The Reluctant Texas Rancher (Harlequin American Romance)

by Thacker, Cathy Gillen

Resentment tightened Travis’s gut. He wished. “Not to hear her tell it.”

  The old man’s eyebrows lifted in disbelief. “What’s the problem? She doesn’t want to leave Laramie County? ’Cause last time I checked there’s plenty of space to land a helicopter on the Four Winds Ranch. And since the job of CEO of Anderson Oil comes with a chopper and pilot at your disposal…technically, you could live anywhere.”

  Travis grinned. The old guy could make quite a sales pitch when he wanted something. “Thanks for the offer,” he replied genially.

  Disappointment etched the craggy lines of his grandfather’s face. “But you’re not accepting,” he guessed. “Even given the very nice formal offer I made.”

  Travis had to be honest. “Running a large corporation is not for me. It might be for one of my siblings, however.”

  Hargett sighed in regret. “I figured as much.” He leaned back in his chair, rocking soundlessly, before straightening once again. “So what does this mean?” He propped his fingertips together. “You’re going back to Haverty, Brockman & Roberts? Or on to greener pastures?”

  Restless, Travis stood. “I’m not going backward. That never works.” If it had, he and Liz would still be together. He wouldn’t be standing here, feeling hurt and vulnerable as all get-out.

  “But you are going back to the law?”

  Travis strolled to the window and stood looking down at city streets that had lost their allure. “At least part-time.”

  “Planning to follow your parents’ footsteps and start your own ranch, too?”

  Travis shrugged and then slowly turned back around. More than anyone, his grandfather understood his need to be his own man. “I’d like to find a way to incorporate both in my life.” Just as Liz had.

  Hargett sent him a knowing look. “And you think working two jobs will make you happy.”

  Sliding his hands in his pockets, Travis inhaled deeply. “If my recent mistakes and the resulting crisis have taught me anything, it’s that I want a more well-rounded life.” A home and a woman to love, and love him back, and a family of his very own to come home to at night.

  “Then,” Hargett announced, smiling slowly, “there’s only one way to get that.”

  LIZ SPENT THE NEXT FEW days getting caught up on work, meeting with clients and thinking about what to do regarding her love life. Or current lack thereof. And she was still thinking about the best way to remedy the mistakes she had made when she parked her car in the drive, grabbed her briefcase and walked into the Four Winds ranch house.

  Her mother greeted her in the foyer. Faye Elizabeth and Tillie were right behind her. All beamed with an unusual degree of excitement.

  “Put your boots on, honey!” Reba ordered cheerfully, engulfing her in a warm hug. “And ride out to see our new guard donkeys. They’re in pasture 23 with the goats.”

  Liz barely had time to draw a breath, never mind formulate a response, as Tillie clapped her hands in excitement. “They really are a sight to behold.”

  Faye Elizabeth nodded, a twinkle in her eyes. “They’re all just darling. You don’t want to miss it.”

  Relieving Liz of her briefcase and purse, Reba directed, “And ride your horse! You look like you need some R & R. And so does your mare.”

  Liz could have refused, in favor of going after Travis first via heartfelt letter, then a phone call, and finally a weekend-long date. But she couldn’t ignore the needs of her pet, after the days away. She winced guiltily, then said, “You’re right. My horse does need the exercise.” And the time outdoors would give her a chance to better formulate a plan.

  Travis was big on well-executed plans.

  “Tell you what,” Reba offered, oblivious to Liz’s real focus. “I’ll saddle her up for you while you change clothes.”

  Liz pushed the image of Travis—so handsome, and hurting—away.

  “I’ll pack you a picnic,” Tillie offered.

  Travis would forgive her.

  Liz hadn’t lost her chance.

  Not this time.

  Not if she had anything to say about it.

  “As long as you’re taking a break, it never hurts to have a little music, and a blanket for chilling out,” Faye Elizabeth declared with enthusiasm.

  Liz lifted her hand, with a grin. “Hold the wagon, ladies! I’m going, I’m going!”

  By the time she got back downstairs, in her favorite old jeans, flat-brimmed hat, boots and calico shirt, her gear was ready to go. “Aren’t any of you coming with me?” she asked.

  Tillie waved her away. “We have too much to do here.”

  Reba nodded. “You enjoy yourself, though.”

  Liz supposed she shouldn’t be surprised by the all-out effort to get her to take some time to herself and cheer up. She’d been down in the dumps ever since she and Travis had split up.

  Determined to use the time wisely—maybe even start mentally composing the love letter she intended to write to him—Liz headed out. Minutes later, she was riding down the path past the empty homestead.

  Trying not to think about how lonely she felt, Liz kept going.

