Ruthless: Contemporary Military Romance Read Online Free Page B

artist.”
     
    Eleanor visibly cringed. “Yes, your father has mentioned that , too.”
     
    “What’s so wrong with it?”
     
    “It’s not practical, honey. And even if it were, we need you here.”
     
    “Why? I don’t want anything to do with the business. I couldn’t care less about managing a ranch.”
     
    Eleanor grimaced. “Holly, this place has provided us with an amazing livelihood. It’s the product of your grandfather’s sweat and tears. We can’t just let it rot.”
     
    “Who said anything about letting it rot? I told Dad he should hire somebody and groom them into becoming the right person to step in when he retires.”
     
    Eleanor made a noise that wasn’t really a snort—she was too proper for that—but that very much resembled it. “Don’t be ridiculous, Holly, your father would never give this ranch to a stranger.”
     
    Holly’s jaw clenched. “Well, that’s Dad’s problem, isn’t it?”
     
    “No,” Eleanor said, her voice hardening. “It’s yours, too. You need to come into your own and take on your responsibilities.”
     
    “I don’t have any responsibilities, Mom. I didn’t ask for any of this.”
     
    “But you have it. It’s time to step up.”
     
    Holly stared at her mother, at the determined glint in those brown eyes, and realization finally hit. She was alone. She was utterly, completely alone. She had no allies in this, and she never would have any. In her twenty-one years of life, her mother had always been the one to, if not fully support her in her choices, at least not act as an obstacle to them. Now, for the first time when it came to their daughter, Eleanor Springford was siding with her husband, and she had chosen the worst time to do it.
     
    “I’m sorry, Holly,” Eleanor said. “But that’s the way it’s got to be. It doesn’t have to be all bad. Timothy is a good man,” she said again, “Your father and I would never give you to someone who wouldn’t treat you like a queen.”
     
    You don’t get to ‘give me,’ Holly thought dejectedly. I’m someone, not something. She didn’t utter those words out loud, however; she didn’t have the strength to.
     
    Eleanor reached out to push errand strands of white-blond hair behind her daughter’s ear, then she leaned in and pressed a kiss to her cheek. “Sleep on it, honey. You’ll feel better in the morning.”
     
    Holly wasn’t so sure. In fact, she had never felt less sure of anything in her life. She watched as her mother walked out of her room, and as the door clicked shut, she realized that she really couldn’t stay. In a moment of stark clarity, she realized that she would never feel better again so long as she remained in Lincoln.
     
    Nonetheless, she decided to sleep on it. She didn’t want to act rashly; she knew nobody made good decisions when angry. So Holly went to bed and closed her eyes, and she prayed for wisdom.

 
    CHAPTER SIX
     
    Matt lost his job at the garage three days later. He had begun to do what he always did whenever his feelings of inadequacy to everyday life kicked in; he began to avoid it. He would shut down completely and push away all responsibilities—from his job to his family. When he didn’t show up for work on the third day with no explanation whatsoever, Mr. Riggs called him on his cell phone. Matt ignored the shrill ringing, but he listened to the message that the man left on his answering machine.
     
    “Matt, you can’t do this to me again,” the gruff voice of Mike Riggs all but growled in his ear. “We’re swamped here, and you know it. Call me back.”
     
    Matt didn’t. He had pulled his disappearing act on Mr. Riggs a couple of times before and the man had been, if not completely understanding of a veteran’s issues, at least tolerant. He wasn’t hoping for another chance; he wasn’t even sure he wanted it.
     
    Mr. Riggs called again that day, and then again, and then one more time. Finally, towards evening, he left one final