“Quite all right, ma’am.” He winked at the girl. “I made this young lady a promise. Wait right here.”
With one eye on Ruby, he strode toward the tack shed. She was engaged in conversation with Will Dessaro, the ranch’s trail boss and Scarlett’s immediate supervisor. Judging by Will’s unconcerned features, he believed he was talking to Scarlett. Ruby appeared to be handling herself, although she’d shoved her hands into her jeans pockets. A sure sign she was on edge.
Cliff hated the idea of leaving her to fend for herself, but he had no choice. Sam had promised to watch her in Cliff’s absence. She wouldn’t be going on the next trail ride. Instead, Sam had assigned Ruby some of the endless chores around the barn and corrals.
Inside the tack shed, Cliff searched for a lariat. He found three hanging on the wall and picked the one best suited for a child. Even then, it was way too big.
The girl didn’t care and grasped the rope with glee when he showed it to her.
“Come on.” He led the mother and children away from the horses to the opposite side of the corral. An old tree stump provided the perfect practice target and a tall ponderosa pine offered ample shade. “We’ll start with the basics. Watch me first, then you can try.”
The girl was reluctant to surrender the lariat, but she did. Cliff adjusted the loop until it was the right size for him, then raised the lariat over his head and swung it in the air. At the right moment, he flicked his wrist and let the lariat fly. The loop landed around the tree stump with a satisfactory thwap, and he jerked the rope tight.
The little girl’s mouth fell open, and she turned wide eyes on her mother. “Did you see that?”
“Very impressive.”
“Do it again.” The little boy spoke for the first time.
“Yes, yes,” his sister insisted.
“Don’t you want to try?” Cliff asked.
She shook her head so hard, her pink cowboy hat tilted sideways.
Wasn’t that just like a kid? Cliff chuckled to himself. His own nieces were no different. Gung ho one second, timid as a mouse the next.
“What about you, partner?” The boy had once again ducked behind his mother’s leg. “Ma’am? Would you like to give it a shot?”
She broke into a laugh. “Why don’t I just take pictures? Do you mind?”
“Not at all.” He threw the lariat again.
After some more coaxing, he finally convinced the girl to try her hand. Mom snapped more photos, enough to fill an album. The family left happy, the children dashing ahead of their mother as they climbed the tree-lined path toward the guest cabins.
“If that’s how you are with kids, I’d say you’re a whole lot better than an adult presence in the room.”
Cliff spun at the sound of Ruby behind him. He hadn’t noticed the differences in her and her sister’s voices before. Ruby’s was slightly deeper and a little huskier. Very sexy.
He had to stop comparing the two of them. He also had to stop thinking of her other than professionally. Cliff had crossed the line before. He would not make the same mistake twice.
“I’m the fun uncle,” he said. “I let them get away with murder. If there’s a rule, we break it. Makes my cousin mad.”
“She’s lucky to have you.”
“I’m lucky to have her, too.”
He and his cousin weren’t just related, they’d grown up together and were good friends. More like siblings. Cliff had never cared much for her ex and wasn’t sorry to see them divorced. Though, he was sorry for the pain his cousin and her children had endured.
“I’m not very good with kids,” Ruby admitted.
Cliff had observed her awkwardness with the young girl during the ride. “There’s no secret. Just show an interest in them.”
“Scarlett loves kids.”
“You shouldn’t mention her name out in the open,” he warned Ruby in a low voice.
“Sorry,” she murmured and glanced about. “I don’t think anyone heard.”
“Walk with me.”
“I can’t just leave the guests.”
Cliff reached for her hand and held up their laced fingers. “Hey, Will. I’m borrowing Scarlett for a few minutes. She’ll be right back.”
The trail boss gave them a wave. “Sure thing.”
When Ruby would have removed her hand from Cliff’s, he tightened his grip.
“Remember, we’re dating. People expect to see us together.”
“Are you going to kiss me again before you leave?”
He wasn’t sure if she’d asked the question in jest or seriousness. “We’ll compromise with a hug.”
Her relief was visible. She’d been serious.
“Call me every hour on the hour,” he told her when they reached his vehicle. “If you’re more than five minutes late, I’ll call you.”
“My phone’s in pieces, remember?”
“Use Sam’s or Annie’s or the ranch phone.” He pulled a business card from his pocket, scribbled his cell number on the back and pressed it into her palm. “Don’t lose this until you’ve memorized the number. Park the truck Sam lends you as close to the trailer as possible. And leave the porch light on all night.”
“Porch light. Living room light. I’d better check my supply of bulbs. At this rate, I’ll be going through them quickly.”
She was putting up less of a fight than she had before the trail ride. Crowley’s phone call was probably responsible.
“Good idea,” he said. “Light is one of the best deterrents. Call me when you’re ready to leave work. I’ll meet you here and follow you home.”
“With my guard?”
She’d remembered.
He smiled. “You’ll like Sarge. Best partner I’ve ever had.” As soon as he spoke the words, his smile faltered. Her sister hadn’t like Sarge one bit. Maybe Ruby would have the same reaction.
“Sarge? Is he former army?”
“Retired from the police force. There isn’t anyone else I trust more to protect you when I’m not around.”
“Do I invite him in or does he sit outside in his vehicle?”
“Your choice. He’ll be fine on the front porch.”
“All
