Page 42 of Rough and Rugged
“You’d be surprised.” Caleb exhaled roughly as he leaned forward, bracing his forearms on the table. “Look, Gem. I know you want me to take your money, and you know I’m never going to be okay with that. I don’t know what there is to talk about.”
I’d turned twenty-five months before, gotten access to my trust, and had been having this discussion – ornon-discussion – with Caleb ever since.
“It’sourmoney.” I kept going as he shook his head at me. “Caleb, it is. I wouldn’t even have it if it weren’t for you.”
His frown deepened.
“I didn’t marry you so I could take your money.”
“Of course not, you goose. You married me to help me. I know that.”
He didn’t respond, just watched me in that quiet, intense way he had.
“How about this? If you don’t want it for yourself, take it for the sanctuary. You could use it for a new enclosure or more supplies so you can rescue more wolves. Or maybe hire someone so you and Lloyd don’t have to work so hard. Or… I don’t know… give yourself a little bit of a cushion so you don’t have to worry every minute of the day about keeping this place afloat.” He looked down, no longer meeting my eyes, and disappointment crept in. I’d been so sure I could make him see sense, make him let me do this. “Darn it, Caleb. You helped me get my dream. Why won’t you let me help you with yours?”
He pushed back abruptly and stood, startling me with the suddenness of his action. I’d obviously upset him, but I wasn’t sure how. He stalked to the big front window and stood looking out at the darkness, hands on his hips. At a loss, I stayed where I was, waiting him out.
“It’s not the same.” His voice was tight, rough. “This place isn’t…” He broke off, shaking his head as he glanced at me, then away again. “That money is for you, for your future. Not this place.”
He sounded so… resigned, maybe? And I was almost certain that wasn’t what he’d started to say.
He seemed tired, like the weight of the world was sitting on his shoulders. I knew the stress he was under. The last thing he needed right now was me pushing him on this.
“What if I made a donation?” I asked softly. “It wouldn’t have to be half the money.” I could still make it a significant amount. Something was better than nothing. “Would you let me do that?”
He met my eyes again, letting me see the conflict in his. He wanted to say no, but he recognized my offer for the compromise it was.
“I…” he started, then paused, one big hand gripping the back of his neck. “I’ll think about it. That’s all I can do.”
“You promise?”
“That I’ll think about it, yeah. That’s all I can give you right now.”
I nodded and stood, knowing that was the best I was going to get tonight and knowing he’d do what he said. Caleb, his brothers, and my grandfather, as angry as his will had made me, were the only people who had never broken a promise to me. Caleb had promised he’d give my offer serious thought, so he would.
“I’ll take that for now.” I pushed my hands in the back pockets of my jeans, feeling awkward in a way I rarely did with Caleb. “I’ll get my shoes on and get out of your way.”
“You’re never in my way, Gem.”
Like earlier, there was something in his voice, something just under the surface, that I couldn’t tease out. Tucking it away to think about later, I headed to the mudroom, pulled on my shoes, then crossed back out to the main living area to the front door. Caleb joined me, flipping on the front porch light, casting just enough light for me to see the way to my car.
“Night, Caleb.”
“Night, Gem. Be careful on your way home.”
“Always.” I made my way to my SUV carefully in the dim light, feeling my way along the hood to the door handle and climbing inside while Caleb kept watch from the front porch. I closed my door, pulled on my seatbelt, and pushed the start button.
There was a loud “pop” then nothing.
A second later, Caleb was heading my way. I popped open the door to talk to him.
“I don’t know what happened. All I did was start it like normal.”
“Okay, sit tight for a minute.”
He popped the hood, blocking my view of him. I waited… but once again, heard nothing. No thumps, no taps, no request from Caleb to try to start the engine again, just dead silence.
“Um…Caleb?” I knew he was still there. Why wasn’t he saying anything?