Rancher Under Fire

by Barb Han

  “My niece.” He didn’t miss a beat. “My friends reached out to say she’s being given a hard time and I couldn’t sit by and do nothing.”

  “Nice of you to drop everything for her,” Corbin said doing his best to sound like he admired the effort. He’d never been a good liar, mostly because he wasn’t practiced at it. He needed to be convincing with Jody, though. This seemed like a good time to remind himself of the stakes. Liv’s life could be on the line.

  Now that her interview had been canceled, she needed to come up with a new plan. The thought that she might stick around in Lone Star Pass lit a dozen campfires inside him. He had every intention of making certain she’d be safe if that turned out to be the call for her. He wasn’t quite ready to admit how much he wanted her to make the choice but it was like a tsunami building inside him.

  Once the immediate threat was over, his next step would be to find a way to make her feel safe again in the town where she grew up. Was that even possible at this point? Her trust had been broken. Folks might still be rude to her and give her the cold shoulder, both of which were unacceptable. And then there was Kellan. He might continue to do everything in his power to make her life miserable. Corbin being here was making it worse for her. The wedge between the family was a cavern at this point.

  The sound of another vehicle coming up the lane caused four heads to turn toward the noise.

  “I’ll see who it is,” Corbin offered.

  “The coffee is probably ready. Who’s in for a cup?” Brax asked, his presence combined with Corbin’s seemed to set Jody on edge as the man’s gaze bounced between the two of them regularly since Corbin entered the room. Good.

  Liv’s heart skipped a few beats when she heard the vehicle outside. Her nerves were a little too on the edge, no doubt part of the fallout from the last couple of days. She would be unpacking all that had happened for months down the line but right now she needed to focus on finding out who was after her and why.

  She reminded herself that her recent ‘visitors’ for lack of a better term didn’t exactly announce their arrival. She looked to Brax as he returned. “Could this be more of the cavalry?”

  “No one told me they were coming,” he admitted. He balanced four mugs of coffee, two handles in each hand. He set all four down on the coffee table before passing each one out.

  “Mr. and Mrs. Paisley?” Corbin said, sounding as shocked as she felt.

  Liv hopped up and headed toward the door. Corbin was a step behind. She glanced at Brax at the last minute and gave him a look she hoped he could interpret. He responded with a slight nod indicating he would keep an eye on her uncle.

  “So, what kind of work did you say you do?” Brax asked Jody.

  “I’ve been working a fishing boat,” Jody responded as she slipped out the door.

  Tension sent her pulse through the roof as the Paisleys exited their vehicle. Mr. Paisley left their car running as his wife reached into the backseat and produced a basket. She walked straight to Liv. Mrs. Paisley was on the short side. She had the kind of soft middle that said she was probably an amazing baker, or at least one who liked to sample her product. Other than that, she had an oval-shaped face and a warm smile. Her hair was graying, and she had to be in her early sixties. It dawned on Liv that she’d been a kindergarten teacher years ago, before retiring early to travel with her husband once her children were grown.

  “I apologize for not coming around before now and I know it’s getting late,” Mrs. Paisley began. She held out the picnic basket. “I made bread and muffins. These were some of your mom’s favorites and I thought you might like to have them.”

  Her husband was just shy of six-feet-tall with a balding head and a serious face. His middle section looked like he enjoyed his wife’s baking too.

  “Thank you,” Liv said, taking the offering.

  The Paisleys greeted Corbin and wished his mother well. Did Lucia Firebrand have anything to do with this?

  “This is really nice of you,” Liv stated, still trying to figure out why they’d stopped by today of all days.

  Mr. Paisley seemed content to step back while his wife took the lead, but his show of support warmed Liv’s heart.

  “It’s nothing and has been a long time coming, if you ask me,” Mrs. Paisley said. “I’m just glad you’re back and I hope you’ll consider staying around. We need more good people in this town.”

