Chapter 16 #2
“Trace,” Ruby said softly, stepping close enough to pat his cheek, “I’ve buried a husband and raised the five of you without losing my mind.
I think I can handle a twenty-minute loop around town with a truckload of gift baskets and four sweet girls.
You stay here and do what needs doing. Let me handle what you can’t, so we don’t spend the night with four not-so-sweet girls. ”
The fight went out of the room like air from a balloon. Ruby had that effect. Kip made a mental note to ask Ruby to teach her how to do that.
An hour later, they all climbed into Trace’s black King Ranch.
Ruby took the wheel with the calm confidence of someone who had been driving these roads since before any of them were born.
Joy sat up front because Ruby declared her playlist the only tolerable one.
Kenzie, Tildi, and Kip filled the back seat, surrounded by baskets filled with vanilla, cinnamon, and home.
It wasn’t long before they reached Wilder, Ruby kept both hands on the wheel and her eyes scanning—mirrors, side streets, rooftops. Every time Kip glanced up, Ruby met her gaze in the rearview and gave a small, reassuring smile.
Their first stop was the women’s shelter.
Ruby hugged each resident as if they were her own daughters and slipped extra cash into the director’s hand when she thought no one was watching.
But Kip saw. Ruby reminded her of her own mother, and her heart pinched at the thought of yet another Christmas apart.
At the fire station, she made the captain promise to save her a piece of peanut brittle and kissed his cheek for good measure. Pastor Shep at the First Community Church prayed for all five of them in the parking lot. Ruby’s hand rested warmly on Kip’s shoulder the entire time.
The Broken Bridle was their last stop. Hank took the basket with one hand and pulled Kip into a one-armed hug with the other. Ruby stood right beside them, quiet and watchful, but she smiled when Hank told her the cookies would be gone before closing.
“While you’re here, I want you to meet Chey. She’s coming on as our newest bartender and server. She put in an application at just the right time, especially since we decided last night after all the commotion that it would be better for you to take some time off.”
Chey stepped closer and hugged each girl, including Kip. She smiled at Ruby. “Hey there, Ruby. Handing out the annual gift baskets, I see. Hank said he usually got one. That’s half the reason I took this job.” She grinned at Hank, who blushed like a schoolboy. Interesting.
“Merry Christmas, Chey,” Ruby said. “I hope seeing you here means you aren’t tending bar at The Hideaway anymore. I don’t like the crowd that hangs out there.”
Chey nodded. “I couldn’t take it anymore.
I’m glad the timing worked out so I could work here, too.
” She turned to Kip. “I know you are having a hard time, Kip. I’m looking forward to the time coming soon when we can work together.
I’ve been friends with your Daddy and his brothers a long time.
We grew up together, though they were younger than me. ”
Before Kip could reply, Hank said, “Speaking of those boys, I know they’re worried about y’all. Best be gettin’ on home. You girls be careful.”
Ruby answered for them, soft and steady. “We always are, sugar.”
When they stepped back outside, the cold hit hard. Snow had started again, thick flakes drifting between the buildings. Ruby was two steps ahead, keys already in her hand, scanning the street out of habit now.
Kip studied the clouds. “It’s not supposed to snow harder today, is it?” She hated it, but she still feared being in the truck if the snow was coming down hard.
Ruby smiled. “Not that I know of, sweet girl. But we’ll head home now, just in case.”
They nearly reached the truck when Joy stopped dead on the sidewalk. “Oh my god! Look at Trace’s truck!”
Kip peeked around Joy, and her heart froze. All four tires on Trace’s truck were shredded, with rubber hanging in ragged strips. But that wasn’t the worst part. Deep gouges now scarred the truck all the way down the passenger side. Someone had carved letters into the side with vicious strokes:
M U R D E R ER
A stockyard knife lay in the snow next to the front wheel, blade open and speckled with paint the same color as Trace’s truck. Ruby’s sharp inhale was the only sound for a heartbeat. Then she moved—fast, but gentle—herding them all back toward the saloon door.
Inside, loves,” she murmured, her voice calm even though her hands trembled as she guided Tildi with her palm between her shoulder blades. “Come on, back inside where it’s warm.”
Hank met them at the door. “I thought you ladies were on your way home.”
From behind Kip, Ruby cleared her throat. Whatever message Ruby sent to Hank, she did it without words. Kip couldn’t afford to worry about that. What if whoever damaged her Daddy’s truck was still out there? What if they tried to get into the saloon?
If anything happened to Ruby or the girls, she’d never forgive herself.
How many times did fate have to tell her to leave?
She needed to put on her big girl panties and stop being so selfish.
She might as well because everyone who saw the truck would know she was a murderer.
Might as well save them the trouble of asking her to leave/
She paced across the room, feeling helpless to protect anyone. If Rios’s henchmen barged in, she couldn't stop them. Then she remembered the shotgun Hank kept behind the bar, so she headed that way.
“Woah there, darlin’. Where do you think you’re goin’?” Hank hustled to catch up with him.
