To Trust a Rancher Read online

  On the second floor, Becca stepped lightly as she got closer to the slightly ajar door, hoping Noah was still down for the count. He didn’t nap all that often anymore, but the excitement had worn him out. Gail, knowing Becca wanted to share a room with Noah, had set them up in the larger guest room, which just so happened to be right next to Ryder’s bedroom.

  She’d gotten a peek of it when they’d put their bags away, and it looked so empty that it got her wondering if and when he’d moved back in. He would’ve been divorced by the time his dad had died. Made sense that he’d stay here so Gail wouldn’t be alone.

  Noah was still asleep in the queen bed. He’d cried that he wasn’t tired when she tucked him in and she’d promised they could paint the horse’s toes. She was almost tempted to wake him now so he’d be sure to sleep tonight, but she’d give him until the shepherd’s pie was in the oven and the cake was iced.

  An hour later, they were all at the table, and Ryder was pouring iced tea for his mother, while Becca tucked a napkin under Noah’s chin. Everything smelled delicious. Noah still looked a little sleepy, but his appetite was raring to go.

  After serving him, she took a pretty big scoop of the shepherd’s pie herself, then passed the dish to Ryder. He took it without looking at her, which wasn’t a surprise, just disappointing. She decided to concentrate on the moment, on Gail, and the bounty in front of her. “I can’t believe how wonderful this all looks.”

  “You made half of it,” Gail said, laughing. “I should be ashamed of myself for putting you to work. Especially with you being on your feet every day. And in a restaurant to boot.”

  “Actually, I work in an office now.”

  Gail raised her eyebrows. “You do?”

  Becca chewed quickly and swallowed. “I’m still with the same steakhouse chain, but I was promoted recently.”

  “Now, is this the chain you worked for when you first arrived in LA?” Gail asked. “I’ve forgotten the name.”

  “Same one. I waited tables for four years, then the owner opened a new restaurant closer to my house and offered me the assistant manager position.” She could feel Ryder’s gaze boring into her, but he hadn’t said a word. “Then a month ago, Warren promoted me to Research and Development.”

  “I don’t know what that means,” Gail said. “But it sounds impressive.”

  “That’s okay, I’m not sure what it means either.” Becca laughed, so did Gail. Noah, who’d been eating steadily and paying them no attention, laughed along with them.

  Ryder didn’t even blink; he might as well have been carved from stone.

  Becca wiped the corner of Noah’s mouth before she continued, “Warren had three restaurants when I first started, and now he owns seven. He’s looking to expand further and my job is to help determine which areas have a need for a moderately priced steakhouse and whether it would be feasible to meet the demand.”

  “Well, good for you.” Gail’s smile was full of pride.

  “Frankly, I’m a little nervous since I’ve never done this type of work before, and I still have a lot to learn, but Warren is a smart guy. He wouldn’t have promoted me if he didn’t think I was up to the task.”

  Becca noticed Ryder’s patronizing little smile but she doubted Gail had. Boy, was he lucky his mom and Noah were there, or she would’ve called him out.

  “I know you’d planned on going to community college after high school. I imagine that helped you work your way up the ladder,” Gail commented.

  “Honestly, between work and Noah I haven’t managed to find the time, but thanks to my new schedule, I’m really hoping to take night courses next semester. I already have my eye on two of them.” She hated that Ryder’s reaction still bothered her. Did he think she was being naive? Or that she was sleeping with her boss?

  “I hope you follow through with that, I really do. It’s hard enough being a single mom let alone holding down a job, too. You need to do something special for yourself,” Gail said, tucking into her dinner for the first time since they’d sat down. “I have every faith you’ll do great.”

  “Thank you, Gail. That means a lot.” Becca wiped some gravy off Noah’s chin, and then she glanced at Ryder again. His eyes had narrowed and he looked as if he didn’t believe a word she’d said.

  * * *

  HE WASN’T BUYING IT.