  She had already tried a breezy, informal, let’s-stay-friends approach to fixing things. Unfortunately, calling him hadn’t netted any response. So she had tried texting and asking how everything was going, as a less pressured way of opening the door.

  Only to receive the cryptic response: Getting better by the day—thanks to you. T.

  It was the kind of semiformal response one sent a business acquaintance.

  She knew that shouldn’t surprise her. She had turned down his proposal that they keep seeing each other, and had pushed him toward a life that had no room for her in it. Then selfishly decided she wanted him back.

  Meanwhile, he was completely focused on the future. His future.

  Not theirs.

  But he would have been, Liz realized, spurring her horse into a gallop, if she had only been brave enough to go after what she wanted.

  All this time, she had focused on what was right for other people. For Travis, when he’d been fixated on all those lofty goals and leaving for college. For her family, when they were struggling to keep the ranch operating and bring her more fully back into the family business. For her clients, as she built her law practice.

  Liz bent over the horse, feeling the wind in her face. She hadn’t ever let herself think much about what was right for her. Hadn’t let herself take the risk of going after the man she wanted with everything she had, for fear she would end up like all the other Cartwright women—alone, with a broken heart, a victim of fate and circumstance.

  That had been her real mistake, Liz thought, as she rode over the ridge that bordered pasture 23. Refusing to risk her dignity for happiness.

  She took a deep, rejuvenating breath and slowed the pace of her horse to a gentle trot. Gazing down below, she noted that there were two donkeys and twelve goats in the green pasture. All was peaceful.

  Then the horse and cowboy standing next to the fence caught her eye. He had his back to her, but she knew the set of those strong shoulders, recognized those long muscular legs.

  Heart pounding, she rode closer, wanting so much to take every hard inch of him into her arms.

  She slid off her horse and walked toward him.

  Her mare headed for his beloved quarter horse.

  Travis turned and eyed her for a long moment, saying nothing, as together, their horses began to graze.

  “What are you doing out here?” Liz asked inanely.

  Was he an active part of the matchmaking going on at the Four Winds? Or just an unsuspecting victim of it, like her?

  He indicated the pasture to their left and his mouth quirked slightly. “I’ve been doing a little research on donkeys.”

  Yet another surprise, given his disinterest in anything but cattle, dogs and horses on a ranch. Liz stepped closer and tilted her head, letting him take the lead. “Is that right?”

  His eyes turned a warmer hue. “They live thirty to forty ye
ars, when cared for properly.”

  “I didn’t know that,” she murmured, while her heart continued to pound.

  “They like working in pairs,” he stated, catching her hand in his and drawing her close.

  He looked down at her with so much tenderness she could barely breathe.

  “Once they’ve bonded with a friend, separation is very stressful.”

  Liz nodded, shifting near enough to smell the leather-and-spice scent of his skin.

  “And they also grow attached to people.” Travis’s hand slid down her spine, soothing, massaging, guiding her blissfully close. “They’re gentle with children and calm around strangers, and they give as well as receive love.”

  He dipped his head and ran his lips across her temple.

  She drew a shuddery breath and clutched at him.

  “They like to nuzzle and cuddle,” he continued, with a seriousness that made her worries start to fade away. “They’re sweet, vigilant, powerfully spiritual creatures who protect their herd or family.” Travis wrapped both arms around her waist and held her close, his strength as overpowering as his presence. “We have a lot to learn from them.”

  “Yes…” Liz’s heart somersaulted in her chest. Knowing that whatever happened, she wasn’t going to let him go without a fight, she met his eyes and whispered, “I guess we do.”

  His voice was low and husky, his gaze intent. “I wasn’t honest with you. I’m sorry,” he said in her ear, running his palm up and down her spine. “I should have told you what I wanted from you from the beginning.”

  Beneath his shirt, she could feel the steady beating of his heart. Lower still, the heat and strength of his desire. Liz hitched in a bolstering breath. “I should have been more forthright with you, too.”

  His eyes filled with warmth. “I want a helluva lot more than friendship and sex. I want your love, Liz. I want you to love me as much as I love you.”

  Tears of joy slipped down her face at the words she had so longed to hear. Liz stood on tiptoe and kissed him soundly. “Oh, Travis!” Her whole body trembled with the emotion she’d been holding back. “I do love you. So very, very much.”

  And to prove it, she kissed him, putting her whole heart and soul into the embrace. He kissed her back, again and again and again, until there was no more negotiating, no more disbelief. Only the reality that they were going to be together, from here on out.

  “So what next?” she asked tremulously at last, knowing if they stayed here and kept kissing, they wouldn’t be clothed for very long. “Where do we go from here?”

