Page 116 of The Cattleman's Unforgettable Love

Amelia went to sit on the sofa, on the opposite end from her. "Where do you want to escape to, Nat?"

"I'm Natalie."

"I thought you preferred to be called Nat."

"Only by people who are like... by people who love me."

Amelia met her gaze and held it. "I love you."

"Yeah, right," said Nat.

"I do," said Amelia. "I know this is hard for you. I understand why you'd hate me. If it's any consolation, I hate myself too for what's happened. The hardest thing I ever did was step back from your dad. I'm not trying to make excuses, but I tried so hard for so long to help him."

"Then why did you stop if you loved him so much?"

Amelia closed her eyes. "Because I had to face the fact that nothing I did was helping him."

"What did you do?"

Amelia stared at her for a long moment.

"See, you didn't do anything really, did you? You just didn't want a druggie –"

"Stop! I wanted nothing more than to see your dad get his life back on track – and your mom. I didn't know her well, but I liked her."

"But you can't even tell me one thing you did to help."

Amelia sighed. "Because I don't want to tell you any of what I had to do. I don't want you to know how bad things really were."

Nat glared at her. "You think I don't know? I was only five when Dad died, but I remember him." Her eyes filled with tears. "He was awesome... sometimes. When he wasn't using, he was fun and kind and happy. But the rest of the time..." She shrugged. "He and Mom were out of it a lot of the time. We lived in shitholes. The neighbors were scary, even back then, I remember – and it only got worse afterward when Mom was by herself." She looked away before turning back to meet Amelia's gaze. "So, don't think you can tell me anything that's going to surprise me or make me think less of him just because he upset your perfect little world by asking you to borrow money or something."

Amelia let out a short, bitter laugh. "He didn't ask to borrow money, Natalie. He stole it. He broke into my house. He cost me my job on one occasion. I took him to rehab more times than I can count, and every time he checked himself back out. You know how much you love Hunter?"

Natalie nodded slowly.

"Then maybe you have some idea of how much I loved your dad. He was my big brother, and until things went so wrong, he was my hero. I would have done anything in the world to help him get clean and get his life back." She swiped angrily at a tear that escaped and rolled down her cheek. "I only gave up when I finally understood that there was nothing I could do – that my attempts to help him were only enabling him." She got to her feet. "But you're going to see it the way you see it, and I respect that. I'm not trying to change your mind. I just want you to know the truth. I loved your dad. I didn't really know your mom, but if I'd known about the two of you, I would have done everything I could."

Tears shone in Natalie's eyes, pain mixed with anger in her expression. "Like Mom said, you would have taken us away from her."

Amelia closed her eyes briefly before opening them again. "I wouldn't have wanted to do that. I would have tried to get her help."

"Yeah, and help would have meant having us taken away from her. We just would have ended up in care sooner, right?"

"Wrong," said Amelia. "If I'd known about you – the two of you – I would never have let you go into care. I would have brought you to live with me, just like I have now that I know about you." She sat up a little straighter. "And I know it's hard, and I know you hate it, and I know you hate me. But you know what? This is the hand we've been dealt. For my part, I'm going to try to make the most of it. Hunter seems happy here, and if you want to give it a try, I think you can be, too."

Nat stared at her for a long moment, and when she finally spoke, her answer gave Amelia at least a little hope when she said, "It's not like I have any other choice, is it?"

"Not that I can see," said Amelia. "And listen, I understand the way you feel. But I need you to at least be civil. I'm trying my best here. If there are things you want me to do differently, then say so. I'd like for us to work together. But if you don't want to do that, I get it. But we're going to have to find some kind of compromise to make this life work for all of us."

When she finished, she half expected Nat to yell at her and was surprised when she didn't. Eventually, the girl got to her feet and said, "I'll go and wash up now. Do you need any help with dinner?"

"I think it's all done, thanks. But if you want to fix whatever you and Hunter want to drink, that'd be great."

Nat gave her a curt nod. "I'm not doing it for you. But you're right – Hunter's on edge all the time."

"Thank you," said Amelia. "And do you really want to see about registering for school?"

Nat pursed her lips. "Not really, no. But I think Hunter should go. I don't think homeschooling is the best idea for him. He needs to be around other kids – even if they are cow kids – and if he's going to go to school, I need to be there, too."