A Ranch to Keep

by Claire McEwen

  He hadn’t. Though he should have. He stared back down the hill in shock at his own idiocy. He’d been so drawn to her last weekend, so focused on just being near her, it hadn’t really occurred to him to look too far ahead into the future.

  Walt interpreted his silence as a need for more advice. “Maybe you should ask her about buying the place? It’s pretty obvious she’s not gonna stay, and you need that land to make this ranch work.”

  “Yeah, I guess you’re right, Walt.” He looked at his old friend, thinking hard. “But it seems a little awkward right now, with her grandmother just laid to rest and her trying to get things sorted out here.”

  “Well, I’m not trying to tell you how to run your business, but it seems like you don’t want to wait too long. You need that land too much to miss out. I saw her out on her porch as I drove up the hill. Maybe you should head down there and be neighborly. Kill two birds with one stone, if you get my meaning.”

  Jack shook his head in disbelief as Walt slammed the door of his truck and started the engine. He’d never seen Walt so fired up before. Smiling, he walked over to gather his buckets and head back down to the barn.

  He figured his friend was right, about the land, at least. But Walt had it all wrong about getting involved with Samantha. It was plain as day that she was not going to be the one to rescue him from his postdivorce exile. He was undeniably attracted to her. The sparks he’d felt on the porch the other day, the weight of her body against his when he’d supported her in his arms, it was all seared into him like a brand. He couldn’t remember being drawn to anyone like that before, not even Amy. But he’d sworn off women like her long ago.

  He’d met Amy in another life, when he was fresh out of college in New York City, a bold kid with a mathematical brain and a talent for making money. Amy’s parents were high society and she’d loved that world, and loved bringing her successful boyfriend to all her big-name events. She’d loved him, or at least she’d loved what she thought he could and should be. Looking back, it was clear she’d never loved who he really was—an Oklahoma farm boy with a head for business, who’d managed to land a job at one of the most prestigious investment banking firms in New York.

  For Jack, New York was a way to make the money he needed to live his dreams. For Amy, New York was a way of life. She hadn’t wanted him to go West, hadn’t wanted him to train horses, but he’d talked her into it, and into marriage, too. That union had died a quick death in the freezing winter amongst the quiet of the mountains. She’d fled as soon as the first snow melted, sending him divorce papers in the mail shortly after. She didn’t recognize this new Jack Baron, she’d told him, but he’d never felt more like himself, and who he was meant to be.

  Well, whatever Amy’s reasons for leaving, there just hadn’t been enough for her out here, and there definitely wasn’t going to be enough for Samantha. She had “just passing through” all but tattooed on her elegant forehead and this time he was going to be smart enough to heed that warning.

  The truth of Walt’s words echoed in his head. Jack needed the Rylant land to make his operation a success. Leasing it had worked out well so far, but if Samantha sold the land to someone else he could lose everything he’d worked so hard for here. He’d have his house and barn and training facility, but not much acreage for pasture.

  Jack called the dogs and threw his buckets into the back of his truck. Walt was right about another thing. His to-do list. And it wasn’t going to get any shorter with him just sitting here worrying.

  Thinking of his list, inspiration struck. Maybe it was too soon to ask Samantha if she’d sell him her grandmother’s ranch, but he could certainly nudge her in that direction. Being the helpful neighbor that he was, he’d offer her a tour of her long-neglected property. He couldn’t think of anything more effective than an infinite list of chores and repairs to turn a city girl’s thoughts in the direction of a quick sale. And in the process, if he got to spend a little more time in the company of such a beautiful woman, well, he could live with that.

  Jack grabbed a halter out of the cab and went to get Larry. He wasn’t sure that he had enough charm to entice Samantha into a stroll around her ranch, but he’d bet good money that enormous, gentle and highly unusual Larry did.

