A Ranch to Keep

by Claire McEwen

  * * *

  SAMANTHA LOOKED DOWN at Jack from her high perch on Larry’s broad back. Even covered in dust from the barn he was incredibly handsome. Golden stubble lined his jaw, and his skin was tanned and just a bit weathered. The old leather cowboy hat might be obscuring his eyes a bit, but she’d felt her stomach flip with desire every time he trained them on her. But today something felt different. It didn’t seem like he wanted anything more from her than a neighborly friendship. Maybe she’d imagined all that heat between them last weekend. The thought brought with it a strange mix of disappointment and relief.

  Well, a good thing about his complete lack of flirtation today was that it meant she could have more time on Larry, and she was so enjoying riding again. She’d had no idea how much she’d missed it until she’d settled into the saddle and her muscle memory had taken over: heels down, toes in, elbows at her sides. Everything her grandparents had taught her was still right there for her to access. Ignoring the voice in her head that was chiding her about all the work and housework she still had to get done today, she took up the reins a bit and urged Larry down the path that Jack was taking.

  He glanced back at her. “You doing okay up there?”

  “Yes,” she answered. She watched the way his shoulders straightened when he turned forward again. They were broad, their strength obvious under his shirt, and for a traitorous moment she compared them to Mark’s, which, despite all his time at the gym, just didn’t look quite as attractive as Jack’s.

  “Are you English, originally?” Jack asked.

  “No.” She was surprised by the question. “But I spent a lot of time in the UK growing up.”

  “I can hear it in your voice sometimes,” Jack said. “Not much, just phrases like all right, then and the way you always say yes instead of yeah.”

  “No one’s ever mentioned that before.” Samantha guided Larry around an old gate lying on the ground.

  “And I’m not mentioning that downed gate.”

  She giggled. “Thanks for not mentioning it, Jack.”

  The back of the ranch narrowed into a steep valley and the acreage within made up what had always been called the lower pastures. The falling fences and weed-choked fields looked very different from the neat green fields of grass Samantha remembered. She glanced down at Jack. “You don’t need to say it. I can see there’s lots more for my list here.”

  “I’ve gotten my orders. I’m not saying anything more unless my consulting services are requested. But I was going to point out that despite its many needs, you have a beautiful ranch. Have you even stopped to take in all that you own?”

  She hadn’t. She halted Larry as they reached the middle of the lower fields and slid off, giving him a pat and holding his reins. He whuffled her cheek and then bent his head to start on the rich grass that poked through the weeds and brambles. Samantha handed the reins to Jack and walked a few paces away, turning slowly in a circle and trying to take it all in.

  The ranch house was behind her, at the entrance to the high valley. On the hill above it was Jack’s barn, and presumably, his house beyond that. Turning east she saw sagebrush and granite-specked hills that rolled all the way down to the Owens Valley floor. “That’s all mine, too, isn’t it?”

  “Yep. Your grandfather had so much land he never even developed that portion. Didn’t need it because he had this whole high valley, and then the higher pastures.”

  “Which you lease now.”

  “Yep.” Jack pointed up the hill, beyond his barn. “My barn and house are situated right at the edge of my land, bordering yours. I own all the acreage that goes back down south toward our driveways. And I own a bunch of acres straight up the hill from my house. But your grandparents, I mean, you, own all of the best, developed pasture that’s to the northwest of me. There’s good water there and it’s where I graze my horses most of the time.”

  Samantha squinted up the hill where she could see grassy hillsides unfolding until, far up in the distance, they began to blend with granite crags. “It’s beautiful,” she marveled. “I cannot get my head around the idea that I own this.”

  “I imagine it’ll take some getting used to.” Jack moved to stand next to her, pointing up into the mountains. “And you know you have a lot more than pasture up there. See all those peaks after the pasture ends? A bunch of them are yours. You’ve even got your own lake up there.”

