Page 80 of A Cowboy's Claim
“The email says he needs to get the information to his past employers. He thinks if he gives them back most of what he stole, they might leave him alone.” Logan shook his head. “I don’t think he understands how gangs work.”
“And now he’s messed you up in it. And he knows where you live.” Jake stretched his hand out and laid it on Logan’s arm. “We’ll do what we can, but this will take more than the power of High Water.”
“I don’t want Dean to get killed, but he made his choices.” Sadness slid across Logan’s face. “High Water Ranch is supposed to be a place where people can get a second chance and start a new life. That’s what I want, and I don’t want him dragging any of us into the kind of hell that could ruin it all.”
Petra worked methodically, fingers flying over the keyboard of the laptop she’d grabbed. “This is a stand-alone computer system—no internet, no risk of being hacked. No way I’d run this on my main system.”
“You know how Dean tracked you down?” Declan asked Logan.
Logan sighed. “I’m using my mom’s last name. Dean knew it, of course. I should’ve used something else, but I didn’t want to give her up completely. She was a good mom.”
Declan got up and made a fresh pot of coffee. Petra was talking about stripping ID codes, and Jake was contacting a couple of friends on the RCMP force who dealt with gang activity.
It was all outside Declan’s wheelhouse, and his mind kept drifting to Sydney—wondering what she’d suggest if she were here.
He watched for a little while longer then ended up rising from the table. “I’m going to go do something useful. Shout if you need me.”
Jake rose to his feet and came to give him a pat on the shoulder as they spoke privately. “This might not be your skill set, but you’re the reason Logan didn’t try to keep this a secret and deal with it by himself. I’m glad you’re a part of High Water.”
“Me too.”
Declan took his time out in the barn, caring for the horses and the couple of rescue dogs. There wasn’t as much happening in that section of the ranch since they’d taken it over. And while it was the middle of summer, with Tansy’s accident, they’d kept the bookings in the artists’ studio to a minimum.
He wandered for a while, taking in the signs of the storm. Doing a little maintenance here and there, like securing loose boards and raking leaves from where the water had gathered in puddles.
By the time he spotted his brothers stepping onto the porch of the house, Declan had come to a place of peace in his head. It sucked that the people who mattered the most—everyone at High Water and Sydney—were facing problems he couldn’t fix with the strength of his two hands.
Still, he didn’t have to be good at everything. He just needed to be there for them.
He made his way to where his brothers stood and turned to give Logan a slap on the back.
“We’re okay?” Declan asked Logan.
Logan nodded. “It’s still a mess, but Jake has leads and Petra put something on my phone that will help if Dean tries to contact me again.”
“You came to us fast. That was the right call,” Declan said, gripping Logan’s shoulder firmly.
“Thanks for being trustworthy,” Logan offered back wryly.
Time to give the kid something else to focus on. “There’s a bit of work you can do on the other side of the garden. Tansy can give you more specific directions, but she and Petra wanted more raised beds for next year, so you can go ahead and build a few more.” Declan checked with his brothers. “Anything else for Logan to do?”
“That should keep him busy enough for now,” Aiden said.
Logan nodded then took off at a quick clip, head held high.
They watched him for a minute before Jake spoke. “Not quite sure how that kid ended up so good-hearted considering the hell he went through growing up.”
“Optimistic hearts take a lot of punishment before they get broken. I’d say he got here right on time,” Aiden offered. “He’s still got a lot to learn, but he’ll get there.”
“It’s still paying it forward, isn’t it?” Declan said quietly. “Making a difference in one life at a time, this time by teaching.”
“Seems we need to make a difference in more than one at a time,” Jake said. “I’m trying my best to not blow a gasket over the shitty situation Sydney’s grandpa put her in.”
“We might be able to solve that easier than you think,” Aiden said softly. “Petra spoke with her brother. It’ll take a few weeks for him to get back to her. I can’t tell you more than that, but she crossed her fingers and had a good feeling about it.”
“I’ll take it,” Declan said. He looked around the yard, unsettled energy bouncing in his belly. “I need a ride. Either of you want to come?”
Jake shook his head. “Not this time. I’m waiting to hear from my contacts.”
