He's Got Her Goat (34 page)

THE NEXT DAY SHE RENTED ANOTHER
U-haul and drove south. Austin and Misty were there to greet her, along with Sterling’s family. They unloaded the goats and spent another day laying out plans to turn her barn into a manufacturing center while leaving the milking facility down south. They could transport the raw milk twice a week, a job Sterling’s dad volunteered for.

Austin agreed to stay on and assist with staging the new milking area, production and breeding. He had started a new computer app to help him while Misty was hired on as the new chief of security.

As Paige walked to the door, Linda followed her to the car. “I don’t care what my fool brother does, you are family to us. We love you and will always be here for you.”

Driving home, Paige tried to settle the emptiness that filled her chest. Though she'd gotten back her business and secured the Kellers’ income, so they wouldn’t lose their legacy, somehow it wasn’t enough. She thought of the moment when Sterling was holding her foot, saying how much he hated to lose. Well, she hated it, too. Elaine had won.

FRIDAY MORNING PAIGE GOT UP AT SUNRISE
. She and Linda had made another batch of daffodil soap while she was in Dallas, and Paige was excited to really push the new line. She wore the last of the pant suits she had bought with Sterling in Texas. It was linen with an ivory shell and gold jewelry. As she dressed, she remembered shopping together and the hope she felt then. If only it hadn’t all fallen away.

Paige headed to the farmers’ market early and felt confident as she made her way to her booth, carrying three crates at once. Surprisingly, when she got there, someone was waiting for her. Dotty sat in the Adirondack chair, a large designer purse in her lap. She hopped to her feet as soon as she saw Paige.

“Will you ever forgive me?”

“For what?” Paige couldn’t look at her.

“It was me.” Dotty took a deep breath. “I was afraid Sterling would leave, so I made a deal with Elaine and told her where you were.”

Paige put the crates on the counter. “How did that work out for you?”

“She booted me into the street just like Blanche did to Ryan,” Dotty said. “That’s his ex.”

“The emu guy?” Paige wasn’t surprised by the connection, but it was nice to have it confirmed.

Dotty almost spit. “It wasn’t his fault. Elaine pulled the same scam on his emu business that she did on yours. She promised him he’d get it all back if he fooled you, but she didn’t give him squat.”

“Excuse me if I don’t have sympathy. Because of them, I could have been committed.” Paige began arranging the soaps around her booth. “I think we’re done here.”

“No, we’ve just started.” Dotty grabbed her hand. “Sterling finally did it. In all the negotiations for you to get back your goats, he found a loophole. He’s beaten her at her own game. He quit Erickson Holdings two days ago. Do you know what that means?”

Paige was trying to be patient. “Tell me.”

“You can be together. The only reason he left you was because Elaine told him that was the only way you’d get your goats back.”

Paige stomped her foot. “He didn’t leave me. I told him to go.”

Dotty’s laugh had no humor in it. “Do you really believe that?”

Paige couldn’t think clearly. “If what you’re saying is true, why isn’t he the one here telling me this?”

“Alright, if you’re going to play hardball, then here.” She slapped a manila envelope on the counter.

“What’s that?” After her last letter from Elaine, Paige wasn’t sure she even wanted to touch it.

“Do you remember what I did when we first met?” Dotty batted her eyelashes innocently.

“Yeah, you went and yelled at Elaine for hiring me.” Paige remembered the cold greeting like it was yesterday.

“I did that to grab what was in her shred pile. Now will you look?”

With shaking hands Paige pulled out the three documents she had signed. It was the evidence she needed to take Elaine to court. “Thank you.”

Dotty flicked her wrist. “Don’t thank me, you need to thank Sterling with a huge make-out session and maybe even a ring.”

Paige reddened. “No, I think Sterling and I are done.”

Dotty pinched Paige’s chin between her thumb and forefinger, not very gently, and inspected her complexion. “Blushing like that doesn’t happen unless there are feelings in there.” She tapped Paige’s sternum. “Now, listen to me as if I were your mother because I love that boy like a son, okay?”

“Okay,” Paige said.

“I ain’t never seen Sterling as good and kind as he’s been with you. We always called him a boy scout, but at Erickson Holdings that was a relative term. His last day at work, do you know what he did? He left me his Lexus, even changed the title to my name.”

Dotty was stirring up all the hurt Paige had thought she’d put behind her, and she wasn’t willing to go through it again. “What does this have to do with me?”

“Don’t you get it?” Dotty said. “Lots of things turn people bad. Ambition, selfishness, pride and anger can derail the best of us, but there’s only one thing that makes us better.”

“What’s that?”

“Love. That boy loves you, and it’s time you accept it and love him back.”

Paige could see the barricade at the entrance of the market almost ready to open, a mirror of her own feelings. “But where is he?”

“I have no idea,” Dotty said. “When he left town, it was like he disappeared. I’ve looked everywhere. He’s covered his tracks well.”

“Then how can I find him?” Paige asked.

“If you really want to, it will happen.” Dotty lifted a bar of daffodil soap and took a whiff. “This stuff is amazing, by the way.”

Paige felt a kernel of hope awaking inside of her. The air horn blasted, signaling the opening of the farmers’ market. As shoppers began their sprint towards the booths, Paige grabbed her purse, stuck the documents in it and headed the other direction.

Holding up the yellow bar, Dotty said, “Can I have this?”

“You can have all of them.” Paige said as she continued walking. “You can have the whole booth for all I care!”

Dotty called across the way. “Does that mean I’ve got a job?”

“If you want it.” Paige broke into a full out sprint to her car.