  “I remember it,” Samantha replied. “We used to ride up there and I’d swim. It’s Stone Lake, right? Such a boring name. Grandpa didn’t like it. He always said he was going to rename it Lake Beautiful Ruth after my grandmother.”

  Jack looked down at her in surprise. “Sounds like he was quite the romantic.”

  “Oh, they had a great love,” Samantha told him. “Watching them together made me understand what true love really was. They laughed and played and worked hard and were always there for each other. I was lucky to witness it. I think that type of love is rare.” She thought of Mark, and how he seemed so busy lately, or so tired from being so busy. Very rare indeed.

  “It is rare,” Jack agreed, echoing her thoughts. “And I guess if it ever shows up, you’ve got to just take a chance and grab it.”

  Samantha could hear a somber note in his voice. She looked up and his eyes met hers. She searched them, trying to read his mood. There was a depth to him she hadn’t anticipated and she realized that it wasn’t just lust she was feeling for this cowboy. It was worse. She wanted to get to know him better, and that wasn’t good news. She took a step away and looked back at the mountains.

  “We should go there,” he said softly.

  “Where?”

  “Lake Beautiful Ruth. Don’t you want to see it again?”

  “Well, yes, of course,” Samantha answered. But not, she reminded herself, a smart thing to do with Jack when she was so drawn to him. “Unfortunately I don’t have a lot of time.”

  Jack’s voice held a teasing note. The sadness or regret she’d detected had vanished. “I’ve been hearing you say that a lot, Frisco, especially when there’s the possibility of doing something nice for yourself—something fun.”

  Jack’s tall frame was lit by the eastern sunshine. With his hat tipped down over his face and his long denim-clad legs ending in worn cowboy boots, he looked like the hero from one of the Western movies her grandfather had loved. She wanted to say yes, to the ride, and to anything else he asked.... Their eyes met again and this time she had no more willpower left to look away. His hand reached out and picked up one of the ringlets that curled on her shoulders. He pulled it gently and watched it spring back.

  “I like these, by the way.”

  He had her flustered. She prided herself on never being flustered. “Oh, er...yes, I didn’t get out the blow dryer today.”

  “I’m glad.” The intensity was back in his look and suddenly she knew she hadn’t imagined what had passed between them last weekend. She felt the heat from his gaze on her skin. He bent down until she could feel his breath on her lips, and her own quickened and caught as he brushed her mouth in a slight caress, just a gentle ghost of a kiss that left the taste of him on her lips. He stepped back and she stared at him in shock, the back of one hand involuntarily pressed to her lips as if to hold the kiss in place.

  This was crazy. This was a black hole of danger and complication.

  “I have a boyfriend.” The four words seemed to ring out over the quiet pasture as Jack looked at her in silence, his expression fading from wanting to surprise.

  “Mark.” She stumbled on. “We work together. We’ve been together a long time. It’s pretty serious.”

  Finally he spoke. “I think I read you wrong then, Samantha. I apologize.”

  “No, you didn’t. I mean, yes, well, it’s complicated. I’m sorry, too.” This was not going well. Her cheeks were hot and, very likely, bee
t red, and she’d just kissed someone who was definitely not Mark. It was time to go.

  “Where is he?” Jack asked abruptly.

  “Mark? He’s in San Francisco.”

  “Why isn’t he here? Helping you out with all of this?” His arm waved to take in the vast land around them.

  Samantha remembered the disappointment she’d felt when Mark couldn’t come to the funeral, and when he’d been unable to join her this weekend. “He’s busy. He works a lot. And the fact is, I don’t need his help.”

  “It’s a big challenge, trying to straighten up this place. Just seems like the guy who loves you would want to come out here and lend a hand.”

  That stung. “Jack, I’m not sure which century you’re living in out here, but I don’t need my boyfriend, who does love me, by the way, to help me out with every little thing. I can take care of most things on my own! I’m used to it and I like it that way.”

