A Baby for the Rancher

by Margaret Daley

  “I wish I could have done more. In fact, Gareth is the one who really arranged everything.” She lowered her voice and asked, “Byron really donated the river rocks?”

  “Yeah, surprised me when Gareth told me yesterday. They brought the rocks in their truck and were waiting for me to come. If we need more, Gareth said he would bring more.”

  Lucy turned her back to the group and whispered, “Do you think they have regretted what they did—that is, if they are the Robin Hoods?”

  “Possibly. I hope you’ll call me after you meet with Ballard tomorrow. Will you arrest them when you get back or wait?”

  “It’ll depend on the time. If not, the next day after school. I don’t want to make a scene at school.”

  “I understand. If you poke the grizzly, it gets madder.”

  “No, that’s not it. I don’t think anything I do will make Byron happy. You’re rubbing off on me. When I look at them from your perspective, I see them differently.”

  “Nothing is black-and-white.” Still holding his shovel, Ben glanced beyond Lucy. “Can I help you, Winston?”

  “Yeah, Gareth wanted to make sure if you like the placing of the holly bushes or if they should come out more.”

  Lucy turned toward the teen and noticed the progress made. “Maybe half a foot at most. We’ll probably have to trim the shrubs every spring. It looks really nice. We should have done this a long time ago.”

  “I guess our break time is over.” Ben moved toward the bushes still in buckets off to the side and grabbed one to plant.

  Lucy remembered a towel she had in the backseat of her Mustang and retrieved it. Using it to kneel on, she helped Maddy and Christie finish putting the flowers in the ground.

  An hour later the garden was finished with the last bag of river rocks dumped and spread out. The group stood back to see how it looked from a distance.

  “Beautiful, even without all the flowers blooming yet.” Holding his hand, Maddy stood next to Gareth, who smiled from ear to ear.

  “Yeah, I agree,” Gareth said, looking at Maddy as though the rest of them weren’t even there.

  Winston poked his brother in the ribs. “That’s Dad coming.”

  Lucy peered at the truck barreling down the highway. She wished she had her radar gun to clock him, especially when Byron came to a screeching halt, slammed out of his vehicle and marched toward them.

  Now what? Lucy had had about enough with Byron. She stepped toward him.

  He bypassed her and halted in front of his twin sons. “I didn’t give you permission to take the river rocks out of the shed.”

  “I left a note telling you.” Winston backed away a few paces while his brother stayed still.

  “Yeah, I know. Why do you think I’m here?”

  Gareth squared his shoulders and fisted his hands. “You want them back? It’s for the town.”

  Red-faced, Byron looked at the garden and finally realized everyone was staring at him and his sons. “Just because you left a note you were taking them doesn’t make it all right.”

  “We’ll pay for them.” Winston stepped next to Gareth. “We thought you would want to donate something like Lynne’s dad, Mr. Stillwater and Mr. Thorn did.” The expression on Winston’s face challenged his dad to disagree.

  Again Byron skimmed his gaze over everyone in the group, coming to rest on Maddy. A tic jerked in his cheek, and he narrowed his eyes on Gareth. “Time for you two to come home. The rocks can stay. Follow me in your truck.” Then he stomped toward his vehicle.

  The twins exchanged glances, then Winston mumbled to the group, “Sorry about that.”

  Heads down, they trudged to their pickup.

  Ben jogged to them, and Winston rolled down the window. “Thanks for your help today and yesterday.”

  After the boys nodded, Gareth drove off, throwing a look at Maddy as he left.

  Lucy took in a deep, calming breath. The twins had been wrong not to ask their father face-to-face, but her heart went out to the pair. Their relationship reminded her of what Ben had gone through with his dad. Byron had a strong personality that needed to dominate the people around him.

  She shifted toward Maddy to see if she was all right and glimpsed her swiping her hand across her cheeks. Christie had her arm around Maddy and was speaking to her in a low tone.

  When Ben returned with deep lines of concern in his expression, he said, “This is a good start. Now all I have to do is come up with a maintenance plan for the garden. If any of you want to help, please let me know.”

  “There’s a horticulture class at the high school. Maybe during the school year they might want to take this on as a project.”

  “Great suggestion, Rob. I’ll talk with the teacher this week. The most important thing is the sign is back and looking good as people drive into Little Horn. Thanks for your help.”

  “Rob, I’ll drive you home since Winston and Gareth had to leave,” Christie said as she and Maddy headed for her Chevy.

  When the teens left, Ben stood in front of Lucy, releasing a long breath. “That was tense.”

  “How are you?”

  “I’m fine...” He shook his head and said, “That’s not exactly right. It brought back memories of my own father and me, especially those last years in high school. Byron explodes at them, letting his anger go while those boys have to keep it buried inside them. It’s like a pressure cooker. Something is going to give. I’ve been there with that kind of anger.”

  She’d had such a good childhood with supportive parents. Ben’s situation, as well as the twins’, reminded her that not all kids did. No wonder he wanted to work with young people. The more she was around him, the more she respected him. Ben could have turned out so different. “I’m going to leave before dawn tomorrow for Lawton. I want to be back in time to arrest Gareth and Winston in the evening. I don’t want to give them time to start robbing again.”

