The Cowboy’s Unexpected Family

Awakening from a months-long coma, Ben Stillwater is met with a big surprise: the footloose bachelor cowboy is a father! Ben tries to adjust to life with baby Cody and decides what the child really needs is a mom. Sheriff Lucy Benson does not seem a likely candidate—she already has her hands full closing in on the thieves who have been targeting the ranches of Little Horn, Texas. But the closer Ben gets to Lucy—and the closer they get to solving the mystery—the more it seems the free-spirited rancher and the determined officer could be the perfect match.

“What Cody really needs is a mother.”

“You, settle down with one woman?” Lucy asked.

“That’s not an impossibility when I find the right person,” Ben said.

“What are you looking for?”

“Someone who loves children, has a good sense of humor, knows what she wants and…”

She waited half a minute before saying, “And what?”

“There is a connection between us—chemistry. Any suggestions on how to find a mother for Cody?”

In that moment, his gaze locked with hers, robbing her of any response. A lump swelled in her throat, taking her by surprise. She wanted the best for Cody—and Ben. “Let me think on it. Cody is a special kid. You’ll only want the best for him.”

His eyes gleamed. “Of course. He’s a Stillwater.” He took a long sip of his milk shake, watching her the whole time.

* * *

Lone Star Cowboy League:

Bighearted ranchers in small-town Texas

A Reunion for the Rancher by Brenda Minton, October 2015

A Doctor for the Nanny by Leigh Bale, November 2015

A Ranger for the Holidays by Allie Pleiter, December 2015

A Family for the Soldier by Carolyne Aarsen, January 2016

A Daddy for Her Triplets by Deb Kastner, February 2016

A Baby for the Rancher by Margaret Daley, March 2016

MARGARET DALEY, an award-winning author of ninety books, has been married for over forty years and is a firm believer in romance and love. When she isn’t traveling, she’s writing love stories, often with a suspense thread, and corralling her three cats that think they rule her household. To find out more about Margaret, visit her website at margaretdaley.com.

A Baby

for the Rancher

Margaret Daley

www.millsandboon.co.uk

If we confess our sins,

He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins,

and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

—1 John 1:9

To the other five authors in this continuity series. It was fun working with you all.

Special thanks and acknowledgment to Margaret Daley for her contribution to the Lone Star Cowboy League miniseries.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

About the Author

Title Page

Bible Verse

Dedication

Acknowledgment

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Epilogue

Dear Reader

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

Sheriff Lucy Benson carefully replaced the receiver in its cradle, in spite of her urge to slam it down. Frustration churned her stomach into a huge knot. Where is Betsy McKay? None of her law-enforcement contacts in Texas had panned out. She’d been sure that Betsy was in Austin or San Antonio, the two largest cities closest to Little Horn in the Texas Hill Country.

Lucy rose from behind her desk at the sheriff’s office. She grabbed her cowboy hat from the peg on the wall, set it on her head and decided to go for a walk. She needed to work off some of this aggravation plaguing her ever since the series of robberies had started months ago in her county. She still hadn’t been able to bring in the Robin Hoods, as the robbers had been dubbed since many gifts given to the poor in the area had mysteriously started not long after the cattle rustling and stealing of equipment began.

Stepping outside to a beautiful March afternoon, she paused on the sidewalk and relished the clear blue sky, the air with only a hint of a chill. They needed rain, but for the moment she savored the bright sunshine as a sign of good things to come.

She was closer to figuring out who the Robin Hoods were. They were most likely teenagers who were familiar with the area and ranch life. Of course, that described all the teenagers surrounding Little Horn. But there also seemed to be a connection to Betsy McKay. The ranches like Byron McKay’s were the main targets. The owners of each place hit by the Robin Hoods hadn’t helped Mac McKay when he needed it. Could this be mere coincidence? Mac’s death, caused by his heavy drinking, had sent Betsy, his daughter, fleeing Little Horn her senior year in high school.

The Lone Star Cowboy League, a service organization formed to help its ranchers, could have stepped up and helped more, although Mac hadn’t been a member. But even more, Byron McKay, the richest rancher in the area and Mac’s cousin, should have helped Mac when he went to Byron for assistance.

Lucy headed toward Maggie’s Coffee Shop to grab a cup of coffee, and then she had to come up with another way to find Betsy. As she neared the drugstore, the door swung open and Ben Stillwater emerged with a sack. His Stetson sat low on his forehead, and he wore sunglasses, hiding his dark brown eyes that in the past had always held a teasing twinkle in them.

But that was before he had been in a coma for weeks and struggled to recover from his riding accident. The few times she’d seen him lately, his somber gaze had held none of his carefree, usual humor. He had a lot to deal with.

Ben stopped and looked at her, a smile slowly tilting his mouth up as he tipped the brim of his black hat toward her. “It’s nice to see you, Lucy. How’s it going?”

“I’m surprised to see you in town.”

“Why?” The dimples in his cheeks appeared as his grin deepened.

“You just got out of the hospital.”

“Days ago. I’m not letting my accident stop me any more than necessary. I’m resuming my duties at the ranch. Well, at least part of them. I know that my foreman and my brother have done a nice job in my—absence. But I’m home now, and you know me—I can’t sit around twiddling my thumbs all day.”

For a few seconds, Lucy glimpsed the man Ben had once been, the guy who played hard and wouldn’t stay long with any woman. He’d never been able to make a long-term commitment. How long would it take before he reverted to his old ways? Yes, he had been a good rancher and put in a lot of work at his large spread, but still, he had never been serious about much of anything except his ranch. And helping teens. “How’s the Future Ranchers Program at your place going with your absence?”

“Zed and Grady have kept it going. I’d been working a lot with Maddy Coles, Lynne James and Christie Markham before the accident, so they knew what to do.”

Maddy had been Betsy McKay’s best friend while she’d lived here. Did she know where Betsy was and wouldn’t say? “What are you doing in town?”

“Picking up my prescriptions. I had to get out of the house. I hate inactivity even if I have to work through some pain. I’m going stir-crazy, and I promised Grandma that I wouldn’t go back to work until I’m home a week.” Again those dimples appeared in his cheeks. “What was I thinking? Only thirty-six hours, then I’m a free man.”

“How’s Cody doing?” She still couldn’t believe that Ben was a father, although the DNA test that had come back could only state Cody was a Stillwater, a son either of Grady or Ben, identical twins. The eight-month-old was staying at the Stillwater Ranch, and Ben seemed to accept the fact he was the boy’s dad since Grady had said the child couldn’t be his. She’d always thought of Ben as a playboy, happiest with no ties to hold him down, but a baby could certainly do that.

Ben removed his sunglasses, his dark brown eyes serious. “A little man on the go. I think he knows the house better than I do.”

She’d wanted to ask him about the letter, addressed to Ben, that she’d given Grady to give him. She’d found it in the wreck outside town where a young woman had died. Was she Cody’s mother? What did it say? The words were on the tip of her tongue to ask him when she spied Byron heading for her.

Ben glanced at the tall man with a large stomach and wavy strawberry blond hair coming toward them. “He looks like he’s on a mission.”

“Yeah, I’m sure he is.”

“Do you want me to stay?” Ben put his sunglasses on.

“No, he’s my problem. You don’t need the stress.” The less others heard Byron’s tirade the better she would feel. If she could escape, she would.

“But—”

“I mean it. Listening to him is, sadly, part of my job. Take care.”

Ben tipped his hat and strode toward his truck, pausing a moment to speak with Byron, who frowned and continued his trek toward her.

“Sheriff.” Byron planted himself in Lucy’s path. “What kind of progress have you made on the thefts occurring?”

“I have a few leads I’m following.”

“Like what?” he demanded in a deep, loud voice.

Lucy glanced around, wishing this conversation could take place in her office, not on the main street of Little Horn. “I have a possible lead on where the cattle are being sold. Without brands, it’s harder to track the stolen cows.” The rustlers had stolen new cattle that hadn’t been branded yet.

