LITMIR.BIZ

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who you are, I guess we should talk about Rachel.” That came out sounding so professional she almost cheered.

      Cash leaned back, linking fingers behind his neck and crossing one leg over the other. “I am curious what Rachel did to warrant a meeting this time. Usually it’s a few weeks into school before I get the first phone call.”

      The girl sounded like a bit of trouble. Good thing Olivia had a soft spot for struggling teenage girls. Hoping Cash wouldn’t get too upset about what she had to say next, she leaned forward and softened her voice. “She didn’t do anything wrong. Yet.”

      When Cash mirrored her smile, Olivia ignored the way her disobedient legs swam under the desk.

      “I’ve been going over last year’s grades, and I’m concerned that if Rachel doesn’t make some changes this year she won’t be eligible to play due to her GPA. I don’t know if you realize this, but your sister’s very good.”

      She paused, wondering how much to share with him. The man probably needed some encouragement if he had to deal with a teenage girl all on his own. “In two days of practice I can tell she’s the best player I’ve ever coached. And if you think I look too young for that to matter, you’re wrong. I have enough experience to know what I’m saying. She definitely has the potential to play in college and could easily earn a scholarship. I’d hate to see her lose out on that because of her GPA.”

      A line cut through Cash’s forehead, and Olivia pressed her lips together. Had she pushed too far?

      “I’m not sure what to do with that girl. Ever since our parents died she’s had trouble, but never to this degree. I try to talk to her, but she won’t open up to me. It seems her grades and behavior keep getting worse instead of better.”

      “What about a tutor or someone to help her complete her class assignments during the school year? I looked up her test scores and I’m pretty sure from what I saw that she’s just not applying herself. The scores show she’s smart, which makes me think she doesn’t care enough to do the work her classes require.”

      Cash let out an exhale that turned into a laugh as he shook his head. “That sounds like my sister.” His arms slid around the cowboy hat on the desk as he shifted forward.

      Sensing openness, Olivia’s tense muscles relaxed. If only all parents were so receptive.

      “Have any free time on your hands, Coach Grayson? Any chance you’d be interested in tutoring one of your new players?”

      That was not what Olivia had expected to hear. A small part of her found the idea intriguing. In practice, she could see the hurt hiding behind Rachel’s eye rolls and teenage attitude. But Olivia didn’t need to get involved with this family. Not when the man across from her had a melt-her-resolve grin that could get her into serious trouble. Again.

      “I...might be able to work something out.” She wanted to jump out of her chair, grab the words and stuff them back into her mouth. Why would she offer to help Rachel? She absolutely did not have the time. And she needed to stay far, far away from the magnetic Cash Maddox.

      “I’d be happy to pay you for your time.”

      Did he sense her reluctance? “I can’t accept payment for tutoring one of the students. It’s against the rules and I wouldn’t take it anyway.”

      Olivia frowned. Quit making it sound like you’re still considering it. Open your mouth right now and tell him you can’t do it.

      “Volleyball has games on Wednesday nights, right?” Cash barely waited for her nod before continuing. “How about Thursdays after practice you come out to the ranch and help Rachel? We’ll pay you by feeding you dinner. Don’t worry, I won’t make it myself. I’ll warm up whatever Laura Lee has in the freezer.”

       Take back your semioffer and say no.

      But...

      What if digging up twenty-six years of roots in Colorado and roaring into this Texas town with a trail of dirt behind her wasn’t just about running away from her past? What if God had brought her here to help a young girl?

      For such a time as this... The verse she’d read in Esther last night pounded through her head and Olivia sighed, resisting the urge to close her eyes or crawl under the desk to escape. “Guess I could swing that.”

      “Great.” Cash’s eyebrows shot up as if her answer surprised him. Kind of like it had her. He extracted himself from the desk and she found out the truth to her theory. Definitely taller than her.

      “I’ll see you the first week of school, then. I hope you know how much we appreciate this.” Cash returned the cowboy hat to his head, tipped the brim in her direction and exited the room, leaving Olivia wondering about the state of her decision-making skills.

      What had she been thinking agreeing to help? Better yet, what was God thinking?

      If anything, God should want to keep her far away from Cash Maddox. Five minutes with the man and Olivia already felt a tug of attraction—to Cash’s personality, not just his looks. But she would just have to bury any thoughts of him under her spinning tires. Moving to Texas was all about starting over and leaving the past behind...which meant no dating, no more mistakes.

      She might have arrived in Fredericksburg with memories clinging to the trunk of her car and an empty ring finger stripped of all hope, but she refused to repeat the past here.

      No looking back. It could be her Texas motto.

      * * *

      The open-air Jeep Wrangler jerked and dipped as Cash drove toward the new pasture site, hands rumbling on the steering wheel. His meeting with Coach Grayson— Olivia—had eaten enough time out of the afternoon that the guys most likely had the portable electric fences in place.

      He shoved the stick shift into first gear, pulled on the parking brake and turned off the engine. Leaving the keys dangling in the ignition, he jumped out.

      “How we doing?” Cash approached Frank, adjusting the brim of his hat to better shade against the sizzling mid-August sun.

      “Just about ready to move them over.” Frank studied the grazing cattle, his face weathered from a lifetime of outdoor work. He’d been the foreman at the Circle M for as long as Cash could remember. Frank didn’t say much, but when he did, that usually meant it needed to be said. He had a wise, level head on his shoulders and had helped Cash keep the ranch running after Dad died. Frank knew more about ranching than twenty experienced ranch hands roped together.

      A wet snout nosed his hand and Cash looked down into Cocoa’s happy face. “Ready to move some cattle, girl?” The Australian cattle dog gave a happy bark, head nodding in agreement. She was as much of an institution around the Circle M as Frank. Mouth painted in a permanent smile, Cocoa looked up at him as if to say, What are we waiting for? Cash laughed at the dog’s silly grin and leaned down to rub her head. Her eyes squinted shut as if she was enjoying a fancy massage, tongue lolling out the side of her mouth. “Hang on a minute. We’re almost there.” At Cash’s words, Cocoa settled into the grass, laying her black head and contrasting white snout on her tan paws with a pout.

      Cash headed for the water trough connected to wells by pipelines that spanned the ranch. While he waited for the trough to fill, he took off his hat and swiped his brow with the back of his arm. Frustration over Rachel’s grades boiled up as quickly as the afternoon heat. He knew she wasn’t applying herself—knew she had it in her to do better. But he didn’t know how to make her. Losing their parents had shaken her to the core. She’d struggled in the four years since their deaths, but lately her attitude and grades seemed even worse.

      Blake Renner probably had something to do with that, though Cash had yet to convince his sister that the boy did not have her best interests at heart.

      Frank took a wide stance next to Cash, the sun squinting off his larger-than-life belt buckle as Rants and Noble hopped in the ranch truck with a wave, heading back to the barn. The ancient vehicle boasted

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