The Rancher's Wife

by April Arrington

  “There he goes again.” Dominic smacked his palm on the fence, rattling it under Logan’s elbows as Thunder lunged and missed Amy by inches. “I’m worried she’s gonna get hurt. He’s starting to wear her down.”

  “She’s being careful,” Logan murmured.

  Hell if he knew who he was trying to reassure. Dominic? Or himself?

  “Angle over this way, Amy.” Logan waved a hand, keeping his tone calm. “I can boost you over if he charges again.”

  Dominic sighed. “I know she doesn’t want to hear it but have you talked to her? Asked her to ease off a bit? Take a break?”

  “I’ve tried,” Logan said. “But she’s adamant she can bring Thunder around. Keeps fantasizing that he can be saved.”

  “It’s not a fantasy, Logan. There’s always a chance. But she needs to take a step back. Rest and regroup. Let us take over for a while.”

  “That won’t help,” Logan said. “Thunder trusts us less than he does her. And no amount of time is going to change the final outcome.”

  “So, that’s your solution?” Dominic cocked an eyebrow. “Just give up? She can handle him, Logan. More than handle him if she gets her bearings again.” He jerked his chin at the enclosure. “She’s gentled more horses in that pen than I can count.”

  “This is different.”

  “How? There’s a horse and a round pen. Same as before.”

  “It’s not the same—”

  “Shhhh.”

  Logan jerked his head back around to find Amy scowling in their direction. Thunder, rattled by her hiss, snaked his head and charged. Logan shot over the top rail, catching Amy as she jumped out of Thunder’s path and assisting her over the fence.

  She pushed his hands away, tossed her hair back and frowned. “I can handle myself. Could’ve handled Thunder, too, if the two of you hadn’t been running your loud mouths.”

  Dominic cast a halfhearted smile at Amy. “We know you can, Ames.” His face softened. “We’re just worried about you. You’ve had a lot of close calls with Thunder lately and we don’t want you getting hurt. If anyone can help Thunder, you can. But you can’t be effective in that pen if you run yourself into the ground. You haven’t been yourself for a while and Thunder’s picking up on it.”

  Amy rubbed her forehead. “I know that. I’m just frustrated.”

  She glanced behind her, shoulders sagging. Logan followed her gaze to the far side of the enclosure where Thunder kicked and stomped.

  “I’m doing the same things I’ve always done,” she whispered. “I don’t know why he won’t respond.”

  Logan studied her weary expression and cringed. Dominic was right. She needed some space. Some time to relax.

  Logan plucked a piece of dead grass from her sleeve then rubbed his hands up and down her arms. “Well, forcing it isn’t going to help you or Thunder. You need to take a break and clear your head.”

  Squeals broke out behind them. Jayden sprinted across the field at high speed, his brother chasing close on his heels. They kicked up clouds of dust that hovered in sunlit particles behind them and drew to an abrupt halt at the fence.

  “I won.” Jayden doubled over, air rasping between his lips.

  “Only ’cuz you cheated.” Kayden shoved his brother then swaggered over to Amy. He propped his hands on his hips and squinted at Thunder thrashing in the pen. “You ain’t whipped that horse, yet, Aunt Amy?”

  “She’s not gonna whip anything,” Jayden huffed. “She don’t give spankings.” He skipped over and tipped his head back to look up at Amy. “Ain’t that right?”

  Amy laughed and hugged the boys to her legs. Her entire demeanor changed. The rigid tension in her body released and the tight lines on her brow eased.

  Logan’s chest swelled. This was Amy. As she had been. Bright and energetic. Warm and inviting. The way she was before they’d lost so much.

  “Oh, you know what I mean,” Kayden drawled, squinting up at Amy. “You could whoop any horse into shape. Uncle Dominic said so.”

  Amy glanced at Dominic. “That’s nice of him to say. But I don’t think Thunder likes me messing with him. I think he’d prefer to run me over.”

  “You want me to help you?” Kayden puffed his chest out. “I won’t let no horse come after you.”

  Amy smiled. “Thanks for the offer, Kayden.” She bent and kissed his cheek. “But I wouldn’t want to risk you getting hurt.”