“Yeah, we all know the thieves know what’s going on here. Maybe when you find them, we should elect one of them sheriff next year when you’re up for reelection.”

Heat singed her cheeks as a couple slowed their step on the sidewalk to listen to the conversation. “That would be a brilliant idea. Put the crooks in charge.”

“Sarcasm doesn’t become you. I help pay your salary, and I want to see this settled. Now.”

The drugstore door opened, and Lucy looked to see who else would witness Byron’s dressing-down. His twins, Gareth and Winston, came to a stop a few feet from their father. Winston’s eyebrows slashed down while Gareth’s expression hardened.

Holding up a sack, Winston moved forward. “Dad, we’ve got what we need for the school project. Ready to go?”

A tic twitched in Gareth’s cheek, his gaze drilling into his father.

The twins weren’t happy with Byron. Lucy couldn’t blame them. He’d been going around town, ready to launch into a spiel with anyone who would listen about what should be done to the rustlers and why she wasn’t doing her job. His ranch had been hit the hardest.

Her gaze swept from one twin to the other. Maybe the boys knew where Betsy was. She needed to talk to them without their father. Anytime the conversation turned to Mac or Betsy, Byron went off on one of his heated outbursts.

Byron nodded at his sons, then turned to her and said, “Think about when you run for sheriff next year. Do you want me as a supporter or an enemy?”

“Dad, we’ve got a lot of work to do tonight,” Gareth said in an angry tone, then marched toward Byron’s vehicle across the street.

Lucy watched Winston and Byron follow a few yards behind Gareth; the middle-aged man was still ranting about the situation to Winston, whose shoulders slumped more with each step he took. Did those twins have a chance with Byron as their father? They were popular, but stories of them bullying had circulated; unfortunately, nothing she could pursue. It wouldn’t surprise her because Byron was the biggest bully in the county.

With long strides Lucy headed again for Maggie’s Coffee Shop. She needed a double shot of caffeine because she would be spending hours tonight going over all the evidence to see if she’d missed anything.

* * *

Ben Stillwater sank into the chair on the back porch of his house at his ranch near Little Horn. He cupped his mug and brought it to his lips. The warm coffee chased away a chill in his body caused by the wind. To the east the sun had risen enough that its brightness erased the streaks of orange and pink from half an hour ago.

Ben released a long breath—his first day back to work after his riding accident that had led to a stroke caused by a head injury at the end of October. He had gone into a coma, then when he had woken up, he’d faced a long road with rehabilitation. The accident seemed an eternity ago. He’d just discovered a baby on his doorstep, and he’d been on his way to Carson Thorn’s house to figure out what to do when his world had changed. He couldn’t believe months had been taken from him. An emptiness settled in his gut. He wasn’t the same man.

So much has changed.

I have a son. Cody.

But who is Cody’s mother?

He was ashamed he didn’t know for sure. His life before the injury had been reckless, with him always looking for fun. Was the Lord giving him a second chance?

When he had come out of the coma, he didn’t remember what had prompted him to go see his neighbor that day of the accident, a trip he’d never completed because his horse had thrown him and he’d hit his head on a rock. But lately he’d begun to recall the details. Finding the baby on his front doorstep. Holding the crying child. Reading the note pinned to the blue blanket with Cody’s name on it. Your baby, your turn.

Grandma Mamie had told him in the hospital the DNA test had come back saying Cody was a Stillwater, which meant either he was the father or his twin brother, Grady, was, and Grady knew the baby wasn’t his. The news had stunned him.

That leaves me. I’m a father.

He’d known it when Grady and Grandma had brought Cody to the hospital to meet him. In his gut he’d felt a connection to the baby.

Grady had gone into town, but the second he was back they needed to talk finally. One last time he had to make sure his twin brother wasn’t Cody’s father before Ben became so emotionally attached to the baby he couldn’t let him go. And if Grady wasn’t Cody’s father, then that brought Ben back to the question: Who was Cody’s mother? He should know that.

He sipped his coffee and thought back to seventeen months ago. He’d been wild before his riding accident. He’d worked hard, and he’d played hard. Not anymore. He had a little baby to think of. Lying in that hospital, piecing his life back together, he’d come to the conclusion he couldn’t continue as he had before, especially because of Cody.

The back door creaked open, and Ben glanced toward it. Grady emerged onto the porch with a mug in his hand. Although they were identical twins, when Ben had stared at himself in the mirror before he’d shaved this morning, he’d seen a pasty-white complexion that had lost all its tan since he was in the hospital. His features were leaner, almost gaunt. A shadow of the man moving toward him with a serious expression, his dark brown eyes full of concern.

“I’m not sure I want to ask what’s wrong,” Ben said as Grady folded his long body into the chair across from him.

“Grandma said you were talking to her about Cody and his parentage. Are you having doubts you’re Cody’s father?”

“Are you?”

“No,” Grady said in a forceful tone.

“I didn’t really think it was your child.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Because you’re the serious twin. You’re the one who does the right thing. I’m the rogue of the family. Everyone knows that. I was wondering more about who is Cody’s mother. Sadly I don’t know for sure. There’s more than one woman it could be.” Ben shrugged, then set his mug on the wicker end table near him. “Grandma said you had a letter for me.”

Grady frowned. “She wasn’t supposed to say anything. I was.”

“I think y’all have waited long enough. I’ve been awake for weeks.”

“Trying to recuperate from a stroke and head trauma. I didn’t want to add to the problems you were facing with rehabilitation.”

“I’m not fragile. I won’t break, and I don’t need protecting.”

His twin started laughing. “You must be getting better. You’re getting feisty and difficult.” Grady reached into his back pocket and pulled out an envelope with Ben’s name on it. “This is for you.”

“Where did you get it?”

“The sheriff gave it to me for you.”

“Lucy Benson? Where did she find it?” Why didn’t she say anything to him the other day when they met in town? He intended to ask her that when he saw her.

“She found it on the front seat of a car involved in a wreck. The driver, Alana Peterson, died. There were also several bags with baby items in them on the floor.”

Cody’s mother was Alana? Ben had liked her and had had a lot of fun with her, but there had never been anything serious enough to lead to a marriage. He had a lot of mistakes to answer for. “When did this happen?”

“A week ago.”

“You’re just now getting around to it?”

“Yes.” Handing the letter to Ben, Grady pinned his dark eyes on him and didn’t look away.

Ben snatched it from his grasp but didn’t open the envelope. If this was from Cody’s mother, he would read it in private.

“Aren’t you going to open it?”

“Later,” Ben said while gritting his teeth.

“I know this is a lot to take in after all that has happened—is happening—but Chloe won’t always be able to watch Cody.”

“I figured when you two married she wouldn’t be Cody’s nanny for long. Y’all have your own life.”

“She can for now, but she’ll be having her own baby soon, and she wants to open a clinic. I want to see that dream come true for her,” Grady said in reference to his fiancée, who was pregnant with her ex-husband’s baby.

“She should have that clinic. She’s been a great physical therapist to work with. I can’t avoid doing my exercises each day here at home since she lives here. And I know you’ll be a good father to her child.”

“The ranch is going to be different with little ones running around.”

“And not always the safest place for curious toddlers.” Ben rose, stuffed the letter into his pocket and picked up his mug. “I’ve got a lot to consider. I’m meeting Zed at the barn.” He started for the back door.

“I know we’ve had our problems in the past, but you’ve done well with the ranch.”

Ben glanced at his twin and smiled. “Thanks. That means a lot coming from you.”

As he entered the kitchen, he finished the last swallow of coffee and put his cup by the pot. He’d probably have more later, but he was eager right now to see the foreman. Zed had kept the ranch running while he’d been in the hospital. He headed for the front room where Grandma, Chloe and Cody were to see them before he went to the barn.

