Jared's Texas Homecoming

by Patricia Thayer

  She frowned. “Need me? For what?”

  “To marry me.”

  Chapter Six

  “Marry you!” Dana said, unable to believe his insane suggestion. “You can’t be serious.”

  “I’m serious all right. You’re in deep financial trouble. Unless you sell some of the ranch to the Randells, you’re not going to make the bank payment that’s coming due.”

  She straightened. “I’m not selling any of my land.” She hated him knowing her business. “There’s some time left.”

  “Time for a miracle?”

  She’d been praying for one. Surely this wasn’t it. “I’m not desperate enough to marry you,” she said, then wished she could take back the stinging words.

  “You better get desperate real fast, because you’re running out of time…and you could lose the ranch because of your stubbornness.” He started out of the room.

  Dana hurried from around the desk. “I’m not being stubborn,” she insisted. “I’m cautious.” When he turned and stared at her with those hard sapphire eyes, her heart skipped a beat. Jared Trager made her crazy. “Why are you doing this?”

  “Hell if I know.” He looked confused and frustrated as he ran his fingers through his hair. “For Evan. That’s why I’m doing it. I want him to be able to grow up here—in his home. On this ranch. He’s already gotten a raw deal from Marsh.”

  Jared paused, seeming surprised at what he told her. He began to pace. “I’m also doing it so I don’t have to wait until I’m thirty-five, roughly two more years to collect my inheritance and get my dream. To buy Burke Construction. Stan Burke wants to retire soon. He’s been allowing me to buy into the business little by little. But if I had my inheritance now I could take over and purchase new equipment for the company.” His gaze met hers. “You told me you could make a go of the ranch if you enlarged the herd. To do that you need money to hire more help and make some needed repairs.”

  “Do you know how much that’s going to cost?”

  “I have an idea, and I have the money to do it.” He folded his arms across his chest. “Dana, Evan needs you to be his mother. You can’t work twelve-fourteen hours a day and be his only parent, too.”

  “Are you saying that I’m not a good mother?”

  “No, you’re a great mother. You can have that dream—we both can have our dream, but we need each other.”

  “Surely there’s someone else in your life that you could ask to marry you?”

  He glanced away. “I’m not good at relationships. I’m doing this mainly for Evan’s sake.”

  Dana couldn’t believe it. She was actually considering his crazy scheme. The offer was so tempting. And it could be her only chance to turn the Lazy S into a successful ranch. “My dream is bigger than just raising cattle, Jared. I’d also like to breed some good saddle horses, and have a boarding stable.”

  So Dana was interested. Jared didn’t know if he should be happy or not. “All that’s a possibility.”

  She folded her arms across her chest. “If we decided to get married…how soon do you think—”

  “As soon as possible. I don’t receive the money until I have a marriage certificate.”

  “Of course it wouldn’t be a real marriage.” She gave him a questioning look. “I mean, you can’t expect me—us…”

  He bit back a groan. Oh, he wanted her all right, and if she were honest she’d admit she wanted him, too. The two times they’d been together diminished any doubt of that. They’d been nothing less than explosive. “To consummate the marriage,” he finished for her.

  She nodded as a blush colored her cheeks.

  “If you’re worried I’m going to jump you, I’m not. And if you want to take our relationship any further, that’s up to you.”

  Dana released a breath. “No, that wouldn’t be wise. So we’re agreed that we’re business partners.”

  “I want to have some say, but mostly I’ll be a silent partner.”

  Her gaze met his. “I won’t sign away any part of the ranch to you.”

  “I don’t expect you to, nor do I want your land. I only want to look out for Evan’s interest. He’s my big concern.”

  “And you’ll be willing to invest in the ranch with only a signed note? With no claim on the Lazy S?”

  “No claim. I have no doubt that you’ll do everything in your power to keep the Lazy S for your son,” he said.

  She started to speak and he stopped her.

