Rodeo Legends--Shane

by Pamela Britton

  “I hope so,” Kait grunted, “because I’m telling you right now, I’m about to lose it.”

  Poor Shane. He seemed so bewildered. She didn’t care. The tears were coming, hopefully the last tears she would shed in a long time, because she was sick to death of crying. Cry, cry, cry. That was all she’d done this entire pregnancy. Well, not the last third of her pregnancy. That’d been filled with love and laughter and a happiness she wouldn’t have thought possible. It’d been a crazy life, what with the move and opening up a new shop and dealing with a new place to live, but it’d been a good kind of crazy.

  “So, here we are,” said the kindly doctor who’d helped her all those months ago when she’d been put on bed rest. “Time to have some babies.”

  Dear God, please let him cut the small talk.

  “Let’s get your epidural started and then we’ll see what we’ve got.”

  Oh, thank God.

  Everything moved quickly then. She was told to roll onto her side. She would have run naked down the hall if that was what they’d wanted her to do. Soon enough she was told not to move by yet another doctor and then there was the tiniest of pinpricks, not nearly as painful as the damn contractions, and then...heaven.

  “Better?” asked the anesthesiologist.

  “Sooo much better,” she sighed.

  Her mom and dad arrived then, or maybe the doctors were just now letting them in the room. Kait didn’t know, because things had really sped up. She watched as Shane and her dad greeted each other. Her dad was happy as long as she was happy, and Shane had promised to never let her down.

  “Okay, let me see your arm,” said the nurse. “We’re going to start a drip to keep you and the babies hydrated while you labor.”

  She didn’t think she’d need the IV long. Apparently, her twins wanted to be born now, and though she didn’t feel any pain, her body still contracted and contorted and she still had to breathe and work hard.

  “Almost there,” said the doctor. “Keep pushing.”

  She felt the strangest sensation. A pressure unlike any she’d felt before. The feeling only worsened and was not painful but not exactly pleasant, either.

  “Here we go. One last push. And...” Dr. Penrod said. “...it’s your little girl.”

  Finally. Thank God. Except she had to do it again. No. She didn’t want to do it again.

  “Name?” asked a nurse.

  “Abigail,” she hear Shane say, but she was too tired to open her eyes and look.

  Abigail. After his mom. Abigail Sarah Gillian.

  “Okay, here we go again.”

  She wasn’t kidding. She didn’t think she could do it again, but then her body heaved and she sucked in a breath because she could feel the pressure, and she knew she had no choice. Her son was coming. Now.

  “There he is,” said Dr. Penrod. “One more push, Kait.”

  Oh, sure. Easy for him to say.

  “Come on, Kait,” Shane whispered. “Once more.”

  “Shut up,” she grunted. “Just shut up and let me work.”

  She thought she heard Shane chuckle, or maybe it was her mom. She got up on her elbows and bore down like never before, grateful her dad had been banished from the room because it couldn’t have been pretty down there. Not at all.

  “One more time,” she heard her mom say.

  So strange how she could feel the pressure but not the pain, and then she felt...nothing. Blessed relief.

  “There he is,” the doctor announced.

  She lay back. She wanted to sleep. For hours. Maybe days.

  “Name?” she heard the nurse say from a distance.

  “Lance,” Shane answered.

  Her mom gasped. Kait forced herself to open her eyes to seek out her mom’s familiar face, her smile strained from exhaustion.

  “He’ll be so touched,” her mom said.

  Kait nodded and closed her eyes again, but then a nurse handed her something and she realized it was her daughter. Her tiny little Abigail and she needed to push herself up again even though she didn’t feel like moving.

  “You need help?”

  “No. I’m okay.”

  She wanted to see her daughter. Shane plumped up some pillows. Kait held out her hands. The nurse placed her baby girl in her waiting arms.

  “Hello, sweetheart,” she whispered. Oh, she was so tiny, with just the slightest little mop of dark hair and a puckered-up face that made Kait want to giggle.

  Shane came up alongside her and they both stared into that funny little face that was still beautiful even though it was red from crying.

  “Shh,” she tried to soothe her. “Shh, shh, shh. It’s okay, baby girl.”

  “Would you like to hold your son?” the nurse asked Shane.

  He nodded mutely. In a moment their second child was placed in his arms and the two of them were huddled together with her mom looking on as, for the last time in what would be a very long while—thankfully—Kait cried. They all cried. And when Shane’s family came in, there were tears in Shane’s brothers’ eyes and his sister’s, and they all oohed and aahed over the newest member of the Gillian family.

  It was a moment Kait would never forget. The first of many great moments. And later, when she married Shane for the second time—she’d refused to do so until she could fit into her wedding dress—she cemented another memory in her mind. There would be other moments like that: Shane winning the average at the NFR...the first of three times he would win it. Kait’s first big win after her return to racing. The first time Abigail and Lance walked. But for Kait, the sweetest memory of all was that long ago day when Shane came to North Carolina to tell her he loved her.

