Safe In The Rancher's Arms: Stranded with the Rancher / Sheltered by the Millionaire / Pregnant by the Texan. Catherine Mann

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СКАЧАТЬ stood up. “You two lovebirds stay as long as you want. But I promised to help at the courthouse today. They’re trying to recover as many documents as possible before it rains again. I may try to speak to Colby Richardson, too. Offer my sympathies. He’s come back to town to bury his brother, Craig, and to be supportive of Craig’s widow, Paige. That and dealing with the ranch will be a lot for one man to handle.”

      Jed nodded. “Yeah, it will. I’m supposed to work a shift later. I’ll see you down there.”

      Drew hugged Kimberly, stunned to realize that the thought of being an uncle was pretty damned exciting. “Welcome to the family.”

      * * *

      As Drew neared the turn to Green Acres, he pondered Beth’s attitude toward Audie. Forget about my brother. Surely she didn’t really mean that. He turned his truck onto Beth’s road, calling himself all kinds of a fool. But try as he might, he couldn’t ignore the fact that Audie needed a job and Drew could help. Surely that would ease some of Beth’s emotional burden. She didn’t need to be worrying about her brother in addition to everything else she was juggling.

      The house looked much the same. Fortunately, the moderate temperatures had continued, so no one was in any danger of freezing to death, even if the shed wasn’t heated. Audie sat on a tree stump smoking. He didn’t move when Drew put the vehicle in park and got out.

      Drew lifted a hand. “Thought I’d stop by and check on you.”

      Audie’s nodded. “Where’s sis?”

      “Helping out at the animal shelter. I’m sure she’ll see you later.”

      “Wouldn’t count on it.” Audie paused to flick a mosquito off his knee. “Can I help you with something?”

      “Actually, I might be able to help you. One of my stable hands quit last week, so I have a job available. It’s not glamorous work. The pay is decent but not great. But since you’re staying here, you could save up a deposit for another place in town.”

      “Does Beth know you’re here?”

      A warning flag went up. “No. This is between us.”

      “She won’t like it. She doesn’t believe I’ve really changed.”

      “Changed how?”

      “I’ve been a drunk most of my life. But I finally started going to AA, and now I’ve been sober for six months. My history is why I’ve had trouble getting a job.”

      “How bad is it?”

      Audie shrugged. “I’ve had a few run-ins with the law. Nothing major. I had to clean up my act when the baby came along.”

      “We run a tight ship at Willowbrook. You would be answering to my manager. I’m doing this for your sister, but I expect a lot from my men.”

      “I hear what you’re saying.”

      “In that case, do you want the job?”

      Audie took off a stained baseball cap and scratched his head. “I don’t much like gettin’ up early.”

      Drew winced inwardly. He was beginning to see why Beth had issues with Audie. “The job is 7:30 to 4:00 with half an hour for lunch and two fifteen minute breaks. No smoking anywhere on the property.”

      “Okay. I guess I can live with that. I appreciate you taking a chance on me.”

      “Let me be straight with you, Audie. I could have a dozen guys lining up for the chance to work at Willowbrook. My stable hands are the best in the business. You’ll learn a lot from them. The only reason I’m offering you this job is because I care about your sister.”

      Audie nodded. “I bet you do.”

      Drew inhaled sharply. With two hands, he took Audie by the collar and lifted him to his toes— wishing he could put his hands around his neck.

      Audie went the color of skim milk when Drew got in his face and snarled, “You will not disrespect your sister. Are we clear?” When the man nodded, Drew released him, chest heaving.

      Beth’s skinny sibling got to his feet, grabbed up his dust-covered ball cap, and had the audacity to ask for more. “I’ll need a way to get to work. Can’t leave the wife and kid without a car.”

      This time Drew had to count to ten. “One of my guys passes here every morning. I’ll see if he’s willing to pick you up. Now do you want the job or not?”

      “Yeah. I appreciate it. I really do. But Beth may get her feathers ruffled. She’s not big on taking help.”

      “Are you the only family she has? I know your parents are gone. But no aunts and uncles? Cousins?”

      “Wouldn’t know on my dad’s side. Mama was an only child. Me and Beth aren’t bosom buddies. She’s a little uppity. Thinks she’s better than me.”

      “I warned you.”

      Audie took two steps backward. “I gotta check on things.”

      “You’ll be ready in the morning?”

      “Yup.”

      “Don’t waste this opportunity.”

      “I won’t, Mr. Farrell. You won’t be sorry.”

       Ten

      Drew brooded about the unsettling encounter with Beth’s brother all the way into town. No wonder Beth had warned him off. Audie’s reinvention of himself might or might not be the real deal. Only time would tell. But Drew was determined to insert himself between Beth and the stress of looking after her brother. She didn’t need to worry about Audie and his family if Drew was around to help. It was the least Drew could do.

      In Royal, reality hit once again. Sifting through the wreckage of Town Hall was a distraction, but not a welcome one. Knowing people had lost their lives on this very spot was sobering. A pall of tragedy lay over the site. Though at least two dozen volunteers worked side by side in an attempt to recover valuable records, there was no joking, no camaraderie. Faces were grim. Eyes were shadowed with grief.

      Lord knew how anything would ever get back to normal.

      In the midst of the backbreaking work, once again Drew realized how lucky he and Beth had been. Imagining her snatched from his side by a killer tornado made him queasy. And it could have happened. So easily....

      Today, the skies above were innocent and blue, nothing at all like what he remembered from the day of the storm. He had a feeling that many in Royal would experience post-traumatic stress in the weeks and months to come. Thankfully, the calendar said they were on the tail end of tornado season, but next spring would be another story. Every thunderstorm promised to be nerve-wracking, especially for the children who didn’t really understand these things.

      Pausing to take a swig of water, he noticed a piece of paper flapping in the breeze, anchored by a chunk of concrete block. He squatted СКАЧАТЬ