Page 88 of On His Ranch

Piper backed out of the room as quietly as she could, her mind whirling. She retraced her steps, moving swift and silently.

I… I thought he was protecting me. That he knew, somehow…

But he was protecting himself. His own secrets.

Having arrived back in the bedroom, she closed the door behind her, her eyes immediately drawn to the cell phone on Chase’s nightstand. The first time she’d seen it, she’d teased him.

“What is that, a flip phone?”

He’d shrugged. “It’s a phone. And it’s only for emergencies, so don’t get any ideas. I don’t want you callin’ about your fortune or some crap like that.”

She’d laughed and made a reach for it, but he’d been quicker. He was always quicker. “Time to step into the twenty-first century, unless you want me to start calling you ‘Grandpa’!” she’d teased.

Which had only made him laugh and lunge for her.

“He said it was for emergencies,” she mused aloud. If this wasn’t that, what was? Before she could change her mind, Piper walked to the phone, snatched it off the nightstand and powered it on.

* * *

“He’s gonna be okay,” Chase said, not sure if he was telling his mom, or looking to her to reassure him.

“He’s goin’ to be fine,” she snapped.

“Aw, Patti, don’t be hard on the boy,” Senior said, his voice sounding fragile.

Chase turned away so his grandfather wouldn’t see the tears that sprang to his eyes. Maybe his mom was right. Maybe it was time… what would he do if he lost his grandfather?

“Um… excuse me?”

Chase pivoted toward the sound of her small, innocent voice. He felt relief coursing through him.Piper. In the excitement, he’d darn near forgotten about her, but he was happy she was here. He wanted to go to her, to squeeze her against him, to inhale the natural sweetness of her skin and give himself just a second to forget this.

He walked toward her, but she crossed her arms across her chest and took a step back.

“Ah… so… I think there are some things we should talk about.”

He glanced over to the couch where his grandfather lay, currently coughing while Ma fussed over him. “Yeah, I guess we do.”

She cleared her throat. “No, Chase. Uh, you don’t understand.”

He had her full attention. His brows shot up. “Okay. What don’t I understand?”

When her green eyes met his, they were large in her solemn face. Her bottom lip was quivering, but when she spoke, her voice was strong. “I… I think there’s something you need to know.”

Piper swallowed hard over the lump in her throat. Patti had left her father’s side to come stand beside her son. She could feel the older woman’s concerned gaze. She knew it was time to come clean, but that didn’t make it any easier. She couldn’t imagine what would happen when she told them. It would change the fondness in Patti’s eyes, and the warmth in Chase’s. Everything would be over. So it was only natural she would want to delay the inevitable as long as possible.

She ducked her head, though it did not stop her from feeling the burn of their collective gazes.

“Piper?”

It was Patti, but she still flinched.She’s going to hate me when she learns I brought danger to her family.

“Piper.” Chase this time, his voice impatient.

“I… I’ve been keeping a secret,” she said, her voice soft.

“Whatkindof secret?” Chase demanded.

“What happened to Senior…” Despite her best efforts, she couldn’t help but look at him. His eyes were now closed, his face more drawn than she’d ever seen it. Funny. She knew he was older… but he’d never lookedold, until now. “I… I think it might be my fault.”

---