by Marin Thomas
Hannah felt faint and sat down in the rocker.
“I had to pay the guy three hundred dollars each time he did something.”
Did something? That was how her brother referred to the vandalism? “Luke, those weren’t just pranks. The damage cost me—us—thousands of dollars, not to mention our insurance premium went up as well as the deductible.”
Luke paced back and forth. “I thought you’d want to give the ranch up after all that stuff happened.” He sniffed. “Then I wouldn’t feel guilty when I went on the rodeo circuit.”
Her brother really hadn’t thought this through. “Where did you think I’d go if I no longer had the ranch?”
He stared at her with wide eyes. “With me. We’d travel the circuit together.”
Any anger she felt toward her brother evaporated when she looked into his pleading eyes. It had been just the two of them for so long—even when their father had still been alive, Luke had come to her for everything. “You might feel that way now, but I guarantee by the time you turn eighteen you’ll be ready to strike out on your own and you will not want your big sister tagging along.” He didn’t even protest when she squeezed his hand.
“So you met with that guy last night to tell him to hit us up again?”
“I told him to stop. That I didn’t need his help anymore.”
“Why?”
“Because I realized something when I was at the boys’ ranch.”
“What’s that?”
“That you’ve sacrificed a lot for me.”
She opened her mouth to protest, but he cut her off. “I know you wanted to go to college, but then my mom died and you didn’t want to leave me all alone with Dad.” He sucked in a deep breath. “So I’m not gonna leave you all alone, either. If you don’t want to sell the ranch, then I’ll stay here after graduation.”
She wanted to box his ears for what he’d done, but she couldn’t love her brother more than she did right now. “Luke, I love you, and I love you even more for wanting to stay here and protect me, but I’m a grown woman. We each have to live our own lives.”
“Are you just saying that or do you really mean it?” he asked.
“I really mean it.”
“Then, you won’t be mad if I tell you I want to go to a rodeo camp next summer?”
She smiled. “I won’t be mad, but we might have a problem paying for the camp.”
“I’m sorry, Hannah. I’ll get a job and pay back all the money you had to spend to fix stuff.”
“That sounds like a fair deal.” If she could, Hannah would save the money and give it back to Luke once he graduated, so he’d have cash for the road.
“Are you gonna tell the sheriff what I did?”
“No, you’re going to talk to the sheriff.”
“But—”
“You have to tell the truth, Luke, or else it will catch up with you someday.”
“I don’t know the guy’s real name. He told me to call him Todd.”
“Tell the sheriff what you know and we’ll deal with the consequences together.”
“Will I go to jail?”
“I hope not.” It wouldn’t hurt for Luke to worry a little. What he’d done was a serious offense.
“When are we gonna see the sheriff?”
“Tomorrow.”
Luke stared at the ground, wiping at his eyes.
“I wish you’d have talked to me and shared your concerns before you went to this extreme.”
“I’m sorry.” He hugged Hannah.
“Let’s go inside. It’s freezing out here.”
Hannah excused herself to take a nap. Ignoring Alonso’s questioning look, she retreated to her bedroom, where she sat on the bed and cried. Cried for herself. For Luke. For the baby. And for Alonso. Her little family was a mess. It didn’t matter that Luke would leave one day and Alonso would leave soon. They were still a family.
* * *
“HANNAH?” ALONSO STOOD outside her bedroom door, a plate of crackers and cheese in one hand, a water bottle in the other.
“I’m sleeping.”
Obviously she wasn’t if she’d answered him. It had been two hours since Luke and Hannah had talked and she’d retired to her bedroom. Luke and Michael had taken the puppy into Luke’s room to watch movies.
“Mind if I come in?” He tested the knob, found it open and entered the room. Hannah sat on the edge of the bed with red-rimmed eyes and her blond hair mussed. She looked like a waif, hardly old enough to be pregnant. “I thought you might be hungry.” He sat on the mattress next to her and she helped herself to a piece of cheese.
“Thanks.”
He handed her the water bottle. “Did Luke tell you why he sneaked out?”
“Yes.”
By the looks of her, whatever Luke had done hadn’t been good. “If you don’t want to tell me, you don’t have to.” The pain in her eyes was so raw it stole his breath.
“Luke was paying that guy you saw him with to trash the ranch.”
“Why?”
She swiped at the fresh tears that ran down her cheeks. “He feels guilty about leaving me here alone if he joins the rodeo circuit after high school. He was hoping I’d get fed up with the pranks and put the ranch up for sale and tag along with him.”
Alonso was dumbfounded. He’d never expected Luke to be involved in the vandalism. No wonder Hannah was a wreck.
“Luke met with that guy last night to tell him to stop.”
“Why?”
“Because he realized what he was doing wasn’t the right way to pay me back for all the years I’ve stood by him.” She waved a hand in the air. “I’m all the family he has left and he was worried about leaving me alone.”
The image of Luke, Hannah and the baby standing together as a family drifted in front of Alonso’s eyes, and a strong yearning to be part of that circle gripped his gut.
“We’re driving into Paradise tomorrow to talk to the sheriff.” She leaned her head against his shoulder and he slid his arm around her. Now that there would be no more threats against the ranch, Alonso felt better about leaving Hannah at the end of the month. “Are you sure this ranch is what you want?”
