by Leigh Bale
Chapter Fourteen
Sunrise Ranch hadn’t changed one bit since Lyn was here last week for Kristen’s physical therapy with Magpie. But Lyn had. More than she could ever imagine.
As she parked her car in the graveled driveway, Kristen waved at Dal, who stood on the front porch with Gus. The dog padded down the steps and trotted over to greet the little girl as she opened her door, slid her legs around, braced her hands and stood.
“Hi, fella!” After Kristen found her balance, she rubbed the dog’s ears.
Lyn got out and headed toward the house, able to clearly hear as Dal called to the screen door.
“You’ve got visitors, invalid. Come on outside.”
A thud sounded from inside, and then Cade thrust the screen door open. Hobbling on crutches, he stepped out onto the wooden porch, the door clapping closed behind him.
“Cade!” Kristen shouted, and hurried toward him.
But Lyn reached him first. His gaze locked with hers. A variety of elated emotions burned through her, sizzling down to her toes.
“How are you?” she breathed out in a throaty sigh before clearing her ragged voice.
“I’m great, now that you’re here.”
Dal snorted, but they ignored him.
Kristen hugged the doctor tight and he spoke several words to her, but Lyn didn’t hear a thing. The realization that she loved this man had created a funny sort of awareness within her. A happy buzzing inside her head. She felt light and energized. As though she could do anything.
If only he loved her, too.
“Hi, Dal!” Kristen greeted the handsome man.
He tugged gently on her ponytail. “Hi, honey.”
The shrill chatter of her daughter brought Lyn out of her stupor.
“Hello, Dal,” Lyn said.
He smiled in return, then glanced at Kristen. “You want to see what I taught Lightning this week?”
“Sure!” Using the handrail to support herself, the girl hopped down the steps.
As they headed toward the barn, Dal paused long enough to glance over his shoulder at Cade. “Come on, gimp. Hurry and keep up.”
“Gimp! I’ve never insulted you like that,” Cade called to his friend, then winked at Lyn.
“That’s because I’m faster than you, even with one leg.”
“When I get this cast off, we’ll see who the faster man is,” Cade promised.
Lyn just smiled, enjoying herself thoroughly. Wondering how to get the courage to tell Cade she loved him.
Rather than follow his buddy and Kristen out to the barn, Cade sat on a wicker sofa on the porch. “Will you join me for a while?”
Lyn sat next to him, feeling suddenly shy.
“I didn’t mean to scare you with the accident,” he said. “Thanks for coming back for me.”
“You’re welcome. But please don’t frighten me like that ever again.”
A chuckle rumbled in his wide chest. “I’ll sure try not to, believe me.”
A long silence followed as he took her hand in his.
“When I found you, I was so scared,” she confided. “You were covered with so much blood, I didn’t think you’d make it.”
“I kind of scared myself.”
She licked her dry lips and glanced down at the cast on his leg. The break had looked worse than it was, thank the Lord.
“But it was more than just being scared, Cade. I...I thought I might lose you. For good.”
He turned to face her, his hypnotic eyes creased with wonder. “You did?”
She nodded and lifted her gaze to his. “Yes, and I didn’t like it. You see, I care for you, Cade. A lot.”
He swallowed, his breath leaving him in a short gasp. As if he couldn’t believe what she’d said. Either that, or he didn’t want to hear her words.
“I care a lot for you, too. But I’m afraid that doesn’t explain my feelings well enough.”
“What do you mean?” She crossed her ankles and looked away, not daring to hope. Picking a piece of lint off her summer dress.
“I love you, Lyn. More than I can ever say. I love Kristen, too. But caring for you is just the tip of the iceberg for me. I want a lot more. I want us to be a real family.”
“You do?” The heat of his tall body felt warm against her side, and she brushed her damp forehead with the back of her hand.
“Uh-huh.” The rough calluses on his palm slid against her hand.
“Well, I guess now is a good time to confess I feel the same. I love you, too. So very much.”
Dark brows shot up, his eyes glittering with curiosity. He laughed, a low, rumbling sound that sent shock waves through Lyn’s chest. “Do you know how long I’ve waited to hear you say that, lady?”
She shook her head, enjoying the rich timbre of his voice.
“Since the first moment I saw you standing in my clinic,” he said. “I think I’ve loved you since I rescued you from being trampled by that wild stallion. I’ve just been waiting for you to let me in. To realize we should be together.”
“You have?” That giddy sensation she’d felt at seeing him earlier now became a full onslaught of elation.
“Yeah, now that we’ve confessed we’re in love, I can finally ask you out on a date.” He shook his head. “We’ve kind of done this backward, but it’s okay as long as we get there. Are you up for dinner and a movie with me tomorrow night?”
She frowned, a bit of doubt clouding her mind. “You could have any woman you want, Cade. I’m damaged goods. My life is so complicated. Why would you want Kristen and me?”
He brushed his fingertips over her cheek, making her skin tingle. “Because color flooded my life the moment I met you. No one else has ever made me feel like this before. No one else will do. Not for me. Just you and Kristen. That’s all I want. Except for maybe more children in the future.”
