The Ranch (A Second Chance Romance)

There was still one thing I could clear up right then and there. “Mom, I never stole those test papers.” I looked into her eyes, determined not to look away until after she’d acknowledged what I said. “The SAT answers from the proctor’s office? That wasn’t me.”

Her smile was genuine as she walked over to hug me. “I know, sweetie. I believed you the first time you told me.”

Now it was my turn to raise a brow. “You and Dad both yelled and screamed and tried to ground me all summer.”

Prue snickered, and Mom even gave a bit of a wry laugh. “Okay, so I actually believed you the second time you told me.”

I eyed her skeptically, but still had to smile. “The point is that I believe you now, and I’ve known you were telling the truth for a long time.” She cocked her head to the side. “But there is one thing I’ve always wondered about.”

Damn.

We’d been doing so well.

Please don’t let her ask anything inappropriate. Please, please, please.

“O-kay...” I drew the word out for as long as possible. “What is it?”

I stood there trying and failing to imagine a question that might be worse or more embarrassing than the track we’d been on.

Whatever it was, I’d decided to answer with the truth. No matter how awkward or how embarrassing, I would give her a real answer.

“Why were they trying to steal those SAT answers in the first place?” she asked, completely knocking me off guard, but in the opposite way I’d imagined. “No offense to either of those boys, but I’m pretty sure going to college was never high on their list of priorities. They are ranch boys, and they always had that destiny mapped out. What advantage did they hope to gain by cheating?”

She’d knocked me speechless. Not only because I hadn’t expected that particular question, but because it had never crossed my mind to ask it for myself.

Why had they cheated when neither of them had planned on going to college?

Cooper had always had a mischievous streak, and Nolan had always seemed happy enough to go along with his plans. But they’d never done anything particularly devious, as far as I’d known.

Had they done silly, stupid, sometimes dangerous, reckless things?

Yes, yes, yes, and yes.

Had they ever, ever knowingly or willingly put me at risk—even when I’d asked to go along?

Never. Not once.

After all these years, they had finally explained why they’d let me take the fall for the cheating scandal. And while I hated that I’d been caught up in it at all, I completely understood why they hadn’t come forward with the truth.

I understood now, anyway.

But what had ever possessed them to try it in the first place?

“I don’t have a clue, Mom,” I finally answered, belatedly realizing that I’d been standing there staring at her with my mouth hanging open for several long, silent seconds. “I honestly have no idea.” I gazed over at where Cooper and Nolan stood, doing a horrible job at pretending not to watch me. “But I’m going to find out right now.”

Chapter Twenty Seven

Poppy Evans

The watchful gaze of everyone in town was on me as I made the short walk from where I’d been working with Mom and Prue to where I’d left Cooper and Nolan waiting.

Realistically, nobody besides the five of us—and my dad, wherever he was—cared or even noticed where I was going or who I might have been talking to, but my skin itched like there were dozens of sets of eyes on me.

Watching me. Whispering about me. Judging me.

It was the same sensation I’d had whenever the cheating scandal had become public knowledge, and my ears started to burn with my old shame as I dredged up all those memories on my way to ask the guys about that day.

“How did it go, baby?” Cooper pulled me into a quick hug the moment I was close enough. “I didn’t hear any shouting, so I’m hoping that’s a good sign.”

Nolan nudged him. “They’re still watching, just so you know.”

It took way too much willpower to stop myself from turning around to check, but I somehow managed. “It’s all fine,” I said. “Good, I mean. Not great, but not as bad as I’d expected. Probably because my dad isn’t there.”

Cooper grunted. “I saw him on the other side of the square a minute ago, so he’ll probably be over here at some point.”

I hoped Cooper was wrong. I hoped that whatever my dad was doing would keep him busy—at least while we were still there.

Now that I’d broken the ice with my mom, the last thing I wanted was a confrontation with my dad. Or worse, for him to persuade my mom to take his side and then gang up on me like they usually did.

I wasn’t there to talk about him, though. Out of sight, out of mind. That was going to be my motto for the day.