“This is my home, Alonso. I can’t see myself doing anything else.”
Maybe if his mother had been around more often, he’d think of the barrio as his home, but it would always be the place he’d wanted to escape from.
“Will you drive Michael back to the boys’ ranch before you leave?”
It was the least he could do for her. “Sure. And why don’t you make up a list of last-minute things I can help with before I go.”
“That would be great, thanks.”
He walked to the door. “When you feel up to it, come downstairs. The boys want to know what you’re going to name the dog.”
“I still can’t believe you bought me a Christmas puppy.”
“I probably should have asked. If you want, I can find the dog another home.”
“We’ll keep the puppy. Hopefully Luke will become attached to him and have a reason to come home and visit more often once he starts rodeoing.”
Alonso left the room, closing the door behind him. Luke met him at the bottom of the stairs. “Is she okay?”
“She’ll be down in a little while.”
“Did she tell you?”
“Yes.”
The teen dropped his gaze. “I hurt her pretty bad.”
“Yes, you did.”
Luke looked miserable.
“You can make it up to your sister by doing your chores and helping out more around the ranch.”
“I’m going to.”
“She loves you, Luke.”
“I know.” He went back into the kitchen and Alonso heard the boys tr
ying to teach the puppy to sit.
Luke had a lot to make up for, but then so did Alonso—the difference was that Luke would stay and earn Hannah’s forgiveness. Alonso intended to run away and pray that one day Hannah might find it in her heart to forgive him for bailing on her and their child.
Chapter Thirteen
“Thank you for seeing us, Sheriff Miller.” Hannah sat down and Luke took the chair next to her. “I appreciate you coming in the day after Christmas.”
“Not a problem. I had a phone call to make.” He smiled at Luke. “Are you ready to return to school next semester?”
“Yes, sir.”
“After you phoned, Hannah, I asked Principal Connelly to meet with us, but he’s out of town for a few more days.”
“We’re not here to discuss Luke returning to class after the winter break,” Hannah said.
The sheriff’s eyebrows rose. “Oh?”
“Luke has something he needs to tell you.” Hannah nudged her brother in the arm. Luke was nervous, and to be honest, he should be. She might have let him off the hook for what he’d done, but that didn’t mean the sheriff would go as easy on him.
“I’m listening, Luke.”
“I know who vandalized our ranch.”
The sheriff straightened in his chair. “Who?”
“Me.”
The sheriff’s eyes widened and his mouth sagged open.
“I mean, not me, but I’m the one who paid a guy to...” Luke dropped his gaze.
Hannah took pity on her brother. “Luke and I had a misunderstanding, Sheriff. And instead of talking to me, Luke took matters into his own hands, hoping he could convince me to sell the ranch. Luke realized his mistake and that he’d handled things badly and has since told this person to stop vandalizing the ranch.”
Sheriff Miller rubbed his hands down his face and stared at Luke. “I’m not sure what to say.”
“I know what I did was wrong,” Luke said. “And I’m gonna pay my sister back for all the damages.”
“Who did you hire to do this, Luke?”
“A guy named Todd, but that’s not his real name.”
“How did you know to get in touch with this... Todd?”
Luke cast a quick glance at Hannah. “The guys who robbed the convenience store gave me his name.”
“Kenny Potter and T. J. Templeton were involved in this?” the sheriff asked.
Luke sent Hannah a panic-stricken look.
“Sheriff, the other boys had nothing to do with the vandalism. Luke is taking full responsibility.”
“It’s not that simple, Hannah, when an insurance company is involved.”
“I realize that. I intend to call them and explain the situation. We’ll be paying for the damages.”
The sheriff stared long and hard at Luke. “I’ve spent hours working on this case. My time could have been better spent helping someone in real need.”
“Yes, sir.”
“I don’t want to press charges. And I’ll settle things with the insurance company,” Hannah said.
The sheriff leveled a stern look at her brother. “I better not hear of you becoming involved in anything like this again.”
“Never again, sir.”
“And I expect you to stay out of trouble in school next semester.”
Luke nodded.
“I mean it. No more skipping classes. Not even one,” the sheriff said.
“I won’t. I’m all caught up with my homework assignments for the first semester.”
The sheriff looked at Hannah, and she said, “Maria Fitzgerald has been in contact with Luke’s guidance counselor at the high school. Luke won’t have to repeat the fall semester.”
“That’s great news,” the sheriff said. “What else did you do at the ranch?”
“Learned how to ride broncs, and I competed in a junior rodeo earlier this month.”
“Is that right?”
Luke’s face lit up with excitement as he told Sheriff Miller about the riding lessons Cruz Rivera had given him at the boys’ ranch. Luke’s rebellion had cost them plenty, but in the end they were going to be okay and her brother’s future looked brighter than ever. Hannah wished she could say the same thing about her own.
“I appreciate you coming in here, Luke, and telling the truth.” His gaze swung to Hannah. “I’d be happy to speak with your insurance company if you need me to.”
“Thank you.” Hannah stood and Luke shook the sheriff’s hand.