  CHAPTER SIX

  SAMANTHA HAD BEEN trying to avoid thinking about Baron all morning. Which was hard since if she looked uphill she could see the side of his barn, and the edge of his driveway. And she didn’t even have to turn her head to hear his truck engine revving. She turned the music up loud.

  Of course, when she wasn’t thinking about Jack, she was thinking about coffee. She was having visions of cappuccinos right now. Double cappuccinos and those amazing pumpkin muffins they made at the coffee shop down the hill from her apartment—her usual Saturday-morning treat. But this Saturday, she’d have to settle for some cold cereal and the instant stuff—she couldn’t bring herself to call it coffee. How did modern people survive out here? she wondered.

  She was taking on the second floor today. There were four bedrooms, two bathrooms, several closets and the stairs. But there were also work emails and a conference call and three different meetings to plan. It was a little too overwhelming to think about. Best just to pull on the gloves and start cleaning, and maybe at some point, either this weekend or some time in the future, it might feel like her life was somewhat under control again.

  With a sigh, Samantha went out to the car to grab more cleaning supplies. As she straightened up out of the trunk and turned to face the house she noticed that the white siding and green trim were weather-beaten and peeling. She tried to look at it objectively. Would a prospective buyer care that the paint was coming off? Or maybe that would just add to its charm.

  She loved the wide, wraparound porch, the bay windows off the living room and the high dormer windows of the attic. It was a huge old house. Someone could purchase it for a big family and still have room left over. Or they could turn it into a bed-and-breakfast. With some redecorating and landscaping, it would be a great retreat for vacationers.

  Samantha wondered briefly if she’d ever want to be an innkeeper. Not likely, but she could easily imagine how she’d do it. She’d plant old roses by the gates outside, decorate the rooms in country chic, and hire someone to make an amazing breakfast every morning, complete with cappuccinos, of course. She’d offer hiking trips, horseback riding—a complete escape from city life.

  Lost in the dream of it, Samantha didn’t hear a sound until the hoofbeats were right behind her. Turning with a gasp, she instinctively took two steps back from the large horse. Dark, liquid eyes regarded her with friendly interest. A homely white head with brown spots and flecks ended in a pink-and-black-speckled nose that nudged forward and sniffed at her hand. Laughing at the velvet touch of the horse’s nibbling lips, Samantha looked up into Jack Baron’s face. He was watching her with an oddly serious expression. Her breath caught—she hoped he hadn’t heard it.

  “Morning.” He tipped his hat to her and leaned over the saddle horn, letting the reins go slack. “Larry and I thought we’d come down and pay you a little visit.”

  She couldn’t help but smile. It was too absurd, being visited by a man on a horse at eight in the morning. “Isn’t it a little early to be out riding?”

  “Well, Frisco,” he teased gently, “us country folk have been out of bed for hours, and Larry here has been raring to go since dawn.”

  “This is Larry.”

  “Yes, it is. Say hello, Larry.”

  “I think he already said hello. He startled me.” She looked up at Jack suspiciously, squinting into the rising sun. “Do you always sneak up on people?”

  He laughed. “Only people who don’t seem to notice much around them.”

  “Hey! I was busy. Thinking. I notice things all the time...just not you...or Larry, apparently.” It had been so long since she�
��d been near a horse, but Larry’s velvet nose, now searching her pockets, combined with the smell of sun and horse and dust, all brought memories of summer rides flooding back.

  Larry shifted a few steps and Samantha could see his neck and flank. “He’s polka-dotted!” she exclaimed, taking in the amazing, almost absurd coat. Larry was pure white with dark brown, perfectly oval spots scattered all over. “He’s a Dalmatian! Only way bigger.”

  “He’s a leopard Appaloosa. Have you ever seen one before?”

  “No! It’s startling, for sure! And also adorable.”

  Jack gave Larry a pat on the neck. “Hear that, fella? You’re adorable.” He was teasing again but there was pride in his voice. He obviously loved his horse. “You don’t seem too scared around him. Do you ride, Samantha?”