  “How about tonight?”

  “I’m going to have a deputy keep an eye on their ranch. With that hill that overlooks Byron’s property and his house, hopefully the deputy can alert me if the twins go anywhere.”

  “Now we just have to wait until tomorrow to see if the case is finally solved and Little Horn can return to normal.” She was hopeful, but then she would no longer have any reason to spend time with Ben. And that thought bothered her more than it should have.

  Chapter Ten

  Hoping to find the lunch crowd gone, Ben parked near Maggie’s Coffee Shop at one thirty on Monday and started to climb from his truck when his cell phone rang. He quickly answered when he saw it was Lucy calling.

  “Good news?” he asked as he spied Byron leaving the restaurant.

  “Yes, for the case, but not for the McKay family.”

  “So Gareth and Winston are the Robin Hoods. It makes sense knowing what’s going on with them. When will you be back in Little Horn?”

  “I’m on the road now. I’ll probably be back in three hours.”

  “Would you be upset if I paid Byron a visit right before you come? I think his boys will need some support. I won’t if you say no.”

  “What pretext are you going over to see him about?”

  “Smooth over what happened yesterday.”

  “I can do this myself, but I agree about Gareth and Winston having some support if needed. This isn’t going to be easy, but it will be nice to have an end to this case.”

  Ben watched the twins’ father drive away. “And maybe Byron will need it, too. I remember before you came yesterday that Winston mentioned his mother was visiting her sister in Houston for a few days.”

  “I didn’t know that. I’ll give you another call when I arrive in town. Talk to you later.”

  When Ben disconnected with Lucy, he didn’t move from the front seat. He st
ared out the windshield, trying to figure out what was going on with him. With Lucy.

  Although the situation wouldn’t be a good one, he was looking forward to seeing her even briefly this evening. This wasn’t like him.

  A knock on his side window jerked him out of his thoughts, all centered on the sheriff. Ben nodded at Carson and finally climbed from his truck. “What are you doing in town?”

  “Lucy called me to tell me what has developed in the Robin Hoods case. I understand she also told you.”

  “This is going to cause some problems in Little Horn.”

  Carson’s laugh held no humor. “You think? We have our monthly meeting this week of the Lone Star Cowboy League. I’m scrapping my agenda. I’m sure the only thing the members will want to discuss will be what to do with Winston and Gareth. I want to make sure you’re going to be there. You’re not ready to lock the boys up and throw away the key like a good part of the town will want, especially with Byron’s behavior about this situation. I can’t even image Ruby’s reaction. Positive her brother was the cattle rustler, Byron wanted to string up Derek when all this started.”

  “How are you going to break it to her?”

  “Delicately.” Carson pointed toward the restaurant. “Are you going inside?”

  “Yeah, for a late lunch and because I need to see Abigail.”

  “Abigail? Is something going on? I’ve been in Austin a few days and everything falls apart around here.”

  “I’m going to see if Abigail is interested in being Cody’s nanny.”

  “Don’t let Maggie know.”

  Ben chuckled. “Are you going inside?”

  “I wasn’t, but I am now. I’m curious to see what Abigail says to the offer.”

  Ben made his way toward the coffee shop. “So do I. I’d better not hear any snickers coming from you.”

  The thinning lunch crowd allowed Ben to sit at a table in the back where he and Carson could have a quiet conversation and Maggie wouldn’t hear him ask Abigail about the nanny position.

  Abigail took their orders of chicken-fried steak, mashed potatoes and green beans, and Carson waited until she was out of earshot before asking, “When are you going to ask her?”

  “Give me time. I have to think of the best intro. I want her to take the offer seriously and accept.”

  “Not take you seriously? Never.”

  “You mock me. Watch out. I might get my feelings hurt and be absent at the Lone Star Cowboy meeting. You’ll have to deal with Byron all by yourself.”

  Carson tossed back his head and laughed. “Good thing we’re such good friends or I would think you’re serious.”

  “Oh, no. I’m never serious.” Ben grinned, having missed this give-and-take with his childhood friend. If anyone knew what he’d gone through growing up, it was Carson, who had a difficult father, too. But his dad had come from love, whereas Ben wasn’t so sure his father had loved him. “How’s life with Ruby treating you? I go to sleep for a while and wake up to find you’re a man in love.”

  After Abigail served them their lunches, Carson answered, “Ruby and I wasted so many years. We should have gotten married years ago, but my father never told me Ruby didn’t accept the check he wrote to her to leave Little Horn without me.”

  Ben whistled. “Maybe what your father did tops mine.”

  “It isn’t a contest, Ben. We both tried to please men who couldn’t be pleased. I never thought I wanted to be a father, but with my nephew, Brandon, around, I’ve discovered I’m not such a bad dad. He’s spending more time with my sister now, though, so I think by the start of school next fall she’ll have full-time custody.”

  “And how do you feel about that?” Ben cut his chicken-fried steak and took a bite.

  “I have mixed feelings. But my sister has a job she likes with the veterinarian. She really seems to be trying to be more responsible and a good mother when she’s with Brandon. My nephew is responding to her, too. How about you and fatherhood?”