Another baby. The thought brought Lyn so much hope, she couldn’t contain the joy. She hugged him—she couldn’t resist. Not when he said such sweet words to her. Not when she wanted this, too.
“I also have a secret I want to share with you,” he said.
Her mind spun with happiness. “What’s that?”
“You remember when you proposed I buy some of the wild horses and let Dal gentle them and open a camp here at the ranch for amputee kids?”
She nodded, feeling impertinent for ever suggesting such a thing. After all, it wasn’t her business what he—
“Well, I took your advice.”
“You did?”
“Yeah, I researched a grant from the American Coalition for Amputees. I’ve applied and, with my medical contacts, it appears I’ll qualify for funding a horse camp for amputee children.”
“But what about starting your outfitters business?”
“That never seemed to fit, or I would have done it by now. But I think a horse camp for amputee kids would work great. I’d be near town in case someone needed a doctor. And I’ve got plenty of room here at the ranch. I’m gonna adopt quite a few of the younger wild horses and train them for riding. Dal says he wants to help. Of course, I haven’t worked out all the logistics, but I really want to do this. With you by my side.”
She stared, hardly able to believe what he said. “That’s so wonderful, Cade. You’re such an amazing man. I have no doubt you can do anything you set your mind to.”
He lifted his arm and tightened it around her shoulders. “As long as I have you and Kristen beside me, I can do it. I know we haven’t even kissed yet, but I want to be a permanent part of your and Kristen’s lives. I want us to be a family for keeps.”
“Oh, Cade. I can’t think of anything more wonderful.”
“Will you marry me, Lyn? This isn’t how I planned to propose to you, but I can’t wait any
longer. Will you marry me and let me date you?”
She laughed around the tears spilling down her cheeks. “Yes, Cade. Nothing would make me happier. Nothing in the world.”
As he pulled her close for a long kiss, she melted within his arms. She leaned against his strong shoulder and wet his neck with her tears.
This was what she wanted. For so long. Her and Kristen. And Cade.
A real family. For always. Forever.
Epilogue
The smell of dust and horses sifted over the air. The dry summer heat beat down on Lyn, forcing her to adjust the wide brim of her cowboy hat lower across her face. Squirming on the hard bench in the spectator stands, she wished they hadn’t sat so close to the animal corrals. But she wanted to be near Kristen. In spite of her nauseous stomach, Lyn wouldn’t miss this event for the world.
“You okay, honey?” Sitting beside her, Cade leaned in close.
Lyn breathed deeply of his light, spicy scent. His fragrance almost wiped away the hot animal smell rising from the rodeo arena below.
Almost.
With a quick nod, she held the empty popcorn container close in case she finally lost control over her queasy stomach.
“You don’t look so good,” he said. “Your cheeks are flushed with heat. Maybe bringing you here today wasn’t such a good idea after all.”
His doubtful gaze lowered to her round stomach, where their unborn child nestled safely within her.
“I’m not leaving,” she said. “Kristen’s up next, and I want to see our daughter ride.”
As if on cue, the announcer called the girl’s name over the loudspeaker. “Kristen Warner-Baldwin is our next barrel racer in the peewee competition, folks. She’s from Stokely, Nevada, and has been riding barrels just two years now.”
A loud cheer rose from the stadium. If she wasn’t seeing it with her own eyes, Lyn wouldn’t believe her daughter could be here at the Reno rodeo, competing in the barrel races. It looked like all of them were about to reach their fondest dreams.
“You think Dal will remember to check the cinch on her saddle before he lets her ride?” Lyn asked. “Maybe you should go down and be with her. She might need your help.”
Old habits died hard, and her mind still thought of everything that might go wrong. Except now she had other people to assist in making sure her child was safe.
“No, I’m right where I need to be. Dal loves that girl and knows what to do. Except for you or me, Kristen couldn’t be in better hands.”
He’d barely finished his words when Kristen came barreling past on a horse. Like a streak of lightning, she zoomed to the first barrel and around, tilting with her mount, as though she were one with the animal. To the next barrel and the next. Riding like a pro, her legs securely settled within the stirrups. And then the home stretch, holding out the reins to give her horse her head. The mare wasn’t Lightning—rather, one of the wild horses from the roundup—but she was just as fast. Dal had trained the animal for riding, with Kristen close beside him all the way. In fact, the girl had become an amazing horsewoman.
Kristen rode the mustang at breakneck speed, and Lyn held her breath. The mare was a perfect lady for Kristen to ride until Lightning got older. But Lyn still worried about her girl. Lyn figured that worrying about her children was a mother’s curse. It never went away, even when you were old and gray.
With Cade’s arm securely around her back, Lyn stood and yelled her lungs out. She bounced on the bleachers, her nausea completely forgotten. And when the broadcaster announced Kristen’s time, the spectators roared.
Second place. It wasn’t first, but second place was just as good to Lyn. No one knew Kristen was an amputee kid. She’d forbidden her family from telling anyone. But Lyn knew everything her girl had overcome, everything she’d done to be just another normal child.
Glancing down, Lyn saw Dal sitting high on one of the corral gates. He pushed his cowboy hat back and gave them a thumbs-up, a wide grin beaming on his face. Lyn and Cade waved their approval.
