A Baby for the Rancher

by Margaret Daley

  “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.”

  Cody slowly calmed down and looked at Ben, touching his face. Ben kissed his fingers, then swung him high. His son’s laughter resonated through the house.

  “I wish I could stay and play, but your daddy needs to get to work. See you later, little man.”

  Ben sat him on the floor by his toys, plucked the red ball off the ottoman and rolled it to Cody.

  “Is Grandma here?” he asked as he straightened.

  “She’s taking a nap.”

  “Is she sick?”

  “Just a little tired. Cody apparently didn’t stay down for his nap as long as he usually does.”

  “Thanks, Chloe. I’ll be at the barn.”

  As he walked across the yard, he realized he had to find at the least someone to take Chloe’s place. It wasn’t fair to Mamie to think she could take over full-time when Chloe wasn’t available. Maybe even a woman he was interested in. He needed to look beyond just a nanny for his son. Cody needed stability. He’d been shuffled around enough. He’d checked and found that Alana had left Cody with her aunt for a month before dropping him off at the ranch.

  When he stepped through the double barn doors, no one was around. Zed should be back soon with the interns and cowhands. They were rotating the cattle to another pasture. A noise at the other end turned his attention in that direction. Suddenly a hunched figure, wearing baggy sweats and a hoodie, raced out of Zed’s office midway down the long center aisle toward the back door.

  “Can I help you?”

  The person increased his speed and darted outside.

  Ben rushed after the trespasser. Was this one of the thieves? Had he taken anything? Ben reached the yard behind the barn and glimpsed the guy climbing over a fence. Ben went after him, his breathing labored, his muscles protesting the exertion. As he scaled the fence, the person put more distance between them.

  Perched on the top railing, Ben realized the futility of trying to pursue the intruder. He hadn’t regained his full strength. Something that would have been easy six months ago wasn’t anymore. After catching his breath, he retraced his steps toward the barn, wondering why that person had been in Zed’s office. Had the thieves started robbing again?

  Chapter Four

  Ben entered his barn, his body protesting his mad dash after the intruder. Still winded, he inhaled deep breaths and came to a stop as Lucy appeared in the doorway at the other end. A smile brightened her face when she looked at him and headed toward him.

  As she drew closer, tiny lines crinkled her forehead. “Is something wrong?”

  “I’m not sure.” He slid a glance at Zed’s office. “There was someone in here. When I came in, he walked out of there, saw me and raced out the back. I’d say that’s a big red flag.”

  “Did you recognize him?” Lucy moved toward the office. “Did he have anything in his hands?”

  “He wasn’t carrying anything. He was dressed in a dark hoodie, and about all I could say was the guy was slim and about five feet eight inches.”

  “But you think it was a male?”

  “Yes.” Ben removed his Stetson and ran his fingers through his hair, finally beginning to breathe normally. “At least by the way he walked and his body build.” He followed Lucy into the room, which had a desk and chair. His gaze fell on the chart of the layout of his ranch that took up almost one wall.

  Lucy stood near the desk, examining the contents on top. “Do you see anything out of place?”

  “You’ll have to check with Zed for sure, but the computer, printer, phone and my rodeo championship trophy are all here.” He crossed to the computer and switched it on. “You have to enter an access code.” After typing it in, he checked a couple of folders. “I’ll have Zed go through it more thoroughly, but I don’t think the intruder messed with it.”

  “Okay, then why in the world did someone come in here for nothing and risk getting caught?”

  Ben turned his attention from the focal point, the desk, and surveyed the rest of the office. After he tried the file cabinet, he said, “It’s still locke
d. Zed keeps it that way when he isn’t in here.” As he continued his inspection, his gaze latched on to the three teenage girls’ belongings on the floor behind the door.

  A stack of all the Harry Potter books in the series were tied together with a red ribbon, and on top of them was a silver music box with Maddy’s name engraved on it. He gestured at the gifts. “I can’t image Maddy bringing these in here. She would leave them in the car with her backpack.”

