by Marin Thomas
“Alonso! I can’t wait to see you. Come up to the main house.” The feminine voice sounded pleasant and Hannah was hopeful this place would be a good fit for her brother.
The iron gates swung open and Alonso drove in.
“Is this a boys’ prison?”
“No, but many of the kids here have been involved with gangs, and they want to keep the place as secure as possible.”
At the mention of gangs Hannah’s positive attitude took a nosedive.
“So I’m hanging out with a bunch of gangbangers from the city?”
“Wait and see. You’ll like it here.”
Luke gripped the back of Hannah’s headrest, leaned forward and spoke in her ear. “I’ll get beat up.”
“That kind of stuff doesn’t happen here.” Alonso changed the subject. “You said you were interested in rodeo.”
“Yeah.”
“One of the best saddle-bronc riders in the country works at this ranch.”
“Who?”
“Cruz Rivera.”
“Never heard of him,” Luke said.
“That’s because he rode in prison.”
“I didn’t know prisons had rodeos,” Luke said.
Neither did Hannah.
“Rivera set all kinds of records.”
The pickup drove along a steep incline, and when they reached the top, Hannah’s breath caught at the sight below. A white two-story house with a wraparound porch sat in the distance. There were three corrals near a large white barn and white fencing sectioned off parcels of land behind several buildings scattered across the property. Even from a distance, the place appeared well maintained. Alonso parked between a brand-new diesel truck and red sports car.
“Nice wheels.” Luke got out and walked over to the Mustang.
The front door opened and two boys with dark auburn hair ran outside. They bounded down the steps and took off toward the barn. A woman with dark hair and an exasperated expression on her face stepped onto the porch. As soon as she spotted Alonso, she smiled and hurried toward him. Alonso met her halfway and gave her a bear hug. “It’s good to see you, Maria.”
“You look great,” she said.
“This is Luke.” He put his hand on the teen’s shoulder. “And his sister, Hannah. They run the Blue Bison Ranch about a hundred and fifty miles southeast of here.”
Hannah shook hands with Maria. “You have a lovely home.”
“Thank you.” Maria’s gaze flicked between Hannah and Alonso, then her smile widened.
Hannah worried that Maria believed there was something going on between her and Alonso. There wasn’t. Well, there was but it wasn’t... Never mind.
“Whose car is that?” Luke nodded to the Mustang.
“Mine.” Maria winked at Alonso. “Riley thinks I need to let loose once in a while.”
“Doesn’t surprise me,” Alonso said.
“Luke, there are thirty-seven boys here. I’m sure you’ll find a few to make friends with.”
Luke didn’t appear impressed by the information and Hannah worried he wouldn’t give the ranch a fair shot.
“Speaking of boys.” Alonso nodded to the redheaded kids playing on the swings with a little girl. “The twins are growing up fast.”
Twins? Hannah shuddered. She couldn’t imagine having a child anytime soon. Her brother was all she could handle at the moment.
“They’re a handful,” Maria said. “The little girl is Cruz’s stepdaughter, Dani. Did Riley tell you that Cruz’s wife, Sara, is a pediatric nurse?” Maria turned to Hannah. “We now have an official health clinic on the property.”
“That’s great.” Hannah was relieved to know that if Luke got injured he’d be in good hands.
“I made up a bed for you in the bunkhouse, Luke. You’ll find a backpack filled with school supplies on your bunk.”
“Luke brought his textbooks with him,” Hannah said.
“Great. I’ll chat with Luke’s teachers and get his assignments for the remainder of the semester.”
“School sucks,” Luke mumbled.
Hannah held her breath, expecting Maria to reprimand her brother but the older woman spoke in a calm voice that drew Luke’s attention. “We don’t have a lot of rules here. But the ones we do have are enforced. You have to go to school each day and you have to complete your lessons. After that you’re expected to do your assigned chores. Once those are done, you’re free to spend the rest of your day however you want.”
That didn’t seem like such a bad deal, but Luke didn’t agree. “There’s nothing to do here.”
Maria pointed across the property, where a cowboy walked a horse out of the barn. “Most of the boys here learn rodeo in their free time.”
“Is that Cruz?” Alonso asked.
“You won’t find a better rodeo instructor than Cruz,” Maria said.
Hannah was too far away to make out the man’s features, but he walked with a confident swagger.
“Alonso, why don’t you introduce Luke and Hannah to Mr. Rivera?” Maria checked her watch. “Dinner will be served in an hour.”
“I appreciate the offer to stay for dinner but I’m afraid we have to get back to the Blue Buffalo,” Hannah said. “There’s no one watching the ranch.”
“Well, it was nice meeting you. We’ll take good care of Luke. Feel free to call anytime to check up on him.”
“Thank you,” Hannah said.
Maria returned to the house and Hannah and Luke followed Alonso down to the corral. They stopped a few feet from the pen and listened to Cruz give riding instructions to a boy younger than Luke. Hannah noticed her brother paid attention to every word. Luke might pretend he wasn’t interested in the ranch, but Hannah could feel his excitement about having an opportunity to practice rodeo.
