. After my wife, your grandmother, died, I thought I’d spend the rest of my life alone. Then I saw Dee, and I knew right away that she was for me. I saw something in her that I recognized. Some might call it soul mates or destiny. I just call it right. When it’s right, you know.”
“And Blake looked at me and it was right.”
“Could be? I can’t speak for him. I think you like him. You seem to trust him.”
“He had the same disgusted look on his face when I suggested you might have hurt Boots.”
“You’ve only been here a day. You need time to adjust. When you said you liked being here and felt like you belonged, I can tell you that was a load off his mind. Mine, too. Ranch life can be lonely for a woman who’d rather be surrounded by people and stores and such. You might still find that you’d rather have that kind of life, but he’s hoping you’d rather be here. I have to say, so am I.”
They stood side by side watching Justin hold onto Blake’s hair as they walked the horse back to the stable. Huge, his long strides carried him across the wide, open space in moments. She had to admit her brother and Blake looked good together.
“I guess we’ll see,” she replied. “Right now, my only concern is getting Justin settled. The ranch is good for him. I’ve seen such a huge change in him in the short time he’s been here. He smiles. He laughs. He doesn’t watch what he says or does around you two. He isn’t scared. You, Grandma Dee, Blake, you’re good for him.”
“I can’t tell you how it makes me feel to hear you call us ‘Grandma’ and ‘Grandpa.’ It’s more than we expected and better than we deserve. Especially me. I could have helped you. Over the years, Ron called and asked for money. I never sent it, even though I knew you were with him.”
“If you had, he’d have spent it on drugs and booze. He wasn’t asking you to help with me, no matter what he said to you at the time.” She caught the look in his eyes. He knew that, but appreciated the fact that she did, too. She didn’t blame him. She’d done the best she could to make Ron come around, but the man hadn’t wanted to be anything but what he was.