Was he crazy? He hadn’t seen Trace’s truck, or he wouldn’t ask silly questions. “We have to protect ourselves, and we can’t do that if the gun is under the counter.”
Ruby met her at the bar and pulled her into a hug. “It’s all right, baby. Breathe. Let’s try calling your Daddy.”
Kip’s hands trembled too much to dial at first. Ruby grabbed the phone, pressed Trace’s name herself, and put it on speaker.
He answered on the first ring. “Kip? Is everything okay?”
“It’s Ruby, honey.” Ruby’s voice stayed soft, but a steel edge ran beneath it.
“Someone did a nasty number on your truck while we were handing out baskets. None of the girls were hurt, but someone slashed all your tires and carved up the side with a knife. We’re all safe inside the Bridle with Hank. You come when you can.”
“But the girls are unharmed?”
“Yes, honey. We’re all fine.”
“Damn it! I knew you should have stayed home. Can Kip hear me?”
Ruby nodded at the phone. “Yes. You’re on speaker.”
“Good. Listen to me, Foxy. Daddy is coming, do you hear me? I’ll be there soon, and you’d better be in the Bridle when I get there. What’s by our door, little fox?”
His voice shook, but she couldn’t tell if it was from fear or rage. Probably both. “I know, Daddy, but—”
“What does it say, Foxy. Tell me right now.”
This man! How in the world could someone so wonderful love her as much as he did? Barely able to get the words out, she managed to say, “Y-you a-are wanted h-here. St-stay.”
Trace’s answer was a low, furious sound. “That was true when I had you write it, babygirl. And it is still true. I am coming for you, little fox. You stay. And Ruby, do not let anyone touch anything around that truck. We’re leaving the ranch now, and I’ll call Sam on the way.”
Ruby ended the call and then wrapped an arm around Kip and another around Tildi. “Kenzie, Joy, come here. Nobody’s hurt. That’s what matters right now. We’re together, and we’re safe.”
Kip moved to a window to watch for her Daddy. He was on his way. She was wanted, and she was going to stay. She had a family now, and family didn’t run. Family stayed.
It was amazing how slowly time could crawl.
Three trucks roared into the Bridle parking lot, what seemed like hours later but was actually only twenty minutes.
She left her spot at the window the second her Daddy got out of the first truck.
He must have hit the snow running because, when she made it to the door, he pulled her into his arms. Ruby stood right behind them, her hand resting on Trace’s back, as she must have been doing since he was a boy.
“We found it exactly like that,” Ruby told him quietly. “We didn’t touch a thing.”
Trace set Kip down but kept her tucked against his side. She had a feeling he wouldn’t be letting her go for a long time. His eyes were wild. Without moving from his arms, she reached up and cupped his cheek. “I’m all right, Daddy. We all are.”
At the sound of sniffling, she turned and saw Boone and Chance with Tildi and Joy.
Tanner stood with his arms around Kenzie and Ruby.
What had she ever done to deserve to be part of a family like this?
She’d have to think about that long and hard, but until she figured it out, she’d focus on being thankful.
Sam and Mitch arrived a few minutes later. Ruby gave her statement clearly and calmly, never letting go of Tildi’s hand.
When Sam asked Ruby if she was okay, she managed a tired smile. “I’ve had better days, Sam, but I’ve had worse ones, too. Just find out who did this so my family can have some peace.”
Sam was no dummy. Kip wouldn’t be surprised if he’d had a dose or two of Ruby’s wooden spoon when he was a boy. He nodded and said, “Yes, ma’am.”
Trace’s arm tightened around Kip as he spoke to his brothers. “From now on, none of them leave the ranch without one of us.”
From the grunts of approval and nods, she could tell all the Daniels boys were on the same page. Kip should probably be offended. She should feel smothered, but all she felt was protected and safe right there in her Daddy’s arms.
Ruby nodded, eyes soft. “Whatever you need, sweetheart. We’ll make sure they stay on the ranch where it’s safe.”
Staring at the accusation scraped into the metal of Trace’s truck, Kip’s throat closed. “Daddy, your truck—”
He looked down at her, fierce and tender all at once. “Foxy, do you think I’m worried about the damn truck?” Well, when he asked in that tone, she supposed not. For the first time in an hour, she felt warm. But this warmth came from the inside.
The mechanic came, winced at the damage, and started making calls. Trace handed over the keys without a second glance.
The men loaded their girls—and Ruby—into the extra trucks as if they were made of spun sugar. Ruby climbed into the back seat beside Kip, grabbed a leftover basket onto her lap, and passed out cookies like it was just another December morning.
On the drive home, Trace kept one arm around her shoulders the whole way.
Ruby’s voice floated up from the back seat. “Whoever did that made one mistake, baby.”
Just one? Kip could think of a few, but she turned and asked, “What’s that?”
Ruby’s smile was small and fierce and full of love. “They scared my girls. And nobody does that without answering to me.”
Kip leaned into Trace’s side and, for the first time all day, felt his ribs shaking with silent laughter. She didn’t think Ruby would have to worry. Her Daddy would take care of everything.