To Trust a Rancher Page 3

Her stomach lurched with each sentence, and she finished in a stupor.

  She blinked, but the haze wouldn’t clear.

  Amy had lied. About her father, her brother, the abuse. About everything. And she’d used those lies to get Becca to come with her to LA.

  Anger overwhelmed every other emotion spinning uncontrollably inside her. Becca hadn’t wanted to leave. She’d enrolled in community college, paid for it herself with her savings. She’d found a part-time job that had accommodated her school schedule, and best of all, she could’ve done it all while staying with her grandparents.

  A sob slipped past her lips and she quickly covered her mouth.

  Oh, God, how she’d hurt them, the two people who’d loved her more than anything else in the world. Who would’ve moved mountains for her. And she’d done it all for nothing.

  The disappointment in Grams’s eyes the day Becca had left still haunted her. It would always haunt her. All because Amy had lied out of complete and utter selfishness. And her dad and brother? The hatred that had burned in Becca’s gut when she’d thought Ryder had—

  Another sob threatened. She turned away from the bedroom at the same time her cell rang. Noah lifted his head, rubbing his eyes.

  She didn’t recognize the caller’s number. Maybe the burner phone she’d suggested to Amy?

  Becca answered quickly.

  “You have something that belongs to me, bitch.” Derek’s menacing voice came through loud and clear. “And I want him back.”

  Chapter Three

  Blackfoot Falls had changed in the years since Becca had last been home. Lots of shops that had closed because of the poor economy were now open again, as well as new stores she didn’t recognize.

  Someone had bought the old boardinghouse on the south side of town and turned it into a cute inn that kept the early-1900s feel intact. It would’ve been fun to stay there, but the new motel on the opposite end of town had larger rooms and was ten dollars cheaper. Since Becca had no idea how long they would be away, she needed to watch every penny.

  After Derek’s call, she’d known she had to get out of town, and coming home was the most sensible option. Noah’s safety was her first concern while she waited for Amy to call. But if Amy didn’t, and that was a real possibility no matter how much Becca hoped otherwise, she needed a clear head to tackle the gut-wrenching decision that would change her and Noah’s life forever.

  So she’d called her boss and pleaded for some personal leave due to a family emergency, which wasn’t a lie at all. She’d worried, though, about where they’d stay until she found out what was going on with her grandparents’ house. It was old to begin with, and being vacant for so long could mean it wasn’t move-in ready.

  Becca was happy with her choice. Their second-floor room was clean and comfortable, the queen-size bed had a mauve and green comforter that matched the curtains. A small round table with two sturdy chairs stood near a window facing the Rockies. She hadn’t realized just how much she’d missed the mountains, and a sky that was actually blue.

  It took her two trips to bring up their gear, three bags of ice and the cooler she’d packed with Noah’s snacks and drinks. Next on the list was a run to the Food Mart. After driving for sixteen hours, all she wanted was to curl up and sleep for a week. But they needed some reasonably healthy food they could eat in the room. Restaurant meals weren’t in her budget.

  “Mommy, I’m hungry,” Noah said, almost on cue as they stepped out into the corridor.

  “I know, sweetie. We’re going to the store right now.” She pulled the door closed and tested the knob to make sure the lock had engaged.

  “I’m hungry now,” he whined and took her hand.

  “Would you like an apple?”

  He made a face.

  Becca smiled, knowing he was hoping for a cookie. “Guess you’re not that hungry then, huh?”

  He started to pout, then saw the elevator. “Mommy, let’s ride that again.” His hand slipped out of hers and he raced ahead. “I’ll push the button.”

  “Wait. You don’t know which—” Sighing, she caught up to him just as the doors slid open. Oh, well, they’d ride up first. She held onto his arm. “Noah, don’t touch the button until I tell you. And no more running inside. You know better.”

  His sulkiness didn’t last long. He was too excited about their big ’venture. Becca had encouraged the idea to keep his spirits up. Sometimes, when her mind started wandering to bad places, she needed the illusion herself.

  The grocery store was only a five-minute walk but she took the car. Inevitably she’d be running into people she knew, and there would be questions. Many, many questions. But she wasn’t prepared to be an open target yet.

