The Practical Pretender

by Danni Roan

  As she dried her hair Penny could hear the shower on the other side of the house hiss to life and she grinned. She was starting to look forward to going to dinner with the sexy cowboy. In the end it would be nice to have someone to eat with at the end of the day, and although she knew she was not an overly feminine woman, when she was with Dewis she felt somehow pretty.

  Back in New York it was usually a quick take out, or ordering in as she continued to work even after her day was done. The one big treat that Penny always allowed however, was a good book. Each night she would find at least an hour of time to snuggle in with a good read.

  Putting the finishing touches on her make-up Penny hurried out to the kitchen where she was met by a clean cowboy wearing fresh clothes and a grin.

  “You look nice,” Dewis commented gesturing toward the door as he escorted her toward his truck. She looked lovely in a pair of white slacks and a dark teal blouse with long flowing sleeves.

  “Well my fiancé said something about dinner,” Penny teased, “so I thought I’d better dress for it.”

  The sun was still bright as Dewis helped her into the truck and turned toward town. Penny was tired and sore and the idea of a nice hot meal that she didn’t have to cook appealed to her in so many ways now that the idea had taken hold.

  “I made a list of things we should get at the grocery store.” She said fishing a paper out of her pocket, “I hope you don’t mind,” she said as they made their way to the dinner. “I’d like to learn as much as I can about the ranch and how things work so it makes sense to use the crock-pot, or pressure cooker instead of trying to make something at the end of the day. If I buy the right things, I can make up freezer packets and drop them in the pot in the morning, then we can come home to a nice hot meal every night.”

  Dewis smiled. He appreciated Penny’s interest in the Ranch and her willingness to pitch in around the place. If this continued, he might have to ask her to marry him for real. Mentally he kicked himself for the ridiculous thought. She had agreed to pose as his fiancée not marry him. He would have to figure the rest of this mess out on his own if he planned to keep the ranch.

  “I don’t mind,” he said placing his hand at the small of her back and escorting her into the dinner. “I appreciate the help.”

  Penny felt the cowboy’s fingers at her back and shivered slightly at his touch. Everything about him appealed to her and more and more she wanted to stay right here with him.

  Taking a seat Dewis tossed his hat onto the hook on the upright next to the booth again and grabbed a menu from the end of the table.

  “You back again?” Donna asked. Today her hair was green and blue with white streaks in it and the bubble gum she popped was about the same shade.

  “Yeah, I couldn’t let my fiancée starve out there on the ranch now could I?” Dewis teased.

  “He treatin’ you alright?” the waitress asked scratching her ear with the tip of her pencil.

  “Yes,” Penny said smiling brightly. “I’m learning all sorts of things on the ranch. Today I learned what saddle sore really means.”

  Donna laughed popping her gum again. “Don’t let him boss you around too much,” the waitress said with a wink. “What can I get you two to drink or are you ready to order?”

  “I think I’m ready,” Penny said looking up at Dewis who nodded. “I’d like the meatloaf platter.”

  “I’ll have the same,” Dewis said, “and a coke.”

  “Tea for me,” Penny added folding her menu and handing it back to Dewis.

  “Al’ight,” Donna said. “I’ll get that right in for ya.” She turned blue eyes on Dewis hesitating for only a second. “I know it’s none of my business,” she said, “but them two no good brothers of yours are up to something. You watch your back Dewey.”

  Penny looked up her dark eyes wide with worry as the waitress stepped away. “What do you think she means?” she asked leaning across the table.

  “They’ll keep trying to find a way to get the ranch,” Dewis said. “I already knew that. I’ve got messages into my dad’s lawyer and we’ll have to wait and see.”

  “What happens once you get full rights to the ranch?” Penny asked as Donna delivered their drinks. “What will you do then?”

  Dewis looked over at the pretty woman and smiled sadly. Once he got possession of the ranch, she would leave and take the newly found sunshine from his world. “I’ll do what I’ve been doing,” he answered sadly. “Once I build it back up, I’ll pay out a third of what it’s worth to Mack and Jack and never worry about them again.”

  “But if you’re married, you don’t have to do that. The ranch will be yours free and clear,” Penny queried.

  Dewis shook his head as Penny finished. “That’s true, but that doesn’t mean it’s right. My dad did his best to help those boys learn to work and to give them a home. He knew who they were when he married Lizzet and even if they aren’t blood, I’ll buy them out fair and square. After that they can make something of themselves or not. I’m not going to spend my life with them saying I cheated them or looking over my shoulder to see if they’ll try something new.”

  Penny reached across the table taking Dewis’s hand in hers. “You are rather amazing you know,” she said.

  “I don’t think so,” Dewis said liking the feel of her hand on his. “I’m just doing what I think is right.”

  The meals arrived with salad, rolls, and mashed potatoes and for the next few minutes Penny and Dewis were both busy shoveling food into their mouths. It was amazing how being on a horse all day could work up an appetite.

