Page 40 of Rancher's Heart

“You looked so peaceful, I couldn’t bring myself to wake you. Are you in a hurry?” He asked as he wrapped this arm around me.

I needed to think, if I told him what happened, he’d be out the door tracking Billy down. The death of the man wasn’t something I wanted on my hands.God, you’ve got to think of something, Elle. Nora, she’d asked me to come for coffee this week.“Yeah, I’m heading to Nora’s for coffee. So I better get a move on.” With a quick peck on his cheek, I didn’t miss the frown that crossed his face. I hurried out the door and walked to my truck. I waved as I pulled out of the yard. My heart raced, andI kept a close watch as I drove the back way to Kipp and Nora’s place. I didn’t think Billy would have been stupid enough to try again, but over the years, I’d learned never to underestimate the dumb ones.

“Well, isn’t this a surprise?” Nora said as I got out of the truck. I watched her face change, and her smile turned to a frown as I got closer. Apparently, I wasn’t that good of an actor to hide the worry I couldn’t shake from my facial expression.

“Griff was gone when I woke up, so I wondered if you were up for a coffee?” I smiled, but I knew I didn’t sound like myself.

“Come on, Fallon’s inside, and you can tell us both what’s going on. If Griff’s caused this, I’ll punch him in the mouth.” She put her arm around my shoulders, and we walked into the big log home together.

“Fallon, get another mug. We’re having a girl talk,” Nora said as she kicked off her shoes. I followed suit. It was the first time I’d been in the big home, and I couldn’t imagine all the work that had gone into this place. The modernizations highlighted the charm of the original structure beautifully.

Large wooden beams ran the length of the kitchen, and the fireplace in the corner looked big enough to stand in. It must be wonderful to live in such a place with such craftsmanship. My parents had moved every few years until they were in a home I had barely lived in. They were always trying to keep up with one of their friends being bigger and better. Their house now was massive, but there was no character to it, like the homes on the ranch.

“Ok, what’s going on?” Fallon said as she set a steaming cup of coffee down in front of me as I sat.

“You know I was renting from Billy Hays.” Both women nodded and sneered at his name. “Well, I had a run-in with him, trying to get into my house, and that’s the reason Griff moved Parker and me in. Well, I saw him in town the other week, andhe made some disgusting comments, and then this morning, he drove into the yard. I’ve never been so afraid in my life.” The words tumbled out and I wasn’t even sure I took a breath as I spoke.

“What did Griff say?” Fallon asked as she took a sip of her coffee.

“I never told him. I can’t tell him. I don’t want him to worry every minute I’m home alone, and if you…” I almost blurted out what the five used to do but it wasn’t my place to tell them what their husbands had been involved in. “Well, I just can’t tell him.” I shook my head and ran my hands along the hot mug.

“You’re afraid he’ll kill him.” My head shot up, and I looked at Nora. “Elle, we know what our husbands used to do. They didn’t tell us, but Fallon knew enough, and you don’t keep a PI close if you’re innocent men.” She looked over the rim of her cup, and I could see her smirk.

“What do I do?”

“First, you tell me why there was a gun on the table inside the door, then you tell me whose tire tracks ripped up my yard, andthenyou tell me why you came here instead of explaining all that to me.” His deep voice cut through the quiet house like a chainsaw cutting through one of the massive beams in this house.

Closing my eyes, I let my head rest in the palm of my hand. The sound of heavy footsteps from the kitchen entrance told me that not only was Griff here, but the other four were as well. “Maybe we should talk about this in private,” I said as I stood from the table.

“Pretty sure you made it public babe.” He crossed his arms over his chest, and I watched his four best friends look at one another confused, at my nickname.

“Look, I didn’t mean to drag you all into this - it’s bad enough I’ve got Griff involved.”

“I’m really not sure how many times you have to be told, but once you set foot on this ranch you’re one of us,” Ryder said as he walked to Griff’s side. He wasn’t as tall or as broad as Griff, but I wouldn’t have wanted to meet Ryder in a dark alley if I was on his bad side.

“Billy Hays has been making comments to me when he sees me in town.”

“More like harassing you,” Nora quipped from behind me.

“Baby, you’re not helping,” Kipp said from where he stood over by the sink, hiding his grin behind his coffee mug. Nora arched her brow and glared at him.

I told everyone in the room the events of my morning, what I was wearing and how I wanted to curl up in a ball at the way he looked at me. “The gun was out because I threatened him, but I didn’t know it wasn’t loaded, but the idea of scared him away just fine.” I shrugged, and I looked at Griff, whose anger hadn’t subsided, but it was simmering now rather than boiling over.

“I don’t keep loaded guns accessible in the house.”

“Well, now’s a fine time to tell me.” I crossed my arms and slumped down in my chair.

Griff crossed the room in a few steps and crouched down in front of me. “The clip’s on the shelf where I keep my hats for next time.” His words were flat and there was a hint of annoyance in his voice as he stared me down. “Are you okay?” His words were quiet, and his eyes filled with concern as he looked at me.

Nodding, tired to muster a smile. “I’m fine.” He placed his hand on my thigh, and I covered it with mine.

“It’s time to do something about the Hays brothers,” Ryder said, making the entire feel of the room shift from concern to murder.

“I’ll go to the sheriff.” I looked at Griff, and watched him shake his head slightly. “You aren’t doing your super spy shit for me.” From behind Griff, the other four men laughed, and thetension was shattered. Even the corner of Griff’s mouth turned up.

Griff took a seat beside me but he didn’t touch me. “Seriously, how was he the one who snuck around?” I asked, looking up at his business partners which made them laugh again. “He broke into my room, do you know that? I’m the world’s lightest sleeper, and he managed to get in.”

The moment the words were out of my mouth, I knew I’d messed up. “You have your own room?” Fallon asked, narrowing her gaze at me.

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