It was Aaron’s goal, his plan, to see that others did survive. Children most especially. For that reason, and to honor Hailey’s memory, he’d returned to Bear Creek Ranch.
“Did you find the leather punch?” Gary asked from the doorway.
“Not yet.” Aaron replaced the helmet. On impulse, he asked, “Do you have any of these for adults?”
“Helmets? No.”
“Can I ask why?”
Gary scratched his chin. “No reason I can think of.”
“Have any guests ever requested them?”
“One or two.” Gary’s expression changed, becoming slightly guarded.
Aaron suspected that while Gary had an obligation to answer all his questions, he didn’t want to say anything that might reflect ill on the Tuckers.
“I’m going to recommend to Jake that we purchase some adult helmets.” Aaron crossed the room to the wall of tools and removed the leather punch. He turned back around and met Gary’s gaze head-on. “That won’t be a problem, will it?”
“Not at all.”
A safe, noncommittal answer. Aaron wasn’t annoyed at Gary. On the contrary. He admired the man for his loyalty to his employer.
The morning ride went smoothly. Gary didn’t say much the first hour. He must have grown tired of listening to himself think, because he eventually opened up and began chatting. They rode the two shortest trails first. Using a GPS device, Gary marked locations for the maintenance crews to check.
“What about the hiking and ATV trails?” Aaron asked. They guided their horses around a fallen log.
“Those are to the east and south of the ranch. Horse trails are to the west. We have crews inspecting those as well.”
“Are all the trails on ranch property?”
“The shorter ones are. The longer ones cross over onto federal land. We stay in constant contact with the neighboring ranches. They let us know in what areas their cattle are grazing so we can avoid any accidental run-ins.”
Gary was in the middle of telling Aaron about the all-day trail rides, which were combined with mini fishing trips, when the radio clipped to his belt emitted a loud beep.
Pulling his horse to a stop, he held the radio to his mouth and said, “Yeah, what’s up?”
“Where are you?” a male voice Aaron didn’t recognize asked.
“Five miles out. At the base of Windy Pass.”
“Hoof it on back. Jake’s orders.”
“Something wrong?” Gary shifted in his saddle, his steel-gray brows drawn together in a deep V.
“He needs Aaron back here on the double.”
“What for?” Aaron asked, feeling himself tense. Jake was up to something.
“Did he say what for?” Gary repeated Aaron’s question into the radio.
“Nope. And I didn’t ask.”
“All right.” Gary signed off after giving the caller their ETA.
It was faster to ride the trail to the end than turn around. Once again, he and Aaron talked very little. Probably because the scowl on Aaron’s face discouraged conversation. He considered refusing to return then thought better of it. Gary could wind up taking the heat for something that wasn’t his fault.
It was past one o’clock when they arrived back at the ranch, and Aaron was hungry. Had Jake’s call not come in, he and Gary would have broken for lunch. While Aaron was unsaddling Dollar, Natalie arrived in her golf cart. She parked far enough away not to spook the horses.
Walking toward him, she waved hello.
Because he liked what he saw, he stopped to watch. Her strides were long and her shoulders straight. She might only be a shade above five-six, but she carried herself like someone much taller. Aaron supposed there were guys put off by a woman exuding so much self-confidence. Not him. She had the makings of a true competitor, and Aaron found that a whole lot sexier than tight jeans and a low-cut blouse.
“I’m your ride,” she said, going up to Dollar and scratching him between the ears.
“What’s going on?”
“I don’t know. I was just told to come get you.”
“And take me where?”
She followed him when he carried his saddle and bridle into the tack room. “Founders Cabin. It’s where Walter and Ida Tucker lived. They were the original owners of the ranch and started the resort.”
“Hailey and Jake’s grandparents?”
“That’s right. After they passed on, their cabin was converted into a sort of museum and conference center.”
“Conference center?” Aaron had grabbed a brush on his way out of the tack room. “As in meetings?”
“Yes.”
She knew more than she was telling, Aaron would bet on it. But like the rest of her family, her loyalties lay rock solid with the Tuckers.
“We’d best hurry.” She checked her watch. “My orders were to take you to the cabin as soon as you and Dad got back.”
She was the second person to mention “orders” that day, and Aaron’s hackles rose. Jake Tucker really did like to throw his weight around.
“We’ll head out as soon as I put up Dollar and grab something to eat.” The sandwiches he and Gary packed that morning were still in their saddlebags.
“But Jake said I sh—”
“I don’t really care what he said.”
Natalie retreated a step, her internal struggle evident on her face.
Aaron swore under his breath. Like her father, she didn’t deserve to be put in the middle of his test of wills with Jake, and he was wrong to involve her. But something inside Aaron wanted Natalie to stand up to her boss. Defy him. Choose Aaron over him.
She wouldn’t, of course. Not in a million years.
“I’m sorry. I had no right taking my frustration with Jake out on you.”
She nodded mutely.
“He has a talent for rubbing me the wrong way.”
“I’d say it’s mutual.” Her expression was mildly reproachful.
Inhaling slowly, Aaron continued in a calmer tone. “Jake’s waited this long for me, five more minutes won’t make a difference. I’ll tell him that you did your best to hurry me along, but I refused. Everyone here will vouch for you.” He gestured at the half-dozen hands milling about the stable area, staring at them and trying their darnedest not to be conspicuous about it.
Her father was the exception. He kept a close, unguarded eye on his daughter.
“Okay.” Natalie went back to the golf cart, strides still long, shoulders still straight.
He’d won her over. Sort of. Aaron felt a small rush of satisfaction he wasn’t entitled to but enjoyed nonetheless.
After returning Dollar to his stall, he grabbed a sandwich and a cold soda, then slid onto the seat beside Natalie.
“Ready?” she asked.
“Let’s not keep the man waiting.” Which, of course, was exactly what Aaron had done.
She smiled at his joke, and he was glad—very glad, really—there was no residual tension