Count On A Cowboy. Patricia Thayer

sorry.” She offered him a hesitant smile. “At least you got to come back to live here.”

      For far too many years he’d lost touch with his dad. He’d regret that forever and that he’d never gotten to see his little brother grow up... “Yeah, I got to come back here.”

      Before Brooke could speak again, his cell phone rang. Trent took it out of his pocket. “It’s Rory. I’ll be right back.” He got up from the table as he pressed the talk button and walked out to the mudroom. He needed privacy for what he had to say.

      “Rory. What the hell is going on?” he asked.

      “Good morning to you, too,” the older man answered.

      Trent ran his fingers through his hair. “Sorry, I’ve been worried. Another hour and I’d be in my truck and headed for Denver. Is everyone okay?”

      “Yes, we’re fine. And no, we haven’t found Jack. Every place that Laurel knew about turned out to be a dead end.”

      “How about letting your friends know you’re all right?”

      “I was hoping to have some news to tell you before I called, but no such luck.”

      Trent turned around to see Brooke watching him from the other room. “How about that I have some important news for you.”

      “Has that creep come back to Hidden Springs?”

      “No, Aldrich hasn’t shown up. That would be too easy for us.”

      “Yeah, and if you’d gotten ahold of him...all that would be left would be to dispose of the body.” A laugh came over the line. “I know you Special Forces types. Get in and get out before anyone knows what happened.”

      “Believe me, I wish I had a chance with this guy, but that’s not what I wanted to talk to you about.”

      Trent paused, trying to figure out how to phrase his words. “This is a different matter altogether.”

      There was a pause, then Rory said, “Just tell me straight out, son.”

      “You had a visitor show up yesterday right after you left. A woman named Brooke Harper. She says she’s Laurel’s half sister.”

      “The hell you say?”

      “Strange, but true. Rory, have you ever known a woman by the name of Coralee Harper?”

      There was more silence, then Rory finally spoke. “Coralee Harper came to the ranch?”

      “No, but her daughter, Brooke Harper, arrived yesterday just hours after you all left.”

      Rory cursed.

      “So Laurel’s adopted?” Trent already knew the answer, but needed Rory to confirm it.

      “Since I’m Laurel’s biological father there was no adoption, I got full custody. It cost me enough money to get Coralee to sign my daughter over to me. And she was never supposed to contact me or Laurel again.”

      “Well, Coralee’s other daughter is sitting in your kitchen, waiting to see Laurel.”

      “Get her the hell out of there.”

      “Hear me out first, Rory,” he said, wondering why he was playing Miss Harper’s advocate. Yet, he found himself calming Rory down and telling him the story about Coralee’s Alzheimer’s and her wanting to see Laurel one last time.

      “No way. That woman has caused me enough problems. I’m not sure I even believe this story. It’s more than likely Coralee just wants more money.”

      “That’s why you need to tell Laurel, and let her decide if she wants to come home and meet her sister.”

      He heard the long sigh, then the curse. “We always meant to tell Laurel, but we kept putting it off. Damn, I knew this would happen...” Rory’s voice wandered off.

      “Well, it looks like you don’t have a choice now.”

      “Okay, then you tell me just how in the hell do I do it?”

      “Like you always tell me, straight-out.”

      “I guess you’re right.” Rory released a long breath. “I need to ask you another favor. Trent, could you have that friend of yours, the PI, investigate Coralee? And have him look into Aldrich, too. The police here haven’t been able to help us.”

      “Consider it done. I’ll contact Cody Marsh today. So when should I expect you back here?”

      “Give us a few days,” Rory said. “You’re right, Diane and I need to explain all this to Laurel. This news—and she’s still dealing with the aftershocks of Aldrich’s betrayal—is going to take some time.”

      “So you want me to send Brooke back to Las Vegas?”

      “No, I don’t want her to leave until you find out the truth. Do you think you can keep her there a little while longer? If Coralee is running a scam, I swear... Just keep her there.”

      “I’ll do my best. But please, Rory, just get back here soon.”

      After promising to stay in touch by phone, Trent hung up and walked back into the kitchen. He wasn’t about to apologize for wanting privacy. “Rory asks if you’ll stay a few days until he gets back. So how about I show you around the ranch?”

      * * *

      BROOKE DIDN’T LIKE how Trent just brushed over the important parts of the phone call. “Wait a minute. What did Rory ask? Does he remember Coralee? Is he going to tell Laurel about being her daughter?”

      Trent held up a hand. “Slow down. First of all, yes, he remembers Coralee. And that’s all I’m saying because this is his story to tell you.”

      She wasn’t happy. “So I’m just supposed to sit around and wait until Rory Quinn decides to come home.”

      “No. You can return to Las Vegas at any time, but Rory did request that you stay here until he returns. He wants to meet you. But first he needs to talk with Laurel and explain things. And as you know, she’s going through a rough time. Although I might think Jack Aldrich is a bastard, Laurel thought she loved him.”

      Brooke backed down. “I’m sorry. You’re right, I’m the one asking for a big favor.” She was eager to meet her sister, but it was more than that. Thanks to her mother, she’d been alone all her life. She’d only been able to dream about having a family.

      And if telling a white lie got her the opportunity, so be it. She wasn’t leaving Colorado until she had a chance to make a connection, at least with her twin sister.

       Chapter Four

      An hour later, Brooke sat beside Trent in his truck, bumping along the winding dirt road that led to his ranch.

      Grabbing hold of the safety handle to steady herself, she stole a glance across the bench seat to the man who suddenly had become her closest connection to her family. His clean-shaven jaw was set tight and his forehead furrowed in a deep frown, as if he were thinking about something serious. Was he her ally, or was he hoping she’d give up her quest and just leave Colorado?

      She faced forward and concentrated on the incredible view. The lush green grass was waving in the warm autumn breeze while the cattle grazed in the pasture with the Rocky Mountains as a backdrop. It was like a different world here. A world she knew nothing about until two weeks ago, when she found the secrets hidden in Coralee’s safety deposit box.

      Suddenly she had a sister...and a father. And now she was on a ranch in Colorado waiting for her new family to come home.

      Panic hit her. What if they wanted nothing to do with her? Didn’t want her in their life? The familiar feeling of rejection caused an overwhelming ache in her chest.

      Why