Her Renegade Rancher EPB

by Jennifer Ryan

  “Who was this mysterious person who pulled you out of the illusion?”

  She propped her elbow on her knee and planted her chin in her hand and looked him in the eye. Her gaze went soft. She bit her bottom lip and studied his face. “You.”

  A single word that meant so much. More than he expected, judging by the way his heart raced in his chest and thumped against his ribs.

  She leaned back and put her hands on her knees, stretching her back. “It’s not just the job, you know? It’s having something more. Something to build a life on.”

  “Are you looking for someone to build a life with?” Why did he keep saying things better left unsaid? Idiot. Like him, she was looking for a fulfilling job, a place of her own to call home that meant something to her. Something that was hers. But did she want it alone? Did he?

  “Aren’t we all?” She played off his question and gave him a way out. Somehow, her non-answer didn’t sit well with him. “I want that illusion I thought was so great to be an even better reality with someone who is a true friend, partner, lover, keeper of secrets, and a man of romance and surprises. A man who leaves his mark, not just passes through my life.”

  Colt touched his fingertips to the half-moon cuts on his arm, the marks she’d left on his body. He thought of the mark she’d left on his life. He turned his head and stared at the woman who’d taken up residence in his head long ago. Someone who with one kiss woke something up inside of him he couldn’t set aside or forget.

  “You deserve that, Luna.”

  “So do you. We all do,” she covered, because the air around them became charged. “So, my friend, you just came over tonight to fix my light?”

  “Yes and no.”

  “What’s the no?”

  “Fixing the light gave me an excuse to come see you,” he admitted. “I wanted to see for myself that you’re okay after what happened last night.”

  “I didn’t sleep well. I tried to get through my day, but it hits me all at once when I least expect it. I miss him.”

  “He left his mark. I guess, in the end, that’s all we can hope we’ve done to the people who matter most to us.”

  Luna leaned into him and laid her head on his shoulder. To give her comfort and let her know he understood her grief, he leaned his head to hers and sat quietly with her in the night.

  Everything felt right. Easy. Luna sighed, soaked up the heat of Colt’s body pressed along the side of hers. She let the sense of belonging and connection work through her system and settle in, just like the night settled around them.

  Jolted from the pleasant moment by her ringing phone, she held back a groan of regret, sat up, and pulled her phone from her purse.

  “Who’s that?”

  He’d hinted enough about wanting to know if there was anyone in her life. A great indication that he was interested in taking their friendship to something more. It gave her hope that maybe they had something more than the flash of heat and lust they shared during that long-ago kiss. If they didn’t, she’d still like another kiss and a whole lot more. She’d like to get her hands on the strong, lean cowboy beside her.

  As the week to decide her life ticked down, she felt like she needed to rush. If she was ever going to discover what she and Colt might have, it had to be now.

  Her phone rang again, bringing her out of her thoughts. She checked caller ID. “Same number as three other calls I missed at work. I don’t recognize the number.”

  “Answer it. Find out who’s trying to get in contact with you.”

  “It’s kind of late for a social call. It can’t be good.” The sense of dread that came over her when she saw the missed calls earlier reared up again.

  Colt swiped his finger across the screen and accepted the call before she could decide if she wanted to know who kept calling. He hit the speaker button and knocked his shoulder into hers.

  “Hello,” she said automatically.

  “Miss Luna Hill?”

  “Yes. Who’s calling?”

  “Dex Manning. Wayne Travers’s attorney.”

  Luna glanced over at Colt. He raised an eyebrow in question, but she didn’t know why Mr. Manning was calling her.

  “What can I do for you?”

  “I understand you and Mr. Travers were good friends. In fact, he told me on several occasions he thought of you as a daughter.”

  Choked up, Luna sputtered out, “Y-yes, he d-did.”

  “I’m sorry for your loss, Miss Hill.”

  She choked back her tears. “Luna, please.”

  “Call me Dex. We’ll be working together closely unless you decide to hire another lawyer.”

  “Um, why do I need a lawyer?”

  “You are named in Wayne’s will. I’ll go over the details tomorrow at the reading. Can you meet me at Wayne’s home at eleven?”

