“Oh my.” Hannah came up the walkway giggling. “I always thought it would’ve been fun if Mom and Dad had raised chickens.”
“You might want to reconsider that.” Kelly circled around after two hens that had broken through their efforts to redirect them.
“Oh, let me try.” Hannah rushed up to the two wayward chickens. Frightened by her approach both hens flapped their wings, leapt, squawked, and tore off toward the backyard.
Kelly straightened, and for the first time since the chicken scenario had begun, let out a deep laugh. “Well, that worked. They may not lay eggs for a week, but at least we got them in the backyard.”
“Hey,” Hannah waved her hands palm up and grinned, “what are friends for?”
By the time they finally corralled the last of the hens into the backyard, Ian was ready for a second shower of the day, and thanks to Kelly, most likely a cold one.
He secured the latch on the gate and spun about to see Kelly and her mother across the yard, shaking their heads, Mrs. Morgan waving a hammer at the two old men standing to either side of them and the gaping hole in the large wired fence area that surrounded what he assumed was the chicken coop.
“I know you were trying to help.” Kelly shifted her gaze from one side of the fencing to the other then back to her grandfather.
Even not knowing the man, Ian could see the frustration in his face. Whether it was that of an aging gentleman dealing with the reality of being unable to do that which he might have easily done in his younger days or something else, Ian didn’t know, but the softening look in Kelly’s eyes showed she recognized it too.
“Thanks, Pop. Give me a few minutes to unpack the car and say goodbye to my friends, then we can finish fixing the fencing.”
“If Ralph here had his hearing aids turned on he’d have known I said hold it not pull it.” Her grandfather bent over and picked up a screwdriver and long handled pliers. “You go on and take care of your business, we’ll finish up here.”
Kelly opened her mouth as if ready to object, and then let it snap shut before nodding. “Okay.”
The deflated look in Kelly’s eyes pricked at Ian. He didn’t know what to do to help her situation with her family long term, but he knew enough about ranching and fixing fences to at least help out with this little mess. “Is it all right, gentleman, if I give you a hand? I could use the exercise.”
The two men looked him over from top to bottom and like a set of matching bobbleheads, nodded.
“Oh you don’t have to—” Kelly’s mom started
“That won’t be—” Kelly’s words tumbled over her mother’s.
Ian held up his hand, cutting them both off. “Mrs. Morgan, you probably know my mama and Aunt Eileen well enough to know that if I don’t do the neighborly thing and offer a hand, even at my age, they’ll both tan my hide.”
Kelly’s mom let out a soft chuckle. “You do have a point. I’d better go make some lemonade.”
Waiting until her mother was out of earshot, Kelly turned to him. “I won’t argue, because I know you’re right. But I know you didn’t have to do this. Thank you.”
“Need another pair of hands?” Hannah asked.
If it had been a large job he would’ve taken his sister up on her offer. She and Grace were as good at mending fences and ranch work as any of the Farraday men, but this was something he could’ve handled on his own in a short while. “I think we’ve got it. Thank you.”
Reluctantly Kelly turned and slowly walked away with her friend. Ian looked to the two older men doing more harm than good and decided this job would take much less time if he didn’t have help. No wonder Kelly was at her wits end with her aging relatives. Something told him corralling frantic chickens had been easier than keeping these men in line would be. He didn’t want to even consider all the trouble these old coots, as Kelly called them, would get themselves into.
CHAPTER FIVE
“Take a look at this over here.”
Ian glanced up at Connor Farraday standing several yards away from where the men had stopped for lunch. Uncle Sean had been the first up on his feet and moving with Ian only a few steps behind.
Frowning down at the recently replaced fence post, Connor shook his head. “Doesn’t make any sense.”
The repaired fence section looked sloppy and incomplete.
“This won’t hold a newborn pup.” Sean Farraday pulled his gloves from his pocket and slid them on to examine the workmanship more closely. “Unless you or your brother drank your lunch the day this was done, or Sam has been holding out an addiction to Mogen David, this wasn’t done by any of us.”
Connor shook his head. “That’s pretty much what I thought.”
Shifting around his cousin and uncle for a closer look, Ian had a good idea what had caught their attention. Usually fence line was tight and strong. This particular section was not only looser than the others, but where the ends should be tightly twisted, they appeared as though intended to be undone again soon.
His first day replacing his cousin Finn, and already Ian was faced with the secondary reason for vacationing on his uncle’s ranch. Now Connor and his uncle stared at Ian for answers. He didn’t need to say anything. Neither Connor nor Uncle Sean were stupid, they both already knew exactly what he was thinking. No one in the Farraday family or the Farraday Ranch had done this. Whoever had tampered with the fence line could only have one reason; they planned to return for more cattle. “Looks like somebody was dumb enough to think if they don’t outright cut the fence lines, maybe local ranchers would stop noticing their missing calves.”
“That’s something like what I was thinking.” Sean Farraday shook his head.
“This wasn’t the pasture where the calf went missing is it?”
His uncle shook his head.
“Which means,” Ian voiced his less pleasant thought. “It also could likely mean they’re planning on coming back.”
“We’re going to have to have somebody keep an eye on this.” His uncle waved at the rickety fence section.
