Falling for the Rancher

by Roxanne Rustand

  He had Susan in his truck and was headed out of the Twin Cities when his phone rang.

  He grabbed his phone and pressed the screen to route the call from the hands-free speaker mode in the truck and into his cell. “Hello. This is Dr. Maxwell.”

  “So sorry to bother you,” Darcy said, her voice tinged with embarrassment. “But I figured you hadn’t gotten my message, and I promised Emma that I would try again. She’s quite upset, thinking you won’t be able to come.”

  He gripped the phone a little tighter. “What’s this for?”

  “Sunday school tomorrow, right after church. It’s the last day of the classes until after Labor Day, and there’ll be desserts and coffee, and prizes for the kids. She’s getting an award for good attendance and is sure all of the kids will have both parents there, so she’ll feel left out. She wonders if you could come as just her friend.”

  He glanced over at Susan. From her upraised eyebrow and knowing little smirk, he could tell she’d heard every word.

  She shrugged. “Go for it. I don’t mind. I’ll probably sleep in anyway.”

  He returned to the call. “What time?”

  There was a long pause. “I’m so sorry—I forgot you were having company. I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

  She hung up before he could say another word.

  “Sounds like she’s not too happy.” Susan rolled her eyes. “Tell me she’s not another girlfriend like that last doozy. Puh-leeze.”

  “The woman on the phone is the other vet at the clinic.”

  “All the better, bro. Mutual interests and all that?”

  He ignored her little jibe and focused on the slowdown of the traffic ahead. “So, how are the kids? I haven’t seen them since Christmas.”

  “They’re with their dad for the weekend, probably driving him crazy. I figure it serves him right.” She looked away. “I just needed some time to get away and think things through, you know? Big decision.”

  Logan spared her a quick glance. “How did the counseling go?”

  She snorted. “Would’ve helped if Rick had decided to go. But he never would’ve admitted to any responsibility for our problems, anyhow.”

  “Did it help you to talk to someone?”

  “I went a few times, then gave up. One side of the story couldn’t ever get to the real problems, right?” She bit her lower lip. For all her bravado, Logan saw a single tear trail down her cheek.

  “I’m so sorry, sis.”

  “Me, too.” She laced her fingers on her lap. “You know, if he had just made a little effort—tried to help around the place, or offered to help with the kids’ homework once in a while—I would have been okay with that. But he was gone most of the time and impatient when he got home. The house was never clean enough. He didn’t like what I made for dinner. Where was his underwear, and why didn’t I have the lawn mowed before he got home? Enough is enough.”

  Enough is enough was probably Rick’s assessment, as well. As for her part in this mess, Logan knew that Susan had perpetually run up heavy debts by shopping at high-end stores and never seemed satisfied with what she had. But he’d wisely learned to hold his tongue on that score.

  One wrong word and she would rail that he was always on her husband’s side and neither of them had ever loved her, and then there would be no chance at all to get through to her.

  “If it’s all that bad, then I’d say you deserve better. Want me to go back to Montana and give him what-for?”

  She gave him a watery smile. “He would back down if he saw you coming, but I doubt it would make any difference in the long run.”

  “So, how long are you staying here?”

  “Just ’til Monday afternoon. Much as I’d like to stay away longer, Rick has an important company meeting in Houston, so I have to get back to take care of the kids.”

  He reached across the cab to give her hand a quick squeeze. “I’m glad you came.”

  “It’s funny, the things you imagine when you’re young...” Her voice turned wistful. “A knight in shining armor sweeping you away. Buckets of money. A loving family. Growing old together, and still in love after fifty years. Then reality comes along to remind you that life just doesn’t end up that way, except in the movies. Of course you know all that—you were going to marry that despicable woman in Montana, and then she tried to drag you down with her. What did she get? Was it twenty years?

  “Something like that.” He sighed heavily. “She had everyone at the clinic fooled. Most of all me.”

  “Which just proves my point.” Susan wearily leaned against the headrest and rolled her head to face him. “Mom and Dad divorced, then Uncle Jake, and two of my best friends did, too. I’ve come to realize that it’s a mistake to think you’re going to be happy, because eventually everything just turns to dust. You’re the only one in our family who’s smart enough to stay single.”

  After they made it to Aspen Creek, he looked in on Cedar at the clinic, then drove home and got Susan settled in an upstairs guest room.

  Down in the great room, he turned off the lights and settled in his favorite leather chair to stare at the moonlit landscape outside. With the windows open, he could hear the wind sighing through the trees and inhale the sweet scent of pine that was so reminiscent of his life back in Montana.

  One of the horses whinnied, and in the distance coyotes were yip-yipping to the moon. All he needed was the sound of a few beef cattle bawling now and then to feel right at home, but in a year or so he would have a herd established here. With a return to cattle ranching and his vet practice, his life would be complete.

  But though Montana had been his home, he had no yearning to go back. It held only bitter memories now.

  The only one smart enough to stay single.

  His sister’s words rolled through his thoughts again and again, a litany that might have been meant as praise but only reminded him of how empty his life had become.