As he crossed the foyer, the doorbell rang. He detoured and answered the door, surprised to see Sheriff Lucy Benson. “What brings you out here? Did you catch the thieves?”

“Not yet, but I will. That’s the reason I’m here.” Lucy’s furrowed forehead, intense green eyes and firm mouth shouted her seriousness.

Before his riding accident, a series of robberies had occurred, with cattle and ranch equipment and other items being stolen. When he came out of his coma, he discovered they were still occurring. The ranchers had been riled then, and now they were even more so, putting pressure on the sheriff to find the thieves with Byron leading them. “Sure, what can I do to help? Take on Byron for you?” He’d wanted to stay Wednesday afternoon, but Lucy liked to fight her own battles. She’d always been very independent and determined.

“Let’s talk outside.” Dressed in her tan uniform and cowboy hat, Lucy pushed the screen door wide to let Ben join her on the porch. As usual she was all business.

What would she be like off duty? Ben stepped to the side and waited for her to turn toward him, pushing that question from his mind. She’d always been off-limits to him. She’d made that clear when they were teenagers. “Is this concerning the thefts?” He stuffed his hands into his front pockets and encountered the letter Grady gave him.

“I don’t know if anyone has informed you that your ranch is one of the few big ones that hasn’t been robbed yet.”

He nodded, slipping his hands free. “Grady told me.” He should ask Lucy about the letter, but all he wanted to do was forget he still needed to read it.

“I think somehow the robbers are connected to Maddy Coles or Betsy McKay, maybe both.”

“I’ve been out of the loop. Why do you think that? Maddy is a great worker, and Betsy has been gone for almost a year, so how could she be involved?”

“After analyzing the ranches hit against the ones not robbed, I found a connection. Betsy McKay. People who were kind to her were spared. Then I took a look at who received gifts. Maddy did, including an iPod in her favorite color. That was a very personal gift, not the usual gift of animals or equipment the ranchers in need received from these Robin Hoods.”

There was a definite divide among the people in the area because some of the poorer ranches were receiving help where they needed it, or at least they had until Lucy had started confiscating the nonanimal gifts. “It could be a secret admirer that gave Maddy the iPod.”

“That’s an expensive gift.”

“Why are you focusing on Maddy? Others received gifts. Expensive ones.”

“Maddy and Betsy were best friends. The ranchers who didn’t help Betsy’s father when he needed it were hit the hardest. Byron McKay, Mac’s cousin, has been robbed more than anyone, and I think it might be because he refused to help his own family when Mac asked. Meanwhile, nothing has happened at this large ranch, one of the few left untouched.”

“I can’t see Maddy being involved in the robberies. Is that what you’re thinking?”

Lucy took off her hat and ran her fingers through her short blond hair. “I didn’t say she was. I said that there’s a connection. The thieves have taken an interest in her. Why?”

“Do you think that Maddy working here is why we haven’t been robbed?”

“It’s a possibility. I have to look at this from every angle.”

He wanted to help her. He imagined she wasn’t happy with herself that these robberies had been going on for so long, especially with Byron spouting off to anyone who’d listen that Lucy wasn’t doing her job. “What do you want to do?”

“What is Maddy’s work schedule?”

“During the school year, she’s out here after classes are over, for three hours. Then she comes for a full day on Saturday. The other interns, Lynne and Christie, have the same hours. They come and leave together. Before I was in the hospital, I often supervised them. I want this program to be a success.”

For the first time, Lucy cracked a grin. “Yeah, I understand the intern program is your pet project.”

Her smile transformed her pretty features and gave Ben a glimpse of her softer side. He’d been attracted to her in the past, but she’d made it clear she had no room for him in her life. Not that he could blame her. He’d never been serious about a relationship, and Lucy was definitely a woman who would want only a long-term one. He’d kept his distance.

“I’d like to hang around when they’re here,” she said now. “Maybe get to know Maddy better. I need to discover the connection between Maddy and the thieves. I might overhear something that will help.”

“Won’t the interns think it’s strange all of a sudden to see you here?” Not that he wouldn’t mind seeing more of the sheriff. He wasn’t the same man he was before his injury. He had a son to think about.

“That’s why I wanted to talk with you. I need a reason.”

“We could pretend we’re dating.”

A blush tinted Lucy’s cheeks. “Out of the blue? No one would believe that. Your reputation precedes you.”

“I’m not that guy anymore.”

One of her eyebrows hiked up. “Since when?”

“I could have died. That makes a man pause and take a good hard look at his life.” He smiled. “It’s not that far-fetched. I’m single. You’re single.”

“How about friends?”

“Getting to know each other?”

“I know you. That’s the problem. When are you serious about anything?”

“I’m serious about my son, my family, the ranch and the intern program.” He took a step toward her.

She moved back. “We don’t have to say we’re dating. You can be helping me learn about taking care of a horse. I might get one later.”

“You’ve never had a horse?”

“My family didn’t have a lot of money for that kind of stuff. You know that.”

“Yeah. It seems I remember you occasionally would go for a ride with Grady and me when we were teenagers. Have you ridden besides then?”

Already tall, almost six feet, Lucy straightened even more. “I’ve ridden. I had other friends who had horses besides you.”

“Good to know you consider me a friend. Come tomorrow. It’s Saturday. We’ll go riding, and I’ll show you what you need to do afterward with that horse, just in case you don’t remember. That ought to give you a reason to hang around. Then we’ll go from there. Okay?”

Her eyes gleamed as she gave him a nod. “I appreciate the help. If I don’t catch these thieves soon, I’m going to have a lot of ranchers mad at me.”

“Not me.” He winked.

Her blush deepened. “That’s because you haven’t been robbed.”

“True, but we could be.”

“We haven’t had any thefts in a month.”

“See, you must be doing something right.”

“I’m taking the nonanimal gifts away and keeping them as evidence for when I catch the thieves. I guess the Robin Hoods aren’t too thrilled with that.” Lucy finger combed her hair, then set her cowboy hat on her head.

“If they can’t give to the poor, they aren’t stealing from the rich?”

She started toward her sheriff’s SUV. “It’s that or something else, but I’m still going to find out who’s behind this and bring them in. Just because it has stopped doesn’t mean I’ll stop pursuing them.”

“Nor Byron McKay.” Ben descended the porch steps. “I wouldn’t expect anything less from you. I personally think you do a good job as the sheriff.” Ben followed and hurried to open her driver’s door.

Lucy chuckled. “You haven’t lost any of that charm you’re known for.”

“My mama taught me manners, and since my grandmother is peeking out the front window, I need to make sure I keep those skills intact or...” Ben shrugged. “I’ll incur Grandma’s wrath.”

“Smart man.” Lucy slid behind the steering wheel. “What time tomorrow?”

“How about ten?”

“See you then.” She gave him another smile, then started her car.

It will be interesting to see what she’s like when she isn’t being the sheriff.

Chapter Two

As she drove away, Ben kept his back to the house. He imagined his grandmother was still spying on him even though Lucy had left. Grandma Mamie had fretted over him ever since he’d come home from the hospital. If he had his hat that he liked to wear while he was working in the sun, he’d go on and walk to the barn to see Zed, who had stepped up into the foreman position when he was injured. But his Stetson was still on the peg in the hallway, which meant he would probably have to answer questions about Lucy’s visit. Who was he kidding? Even if he didn’t get his hat, his grandmother would interrogate him about Lucy’s visit. He might as well get it over with.

As he strolled toward the front porch, he surveyed the pastures near the house. Several contained the horses they used on the ranch while one held their prized bull. They’d brought most of the cattle closer since the thefts started, but the barn and bunkhouse, where some of the cowhands lived, partially blocked the view.

As he entered his home, he spied Mamie in the doorway to the living room, holding Cody. Watching his son wiggle in his grandmother’s embrace, Ben fought to suppress the laugh. Cody was going to be a handful. Already in the short time his son had lived with him, he was getting into everything he could reach when he crawled and used the furniture to stand up.

