Randall Riches

by Judy Christenberry

  “Well, having that many children would—”

  “No, you’ve got it wrong. Mom only had three kids.” He chuckled. “Wait till I tell Mom that one.”

  “But you said—”

  “Honey, Mom only had three kids, me and my twin brother Russ, and Casey, our kid brother. Everyone else is a cousin or an aunt or uncle. And Mildred and Red.”

  “I meant, how many people would be at your home?”

  “Well, they all live there, but most of the kids are in college now, so they won’t be home.”

  “You all live together? The house must be huge.”

  “It is. But a few years ago, we built the bachelor pad for all us guys. We still eat at the big house, but we have our own rooms in the pad.”

  She stared down the road, not saying anything.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked, his gaze on her.

  “It’s a little overwhelming. I’ve dreamed about having family, but it never occurred to me that some people had a small country for a family.”

  Rich chuckled. “It all started when Uncle Jake, the oldest of the four brothers, decided someone needed to marry so there would be another generation of Randalls. He did some matchmaking for his brothers, Brett, Chad and my father, Pete. Dad married my mom, Janie. She was a neighbor. Chad married Megan, a decorator from Denver, and Uncle Brett married Anna, a midwife-nurse. Then, the three wives turned the table on Uncle Jake and he married Aunt B.J. She’s a vet. And then they all had kids.”

  “And they all live together? Didn’t any of them want their own place?”

  “Nope. You know that expression about it taking a village to raise a kid? We had our own village. There was always someone around to keep an eye on us. And some of us learned the hard way that we had to mind any adult. Even in Rawhide, we couldn’t get away with anything.”

  “So you left home and went to the rodeo so you could get away with whatever?”

  “No. That wasn’t the reason.” His upbeat tone had changed to something darker.

  His tale had been so happy, so perfect, his dark expression worried her. “What happened?”

  He sighed. “It doesn’t matter.”

  “You’re the one who started this conversation. Did you start hating your family?”

  “No! But Russ got a girlfriend and I felt…left out. It’s juvenile, I know, but my feelings were hurt. Russ and I had always done things together.”

  “That must have been difficult,” she said softly.

  “Yeah. And I didn’t value my family because I guess I’d always taken them for granted. When I got hurt, I realized how much I missed them. I’m ready to go home. I can be happy for Russ. Abby is a nice lady.”

  “Good for you.”

  “Yeah, it’s good I finally figured out what’s important. Don’t you miss that?”

  “What?”

  “Not having a home, a family.”

  “It’s hard to miss what you haven’t had.”

  That raw statement stopped the conversation. She concentrated on her driving, hoping he’d sleep for a while. Her emotions were too raw, hearing about his family and his life, a life she’d dreamed of too many times.

  RICH DIDN’T SLEEP.

  He was concerned. He wanted to help Samantha. He really did, but he had no idea how he could do so.

  Of course he’d ask his mother to find her a job. But even if they found a dozen jobs, Sam might not take them. In fact, she probably wouldn’t. He figured she’d leave Rawhide real soon.

  Not seeing her wouldn’t take her out of his head. He looked at her out of the corner of his eye. She wore no makeup. She pulled her hair back in a ponytail. Her clothes were well-worn and inexpensive. Her nails were short and unpolished. But she fascinated him.

  His cousins, the girls, wore jeans and T-shirts, too, but they worked on their hair for a quarter hour, at least. Their nails were manicured and polished. Even their toenails. They had their ears pierced and wore different earrings all the time.

  In their closets, they had dress-up clothes, too. Fancy shoes. He was beginning to suspect Sam didn’t have much more than he’d seen.

  He wondered if she’d asked about the traffic near Rawhide because she was planning on hitchhiking back into town. As if he’d let her. But that worried him most of all. Keeping Sam safe. He didn’t want her running into another Brad, wanting her, taking advantage of her.

  Maybe he’d ask his dad’s advice.

  He wasn’t asking Uncle Jake. He’d suggest Rich marry the woman. He didn’t intend to marry for a long time. He was only twenty-six. His father and Jake had both waited until they were thirty or so. Brett and Chad had married earlier. Because Jake had done some matchmaking. He was still fond of playing those games.

  Of course he’d gotten caught in his own trap. After all his brothers had married, their wives had conspired against him. Not that Jake complained. He and B.J. were perfect for each other.

  Rich leaned his head back on the pillow and closed his eyes. He was a little surprised at how tired he was, since he’d slept over ten hours last night. But it would pass the time.

  When the truck pulled off the road about three hours later, he woke up. First he checked his watch. Then he looked at Sam. “What’s up?”

  “I’m getting gas. I hope you still have money.”

  “Sure,” he said, frowning. Leaning toward her, he saw the gas tank registered half-full. “Is the truck driving okay?”

  “Yes.”

  “So you just wanted to fill up?”

  “Yes. Is that a sin?”

  “Nope, but—”

  “I have to stop. Coffee goes right through me!” she snapped, her cheeks flushed.

  He grinned. “Well, why didn’t you say so? I could use a pit stop, too.” He chuckled as she glared at him. So independent, but embarrassed about having to stop. She was a character.

  When he returned to the truck, she was waiting for him.

  “What are we going to do about lunch?” he asked.

