Carrying the Rancher's Heir

by Charlene Sands

  Callie knew her father ached inside with loneliness. He’d al ways been overbearing, but her mother knew how to temper him. With her gone, Hawkins had become even more demanding. She reached for his hand and covered it with hers, squeezing gently. “I won’t change my room. I’ll do up another one.”

  He glanced at her with those big brown eyes that she’d inherited and nodded. “Whatever makes my little girl happy.”

  Oh, if only that were true.

  “So, where have you been off to every morning?”

  “I’ve been volunteering my time for a worthy charity.”

  Hawkins stared down at his bland broiled chicken, unable to work up any enthusiasm for the fare. He’d been eating fried chicken and mashed potatoes topped with sour cream and gravy until Callie had come home. She had to stifle a chuckle seeing him look like a little boy who didn’t want to eat his vegetables. He set his fork down and glared at her. “That charity have a name?”

  “Penny’s Song.” The entire community knew about Clayton Worth’s pet project. He’d started it on his own, but when the news got out, he’d received a good deal of support and a long volunteer list from the town.

  Her father frowned and narrowed his eyes at her. “You mean to tell me you’ve been going over to the Worths every day?”

  She wasn’t nearly as intimidated by him as he wanted her to be. She reminded herself that she was living here to make sure he didn’t dig himself into an early grave. She could move out anytime she wanted. She didn’t have to put up with his ruthless, conniving ways. But he was her father and she loved living on Big Hawk Ranch.

  “Yes, that’s what I’m saying, Daddy.” She kept her voice calm. She wouldn’t argue the point. “I’m going to work with the children that come there. I hope to make a difference in their lives.”

  “The Worths aren’t—”

  “It’s not about the Worths. It’s about the children and what I want to do.”

  “You’d rather go there and give away your services for free than work beside your own father?” He raised his voice with condemnation.

  “That’s your point of view, Daddy. Not mine. I’m—”

  He slapped a hand down onto the table and it shook. “This ranch is your legacy, damn it.”

  Callie didn’t jump at his theatrics. She cut into her chicken and took a bite.

  He pushed away from the table, his face flushed with anger. “You can’t be going over there. I’m forbidding it. You know those Worths, they’d do anything to put me out of business. Been trying to for years.”

  “What I’m doing has nothing to do with the cattle business.” Callie took a steadying breath, determined to get through this meal without a fight. At least, on her part. Her father was chomping at the bit, ready to argue his way through their fruit salad dessert. “And you can’t forbid me to do anything anymore.”

  “Callie,” he warned in a tone that used to make Callie cringe. He rose from the table. “You know how I feel about those Worths.”

  She looked up at him. “I never understood that, Daddy. Yes, you’re competitors but you’re neighbors, too. And neither one of the ranches has been hurting. You’ve managed to keep Big Hawk Ranch on top. There’s room for everyone, isn’t there?”

  “With thinking like that, you’d have us in the poorhouse before I turned around.”

  Callie tried a smile. “So maybe it’s best I don’t work for you.”

  Her father’s face flushed with even more color. “Callie, you’re trying my patience.”

  “Daddy, I don’t want to fight with you. Sit down. Eat your meal.”

  He glared at the food on his plate and wagged his finger. “You call that a meal? That’s horse feed.”

  Callie closed her eyes. Frustration mounted. She thought about the baby she carried—a Worth. She didn’t even want to think about her father’s reaction when he found out about his grandchild. But it wasn’t the right time to tell him. Tagg had to be the first to know. She hadn’t told a soul yet and it would have to stay that way for now.

  Callie rose, her appetite gone. “Well, then, we’ll have some really healthy horses in our stables. Because they know what’s good for them. They won’t be dying of a coronary anytime soon.”

  She walked past her father and out the front door.

  Before she was out of earshot, she heard her father call to the cook. “Mattie, make me a steak. A big, fat, juicy one and I want gravy to go with it!”

  Callie inhaled a sharp breath and got into her car.

  She revved the engine and drove off, happy to be away from Hawkins Sullivan. Happy to be anywhere but on the ranch she loved so much.