“I declare, this boy reminds me of you more each day. He doesn’t like to stay still.” Mamie thrust Cody into Ben’s arms. “We’re gonna be in serious trouble when he starts walking.”

Ben swung him around, his laughter mingling with Cody’s. “But he’s got your stubbornness, Grandma.”

She grinned. “That’s true.”

Ben peeked into the living room. “Where’s Chloe?”

“She went to talk to Grady out back. I think they’re trying to decide when to get married now that you’re okay.”

Ben kissed Cody’s cheek, then held him against his chest, but the eight-month-old started wiggling again. “Okay, little man. You can get down until you get into trouble.”

“Are you going to meet with Zed?”

Ben kept an eye on Cody as he crawled into the living room, heading straight for the coffee table and the few toys on the floor nearby. “Yes. With Cody living with us, I’ve decided to keep Zed in the position of foreman. He’s been here the longest and has a lot of experience.”

“I like that. He started out when your dad first ran the ranch.”

The mention of his father made Ben clamp his teeth together before he said something he’d regret. His father had died a few years ago, but Ben could still hear the disapproval in his voice. Reuben Stillwater had been by the book, disciplined and serious like Grady, whereas Ben had taken after his mother. She’d divorced Dad when Ben was fifteen, and he’d become the focus of his father’s anger. They’d always butted heads, but it had become worse, especially when she’d remarried after Ben turned seventeen. But while Grady had left the ranch to serve his country, Ben had stuck it out, trying to please his dad but never quite succeeding.

“He’d be proud of you, Ben. You’ve run this ranch well and increased the number of cattle we have, as well as the horses you’re training for the rodeo. You even took his place on the Lone Star Cowboy League. Look at the intern program. That was all you.”

“But whatever I did was never enough for him. At least I know how not to be a father.”

“Remember, kids need boundaries, too.”

“But love would have helped.” And in the end his mother had left not only his father but him. She had been too busy having fun with her new husband until finally a skiing accident in the Alps had taken her life.

Grandma Mamie frowned, the wrinkles in her face deepening. “He loved you in his own way. He just wasn’t a demonstrative man.”

He wouldn’t make that mistake with his son. Cody would know Ben loved him. “I need to get to the barn.” Ben peered around his grandmother to make sure Cody was still playing with his toys. Then he clasped Grandma’s arms and kissed her on the cheek. “But I’m glad I always had you, especially after Mom left.” That day would always be carved with regret in his mind.

“I’m not surprised she left.” A touch of bitterness laced Mamie’s voice.

“She hated ranch life. She was happier traveling and having fun with no worries.” And forgetting about her two sons.

“That’s true. When she married your dad, she never thought she would be stuck here all the time. Do you ever want to travel and see the world?”

Ben stepped to the peg and plucked off his cowboy hat. After setting it on his head, he turned toward his grandmother. “No, I love the ranch.”

“It seems to me you have more of your dad in you than you realize, and Grady has more of his mother in him. He’s the one who traveled and saw the world.”

Ben needed this conversation to end. He strode to Cody, picked him up and gave him a hug. His heart swelled as he inhaled his son’s baby scent and heard his giggles. Then he passed Cody to Mamie and headed for the front door.

“Have you read the letter yet?”

“No.”

“Why not? Aren’t you curious what Cody’s mother had to say?”

“We don’t know that for sure.” Alana Peterson. He rolled the name of the woman in the wreck—Cody’s mother—around in his mind.

“Then, why else did she write a letter addressed to you and have all those baby items in her car? Read the letter and find out.”

He opened the door and glanced back at Grandma holding a content Cody. “I’m afraid to read it.”

“You aren’t afraid of anything. You’ll try everything at least once.”

“Not anymore. I’m a father now.” He would not abandon his son like his mother had, or for that matter like his father, who had been there for him physically, but not emotionally. “I know he has you and Grady, but I want Cody and me to have a strong relationship. I want him to know I love him.”

“Your dad loved you.”

“He had a funny way of showing it. I’m not the same man I was the day I found Cody on our doorstep.” And he did have fears, even if he didn’t let on to others. He didn’t want to end up like his father, bitter and alone, or like his mother, rootless and aimless. His examples of being a parent weren’t the best, and he prayed he didn’t end up like one of them.

Ben left the house and headed for the barn, his hand slipping into his pocket where the letter was. Mamie was right. He couldn’t keep putting off reading what Alana had to tell him. He made a detour toward the corral near the barn and watched a stallion prancing around, showing off to the mares in the field nearby.

He leaned back against the railing and slowly removed the letter. He’d made a lot of mistakes in the past, and this short fling with Alana was one of them. He couldn’t continue casually dating, never settling down. His son needed a mother, stability.

He opened the single sheet and read, his teeth grinding together. With a tight throat, Ben stared at Alana’s words written in a neat handwriting.

“I tried being a mother. I just wasn’t any good at it. I just want to have fun. You should understand that and not condemn me. I did some checking. I know your grandmother will help you. I have no one.”

Those sentences jumped out at Ben. How about me? I would have helped if you’d have let me know about Cody.

Ben crushed the paper into a ball, then stuffed it into his front pocket of his jeans. He remembered how he’d been before the accident, and he could see why Alana would say that. He’d always gone into a relationship with a woman knowing it was only temporary and casual. He didn’t want to be responsible for another person’s feelings. He’d already disappointed his father after trying for years to be the son he wanted. His mother, the one parent who he’d thought loved him unconditionally and accepted him for who he was, had left him, rarely contacting him because she was too busy building a new life with a new husband. And now she was dead and he had no chance of having a relationship with her.

He looked at the house, where his son was. He didn’t deserve him, but maybe he could learn to be a good father, give him what he hadn’t had with his own dad.

But not by living the way he had before. That was no life for a child. He needed at the very least a good nanny, or maybe it was time for him to get serious and settle down. Maybe in the future even marry. He had to change. He couldn’t keep going down the same road. It led nowhere.

Where do I start? He felt lost and out of his depth. Then he remembered one of Grandma Mamie’s favorite Bible stories about the prodigal son who finally came home, broken and humble. His father had greeted him with love and celebrated his return. Maybe it wasn’t too late for him to reconnect with the Lord.

* * *

Lucy stopped by her small white house not far from Main Street to change from her uniform into more appropriate clothes to go riding with Ben this morning. She must be getting desperate to ask him if she could hang out at the barn when Maddy was working. But in her gut, she knew the girl and Betsy were somehow connected to the thieves. She needed results, and soon.

As a police officer in San Antonio for a few years before returning to Little Horn, she’d been a valuable member of several important cases. She wasn’t alone in her frustration. The members of the Rustling Investigation Team of the Lone Star Cowboy League were aggravated, too. Their speculations of who the thieves might be weren’t enough without hard evidence. In the past few months there had been enough accusations flung at certain people without any proof. That had divided her hometown. She didn’t want to see that anymore. She needed hard evidence before arresting anyone, especially teenagers.

After changing into jeans, boots and a blue T-shirt, she headed to her personal car, put her gun in the glove compartment and drove to the Stillwater Ranch, bordered on one side by Carson Thorn’s huge spread. She and Carson, as the president of the Lone Star Cowboy League, had been working closely to find the Robin Hoods. She always appreciated his counsel and was glad he finally was engaged to his high school girlfriend, Ruby.

Lucy parked next to the barn where other vehicles were, drew in a composing breath and climbed from her eight-year-old Mustang, purchased the first year she’d been a police officer in San Antonio. She’d always wanted to follow in her father’s footsteps. She’d thought the action in a big city would prepare her for anything in the county when her dad retired from being the sheriff. But her hometown and rural county were very different from San Antonio.

As she walked into the long barn through the double doors off the yard, two female voices came from one of the stalls on the right. Lucy spied a cowhand, not Ben, at the other end. She made her way to the girls cleaning out a stall.

