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“Last time I checked.”

“Well, that explains the resemblance.” She studied him for another moment. “Hank mentioned having a son. Once. That was pretty much the entire conversation.”

Ethan wasn't sure whether to be grateful Hank had mentioned him at all or offended that he apparently hadn't considered his son worth a second conversation.

He looked at the camera, then back at her. “You mind telling me what you’re doing?”

Now the look of curiosity disappeared. “Taking pictures.”

“I got that part.”

She pressed her pretty lips into a straight line.

He knew he was being an ass, but he didn’t care. He had just driven eight hours to see what was left of his father’s ranch and found a stranger documenting it before he’d even managed to walk the property himself. One who apparently was on a first-name basis with his old man.

Who had mentioned Ethan exactly once. And hadn't mentioned this woman to Ethan at all.

“You with the media?”

“No.”

“Social media?”

That earned him a look. “No.”

He folded his arms. “Then who are you?”

She mirrored the question right back with her eyes before answering “Sandra” as if that should mean something.

“And Hank knows you’re here?”

She stared at him for a long moment. “Yes.”

He wasn’t sure why that annoyed him, too. Maybe because she sounded like she belonged while he suddenly felt like the stranger.

A screen door banged somewhere behind the house. “Hey! Sandra!”

The woman turned at the sound of his father’s voice.

Ethan looked past her. Hank was coming across the yard, moving carefully over uneven ground. And smiling.

At her.

“There you are,” Hank called. “Thought you were heading into town. Who’s that there with you?” Hank got closer, then stopped.

“Ethan?”

Despite everything, every defensive thought in Ethan’s head vanished. His father looked like he’d aged ten years in the span of one.

“Hey, Dad.”

Hank stood there staring at him. Then started walking faster. Ethan crossed the distance between them before he had time to think about it. Hank grabbed him around the shoulders. His father felt smaller.

“You weren’t supposed to be here until Friday,” Hank said.

“Got out early and decided to surprise you.”

Instead, the surprise is on me.