Boone spoke first. “You think this is all tied to Rios?”
Trace met his oldest brother’s gaze. “I know it is.”
Rubbing his hand over his jaw, Chance growled, “I’m thinkin’ someone should’ve put a bullet in him years ago.”
Boone’s eyes never left Trace. “That can still happen.”
“Chance,” Joy hissed at the same time Tildi cried, “Daddy!”
Tanner shot them both a dark glare. “Enough.” Turning back to Boone, he added, “I’m ready anytime, brother. Just say when.”
Trace lifted his good hand. “Hold on. This is on me. I brought Kip here. I should’ve seen…”
Every word the men said hit Kip like a sledgehammer. And even though nobody accused him, she knew her daddy would take the blame for this on himself. If anyone was to blame, it was she. All because of Rios. The thought that she had brought this danger upon them made her physically ill. She fought to keep from losing the small amount of breakfast she had eaten.
“No, it’s not on you!” Kip had to stop him. He couldn’t take theblame for her mistake. She should have run when the phone calls started again, when she got that first bad feeling. Then none of this would have happened. And it would have hurt a whole lot less. “This is my fault, not Trace’s.”
“Stop.” Boone’s single word cracked like lightning, shocking everyone into silence. “Nobody at this table blames either of you. Not for the bison. Not for Rios. And not for the bastard who followed her. You hear me? No one at this table is at fault.”
Tanner nodded once. “We stand together, brother. Always have. Kip may not know that yet, but you will.”
Tears pricked her eyes hot and fast. She blinked them back, staring at her plate, hoping no one would notice. Who were these people who had such love and loyalty to each other?
Ruby set a fresh platter of bacon in the center with a thud. “Eat. All of you. Planning goes better on a full stomach.” Before heading back to the kitchen, she pressed a kiss on top of Kip’s head. “You’re part of us now, so don’t worry, these boys can handle just about anything.”
Kip forced down two bites of eggs as the conversation shifted to the day’s chores and who would ride where. The girls planned to drive to Wilder and distribute the gift baskets Ruby had spent half the night assembling. The men argued about who would go with the girls and who would stay behind to watch the north pasture.
Eventually, Trace looked at Kip. “I don’t think you need to go. I have to be here today with everything going on, and I don’t like the idea of you being off the ranch without me.”
She met his eyes. “But Daddy, I worked just as hard on those baskets as everyone else. I want to see the faces of the people who get them. Please? We’ll all stay together, and everywhere we go is in town. Nothing bad will happen.”
His jaw clenched. “Maybe if you pass out the baskets tomorrow, one of the Daddies can go with you.”
“But Daddy!” Kip did her best, but even she could hear the whine in her voice.
“All right, everyone. Listen up,” Ruby said, voice warm but firm. “The girls are delivering the baskets today. I know the ranch needs every one of you here today with those poor bison, so I’m driving. I’ve got my phone, my pepper spray, and thirty years of watching your backs. Now that’s plenty.”
“We can always count on you, Ruby,” Kenzie said, throwing her arms around Ruby. “Group hug, everyone!”
Kip joined everyone else, then grabbed a basket from the counter. “We should go before the Daddies come up with a reason to keep us here.”
Boone began to protest, but when Ruby raised an eyebrow, he stopped mid-sentence. Chance tried next and received the same look. Tanner simply gave a small, resigned nod.
Trace rubbed the back of his neck. “Ruby, it’s not safe?—”
“Trace,” Ruby said softly, stepping close enough to pat his cheek, “I’ve buried a husband and raised the five of you without losing my mind. I think I can handle a twenty-minute loop around town with a truckload of gift baskets and four sweet girls. You stay here and do what needs doing. Let me handle what you can’t, so we don’t spend the night with four not-so-sweet girls.”
The fight went out of the room like air from a balloon. Ruby had that effect. Kip made a mental note to ask Ruby to teach her how to do that.
An hour later, they all climbed into Trace’s black King Ranch. Ruby took the wheel with the calm confidence of someone who had been driving these roads since before any of them were born. Joy sat up front because Ruby declared her playlist the only tolerable one. Kenzie, Tildi, and Kip filled the back seat, surrounded by baskets filled with vanilla, cinnamon, and home.
It wasn’t long before they reached Wilder, Ruby kept both hands on the wheel and her eyes scanning—mirrors, side streets,rooftops. Every time Kip glanced up, Ruby met her gaze in the rearview and gave a small, reassuring smile.
Their first stop was the women’s shelter. Ruby hugged each resident as if they were her own daughters and slipped extra cash into the director’s hand when she thought no one was watching. But Kip saw. Ruby reminded her of her own mother, and her heart pinched at the thought of yet another Christmas apart.
At the fire station, she made the captain promise to save her a piece of peanut brittle and kissed his cheek for good measure. Pastor Shep at the First Community Church prayed for all five of them in the parking lot. Ruby’s hand rested warmly on Kip’s shoulder the entire time.
The Broken Bridle was their last stop. Hank took the basket with one hand and pulled Kip into a one-armed hug with the other. Ruby stood right beside them, quiet and watchful, but she smiled when Hank told her the cookies would be gone before closing.