  “Can’t you just tell me what Wayne said in the will?”

  “All parties are required to be present. Can you make it?”

  She thought of facing Wayne’s family again. “Can I meet you at your office without the family present?”

  “I understand your trepidation, but it would be best to take care of this with everyone present. I’ll need to turn over some items to you at the ranch.”

  “Um, okay. I’ll be there, but I start work at noon, so I can’t stay long.”

  “You may rethink that after you hear what I have to say. See you tomorrow, Luna.”

  The attorney hung up without a clear explanation of what he meant by that statement, leaving Luna confused.

  “You okay?” Colt’s steady presence beside her helped ease her grief.

  “I think so.”

  “You look a little shocked.”

  “I am. I never expected him to leave me something. I mean, we were close friends, but . . .”

  “You’re afraid people will talk and believe all those rumors about the two of you, since he left you something.”

  “I feel so guilty for thinking that. The thing is—was—he was generous with me. Yes, he liked to leave me huge tips.”

  “An easy way to help out a friend without handing you money and making it weird.” Colt got it, and she appreciated that he expressed it to her.

  She pressed her lips together. “Sometimes I really needed that money, but the sentiment behind it meant so much more.”

  “He saw that, so he didn’t mind giving you a little extra here and there. You appreciated it.”

  “I tried so hard to make sure he knew I treasured our friendship more.”

  “Luna, you’re a genuine person. You don’t trick people or say things you don’t mean. Take heart—in the end, he valued you so much he remembered you in his final wishes. That means something.”

  “His family is not going to like this.” A warning shivered up her spine. She tried to dismiss it, but the chill trembling her nerves stayed with her, and so did her thoughts that if they’d be so bold as to accost her at the hospital right after Wayne died, what would they do if they didn’t like Wayne’s final wishes?

  “Who cares? Wayne didn’t.”

  “You’re right. I’ll go, collect whatever it is he left me, forget whatever his family spews at me, and go back to my life.” She hoped it would be that easy, but she feared Wayne’s spoiled sons would make trouble.

  Colt set his hand on her knee and squeezed a second before he stood and stepped down several steps. He turned back and stared at her. “Then maybe you’ll buy me that beer.”

  “We shared dinner and a beer tonight.”

  “That was a thank-you for the light, not the beer you owe me.”

  She laughed under her breath and smiled. “Okay. Fair enough.”

  Colt reached past her and picked up his toolbox, then started down the stairs. “Have a good night, honey.”

  “Have a good night, Colt.”

  “I’ll try, but leaving you and going home alone isn’t a great start.”

  “Is that so?”

  “You know it is.”

  �
��But you’re still leaving.”

  “Good night, Luna.”

  Colt walked down the drive and waved without looking back. Her eyes remained glued to his very fine, jean-clad ass.

  The smile made her cheeks ache. She liked him. She’d thought that maybe whatever they’d had had gone away, faded with the days, weeks, and months they’d avoided each other. But it hadn’t, at least not on her part: the flutter in her belly, the warmth that radiated through her when he was close, the anticipation that bubbled up every time she thought about him and the possibility of what they could have in the future. Only one week to decide her whole life. If only he’d spend a little more time with her. That’s what really got her, how much she wanted to spend time with him.

  Chapter 8

  Luna pulled in behind all the cars in Wayne’s driveway, veered to the left, and parked her car outside one of the barns. She hadn’t been to the ranch in the last two months. Wayne hadn’t invited her, saying he was having some construction done. She gawked at the massive covered arena he’d built in the unused portion of the front of the property. An unexpected thrill raced over her skin, making the fine hairs stand on end. Could it be? No. The idea was ludicrous.

  “Only one way to find out what this is all about.” She stepped out of the car and smoothed her black skirt down. She’d attended the funeral this morning, along with the family and other friends. She’d kept to the back of the small crowd so as not to draw the family’s attention and instigate a scene.

