“Here’s what we were thinking,” May told him, practically bouncing in her chair. “Winter homes for the carnival workers.”

She paused expectantly, as if waiting for him to be as excited as she was.

“What do you mean?” he asked, thinking of all the houses he’d planned to build. Houses he could sell for a profit to the future casino and hotel workers.

“Trailers can get cold in the winter,” Glen said, absently patting May’s butt.

Rafe immediately stared directly at the paper and did his best to shut down his peripheral vision.

“We’re not thinking anything too large. A couple of bedrooms, living room, kitchen. Bathroom and laundry. What, twelve hundred square feet? If there were plenty of space between them, there would be room for the trailers. It would be like a little town.”

May pointed to several spots on the map. “In the summer, they could be vacation rentals. That would provide income. Imagine how wonderful it would be for families to come to Fool’s Gold for a week and be able to rent a place like that. You could even build a couple of them with a third bedroom.”

“Lucky me.”

“You don’t like the idea?” His mother appeared shocked by the concept.

“It’s interesting.”

Not at all what he’d had in mind. Based on what she’d done, there would still be plenty of unused acres. So maybe he couldn’t put in as many houses as he’d first imagined, but he could still do part of the development.

“Want me to draw up some designs?” he asked.

May nodded. “If you wouldn’t mind.”

Glen stood. “I promised Heidi I’d move her goats. Athena’s looking feisty these days, so it may take a while. I’ll be back.” He kissed May on the cheek, nodded at Rafe and left.

When he was gone, May turned to Rafe. “You hate it.”

“I don’t. I’m surprised. I didn’t think about vacation rentals, but sure. Why not?” Now that she’d thought of it, he doubted his mother would be willing to give up the idea. Better to work with her than against her.

May sagged in her chair. “You think I’m a terrible mother.”

“What?”

Tears filled her eyes. “It’s because I am. Do you know what today is?”

It took him a second to figure that out. “You’re not a terrible mother.”

“I haven’t called her. I should. But I never know what to say. She’s so distant, and I know that’s my fault.”

“It’s not your fault.”

“She’s my daughter. We should be close. You and I are close.”

“That’s because you won’t let me escape.”

He’d hoped to make her smile, but instead, the tears spilled over and ran down her cheeks.

He stood and circled the table, then pulled May to her feet and hugged her.

“Call her,” he said. “Wish her happy birthday.”

“Shouldn’t I want to talk to Evangeline? Shouldn’t I miss her? No, that’s wrong. I do miss her, but I’m also confused. Does she hate us? You never talk to her, either.”

“If I do, I’ll yell at her.”

His sister was a disappointment. She’d had so much potential. A brilliant dancer, Evangeline had been accepted to Juilliard and had dropped out her second year. Seven years ago, his business had been growing and he’d plowed every penny back into it. The fifty thousand a year in tuition had been a stretch, but he’d been determined she wouldn’t have to worry about money. So he’d paid it all, and had given her a generous allowance, so she could hang out with her friends and buy whatever it was eighteen-year-old girls needed.

She’d walked away from it and had never said a word as to why. He’d only found out when the school had returned his tuition money, telling him Evangeline was no longer a student there.

“She’s all alone,” May whispered. “It’s her birthday and she’s all alone.”

He held his mother while she cried, and didn’t know what to do to fix the problem. If Shane were here, his brother would probably tell him it was all his fault. Maybe it was. Maybe he expected too much from his family. But, dammit all to hell, Evangeline could have gone all the way. However, like Clay, she’d chosen what was easy. She’d walked away from her dreams, and he couldn’t forgive that.

“You should call her,” he repeated. “You’ll feel better, and she probably will, too.”

She drew back and wiped her face. Her eyes were still sad, though, and she sighed. “We have that in common, you and I. We don’t fight for what’s important to us. Our pride is easily bruised, and when someone walks away, we let them.”

He wasn’t comfortable with the assessment. “I don’t do that.”

“You did with Evangeline and with Clay. Maybe your first wife. I don’t know enough about the details to be sure. One day you’re going to have to stand up and fight for what you want. I am, too. First, I just have to figure out what that is.”

She left the kitchen. Rafe stared after her, not sure what she had meant. He knew how to fight. His business was proof of that. He’d started with nothing and was now worth millions.

But in his gut, he understood his mother didn’t mean anything financial. She was talking about risking his heart. Clay had disappointed him, as had Evangeline, and he’d cut both of them out of his life. He’d been disappointed by love and refused to risk his heart again. He wasn’t a man who forgave easily.

He’d always thought that was a strength, but maybe he’d been wrong.

* * *

HEIDI POINTED TO THE CAVE paintings. Rita held her flashlight high and then burst into laughter.

“They’re wonderful. You did a perfect job. I would be completely fooled.”

Heidi sighed. “Unfortunately, we don’t have to convince you. The experts have already arrived and seen everything. I don’t know how long we can string them along.”

Rita studied her. “You’re not happy about this.”

“I know. I made a mistake. I was having second thoughts, and then I was hurt and mad and said we should do it. It’s like rolling a rock downhill. Once you give it a push, there’s no pulling it back.”

She touched the cool, uneven wall of the cave. “I should have talked to Rafe. I should have tried to work things out. Instead, I’m scamming the whole town. When they find out, they may never forgive me.”

“I think you’re being a little hard on yourself.”

“I was wrong.”

Rita leaned in and kissed Heidi’s forehead. “My sweet girl. You’ve always had character.”

“Not enough, or I would have found another way.”

“Deep breaths. It’s done now, and you simply have to ride out the storm. It might not be as bad as you think.”

