A Baby For The Rancher

Before his riding accident, a series of robberies had occurred, with cattle and ranch equipment and other items being stolen. When he came out of his coma, he discovered they were still occurring. The ranchers had been riled then, and now they were even more so, putting pressure on the sheriff to find the thieves with Byron leading them. “Sure, what can I do to help? Take on Byron for you?” He’d wanted to stay Wednesday afternoon, but Lucy liked to fight her own battles. She’d always been very independent and determined.

“Let’s talk outside.” Dressed in her tan uniform and cowboy hat, Lucy pushed the screen door wide to let Ben join her on the porch. As usual she was all business.

What would she be like off duty? Ben stepped to the side and waited for her to turn toward him, pushing that question from his mind. She’d always been off-limits to him. She’d made that clear when they were teenagers. “Is this concerning the thefts?” He stuffed his hands into his front pockets and encountered the letter Grady gave him.

“I don’t know if anyone has informed you that your ranch is one of the few big ones that hasn’t been robbed yet.”

He nodded, slipping his hands free. “Grady told me.” He should ask Lucy about the letter, but all he wanted to do was forget he still needed to read it.

“I think somehow the robbers are connected to Maddy Coles or Betsy McKay, maybe both.”

“I’ve been out of the loop. Why do you think that? Maddy is a great worker, and Betsy has been gone for almost a year, so how could she be involved?”

“After analyzing the ranches hit against the ones not robbed, I found a connection. Betsy McKay. People who were kind to her were spared. Then I took a look at who received gifts. Maddy did, including an iPod in her favorite color. That was a very personal gift, not the usual gift of animals or equipment the ranchers in need received from these Robin Hoods.”

There was a definite divide among the people in the area because some of the poorer ranches were receiving help where they needed it, or at least they had until Lucy had started confiscating the nonanimal gifts. “It could be a secret admirer that gave Maddy the iPod.”

“That’s an expensive gift.”

“Why are you focusing on Maddy? Others received gifts. Expensive ones.”

“Maddy and Betsy were best friends. The ranchers who didn’t help Betsy’s father when he needed it were hit the hardest. Byron McKay, Mac’s cousin, has been robbed more than anyone, and I think it might be because he refused to help his own family when Mac asked. Meanwhile, nothing has happened at this large ranch, one of the few left untouched.”

“I can’t see Maddy being involved in the robberies. Is that what you’re thinking?”

Lucy took off her hat and ran her fingers through her short blond hair. “I didn’t say she was. I said that there’s a connection. The thieves have taken an interest in her. Why?”

“Do you think that Maddy working here is why we haven’t been robbed?”

“It’s a possibility. I have to look at this from every angle.”

He wanted to help her. He imagined she wasn’t happy with herself that these robberies had been going on for so long, especially with Byron spouting off to anyone who’d listen that Lucy wasn’t doing her job. “What do you want to do?”

“What is Maddy’s work schedule?”

“During the school year, she’s out here after classes are over, for three hours. Then she comes for a full day on Saturday. The other interns, Lynne and Christie, have the same hours. They come and leave together. Before I was in the hospital, I often supervised them. I want this program to be a success.”

For the first time, Lucy cracked a grin. “Yeah, I understand the intern program is your pet project.”

Her smile transformed her pretty features and gave Ben a glimpse of her softer side. He’d been attracted to her in the past, but she’d made it clear she had no room for him in her life. Not that he could blame her. He’d never been serious about a relationship, and Lucy was definitely a woman who would want only a long-term one. He’d kept his distance.

“I’d like to hang around when they’re here,” she said now. “Maybe get to know Maddy better. I need to discover the connection between Maddy and the thieves. I might overhear something that will help.”

“Won’t the interns think it’s strange all of a sudden to see you here?” Not that he wouldn’t mind seeing more of the sheriff. He wasn’t the same man he was before his injury. He had a son to think about.

“That’s why I wanted to talk with you. I need a reason.”

“We could pretend we’re dating.”

A blush tinted Lucy’s cheeks. “Out of the blue? No one would believe that. Your reputation precedes you.”

“I’m not that guy anymore.”

One of her eyebrows hiked up. “Since when?”

“I could have died. That makes a man pause and take a good hard look at his life.” He smiled. “It’s not that far-fetched. I’m single. You’re single.”

“How about friends?”

“Getting to know each other?”

“I know you. That’s the problem. When are you serious about anything?”

“I’m serious about my son, my family, the ranch and the intern program.” He took a step toward her.

She moved back. “We don’t have to say we’re dating. You can be helping me learn about taking care of a horse. I might get one later.”

“You’ve never had a horse?”

“My family didn’t have a lot of money for that kind of stuff. You know that.”

“Yeah. It seems I remember you occasionally would go for a ride with Grady and me when we were teenagers. Have you ridden besides then?”

Already tall, almost six feet, Lucy straightened even more. “I’ve ridden. I had other friends who had horses besides you.”

“Good to know you consider me a friend. Come tomorrow. It’s Saturday. We’ll go riding, and I’ll show you what you need to do afterward with that horse, just in case you don’t remember. That ought to give you a reason to hang around. Then we’ll go from there. Okay?”

Her eyes gleamed as she gave him a nod. “I appreciate the help. If I don’t catch these thieves soon, I’m going to have a lot of ranchers mad at me.”

“Not me.” He winked.

Her blush deepened. “That’s because you haven’t been robbed.”

“True, but we could be.”

“We haven’t had any thefts in a month.”

“See, you must be doing something right.”

“I’m taking the nonanimal gifts away and keeping them as evidence for when I catch the thieves. I guess the Robin Hoods aren’t too thrilled with that.” Lucy finger combed her hair, then set her cowboy hat on her head.

“If they can’t give to the poor, they aren’t stealing from the rich?”

She started toward her sheriff’s SUV. “It’s that or something else, but I’m still going to find out who’s behind this and bring them in. Just because it has stopped doesn’t mean I’ll stop pursuing them.”

“Nor Byron McKay.” Ben descended the porch steps. “I wouldn’t expect anything less from you. I personally think you do a good job as the sheriff.” Ben followed and hurried to open her driver’s door.

Lucy chuckled. “You haven’t lost any of that charm you’re known for.”