can try it one day.”
“As partners or competitors?”
“Either one.”
Was that a glint of amusement in his eyes? She must be mistaken.
“What about you? Where did you learn to ride?” Only after she voiced the question did she realize she was truly interested.
“I grew up in Sweetheart. We’re a ranching community.”
“I thought the town catered to the wedding trade.”
“We did. Until the fire last summer destroyed the local economy.”
“Scarlett said things were getting better.”
“They are. Slowly. We went from hosting fifty weddings a month to zero. We’re up to about five now. The town council is hoping to change that with the Mega Weekend of Weddings.”
It was a shame the tourists had stopped coming, Ruby thought. The charming community was situated amid some of the Sierra Nevada’s most spectacular scenery.
Formerly spectacular scenery, she reminded herself. While the area surrounding the Gold Nugget Ranch had been untouched, a large part of the region was laid to waste by the fire’s ferocious appetite.
“Ranching is our second largest industry,” Cliff said. “Prospecting, cross-country skiing and hiking all run a close third.”
“You’re from a ranching family?”
“No, but I worked at the Triple C Ranch from the time I was fourteen until I left for police academy. In between helping my aunt out at the Paydirt.”
Something Ruby’s sister said last night about the popular saloon rang a bell with her. “Your aunt’s the mayor.”
“Twelfth one from the Dempsey family. And I’m the eighth sheriff.”
Ruby drew back. “You’re not kidding.”
“A family tradition. We have a lot of them here. My uncle owns the general store. Sam’s wife’s family owned and operated the Sweetheart Inn for fifty years. It burned down in the fire so now Annie and her mother help Sam run the Gold Nugget as well as oversee the Sweetheart Memorial. The Yeungs’ ancestors settled here during the 1870s when the railroad came through. As did a lot of other families.”
Sweetheart wasn’t just a small town. Its citizens were a large extended family.
How had her wanderlust-loving sister wound up here?
Demitri’s last breakup, Ruby answered herself. Scarlett had been heartsick, as usual, quit her job and found a new one here. Miles away from San Diego.
Sadly, her sister would likely follow the same path again. Cliff was lucky he got out when he did. Before he fell head over heels for Scarlett.
Ruby recalled the bouquet of flowers. Had he fallen already?
Did she care one way or the other?
“You’re a natural,” she observed, inclining her head in the direction of the young girl.
“I’m used to young kids. My cousin has three. Two girls and a boy. Seven, five and two respectively. She’s a single working mom, so I help out when I can.”
“You babysit your nieces and nephew?”
“The term’s subjective. My cousin claims I’m merely an adult presence in the room.”
Ruby suspected he was wonderful with them and that they adored him.
How was it some woman hadn’t snatched him up yet? From all accounts, he was a catch.
“Look, there’s the ranch,” someone called out.
They’d reached the top of a gently sloping hill. In the distance, about a mile away by Ruby’s estimation, was the ranch, the main house and outbuildings, recognizable by their distinctive shapes. The ride was nearing its end.
To her surprise, Ruby felt a stab of disappointment and not just because she’d enjoyed being on horseback. Cliff’s company was a welcome diversion from the constant worry and stress she’d been dealing with since Crowley had first come into the casino and chosen to target her simply because she’d discouraged his inappropriate attention.
Then again, she reminded herself, Cliff wouldn’t be far away for very long. There was the square dance Friday night and his regularly checking in with her.
The prospect reassured her. Cliff was capable and committed to her safekeeping. It also sent a mild thrill coursing through her.
Great. Only a few hours into their acquaintance and she was already anticipating his company. What would she be like at the end of a week?
Chapter Four
Cliff didn’t let Ruby out of his sight. He watched her every move as she helped Luis with the guests. Most needed a hand dismounting, their legs wobbly after the hour-and-a-half ride. Many wanted to chat, their spirits raised by the fresh air, majestic scenery and small taste of cowboy life.
Because there would be a second trail ride later that morning, the entire string of horses was left saddled and bridled. Ruby and Luis tethered them to the corral fence. After warning their neighbors with a nip or squeal for getting too close, all the horses settled in for a well-deserved snooze.
The sight of them resting, their tails lazily swishing, reminded Cliff of the years he’d worked at the Triple C Ranch. Attending college and, eventually, police academy, had been a difficult decision. Cliff loved ranching that much.
But the Dempseys were the law in Sweetheart and had been since the days when the local sheriff wore a Colt .45 strapped to his side. Cliff had a tradition to carry on and didn’t regret leaving the Reno P.D. in order to return to Sweetheart. He’d taken to the job of sheriff just like his father and the multitude of grandfathers and great uncles before him.
What he did regret was his one stupid blunder—becoming involved with a witness. It hadn’t cost him his career; the reprimand had been light. But it did blow a case a year in the making and it left a mark on his otherwise untarnished record.
It had also cost him the complete trust of his commanding officer and partner and cut his chances for advancement in half.
“You said you’d teach me to rope.”
Cliff glanced down at the cowgirl in pink and smiled. “That I did.”
“My brother wants to learn, too.” She presented a reluctant young cowboy, a good foot shorter than she.
Cliff wasn’t sure about the boy wanting to rope. He appeared more inclined to watch and suck his thumb than participate.
“You don’t mind?” The children’s mother had come up behind them. She also wore newly purchased boots from the looks of them. Brown, not pink.
“My pleasure. But I don’t have much time.” He had
