Her Holiday Rancher

Sipping her coffee, she made her way to Cara Alvarez, who, by her estimation, was the one person with the least reason to dislike her. They had once been school friends, after all. Before the feud between August and Reese’s father severed their budding friendship.

“Hey, how you doing?”

Cara glanced up from the spot on the floor she’d been staring at. “All right.”

“I’m sorry for your loss.”

“Thank you.”

With her luxurious black hair and striking beauty, Cara might have been related to Raquel and not just the daughter she never had. One prominent difference was their eyes. While Raquel’s sparked with a wide array of emotions, Cara’s alternated between listlessness and despair. They had been that way since the tragic death of her toddler son two years ago.

“I hear you’re doing great things with the mustang sanctuary,” Reese said.

“I don’t know about great.” Cara shifted and resumed staring, this time out the window.

Was she remembering her son’s funeral?

Reese decided her former schoolmate wasn’t in the mood for conversation. “If there’s anything you need, feel free to call me or come by the bank.”

“Okay.”

She touched Cara’s arm before crossing the room. Feeling a prickling on the back of her neck, she turned and found Gabe staring at her from a far corner of the room. He stood by himself. No surprise, anger radiated off him in waves.

Reese squared her shoulders, refusing to wilt beneath the visual assault. She was at the ranch in an official capacity. Gabe and his family may not like the fact she was the trustee, but there was nothing they could do about it. August Dempsey’s last wishes would be honored.

Lifting her coffee cup in acknowledgment, she nodded at Gabe. He responded with raised brows and a look of surprise. How about that? She’d bested him. Surely it was a first.

Pleased with herself, she continued her casual stroll of the room. Hector was currently immersed in conversation with Raquel. From what Reese could discern, he was answering the questions she’d have gladly done if asked.

She’d certainly chosen a rough road to travel, though she wouldn’t have refused the assignment. Losing her credibility at the bank, and possibly her position, weren’t options. She needed a job with decent income and one that enabled her to be close to her father. Assistant manager of Southern Arizona Bank fit the bill perfectly.

Besides, she liked her job. And, if she said so herself, she was good at it.

Finishing her coffee, she started for the kitchen, planning to dispose of her cup in the sink. At the large archway separating the dining room from the kitchen, she paused. The strains of what was clearly a private conversation reached her ears from the other side of the archway and around the corner. It was between Josh Dempsey and his brother Cole.

“What am I going to do with one-third of the ranch?” Cole demanded irritably. “I don’t want it. I don’t want anything that belonged to him.”

“Let’s get our copy of the will and read through it,” Josh suggested. “The terms may not be ironclad.”

“You heard what the attorney said.”

Cole had understood correctly. The will was ironclad. August had been thorough, perhaps anticipating a conflict.

“Maybe we can contest it.”

“And where are we going to find the money for that?” Cole scoffed. “Getting custody of your kids drained your bank account.”

Reese recalled reading the background information Hector had provided on the Dempsey brothers. According to the report, Josh was locked in a bitter legal battle with his ex-wife over custody of their two young children.

“Take it easy, Cole. My financial problems aren’t what’s making you mad.”

“You’re right. I don’t want to be here, and I’m sorry we came.”

“Give it another day or two. We’ll figure out a way to get your money.”

“Our money, you mean. Don’t forget, brother, you want your share as badly as I want mine. Attorneys aren’t cheap.”

Reese retreated, concerned by what she’d heard. Growing up in Mustang Valley, she knew about August’s first family and that there was no love lost between him and his sons. But he must have wanted to make amends. Why else would he have modified his will six months ago? Obviously, his two sons didn’t appreciate the gesture.

Should she tell Gabe? Was it her place? No, probably not. But nothing stopped her from dropping a hint or two about his brothers’ intentions.

He hadn’t left the corner. Seeing his hard expression, Reese had second thoughts. Perhaps she should speak to Hector instead. Though what could he do? The same as her, alert Gabe, who’d likely be more receptive to the family attorney than her.

She wavered, still debating and well aware she was drawing attention to herself. A moment later, she headed straight for Gabe.

He didn’t so much as blink at her approach. The guy had nerves of steel.

“I wanted to thank you again for helping me yesterday,” she said.

“How’s the horse?”

“Fine. A bit sore, but otherwise unharmed. The vet prescribed pain relievers, an anti-inflammatory and a week’s rest.” She mentioned the vet’s visit strictly to let Gabe know she wasn’t lax when it came to the well-being of the McGraw horses.

“You were lucky.”

“I was.” She hoped he noted the sincerity she was trying to convey. “I can’t imagine what I would have done if you hadn’t come riding by.”

“Gone for help,” he said matter-of-factly.

“And might not have made it back in time to save General.”

“I disagree. You’re a resourceful woman, Reese.”

“How would you know? We’re not exactly friends.”

Except he’d witnessed one of the worst moments in her life and had treated her secret like it was his own, telling no one. Did that give them some sort of bond?

“It shows.” He angled his head in a way managing to be both confident and boyishly charming.

“I’m not that capable.”

“No? You’re the trustee of my father’s estate. If you ask me, that’s pretty resourceful.”

Ah. There they were. The knives. And here she’d assumed they might have a normal conversation. “Believe it or not, I had nothing to do with your father’s decision.”

“Other than you returned to Mustang Valley and took a job at the bank a few weeks before he revised his will.”

She stiffened. “A coincidence.”