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this?”
    Elaine sighed. “Quite a dicey story, Killian. I’m going to try and make you understand.”
    “Please. It would be a big help.”
    “Dusty’s wife knew he wasn’t in love with her from the beginning. He wanted into the oil and mineral business, and she wanted Dusty for a husband under any circumstances.”
    “Just a business decision.” He snorted.
    Elaine nodded. “And it would have worked out well if they’d had children. But poor Dusty found out after the fact that she didn’t want kids at all. It was a real blow to him.”
    “But he stayed with her anyway?”
    Elaine nodded. “That was Dusty. It went against his grain to divorce her. He’d made a commitment, and he was going to honor it.”
    “Which is how he ended up creating a family with four other women.” Killian didn’t know whether to be disgusted or feel sorry for the guy.
    “It wasn’t that he did it deliberately. It just sort of happened with each woman.”
    “And his wife?” he asked again. “Did she know?”
    “I think she knew he was attached to other women. But she was desperate to keep her marriage together, so she overlooked all the signs another woman would have made a fuss over.” She paused. “But you should know he took very good care of her and, when he was home, he was faithful as the sun coming up.”
    Killian twisted his lips. “Saint Dusty.”
    “No.” Elaine’s voice was quiet. “He was no saint by any means. But he loved all four mothers, and he loved each of you boys. He took care of everyone financially, which is more than a lot of other men would do.”
    “So, I should overlook all the crap?”
    “What you should do is spend some time thinking about everything. Talk to Marliss and Lou. They knew him better than anyone. But, meanwhile, get your ass back to work.” She handed him a thick folder, smiling to soften her words. “Now, cowboy.”
    But, when he went into his office, his mind was still in turmoil, over both Dusty Walker and Lexie Choate. Reaching into his briefcase, he pulled out his favorite length of rope and sat there, sliding it through his fingers while his mind raced like a stallion chasing a mare in heat. How the hell was he supposed to concentrate on complicated contracts under these circumstances? Later this week, one of the guys in the office was going to take him out overnight to visit some of the sites already leased and explain the process to him. Then he had the weekend and he’d be gone. Could he possibly resolve everything in his mind by then?
    Especially the situation with Lexie. Already he was itching to see her again. If he did, however, he’d get good and tangled up, and what would happen when he left? Because, at least from where he sat now, he couldn’t wait to shake the dust of Red Creek from his boots. His entire future was focused on getting his ranch.
    How had he gotten himself in this situation after less than forty-eight hours in town? He hadn’t planned on finding someone like Lexie for damn sure. Sighing, he stuck the rope back in its place and went to work.
    He spent a good portion of the morning studying the contents of the folder Elaine had given him, the rest of it being quizzed by her on what he’d absorbed so far. He surprised himself—and probably her—with the amount of information he’d absorbed and understood.
    “You could be a natural at this, you know,” she told him.
    “Thanks, but….” He flapped a hand helplessly, not wanting to give voice to his thoughts.
    “But you don’t plan to make this your life’s work,” she guessed. “Or Red Creek your permanent home.”
    He shrugged. “It isn’t who I am.”
    She watched him silently for a long moment. “You know, Dusty really loved all you boys, and your mamas.” She gave a short laugh. “Although boys hardly describes the men you’ve become. He was proud of each and every one of you.”
    “And did he realize what a mess he’d created?” Killian demanded.
    “Of course he