  “I don’t know what to say.” Liv rarely ever found herself in the position to be speechless. The kindness caused her eyes to well up with tears. “I’ll start with thank you.”

  She walked to Mrs. Paisley and gave her a hug. The older woman’s embrace brought more of those tears to life. Thankfully, she didn’t soak Mrs. Paisley’s dress with them.

  “You’re not alone any longer, sweetie,” Mrs. Paisley whispered, her voice hitched on the words. “Your mom was one my favorite people in the world. I won’t fail her again.”

  “Thank you isn’t nearly big enough to cover how wonderful you’ve been,” she said to both of the Paisleys. “This means so very much.”

  As Liv stumbled over her words, overwhelmed with emotion, another vehicle drove up the lane.

  “Reach out if you need anything.” Mrs. Paisley patted Liv’s hand.

  “I will do that,” Liv promised. The smell of fresh bread wafting in the evening breeze caused her stomach to growl.

  “We best be on our way,” Mrs. Paisley stated with a smile that hinted something was up. She nodded toward Corbin. “Your mother has my number. Would you see to it that Liv programs it into her phone?”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Corbin saluted and smiled.

  As the Paisleys pulled away, another vehicle parked. The McDermotts stepped out of their truck. They were a sweet couple close in age with the Paisleys. Mrs. McDermott used to teach middle school around the same time Mrs. Paisley taught kindergarten. Was the teacher connection a coincidence?

  Mrs. McDermott hopped out of the passenger side of the family’s truck. She wore a bright smile as she carried a tin in her hands.

  “Was that Rita in the car pulling away?” Mrs. McDermott asked with a wink after acknowledging Corbin.

  “Yes,” Liv responded but she’d never called Mrs. Paisley by her first name.

  “I was hoping to beat her over here,” Mrs. McDermott stated. Go figure. Teachers could be competitive with each other. She laughed. “Looks like I’ll have to take the silver medal on this one.”

  She held out the tin.

  “These are my famous snickerdoodles,” she said proudly.

  “I’ve heard about these.” This really took Liv back years ago to when she taught. Mrs. McDermott’s snickerdoodles were the stuff of legend.

  “I made ’em special for you.” She beamed. “Harold is still grumbling because I wouldn’t let him touch his until we delivered yours.”

  Harold stood in the background and waved. Arms full, Liv did her best to return the gesture.

  “I was real sorry to hear about your beautiful mama,” Mrs. McDermott said. “We were all so devastated we didn’t know what to do.” She wiped a stray tear. “We’ve pulled our act together now, though. We’re here for you, hon.” She looked at Corbin and held his gaze. “Put my number in her cell right now, please.”

  “Can I put it in mine if I promise to transfer it the minute she sets these gifts down?” he asked with a smile as he motioned toward Liv as she struggled to figure out a way to get hers out of her pocket.

  Mrs. McDermott practically cackled.

  “Of course,” she said. She rattled off her number before glancing at the white SUV and lowering her voice. “What’s he doing here?”

  “You know what my uncle drives?” Liv asked.

  “Afraid so,” she stated making a tsk-tsk sound. “Check the miles on it. They’re probably lower than they should be, which is what happens when you’ve been in the slammer for the past two years.”

  “Wait…what?” Liv asked. She heard the first time but she needed
a repeat so it could absorb.

  Mrs. McDermott leaned in, “Word has it that he stole from the last boat captain he worked for. He did time for it and has been unofficially ‘banned’ from ever working in Galveston again.”

  “That’s good to know.” Something niggled at the back of her mind about Uncle Jody, but she couldn’t quite put a finger on what it was. Her head was still spinning from the generosity of neighbors and her heart was full. She was realizing just how much she’d shut herself off from everyone and everything after her mother’s death. Looking back, Kellan’s place had been a good place to hide from the world.

  One thing was certain, Uncle Jody needed to go. It was highly possible he’d only shown up to get a free ride.

  “Call me if you need anything,” Mrs. McDermott said before bringing Liv into another hug. She pulled back and said, “Even if you just need someone to talk to.”