  “Do you think the intruder left them?” Lucy leaned down and lifted the lid on the music box with a pencil. Her eyes widened.

  Ben stepped nearer, getting a whiff of Lucy’s light flowery scent as he stared at the silver necklace with a horse charm dangling from it. “Whoever gave this to Maddy, he has good and expensive taste. None of these presents are cheap.”

  Lucy turned her head and peered up at him, so close he glimpsed the light sprinkle of freckles on her pert nose. She opened her mouth to say something, but no words came out. Instead, their gazes embraced and held.

  Voices out in the barn disrupted the moment, and Ben quickly straightened. Lucy stood, a rosy hue on her cheeks, and put some distance between them.

  “Let’s see what Maddy does when she sees the items.” Lucy sat in a chair while Ben lounged back against the desk, his hands gripping its edge.

  “Hi, boss,” Zed said as he entered the office. “We just finished moving some cattle to a new pasture.”

  “Did Maddy, Lynne and Christie help y’all?”

  Zed nodded. “I’m gonna hate to see them go at the end of the school year.”

  “Me, too. I’m thinking of hiring a couple of teens for the summer months.”

  Zed looked at Lucy. “Are you two still going riding?”

  With a glance at the clock on the wall, Ben shook his head. “I guess we both got delayed. We have to be at a meeting in an hour.” Shifting to Lucy, he grinned. “Can we have a rain check on that ride?”

  “Sure.”

  Lynne knocked on the open door. “I need to get something from my jacket.”

  Ben swept his arm toward the area.

  As the teenager stuck her hand into her coat pocket, her attention fastened on to the gifts on the floor. She bent over to read the engraved name, then popped back up and hurried from the office. “Maddy, you need to see what you got in here.”

  Ben exchanged looks with Lucy while Zed asked, “Where did those come from?”

  Ben shrugged. “Maybe Maddy knows.”

  “I know what?” The girl paused in the entrance, her view blocked by the door.

  “About these gifts.” Ben pointed toward them.

  She spied them and squealed, stooping by the books and picking up the music box. When she opened it, her jaw dropped. “Who would do this?”

  Lynne and Christie leaned around the door. “You’ve got a secret admirer, Maddy. Probably the same one who gave you the iPod,” Christie said and whistled.

  Maddy blushed. “Ben, can I put these in the car?”

  “Yes. You don’t have any idea who gave you these beautiful gifts?”

  “No, sir. But I love them, especially the necklace. I don’t have a lot of jewelry.” Maddy rose with the books and music box and hurried out of the office with her two friends right behind her.

  Lucy walked to the doorway and peered at the girls leaving out the front of the barn, giggling and whispering.

  Ben came up behind her. “What do you think?”

  “She seems genuinely surprised, but do you really think she doesn’t know who is giving her the presents?”

  “Yes. In all my dealings with her, she has been very straightforward.”

  “What happened here, boss?”

  Ben pivoted toward Zed. “I chased an intruder out the back of the barn. I didn’t see who it was, but he came out of your office. I think he left these gifts.”

  Zed’s bushy eyebrows shot up. “Well, I’ll be.”

  “Has Maddy said anything about a boyfriend?” Lucy moved into the office as the sound of the girls returning floated on the air.

  “No, but then I don’t think they would be gossiping when I’m around.” Zed tossed his hat on a peg and sat behind his desk. “Just a reminder, the girls are only staying another half an hour. They have their monthly Future Farmers of America meeting tonight.”

  “I’d forgotten about that.” Ben drew Lucy out of the office and took her hand, then strolled out the back. “I want to show you where the intruder fled.”

  Lucy peered over her shoulder at the three teenagers parting and each disappearing into a separate stall. When they were around the corner and out of sight of anyone in the barn, she tugged her hand free from his. “The show is over.”

  “What show?” he asked, pressing his lips together to keep a straight face while Lucy tried to control the flush staining her cheeks.

  “You keep insisting on acting as if we’re a couple.”

