The Rancher and the Rich Girl

by Heather MacAllister

  “Oh, Matt!” She felt horrible. No wonder he’d held back when another man would have already made a move on her.

  “But even knowing about it, it still takes me a long time to get close to someone.” He gazed at her, then said simply, “And when I do, I want her to be around for a while.”

  But she was leaving. There was nothing she could say to the contrary. Nodding, she twisted around and positioned her feet behind the elephant’s ears. “We’d better get back,” she said, trying to make her voice sound normal. “I want to meet Tom Andersen and you have to talk to Krinkov about the vet.”

  * * *

  BY UNSPOKEN MUTUAL agreement, Matt and Jessica avoided being alone with each other. And, with everything going on around the ranch, it was easy to avoid each other, period.

  That didn’t mean Jessica didn’t think about him pretty much all the time, though.

  Their kiss on the elephant had given her a lot to think about. She’d realized that her “fling” days were long past. And if Matt wasn’t fling material, then that meant he was something she wasn’t ready to acknowledge.

  The vet came the next day, even though Krinkov grumbled mightily. Matt drove the doctor to the village to check on the other circus animals after he treated Sheba.

  Sam reported that Sheba had really big pills she had to swallow and they had to hide them in her food.

  But Sheba didn’t want to eat food. Jessica sent Lita to buy the most tender steaks she could. She also got rolls of pennies for Caesar, who was miffed at all the attention being given to the tiger and not to him. He and Sam spent hours playing the coin game.

  While Matt was busy with the vet, Jessica started directing the repairs to the barn. The retired canvas men barely acknowledged her presence, even though Frank pretended to consult with and defer to her. That was all right with Jessica. At least it gave her an excuse to stay out of Matt’s way.

  They did have one lengthy discussion when Matt returned from driving the vet back to his helicopter.

  It was at the end of the day, and Jessica and Frank were at the shed, discussing how best to go about rebuilding it. Frank wanted to salvage as much of the old one as he could for the village, and Jessica was trying to persuade him that the metal was so rusty, it would disintegrate if they attempted to move it.

  Matt drove his truck into the ranch yard and headed their way. “What’s all this?” he said even before he’d slammed the door shut.

  “Frank wants salvage rights on the old shed,” Jessica told him. “But structurally, it wouldn’t be safe.”

  “No—I meant this.” He pointed to the pile of metal siding.

  “That will be the new shed.”

  Matt stared at it, then at her. “What new shed?”

  Jessica stared back. “The new shed to replace that.” She pointed to the rusting building.

  “I believe it is now that I should busy myself at the barn.” Frank started backing away. “Perhaps to pay a sick call on Sheba. Perhaps to check and see if those lazy canvas men have finished the repairs and have started on the fence. It doesn’t matter. I will be at the barn.” He limped away quickly.

  Matt crossed his arms. Jessica ignored the way his shirt pulled against his shoulders. “I don’t recall ordering materials for a new shed.”

  “I ordered them.”

  “Why?”

  “Why?” She gestured to the old building. “A strong wind and that thing’s gone. At the least, it leaks.”

  “I know it does, but there are things around here that need fixing sooner than that shed.”

  “I ordered fencing for you, too.”

  “I’m talking about the bunkhouse. I realize it’s only got folks living in it during the winter, but I’d at least like to keep it dry and warm inside.”

  “We can fix the bunkhouse. Why didn’t you say something?”

  “Because I can’t afford to!”

  “But I’m paying!”

  “Did it ever occur to you that I might want to use that money of yours for other things—things like feeding animals?”

  It hadn’t occurred to her. “I’ll make up for the cost of the shed.” And probably the appliances, too. He didn’t know about those, but she knew better than to bring them up now.

  “No.”

  “Come on, Matt. I don’t want some animal starving because you have a new shed.”

  “I said no. Just don’t go ordering anything else without checking with me first.” With an abrupt nod, he spun on his heel and strode into the ranch house.

  It had been a stupid argument, Jessica told herself. They weren’t really arguing about sheds, they were trying to keep an emotional distance between them.

  It wasn’t working.

  She’d noticed the way he’d looked at her. She’d probably looked at him the same way.

  But not acknowledging their feelings was for the best.

  * * *

  “MOM!” A DUSTY SAM came running into the kitchen the next morning.

  Lita and Jessica were having their usual gingersnap break.

  “Me and Matt’s gonna go on a roundup!”

  “Matt and I,” she corrected. Rachel was going to have a fit when they got back and she heard how Sam’s grammar had deteriorated.

  “He sent me in here to pack!”

  Jessica stood. “When are you leaving?”

  “As soon as I get ready,” Sam said, and ran off to his room.

  The door quietly opened and closed behind her. Jessica turned to find Matt standing in the doorway. He looked tired, as though he hadn’t been sleeping well.

  “Boy’ll need a bedroll,” Lita mumbled, and headed out of the kitchen.

  Why was it people kept leaving the two of them alone?

  As always, Matt’s eyes were on her.

  “I thought you weren’t taking Sam out until the end of the week,” she said.

  Matt walked over to the kitchen sink, his boots loud in the silence. “Changed my mind.”

