Page 28 of A Rancher's Vow

“Yeah, I guess. And pissing off my uncle isn’t going to help anyone back home, so I promise to bite my tongue. Even when he’s an ass.”

She laughed. “You assume he’ll be one?”

“Oh, trust me on this, Tee.” Dustin pulled to a stop where she’d ordered and put the truck in Park. “It’s not a matter of if, butwhen.”

He hopped out and rounded the front of the truck, pulling her door open before she had a chance to get herself organized enough to do it for herself.

He held out a hand.

She blinked, then nodded her approval. “Good idea. Your truck is as high as the horse Kelli got me up on.” Charity took his fingers and let him help her down.

“At least your manners have improved.”

The gruff comment grated on Dustin’s nerves, but he took the high road and ignored his uncle for the moment. “You good?” he asked Charity.

“I still need my bag.”

“Me too. I’ll get them in a minute. First, I need to deal with the most important things.” He couldn’t resist. He pulled open the back door of the crew cab and snapped his fingers.

Patchwork Annie jumped down and paced obediently to his side.

ThenDustin turned to face his uncle. “Uncle Frank.”

The older man stood with his arms folded over his chest and a glare on his face. “You brought my dog.”

“Mydog,” Dustin corrected, then stepped next to Charity. “Charity, Frank Stone. Uncle, this is Charity Gruzing. She’ll be gathering the documentation the lawyers have been requesting.”

Charity flicked a warning glance at Dustin as she extended her hand to his uncle. “Nice to meet you.”

Frank didn’t move. He was too busy glaring at Patchwork Annie and Dustin to even attempt politeness.

Charity had begun to pull her arm back when Uncle Frank shook his head and accepted her hand. “Not your fault the company you’re forced to keep.”

Lovely—at least Uncle Frank was living down to Dustin’s expectations.

Back beside him, Charity’s smile was still in place, but no longer shining bright. More strained than natural. “I’m not sure what you mean by that.”

Frank ignored her and pointed to the side of the main barn. “I’ve set you up in the south trailer. It’s a little out of sight, so you shouldn’t be bothered too early in the morning by the crews. Hopefully, you’ll be done in a few days.”

“It’ll take as long as it takes, depending on how well you’ve kept track of the information I need to gather. If Crooked Creek has been capably managed, it won’t take too long. I’ll know how competent you’ve been in the morning.”

Dustin barely kept from reacting to the unexpected cutting tone in her voice.

Frank frowned as if trying to figure out if she had deliberately been insulting or if he’d misheard. He shrugged and turned his attention on Dustin. “Bunkhouse is full. You’ll sleep in the barn.”

Of course. “That’s just fine—”

“Oh, that’s not necessary.” Charity lifted her chin. “Dustin will stay with me.”

Frank snorted. “I don’t know what you think you’re staying in. It’s a horse trailer, darling. Only one bedroom, one bed.”

She linked her arm through Dustin’s, tucking herself against his side. “Perfect. Because, you see, Dustin’sexactlythe type of company I damn well like to keep. Which is why he’s my boyfriend. If you’ll excuse us, we’ll get settled. I’ll meet you, or your foreman, in the office at eight a.m. as Caleb arranged.”

Like a force of nature, Charity tugged Dustin with her. Away from the truck, away from their bags, and away from a gaping Uncle Frank.

6

Embarrassment waged with fury. “I shouldn’t have done that.”