  Kayden shrugged, his features firming. “Okay. But if Thunder shows his butt, you tell me and I’ll whoop him for ya so you won’t have to.”

  “Me, too,” Jayden said, sharing a conspiratorial look with Kayden. “We’ll both give him a butt whoopin’.”

  The boys dissolved into a fit of giggles, wrapping around Amy’s legs and snorting.

  “Lord have mercy,” Traci muttered, grinning. “Any horse would take off as soon as they saw the two of you coming.”

  “Uh-uh,” Kayden jeered. “Besides, I know what Aunt Amy’s doing wrong.”

  Kayden darted between Dominic’s legs and climbed onto the fence rail next to Traci.

  He rubbed a grubby hand over his face, leaving a streak of dirt on his cheek. “She ain’t spitting.”

  Traci issued a sound of disgust. “What does that have to do with anything, squirt?”

  “Everything.” Kayden lifted his chin. “Mr. Jed said if something’s broke on a ranch, it just needs some spit-shine and elbow grease.” He smiled, teeth gleaming. “She needs to spit on him.”

  Dominic laughed and ruffled Kayden’s hair. “I think you’re spending entirely too much time with Mr. Jed. Why don’t you give the hands a break and let ’em work without you underfoot today.”

  Kayden’s nose wrinkled. “Mr. Jed ain’t no hand. He said he’s a bone-a-fine cowboy. Like you and Uncle Logan.”

  “That’s bona fide.” Traci said, lips twitching.

  “Yeah, that’s what I said.” Kayden pursed his lips in affront then grinned. “Anyways, Mr. Jed likes us helping him. He gives us good jobs, and he pays us.”

  Logan smiled. Grumpy Jed probably came up with something all right. The boys had started trailing Jed the second they were released from school for Christmas break yesterday and hadn’t stopped since.

  “What kind of job did he give you today?” Amy asked, smoothing a palm over Jayden’s back.

  “He gave us a dollar to sit by the fence he painted and make sure it dried.” Kayden shrugged. “But that got boring so we left. Then we couldn’t find him.”

  Amy laughed. “Well, that’s his loss.”

  Jayden tugged at Amy’s wrist. “Are you a bone-a-fine cowgirl, Aunt Amy?”

  She smiled down at him. “I don’t know. Depends on who you ask. Everyone has their idea of one. Do you think I’m one?”

  “Yep.” Jayden grinned. “That’s how come you can whoop any horse into shape.”

  “Yeah and Uncle Dominic said you can beat anyone on a horse,” Kayden said, flashing a sly look at Logan. “Said you used to beat Uncle Logan every time y’all raced.”

  Logan narrowed his eyes at Kayden. “Not every time. I won on occasion.”

  “Sometimes, but not often,” Amy said, laughing.

  Jayden’s eyes widened with excitement. “Are you gonna race Uncle Logan today?”

  Amy’s laugh tapered off and she glanced back at the round pen. “I don’t have time for a race. I need to work with Thunder some more.”

  The shadows returned to her eyes and her expression fell.

  Logan shook his head. “Not a good idea. You’ve been at it long enough.”

  “But—”

  “No buts. Jayden has a good point. You need a break and so does Thunder. I think a ride is a great idea.” Logan pulled at Jayden’s belt loop, pausing to unwind the boy’s arms from arou
nd Amy’s legs with a chuckle. “Let your aunt Amy go, buddy. She’s already taken.”

  Jayden frowned. “Who’s takin’ her somewhere?”

  Logan returned Amy’s grin. “Me.”

  Kayden sprang down from the fence, ran over and stood beside his brother. Both boys put their hands on their hips and narrowed their eyes up at Logan.

  “Where you takin’ her?” Kayden asked.

  “For a ride on a horse,” Logan said.

  “How far?”

  “Far.”

  The boys pondered that, their wide blue eyes moving from him to rest on Amy.

  “You wanna go with him?” Kayden asked.

  Amy smiled and nodded.

  Jayden huffed, jutting his chin out at Logan. “You better bring her back.”

