came back and was already pretty sick by then.''
''She was about eighteen when she left?''
He stared at me, confused, then finally said, ''You already knew?''
''I do my research, but tell me about this absence. Is that when JoLynn came into the world?''
He slowly smiled. ''Yeah. Katarina gave her up for adoption before she returned to the ranch. JoLynn told me when she first arrived about a year ago that she'd hired some detective agency in Houston and they located us for her. I've never seen Uncle Elliott so happy. You'd have thought he'd gotten Katarina back.''
''Did you know about the baby she gave up before JoLynn arrived?''
''Like I said, we don't talk about the past. Uncle Elliott may have known, but I won't be the one to ask him. I'm hoping you will, though.''
''Why?''
''Because I don't want him to shut me out if I bring up the subject. I'm afraid that's what he'd do. I've seen it happen in the family more than once. See, he needs me right now, even if he doesn't realize it.''
''Needs your support?''
Scott nodded. ''He won't get any from the rest of the family.''
''That helps me understand the situation better. How long ago did you say JoLynn arrived at the ranch?'' My brain had revved into high gear. The girl told Scott she'd used an agency to find Elliott Richter. What agency? The Texas Adoption Registry? Could be. And if she was looking for her birth family, why did she sign her letter to me using the Richter last name?
''She's been living with Uncle Elliott a little more than a year now. In the big house. The rest of us have houses on Uncle Elliott's property, but she stays with him.''
Thinking about what life would be like if Aunt Caroline lived down the street, I shuddered. ''This agency. Did JoLynn tell you anything about it? Like how they found Mr. Richter?''
He rubbed the stubble along his jawline. ''Not how they found him, but I do remember the agency had a funny name—not the detective's name like you'd expect. What the hell was it?''
''Texas Adoption Registry?'' I offered.
''No. Something-Something Investigations. Sorry, I just can't—''
''Yellow Rose Investigations?'' I said.
Scott pointed at me. ''That's it. You do know your stuff, Abby.''
I tried hard not to look surprised. ''Research is invaluable,'' I said. Obviously he hadn't seen one of the business cards I'd been handing out like Halloween candy the past two days. I decided not to tell him that I was Yellow Rose Investigations—why, I wasn't sure. Maybe because he seemed so stressed-out. His uncle had known the name of my agency, that's for sure, but probably because Cooper told him. Had JoLynn told Scott the same things she'd told Richter? If not, that could explain Richter's surprised expression when I mentioned adoption.
I said, ''You seem to care very much about JoLynn, despite her being a part of your family for such a short time.''
He grinned. ''She's incredible.'' Then his smile faded. ''She's got to pull through this.'' He rolled the Dr Pepper can between his hands and stared at the floor.
''Did she talk about her adoptive family at all?'' I asked.
Scott tightened his lips and shook his head. ''Nope. Not to me anyway. Maybe she confided in Uncle Elliott or someone else in the family.''
''Guess it's time you listed what family you're talking about,'' I said.
''Sure. There's Matt and Piper. Matt is Uncle Elliott's son. He and Katarina were six years apart. He married Piper a few months ago. They work for the company just like we all do.''
''What do you do?'' I asked.
''Petroleum engineer.''
I smiled. ''Smart guy, huh?'' The minute I'd asked about the rest of the family, I'd seen him tense up, but this question seemed to relax him. Comfortable territory, I assumed.
''Not all that smart,'' he said with an embarrassed laugh. ''I've only been out of school for two years and have a lot to learn. Anyway,
''She was about eighteen when she left?''
He stared at me, confused, then finally said, ''You already knew?''
''I do my research, but tell me about this absence. Is that when JoLynn came into the world?''
He slowly smiled. ''Yeah. Katarina gave her up for adoption before she returned to the ranch. JoLynn told me when she first arrived about a year ago that she'd hired some detective agency in Houston and they located us for her. I've never seen Uncle Elliott so happy. You'd have thought he'd gotten Katarina back.''
''Did you know about the baby she gave up before JoLynn arrived?''
''Like I said, we don't talk about the past. Uncle Elliott may have known, but I won't be the one to ask him. I'm hoping you will, though.''
''Why?''
''Because I don't want him to shut me out if I bring up the subject. I'm afraid that's what he'd do. I've seen it happen in the family more than once. See, he needs me right now, even if he doesn't realize it.''
''Needs your support?''
Scott nodded. ''He won't get any from the rest of the family.''
''That helps me understand the situation better. How long ago did you say JoLynn arrived at the ranch?'' My brain had revved into high gear. The girl told Scott she'd used an agency to find Elliott Richter. What agency? The Texas Adoption Registry? Could be. And if she was looking for her birth family, why did she sign her letter to me using the Richter last name?
''She's been living with Uncle Elliott a little more than a year now. In the big house. The rest of us have houses on Uncle Elliott's property, but she stays with him.''
Thinking about what life would be like if Aunt Caroline lived down the street, I shuddered. ''This agency. Did JoLynn tell you anything about it? Like how they found Mr. Richter?''
He rubbed the stubble along his jawline. ''Not how they found him, but I do remember the agency had a funny name—not the detective's name like you'd expect. What the hell was it?''
''Texas Adoption Registry?'' I offered.
''No. Something-Something Investigations. Sorry, I just can't—''
''Yellow Rose Investigations?'' I said.
Scott pointed at me. ''That's it. You do know your stuff, Abby.''
I tried hard not to look surprised. ''Research is invaluable,'' I said. Obviously he hadn't seen one of the business cards I'd been handing out like Halloween candy the past two days. I decided not to tell him that I was Yellow Rose Investigations—why, I wasn't sure. Maybe because he seemed so stressed-out. His uncle had known the name of my agency, that's for sure, but probably because Cooper told him. Had JoLynn told Scott the same things she'd told Richter? If not, that could explain Richter's surprised expression when I mentioned adoption.
I said, ''You seem to care very much about JoLynn, despite her being a part of your family for such a short time.''
He grinned. ''She's incredible.'' Then his smile faded. ''She's got to pull through this.'' He rolled the Dr Pepper can between his hands and stared at the floor.
''Did she talk about her adoptive family at all?'' I asked.
Scott tightened his lips and shook his head. ''Nope. Not to me anyway. Maybe she confided in Uncle Elliott or someone else in the family.''
''Guess it's time you listed what family you're talking about,'' I said.
''Sure. There's Matt and Piper. Matt is Uncle Elliott's son. He and Katarina were six years apart. He married Piper a few months ago. They work for the company just like we all do.''
''What do you do?'' I asked.
''Petroleum engineer.''
I smiled. ''Smart guy, huh?'' The minute I'd asked about the rest of the family, I'd seen him tense up, but this question seemed to relax him. Comfortable territory, I assumed.
''Not all that smart,'' he said with an embarrassed laugh. ''I've only been out of school for two years and have a lot to learn. Anyway,
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