“Not by my watch.” Caitlyn checked its time against the clock over the stove. “Which is five minutes off yours.”
“See? I told you that you were late.”
“I’ve got a client at one,” Caitlyn said, remembering how several of her weekly luncheons with Granny were full-course dinners. She thought Caitlyn was too skinny.
“It won’t take long. I’m only fixing sandwiches. Emma and I have yoga this afternoon. You should join us sometime.” Granny pulled a bowl and mayo from the fridge.
“Caitlyn, we listened to your show today.” Emma sipped her drink. “You gave some good advice and did a nice job handling that last caller. I would have hung up after two seconds of silence. You’re more tolerant than I am.”
Granny harrumphed. “You should be less tolerant. I don’t like you doing this talk show, four times a week. No telling who it’s exposing you to.”
Caitlyn sat across from Emma. “I’ve been practicing for seven years without any problems. I went into my profession to help people who were having problems. Y’all need to stop worrying about me.” She knew from personal experience what happened when you ignored your problems for years, hoping they would go away. They never did.
“That’s what a grandma is for—to worry about her grandchildren.” Granny brought the plate of sandwiches to the table and set them down, then went back for the pitcher of iced tea.
“I’m giving you the okay not to.” Caitlyn grabbed a chicken salad sandwich.
“But what about that creepy-sounding man? ‘Stop him’ from doing what?”
Granny said a prayer, then poured iced tea in both Caitlyn’s and her glasses, while Emma stuck to her coffee. “You don’t have to take us to yoga.”
“My grandson said he’d give us a ride. He should be here any minute.” Emma took a bite of her lunch.
“Sean?” Caitlyn was asking about him because lately he’d been more a recluse than a rancher.
“No, Ian. I can never get Sean to do anything lately.”
“Ian? I thought he lived in El Paso.” Caitlyn remembered the times she, Sean and Ian used to play together as kids. Granny and Emma had been best friends for over sixty years, so it made sense that she’d be friends with Emma’s grandkids. Then later, she’d even gone out with Ian a couple of times after graduating from high school and before her life took a detour and they lost touch.
Emma smiled. “Not since last week. A position opened up. He’s been transferred to Company B and will be working in the Longhorn area. I’ve sure missed him. He’s staying with me until he finds a house.”
“Not at the family ranch outside town?”
“No, Sean and Ian don’t get along.”
Caitlyn hadn’t seen Ian in years. When he had been in Longhorn for his father’s funeral last year, she’d been gone. According to Emma, he was so busy with his job as a Texas Ranger that he’d had limited time to come home. What made Ian return now? A change of scenery? His older brother, who was supposed to be looking after Emma, rarely came by. Was that why, or was there something else?
“That’s a shame. They used to be so close when we were growing up. I never see Sean anymore, and we live in the same town.”
“That’s because you’re dedicated to your work like both my grandsons, Caitlyn. Since my son died, Sean’s been throwing all his energy into making the Pierce ranch the biggest one in the area. He’s carrying on the feud my son and his neighbor, Jack Shephard, had over whose ranch was the biggest and richest. He doesn’t have time for much else.” Emma drained the last of her coffee and set her mug on the table.
The sadness in Emma’s voice told Caitlyn there was more to what was going on with Sean than working too much. From all she’d heard, Sean had changed a lot in the past few years—more bitter and angry. His father’s death had sent him in a downward spiral. She hated hearing he was continuing the feud between the ranches. “Let me refill your coffee.”
Caitlyn rose and walked to the stove to grab the pot. As she turned to come back to the table, Emma shot Granny a be quiet look. Caitlyn would have a word with her grandmother when Emma wasn’t here. Something was going on. Maybe Caitlyn could help? Emma was like a second grandmother to her. Growing up, she’d been closer to Ian than she was to Sean.
In fact, she’d hoped there could have been more between her and Ian, but she’d had to leave Longhorn suddenly. A relationship with him was never meant to be. Her job fulfilled her, and she was able to do what she loved—helping others.
* * *
As Ian parked in his grandma’s driveway, he noticed a retro Thunderbird with its top down parked at the curb in front of Sally’s home. He whistled. Beautiful car. Was that Caitlyn’s? The sports car had to be hers. It fit her personality. When he’d known her, she’d been serious but with a touch of mischief. How much had she changed? He certainly had, he reflected.
He rang the bell and, not a half a minute later, Caitlyn Rhodes opened her grandmother’s front door. A smile dimpled her cheeks and brightened her green eyes.
“It’s great to see you.” Caitlyn gave him a quick hug, then stepped to the side. “Come in. The dynamite duo will have someone to interrogate besides me now.”
Ian chuckled, taking in how much Caitlyn had changed since he’d last seen her five years ago at Christmas. Her usually long brown hair was cut shorter, which framed her face, emphasizing her attractive features from a pert nose to the longest eyelashes to full lips.
He realized he was staring and looked away, trying to tamp down his racing pulse. “Nana has done her share of drilling me for information long-distance.”
Caitlyn shut the door, clasped his arm and started for the kitchen. “You’re late. Prepare yourself. Being late in Granny’s house is frowned upon.”
She used to hook her arm through his in the past. Her touch felt familiar and yet...something much more. If only Caitlyn hadn’t left that summer, things would have been different between them.
“I’m glad you’re here finally. I have a patient at one, so I can’t stay as long as I wish.”
“I have unusual hours. Crime doesn’t work on a schedule.”
She laughed. “Neither does a patient’s crisis. I understand.”
When they approached the kitchen, he let Caitlyn go ahead of him, her arm slipping away from him. He missed the connection. She had always made him feel better and, after the morning he’d had, he needed that. After lunch, he’d talk to her about Jane.
He paused in the doorway. A place waited for him at the table, food already on his plate. He went to his grandmother, kissed her on the cheek and sat down across from her. Nana and Sally were two people who probably knew more than most what was going on in Longhorn. They had lived here their whole lives and were always involved in the church and town. Maybe they’d know something to help with his latest case. “Sorry I was late. I got delayed with a new case.”
Sally waved her hand. “Some things can’t be helped. I certainly understand.”
Caitlyn’s eyes grew wide. “He’s half an hour late and you don’t care, while I was only five minutes late and I got—”
Nana patted Caitlyn’s hand. “Honey, I understand. I’d be late if I had a creepy man call me on-air like you did.”
Creepy man? Ian shifted his attention to Caitlyn. “On your radio show?”
“You know I’m on the radio?”
He nodded. “I’ve even listened.”
Color flooded Caitlyn’s