The Rancher's Unexpected Family

by Helen Lacey

  Ash dismissed her mother’s words with a wave of her hand. “I’m not a cynic. I’m a realist.”

  “You’re a scaredy-cat,” Nancy said, grinning. “But with two failed marriages behind me, I’m probably not in a position to give advice.”

  “And yet, you still do,” Ash said with a smile as she moved around the counter. “Can you watch Tahlia and Micah? I’ll be back soon.”

  Ash headed outside and made her way toward the barn. The dogs raced around with sticks and the chickens were pecking around the yard. It was a warm morning and the ranch was buzzing with sounds and scents. The goats were bleating and walking the fence line of their pen, usual behavior when they spotted someone walking across the yard. And Rodney, the five-year-old alpaca who acted more like a dog than anything else, was following Uncle Ted around near the vegetable garden. It was a peaceful scene and Ash was consumed by a sense of how much good there was in her life.

  And then she heard it.

  Music. Loud and awful. Some kind of heavy, brain-draining rock that hurt her eardrums.

  She followed the sound into the barn and stood by the doorway. Cole was bent over the hood of her old truck, dressed in worn jeans and a black T-shirt that molded to his shoulders and showed off way too much of his gloriously well-muscled arms. And then she spotted her son, perched on an old fruit crate, about two feet away from the truck, laughing and flapping his arms in time to the mind-numbing music and clearly having a fabulous time.

  Ash stayed where she was and enjoyed the moment. She loved seeing Jaye so happy. He was mostly a cheerful child, and intelligent and compliant. He had something of a stubborn streak, too. Particularly when he wanted something—like entering the soapbox-derby race at this year’s spring fair. Part of her longed to let him spread his wings and enter the race. But she was scared for him and, as always, her priority was keeping him safe. If he got injured or bullied she would never forgive herself. It was better this way. Better to wait until the following year. He’d be older and better equipped to handle the risks. Sure, he was disappointed and made his feelings abundantly clear whenever he got the opportunity, but she was prepared to shoulder his frustration if it meant he was kept out of harm’s way. Overprotective...maybe. But she could live with that.

  “Mom!”

  Jaye’s voice broke through her thoughts and she frowned when she saw Cole jerk back and bang his head on the hood. He cursed loudly and then quickly apologized as he turned toward the radio and flicked down the volume.

  “Mom has a swearing jar in the kitchen,” her son said matter-of-factly. “Ten cents for every bad word.”

  Cole rubbed the back of his head. “I better start saving my dimes.”

  Jaye laughed loudly. “I’ve got a stash in my piggy bank if you run out.”

  Ash smiled to herself, enjoying the exchange between man and boy. Jaye’s only regular male company was Uncle Ted, and although he was kindhearted, he was also busy running the ranch and didn’t have a lot of spare time to spend with her son. It was nice to see him so relaxed and carefree and clearly reveling in Cole’s company.

  “Is your head okay?” she asked and walked toward the truck. “Not concussed or anything?”

  He gave her a wry smile and his blue eyes glittered spectacularly. “Nothing permanent. Just whacked the metal plate in my skull.”

  “You have a metal plate in your skull?” she asked, frowning.

  He laughed and grabbed the cloth Jaye was now holding toward him. “I’m kidding. About it being in my head. I do have two attached to my spine, though,” he said as he wiped his hands.

  Her frown increased. “Really?”

  “Really. I was in an accident around ten years ago.”

  “I read about that,” she said and forced herself to stand back while Jaye slowly got to his feet. Helping him came to her as naturally as breathing, but she knew she needed to give him his space and independence. “It’s what ended your career as a driver?”

  “It did,” he replied and moved around the front of the truck. “I broke my back and a bunch of other bones and spent months in the hospital.”

  Ash was horrified. “You could have been killed.”

  He shrugged. “It’s a dangerous sport. I knew the risks. I had a tire blow out and lost control. It happens. But I was stubborn and wouldn’t let it beat me. Then had to learn how to walk again.”

