No Ordinary Cowboy

No. He wasn’t losing this land that was more precious to him than his own life. He was not abandoning those kids, who needed this place with every breath they took.

He threw back his head and yelled, “I’m not leaving this ranch!”

“That’s the spirit.”

Hank spun around at the sound of Willie’s voice. The older man stood silhouetted in the open doorway of the building. Was it a trick of the sun that made him look shorter? Willie stepped into the cool interior and Hank noticed for the first time how stooped his foreman was becoming.

“Feel any better after that outburst?” Willie’s tone held reproach. He walked closer and stood with arms akimbo.

Hank ran his fingers through his hair and his anger abated. “Can’t believe I got mad enough to yell where the children would hear me.”

“I think the next county heard you,” Willie said. “Haven’t seen that since you started bringing the children here.” Willie’s voice wavered, thinner than it used to be. A lot of things were thinner about Willie these days. He was getting old. Hank would have to lay him off if he lost the ranch. Where on earth would Willie go at his age?

Hank would lose the best friend he’d ever had. He’d had a stronger connection with the foreman than he’d ever had with his own father.

Nope. Wasn’t about to happen. He was losing neither the ranch nor Willie.

“If things got really bad, we might have to sell.”

Willie dropped his arms to his sides. “It’s that close?”

“I don’t know.” Hank scuffed a boot in the dirt. “I kind of forced her to tell me the worst that could happen.”

Dust motes drifted in a sunbeam that shone through a high window.

Willie set his foot on a bale of straw and rested his elbow on his knee. “Sounds like you aren’t gonna take this sitting down.”

“I plan to fight back,” Hank answered.

Willie’s white mustache curled up at the corners. He looked at Hank with gray eyes. “Glad to hear you say that.”

“I shouldn’t have made a scene in front of the kids.”

“Nope. But you did, so move on. Should have a little talk with them. Reassure them everything’s all right.”

Hank nodded. “Yeah. I’ll do that.” He straightened. “Now.”

Funny how the sound of those kids chattering across the yard gave him hope. When they’d gotten here two weeks ago, they’d been the saddest, quietest bunch of tots he’d seen in an age.

“Can you help Haley and Rich watch the children for a while?” Hank asked.

“Sure can. Whatcha have in mind to do?”

“I’m going to keep her out of that office,” Hank said.

“You sure that’s wise? Why not let her in and get it over with?”

Hank shrugged. “Just can’t let her in there.”

“Don’t forget, you catch more flies with honey.” Willie laughed. “Sweeten her up.”

Hank smiled and it felt strained. He knew kids. He didn’t much know women.

Time to learn.

Fast.

He stepped into the sun-drenched yard and spotted the children in the field on the other side of the corral. He joined them there.

“Kids,” he said as they swarmed him, clutching his arms, sitting on his feet, wrapping arms around his waist. “I got to give y’all an apology. I shouldn’t have yelled at that lady like that.”

Cheryl’s solemn gaze disconcerted him. She was the most fragile of the group and the wisest—an old woman in a child’s body. She raised her arms to be lifted.

He picked her up and settled her against his chest.

“Don’t be mad,” she whispered.

“I’m not mad, darlin’, not anymore,” he said.

Nope, not mad. Determined.

AS AMY WALKED across the yard, she watched Hank talk to the girl with the haunting eyes. Looked like there was some kind of bond between them.

She wouldn’t let sentiment overcome her resolve, though.

“We need to talk,” she said as she approached. She nodded her head toward the children, who watched her warily. “Privately.”

Hank put down the girl. She and the other children ran to the counselors in the field.

“I’d like to see the office,” Amy said.

Hank cracked the knuckles of his left hand. He frowned intensely, like he was thinking hard about something, then his face lit up.

“Hungry Hollow!” he shouted, then lowered his voice. “You need to see the neighboring ranch.”

“Later. I really think—”

“It’s the working part of this property.”

That stopped her even more than the cunning look in his eye. The working part would be important. She had to get to those books, though.

“But—”

“It brings in a good income,” he said.

Okay, she would need to know how Hank supported this whole operation. She nodded. “I should check it out.”

“Yeah, we can ride over.”