Rancher to the Rescue

by Arlene James

  Kathryn could only smile and say, “Yes, ma’am.” She couldn’t help wondering what Jake would have to say about her leaving Frankie behind, though.

  When Tina informed Wyatt at lunch that he would be staying home to oversee the contractor and watch the boys that afternoon, he glanced around the room and meekly said, “Yes, dear.” His brothers laughed, but Wyatt just winked and said, “Feisty little thing, isn’t she?”

  Tina smirked, ignoring him. “Kathryn and I will put chicken and potatoes into the crockpot, so we can get dinner on in a matter of minutes after we get back. If you’ll just have the boys ready, we should make prayer meeting without any problems.”

  “We can do that,” Wyatt said, looking at Jake, who merely nodded.

  “It’s settled then,” she decreed, rushing Kathryn toward the door. Once they were outside, Tina laughed and said, “That was easier than expected.”

  Kathryn made one more protest. “I should be working, not shopping.”

  “Shopping is working,” Tina countered dryly.

  Kathryn got in the SUV.

  Five hours later, exhausted but the proud owner of three new outfits—all purchased at deep discount—Kathryn desperately wanted a shower. Tina, on the other hand, had resisted buying anything for herself. Once or twice she’d seemed tempted by certain items of clothing, but then she’d just sighed and put them back. When Kathryn asked why, Tina made a face.

  “I’ll get too fat to wear them. You don’t know how good you have it being thin. You’re the kind who won’t even put on weight when you’re pregnant.”

  Kathryn didn’t say that her chances of ever having a child were slim to none. She’d be thirty before she knew what hit her, and it wasn’t likely that she’d marry any time soon. Jake’s face popped up before her mind’s eye, his gaze warm above that gorgeous smile. Mentally shoving away the image, she’d scolded Tina for thinking she was overweight.

  “You’re not fat. You’re shapely. I, on the other hand, have the figure of a stick.”

  “Rub it in, why don’t you?” Tina drawled.

  Kathryn laughed and helped Tina stow their purchases in the SUV. When Tina straightened and reached up to pull down the tailgate, all the color drained out of her face and she suddenly collapsed against the bumper. Crying out, Kathryn caught her and lifted her up enough to sit on the edge of the SUV’s baggage deck.

  “Tina! What’s wrong?”

  Tina put a hand to her head. “Dizzy. Guess it’s the heat.”

  “Let’s get you home.”

  “You’d better drive.”

  Tina reached into her handbag for her keys and handed them over. Kathryn walked her around to the passenger seat before hurrying to take her place behind the steering wheel. She turned on the air conditioner full blast and stopped at a drive-through for a cool drink, but halfway home Tina gasped and put her hand over her mouth. Kathryn quickly pulled over so Tina could throw up. Afterward, Kathryn gave her a mint, helped her lie back her seat and broke speed limits getting home to the ranch.

  Because the construction crew was working on the carport, Kathryn parked the car in front of the corral, which was directly across from the house.

  “Where’s Wyatt?” she demanded of the workers, but the voice that answered her was Jake’s.

  “He and the boys drove into town,” he said, striding toward her from the barn. “What’s wrong?”

  “Tina’s ill. Help me get her in the house.”

  “I can manage on my own,” Tina said, sliding down to the ground. She did look better, but Kathryn wasn’t taking any chances, and neither was Jake. He rushed to Tina’s side and would have carried her into the house if she hadn’t threatened him. “I’m fine. Put your hands on me, though, and I’ll kick you in the shin.”

  She wouldn’t have hurt him, of course, and he did put his hands on her, but he settled for wrapping an arm around her back and escorting her inside, Kathryn hurrying along beside them. Tina insisted on brushing her teeth. Kathryn followed her, standing outside the bathroom door in case Tina felt faint again. They returned to the kitchen, where Jake waited anxiously. Tina sat at the table.

  “How about a cold glass of iced tea?” Kathryn offered, feeling Tina’s clammy forehead with the palm of her hand.

  Tina made a face. “I think I’d rather have a soft drink. And crackers.” Always worried about her weight, Tina seldom drank anything sweetened with sugar, and lately she’d stopped stocking colas and soft drinks with artificial sweeteners.

