Page 95 of Sheriff's City Girl

I shrugged, seeing Jess’s eyes light up. “I think there’s a good chance. There’s always a huge turnout with the other events put on here… I think it’s worth a shot.”

“I think so, too,” Jess chimed in. “Let’s go talk to him about it. He’s been in a terrible mood ever since all this. It’s no fun to be around him anymore.”

Mason and I exchanged sympathetic glances. I knew Lucas was struggling with everything going on, and Mason was still carrying the burden of getting him out of the mess. Together, the three of us made our way toward the main house, where Jess said that she had last seen him.

“What’re y’all up to?” Lucas greeted us with a smile as we walked into the main kitchen. He was flipping through paperwork on the counter, but folded it up and flipped it over, making it face down. He must’ve noticed Mason’s eyes, because he shrugged at the stack, flipping it back over. “Just more insulting offers…” He slid it across to Mason with a sigh.

“You tell ‘em no, right?” Mason flipped through the papers. “You can’t take any of the offers that they throw out there…”

“Mason…” Lucas’s voice trailed off. “I don’t know what else I’m gonna do. If I don’t take one of the offers, then I’m just gonna lose the ranch to the bank—and then I don’t even have any money to survive. If I can take an offer, maybe I have a shot at making a little and maybe even keeping ten acres or somethin’ for myself.”

My heart sank at the words, but I wasn’t going to give up on my idea. “Well… We have an idea.”

Lucas blew out a sharp breath. “I don’t think your idea worked out too well last time. I think you might be better off just letting me take care of myself.” His words were sharp, but I understood why he felt the way he did. I knew he was still blaming himself for what happened to myself and Mason.

“Well, first of all,” Mason jumped in. “I was the one who came up with the last idea. Emma just went along with it. This one is actually her idea, and it might be the best one yet.”

Lucas pursed his lips, not convinced slightest. “I’ll hear y’all out, because you’re my friends, but you should know that’s the only reason I’m hearing you out.”

“Fair enough,” I agreed, smoothing out my chocolate-colored maternity dress. “I think we should have a fundraiser for the ranch.”

Lucas didn’t seem amused in the slightest. “And you really think people are just going to hand over money to pay off my debts?” He chuckled in the most defeated tone, shaking his head at all of us. “I don’t want to ask that of anyone.”

“But we don’t want you to lose the ranch…” Jess spoke up, her brows furrowed. “Why wouldn’t you take the help? Do you really want to lose all this?” Her boldness was admirable, and the look on Mason’s face reflected his similar thoughts.

“Jess, you know how much I love this ranch—and this town—which is why I can’t take everyone’s money to try and save it. There are more people in the world that need more help than me. It’s not fair. If you want to have a fundraiser, have one—and you can have it here—but don’t give me the money. Give it to someone who really needs it.”

“But you really need it,” Mason urged, leaning against the dark granite countertops. “Everyone believes that you deserve it. You’ve been through the ringer, so if we can help you, why won’t you just take it?”

Lucas was quiet for a few moments. “You know what? I’m not gonna argue with y’all. If you wanna put together some crazy fundraiser and try to raise money, then go for it. I don’t care. I give up.”

“Good,” Mason chuckled, squeezing his shoulder. “Then we’re gonna put on the best damn fundraiser we can come up with, and you’re gonna see just how much people care about you and this ranch.”

“All right,” he gave in, giving up with a shrug. “Just tell me what I need to do to get ready for it, and I’ll help out where I can.”

“You don’t have to do anything at all,” I chimed in. “We’ll take care of it all. All you have to do is be present.”

“If that’s what you want me to do, then that is what I will do,” he said, swiping up the packet of papers on the counter. “But I still have to plan that it’s not going to work out for me. So, I’m going to go ahead and keep forcing myself to read through these offers. If the fundraiser bombs, I have a back up plan.” He held up the packet as he slipped out of the kitchen, heading off down the hallway.

“He’s not right in the head anymore,” Jess said in a low voice as he disappeared from ear shot.

I was surprised by the comment. “Why do you say that?”

“I just think something is off with him,” Jess replied with a shrug, turning to head out of the house. “He didn’t even really tell us bye or invite us to eat. He always does that.”

“He’s just going through a lot,” Mason commented, placing his hand on Jess’s shoulder and guiding her toward the back door. “I think we ought to just give him space.”

“Yeah, but that’s the thing, Dad,” Jess stopped, turning to face him. “We always give Lucas space—and what if that’s not what he needs right now? What if he needs us to you know, like rally around him? Maybe we should just offer to make him dinner tonight or something?”

I nodded. “I actually think she has a great point. Maybe we should at least just ask? We could always invite him to the cabin, too?”

“Yeah, maybe he needs a change of scenery?” Jess perked up. “Or at least we should offer it to him. He’s always alone…”

Mason hesitated. “I don’t know…”

“Come on, Dad,” Jess urged. “Just go ask him.”

“Or I’ll go ask him,” I suggested, shrugging my shoulders.

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