Chapter Seven
Returning to the ranch, Sarah and Ben spoke little on the short drive.Just outside of town, she saw him reading a For Sale sign.It listed three acres and showed a phone number.It was Old Man Turner’s property.
“Do you know how much they want?”Ben asked.
“I’m not sure.The owner, Old Man Turner, is a reasonable person.He’s selling out and moving to Billings to live with his daughter.Couldn’t be all that much.Once you get outside the town proper, the property values drop.”
“Hmm,” Ben said.
She wondered why he was interested.He lived in Texas.
At the ranch gate, Ben punched in the automatic code, which she guessed Big Jim must have given him, and he muttered something about installing video cameras.
She couldn’t stop thinking about the person pestering her.Who was it?Ridley Kemper?Even Donovan Sinclair?A stranger?She shivered.No, it couldn’t be Donovan.
Ben stopped the truck at the corral and turned to her.“You know I have to move into the house now, don’t you?Can’t leave you alone up here.”
She firmed her lips but nodded.“You can have Rio’s old room.”
Waiting in the driveway was Willie, the temporary help.His brown hair, longish at the collar, hung out from under his cowboy hat.The teenager was tall and lanky, lean-faced, with a pronounced Adams apple.
Before the truck had stopped rolling, he opened Sarah’s door.“Welcome home, Miss Sarah,” he said, his voice squeaking.“Everything all right?”
“Sure, Willie, no problem.”Stepping down from the truck, she accepted his arm.
He stood for her, rock steady, watching her as though she might fall at any moment, and if she did, he’d be right there to catch her.
Just by chance, she glanced back at Ben and saw him rolling his eyes.Well, she couldn’t help it if the ranch hand had a soft spot for her.She’d never encouraged him.The kid was only eighteen!
As she started toward the house, Ben stopped her.“Sarah, we need to talk.”Deliberately using the authority of an older man, and one who’d once been a military leader, he leveled his eyes at the youth, clearly indicating he should leave them.
Willie glanced between Sarah and Ben.He swallowed and his Adams apple bobbed.“I’ll just go and work on that chicken coop you wanted, Miss Sarah.Got the baby chicks for you this morning.”
She let out a short laugh.“Shouldn’t you have built the coop first, silly?”
Willie paled, looking crushed.“I guess you’re right.”
Taking pity, she squeezed his shoulder.“It’s fine, Willie, I’m just teasing.I’ll come have a look at your progress later.”