The boy climbed atop the bronc, then Cruz stepped back and the chute door opened. The horse leaped into action and Luke moved closer to the pen, his eyes glued to the bronc and rider.
Hannah watched her brother soak in the action and her heart hurt for him. They’d been so angry with each other for so long and she hated that they were always at odds. But she didn’t know how to help him. He was sixteen—almost a man—but in her heart he’d always be the little boy who’d been overlooked by his parents. Feeling sorry for Luke had only made things worse when he rebelled. Hannah accepted part of the blame for the situation Luke found himself in. She should have been tougher on him. But it was going to hurt her more than Luke to have to leave him here.
“Watch your hips, Joey! Pull back! Pull back!”
Joey managed to hang on even though he was slipping to the side.
“Look for an opening!” Cruz leaned forward, his body strung tight as if he was the one riding the bronc. “There it is!”
The kid launched himself off the horse and landed on his right shoulder, then rolled to his feet and ran for the rails.
“Good job! You rode like crap, but you nailed the dismount.”
Joey flashed a cocky grin. “You wanna challenge me to a ride-off, Mr. Rivera?”
“You wish, kid. Go get ready for supper.”
“Yes, sir.”
As Luke watched the exchange between Cruz and the teen, the cockiness disappeared from his expression. Maybe her brother would return to the Blue Buffalo with more respect for Hannah—wouldn’t that be nice?
“Been a long time, amigo,” Alonso said.
Cruz jumped off the rails and shook hands with Alonso. “At least a few lifetimes,” he said. A stilted silence followed, then he nodded to Luke. “Who’ve you got here?”
“Luke Buck, Cruz Rivera.”
Cruz shook Luke’s hand. “Welcome to the ranch.”
Hannah stepped forward. “I’m Luke’s sister, Hannah.”
“Luke’s staying here until Christmas,” Alonso said.
Cruz nodded to a rectangular structure behind the barn. “My guess is that Maria already has your bed set up in the bunkhouse. Why don’t you go check out your new digs?”
“Sure.” Luke looked at Hannah, his brown eyes wide. “Am I gonna see you before Christmas?”
Hannah glanced at Cruz. She wasn’t sure if the ranch had rules about visitors.
“Maria usually puts on a big Thanksgiving feast and invites the families of all the kids,” Cruz said.
Hannah smiled. “It looks as though I’ll be back in a few weeks to see how you’re doing.” If the ranch wasn’t helping Luke by then, she’d bring him home with her.
Luke gave Hannah a hug and Hannah felt her eyes tear up. There was so much good left inside her brother—he just had to find his way back to the kid he used to be. “Behave,” she said.
Luke turned to Alonso. “Are you gonna be here for Thanksgiving, too?”
“I don’t know,” Alonso said.
Hannah expected he’d be long gone from the Blue Bison by then.
“Good luck, kid.”
After Luke walked off, both men glanced at Hannah and she guessed they wanted to talk in private. “It was nice to meet you, Cruz.” She smiled at Alonso. “I’ll wait in the pickup.”
As soon as Hannah was out of earshot, Alonso spoke. “Maria said you’re married now.”
Cruz flashed a full-blown grin—Alonso couldn’t remember ever seeing a genuine expression of happiness on his friend’s face. “I met Sara right after I was released from prison. Her father owns a restaurant in Papago Springs.”
“I hear that’s her daughter playing with the twins.” Alonso nodded to the swings.
“Dani’s father was a doctor who worked in a health clinic in the barrio.”
“Was?”
“He took a bullet to the chest when he got caught in the middle of a gang fight involving the Los Locos.”
The very gang Alonso and his friends had been pledging before they’d been expelled from high school. Alonso had wanted nothing to do with gangs but they were a necessity in the barrio. Gangs provided protection, and for those really bad off, a place to crash and food to eat.
“I work in the ER at the university hospital. I’ve seen more than my share of gangbangers come in all shot up.”
“You made it through med school. Your dream came true.”
“I guess it did.” Alonso had confided in his friends that he’d wanted to be a doctor, but a dream like that had seemed impossible for an inner-city kid. “Maria convinced Judge Hamel to write a kick-ass letter of recommendation for me. I think the med schools were afraid to turn me down.”
“How did you hook up with Luke and his sister?”
“I took a leave of absence from the hospital. I’ve been doing some sightseeing in the area and met up with them.” Sightseeing sounded better than walking aimlessly across the state.
“Why did you take a leave from your job?” Cruz’s direct stare unnerved Alonso. He thought of telling a lie, but his friend would see through him.
“I’m burned out. I needed a break from the death and violence.”
Cruz stared thoughtfully, seeing past the wall Alonso hid behind. “I get it.” After twelve years behind bars, Cruz probably understood better than Alonso’s cohorts. Hell, forget about him. Cruz was the one who deserved sympathy. “What about you?”
“What’s done is done. I’ve moved on.”
“Have you spoken to Vic since you got out?”
“No.” The one-word answer suggested that Cruz might not have let go of the past. Alonso wished he could help his two friends find peace with each other, but he had enough troubles of his own.
“What’s Luke’s story?” Cruz asked.
