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did she know about the guy Collins? Was that her boyfriend? Was that where she was going when she landed on his property? “Why is that?”
    She smiled proudly. “Because I’m your missing man. My name is Casey Collins. I work for FEMA.”
    Hell. No. She absolutely, no way in hell, could be the person he agreed could stay at the ranch for a week. Another hour alone with her was asking for trouble. “Jack—”
    “Looks like I’m heading back to town alone. See you in a week, Derrick,” Jack said, laughing like a dang school boy, as he hustled down the steps and climbed back inside his Jeep.
    Don’t you dare leave her here, Jack. You of all people know why.
    Jack put the Jeep in gear and started to pull away. Before he was out of earshot Derrick heard him shout: “Derrick, find her some more clothes.”
    He normally didn’t take orders from anyone. The last twenty-four hours seemed to be nothing but that. Derrick was being pushed beyond his limit, and there was going to be hell to pay. If he had known Collins was a woman—never mind this woman—he wouldn’t have agreed. Seeing Casey standing in the living room, holding her sole belongings, pissed him off even more. If it wasn’t for the fact Casey could have been killed in that crash last night, he would have bet this was all a setup.
    He didn’t need to be in the house with her right now. If he was, he would only say things he’d regret later. Most likely not. Maybe if I were a gentleman or had a conscious, then I would. Good thing neither applies to me. At least not anymore.
    Some people can’t stand being alone, but Derrick preferred it, especially now. He knew he should say something to her to make her feel comfortable—welcomed—but she was there for a job, and one he wanted no part of.
    Heading down the porch steps, he strode to the barn. He knew the guys didn’t need his help today, but he needed some distance, a chance to clear his head. If he couldn’t be back in the office behind his laptop, he would have to settle for the solitude of the open range.
    It wasn’t just Casey causing frustration, though. It was everything from the past five years. He wanted to love being here, but it was difficult. So many memories and reminders of what he no longer had. I lost everything. So quickly, I lost it all.
    New York was all about business and making money. That wasn’t the case in Texas. Every time he came back it was the same thing. People from town attempted to console him—get him to open up—to talk and feel again. It took incredible restraint each time he walked away instead of putting his fist through a wall. Everyone was sorry for his loss and told him healing takes time, and in time it would get easier. All lies.
    There wasn’t a day that went by where he didn’t hate himself for leaving his family. It was a family vacation, just the three of them in the country, but he couldn’t stop working long enough to enjoy it. Fuck. Work was so damn important. Now it’s all I have left. It was supposed to be a quick trip to New York, meet and greet, sign some papers, and fly back to meet up with the family. But when the storm turned inland, all flights were canceled. It didn’t matter how much money you had, or how much you threatened; no one was flying into a hurricane.
    The grief counselor and his parents had called him afterward and tried to explain to him that he was going through what was called survivor’s guilt. To him, it was all bullshit. He wasn’t mad for being alive; he was angry he wasn’t there to save them. Maybe if he had been the one driving he could have done something differently. Then maybe none of this would have happened.
    Before Derrick entered the barn, he turned and looked up the hill on the far right of the ranch house. Even from there he could see the two white crosses marking the final resting place of Penny and Kim. At least, I would be with them now. And not alone.
    Casey suspected there was much more going on with