  “Dana, before you decide, there’s something you should know. I came to San Angelo for another reason, too. It was the same reason that brought Marsh over here five years ago. He’d found an old letter that was addressed to our mother from Jack Randell. Seems they knew each other years ago. It also seems there’s a chance that I could be Jack’s son. I’ve taken a DNA test along with Chance and the results should be back soon. The outcome doesn’t have anything to do with my offer—I just thought you should know.”

  Dana was trying to hide her shock. Jared Trager could be a Randell. She could see some resemblance, the similar build and square jaw. Those deep-set eyes were the most telling, at the same time they held so much back. “Thank you for being honest about that.”

  “So it’s all right that we go ahead?”

  She hesitated. “I have another question. How long will this marriage last?”

  He shrugged. “I don’t think my mother’s will stipulates any time constraints. Why? Is there someone in your life?”

  “No. Is there someone in yours? I mean in Las Vegas.” Surely there wasn’t, not with the way he’d kissed her.

  “No one. But I can’t stay in Texas indefinitely. Two or three months to get things going here is what I planned on. Then I need to get back to Vegas.”

  She suddenly realized how her son would be affected. “Oh, what about Evan? He’s going to get attached to you.”

  “He’s attached to me now.”

  That was the truth. Her son had barely spoken to her since she’d sent Jared away. “I know, but it will get worse.”

  “Dana, I plan to stay in touch with Evan no matter what you decide about us.” He took a step closer to her. He was a big man and towered over her, but she didn’t feel intimidated by his size. “He’s my nephew and I want to be there for him. I never had that with my father….” His voice drifted off, then his gaze met hers. “I want him to know that he can count on me.”

  What about her? Dana wondered. What was going to happen to her when Jared left her with a broken heart? Somehow she had to make sure she kept everything impersonal.

  “If you need more time…” he began.

  “No. I only need to make sure that you agree to keep this…situation strictly business. Our arrangement isn’t going to be more than a marriage in name only.”

  “If that’s what you want,” he said. “I can stay in the bunkhouse.”

  She shook her head. “No. You can move into a bedroom upstairs. There’s going to be enough questions as it is.”

  “Then you agree?” he asked again.

  Dana drew a long breath and released it. “Agreed.”

  “I’ll call my lawyer and let him know that there’s going to be a wedding. As soon as I send him a copy of the marriage certificate my inheritance will be transferred into my account. Then I’ll take care of the mortgage.”

  She gasped. “I can’t let you pay the mortgage off.”

  “Might as well start with a clean slate.” He quickly changed the subject. “So, you want to do this in a church, or at the courthouse?”

  How could he act so nonchalant about it? Because it didn’t mean anything more to him than a business deal. That’s how she needed to handle it, too. This was a way to keep the Lazy S for her son. It was the only reason for agreeing to this crazy idea.

  “I think the courthouse. But I have one other request. I don’t want people to know the real reason we’re getting married.”

  Jared leaned toward her, and his gaze darkened. For a moment, Dana thought he was
going to kiss her. “I doubt I’ll have any problem convincing people that you and I are truly married.”

  Two weeks later, Dana was still trying to talk herself out of this so-called marriage. As Joy helped her get ready at the courthouse, Dana was fighting with herself not to call the whole thing off.

  Surprisingly, Bert hadn’t tried to talk her out of this marriage. And forget Evan. He’d wanted a dad for so long, he’d been crazy about the idea of Jared taking the position. In keeping with their promise, Dana had only told one person, Joy, the real reason she and Jared were getting married today. Even after signing the legal papers to protect her and Evan from Jared making any claim on the ranch when the marriage ended, Dana knew that there was nothing to protect her heart.

  Now more doubts rushed through her head. “Am I crazy, Joy?”

  Her friend sat beside her on the bench. “Do you hate Jared?”

  “Of course not.”

  “Do you think that he’s being honest about wanting to help you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Could you fall in love with him?”

  Dana thought back over the past weeks. Jared had worked tirelessly, then spent extra time doing needed repairs. He’d been nothing but kind and thoughtful to Evan. What was there not to love? “Yes,” she admitted. “That’s what I’m afraid of.”