Lucy stopped in the entrance, the scent of manure and hay overpowering. “Hi, Maddy. Christie. Do you know where Ben is?”

Maddy smiled. “He went up to the house but said to tell you he’d be right back.” The two teenagers exchanged looks before Maddy added, “He mentioned y’all were going riding.”

From the gleam in their eyes, Lucy wondered if Ben had implied something more about her presence here today. “Yeah, it’s been a while since I’ve ridden. I don’t want to get rusty.”

“I can’t see you forgetting how to ride. Remember you used to come out here when your dad visited mine, and we usually ended up riding.”

Ben’s deep baritone voice shivered up Lucy’s spine. She glanced over her shoulder as he approached her. His cowboy hat, pulled down low, shadowed his dark brown eyes, but she knew there was a twinkle in them from the grin on his face and two dimples in his cheeks. He used to love to tease her when they were in high school. But then he’d flirted with all the girls. He would date, then move on, nothing long-term.

He paused right behind her—too close for her peace of mind. She held her ground. He’d reminded her that at one time they’d been friends, and he was giving her a chance to be here at the ranch and hopefully help her to get to know Maddy better.

Lucy slid her hand into her front pocket. “I remember, especially that time the bull got loose and nearly trampled me.”

“I saved you.”

“But you didn’t latch the gate properly, and that’s why the bull got out in the first place.”

“It must be your dazzling smile that made me forget to check the handle was secured.”

Lucy balled her hand in her pocket and forced a sweet smile. “I hope you’ve replaced that latch by now.” The bull could be dangerous, but she decided Ben was more, especially when he grinned and focused his full attention on her.

“Right after you left. Is that why you never came back to ride?”

“It was traumatic, but I was leaving for college in San Antonio the next week and didn’t have time.”

“If it’ll make you feel better, we don’t have that bull anymore. But Fernando is probably twice as mean, so stay clear of him.”

Behind her, whispers drifted to her, then one of the girls giggled. She was not going to blush. Instead, she jammed her other hand into her jeans pocket and curled it into a fist. “Thanks for the warning.”

“Our horses are saddled and out the back door. I need to see Zed for a few minutes, then we’ll leave. Maddy and Christie, why don’t you show Miss Benson around since it’s been a while. We’ve expanded the barn since you were a teenager.”

Lucy wanted to hug Ben and stomp on his foot. He could be so aggravating and accommodating at the same time. He was giving her time to establish a rapport with Maddy. “That would be nice.”

The tour was brief, consisting of a walk-through of the barn with a hand wave toward the tack room near the front entrance and Zed’s office closer to the back one. Most of the horses were in their corrals. When Lucy stepped outside with Maddy and Christie, she noticed two horses saddled and tied to the fence. Maddy pointed out the various paddocks and pastures nearby besides explaining which animals were usually in them.

“Do you all enjoy working here?” Lucy asked, hoping the girls would forget she was the sheriff in time. “I once thought I might train horses, but then I was only ten and soon decided I wanted to be a nurse until I realized I would have to give people shots. I hated shots. I couldn’t see myself doing that.” It hadn’t taken her long to realize she’d really wanted to follow in her father’s footsteps, and now she was.

“I want to train horses, and Saul has been working with me and showing me what he does as a trainer since Ben’s accident. Before that, Ben was training me.” The wind caught Maddy’s ponytail and it danced about her head.

Christie shrugged. “I get school credit working here. Dad wanted me to learn about ranching, so I signed up for the work program. Since I can’t participate in Future Ranchers at our own place, this is a good choice. Ben is a great boss.”

“Yeah, we hated what happened to him.” Maddy glanced behind her. “I’ve fallen off a horse, but thankfully I didn’t hit my head on a rock like he did.”

“Me, too. I broke my arm when I was twelve,” Christie said.

“Isn’t there a third girl who works here?” Lucy asked as Ben walked toward her.

Maddy brushed stray strands of her hair, caught in the wind, from her face. “Lynne is out working with Emilio and Josh mending fences.”

Ben joined them. “After lunch, y’all will go out there with Lynne. Thanks for showing Lucy around.”

The mention of lunch made Lucy’s stomach rumble. She should have eaten her usual big breakfast, but she’d spent the morning catching up on paperwork, which was still not finished, and only managed to eat a hard-boiled egg and drink two cups of coffee.

When the teens strolled toward the barn, Ben swept his arm toward the two horses tied to a fence railing. “Ready?”

Something in his voice, a catch on that one word, caused her to look at him more carefully. “Are you all right?”

“I just realized this is the first time I’ve been able to ride since my accident. It’s not as if I haven’t been thrown from a horse before. I rode broncos in the rodeo, and I came close to really being injured several times.”

His confession took her by surprise. He’d never shown her a vulnerable side before. In fact, she’d thought he’d never been bothered by much. “I once was pinned down in a shoot-out in San Antonio. I didn’t think I was going to get out of there. I was out of ammo, and all I could do was pray to God.”

“He answered your prayer?”

“Yes. It wasn’t a minute later before the gang realized I didn’t have any more bullets, but backup arrived.”

“I think what’s different about this time is that I have a son now to think about. With his mother dead, I’m his family.”

“How’s Cody? Chloe has kept me informed about him.”

A grin lit his face, forming those two dynamite dimples in his cheeks and putting a gleam in his dark eyes. “Into everything. I walked early. I would be surprised if he doesn’t in the next month or so.”

Ben had a great smile, and when it was coupled with his charm, she could see why women were attracted to him. “And you were probably climbing everywhere.”

Ben chuckled. “Yep. When I was eighteen months, my mom once found me on top of her tall dresser. I used the drawers as steps.”

The familiar sound of his laugh warmed Lucy. When she’d seen him in the hospital the first time, she’d wondered if she would ever hear that again. “Do you remember doing it?”

“Nah. Mamie has told me a couple of times this week when warning me about Cody.” He started toward the smaller horse. “I’ll give you a leg up.”

Lucy lifted her left foot into his connected hands, getting a whiff of his lime-scented aftershave as he helped her mount. Her heartbeat kicked up a notch, only because she hadn’t gone riding in a while. It had nothing to do with the man accompanying her. They were just friends.

When Ben sat on his black stallion, he paused and looked around.

Beneath the shadow of his hat, Lucy glimpsed a neutral expression. She couldn’t read anything in it, which was unusual for Ben. “Are you okay?”

Then he grinned. “Just deciding where to ride. I thought about heading toward Carson’s ranch, but Thunder was the horse that threw me, so going that way might not be the best choice for my first time in the saddle in months.”

“How did your accident happen?”

“I was preoccupied about finding Cody at the ranch and didn’t see the snake until it was too late. Unfortunately Thunder saw it and reacted. I’m just glad the rattler didn’t bite me when I was on the ground unconscious.”

“God was looking out for you.”

“You think? Lately I’ve been wondering if the Lord was giving me a wake-up call. I know I attended church with the family, but to be honest, I’ve never been that serious. I needed to be shaken up. I have a child now.” He pulled his rein to the right and started toward the dirt road in front of the barn.

“You’re serious about changing?” Lucy had known Ben forever and only saw him as the charming ladies’ man that he’d been for the past fifteen years.

“I’m working on it. When I woke up in the hospital, I knew that I had been given a second chance, and this time I don’t want to blow it.”

Lucy had seen others say they were going to change, but they never did. It wasn’t an easy thing to do. Habits were hard to break—and human nature even harder.

“Chloe told me riding would be good for me. Help me get stronger. I feel like a weakling and, you know,” he added, swinging his attention to Lucy, “we macho men don’t like to be weak.” Then he winked at her.

Laughter bubbled to the surface. “You’re incorrigible.”

The dimples deepened as he touched his brim and nodded once. “I aim to please. I’m feeling cautious today. Let’s go toward Tyler’s ranch.”