  “I will,” Logan murmured, body tightening at the warmth in Amy’s green eyes. Her throat moved on a hard swallow and she looked away. “I promise.”

  “Hey.” Kayden darted off and yanked at Dominic’s jeans. “Is it time for the bonfire yet?”

  Logan grinned at the excitement gleaming in Amy’s eyes. Every year, Raintree kicked off the week of Christmas with a special celebration for family and guests. The night consisted of tasty treats, games for the kids, lighting the large cypress tree behind the main house, and a big bonfire.

  Every child on the ranch received an ornament, painted their name on it and hung it on the tree. Then, the bonfire would be lit to make sure Santa had a clear view of all the names. Pop used to say the bonfire was Raintree’s way of getting the Nice list to Santa.

  Logan shook his head. He’d never been conned into believing it. But as children, Dominic and Amy had. The flames had burned so bright and high they had believed the message reached all the way to heaven.

  Logan remembered how excited Amy had always gotten over the annual Christmas bonfire as a kid and her joy for it had never diminished. It’d been years since she’d been home for one.

  “Not yet,” Dominic said. “Needs to be good and dark first, then Uncle Logan will get it lit.”

  “Can we light the bonfire, Uncle Logan?” Kayden asked.

  Logan suppressed the shudder sweeping through him. It wouldn’t take the twins more than ten seconds with a match to send Raintree up in flames.

  “No,” he said. “I think it’s best to leave that to the grown-ups.”

  Dominic winked and nudged Kayden’s chin with a knuckle. “Uncle Logan lights it every year. We don’t want to break tradition, do we?”

  Kayden frowned but shook his head.

  “How ’bout we go in for some hot chocolate?” Dominic suggested. “Traci and I will get you fixed up with some marshmallows. After that, we can help Mr. Jed and the rest of the hands get the wood stacked for the bonfire.”

  The boys squealed at that. Jayden ran over and tugged at Traci’s arm.

  “Can I get the big marshmallows this time? I don’t like the small ones.”

  Traci hopped down off the fence and took Jayden’s hand in hers. “They both taste the same, Jayden.”

  “No, they don’t.”

  “If Jayden gets the big ones then so do I,” Kayden grumped.

  “Rein it in, Kayden, or you won’t get any marshmallows.” Dominic scooped Kayden up and settled him atop his shoulders, holding his hands as he started walking across the field.

  Jayden scampered after his brother and Dominic, pulling Traci behind him and hollering over his shoulder, “You better bring Aunt Amy back, Uncle Logan. You promised.”

  “Keep it quiet when we get inside, boys,” Dominic said. “Your aunt Cissy’s probably still napping.”

  Their Yes, sirs faded into the distance.

  “You don’t want to ride, Dom?” Amy called.

  Dominic twisted, tossing a dimpled grin over his shoulder. “Nah, I’ve had my share of riding. I want to check on Cissy.”

  The group ambled off toward the main house.

  “He’s changed.” Amy stared after Dominic as he made his way across the field.

  “Yeah,” Logan said. “Took a while, but he finally decided to settle down. Cissy and the boys had a lot to do with that.”

  She glanced at him. “Does he still compete at rodeos?”

  “No.” Logan shook his head. “The last time he rode a bull was over a year ago. He talks about starting up that bull-riding clinic but he’s been preoccupied with preparing for the babies lately. When it comes to Cissy, those bulls don’t stand a chance with Dom.”

  Amy looked back at Dominic making his way up the wide, front porch steps, Kayden on his shoulders and Jayden at his side. “He left the circuit for her?”

  Her lips barely moved over the quiet words. Logan’s chest tightened at the air of yearning that surrounded her. That familiar wistfulness was in the stillness of her body and the features of her face. It was an air that had clung to her over the years. One he’d first seen shining in her eyes when she’d kissed him by that oak tree all those years ago.

  “She’s his wife.” Logan moved close, touching her jaw and bringing her face back to his. “A man stays with his family. That’s the way it should be.”

  Her eyes dropped and her resigned half smile hit him hard in the gut.

