A Reunion For The Rancher

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“Agreed,” Carson voiced his opinion to let things settle a little.

Byron blustered and set his cup down, slopping coffee on the bill next to his plate. He brushed it off with a napkin.

“Yesterday Lucy went out to the Donovan place again,” Byron said, changing the subject without much finesse. “I still say that kid is guilty and we ought to just arrest him.”

Carson sat back, looking at the other man and wondering why he couldn’t just be reasonable. “Byron, there are a few problems with that thought. Number one, ‘we’ can’t arrest anyone. Number two, the kid doesn’t have any of the stolen property. You can’t arrest someone just because you don’t like them.”

“And you’re only taking up for him because that sister of his is back in town, and you’ve forgotten that your daddy didn’t want you messing around—”

“Be quiet.” Carson leaned across the table. “I’ve had enough, Byron. You want to accuse your neighbors, stir up trouble and pit people against each other. But as far as I know the Donovans have never done a thing to you.”

“I’m just saying they aren’t any better than that cousin of mine was. Mac wanted my money, my resources. They’ll take what they can—”

Carson raised a hand. He didn’t need to hear any more. He was sure his dad had probably told Byron about the payoff to Ruby. That didn’t mean the rest of the county needed to hear it.

“Byron, the last thing I need today is a case of indigestion, so let’s leave off. We can talk about something that matters or enjoy a little peace and quiet.”

Ben cleared his throat. “I hear she’s giving riding lessons. I sold her a pony a few weeks ago. She’s going to need saddles if anyone has old ones they aren’t using.”

Carson started to answer but before he could get the words out, Byron scooted his chair back and stood. He gave his boys a meaningful glare.

“I guess I’ll just leave,” Byron grumbled as he grabbed the bill next to his plate. “But I want you to know, as vice president of the league, I’m going to start organizing patrols. Call it a neighborhood watch if that makes you and Lucy happy. If our sheriff can’t solve these crimes, we’ll do it ourselves.”

“Go ahead, Byron. I’m not going to stop you.”

His boys stood up, a nod acknowledging the other men at the table as they followed their dad out. Ben whistled and leaned his chair back on two legs.

“That man is strung tighter than his fences!”

“Yeah, just a little.”

“About Ruby,” Ben waded in again, a big grin on his face.

“Leave it. Can’t a man just eat his breakfast?”

Ben laughed at that. “Yeah, I guess he can.”

Carson finished his breakfast, wishing for once that he’d gone out of town for the meal rather than into Maggie’s and what appeared to be a real hornet’s nest. What he wouldn’t give for a quiet life.

Instead of that quiet life he walked out of the diner some thirty minutes later with Brandon in tow. His nephew had managed to knock over his glass of chocolate milk, not once but twice. He’d poured salt in Ben’s coffee when they hadn’t been looking and he’d unscrewed the lid on the ketchup. Carson had fortunately caught that little trick.

He wasn’t so sure Ben hadn’t given him the idea to try the trick.

As they walked out the front door, the old adage about things had nowhere to go but up seemed as far off as the moon. Ruby pulled her old farm truck into an empty parking space and hopped out. She saw him and frowned.

* * *

Ruby could have gone a whole year without seeing Carson again. Or so she wanted to believe. But she couldn’t lie, not even to herself. Seeing him standing on that sidewalk with his nephew almost tore her heart out. It was a reaction she hadn’t expected. But seeing him with that little boy took her back. The sight made her think of dreams and what she might have had.

If wishes were ponies, Granny Iva always said. Wishes weren’t ponies. Ponies, saddles, bridles and feed were bought with cold, hard cash. Just like Carson’s dad had tried to buy her. He’d tried to buy her and he’d tried to threaten her, with Iva as his target. She shook her head to clear that memory.

“Hey, Ruby!” Brandon pulled away from his uncle. “Did you get that new pony you were telling me about?”

“As a matter of fact, I did. Derek hauled him home today.”

“Is he fast?”

She smiled, because to a little boy it was all about speed.

“I think he might be the fastest pony I have on the place!”

