A Daughter's Redemption. Georgiana Daniels

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      She wouldn’t be saying that if she knew who he was, and the realization stung.

      What was coming over him? He couldn’t deny the surge of protectiveness that blasted through him when Brad appeared to threaten Robyn. To believe it had anything to do with the way she looked at him with those hopeful blue eyes would only further derail his plans to reveal his identity.

      Why hadn’t he unburdened himself of the truth when he had the chance? The moment he’d arrived at Lakeside the confession stuck in his chest like wood glue. And bringing it up now while Robyn expressed her gratitude after the encounter with Brad didn’t seem right, either.

      “He almost completely ignored me at Dad’s services, but I could understand that. Then after we found out Lakeside went to me, he stopped talking altogether. But this—I don’t know what to make of what happened just now. Maybe I should call Abby and see what she thinks.” She reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone.

      “Who’s Abby?” Caleb leaned on the sawhorse, gauging Robyn’s emotions.

      Tears glittered in her eyes, but she maintained her composure. “My half sister. She’s close to Brad, so maybe she can tell me what’s going on and what paperwork he’s looking for.”

      That must’ve been the woman who’d come with Brad when they hauled out most of the furniture. Since he hadn’t been to the funeral, he didn’t know who was who in terms of the family. Thankfully, they didn’t know him, either. Caleb measured the lumber propped on the sawhorse, his mind working overtime to focus on anything but Robyn’s sweet demeanor. It wouldn’t do him any good to get distracted from his mission. “If that’s what you want.”

      “What do you mean by that?”

      “Exactly what I said.” He marked the cut line and hoped it was right.

      “If you have something to tell me, spit it out.”

      Boy did he, but judging by the tremor in her voice and the red splotches in her cheeks, she was still traumatized. Adding to it seemed cruel. Neither could he stand here and pretend he’d be around the next time her crazy brother showed up—or pretend he was innocent.

      “Just keep your guard up. He doesn’t seem like the kind of guy who’ll let family loyalty keep him from getting whatever he’s after.” Caleb set down the pencil and measuring tape, exhaled and began to pack his tools. Though there was still a good four hours of daylight left, he was ready to shut down. He needed quiet time to think. To pray. To dig up enough courage to come clean and hope Robyn let him continue to work at Lakeside, though judging by her outburst before Brad showed up, he may as well be packing his tools for good.

      Then what would happen to her? He’d seen guys like Brad before—who used intimidation or whatever means necessary to get their way. Men who picked on women were cowards—and needed to be watched.

      “You’re right—again. I don’t really know him anymore.” Robyn shoved her phone back into her pocket. “My mom’s been telling me for years that I’m too trusting.”

      No joke. He could be an ax murderer, and she’d still be chatting away like they were having a picnic. After the way she made excuses for her brother, Brad could very well cheat her out of the property Dan had specifically wanted her to have. And while Caleb’s promise was to Dan, he didn’t want to see all his hard work benefit Brad.

      “Are you done for the day?” Robyn watched him. “I was hoping you’d show me how to patch the walls in the house. I saw the drywall kit, and I’d like to get started.”

      Caleb wiped the sweat from his forehead. The breeze rustled the tall grass in the clearing, cooling his face. “Tomorrow.”

      She folded her arms. “You’re sure cutting out early.”

      That’s right—she thought he was hired help. If he were being paid, instead of funding the whole project himself and laboring for free, it would be early. Realizing the futility of resisting her, Caleb nodded. He whisked past her toward the main house, determined to finish quickly.

      “Just give me a few minutes. If you show me how to do it, I can finish the job. Trust me, I want to help so we can get this place on the market.”

      “Anxious to leave?” He refused to turn around and let her see the spark of interest he was sure was in his eyes. Every encounter with Robyn made it harder to smother the attraction, and he spent an enormous amount of energy to keep from looking at her. To stay quiet and aloof. He held the door open and allowed her to pass.

      She paused a beat before answering. “There are a lot of memories here, and some of them I’d rather not relive. Besides, I have a job and a life I need to get back to.”

      “Understandable.” He turned over an empty paint bucket and sat near the part of the wall needing repair. Leaving this job to her wasn’t a good idea, but it was her house. “Are you sure you want to start the walls on your own?”

      “I’m perfectly competent, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

      Caleb dared to look into Robyn’s eyes. His heart jackhammered in his chest, and his mouth dried like the Arizona desert. What was it about her that had his head turned inside out? In the few short days since they’d met, he found his thoughts veered toward Robyn more often than not, and he looked forward to seeing her even though he knew with unshakable certainty this couldn’t end well.

      “So show me what to do.” She picked up a putty knife and smiled.

      “If you wait until tomorrow, I can do it.”

      “It’s only right for me to fix it since I’m the one who put it there.” Robyn’s smile waned as she set down the knife. “You know how this hole got here? One day Abby and I were practicing for the softball tournament and whack!” She chuckled. “Instead of fixing it, Dad moved the high-back chair in front of it. As you can see, he wasn’t really handy.”

      “Did you get in trouble?”

      She tilted her head, lips tight. “Not at first. We were younger, and Dad hardly ever got riled up. But when my stepmom saw it—” she exhaled before continuing “—she let me have it. Not Abby, of course. Just me.” She cast her gaze to the floor. “I was ten when that happened, when I started to realize that she only tolerated my summer visits, but I wasn’t really welcome.”

      “Sorry to hear that.”

      Robyn straightened and waved him off. “That was a long time ago. I’ve had a great life—it’s just that coming back here reminds me of the hard parts.” She stepped away and gazed out the window. “I don’t even know why I’m telling you this. I get chatty when I’m nervous.”

      Poor woman must be nervous all the time.

      “How about you? Are you from Pine Hollow?”

      “I’m a transplant from Flagstaff.” He tried to keep a brisk tone. The less questions, the better—at least until the time was right.

      “I know all about being a transplant. But Brad and Abby—they had a rock-solid childhood here. It’s no wonder he’s not really happy about me taking over Lakeside.”

      Talk about an understatement. Who knew what Brad might have done had Caleb not been around? He hated to judge, but Brad set off every internal alarm he had. “When do you suppose he’ll be back?”

      Robyn shrugged. “Hopefully not until he calms down. I just want to be part of the family again. After being away for so long, I know it won’t be easy, but I’m starting to realize family is the only thing that matters.” She turned over another empty paint bucket and sat next to him. “You’re right. I really don’t want to do this today. Mostly I wanted to keep my mind off what happened. I guess I’m more shaken up than I thought.”

      And with good reason.

      In that moment, he made a decision he hoped he wouldn’t regret. Leaving