  Callie stood with Jed Barlow by the Worth stables the next morning combing down Sunflower in the shade of a mesquite tree. “It was a good ride. I think Sunflower is tame enough for children. I just had to be sure.”

  “The same goes for Tux. He’s pretty gentle,” Jed said. “I’m glad I was able to take the ride with you this morning.”

  Callie smiled at Jed. They had been friends in school once, but she hadn’t seen him since she’d returned to Red Ridge. She brushed the mare’s mane while Jed combed down Tux. It was nice taking the horses out together before the heat of the day. Since her return to Big Hawk Ranch she hadn’t had a riding partner. She’d wanted to ride out on the range with Tagg today, but he’d flat-out refused. Maybe he really did have plans this morning. It wasn’t like he didn’t have a job. He ran the Worth empire from his house. He had responsibilities.

  “It’ll be real nice getting to know you again, Callie.” Jed smiled.

  “Same goes for me. I haven’t reconnected with too many people since I’ve been home. Some of my high school friends moved away and some are married and have their own lives. So this is great.”

  “I think so.” He stopped brushing down Tux to look at her. “You know I had a crush on you back in high school, don’t you?”

  She furrowed her brows. “No. I didn’t think boys got crushes.” Jed was tall and blond and relatively nice looking but Callie didn’t like where this conversation was headed.

  “We do. Uh, did. But we’re always too macho to admit it. Your daddy took care of that, though.”

  Callie rolled her eyes. Everything always went back to her father. “How?”

  “He ran me off your property once. You’d offered to help me with my studies and I came over.”

  “Shotgun?”

  Jed got a startled look on his face. “You know?”

  “It’s a wonder I didn’t run away from home. He chased off quite a few guys that way.”

  “I was a little young to know he was bluffing.”

  Callie laughed and put her hand on his arm, shaking her head. “The sad part is, he wasn’t bluffing. He’s fiercely protective of me.”

  He glanced at her hand and smiled. Callie removed it instantly, self-conscious. “Even now?”

  “I try not to let him get away with anything anymore,” she offered, feeling sorry for Jed. Maybe she would have liked dating him back then. She could only imagine how her father had intimidated him. “Sorry. I didn’t know. Of course, my father kept that from me.”

  “So maybe we could make up for that. Would you like to go out sometime? Maybe Saturday night?”

  Callie hadn’t entirely seen this coming. She’d been so wrapped up in her feelings for Tagg that she’d mistaken Jed’s friendliness. Oh, God, what to say? How to answer without hurting him or making him feel foolish?

  “She’s not available,” said a voice from behind them.

  They turned and found Tagg leaning against the shade tree, arms folded. “Tagg, what are you doing here?” Callie asked.

  “Hey, Tagg.” Jed looked confused, darting them both glances.

  “I came to ride Tux,” he said to Callie, giving her a recriminating look.

  But that didn’t stop her heart from fluttering like a trapped butterfly. Just one look at him standing there, despite his sullen expression, and she was toast. He was
handsome times ten. The whole cowboy getup wasn’t outdated on a man like Tagg. He wore his chaps well.

  “How long have you been here?” she asked, wondering if he’d overheard their conversation.

  “Just got here.”

  She thought that was a lie. Tagg looked too comfortable against that tree to have just walked up.

  “Looks like Jed beat me to the ride.”

  “Hell,” Jed said, “at least I can beat you at something. You wiped me out last night.”

  “Wiped you out?” Callie shot them both a glance.

  “At poker. Remember, when I bumped into you? I was on my way to meet up with Tagg and the boys for a card game.”

  “You bumped into her?” Tagg asked, his gaze focused on Jed.

  Jed nodded halfheartedly. “Well, not like that. I was driving down the road and she passed me in her bright red convertible. She was barreling down the highway at eighty miles an hour.”

  “I was not,” she defended herself.

  “You were,” Jed said with a big grin. “Lead foot, my mama used to say. And then all of a sudden she stopped the car by the side of the road.”

  “I would’ve never seen that downed calf if I was going that fast, Jed,” Callie pointed out. She turned to Tagg. “It looked like the calf got tangled up in some broken fencing. Jed stopped his truck and helped me get her on her feet. She turned out to be all right.”

