The Rancher's Redemption

“I’m not ‘spending time’ with her,” Adam repeated doggedly, aware that he wasn’t being honest with himself, and unable to decide why. Was he afraid to admit he was interested in what Lizzie was up to? Or was it simply that it still felt like too much of a betrayal of Louisa? “And don’t go around telling the rest of the family anything different, okay?”

“Too late for that.” Ben grinned at him. “I already dropped you in it last night at dinner when you were still in town with Lizzie.”

“I was not—”

“Okay, whatever, if you say so.” Ben glanced over his shoulder. “Shall we get some work done?”

Relieved that his brother had finally shut up, and anxious to move on, Adam nodded. He whistled to his dogs and they all headed toward the small group of cattle at the bottom of the field. If his whole family were on alert for him mentioning Lizzie, he’d better shut the hell up and ride it out.

* * *

“Please come on up.” Lizzie held the door open and invited the woman from CPS inside. She’d had a call at work requesting the meeting and had decided to get it over and done with as soon as she could. “I rent this place from Ted Baker who owns the gas station and mechanics shop. It was only recently converted into living accommodations. It’s a really great location for me to get to work and for Roman’s day care provider.”

Yeah, she was in full-blown chatter mode. Fear did weird things to people, and she was never going to be the hero who kept silent. She was definitely a babbler who’d betray her own mother. She’d spent the whole of the previous night rehearsing what to say when she was interviewed, and now felt like a complete fake.

“It’s lovely.” Patty Young looked around the kitchen-diner. “It’s so light.”

“Do you want to see Roman’s bedroom? He has his own room next to the bathroom.” Lizzie gestured toward the connecting hallway.

Patty politely peeked into each room, and then returned to the kitchen and set her briefcase on the table. She took out a small laptop and opened it up.

“I just need to ask you a few questions, and then I’ll be on my way. Is that okay?”

“Sure!” Lizzie sat opposite her and tried to look as honest and open as she could. “What can I help you with?”

“Is your full name Elizabeth Jane Taylor?”

“Yes, and I still can’t believe my parents called me that. I’m not exactly brunette mega film star material, am I?” Lizzie mentally told herself to shut up as Patty kept typing.

Patty went through a lot of the basics, and just as Lizzie was starting to relax asked, “Is it true that Roman’s been taken to the twenty-four-hour emergency care facility three times already this year?”

Lizzie frantically tried to remember. “Well, there was the bee sting; that was the latest. Then the time he fell out of a tree, and I was worried he had a concussion—he didn’t. And he jumped into a patch of poison ivy up on the Cortez ranch, so we had to get that treated. All normal boy stuff really.”

“Do you ever leave Roman unattended in your apartment when you go to work?”

“No, I only work if I can get a sitter,” Lizzie said firmly.

Patty looked up. “You don’t take him to work with you?”

“Only if I’m meeting a babysitter there.” Lizzie paused. “Why? Did someone say I did those things?”

Patty didn’t answer as she continued to type. “Am I correct that you don’t allow the father of your child any contact with his son?”

“Er, seeing as he ran out on me when I was pregnant, I think it’s the other way around,” Lizzie replied. “I’ve encouraged Roman’s only relative in this town to get to know him, but she’s chosen not to. I have no idea why.”

“Okay, thanks for that.” Patty typed away, which seeing as her nails were long and beautifully manicured was quite an achievement. She finally finished and smiled at Lizzie. “I think we’re good. Roman is a very nice little boy.”

Lizzie smiled. “He’s awesome.”

Patty put her laptop away in her bag and stood up, smoothing down her skirt. “Thanks for letting me speak to you.”