A Rancher's Vow

“Other than the fire? No. But maybe you ought to ask Moon-Eye.”

“Why Moon-Eye?”

“He was out there earlier.”

“In the barn? When?”

“I saw him right before I spotted you with the dog,” Alcina said. “I mean, I really couldn’t see who the man was for sure, but I assumed that it was Moon-Eye…doing chores.”

Frowning, Reed shook his head. “As far as I know, Moon-Eye never left the party.”

“Then if he wasn’t in the barn…” Alcina’s forehead creased. “Who was?”

Who, indeed?

THE CRISIS WAS OVER, Alcina realized when she left the house a few minutes after Reed. Thankfully, the fire had been extinguished. Some people were standing around talking, while others were already heading for their vehicles.

Obviously, the festivities were over, as well.

Reba Gantry and her escort stopped nearby, their voices low in a heated discussion. The café owner’s finery had been ruined, but somehow Cesar Cardona had managed to remain picture-perfect, as if the land developer had stood back to watch the barn burn.

Reba’s voice suddenly rose, carrying across the few yards that separated them from Alcina. “I wouldn’t keep anything this valuable without trying to find the rightful owner!”

“It wouldn’t be like you stole anything!” Cardona growled. “Think of it as payment for the clothes you ruined doing your good deed. A reward.”

Puzzled, Alcina took a better look at the couple and noted something sparkly in the café owner’s hand.

Cardona continued to argue. “Anyone could have lost it. You’ll never find the person.”

“Not if I don’t ask around, I won’t.”

“Even if you do, how do you know whoever claims it is the rightful owner? What if I told you that I lost it?”

“I’d call you a damn liar and then some, Cesar Cardona. You don’t fool me none. I know the kinds of things you’ve been up to around here.” Appearing as disgusted as she sounded, Reba glanced around and, when she saw Alcina, headed her way, waving the sparkly object that was the focus of the couple’s argument. “Say, honey, you didn’t lose a diamond tonight, did you?”

Alcina shook her head. “I prefer pearls.”

“What about Pru? Could this have come from her engagement ring?”

Alcina took a closer look at the trillion—a triangular-shaped unmounted diamond.

“Nope. Wrong cut.” And unusual. “Where did you find it?”

Reba pointed. “Over by the entrance to the barn. Rather, what’s left of it. I was swatting down some flames with wet burlap when this beauty nearly jumped up and bit me.”

Staring down at the sparkling diamond in her dirty hand, Reba wore a wistful look. No doubt she would like the gem for herself, Alcina thought, admiring her honest nature.

She suggested, “It probably belongs to one of the other women who were fighting the fire in the same area.”

“Nope, already asked them.” Reba sighed and pocketed the stone. “But the diamond belongs to someone, so I’d better get a move on and spread the word that I have it before the party breaks up.”

The party had broken up with the first whiff of smoke, but Alcina didn’t bother clarifying.

“Cesar?” Reba called, making a one-eighty. “Now, where did that man go?”

Alcina spotted him climbing into his shiny black truck. “Uh-oh, looks like he lost patience with you. If you need a ride back to town, let me know.”

Following Alcina’s gaze, Reba muttered, “Well, I never…! He’d better not come back sniffing around me for what he’s not welcome to anymore, that’s all I have to say.”

With that, the café owner marched off and approached a small knot of people standing near the parked cars.

Alcina wasn’t aware of Hugh Ruskin until he said, “That was a real brave thing you did, ma’am, putting yourself in the thick of the fire to save that horse.”

Alcina knew the bartender only by sight and reputation since she didn’t frequent the Silver Slipper. And after the altercation between him and Bart over Josie, Alcina had to admit that she was surprised to see him on the Curly-Q at all.

“Nice that someone appreciated my effort,” she muttered, wondering if he’d been eavesdropping on her and Reba.

Then, thinking of the way Reed had lit into her, Alcina glanced around until she spotted the aggravating man over by the corral, deep in conversation with Moon-Eye. The grizzled ranch hand was shaking his head as if in denial. Undoubtedly, Reed was questioning Moon-Eye about being in the barn prior to the fire, as he’d intended.

Not feeling very warm toward Reed at the moment—he could have said something positive about what she’d done—Alcina turned back to the bartender, whose clothing appeared to be ruined.

“It looks as if you went all out, putting yourself on the line,” she said, surprised by the fact. Maybe he was trying to make up for that altercation with Bart over Josie, though that had been quite a while ago when he’d been brand-new in town. “And my name is Alcina, by the way, not ma’am. That’s my mother.”

Ruskin laughed. “Alcina, then.” Strong white, predatory teeth flashed from a soot-streaked face that was rugged and interesting, if not handsome. “I didn’t get nearly as close as you did to that fire,” he admitted. “I simply pitched in like everyone else to stop it from spreading.”

Not everyone, Alcina thought, remembering Cardona’s spotless appearance. Not quite.

“I admire a woman with spirit,” Ruskin was saying.

“Pardon?”

“I admire you,” he clarified, stepping closer, leaving her with too little room. “And I’d like to get to know you better. Maybe I could interest you in sharing supper with me some night this week.”

She was not a small woman, but he was the kind of man who filled a doorway. He made her feel delicate, and the comparison didn’t leave her comfortable. Or maybe it was the way he was staring at her expectantly. The strange glitter in his nearly colorless eyes suddenly reminded her of a reptile setting sights on its prey.

She took another step back to set a definite boundary. But having been raised with a certain standard of manners, Alcina thought to turn him down politely.

“I’m very flattered, Mr. Ruskin—”

“Hugh. Mr. Ruskin is my stepdaddy,” he said, echoing her.

Alcina forced a smile and started to say, “I just am not—” when she was interrupted yet again.

“Ready to go home?”

This time it was Reed, who inserted himself between her and the other man. Truth be told, she was relieved that she didn’t have to turn Ruskin down directly.

“Ah,” the bartender said, his visage darkening. “I see how the wind blows.”