  Her friend smiled. “I know the feeling. I felt the same way about Chance. I was scared about marrying him, too. I had a baby and I needed him so much.” Joy’s sympathetic gaze met Dana’s. “I think Jared needs you just as much. Men try to act tough, but they need love, too. I’ve gotten to know Jared a little better in the last week. He’s quiet and distant sometimes as if he doesn’t quite know where he fits in. He needs you and Evan. He needs a family.”

  “He has Chance, Cade and Travis. They’re his family.”

  “Jared needs you, too, Dana.”

  “I’m afraid to let myself get close. He’s going to leave and go back to Las Vegas.”

  “Then figure out a way to make him want to stay.”

  “I don’t know how.” She brushed away a tear. “The only man I’ve ever cared about was Marsh.”

  Joy patted her hand. “There’s more room in your heart believe me. I felt the same way about Blake, and when he died, I never thought there would be anyone else. Then I met Chance. Just give yourself a little time. If it’s meant to be, it will happen.” With an understanding smile, she stood up and pulled Dana with her. “Come on, we have a wedding to get started.”

  Dana brushed imaginary wrinkles from the peach-colored dress Joy had loaned her. A soft sheer layered skirt hung to a princess length, making her feel feminine. The simple fitted bodice emphasized her small waist, and the neckline dipped low, exposing more cleavage than Dana ever dared before. Around her neck she wore her grandmother’s cameo necklace. Her hair had been pinned up and baby’s breath adorned the crown of her head.

  “How do I look?”

  Joy smiled. “The expression on your soon-to-be husband’s face says it all.”

  Dana turned around and saw Jared standing across the room next to Chance. Although the DNA test hadn’t come back yet, there was no doubt in her mind they were related. Tall, dark and so handsome. Jared had on a navy suit and a snowy white shirt with a striped tie. When his eyes met hers, a warm tingle rushed through her. He took a small box from Chance and started toward her. Dana swallowed back the dryness in her throat as he stopped in front of her.

  “You’re beautiful,” he said.

  “Thank you.” She took a breath. “You clean up pretty nicely yourself.”

  He shrugged. “I did some shopping.”

  She had already known that because he’d taken Evan along with him. Her son had come home the other day, after spending the afternoon in town, acting as if he were hiding a big secret. Then this morning he’d come downstairs dressed in a new suit, white shirt and new shoes. Before she could even comment, he’d scurried to the bunkhouse so Jared could fix his tie. Dana hadn’t planned on making such a big deal of the wedding. After all, it was only a business arrangement.

  “Thank you again for Evan’s suit,” she said. “Although, I doubt he’ll get much use out of it since he grows so fast.”

  “It was worth it. He wanted to look good for today. He is my best man.” He held the box out to her. “Here, this is for you.”

  With a puzzled look, she opened it to find a bouquet of cream-and peach-colored rosebuds. “Oh, my.” She reached inside and took hold of the slender stems and raised the bouquet to her nose. “Oh, Jared, they’re lovely.” Dana started to say more, when the judge and his clerk came in and directed the bride and groom to stand in the middle of the room. Evan took the place on the other side of his mother, Bert next to him.

  Jared had Chance as his best man. But this wasn’t the small affair they’d planned. Not with the Randell family around. Although quiet, they were all in attendance. Hank and Ella, all three brothers and their wives.

  Ten minutes later, the “I do’s” had been exchanged and they were pronounced man and wife. Then Jared was instructed to kiss his new bride. That was one thing that they hadn’t talked about: “The kiss.” And maybe they should have because when Jared’s mouth closed over Dana’s he didn’t hold anything back. He kissed her like he meant it. Full on the lips and with enthusiasm. When he released her and gave her a wink and a grin, she wanted to smash the heel of her shoe into his foot. Instead she smiled as everyone congratulated them. Then Joy and Chance invited everyone back to the Randell home for a reception.