  The strained situation between them had something to do with it, no doubt. “Look, I’ve apologized for ordering supplies without telling you. I didn’t think you were the type of man to carry a grudge.”

  Matt turned off the water and grabbed a towel. “I’m not mad at you, Jessica.” He half smiled. “I’m just finding it difficult to be around you and not touch you.”

  Then touch me. She couldn’t believe she’d found the one man in the universe who wanted to protect her from herself.

  He scorched her with a look, then turned and hung up the towel. “I thought it best to put some distance between us.”

  What, did he think she was going to throw herself at him? He’d been more than plain about not wanting a short-term affair.

  And, Jessica admitted, not particularly proud of herself, she would have been using him to test herself. In a few days, they’d be gone from here, and there was emotional safety in knowing that. She didn’t have to become involved with him on any level except purely physical.

  Matt must have sensed that, darn it.

  She changed the subject. “How is Sam doing with the horse? Is he ready for this?”

  Matt nodded. “The elephant ride did the trick. He isn’t intimidated by Black Star anymore.”

  At the mention of the elephant ride, there was another awkward silence between them.

  “I’ll go help Sam,” Jessica said. As she left the kitchen, she could feel Matt’s gaze on her.

  * * *

  MATT AND SAM WERE GONE for three days. It was all Jessica could do to keep from hopping in her car and driving around until she saw that they were all right.

  There was one welcome distraction: the new appliances arrived and required a state visit from Carmen and Katya. Lita made a great big German-chocol
ate cake for the occasion.

  This time, after Jessica drank her tea, she automatically swished it around three times and turned it in the saucer before handing it to Carmen.

  Carmen beamed, then bent to read the leaves. Even Katya seemed interested in what her rival saw in the cup.

  “Does the letter r mean anyone to you?” Carmen asked.

  “My mother-in-law is named Rachel,” Jessica answered, thinking she must have mentioned it earlier. “Why do you ask?”

  Carmen shrugged. “I see three r’s in the cup. Two near the rim, one of those is also near the handle. I see dots indicating a journey in the near future.”

  “Well, I’m supposed to leave this week,” Jessica pointed out.

  “Not you,” Carmen said. “Her.”

  It was wild conjecture. It meant nothing.

  “Lovely Jessica,” Frank called, interrupting them. He opened the kitchen door. Seeing his wife, he smiled. “And my equally lovely darling.” Limping over, he gave her a huge kiss.

  “She claims to see the future, yet she does not see through him,” Katya said in an aside.

  But Jessica felt Carmen and Frank were genuinely fond of each other.

  Frank cleared his throat. “Jessica, Sheba—she doesn’t look so good. I found these.”

  He held out his hand. In it were three huge capsules that the tiger had obviously discovered in her food and refused to eat.

  “Oh dear. Where is she?”

  “Under the tree.”

  Followed by the others, Jessica jogged out to the old pecan tree. Sheba lay in about the same spot that her triumph over the snake had taken place. Her ribs showed and each breath was a wheeze. Caesar sat beside her head, grooming her and making eerily mournful sounds.

  Jessica absently reached into her pocket. “Coin.”

  Caesar gave a subdued chirp and went back to grooming Sheba.

  “Yeah, you’re right. How can I think of playing a game at a time like this.” She returned the penny to her pocket and squatted down to look at the tiger.

  Carmen, Frank and Katya arrived and stood silently.

  “Do you think she’s in pain?” Jessica asked.

  “If she is, she bears it well,” Frank said.

  “She was always one of the most reliable performers,” his wife added. “If Gordo took an animal out to show, Sheba was the one he took. She’d always draw a good tip.”

  Katya nodded. “And if one of those young hooligans in the crowd teased her, she never snapped. Gordo always gave her a treat for resisting.”

  Jessica wished they’d stop talking as though the tiger were gone. “Maybe we should call the vet.”

  No one said anything.

  She looked up in time to see them exchanging uncertain looks.

  “Don’t know if you should, lady.” Reminding Jessica of Scheherazade, Frank laboriously got down on one knee and ran his hand over the tiger.

  Sheba rumbled.

  Jessica couldn’t stand it. “I want to call the vet. Do you know which vet Matt uses, Frank?”

  “He comes for a price.”

  “Don’t worry about that. What’s his name?”

  Frank seemed hesitant and glanced up at the women standing behind Jessica. “Dr. Harrelson. Martin Harrelson. He lives in Kerrville.”

  Wherever that was. “Thanks, Frank.” The doctor’s number was probably in the leather address book Matt kept on the ranch office desk.

  Jessica rubbed the old tiger’s head. “Hang in there, girl. We’ll get you fixed up.”

  The doctor couldn’t come until the next day. Throughout the morning, Jessica tried without luck to coax Sheba to eat. She would barely drink.

  At last, Jessica saw the helicopter fly overhead and land in the flat pasture just on this side of the ravine. Frank drove out to get the vet.

  Dr. Harrelson was a youngish, bespectacled man, with long pale fingers and an obvious rapport with his patients.

  “I was surprised to get the call,” he told Jessica as he knelt next to Sheba, who was still under the tree.

