A Reunion For The Rancher

“She’s a good person, you know.” Derek stood tall, shoulders back. He’d grown since those days when Carson and Ruby had dated. He’d been about seven or so, and he’d wanted to tag along, sharing information about bugs he’d seen and cool cartoons he’d watched.

“I know she is,” Carson admitted. “Want to help me out?”

“Sure, I’ll help you out. And I’ll give you advice. The first time you hurt her, I was a kid. I’m not a kid anymore.”

“I get that.” Carson carried the ladder past Derek. He got what the other man was saying, but he would like to know how her walking out on him had become his fault.

He didn’t plan on having that conversation with her brother. Instead, he set the ladder up against the side of the barn.

“Want to give me a hand?” he asked as he climbed the ladder.

Derek flashed a big grin and pushed back his hat. “Sure. You climb on up and I’ll push the ladder over.”

“That isn’t exactly what I meant. Hand me the first camera and wire nuts. I’m going to...”

Derek started to do just that but both of their gazes landed on the car coming up the drive.

“Great. That’s just what we need, more law.” Derek looked up at him. “Did you do this?”

“No, Derek, I didn’t do this. But you have an alibi, so relax.”

Derek shook his head. “From the guy who wants me back behind bars.”

“I didn’t say that.” Carson came down from the ladder and stood next to him as the sheriff pulled up in her patrol car. “There’s no evidence you’ve stolen anything.”

“No, there isn’t. That’s because I haven’t. I got in trouble a couple of years ago and I learned my lesson.”

“I’m sure you have.” Carson wanted to believe Derek. He did seem like a changed person.

Lucy got out of her patrol car, pushing sunglasses back and surveying the property. Derek went forward. Carson followed, but he shot a gaze in Ruby’s direction, watching her lead the pony that Brandon rode. She had gone still and even from a distance he felt her silent accusation.

“Lucy,” Derek started. “I guess you’re here to look for stolen property?”

Carson had to give it to Derek, he wasn’t acting guilty.

Lucy pushed back short, blond hair and looked around the place, a frown turning her lips. “Yeah, afraid so. Derek, I’m going to ask you to take a seat in my patrol car. It will make things easier as I take a look around.”

Derek slid into the backseat of the car. His jaw clenched, his eyes closed. Carson felt a truckload of sorry for him.

“I haven’t seen anything, Lucy.” The defense came unplanned but there it was, hanging between them as Ruby walked up, Brandon at her side.

“You haven’t seen anything because there’s nothing to see. We were at the ER with Gran. You can check it out, pull video, whatever you need to do.” Ruby had a hold of Brandon’s hand. The boy squirmed and shifted from foot to foot. She gave him a look, her expression softening to tender. “I’m going to take Brandon inside. Gran has some great cookies and chocolate milk. I’ll be back.”

Carson watched her go. He guessed if he wanted to keep a wall between himself and Ruby Donovan, this was the way to do it. She wouldn’t want much to do with him as long as her brother was a prime suspect in the robberies. He could do without the complication of getting involved in her family drama.

It was a win-win situation.

Other than the fact that the guy in the backseat was being accused when there wasn’t a bit of evidence against him. This entire situation was getting out of hand. The thefts, people turning against each other. Carson didn’t know how they would stop what felt like a train speeding down the track, about to derail.

He didn’t know how he would steer clear of Ruby Donovan and whatever still lingered between them.

* * *

Ruby stormed through the house, Brandon in tow. The little boy hurried to keep up with her. As she headed into the kitchen, Gran looked up from her seat on the walker that was pushed up to the counter. Frail was something Iva Donovan refused to be. Even after a night in the ER, she was thinking about feeding her family. Her eyes lit on the child Ruby had dragged in with her.

“You trying to pull his arm off, Ruby?”

Ruby stopped, bringing the child to a halt next to her. “No. Oh, Brandon, I’m sorry. Down the hall, buddy. That’s the room you’re looking for. I’ll get your cookies and milk.”

“What’s going on? And isn’t that Jenna’s child?”

“Yes, it is Jenna’s child. Carson is here. He came over to, I don’t know, maybe search the place. Maybe to help put up cameras. I’m not sure. And now Lucy is here because there was another theft last night.”

She poured milk and opened the cookie jar. Brandon came back down the hall. He climbed up on a stool and waited.

“Someone took Uncle Carson’s trophies that were his mom’s,” the child said as he reached for a cookie. His elbow hit the milk and it tumbled, sending liquid spilling across the counter. “Oops.”

Ruby reached for a roll of paper towels and wiped up the mess. “Oops. The nice thing about messes is that they clean up.”

“Yeah, my mom says I’m clumsy and she’s tired of cleaning up after me. I make a lot of messes.”

“Kids do, Brandon.” Ruby shoved off the caseworker ingrained deep within. She no longer had that job. She was here restoring a farm, finding a way to get back to the life she had walked out on years ago.

She’d moved to Oklahoma after college. She’d visited when she could. She’d sent money home to help her grandmother who insisted on keeping the farm.

“Where is Carson?” Iva asked as she peeled carrots.

“Outside with Derek and Lucy. I’m sure they’re going through the barn.”

“Looking for trophies,” Brandon supplied as he munched down on a cookie.

“Oh, yes, trophies.” Ruby drew in a breath. “I’m going to check on the pony. He needs to be unsaddled. Brandon, you stay here with my granny and I’ll be back.”

Brandon grinned. “Because Uncle Carson needs someone to take him down a notch. That’s what my mom always says.”

Iva snickered and tossed a half carrot to the child. “Eat something good for you, little man. If your mouth is full it won’t run quite so much. And Ruby, head on out of here before you blow a gasket.”

Ruby took her grandmother’s advice and headed for the front door, barely noticing the worn furniture, the threadbare rugs and the dust. There was so much to do. She didn’t know when she’d get it all done. The house, the farm, even Derek and Iva were in need of her attention.

As was the bank account that was dwindling to an all-time low.

As she walked down the steps she saw Carson heading her way. Derek walked with him. The two were talking in a way that settled her nerves, because the conversation seemed halfway civil. She waited until they got to her and then she nodded toward the house, sending Derek on his way.

He paused, looking down at her, a reminder that he was no longer a little boy needing her protection. He was a grown man. He could take care of himself.

She had to let go.

But she couldn’t.