  “Oh, believe me, I know you can. I saw you almost break your neck last weekend taking care of things on your own!” He chuckled and leaned back on Larry, arms crossed across his chest, watching her from underneath the brim of his hat. Samantha glowered at him and he stopped. “Look, I didn’t mean to step on your toes. I was just surprised that he isn’t by your side, taking all this on.”

  “I guess every relationship is different. We don’t all want or need what my grandparents had, for example. It’s wonderful that they were so romantic, and always together, but I’m not sure I inherited that particular gene.” Why was she standing out here, justifying her relationship to a guy whose views on love stemmed from the dark ages? A guy whose unwanted kiss was making her wish for things she absolutely couldn’t have.... This was all just way too uncomfortable to deal with any longer.

  “Anyway, Jack, this has all been very enlightening but I have a conference call at eleven.” She glanced at her wrist and realized she’d forgotten to put her watch on this morning. There was a line of paler skin where the band usually was. She looked up.

  Jack was smiling at her, the friendly mischief back in his eyes. “Forget something?”

  A sigh escaped her. “Yes, my watch, as a matter of fact.”

  “Stick around here long enough and you’ll realize you don’t even need it.”

  “Sounds nice,” Samantha retorted. “And impossible. I’ve really got to get back. But thanks for your help with the ranch today, and for letting me ride Larry. And for this.” She waved her hand vaguely at the gorgeous scenery around them. She gave Larry a farewell pat and turned to go back the way they’d come.

  “Samantha!” His voice sent a thrill through her as she turned.

  “Yes?”

  “We should take that ride. If not this weekend, then sometime soon.”

  After everything he’d made her feel today, Samantha was pretty sure it was best to never get within twenty feet of Jack Baron again. “Maybe, but I’m going to be very busy. Thanks for the offer, though. Goodbye, Jack.”

  She had a long walk across the pasture, and when she glanced back, Jack was still leaning against Larry, watching her go. Needing something to distract herself from his eyes on her, she pulled out her phone, punching in numbers to set up the call. It took a moment to realize that, of course, she had no reception in the middle of a pasture, in the middle of the mountains, in the middle of nowhere. She hurried toward the ranch house, thinking that maybe Jack was right. Owning a ranch was going to be a whole lot of trouble. But it wasn’t the long list of repairs that worried her—it was the trouble she had keeping her distance from Jack Baron that concerned her most.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  RIGHT NOW SAMANTHA MISSED her beautiful apartment. She missed her clean, tiled shower. She missed the heater that turned her bathroom into a cozy retreat on even the coldest, foggiest days. She was filthy, and it was late in the day, and thanks to her misguided decision to see the ranch with Jack, and several work phone calls, she’d lost cleaning time and the upstairs bathrooms were still unusable. The downstairs bathroom had a tiny sink and no shower. So she stood in the kitchen, hunched over the farmhouse sink, trying to wash her hair under the old iron faucet.

  She wrung out her hair and reached for a towel and comb, wandering out to the front porch to attack the tangles. She sat down on the worn front steps. Staring down the driveway, pulling idly on the curls and knots, she thought back to the morning, and Jack’s unexpected kiss. She knew it was wrong—was that why it was haunting her? Or was it because she’d never had a kiss like that. So slight, but so searing?

  She had to keep in mind that this was all some sort of fantasy, a distraction because Mark had been so busy lately. She knew very little about Jack, besides the basic facts—he was handsome, funny and liked horses. Why was he alone, single and living in the middle of nowhere? He had to be in his mid-thirties, and years of big city dating had taught her that if a beautiful man was alone at that age, there was usually a good reason why. Her friend Tess called it the fatal flaw: commitment phobia, an addiction to the chase, an addiction to drugs, alcohol, infidelity... Which flaw was his? And why did she care anyway? She’d be going back to her extremely busy, fulfilling life in San Francisco tomorrow evening.

