The Cowboy's Texas Family. Margaret Daley

to be located. And she had been, but Lana didn’t think the woman who claimed to be Avery was the real one.

      “Do you think she is for real?” Nick asked. If she wasn’t, the boys ranch wouldn’t meet all the terms of Cyrus’s will, and the ranch would be sold to a developer to build a strip mall. The boys would have to be moved again. If that wasn’t motivation to find everyone listed in the old man’s will, Nick didn’t know what was.

      “I sure hope she is.”

      “Avery has been cozy with Fletcher, and he wants the land to be sold.”

      “I don’t see him behind what has been going on at the boys ranch.” Uncle Howard placed a plate in front of Nick and then went back and brought the coffeepot to the kitchen table.

      “I agree. Stealing a therapy horse and saddles and letting out calves doesn’t make sense unless Fletcher has really stooped low and is resorting to these tactics to shut down 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.”