  He told her that all the time now. He would tell her that for all the days to come...for the rest of their lives.

  * * * * *

  If you loved this novel, look for

  Pamela Britton’s previous books in her

  COWBOYS IN UNIFORM series:

  HER RODEO HERO

  HIS RODEO SWEETHEART

  THE RANGER’S RODEO REBEL

  HER COWBOY LAWMAN

  WINNING THE RANCHER’S HEART

  Available now from Harlequin.com!

  Keep reading for an excerpt from A HOME WITH THE RANCHER by April Arrington.

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  A Home with the Rancher

  by April Arrington

  Chapter One

  Lies always multiplied. That was one reason Danielle Vaughn never told them.

  “I said what’s your name, ma’am?”

  Danielle eyed the older man straddling the wooden fence and cringed, wondering how big this lie would get. At the moment, it stuck in her throat, feeling sharper and thicker than the angular mountains shrouded in dense fog at the man’s back. And it beat heavier through her veins than the rhythmic pound of a hammer in the distance.

  He scoffed and the straw of hay clenched between his teeth flopped against his scruffy jaw. “You got one, don’t you, gal?”

  “Danielle Vau—” She bit her tongue and winced. Jones. That was the one she’d settled on. Her lips trembled. Wasn’t it? “Danielle Jones. I’m here to see Mac Tenley.”

  The man’s expression remained bored and he looked away, chewing on the hay and shifting to a more comfortable position on the top fence rung. “Mac’s busy. Whatcha want with him?”

  His land. Or rather, her father wanted it. Danielle swallowed hard against the churn in her stomach. Despite his dismissive laughter and her misgivings, she’d promised to acquire it for him.

  She glanced up at the sign hanging over the entrance of the gravel driveway, the words Elk Valley Ranch barely discernable on the weathered wood. Judging from first impressions and the photos she’d seen in the New York boardroom of Vaughn Real Estate, the guest lodge and cabins that lay beyond the winding drive would need a ton of work.

  “My name is Danielle,” she repeated, returning her eyes to the man. “But I go by Dani.”

  He stilled, his wrinkled brow furrowing as he faced her. “Dani Jones?”

  She nodded.

  His eyes narrowed then traveled down the length of her. His jaw slackened, the hay falling out of his mouth and his loud guffaws echoing across the peaceful Tennessee landscape. “Hey, Tim! Get a load of this.”

  Dani stiffened.

  The distant pounding stopped and moments later, a younger man rounded the bend in the driveway, carrying a hammer and frowning. “You think you could do at least ten minutes of work today, man?”

  “Aw, forget that, Tim.” The man jumped off the fence, jabbed a thick finger in her direction then doubled over with laughter. “This puny girl here’s the man Mac said was coming to interview as new hand.”

  Puny? Girl? Dani’s face heated and she gritted her teeth, wishing she wore her stilettos instead of flat-soled sneakers. She’d shove the sharp edge right up his chauvinistic—

  “Mac’s gonna...” The man sucked in quick breaths between bouts of laughter. “Mac’s gonna have a fit.”

  “I hate to spoil a boy’s good time.” Dani edged around the chuckling buffoon and extended her hand. “So I’ll just ask a man for assistance instead.” She smiled. “Tim, was it? I’m Dani. It’s nice to meet you and I’m sure it’ll be even nicer working with you since it’s obvious your help is lacking.” She jerked her chin over her shoulder as the man stopped laughing. “Would you please tell me where I can find Mac Tenley?”

  Tim grinned, his handsome face lighting with amusement. “Yes, ma’am.” He took her hand, squeezed gently then pointed toward the lush line of poplar and cedar trees obscuring the winding driveway. “Just follow the drive up to the lodge and go on in. The office opened a half hour ago and Mac’s probably still in there.”

  “Thank you.”

  Tim’s grin widened and he tipped his Stetson. “Look forward to working with you.”

  Dani nodded, her smile faltering at the kind gleam in his eyes. It was one thing to think up a lie and rehearse it in your head. It was quite another to actually tell it. Especially to an honest, hardworking man like Tim.

  She returned to the battered compact car she’d parked at the ranch’s entrance, her lip curling as she passed the lazy cowboy standing by the fence.

  That fool she had no qualms about deceiving.

  He scowled and muttered under his breath, eyes dark with disdain.

  Ignoring him, Dani opened the creaky door and slid behind the wheel. A few quick twists of her wrist and the engine sputtered to life then groaned its way up the graveled path. She pushed her foot harder on the pedal and held her breath, doubting the pitiful contraption would creep its way up the steep hill. A glance in the rearview mirror proved the two men staring behind her had their doubts, too.

