Contents

      Prologue

      Chapter One

      Chapter Two

      Chapter Three

      Chapter Four

      Chapter Five

      Chapter Six

      Chapter Seven

      Chapter Eight

      Chapter Nine

      Chapter Ten

      Chapter Eleven

      Chapter Twelve

      Chapter Thirteen

      Chapter Fourteen

      Chapter Fifteen

      Chapter Sixteen

      Chapter Seventeen

      Prologue

      Suzanne McCoy stepped out on the front porch, closing the door behind her, and drew a deep breath. The air was quite different than the air in Dallas, where she’d lived until six days ago. That was when her life had drastically changed. Her cousin Mary Lee and her husband had been killed in a car accident; an elderly man had had a heart attack at the wheel of his truck and crashed into them.

      Mary Lee and Rodger had moved to Cactus, a small town in west Texas, a year ago. Suzanne had missed them so much. Josh, now four, had been three years old. And Mandy had only been one, just walking and talking. She’d changed so much in a year.

      Suzanne leaned against the railing on the porch. Mary Lee had left the children to her to raise. It hadn’t taken much time for Suzanne to decide to give up her life in Dallas and come here. Pushing papers at an insurance company didn’t seem important compared to helping Josh and Mandy deal with their loss and helping them grow up. She’d always wanted children, but she hadn’t been nearly as interested in marriage. That involved men, and every man in her life from her father on had betrayed her.

      Since everything seemed peaceful inside the house where the children were sleeping, Suzanne moved off the porch to walk slowly toward the bunkhouse. Until today, she’d scarcely had time to think about, much less do anything about, their situation, other than care for the children. Now she had a couple of questions. She figured the best person to answer them would be the manager Rodger had hired.

      A soft breeze blew this evening, sending a shiver or two up her spine. As she got closer to the bunkhouse, the peace went away, too. She could hear voices. There was even laughing. She hadn’t laughed since she’d gotten the news about Mary Lee and Rodger. She paused outside the door, not wanting to interrupt. She heard someone banging on something, as if calling everyone to order. She relaxed, until she heard a man declare, “We’re all going to be rich! We’ve made a good start. And we’ll get more ’cause the boss lady don’t know nothing about ranchin’. She’s too busy with those kids.”

      Suzanne froze. Then liquid heat bubbled through her, past any logical thought or careful planning. She threw back the door and stomped into the room, marched up to the man at the head of the group and slugged him as hard as she could. Then she looked at the rest of them. “This boss lady catches on fast. You’ve got fifteen minutes to clear out. The sheriff will be here by then and I’ll be pressing charges!”

      Pandemonium reigned. As her anger receded to a more manageable level, she realized it would’ve been better to creep away and call the sheriff first. But it was too late for that now.

      When the dust settled, only an old man sat in the corner of the room, whittling on a piece of wood.

      “Aren’t you scared about the sheriff’s arrival?” she asked with disdain.

      “Nope. Haven’t done anything wrong. I’ve been working here since I was fifteen. I didn’t rob you, ma’am. I told them I’d have nothing to do with those shenanigans.”

      “Why didn’t you warn me?”

      “I was thinking about it. They didn’t get away with too much. You’ve still got a herd left. Just won’t have as much profit as you might’ve had. But you’ve got a real problem.”

      “What?”

      “Who’s gonna do the work?”

      “Better that I do it than to let them get away with robbing those two children blind!”

      “Yes, ma’am. But I don’t think you know anything about cattle…or ranching.” He turned and spit tobacco juice to the side. Since there were already a few stains on the floor, she didn’t stop him. Besides, she was beginning to realize he was right. She had a real problem.

      “How many cowboys do I need to run this place?”

      “Well now, if they were trained like Ryan’s men, you could manage with four or five. But his men are a mite above average.”

      “Who is Ryan?”

      “Ryan Walker. Neighbor to the west.”

      “Then I probably met him at the funeral.”

      “Mebbe. He knows ranching better’n anyone.”

      “Do you think he’ll loan me some help?”

      “Nope. He has a big place.”

      Suzanne sighed in frustration. “Then what am I going to do?”

      “Go talk to the sheriff, first thing in the morning.”

      Chapter One

      “Come along, Josh,” Suzanne said, looking down at the boy. Though he held her hand, he was pulling back every step of the way.

      The door opened and a big man came through it, obviously in a hurry. He grabbed her shoulders to stop from knocking her down.

      “Sorry, ma’am. I didn’t see you.”

      Before she could pull herself together, he tipped his hat and was gone.

      “Well! He was certainly in a hurry.” She tightened her grip on Mandy. “Are you all right, sweetheart?”

      The child nodded her head and then hid it in Suzanne’s red-brown hair.

      “How about you, Josh? He didn’t step on you, did he?”

      “No, Susie.”

      With a sigh, she stepped into the office. “I need to see Sheriff Cal Baxter, if he’s in.”

      “Sure he’s in. Those Mary Lee and Rodger’s children? Poor babies. Who shall I tell him is calling?”

      “Suzanne McCoy, guardian to Josh and Mandy.”

      “Well, now, you just have a seat. My name’s Gladys. I’ll be right back.”

      With a sigh, Suzanne took one of the chairs. She released Josh’s hand and patted the chair next to her. “Sit down, honey. I know you’re still sleepy.”

      The little boy slumped against the chair. He hadn’t smiled