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The bank was one of those imposing buildings built to look like a classical stone temple, extremely out of place in this western community of mostly wooden and brick buildings. The image was meant to portray strength, even though like most banks, it was built on people’s confidence in the institution and little more. He parked in front and went inside, the sound of his boots loud on the old stone floor. He checked around the lobby for Luther but didn’t see him yet, so he sat down in one of the chairs off to the side, sliding the key through his fingers.
Waiting was something he didn’t do very well. At the rodeo, there was always something to do, like watch the other riders for comparison, or gauge the performance of the various bulls, because chances were at some point, he’d draw one of them. There were fans to meet and then his own rides to get ready for.
“Can we help you?” a young lady in dark blue pants and a jacket asked him, smiling.
“I’m waiting for Luther Gilliam. He and I are supposed to review the contents of my uncle’s safe-deposit box,” he explained.
She smiled warmly. “You must be Rafael Carrera. Luther called a little while ago to make sure that we were aware of the situation and would have everything in order.” The way she said Luther’s name hinted that she might like him. Just the mention of his name brightened her smile and relaxed her features. “Just come over to that desk when you’re ready, and I’ll help you.”
“Thank you, ma’am,” he said, tipping his hat politely before going back to watching the door.
“Thanks, Mark,” a familiar voice said from just out of his field of vision. Rafe tugged at his collar, instantly a little warm. Damn, Russell Banion did that to him in seconds. His heart already beat faster, and when he turned, he found Russell on his way over. “Rafe. Getting things set up for the ranch?”
He swallowed, ready to lose himself in those eyes. “Luther handled a lot of that for me already, so we’re good there. No, this is some stuff for Uncle Mack.” He shoved the key in his pocket. “It’s probably nothing. But….”
Russell shook his head. “If it’s something Mack set up, then it isn’t nothing. Your uncle never did anything he didn’t mean to.” He sat down. “I know you hadn’t seen him for a while, but he was a deliberate man, and he knew his mind and his own plans. He didn’t do things by halves. And though he didn’t say much to a lot of folks around here, when he did, he was honest and said what was on his mind.”
“That’s good to know.” Rafe shrugged. “I’ve been living in his house for a few days and it tells me almost nothing about him. I haven’t been using his room, though. Maybe there’s something in there that might give me more of a clue about who he was.” He found himself more and more curious about his uncle the longer he was at the ranch.
“Wish I knew what to tell you,” Russell said softly, as though he were holding on to his own memories. The things Rafe had been told by his parents about his uncle had been blatant lies—he knew that now. And he felt a little ashamed that he’d listened to them all these years and not called them on it. Not that it would have mattered—they wouldn’t have let him visit his uncle. In their eyes, Mack had been “unnatural.”
And like they’d done with Mack, his parents had turned their backs on Rafe when he came out too. Maybe the clues had been there the whole time and he just hadn’t seen them. After all, for almost six years, they’d told him that Uncle Mack was sick. He should have figured it out sooner. And now that he knew the truth, he was kicking himself for not going to see his long-lost uncle before he died. They might have had a lot in common.
“I wish I’d had a chance to really get to know him,” Rafe said. Just then, Luther entered the bank. Rafe stood, and so did Russell, each of them shaking Luther’s hand.
“I see you two know each other,” Luther said as he looked between them.
“I was just meeting with the manager about some corporate matters and saw Rafe waiting. So I stopped to say hello. But I should be getting back to the ranch.” Russell smiled at Rafe. “My father and I wanted to invite you over for dinner, maybe Wednesday, if you don’t have plans. He’d like to meet you. I was going to drop by the ranch later to ask, but you saved me the trip.”
“That would be very nice. What time?” Rafe asked.
“Five, if you’d like to join us for cocktails. Mom started the tradition a long time ago, and neither of us has had the heart to stop it, even though it’s just the two of us now.”
Rafe nodded. “I’ll see you then.”
Russell left the bank with a spring in his step, and Rafe couldn’t help following the handsome cowboy with his gaze.
“I see,” Luther said quietly. “You already have your eyes on the prize.”
Rafe swallowed. “Excuse me?” he asked, a little irritated at the insinuation. He hadn’t been that obvious, had he?
“The women in the valley and half the men have tried to capture his attention over the years, but Banion Junior isn’t one to let his head be turned. Yet here you are with an invitation to the inner sanctum. And from what I hear, he and his men were helping you out this weekend. Word gets around pretty quickly, especially when it comes to our very own local internet celebrity… well, of a sort.”
“Is that a problem?” Rafe asked.
Luther shrugged. “Maybe to some people in town, especially those who were hoping he’d show them some interest. But Russell is a good person who’s seen more than his fair share of shit come his way.”
Luther’s expression suddenly grew less serious and his lips curled upward. “Stacey,” he said, his smile turning radiant. Rafe couldn’t help noticing her interest in Luther was most definitely returned. “Thank you for helping us out.”
She returned Luther’s smile with a slightly coy one of her own, and Rafe wanted to ask if they wanted to be left alone. He was definitely feeling like a third wheel.
“Anything I can do to help.” She motioned them both to the office, where she guided them through the paperwork to gain access to the box. Once that was done, she led them to the vault, and Rafe inserted the key. He had expected a small box, but what Stacey pulled out was large and seemed quite heavy. She led him and Luther to a small side room just outside the vault and placed the box on the table. “Let me know when you’re done.” Stacey left the room, and Luther backed away.
“Do you want me to stay? What’s in the box is yours. It’s really none of my business.”
“Stay. I’m a little worried about what I’ll find in here, and I could use the support,” Rafe said as he opened the lid. He slowly removed things. There seemed to be papers on top, and he looked at them before giving them to Luther.
“This is the original deed to the ranch.” Luther seemed to read it over. “Interesting.”