  There, Joy had outdone herself. With help from Ella, Hank Barrett’s housekeeper, they had set up a banquet on the sideboard in the dining room. A white-and peach-colored, three-tiered wedding cake was center stage on top of a lace-draped table.

  Dana was surprised that Joy had gone to so much trouble. Knowing the marriage wasn’t real hadn’t diminished her friend’s enthusiasm. But even surrounded by all the finery, Dana could not let herself believe that she and Jared would live happily ever after.

  Jared had been separated from Dana when the ladies commandeered his bride. Something about opening some personal gifts. Just as well, he was getting weary of strange women kissing him and giving him those knowing looks.

  It was a little late to have doubts about this arrangement. The one thing that bothered him was leaving Dana to face all the probing questions. But they had both known from the beginning that this was the way things would be—strictly business.

  Yeah, right. And what was that kiss about? he wondered, recalling Dana’s sweet taste. Dear Lord, she looked so beautiful. He’d always thought her pretty, but she had caught him off guard when he’d walked into the judge’s chambers. How was he going to keep his hands to himself? Maybe he should stay parked in the bunkhouse. He closed his eyes, remembering how good she felt in his arms. How soft her skin… He took a big swallow of champagne.

  “Jared,” Evan called as he ran up to him. “Are you my dad now?”

  Jared crouched down to the boy’s level. “We talked about this before, Evan. I’m your dad’s brother, so I’m your uncle.” Dana and he had finally told Evan about Marsh just a few days ago.

  “But you married my mom,” he said.

  He knew the boy was too young to understand. “How about for a little while you call me Uncle, but then we’ll see what happens.”

  “’Kay,” he said, and ran off to a group of Randell kids.

  When Jared stood, Chance came up beside him. “Getting the tough questions already?”

  “You can say that,” Jared said.

  “I had it a little easier,” Chance said. “Katie wasn’t old enough to ask me questions. But I bet Evan isn’t holding back.”

  “He wants a dad, and I can’t blame him. But I don’t know how to tell him I might not be around forever.”

  “None of us can make that kind of promise,” Chance countered, then smiled. “You may be surprised how things turn out.”

  Jared shook his head
. “I don’t know what I’m doing. I’ve never had a good relationship with my own father.”

  Chance’s gaze darted away. “There’s probably a good reason for that.” He looked back at Jared. “The results of the test came back this morning. I don’t know if you’ll consider it good or bad news, but you’re a Randell.”

  Jared puffed out a breath. How did he feel? At least now he no longer owed any allegiance to Graham Hastings, the man who’d never wanted him in the first place. “I’m almost relieved. It explains so much.” He looked at his half brother. “Again, I don’t want you to think that I’ll expect anything from you or your brothers.”

  Chance shook his head and grinned. “You sure are one us. You’re about as stubborn as a Randell comes. As I said before, we don’t give handouts. What my brothers and I would like is to get to know you, Jared. Maybe we can become friends.”

  Jared had always kept to himself, but found he wanted to get to know the Randells. “I’d like that.”

  “Just so you know, there are people around here who have a long memory when it comes to Jack Randell. He made some enemies. Some still resent us just because we’re his sons. But for the most part, they know that we aren’t like our father. We’ve been lucky. Hank took us in and raised us. He made us walk the straight and narrow before we’d gotten into too much trouble. As far as Cade, Travis and I are concerned, he’s our true father.”

  Just then Cade approached them. “I guess Chance told you the news.” He held out his hand. “Welcome to the family. I hope you’re not sorry you looked us up.”

  “Not so far.” Jared shook Cade’s hand and soon Travis joined them. He, too, offered a welcome. Jared was overwhelmed by how easily the brothers invited him in. If this kept up, he might never want to leave San Angelo.

  But of course, he would in the end. He just didn’t fit in with family.

  Around nine o’clock that night, Jared drove his new bride and son back to the Lazy S. A few days ago he had gotten his truck from the shop. Tonight the cab was quiet, with Evan and Bert both asleep in the back seat, as the soft sound of a country ballad played on the radio.