She rode next to Ben along the road passing by the older original barn. He stopped in front of it. “I’m thinking of hosting a young cowboy/cowgirl camp here this summer and using this barn. It’s still in good shape but a distance from the house, so not used as much.”

“Didn’t your granddaddy move everything to the new location?”

“Yeah. Grandma Mamie still comes once a month to weed the garden she had at the old house. Zed, who lives here, is thrilled she does. As tough as he tries to be, he loves the flowers that bloom in the garden. He told me once coming home after a long day and seeing those bright colors always lifted his spirits.”

“Maybe Mamie would come over and plant a garden like that for me. Of course, she’d probably have to take care of it. I barely have time for housework, let alone yard work.”

“Zed and you aren’t the only ones who love bright colors. Cody almost got hold of the flowers in a vase on an end table. Thankfully I managed to grab him in time.” Ben urged his horse to move forward.

Lucy fell in beside Ben on the road. “Your son is named after your grandfather. That couldn’t be a coincidence. Are you Cody’s father? Is that what the letter I gave Grady from Alana was about?”

All evidence of a smile disappeared. “Yes.”

“I’m sorry Cody’s mother died in the car accident. Was she coming back for him?”

Ben’s mouth turned down, his posture ramrod straight. “No, she didn’t want Cody. I’m just glad she left him at our ranch and not somewhere else.”

Tension poured off Ben for a long moment, and Lucy wished she hadn’t brought up the subject of Cody’s mother. She knew that Ben’s mother had walked away from her marriage and sons. She rarely had come to see them before she died. Was Ben thinking about the correlation?

She wanted to change the subject. Never before had she and Ben had deep conversations, and all of sudden they were talking about the past. “How far along are you with plans for the camp?”

“Before my accident, I’d been talking with Carson about it. I wanted the Lone Star Cowboy League to sponsor the camp as an outreach project. Last week before I came home, I told him I was still interested in doing it. We’ll be getting together about it soon, since the camp could start in June, if we have the time to do it that fast. There will be a lot to do in three months. It’ll be something my son will enjoy when he gets older.”

She slanted a look at Ben as he headed across a field behind the old barn. She’d never thought of Ben as father material. This side of him was interesting, but would it last? Like a hummingbird, he’d flit from one flower to the next, never staying long.

Chapter Three

Sitting around the large table in the kitchen, Lucy still felt shell-shocked. She hadn’t intended to stay longer than necessary for her job. The horse ride had been over an hour when she’d thought it would last maybe thirty minutes. And now she was eating lunch with the family. How had she let Ben talk her into staying? He was lethal when he turned his full-fledged smile on her. But in her defense, she’d been starving, and riding the mare had only increased her hunger.

Yes, that’s it. Not Ben’s charm.

But then she looked across the table at Ben. A hard knot in her stomach unraveled. He was feeding Cody, who sat next to Ben in his high chair, and she had a front-row seat to watch. His baby giggled, grabbed for the spoon and flung some sweet potatoes into Ben’s face.

Lucy pressed her lips together to keep from laughing. She couldn’t hold it in and joined the rest at the table while Ben patiently took his napkin and wiped it off his cheek.

“Good aim, son. I guess you aren’t hungry anymore.”

“I always say when a child starts playing with their food, they’re finished.” Mamie grabbed the plate while Ben went for the spoon in Cody’s hand.

But the baby was too quick, and the utensil sailed halfway across the table, landing in the middle of the pasta salad.

Ben moved the high chair back a little so Cody couldn’t get hold of anything else to throw, then took a bite of his turkey sandwich.

Lucy turned to Chloe. “See what you get to look forward to. Food fights.”

Chloe chuckled. “Cody is definitely preparing me for my own child.”

“When are you due?” Lucy took a swallow of her sweetened tea.

“Three months and counting. That’s why,” Chloe said, glancing at her fiancé, Grady, “we’ve decided on a small wedding this month with family and close friends. I don’t want to be a whale waddling down the aisle.”

“Never, not you.” Grady leaned toward her and gave her a quick peck on her cheek.

“Just let me know when to show up,” Ben said, accompanied by a wail from Cody.

But as he turned toward his son, Mamie stood and took the crying child out of his high chair. “He usually takes a nap after lunch. Almost like clockwork. I was afraid he wouldn’t last since we held lunch. I’ll be right back.”

“Grandma, I can take him to his room.” Ben started to rise.

His grandmother waved him down. “Nonsense. You have a guest here.” Then she scurried unusually fast for a seventy-eight-year-old woman.

Ben watched them leave, then faced the three remaining at the table. “I know everyone has tried to fill me in on what I’ve missed while I was in a coma and the hospital. Besides the crime spree with the Robin Hoods, anything else you’ve forgotten to tell me other than the letter you gave me finally yesterday morning?” He stared at his brother.

“I’m pleading ignorance.” His mouth twitching, Grady took a sip of his drink. “I was gone for two months of that. You’ll have to depend on Chloe and Lucy to tell you.”

Everyone peered at Lucy. She held up her hand. “Why are you looking at me?”

“You’re the sheriff, and you know everything,” Ben said with a grin.

No, she didn’t. What had been in that letter from Cody’s mother? “Other than six months of robberies and now nothing, that’s it. It’s been pretty quiet, thankfully.”

“Carson finally proposed to Ruby. They are engaged, and it was about time. I thought they would marry in high school.” Chloe reached for the pasta salad and took the spoon from it before dishing up more on her plate. “You know the saying. I’m eating for two.”

“And Eva and Tyler got married. I’m glad our cousin and Tyler are together.” Grady stood and took his plate to the sink.

“Yes, and I hope they’ll adopt a baby,” Mamie said as she came back into the kitchen. “Eva was really good with Cody and would make a great mother.”

Lucy finished the last bite of her sandwich. “I guess the biggest surprise was Amelia and Texas Ranger Finn Brannigan. I never saw her falling for another Texas Ranger. Funny how things work out.”

“You should never say never. I’ve found it comes back to bite you.” Ben retrieved a wet dishcloth and wiped down the high chair. “I never saw myself as a father, and I wake up from a coma to find the baby left on our doorstep is my son.”

Lucy almost asked Ben why he didn’t think he’d ever be a dad, but she didn’t. She knew about the shaky relationship he’d had with his own father, but from what little she’d seen today, Ben was trying hard to be a good one.

“Another surprise was Clint falling in love with Olivia. He’ll be an instant dad to triplets when they marry in June.” Grady refilled his iced tea.

Just weeks ago Clint’s father’s remains were found in the Deep Gulch Mountains, where he’d met an accident years ago. Clint hadn’t been abandoned like he’d thought. “The nice thing is Clint now has closure about his dad leaving him when he was a child. I think he’ll be able to relate to Olivia’s boys.”

“Lucy, what happens if you can’t find out who’s stealing from the ranchers?” Ben retook his seat across from her.

“I’m going to.” She was up for reelection next year, and if she didn’t find the persons responsible, Byron McKay would probably put all his money and community presence behind getting a new sheriff.

“The Rustling Investigation Team thinks it could be teenagers,” Grady said, covering Chloe’s hand resting on the table.

Ben threw Lucy a look. “Is that really why you want to hang around the barn? I thought it was my irresistible charm.”

“Like I already told you, Betsy McKay is connected somehow, and Maddy was her best friend. I’ve talked with her as the sheriff before today, but she was wary. I didn’t feel that way earlier.” She was not going to let Ben get to her.

Chloe’s forehead creased. “You think Maddy and Betsy are robbing the ranchers?”

“We’ve tried to find Betsy but haven’t been able to locate her. But no, not Maddy. I did some checking, and she has an alibi for one of the robberies. She was at a sleepover with four other girls. She may know something and not realize it.” From what she’d seen and heard about the foster child, she was a good kid.

“So this is why you asked the league for a list of members with teenagers,” Grady said.

