Chapter 45

The next morning, before the first light of dawn broke the horizon, Dayton was already up and preparing to leave. He moved quietly through the house, careful not to wake anyone. He dressed quickly, pulling on his worn jeans and a flannel shirt, then grabbed his hat and boots.

His mind was made up; he needed to put some distance between himself and Shayna. Confronting her again would only lead to more anger and confusion, and he needed time to think, to sort out his feelings and the tangled web of deceit.

The house was still and dark as he slipped out the front door. He headed straight for the barn, where Firefly was waiting. The horse nickered softly as Dayton approached. He saddled Firefly quickly. Mounting the horse, he took one last look at the house. Part of him felt a pang of guilt for leaving without a word, but he pushed it aside. He needed this. He needed the open space, the freedom to clear his head.

With a gentle nudge, he urged Firefly forward, heading out toward the far end of the property. The sky was just beginning to lighten, a pale glow hinting at the coming sunrise. As they rode, Dayton let his mind wander, trying to make sense of everything that had happened. He couldn't shake the feeling of betrayal, but a part of him also doubted Shayna's involvement. The woman he had known and the one he'd come to know over the past few days didn't seem capable of such deceit.

He needed answers, but first, he needed clarity.

Back at the house, the first rays of sunlight filtered through the curtains of Shayna's room. She stirred, feeling the warmth on her face, and slowly opened her eyes. For a moment, she lay there, disoriented and trying to piece together her thoughts from the night before. Then, it all came rushing back: the forged documents, the argument with Dayton, and the uncertainty that now clouded her future.

She sighed deeply, pushing the covers back and sitting up. She knew she couldn't avoid Dayton forever, but she wasn't ready to face him just yet. She had to sort this mess out and leave. Staying was no longer an option.

She entered the kitchen to find Martha already at the stove, preparing breakfast. The older woman turned and gave her a warm smile. They exchanged pleasantries and sat down to a quiet breakfast after which Shayna retired to her room to figure a way out of this mess.

At around noon, Shayna was buried deep in paperwork in her room. Her eyes were tired, and her head ached from the strain, but she was determined to find some clarity. The sudden roar of an engine outside broke her concentration. Frowning, she walked over to the window and pulled back the curtain.

To her surprise, she saw Dayton working on her van. He must want her gone, she thought, feeling a pang of sadness and frustration.

Taking a deep breath, Shayna decided it was time to face him. She couldn't let things fester any longer. She made her way downstairs and out the door, her heart pounding with each step.

When she reached the van, Dayton didn't look up. He was focused on tightening a bolt under the hood.

"Dayton," she called loudly over the roar of the engine, trying to keep her voice steady.

He didn't respond immediately, finishing his task before finally straightening up and turning to face her. His eyes were hard, his jaw set. "Van needed some work," he said flatly. "Figured I'd take care of it."

She crossed her arms. "I appreciate it, but I need to talk to you. We need to sort this out."

Dayton wiped his hands on a rag, his gaze never leaving her face. "What’s there to sort out? You came here to hand my ranch over to Thompson Enterprises. Pretty clear-cut."

Shayna shook her head vigorously. "I didn't know about those documents, Dayton.”

He narrowed his eyes, studying her intently. "And why should I believe you?"

Her frustration bubbled over. "Because I’ve done nothing but try to be honest with you since I got here! Yes, I had my own agenda initially, but it wasn’t this. I didn’t come here to deceive you."

Dayton’s expression softened slightly, but the hurt was still there. "So what was your agenda then?"

Shayna took a deep breath, searching for the right words. "I grew up here, Dayton. This ranch, this land... it's a part of me. I may not live here and I may have left it all behind but I didn’t want to see it all torn down and the land exploited. When I found out about Thompson Enterprises' interest, I knew I had to come and see what made you decide to sell. And to a developer at that.”

Dayton's eyes narrowed, disbelief clear on his face. "You expect me to believe that? After everything?"

"It's the truth," she insisted, her voice steady. "I know it sounds convenient. I wanted to help."

He shook his head, his anger simmering just below the surface. "You think you can just waltz in here, lie to my face, and then claim you're trying to help? It doesn't work that way, Shayna."

"I'm not lying!" she almost shouted. "I want to save this land and do what’s best for the people here.”

Dayton scoffed, his expression hardening. "It's hard to trust you, Shayna. Especially after finding those documents."

"I had nothing to do with those documents," she said desperately. "I'm trying to find out who did this. Please, just give me a chance to prove it."

Dayton wiped his hands on a rag and looked at her. "You should probably get back to your paperwork.”

Shayna opened her mouth to say more but saw the finality in his eyes. He was dismissing her explanation, not wanting to hear more. With a heavy sigh, she nodded and turned away, heading back into the house.