  No such luck avoiding that once she entered the house. Why the hostility? So Wayne left her something? They got all this. Thousands of acres of prime grassland and forest. The river and creeks. More cattle than she could count. And the horses. Beautiful horses. Some old, living out their lives in the pastures, fat and happy. The ranch hands used others to check the cattle, but for the most part, they used the trucks. She loved riding. Wayne knew that and invited her out often to ride one trail or another across his land. She loved it here. She’d miss her visits.

  The house was something else. Large and sprawling with a wide porch out front and an even larger patio off the back. She and Wayne sat out back often under the huge tree that sprawled over the yard and shaded the house. In winter, those long and winding branches stood dark and bare against the soft blue sky with a thick layer of snow on top. She’d miss their cozy lunches on the back patio, watching the horses in the fields.

  Seriously, they had all this, yet they begrudged her whatever little something Wayne left to her. She wondered what he’d left her. It nagged at her. She didn’t want to take anything the family didn’t want her to have, but she also didn’t want to disregard Wayne’s final wishes.

  She held her hand up to knock on the door, but it flew open and Wayne’s oldest son, Josh, stood blocking the entrance.

  “You’re late. You’ve kept us waiting.”

  Luna checked her watch. Three minutes after eleven. So she’d spent a couple of minutes admiring the property, tucking away a few more memories, since she wouldn’t be coming back. “Sorry.” She offered the apology, but she didn’t really mean it. She didn’t like Josh. He was brash and entitled and cared little for anyone but himself. And she’d just met him the other day, so that was saying something that she didn’t even give him the benefit of the doubt.

  “It’s about damn time you showed up.”

  “If you let me in, we can get this over and I can get to work.” She tried to keep her voice neutral, but the words came out with a bit of an edge. She sucked in a deep breath and let it out, reminding herself to remain calm and remember Josh had just lost his father. His grief left him with a short temper. She hoped he got over it soon.

  Simon stepped out from behind his brother. “Luna, you’re here. I saw you at the funeral. Thank you for coming.”

  Josh’s eyes narrowed with anger. “You were there?”

  “Just paying my respects, not to intrude.”

  “Give it a rest, Josh.” Simon swept his arm out. “Please come in, Luna. You’ve been here before. We’re in the library. Apparently no one is allowed in Dad’s office until the end of the reading of the will.” Simon rolled his eyes like that fact didn’t bother him. He acted like none of this bothered him. Not like it affected Josh. She wanted to believe it was genuine, but she didn’t quite take it at face value and didn’t know why. Nothing about Simon put her off. In fact, he was a good-looking guy. They both were. She saw Wayne in their sturdy, lean builds, but where Wayne’s skin tended toward a year-round tan from being outside all the time, these guys looked like they could use a few days in the sun. She didn’t know a lot about them, just the tidbits Wayne dropped about them jumping from one job to the next. She guessed they worked in an office. Doing what, really, she didn’t know. Sales. Something with computers. She thought Josh managed a car dealership. Or maybe that was Simon.

  She stepped into the house, keeping Josh in her sights. She didn’t necessarily think he’d harm her, but you never turned your back on a wild animal. The guy seemed on the verge of losing his temper and doing something stupid. Grief and greed did funny things to people.

  “Since you probably only know the way to the bedroom, follow us.” Josh turned and headed for the huge double pocket doors across the room.

  She fumed with indignation that he’d say such a thing to her, but she followed him without a word. Asshole. Poor Wayne, that one probably gave him every gray hair on his head.

  She loved the library. The wood doors, paneling, and massive bookshelves lining two tall walls made the room feel warm and welcoming.

  Not today. She walked in, and the couple from the hospital turned and glared at her. The man standing beside them smiled. Two women about Luna’s age sat in the dining room chairs brought in for the meeting. Their resemblance to the couple made Luna guess they were Simon and Josh’s cousins. Three men stood by one of the bookshelves, talking among themselves. Toby, the ranch manager. Rich ran the cattle side of the business. Ed took care of the horses. She wondered why Artie wasn’t in attendance. She liked to refer to him as head farmer.

  All eyes turned to her the minute she walked into the room. The man standing with the couple came to her.

  “Miss Hill, I’m Wayne’s attorney, Dex Manning. Thank you for coming.”