  She was so involved in pondering these questions that she didn’t notice the car making its way up the drive until it was practically on top of her. It was a Porsche—sleek, gray and reeking of wealth. Wondering why anyone would come out to her ranch, especially someone in this type of car, Samantha jumped to her feet. The engine stopped and out sprung Robert Morgan, the lawyer who’d handled Grandma Ruth’s will, looking clean and professional in a tailored gray suit and tie. He tugged mirrored sunglasses off of his face and strode toward her with a hand outstretched.

  “Samantha!” He was beaming like a long-lost friend rather than her lawyer whom she’d met for the first time a few days ago. “How are you?”

  Samantha tried to wipe the surprise off her face. She didn’t think they had any more business to take care of, and she certainly hadn’t expected him out here. But maybe he was a much-needed dose of reality. From his expensive suit to his leather loafers he was a reminder of her real life among professional people, far away from this ranch tucked up against the wilderness.

  “Robert, what a surprise!” She took his hand in a firm shake. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”

  “I had an appointment with a client over in Mammoth,” he said. “I was hoping I could talk you into having dinner with me. Thought I’d drop by and see how the city slicker was doing with ranch life. So what do you say, can I take you for an early meal?”

  Samantha took a long look at him. His face was earnest and betrayed nothing. If this was a date it didn’t show in his professional demeanor and easy smile. He probably just wanted to go over some last minute stuff about the ranch. And why was she worried, anyway? She’d just been kissed by a cowboy. Having dinner with her lawyer seemed tame in comparison.

  She looked down at her old jeans and T-shirt. “Can I get changed?”

  His demeanor was warm and reassuring. “No problem. I’ve got to make some calls. How about if I hang out here on the porch while you get ready?”

  Samantha took a hasty sponge bath in the bathroom and rummaged around for some decent clothing, deciding on slim black jeans and a fitted red sweater. She pulled the comb through her tangled hair and grabbed the blow dryer. In ten minutes her hair was transformed into a sleek, straight wedge and she was dabbing on some makeup. She picked up her purse, grabbed her keys and was out onto the porch moments later, locking the door.

  Rob stood and eyed her appreciatively. “That was quite a transformation. When I arrived here I wasn’t sure that it was you under those clothes and curls.”

  “Oh, yes, it was me,” she answered crisply. “I guess I have many sides.”

  “You?” Robert laughed. “I have a feeling you’re a city
slicker just like me. A lot more at home in a good restaurant or a nice car than we are in a tiny town like this.”

  She was quiet. Why did his comment bother her? He was right, wasn’t he? She certainly didn’t fit in around here. But it was one thing to think it about herself, and another to have someone she barely knew point it out.

  They cruised the downtown, all seven blocks of it, until Rob pulled up at the Sierra Grill, which he said had the only remotely edible food in town. Samantha tried to ignore the stuffed elk and deer heads staring from the walls with empty glass eyes. As they settled into their booth and ordered wine and an appetizer, Samantha asked, “So, tell me about Mammoth. That’s where you were today wasn’t it?”

  Rob’s expression lit up. “You haven’t been up there? It’s awesome! They have some of the best skiing around, incredible scenery, beautiful shops and good food. A lot of people from L.A. go up there to vacation. You’d love it.”

  “And you were there for...”

  “Business this time. I’m working on a little real estate transaction. Some clients of mine are setting up a new resort there.”

  Samantha was surprised to learn this. She’d judged Rob as a small-time lawyer, sliding easily into his daddy’s practice. “I didn’t know you were in real estate development, Rob.”

  “Well, I deal with more of the legal side of it, but yes, I’ve been getting more involved lately. You see, Samantha, this area is booming. Lake Tahoe is so crowded and the economy in such a bad state that people are staying close to home. They want more local vacation destinations. That’s one of the reasons I wanted to talk to you tonight.”

  “Oh?” Samantha echoed. “Why me?”

  “About your land. The ranch. I imagine you’re considering selling it and I wanted you to know that my business partners and I might be interested in buying.”

  “Really? Selling it has crossed my mind, but I haven’t thought anything through. Why do you and your partners want it?”