was having a field day, relishing the California senator’s spectacular fall from grace—especially given the “family values” platform on which he’d built his career.
She could imagine how the scandal affected Cole. Hank had been a lousy, self-centered father from the get-go, ignoring his wife and children to pursue his political career. His absence and indifference had wounded Cole deeply, turning the neglected child into a wild and rebellious teen—until his desperate mother had sent him to Montana to live with his Uncle Don.
Donald and Bonnie Gene’s patience had subdued Cole’s anger. The rugged Montana land had given him a reason to live. Now just when Cole had put his life together, his father had come back—creating havoc Cole surely didn’t need.
“Has he told you any more about what’s going on?” Bonnie Gene asked him.
Cole shook his head, the furrow deepening between his dark brows. “I was hoping he’d said something to you.”
“You mean about La—” Bonnie Gene glanced at Bethany and clamped her hand over her lips. The men exchanged uneasy looks, and a strained silence fell over the group.
There was something they didn’t want her to know.
Bethany pretended to study her coffee, experiencing a sudden feeling of hurt—which was ridiculous. Cole had no reason to confide in her. She hadn’t been part of his life in years.
“About anything,” Cole finally said. “You heard that someone shot three of my cows?”
“Shot them?” Bethany snapped her gaze to Cole. “Are you serious?”
He nodded, his grim gaze shifting to hers. “I found them by Honey Creek.”
Bethany’s heart tripped. Another wave of sympathy surged inside. That ranch meant everything to Cole. He’d slaved for years to buy it with Dylan, working with a single-minded intensity, sacrificing everything for the land—even his relationship with her.
His uncle leaned on the counter. “You called the sheriff?”
“Yeah. Wes Colton came out to look, but there wasn’t much for him to go on. I doubt it’s a coincidence, though. All this trouble started when my father showed up. That’s why I was hoping he’d talked to you.”
Donald’s face flushed. “No, he hasn’t called me.”
Bonnie Gene turned to her husband and frowned. “Then why haven’t you called him?”
“Why should I?”
“He’s your brother, your family. And he needs you, no matter what he did in the past.”
Cole grunted. “Family or not, I wish he’d go hide somewhere else. Bad enough I’ve got the paparazzi tramping through my fields, leaving the gates unlocked. Now I’ve got someone killing my cows.”
“That’s not Hank’s fault.” Bonnie Gene topped off Bethany’s coffee. “Not that he’s a saint—not by a long shot. What he did to your mother and you kids …” She pursed her lips in distaste. “He deserves to be horsewhipped for that. But no one is all good or all bad, not even Hank.”
She turned to her frowning husband. “And you need to forget your blasted pride for once and talk to him. He’s your brother, for Pete’s sake. He needs your help.”
Donald’s expression turned mulish. “He can call me if he wants to talk. I have nothing to say to him. Now I need to check on the food.” He pushed through the swinging doors to the kitchen and disappeared.
“Stubborn man,” Bonnie Gene muttered under her breath.
Bethany took a swallow of coffee. Cole’s father was a piece of work, all right. He’d alienated his wife and children, and had been estranged from his half brother, Donald, for years. Now even his mistresses appeared fed up.
The soft chimes of a cell phone interrupted her thoughts. Cole reached back, the motion showcasing the impressive definition in his biceps, and pulled his phone from the back pocket of his jeans. He frowned at the display. “I’d better take this.”
He rose and walked a few steps away. His broad shoulders stiffened, and Bethany knew instantly that the news was bad. “How many?” he asked, his deep voice clipped. “All right. I’ll be right there.”
He slipped the phone back into his pocket and turned to face them, tension vibrating off his muscled frame. “I’ve got to go. Someone dammed up Rock Creek, just above the northeast pasture, cutting off water to the cows.”
Bethany’s heart squeezed. Without water, cattle died fast. “Are they—”
“I don’t know how many we’ve lost yet. No one has checked that pasture since your dad got hurt, so they might have gone without water for several days.” He angled his chin toward the bar. “Sorry to run.”
“Don’t be silly. You’ve got more important things to do than sit here and talk to me.”
“Yes, go on,” Bonnie Gene urged him. “Just let us know what we can do to help.”
He nodded, his mind obviously elsewhere, then strode across the wooden floor to the door. He flung the door open, making the cowbell clank, and stomped across the porch outside.
Filled with compassion, Bethany watched him go. He’d be torn up about the suffering animals and furious that someone had attacked his ranch—not to mention angry at the financial loss.
“He’s a good man,” Bonnie Gene said, echoing her thoughts. “And a lonely one. He just needs the right woman to soften him up.”
Warning bells clanged. Bethany swiveled back to Bonnie Gene, determined to nip that train of thought. “Don’t look at me. Cole and I are old friends, nothing more.”
“Of course. I know that.” Bonnie Gene gave her an innocent look. She pulled a small photo album from her apron pocket, set it on the bar, and flipped it open, turning it so Bethany could see. “You haven’t seen my granddaughter yet. Eve’s daughter, Patience. My little angel is four months old.”
A darling, red-haired baby girl smiled up at her, softening Bethany’s heart. “Oh, my. What a doll.” She slowly flipped through the pages, remembering when she’d dreamed of forever with Cole.
She straightened, shocked at the direction of her thoughts. She had no future with Cole. He’d never marry her, no matter what his aunt believed—a lesson she’d learned years ago.
And no way could she delude herself—because that would only bring pain. It had taken her years to get over him the first time, years to resign herself to harsh reality and finally move on with her life.
And no matter how cute Bonnie Gene’s granddaughter was, no matter how much Cole still made her pulse pound, she couldn’t succumb to dreams.
She was older now. Definitely wiser. And she would only be here for two short weeks. She had to keep her emotional distance, not allow herself to get swept up in Cole’s problems and begin to care.
Because that was a surefire path to heartbreak—an experience she refused to repeat.
Determined