  “Please call me Luna.”

  “Luna, we’ll get started in a minute. I’ll go over the will and what Wayne left to his trusted employees here at the ranch.”

  Artie rushed in at that moment, tipping his hat to Luna before he removed it and joined his friends by the bookcase.

  “I’ll go over everything for the immediate family. Wayne’s sister, her husband, their children, and Simon and Josh. You will be last.”

  Why that didn’t sound good she couldn’t quite figure out, but it seemed an odd order. The ranch employees, the family, then her. The pecking order didn’t seem quite right. As Wayne’s friend, she should probably be first, or in between the family and ranch personnel.

  “Are you sure you can’t read the part about me first? I can’t stay long. I’m sure the family would like me out of here immediately.” She glanced over at the family on the other side of the room, Josh’s head tilted toward his aunt, their matching death stares and grim frowns directed at her.

  “It has to be this way,” Mr. Manning said. “After I finish, I’d like a moment to speak with you about what happens next.”

  She tilted her head, staring up in question at the attorney. “I don’t understand. Once this is done, I’m sure the family will want me as far away from this place as possible.”

  She wished she understood the strange look that came over the man.

  “Did you love Wayne?”

  The bold question surprised her, but she didn’t hesitate to answer, despite tensing for the inevitable judgment. “Yes. I did.”

  “He loved you very much. He told me to tell you that he’s sorry for putting you through this, but he had his reasons and knew you could take it.”

  �
�I don’t understand what you mean. I know his family thinks the worst of me, but they’re wrong.”

  “None of that matters now. You won’t be able to convince them. Wayne believed in you. I hope you’re ready for this.”

  Mr. Manning walked away and stood in front of the group. “Okay everyone, I’m ready to begin.”

  “About damn time,” Josh said. “Did you warn her that we’ll fight whatever our father left her? She doesn’t deserve anything.”

  “We’re his family,” Josh’s aunt added.

  Luna sank into the club chair next to her. Rich, Artie, Ed, and Toby moved in behind her and stood, waiting for this to be over.

  “The will is ironclad. Your father’s wishes are specific, as you’ll see. If anyone chooses to contest the will, they’ll lose out on their inheritance in total. Believe me, ask any lawyer and they’ll tell you it’s futile to go against Wayne’s wishes.”

  “Nothing is ever ironclad. Everything is negotiable,” Josh snapped.

  “No, it’s not.” Mr. Manning picked up the papers from the table next to him and pulled out a pair of reading glasses from the inside pocket of his suit jacket. They made the young man look distinguished. She hoped the family took him seriously, listened to Wayne’s last wishes, and agreed to fulfill them without a fight. She hated that Wayne’s passing had turned them all angry. They should be grieving, not bickering with her.

  “If everyone is ready, I’ll begin.” Mr. Manning paused, allowing the family to take their seats.

  It didn’t escape Luna’s notice that they gathered on one side of the room, while she sat with the ranch guys. The separation of “us” and “them” weighed heavy in the room.

  “In Wayne’s words, ‘The legacy I leave behind is the sprawling ranch I loved. It gave me peace and a sense of purpose. I’ve seen success and failure, sometimes on the same day, but I never gave up and always worked hard to protect what is mine and provide for my family. That’s not to say I did it alone. Everyone needs a helping hand, but I had valued friends who worked beside me. Toby, though you’re not as long in years as I am, you’ve been a faithful employee more years than I can count. Whenever you should choose to retire, you should do so without a worry about your future. I leave you fifty thousand in cash and a retirement fund that will see you through your final years. Rich, Artie, and Ed, you’ve got a ways to go yet before you finally set aside the ranch life. You’ll each receive twenty-five thousand dollars now, and should you choose to remain on the ranch into your golden years, you’ll have retirement funds when you reach fifty-five or better.’” Mr. Manning looked up from the paper to the four men. “Toby, your retirement fund is available to you at any time now. The rest of you, the funds will grow over time. If you choose to wait until after fifty-five to collect, the fund will continue to be managed and grow over time until the time you choose to collect.”