Page 2 of Chance

Trey gave him a half grin and stuck his hand out to shake. “And welcome.” They clasped hands.

“Thanks.”

“We have the family gathered, and we have some food for you. Our cover story is that you are our handyman. You’re one of Ava’s distant relatives, down on his luck. You will stay in one of the rooms on the main floor.”

Chance was befuddled by the way Trey was bossing him around so quickly. He reminded him of his older brother Porter. He chose to ignore the brashness and pulled up the tarp in the back so he could open the door and get out his luggage. “Sounds good.” He re-covered the Jeep, then turned to face Trey. “Did you give me a new name, too?”

Trey squinted and then snapped his fingers. “No, but maybe we should.”

Chance understood Trey’s need to protect his family and this town, but going undercover might be harder than he thought it would be.

He followed Trey through the garage, then Trey opened the door and waited for him to enter.

There was quite the commotion happening inside, with kids playing in the pool, women chatting by the food table, and men trading jokes. The Stone brothers and their wives swarmed to him like moths to a flame, and Chance was soon overwhelmed with introductions.

Brooks wasted no time getting to business. “I’ve made a fake license for you while you’re here. You’ll be Rob Hendrix.” He pulled a license out of his back pocket.

“Are you serious? You didn’t say anything about that.” Trey turned to Chance. “I guess you do have a new name.”

Brooks coolly glanced at Trey. “I deal with things on a need-to-know basis. That includes time sensitivity.”

Marshall barked out a laugh. “That’s funny. FBI guy thinks he’s the boss.” He seized Chance’s hand and shook it. “Welcome.” He turned to a woman at his side. “This is my wife, Kat. I know you’ve seen her on Zoom calls, but you haven’t met in person.”

Chance shook the woman’s hand.

She held a baby on her hip. “Nice to meet you.”

“You, too.”

“And we will have to see you in church,” Hunter said, taking his hand to shake it. “I mean, that’s a given. If you’re living with Ava and Trey and posing as a cousin, then you’ll have to come to church. That’s the story.”

“Okay,” Chance agreed.

Hunter turned to a woman at his side. “This is Cheryse.”

Chance shook her hand. “Nice to meet you.”

Trent moved to Hunter’s side and stuck out his hand. “Don’t worry, Rob,” Trent told Chance with a grin. “You’ll get used to this. My brothers boss everyone around. I’m used to it.”

They shook hands.

Trent turned to a woman behind him. “This is my wife, Liberty.”

“Nice to meet you.”

Liberty nodded back. “You, too. And you do get used to all the bossing,” she said, grinning.

Trey cleared his throat and eyed Trent and Liberty. “Like we could ever boss either of you around.”

“What?” Trent turned to Trey. “I’m malleable. I’m easy. You always boss me around.”

Trey laughed. “Right.”

“Actually, I’m the only one who can boss you around.” Trent’s wife, Liberty, put her arm around Trent’s waist, and he kissed her cheek.

A woman he recognized as the Stone sister moved next to Trey. “I’m Kensi.” She smiled at him. “I’ve never been out to the ranch like my brothers.”

“Right, part of the OG here,” Chance said.

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