All eyes turned to Lucy, and for a brief moment she felt like a suspect being interrogated. “Yes. As we have surmised, the Robin Hoods are probably two or more teenagers, most likely boys based on the equipment they took. The thieves would have to be strong. Neither Maddy nor Betsy fit that profile. The Robin Hoods would have to be comfortable around cattle and horses to take them without anyone knowing. They would also have to be able to drive a trailer and be familiar with the area around here.”

“That describes most of the teenage boys in the vicinity. I see why you want that list.” Ben shifted his attention to his twin. “I understand Tyler is going on his honeymoon soon. I’d like to take his place on the Rustling Investigation Team. We need to find whoever is doing this.”

Grady shook his head. “You’ve only been home awhile, Ben. You’re just getting your strength back.”

Ben drilled a hard gaze into his brother. “I know what I’m capable of. Do I have to go to Carson about this?”

“No.” Grady glanced toward Lucy. “If you want to take Tyler’s place, then do, but don’t forget you were in the hospital for a long time. You don’t have to do everything the minute you are released. I was going to sit in for Tyler, but you can instead. I have to go to the VA in San Antonio for a couple of days next week. The team is meeting Wednesday night. Lucy, is that okay with you?”

“Sure.” Oh, great. More time she’d be spending with Ben. She placed her napkin on the table. “Thank you for inviting me to lunch, but I have paperwork to finish at the office, so I’d better leave.”

Ben’s grandmother grinned. “I’m so glad you could join us. Don’t be a stranger.”

“I’ll walk you to your car.” Ben rose at the same time Lucy did. She shouldn’t be surprised he’d said that because Ben was always a gentleman.

Outside, Lucy set her cowboy hat on her head and slipped on her sunglasses. Ben strolled next to her without his Stetson. When he paused next to her car, he squinted, the wind catching his sandy-brown hair that touched the collar of his plaid shirt.

He took her hand. Lucy started to pull it away when she spied Maddy and Christie standing just inside the barn doors looking at them.

“I thought we decided not to play that game,” she whispered while giving him a sweet smile.

“We’re not playing any games. You are a friend, aren’t you?”

She nodded.

“I’m thanking you for a nice ride this morning. I didn’t think about falling from my horse once while on Thunder. It must be the company I was keeping. Will I see you before Wednesday night?” The volume of his voice rose enough that the girls probably heard the question.

“At church tomorrow?”

“I’ll be there. But I thought you’d want to go on another ride before the sun sets after work next week.”

“How about next Wednesday? I’ll come early, maybe go for a ride, then go to the meeting?” The things she did to get to the bottom of this investigation.

“Sounds like a date.” He quirked a grin and squeezed her hand before releasing it and opening her driver’s-side door.

As she drove away from the ranch, she glimpsed Ben saying something to the two teenage girls, then heading back to the main house. Tall, he walked with confidence, but he’d lost weight while in the coma. But that wasn’t the only thing that was different from before. There was something in Ben’s bearing that had changed. Maybe because he was a father now.

* * *

Lucy entered Maggie’s Coffee Shop and spied the owner behind the cash register. Maggie Howard had been a few years ahead of her in school and had always been a kind and generous woman. Lucy smiled and waved at the petite redhead, then scanned the café for Chloe. Lucy saw her and made her way toward one of her best friends. Although Lucy’s job as sheriff took her all over the county, Little Horn would always be her home and base. She’d discovered when she lived more than six years in San Antonio that she was a small-town girl at heart.

“I’m glad you could meet me for lunch,” Chloe said to Lucy as she sat down.

“It sounded important.”

“We finally decided last night what we want for our wedding. Pastor Mathers will marry us at church, and then we’ll go back to the ranch for a small gathering of family and friends.”

Lucy knew about all the problems Chloe had had in her first marriage and her ex-husband’s unfaithful behavior, and was thrilled her friend had found someone who would be a good dad for her unborn baby. When Chloe’s ex-husband had heard he would be a father, he’d wanted nothing to do with the child. “When is it?”

“In ten days on Friday evening. The wedding will be at six and the dinner at the ranch at seven.”

“I hope I’m invited, or I’m going to crash your wedding.”

“Of course, you are. I want you to be my maid of honor. The only people at the church will be Mamie, Ben as best man and you.”

The waitress stopped at the table to take their orders.

After she left, Lucy leaned forward and asked, “What can I do to help?”

“The beauty of a small wedding is there won’t be much to do. The cook at the Stillwater Ranch and Mamie are going to plan the dinner. So all you have to do is show up at the church.” When the waitress set their drinks on the table, Chloe paused, then said, “Are you dating anyone?”

Lucy dropped her jaw, then snapped it closed. “Why?”

“Just wondering. The last time we talked about men I was going through a divorce and you weren’t dating anyone, but you’ve been at the ranch a lot lately. Interested in Ben?”

“It’s police business.” Lucy sighed. “Are you going to be one of those women who because she’s deliriously happy thinks everyone around her should be in a relationship?”

“What’s wrong with that? I want my friends to be happy.”

“You forget I tried a serious relationship in San Antonio. Jesse didn’t work out.” That was putting it mildly. She and Jesse had been talking about getting married until she’d stumbled across a woman he was dating in Austin when he went there for work. Then to make it worse, he had begun taking out another lady in San Antonio while professing the whole time he was in love with Lucy. “The men I’ve seen and dated have a commitment phobia. I’m usually around two kinds of men—law-enforcement officers and criminals. Neither have I found to be good husband material.”

“Your father has been married to your mom for thirty-eight years. Every time I’ve seen them when they visit you, they’re still in love as though they are newlyweds.”

“My dad is the exception.” He was nothing like Jesse, the FBI agent in San Antonio who’d stolen her heart and stomped on it. But besides Jesse, she’d also seen fellow officers on the San Antonio police force she’d worked with either drink excessively or date excessively. When they did marry, the marriages usually didn’t last. She didn’t want that for herself.

“Do you find it hard to follow him as sheriff?”

“Lately I’ve felt I’m letting people down.”

Chloe waved her hand. “Stop right there. That’s Byron McKay talking. He’s never happy about anything.”

“He has been hit hard by the cattle rustlers I can’t seem to find.”

“That isn’t your only case. You take care of everyone in the county. Remember the robbery in the next town? You caught the guy within twelve hours. And when that toddler went missing six months ago? You found the two-year-old within hours.”

Lucy chuckled. “Okay, you’ve made your point. But reelection is next year, and I want to continue my dad’s legacy.”

“You are.”

Abigail set the plate with a chef salad in front of Lucy, then gave Chloe her order. “Can I get y’all anything else?”

“No, this looks delicious.” Chloe dug into her hamburger immediately. “Mmm, and I wasn’t wrong.”

Abigail grinned. “I’ll tell Maggie. She loves to hear her customers are satisfied.” The waitress left, hurrying toward the kitchen, her long black ponytail bouncing with her strides.

Lucy glanced around. Every table was occupied, which was usual at this time of day. When the door opened, she caught sight of Ben entering. He scanned the coffee shop.

“Ben!” Chloe held her arm up. “You can join us.”

Lucy chewed her bottom lip as Ben threaded his way through the crowded café. She always looked forward to her girl time with Chloe, but she couldn’t blame her for signaling that Ben should sit with them. Chloe would be his sister-in-law in ten days, not to mention she was taking care of his son.

Ben removed his hat and set it in a vacant chair and then took the last one at the table for four. “I keep forgetting this isn’t a good time to come to Maggie’s, but I thought I would grab something to eat before heading to see Pastor Mathers.”

“You’ve been out of action for a while. That’s understandable.” Chloe popped a french fry into her mouth.

Ben peered at Lucy, his gaze penetratingly warm. “You’re still coming to the barn before we go to the meeting tonight?”