“I hope you know what a lucky young man you are to have such an understanding sister.”
Luke smiled at Hannah. “I know.”
After they left the sheriff’s office, Hannah stopped at the convenience store and asked Luke to run in and buy a gallon of milk. Then Luke nodded off during the drive home. When she pulled up to the house, she shook his shoulder and woke him.
“I’m really sorry, Hannah.” He reached across the seat and gave her a hug.
“From here on out, things are going to get better.” She had to believe that. “What are you and Michael planning to do today?”
“I was gonna ask Alonso if he’d go target shooting with Michael and me.”
“I bet he would.” She’d prefer that Alonso tag along with the boys. Hannah was confident that Luke knew how to handle a gun safely, but she worried that Michael might get hurt if they goofed off and weren’t careful. “There’s Alonso.” He walked out of the barn.
“Alonso!” Luke called out. “Will you take Michael and me target shooting this afternoon?”
“Sure. As long as it’s okay with your sister.”
“I’m gonna tell Michael.” Luke raced into the house.
“How did it go?”
Hannah would miss staring into Alonso’s warm brown eyes. “Good. The sheriff isn’t pressing charges and Luke gave his word that he’d stay out of trouble.”
“I believe him. He’s a good kid, Hannah.”
“I think he and I have turned a corner,” she said.
Alonso dropped his gaze to the ground, then expelled a sharp breath and looked her in the eye. “I’ve finished all the repairs, unless you have any more to add to the list you gave me.”
He was ready to leave. “No, you’ve done more than enough.”
“Maria phoned while you and Luke were in town. She’d like Michael to return tomorrow so she can work with him on his math. He didn’t pass his last exam and she wants him to retake it. I told Maria I’d bring him back in the morning. I thought Luke might want to come along.”
“Sure.” If Michael left, there was no reason for Alonso to stay.
Except that Hannah still wasn’t ready to say goodbye.
* * *
“CAN WE STAY AWHILE?” Luke asked when Alonso parked the Civic at the boys’ ranch late Wednesday morning. “We want to ask Cruz if he’ll let us ride a bronc.”
“Sure. I’ll walk down to the corral with you.”
The ranch appeared empty—most of the boys they’d seen at Thanksgiving wouldn’t be returning after the first of the year. Riley and Maria would enjoy a short break before the next group of juveniles descended on the property.
Cruz walked out of the barn and waved. “How was your Christmas?” he asked the boys.
“Good,” they answered in unison.
Then Luke spoke. “Can we ride a bronc before Alonso and I have to leave?”
“Go into the barn and ask Nelson to pick out a horse for you.” After the teens took off, Cruz asked, “How’s Luke doing?”
“A lot better.”
“What about Hannah? Is there still trouble at her ranch?”
“Not anymore.” Alonso wouldn’t share the details—Hannah might not want others to know that her brother had been behi
nd the vandalism.
Cruz glanced over his shoulder when Nelson escorted a horse out of the barn, the teens walking alongside him. “How are you holding up?”
Alonso frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Sara told me about Hannah. Is the baby yours?”
“How did Sara know Hannah was pregnant?”
“She said Hannah got sick when she was here at Thanksgiving.”
Alonso thought back on that day. It all made sense now—having to stop on the way to the ranch so Hannah could use the bathroom. Her picking at the food on her plate and passing up dessert. Then her buying licorice and whatever else that had been in the brown paper bag on the way back to Paradise. If he had to guess, Hannah had purchased a pregnancy test at the gas station convenience store. “The baby’s mine.”
Cruz slapped Alonso on the back. “When’s the wedding?”
“There isn’t going to be one. And I’d appreciate you not saying anything about the baby to anyone. Hannah hasn’t told Luke yet.”
“Sure.”
“I’m heading back to Albuquerque tomorrow,” Alonso said.
Cruz looked at him funny but didn’t ask why Alonso was taking off. “You ever run into any of the old gang in the barrio?”
“No.” He avoided driving through his stomping grounds. There was nothing left there but bad memories. “Have you been back to Albuquerque since...”
“It’s okay to say prison. Everyone thinks I’ll fly into a rage if they mention I was behind bars.”
“I wish that hadn’t happened to you, Cruz.”
“Me, too. But no matter how many times I go over it in my head, I wouldn’t change a thing. If I hadn’t gone with Vic that night, he might have gotten himself killed.”
“I saw Vic at that youth rodeo in Los Alamos earlier this month. Can’t believe he’s bustin’ broncs.”
“Maria’s been following his career. Vic sends his trophies to her for safekeeping.”
“For a guy who never liked rodeo I’m surprised he’s riding.”
“He’s damn good. Just missed the cut for the National Finals Rodeo in Vegas this year.”
“Has he stopped at the ranch since you started working here?” Alonso asked.
“No.”
Alonso could understand how it might be awkward for the two men after all that had happened in the past, but he hoped someday they’d be able to hash things out and put it behind them. Cruz and Vic had been friends before Alonso had joined the group. “Maybe I read him wrong,” he said, “but Vic seemed as if he was just going through the motions. He didn’t act like a cowboy who lived and died rodeo.”