  Heaven help him, he missed her. Missed them. He wanted to rebuild their friendship and remind her of who she used to be before her spirit was broken. Return that sweet look of wistfulness to her face and feel it warm his skin when she looked at him.

  You better bring her back.

  Logan smiled. Jayden was on to something, all right. And that was exactly what he was gonna do. “Now, let’s go for that ride.”

  * * *

  AMY TILTED HER head back and strained to catch the faint touch of warmth from the setting sun. The late afternoon air had grown colder over the course of her ride with Logan across Raintree’s grounds.

  A wave of dizziness swept over her, causing her weight to shift off-center in the saddle. She grabbed the saddle horn and straightened. Lightning huffed beneath her and shook his head. His white mane tossed about, settling in disarray over her fingers.

  Amy made herself heavy, re-centered her balance and weighed her seat down. She blinked rapidly, clearing the dancing spots from her vision and refocused on the horizon.

  It was nothing new. For the past week, she’d had the same type of spell almost every day and had felt...off. It had to be stress. She’d had her fair share of it since she returned home, and working with Thunder only exacerbated her emotional state.

  Amy relaxed as the world centered again. She delivered gentle pats to Lightning’s neck. He nickered and slowed his steps, the day’s dying light caressing his pale mane in a glow of pink.

  It’d be dark soon and would only get colder. There was so much work that still needed to be done with Thunder. It was past time to turn back.

  “It’s still Saturday, yeah?”

  Logan’s deep tenor disrupted her thoughts. He cut her a sidelong glance, dark eyes narrowing beneath the brim of his tan Stetson. His broad hands pulled back on his reins to fall into step beside her.

  She frowned and nodded. “Why?”

  He shrugged, broad shoulders stretching his blue shirt, and grinned. “Just wondering why you’re taking a Sunday stroll.”

  Amy warmed at his sly look. She dropped her gaze, only to find it hovering over the tight denim covering his muscular thigh.

  “I’m enjoying a relaxing ride,” she said. “Taking a break like you suggested.”

  “At this rate, it’ll take two weeks to cross the grounds. Feels like we’ve been trudging along at this pace for days already.” He jerked his chin toward Lightning. “He’s restless.”

  As if on cue, Lightning tossed his head and stomped.

  Amy’s mouth tightened. “No, h
e’s not.”

  “Yeah. He is.”

  She raised a brow at his deliberate tone. “So what are you suggesting?”

  His grin widened. “A harmless competition between friends.”

  “I take it you want to race.”

  “Isn’t that how our rides always used to turn out?”

  Amy smirked. “Pretty much. And, if memory serves, Kayden was correct in saying I always won.”

  “Not always.”

  “Yeah. I did.”

  Logan laughed, the deep, sexy rumble surrounding her and tingling on her skin. “Then you shouldn’t have a problem defending your title.”

  Amy hesitated, gaze lingering over the warm depths of his eyes and teasing grin. It was a bad idea. She should be back at the round pen, at least trying to run Thunder through the paces.

  She’d promised to bring the stallion back to his old self and hadn’t made a lick of progress. Thunder was the last hurdle she had to overcome before leaving. One that would enable her to pack her bags and walk away to a fresh start, leaving the empty ache in her chest behind.

  Only, it was becoming harder to believe she could ever banish it altogether. The four-year absence from Raintree had left her longing for home. These last few weeks had reminded her how much she missed it. And most—or worst—of all, making love with Logan had reminded her of exactly how much she missed him.

  They’d continued to sleep beside each other in the same bed. Most nights, she’d fallen asleep on her side, carefully keeping her distance. But each morning, she’d woken up in Logan’s arms, then slipped away quickly while he slept. She’d never been able to give Logan her body without handing over her heart. Still couldn’t. And Logan’s heart was something he’d never been willing to share with her.

  Amy sighed. Could what Logan offered be enough? Maybe he was right. Maybe she was too hung up on a fantasy. The kind that didn’t exist. Maybe what he offered was as real as love could get.

  “You’re thinking too much.” Logan moved his mount closer and placed his big palm on her thigh.