It was a big fat lie, but when I learned the truth, I understood why my mother told it.

Recently, she sat me down and told me I had a right to know where I came from, and I’m still numb about the truth.

I haven’t let myself think about it. Until now.

Dale asked about my father, and the truth is—

My father was a rapist.

A serial rapist.

I’m a product of a rape.

Think about it tomorrow.

My mantra when it comes to unpleasantness, but I have to face it. Dale asked me about my father, and I owe him the truth.

My mother was right to tell me, but it’s not something I want to talk about.

To anyone.

Especially not the man I love.

I don’t want him to see me as tainted in any way.

Not that I feel tainted. I’m the same person I always was. I know that, and I truly feel that inside. My mother may not have been able to give me much, but she gave me enough love for two parents. And she may think I have my head in the clouds for chasing a career in something as bourgeois as wine, but still she loves me and always will.

I reach the main house.

“Done,” I say aloud.

I’m done thinking about the rapist who fathered me. He was caught, and he got what was coming. Prison isn’t kind to rapists. He was beaten and killed, among other things. An eye for an eye, apparently.

Done thinking about that now. I’ll consider telling Dale tomorrow.

I walk into the ranch house through the back door. “Hey, Darla.”

Darla looks away from her rolling pin. “Miss Ashley, good morning.”

“Anyone home?”

“Mr. Talon has already left for work. Miss Jade is getting ready, I think.”

“Okay, thanks.”

Just as well. I don’t particularly want to explain where I’ve been. But maybe I should explain where I’m going.

I walk toward my bedroom as Jade emerges from the master suite at the end of the hall.

“Good morning, Ashley,” she says.

My cheeks warm. She’s not stupid. She knows I didn’t spend the night here. Better to dive right into what’s happening now.

“Jade, I’m glad you’re still here. Dale’s birth father had a heart attack, and I’m going with him to Grand Junction. I thought you should know.”

Jade goes still. “Oh my. Is he okay?”

“We don’t know. Dale’s calling the hospital. I’m just going to shower and change, and then we’re heading out.”

“I should go talk to him,” Jade says, smoothing out a slight wrinkle in her blazer.

I nod. “He’s at home.”

“I have to be in court in an hour.” She sighs. “I’ll call Mary. My son comes first.”

“Mary?”

“The assistant city attorney. She should be in by now. Thank you for telling me.”

“Of course.”

She waves absently as she rushes the other way, cell phone already at her ear.

I enter my bedroom and hope I didn’t just make a fatal mistake. Dale may not want to talk to his mother.

Freshly showered and clothed in jeans and a silk blouse, I knock on Dale’s back door. Penny spies me through the glass, panting.

“Hey, girl,” I say.

A few seconds later, Dale clomps into the kitchen and opens the door. He looks…uncomfortable.

Which probably means Jade is still here.

“Is your mom here?” I whisper.

He simply nods, his expression stoic. Crap. He’s probably angry with me.

Jade whisks into the kitchen then. “Ashley, good. You’re here. I’ll let you two be on your way.” She steps onto her tiptoes and kisses Dale’s cheek. “Call me later, honey.”

“I will,” Dale says. “Have Dad call me when he can.”

“Absolutely.” She walks out the back way and up the trail to the main house.

“I’m…” I begin.

“What?”

I’m sorry I told your mom? I can’t say that, because I’m not really sorry. She had a right to know.

“Nothing.”

“Let’s go,” he says, petting Penny.

I eye her water bowl. It’s nearly empty. “She needs water.”

Dale rakes his fingers through his disheveled hair. “Right. I was going to fill it up and then my mom showed up.” He picks up the bowl.

“So…your mom…” I say.

“Means well,” he says, setting Penny’s bowl down.

She eagerly laps up some water.

I’m not sure how to respond. Luckily, I don’t have to.

“Let’s go,” Dale says.

We head out and get into his truck. He’s quiet Dale now. Stoic Dale. Which means it will be a long, silent ride to Grand Junction.

I settle in.

Chapter Forty

Dale

I turn on the radio to listen to news of the fires. Colorado is a desert climate, and fire happens nearly every year. This year, we’ve just come out of a drought, so it’s a little less worrisome, but a few days ago, a big blaze started in the Pine Gulch north of Grand Junction. So far, Steel Ranch isn’t in danger, but we have to stay ahead of the game by having all information.

Dad and his brothers are really good at keeping their land free from anything that could kindle a wildfire, but we still have to watch carefully. This year, with such a great grape crop, I’m determined nothing will be an issue.

Plus, it keeps me from having to talk to Ashley.

A half hour with my mother drains me. She’s wonderful, I love her, and she means well, but… Sometimes she just tries too hard.

By the time she showed up at my place, I’d already called Dad and filled him in, and then the hospital. Floyd was still alive as of then, though he was in the ICU and no one had any information on his prognosis.

Finally, I turn off the radio and fill Ashley in.

“At least he’s alive,” she says.

I don’t know how to respond to that. Honestly? I don’t really care if he’s alive or not.

Except that somewhere, deep inside, a little part of me does. Yeah, he’s a jerk for abandoning Donny and me, but his DNA lives inside me. He’s a part of me. And frankly, if he’s prone to heart attacks, that’s something I need to know. Now I’ll at least have half of my parental medical history, and I’ll have to minimize my risk of heart attack.