Was that a positive light in her dad’s blue eyes? Maybe this wouldn’t be as difficult as she’d feared. If he’d been thinking that ranching and raising two babies alone were too much as well, perhaps this transition wouldn’t be too painful.
“I’d love to spend more time with you and the twins, not depending on my vacation schedule to see you all. I know despite your fall that you’re still in great condition for your age, but the fact is that the twins are a lot for an adult of any age to handle. It’s easier with more people to take turns and help out.”
Her dad nodded but didn’t interrupt.
“Plus, I bet you’d enjoy the warmth of California when Wyoming is under a ton of snow and the wind feels like it’s blowing off an iceberg.”
“Wait, hang on a minute,” her dad said, holding up a hand and the earlier light gone from his eyes. “You want us to move to LA?”
The tone of his question made it sound as if she was asking him to move to a domed existence on Mars.
“Yes,” she said, trying to inject a generous amount of enthusiasm into her response. “The weather’s great. We can share taking care of the twins. When they get old enough, there are great schools. All kinds of cultural opportunities.”
“You know I can’t live in LA.”
“Why not? Just think, no more brutal winters.”
“My life is here. My work is here.”
“Not if you sell the ranch.”
Her dad jerked as if she’d slapped him. “I cannot have heard you right. Are you actually suggesting that I sell our family’s heritage? The twins’ future?”
“Our heritage doesn’t change just because we live somewhere else. And don’t you think the twins should be able to choose their own futures the way you and Mom allowed me to?”
“Well, they won’t even have the option of following in their father’s footsteps if we sell the land out from under them.”
The turmoil in Sunny’s stomach increased right along with her father’s agitation.
“I want to give them lots of opportunities,” she said. “As much as you have loved ranching, you know it gets harder to make a living at it every year.”
“We do just fine.” He lowered the footrest on the recliner with more force than was required, but if he’d hurt his broken leg he didn’t show it. “I refuse to see this land your mother and brother loved divided up so rich city folks can play at ranching.”
Okay, bringing her mom and Jason into this felt like a really low blow, but Sunny reminded herself that even the idea of this life transition was difficult for her dad. She’d known it would be.
For the moment, she chose to ignore his words about the family they’d lost. She didn’t want to get too emotional when she needed to be practical.
“You wouldn’t have to worry about the ranch because Dean wants to buy it.”
“Dean? You talked to him about this?” Now it sounded as if her father believed she’d betrayed him on another level.
“It happened to come up when we were playing with the twins by the river today.”
Her dad stared hard, and she would swear she could hear multiple gears spinning in his head. Then he grabbed his crutches. “Let me tell you something. The only way Dean Wheeler is going to become owner of this ranch is if I die and you abandon your family’s legacy entirely. That or he marries you.”
Sunny was so stunned by the idea of both of those options, in entirely different ways, that she wasn’t able to form a response and sat in silence as her dad shoved himself out of the chair and thumped along at impressive speed to his room.
The thought of him dying caused a pain in her chest that robbed her of breath. But when she tried to shove that possibility aside, she was left with an option that was so preposterous she had a hard time figuring out why her dad had even thought of it.
Married to Dean Wheeler. Of all the crazy ideas.
Or...was it?
CHAPTER FOUR
NOT WANTING TO interact with her dad the next morning, allowing him more time to calm down and hopefully think about her suggestion in a more logical, less emotional way, Sunny got up extra early. It wasn’t as if she’d slept well anyway. She checked on the twins to see they were still sleeping, made her dad a simple breakfast and left it on the table for him along with a note that she would be back soon. Because she needed some fresh air and distance to think about what to do next.
She exited the front door as quietly as possible then headed toward the barn. Taking a ride while the day was still in the process of waking up should help her relax and let go of the lingering frustration that resulted from the altercation with her dad the night before.
After saddling Copper, she headed toward the river. If she was seeking some peace, the river that inspired the ranch’s name was where she always found it. If she could convince her dad to move, she’d miss these rides. This stretch of water. But it wasn’t as if she’d never come back. Maya was here, and despite the distance between where they lived they’d stayed best friends ever since third grade.
Besides, in California she had easy access to the Pacific Ocean. Even in the midst of winter, she could walk along the shore and not freeze half to death. She imagined the twins learning to build sand castles, going to theme parks, exploring all the museums. She wanted to provide a full and rich life for them that Jason and Amanda couldn’t.
Sunny bit her bottom lip as a pang of grief hit her. She lifted her gaze to the sky, being lit more each moment by the rising sun. Why had Jason and Amanda picked that weekend to go hiking, their first time away from the twins? Why had that RV driver chosen that exact moment to come around that particular curve a bit too much over the center line, causing Jason to swerve?
She wiped at a tear. Her brother had been gone a little more than a year, and random thoughts of him could still cause her eyes to well up. She didn’t think that would ever change judging by how sometimes the loss of her mother still felt as raw as it had fifteen years ago.