  After taking a sip of water, Ryder looked back at Becca, but she was talking to his mother about old friends and neighbors. Noah was gobbling his dinner with gusto, not even a little interested in the conversation.

  What Ryder wanted to know was why Becca hadn’t bothered to name the steakhouse chain she was so thrilled about. Or why she’d lied about Amy working at the bar. He’d overheard a little of the conversation with his mom in the kitchen. Last he’d spoken to Amy, she’d said she quit bartending because the tips sucked.

  He’d hoped it meant she was rethinking college. After seven years, she should have already gotten past the temporary gig stage. Yeah, LA was expensive, but in the beginning, the two of them had shared a place so things couldn’t have been too bad.

  “Is Amy still working in that bar? Where is it, Covina? Close to where the two of you used to live?”

  Becca’s eyes widened and she looked down at her plate.

  “Ryder, I think you might have missed that Becca and I were talking about her mother.”

  He hadn’t realized. Which could explain the look he’d gotten, but he doubted it. “Sorry.”

  Becca studied him a second, then turned back to his mom. “No, she seems to love it in Alaska, even though it’s colder than Montana. I don’t understand that at all.”

  Gail chuckled. “What does an activist do?”

  “She and Scott are into the politics of climate change. They write letters, make trips to Washington, DC, to talk to lobbyists and members of Congress. They also monitor the glaciers and changes in the environment.”

  “I had no idea Katie was interested in that sort of thing.”

  Ryder had been half listening and had his eyes on Becca. He saw her stiffen at his mom’s comment, and figured he knew why. Shortly after her parents’ divorce, Katie had met someone online. Scott had been involved with environmental issues, and within eight months, Katie had announced they were getting married and she was moving to Alaska.

  Quiet, sensible Becca had flipped out. Refused to leave Blackfoot Falls. So her mom had left, and Becca had stayed with her grandparents. And for the next year, she’d rebelled in all kinds of ways that had shocked everyone.

  “What about your father? Is he still working abroad?”

  A trace of sadness crossed Becca’s face.

  Damn, his mom was batting a thousand. She must’ve forgotten what had brought Becca and her mom to Blackfoot Falls. It had been during her dad’s second deployment that they’d moved in with Katie’s parents.

  “Yes, he’s working somewhere in the Middle East,” Becca said. “It took him a while to adjust to civilian life, but frankly, I don’t see how working for a defense contractor is all that different from the military.”

  “For one thing, they get paid a hell of a lot more,” Ryder said and caught his mom’s disapproving look. Yeah, he needed to watch his language in front of the kid.

  Noah’s mischievous little grin confirmed he’d caught that slip.

  “It’s not all about money,” Becca said. “He had a responsibility to his family.” She bowed her head. “Sorry if I sound snippy. I do give him credit for at least trying to make something of my grandparents’ place. He just wasn’t cut out for ranching.”

  Gail put down her fork. “I’m sorry I brought it up, honey, I should’ve known better,” she said, reaching over to pat Becca’s arm. “Please forgive me.”

  “Nothing to forgive. I don’t even know why I reacted. We talk two, three times a year. Everything’s fine with us.” Becca’s reass
uring smile eased Gail’s frown and earned her a couple of points in Ryder’s estimation.

  Of course she still hadn’t answered his question about the bar where Amy supposedly worked. But if she thought that was going to dissuade him from asking again, she was dead wrong.

  After several minutes of quiet eating, Ryder said, “I didn’t catch the name of that steakhouse chain you work for.”

  Becca finished chewing. Probably stalling while she devised another lie. “You wouldn’t know it. The restaurants are only in southern California.” She turned to Noah. “Everything’s good, huh?”

  Oh, yeah, she was holding something back. Becca had always been forthcoming. She and Amy had jabbered all the time. She might have been shy around strangers, but at the Mitchell ranch, her whole life had been an open book.

  Ryder caught his mother’s eye. She hadn’t been this spry in a long time. He’d seen her standing at the stove, cooking up a storm, her cane nowhere in sight.