In her room, Shayna sat at her desk, staring at the pile of documents. Just then, her phone rang. It was Emily.

"Shayna, it's Emily," she said. "I looked into the documents you mentioned. There’s no record of them being processed through our usual channels. It’s like they just appeared out of nowhere."

"I had nothing to do with those documents, Emily. I need to find out who did this."

Emily paused before responding. "I'll keep digging on my end. Maybe we can find something that ties this back to Thompson Enterprises."

"Thanks, Emily," Shayna said. "I appreciate it."

Shayna was deep in her work when there was a knock on her door. She looked up to see Charlene standing there.

"Hey, Shayna, it's time for supper," Charlene said. "You've been cooped up in here all day. Come join us."

Shayna sighed. She knew she needed a break, even if just for a little while. "Alright, I'll be down in a minute," she replied.

Charlene nodded and left, and Shayna took a moment to organize her papers before heading downstairs. As she entered the dining room, she saw everyone already gathered around the table. Martha had outdone herself with a spread of hearty dishes, and the warm, inviting atmosphere made Shayna feel a bit more at ease.

Dayton was already seated, his expression still serious but less hardened than earlier. She took a seat across from him, trying to ignore the tension that still lingered between them.

The conversation was light, focusing on the day’s events and Charlene’s upcoming wedding. Shayna was trying her best to participate, but her mind kept drifting back to her work.

Finally, as the meal was drawing to a close, Dayton cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention. "I have an announcement to make," he said, his voice steady. "After some serious consideration, I've decided to pull the deal with Thompson Enterprises. I will be keeping the ranch."

The room fell silent for a moment, the weight of his words sinking in. Charlene and Martha exchanged surprised but relieved glances.

"That’s wonderful news, Dayton," Martha said, her eyes shining with pride.

Charlene nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, absolutely. The ranch means so much to all of us."

Shayna felt a mix of emotions. Relief that the ranch was safe, but also a pang of guilt. She looked across the table at Dayton, who met her gaze with a guarded expression.

"I think it's the right decision," Shayna said softly.

Dayton gave her a brief nod, acknowledging her words but not fully letting his guard down. "Thank you," he said simply.

"So, Shayna, what will happen now? Are you planning to leave immediately, or will you be staying for a while longer?" Charlene asked.

Shayna glanced at Dayton, who was avoiding her gaze, his focus on his plate. She could only guess that he wanted her gone, especially given how intently he had been working on her van earlier. She took a deep breath before answering, trying to keep her voice steady.

"My ankle has healed enough to allow me to drive," she responded. "So, I’ll be leaving in a couple of days."

The room grew quiet again. Martha looked at her with a mixture of sympathy and regret. "You’ve done a lot of work here, Shayna. We appreciate everything."

Charlene's face fell slightly. "We’ll miss you. You've been such a big help, especially with the wedding preparations."

Dayton remained silent, his eyes fixed on his plate, barely acknowledging anyone's presence after his big announcement. Charlene, however, was determined to lighten the mood.

"So, Shayna," Charlene began, "I know that you're planning to leave soon, but I was wondering if you'd come to town with me one more time? I need to get some last-minute supplies for the wedding, and it would mean a lot to have you there. Besides, you already have most of the décor ready and I wouldn’t want to mess up the color scheme.”

Shayna looked up, surprised by the invitation. She glanced at Dayton, who didn't seem to react, and then back at Charlene.

"Sure, Charlene," Shayna replied, offering a small smile. "I'd love to go with you."

Charlene's face lit up with gratitude. "Thank you, Shayna. I really appreciate it. How about tomorrow morning? We can grab lunch while we're out."

"That sounds perfect," Shayna agreed, feeling a bit lighter at the prospect of a day out with Charlene.

As they continued eating, the conversation flowed around Dayton's silence. Charlene turned to Shayna again. "Do you have everything sorted for your trip back? I mean, aside from the ankle and all."

"Mostly," Shayna said, nodding. "I still have a few loose ends to tie up, but I’ll manage."

Charlene gave her a sidelong glance. "I’m really sorry about everything that happened. I wish things had turned out differently."

Shayna sighed, her gaze drifting to her plate. "Me too, Charlene.”

Dayton's fork clinked against his plate, drawing everyone's attention for a brief moment, but he remained silent, his expression unreadable.

The rest of the meal passed with Charlene and Shayna discussing the wedding preparations, while Dayton continued to eat in silence.

After supper, as they began clearing the table, Dayton stood up and walked out of the room without a word, leaving Shayna and Charlene to finish tidying up. Shayna watched him go, a mix of frustration and sadness in her heart.

Charlene gave her a comforting pat on the shoulder. "Don’t mind him. He’s just... dealing with a lot."

"I understand," Shayna said, though the pain of his dismissal still stung.