Maybe. Maybe not. Ian needed to have a chat with some of the other ranchers in the area who had lost some calves. None of this was adding up. At least not to a cattle rustling ring like anything he’d ever seen before. A small part of him wished this were a real Texas Ranger assignment and his partner were here on the job with him. If nothing else, at least to bounce ideas off each other.
Sean Farraday slapped his gloves against his thigh and tucked them in his back pocket. “We’ve got more work to do today, gentleman.”
His uncle was right. They had a big ranch to run. And now he had a new problem to solve.
****
Some days were easier than others. By all rights, today should’ve been a fantastic day. The weather was beautiful, the sun shining bright. The clinic schedule was light. Intentionally they’d booked only a few appointments after Finn’s wedding, and much to Kelly’s surprise there had been no emergencies. It wasn’t often the entire team got to lunch at the café. Normally Kelly loved not having to shovel down a sandwich between patients or updating files. So why was she nervous as a cat in a room full of rockers following Becky and Adam across the street?
Holding the door for Becky, then Kelly, Adam frowned down at her. “You okay?”
“Me?” Kelly glanced upward at the six plus foot of Farraday brother and plastered on her best effort at an all-is-right-with-the-world smile. “Never been better.”
Adam nodded, but his frown remained in place. Her boss wasn’t completely convinced, and she had to give him points for caring. Of course, if he didn’t care she wouldn’t have a job. When her dad had suffered his stroke years ago and she’d had to come running home from college to help her mother, Adam had created the receptionist position for her and it had been hers to lose ever since. Of course, the business was much larger now. The town had grown and they were always busy. Still, she owed a great deal to Adam Farraday’s generosity. The fact that he still worried about her warmed he
r heart.
Now if she could just get rid of the nerves that had been taunting her all day, waiting for news from Dallas, all really would be right with the world.
“Isn’t this a nice surprise,” Abbie called from the other side of the front counter. “Pick any spot that strikes your fancy and I’ll be right with you.”
The three of them settled into the booth at the end that allowed Adam a clear view of the front of the clinic. The man rarely unplugged from his job. If anyone pulled up with an emergency, he’d be out of the booth and halfway out the door before the call even came in.
“All right.” Abbie came hurrying up with a pitcher of water and poured everybody a glass. “Because I know the most important thing is the pies, Frank made rhubarb and apple crumb. Special of the day is beef stew.”
Becky reached for her water. “Did he make soup today?”
“Is the Pope Catholic?” Abbie chuckled shaking her head. “Broccoli and cheese.”
“Good.” Becky rubbed her palms together. “I love Frank’s broccoli and cheese soup.”
Abbie leaned forward, turned left then right, and whispered softly, “The secret is the cheese. He uses smoked Gouda.”
“Whatever it is, it’s the best. I’ll have a bowl please.” Becky sat back, a satisfied grin on her face.
“No stew?”
Becky shook her head. “Soup and apple pie, that’s all a girl needs to be happy.”
With her stomach in knots waiting to hear from Ian and DJ and Dale and anyone else who could tell her late night post wedding ordeal was over and done with, Kelly didn’t have an appetite. “I’m not that hungry today. I think I’ll follow Becky’s lead and have a nice bowl of Frank’s soup.”
The way Abbie, Adam, and Becky remained staring at Kelly waiting for the rest of her order only reinforced what Brett had told her. She wouldn’t be so curvy if she didn’t eat so much. Then again, Brett was a jerk. She knew that, but might have to remind herself a few more times. She couldn’t let herself buy into his malarkey. She’d come so close to believing him, so close to doubting everything about herself. She was not going to let him win.
Adam was the first to blink. His brows buckled momentarily, and Kelly knew he was debating if something was wrong again. Instead he looked to Abbie. “Since I’m not a girl, I’ll have the soup and the stew and the pie.”
“There you go.” Abbie smiled. “I need more big eaters like you.”
“I’m guessing that means my brothers haven’t been by yet today?” Adam teased.
“Nope.” Abbie turned her wrist to look at her watch. “But my guess is the word has already reached DJ that his wife is lunching here. My money is on he’ll be here before I have time to serve up the soup.”
No one needed to say a word in agreement. Becky grinned proudly, Adam nodded, and before Kelly could form a thought, the bell over the door sounded and DJ came through, quickly scanning the cafe. His smile broadened when his gaze landed on his wife as though he hadn’t seen her in days rather than merely a few hours. Kelly understood all the Farradays were still in the honeymoon stage of marriage, but something told her no matter how many years passed, all of her friends would still have that same sappy puppy-love look in their eyes.
Scooting into the booth beside his brother, DJ tore his gaze away from his wife, glanced in Kelly’s direction and shook his head. Whether that meant bad news or no news, she wasn’t sure. What she did know was that DJ had not said anything to his brother or his wife about coming to her rescue the other night or he would have outright updated her on the situation.
Juggling a large tray, Abbie appeared, and having anticipated DJ’s order, unloaded four bowls of soup. “Special’s beef stew,” she told the police chief.
DJ grabbed onto a spoon and dipping it into the thick broth, nodded at his friend. “That’ll just hit the spot. Thank you.”