  “Are you sure?”

  “I think it might settle my stomach.”

  Kathryn went for the crackers while Jake retrieved the soft drink.

  “I think I should call Wyatt,” he said, delivering the cold, canned beverage to her.

  Tina shook her head. “No. I’ll be better in a minute.”

  “After you finish that, go lie down,” Kathryn urged. “I can manage dinner.”

  “I’ll help her,” Jake volunteered.

  Kathryn shook her head. “It’s mostly ready. I’ll just open some canned vegetables and call it done.”

  “Well, I’m not leaving until Wyatt returns,” Jake said, pulling out a chair.

  Kathryn went about getting the dinner together, while Tina munched crackers and sipped her clear, sparkling beverage. Wyatt and the boys came in just as Kathryn was pulling plates from the cupboard.

  “Tina is ill,” Jake announced immediately.

  Concern stamped on his face, Wyatt went to her, tossing whatever he’d bought in town on the table. She got to her feet as he approached, smiling.

  “I’m fine. Just a little upset stomach. Probably the heat.”

  He wrapped his arms around her. “You sure, sweetheart?”

  “Absolutely.”

  Wyatt smiled down at her, seeming to relax. “I love you,” he said, and the two kissed.

  Jake shot to his feet and out the door. Obviously, Kathryn reflected sourly, he couldn’t wait to get away from her. At least he’d stayed put until Wyatt came.

  “Dinner in ten minutes,” Kathryn called after him.

  “We got popslickels for ’zert!” Frankie declared to Kathryn.

  She pulled her attention away from Jake’s retreat and focused on his son. “That’s wonderful. Let’s put them in the freezer so they don’t melt.”

  “Yeah,” Frankie said, adding emphatically, “I want red.”

  Kathryn chuckled. “I’ll remember that.” She sent both boys off to wash their hands and went back to preparing dinner.

  Tina asked Wyatt to go out to the SUV and bring in the shopping bags, then insisted on setting the table before separating their purchases into two piles. Ryder came in and went to wash up. Kathryn was putting the food on the table when Jake came in again and went to the kitchen sink.

  “When we’re done here,” Tina said to Kathryn, “Wyatt and I will clean up so you can get home. I know you probably want to shower before prayer meeting.”

  “Are you sure you should go to prayer meeting tonight?” Kathryn asked, concern tugging at her.

  Tina chuckled. “I keep telling everyone, I’m fine. I’ll feel even better after prayer meeting.”

  Kathryn smiled. “That’s always how I feel, too.”

  “Oh, wait,” Tina said. “Why not just get ready here? You can use one of the guest rooms upstairs.”

  Kathryn glanced at the parcels on the floor. “I can do that, I guess.” No one would have to drive her back and forth this way or pass her the keys to Tina’s old sedan again.

  They finished the meal, Jake again as silent as stone. Kathryn carried her shopping bags upstairs and dropped them on the bed in the room at the end of the hall before going straight to the shower. Just feeling clean again cooled and reinvigorated her. Tina brought up a blow dryer and curling iron, as well as a few other essentials. She seemed alm
ost fully recovered from her earlier bout of sickness.

  After drying and curling her hair, Kathryn pulled out a newly purchased sundress, removed the tags and put it on. Thankfully, she’d worn sandals that morning. She loved the way the dress swirled around her legs, falling to midcalf. Tying the string belt at her waist, she tossed the faded denim jacket that came with the dress over her shoulders and went downstairs to join the others. Everyone commented on how pretty she looked in her new dress. Everyone but Jake. He barely glanced at her before heading outside.

  She felt frostbitten, his cold indifference a kind of death of all her hopes and dreams. Determined not to cry, she pasted on a smile, stiffened her spine and filed out with everyone. Once again, Jake and Ryder traveled in Jake’s truck. Kathryn rode in the SUV with the others. At the church, Kathryn found herself sitting between Tina and Ryder. She told herself she was glad. It made it easier for her to ignore Jake. He certainly had no trouble ignoring her.