  Maybe he shouldn’t press Becca yet. He didn’t want to see the light go out in his mom’s face because he’d chased Becca away. But before she left Blackfoot Falls, he’d find out what was going on with Amy. Becca could count on that.

  Chapter Eight

  Ryder poured his second cup of coffee, hoping it would wake him the hell up. He hadn’t gotten to sleep until after 1:00 a.m. but that hadn’t stopped his alarm clock from going off at six.

  Every time he punched his pillow, determined that he wasn’t going to think about the secrets Becca was holding onto, he lasted about two minutes before another unanswered question came to roost. He’d worked himself into a lather, until it had finally dawned on him that maybe the secrets had more to do with Becca than his sister.

  “What’s that frown for?” Gail asked, walking into the kitchen, the cane in her right hand not taking much of her weight.

  “Not enough sleep,” he muttered. “I mean, what’s the deal with all the secrecy, huh? Has Becca told you why she came back to town? Or where Amy is? Or even if—?”

  “Whoa there, mister.” Gail got her usual mug from the cupboard before she faced him. “I have some questions of my own. Why are you being so ugly to Becca? What’s she done to make you so mad? She’s always been like one of the family, and I can tell she’s a great mother even though she’s on her own in a big city.”

  “Did she tell you that? That she’s on her own, I mean? Maybe she’s back because she ran out on her husband.”

  His mom chuckled. “Even if she had, which I seriously doubt, it wouldn’t be any of our business. You should really try to get another hour of sleep.”

  “So you don’t think she’s being evasive? She’s the one who dragged Amy to LA, and now she’s back and doesn’t know where Amy is.”

  His mother shook her head as she gently pushed Ryder away from the coffeepot. “You think Becca talked your sister into leaving? Honey, you don’t know Amy as well as you think you do.” She paused, frowning. “Actually, that’s probably true.”

  His mom, too? Becca had made a similar comment. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “You went off to college when she was eleven.”

  “So? I came home every summer and holidays.”

  “And let’s see...you spent most of that time working the ranch and mooning over Leanne, and if I remember correctly, getting into some trouble at the Watering Hole.”

  Ryder grunted. Guess he was never going to live that minor skirmish down. And he hadn’t even started the fight. “I hung out with Amy sometimes. We talked.”

  “Then you should know that your sister didn’t let anyone tell her what to do. Not me, not your dad and certainly not Becca. Our girl has had one foot out the door since she was ten.”

  He leaned against the counter, watching his mom pour cream in her coffee. Granted, Amy could be headstrong, but he knew what might’ve lit the fire under her.

  Shortly after Becca had moved in with her grandparents—when the girls were around ten—she’d started telling Amy about the big exciting cities she’d lived in when her father had gotten transferred. Ryder had heard some of it while they were hanging around the stable, but he hadn’t thought much of it then. In hindsight, it might’ve made Amy feel like a country bumpkin. And that sure could’ve helped push her out the door.

  Hell, it was just kid stuff, though. He couldn’t blame Becca for trying to fit in and impress a new friend with her tales. Just last night, he’d recalled how she’d dug in her heels and wouldn’t leave Blackfoot Falls for Alaska. Though that might’ve had more to do with the new stepfather.

  His mom patted him on the shoulder. “You had breakfast yet?”

  “Two hours ago.”

  “Well, then you’d best quit lollygagging in the kitchen when you should be working.” She pulled out her cast iron skillet. “I think there’s a little boy coming down the hall who’s gonna love my flapjacks.”

  “I had lumpy oatmeal from the bunkhouse, but don’t worry about me.”

  “I’m not. Now get it in gear. You’ve got a ranch to run.”

  He sighed as dramatically as he could, taking his insulated mug with him, then paused at the door. “Last night, you mentioned something about Becca going to community college.”

  “The one in Kalispell,” she said, nodding. “What about it?”

  “How did you know?”

  “How did—?” Her brows arched. “It wasn’t a secret. She’d worked a part-time job during her senior year to save money for tuition.”

