Chapter 12

The next morning, Leah related the entire story to Breck.

He frowned and asked lots of questions, things she had never considered. Had she touched anything? Could there have been anyone else there in the area? Did she pass any other vehicles on the road that might have been coming from the crime scene? Was there a weapon left behind? Describe the wound…

Breck’s frown grew even more intense, especially when he learned the sheriff had confiscated her shoes. “You stay right here. I’ll be back.” He grabbed his Stetson and jammed it on his head before storming out the front door. He slammed it so hard the beveled glass panel rattled in his wake.

Leah sat behind her desk and clasped her hands together to keep them from shaking. Now what? She was almost through with the estate files. She went back to the sorting table and surveyed the array of somewhat controlled chaos strewn across it. At least this would keep her brain occupied so she didn’t have a complete meltdown.

Breck returned about an hour later. He tossed his Stetson on the coatrack and came to sit across from her at the table she used for sorting files. He leaned back in his chair and propped his boots on the edge of the table. His expression was so grim it sucked the air right out of her lungs.

“What?” She wheezed out the breathy question.

“The body has been identified as that of Ray Carter.”

Leah clasped her hands over her heart, as if that would keep it from jumping out of her chest.

“When the medical examiner’s men removed the body, they found a pair of very sharp shears underneath him. It must have been what Ray was using to cut the fence line.”

“Shears? Like scissors?” she asked.

“No, these were antique shears, like they used to cut sheep’s wool before modern electric clippers were invented.” A muscle in Breck’s jaw twitched. “It was strong enough to go through twisted wire…or flesh. Someone used them to open him up from stem to stern.”

Leah yelped. “Oh, how horrible!” Even someone as vicious as Ray Carter didn’t deserve to be brutalized in such a manner.

“The ME hasn’t returned his preliminary report yet, but the sheriff talked to him when I was there, and the doc is thinking maybe Ray was dead before he was cut open.”

“Dead? How?”

“He had extensive facial injuries. He thinks Ray died from blunt force trauma, and the slashing was the aftermath.”

Leah recalled Ray’s face the last time she had seen him, bloody and swollen from the pounding Ty had given him. She swallowed against the bile at the back of her throat. “What kind of person could do something like that?”

Breck cocked his brow at her. “Well, your boyfriend, Tyler Garrett, was the first one who came to mind. He did just get through giving Ray quite a pounding this past Sunday.”

Leah shook her head vigorously. “No way! Ty would never do something like that. He’s the sweetest, most gentle man I’ve ever known. It’s just not in him to be cruel.”

“I hope you’re right. Ray’s father is telling anybody who will listen that it must have been Ty or maybe all the Garrett brothers. He’s making Ty out to be the killer.”

Her stomach twisted into a knot. “Surely no one will believe that. Not anyone who knows Ty.”

Breck shook his head. “Hope not, but it’s still worrisome.” He swung his boots off the table and righted his chair. “Ty stated that he was in Amarillo yesterday. That he took your daughter to get some school clothes, and that he saw the truck but didn’t know it belonged to the Carters.”

Leah swallowed hard. “So it couldn’t have been him. He was with Gracie all day. He stopped by here after lunch to let me know he was leaving town with her.”

Breck stood, staring down at her and rubbing his chin. “Hope that will clear him. It all depends on the time of death. We just have to wait for the medical examiner to make his ruling.”

* * *

Ty called Will to let him know he wouldn’t be able to leave Langston. He had expected Will to be upset, but Will went ballistic.

“You’re shittin’ me!” Will yelled. “This is going to wreck any chance you have to make it on Texas Country Star. The other contestants have been building their fan bases for years. Now you’re stuck there in Hicksville because some dude got killed. That just doesn’t make any sense.”

Ty listened to the tirade, knowing Will was right. He was scuttling any possibility of success on the show. “I know, but it can’t be helped.” The sheriff had told him to stay put, and he had no choice but to follow orders.

Will released a raspy groan. “You’ve gotta get with it. I mean, are you even on Twitter or Instagram?”

“Um, no.”

“Surely you have a YouTube channel? How about Snapchat? Or something as old-school as Facebook? That’s where you’ll pick up the grandmas and grandpas.”