  A well of emotions rose into his throat. Ben swallowed several times before answering. “I never thought I wanted to be a father, either, but Cody has changed my life in the past six weeks. I can’t imagine not having him.”

  “Have you thought of finding a wife?”

  After savoring some of his chicken-fried steak, Ben asked, “Why? Do you have anyone in mind?”

  “I think you have someone in mind. Lucy.”

  “Those rumors going around about us are just that, rumors. We aren’t really dating.”

  “Would you like to be?”

  “Yes” was on the tip of Ben’s tongue. Then he began thinking of all the reasons it wasn’t a good option. “I need a mother for Cody. Lucy is married to her job and loves it.”

  “I’m not asking what Lucy wants. What do you want?”

  “I don’t know.”

  Carson sipped his water, assessing Ben over the rim of his glass. “That’s a first. In the past you would have quickly answered, ‘Having fun with no ties to anyone.’”

  “That’s the past. I have a son now that I have to consider.” What if his interest in Lucy had more to do with Cody needing a mother than his falling in love? When he did commit to someone or something—like the ranch—it was totally. His family had fallen apart when his mother left them. He never wanted that for his son.

  Ben looked beyond Carson and signaled for Abigail as she finished up with a customer.

  When she approached, she placed their bills on the table. “Did you need anything else?”

  Ben took a gulp of his ice water and asked, “You do a wonderful job with Cody in the church nursery. Would you consider working full-time as a nanny for Cody?”

  Stunned, Abigail stared at him, opened her mouth, then snapped it closed.

  Ben pushed a chair out for her to sit.

  When the waitress sank into it, she finally said, “I don’t know what to say. I never thought about doing that.”

  After Ben stated what he expected of a nanny and how much he would pay her, he waited as Abigail processed the information.

  Finally she panned the coffee shop, then said, “I need some time to think about it.”

  Ben removed his business card and scribbled his cell phone number on the back. “Call me.”

  She pocketed the card and rose. “I’ll let you know by the end of the week.” Then she scurried across the restaurant and disappeared into the kitchen.

  “I’ve rarely seen Abigail speechless. She’d be a good choice as a nanny. She’s worked at the church nursery since she was a teenager.” Carson placed his money on top of his bill. “I need to be heading home.”

  “So do I.” Ben followed suit, paying for his lunch, then standing.

  As Ben drove in the direction of Stillwater Ranch, he thought of his son being held by a woman, and it wasn’t Abigail. He remembered Lucy on Saturday rocking Cody because he was fussy when he woke up early from his nap. The peaceful look on her face had snatched Ben’s breath.

  * * *

  With a warrant tucked into her pocket, Lucy pulled up to Byron McKay’s huge mansion and parked behind Ben’s truck. She had several deputies on standby in case Byron became difficult, but she wanted to keep this as low-key as possible. She knew the next hour or two would be rough, but seeing Ben’s vehicle eased some of the tension gripping her.

  On the porch, she rang the bell, then glanced around her at the sun setting, brilliant oranges and reds streaking across the blue sky. Beautiful. She wished she had time to appreciate it.

  When the door swung open, Byron seemed to fill the whole entrance. A scowl darkened his features as he took in her uniform and the sheriff’s SUV behind her, then her expression. “Is something wrong? Has there been another robbery?”

  “No, I’m here to talk to your sons. I have s
ome questions concerning the thefts and gifts.”

  “What in the world would Gareth and Winston know about them?” Byron’s voice rose several decibels.

  “I’d like all of us to sit down and talk. We can do it here or at the sheriff’s office.” Lucy peeked over the man’s shoulder and spied Ben at the entrance to the living room and the twins on the second-floor landing, staring down at them.

  “Are you arresting them? You’re crazy if you think they would steal from me. Now I know we need a new sheriff.” Byron remained in the doorway.

  She’d had enough of his bluster. Straightening, she looked him in the eye. “You have a choice. We get to the bottom of this here or at my office. If they don’t have anything to do with it, then no one else needs to know.”

  Byron gestured toward Ben. “He’ll know.”

  Ben moved toward Byron. “I don’t spread rumors. If Gareth and Winston are innocent as you say, then that is it.”

  Byron glanced from Lucy to Ben before snagging his sons’ attention. “Come down here. I want this taken care of now and never brought up again. And, Ben, you stay. I want you to know the truth, too. My sons would never steal, especially from me. They have everything they want. Why would they need to?”

  Gareth and Winston descended the staircase. A gray tinge colored Gareth’s face while Winston’s expression was neutral.

  Too bad the twins were under eighteen. She would love to talk to them without their father.

  When they were settled in the living room with Ben standing by the entrance, Lucy sat in a chair across from the couch where Gareth and Winston were. Byron hovered at the end of the sofa, opening and closing his hands.

  “Gareth, where did you get the money to purchase a silver music box, necklace and iPod?” Lucy thought she would start with the gifts to Maddy.

  Gareth didn’t reply for a long moment until Byron snorted and said, “What’s that got to do with the cattle rustling? If you don’t have more than that, leave.”

  “Gareth?” Lucy ignored Byron and kept her focus on the twins.