Page 80 of On His Ranch

Chase winced at his grandfather’s words. He knew they were true. Running a successful ranch was a back-breaking, twenty-four/seven business. Not only were these incidents costing them time, but now money. Thus far, they’d been able to keep it quiet by only dealing with people they trusted, but the longer they continued, the more time and opportunity for people to speculate.

Speculation would hurt their generations-long reputation, but it was more than that. It would make them prey to other competitors, less-noble folk that would be happy to trade on the rumors to take advantage and take business they couldn’t afford to lose. How long then would it be before it didn’t make sense to keep a back-breaking business that wouldn’t pay their bills?

“It won’t happen. I won’t let it.” Without meaning to, Chase tied the twine too tight across the hay bale and had to yank to get his finger back. “This is the only home I’ve ever known. I’ll die before I see us put out of it.” Unbidden, he thought of the gunshot the first day he’d met Piper. That, now a fire. No, these weren’t pranks anymore. There was malicious intent behind it.

“Chase, I’m glad you love the land. I do. But some things, son, are beyond our control.”

He whirled on Senior, uttering a surprised bark of laughter. “That’s not what you raised me to believe.”

“I wanted you to learn to be dependable, hard-working. But you’ve always known some things are beyond our control. Weather, for example. Crops, for another. And this might be one of ‘em as well.”

His grandfather’s face was hard, with lines that belied his youthful eyes. It was permanently tanned from decades working in the sun.

Chase, his heart swelling with love for the only father he’d ever known, shook his head. “No. I’m gonna figure this out. No matter what it takes. That’s a promise.”

* * *

Piper hadn’t been able to sleep. With her thighs burning, not to mention the unrelenting pressure of having her anus plugged, she only managed to toss and turn. As soon as she smelled warm, delicious scents wafting upstairs, she got out of bed and got dressed. It took longer than usual given the discomfort, but she managed. Then she made her way down the stairs, wondering what culinary marvels Patti had whipped up for them this morning.

She was at the foot of the stairs when she froze. What was that noise? Given everything that had happened in the last several hours, her heart clenched inside her chest. Then she was able to make it out: whispering. Somehow, that realization didn’t help her relax.

It’s Patti, she decided, her ears straining toward the sound.Patti and Chase. But why would they need to whisper? What could they have to hide?

You shouldn’t snoop, Piper. It’s wrong. Daddy wouldn’t like it…

But she couldn’t help herself. If there was something that would help her understand him better, she had to hear what it was. She tiptoed closer, hardly daring to breathe.

“If you’re right… not sayin’ I think you are… could be dangerous. Look at what has already happened.”

“We don’t know that for sure, Ma. We don’t… really wanna hurt somebody.”

Piper craned her head as far as she could toward their hushed voices.

“I just think in this case, you should consider…”

“It’s too late for that. Besides, what are they gonna do?”

The voices sounded closer and Piper’s heart lurched in her chest as she caught sight of Patti. As quickly as she could she spun on her foot and raced back up the stairs, letting herself back into the bedroom.

Her mind was whirling. Did Chase think he knew who was behind this? How was that possible?

Unless… he has secrets, too.

The thought should have made her feel relief. Keeping things from him was the hardest thing she’d ever done in her life. Every time he looked at her, she felt sure he could see the guilt written all over her face.

But if he was keeping secrets from her… that changed everything.

Suddenly, things clicked into place like a puzzle. He’d been so angry, almost snarling at her. So he thoughtshewas behind it?

She stayed on the bed lost in thought until she heard her name being called. As soon as she opened the door, she heard Patti’s voice.

“Be right down!” she called back, wincing when she heard how her voice trembled.

Patti’s glimmering smile greeted her when she walked in the kitchen, and for the first time, she hesitated to return it. Was it real? Did Patti not believe Chase? Her eyes slid to the man in question who was busy eating and did not look up from his plate. Or was it all an act?

Doubting the woman she’d come to think of as a mother figure made her stomach turn.

“You hungry?”

---