  “I will,” Liv promised.

  As Mrs. McDermott climbed inside her vehicle, another made its way up the lane. Liv noticed a pattern as another former teacher parked and then approached with a food offering.

  “This was your mother’s favorite dish when I brought it to potlucks,” Ms. Abernathy said. The ninth-grade math teacher had been one of Liv’s favorites. Tall with long hair that was always in a loose bun on top of her head, she had a certain natural elegance with the way she carried herself. When she was younger, she probably could have pulled off being a runway model with her looks, but teaching had been her calling. She was aging with grace and Liv doubted a catwalk would ever put the spark in Ms. Abernathy’s eye that she’d witnessed when a student had a lightbulb moment in her classroom.

  “I remember this. Mom always talked about your Shrimp Chowder with Herb Drop Biscuits. Said the shrimp was always so fresh because you met it at the boat.” The memory brought another smile to her face. The smell said she was in for a real treat. She had no idea what she would do with all this food. Maybe she could freeze some of it. Then again, Corbin and Brax could probably help put some of it away tonight.

  Ms. Abernathy gave her phone number to Corbin before retreating to her vehicle. Three additional vehicles followed in succession and Liv knew one thing for certain…she would never be alone again.

  “See. Not everyone in Lone Star Pass is a jerk,” Corbin said as the last vehicle disappeared down the lane. “I got a text from my mom saying this was only the beginning. The minute she put out word you weren’t being treated well, an army jumped to your defense.”

  “Remind me to thank her,” she said, not that she would need it. What she meant to say was she needed to find a way to thank his mother enough.

  “Will do,” Corbin said before balancing a couple of dishes on his arm while fishing out his cell phone. He held his cell in the air. “What do you say about finding a hotel room near the highway for your uncle?”

  “I think that’s the best for all involved,” she agreed.

  “Good. Then, this one is one me.” Corbin made the call, booked the reservation, and then there was only one thing left to do…tell Uncle Jody.

  15

  Corbin followed Liv inside the house where Brax seemed to be in a staring contest with Jody. Liv’s uncle definitely seemed to be uncomfortable, which didn’t bother Corbin one bit. He helped Liv bring all the dishes and baskets into the kitchen.

  “I’ve got these,” he said to her. He nodded toward the living room. “Why don’t you go in and deliver the good news.”

  Her lips compressed into a frown.

  “As much as I want him gone, it’s never easy to disappoint someone I barely know,” she admitted.

  “You got this, Liv.” Corbin fought the temptation to dip his head and kiss her. He thought about feathering a kiss on the dimple before finding her lips with his. It was as though a bomb detonated in his chest just thinking about it. He couldn’t continue going down that road because when he looked into her glittery eyes, he saw something that looked a whole lot like need.

  “I got this,” she said, shoulders back, looking more confident this time.

  “And when you come back,” he started, dropping his gaze to her lips, realizing he’d barely dodged a bullet but not yet ready to admit defeat. “I’d like to…”

  He stopped himself right there. No use voicing his desire while he couldn’t act on it. Instead, he shook his head.

  “Then, this won’t take long at all,” she teased, and then wiggled an eyebrow, lightening the mood. Because a few moments ago, the air crackled with tension.

  He couldn’t hold back a smile.

  “Besides, I’ve never been one for holding in a secret for long,” she said.

  “Do you want me in the room?” he asked.

  “Nah. I’ll be quick,” she said. “No sense dragging it out.”

  Corbin moved to where he could hear as it went down.

  “Thank you for stopping by the house tonight, Uncle Jody,” Liv said to her uncle.

  Brax appeared in the doorway almost immediately after she left, his coffee cup in hand. “Figured I’d get a refill and give the two of them some privacy.”

  “Seems like a pretty solid idea to me,” Corbin admitted, going back to work across the room, filling the fridge.

  “Do you know what she wants to talk to him about?” Brax asked.

