Jessy didn’t give an inch. “I’m sure you loved him as deeply as you can love someone other than yourself.”
For an instant she thought Tara was going to unleash her claws. “You have to believe that, don’t you,” Tara purred instead. “It makes it easier for you to justify stealing him from me.”
“You walked out on him,” Jessy reminded her. “You were the one who insisted that he choose between you and the Triple C. Only a fool issues an ultimatum like that to a Calder. Don’t blame me because you misjudged him.”
“I never said I didn’t make mistakes.”
“But you made one too many.”
“And you didn’t make any at all, did you?” Bitterness coated the challenge Tara hurled.
“I guess I always knew if Ty was the man I thought he was, sooner or later he would see beyond your blinding beauty.” Even now Jessy suspected that Tara’s interest in Laura was based mainly in a desire to steal something of Ty’s from her.
“You are always so sure of yourself, aren’t you?” Tara all but spat the words.
“No,” Jessy replied calmly. “I was always sure of Ty.”
“How disgustingly noble you sound,” Tara murmured with contempt. “None of this has anything to do with Sally except in the most indirect way. And she is my main concern at the moment.”
“We’re all concerned about her.” But Jessy knew of nothing that would help the woman except time.
“Sally needs to openly grieve for Chase. Loving someone without being loved in return makes that difficult. It somehow forces you to hold in your grief. I know this from my own experience,” Tara stated. Jessy couldn’t recall Tara ever holding anything back, but she was too tired of trading barbs with the woman to point it out. “Sally understands this, I’m sure,” Tara continued.
“I think all of us are aware that Sally loved Chase. And we have made it known that we understand his death is a deeply personal loss to her.”
“No doubt you have, but coming from his family that can be embarrassing,” Tara said. “In its own way, it is a reminder that she doesn’t truly have the right to grieve. But I thought if I could persuade her to come to Dunshill and stay with me for a while, she would finally be able to speak freely about her feelings for Chase. I know her regrets must be enormous. Mine were. But she wouldn’t feel comfortable talking about them to you.”
“I’m not the one you need to convince that it might be good for her to go away. It’s Sally. I don’t know how successful you’ll be, but you are welcome to try. You’ll probably find her in the kitchen.”
“Not right now, I won’t,” Tara said with utter certainty. “When I drove in, Sally was on her way to the cemetery. I don’t know whether you are aware that she spends a great deal of time at Chase’s grave.”
“I know she makes sure there are always fresh flowers on his grave.” Jessy didn’t pretend to know more than that. “Obviously I have been busy.”
“Obviously,” Tara echoed in a voice dry with criticism.
“Aunt Tara!” Laura hollered as she peeked out the door of her upstairs bedroom. “Come see.”
Tara arched a jet black eyebrow in Jessy’s direction. “Is it allowed?”
In answer, Jessy called up to her daughter, “She’ll be right there.”
“Thank you,” Tara murmured. “I didn’t want to overstep my bounds.”
Jessy held her tongue with an effort and glared at Tara’s back when she crossed to the staircase. Every time she was around the woman she swore that she wouldn’t allow Tara to rile her. It was no use. The woman’s all-knowing, superior attitude rubbed her the wrong way.
Sighing, she turned toward the den. Before she had taken a step, Trey burst into the house. “Mom, Quint’s here! I’m gonna take him to the barn an’ show him Laura’s pony!”
Out he went, giving Jessy no chance to reply. But his exuberance was like a tonic that banished the bad taste Tara had left with her.
There was nothing forced or false in the smile she gave Cat when she walked in. “Hi—” she began but got no further before Cat attacked.
“Why did you do it?”
Jessy drew back in surprise. “Do what?”
“Did you think I wouldn’t find out?” Cat challenged in full temper. “For your information, I just came from the feedlot. It happens to be full of cattle, but not a single one of them carries the Triple C brand.”
“I leased it to a group that Monte represents—”