Page 4 of Return of the Rancher

“Not at all,” India lied. “But you know how Wyoming can be in the winter. Cold and dark and lonely. The weather can turn deadly. He doesn’t want to have to worry about you.” India paused and wrapped her arms around her waist, suddenly depressed and second-guessing her choices. “I know Farris and I disappointed you, Dottie, when we divorced. But nothing has changed in the meantime. Nothing at all. What if you and I have a wonderful few weeks together and try not to think about anything else? Can you do that?”

Dottie scrunched up her nose as if she had detected a bad smell. “Fine,” she huffed. “No romance. I get it.”

The touch of humor was welcome. India went to her and hugged her tightly. “I love you, Dorothy Quinn. And I’ve missed you terribly.”

“I love you, too, daughter.”

India’s eyes stung with emotion. “Shall we go for a walk? The sun is peeking out.”

Suddenly, Dottie looked older than her years. It was as if she’d aged right before India’s eyes. “It’s time for my nap,” she said, the words wispy and breathless. “I’ll see you at dinner, my dear.”

India found herself unexpectedly alone, feeling as if she had failed in her task before she had even begun. She needed to talk to Farris, sooner rather than later. But she didn’t have the nerve to seek him out. He seemed like a stranger now, his demeanor more remote and cold than ever. If the two of them were to care for Dottie in tandem, they had to come to some kind of understanding.

It was one thing to tell Farris’s mother not to hope for a reconciliation. But it was another thing entirely to expose Dottie to animosity between her son and the woman he no longer loved.

India sat down on the bed abruptly, her knees weak. It was impossible not to remember the months she had lived here. In the beginning, she and Farris had still been in the honeymoon phase, unable to keep their hands off each other.

The rift had happened gradually. He traveled a lot. That was no surprise to India. She had known when she married him that he was a type A, ambitious man. But slowly, when he came home in between trips, he changed.

Instead of making love to her several times a night, he pleaded exhaustion. Their lovemaking went from creative and often, to once a month in the missionary position. Eventually, Farris began sleeping most nights in his office.

When she tried to talk to him about it, he shut down like the proverbial clamshell. Even now the memory of his stoic attitude had the power to hurt her.

She had agonized for weeks, trying to understand what she had done to push him away. On the face of it, she had been the perfect wife...following him cross-country to build a new life. When they were dating, they had often talked about having kids. But after the first few months in Wyoming, Farris claimed he didn’t want to rush into fatherhood. He wanted India to himself. He used protection every single time, even when she hinted that she wouldn’t mind getting pregnant.

His business trips stretched longer and longer. India was left alone for weeks at a time with no job, no husband and no friends.

Finally, the marriage imploded. After a series of frustrating, one-sided fights where India pleaded for answers, and Farris offered no defense, no explanation, she’d had enough.

When she threatened to leave him, he had been white-faced, but calm. In the end, India flew back to the East Coast, heartbroken and confused. Farris no longer needed or loved her. His change of heart was inexplicable.

Now she was back...and she had no idea how she was going to manage. They had been apart for five years. Legally divorced. The relationship definitively over.

Why, then, had her heart threatened to beat out of her chest when she’d seen him at the hotel? She didn’t love him still. She didn’t.

The only person in this house who needed India was Dottie. India would do her duty. It must have pained Farris to ask for help. He was a proud man.

India held all the cards.