  Darcy was struggling financially under the burden of her profligate husband’s thoughtlessness. She didn’t have a fancy house or a fine car. She was the sole support of her little family with all of the heavy responsibilities that went with it.

  But she had what really mattered, and it reminded him of what he had lost.

  A cozy and welcoming home. A sweet child or two. A life of someone to talk with over dinner and bedtime stories to read at night.

  These were the things he’d longed to have, when he thought he was going to marry Cathy. The opportunities he’d lost when she betrayed him.

  But his life was going to get better. He might be totally gun-shy when it came to risking his heart ever again. But in a few days he could bring Cedar home from the clinic, and at least he’d have a dog.

  * * *

  In the morning, he’d heard no footsteps moving around upstairs and Susan hadn’t started a pot of coffee in the kitchen, so Logan assumed she was still sleeping. He drove to church with just minutes to spare.

  The congregation was seated and already singing a beautiful old hymn when he slid into the back pew. He looked around, seeing things he hadn’t noticed the last time when he felt awkward and out of place.

  Beautiful old stained-glass windows—six on each side. The sunlight beaming in from the east that splashed the parishioners with jewel-like colors.

  He knew the building was very old—a plaque on the outside proclaimed it was on the Register of Historic Places. But the soft ivory paint looked freshly done, the woodwork gleamed with loving care and the windows sparkled.

  Throughout the service, the Bible verses Pastor Mark used and the sermon he gave flowed over him. The heartfelt praise songs seemed to lift him up. During the final prayer, he looked up at the brass cross hanging over the altar and realized that this place filled him with an utter sense of peace. Forgiveness. And even an unexpecte
d ray of hope that seemed to fill in some of the ragged and empty places in his heart.

  And he found that for the first time in his sorry life, he wished a church service wasn’t already over.

  Afterward he couldn’t see Darcy and Emma anywhere in the crowd drifting down the central aisle to shake the pastor’s hand, so he stayed at the back until the line thinned out, then joined the stragglers.

  Someone slid a hand around his elbow. “Howdy, stranger,” she chirped. “So good to see you here.”

  It was Hannah.

  “Glad to be here.”

  “That tall guy over there—talking to the lawyer—is my fiancé, Ethan. I’ll make sure he comes over and says hello if Walter ever stops talking.”

  “Actually, I’m looking for Emma and Darcy. They’re at some sort of Sunday school ceremony.”

  “Downstairs. The kids and parents were mostly sitting in the back during the service and slipped away during the last song so they could get ready.” She pointed to the right. “The stairway is over there.”

  He nodded his thanks and descended to the lower level, where apparently everyone in Aspen Creek had gathered. Chairs and tables with tablecloths had been placed around the large meeting hall, but there were so many people standing that he had no idea where to look for Emma.

  Beth appeared at his side. “You did come! Emma will be so happy.” She pointed to the opposite side of the room. “You should find her over there with her mom. The little ceremony will be starting soon, but don’t worry—it shouldn’t take more than an hour.”

  Logan made his way sideways through the crowd, apologizing as he went. When he finally spied Emma, he smiled at her. “Hi, little lady. I hear you’ve having a big day.”

  She squealed with delight and rushed to him, her flouncy pink skirt bouncing and her arms raised, so he scooped her up into his arms.

  She wasn’t his, yet he felt such a surge of protectiveness just holding her that it nearly took his breath away.

  “I knew you’d come! Mommy didn’t think so, but I knew you would.”

  Darcy materialized in front of him with a small cup of pink punch. “You don’t want to spill your punch on Dr. Maxwell, so you’d better hop down, honey.”

  Emma wrapped her arms wrapped her arms around his neck. “No.”

  “Let me set your drink aside, then.” She looked up at Logan with a grateful smile. “I just figured that you had company and wouldn’t want to come. Thank you so much. As you can see, it means a lot to Emma.”

  “I’m glad you let me know. Susan is still asleep back home or I would’ve brought her.”

  Darcy’s welcoming expression shuttered. “That would have been very...nice. I hope you two have a great time.”

  “It won’t be, but I’m glad she came. She’s pondering the end of her marriage and just wanted to get away.”

  “Oh.” Darcy blinked. “Oh, dear. I’m sorry.”

  “It’s not the first time, unfortunately. But she’s my only sister, and I always do whatever I can to help.”

  * * *

  Ever since she’d heard Logan mention he was having company this weekend, Darcy had envisioned him with a beautiful girlfriend from back in Montana. Probably a mad, passionate affair with marriage on the horizon.

  She’d found herself feeling a deep sense of loss over what could never be.

  Which made no sense at all.

  After her experience with Dean, she’d been so sure that she’d never fall for anyone again, for nothing could be worth risking such crushing heartache.

  Yet despite her convictions, and her doubts about him when they first met, Logan had proved to be the kind of guy she’d once dreamed of meeting, and she’d found herself falling for him a little more with every passing week. And more than that, he was wonderful with Emma, who idolized him. He’d once said he would never have kids, but how could that be?

  Discovering that Logan’s weekend guest was his sister had literally taken Darcy’s breath away. But still...

  A loudspeaker squawked.