“I’m not there,” Ty admitted.

A loud sigh hissed through the phone. “Ty, Ty, Ty… What am I going to do with you?”

“Beats me,” Ty said. “Look, if you want to back out of this, I understand.”

There was a long silence. “No, I can’t do that. Dammit, Ty. I’m going to make you a star in spite of yourself. Let me get started on building some social media platforms. Is there a decent photographer in that one-horse town?”

Ty raked his fingers through his hair. “Not that I recall. I can ask around.”

“No, never mind. I’ll send one from Dallas. That way, I’ll know what I’m getting.” Will disconnected abruptly, leaving Ty to stare at his cell, the dead air invading his senses like an ominous warning.

He silenced it and slipped it in his pocket. Grabbing his Stetson, he shoved it on his head and went outside. He had tuned up the tractor, and he intended to till at least one field today. Planting winter rye grass would be an easy and economical way for Gran to feed her small herd through the winter. He climbed up into the seat and started her up. Purrs like a kitten…well, maybe more like a big old jungle cat…with the croup. But it was running.

He put it in gear and headed for the pasture he had determined would be his first objective. The sheriff still hadn’t allowed them back into the field where Ray Carter had been slaughtered.

The body had been released to the family, and there had been a small funeral in town. Not many people had actually liked the Carters, but they were all curious. Only Leah’s family and the Garretts had stayed away. No point in causing a scene.

By noon, Ty had tilled the small field and returned to the house for a bite to eat. Gran made him a couple of ham and cheese sandwiches, which he washed down with a glass of milk. He thought she enjoyed her role in keeping the family fed.

She tucked a dishcloth in the waistband of her apron and took a seat opposite him. “I know you have feelings for my granddaughter, Ty.”

He met her gaze. “I do.”

“I hope you know she really cares for you.”

Ty grinned. “Yes, I know that.”

Gran sucked in a breath and nodded. “I just hope you don’t go breakin’ her heart. She hasn’t had much experience, you know.”

He smiled. “I know. I wouldn’t hurt her for all the world.”

Gran nodded. She looked satisfied that he would keep his word.

He was back on the tractor when his cell rang. He was half expecting another tirade from the pissed-off Will, but it was a strange number. He answered.

“Tyler Garrett?” It was a female voice.

“That’s me,” he said.

“Well, where the hell are you? I’m about thirty miles east of Langston right now, and Will promised me a bonus if I get some great shots of you back to him tonight.”

“The photographer?” He hadn’t thought Will would hustle up someone the same day, but then, knowing how impatient his friend was, he realized sooner was better than later. He gave her directions, and she said she would see him soon.

He drove the tractor back to the house and was just getting off when a woman with flame-red hair zoomed into the yard in a silver Audi with the top down. He reached for his shirt, intending to put it back on.

“No!” she shrieked and killed the motor. “Please tell me you’re Tyler Garrett.”

He froze in place and nodded. “I am.”

“Then don’t move,” she commanded, climbing out of the car with a camera in hand. She pointed the long lens at him and clicked the shutter a few times. “Get rid of the shirt and climb back on the tractor.”

He complied, and she walked around the entire machine, snapping off pictures.

“Okay, you can put the shirt on, but leave it open in front.” She circled him again, taking more shots. In the next hour, she photographed him in his truck, beside his truck, with his guitar, with his horse, and astride Prince.

He stood watching the small vehicle race down the caliche road, raising a trail of dust behind it. He heaved a sigh, feeling as though he had just been processed in some manner in which he was totally ignorant. He would leave it all up to Will. If he could just get to Dallas before the competition started, maybe there was still a chance for him.

* * *

The first day of school, Leah put Gracie on the big yellow bus and waved goodbye. Her heart felt like it had swelled to twice normal size as she watched the vehicle bounce and sway along the road. She stood staring after it even when it had disappeared from sight.

Leah heaved a huge sigh. “I can’t believe my little girl is growing up so very fast.”

Gran nodded. “I know how you feel. Seems like just yesterday you was that age.”

Leah heaved a huge sigh. “I don’t think I was ever that age.”

Gran frowned. “Maybe you’re right. It does seem you had to grow up way too fast.” She reached out to pat Leah’s arm. “But you turned out just fine. I’m real proud of the woman you growed up to be.”