  Travis grinned and waggled his eyebrows. “To bed?”

  She laughed. “Definitely to bed.” She kissed him again, letting him know how aroused she was. “And after…?”

  Drawing back slightly, he sobered, caressing her face with the flat of his palm. “I thank you for making it possible,” he told her quietly, “but I’m not going back to my old way of life. No more big-city law firms. No more single-minded, goal-driven agendas. From now on, I’m going to be taking a much more balanced approach.” He kissed her slowly, sweetly. “I’m going to be focusing on ranching and being with family—yours and mine—and paving my own future as a solo gas and oil attorney. But most of all, I’m going to be pursuing and wooing you.”

  She felt her heart catch at the way he looked at her. “You already have me,” she told him, joy spiraling through her.

  He let out a very masculine sigh of satisfaction. Entwining their fingers, he brought her hand up to his mouth and brushed his lips across it. “I want more than what we’ve had so far. I want us to be together for the rest of our lives.”

  “I think we can manage that.” She could see them getting married one day. Running a ranch together. Having a family…

  “And let’s promise not to walk away at the first sight of trouble,” Travis proposed, looking deep into her eyes. “We’re going to get it right this time.”

  Liz stood on tiptoe and kissed him with all the love she had in her heart. Forever sounded very good indeed. “You bet we will.”

  Epilogue

  One year later…

  “It’s about time the two of you expanded,” Tillie told Travis and Liz.

  Liz viewed the four generations sitting around the kitchen table at the Four Winds. Much had changed in the year since she and Travis had officially become a couple.

  Travis had used some of his severance money from his old employer and bought into the ranch. The infusion of cash had paid for fancy new equipment, which made the land management a heck of a lot easier. The herd of goats and donkeys had been expanded, as had their cattle operation. An additional barn was built, a full-time cowboy hired.

  Reba surveyed the blueprints spread over the kitchen table. “Updating and adding on to the homestead won’t be as cost-effective as starting from scratch.”

  “True,” Travis said, viewing the planned two-story, three-thousand-square-feet abode. “But it will be worth it in sentimental value.”

  “The Four Winds Ranch started with that cabin,” Faye Elizabeth murmured nostalgically, as she looked over the plans, which contained two home offices, three bedrooms, and two and a half baths. “Every Cartwright bride has stayed there the very first year of her marriage.”

  Liz beamed, thinking of all the wonderfully romantic times she and Travis had shared in the rustic cozy abode. Only now, instead of just a bed and a bath and a hot plate, they’d have a full-size kitchen and laundry room, too. “Including me.”

  “Three babies have been conceived in that cabin,” Tillie reminisced fondly.

  “Hey. I thought lobbying for grandchildren was my job,” Reba teased. “Especially now that they’ve been married for almost six months…”

  Liz blushed, as she thought about all the intimate talks and passionate lovemaking and cuddling that had gone on there. No doubt about it, she and Travis were closer than she’d ever thought a man and a woman could be. And with every day that passed, they seemed more connected and in tune with each other.

  Reading her mind, Travis wrapped his arm about her waist and tucked her to his side. “Shall we tell them all our news?” he asked quietly.

  She nodded, deciding to start with work. “Travis and I are taking our solo law firms and combining them.”

  “Liz’s name will go first, since she’s been established longer, and mine second.”

  “So it will be Cartwright Anderson, LLP. Travis will head up the oil and gas attorneys—we’re planning to hire a few associates to work with us—and I’ll head up mediation and litigation services.”

  Tillie, Reba and Faye Elizabeth all murmured their excited approval.

  “We’re also going to hire—if it’s okay with you ladies—a nighttime hired hand, to go along with the Four Winds weekday cowboy.” She and Travis still helped out on nights and weekends, but that was going to have to be curtailed as their other duties expanded.

  “Any particular reason why?” Tillie asked slyly.

  Liz took her husband’s wrist and kissed the back of it. “Do you want to tell them or shall I?”

  Travis chuckled and slipped a possessive hand to her belly. “Let’s let them guess.”

  Reba clapped a hand to her chest, looking so deliriously happy she might faint. “You’re pregnant?” she cried with delight.

  Liz and Travis nodded. “The due date is January 12,” Liz revealed in a voice hoarse with emotion.

  A boisterous cheer went up.

  “Hallelujah!” the women chorused. Liz and Travis were jubilantly embraced by all. “We hoped the day would come when you both would get everything you ever wanted!”

  And they had, Liz thought happily. For now…and forever.

  * * * * *

  ISBN: 9781459223547

  Copyright © 2012 by Cathy Gillen Thacker

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