Read Online Ring of Truth by Ciji Ware - Free Book Online Page B

day,” he said, briefly glancing across the truck’s passenger seat and offering her a mildly rueful grimace. “Actually, I was worried because my chef was a bit under the weather this week, but everything seems well in hand this morning.” He piloted his khaki colored pickup truck along a road flanked by an expanse of olive trees in all directions. “Ah...” he said, pointing through the windshield, “here’s the view I wanted you to see.”
    The pair exited the truck and stood on a rise that offered a panoramic vista of gentle hills intersected by even more rows of mature olive trees. The groves were bordered by another collection of waist-high lavender bushes.
    â€œThe flowers make their appearance in May and June, as do swarms of bees which, as you probably know, are essential to propagating all sorts of things we grow here.”
    Kerry concluded that the plants’ mere presence accounted for the faint scent in the air she had detected earlier and that she loved so much. In the distance were several more lavender fields, “to encourage as many bees as possible to visit us,” he elaborated.
    She cast a sweeping gaze at the entire landscape and said softly, “We could be in Tuscany right now. It’s... just gorgeous.” She glanced sideways and was struck by the faintly Roman cast to Ren’s profile. “I bet your family couldn’t believe this scenery when they first saw it.”
    â€œExactly right,” he answered, indicating they should continue down the dirt road on foot. “The story goes that the minute that my great-grandfather, Renato Montisi, Senior, arrived from Italy and saw this land just before the turn of the twentieth century, he and his wife had just enough money to buy ten acres. Every cent he earned thereafter went into purchasing the other seven hundred and ninety.”
    â€œSo your grandparents and parents chose to raise olives, too, instead of grapes?” asked Kerry. “Isn’t it pretty rare that a family business survives more than three generations?”
    â€œWell, in our case, it didn’t,” Ren replied, staring off into the distance. “Except for naming me after his grandfather, my father was the rebel. Went to law school at Cal and wanted nothing much to do with ranching after that.” He paused and then continued. “Both my parents died in a private plane crash flying out of Palm Springs in bad weather. I came to live here with Nona Concetta when I was twelve. My grandfather, Renato, Junior, died three years ago, so I chucked Silicon Valley—which, trust me—I was only too happy to do,” he added with a grim smile, “and took on the management of the ranch from my grandmother, who will be ninety-two next year.”
    Kerry thought of Angelica and how much she missed her already, wondering what Ren’s grandmother was like, a woman a decade older?
    By this time, Prego and Scusi had caught up with them and followed in their wake down a steep section of the road that ended in a small creek bed at the bottom of the ravine.
    Kerry stole a quick look at her host’s left hand and asked, “And so... you are the third Renato Montisi, yes? Is there a Renato Quattro you’ll be training to take over here someday?”
    After all, not every man wore a wedding ring.
    Ren shot her a puzzled look. “You’re asking am I married, and do I have children?”
    Kerry flushed, embarrassed by her obvious probe. She expected some sort of scolding jolt to shoot up her arm from the Claddagh ring, but felt no such sensation. Before she could apologize, however, Ren turned to meet her glance.
    â€œYes, I was married, but no children. My wife died several years ago as a result of a skiing accident.”
    â€œOh,” she said on a swift intake of breath. “Oh, I am so sorry, Ren. You’ve lost your parents and your wife, and your grandfather, too. That’s