The Rancher's Redemption

“We sure did. Any coffee around here?” He looked hopefully at Lizzie.

“Sure. Sit down, and I’ll make a fresh pot.”

While she made the coffee, her mom sorted out Roman’s dirty laundry, and put his clean clothes back in his room. He seemed to have acquired a large quantity of new T-shirts.

Roman came up to her with a bag in his hand. “I got this for Spot.” He showed her a gold plastic sheriff ’s star.

“Don’t you think that should go to Nate Turner, the actual sheriff?” Lizzie asked him.

“Nope.” Roman shook his head. “It’s for Spot and my Adam.”

Unwilling to dump too much bad news on her son the moment he got home, Lizzie turned to her parents.

“Ray Smith came down to see me this week.”

“The loser who ran out on you?” Her dad frowned. “What did he want?”

“To make amends and to pay child support.” Lizzie handed over the coffee and brought her own mug to the couch. “His mom would like to get to know Roman.”

“Would she?” Angela harrumphed. “Well, it’s about time.”

Neither of her parents looked thrilled about sharing their grandparent responsibilities, which amused Lizzie greatly.

“She’s going to come here and meet Roman, and we’ll see how it goes.”

“I suppose that’s progress, at least for Roman’s sake,” her father said. “I hope she follows through and doesn’t leave the little chap hanging.”

“So do I.” Lizzie smiled at him. “Ray said he’s going to arrange to pay child support through his attorney, so I’ll be able to pay you back some of the money you loaned me when Roman was born.”

“Don’t worry about that,” her dad said gruffly. “Keep it and put it in a college fund. We don’t need it.”

“Thanks, Dad.” Lizzie went over and kissed the top of his head. “You’re my hero.”

She was so out of tears that she could only smile foolishly at her parents. Even if she never found another man to love, she’d always have her family and her son. She reminded herself that she was a very lucky woman.

Chapter Twenty-Three

“Adam!”

Lizzie groaned as Roman spotted the last man she ever wanted to see again and ran straight for him. Adam was coming out of Maureen’s shop where they’d been heading to buy Roman an ice cream. Her parents had left for home the day before, and she still hadn’t told them or Roman that she and Adam had broken up.

“Hey, dude.” Adam picked Roman up and set him on his shoulder. “How was your vacation?”

“It was great!” Roman drew a breath, and then started telling Adam all about it as Lizzie reluctantly went toward them.

“Hey,” Adam said.

“Hi.” She kept her gaze at his chest level. “Sorry he’s bothering you. We just came by to get an ice cream.”

“He’s not bothering me at all.”

His voice sounded hoarse as if he’d picked up a cold. When she risked a glance up at him, he looked like he hadn’t slept in days.

“Are you okay?” She blurted out the question before she even realized it.

“I’m . . .” He paused. “I’m not doing too good.”

“Are you sick?”

“Sick of being an idiot, yeah.”

She didn’t have an answer for that, and, as Roman was wiggling to get down, she reached forward to help Adam set him on the ground.

“Thanks.” Lizzie grabbed Roman’s hand. “See you around.”

Roman dug in his heels. “Mom, Spot’s present!”

Inwardly, Lizzie sighed. “Can we sort that out next time, Ro? We’ve got a lot to do today, and Adam’s really busy.”

“No, he’s not!” Roman stamped his foot. He was still a bit out of sorts from his vacation.

Lizzie crouched in front of him. “Don’t shout at me, okay? I’ve told you we have to go. If you still want that ice cream, you’d better listen to me right now and do as I say.”

Roman’s lip came out. “You’re mean.”

“Yes, I am.”

“Your mom’s right, Roman. I do have to go. I only came into town to get some supplies for Ines and some prescriptions. I have to get back real quick.”