  Penny felt her heart swell with affection for Dewis as she sat there and she knew that at this rate she would lose her heart completely to the cowboy if she dared. There was something about him that drew her in and tugged at her heart.

  As rugged and strong as he was there was gentleness about him and the sense of loneliness she felt in him matched her own. Could two people really fall in love in such a short time? Penny wasn’t sure but the way she was feeling right now made her think it could happen. Perhaps everyone’s story was different. Just like in the books where some people found love at first sight, while others took time to grow and develop. Perhaps she and Dewis could have a real future together if they could only save the ranch.

  “What are you thinking?” Dewis asked looking up at her from his almost empty plate. “You’re mighty quiet.”

  “I was thinking how much I like you,” Penny said with a smile.

  Dewis grinned, his sun kissed cheeks turning pink. “Why I kind of like you as well Ms. Pembroke.”

  After dinner Dewis drove them to the Grocery Mart and grabbed a cart following Penny around as she plunked various items into the basket. The simple mundane activity seemed to wriggle into his heart and make it swell too big for his chest. How could going grocery shopping make you want to fall in love? he wondered.

  Sure it had only been a few days since he’d met this complete stranger, but somehow she’d worked herself into his heart. She was so real and open and he could sense the same loneliness in her that he’d felt for so many years.

  Could he take the chance and let himself fall for Penny? She had all but told him that she was only here for two weeks. What if she wasn’t what she seemed? Still, he couldn’t help revel in his time with her and he found himself joking and teasing as they found various necessities to take back to the ranch. Apparently he had neglected the pantry rather badly and now with someone to help with cooking he needed to stock up.

  It felt nice knowing he didn’t have to go home alone, even if their romance was a simple matter of convenience, and he wondered what it would truly be like to be married to his pretty Penny.

  “Buying out the store?” a gruff voice drawled as they made the turn down an aisle, jarring Dewis out of his pleasant thoughts. “I suppose you’re spending our inheritance on this chit.” Mack’s voice was insulting and crass.

  “Just picking up a few groceries,” Dewis said, the hackl
es on the back of his neck rising.

  Mack sniffed looking into the cart with a sneer. “Well don’t spend it all in one place,” he said. “Me and Jack will be collecting all of it once you’re gone anyway,” the man said haughtily.

  “Mack, I’m not going anywhere,” Dewis growled his temper rising. “That ranch has been in my family for ages and it will stay that way. One day I’ll pass it on to my children and they’ll have it for theirs as well,” he finished clenching his fist.

  “That why you picked up this little trollop?” Mack hissed. “Need a baby mama do you? Hope she isn’t costing you too much,” he continued. “You’ll have to pay it all back in the end, anyway.”

  Dewis felt his arm rising as he swung at the other man but Penny reached up and grabbed his fist in her hands. “Dewis don’t, it’s not worth it,” she said her voice imploring. “Let’s go.”

  Dewis lowered his arm, gritting his teeth to keep back the words that danced on his tongue. Everything in him wanted to wipe the smug grin off of his step-brother’s face.

  Still holding to his arm Penny pulled Dewis away as she pushed the cart around the corner and toward the check out station. Behind her she could hear Mack laughing and she wanted nothing more than to turn around and finish what she had stopped Dewis from doing. The man was horrid and his harsh words and rude manners only solidified her desire to make sure that Dewis kept his ranch.

  “I’m really sorry about that,” Dewis said a few minutes later, helping Penny into the truck. “You didn’t deserve that.”

  “It’s alright Dewis,” Penny assured turning to look at him before he closed the door. “I know you want to do what’s right and no matter what your brothers say I’ll help you. I promise,” she finished leaning in and kissing him lightly on the lips before pulling the door closed.

  Chapter 8

  Over the next few days Penny tried to learn everything about the ranch that she could. She followed Dewis around like a puppy asking a million questions and sorting out the kitchen to her liking.

  At night Dewis would drop exhausted into a chair at the big farm table and eat supper with her. She loved talking with him about his ranch and the plans he had to improve it. The more she learned the more she felt like she was a part of something bigger than herself; something lasting and important if only on a small scale.

  “We’re barely managing to keep things going right now,” Dewis said as the weekend approached. “We have a decent crop of cows coming on though and when I sell them in the fall, I should be able to pay most everything up. If I add some hay sales in from this new growth, we might be back in the black by winter.”

  Penny’s heart went out to him and she wondered how many men would have hung on the way he had. The ranch meant so much to him and he believed he could make it pay.

  “Wouldn’t it be easier to sell?” she asked.

  “I couldn’t,” Dewis said. “This ranch is more than a job, or even a home to me. It’s my heritage. Something I can leave to my children one day and know that they’ll have a way to live on their own terms.”

