The Cowboy's Texas Family

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“The state is sending him to the boys ranch. They just came and took him. Corey threatened he would run away again.”

Chapter Four (#u5cdb9f35-cb1b-5ccc-8cf4-220db66be889)

The morning of her second day in Haven, Darcy stood at the inn’s front picture window in the living room, holding a warm cup of coffee and staring at the snow-covered street. The snowfall had only been a couple of inches, but for a Southern gal like herself, driving even in a small accumulation made her so nervous she was afraid she would cause an accident. She would stay at the inn or walk to where she wanted to go until the car part came in and Slim installed it, hopefully later this afternoon.

Still, sitting around waiting today made her antsy. Her time here was limited, and after Corey running away last night, she wanted to make sure he would be all right before she left Haven at the end of the month.

She took a sip of her coffee as footfalls sounded on the hardwood floor. When she glanced over her shoulder, Avery Culpepper entered the room. She had long, bouncy blond hair and wore a baby blue wool dress that matched her big eyes and spiked heels, as well as more makeup than Darcy put on in a week. Darcy had met her briefly earlier that morning.

Darcy smiled. “Good morning. Carol will have breakfast ready in five minutes. There’s coffee in the dining room.”

“I’ll get some later.” Avery joined Darcy at the window. “Thankfully there wasn’t too much snow. I’m meeting Fletcher this morning.”

“Fletcher Phillips?”

Avery brushed her hair away from her face. “He’s the only Fletcher in this town. He’s a lawyer who’s been giving me some advice for when I get my inheritance.”

“Inheritance?”

“From my grandfather, Cyrus Culpepper.”

“The one who bequeathed his land to the boys ranch?”

“Yes.” Avery glanced out the window. “I’ve got to go. See you around.”

Darcy watched as Avery headed toward Fletcher’s Lexus. He climbed out of the car and rounded the hood to open the passenger door for Avery. Darcy’s biological father wore a Stetson, a black suit and boots. She must have gotten her height from him because her birth mother was only five foot two.

He turned his head toward the bed-and-breakfast, and their gazes met and held for a few seconds. Because she was looking for it, she saw a resemblance between them in the eyes and chin. He had a cleft in it like she did. She pivoted away and moved from the window. Her heartbeat thudded against her rib cage.

What was Fletcher Phillips doing with a woman half his age?

She felt as though she’d stepped into the middle of a story and didn’t know what had already happened.

“I hope you’re hungry. Breakfast is ready,” Carol said from the living room entrance.

Darcy blinked and pushed thoughts of Fletcher from her mind. Besides Avery and her, there was only another couple staying at the inn. The husband and wife weren’t in the dining room. She was curious about the people of Haven, and from what she’d seen so far, Carol would be a great person to talk to.

“Will you sit and join me? I hate eating alone.” Darcy sat at a table for four with a coffeepot and a bread basket already on it.

Carol smiled. “I’d love to. Be right back with our breakfast.”

When she disappeared through the door into the kitchen, Darcy poured herself a cup of coffee and dumped several scoops of sugar into the brew. Carol returned with two plates, placed one in front of Darcy and then took the chair across from her.

Darcy peered at her omelet and the slices of melon on the side. “This looks delicious. I usually don’t have much time to eat a big breakfast.”

“I have some blueberry and bran muffins in the basket.”

“This omelet and fruit is perfect. I stay away from breads.”

“You have to watch your weight? You’re thin.”

“I have celiac disease and have to avoid all foods with gluten in them.” When she was diagnosed six months ago, Darcy had begun her search for her biological parents. Celiac was a genetic disorder. Was there anything else she needed to be aware of in her family history?

“Are you all right now?”

Darcy didn’t like talking about that time of uncertainty when she didn’t know why she was tired all the time, losing weight and getting sick after eating certain foods. “Yes, so long as I follow my diet.” She bowed her head and blessed the food.

When she looked up, Carol was studying her. “If you’re still here on Sunday, you’re welcome to attend the Haven Community Church with me and Clarence.”

“I’d love to. What few people I’ve met so far have been friendly.”

“Most are in Haven. There isn’t much that goes on in our town that others don’t know about.”

“Nick mentioned someone called Fletcher Phillips. Do you know him?”

“I imagine Nick wasn’t too happy with Fletcher when he talked about him. Nick volunteers at the Lone Star Cowboy League Boys Ranch, and Fletcher is trying to get it shut down.”