He started to bounce. She smoothed a hand down the little boy’s shoulder.

“What did you have for breakfast?”

“Pancakes with chocolate chips and syrup. And I had bacon. And chocolate milk.”

She glanced from the boy to Carson. He shrugged and she shook her head.

“That’s a lot of sugar for one little boy,” she said, more for Carson than the child. “Maybe tomorrow just have eggs and toast?”

He wrinkled his Thorn nose at her. “I don’t like eggs.”

“No, I don’t imagine you do.” She glanced toward Maggie’s and then let her gaze settle on Carson. What a mistake. He stood there, relaxed and in control, his keys in his hand. The other hand reached for Brandon. “Is Doc Grainger inside? I called out to the ranch but they said he was in town having coffee.”

Doc, as they all called him, had been born and raised on the Grainger spread. As much as the ranch was a part of him, he’d shared that he never felt like a rancher. He was giving the community a year and then he was heading for the city to practice medicine. She, like many others, hoped he’d stay in town.

Ruby knew him well enough to doubt he would.

“Yeah, I think he was sitting in a booth at the back. Is everything okay?” Concern edged into Carson’s tone, genuine concern. It softened the brittle tone and softened Ruby’s heart a smidge.

“I think everything is okay. Iva doesn’t tell me everything, you know. She’s tough like that. But this morning I can tell she doesn’t feel well, maybe just a cold coming on, but I thought I’d see if he’d stop by the house later. I know he’s a pediatrician, but he’s always been so good about checking on her.”

“If you need anything...”

“We’re fine, Carson.” Her words didn’t sound as strong as she had intended but repeating them in a firmer tone wouldn’t serve her purpose, either.

“Can I come by and see the pony? Does he have a name?” Brandon tugged at her hand as he asked the questions.

“His name is Peanut and I will let you ride him Monday when you have your lesson.”

Carson stepped closer, Brandon’s hand still in his. “Are you sure everything is okay with Iva? Do you need to drive her to Austin?”

She shook her head. She didn’t need his help. She didn’t need him close. She didn’t need to get all tangled up in leftover emotions. That’s all this was, leftovers. They might sound good, but rarely were as good as the first time around. She swallowed and met his warm gaze and saw concern. Inwardly, she cringed. She didn’t want his concern. Remembering him as a person who genuinely cared complicated things.

“I’m sure she’s fine. But I’ll feel better if Doc can come out and check on her.”

“Let me know if anything changes. And if you need to cancel on Monday, we’ll understand.”

At his mention of canceling, Brandon groaned. Ruby smiled down at the little guy. “Don’t worry, we won’t cancel.”

“We’ll go then. Let me know if you need anything.” Carson walked away with his nephew.

She watched them go, drawn to the pair, drawn by the past and by the present. That was even more of a complication. One she didn’t need. It seemed that somewhere beneath the hard exterior, the Carson she knew still lived and breathed.

The door to Maggie’s opened and the man she had been looking for stepped out. Tyler Grainger, tall and all blond good looks, stopped to look around as he pulled car keys out of his pocket. He saw Ruby and nodded.

“Ruby, how’s Iva?” Tyler headed her way with an easy gait, comfortable in his own skin. He still looked like a kid who’d grown up in this small town. But she understood wanting to shed that skin and be someone or something else.

“She’s not good, Tyler. I’m worried, and of course she refuses to go to the doctor. She says she went and going wears her out.”

“I can stop by,” he offered as he glanced at the watch on his wrist. “In an hour?”

“If it wouldn’t be too much trouble. I know house calls are a thing of the past and this isn’t your specialty.”

He shrugged off her comments. “I don’t mind.”

“Thank you.”

A truck started. She turned, knowing it would be Carson’s and realizing immediately that she shouldn’t have turned. It was too easy, this getting pulled into the past, into remembering how he’d cared.

She didn’t need those reminders. She didn’t need to think about confiding in him the way she once had. No, she had to think about her small family and how to keep them together and keep them solvent.

“Everything okay between you and Carson?” Tyler asked.