  “You couldn’t walk?” Jaye’s incredulous voice rang out between them.

  “That’s right, buddy. I spent a long time in hospital and then worked with a physical therapist to get back on my feet.”

  “I have a physical therapist,” Jaye announced, clearly proud to have some common denominator with the man in front of him. “I go and see her every two weeks, don’t I, Mom?” He didn’t wait for her to respond. “Her name is Becca and she’s really nice. Grandma says she’s a cougar, though,” Jaye said and then frowned. “But I don’t really know what that means.”

  Ash gasped slightly. “Ah, Jaye, why don’t you go and see if Uncle Ted needs any help with the vegetable garden.”

  He groaned. “But, Mom,” he complained. “I’m gonna help Cole fix the truck and that’s going to take—”

  “You can still help,” Cole said easily. “We’ll work on the truck some more tomorrow. And if it’s okay with you, I’d like to talk to your mom about a few things.”

  “About me?”

  Cole shook his head fractionally. “About Maisy. You know how I told you she wasn’t feeling so great this morning?”

  Jaye nodded, absorbing Cole’s words as though they were gold. “Okay, I’ll see you later. See you later, too, Mom,” her son said as he headed from the barn.

  Cole waited until her son was out of sight before speaking again. “So, about this cougar...”

  Ash met his gaze and laughed. “I really have to tell my mother to stop gossiping.”

  “Where’s the fun in that,” he teased and draped the cloth over the hood. “Your brakes are fixed and the thermostat needs replacing. I’ve spoken to your uncle this morning and he’s given me the number of a place in town where I can get the part ordered.”

  Fixed. Just like that. Ash had been under the hood of the old truck countless times, trying to figure out the problem. The next stop was the auto repair shop in town owned by her friend Joss Culhane—probably where Cole intended ordering the part from. She experienced a feeling of gratitude that quickly manifested into awareness when he crossed his arms, flexing muscles that were impossible to ignore. Awareness morphed into a blisteringly hot rush of lust so intense it almost knocked the breath from her lungs.

  She wanted to say something. Anything. But nothing came out. It was Cole who spoke next.

  “I’m sorry about last night,” he said quietly. “I shouldn’t have said that to you. Sometimes I speak before I think and—”

  “I didn’t deny it,” she said, cutting him off, suddenly hot all over. The less they said about the subject, the better. “Let’s just forget about it. You said you wanted to discuss Maisy? Is she unwell?”

  He shrugged lightly and looked a little uncomfortable. “Ah, girl stuff, she said. Which is obviously my cue to just nod and say nothing. But if you could look in on her this morning I would be grateful,” he said and sighed. “She’s not exactly talking to me at the moment. She doesn’t want to be here...she made that very clear.”

  Ash nodded, feeling a deep surge of sympathy for his daughter. And him. “My mother heard you arguing when she went to check on Ricky.”

  “It wasn’t a new argument. Just Maisy being...Maisy.”

  Ash offered a gentle and knowing smile. “I’ll go and see how she’s doing. And, Cole,” she said quietly, “thank you for spending some time with Jaye this morning. He usually only has Uncle Ted to show him things around the place.”

  “He�
�s good company,” he replied and smiled. “And smart, and quite the mechanical engineer. He showed me his sketches for his soapbox cart—you know, for when he gets to race.”

  Ash moaned a little. “He’s been trying to get my agreement for the past six months.”

  “Last night you said you were reluctant to let him enter this year?”

  “Absolutely,” she replied. “He could get injured.”

  “Or not,” Cole said as he moved around the truck and closed the hood. “I imagine it will be well supervised.”

  Ash knew it was. The spring fair was a popular annual celebration in Cedar River and all the competitive events were run smoothly and safely, from the rodeo to the three-legged races. But it wasn’t only Jaye’s physical safety she worried about, but also his emotional well-being.

  “He could get...teased.”

  Cole wiped his hands on a rag. “He seems like a pretty resilient kid to me.”