Finding Sterling was something she couldn’t do alone, but she had a pretty good idea who could help her. Going south on the freeway, she headed toward Dallas.

Chapter Forty-Three

T
HE TWO-HOUR DRIVE DAMPENED
her original excitement. Halfway there she’d called Linda, who still hadn’t heard a word from Sterling. Paige arrived at the barn soon after the morning milking, wondering why she’d come at all.

Misty tightened a bolt on the new milking station while Austin checked his plans from the computer and gave direction. It had an automatic feeder and an electronic stanchion complete with safety latch. Austin truly was brilliant. Paige assumed the rest of the Kellers were in the house somewhere. She sat down on a hay bale and put her chin in her hand.

“What brings you here?” Misty left Austin’s side and stood next to her friend.

“And in such a grumpy mood?” he added.

Paige hesitated saying anything but couldn’t hold it back. “I’ve got some things I’ve got to say to Sterling, and I was hoping someone had heard from him.”

Misty dropped the wrench she was holding. “I knew you two couldn’t stay apart. The first time I saw you together, I knew.” She punched Austin’s arm.

Paige felt worse. “A lot of good it does now. No one knows where he is.”

“I do.” Austin picked up Misty’s wrench and handed it back to her.

“What?” Misty and Paige said simultaneously.

“I used his computer as a prototype for my new electric boosted microdot. It feeds its signal into the nearest cell tower, so I can track him anywhere. Last I looked, he was in Texas.”

“Texas? He must have gone back to Earth Tech.” Paige bet he’d partnered with Julie after all. It really was over.

“Wait,” Austin had his computer out. “It looks like he’s somewhere over Idaho and moving at incredible speed. Could this be a malfunction?” He tapped the screen.

From across the yard, the kitchen door flew open, and Linda ran out the door in her bathrobe, screaming. “He’s coming home! He’s coming home!” She arrived at the barn breathless. “Sterling’s flight lands in about two hours.”

Austin seemed a bit miffed. “I would have come to the same conclusion, given a few more minutes.”

Paige was almost afraid to ask, “How did he sound?”

A towel covered Linda’s wet hair. “Tired or sad or both. He said he needed someone to pick him up at the airport.”

Misty knelt beside Paige and whispered, “You should do it.”

“I’ve got a better idea. Could Darryl pick him up?” Paige asked.

“I guess.” Linda seemed to like the idea the more she thought on it. “It’d probably be good for both of them. I don’t think they’ve talked since that day.”

“And what are you going to do while they’re gone?” Austin asked.

“I think I’ll drive back home and get ready for my big date. It is Friday night after all.”

“Wait,” Misty stared her down with a look she must have learned as a deputy sheriff. “I thought you were going to start dating Sterling.”

“I am, if he’ll have me.” Paige got to her feet. “Do you think you can get Sterling to the Pit tonight?”

Linda became as excited as she was when she first emerged from the house. “Heck, yeah! Darryl and I will get him there if we have to hogtie him to the top of the car.”

T
HE NIGHT SKY WAS CLEAR
and thick with stars as the pickup pulled out of the old ranch house and rumbled into town toward the Pit. Sterling’s dad and Linda had decided to stay home with the boys, so Darryl and Sterling could have more bonding time. How could he have been such an idiot for so long? He’d forgotten how much he enjoyed Darryl’s subtle sense of humor and the easy way he accepted whatever life dished out. Sterling knew he had a lot to learn from him.

They rounded the corner, and Sterling almost choked when he saw how full the parking lot was outside the restaurant. Darryl didn’t seem to notice. He slid the gearshift into park, leapt from his seat and was almost to the door before he turned to his brother-in-law. “You comin’?”

“I told you you’re the boss.” Sterling dragged his feet as he walked. He’d left his hometown twelve years ago with his pockets empty and his head down and was returning the same way. It wasn’t enough that Dotty had showed him the paperwork. He'd had to pay a hefty legal retainer to get Elaine to back off. She’d cosigned his mortgage on the loft, so he'd lose that too. The market was at a high when he'd bought it, and he'd spent far too much on renovating. By the time he closed everything out, the 401K was gone, and all he had left was his Lexus, which he owed to his secretary. After all, a promise was a promise.

The bar and grill was filled with familiar faces. A local band played country classics from the other room for a crowded dance floor. Most of the people wore jeans and work shirts. Walking behind Darryl, Sterling tipped his hat at childhood acquaintances as he weaved his way through the patrons sitting at round tables in front of the bar. He was waving to Jerry in the corner when he almost fell flat on his face. A booted foot was stuck out in front of him. It belonged to Newell, who sported a hefty shiner.

Darryl rushed to defend him, fists at ready. “You scumbag. If you ever touch my family again, I’ll—”

Sterling put a hand on his brother-in-law’s shoulder. “Come on, let’s get our drinks.” He took a step away from Newell’s table and addressed Darryl loud enough that all Newell’s friends could hear. “You know, the sheriff is up for re-election in a few months, and there’s a former deputy who might run. I hear she has an awesome right hook.”

Newell rose unsteadily like he’d had one too many. “It was a sucker punch, I tell ya.” He clenched his hands. “Face me in a fair fight and see who’s left standing.”

His brother-in-law would have accepted the challenge, but Sterling shook his head. “Let it go. He’s not worth it.”

Newell’s laugh sounded more like a bull snorting. “You’re not worth it. Neither one of you. When I think of the time I wasted trying make you into something, and look at you now.” He shouted to his table full of cronies. “Losers! Both losers.”