“Thanks, Gran. That means a lot to me.” She climbed into her car and pulled out, trailing after the bus, sighting it in the distance as it turned onto the farm-to-market road. She wondered how Gracie was doing. She wondered if her daughter would make new friends that day.

The bus turned off on a side road to pick up another child, and Leah passed it by, staring long and hard down the road after it.

Once at work, she was busy with her sorting and getting on a bit of typing Breck had left for her. Nothing exciting happened until just before noon, when Colton and Beau came into Breck’s office. She looked up, surprised by their appearance.

“Hi, Leah!” Beau called. “So this is where you work?”

She grinned at him. “Looks like it.”

Colton commandeered the chair opposite hers. “What time do you take your lunch? We thought we would take you out to get some chow.” He had the same coloring as Ty but was a bit taller and heavier. Not overweight, just stockier.

“What brought this on?” she asked.

Beau perched on the corner of her desk. “Dad sent us in to pick up some stuff, and we thought we could get to know you a little better, say over a steak?” He grinned at her hopefully. He had the same blue eyes as Ty, but his hair was lighter, more of a sandy brown.

“How can I refuse?” She pushed back her chair and reached for her purse and keys. “Your timing is excellent, gentlemen.” She called Sara Beth to tell her she was going out for lunch.

“Oh, hot date?”

Leah burst into laughter, causing both brothers to give her a quizzical look. “Yeah, two of them.”

They waited while she placed the clockface sign in the door and locked up.

Beau opened the door of the big silver truck for her.

“Is this your father’s truck?” Leah asked.

Colton climbed into the driver’s seat. “No, it’s mine. Dad got us all matching trucks, but Ty had to have the red one.”

She laughed, thinking she was glad she had fallen in love with the nonconformist.

They drove her to the steakhouse on the edge of town. She had passed by it but never eaten there before. When they entered the establishment, the aroma of grilled meat was tantalizing. She hadn’t realized she was hungry until that moment.

The waitress seated them and passed out menus. They chatted about how they liked their steaks, and when the waitress returned, Colton ordered rib eyes all around. There was a salad bar, and the three of them made a circle around it, returning to the table with their selections.

Leah was having a wonderful time. She wondered why the brothers would choose to take her to lunch but didn’t question this lavish meal. She figured they had an ulterior motive and was braced to be questioned about her past at the very least. But they told funny stories about their earlier years, and she spent most of the time laughing.

She cleared her throat. “How is your father?”

Colton and Beau exchanged a glance.

Beau poked food in his mouth, she thought to keep from having to answer. She turned her gaze to Colton.

“Dad’s a little better since he met you.” Colton used his fork to dig into his baked potato. “He needed to hear from Ty…to know he was okay.” He blew out a breath. “Since Mom passed away, he’s been pretty hard to live with. Somehow, after meeting you and your daughter, he kind of softened.”

Beau reached for a roll. “I think it was seeing how happy Ty is with you. It must make him think of his early years with Mom. He really has lightened up a lot.”

Colton shot her a sharp glance. “So is this serious with Ty, or are you just toying with him?”

“What?” she squeaked.

“Well, we’re hoping it’s serious. Beau and I decided we would like you as a sister-in-law. How about it?”

Leah set her fork down and stared at each man in turn. Beau had the appeal of a big puppy while Colton gave her a serious expression. “Are you proposing to me on Ty’s behalf?” She reached for her tea and took a sip.

Another glance exchanged between the brothers.

“Not exactly, but we do want you to think about it. We promise to be the best brothers-in-law you could ever want.” Beau finished with a wide grin, and his cheeks were pink with a blush.

“Seriously,” Colton said. “You’d like it on the ranch. There’s a really big house and plenty of room for you and your daughter…maybe some more little ones.”

Leah choked on the tea she’d been drinking and suffered a coughing fit. “I don’t think we’re there yet. There are a lot of things going on, you know. The thing with the Carter brothers.”

Colton scowled. “That will pass. I know Ty didn’t have anything to do with that.”

She set her glass down carefully. “And what about Ty’s audition for the Texas Country Star show? He’s got his heart set on performing there.”