  “Me?” He pointed to his chest, then chuckled. “Lucy, it’s the most logical reason for you to be coming to the ranch and hanging out with me at the barn.”

  Releasing a long breath, she shook her head. “You’re certainly persistent. I’m going to have to find someone for you to become interested in.”

  “How about you come tomorrow afternoon? We can go for a ride, then have dinner.”

  She opened her mouth.

  He knew she was going to say no, so he hurriedly added, “Once a month Grandma has the girls come up to the house after work and have dinner with us. She doesn’t believe they eat enough. I think she’s trying to put some pounds on their bones. It’s always the day after the FFA meeting.”

  “How does your grandmother do everything? She’s always got something going either here, in town or at church.”

  “Talking about church, as you know I met with Pastor Mathers today. It’s Stillwater Ranch’s turn for the big Easter-egg hunt.”

  “So you told him you’d host it this year?”

  “Yes. I always enjoy it. I think I’m a kid at heart.”

  She laughed. “You won’t get an argument from me. So I guess you’re coming to the next meeting at church about the Easter-egg hunt?”

  “Yep. Why?”

  “Because I’m chairing it this year.”

  He stared at her. “Where do you find the time to do everything?”

  “Good question. I don’t sleep.” One corner of her mouth lifted. “No, seriously, I like to stay busy.”

  “Well, so do I, but I also find time to play. Lately, it’s been me playing with Cody.”

  “He’s a cutie. What are you going to do when Chloe has her baby?”

  “I don’t know. I’m working on it. But let’s get back to the question of coming for a ride and dinner tomorrow night. Are you coming?”

  “First, I wasn’t the one who sidetracked the earlier topic. You were. Second...”

  When she paused for a few seconds, he hurriedly said, “It’ll help keep up the charade we’re a couple in the girls’ eyes.”

  She frowned, looked toward the barn, then at him again. “Charade is a good description of what this is because we are not a couple.”

  He loved to rattle her. “It’s still the best way for you to hang around here. So should I tell Grandma we have another one for dinner tomorrow?”

  “Yes, now show me where the intruder went. Since it’s been so dry, I doubt there are footprints, but maybe the tide is turning on this investigation and we’ll get fingerprints.”

  Ben started for the fence. He wanted the Robin Hoods found like everyone else, but it sure was fun having Lucy hanging around his ranch.

  * * *

  At seven o’clock, Lucy pulled out of the parking space in front of the Lone Star Cowboy League building. “Since you’re replacing Tyler on the Ru
stling Investigation Team, at least tonight was a good time to get you caught up on what has been happening since the end of October.”

  Ben angled toward her. “The only promising lead is where the cattle possibly are being sold, if not in Texas.”

  “Yes, the Oklahoma State Police are working on it from their end. I’ve also contacted New Mexico.”

  “If they are being sold in Oklahoma or New Mexico, then how could it be a couple of teenagers? If they were gone several times to sell the cattle, they would have to be away for at least a day. I could see it once, but to move the number of cattle they have stolen, it would be four or five times. Wouldn’t their parents realize something is going on?”

  “Kids can get creative. Some parents would, but others don’t keep track of their teenagers like they should.”

  “What if the teenagers are working with someone else to sell the stolen cattle? Maybe they aren’t leaving but that person is.”

  “Once we find the place we think the cattle are going, we’ll be able to figure out if there are more people than the Robin Hoods involved. But having a middleman makes sense. You think that person could be from around here?”

  “Maybe. Maybe not. Let’s grab some hamburgers before going home.” Ben pointed at the Hamburger Hut at the end of Main Street.

  Lucy slanted a glance at him. During the meeting, Tom Horton and Amanda Jones, other members of the team, had been giving Ben and her quizzical looks. But then she couldn’t blame them. Ben sat close to her and even once had put his hand on the back of her chair. “Frankly, I’m surprised Amanda didn’t ask me after the meeting if you and I were dating with all the attention you gave me. Is this dinner in public to continue your rouse we’re a couple?”