“Just so you know, I’m a convicted murderer,” she said.
“Don’t worry about getting a hotel room in town,” he’d said as an answer. “We have lots of room here for you at the ranch. You can stay here and have dinner with us and meet my brothers, too.”
She’d been so shocked at his response she had almost dropped the phone. “Did you hear what I said?”
“Convicted murderer, yeah, I heard. Please be here around two tomorrow.”
Aurora pulled her phone from her pocket and checked the time; ten minutes after two. She put it back in her pocket and walked toward the front door. Before she could mount the stairs the screen door flew open and a handsome cowboy stepped out.
“Hello, darling! Welcome to the Rescue Ranch.” He hurried down the stairs and held out his hand. “Austin Coleman, at your service.”
Aurora laughed as she shook his hand. “Aurora Bickman. I’m here to see Holt.”
“Yeah, about that.”
Aurora’s heart fell. Her words from last night had obviously set in, and Holt didn’t want to see her. The jerk had let her drive all this way. She tried to pull back her hand, but Austin held it tight.
“Holt is out helping to settle a new filly. I’m supposed to offer you tea and tell you he’ll be here as soon as possible.” He finally let go of her hand. “So come in the house, we’ll fix a drink, and well, I’m sorry to say, you’ll have to wait.”
He turned and went up the stairs as fast as he’d come down them. Aurora guessed his age to be around twenty-five or so. He had the screen door open before she reached the top. She went inside to see an immaculate house full of wooden furniture and walls decorated with western art. The far wall was floor to ceiling glass, with French doors in the middle that were open, letting the smell that had greeted her outside float in.
“Beautiful,” she said.
“Mom and Dad designed it,” Austin said. “Their room is downstairs, and the six of us have rooms upstairs.”
“Six of you?” Aurora asked. “And your parents live here, too?”
“They use this as their permanent address, but right now they are living out of an RV, traveling the nation. We haven’t seen them in forever.” He took a step and then turned back around. “And yes, six of us: Holt, Hawkins, the triplets Reed, Kyle, Wyatt, and then me. I’m the baby.”
“Which is why you got stuck with me,” she said.
“I volunteered,” Austin said. “It’s my night to cook dinner, and I need the time to put steaks in to marinade and let them soak up the flavor. I make a great steak. You’re going to love it.” He waved his hand around the room. “Take a gander, and I’ll get you that tea. Sweet? Or unsweet?”
“Sweet, please,” she said.
“Good girl,” he said with a smile before he headed to the left and disappeared through a doorway. “Make yourself at home,” he called out.
Aurora took advantage of her alone time to examine the room. Near the glass walls there was a staircase that disappeared up to the second floor. There was also a hallway on the other side of the room. In between the two was a large fireplace that showed signs of being used in the last few days. She wanted to explore, to see what was at the top of the stairs, to see what was down the hallway.
But like a good little inmate she stayed exactly where she was; she was so used to being told where to go, and when to go, that she had problems thinking for herself.
“What are you doing?”
Aurora looked to where Austin stood, two glasses of tea in his hand.
“Waiting for you to come back,” she said.
He smiled, then said, “Have a seat.”
“Where?”
“There’s lots of them here,” he said, moving his hand in the direction of the two sofas and several chairs sitting in the middle of the room.
Aurora took a seat in a large wingback chair. She accepted the glass of tea he offered her before he sat down on one of the sofas.
“You a Texas girl?” he asked.
“Born and raised in Lubbock,” she said.
“Ah, the dust bowl capital of Texas,” he said, right before he drained his tea.
Aurora took a sip from hers. It was cold, sweet, and delicious. “Where were you born?” she asked.
“All six of us were born here in Bookman Springs.” He crossed his legs. “Our parents have always been big on supporting local businesses, which includes doctors and the hospital here.”
“Do all six of you work at the ranch?” she asked.
“Yup.” He stood. “Need more tea?”
Since there was barely a sip missing from her glass, Aurora shook her head.
He turned to leave and then said, “Oh, looks like you’re saved from me.”
Aurora stood and turned toward the windows Austin was looking through. A large man was dismounting a horse. He tied the reins around a hitch, then started up the stairs, taking them two at a time. He took his hat off as he strode through the door, and Aurora thought her heart would stop.
He was, without a doubt, the most handsome man she’d ever seen. She imagined him to be in his late thirties. He had dark, close-cropped hair and several days of dark stubble, mixed with a little gray, on his chin. He wore a denim button down shirt, jeans, and chaps.
“Aurora,” he said as he stuck out his hand. “Forgive my rudeness, and welcome to the Rescue Ranch. I’m Holt Coleman.”
“Thank you,” she managed to say. She shook his hand and could have sworn she felt a jolt of electricity from his touch.
“Well, I’m going to go work on dinner,” Austin said. He started to leave, but stopped when his brother asked him to bring another glass of tea—no, make that a pitcher—to the back deck. “Sure, sure,” Austin said. “At your service.”
When he was gone, Holt chuckled. “Austin feels put upon because he’s the youngest. Come on, let’s go outside and we can talk.” He put his hat on the coffee table, then indicated she should precede him out the French doors.
There was one table on the deck. Holt hurried over and held out a chair for her. Aurora sat down, shivering a bit when he touched her shoulders as he pushed the chair toward the table.
“We work as hard as we can to keep to a schedule here, but sometimes things happen unexpectedly.” He sat down next to her. “We had to rescue a filly this morning from up near Borger. We left the house at four, and got back around eleven. She was anxious, so Kyle, Hawk, and I were getting her settled.”
“An abused horse?” she asked.
“Yes, starved and beaten.” She could hear the anger in his voice. “If the sheriff there hadn’t already arrested the guy I would have busted his lip.”
“That’s awful,” she said. “Was he arrested for animal cruelty?”
“For that and for doing the same thing to his wife,” Holt said.
Austin appeared and placed a tray on the table. “I added cookies.” He mock curtsied and then went back in the house.
“Like I said, he thinks he’s put upon.” Holt poured himself a glass of tea. “So, tell me about yourself. But before you begin, don’t tell me about why you were in prison. I want you to tell all of us tonight at supper. It’s best for everyone to hear that story firsthand.”
“All right,” she said. “Um, born and raised in Lubbock. I’m single. I have no brothers