  Ash straightened her spine. “Are you saying you think I should let him do it?”

  Cole moved back around the truck and faced her. “I’m saying that he’s a smart kid who’s sketched an impressive set of plans for a soapbox-derby cart. That’s all.”

  Resentment licked across her skin. He didn’t have any right to an opinion. And just as she was about to say as much, her irritation suddenly wavered. Because he was right. Jaye was resilient. And strong. And smart.

  “I think I’ll go and check on Maisy,” she said, confused by the unexpected lack of clarity in her thinking. When it came to her son, Ash always knew the right road. But somehow, this man she’d known for less than twenty-four hours made her question her usual rock-solid resolve. “I’m taking the kids for a picnic down at the creek this afternoon. You and Maisy are welcome to come along.”

  She turned and walked away before he could respond, grateful that she didn’t have to look into his eyes any longer and determined to get all thoughts of him out of her head. When she reached the cabin, she tapped on the door and, when no response came, opened it and headed inside. Maisy sat on the sofa, earbuds in, her expression like thunder.

  “I knocked,” Ash said when the teen scowled in her direction. She walked toward the sofa and smiled. “Your dad said you weren’t feeling well. Is there anything I can get for you? Hot water bottle? Ibuprofen?”

  Maisy immediately looked defensive and then shrugged. “Sure. Whatever.”

  Ash left the cabin and returned about five minutes later. Maisy was in the same spot, still scowling, still looking as though she had the world on her shoulders. After a few more minutes Ash had the water bottle filled, the painkillers and a glass of water on the coffee table and she held out a can of soda.

  “Ginger ale,” she explained. “I find it helps with an upset tummy.”

  Maisy took the can. “Thanks.”

  Ash smiled. “We’re all heading down to the creek later for a picnic. I know Ricky would like the company if you’re up for helping me chaperone the younger kids.”

  Maisy met her gaze for a moment. “Is he coming, too?”

  “Your dad?” Ash asked. “I invited him. I guess that’s up to him.”

  The teenager shrugged disinterestedly. “If I go, he’ll go—so we can bond, or whatever. The counselor at school said it takes time to bond.”

  “The counselor is right. It takes time and effort.”

  Maisy shrugged again. “He tries too hard.”

  “He’s your father,” Ash said gently. “That’s his job.”

  Maisy’s gaze jerked upward and her expression softened for a nanosecond. “Maybe I will come.”

  “Great. I’ll see you later.”

  Ash left the cabin and lingered on the small porch for a second, looking out across the yard. Cole was near the entrance to the barn, and then he began walking across the yard toward Uncle Ted and Jaye. He had an easy kind of swagger to his movements, and she remembered how he’d talked about the accident that had almost killed him and how he’d had to learn to walk again. It spoke volumes about his dedication and commitment. There was something almost magnetic about him...and it wasn’t simply her reaction to his obvious good looks. Sure, he was handsome and had a stellar physique. But this was something else. Something more. And she was still thinking it as she walked back toward the house.

  Get all thoughts of him out of her head?

  Epic fail.

  * * *

  The creek, Cole discovered that afternoon, was actually a riverbed that Uncle Ted assured him was a premium fishing spot. Not that he’d ever been much of a fisherman—his shellfish allergy made the whole idea challenging—but he was happy to hang out by the river’s edge with Jaye and Micah and skim stones across the water as the kids laughed and chatted. Ricky and Ted were fishing, Nancy had somehow managed to convince Maisy to help empty the picnic baskets with Tahlia, and Ash was walking along the riverbank, her dogs close by. It was an amazing spot, sheltered by trees, and it had a wide, rocky edge. It was the kind of place that seemed made for self-reflection. Not that he was generally that kind of man. After the accident and his disastrous marriage, Cole tended to live his life in the moment, not thinking too much about the future. Having Maisy in his life changed that, of course. He had a child and with that came responsibility. And he wanted it. He longed to have a good relationship with his daughter. She’d always made her feelings for him and their current situation abundantly clear. But today, things seemed a little brighter.

