A Baby For The Rancher

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“Do you find it hard to follow him as sheriff?”

“Lately I’ve felt I’m letting people down.”

Chloe waved her hand. “Stop right there. That’s Byron McKay talking. He’s never happy about anything.”

“He has been hit hard by the cattle rustlers I can’t seem to find.”

“That isn’t your only case. You take care of everyone in the county. Remember the robbery in the next town? You caught the guy within twelve hours. And when that toddler went missing six months ago? You found the two-year-old within hours.”

Lucy chuckled. “Okay, you’ve made your point. But reelection is next year, and I want to continue my dad’s legacy.”

“You are.”

Abigail set the plate with a chef salad in front of Lucy, then gave Chloe her order. “Can I get y’all anything else?”

“No, this looks delicious.” Chloe dug into her hamburger immediately. “Mmm, and I wasn’t wrong.”

Abigail grinned. “I’ll tell Maggie. She loves to hear her customers are satisfied.” The waitress left, hurrying toward the kitchen, her long black ponytail bouncing with her strides.

Lucy glanced around. Every table was occupied, which was usual at this time of day. When the door opened, she caught sight of Ben entering. He scanned the coffee shop.

“Ben!” Chloe held her arm up. “You can join us.”

Lucy chewed her bottom lip as Ben threaded his way through the crowded café. She always looked forward to her girl time with Chloe, but she couldn’t blame her for signaling that Ben should sit with them. Chloe would be his sister-in-law in ten days, not to mention she was taking care of his son.

Ben removed his hat and set it in a vacant chair and then took the last one at the table for four. “I keep forgetting this isn’t a good time to come to Maggie’s, but I thought I would grab something to eat before heading to see Pastor Mathers.”

“You’ve been out of action for a while. That’s understandable.” Chloe popped a french fry into her mouth.

Ben peered at Lucy, his gaze penetratingly warm. “You’re still coming to the barn before we go to the meeting tonight?”

She nodded and speared some of her lettuce, trying to ignore the quickening of her heartbeat at his perusal. “I want to spend time with Maddy, Lynne and Christie. I find when teenage girls get together they gossip. I might overhear something that will help me.” That was the easiest way for her to get a glimpse of what was going on with the teenagers in Little Horn. She still felt two or more were involved in the thefts. At twenty-eight, Lucy was the youngest sheriff to date for the county, but she would stand out at school, so her undercover work had to be somewhere else.

After Abigail took Ben’s order, Chloe retrieved a couple of five-dollar bills from her wallet. “This is for my lunch. Cody will be getting up from his nap, and I need to be there. I’ve been gone all morning to the doctor.”

Ben pushed the money toward Chloe. “Keep it. My treat. Is the baby okay?”

“Right on target. In three months, she should be here.”

“Grady is excited and can’t wait.” Ben took his mug of coffee from Abigail and drank a long sip. “I’ll be back after I meet with Pastor Mathers.”

Chloe stood. “Are you going to be at the barn, then?”

“Yes, but I can always be reached by cell. Thanks, Chloe, for staying on as Cody’s nanny. It’s hard being a single parent, and I’ve only dealt with it for a brief time.”

“I love being with Cody. It’s good experience.” Chloe headed for the exit.

Ben turned his full attention on Lucy. She felt he was assessing her in a new light. “Did you enjoy Pastor Mathers’s sermon on Sunday?” she asked, hoping to divert his focus.

“It’s made me think about what’s my purpose. I never really thought about it other than taking care of the ranch. But we’re more than our job.”

Lucy couldn’t really say that. “My work is my life. It requires long hours and being willing to go out to a crime scene in the middle of the night.”

“Do you have to do that often?”

“Lately, more than usual. If a serious problem arises, I need to be available.”

“Twenty-four/seven?”

She nodded and focused on eating while Abigail delivered a roast-beef sandwich to Ben. “I want to be involved. That’s the way my father was. By the time he retired, he knew most of the people in the county. That fact helped him numerous times besides knowing the terrain. I think some of the stolen cattle are being kept somewhere nearby, but I don’t have the manpower to cover every square inch.”

When her cell phone rang, she snatched it off the table. “Sheriff Benson.”

“There’s a robbery in Grafton. 214 Second Street. The feed store,” the dispatcher said.

“I’m on my way.” Lucy rose as she withdrew her wallet.

Ben shook his head. “My treat. See you tonight. If you can’t come to the ranch beforehand, let me know, and I’ll meet you at the Lone Star Cowboy League center.”

“Thanks.” As Lucy left the coffee shop, she glanced over her shoulder, and her gaze instantly connected with Ben’s. Again her heartbeat picked up speed, and she hastened outside before she did something crazy like blush.

* * *

Ben entered Little Horn Community Christian Church and hurried toward Pastor Mathers’s office. When he’d called Ben to set up this meeting, Ben had wondered why. He almost felt like a child being called to the principal’s office, but he and his family had attended this church for years. He might have doubts about his faith, but the pastor had come to the hospital every week and prayed for him. Grandma Mamie had been certain he’d regained consciousness and recovered faster than the doctors thought possible due to all the prayers being sent up in his behalf, led by her and Pastor Mathers.

Ben spied the pastor in his inner office. The man waved to him to come straight inside.

“I’m so glad we have a chance to talk.” Pastor Mathers skirted his desk and stretched out his arm.

Ben shook his hand, then sat where the man indicated on a comfortable-looking brown couch against a wall. “I enjoyed your sermon Sunday.”

Pastor Mathers took his seat at the opposite end of the sofa. “I was glad to see you at church. It’s been months. I know how concerned your grandmother was, but our prayers were answered.”

It took all Ben’s willpower not to squirm on the leather cushion. He’d never felt comfortable talking about his feelings, and he certainly didn’t know his purpose in life. “Is there something you needed to see me about?”

“Yes. This year is the Stillwater Ranch’s turn to hold the children’s annual Easter-egg hunt and celebration. I told your grandmother we could skip your ranch this year because of your injury, but she wants to do her part. I know you’re still in physical therapy and with having been away from the ranch for months, you have a lot to catch up on, so I thought I would ask what you think. I don’t want to put too much on you. The community will understand if you pass. In fact, Carson offered his place so don’t feel you have to.”

“Are you kidding? It’s a big, fun celebration for the kids. I love helping with that event even when it’s not at my ranch, and now that Grady is home there will be two of us.” He and his brother hadn’t really talked about if Grady was staying in Little Horn or not, but Ben hoped so. Right before Grady had left for his last overseas assignment, they had gotten into a huge argument, to the point he was surprised to see Grady when he woke up from his coma. Their relationship was still strained, but there was hope it would heal. He’d been thrilled when Grady had asked him to be the best man at his wedding this morning.

“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.”