  Huh.

  “Doesn’t sound like a girl who was all fired up to leave town first chance she got, does it?”

  Ryder grunted at her smug smile and stepped outside. He took a big sip and burned his tongue. His curse wasn’t so loud it would bother his mother, but it helped.

  Walking to the barn, he thought about what his mom and Becca had both said about him not knowing Amy. He had to admit he hadn’t spent a lot of real, one-on-one time with her. Seven years was a big gap between siblings, and besides, she was a girl. He hadn’t even been allowed to tease her when they were both kids.

  Which wasn’t what stuck in his craw. That Amy hadn’t been coerced into leaving was a problem. Because it painted a different picture of Becca. He’d been blaming her for every wrong thing that had happened to Amy since she’d gone to LA.

  Wiley’s ATV came rumbling from the back shed, and Ryder welcomed the distraction.

  “I’m going to check the fence line along the south pasture. Bear said something got into it last night.”

  “Did any of it come down?”

  “I don’t think so. At least not yet. I hope another doe didn’t get her hooves caught,” Wiley said, grimly. “You headed to Evergreen to look at those herd sires?”

  “That’s next week.”

  “Oh, right. You got a few minutes to talk about the holiday schedule then?”

  Ryder took another, more cautious sip. “Whatever you decide is okay with me. You know that.”

  “I’m talking all the way out to Christmas. If everyone who wants time off gets it, we’ll have a skeleton crew.”

  His thoughts scattered, Ryder nodded. He didn’t know why Wiley felt compelled to run things by him. The guy had been the foreman since before Ryder had left for college. His dad had trusted Wiley to keep the ranch in top shape and so did Ryder. In fact, being able to rely on Wiley had freed Ryder up to expand their holdings. As a result, he’d become less involved in the day-to-day operation.

  He let Wiley go on describing the winter projects he’d prioritized, only half listening, his mind jumping back to things Becca or his mom had said at dinner. In what seemed like a minute, over a half an hour had gone by. Enough time to wonder if Wiley’s feelings for his mom had anything to do with this wave of uncertainty. Maybe he didn’t want Ryder to think he was being edged out. Hell, that never would’ve crossed h
is mind.

  Just as Ryder was about to put out feelers, Wiley broke into a broad grin. The sound of little feet slapping the dirt shed some light on the matter. Ryder looked over his shoulder.

  Sure enough it was Noah, wearing jeans, sneakers and a denim jacket. When the boy came to a rocking stop in front of him, he saw that he had on a sweatshirt, too. “Can we go do horse things, Uncle Ryder?”

  “Horse things?”

  Noah jumped, but only one time. “I finished all my pancakes and Aunt Gail said I could come outside and that there were gloves in the bunker that would fit.”

  “I think you mean the bunkhouse,” Wiley said. “And I do believe I know where those gloves might be. How about you hop on and I’ll take you to get ’em, and then you can come with me to do real cowboy stuff.”

  “With horses?”

  “Even better,” Wiley said. “Cows. Lots of ’em. You ever met a cow?”

  “I met a goat once. Are cows as big as horses?”

  “I’ll let you be the judge. How about it?” Wiley looked to Ryder to give the okay, and when he did, Wiley slid back on the seat and tucked Noah safely in front of him before he said, “Ready?”

  “Can I wear your cowboy hat?”

  “We’ll see about that once we catch up to the cows.”

  “Don’t stay out too long,” Ryder said.

  “Wave to Uncle Ryder, Noah.”

  The boy did, but when the older man took off, at a very stately pace, Noah grabbed on to Wiley’s worn jeans with tight fists.

  Ryder trusted Wiley not to scare the kid, but he kept a watchful eye on their trip to the bunkhouse. After the motor cut off, Noah got off the ATV and immediately started hopping.

  Ryder smiled. It was going to be an adventure for both of them. A couple of minutes later, the duo climbed aboard the ATV once more, with gloves that looked a few sizes too big. Then they were off.