  “I used to, but it’s been a really long time.” Her last ride with her grandparents seemed like a lifetime ago, but the precious memory of it was still there.

  “Why don’t you hop on Larry here? We’ll take you for a stroll.”

  “Larry can’t hold both of us, Jack!”

  “Larry is sixteen hands high and as strong as an ox, and I’m sure you just hurt his feelings to suggest otherwise.”

  “Sorry, Larry.” She stroked his soft nose and broad forehead. There was no way she’d ride double with Jack. Being plastered against him on a moving horse definitely did not fit into her plan to keep her distance.

  “Come on, Samantha. Look.” Jack swung a long blue-jeaned leg over Larry’s back and stepped down lightly. “If it seems too cozy with two of us up there, I can walk.”

  The guy could read her mind and that was disconcerting. “It’s not just that...I have so much to do!”

  “Have you even seen this ranch of yours yet? Besides the house and the creek, I mean?”

  “Well, not really,” she admitted.

  “Let Larry and I show it to you. You might as well know what you’re working so hard for.”

  Samantha could feel her resolve disintegrating. She had a million things to do and not much time to do them in. Plus, after the way he’d made her feel on the porch last weekend, the last thing she should do is go anywhere near her gorgeous neighbor. But the early sun was lighting up the landscape, a breeze from the peaks above was filling the air with the scent and sound of pines, and she really should take a look around the ranch. Her ranch.

  “Let me lock the house.”

  “You don’t need to lock your doors around here, Samantha!”

  “Force of habit.” She glared at him as she closed the car doors and ran up the steps to lock the front door. “Do you always make fun of people so much?”

  “Maybe it’s something about you, Frisco.”

  She shook her head. There was no use even replying to that without digging herself in deeper. She walked to the edge of the porch.

  “Hang on, I’ll bring him over.” Jack drew on the reins, leaned slightly on Larry’s shoulder and the Appaloosa walked sideways right up to the edge of the porch.

  “That’s a neat trick.” Samantha reached her right hand up to grip the pommel and put her foot in the stirrup.

  “Larry and I are full of good tricks. We’d be happy to teach you some if you’re interested.” She chose to ignore that invitation for now and slung her leg over Larry’s back to settle in the saddle. Larry stirred at the unfamiliar weight but settled at a word from Jack.

  Jack shortened the stirrups for her. “Is that your phone in your pocket?” he inquired.

  Samantha instinctively felt the back pocket of her jeans. “Yes.”

  “Maybe while we were exploring, I could help you make a list of the repairs and maintenance that the ranch needs. You can take notes on your phone.” Jack pulled down to tighten the last stirrup adjustment and took Larry’s reins.

  “No, Jack, that’s okay. I can hire someone for that.”

  “Well, you could, but it would be dumb when you have me right here.” He grinned up at her and clicked to Larry, who promptly moved forward. “I’ll let you steer eventually if you want. But he’s not used to having such a light rider on his back. I want to make sure he doesn’t get goofy while he’s trying to figure out what’s changed.”

  “I’m going to take that as a compliment, I guess,” Samantha replied, adjusting her seat in the saddle to accommodate Larry’s long gait. “And, since I don’t want to appear dumb, as you put it, I’d appreciate anything you can tell me about what the ranch needs.”

  An hour later she was regretting she’d said those words. Seated on Larry while Jack poked around in the barn, she added “replace rotted siding on north wall” and “rehang doors” to a list that already included at least forty tasks. And they hadn’t even made it to the rear of the house yet, where she could see, even from a distance, that a few elderly sheds were sagging earthward and a large portion of the kitchen garden fence had come down.

  This, Samantha decided, was enough. It was really nice of Jack to offer to do this, but she had a lot to do today and if she added many more things to this list she’d be so overwhelmed she’d never get started. The key would be prioritizing the most crucial repairs. Luckily she was really good at that. “Jack!” she called.

  His voice echoed from the back of the cavernous barn. “You’re going to need to replace all the stalls in here if you plan to have cattle. They’re outdated—they don’t meet the minimum size.”