  “You want kids?” Penny asked. She had always thought she would like three children, maybe even four. As she looked across the table at Dewis, she could almost see their children and she had to accept that she’d fallen hard for the handsome cowboy.

  It was more than his good looks, or his dedication to the ranch. Dewis was an old-fashioned honorable man. He wanted to buy his step-brothers out even though he didn’t have to. He wanted to build something that would last and provide for a family he didn’t even have yet.

  “I’d love to have kids,” Dewis said looking up into her eyes. “Not just one like me either,” he added with a grin. “I’d like maybe four or five kids, someone I can teach to run this ranch and who will work together to make it something good. Brothers and sisters who will pull together in good times or in bad.”

  Penny reached across the table taking Dewis’s hands. “Maybe one day you’ll have all of that,” she said with a smile her heart reminding her that she would like to be the one to raise those children with him. “We’ll save the ranch,” she assured. “Just wait and see. I know we will.”

  That evening as Penny snuggled on the couch with the cowboy watching his favorite show and chatting she wondered if it would be possible for her to do more to help Dewis. She had some ideas but was pretty sure he wouldn’t agree to them, at least not yet.

  Over the past few days Dewis had become even more open with her than he had been at the beginning of their fake engagement, but still she could tell something was bothering him about the situation.

  That night as he wrapped an arm around her pulling her close over a big bowl of popcorn she realized that she had already lost her heart and had to know what it was that still stood between them.

  “Dewis,” Penny said making him turn to look at her. “I want you to know that while I agreed to help you out with the ranch, I really do like you.” She said.

  “I like you too,” Dewis said, but that flicker of doubt still glowed in his eyes.

  “You like me but…” Penny queried.

  Dewis muted the T. V. and turned to face Penny putting a little space between them.

  “But I don’t understand why you’re doing this,” he raised his hand gesturing around him at the ranch as a whole. “Why would you agree to help a perfect stranger? Why would you agree to stay here with me when you don’t even know me? I’m a trusting man over all but with my brothers and their play to get the ranch I can’t help but worry. You’re a smart, savvy business woman, so what do you want with an old run down ranch like this and a cowboy who can barely keep his head above water?”

  Penny smiled nodding at his doubts. It made sense that he would be worried but before she could speak he continued.

  “I like you, a lot more than I probably should. It’s been great having you here and having someone to help. I don’t think I even realized how lonely it had gotten here. I was so busy trying to hold on to the ranch and keep things going I forgot what it was like to have,” he paused for a second, “a friend.”

  Penny licked her lips thinking about the next words she would say. What she said next could change everything between her and the cowboy.

  “You’re going to think I’m crazy,” Penny said, “but please hear me out before you say anything.” She spoke taking his hand and pulling him a little closer.

  Dewis nodded studying Penny’s face with care.

  “Back home in New York where I’m from there are a group of women who meet every two weeks at a little book store for a Book Club. We all love romance books, all different types and we get together to chat and talk about them.

  “Me, I love Contemporary Westerns, while Beth loves Scottish Highlands romance. Barb loves historical westerns. Susan, Charlotte, and Gemma love mail-order bride stories. Brianna was like me and loves modern ranch stories too.” Penny continued. “You see, we all loved romance, all sorts. Lilly read all 15th Century Europe books. Aurora and Taylor read Regency stories. We all just enjoyed being someplace we could talk about silly romance stories.”

  Dewis raised an eyebrow wondering what all of this had to do with her being here on the ranch with him, but before he could think she went on.

  “A few weeks ago a woman named Dr. Lachele came to the book club. She’s a modern day matchmaker who matches couples at the altar. I googled her and she’s legit but a little on the crazy side. She has a track record as long as your arm of putting people together who are very happily married.”

  “What’s that got to do with me?” Dewis asked bewildered by the litany.

  “You promised you’d wait,” Penny chided waggling a finger at him. “You see, a few weeks ago Dr. Lachele showed up at the Book Club and pretty soon our members started disappearing. First it was Beth who almost never missed a meeting. In the beginning no one really seemed to notice because not everyone can be at the meeting every time but soon our numbers were dropping and Emma insisted Dr. Lachele sho
w us all what she was doing. The woman told us that she was sending our members into their own happily ever after stories and that she was part of the Guild of Godmothers.”

  Dewis gaped at the woman next to him, his green eyes full of shock and surprise, but he kept his promise and held his tongue, even as he wondered if you called the police to collect crazy people. Nothing about Penny spoke of being unbalanced though and the confusion in his heart was almost painful.

  “I really didn’t believe it,” Penny said. “I told her the whole thing was crazy and that it was a publicity stunt for her business. I was convinced that somehow she had persuaded the others to play along. Then somehow she convinced me to give it a bit of time and think it over. She said she could give me the life I dreamed of and before I knew it I was calling her up. That’s how I ended up on that street at that moment the day you needed help.”