Redemption Ranch. Leann Harris

      Chapter Four

      Tyler watched in awe as Riley inhaled the last onion ring. The boy hadn’t been shy about downing the burger and large fries he’d ordered. Beth had offered Riley some of her onion rings and he’d eagerly accepted them and devoured the remaining ones.

       Tyler tried to hold back his smile, but when his eyes met Beth’s and saw the amusement dancing there, his smile emerged.

       Riley sat back and sighed.

       “Are you full?” Beth asked.

       “It was good, and I won’t rat you out to your friends.”

       Beth’s mouth trembled as she tried to suppress her giggle. “I appreciate that.”

       Riley, sensing the light mood, grinned. “I know my mom sometimes gets on a kick to make me eat healthylike. She wants me to eat lettuce, tomatoes and other green junk.”

       “Junk?” Beth asked, looking at Tyler, then Riley.

       “Yeah, that other green stuff—broccoli, cabbage and other things like that.”

       Beth nodded, trying to be stern, but the humor in the air took the sting out of her comment. “Your mom’s right. Vegetables are important, but an occasional burger—”

       “With fries.”

       “—is okay. But the vegetables are important.”

       He shrugged. “Whatever.”

       Tyler chuckled, welcoming the joy and mirth of the evening. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d laughed.

       “If we’re going to splurge, those fried pies look good.” Riley nodded toward the display of desserts on the order counter. He looked from Tyler to Beth with a hangdog expression. The boy knew how to work a crowd.

       Tyler shrugged and pulled out a couple of dollars from his wallet. Riley grinned, took the money and raced to the counter before anyone could object.

       Leaning across the table, Beth whispered, “I hope his mother isn’t going to be mad at us.”

       “Don’t worry. Susan will be grateful when she sees her son grinning and eating and trying to get his way.”

       Riley appeared at the table with the fried pie. “Cherry.” He quickly unwrapped the treat and took a bite. “’tis good,” he mumbled around the crust and cherries.

       “I have a weakness for the coconut,” Beth admitted. “They make their own pies.”

       Riley nodded and downed the rest of the pie in a few bites, followed by gulps of his soft drink. “I could use another one of those.”

       “I think you’ll get Tyler in trouble with your mom if you’re on too much of a sugar high. She might not want to trust Tyler again.”

       Riley studied Tyler, considering, then nodded. “Okay.”

       Tyler’s gut eased. He wanted to establish a relationship with Riley, but Tyler didn’t want to alienate Riley’s mom, either.

       “But, you might win some points if you brought a fried pie to your mom,” Beth added.

       The boy’s shoulders straightened. “I like that idea, but I don’t have enough money.”

       “Not a problem. I’m going to get a pie for myself and save it for my breakfast tomorrow,” she whispered in a conspiratorial tone.

       With the speed that only a thirteen-year-old boy could have, Riley jumped up and ran to the window. Tyler pulled another bill from his wallet. When Beth opened her mouth to object, he nodded his head. “My treat.”

       Her gaze locked with his, and he felt her response down to his toes.

       “Thanks.”

       “Not a problem.”

       Beth slipped out of her chair and joined Riley at the order counter.

       Tyler watched Beth, rattled by their unspoken exchange. It was only a fried pie, he told himself. But for Tyler, he knew he’d crossed some invisible line. He couldn’t identify it, but something in his heart had changed.

      * * *

       “How did you start at the ranch?” Riley asked as they drove back from the burger joint. Riley sat between Beth and Tyler in the front seat of the truck.