A Rancher’s Song

by Vivian Arend

  Everything in this house was teeny.

  They peeked into the bathroom, made more suggestions, and then checked out the two tiny bedrooms at the front of the house. “I’m going to use one for my office, but I suppose I could put a bed in the other one so if you wanted to stay over, you could.”

  “Planning for houseguests. That’s awesome.” Rose’s grin faded as she walked into the master bedroom. “Really?”

  Ivy glanced around, failing to see the problem. “Look, there’s a bathroom off here, which is a miracle in a house this size. It’s only got a shower, but that works for me.”

  “Well, that’s good. Can an actual bed fit?” Tansy asked, poking the mattress with her knee before attempting to pace across the floor. “There’s not a lot of room in here.”

  “Not a lot of room at all. How big is a queen-size mattress?” Rose asked. “You’re going to be banging the walls all the time.”

  Ivy rolled her eyes. “I’m not sure how active you are in bed, but if I’m wiggling enough to make the mattress move, I’m going to damage the walls anyway.”

  Rose snickered before covering it up with a cough.

  Ivy gave her a dirty look. “What?”

  Her sister raised her hands. “You’re such an innocent. How on earth did you make it to this age still being able to say things like that without it being innuendo? How much action do we get in bed?”

  “Be fair, Rose. If she’s asking about you, it’s not very much,” Tansy teased.

  Rose whirled on her sister, fists planted on her hips. “If you don’t mind.”

  Oh my God, they were talking about sex. Ivy felt her cheeks heat as blood rushed upward. “I’m not into sexual calisthenics, thank you. And the bed is for me, and not me and anyone else.”

  Although she hoped that was a lie.

  She knew exactly who she wanted to be in bed with, and as she eyed the small space where she had intended to put a twin mattress, maybe her sisters had a good point. If she laid Walker out on a bed that size…

  “Whatever are you thinking about, because you look as if you’re about to fall over.” Tansy stuck her face in front of her. “There are some dirty daydreams going on in there.”

  “You’re so annoying,” Ivy informed her haughtily.

  “Yes. You still need to tell us what you were thinking about.”

  Walker. On her bed. Stripped naked.

  She’d only seen him naked during stolen and rushed moments, and that had been the seventeen-year-old version of Walker, not the incredible, mature man he’d become. The bull rider was mighty fine. All solid muscle and angles, sharp enough and hard enough to feel against her…

  Ivy smiled as sweetly as possible. “That’s for me to know and you to never find out.”

  Rose and Tansy exchanged glances before snatching pillows off the mattress and swinging them forward, catching Ivy in the middle. Chaos ensued.

  And for a moment, Ivy let go of all of the what ifs and why dids that had been tormenting her over the years.

  It had been right to go away to university. Her dream of being a teacher had been there as long as she could remember. During her early years when she’d been frail and sickly, books had become her friends and her way of seeing the world.

  But once the Fields adopted her, she’d begun to see and do more. They’d taught her how to take care of herself and that being inquisitive was a good thing. They’d taught her about love and acceptance—and so much more. That gift was something she wanted to give back to others.

  So as much as she’d been drawn to staying in Heart Falls with her high school sweetheart, making one person happy versus having the ability to change many people’s lives—it hadn’t seemed like that big of a sacrifice at the time. Especially since it was only going to be for a few years.

  The differences in the realities of real-life compared to dreams were huge. Not only dreams, but even well-thought-out and planned agendas had to be adjusted. She hadn’t been strong enough to finish four years of teacher training without taking extra time. Adding in the practicum and student teaching hours—double the time there as well as she caught every single cold and germ, fighting to stay healthy—meant her training had taken far longer than she’d expected.

  And then there was the hospital stay that went on forever…

  It was only in the last couple of years that her body had finally begun to cooperate. Now she was strong enough to face most day-to-day illnesses no worse for wear than one of her sisters.