  She thought again about Amy’s family and the decision that had to be made. Becca felt sick every time she remembered the vile thoughts she’d harbored toward the Mitchells. As if that wasn’t bad enough, she sometimes wished she’d discover that Amy hadn’t lied back then and that her letter was the lie. Maybe now that her father had passed and Ryder was married, she’d felt it was all right to bring Noah to her mother.

  No, that was panic talking. Becca didn’t want the lies she’d believed to be true at all.

  She sighed. This trip would tell her a lot. She just hoped she was strong enough to make the hardest decision of her life.

  * * *

  RYDER TURNED INTO the parking lot of the Food Mart, not at all surprised that it was jam-packed. He’d tried to warn his mom. With Thanksgiving in three days, naturally the place would be a zoo. Why so many people waited until the last minute was one of life’s eternal mysteries.

  “There’s a spot,” she said, pointing. “Three down from the entrance. It’s a good thing we brought my car. Your truck never could’ve squeezed in.”

  Ryder didn’t comment. He hated driving the compact. It was too uncomfortable for someone over six feet, but since her stroke, he knew getting in and out of the car was easier on her. Since she didn’t drive anymore, he’d considered trading it in for a medium-size sedan. But she loved the old Ford, and even after two years, her doctor insisted that a great deal of her problems were psychosomatic.

  The prognosis had nearly earned poor old Doc Heaton a whack from his patient’s cane. She’d even used a couple of words Ryder was surprised she knew. He and the doc didn’t talk about it anymore...at least not in her presence.

  On occasion, Ryder suggested she try setting the cane aside for an hour, just to see how she fared. She always looked so hurt that her only son didn’t believe her.

  After he helped her out of the car, he brought her a shopping cart so she could lean on it instead of the cane.

  In truth, she didn’t have to do any of the shopping. Otis came into town once a week to keep the bunkhouse well-stocked. He always offered to take her list with him. But Ryder knew this was more a social outing for her, so even though he’d rather have a tooth pulled, every week when he wasn’t away on business, he brought her to town.

  Sometimes they’d go home with only a head of lettuce and a bag of carrots. Since he hadn’t provided her with a single grandchild before he and Leanne had divorced, he figured the penance could’ve been a lot worse.

  While she ambled down each aisle, stopping every few minutes to talk, he headed over to the deli case. The ready-made food choices had expanded. Marvin, the owner, was stepping up his game.

  “Are you sure you’re only four? You eat like a horse.” The woman’s voice sounded vaguely familiar. Ryder turned toward it.

  “I’m not a horse. I’m a boy.” The kid was grinning and tugging on the woman’s hand.

  She had her back to Ryder, her wavy brown hair spilling down just past her shoulders. Average height. Slim build. Wearing jeans and a sweater like most of the shoppers. Being a regular now, thanks to his mom, he’d gotten to know more people in the past two years than he had t
hroughout most of his youth. But he didn’t know her.

  Laughing, she grabbed a bag of chips off the shelf and dropped it into her cart.

  Ryder still couldn’t get a look at her face.

  “Oh, my word, I haven’t seen you in years.” Millie Perkins stopped her cart seconds from colliding with the mystery woman. “Becca, right? Becca Hartman?”

  Ryder’s chest constricted. Becca? Here in Blackfoot Falls? Was Amy here, too?

  “Nice to see you, Mrs. Perkins. How are you?”

  “Oh, can’t complain. Wouldn’t do any good if I did, now would it? How’s your mom? Is she still living up in Alaska?”

  “She sure is.”

  “You have such an adorable little boy.” Millie smiled at him. “What’s your name, sweet pea?”

  “I’m not a pea,” he said, scrunching up his face. “I’m a boy.”

  Becca gasped. “Noah. Mind your manners.”

  “Oh, he’s fine.” Millie bent to ruffle his hair.

  Ryder grabbed a box of crackers and pretended to read the label, while he listened and studied Becca. Last time he’d seen her, she’d been eighteen and as thin as a fence post. He’d just married Leanne and they’d been working on plans for their new home when Becca had convinced Amy to run off with her.

