Three Little Words (Fool's Gold #12)(90)

“Nothing. He turned and left without a word.”

“I raised him better than that.”

Isabel pulled her hand free and wiped her face, then looked up to see Denise Hendrix walking toward her. Ford’s sisters were with his mother, and they all looked sad and upset.

“I’m sorry,” Denise said. “I heard what happened. I hope you don’t mind me coming to see you.”

“No, of course not.” It was a little strange, but Isabel had enough rum slushie in her not to worry about a detail like that.

Denise took a chair close to the sofa. “I’m sorry for not believing you. I didn’t think you and Ford really were seeing each other. I thought it was an elaborate scheme so I’d stop bugging him.”

Isabel’s eyes widened. “It was,” she admitted.

Denise looked more pleased than upset. “I knew it!” She sighed. “Now I know why you were avoiding me and our tea. Your excuses were starting to get elaborate.” She patted Isabel’s arm. “I have six children. It takes a lot to fool me.”

“I’m sorry,” Isabel murmured, fighting tears again. “I should have come to see you while I still could. Now I’m not with Ford and...” She held in a sob.

Denise hugged her. “I’m sorry my son is an idiot.”

“Me, too.”

“None of this would have happened if the three of you hadn’t bugged him about getting married,” Nevada muttered. “Now Isabel’s hurt and Ford is gone.”

Isabel turned to Consuelo. “He’s gone?”

Her friend shifted on the sofa. “Not permanently. He took a couple of days off. He said he needed to clear his head.” Consuelo looked at her. “He’ll be back.”

“Ford is unlikely to walk away from the business,” Felicia offered. “He enjoys his work. He’s settled into the town. I’m surprised he would leave you. From the empirical evidence, I would think he was very fond of you.” She paused. “Am I not helping?”

Isabel started to laugh. “You’re helping a lot. All of you.”

She had this, she reminded herself. Her friends, who loved her. Family, a business she was excited about. As for Ford, she would get over him. Eventually.

* * *

THE CABIN BY LAKE TAHOE had enough of the basics to be comfortable. Most of the time there was electricity. The large open room contained two sets of extra-long bunk beds, a table and chairs, most of a kitchen and a big sofa. There was a wide front porch with chairs and a view of the lake. The area was beautiful, quiet and isolated. Ford cared only about the last two, but the view was nice when he bothered to look.

He owned the cabin with several buddies. They came up here when they needed to get away. When life was too stressful or after one of those missions that came with ghosts. But even after three days, he couldn’t seem to find what he was looking for.

Whoever he’d been was gone. Isabel had changed him, and he couldn’t go back to who he’d been. He also didn’t know how to move forward, which left him in a hell of a pickle.

He knew he missed her. Missed her more than he’d thought possible. More than he’d ever missed anyone. He needed her to breathe, and right now he was a man gasping for air.

But... Always but. How could he be with her? She deserved so much more than he had to offer. She needed someone to love her and cherish her. He wanted to say he could do it, but he’d never really loved anyone. Never wanted to stay. When the woman got serious, he got gone. His current location illustrated his inability to break the pattern.

He heard the sound of a truck in the distance. The intrusion wasn’t completely unexpected. He’d known someone would come looking for him. He rose and stretched, then walked down the two steps leading to the gravel driveway and rounded the corner.

Only the guy getting out of the truck wasn’t Angel or Gideon. It wasn’t even Justice. Instead Leonard stood by the truck, a small suitcase in one hand.

Unexpected, Ford thought, returning to the cabin. He pulled a second beer out of the refrigerator and took it out to Leonard. Then he sat in his chair and propped his feet up on the railing.

The lake was the deepest blue he’d ever seen. The leaves had all changed and nearly half were gone. Winter was coming. Not this week, but soon.

Leonard dumped his suitcase in the cabin, then took the seat next to Ford’s. He picked up the beer and twisted off the cap, then took a seat.

“You ready to talk?” Leonard asked.

“Nope.”

By the next afternoon, Leonard was obviously frustrated enough to spit nails. Ford was impressed he’d lasted as long as he had. Just sitting. When it had gotten dark, the two men had gone inside, and Ford had grilled a couple of steaks he’d bought at a store off the main highway. They’d eaten in silence, then listened to the radio before going to bed.

But now Leonard was squirming in his seat.

“I’m not going to just sit here,” he said, glaring at Ford. “I have a family to get home to.”

Ford nodded toward the driveway. “I’m not keeping you.”

“I’m not leaving without you.”

Ford settled more deeply into his chair. “Then you have a problem.”

Leonard got up. He’d put on a little muscle, but was still scrawny. Still, he was a good man, and Ford appreciated the effort.