  “Jack!” she called again. “Can you come out here please?”

  A moment later he emerged, wiping a streak of dust off his face with a bandana. Yum, Samantha thought involuntarily, watching the muscles of his arm ripple when he moved.

  “Add this to your list. Remove and recycle outdated metal...”

  “Jack!” She cut him off.

  He looked surprised. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing’s wrong. It’s just a lot of information and I don’t know if I’m going to have cattle, so as much as I appreciate it, I think maybe I don’t need to know all of this right now.”

  “Sure. I just thought...”

  “You’ve been so helpful. I’m really grateful. But I can’t fix everything right away. How about this? Taking into account that I have no cows right now and won’t need to use the barn or fences anytime soon, what are the top five problems you’ve seen today?”

  * * *

  JACK GROANED INWARDLY. He’d forgotten she was some high-powered executive who probably handled huge projects every day. Instead of looking overwhelmed and rattled, as he’d hoped, she looked calm and at home. Excited, even. He tried again.

  “You know, some of these repairs are gonna cost you a fair amount.”

  She smiled at him and her green eyes sparkled, distracting him. “Yes, I figured that. So what do you see as the most important tasks?”

  He could see why she was so successful. She was beautiful, unfazed, even smiling in the face of so much bad news. He thought about her question before he answered. “The cracked chimney, the roof, the rot in the porch supports, clearing the brush that’s grown near the house and having the septic system checked out.”

  Her hands flashed as she recorded the list on her phone. Then she tucked the phone into her back pocket. “Okay, got it. Thanks again for giving me so much of your time and all this great information! If you don’t mind, once I get these repairs done, would it be okay if we discussed this list again? I’d compensate you for your time. Kind of like a consultant. An old, dilapidated ranch consultant, that is!”

  Jack couldn’t help but laugh at her choice of words. “Are you calling me old and dilapidated?”

  “No, the ranch!” Her cheeks flushed. “Those aren’t exactly the words I’d use to describe you, Jack.”

  Heat flashed through him at that. He felt like a teenager who’d just been noticed by the homecoming queen. “Sure, I’d be
happy to help,” he answered her question. “But you don’t need to pay me. I keep explaining to you, Frisco, it’s called being neighborly.”

  “Oh yeah.” Her glance was pure mischief. “I’d forgotten about the Boy Scout values around here.”

  “And I keep forgetting that you come from the cutthroat, dog-eat-dog world of San Francisco.”

  She matched his sarcasm with her own. “Yeah, it’s a jungle for sure. But with really good food and frequent peace rallies.”

  Jack grinned, loving her humor and the way her laugh created a dimple in the flawless skin of her cheeks.

  He knew he should get back to his work. He’d come down here on a mission to overwhelm and discourage her, and as far as he could tell, it had been a complete failure. But instead of heading back to his ranch, he handed her Larry’s reins. “You’ve got a good seat, Samantha. Why don’t you try being in charge of Larry for a bit? We can walk out through the lower pastures and you can have a look at the rest of your ranch, at least from a distance. And I promise, I won’t say anything more about what needs to be fixed.”

  Samantha looked pointedly to her right, where an old water trough was upside down with a rusted roll of wire fencing leaning against it.

  “I see nothing,” he promised her.

  “Okay, then, let’s go. Lead the way and we’ll go check out this ranch of mine.”

  Jack nodded and started down the faint path that led past the old kitchen gardens and out to the first pasture. He could feel Larry thudding behind him and looked back. Samantha sat straight and graceful, as if she’d been riding Larry forever. In that instant, she looked like she belonged here. And Jack felt the pull, like a gravitational force, to the thing he wanted and couldn’t possibly have. He pictured that dead-end road again. The one he’d been down with Amy. But all he could think of was how good it would feel to walk down it with Samantha, despite whatever heartache might be waiting for them when they ran out of pavement.