and counting. That’s why,” Chloe said, glancing at her fiancé, Grady, “we’ve decided on a small wedding this month with family and close friends. I don’t want to be a whale waddling down the aisle.”
“Never, not you.” Grady leaned toward her and gave her a quick peck on her cheek.
“Just let me know when to show up,” Ben said, accompanied by a wail from Cody.
But as he turned toward his son, Mamie stood and took the crying child out of his high chair. “He usually takes a nap after lunch. Almost like clockwork. I was afraid he wouldn’t last since we held lunch. I’ll be right back.”
“Grandma, I can take him to his room.” Ben started to rise.
His grandmother waved him down. “Nonsense. You have a guest here.” Then she scurried unusually fast for a seventy-eight-year-old woman.
Ben watched them leave, then faced the three remaining at the table. “I know everyone has tried to fill me in on what I’ve missed while I was in a coma and the hospital. Besides the crime spree with the Robin Hoods, anything else you’ve forgotten to tell me other than the letter you gave me finally yesterday morning?” He stared at his brother.
“I’m pleading ignorance.” His mouth twitching, Grady took a sip of his drink. “I was gone for two months of that. You’ll have to depend on Chloe and Lucy to tell you.”
Everyone peered at Lucy. She held up her hand. “Why are you looking at me?”
“You’re the sheriff, and you know everything,” Ben said with a grin.
No, she didn’t. What had been in that letter from Cody’s mother? “Other than six months of robberies and now nothing, that’s it. It’s been pretty quiet, thankfully.”
“Carson finally proposed to Ruby. They are engaged, and it was about time. I thought they would marry in high school.” Chloe reached for the pasta salad and took the spoon from it before dishing up more on her plate. “You know the saying. I’m eating for two.”
“And Eva and Tyler got married. I’m glad our cousin and Tyler are together.” Grady stood and took his plate to the sink.
“Yes, and I hope they’ll adopt a baby,” Mamie said as she came back into the kitchen. “Eva was really good with Cody and would make a great mother.”
Lucy finished the last bite of her sandwich. “I guess the biggest surprise was Amelia and Texas Ranger Finn Brannigan. I never saw her falling for another Texas Ranger. Funny how things work out.”
“You should never say never. I’ve found it comes back to bite you.” Ben retrieved a wet dishcloth and wiped down the high chair. “I never saw myself as a father, and I wake up from a coma to find the baby left on our doorstep is my son.”
Lucy almost asked Ben why he didn’t think he’d ever be a dad, but she didn’t. She knew about the shaky relationship he’d had with his own father, but from what little she’d seen today, Ben was trying hard to be a good one.
“Another surprise was Clint falling in love with Olivia. He’ll be an instant dad to triplets when they marry in June.” Grady refilled his iced tea.
Just weeks ago Clint’s father’s remains were found in the Deep Gulch Mountains, where he’d met an accident years ago. Clint hadn’t been abandoned like he’d thought. “The nice thing is Clint now has closure about his dad leaving him when he was a child. I think he’ll be able to relate to Olivia’s boys.”
“Lucy, what happens if you can’t find out who’s stealing from the ranchers?” Ben retook his seat across from her.
“I’m going to.” She was up for reelection next year, and if she didn’t find the persons responsible, Byron McKay would probably put all his money and community presence behind getting a new sheriff.
“The Rustling Investigation Team thinks it could be teenagers,” Grady said, covering Chloe’s hand resting on the table.
Ben threw Lucy a look. “Is that really why you want to hang around the barn? I thought it was my irresistible charm.”
“Like I already told you, Betsy McKay is connected somehow, and Maddy was her best friend. I’ve talked with her as the sheriff before today, but she was wary. I didn’t feel that way earlier.” She was not going to let Ben get to her.
Chloe’s forehead creased. “You think Maddy and Betsy are robbing the ranchers?”
“We’ve tried to find Betsy but haven’t been able to locate her. But no, not Maddy. I did some checking, and she has an alibi for one of the robberies. She was at a sleepover with four other girls. She may know something and not realize it.” From what she’d seen and heard about the foster child, she was a good kid.
“So this is why you asked the league for a list of members with teenagers,” Grady said.
All eyes turned to Lucy, and for a brief moment she felt like a suspect being interrogated. “Yes. As we have surmised, the Robin Hoods are probably two or more teenagers, most likely boys based on the equipment they took. The thieves would have to be strong. Neither Maddy nor Betsy fit that profile. The Robin Hoods would have to be comfortable around cattle and horses to take them without anyone knowing. They would also have to be able to drive a trailer and be familiar with the area around here.”
“That describes most of the teenage boys in the vicinity. I see why you want that list.” Ben shifted his attention to his twin. “I understand Tyler is going on his honeymoon soon. I’d like to take his place on the Rustling Investigation Team. We need to find whoever is doing this.”
Grady shook his head. “You’ve only been home awhile, Ben. You’re just getting your strength back.”
Ben drilled a hard gaze into his brother. “I know what I’m capable of. Do I have to go to Carson about this?”
“No.” Grady glanced toward Lucy. “If you want to take Tyler’s place, then do, but don’t forget you were in the hospital for a long time. You don’t have to do everything the minute you are released. I was going to sit in for Tyler, but you can instead. I have to go to the VA in San Antonio for a couple of days next week. The team is meeting Wednesday night. Lucy, is that okay with you?”
“Sure.” Oh, great. More time she’d be spending with Ben. She placed her napkin on the table. “Thank you for inviting me to lunch, but I have paperwork to finish at the office, so I’d better leave.”
Ben’s grandmother grinned. “I’m so glad you could join us. Don’t be a stranger.”
“I’ll walk you to your car.” Ben rose at the same time Lucy did. She shouldn’t be surprised he’d said that because Ben was always a gentleman.
Outside, Lucy set her cowboy hat on her head and slipped on her sunglasses. Ben strolled next to her without his Stetson. When he paused next to her car, he squinted, the wind catching his sandy-brown hair that touched the collar of his plaid shirt.
He took her hand. Lucy started to pull it away when she spied Maddy and Christie standing just inside the barn doors looking at them.
“I thought we decided not to play that game,” she whispered while giving him a sweet smile.
“We’re not playing any games. You are a friend, aren’t you?”
She nodded.
“I’m thanking you for a nice ride this morning. I didn’t think about falling from my horse once while on Thunder. It must be the company I was keeping. Will I see you before Wednesday night?” The volume of his voice rose enough that the girls probably heard the question.
“At church tomorrow?”
“I’ll be there. But I thought you’d want to go on another ride before the sun sets after work next week.”
“How about next Wednesday? I’ll come early, maybe go for