“Why?” Darcy wanted Carol’s take on the boys ranch.

“He thinks having a boys ranch here is bringing down the value of the property around town. All he sees is troublemaking kids. That’s really not the case. The children need love and care, but he won’t listen to reason.”

“How do the people in Haven feel about it?” Darcy ate her first bite of omelet, the taste tempting her to take cooking lessons from Carol.

“Some go along with Fletcher, but there are many who don’t.”

“What would happen to the boys staying there if he got his way?”

“That would be the state’s problem. The ranch is licensed by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services for their residential needs and for programs to help the boys.”

First from Nick and now from Carol, Darcy wasn’t getting a good feeling about her biological father. “Which side of the argument do you support?”

“One hundred percent for the boys ranch. My husband was there for a few years as a kid when his dad died and his mother couldn’t manage him. Fletcher thinks of the boys as juvenile delinquents. They are troubled but still children.”

As Darcy ate her omelet, she decided she would drive out there and look into the ranch. Without seeing it, she couldn’t form an opinion. Did Fletcher have a legitimate concern? “I’d like to see the place, maybe later today if I get my car back. How would the people running it feel if I went to see the ranch?”

“I’m sure Bea Brewster, the director, would welcome you.” Carol rose and stacked their plates. “I’ll make a map for you. And I’ll call her to let her know you’re coming by.”

As Carol hurried away, Darcy finished the last of her coffee, pleased she had something to do. When she’d planned to come here, she hadn’t thought of how she would spend her time other than catching up on her reading. She liked to keep busy, and looking into the boys ranch was a good way to have something to do—and possibly see Nick when he volunteered.

A minute after the phone rang, Carol reappeared in the living room. “Nick’s on the phone for you.”

“He is?” Darcy followed Carol to the phone in the hallway, surprised to be hearing from him, especially after she had just been thinking of him. When she answered, she asked, “Is Corey okay?”

“Not exactly. I’m at Mrs. Scott’s house. The state is taking Corey to the boys ranch, and he’s locked himself in the bathroom, screaming he won’t go there. Mrs. Scott is looking for the skeleton key.”

Her first urge was to drive to Mrs. Scott’s house and do...what? She was a relative stranger to Corey. “I wish I could help. My car won’t be repaired until late this afternoon or possibly tomorrow. Will he go to the ranch today?”

“Yes. I just wanted to let you know because of your concern last night.”

“Thanks. I appreciate it. If I get my car fixed later today, could I visit Corey at the ranch?”

“Seeing someone familiar would be great.”

“We don’t know each other well, but I’m glad to come as soon as I can.”

When Darcy hung up, Carol came over to her. “I couldn’t help overhearing that Nick’s friend is going to the boys ranch. If you don’t get your car back, I’ll drive you.”

“I couldn’t ask you to do that.”

“It would be a good reason for me to pay a visit to my friend Bea. I could take you after I do a few things around here.”

“Thanks. I’ll let you know about my car.”

An hour and a half later, Carol drove Darcy to the boys ranch. Carol had called and discovered Corey was there at the barn with Nick. Darcy dressed in jeans, a white blouse and tennis shoes. As she strolled to the porch with Carol, she noticed Nick’s beat-up pickup parked next to the barn. Before she had a chance to ring the bell, the front door swung open and an older woman with brown hair and brown eyes appeared in the entrance.

The lady hugged Carol and then turned to Darcy. “It’s nice to meet you, Darcy.” She stood to the side. “Come in. I understand you’re staying at the inn for a few weeks. What has brought you here to Haven?”

“A forced vacation.”

Bea’s eyebrows rose. “Forced?”

“My parents, who fund a legal-aid office in Mobile, insisted I finally use my vacation days. It’s their way of telling me I work too much.”

“Why Haven?”

“Texas interests me, but I don’t want to go to a large city. I’m here for rest, not sightseeing. I thought I could help out while I was visiting. It’s hard to go from working ten-hour days to no hours.” When she’d been diagnosed six months ago with celiac disease, her parents were convinced the stress of her job had made her symptoms worse.

“She’s met Nick and even helped with locating Corey last night,” Carol said as Bea closed the front door.

The manager of the boys ranch grinned. “My, you’ve jumped right in. So you’re familiar with ranches or, in your area, farms?”

“Well, no. But I’m a quick learner. I help out in my church’s nursery as well as in a shelter for families. I love animals and children.”