  From above them, Caesar chattered.

  “Hey, Caesar. How’s it going?” The doctor held his hand next to the tiger’s nose, then stroked her before getting out his stethoscope.

  “Sheba wasn’t taking her medicine and now she won’t eat at all,” Jessica said.

  “Those were pain pills. Matt and I decided to just make her comfortable.”

  “What do you mean?” Jessica asked with dread.

  “She’s got tummy troubles, don’t you, old girl?” The vet got a metal box out of his knapsack and unlocked it with a key. “I don’t know for certain, could be her liver, could be a number of things. Without operating, I can’t tell. Basically, she’s just old.”

  “Why don’t you operate?”

  “Cost, for one thing. Transportation—”

  “I’ll pay.”

  Dr. Harrelson looked at her, then took a vial of amber liquid from the box and filled a syringe with it. “Just because you can doesn’t mean you should. This will make sure she doesn’t feel any pain for a while,” he said, and injected the medicine in Sheba’s shoulder.

  Within moments, the tiger’s eyes closed and her breathing changed.

  “What about when she wakes up?” Jessica asked.

  “I’ll leave a vial and some syringes with Matt. He knows how to administer them.” Dr. Harrelson gave her a long look. “I could euthanize her right now while she’s asleep. She’ll never know.”

  “No!” Horrified, Jessica rocked back on her heels. “If you won’t do the operation to help this animal, then at least leave the syringes.”

  “Your call.” Dr. Harrelson made some notes on a pad, then tore the sheet off and handed it to Jessica along with two vials and a handful of syringes. “But I don’t think you’ll need them all,” he said ominously. “Any other patients for me to see today?”

  “Not that I know of.”

  “You sure? I don’t usually come this far for one animal.”

  “I owe her.” Jessica told him the snake story, but he didn’t seem impressed.

  “Okay, then.” He rummaged in his knapsack and took out a billing notebook. Checking his watch, he wrote several figures in a column, looked skyward for a moment, scribbled some more, then tore off the page and handed it to Jessica.

  “Would you give that to Matt for me?” Squatting, he began repacking his knapsack.

  Jessica looked at the total. Wasn’t there a decimal point missing?

  The helicopter was by far the largest expense, but the amount of the bill was enough to make even Jessica blink. “I’d rather pay for this myself. Will you take an out-of-town check?”

  * * *

  MATT AND SAM ARRIVED BACK two afternoons later. Jessica had spent the morning photographing Tom Andersen’s work for the catalog. In addition to the ironworker, she’d found a wood carver and was well pleased with her new additions to the catalog.

  The best news was that after her sleep, Sheba had awakened and actually ate for the first time in several days.

  Jessica was working on her laptop in the ranch office when she saw Matt and Sam come riding in. Mindful of Matt’s advice, she didn’t immediately run screaming from the house shouting, “My baby!” the way she wanted to.

  Instead she watched them—both of them—as they rode toward the newly repaired barn.

  Sam looked exhausted, she thought. And filthy. He was wearing the same clothes as when he left. Maybe she should go outside and greet them—and hose them down.

  But she didn’t. Instead she stayed in the ranch office, pretending that she didn’t know they were back, while they spent an interminable amount of time in the barn.

  At last, she saw Sam come running from the barn. H
alfway, he had to stop and walk, and even then, he veered toward the tree where Sheba and Caesar were before coming inside to see her, his mother.

  “Mom! We’re back, and I’m starved!”

  Now Jessica let herself go greet him.

  Lita was fussing about him getting the floor dirty, but she’d given him a glass of milk and a leftover cinnamon bun wrapped in a napkin by the time Jessica made it to the kitchen.

  Regardless of how dirty he was, Jessica gave him a big hug.

  “Mom, it was so cool out there. Me and Matt found a sick cow and we helped her. Then we counted the herd. And we rode all day long and I got sore. Then we camped and built a fire and I burned my hand.” He held it up, but moved it before Jessica could examine his injury.

  “Let me see.”

  “That’s nothing. I got others worse.”

  He continued babbling as he drank milk and stuffed wads of Lita’s cinnamon roll into his mouth. “And Matt even let me drink coffee. Cowboys drink coffee, you know.”

  Matt, who’d obviously taken the time to wash his face and hands before coming inside, arrived at the screen door in time to hear Sam’s coffee announcement.

  Jessica raised an eyebrow at him and he grinned, dark eyes flashing. She smiled back, deciding to overlook him giving her son caffeine this time.

  Matt sniffed the air. “Something sure smells good. What’re you cooking, Lita?”

  “Cornish game hens and wild rice with mushrooms,” Lita answered. She’d really taken to the concept of ordering food through the mail.

  Matt stared at her, his expression comical.

  “What did she say?” Sam asked.

  “Midget chickens and black rice,” Jessica told him.

  “I like those,” Sam said.

  “Well, if you want to eat any, then you’ll have to go take a—”

  “Hey.”

  Matt was looking around the kitchen at the new refrigerator, dishwasher and stove. “What’s all this?”

  “The old stove done quit, and your lady bought all new.”

  Matt shot Jessica a look, considerably less warm than the one he’d given her earlier.