Colton let out a disgruntled snort. “He’ll get over that. It was just something Mom put in his head. She thought he was good enough to go pro.”

Leah gazed at him thoughtfully. “And you don’t?”

He played with the potatoes some more. “I didn’t say that. It’s just that—with the ranch and all, he really should be there with us. It’s a cooperative effort.”

“I see.” She exhaled softly. So this is the agenda they brought to the table with them.

Beau leaned forward. “I think Ty’s got a great voice, but there are so many singers out there, just barely hanging on, not making much of a living. Any one of them would trade in their music for a shot at what Ty has waiting for him.”

He looked so earnest; she had to feel for him. On the one hand, she felt defensive about Ty, wanting him to succeed at the one thing he dreamed about, but on the other hand, she realized the brothers were right. The advantages Ty was born with would satisfy most men…but Ty wasn’t most men.

* * *

When Gracie stepped off the bus, Ty was waiting for her with a big grin on his face. He was anxious to hear how her first day had gone in her new school.

Both dogs ran to greet her as she made her way up to the porch.

Her face crumpled, and she ran to his arms.

“Hey! What’s the matter? Are you hurt?” He squatted down to gather her in his arms, giving her a hug and then drawing back to peer into her face anxiously.

The bus driver was turning around and pulling away.

Gracie looked back over her shoulder. “Those boys. They were mean to me. They tore my new backpack and said awful things to me.” She buried her face against his shoulder.

A flash of anger went off inside him. Who would be so mean to this sweet little girl? “Who were they, honey? Do you know their names?”

She nodded her head mournfully. “One is named Deke Carter. He’s in the sixth grade.” She sniffled. “It was him and his friends.” She wiped away a tear, but another quickly followed. “He pulled my hair too.” Lucky licked her cheek, offering comfort as only a dog can. Eddie sat by her feet, whining softly.

Carter. Hearing the name set off a chain reaction, not unlike setting a match to dry kindling. Ty felt as though an explosion had gone off in his chest. “Don’t you worry, Gracie. I’ll put a stop to that. You won’t have to worry about them again.”

As he spoke, he wasn’t sure how he was going to protect her, but he vowed he would keep her safe. “How about you go change your clothes and I’ll take you for a ride? Prince needs his Gracie fix.”

She brightened at that and ran off to the house.

Ty saddled Prince and brought him to the front of the house, where he found Gran waiting with Gracie. He lifted Gracie into the saddle and handed her the reins this time. He showed her how to hold them and how to use them to give the horse directions. He knew that Prince would walk alongside him wherever he went, but he thought this little girl needed to feel like she was in control of something.

He turned to find Gran frowning at him, her lips pressed into a thin line. “I just don’t know what this world is a-comin’ to when a little girl can’t even go to school without somethin’ like this happenin’ to her. I guess them Carters has evil steeped into their DNA.”

Ty put his hand on her shoulder, stunned by how thin and frail she was. But the look in her eye confirmed that she had a strong spirit and didn’t take it lightly that someone was threatening her kin. Neither did he.

Gracie’s spirits were considerably improved by the ride. When he lifted her off the big horse, she was grinning, and as soon as her feet touched ground, she laid her head against Prince’s neck and gave him a hug. “I love you, Prince. You’re the best horse in the whole wide world.”

“He thinks so too.” Ty took the reins. “Maybe you can help me give him some grain while I clean out his stall?”

“Oh, can I? I mean may I?” She jumped up and down a few times before falling into step beside Ty.

When Leah got home, she was upset about the bus incident. They agreed, between them, to take Gracie to school and pick her up afterward.

“But what about while she’s at school? Surely they won’t let a sixth grader pick on a younger child.” Her large brown eyes showed concern for her daughter. “I can’t believe I moved us this far only to put my child in danger again.”

“I think I’ll drop by her school tomorrow morning. I’ll get to the bottom of it.”

She seemed to take comfort in his words. At the moment, he had no idea what would happen when he visited the elementary school, but he knew he was going to make some waves.

Later, after supper had been eaten and the kitchen cleaned, Ty retired to the bunkhouse to work on a song. His phone rang and it was Will.

Ty answered it on the first ring. “So, am I a big star yet?”

Will snorted. “Laugh all you want, funny boy. You’ll be kissing my feet in a few weeks.”