  Because of Ash.

  He knew she’d somehow worked a little magic and put his daughter in a better mood. It wasn’t much, just a few more words than usual from her, and a little less obvious resentment. But it was enough to give him hope and make him believe that perhaps things might work out and they could make some kind of family together out of the mishmash they’d begun with.

  He left the kids under Nancy’s watchful eye and headed along the edge, covering Ash’s footprints. He was about a hundred yards away from the rest of the troupe and about ten paces behind her when she turned, hands on her hips. The dogs rushed toward him and they began jumping around his legs. She was smiling at their antics and her hair flipped around her shoulders from the slight breeze. It was warm out and she wore jeans, boots and a red T-shirt that managed to highlight her pale, flawless skin, bright copper hair, lush pink lips and emerald green eyes.

  “So, you are a dog person?”

  He grinned. “I think they will become a valuable lesson in tolerance.”

  She laughed and the sound drifted across the breeze. “Animals and children,” she said and whistled the dogs to heel. “I’ve learned most of my life lessons from them.”

  Cole took a few strides toward her and then she swiveled and began walking again. “Do you like being a police officer?” he asked, suddenly eager to know more about her.

  “Very much. It’s really rewarding.”

  He strode out beside her. “And dangerous?”

  She looked sideways for a moment and then shrugged. “I suppose it has the potential to be dangerous. I’ve had to use my weapon a couple of times in the last ten years—thankfully not fatally. But it’s part of the job. I like that I get to help people. And, of course, having handcuffs at my disposal day and night,” she said and grinned.

  Warmth spread through his limbs. She was flirting. Damn. “Yeah, I can see how that would be advantageous.”

  He liked that she had a sense of humor. He liked that he could pick up the scent of her shampoo. He liked that she had continued with her walk even though he’d invaded her space without an invitation.

  They walked some more and then she pointed to a small area surrounded by ponderosa pines. “There’s a swimming hole through there. This time of year the water is almost warm enough for a dip. Jaye loves it in the summertime.”

  “He was telling me how much he enjoys comi
ng down here.”

  She smiled. “We’re lucky since this part of the river runs through our land. The perimeter runs along the bottom edge of the big Culhane spread—they’re horse and cattle ranchers. This place is smaller, but we have water and good grazing on the other side of the river, so there’s opportunity to lease some off to the neighboring ranches. But I leave that side of things to Uncle Ted.” She kept walking and then spoke again. “Can I ask you something?”

  “Sure,” he said and kept in step.

  “Why did you get divorced?”

  He shrugged. “Irreparable incompatibility.”

  Her pace slowed fractionally. “Is that code for you’d rather not discuss it?”

  “Not at all,” he replied. “We were incompatible. Once the glow of dating and weddings and happily-ever-afters wore off, it was obvious we’d made a huge mistake. Valerie is what you might call...highly strung. We lasted two years and most of that time was a disaster.”

  “And now?” she asked as they continued to walk and made their way around an outcrop of rocks.

  “Now?”

  Her pace suddenly slowed. “I’m asking if you have a girlfriend...or significant other. Or lover?”

  Cole came to a standstill. “No. No,” he said and waited until she stopped moving before he continued. “And no.”

  Her cheeks were flushed. “I’m asking because I wanted to be prepared in case Maisy says anything about you being involved with someone.”

  Cole met her gaze. “Is that really why you’re asking?”

  She sucked in a sharp breath and the sound reached him way down low. “Of course.”

  He wanted to kiss her so much in the moment that his lips actually tingled. He wanted to tangle his hands into her hair, draw her mouth to his and plunge his tongue between her teeth. Heat exploded in the space between them and for one crazy second he wondered if she’d almost swayed toward him. He couldn’t believe the mesmerizing effect she had on his libido. It had been a long time since he’d experienced such a strong attraction to someone.

  Maybe never.