“Is it me,” Adam squinted at his brother, “or do you look a bit frazzled?”
Swallowing the soup, DJ set his spoon down and looked to Adam. “There is a rumor in town that a local referendum is about to be presented to make Tuckers Bluff wet.”
Spoons and forks clanked against dishes.
Adam’s eyes rounded. “You’re kidding? Booze in Tuckers Bluff?”
“I don’t know. So far it’s just a rumor. At least I thought so. But Mabel Berkner has spent the last forty-five minutes in front of my desk pummeling me with a barrage of reasons I’m incompetent and ungodly for allowing liquor in Tuckers Bluff.”
Rolling his eyes, Adam shook his head. “That would do it.”
“Do you think Mabel knows something we don’t?” Kelly asked.
“If she does, she knows more than me, the mayor, and the City Council.”
“But you’re going to look into it, aren’t you?” Adam picked up his spoon.
DJ nodded. “As much as Mabel and her garden club cohorts have driven me and my predecessor insane with their nitpicking over historical preservation and acceptable paint colors, Founding Fathers memorials, and whether or not Father Tim’s Wednesday night bingo is undermining the morality of the town, usually when she gets on the bandwagon she has at least some hold on reality.”
“I can’t imagine someone wanting to open a liquor store on Main Street.” Adam stirred his soup.
Becky chuckled. “Maybe the sisters want to sell brandy for tea time.”
“They probably already have a bottle stashed under the cash register.” Kelly slapped her hands over her mouth and looked over to where Abbie stood behind the counter. More than once she’d known Abbie to pour a little extra something into someone’s coffee if nerves needed calming. Kelly didn’t want to get anyone into any trouble, even though she was pretty sure DJ knew more about it than she did.
“Either way,” Adam looked at his brother, “the town has to vote on it, don’t they?”
“Yes,” DJ nodded. “There are at least fifteen variations of selling alcohol in the state of Texas. Listening to Mabel you’d think fifteen different establishments were going to open up with every degree of variation from hard alcohol liquor sales, to brothels serving mixed drinks, to grocery stores selling light beer.”
Adam’s brows inched high on his forehead. “I’m guessing the brothel was Mabel’s own interpretation of the current Texas alcohol regulations.”
Rolling his eyes, DJ blew out a sigh. “After forty-five minutes with Mabel, I wouldn’t mind a drink no matter where it’s served.”
Becky crossed her arms. “Excuse me?”
Covering her mouth with her hand, Kelly hid her smile.
Adam, on the other hand, made no effort to control his guffaw. “Oh, you walked into that one, little brother.”
“It’s Mabel. The woman can drive any sane man crazy.”
Arms laden with dinner dishes, Abbie appeared at the table. “I may regret asking, but what has that woman done now?”
“Other than test my patience? Nothing really. But if she’s right and there’s a referendum to allow alcohol sales in Tuckers Bluff, all hell is about to break loose.”
CHAPTER SIX
Skipping out on dinner his second night at his uncle’s ranch wasn’t Ian’s preference. In the Farraday family, mealtime was sacred. If there was something more than sacred, family dinners were it. But with only a couple weeks of vacation time, he needed to get into town to ferret out some more information on the ranches with missing calves and he didn’t want to skip working the ranch tomorrow to do it.
He’d barely turned down the main road when he spotted a well-rounded derriere protruding from under the hood of a familiar parked car in front of Adam’s clinic. The lights inside the clinic were out and he suspected Adam had no idea his receptionist was stranded.
Pulling into the lot by the café, he parked and trotted to the car. “Need a hand?”
“Wha…ouch.”
The smack from her head striking metal made him cringe. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to startle you.”
Rubbing the back of
her head with one hand, she looked up, squinting. “Serves me right for ignoring the idiot lights.”
“Which light?”
“All of them.” The surprise on his face must have shown because she immediately explained. “I was almost at the clinic this morning when the dashboard lit up. I thought it could wait until after work and a short drive to Ned’s, but the dumb thing won’t start.”
“I see. May I?”
Wiping her hands, she stepped aside. “All yours.”
It only took a few minutes to recognize the most likely problem. The alternator. “Does Ned know you’re coming?”
Kelly nodded. “I called him after work.”
“Good. Because I think you’re going to need his tow truck.”
“Really?” She bit on her lower lip and glanced back under the hood. “I was hoping it was just a loose battery cable or maybe some corrosion I could fix with a can of cola.”
That made him laugh. Not so much because it was a bad idea, but because so much in day to day grime could be handled by a can of cola. And people still drink the stuff. “There’s also the possibility with a couple of new belts you could be on your way.”
“Oh,” her shoulders straightened and her expression softened, “that shouldn’t cost much.”
Probably not. Even if she did need the alternator as he suspected, that shouldn’t be outrageous. Ned was a fair guy, but Ian could still see the worry on her face. Hadn’t the kid had enough bad luck recently? “Listen, have you had dinner yet?”
Her eyes widened with surprise, but he had no idea why. Everyone had to eat, and even though he needed to meet up with his cousin over this missing calf business, it could wait until he’d grabbed a bite.
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