Hunter's Moon (Hunter Family Saga; Half-Moon Ranch 1) by Bobbi Smith Page B

He thought Jack was a sad figure of a man
now, nothing like the vital, commanding boss he
used to be.
    Jack left the stable. He knew where he had to go,
and he was glad there was no one else around. He
needed to be alone for what he had to do. He made his way to the family cemetery a distance away from
the house.

    Elizabeth Quincy Hunter
    Jack stared down at Beth's name on the
tombstone.
    If only he could turn back time. If only he could
change what had happened that day. If only...
    Pain tore through him. Anger rose up within him.
There could be no changing what had happened.
There was no way to make things right again.
    Beth was dead.
    So deep was Jack's grief as he mourned at his
wife's graveside, he didn't notice the carriage arriving
at the house.
    "Don't be nervous, dear; everything is going to be all
right. We're here with you," Iona told Abby as
Edmund brought the carriage to a stop before the
house.
    "Thank you." She gave the older woman a
heartfelt look as she mentally prepared herself for
what was to come. No matter what Iona's problems
were, the older woman's presence would be welcome
at her father's homecoming.
    Abby took a deep breath and descended from the
carriage. Iona had wanted her to wear a dress today,
but she'd decided not to. She wore pants to work
around the ranch, and the good Lord knew today
was going to be work.
    Just as Abby turned and started up the walk, the front door opened. Abby actually found herself
holding her breath as she waited to see who was
going to come outside. Relief flooded through her
when she saw it was Brent.

    "So you're back," Abby said, her expression still
wary as she glanced past him, expecting to see their
father following him.
    "We got back a few hours ago," Brent explained.
Then he looked at the banker and his wife. "Hello,
Iona, Edmund."
    They returned his greeting as they, too, climbed
down from the carriage.
    "So Papa did come with you. He's really here?"
Abby asked.
    "Yes."
    "Where is Jack?" Edmund inquired.
    "I don't know for sure. He left the house a while
ago, and I haven't seen him since."
    "You don't sound too concerned," Edmund
remarked.
    "I'm not. He'll be back. Come on inside." Brent
held the door for his sister as Edmund took lona's
arm to steady her as he helped her up the porch steps
and into the house.
    "How is Papa?" Abby asked once they'd settled
in.
    Brent shrugged. "The years in the Huntsville
prison were hard on him. His return isn't going to
be easy-for any of us."
    "I know." She had adored her father as a young girl, but all that had changed on that horrible, fateful
day. "Why did he come back at all, Brent? Why?"

    "He says the Half-Moon is his home, and he's
staying.
    "He always loved this ranch," Edmund agreed.
    "And he almost lost it, too," Brent said, unable to
disguise the note of bitterness in his voice.
"Edmund." He looked the banker straight in the eye.
"Before Pa gets back here, I want you to give me
your word that you won't make any more loans to
him if he comes to you."
    "Do you think he might?" Edmund asked.
    "Anything is possible with Pa, but we've worked
too hard getting the Half-Moon out of debt. I don't
want to put the whole place at risk again over any of
his wild-eyed schemes."
    The banker's eyes narrowed, but his voice was as
silky as ever.
    "I'll do what I can to support you, Brent, but your
father is still the ranch's rightful owner, isn't he?"
    "His name may be on the title," he admitted, "but
when he left, he put me in charge."
    "You know, Brent, if the situation did arise, you'd
be far better off borrowing from me than anyone
else."
    "The situation is not going to arise. We won't be
borrowing money from anyone ever again," Brent
declared fiercely, remembering all too clearly how
hard-pressed he had been to make their payments on
time. Edmund had never been able to seize their property, but after their conversation ten years ago,
he'd known the banker wouldn't have