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when Dusty
advised her that he'd invited someone to the ranch to interview for the job.
She smiled to herself. She liked Maddy, a lot. The girl had a quiet air of
dignity about her and a good head on her shoulders. She appreciated her
honesty
and knew
that
she
must
have
felt
somewhat
embarrassed
explaining her reason for relocating to Grand Valley.
Dear heavens, it was nothing to be ashamed of. Grace admired her for
it. Lord knows Walt tried to hit her one time, and only once. That night, he
awoke to a loud click and found himself staring into the barrel of a loaded
Smith & Wesson.
"No, nothing to be ashamed about, at all."
She respected the beautiful young girl for taking control of her own
destiny. Maddy had somehow managed a wrong turn and ended up here at
Mountain Rose. The world surely did work in mysterious ways. Inwardly
pleased, Grace thought about her son. She had seen the spark in his eyes as
he looked at Maddy.
A mother always has a sixth sense. And Grace could sense that her son
fancied young woman; who wouldn't? Maddy felt like a breath of fresh air,
and she didn’t simply drop from the sky into their laps.
Grace believed in fate; and these two certainly deserved a chance at
happiness. Her heart broke for her son when that no-good Janie had taken
off with Ramon, without any warning at all. Dusty didn't suspect a thing.
She herself had consistently been treated with an icy air by the woman; as if
she posed some type of threat.
Let's face it, the Janie was insecure as hell. Although she was stylish and
beautiful, her nasty personality was not a very attractive trait. Nevertheless,
as they say, "love is blind." She helplessly watched that bitch treating her
son with disrespect; while he treated her with nothing but love and
kindness. She was more interested in what he could give her monetarily,
not for the decent man that he was.
Grace had never meddled in her son's personal life, at least; she tried
not to. If she ever got wind of that good-for-nothing Janie trying to weasel
her way back, she'd put a stop to it, for sure. She sat down and smiled. On
the other hand, she could sense the tension in the air between her son and
Maddy. She might have been a little older, but she wasn't blind.
"Yes my son, it’s time to take the blinders off,” she smiled.
CHAPTER 14
    Maddy was impressed. Dusty’s mother was a real gem. During their
interview, the woman had treated her as if they were old friends...amazing..
Grace was rich, but not pompous. She was refined, but told you what was
what. She was simply a really sweet woman who obviously cherished her
family. Grace was kind enough to give her an entire week to get moved and
settled into
the
place.
Inwardly
Maddy
was
crying...tears
of
sheer
happiness. Outwardly, she attempted to appear poised and confident.
    Currently, she tried to avert her eyes from Dusty’s swagger as she
followed him to the den. Walt, was looking over some paperwork and
removed his glasses as they entered the room. He stood from his chair.
"Well, well...you must be Maddy," he grinned.
"Hello, Mr. Cash, yes sir . . .Maddy Cassidy," she blushed.
    He gave his son an approving glance from across the room. Dusty was
leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed, taking it all in. He was
relieved that he approved of Maddy already. He couldn't recall the last time
his father had ever approved of anything or anyone when it concerned him.
However, maybe he was imagining things. Walt truly did want someone
special taking care of his wife. No slouch was going to live on his property
without putting in a good, solid day's work.
    "Well, welcome to Mountain Rose.
I take it my son has shown you
around the ranch," he asked.
Dusty spoke up.
"No dad. I was just about to ask her if she wanted to go see her new
    place," he confirmed.
"Which one?’
"Oh, I figured the cabin overlooking Diamond Lake.”
"Well done . . . good choice," the old man nodded approvingly.
Walt grinned and reached out to take Maddy’s