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“You’re right. Let’s talk at breakfast.”
She glanced back at Virgil. “Great. I’ll see you then.” He started to turn when she snagged his arm. “Did that man over there come to see you?”
Virgil followed her gaze. “Me and Wyatt. He’s looking for a job.”
“You don’t want him here.”
Virgil’s eyes widened at the vehemence in her voice. “You know him?”
“I do. Trust me. He’ll bring nothing but trouble to this ranch.” Before she said something she couldn’t take back, Sam walked out the back door.
“Do you know where Sam is?” Logan had stopped next to a group of several ranch hands, including Barrel and Brady.
“She’s with Virgil,” Barrel answered. “They’re on a trail ride with the younger guests.” Brady and the rest of the ranch hands dispersed, leaving Logan and Barrel alone.
“Do you expect them soon?”
Barrel checked his watch. “Within the next thirty minutes. Do you want to stick around? Or I could pass along a message.”
Logan rubbed the back of his neck. “Let her know I’ll be at Mark Swanson’s place. She wanted to ride over with me, but I don’t want him to think we aren’t coming.”
“No problem. This your day, huh?”
Logan nodded. “Have you already been there?”
Barrel bent down to pick up a rock, tossing it toward the side of the barn. “Went there yesterday. There’s a lot to be done. Virgil’s only allocated two hours at a time to help Mark and Amanda out. Honestly, it would take several ranch hands a week of full-time hours to get his ranch close to where it needs to be.”
“I figured as much.” Logan peered out into the distance. “That may be them.”
Barrel nodded. “Yep. I believe it is.”
Logan waited until the group had dismounted before walking toward Sam. Maybe it was his imagination, but she turned away when her gaze landed on him. His pace slowed.
“Hey, Sam.”
Turning back, she closed the distance between them. “How are you?”
“I’m good. Do you still want a ride to the Swanson place?”
She winced. “Geez, I forgot about us going. Just let me grab a couple things and I’ll meet you at your truck.”
“Sure thing.”
He watched as she dashed toward her cabin. Sam didn’t forget much, especially something as important as helping a neighbor.
Sam washed her face longer than necessary. The cool water helped to draw her thoughts away from Miguel. She’d thought about him throughout the trail ride, sometimes missing questions from the guests, and forgetting about her commitment to work at the Swanson ranch.
She grabbed a towel, soaking up the rivulets of water dripping down her face. Sam didn’t have to look in the mirror to know lines of worry were already appearing. It had happened throughout her short relationship with Miguel. Her stomach would sour, discomfort visible on her face.
Walking to a chair, she sat down, closing her eyes. After all this time, why was he here? She knew it wasn’t a coincidence. Miguel always had a reason for everything, and those reasons were never good. She wondered what disaster he had planned this time.
“Hey, Sam. Are you coming?”
Jumping up, she tossed the towel aside. “Yeah, I’m coming.”
“I’ll be at the truck,” Logan shouted through the open door. “I have plenty of water.”
“Okay. Thanks.” Lifting her small purse from a hook, she slung it over a shoulder.
