Leann Harris - Redemption Ranch

“Will ignoring her help?”

Zach’s mouth twitched. “No. And my brother Ethan can second me.”

“Thanks for the warning.”

As Zach walked away, Tyler didn’t know how he felt. So Beth wasn’t going to quit. It didn’t make sense, but Tyler was grateful Beth McClure wasn’t going to give up her fight.

Yeah, he was glad that little dynamo wouldn’t quit. Not only for Riley’s sake, but his. The thought unsettled him.

Walking up to the foreman’s house, Riley knew deep in his spirit that God had put her in his life.

He didn’t know how he felt about that, but he found himself smiling.

Tyler looked down at Dogger. “So what do you think? You like her, too?”

Dogger ran up the stairs and faced his master, his tongue out.

“You’re not going to answer until I feed you. Okay, chow, then I expect an answer.”

* * *

“I’m glad you stayed for dinner,” Sophie told Beth.

Both Zach and Beth cleared the dishes. Sophie put the leftover lasagna in a plastic container.

“Well, you twisted my arm until I yelled uncle.” Beth popped one of the cherry tomatoes in her mouth as she carried the remains of the salad to the kitchen.

Stepping to her side, Zach pulled a strand of her hair just as he had so often in the past when they were growing up. She could only thank God for restoring her brother after he lost his leg.

“What were you going to have, sis? A burger purchased in a drive-thru or a frozen dinner?” He wagged his brows.

She could act outraged or admit Zach had nailed it on the head. “If you must know, it was going to be a burger.”

Zach hugged her and glanced at Sophie. “Do I know my sister or what?”

Sophie shooed him away with her hands. “Go, before I let your sister smack you with one of the skillets.”

Grinning unrepentantly, he escaped into the living room and turned on the news.

Beth and Sophie worked together to clean up the kitchen.

“This reminds me of college,” Sophie said as she filled the sink with soapy water. She rubbed the small of her back.

“Go and sit. Or exchange places with my brother. You need to get off your feet.”

When Sophie didn’t argue, Beth knew she’d read her friend correctly. Sophie settled at the table and put her feet on a chair. “You remember that party we went to our sophomore year at Janelle’s apartment? And remember she got so sick on the chicken?”

The memory of that disastrous party flashed before Beth’s eyes. Janelle had brought some chicken from a local hole-in-the wall café and the stuff had given everyone food poisoning. Beth and Sophie were the only two who stayed with the pizza and the only ones not moaning and throwing up. “That was bad.”

“And you remember your date got it, too.”

“Yeah, he turned green, heaved and left the apartment without any explanation.”

“Well, consider yourself lucky, ’cause my date, who was his roommate, if you remember, heaved on my shoes while telling me they were going home.” Once their dates split, Beth and Sophie were stuck at the apartment without a car. “We lucked out that Janelle lived close to the bus line that ran by our dorm.”

Sophie studied her and frowned. “You know.” Sophie cocked her head as if a revelation occurred to her. “There were always guys around you, but we all went together as a group. I can’t think of—”

Beth looked up from the sink. “Of what?”

Sophie’s eyes narrowed. “Of any man you dated more than once while we were in college.”

Putting the last dish in the drainer, Beth dried her hands. She settled across the table from Sophie. “I never found anyone who could live up to my standards. I have a wonderful, generous father who is perfect.”

“True. But you have a couple of brothers with flaws.”

“I won’t argue there.”

“But you never—”

The direction of this conversation made Beth uncomfortable. Back then, the lack of a boyfriend had been intentional. “You know, your pregnancy is making you want to mother everyone.”

Sophie leaned across the table and took Beth’s hand. “Be careful, friend. Remember, lots of our soldiers return to civilian life with baggage, and Tyler has his share.”

Beth jerked her hand away. “I know that. Remember who hauled Zach here.”

“True, but I see something in your eyes, Beth. Please be careful.”

Sophie’s comment cut too close to the truth. “Sophie, I understand the man has issues. I’m not sure he can carry on a conversation. I’ve only heard one-word answers or grunts.” Beth’s mind flashed to the conversations she’d had with Tyler. Those were exceptions, she told herself.

Sophie laughed, making Beth chuckle.

“You’ve got that nailed, but there’s something—” Sophie shook her head.

Beth opened her mouth to protest, but Sophie held up her hand.

“I’m just warning you.”

Beth couldn’t hold her friend’s words against her. She came around the table and kissed Sophie’s cheek. “Thank you.”

“You’ll pay attention to my warning?”

“I will.”

Later that night as Beth drifted off to sleep, she tried to tell herself that because Sophie was pregnant she was seeing things.

Deep inside, Beth knew Sophie had been right.

Chapter Three

It had been the longest ten days of Beth’s life. She used to love to travel for work, seeing different cities, flying off at the drop of a hat, but this last trip to London, then to Dallas, had been more than tedious. Her heart had stayed at Second Chance Ranch with a silent man, his dog and a troubled boy. In the quiet of morning when she had her coffee and read her Bible, she found herself praying for Tyler and Riley and longing to see how things were progressing with them.

It occurred to Beth that this was the first time since her disastrous relationship with her high school boyfriend ended that she found herself overwhelmed by attraction. She tried to chalk her feelings up to compassion for a hurt child and an emotionally wounded soldier. Would she be that intense with each new military rider? She ignored the uncomfortable question.

What had happened in Tyler’s life that caused him to be put into foster care? That question rumbled around her brain the entire time she was on her business trip and she planned to see if Zach knew about Tyler’s past.

Parking in the ranch’s lot, she planned her strategy—corner Zach and put the screws on. When she reached the ranch office, she found no one there. After changing, Beth walked to the stables. Two riders were out in the two rings. Sophie supervised one rider and Tyler was in the second ring, walking beside a new boy who looked terrified. Observing from his regular perch by the door sat Riley.

Beth stopped by Riley’s side. “How’s it going?”

The boy shrugged.

Hadn’t they got past this? “Where’s Dogger?”

Another shrug.

“Do you know the boy Tyler’s helping?”

“No.”

What had happened to put Riley back to square one? She walked into the stables, hoping to find Zach. Two other volunteers were inside working on different horses. She waved to them, and then spotted Ollie coming out of the tack room. He’d just about finished his chemo, and he was looking good and starting to gain back some weight.

“Ollie, have you seen Zach?”

“He’s out back with Ethan, checking out the new horse the ranch got.”

“That’s good news. Where did we get it?”

“Ask your brother.”

“Which one, Zach or Ethan?”

“Zach.”

What she needed to do was to talk to Sophie to know what was really going on at the ranch instead of wasting time trying to get info from Zach. “You’re looking good.”

“I’ll say I don’t feel like dirt no more, so that’s an improvement.”