  Jed shrugged. “Callie’s got a soft spot for animals.”

  Tagg didn’t seem pleased with either of them. Callie recalled what he’d said when she’d first spotted him.

  She’s not available.

  Not that she wasn’t glad to see him. He’d interrupted her having to refuse Jed’s offer for a date, but her curiosity got the better of her. “Why am I not available?”

  Tagg moved away from the tree and approached her. He stopped when he got close enough for her to see the quicksilver surrounding his blue eyes, the ticking of his jaw. Ignoring Jed, he peered at her. She swallowed and met his gaze. “Because we have an appointment to look at some horses on Saturday.”

  “Ah, well, that’s okay,” Jed said, with his good nature. “It won’t take all day.”

  Tagg slanted Jed a quick look, then focused back on Callie. “In Las Vegas.”

  Four

  Callie’s mouth dropped open. She stared at Tagg. “In Las Vegas?” She shook her head, trying to understand. Endless possibilities entered her mind. “Why there?”

  “I have a friend who’s offering us the pick of his string for the charity. They’re thoroughbreds and mustangs that have served him well but are a bit older, like Sunflower here.” Tagg stroked the horse gently. “All we have to do is choose the ones we want and arrange transportation. He’s giving us a dozen horses.”

  Callie immediately thought of how the children would benefit. She pictured a dozen children riding the mares with smiling faces. “That’s fantastic. Are you sure you need me to go?”

  Tagg glanced at Jed, then redirected his gaze back to her. “Clay wants you in on this.”

  What about him? Did he want her in on this? The idea of spending alone time with Tagg appealed to her on so many levels. But was his disgruntled mood because Clay had insisted Tagg take her along? Or was it something else?

  “We’ve got plans to discuss, Jed,” Tagg said. “Suppose you could see to the horses? I’ll walk Callie back to her car.”

  “Sure,” Jed said, looking at Callie. There was no disputing who the boss was here. The employee had just been ordered away.

  “Bye, Jed,” Callie said with a smile.

  “See ya, Callie.” He swatted each horse’s rump and they trotted into the stable. Jed followed behind.

  Callie ran a hand through her hair and inhaled deep. Tagg had just saved her from an awkward situation with his ranch hand.

  “Were you going to go out with him?” he asked, gesturing toward the stable.

  “Jed? Uh, no. I wasn’t.” She lifted her chin a notch. “Not that it’s any of your business.”

  A spark of mischief entered his eyes. “Granted. None of my business.”

  “I don’t have too many friends around here. Jed and I used to be friends in school. It’s nice getting reacquainted.”

  “He had it bad for you.” Tagg smiled.

  “You did hear! You were listening to our conversation!”

  “It was fascinating. I didn’t want to interrupt.”

  “But you managed to. The minute Jed asked me out.” She looked at him with suspicion.

  “Don’t pretend I didn’t save your butt just then. You were stumbling…looking for a way out.”

  Callie opened her mouth to protest, but Tagg was right. And he’d recognized her dilemma. “True.” Though she hated to admit it.

  “Then it’s not a problem going to Vegas?”

  “You mean I have a choice?” She sent him a teasing smile.

  “You don’t have to go. But you are the ‘kid expert.’”

  “So, it’s a request?”

  He nodded.

  “From Clay?”

  Tagg shifted his gaze to the ground. He scratched the side of his cheek. “I haven’t told Clay about this yet.”

  “But you made it seem…” Callie stopped for a second and eyed him. Could it be possible that Tagg wanted her to go? That this was all his idea?

  “We need to leave by five tonight.”

  Callie blinked. “We’re leaving tonight?”

  “John’s an old rodeo buddy. He invited us to dinner. Under the circumstances, I couldn’t refuse. Are you in?”

  Yes! “I’m in. I’ll be ready at five.”

  With bells on.

  “You are one lucky girl, Callie Sullivan,” she muttered later that afternoon as she packed. She folded her jeans and a plaid no-nonsense blouse into the suitcase before closing it shut, grateful that her father had left for Houston that morning. There would be no arguments about where she was going and no repercussions when she got home. If she were really fortunate, she’d return before her father this weekend and he’d never have to know she’d been gone.

