think I’m hired help. We can take him in easily—no ugliness.”
A ranch hand. Dylan was proposing to pretend to be her ranch hand. Right. As if a city slicker like him—a man who didn’t even know how to ride Western, for God’s sake, could be an actual ranch hand. She snorted.
She didn’t need his help. Peter was fine. He’d be home soon and then she’d lock them both inside the house. Away from this man and his ugly accusations. First, however, she needed to get her chores done.
“My answer is no.”
Using all her strength, she strode to the barn and raised the iron bar that held the doors open. When sunlight streamed into the darkened barn, the livestock grew agitated. Usually Josiah had fed, watered and turned them out by now.
“Hungry babies,” she murmured, then grabbed a pitchfork. First went oat hay to the quarter horses, Anchor and Row. Next she distributed pellets down the alpacas’ trough, taking time to ruffle soft necks or murmur to the babies—the crias. All the while she was aware of Dylan following her.
“How much longer will you be?” he finally asked.
She refused to turn around. “I work until sundown. And now that I’m missing two helpers, I’ll be working even longer.”
Behind her, she heard rummaging and the clanging of metal against metal. She craned her neck to look around a stack of hay bales to see Dylan, feed bucket in each hand.
“Tell me what to do.”
“I told you. I’m not betraying my brother by letting you stay here.”
“I heard you. I want to help, anyway, okay?”
She stared at him suspiciously. “Sure you do. Do you think Jax is hiding underneath some hay?”
“I think you need to get that I’m just doing my job, Rachel. If you don’t willingly allow me to stay here, I’ll go right back to sitting on the ridge on Ginger, binoculars trained on every move you make, my teammates at the ready to take your brother down by force if he shows up. Before I do that, why not let me help?”
Help. Hanging around ready to nab Jax wasn’t exactly what she’d consider help. But if she didn’t agree, Dylan and his team would still spy on her. How much of her privacy could she afford to give up? She’d need to call Julia—find out what her legal rights were. Julia’s specialty was appellate law, but she’d probably be able to advise Rachel on the legalities of the U.S. Marshals spying on her property. On her every move. Every move her son made.
Peter.
“Weren’t you going to call a chopper?” she asked. “I mean, I know Peter’s fine. But the sooner he’s back, the better I’ll feel.”
Dylan set the buckets down, then reached into his back pocket and pulled out a phone. Swiftly, he arranged for a chopper to sweep the immediate area around Rachel’s ranch.
When he disconnected the call, he stood silent. Waiting.
Rachel cleared her throat. Forced out, “Thank you. I appreciate you doing that.”
“I want your son found, too, Rachel. I’m not here to harm either of you. I wish you’d believe me.”
But he is here to harm me. How could he think otherwise given what he was accusing Jax of? Her head suddenly started pounding and all she wanted in the world was to lie down, cover her head with something until the world dimmed to nothing and sleep.
That, of course, wouldn’t accomplish anything. Not for Peter. Not for Jax.
And not for her.
She could deny and hide all she wanted.
Dylan Rooney wasn’t going away any time soon.
She swallowed, then said, “I do believe you. It doesn’t change much between us, but I do believe you want to keep Peter and me safe.”
“And your brother, too. I want to bring him into custody but I want to do it in a way that’s best for everyone. Him included, Rachel. Like I said, the best chance I have of doing that is if he thinks I’m on the ranch helping you out.”
“God, you don’t give up.”
“No, ma’am.”
Rachel studied him. “He hasn’t been here and he’s not going to come here. He didn’t kill Josiah.”
“I hope that’s the case. I really do. Even if it is, you can still use my help. Free of charge. What do you say?”
Rachel hesitated. Struggled with the knowledge that if she didn’t give in to Dylan’s request, he’d still keep an eye out for Jax. Maybe the best thing she could do was keep Dylan close and do her best to convince him of Jax’s innocence.
“Fine,” she said. “The alpacas get a full bucket of pellets, sprinkled all the way down the feed trough. There’s a hose on the other side of the barn, outside. Empty the water bucket, scrub it out and fill it with fresh water. Then join me back in the house. I’ll...I’ll think about letting you stay on the ranch and give you my answer then.”
“Yes, ma’am.” For a brief second, she thought she saw a smile quirk his mouth sideways.
What stunned her most was how, despite everything, she felt that smile in her bones. It made her want to smile back. And worst of all, it made her want to feel the press of his lips against hers.
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