Page 18 of Christmas with Three Cowboys

“Ethan is a good man,” Darla reiterates, as if she can somehow read my mind. “He just has a dark side that needs to be fed.”

“How does he feed that dark side?”

“He’s figured out healthier ways. The ranch keeps him busy: the company of animals, the clean air, the starry nights,” Darla says. “Colton is a good influence on his brother as well. They stuck together from the moment they were born. Then Mitch came along, raggedy and covered in soot, crying his heart out… I’ll never forget that night. They’ve been inseparable ever since, picking each other up all the time.”

“Covered in soot?” I ask.

Darla’s eyes widen, and she looks away. “Forget about it. It’s personal. A slip of my tongue and not my story to tell,” she says. “Point is, I think you should have a little more faith in yourself. You’re entitled to real freedom and a clean record, especially since you didn’t commit the crime you were imprisoned for. It’s just a damn shame.”

“I appreciate it, Darla. I really do.”

“Just think about it. I can put you in touch with our lawyers. If they won’t take the case pro bono, they’ll gladly refer you to one of the charities who do,” Darla replies, then leaves me to my lunch prep work.

She also leaves me with a hefty new thought to mull over.

4

Colton

Melissa has been on the ranch for a week, and absolutely everybody is fawning over her, Darla included. And our auntie does not do that often. Nobody seems to remember or even care that Melissa is still an inmate of the Ridgeboro Correctional Facility.

I have so many questions about how she ended up there in the first place, but she doesn’t like it when we delve into that topic. It doesn’t stop me from getting to know her better, though, so one morning I decide to follow Mitch’s advice.

After breakfast is served, my brothers and I go back into the kitchen to find her.

“What are you up to?” I ask.

She whirls around with a plate and a dry cloth over her chest, her eyes as round as saucers. “Oh. Hey. Um, drying the dishes…”

“Leave that stuff,” I say. “You’re coming with us.”

“Where?”

Instantly, she goes into self-preservation mode. Her frame stiffens as she slowly sets the plate down. It would be cute if there wasn’t a layer of trauma underneath her behavior. Three years in prison will do that to a person I’m told.

“We thought you might want to join us outside today,” Mitch says. “If you’re going to be a ranch girl, you might as well learn the ropes around here.”

Melissa chuckles nervously. “I’m just the kitchen wench.”

“Wench?” Ethan raises an eyebrow.

“I’m kidding… okay, I’ll come,” she says, her cheeks blushing in the prettiest shade of deep red.

An hour later, Mitch is out with her by the barn as she struggles to put the harness on one of the gentler horses from our stables. Ethan and I sit atop our mustangs clad in wool sweaters and thick jackets, the horses’ hooves crunching in the snow, watching as Mitch teaches Melissa how to prep her horse for a ride.

“Remember, they can tell if you’re nervous,” Mitch tells her.

He’s trying hard not to laugh, but I know he’s as smitten with Melissa as the rest of us. He is also endearingly patient with her. We’ve been here for twenty minutes, trying not to intervene as he teaches her the basics.

“Iamnervous,” Melissa says. Her mare, Isabella, is a beautiful creature with a robust back and a soft white coat. She’s almost as patient as Mitch, but she won’t be for much longer, not if Melissa keeps fidgeting with the harness instead of putting in on.

“She’s getting excited. She wants you to ride her,” Mitch reassures Melissa. “Here… allow me.”

“Finally,” Ethan mutters. “A couple more tries, and the mare would’ve just gone back to the stables on her own.”

I chuckle subtly, steam rolling from my mouth. It has gotten a lot colder in the past couple of days, but at least our cattle are safely sheltered for the winter, with Kyle and Jason handling their daily feeding while Sammy handles the overall maintenance with my brothers and me. We divided our duties efficiently for the winter, thanks to Melissa taking over the cooking. Darla’s got the administration, along with the business, so we’re able to enjoy moments such as this.

“She’s such a city mouse,” I tell my twin.

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