“Dakota!” she calls. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost. What’s going on?”
She dries her hands on a dish towel, and her eyes narrow with curiosity, clearly sensing that something big is up.
I wave her off with a half-smile, heading straight for one of the corner booths where we can talk privately. I need her full attention right now. This isn’t something I want spilling out to the whole town just yet.
“Have you heard? About Derek and Thomas Buck?”
She shakes her head, which shocks me. How has the gossip not hit her yet?
“Well, they’re the ones behind the sabotage at the ranch. But apparently it’s more than that. It’s a big embezzlement scandal.”
Violet’s eyes widen, her jaw dropping slightly. She leans in so close I can see the gleam of excitement in her eyes.
“Wait, what? No way!” She practically bounces in her seat. “Well, well, well, the plot thickens, huh?”
I give a small, relieved laugh. “Yeah. I think that means I dodged a bullet.” I lean back. “I almost sold the house to him. He practically begged me to. But something about him… it just felt off, you know? Too smooth. And now I know why.”
Violet shakes her head in disbelief. “Well, I’m so glad you didn’t sell… but mostly because I want you to stick around longer. Ilovehaving you here.”
“Hmm, yeah, I kinda like it here too,” I admit. “And with the ranch not facing so much trouble anymore, I kinda need to keep letting Clint and Charlie bond…”
What am I saying?
Am I really considering staying here? For now, anyway…
Violet stares at me for a beat, her eyes narrowing as she pieces something together in her mind. “So, you might not go?”
I sigh, rubbing the back of my neck. “I’m still trying to figure it out. It’s… a lot. But if I do decide to stay in Colter Creek, I’ll need to get him enrolled in school here. I don’t even know where to start.”
Violet’s eyes sparkle, and her lips curl into a knowing grin. Without missing a beat, she leans back in her chair and crosses her arms, clearly excited by the prospect of helping me.
“Don’t worry about it. I’ve got your back. I’ve got all the connections with the school here. If you’re staying, I’ll make sure Charlie is enrolled, no problem. I’ll even walk you through the whole process. Hell, I’ll probably help him with his homework.”
A burst of relief floods through me, and I can’t help the smile that breaks across my face. “Thank you, Violet. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
She raises an eyebrow, a teasing glint in her eye. “What are friends for, if not for making sure you don’t screw up your life? But seriously, if you decide to stay, I’ll help with whatever you need. I’m not just talking about school. I’ve got you covered in every way.”
I lean back in my seat, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders. “I don’t know what I’d do without you either. You’re a lifesaver.”
“Damn right, I am.” She laughs, but it’s the kind of laugh that makes me feel like everything’s going to be okay, no matter what happens next. “First things first, get Charlie into that school and start making a life here. I know you can do it.”
I smile, more sure of myself now than I’ve been in a long time. “Thanks, Vi. I think we just might have a chance.”
Nowthatis something I never thought I’d say.
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
Clint
The sun’s burning,the heat rolling in thick and heavy. I wipe the sweat from my brow, feeling it trickle down the back of my neck as I squint at the horizon.
The ranch is as it always is. The place that’s always been home to me. But today, it feels different.
Charlie’s over by the corral, hopping around fast as a jackrabbit, his little boots kicking up dust with every step. He’s talking to Rover, as if he understands everything he’s saying.
The boy’s a firecracker, all energy and curiosity, always asking questions and pointing out things that make him smile. It’s a wonder how someone so small can fill a place with so much life.
I push off from the fence, walking toward him. “You ready to help me with the horses, bud?”
