Page 41 of Savage Rancher
All she said is, “It's about time something good happened."
Relieved, I relax against the counter. "Thanks, Harper."
She takes a sip of her drink, her gaze surveying the bar. She may talk shit about her dad, but she’s got law enforcement in her veins.
I wonder how she’ll get along with Jake and his friends. Will they mix or clash? I don’t want to be in another situation where my friends and my partner don’t get along.
"So what's the plan?” Harper returns her attention to me. “Is Jake sticking around, or is this just a temporary thing?"
"He's staying." My heart leaps. "He bought Blackthorn Ranch with a couple of friends from his unit."
"No kidding? That's a big commitment." Harper studies me for a moment, her expression softening. "You really like him, don't you?"
"I do," I admit softly. "I really do."
"Then I'm happy for you." She picks up her beer. "Just be careful, okay? I know you've been hurt before, and I don't want to see that happen again."
"I will."
A woman comes up to the bar on my left. She leans in, looking at Hank, obviously waiting to order a drink. She’s thin with thick blond hair, around our age. I don’t recognize her, so I know she didn’t grow up here.
Harper obviously knows her, though. “Lily, pull up a chair and join us.”
The woman looks over with startled hazel eyes. But when she sees Harper, she relaxes and offers a hint of a smile. “I wouldn’t want to interrupt,” she says, her voice soft.
“You aren’t.” Harper leans over me to speak to the guy on the next stool over. “Jesse, I know this is a stretch, but be a gentleman and get your ass off that chair so the lady can sit down.”
The man scowls. “Aw, come on, Harper. I’ve been on my feet all day.”
Harper smiles. “Know what? You can rest your feet in jail for as long as you want.”
“Aw Harper, you’re no fun,” he mumbles as he scoots off the stool and shuffles away.
“Sit down, Lily.” Harper gestures to Hank for another round for all three of us.
“Thank you.” Lily holds her hand out to me. “I’m Lily Carter.”
“Emma Hayes.” I shake her hand. It’s capable, not soft like I thought it’d be.
"Lily’s the new vet in town," Harper says, adjusting her seat so she can see both of us. “She moved here, I think, a year ago. Right, Lily?”
“Yes.” Lily offers a small, tentative smile, nodding to Hank when he holds up a pint glass. She's pretty in a quiet way, with pale skin and delicate features. But there's something guarded in her eyes, something that makes me think she's been hurt before and hasn't quite figured out how to trust people again.
"I feel like I’m new to town too," I say, keeping my voice warm and easy. “I only just moved back here a month ago.”
“I’m sorry about Bob.” She looks straight into my eyes, and I can see she means it genuinely. Of course she’d have known Dad, given she’s the vet. “Are you staying here to take over the ranch?”
“I’m staying,” I say firmly. We’ll see about the cattle, but I’m definitely keeping the ranch.
Lily glances at Harper and then back at me. “Did they finish the inquest on his accident?”
Frowning, I turn to Harper. “Inquest?”
Harper’s face goes carefully blank. “Emma, it was routine.”
“An inquest isroutineon a car accident?” I ask incredulously. “In what world?”
“Dad wanted to play it safe, so he had your dad’s car checked out. But there wasn’t any evidence of anything, so it was all put to bed and ruled an accident.” Harper puts her arm around me. “I didn’t want to worry you over nothing.”