  At the far end of the meeting hall, the head of the Sunday school program gripped a microphone and began reading off the names of the children who had won prizes for memorization. Then she began reading the perfect attendance list from youngest on up.

  Darcy looked up at Emma, who still refused to leave Logan’s arms. “You need to get down, sweetie. She’s about to call your name.”

  Logan swung Emma down to the floor and watched as she fell into line with the other four-year-olds. As the little ones marched across the stage, Emma waved at Darcy and Logan, her face beaming with pride.

  Someone touched Darcy’s arm, and she turned to see one of the older women in the church whose name she couldn’t recall.

  “You have such a lovely family,” the woman said in a loud whisper. “You must be so proud. Such a handsome young husband and pretty little daughter. Not many families stay together these days.”

  Her voice was one that carried.

  Embarrassed, Darcy smiled at her and edged away. She caught a glimpse of Beth giving her a sympathetic smile through the crowd.

  She didn’t even want to imagine what Logan thought of the elderly woman’s assumption after he’d been so kind to show up. He’d made it clear that he had no intention of ever settling down.

  “Let’s go,” she whispered to him, as soon as Emma came back to her side. “This program will take a while.”

  It took time to make it through the crowded room, but once they made it outside, she took a deep breath of fresh air.

  Emma lifted her certificate up high. “I got good ’tendance. And I learned a lot.”

  “I’ll bet you did, Emma,” Logan said. “Great job.”

  “Did you get good ’tendance, too?”

  “Yes, ma’am. My mom and dad made sure of it. And I’m still learning.”

  Emma spied some dandelions scattered like little disks of sunshine in the grass and bent to pick them.

  Darcy waited until she was completely engrossed, then touched Logan’s sleeve. “Thank you again for coming. It meant all the world to her.”

  “Glad to do it. It got me back to church again, and I’m beginning to realize just how much I’ve missed it.”

  “You were there? You could have joined us—” She bit her lip, realizing that he might have intentionally found a different pew.

  “I didn’t see you or I would have. I got there a little late.”

  “I-I’m really sorry if you were embarrassed about what the woman said downstairs. I didn’t know what to say without making a scene.”

  “Any man in that room would be honored to claim you and Emma as his family.” He went very still, his expression unfathomable as he searched her face. “You said you were never taking a chance again, but no one with a decent heart would ever treat you like your husband did. I can promise you that.”

  She watched him head for his pickup, feeling a little breathless and more than a little confused. Had he just encouraged her to look elsewhere, or had he meant those words for himself?

  Chapter Fourteen

  After getting home from church and making lunch, Darcy called Hannah to arrange a time for picking up Emma’s new dog, but as Hannah and Ethan were leaving to check out wedding venues, they promised to drop Bonnie off on their way.

  Emma was overcome with awe when Hannah appeared at the front door with Bonnie at her side.

  “She’s here! She’s really here!” Too excited to contain herself, she ran in circles and jumped up and down, her arms flailing, then threw her arms around Darcy’s legs.

  Clearly terrified, Bonnie yelped and scrambled backward.

  “This probably isn’t the best introduction,” Hannah said dryly as she reached down to comfort the dog. “Got any suggestions?”


  “Emma and I need to have a little talk.” Darcy said with an apologetic smile. “Can we meet you in the backyard in a couple minutes?”

  Darcy closed the front door, then knelt down and rested her hands on Emma’s shoulders. “Have you ever been really scared about something? So scared you just wanted to run and hide?”

  Emma nodded.

  “Well, poor Bonnie is really scared, too. She had a good home, then ended up at Hannah’s rescue center where there were strange people and noisy dogs that frightened her, because she only knew her quiet home with an elderly man. And now she’s here, facing another change.”

  Emma’s eyes filled with worry. “She doesn’t want to come here?”

  “She’ll be fun and playful later, but right now we want to make it easy for her to get to know us. So you need to be slow and quiet and very gentle. Can you do that?”

  Emma nodded and took Darcy’s hand.

  “Let’s go, then. Just don’t forget. Today is a quiet day.”

  Hannah was in the backyard with Bonnie still on the leash when they came outside.

  The golden lab tentatively wagged its tail when Darcy and Emma approached.

  “Let’s sit down on the picnic bench, sweetie, and let her come up to you. But don’t grab her around the neck—at least for now. Dogs can see that as a form of aggression.”

  Emma sat quietly as the dog nervously surveyed her surroundings, then slowly approached and sniffed her knee. “I hope you like us, Bonnie. You’re going to be my friend.”

  The lab sat down and rested her head on Emma’s lap.

  “Looks good to me,” Hannah said. “Now I’d better get going, because Ethan has the car running. Let me know if you have any problems.”

  After Hannah shut the gate behind her, Darcy stood and unsnapped the leash. “Let’s let her explore her new home, all right?”

  Emma giggled as the dog crisscrossed the yard at a jog, nose to the ground. She explored every nook and cranny. Sized up the fence. When a squirrel chattered from its perch on an overhead branch, Bonnie launched into a volley of barks. Then she stared at the screened porch and tentatively rested a paw on the lowest step. Every few minutes, she came back to Emma and nudged her knee with her nose as if asking her to join her.