Ty laughed. “Better put on some clean socks then.”

“Your pics are tha bomb! I just downloaded them, and man! Talk about sex appeal. You should see ’em.”

“Yeah, that would be nice.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure they get spread around where they’ll do the most good. I loaded them onto your website.”

Ty swallowed hard. “I have a website?”

“Of course you do. And you’re on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter too. I set you up with one of the shirtless images on your profile, and you’re sending tweets twenty-four/seven.”

“Hah! I don’t have any idea how to tweet.”

“Not a problem. I hired a personal assistant, and she’s taking care of your tweets. Hell, you’re even on Pinterest. On any of these sites, people can click on a link and go straight to one of your songs. The hits have been coming in like crazy.”

Ty massaged the back of his neck. “That’s good to know, I guess.”

“By the time the show premiers, you will have a strong fan base. Crazed women begging for your autograph.”

“Yeah, that sounds…awesome.”

“It should. Our personal assistant is sending out autographed pics by the armload.”

“Autographed? I haven’t even seen any pictures, much less autographed them.”

Will laughed. “Well, I may have taken a little license with your autograph. You just keep practicing. Your voice should be in top form. Gargle or whatever.”

Ty heaved a sigh. “You just go ahead and do whatever you think is best, Will. I trust your judgment.”

“Good man. Now, whose palm do I need to grease to get you sprung from that Podunk town? Is it the sheriff or someone else?”

“I don’t know about that,” Ty said. “Something else has come up. I’m going to try and get it fixed tomorrow morning. I’ll get back to you.”

“See that you do. Time’s a-wasting. Ticktock, man. Ticktock.”

* * *

Early the next morning, Ty drove Gracie to school. He walked her inside, her hand feeling very small in his. He escorted her to her classroom and found the teacher, Miss Diaz, already at her desk.

She looked up and gave him a bright smile. “Well, hello there, Tyler…and Gracie. What are you two up to so early this morning?” She pushed back from her desk and came to stand right in front of him, gazing up into his eyes with interest.

“There’s a problem,” he said. “Some boys are bullying Gracie, and they’ve only had the first day. I want to put a stop to it right now.”

Her eyes widened in disbelief. “Oh, good gracious. The boys in my class?”

Ty shook his head. “No, these are sixth graders. They ganged up on her on the bus ride home yesterday. From now on, either her mother or I will be bringing Gracie to school and picking her up. Please don’t let anyone else pick her up but the two of us.” He handed her a note that Leah had written out and signed that morning.

Miss Diaz looked at the note and nodded. “I’ll make a copy of this and stick the original in her folder. The other one will go in the office.” She leaned down to Gracie, gently placing her hand on the girl’s shoulder. “Do you know the boys?”

Gracie shook her head. “No, but one is named Deke Carter. Someone said they were in sixth grade.” She glanced down, reddening. “I was afraid.”

Miss Diaz patted Gracie’s arm and sent her to put her things in her desk. She turned back to Ty, her face suddenly serious. “Everyone in that Carter family is just plain mean. The kids are constantly in trouble. I want you to go to the principal’s office and make a report right now, before class starts. He needs to know what’s going on.”

She directed him down the hall and to another corridor.

Ty followed her directions. The halls were beginning to fill with children now, generally behaving well. Some teachers stood in their open classroom doorways, giving oversight to the students’ passage.

When Ty stepped into the outer office, the school secretary came to the front to help him. He told her he needed to see the principal about a bullying incident, and her mouth formed a small O. She slipped into an adjacent office and returned quickly, motioning him inside.

Ty related his story to the principal, a man named Mr. Blanchard. He appeared to be stressed but made notes on a pad and asked the secretary to have the Carter boy brought out of class. He gestured for Ty to take a seat.

In a short time, the secretary escorted a tall, gangly boy into the principal’s office. He eyed Ty, a sullen expression on his face.

Mr. Blanchard told him that bullying would not be tolerated and explained the boy’s parents would have to come up to the school to discuss the incident. He also asked for the names of the other boys involved, but Deke hung his head, a muscle in his jaw working.

“I ain’t no snitch,” he mumbled.