  She was never going to take her new health for granted—the ability to bounce back from a summer cold or a fever quickly had seemed an impossibility when she was young. Needing to take only a few days off work was a huge difference from ending up flat on her back for a month.

  “You’re really going to stay in Heart Falls permanently?” Rose curled an arm around her shoulders, and Ivy realized she’d been daydreaming, staring over the Rocky Mountains to the west. The porch chairs gathered around a small table had made a perfect place for them to stop as Tansy wrote more notes and Rose ran back in to take measurements.

  And Ivy, apparently, got lost in thought and did nothing.

  “It’s better for me,” Ivy said with a nod, “but that’s kind of a bonus to the whole situation. The less I travel and the more I’m around the same people, the better it is for my immune system.”

  “You could teach online. You could live in a big city and get your groceries delivered to your door,” Tansy pointed out.

  “She could become a hermit and never see another human being again in her life,” Rose said with mock enthusiasm. “Oh my God, of course. That’s the most perfect idea in the world.”

  “Shut up. That’s not what I meant…” Tansy wrinkled her nose. “Okay, that’s kind of how it came out, but what I meant was I know you love teaching, but is being around a room full of grade twos the best thing?”

  “In a small town like Heart Falls? Actually, yes. I’m okay getting exposed to some germs, but ones that are familiar are better for me. My immune system can build up all the normal resistance as long as I don’t keep introducing lots of variables.”

  Rose was the one to nod slowly, but a little sadly. “So, you are never going to be a world traveler.”

  “I’m never going to be a traveler, period. But like I said, I don’t feel as if this is a bad thing. Grandma is here in Heart Falls, and Mom and Dad are happy to stay.” Ivy eyed her sisters. “You two seem as if you’re happy running Buns and Roses.”

  They glanced at each other and turned back, nodding in unison as if they’d practiced. “We like it here too,” Tansy admitted.

  “Although I want to see a bit more of the world,” Rose added. “Did you know Ginny Stone is in Italy right now?”

  “I didn’t. She’s living there?”

  “She’s doing something with organic farming. She’s been in France, England, and she’s got another couple of countries to visit. Tamara Coleman—I mean Tamara Stone—said Ginny will be back for a month sometime soon. Their foster sister, Dare, is getting married, and of course Ginny needs to be around for that.”

  It was good to get caught up on all the gossip. It seemed every day there was something new to learn about her family, about her sisters.

  About herself.

  Her phone rang, and she excused herself before answering.

  “Ivy Fields.”

  “Hey, Snow.”

  She tried to keep from reacting, but it was clear she’d done a terrible job because both her sisters’ heads pivoted as if they were on magnets, gazes locked on her face. “Hi, Walker.”

  Rose shoved two thumbs in the air while Tansy tilted her head as if she were listening and expected Ivy to adjust the phone to make it easier to eavesdrop.

  Not happening.

  “Thought we should set up an official time and place for our date. Are you free tonight?”

  Her sisters continued to make annoying gestures, and Ivy closed her eyes so she could ignore them easier. “I c
ould be. I need to tell my mom I won’t be around. Are you thinking supper?”

  “I’ll be done by five. I could pick you up by six.”

  Pleasurable warmth spread slowly through her system. “Six works for me. I’m staying at my parents.”

  He chuckled softly, and the sound sent another trickle of goose bumps over her flesh. “Then I know where to find you. See you later.”

  “See you.”

  She glanced down at her lap to hang up her phone, taking a deep breath and composing herself before lifting her gaze and attempting to pretend nothing out of the ordinary had happened. “Well, if you’ve had enough time to—”

  “Oh, no way.” Tansy folded her fingers together and pleaded. “Please. You gotta give us the goods.”

  “Sexy bull rider is picking you up at six. Where’s he taking you?” Rose asked eagerly.

  Ivy opened her mouth and realized she hadn’t bothered to ask. “Out.”

  Tansy and Rose glanced each other and snickered. “You’ve got it bad for that man,” Rose said softly. “And I hope everything works out, but if it doesn’t, remember we’re here for you.”

