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pointed out into the distance. “But I know them. And I do know that doing this right is important to you. So I figure the best way for me to help people I know and care about is to help you. It’s a win-win situation. Is there anything wrong with that?”
    She drew in a slow breath, unable to find words of gratitude that seemed genuine.
    “Thank you,” was all she managed.
    * * *
    The truck smelled like Regis. They’d been to three properties already on their way to the mill and each time Hawk climbed into the truck, the scent of her filled his head.
    “Right over there is the Maitland ranch. That’s where I got on my first bull.”
    Regis gave him a quick glance. “You were a bull rider?”
    “I didn’t say that. I got on the bull and it immediately bucked me off. I don’t even think I lasted a second. But I did give it a second and third try, mostly because my brother, Wade, dared me to.”
    “Wade?”
    He caught himself. It wasn’t often he talked about Wade. And it occurred to him that Wade probably would’ve been angry at him for closing himself off that way. But even after nearly five years, losing his brother still felt as raw as it did the day they got the news.
    “My oldest brother. He’s first, then me, then Sam, then the twins, Ethan and Logan.” He drove in silence for a few seconds, allowing himself to think about things he hadn’t thought of for a long time. “Wade was good at bull riding. He was never serious enough to go pro, but he had no fear of that bull.”
    Regis smiled at him. “You admired him a lot.”
    Hawk nodded. “He was the best friend I’ve ever had.” And Hawk had let him down.
    His hand went to his chest to feel the small medallion and chain that Wade always wore from the time he was a teenager until before he’d gone on that trip with the Peace Corps that last time.
    “I’m an only child,” Regis said. “I can’t even imagine what it would have been like to grow up with a houseful of boys like you all did. You must have driven your parents crazy.”
    “We’re McKinnons,” he said laughing. “I can’t imagine what it would have been like growing up without noise and chaos. My parents seemed to thrive on it. You said you lived on military bases growing up. What was that like?”
    She shrugged. “Different.” She turned her head to look at the side of the road. Hawk didn’t push it.
    “Did you go to this high school?” she asked as they passed the school.
    “Yes. On really hot days in the spring, Sam and I used to skip class and head down to the pond on through the woods with some of the other kids in school. Denny’s house was out there.” He pointed to a long driveway that disappeared into the woods. “Denny was really Ethan’s friend but we all hung out. And we always got caught when we did.”
    Laughing, Regis asked, “By who?”
    “My dad mostly. And believe me, he wasn’t too happy about it. But when the principal would call him at the drilling company and tell him that four of his boys had suddenly disappeared from the school, he wanted to take care of things in person, especially since he knew my mom couldn’t leave the diner during the day back then. She has a lot more help running the diner now. But my dad always knew where to find us.”
    “Drilling company. You mean, as in MW Oil? That big plant I saw a few towns back when I came into Rudolph?”
    “That’s the one. Started by my father’s grandparents and passed down the line.”
    “Did any of you boys join the family business?”
    He made a face and looked at her.
    Her beautiful eyes widened. “No?”
    “Dad gave up hoping long ago and is now trying to convince my four year old nephew that it’s up to him.”
    “No pressure though,” she said, with a giggle.
    Regis looked on her tablet at the list of properties she had to inspect.
    “Do you have the Coleman property on the list?” Hawk asked.
    “Yes, but not for today.”
    “Good.”
    She gave him a questioning