the boys ranch. He’s a lawyer. He’ll seek a legal way if he can.”
“Fletcher has blinders on to the good the place does for kids who need help. But then the man doesn’t have any children.” Uncle Howard poured some coffee into his mug and then handed the pot to Nick.
“Neither do I, but I see the benefits of the ranch. He’s just plain mean-spirited.”
“He never used to bother you so much until you came home and began looking out for Corey.”
“How can someone who has plenty of money turn his back on family? Ned Phillips has no business being a father. No wonder Doug was concerned about Corey.” And no wonder Nick never wanted to be a father himself. He didn’t have the skills needed to be responsible for someone else.
“You’ve done what you can. Sometimes we just have to leave it in the Lord’s hands.”
“And look how well that has worked out,” Nick mumbled and drank a mouthful of his coffee.
“I wish I could have done more for you with your father, but I lived so far away. I failed you. I’m sorry.”
“You didn’t know. He was good at hiding his abusive behavior. Once I tried telling someone, and I learned the hard way to keep my mouth shut. As far as I know, Ned hasn’t physically abused Corey, but verbally he tears the boy down all the time. It breaks my heart.” Nick’s stomach roiled with thoughts of the boy’s situation and the reminders of what he had gone through when his father drank.
“That’s why I think you’d be a good father. You know what not to do.” Then before Nick could reply, Uncle Howard bowed his head and said grace. When he looked up at Nick, he said, “I’m not giving up on you.”
“I don’t need—”
The ringtone on Nick’s cell phone distracted him. Quickly Nick answered, noting it was Mrs. Scott. “Is something wrong with Corey?”
“The state is sending him to the boys ranch. They just came and took him. Corey threatened he would run away again.”
The morning of her second day in Haven, Darcy stood at the inn’s front picture window in the living room, holding a warm cup of coffee and staring at the snow-covered street. The snowfall had only been a couple of inches, but for a Southern gal like herself, driving even in a small accumulation made her so nervous she was afraid she would cause an accident. She would stay at the inn or walk to where she wanted to go until the car part came in and Slim installed it, hopefully later this afternoon.
Still, sitting around waiting today made her antsy. Her time here was limited, and after Corey running away last night, she wanted to make sure he would be all right before she left Haven at the end of the month.
She took a sip of her coffee as footfalls sounded on the hardwood floor. When she glanced over her shoulder, Avery Culpepper entered the room. She had long, bouncy blond hair and wore a baby blue wool dress that matched her big eyes and spiked heels, as well as more makeup than Darcy put on in a week. Darcy had met her briefly earlier that morning.
Darcy smiled. “Good morning. Carol will have breakfast ready in five minutes. There’s coffee in the dining room.”
“I’ll get some later.” Avery joined Darcy at the window. “Thankfully there wasn’t too much snow. I’m meeting Fletcher this morning.”
“Fletcher Phillips?”
Avery brushed her hair away from her face. “He’s the only Fletcher in this town. He’s a lawyer who’s been giving me some advice for when I get my inheritance.”
“Inheritance?”
“From my grandfather, Cyrus Culpepper.”
“The one who bequeathed his land to the boys ranch?”
“Yes.” Avery glanced out the window. “I’ve got to go. See you around.”
Darcy watched as Avery headed toward Fletcher’s Lexus. He climbed out of the car and rounded the hood to open the passenger door for Avery. Darcy’s biological father wore a Stetson, a black suit and boots. She must have gotten her height from him because her birth mother was only five foot two.
He turned his head toward the bed-and-breakfast, and their gazes met and held for a few seconds. Because she was looking for it, she saw a resemblance between them in the eyes and chin. He had a cleft in it like she did. She pivoted away and moved from the window. Her heartbeat thudded against her rib cage.
What was Fletcher Phillips doing with a woman half his age?
She felt as though she’d stepped into the middle of a story and didn’t know what had already happened.
“I hope you’re hungry. Breakfast is ready,” Carol said from the living room entrance.
Darcy blinked and pushed thoughts of Fletcher from her mind. Besides Avery and her, there was only another couple staying at the inn. The husband and wife weren’t in the dining room. She was curious about the people of Haven, and from what she’d seen so far, Carol would be a great person to talk to.
“Will you sit and join me? I hate eating alone.” Darcy sat at a table for four with a coffeepot and a bread basket already on it.
Carol smiled. “I’d love to. Be right back with our breakfast.”
When she disappeared through the door into the kitchen, Darcy poured herself a cup of coffee and dumped several scoops of sugar into the brew. Carol returned with two plates, placed one in front of Darcy and then took the chair across from her.
Darcy peered at her omelet and the slices of melon on the side. “This looks delicious. I usually don’t have much time to eat a big breakfast.”
“I have some blueberry and bran muffins in the basket.”
“This omelet and fruit is perfect. I stay away from breads.”
“You have to watch your weight? You’re thin.”
“I have celiac disease and have to avoid all foods with gluten in them.” When she was diagnosed six months ago, Darcy had begun her search for her biological parents. Celiac was a genetic disorder. Was there anything else she needed to be aware of in her family history?
“Are you all right now?”
Darcy didn’t like talking about that time of uncertainty when she didn’t know why she was tired all the time, losing weight and getting sick after eating certain foods. “Yes, so long as I follow my diet.” She bowed her head and blessed the food.
When she looked up, Carol was studying her. “If you’re still here on Sunday, you’re welcome to attend the Haven Community Church with me and Clarence.”
“I’d love to. What few people I’ve met so far have been friendly.”
“Most are in Haven. There isn’t much that goes on in our town that others don’t know about.”
“Nick mentioned someone called Fletcher Phillips. Do you know him?”
“I imagine Nick wasn’t too happy with Fletcher when he talked about him. Nick volunteers at the Lone Star Cowboy League Boys Ranch, and Fletcher is trying to get it shut down.”
“Why?” Darcy wanted Carol’s take on the boys ranch.
“He thinks having a boys ranch here is bringing down the value of the property around town. All he sees is troublemaking kids. That’s really not the case. The children need love and care, but he won’t listen to reason.”
“How do the people in Haven feel about it?” Darcy ate her first bite of omelet, the taste tempting her to take cooking lessons from Carol.
“Some go along with Fletcher, but there are