Page 21 of A Rancher's Vow

“Okay.” Charity glanced around as if trying to find a place to hide.

“You know what’s going on, so don’t feel you have to cover your ears. In fact,” Caleb eyed her, “running the office, you’ll need to know what we decide. Feel free to contribute if you have any suggestions.”

She swallowed hard. “Okay,” she repeated, sliding onto one of the tall chairs by the island counter.

Dustin offered her a wink then followed his brother into the living room. He stopped at Caleb’s side. “Sorry.”

He seemed stuck in apology mode.

His brother frowned. “For what? You didn’t do anything.”

“I feel like crap that this is happening.”

Caleb laid a hand on Dustin’s shoulder. “I hear you. Still, not your fault. And I don’t want you to beat yourself up over it. We’ll get through it.”

Dustin nodded. “I’ll just feel a little crappy, then.”

His brother chuckled. “Okay, you do that.” Caleb lifted his voice and got everyone’s attention. “Sit or stand, your choice. We’ve got a situation.”

Dustin settled on the stonework in front of the fireplace. That left the couches and easy chairs for his siblings and their partners. Caleb and Tamara settled in their usual chairs. Ginny curled up against Tucker on one couch, Luke and Kelli on the other. Walker had taken the rocker by the fire. Sasha sat beside Ginny.

Charity remained in the kitchen, looking as if she’d like to bolt.

Which made sense, but Dustin was distracted by another issue. He messaged his missing sister-in-law, Ivy.

She answered right away.

Ivy:Hey. What’s up? How’s the big meeting going?

Dustin: Just about to start. You want to listen in or watch? I can link you in no problem.

Ivy had severe social anxiety, even around family at times. If she wasn’t here, it was because she wasn’t having a good day.

Dustin:If you’re up for it.

Ivy: You are a darling. Turn on video. I’ll cut out if I need to.

He clicked until connected, then stood and propped his phone on the shelf where she’d have a view of the entire room. “I’ve put you on the bookcase. Volume check?”

A minute later he was back in front of the fireplace, standing now so that Ivy could see him as well.

Caleb nodded his approval. “Thanks for thinking of that. Hey, Ivy. Good to see you.”

Ivy waved. “What’s up?”

Caleb gestured to Kelli. “You called the meeting.”

Kelli rubbed her hands on her thighs. “That article about Silver Stone and Dustin. As outrageous as it was, we all know outrageous was what they were going for. Something to catch people’s attention.”

It made no sense. Dustin shook his head. “But this is beyond…”

“Some woman used the hashtags and posted your contact info, Dustin. Your email, your social media links, your address here at Silver Stone.” Kelli glanced at Sasha then met Dustin’s gaze again. “She inferred you two had a sexual history.”

Dustin closed his eyes. His face had probably turned beet red. “Great.”

“This is beyond the interview bullshit,” Tucker complained. “That was annoying but somewhat understandable. This is now an invasion of privacy.”

“Can we stop it?” Ginny worried her bottom lip with her teeth. “Or is gossip like this the same as the story of the woman with the bag of feathers she let loose?”