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“That sounds nice,” Natalie said as butterflies began to flutter in her stomach. Vaughn liked women. She’d suspected as much but hadn’t been sure. Now she knew and it was causing those butterflies to do backflips.

“It was nice for a time. Vaughn was working the ranch and taking photos in her off time. They were real good too. Professional quality. She had people clamoring to her for photos, so much so that she started her own little side business and earned her some extra money. Times was good. She was happy. The happiest I’d ever seen her. But this woman…this no-good woman, Jeanie…she…” June shook her head. “She left. She up and left. Just took off and disappeared, leaving no word as to where she’d gone. Well, Vaughn was up in arms, convinced something had happened to her. She called the police, hired a detective, the whole nine yards. But come to find out, the woman, she’d gone off on her own. To Mexico. And not only that, but she’d taken Vaughn’s money with her, along with her identity. And what hurt Vaughn the most, was the fact that she’d had another lover waiting in the wings.”

“Oh, no.”

“Yeah. And you know what? She’d been seeing this other woman for nearly the whole time she and Vaughn had been together. Plus, she’d been the one running Vaughn’s website for the photography business. So stealing her identity as the photographer and taking all the money Vaughn had made from sales wasn’t that hard for her. Not that hard at all.”

“That’s terrible.” Natalie felt ill. As if she’d somehow done something wrong in making the mock website. No wonder Vaughn had looked so pained. She’d been the victim of someone very manipulative and dishonest.

Just like me.

“I’m so sorry, June. I had no idea.”

“Of course you didn’t, child.”

“I should’ve never offered to do a website. I should’ve—”

“Don’t be silly. We need a good website. And Vaughn, she’s had no interest in doing it. I think she’s rather traumatized from the whole thing to be honest, so she doesn’t want to do it. Which is why, you showing me a thing or two about it is a good thing. For the time being anyway.”

Natalie took the final dish from her and rinsed it. Then, in a daze, she dried it and set it with the others.

“I’m not sure what to do, June,” she confessed. “With the website and the photos. Like I said, I don’t want to hurt her. But I was hoping to have her input on which photos to choose. She’s the one with the best eye, since she’s the photographer. Besides, it’s her ranch. She should be the one to decide.”

June pulled the drain from the sink and watched in a daze as the water and soap receded. “I think you’re going to have to decide those things for yourself, Natalie. Vaughn’s just too pained. She told you as much, didn’t she?”

“She said I should choose.”

“Well, then.” She ran the faucet and rinsed out the sink. She met Natalie’s gaze. “I guess that’s what you’re gonna have to do.”

“Okay,” Natalie breathed. “I guess I will.” She dried her hands on the dish towel and handed it to June who did the same.

June hung the towel on the oven handle. “You might as well get used to it,” she said. “Vaughn’s not one to open up.”

Natalie crossed to the table and picked up her computer. She headed for the kitchen door. “I’m beginning to see that,” she said. She opened the door and bid June a good night. She stepped out into the evening air, allowing the oven-like heat to encase her, and walked quietly to the guesthouse, all the while thinking of Vaughn and her pain.

Chapter Twelve

Vaughn awoke and soaked in the shower for a long while, hoping the hot water would loosen her tight back. She hadn’t slept well, due to her back, but the water was soothing, and quickly waking her. She had a lot to do that day and rising before dawn was just par for the course. So was showering each morning, even though she’d showered the night before as well. She found it invigorating and it also helped with her back.

She finished and dried and dressed. Then grabbed a bottle of cold water from the fridge, swallowed two Advil, and slipped out the kitchen door after starting the coffee machine for Gram. Daylight was just beginning to break, the night turning from black to midnight blue, and soon, as perceived just over the horizon, a pale blue. She inhaled the fresh air, thanked God for the forecast of a cooler day, and headed for the stables. But as she walked, she snuck a look at the guesthouse and noticed a light on. Natalie must be up. She was impressed. She thought for sure the city slicker would need to be roused to gather the eggs. But it seemed she was wrong. The door to the guesthouse opened as she was watching and she glanced away, hoping not to be caught looking. But Natalie spotted her and called out.

“Good morning,” she said, hurrying to catch up to her.

“Morning.”

“It’s beautiful out, isn’t it?”

She had on jeans today and a pair of sneakers. Vaughn couldn’t help but notice. Natalie followed her line of sight. She lifted a foot.

“June ordered me some rugged hiking boots from Amazon,” she said. “For work on the ranch. Thought they’d be better than my sneakers.”

“They will,” Vaughn said.

“I thought about boots, like yours, but I heard they’re hard to break in and I didn’t want sore feet. I want to be able to help a lot, so I need to be in good shape all the way around.”

“Ah.”

Natalie looked over at her. “You don’t say much, do you?”