  “Focus,” she muttered, leaning forward and tightening her grip on the steering wheel. “Keep your head up and your eyes open.”

  And what spectacular scenery there was for a pair of open eyes. Once she cleared the enormous hill and passed through the dense woods, the land opened up, sprawling in all directions and stretching lazily into the foothills of the Smoky Mountains. The summer sun tinged the mountain fog with rosy undertones and bathed the green valley in golden light.

  “Beautiful,” she whispered.

  That was an understatement. She shook her head and rolled down the window, unable to find the words for it. The sweet, clean air of Elk Valley made the remembered feel of thick wind whipping across busy New York streets seem stifling. And the leisurely hum of wildlife rustling through the trees, the sight of birds flapping in the breeze and the sound of horses whinnying in the distance were even more cajoling.

  The valley seduced her senses, beckoning her to stop the car, collapse in the wide field like a child and roll across the thick tufts of grass for days. Fold her arms behind her head, stare at the blue sky and dream of being more than she was.

  She laughed. What would the elite New York socialites she rubbed shoulders with say about such an immature, impulsive thought? Her laughter trailed away. Exactly what they’d always said, probably. That she was behaving like an uncouth tomboy instead of a twenty-seven-year-old woman.

  Or worse. They might suggest the same thing her father and younger brother had. That, like her late mother, she was better suited for shopping, decorating and organizing charity events rather than running a business. Especially, a multi-million-dollar one like her father’s thriving real estate firm.

  Your brother will make a better vice-president.

  Because he’s a man. Her father had said it without saying it. The look on his face had affirmed her suspicions and the gentle tone of his voice revealed his reluctance at having to spell it out for her. Then she’d been relegated to the back seat, signing paperwork and looking pretty for powerful male clients. Activities she detested and a game she refused to play any longer.

  Dani winced. She’d always disappointed him. That was how it’d been ever since she was born a girl instead of the strapping son her father had expected.

  It was ridiculous, really. This undying need to prove herself to him. Or any man, for that matter.

  She tensed her stomach muscles, trying to still the waves of nausea rising within her. The entire endeavor—including this charade—made her sick. Sick of feeling like she’d never fit in or measured up. Sick of her weaknesses and herself.

  Dani straightened, maneuvered the troubled car around the final curve in the driveway and brought it to a sputtering halt at the end. There was one thing her father understood and appreciated more than anything. And it never failed to capture his attention—or approval.

  Money. The largest sum of which resided in the untapped potential of this awe-inspiring valley. Magnificent acres of land his employees had failed to persuade the owner, Mac Tenley, to sell.

  “If a man can’t get the job done,” she chimed, shoving the door open and rising to her feet, “send in a woman.”

  Dani smiled and looked up, taking in the massive log lodge in front of her. “You might not want to sell now, Mac Tenley. But you will.”

  She’d make sure of it. That was why she’d applied online for the only available—and shockingly low-pay
ing—position on the ranch. Working as a ranch hand for a few weeks would give her access to the lodge and cabins. A feat her younger brother hadn’t been able to manage. Of course, her father and brother didn’t know about this aspect of her plan—they thought she’d come out here for an extended sales pitch. Which, to be fair, was her ultimate goal. After scoping the lay of the land and drawing up plans for what could be the highest-grossing luxury retreat in Elk Valley, Tennessee, she’d show Mac Tenley the benefits of selling and make a more than fair offer.

  She’d heard he was a tough customer. A greedy one, in fact. So she’d throw in a few perks to sweeten the deal. This land was valuable and she’d pay him what it was worth and then some. Enough to turn any money-grubbing head—even if she had to dig into her savings.

  Her father would be happy, Mac Tenley would be happy and she’d be happy. It’d be a winning situation for them all.

  Confidence renewed, Dani snagged a worn duffel bag from the back seat and hoisted the strap over her shoulder. The bulky buckle dug into her flesh then loosened with a sharp pop.

  “Shoot.” Her hands shot out and lifted the bag to ease the weight off the flimsy strap.

  Seemed she’d overdone it in the disguise department. She should’ve known the old putter car behind her was a bad choice when the used car salesman had tried to talk her out of it. And it didn’t look as though the bag would make it through more than one day.

  She’d been aiming to look broke. Instead, she was pretty sure she looked destitute.

  No matter. If it meant a better chance of keeping the job as a ranch hand and gaining access to the property, all the better.

  She made the long walk up the stone path past an empty fire pit then up a steep set of stairs. The porch was wide, lined with large windows and, though in desperate need of more seating, had an absolutely stunning view of the green valley and surrounding mountains.

  The foyer was even more impressive. A wide room with hardwood floors and a stone fireplace served as a reception and lounge area. Multiple seating areas were arranged in a welcoming fashion around the room but the chairs looked worn and stiff with only two couples occupying them. Judging from the disgruntled looks on their faces, they wouldn’t remain there for much longer.