“I hope you’re right.”

“I usually am. Come on. Show me the rest.”

Heidi led her deeper into the caves. As they turned the corner, they didn’t notice the reporter hovering in the shadows. Nor did they see her hurry out to tell her producer everything she’d just learned.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

RAFE STOOD IN THE CENTER of the kitchen, feeling the surge of anger rising through him. He didn’t look at Heidi—couldn’t look at her. Not after what she’d done. He knew he was too close to saying something he shouldn’t. Something they would both regret.

He’d suspected all along, but to have it come out like this… He was furious and couldn’t completely say why.

“I’m sure if Heidi explained…” May began, but his mother sounded doubtful.

Glen hovered between the two women, as if unsure of where his loyalties lay.

Heidi pressed against the counter, maybe for support, maybe in an attempt to put more room between them. Rafe wasn’t sure and he didn’t care.

The morning news had trumpeted the story of the fake cave paintings in Fool’s Gold. The reporter had personally overheard Heidi confessing all. The reporter had taken great glee in saying Heidi had betrayed them all.

He realized then that was the source of his anger. Not that she’d tried to win, but that she hadn’t trusted him to—

He swore silently. Trusted him to what? Take care of her? He wanted the land for his development. She shouldn’t trust him. But he wanted her to. And that was why he was so pissed.

“You lied to me,” he said at last.

Her chin came up slightly. “Yes. I lied to you. I tried to get the judge to rule in my favor and make sure you couldn’t carry out your plans.”

May sank onto a kitchen chair. “Oh, Heidi. I don’t understand. I thought we were getting along. I thought you liked having me here.”

“I do,” Heidi said, glaring at Rafe. “You’re not the problem. It’s your son. Because I believed the same thing you did, May. That we were coming to terms and working things out. Then I found out Rafe had gone behind my back. He has plans for the land. Plans to build houses for the casino workers.”

Heidi’s voice turned bitter. “Don’t worry. From what I saw, he’s leaving you a few acres for your animals, and you get the house. But the rest of the land will be developed, and Glen and I are to be thrown out.”

Rafe swore under his breath. He had no idea how she’d found out about his idea or what she’d seen.

His mother stared at him. “Rafe? Is that true? You’re building houses and throwing out Heidi? How could you?”

“I haven’t done anything,” he pointed out. “I made up a few drawings.”

Heidi’s mouth twisted. “That’s not all. You made calls and found out about zoning. You contacted the city very quietly.”

“You can’t know that.”

“No, I can’t,” she admitted. “But I know you, and that’s the next logical step. Or am I wrong?”

They were all staring at him. Glen and Heidi were pissed, but his mother was hurt, her dark eyes swimming with tears.

“I had Dante make a few calls,” he admitted. “I haven’t done anything else.”

“What about Heidi?” his mother asked. “You were planning on having her leave? And the goats? Where were they supposed to go?”

A question he couldn’t answer. “Mom, you were cheated from the start. I was only looking out for you.”

“Oh, please,” Heidi said, rolling her eyes. “I’m sure she’ll appreciate having hundreds of homes just a few feet away. Roads cutting through the ranch she loves. Pristine wilderness turned into a parking lot. You didn’t do any of this for her. This is about you and profit and winning.”

“That’s not true.”

“Then what’s it about? Why didn’t you tell any of us that you were planning this? I didn’t know how to stop you, so, yes, I created the cave paintings and planted the artifacts. I was wrong, and I have to tell you, it’s a relief to be caught. I’ll accept the consequences of my actions.” She swallowed. “I was trying to protect my home, to make sure that Glen and I could stay here.”

She turned to May. “I should have come to you. That’s my mistake, and I’m sorry. I was so scared when I found out what Rafe wanted to do. And hurt. You’ve been nothing but gracious and warm since you arrived.” She drew in a breath. “I’m so sorry.”

May’s lower lip trembled. “I understand.” She stared at Rafe. “Why didn’t you say something to me? You had the perfect opportunity to explain

everything when Glen and I talked to you about the vacation homes.”

May glanced at Heidi. “Your grandfather and I were thinking of having small vacation homes built on some of the land. Enough for the carnival workers to winter here. They could be rentals in the summer. You know, for families who want to come to Fool’s Gold.”

A single tear slipped down Heidi’s cheek. “I would have liked that.”

Rafe felt a growing sense of unease. The situation had slipped out of his control, and he wasn’t sure where it was going.

“Heidi still lied,” he pointed out. “She tricked us all.”

“So did you,” his mother snapped. “Rafe, I would never agree to give up the ranch for a housing development. A few acres, maybe. At the far end and closest to the casino. But not much more. And I would never allow you to throw out Heidi and her goats. You took charge, like you always do. You assumed you knew best.”

She rose. “I know some of that is my fault. I depended on you too much when you were little. I made you grow up too quickly. Now you steamroll over everyone.”

He felt the ground shifting as the attention focused on him.

“Wait a minute,” he began.

“No. I don’t want to talk about this anymore.”

His mother walked out of the kitchen. Glen followed.

Rafe walked to the table and took one of the chairs. “Happy?” he asked as he sat.

“Of course not. This isn’t what I wanted.”

“What did you want?”

“Not to lose my home. I thought about coming to you, trying to reason with you, but…” She shook her head. “You have to win. Always. I can’t believe your mother talked to you about those vacation homes and you didn’t tell her what you had planned.” Her eyes narrowed. “I’ll bet you were figuring out a way to have both. Put in the vacation homes she wanted, and use the extra land to build your development.”

He didn’t have an answer to that, mostly because it was true.