  Fate had a way of looking after her. At least, this time. When Tagg had called a few hours ago arranging to pick her up at home, she’d been happy to inform him that her father wasn’t around and it wouldn’t be a problem.

  “You mean, I won’t face a shotgun?” Callie had laughed at his joke, though she’d never have let Tagg on Sullivan property to face her father’s wrath had he been home. She would have made other travel arrangements to save them all a nasty confrontation.

  In truth, Callie had been looking forward to having the house to herself for the entire weekend. But nothing topped this turn of events—even if it was just an overnight business trip.

  Because she’d be with Tagg.

  Callie zipped up her suitcase, leaving it on the bed and strode into her walk-in closet, searching for just the right outfit to wear tonight. She came up with a black dress that crisscrossed over the chest but wasn’t too revealing. The dress hit her knees in a flow of material and gathered at the side with a bit of rhinestone bling. It was appropriate for a dinner invitation and yet nothing too provocative.

  She’d tossed ankle-high boots in her suitcase for tomorrow. For tonight’s dinner she chose a pair of strappy black heels.

  Callie combed her hair, applied light makeup to her eyes, glossed her lips and then slipped into her dress. She was ready by four-thirty.

  At exactly five o’clock, a black Lincoln pulled up to her front door. She watched from the window as Tagg got out of the backseat and straightened next to the limo. Her breath caught and she whispered, “Oh, wow,” grateful he couldn’t see her initial reaction.

  He looked deadly handsome wearing a white shirt under a stunning black suit coat with wide Western lapels. A dark felt Stetson sat low on his head and his jeans were brand new. He strode up to the front entrance and knocked.

  Callie opened the door. “Afternoon, Callie,” he said.

&nbs
p; He looked even better up close. A whiff of his cologne wafted over to her. His scent alone was enough to send her over the edge but the whole Tagg package got her heart pumping hard and heavy.

  She smiled tentatively, realizing this was her big chance to dazzle him. She wanted to be smooth and elegant tonight. She wanted to know the right thing to say, to keep him intrigued and interested.

  Then the reminder came.

  They were checking out horses on a ranch.

  Not having a romantic rendezvous.

  Tagg looked her over, his gaze resting on her hair, which she’d put partially up and away from her face. Loose tendrils flowed down her back. A gleam of approval shone in his eyes. Then his gaze shifted down to her neckline and even farther down to her chest. Her nipples hardened under his scrutiny and she wondered if the arch of his brow meant he’d noticed. He finished his perusal by checking out her legs and then returned to her face with a slow nod. “Nice.”

  Inside, she sighed with happiness. “Not so bad yourself, cowboy.”

  “Are you ready?” he asked.

  She nodded. “Yes, I’ll just get my—”

  “Got it.” Tagg reached past her to pick up her overnight case. He clutched it easily and glanced inside the house before turning around. “Anything else?”

  “No, that’s it.”

  “Then let’s go.”

  Callie locked the front door and moved silently alongside Tagg as they strode down the inlaid stone pathway leading to the car. In many ways Big Hawk Ranch was situated the same as any other wealthy ranch, including the Worths’. The sprawling two-story ranch house that glistened with pristine paint and wood sidings was the centerpiece. A barn, stable, bunkhouse and storage buildings made up the backdrop of eighty thousand acres of prime grazing land. Cattle roamed off in the distance and the slight sweet scent of wildflowers and tall grass mingled with earth and cattle smells.

  A chauffeur stood waiting by the passenger side of the car and Tagg handed him the suitcase. “Thanks, Emmett.”

  Tagg allowed Callie to get into the car first, then climbed in after her. It was spacious in the backseat with room to stretch her arms and legs. Yet she couldn’t mistake Tagg’s formidable presence inside the car. He took up space with confidence, as if he had a right to it. The door slammed shut from the outside and the driver got behind the wheel. “I’ll get you to the airstrip in good time, Mr. Worth.” And soon the car was moving off Sullivan land.