  “You’re such a cheery ray of sunshine, Rose Fields. Of course it’s going to work. Don’t you remember how he used to fawn over her?” Tansy demanded.

  “It was a long time ago, and we were both young,” Ivy pointed out.

  “Not too long ago,” Tansy teased. “I told you every time I’ve seen him over the years he always asks, ‘how’s the family’, and it’s pretty clear he’s not checking into Dad’s health.”

  The warm blanket of pleasure wrapped a little tighter. “That’s good to know.”

  “We just need to push him in the right direction—”

  Nope. Not happening. She didn’t need her sisters’ help. Ivy went for blunt. “I care about Walker a great deal, and I am interested in seeing where this may go. That’s why I let you talk me into the bachelor-auction thing, which, I might add, was way out of my comfort zone.”

  Tansy had the grace to look ashamed. “You did so well I forgot how shy you used to be.”

  Ivy didn’t think being shy was something that ever went away. “I have more coping methods than before, but I’ll say this to you now because I love you both—don’t meddle. Thank you for helping me with the auction, but I want to do this on my own.”

  Tansy let out a heavy sigh and leaned back in her chair dramatically. “Fine. We won’t follow you on your date.”

  “We were only going to do that because it’s been a long time since we’ve eaten out,” Rose claimed.

  Too tempting. Ivy raised a brow. “Perhaps you’re the ones who need to work on getting a little action, hmm?”

  Rose stuck out her tongue, and Tansy snickered, their attention off Ivy’s upcoming date and back on teasing each other lovingly.

  Which was fine by Ivy, because her brain was so full at that moment she didn’t have the energy to compartmentalize and deal with their endless enthusiasm. She was looking forward to tonight and the possibility that lay before her and Walker.

  She glanced to her right and into the window of the master bedroom. The upper pane was covered with dust, and the lower was wide-open on a room that definitely needed changes.

  Perhaps even a larger bed—

  But first, she needed to take action of a different kind. There was a certain gentleman who she’d thought about an awful lot without setting her hopes too firmly in place.

  Next on the agenda: a date with a Walker Stone.

  4

  Ivy stared out her bedroom window, nervously playing with the buttons on her blouse. She’d entered a time warp, waiting impatiently for Walker to show up to take her on a date.

  Back in high school the tension had been sweet and exciting, and a whole lot of nerves had been involved as she wondered if they’d even get out the door. In those years, her health had been so delicate there were times her mom or dad had made an executive decision and called off the outing at the last minute.

  Oh, her parents always tried to make staying home somehow special, but watching a movie while her little sisters snuck in to steal popcorn wasn’t the same as getting to go to the actual theater alone with Walker.

  As a large truck pulled up to the front sidewalk, Ivy couldn’t step away. She should’ve been hurrying to get down the stairs as soon as possible, but at that moment the memories were too overwhelmingly beautiful to rush.

  He’d asked her on their first date the day she turned sixteen. She hadn’t been allowed to date before then, but they’d known they liked each other. They’d spent time together at school and all, but nothing had officially happened between them. Her parents’ strict rule had meant she and Walker were friends first in spite of the bubbling boy-girl attraction between them.

  As Walker got out of the truck and paced toward the front of the house, she drank him in as if she’d been thirsting for years. His long limbs moved smoothly as he glanced around and adjusted his cowboy hat, and when he tilted his head and looked instinctively at her window, Ivy didn’t bother to hide.

  His grin widened. He tipped his hat before disappearing from her line of vision.

  The doorbell rang, and Ivy hurried to finish getting ready, suddenly aware that unlike the past years when she’d roomed with friends or lived on her own, her family was going to answer the summons.

  She dragged a brush through her hair, grabbed her purse and headed for the door as, sure enough, her father’s voice rang out in a greeting.

  “So. We meet again,” Malachi teased Walker. “Good to see you.”

  “Thank you, sir. You’re looking in fine shape.” Walker’s voice rumbled up the stairs as she left her bedroom then had to whirl on her heel to go back and grab her inhaler.