“His parents are deceased and Hannah’s trying to keep him in line, but the other night he was involved with a couple of punks who tried to rob a convenience store. This is Luke’s last chance to shape up. Next time the sheriff of Paradise promised to arrest Luke if he was caught on the wrong side of the law.”
“Is he interested in rodeo?”
“He says he is, but he doesn’t have any experience.”
“I’ll work with him.” Cruz glanced at Hannah standing by the pickup. “When are you returning to your job at the hospital?”
“I don’t have a definite date in mind.”
Cruz looked as if he wanted to ask another question but they were interrupted by a group of boys leaving the bunkhouse.
“It’s chow time,” Cruz said. “You coming?”
He shook his head. “I need to get Hannah back to the ranch.”
“Will I see you again?”
“You can count on it.” Alonso didn’t know when, but one day he’d stay for a longer visit. “Keep a close eye on Luke, will you? He’s all Hannah’s got now.”
The men shook hands, then Alonso returned to the pickup and he and Hannah drove off. It would be dark by the time they returned to the Blue Bison. In the morning he’d help Hannah with chores then tell her it was best if he moved on.
Best for whom?
Definitely not him.
* * *
“I’M STUMPED.” SHERIFF MILLER scratched his head Tuesday afternoon as he stared at the smashed solar panel used to run the water pump on the south side of the Blue Bison.
“At least we know now that my damaged fence wasn’t just a Halloween prank.”
The sheriff studied the dirt around the fenced-in tank. “The shoe prints look like work boots.”
“Does that matter?”
“If the treads came from athletic shoes I’d guess whoever did this was a teenager.”
“You don’t think the boys who held up the convenience store did this for revenge?”
“Don’t see how. They’re sitting in the county jail right now.” He stared up at the sky as if the clouds held the answers. Then he cleared his throat. “You and Seth getting along?”
Everyone in Paradise believed she’d broken off her engagement to Seth because she’d found out he’d been meeting Mona Montgomery at the El Ray Inn every afternoon. Hannah let them believe what they wanted. “I gave his ring back two years ago. No one holds a grudge that long.” Then again, Hannah recalled the mean look on Seth’s face when he’d walked in on her and Alonso dancing at Maloney’s. The jerk had no right to be jealous. She rubbed her brow, feeling a headache coming on.
“I’ll pay a visit to Roger and tell him to be on the lookout for strangers in the area.”
“Have you received any other reports of property damage?”
“No. You’re the only one.”
Hannah didn’t like being special.
Back in the patrol car the sheriff asked, “How do you think Luke will do at the boys’ ranch?”
“It was tough to leave him there, but it’s a nice place and the wife and husband who run it seem to really care about the kids. There’s a school on the property and a medical clinic. Luke intends to learn rodeo in his spare time.”
“I hope it works out for him.” The sheriff slowed the car when the house came into view. “I don’t like you being alone out here with vandals running loose.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“I admire you for wanting to keep the ranch going after your father passed away, but it might be too much for you to handle. You and Luke are young. You have your whole lives ahead of you. You should consider selling and starting over somewhere more exciting than Paradise.”
This wasn’t the first time she’d been urged to sell. After her father’s funeral half the land owners in the county had shown up at her door with offers to buy the ranch. Even Luke had urged her to take the highest bid.
Hannah had had ten happy years on the ranch unti
l her father had cheated on her mother. But even though things had changed and Ruth hadn’t been much of a stepmother, Hannah had found solace in taking care of the animals and the land. Instead of finding the same comfort, Luke had grown up turning to Hannah for support. She’d hoped Luke’s attitude toward the ranch would change, but there was no evidence of that so far.
When they pulled into the yard, Alonso walked out of the barn and waited for them. She’d thought he’d change his mind about staying on to help her, but she was grateful he hadn’t.
“I wondered where you were,” Alonso said when Hannah stepped from the patrol car. He’d taken the Honda into Cañon City to get the oil changed and had been gone when the sheriff had arrived.
“I took Sheriff Miller out to see the damaged solar panel.”
“I’ll let you know if I hear anything that might help our case.” The lawman closed his window and drove off.
Hannah stubbed the toe of her boot in the dirt. It had been awkward between her and Alonso without Luke around.
“Has the sheriff come up with any leads?”
Hannah shook her head. “I forgot to mention that Maria called yesterday and said Luke’s keeping up with his homework.”
“That’s good.”
“I shared with her some of the things Luke and I have been struggling with.” Hannah had been embarrassed at how easy it had been to unload on a near stranger, but when she’d hung up the phone, she’d been confident that Maria and her husband would do their best to help her brother.
“Luke’s in good hands. You don’t have to worry about him.” Alonso’s gaze strayed to the patrol car in the distance.
He wants to leave, but he doesn’t know how to tell you.
She should insist on giving him a lift to the highway. It was selfish of her to want him to stay, but there was something about Alonso that touched her.
You’re feeling vulnerable because you slept with him. You would feel this way about any man you had sex with.
Not true. She hadn’t felt this connection with Seth.
“Hannah—”
“It’s okay.” The least she could do was spare him the ordeal of saying goodbye after all he’d done for her and Luke. “I know you’re ready to get back on the road to wherever it is you’re going.”