  “I booked a room for him near the highway.” Corbin lowered his voice. “She wanted to be the one to tell him.”

  “Gotcha. Good idea,” Brax stated. “I figured something was up and I didn’t mind walking away since there isn’t much he can do, considering his condition and the fact that we’re literally in the next room,” Brax said. “Not that she needs the help. Liv is a strong and capable person.”

  “Truer words have never been spoken,” Corbin said. “It’s just unfortunate how much the deck has been stacked against her, thanks to our jerk of a cousin.”

  “Has she said why she did it?” Brax had to be referring to marriage.

  Corbin shook his head. It wasn’t his place to talk about it either.

  “About Kellan…” Brax’s hesitation to continue raised the alarm for Corbin.

  “Go ahead and say what’s on your mind,” Corbin urged.

  “All I’m saying is that it’s obvious to me and everyone else that you still have feelings for Liv,” Brax admitted, pausing before continuing.

  Corbin shot his brother a warning look.

  “Look. It’s pretty clear to anyone with eyes that the two of you feel the same way toward each other,” Brax continued. “The past two years watching you be miserable, as your brother, has pretty much been awful. I know the situation has been complicated but not from my viewpoint and, I’m sure, anyone else’s whose viewpoint really matters would feel the same way.”

  “Dad, for one,” Corbin stated.

  “When have you ever cared about what he thought?” Brax countered. His direct question definitely caught Corbin off guard a little bit.

  “What are you saying?” Corbin rolled his shoulder to ease some of the tension building. “I may not be close with the man but I do respect him as being our father.”

  Brax shot Corbin a look and it dawned on him why. As the family had recently learned, Brax was blood, a Firebrand through and through. However, Lucia Firebrand was not his biological mother. In fact, their father had cheated on their mother while she was pregnant with Corbin. Brax’s birth certificate had been fudged to make it seem like he was older than he was.

  “Are you saying that you’ve lost all sense of respect for the man?” Corbin asked his brother.

  “Our mother is one of the kindest, most amazing people God put on this earth. Our father cheated on her when they were young. Who knows what he’s done since. He has never been close with any one of us. So, no, his opinion doesn’t count a whole helluva lot in my book.” Brax’s set chin and determined gaze said he one hundred percent felt those words.

  “You know how Mom feels and we all followed her lead,” Corbin said.

  “Do
esn’t dismiss what the man did,” Brax argued.

  “No. It doesn’t. And the fact you came into this world by another mother doesn’t make you any less our mother’s son. We all agree,” Corbin continued.

  “You know I appreciate it. There’s no question in my mind about how you guys have accepted me,” Brax said. “He never apologized or acknowledged what he did. Not even to me. So, there it is. I don’t respect the man who refuses to attempt to make it right.”

  “That’s fair,” Corbin said. “And there’s no doubt you’re my brother, through and through. I don’t need a piece of paper to tell me what I already know.

  Brax crossed the room and brought his brother into a bear hug. The family had become closer because of their dad’s actions. Could Corbin act on his feelings toward Liv?

  Liv closed the front door after walking her uncle out to his SUV. She’d carried his overnight bag and placed it in his backseat. She overheard Brax and Corbin talking in the kitchen, so she made a beeline to join them. Walking in and catching them mid-bear hug warmed her heart.

  She hadn’t given a whole lot of thought to her future. The idea of having a family of her own was always ‘someday’ and not now. Here she was thirty-six-years old, almost single, and about to embark on a new chapter in her career, and in her life.

  She cleared her throat to let the guys know she was in the room, not wanting to surprise them during a tender moment between brothers. Being an only child had its advantages and equal downsides. She’d never known what it was like to have a sibling who she could rely on and who always had her back. But then, not everyone got along with their family members in the way many of the Firebrands did. In fact, being around their family growing up was part of the reason she had a rare occasion of thinking she might like to have a family of her own.

  “Hey. How did it go in there?” Corbin asked. His gaze bounced from the window and back to Liv.