“I can find out from the bus driver,” Mr. Blanchard said, glaring him down.

The boy huffed. “Tom Rivers ’n’ Albert Folsom. We was just havin’ some fun.” His gaze kept returning to Ty as though wondering why he was there.

Mr. Blanchard stepped to the door to ask the secretary to have the other boys brought to the office.

Deke gazed at Ty contemptuously. “Whut are you lookin’ at?”

Frowning, Ty narrowed his gaze. “I’m looking at someone who’s in trouble for bullying a little girl. Don’t you feel proud of yourself?”

“Aw hell,” Deke said. “Someone in her family done kilt my cousin Ray. We wuz just givin’ her a little payback.”

“That’s not true!” Ty fixed him with a stern look. “No one in her family killed your cousin. His body was found on her grandmother’s land, but they didn’t kill him.”

“How do you know?” The boy’s mouth pinched up tight.

“Because I was there. Let the sheriff handle it, and just back off.” Ty got to his feet and almost ran over the principal as he was making his way back into the room. “I have to go now,” he said. “I hope you can stop this from happening again.” He stormed out to his truck.

* * *

Leah timidly knocked on Breck’s office door. When she peeked inside, he waved her in and pointed to a chair. He was on the phone, so she sat and fidgeted.

Apparently, the business of being a lawyer required one to argue incessantly and raise your voice. Oddly, even though Breck had appeared to be angry and he pounded on his desk for emphasis, when he hung up the phone, he turned a smiling face to her. “Good morning, Leah.”

“Um, good morning, Breck.” She paused, wondering how to begin. “I need to start taking my lunch break at a few minutes before three.” She said it so fast, even she wasn’t sure what she’d said.

Breck stared at her, a puzzled expression on his face. “What did you say?”

“It’s my daughter. I have to pick her up right after school and—” She broke off abruptly, sucked in a breath, blew it out before starting again. “She was bullied on the bus. It was some relative of the Carters. I need to pick her up after school and…”

He leaned forward encouragingly. “And?”

“And I need to bring her over here until I get off work. She’s a nice, quiet little girl…really. She can read or draw until my quitting time.”

Frowning, Breck continued to gaze at her, his dark brows knit into a fierce frown. “That’s all? Just go pick up your daughter and bring her here?”

Leah nodded miserably.

“That’s nothing. Of course you can go pick her up. Not on your lunch hour though. The school is just a few blocks away. Just put the sign in the window and go get her. It won’t take you any time at all.”

Leah felt as though a tight band had been cut from around her chest. “Oh, Breck! I appreciate it so much. She was so scared this morning. Ty took her to school, and he was going to talk to her teacher or the principal or whoever could make it right.” She stopped abruptly.

“Take it easy. I’m sorry the Carter boy is giving her a hard time. Damn! Poor kid. What a way to start off the school year.” He drummed his fingers on the desk, frowning. “Unfortunately, we can’t ask for a restraining order against a schoolkid. More’s the pity.”

She nodded solemnly. “So it’s okay if I go pick her up every afternoon? I know it’s an imposition.”

Breck rubbed both hands over his face. “No matter what else is going on, whether I’m here or not, just go get her. Gracie’s safety is more important than anything else.”

* * *

Ty had shared the events at the school with Leah, but she still looked worried. “I hope the principal will talk to the boys’ families. I hope it makes a difference.”

“Yeah, me too.”

“In the meantime, I appreciate your help in getting her to school.”

He frowned down at her. “About that—I talked to Will, and he wants me to come back to Dallas for a few days. He called the sheriff, and he agreed to allow me to travel that far. Will said it was because the sheriff’s a fan of Country Idol…and he knows my dad and all… Anyway, are you going to be okay if I take off for a couple of days?”

“Sure,” she said brightly…too brightly. “We’ll be fine. Breck was really nice about me picking Gracie up in the afternoons. He said to just bring her back to the office and keep her with me right there. Nice as anything.” Her smile looked a little tight.

He drew her into his arms and kissed her. “I won’t go if you’re worried. I don’t want you to be afraid.”

“Oh, we’ll be fine.”

“I wouldn’t be going except Will said the Texas Country Star producers are flying in and want to shoot some film of me singing in a club…you know, for promotions.”

