The Cowboy's Texas Family by Margaret Daley

Author:Margaret Daley
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2016-08-02T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Darcy slipped into Lila’s Café to meet Avery for coffee before going to the church to discuss the fund-raiser. The fire department had confirmed it was arson, which didn’t surprise her. Gasoline cans didn’t just lie around the boys ranch.

She was so glad she’d started thinking about doing a fund-raiser because the boys would need something positive to focus on and to look forward to. She’d talked to Bea about the idea and the director had encouraged her. Any money they received helped. She paused by the entrance and scanned the restaurant for Avery. Darcy spotted the young woman sitting at a table—with Fletcher. The two seemed deep in a conversation. Good time to break up the pair. She threaded her way through the crowded café and slid into a chair.

“I’m sorry I’m late. Carol stopped me right before I left the inn.” Darcy swung her attention from Avery to Fletcher.

“I’m Darcy Hill, visiting Haven for the month.” She held out her hand to her birth father.

Fletcher shook it. “I’m Fletcher Phillips. I’m not staying. Avery told me she was meeting you for coffee. I understand you were at the fire yesterday at the boys ranch.”

Darcy nodded. “It was arson.”

“I heard that this morning at church.”

“I told Fletcher how ragged you looked when you returned to the inn last night. I would have been hysterical if I’d been caught in a fire,” Avery said.

“Thankfully we had plenty of time to get the animals and people out of there.”

“I’ve been saying ever since the ranch was set up for this purpose that something bad like this would happen. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was one of those boys. We’re fortunate that the wind wasn’t too strong or it could have spread—possibly even caused a major wildfire affecting the whole town.”

Darcy gritted her teeth, trying not to say anything she would regret, but she couldn’t keep quiet. “But it didn’t, and it wasn’t one of the kids.”

“How do you know that?”

Disappointed in her biological father, Darcy asked, “How do you know it was one of them?”

His sharp gaze cut through her as he rose. “It’s been interesting talking to you, Ms. Hill. Avery, we’ll talk some more later.”

She giggled. “I’d like that, Fletcher. I want to move forward.”

Move forward doing what? Upsetting the plans for the Culpepper ranch?

Each morning, when Avery came down for breakfast, Darcy made a point of speaking to her. Nothing Avery had said so far had sent up a red flag suggesting she wasn’t the real Avery Culpepper, but Darcy hoped she could discover something. “I’ve seen him pick you up a couple of times this week. Are you two serious?”

For a few seconds, the woman’s pupils dilated. “Like dating?”

“That’s what I’ve heard.”

Avery tossed back her head and laughed. “He’s the lawyer for my grandfather’s inheritance. Haven has a nest of gossipers spreading untruths.”

“Then why do you stay here? Aren’t you from—Dallas?”

“To honor my grandfather’s wishes. I may not have known him, but family is important to me.

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