Sunny reined Copper to a stop and slipped from the saddle. She led the gelding to the edge of the river, and Copper began to drink. Perched on a small boulder, Sunny watched as the sun touched the snow at the top of the mountains with its orange glow.
The approach of hooves had her looking over her shoulder. Somehow she wasn’t surprised to see Dean. Like all ranch hands, he was an early riser, as well. He dismounted and let his horse loose to graze alongside Copper.
“Are you okay?” he asked as he approached her.
She could tell by the look on his face and tone of his voice that he’d probably surmised that the conversation with her father hadn’t gone well.
“I’m not quite sure how to answer that question.”
“How upset is your dad?”
“Let’s just say that I’m probably not his favorite person right now.”
“To be fair, I think the twins have that spot permanently locked up.”
“You’re not wrong about that. And it’s as it should be.”
Dean sank onto an adjacent boulder. “Want to talk about it?”
Sunny remembered the crazy thoughts she’d had after her dad’s parting comments before he’d retreated to his room. She couldn’t even believe she’d entertained them, and yet here she was thinking them again. Wondering if she was desperate enough to voice them. Most likely Dean would think she’d taken leave of her senses.
“A bit of warning, I might have brought you up in the conversation.”
“Me?”
She spun to face him. “How much do you want the ranch?”
His eyebrows moved closer together. “I would love to have the opportunity to run it.” He looked south, toward the pasture where a few cattle from the herd were visible.
“What would you be willing to do for that to happen?”
“Well, nothing illegal or anything that would hurt
your family.”
“Obviously. How would you feel about a little harmless subterfuge?”
“Is subterfuge ever harmless?”
“When it’s done for the greater good?” She posed it as a question, hoping he would validate her possibly insane idea.
“Yeah, I’m not answering that question until I have more specifics.”
Sunny took a deep breath, trying to calm the sudden riot of butterflies in her stomach. She felt as if she was acting out a scene in some romantic comedy. Only this was real life with real consequences.
“Dad said he didn’t want to see the ranch divided up, so I told him that you would be interested in buying it. He...well, he was understandably already upset at the idea of selling, but then he said that the only way you’d become owner of this ranch is if he died and I sold it to you or...”
Sunny hesitated, not sure she really wanted to reveal the rest.
“Or?”
She intertwined her fingers and squeezed so tightly she was sure the circulation had been cut off.
“Of if you married me.”
Dean jerked at the same time his eyes widened and his mouth opened slightly.
“I... What...?” Dean shook his head as if to realign his ability to think and form coherent sentences. “He actually said that?”
She nodded. “Trust me when I say I was as stunned as you are. In fact, I was speechless and that’s how our conversation ended.”
“Had he come to his senses this morning?”
Why did his question sting?
“Hey, the idea of marrying me isn’t that horrible, is it?”
“No, no, that’s not what I meant.” Dean looked so flustered that she couldn’t help but laugh at his efforts to pull himself out of the hole he’d dug.
“I’m kidding. But to answer your question, I don’t know. I left before he got up.”
“Ah. You came out here to see if inspiration struck?”
“Yeah. It’s always easier to think outdoors.”
“Says she who works in an office.”
“Yes, but it’s not a twenty-four-seven job like ranching. And more stable.” She met his gaze as she experienced a measure of guilt for trying to transfer the trials and tribulations of ranching to Dean. “Are you sure you want to take on this kind of responsibility? Your whole life would revolve around this ranch.”
“It already does and I love it. I can’t imagine doing anything else.”
Just like her dad.
“Then... I have what is going to sound like a completely crazy idea that might help us both get what we want.”
“Okay.” He drew the word out as if he was afraid to let it end.
She leaned forward. “What if we...” Was she really going to suggest this? “What if we faked a relationship? Pretended to date, then maybe even got married temporarily?”
The look of disbelief on Dean’s face was pretty much what she’d expected, but she’d started this and rushed ahead before he could shut her down.
“I know it sounds absolutely irrational.”
“You’re right about that. I can’t believe what I’m hearing.”
“Listen, this is not my preferred way of getting around my dad’s stubbornness and bringing my family together again. I wish I’d never been put in this position, but I can’t stop worrying about something happening to Dad or the twins with me being so far away. At least if they were in LA, even when I’m traveling they would have quick, easy access to excellent emergency care. What if Dad had been alone when he fell? What if he’d lain out there for hours?” Her voice broke at the mere idea of that possibility.
“But he wasn’t alone, and he’s fine.”
“He’s not fine. He’s got a full-length cast on his leg and two toddlers depending on him. How can I go back to work and leave them behind?”
“So your solution is a whirlwind, fake courtship and marriage in what...a couple of weeks? Your dad isn’t going to buy that for a second, especially when he’s the one who mentioned marriage in the first place. Besides, how does that convince him to sell the ranch and move if you’re married to someone who lives here?”
