Free The Reluctant Rancher~Badlands (Contemporary Western Romantic Suspense) by J.D. Faver Page A

Beth expelled a deep breath.
    Cami stood and gathered the cups, preparing to take them to the kitchen. “I’m going to my clinic now. I can drop you at your store and pick you up when I’m ready to come home. We can stop by your place to get your car on the way back.”
    “I’ll be ready.” Sara Beth put her billfold back in the purse and picked up the baby. “Let me get Cami Lynn in her car seat and the diaper bag.”
    They climbed into the Lincoln and Cami headed for town, wondering if she should tell Breck that she was going to drive by the Jessup place later.
    ~*~
     
     
     
    CHAPTER SIX
     
    E.J. turned into the doctor’s parking lot and switched off the ignition. He heaved a sigh, knowing that his mission would prove fruitless. He couldn’t imagine any reason why Cami would agree to accompany him to the prison to visit Eldon, but he had to try anyway. He got out and was heading to the front of the clinic when he saw the candy-apple red Lincoln pull into the parking lot with Cami at the wheel. He stood and waited for her to catch up to him.
    “E.J., what can I do for you today?” She gazed up at him, smiling.
    “I just dropped by for my rejection.” He grinned and took the medical bag off her shoulder.
    “Surprise! I’ve changed my mind,” she said. “I decided that I want to know whatever it is Eldon has to tell me.”
    E.J. raised his brows, regarding her with astonishment. “I’m glad, but what made you change your mind?”
    She took a couple of steps up to the clinic door. “Curiosity, I guess. I want to know whatever he wants to tell me.” She reached for the medical bag. “But Breck will be driving me. I didn’t want to face the fall out of telling him I was going to ride with you.”
    “No problem. Thank you. The prison doctor called me to say my dad was deeply depressed and anxious. Maybe there will be something in your conver sation that will cheer him up.”
    “Maybe,” she said. “We can go up on Wednesday. It’s my half-day at the clinic and I only have a couple of patients, so we’ll leave about eleven.”
    “Thanks, Cami,” he said. “I appreciate your friendship.”
    She smiled and laid a hand on his shoulder. “No problem. I was glad to see you in church Sunday.”
    He acknowledged her comment with a wide grin. “It was okay.”
    “And glad you were with Jenna. She’s a good person.”
    He nodded, not sure what to say. “I’m going to drive to the prison today. I’ll tell dad that you’ll be there Wednesday afternoon.” He took his leave and climbed back in his car, glad he could give his father some good news. He drove to the James V. Alred maximum security prison and waited for Eldon to be ushered to the other side of the thick glass. After what seemed like a long time, the door on the other side opened and his father appeared.
    Eldon looked smaller than his usual tall, robust self. He sat down and flashed a grim semblance of a smile, then reached for the telephone through which they had to communicate.
    E.J. spoke into the receiver. “Hi, Dad. How are you feeling?”
    “Old,” Eldon said. Indeed his voice sounded decades older; gravely and sad. “How is my ranch?”
    “The ranch is fine. Jenna sends you her best.”
    Eldon looked surprised. “Jenna? My vet?”
    E.J. nodded, unable to keep from smiling when he said her name. “We’ve—uh, gone out a few times.”
    “About damned time. Jenna’s a good girl, and she knows her way around the ranch. She’s a good match for you.”
    “Early days, Dad…Early days.”
    A cough racked Eldon’s body, and he spat into a trashcan.
    “Are you okay?” E.J. asked.
    Eldon nodded and sucked in a deep breath. “Just a cold. How are you getting along with Leon?”
    “The foreman? We get along fine, I guess.”
    “I want you to get rid of him. He’s bad news, but be careful, because he’s a mean and treacherous sum’ bitch.”
    This was the last thing E.J. expected from his father. “I thought you trusted