  Kathryn was surprised that neither Wyatt nor Tina asked for prayer after Tina’s bout of illness that afternoon. Ryder also seemed bothered by that, leaning forward at one point and sending his brother a meaningful look. Wyatt’s response had been to take Tina’s hand in his. Well, Kathryn certainly understood the desire for privacy. Perhaps Tina was not quite as fully recovered as she pretended, however, for as soon as they reached the foyer, Wyatt announced that he was taking Tina and the boys straight home. That left Jake and Ryder to drive Kathryn to her house.

  She rode in the back seat, staring at the text message that had come in while her phone was silenced in church. Clark had written to say that he was out of town and hadn’t had a moment to call due to constant meetings but didn’t want her to think he was ignoring her. Kathryn knew that if not for Jake Smith, she’d be thrilled, but it was difficult to swoon over Clark when the man who had alternately enthralled and wounded her sat within her immediate line of sight.

  Arriving at her house a few minutes later, she was surprised to see an unfamiliar luxury sedan parked in her driveway. Jake pulled up on the passenger side of the other vehicle.

  “You’ve got company,” Ryder said needlessly.

  “So I see,” she murmured, opening her door. “Thanks for the ride.” She quickly alighted and walked around to the car, wondering who her visitor might be and fearing the worst. Perhaps it was her father. More likely his attorney. Mitchel Stepp had never owned a luxury anything.

  A tall, slender man with very little blond hair and a nervous smile got out on the driver’s side to greet her. Wearing a short-sleeved sport shirt, pleated slacks and black dress shoes, he looked distinctly uncomfortable.

  “Kathryn?”

  “Yes.”

  He put out his hand. “Jay Wilson. I was just about to leave.”

  Jay Wilson, the divorced father of three who had called her some days ago. As an introvert herself, she knew one when she saw one. She shook his hand.

  “You won’t remember me,” he said, as if that explained everything. “I was several years ahead of you in school. I called on Saturday.”

  “Oh, yes.” She forced a smile.

  “I was wondering,” he said, “if you’d reconsider going out with me. There’s...there’s a recital. My daughter’s a piano student. She’s only eleven, but she’s quite good.”

  “You must be very proud of her,” Kathryn said quickly. She heard a door open and glanced over his shoulder in time to see Jake get out of the truck. Frowning, she switched back to Jay Wilson. “Normally I would be happy to go with you to your daughter’s recital, but I’m...” She lowered her voice, quickly adding, “I’m, well, I’m interested in someone else.”

  Jay Wilson glanced back at Jake. “Ah. I see. Sorry to have bothered you.”

  “Not at all,” she hastened to say, smiling apologetically. “I should have told you when you called. I was just so flattered by your invitation...”

  Bobbing his head, he took swift leave of her, flags of color flying across his cheekbones. His car was halfway down the drive before Jake reached her side.

  Scowling at the sedan, Jake asked, “Who was that?”

  “A nice man,” Kathryn answered tersely, starting toward the house.

  Jake kept pace with her. “That’s not Clark.”

  “No, it’s not. Clark is out of town.”

  He stopped at the bottom of the porch steps. “That guy asked you out, didn’t he?”

  Kathryn just smiled and went up the steps. She had no desire to go out with Jay Wilson. He was attractive enough, and she couldn’t deny that his persistence flattered her. Moreover, she was thrilled to think that men, some men, found her attractive, but it was unfair of her to go out with anyone, Clark included, until her heart was her own again.

  That didn’t mean her social life was any business of the one man who’d made it clear she was not for him. She went into the house without another word.

  * * *

  Jake sat silently beside Kathryn at church on the following Sunday and mentally kicked himself for the thousandth time. He’d opened a proverbial Pandora’s box by denying his interest in Kathryn. He’d answered the question of just one man, and now suitors were coming out of the woodwork. For days now, he’d tried to be glad for her but could only be miserable for himself. Would every single man within driving distance be on her doorstep now? At this rate, she’d be married by winter.

  He tried not to look at her, but she was so stunning, elegant and sophisticated in a formfitting brown dress with a flat bow on one shoulder. He couldn’t help himself. Of course, she wasn’t sitting beside him so much as she was sitting beside Tina. He’d just managed to get between her and Ryder. Another stupid move on his part. He couldn’t concentrate on anything but her, and she wouldn’t even be sitting here next to him if Clark Goodell had attended church this morning.