“Maybe he’d be willing to sign over the deed as a wedding present to the two of us?” It sounded insane even as the words left her mouth, but the idea of being so far from her family made her sick to her stomach. And she made enough money that she could support them all. “Maybe we even have to have a long-distance marriage until he’s convinced it’s real, then after a believable amount of time we could quietly divorce and I could sell you the ranch. I don’t know—I haven’t worked out all the details.”
Dean looked at her as if she not only had grown a second head but had rather sprouted a Medusa-like head of snakes.
“Do you hear yourself?”
“I know it sounds bonkers.”
“You think? Not to mention...”
“If the word you’re looking for is deceitful, I truly don’t mean it that way. At least not in the worst sense. I just think that it might help ease Dad into coming to the decision to sell and move himself. You know how he is. He’s resistant to change. You have to plant a seed of what you want from him, let it germinate long enough that he eventually thinks it was his idea.”
“And you think all that is going to happen during your short vacation time?”
“I can probably extend my time here by working remotely.”
“Sunny, I understand why you want your family together, but this plan seems too outrageous.”
She sighed, knowing he was right.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pull you into all this without even asking if you’re in a relationship already.”
“I’m not but that’s not the point. Like you said, your dad needs time for ideas to marinate. Wait a couple of days and try to talk to him again.”
She nodded despite the fact that she didn’t think a couple of days was going to make any difference in her dad’s stance. Probably not even a couple of months.
* * *
DEAN RODE ALONGSIDE Sunny as they headed back toward the house even though he wanted to spur his horse and race to the far side of the ranch. Their entire conversation about fake dating and fake marrying seemed like something right out of one of those wild dreams you had when you were super tired or ate something you shouldn’t have right before bed.
She obviously didn’t have the first clue that he’d long harbored feelings for her. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have suggested such a plan, which would take advantage of those feelings for her own benefit. She wasn’t that kind of person. The fact that she was willing to go to such lengths to protect her family was evidence of that, even if her idea of how to accomplish it was stretching the limits of rational thought.
He tried to ignore how for a few seconds when he’d first heard her idea, he’d been tempted. But he’d quickly realized he couldn’t pretend to date her and not want it for real. That was simply asking too much when he knew that her endgame would take her away from Jade Valley and him for good.
The fact that he’d been tempted at all told him he should keep his distance for the duration of her visit. With that in mind, he started to veer toward the barn. But then Sunny jerked in her saddle and a moment later he realized why. Wailing coming from the house had her spurring her horse, and he was quick to follow.
Sunny dismounted even before Copper came to a complete stop. She’d raced up the front steps and into the house before Dean was able to rein in and follow her.
Lily was screaming louder than anyone with her size lungs should physically be able to. Fat tears streamed down her reddened face.
“What happened?” Sunny asked in a frantic voice as she dropped to her knees in front of Lily.
“I was trying to get them into the playpen and she lost her footing and bumped her head on the coffee table,” Jonathon said.
Dean looked over at the playpen where Liam sat crying as well, likely only echoing his sister.
“Why didn’t you wait until I got back?” Sunny said as she checked the red spot at the edge of Lily’s hairline.
Dean winced at Sunny’s tone, as if she was scolding a child who had been repeatedly warned about certain behavior. He knew she was upset, but Jonathon hadn’t hurt his granddaughter on purpose.
“I handle them just fine every day,” Jonathon said. “It’s only a bump. Babies get them all the time when they’re learning to walk.”
“You don’t know it’s only a bump.” Sunny lifted Lily in her arms, holding her close. “I’m taking her to the hospital.”
“You’re overreacting,” Jonathon said.
“Maybe I am, but I’m going to make 100 percent sure.”
The heat in Sunny’s words right before she headed for the door had Dean stepping into her path.
“Not you too,” she said with a tone that said she saw his blocking her as betrayal.
“You’re too upset to drive. I’ll take you.”
She shook her head. “I need you to stay here with Liam.”
“I’m right here,” Jonathon said, plenty of hot frustration in his voice, as well.
Dean held up his hands toward both of them, trying to calm them down before their words went too far. He met Sunny’s gaze.
“Liam is fine and he isn’t going anywhere,” he said, pointing at the playpen. “I’m taking you to the hospital so that your mind can rest at ease that Lily is fine.”
Sunny opened her mouth, obviously to object, but he steered her through the front door before she could say anything.
“We’ll call when we know something,” he said to Jonathon. “I’ll tell Carlos to come by to see if you need anything.”
The ranch hand had at least some childcare experience, being a father himself.
Dean grabbed Jonathon’s truck keys off the small table by the door since he didn’t want to take the time to move one of the twins’ car seats from one vehicle to another.
The Rancher's Unexpected Twins--A Clean Romance Page 4
