Page 13 of Disarming The Rancher

“I didn’t,” he said. Then, felt the need to clarify. “Not back then anyway.”

He hadn’t meant to say the last word and her eyes gave away the fact she’d noticed. His throat felt drier than the clay soil during a drought. The current one was about to enter its third year, much to everyone’s disappointment. They needed rain.

Before she could say anything, he added, “Mom has been at the main house with Adam’s new bride and baby.”

“Adam is married? He has a baby? When did that happen?” Her eyes widened in shock. “Hold that thought. Of course, he’s married. Some of the others probably are too.” She glanced down at his wedding finger and could have sworn he saw relief wash over her when she didn’t see a gold band.

“Everyone is single now except for Adam,” he said, figuring he didn’t need to go into everyone’s complicated lives.

She seemed to catch onto the word, now, when she gave a knowing look.

“It’s strange how I half expected everyone to be exactly the same as when I left. The same age and at the same place in life…funny how that works because obviously time stands still for no one,” she said, her gaze unfocused like she was looking inside herself for the insight. “And maybe it’s true that you can never go back once you leave.”

“This is my home, so I never had my sights on living anywhere else,” he said.

“Yeah,” she said. “If I had a cattle ranch legacy, I might have stuck around too,” she said with a spark in her eye. It was the look she got when she was headed for mischief.

“Ready to head to the main house?” He wanted to circle back to speak to his mother after she’d ducked out of their questions this morning. He never thought he’d see the day when he heard himself say that his mother was hiding something. Now, he needed to find out what it was and why.

5

“Before we go inside, I should go ahead and let Hardy know where I am. He was already so frustrated with me last night he barely spoke to me, and I’m not going to make it any better if he realizes I’m gone without saying a word again.” Raleigh fished her cell out of her back pocket and held it up for Brax to see.

“You want me to head inside?” Brax asked.

“I’d feel better if you stayed out here to be honest,” she said. Her response seemed to catch him off guard. But then, he didn’t have to worry about a bomber targeting him. Out here, he didn’t have to worry about much at all. Poachers came to mind. Raleigh sighed. She wasn’t exactly being fair. The Firebrand Ranch just seemed so idyllic and untouchable it was easy to get lulled into a sense of security here. The feeling was half the attraction of coming here. That, and the fact Mrs. Firebrand had treated Raleigh like one of her children. Maybe a little more special at times, since she was a visitor.

Raleigh’s third hit had been a tribute to Brax’s mom. Funny, she’d never circled back to tell anyone, least of all Lucia Firebrand. Life had been a whirlwind in those early years. Still was, if she was being honest.

She stared at the cell, thinking she should call Hardy so he could hear her voice and know that she was fine. He didn’t know about the ATV, though. Would he be worried?

Either way, he wasn’t going to be thrilled with her for leaving the property without giving him a proper heads-up.

With a sharp sigh, she tapped his name on the screen.

Hardy picked up on the first ring.

“I’m sorry,” he immediately said. “Where are you?”

She wasn’t sure why he was sorry…then it dawned on her something must have happened at the house.

“I’d rather not say in case someone is listening. Suffice it to say that I’m fine,” she said.

“There were too many of them,” he said and his voice sounded defeated. “They came at us from all directions. I’m just relieved you got out before they breached the house.”

“Everyone else get out?” she asked, her pulse kicking up a few notches.

“The mob turned out to be harmless, but you couldn’t have known that when they broke through the line,” he said. “The guys are all fine and accounted for. We’ve been worried sick about you though.”

Broke through the line?

“Is the house okay?” she asked.

“Things got a little out of hand, but I was able to get everyone under control. There were some superfans in there who got a little too worked up at the thought of seeing you in the flesh,” he said. “House is good. I don’t want you to come back until we’ve cleared every room.”

This week was turning into her worst nightmare. Would it ever end?

“Why don’t you text when it’s safe for me to come home,” she suggested, filling him in on the ATV incident. At least she was in the clear with Hardy and, as it turned out, in the right for getting out of Dodge when she did.