Abby returned to the ranch that evening without knowing why she'd come back. Then again, she needed to collect her things and her cats if she were going to leave. That was what she told herself, at any rate.
She heard voices coming from the barn, and then a man she hadn't met emerged. He was older than Mark, grizzled and tanned, like a man who'd worked his entire life outside. He tipped his hat to her, which made her smile.
"You must be the lady Mark's told me about," he said as he extended his hand. "Charlie Leighton.”
"Abby Davison," she replied as she shook Charlie's hand. "Do you work here as well?"
"I help around, yeah. Keep Mark out of trouble, too." He winked.
Right then, Mark came out of the barn, shaking his head. "If anyone's keeping anybody out of trouble, it's me keeping t
