The Cowboy's City Girl by Linda Ford

the barn, intent on checking the breeding stock first.
    His eyes narrowed as he studied the gate. Someone had tampered with it, because it wasn’t closed exactly the way he did it. He checked the ground and made out a set of boot prints that were larger than either his or Charlie’s boots. The troublemakers had been around again, but had done no harm. It unsettled him. What were they up to? Did they mean only to harass, or were their plans more dangerous and they had simply been interrupted before they could carry them out?
    He circled the rest of the ranch, checking gates, checking on the pigs, the chickens and the cookhouse, and peering into every building whether it was empty or full.
    Nothing seemed amiss. It should have made him relax but it only made his tension mount. He did not like this constant uncertainty. He must track the troublemakers down and put a stop to this nonsense.
    But how could he get away for any length of time with Maisie laid up, a child visiting, Charlie grousing about the chores that needed doing and Beatrice...?
    And Beatrice? Her presence was supposed to make it easier for him to get away. He could not explain why it did quite the opposite.
    Charlie dumped a bucket of milk in the pig trough, returned to the cookhouse and emerged with a cloth-covered jug. He turned toward the house.
    Levi fell in at his side.
    â€œDo I smell bacon?” Charlie asked.
    Levi sniffed. “Think you do.”
    â€œDoes it smell burned?”
    Levi sniffed again. “Can’t say it does.”
    They lengthened their strides in a hurry to get to the bacon before it started to burn. “Morning,” Charlie said, as they entered the house. “So you’re the little girl who is visiting?”
    Dolly stood at Beatrice’s side and at Charlie’s exuberance, shrank into the folds of her skirts. Beatrice lowered a hand to Dolly’s shoulder and pressed her even closer.
    â€œIt’s okay,” Levi said to the child. “This is my cousin Charlie and he has a loud voice.”
    Charlie grunted a protest. “I’m not loud.”
    â€œYes, you are,” Dolly whispered.
    Levi chuckled and met Beatrice’s eyes, feeling pleased when he saw she shared his amusement. What was there about her eyes that made him feel pulled out of himself and into a field of scented roses and golden light?
    â€œBreakfast is ready,” Beatrice said. She seemed a little breathless. Or was it that he heard the rapid beating of his own heart?
    â€œEveryone sit down,” Maisie said and they did so.
    He managed to say grace at Maisie’s request, though he could not remember what he said. It was the smell of bacon, he told himself, that had him so confused. After all, supper last night had left him hungry. He slipped four fried eggs from the platter and a generous amount of bacon. The bread wasn’t toasted, but that was probably a good thing considering the crispy, blackened edges on each egg. But breakfast was edible and both he and Charlie ate eagerly.
    After a bit, they both slowed down and slathered jam on slices of bread.
    Charlie held his knife in one hand as he began to speak. “Levi, you should be more careful about closing the gate on the horses. If I hadn’t seen it was open, the horses would have gotten out.”
    â€œI always close it carefully.”
    â€œWell, someone else must have opened it then. ’Cause I didn’t.” Charlie sounded defensive.
    â€œI didn’t mean to imply you did. Just forget it.” The sooner the better, as he hadn’t told Maisie about the troublemakers. Hoping to divert the interest he saw in his stepmother’s eyes, he spoke to Beatrice. “Breakfast is good. Thanks.”
    Her cheeks blossomed like pink roses. “You’re welcome. I’m learning.”
    â€œLevi?” Maisie said.
    He held Beatrice’s gaze a second longer. Not only because he didn’t want to face Maisie, but also