Kate and Grayson had had a few rough spots since their marriage, but everything had finally settled down.

That’s why seeing this change in Russell intrigued her.

“How was your day?” she asked Russell now, curious.

He’d been smiling to himself all through the meal. Normally he ate quickly and went back to work, excusing himself by saying he had too much to do to just sit around.

Tonight, though, he seemed lost in thought, unusually distracted, especially since his father and the rest of the ranchers and farmers were worried sick about the lack of moisture this spring.

“Fine.” He looked bashful suddenly. Like his father and brothers he was a very good-looking man, with Grayson’s dark hair and his mother’s intense blue eyes.

“Nothing unusual happened?” Kate probed.

Russell realized that everyone was staring at him, waiting.

“Nothing happened. I just almost killed some city girl today.”

“What?” Kate exclaimed.

“Don’t worry, she was unscathed.” At everyone’s urging, he told them about coming over a rise in the combine, not expecting anyone to be on the road since no one had lived in the old Beaumont place for years and the road dead-ended a mile up.

“She was sitting in her fancy rental car, right in the middle of the road on her cell phone,” he said, getting the appropriate chuckles and head shakes. Kate could tell he was embarrassed, not used to being the center of attention in this family.

“Where was she from?” Grayson asked.

“Midwest, from her accent, but definitely big city. You should have seen the shoes she was wearing.” Russell shook his head. “And when she tried to open the gate...”

“Open the gate to where?” Shane wanted to know.

“The old Beaumont place, isn’t that what it’s called?”

“Why would she go in there?” his father wanted to know.

“Beats me. It’s what she wanted so I opened the gate for her. I warned her it was private property. She didn’t seem to care. I think she thought I was joking when I told her about the rattlesnakes.”

“Oh, I hope she was all right,” Kate said, worried. “You just left her there?”

Russell laughed, seeming to relax, maybe even enjoy himself. “She wasn’t like a stray dog I was going to bring home.”

“Still, if she was that inept, she could get herself into trouble.”

Russell nodded. “I’m sure she will, but believe me, she didn’t want my help—or my advice.”

No, Kate thought, she was sure the woman hadn’t, but city girl or not, she’d certainly made an impression on Russell—something not easy to do.

Dulcie shuddered. Laura Beaumont’s young daughter had found her body? That poor child. That poor, poor child.

The horrible dread Dulcie had felt earlier at the farmhouse swept over again.

I wasn’t that little girl.