  His sister had sworn up and down she’d be back in a year, two tops. The plan had been to help Becca get settled, then come back to attend college an hour away. After Amy had missed three Christmases in a row, it was clear to Ryder that she’d made a new life for herself. And she wasn’t coming back. His parents had refused to believe it.

  Ryder wished she’d had the decency to be straight with them. Whoever had coined the phrase blood is thicker than water had come up short.

  “So are you here for good?” Millie asked.

  That got Ryder’s attention again.

  Becca shook her head. “Just visiting.”

  “What about your friend? You know, Gail Mitchell’s girl,” Millie said. “Amy? Is she here with you?”

  The stricken look on Becca’s face caught Ryder off guard. Her posture changed. She reached for her son’s hand. And when she finally smiled, he saw a slight quiver, and he knew in his soul that something had happened to Amy.

  “No,” Becca said calmly. “Amy couldn’t make it.”

  “Ouch.” The kid scowled at her. “You’re squeezing too hard.”

  “I’m sorry, sweetie. I bet you’re hungry.”

  He nodded vigorously.

  “Let’s see what we can do about that.” Becca looked at Millie. “It was nice seeing you, Mrs. Perkins. Please give my best to Mr. Perkins.”

  “Well, maybe we can have a cup of tea and a nice chat before you leave.” Millie glanced at the contents of Becca’s cart. “Looks like you’ll be here awhile.”

  Becca laughed. “Have you forgotten how much a four-year-old can put away?” she said, already steering the cart and the boy around Millie.

  “Oh, heavens, yes. I remember.”

  Ryder did a quick mental calculation. The boy would’ve been two years old by the time Becca’s grandmother had died. As far as he knew, Shirley hadn’t mentioned anything about Becca having a kid. When it came to news from LA, his mom never skipped a word.

  As soon as she made it past Millie, Ryder put the crackers back on the shelf. Time to see what Becca had to say about Amy to his face. He sidestepped the boxed stuffing display so he could cut her off, then remembered his mom. Dammit. He needed to get to Becca first.

  He circled around the refrigerator case and stepped in front of her cart.

  Eyes widening, she gasped. “Ryder.”

  “Hello, Becca.”

  “Hi.” Her gaze darted briefly to the boy. “This is a surprise.”

  “That’s an understatement.”

  “Right.” She cleared her throat. “I planned on calling you and your mom later.”

  He raised his eyebrows.

  “You know, after we settled in. We just got to town an hour ago.”

  Okay, maybe she was telling the truth and she had intended to get in touch. But why look so nervous? “Where’s Amy?” he asked, holding Becca’s gaze.

  She shook her head. Sadness flickered in her hazel eyes before she blinked and looked away. “I think she had other plans for the—” She pressed her lips together and swallowed.

  “What? For Thanksgiving? Let’s see, that makes seven of them that she’s missed now?”

  “I’m not her keeper,” Becca said, her voice barely a whisper. “Amy does what she wants.”

  “Aunt Amy gave me a neato truck.” The kid grinned up at him. “You wanna see it?”

  “Noah.” Becca tugged at his hand. “It’s not here.”

  “It’s in the car.”

  “No, it’s not...”

  Ryder felt a surge of relief. He didn’t know what had given him the sick feeling that something had happened to his sister. If that were true, she wouldn’t be buying the kid toys. “Hey, sport, when did your aunt buy you the truck?”

  “Sport?” The boy wrinkled his nose. “My name is Noah.”

  “Ah.” Ryder knew Becca was watching them closely, and something sure was making her jumpy. What the hell did she think he was going to do to her kid? “Sorry. Noah.”

  “What’s your name?”

  “Ryder.” He stuck his hand out. “Pleased to meet you, Noah.”

  The little guy just frowned at his hand at first, then looked at Becca.

  She smiled at him. “It’s okay, sweetie,” she said, brushing the hair out of his eyes. “Ryder just wants to shake your hand.”

  His mouth formed an “oh” but without the sound, then he slapped his palm against Ryder’s and started giggling.