  “Plenty to keep me busy. And I’ve been right here in Heart Falls all the time. You don’t stop by nearly as often as you used to, especially the last few years.”

  Good grief. Ivy didn’t attempt to take the stairs with ladylike grace, instead stomping her way down in hopes it would get her father’s attention before he made some too-blunt comment. “Thank you, Daddy. You can stop grilling Walker. It’s not high school graduation night, you know.”

  Her father raised a brow. “I certainly hope not. I seem to remember he didn’t get you home until nearly three a.m.”

  She couldn’t do anything about the heat in her cheeks, but she refused to look away. “You know we had car problems.”

  Walker caught her eye and grinned, which made them look even guiltier. The sad part of it was they had broken down at the side of the road. And not even on a back road where they could’ve gotten into some mischief. No, they’d been right on the 22X, out in the middle of everything, but with no phone reception. Walker had walked to get a signal to call for help. And with her delicate shoes, he had insisted she stay in the truck, so their evening had devolved into time apart then enjoying a few stolen kisses while waiting for the tow truck.

  Her father raised one brow as she reminisced. “Three a.m., that’s all I’m saying.”

  Walker found his voice, a soft chuckle escaping him. “I can’t believe you’re still holding that over us.”

  Malachi relented, patting Walker on the shoulder. “Well, we’ve obviously forgiven you since here you are, back in town and taking Ivy out. We’ve been keeping track of your exploits. You’ve racked up some good results on the circuit this year. Looks as if you’re already ranked high enough to head to the PBR in the fall.”

  Malachi failed to mention the disastrous final event Walker had taken part in, mostly because Ivy was staring daggers at him by this point, warning him to behave.

  Of course, warning her father to behave was like trying to rein in a two-tonne elephant.

  “Who are you talking to, sweetheart?” her mother asked from the next room.

  Ivy had just lifted her gaze to Walker’s face, and his lips twitched with amusement, which made her want to break out into giggles as well.

  “It’s Wal
ker Stone, Mrs. Fields.” he called. “I’ve come to pick up Ivy for our date.”

  Her mom rounded the corner, a bottle of wine in one hand, an iPad in the other. “Walker. How good to see you. Ivy, do I need to open some wine for this recipe, or can I use the grape juice we have in the fridge?”

  She stepped between them, nearly braining Walker with the wine bottle as she passed while intently reading the recipe.

  Walker dodged back smoothly before brushing a hand over his lips to hide his smile.

  Ivy reached for the iPad to see what recipe her mother was talking about. “What are you making?”

  “Something to use up the buffalo steaks the Simpsons gave us. I appreciate their generosity, but I think the poor animal had been around since the last turn-of-the-century. The first roast I cooked was tough as shoe leather.”

  “Buffalo from the Simpsons?” Walker made a face. “When did they start running buffalo?”

  “Back in the early nineteen hundreds, according to Sophie, but I think they got them in last fall,” Malachi informed him. “It’s not a bad idea, and they’ve got the room.”

  Walker nodded slowly, and Ivy realized she was watching him again instead of checking out the recipe so she could answer her mom.

  “Now that you’re back, you’ll be able to get caught up on all of the comings and goings in Heart Falls,” Sophie assured him. “How’s your oldest brother doing? Him and his new wife, of course—I was so excited when Malachi told me about their secret, surprise wedding with just them and their two little girls. And have Luke and his fiancée set a date yet?”

  Ivy scanned the recipe quickly, as she listened to Walker’s response.

  “Nothing from Luke yet. Our sister Dare is getting married next month in Rocky Mountain House, so that’s enough excitement for the family right now.”

  “And will—?”

  Ivy stepped in before the grilling could continue. “We need to go to make our reservation on time. Mom, use the juice. You don’t need to open the wine unless you want to drink it. But you’d be better off starting the recipe now for tomorrow—marinating for only an hour isn’t going to make the meat less tough.”