“Our girl’s done well today,” Cade said.
“Yes, she has.”
Our girl. After almost two years of marriage, Lyn couldn’t think of a better way to put it. With another child on the way and Cade’s horse camp for amputee children off and running, she couldn’t imagine a more complete, happy life. Her work with the wild horses and the Toyakoi Shoshone Tribe continued. The answers weren’t easy, but she never gave up the battle to try to protect the mustangs and do what she believed was right.
Stepping up on her tiptoes, she pressed a warm kiss against Cade’s lips. He smiled and kissed her again, holding her tight in front of anyone who chose to look.
“What was that for?” he asked, gazing down into her eyes with a delighted grin.
“Just because I love you, sweetheart. Just because you’re mine.”
Again he kissed her, a lingering show of affection she wished could go on forever. After all, he was her husband and they were about to have their second child. They’d built a life together. They were happy.
His hand slid over her tight baby tummy. “And I love you, honey. I always will.”
“That’s all I need to hear.” She breathed the words in a breathless sigh.
“Come on. Let’s go congratulate our daughter. We’re going out to dinner tonight to celebrate.”
“And then we’re gonna find Dal a nice woman to date. He needs to get married and settle down, too.”
Cade frowned. “He does?”
She nodded. “Definitely. He’s too good a man to not have a family of his own.”
Cade chuckled. “Poor Dal. I doubt he’s ready for your matchmaking.”
As Cade took Lyn’s hand firmly in his and led the way, the peace and contentment she’d longed for rested on her heart like the hand of God. She owed the Lord so much. She owed Him everything. With a fulfilling career and a family to cherish, she could ask for nothing more.
* * * * *
If you enjoyed this story by Leigh Bale,
be sure to check out the other books this month
from Love Inspired!
Keep reading for an excerpt from Rancher’s Refuge by Linda Goodnight
Dear Reader,
Have you ever been afraid? I mean, really, constantly afraid. Of everything and nothing. Living your entire life in fear that something bad might happen? And that you wouldn’t be able to deal with it if it happened? Maybe bad things happened to you in the past to make you feel this way. And so it gave you a fear of bad things happening again, in the future. And that you wouldn’t be able to cope with it.
All of us face discouragement in life. We know Christ was the Good Shepherd. The great example for all of us. He left the ninety-and-nine to go after the one lost lamb. Even He faced great and cruel hardships and died for us. To give us the gift of the Atonement, so that all might be saved.
In Healing the Forest Ranger, I’ve had to oversimplify a very complicated issue in dealing with the wild horses. Many mustangs are injured during roundups. Approximately one percent of them die. To gather up the horses might seem cruel. Likewise, to leave them and other wildlife to starvation is just as cruel. There are no easy answers to this problem. Both the hero and heroine are fighting to protect these animals. The problems have become almost impossible to deal with. I believe this is because we want to stop all death and suffering of any kind, and we can’t. Much of it is out of our control, so we must rely on the Lord to handle the rest. The hero and heroine’s methods might differ, but their goals are the same. As they try to help the wildlife in their area, they are able to heal their own broken hearts and find joy in God’s redeeming love.
We all are a part of this earth and God’s creations. He wants us to be happy. He is very aware of each and every one of us. Just as He went after the one lost la
mb, so does He also watch over you and me. Because we live in an imperfect world, there is death and sorrow. But I believe God has given us these imperfections so that we might learn to recognize goodness and joy. There is no joy without sorrow. No health without sickness. God allows us to suffer hardships that we might not understand, but He knows it is for our betterment and personal growth. He is the great equalizer. In Him, all things will be renewed. Every plant and creature upon the earth may be fully restored.
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading Healing the Forest Ranger, and I invite you to visit my website at www.LeighBale.com to learn more about my books.
May you find peace in the Lord’s words!
Leigh Bale
Questions for Discussion
In Healing the Forest Ranger, Lyndsy Warner is a forest ranger who lost her husband in a horrible car crash that also took her daughter’s leg. Though Lyn suffered very little injury, she bears horrible scars on the inside due to guilt for surviving unscathed. Have you or someone you love ever suffered some kind of trauma that left them scarred on the inside? How did you or your loved one deal with it? Was it easy to get over, or did it take a long time? Why do you think some people are able to heal from mental trauma faster than others?
Dr. Cade Baldwin is a former U.S. marine, now a doctor, who still suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. He’s been able to cope with occasional moments of panic by focusing on the Lord. Do you think everyone can deal with all their problems in such a way, or do you think some people might also need psychological help from a skilled doctor to overcome their trauma? Why or why not?
Kristen, Lyn’s ten-year-old daughter, had an amputation above her right knee. When Cade Baldwin first starts working with the girl to help improve her walking, he tries to teach her to trust her prosthesis to be there and support her weight whenever she steps forward. At first, this is hard for Kristen, but over time she learns to trust and is able to walk and run without a limp. How can we liken this process to trusting our Heavenly Father to be there for us whenever we need Him? Have you ever operated your life on pure faith in God? Were you afraid? Was it easy for you to cast aside your doubts? Why or why not?