  In spite of himself, Ryder smiled. Whatever was up with Amy wasn’t the kid’s fault. “That’s quite a grip you’ve got there,” he said as his hand swallowed Noah’s.

  “Becca! Oh, my goodness!”

  At the sound of his mom’s voice, Ryder flinched. Why now? Dammit.

  Becca jumped.

  He turned and watched his mom, gripping the cart with one hand and her cane with the other, hurrying toward them.

  “Hello, Mrs. Mitchell.” Becca’s gaze flew to the cane.

  She looked as if she didn’t know how she should greet his mom, which really pissed him off. Becca had spent most of her teens at their ranch, eaten a lot of dinners with the family. He was seven years older than Amy and hadn’t paid much attention to her and her friends, but he remembered that Becca loved horses. Always wanted to hang around the stables. She’d been close to her grandparents, but the Hancocks weren’t ranchers.

  Becca finally stepped forward and embraced his mom in an earnest hug. When she moved back, he saw the tears in her eyes before she blinked them away.

  The relief he’d felt over Amy disappeared. Something was wrong. And damned if he wouldn’t wring every last detail out of her.

  Chapter Four

  Becca shouldn’t have been surprised to run into Amy’s mom and brother. Less than twenty-five hundred people lived in the county and half of them ended up in town for one reason or another most days.

  “So when did you arrive?” Mrs. Mitchell asked, her hopeful gaze sweeping the area. “Amy didn’t mention you all were coming. She’s here with you, isn’t she?”

  Becca felt terrible over the woman’s attempt to sound casual when she was anything but. She swallowed and made the mistake of glancing at Ryder. The contempt in his eyes startled her. While he hadn’t jumped for joy over seeing her, he’d been okay a few moments ago.

  She refocused on Mrs. Mitchell. “No, I’m sorry,” Becca said, saddened by the woman’s obvious disappointment. A mother never gave up hope. Becca understood that now. “Amy wanted to come, but the trip was a last-minute decision on my part and
she already had plans.” Becca paused. “She sends her love, though.”

  The ensuing silence couldn’t have been more awkward. Becca wanted to disappear. Gail Mitchell had always been so kind to her. Becca could’ve tried to sound more convincing.

  Mrs. Mitchell gave her a resigned smile. “Well, I’m very glad to see you, Becca. You look all grown-up, and so pretty,” she said with a brief glance at her son. “Isn’t she pretty, Ryder?”

  Heat stung Becca’s cheeks. She tried not to look at him. He hadn’t responded, which was more than okay with her. Except then she had to look, couldn’t stop herself.

  He hadn’t changed all that much in the seven years. His chest and shoulders looked a bit broader, but then ranching tended to breed muscular men. His sandy-brown hair was longer now, waving just above his shirt collar very much like—

  Stricken by a sudden realization, she jerked her gaze up and met Ryder’s dark blue eyes.

  Why hadn’t she seen the resemblance before?

  “Mommy?” Noah frowned up at her. “Mommy, what’s wrong?”

  She held back a sigh. “Nothing, sweetie,” she said, giving him a smile.

  Gail blinked at him, as if seeing him for the first time. “And who is this adorable young man?” She bent down to Noah’s level, and Ryder was instantly at her side, holding on to her arm while she leaned heavily on the cane.

  Becca’s gaze went straight to the stubborn wave in his hair in the exact spot and angle as Noah’s.

  At one point in her teens, she could’ve described Ryder down to the very last detail. She’d been such a pathetic cliché, crushing on her best friend’s older brother. “Noah, this is Mrs. Mitchell. Answer her, please.”

  “I’m Noah.” He grinned big. “You wanna see my truck?”

  Mrs. Mitchell laughed. Even Ryder smiled.

  “Of course I do. Where is it?” She pretended to look around for it. “Is it in your pocket?”

  “No.” Gurgling with laughter, he leaned into Becca. “It’s too big.”

  Mrs. Mitchell beamed at him, her glow of delight taking years off her face. How had she aged so much since the last time Becca had been home? Her short dark hair had streaks of gray and there were new lines on her face that Becca doubted were from laughter. And a cane? What could have happened?