  His own jealousy and possessiveness shocked Jake. He had no right to such feelings, and silently confessing them did little to alleviate his gloom, especially when a man whom Jake didn’t know approached Kathryn immediately after the service and received a warm welcome. Tall, blond and muscular, he seemed a little young for Kathryn, but the two hugged and stood talking animatedly together. Trying not to glower, Jake fetched Frankie from his classroom, only to find the pair still talking when he returned to the foyer.

  Jake had sense enough to recognize his own jealousy and fight it. Surely his preoccupation with Kathryn was not healthy. It bordered on obsession, and that bothered him. He’d never had these issues with Jolene.

  He and Jolene had come across each other in the course of their assignments. Rank being no issue, they’d both flirted a bit. They’d been comfortable together from the very beginning, and Jake had never known a moment’s concern about Jolene liking him. In fact, she had asked him out the first time, rather than the other way around. Neither of them had dated anyone else from that point on, and their mutual affection had quickly become so obvious, a superior officer had suggested that marriage would be best for their careers. They’d gone shopping for a ring the next day and were married in uniform by the base chaplain just over four months later.

  Jake reflected morosely that Kathryn seemed more comfortable with Clark and this new fellow than she was with him. Knowing it was all his fault didn’t help a bit. The whole thing made Jake’s head and chest ache.

  “Grinding your teeth won’t make her yours,” said a voice at his shoulder. Jake spun on his heel, turning his glare on his big brother. Wyatt lifted both hands. “Just saying.”

  Jake turned away, scoffing, “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “No? Wasn’t that long ago that you and Ryder advised me to go after Tina.”

  The fact of that made Wyatt’s words no less galling. Both of his brothers obviously read him much more easily than he’d assumed, but neither of them understood his turmoil.

  “It’s not the sam
e,” Jake hissed. “Kathryn is nothing like Tina or—”

  “Jolene?” Wyatt finished for him. “What difference does that make? You’re not trying to replace Jolene. The people we love aren’t replaceable. You’re moving on to a new relationship, something unique. Unless you let yourself get beat out by a college kid.”

  Ignoring the rest of Wyatt’s words, Jake seized on what felt most pertinent. “College kid?” Jake glanced at the man talking to Kathryn. He was muscular and fit but quite young.

  “Rex says his name is Derek Cabbot. Apparently, he plays college football in Texas.”

  Cabbot. The name flitted through Jake’s mind, lodging in a specific memory.

  “Is he any kin to a Sandy Cabbot?”

  “Rex said he’s Sandy Cabbot’s grandson, but I have no idea who Sandy Cabbot is.”

  “He’s a former client of Kathryn’s.”

  “Ah. Sandy probably misses her,” Wyatt remarked casually. “We would if she left us.”

  She’d said she might go back to the home care agency once her car was repaired, and it was drivable now, though the brakes felt spongy to him, and the clutch was slipping. Plus, he thought she could have an exhaust leak. That was all beside the point, however.

  He shook his head at his brother, his gaze on Kathryn. “I can’t get involved with anyone right now.”

  “I don’t see why not.”

  “My finances are stretched to the limit,” Jake admitted, finally looking at his brother. “If the shop doesn’t quickly turn a profit, I...I don’t know what I’ll do.”

  Grinning, Wyatt clapped him on the shoulder. “Try a little faith.”

  At the rate he was going, Jake thought glumly, it was going to take a lot of faith. Heaps and tons of faith.

  More than he could find.

  Chapter Twelve

  “I’m taking Tina and Tyler home now,” Wyatt said. “Ryder and I will see to lunch. Want me to take Frankie with us?”

  Jake nodded, preoccupied with Wyatt’s advice. Faith. Was it faith to expect that God would give him what he wanted when he wanted so much? He wanted Kathryn, but he wanted the financial stability to support her, too, and he wanted it here, near his brothers. On the other hand, how was he to know if he didn’t take at least a few steps in the direction he wanted to go? I’ll understand if You slap me down, Lord, Jake prayed silently, taking his son by the hand and walking straight toward Kathryn and her friend.