She nodded and speared some of her lettuce, trying to ignore the quickening of her heartbeat at his perusal. “I want to spend time with Maddy, Lynne and Christie. I find when teenage girls get together they gossip. I might overhear something that will help me.” That was the easiest way for her to get a glimpse of what was going on with the teenagers in Little Horn. She still felt two or more were involved in the thefts. At twenty-eight, Lucy was the youngest sheriff to date for the county, but she would stand out at school, so her undercover work had to be somewhere else.

After Abigail took Ben’s order, Chloe retrieved a couple of five-dollar bills from her wallet. “This is for my lunch. Cody will be getting up from his nap, and I need to be there. I’ve been gone all morning to the doctor.”

Ben pushed the money toward Chloe. “Keep it. My treat. Is the baby okay?”

“Right on target. In three months, she should be here.”

“Grady is excited and can’t wait.” Ben took his mug of coffee from Abigail and drank a long sip. “I’ll be back after I meet with Pastor Mathers.”

Chloe stood. “Are you going to be at the barn, then?”

“Yes, but I can always be reached by cell. Thanks, Chloe, for staying on as Cody’s nanny. It’s hard being a single parent, and I’ve only dealt with it for a brief time.”

“I love being with Cody. It’s good experience.” Chloe headed for the exit.

Ben turned his full attention on Lucy. She felt he was assessing her in a new light. “Did you enjoy Pastor Mathers’s sermon on Sunday?” she asked, hoping to divert his focus.

“It’s made me think about what’s my purpose. I never really thought about it other than taking care of the ranch. But we’re more than our job.”

Lucy couldn’t really say that. “My work is my life. It requires long hours and being willing to go out to a crime scene in the middle of the night.”

“Do you have to do that often?”

“Lately, more than usual. If a serious problem arises, I need to be available.”

“Twenty-four/seven?”

She nodded and focused on eating while Abigail delivered a roast-beef sandwich to Ben. “I want to be involved. That’s the way my father was. By the time he retired, he knew most of the people in the county. That fact helped him numerous times besides knowing the terrain. I think some of the stolen cattle are being kept somewhere nearby, but I don’t have the manpower to cover every square inch.”

When her cell phone rang, she snatched it off the table. “Sheriff Benson.”

“There’s a robbery in Grafton. 214 Second Street. The feed store,” the dispatcher said.

“I’m on my way.” Lucy rose as she withdrew her wallet.

Ben shook his head. “My treat. See you tonight. If you can’t come to the ranch beforehand, let me know, and I’ll meet you at the Lone Star Cowboy League center.”

“Thanks.” As Lucy left the coffee shop, she glanced over her shoulder, and her gaze instantly connected with Ben’s. Again her heartbeat picked up speed, and she hastened outside before she did something crazy like blush.

* * *

Ben entered Little Horn Community Christian Church and hurried toward Pastor Mathers’s office. When he’d called Ben to set up this meeting, Ben had wondered why. He almost felt like a child being called to the principal’s office, but he and his family had attended this church for years. He might have doubts about his faith, but the pastor had come to the hospital every week and prayed for him. Grandma Mamie had been certain he’d regained consciousness and recovered faster than the doctors thought possible due to all the prayers being sent up in his behalf, led by her and Pastor Mathers.

Ben spied the pastor in his inner office. The man waved to him to come straight inside.

“I’m so glad we have a chance to talk.” Pastor Mathers skirted his desk and stretched out his arm.

Ben shook his hand, then sat where the man indicated on a comfortable-looking brown couch against a wall. “I enjoyed your sermon Sunday.”

Pastor Mathers took his seat at the opposite end of the sofa. “I was glad to see you at church. It’s been months. I know how concerned your grandmother was, but our prayers were answered.”

It took all Ben’s willpower not to squirm on the leather cushion. He’d never felt comfortable talking about his feelings, and he certainly didn’t know his purpose in life. “Is there something you needed to see me about?”

“Yes. This year is the Stillwater Ranch’s turn to hold the children’s annual Easter-egg hunt and celebration. I told your grandmother we could skip your ranch this year because of your injury, but she wants to do her part. I know you’re still in physical therapy and with having been away from the ranch for months, you have a lot to catch up on, so I thought I would ask what you think. I don’t want to put too much on you. The community will understand if you pass. In fact, Carson offered his place so don’t feel you have to.”

“Are you kidding? It’s a big, fun celebration for the kids. I love helping with that event even when it’s not at my ranch, and now that Grady is home there will be two of us.” He and his brother hadn’t really talked about if Grady was staying in Little Horn or not, but Ben hoped so. Right before Grady had left for his last overseas assignment, they had gotten into a huge argument, to the point he was surprised to see Grady when he woke up from his coma. Their relationship was still strained, but there was hope it would heal. He’d been thrilled when Grady had asked him to be the best man at his wedding this morning.

“If you’re sure, then I’ll add you to the planning committee. Their first meeting was in January. I know every year you’ve helped with any extra activities like races. It’s always been a highlight, but I didn’t know what kind of restrictions your doctor has put on you.”

He remembered his neurologist had told him under no circumstances was he to participate in any bronco competition or a similarly dangerous activity that would cause him to be thrown from a horse repeatedly. If he hit his head like he had, he probably wouldn’t recover. “I won’t be doing anything risky. I have a son to think of now. No more things like riding a bronco in a rodeo.”

As he said that to Pastor Mathers, Ben was beginning to understand how Grady felt with his war injury. For years they had never had much in common except a last name, but maybe at least his head trauma would bridge the gulf between him and Grady.

Pastor Mathers nodded. “I understand. I know how much you’ve enjoyed working with children, so I believe you’ll be a wonderful father.”

Ben was glad the pastor thought that, because he felt as if he’d been thrown into deep water without the ability to swim. But the one thing he knew was that Cody was quickly becoming the center of his life. All his son had had to do was smile at him that first day Mamie and Grady had brought him to the hospital for Ben to see and hold him.

“Maybe next year you can think about being a helper with the youth group.”

“Me?”

“Sure. I think you’d be perfect.”

How? His attendance at church was sketchy, and he wouldn’t call himself an overly religious man. “I’ll think about it.”

“No decision needed until August, but there will be at least one vacancy at that time.”

Ben left the church, his mind in turmoil with thoughts racing through it. Ever since he’d started having the teenagers at the ranch in the intern program, he’d been looking for other ways to help the young people in the community. He wanted to give them chances he really hadn’t had. And now the pastor was asking him to help with the youth leader. Him! He wasn’t the most likely candidate, and the request had stunned him.

Ben drove through the main gate at Stillwater Ranch, still trying to decide what he should do. He couldn’t accept it if he wasn’t the best person for the job. God, what are You telling me?

After he parked near the house, he went inside to check on Cody before going to the barn. The urge to hold his son swept over him. He’d never thought of himself as father material, but in this case he didn’t have a choice, and he wouldn’t do a job unless he could do it well.

He entered the house through the kitchen and headed toward the front room, where most of the family congregated. The large window afforded a beautiful view of the family’s horses in a pasture, the bluebonnets starting to bloom and poke their heads up through the sea of green grass.

Cody’s giggles floated to Ben. He hurried his step. When he paused at the entrance into the room, he honed in on his son grasping the cushion of the ottoman. Then he began pulling himself up. When he stood, Cody let go of the cushion but didn’t take a step.

“When did he start doing this?” Ben asked Chloe, who sat in the chair with the ottoman.

“I’m as surprised as you are. He’s always holding on when he stands.”

Cody gripped the edge and then with one hand tried to reach for a ball he loved to play with. He wobbled, then plopped back onto the floor. Ben moved closer to watch his son again drag himself to a standing position and try to grab the ball—just out of his reach. Cody stood on his tiptoes and his chubby fingers grazed the red plastic toy. It rolled away. Finally he burst out crying and fell down.

Ben scooped Cody into his arms and rocked him. “You’re okay. Before long you’ll be climbing up on that ottoman.”

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