She nodded a little too enthusiastically. “Sounds like fun. You’ll do great.”

Ty was torn. He knew she was scared, and he was scared for her. There didn’t seem to be a solution to this problem.

The next morning, he saw her off, driving toward Langston with Gracie in the passenger seat. Gracie looked back and waved.

Ty waved, feeling like a major rat. He wasn’t happy about hanging them out to dry. He climbed into his truck and started her up. The diesel engine rumbled to life. He sat inside for a minute, gripping the steering wheel and looking around the little farm. It looked better for his having been there. He had cleaned up the rubble. Tilled a vegetable patch for Gran, which now bore row after row of sprouting seeds. He repaired the fence line where the Carters had cut it and planted two small fields with winter rye to use for cattle feed.

He put the truck in gear and headed out.

Still, it didn’t feel right to be leaving them. But what if this was his only chance? What if he spent the rest of his life not stretching to make his dream come true?

As Ty turned onto the highway and headed toward Dallas, he reached for his phone. Only one way to make sure things stayed under control.

* * *

Leah picked up Gracie, and she spent the rest of the workday tucked in a corner of the long sorting table with a book. She had her crayons and a big legal pad if she got tired of reading but so far seemed content to bury her nose in the book.

Leah waited a good fifteen minutes after five to lock up, mindful of the time she had taken off to pick up her daughter and not wanting to take advantage of Breck’s good nature. When she had Gracie in the car, Leah went through a drive-through to order a milkshake for Gracie.

In the back of her mind, she acknowledged that she was avoiding returning to the farm, because she knew Ty wouldn’t be there. She felt sad, once again abandoned by someone she had come to love. She determinedly made conversation with Gracie about her classmates and her teacher.

“Miss Diaz is real pretty,” Gracie declared. “She has real shiny black hair, and her lipstick matches her fingernails.” She paused as if considering. “And she always smells good too.”

“That’s nice,” Leah said automatically.

“I was kind of afraid to go out for recess, but Miss Diaz said the big kids have recess at a different time than us little kids. Well, we’re not the really little kids. The first and second graders go out at a different time. My grade goes out at the same time as the fourth graders, and the big kids in fifth and sixth go out together.”

Leah nodded intermittently, fixing a smile on her face. As she turned in at the little road to Gran’s house, her stomach was in a knot. She hoped she wouldn’t cry when she got home and Ty’s big red truck was gone. She had to hold it together for Gracie. She could always mope later.

When she pulled up in front of Gran’s house, she could hardly breathe. The big, shiny red truck was missing…but two big, shiny silver trucks were lined up side by side.

Gracie slipped out of her seat belt, peering over the dashboard. “Look, Mommy! It’s Colton…and Beau.”

Gran came out on the porch, shaking her head. She motioned for Leah and Gracie to join her.

Dazed, Leah climbed out and followed Gracie. Her daughter ran straight up to Beau, who hoisted her into the air like she was a toddler. Leah’s heart did a flip-flop as she saw her daughter airborne, fearing her wrist might be reinjured. A scream died in her throat as Beau placed Gracie firmly on her feet.

Colton had set up a barbecue grill to the side of the house and seemed to be involved with some activity in which smoke was roiling up into his face. He looked hot, and not in a good way.

Both brothers greeted her, Colton waving a pair of long-handled tongs at her.

“Would you just look at that?” Gran exclaimed. “Ty sent both his brothers to babysit us while he’s gone. Seems to think we need tending.”

A rush of emotion choked Leah’s airway, clouded her vision. “What?”

Gran snickered. “Yep, they just showed up and moved into the bunkhouse. The older one brought the grill in back of his truck and seems to think burnin’ meat is better than fryin’ it up in the skillet.” She winked at Leah.

Beau gave a wink. “Nah, it’s that rascal dog of his. Ty said Gracie would need some help taking care of Lucky. You know, opening bags of dog food.”

Leah started to giggle. Suddenly, everything seemed funny. She laughed and laughed until she had to collapse into the old wicker rocking chair. She laughed until her sides hurt. Both brothers eyed her from a safe distance, and Gracie came to sit in her lap.

“Are you okay, Mommy?”

“Yes, honey. I’m absolutely fine. Everything is fine.”