Page 85 of A Rancher's Bride

Luke gave Kelli a quick kiss then let her climb down. He walked at her side into the barn, checking his phone as they went.

His feet faltered, and Kelli left him standing there as she guided Pepper into her stall.

“Hell, yeah.” Luke kept his comment quiet to avoid spooking the horses, but he was excited.

Kelli patted Pepper on the back, closing the stall gate behind her as Luke faced her.

“What’s up?” she asked, because from the look on his face, it was something big.

Luke read the message out loud.

Hope this finds you well.

I’d like to come out to Silver Stone sometime next week to discuss an important issue.

Sincerely,

Timothy Carlyn

20

Luke was pretty sure that someone along the line had made a mistake. Hell was not burning hot, desperate and needy, because that sounded an awful lot like what happened when he and Kelli hit the sheets.

Hell was waiting.

Day by day passed, and there was nothing Luke could do to hurry them up and rush forward. There were chores to do, animals to care for. Bills to pay and long conversations filled with concern and worry.

And hope—because that was the one thing noticeable as he crossed off days on the calendar until Timothy Carlyn’s visit to Silver Stone arrived.

The man had finally arrived in their yard, ten-gallon hat and all, every inch the southern gentleman. Walker stood beside Luke, shaking Carlyn’s hand and accepting words of praise for his bull-riding achievements.

Timothy turned to Luke, smile widening. They shook hands heartily but even as he did, the man was looking past him, as if disappointed. “Where’s your lovely fiancée?”

Walker stiffened noticeably, and Luke hurried to answer before something dangerous got said. “She’s out in the fields checking relocation sites for stock if that storm hits that’s expected.”

Timothy wilted then frowned. “I told you I have no problem talking business with her around.”

“I remember that,” Luke assured him, “but I’m not in charge of her schedule. I’m not about to second-guess our foreman when he assigns the best person to the job.”

Luke wasn’t sure if this had been some sort of test, and if Silver Stone had failed without even knowing they were being judged.

But Carlyn nodded firmly. He glanced between Luke and Walker. “This isn’t the easiest of conversations to have, but it’s an important one. I trust what I tell you will stay in confidence. The parts of it that need to remain private.”

It all seemed a lot more cloak and dagger than simply wanting to purchase some of Silver Stone’s stock.

“You can speak freely,” Luke assured him.

Walker was giving Luke meaningful glances. He had totally caught that fiancée thing and was going to rake Luke over the coals first chance he got.

Then Luke wasn’t worried about Walker because Timothy Carlyn had pulled out a photo and was presenting it to them.

“Look familiar?”

“That’s Kelli, from the night of the gala,” Luke began before his words faded off.

Itwasn’t, because the woman wasn’t wearing what Kelli had worn that night. Kelli’s dress had thin straps and clean lines, and this was narrow strips and frilly edges, with a corsage on her chest where one strap met her dress.

Carlyn’s face had gone rigid. “You see it too.”