Page 39 of Falling For Her Cowboy
“Yeah. Too bad you didn’t see them,” Melah said.
They walked toward the house and went inside. Andy and Buck were walking around the common area checking out the windows.
“I’ll have everything taken care of by the end of the day, ladies. Don’t worry. This won’t happen again. I’ll even have some cameras installed, too, and make sure the lights are bright at night,” Andy said.
Melah appreciated everything he was doing. He obviously took their safety seriously and didn’t brush it off. He was a good man and cared for every person who came to work at the ranch. She’d heard nice things about him through the grapevine. He was a man of his word, and whatever he promised, he always followed through.
“We’re going to wait outside for the deputy. They shouldn’t be too much longer.” Andy motioned to Melah. “Can we speak with you for a moment, Melah?”
“Um, yeah. Sure.” She glanced at Aimee who arched an eyebrow at her. She shook her head and followed behind Andy and Buck.
They stepped back outside and walked over toAndy’s truck. He turned and leaned back against his vehicle.
“What’s going on, boss?”
“You don’t think this could be that fella you had issues with when you were enlisted, do you?” he asked.
She stiffened. Well, he certainly didn’t beat around the bush. She glanced away from him and blew out a shaky breath. There was no need for her to lie or try to hide anything from him.
“Listen, we know this is a sore subject, but we do backgrounds on everyone who comes through the Silver Creek Ranch. We want to know who’ll be working here,” Buck said.
“I understand. I just don’t know the answer to the question. I don’t think Theo is out of prison.” Just saying his name had her feeling nauseated. She ran a palm along her face and saw that her hand was trembling. She clenched it into a fist. She was told that she’d be notified if he was released from prison.
“I’m not trying to be in your business, Melah, but if he’s here, you need to tell us immediately.” Andy narrowed his gaze on her.
She held her breath, waiting to hear what he was going to say. Would she have to leave to keep the peace on the ranch? She was just liking it here, and ifshe had to pack up and go, she truly didn’t know what her next step would be.
“You are a good woman. Dependable, and everyone appears to enjoy your company, and you are Army. You are one of us, and we protect our own here.”
“We sure as fuck do,” Buck growled. He took off his hat and ran his fingers through his graying hair. His eyes crinkled in the corners as a deep chuckle escaped him. “You couldn’t be more safer on the Silver Creek than anywhere else.”
She gave a nod. Her heart swelled at their words. She blinked back tears and glanced away again. She didn’t know what was going on with her, but it must be something in the air.
“Thanks. It means the world to me. I like the ranch. It’s given me so much in my short time here,” she admitted. She thought of all the guys she had gotten to know and worked with. They were all working through shit like she was.
“Well, you know there’s no rush for you to leave. There’s always work to be done.” Andy smiled.
She barked a laugh. Boy, did she know that. With a ranch this size, she was surprised anyone was allowed to go home and get sleep.
“And then today, I go and be late to work,” she joked.
“Don’t worry about it. I hear your boss is a big softie,” Buck said.
“Say what now?” Andy sputtered.
A police SUV made its way down the dirt road toward them. Melah may have felt better at the moment, but her thoughts were now racing.
Was it Theo?
It couldn’t be. Why would he seek her out?
She remembered that day in court as they’d taken him away. He had turned toward her and stared at her with the most menacing glare. According to him, she’d ruined his career. His life.
“You bitch!” he screamed. Theo’s dark hair fell forward in his face.
The bailiffs gripped him and dragged him toward the door.
“Everything is going to be all right,” her father said. Through the entire trial, he’d been by her side. He took her hand in his and brought her to him, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. “He can’t hurt you any longer, baby girl.”
