look after you and help out if you needed it.”
Too bad he hadn’t done a good job of it so far. Helen would have boxed his ears for sure if she’d been capable of such things. He’d let Leah’s anger keep him away when he should have been trying harder to help them.
“We do appreciate the advice you’ve given us. I guess we have a little more reading to do before we buy any livestock,” Leah said, starting to turn away.
Erin let out a long sigh as she followed her sister. “We have to start turning a profit soon,” she muttered.
“We’ll figure it out.” He could hear Leah’s words as they walked over to sign up for the auction.
She might be willing to figure it out, but they were going to be in for a world of hurt if they were so ignorant as to walk into a sale barn, hoping to buy cows based on how cute they were.
He jogged to catch up with them. “Let me help you. A lot of the cows they have here today aren’t worth buying, and I’m familiar with all the local ranchers. They don’t mean to cheat anyone, but they would have no problem taking money from someone who doesn’t know any better.”
The sisters exchanged a look, then Leah nodded. “We don’t have a lot of money to waste, so we appreciate the help.”
It seemed a hard-won agreement, but he was glad that she could at least see sense. He recognized that wary expression in her eyes again, and it struck him harder than he’d expected. Though Helen had told him about the girls’ rough childhood, he also hadn’t expected to see how it had impacted them as adults. To have it impact him. He’d grown up in a different but equally unstable situation. That kind of life where you’re afraid to trust or lean on anyone too much, because you know they’ll be gone soon, and you’ll be stuck on your own, trying to figure things out.
No wonder the sisters were so quick to shove him aside and not want his help. They wanted to do it on their own because they figured that, at some point, he’d be gone and they’d have to rely on themselves again.
So how could he show them that he wasn’t going anywhere?
More important, how could he be there for them without ending up the fool, running around taking care of them, only to be dropped when a bigger, better deal came through?
These women needed rescuing. He liked to be the hero. But he was tired of being taken advantage of and abandoned when he wasn’t needed anymore.
Still, he gave a nod as he led them deeper into the sale barn.
* * *
There wasn’t a single cow to be had. At least none worth buying, according to Shane. Even though Leah hated being so reliant on him, as he patiently explained to her what he was looking at as he examined each cow, she was glad for his expert opinion. He’d even stopped Leah from buying the pretty chicken, which had turned out to be a rooster, so it would have also been useless to them.
What was the point in inheriting a ranch when you couldn’t do anything with it? Helen had leased out the land, but it was for such a small sum, Leah and her sisters wouldn’t have enough money to live off of. According to Helen’s old records, the ranch had once been a thriving business. Surely, it could be successful once again.
Yes, they now had a place to live, and with Leah’s financial situation, it was a real blessing. Erin hadn’t gotten any money out of her divorce, since her ex wanted to keep the house, and it was worth less than what they’d paid for it when they’d bought it. She’d considered herself lucky to have been able to walk away. Nicole had never made a lot as a preschool teacher, so she didn’t have much money, either. Needless to say, the sisters needed some way to make money to keep food in their stomachs and the lights on. They’d gotten a ranch, yes, but the attorney had very apologetically told the women that Helen didn’t leave much in the way of cash.
So how were they supposed to make money? Based on the budget they’d come up with, they had about six months to figure it out.
“Let me buy you ladies a cup of coffee,” Shane said, indicating a café down the street. “I know you must be disappointed to not find any cows, but it’s the wrong time of year, and I’d hate for you to be stuck with something that would be a financial burden.”
The last thing she wanted to do was sit and have coffee when she had plans to make. But he hadn’t been anything but nice to them, and it would be rude to refuse. It was a small town, and she couldn’t afford to alienate anyone, even though all she wanted was to be left alone.
“That would be great, thank you.” Leah smiled at him, then looked over at her sister. “You don’t mind, do you?”
“Of course not. Though we should probably be doing the buying, considering he probably saved us thousands of dollars.”
Erin had a point, but Shane shook his head.
“A gentleman would never let the lady buy. Besides, it’s only a couple of cups of coffee. Though Della makes the best bear claws, and you should probably have one. I know I’m going to.” His grin warmed her. When he wasn’t looking at her like he thought she was the world’s worst mother or the biggest ignoramus to show up in town, he seemed almost...nice.
The lawyer did confirm that Shane had been a big help to Helen. Maybe, if they all got to know one another, they could be friends. Or at least friendly. It wouldn’t hurt to have a neighbor to call on in case of emergency. Not that she had any plans of relying on him, since she’d already promised herself never to depend on a man again.
“Then we must insist upon having you over for dinner sometime. Nicole has been bugging me to make my famous lasagna, so set a date, and we’ll have it.”
As he held the door open to the café, Shane gave her another encouraging smile. “Now that’s an offer I can’t refuse. I cook well enough that I don’t starve to death, but it’s been a long time since I’ve had homemade lasagna.”
“Leah’s is the best. I can’t tell you how many times I had her over at my house, trying to teach me. But mine was never as good. I’m sure she must put in some secret ingredient when my back is turned, but she’s always denied it.”
Leah laughed. “I promise I’ve always shown you exactly the way I do it. Maybe the difference is love. I could spend all day in the kitchen and be perfectly happy, whereas you spend so much time complaining and fussing that I’m sure it makes your food bitter.”
“Maybe,” Erin said. “But I still think you’re holding out on me.”
Smiling at their old argument, Leah felt Shane’s eyes on her. Erin had always been the pretty one, so why didn’t he focus on her instead? Was that why he was being so friendly? Because he saw Leah as a potential date? She was so not interested. A younger version of herself might have been, but she knew better now.
Though she sometimes questioned why Helen never remarried, Leah could understand how being burned would leave a person wary. Leah wasn’t sure she’d ever be able to trust a man again, let alone fall in love.
Inside the café, an older woman greeted them warmly. “Shane! Are these your sisters? I’m so glad to see that you finally have family visiting.”
Shane looked at them and shrugged, then shook his head. “No. They’re the ones who inherited Helen’s ranch. I’m helping them get settled. We’d like three coffees and bear claws, if you have any left.”
He hadn’t actually asked them if they wanted bear claws, but as Della lifted the domed lid off the tray, Leah wasn’t going to complain. It had been forever since she’d indulged in any kind of pastry because of how she limited the sugar her boys consumed. It didn’t seem fair to have treats for herself and deny them.
“It’s nice to meet you,” Della said as she put bear claws on plates. “I hope you’ll be sticking around Columbine Springs. I always hate it when people turn our ranches into vacation homes that never get lived in.”
Leah smiled.