The Rancher's Redemption. Myra Johnson

her askance, one wayward lock of brown hair sliding across his temple. “Gerbils. Aren’t those just glorified rats?”

      “They’re actually pretty cute. I had a pair when I was a kid. And then they had babies and Mom made me give them away—” Lips pursed, Erin crossed her arms. “I—I’m actually looking for security lights. Do you carry those?”

      “Lighting’s in aisle seven.” Starting in that direction, he peered over his shoulder. “Erin, isn’t it?”

      “Yes,” she said, hurrying to follow. “I’m sorry. I’m terrible with names. Ken?”

      “Kent.” He stopped about halfway down the aisle. “Here we go. Security lights. You want manual or automatic?”

      Erin bit her lip. “What’s the basic difference?”

      Slanting her a crooked smile, Kent picked up a box. “This one’s manual. That means you have to turn it on and off yourself from the light switch.”

      “Of course.” With a silly-me eye roll, Erin bent to read the printing on another box. “So...automatic means the lights come on by themselves, obviously. How do they know?” She cringed at how ignorant she must sound.

      “Well, there’s the kind where you set a timer for exactly when you want the light to go on and off. Then there’s this one,” he said, indicating the box she was examining, “which has a simple light sensor. On at dusk, off at dawn.”

      “I like that.”

      “Or there’s one other option,” Kent said, reaching for a box on a higher shelf. “This one has both a light sensor and a motion detector. If you don’t want the light on all night, you can set it to come on only when there’s activity to trigger it.”

      Erin hadn’t realized she’d have so many choices. An amber warning light blinked in her brain. “That one’s probably the most expensive.”

      “Yeah, they do go up in price when you start getting fancy. Where do you plan to use it?”

      “Front and back porches.”

      “Any reason you wouldn’t want the lights on all night? Like bedroom windows nearby, or neighbors who might be annoyed?”

      Valid points. Points Erin hadn’t considered. “How much exactly is the motion-detector style?”

      Kent brought a box down from the shelf. “This one’s our bestselling model. It’s priced at $69.95.” He must have noticed her flinch, because he returned the box to its place and chose another one instead. “Now, this one here has fewer bells and whistles but works just as good, and it’s $30 cheaper.”

      Still a lot, but definitely more affordable. Erin pictured her minuscule checkbook balance. Maybe she could buy one today and hold off on the second one until after she got her first paycheck.

      She felt Kent’s eyes on her. Thoughtfully, he asked, “You were wanting two, right?” When she replied with a hesitant nod, he drew a hand across his chin. “This is actually a closeout model. With the newer ones expected any day now, we need to clear out shelf space. I’ll sell you the second light for half price.”

      Erin brightened. “Really? That would be great!” If things went well, she could have the lights installed before she picked up Avery from school. And maybe tonight she’d actually get a full night’s sleep instead of tossing and turning and listening for every little sound.

      * * *

      What was it about this woman? Clenching his teeth, Kent tucked two of the security light kits under his arm and strode toward the cash register. Good thing ol’ Ben Zipp, the store’s penny-pinching owner, wasn’t in this morning. Kent hadn’t lied about a newer model coming out—this manufacturer typically updated the line every year—but there’d been no catalog info as yet.

      As for the discounted price? Kent would have to ring it up as quoted and then make the correction after Erin left the store. He’d make up the difference out of his own pocket. And maybe settle for PB&J for lunch at home instead of stopping for a sub sandwich at the supermarket deli.

      He keyed in the purchase and stated the total. “Cash, check or charge?”

      “Check.” Erin tugged out her wallet. “I know hardly anybody writes checks anymore, but it helps me keep to my budget.”

      He understood about tight finances. “No problem, as long as you have some ID.”

      “Yes, of course.” She handed him a check along with her driver’s license.

      Frowning, Kent compared the information. The driver’s license showed a Dallas address, but the check indicated she lived in San Antonio. “Uh, which is it?”

      “Oh. Neither.” A blush brightened the dusting of freckles across her cheeks. “I used to live in Dallas, but then I moved in with my brother in San Antonio for a short time, and now I live in Juniper Bluff. With my daughter. We just moved here last weekend actually. We’re still getting settled.”

      “I get it. All this changeover stuff takes time.” Kent had strict instructions from his boss about check acceptance, though, and conflicting addresses definitely put this one on the questionable list. “Do you have any other form of ID? Something showing your current place of residence would be best.”

      Erin plopped her purse on the counter and began rummaging through it. “How about this?” She pulled out a creased and crumpled paper, smoothed out the page and turned it to face Kent. “I just got this from the post office confirming my change of address.”

      “That’ll work.” Kent entered the payment in the register. While the receipt printed out, he slid the light kits into a large plastic shopping bag. “All set.”

      “Thanks.” Scooping up her purse and the bag, Erin mumbled, “Now I just have to figure out how to install them.”

      Kent figured he’d regret this, but the look on her pretty elfin face was quickly banishing all reason. “If you need some help, I moonlight as a handyman.”

      “I’m sure I can manage.” Her shaky smile said otherwise. “These come with directions, right? How hard can it be?”

      “How much do you know about electric wiring?”

      Her shrug said, Not much.

      “Seriously, I work cheap.” Not really. He was saving for that bull after all. So why was he going off the rails to help a complete stranger? “My shift ends at noon. Why don’t I come by and at least walk you through it? I don’t want you getting electrocuted or anything.”

      At the word electrocuted, Erin’s face paled. She set the bag back on the counter. “The thing is, a handyman currently isn’t in my budget. If these are that complicated to install, then I should probably—”

      “How are you at making sandwiches?”

      “What?”

      “Sandwiches. Bread, mayo, a slice or two of cold cuts?” He’d kick himself later, but the thought of this tiny woman playing with live electric wires while standing on a wobbly stepladder... Not happening on his watch. “What I’m saying is, I’ll trade you an hour or so of security light installation for whatever you’ve got on hand for lunch.”

      Lips pressed together, Erin eyed him doubtfully. “You’d actually do that, after I already inconvenienced you by trespassing on your property and requiring a horseback ride to my car?”

      “Consider it my way of welcoming a Juniper Bluff newcomer.” People had certainly been helpful to Kent when he’d first moved here ten years ago with little more than a dream and his VA loan. Almost everything he knew about cattle ranching he’d learned through the kindness of strangers—a few who had quickly become friends. Thankfully, most didn’t seem to mind that he wasn’t much of a socializer.

      One of the best of them was walking in the door right