  She stared at him. “It’s not even noon yet.”

  “In half an hour. They’ve got some barbeque sandwiches inside. We could get some and eat while we drive. Or there are some picnic tables under those trees.”

  “All right, I can get them when I pay for the gas,” she abruptly said and held out a hand for money.

  “Naw, I’ll get them. You stretch your legs.”

  She opened her mouth to protest, but he stared her down. He wouldn’t let her get the sandwiches because he knew she’d use her own money to pay for hers. He headed back to the little grocery store. Inside he paid for the gas and four sandwiches. He added chips and cold sodas. Then he picked up a bag of Hershey’s Kisses. He’d bet Sam didn’t treat herself often. He added a couple of apples so he could say he chose healthy things.

  She was leaning against the hood of the truck, watching him as he approached.

  “Did you think we had a family of six with us?”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “It looks like you bought enough to feed a crowd,” she said suspiciously.

  “It’ll help pass the time. And I want to have supper at home tonight, so we’ll save time not stopping for more food.”

  He put the bag on the seat and reached over to get their coffee cups to throw out. Then he pulled himself into the cab. He took out the two sodas and put them in the cup holder. He settled back against his pillow as Sam slid behind the wheel.

  “You sure you’re okay with eating while you drive?”

  “I’m fine,” she said. “There’s not much traffic out here. I’m going to need some directions later, so maybe it is best if you stay awake. How’s your ankle?”

  “Fine. You get started and I’ll unwrap your sandwich.”

  She started the engine and pulled out onto the highway. Once she was up to speed, he unwrapped her sandwich and handed it to her. Then he opened a bag of potato chips and put it on his legs, between them. “Your drink is in the holder. If you can reac
h it, I’ll open it for you.”

  “I can open it.”

  He covertly watched her eat. He liked knowing that he’d paid for her food. Silly, he guessed, but she needed a keeper. She would’ve probably tried to go all day on a bowl of oatmeal.

  When she finished her sandwich, he reached into the bag and brought out the two big red apples. She took one of them, pleasure on her face. “Oh, I love these!”

  He thought of women he’d dated and the expensive gifts he’d sometimes given them. None of them had looked as pleased as Sam when she saw the apple.

  They seemed to have a cease-fire for the next few minutes as they both munched on the apples. But when he pulled the bag of candy Kisses out of the sack, after disposing of the apple cores, she glared at him again.

  “You shouldn’t have bought those. They’re not good for you.”

  “You don’t like chocolate? That’s strange. I thought all women liked chocolate,” Rich teased.

  She refused to say another word, or to eat any of the candy. But he caught her looking at the bag occasionally, as if longing for it.

  “Why won’t you eat chocolate?” he asked.

  “It’s expensive.”

  “You think I’m going to ask you to pay for it?” he asked, incredulity in his voice.

  “No. But you won’t be there the next time I get a craving for chocolate. I can’t spend my money foolishly. So it’s best if I don’t eat any. It’s addictive.”

  Damn, he’d hoped to please her. Instead, it seemed he’d made life difficult for her. He put the bag of candy back into the sack so she couldn’t see it. “Sorry.”

  “I didn’t mean you couldn’t—”

  “Forget it!”

  And that ended the conversation.

  ABOUT FOUR O’CLOCK, Rich told her to turn off at the next gate she came to.

  “You mean we’re almost there?”

  “About ten minutes away,” he said with a smile.

  It was the first smile she’d seen since she’d refused the candy four hours ago.

  The next left was a gravel road that led to a gate with a cattle guard. “Are we on your ranch now?”

  “Yep. Man, it’s good to be home.”

  Samantha felt a trembling in her stomach. The trip was ending. She’d be back on her own in a few minutes. It hadn’t taken long to get used to having a companion, even if they didn’t talk much.

  She swallowed the lump in her throat. Moving on was hard until she’d found a place and settled in, knew she could make it. But that was her life. She accepted it.

  They topped a hill, and down below, she saw a sprawling house with several enormous barns. “Big place, like you said,” she commented. She’d figured his family was doing well, but not this well.

  “It’s a great place. I’ll show you around after dinner.”

  “Thanks, but I’ve got to get to town and see what I can find in the way of work. I won’t stay for dinner.”

  “Yes, you will.”

  She glared at him. “Haven’t I convinced you that you can’t order me around?”

  “Yeah, but you haven’t met my family. They can talk anyone into visiting. Mom will feel she owes you something for bringing her baby boy home.” He grinned.

  “You’re not the baby of the family.”

  “No, but mothers always think all their children are babies. You know how it is.”

  “No, I don’t.”

  He apologized again, but she waved the words away.

  “Don’t worry about it.”

  He showed her where to park. By the time she’d stopped the truck, a crowd of people had piled out of the house, shouting Rich’s name.

  She’d never seen such a welcome, or even imagined such a family existed. Rich was occupied with getting out to greet them, and Sam took the keys to open the storage bin after she got Bella out of the trailer.

  Bella seemed excited to get out, almost as if she knew she was home, too. Samantha patted her neck and looked for the nearest corral.

  “Want some help?” a young man asked. He looked a lot like Rich.

  “Can you tell me what corral to put Bella in?” she asked, smiling. He looked so fresh-faced and innocent.

  “I’ll take him. You probably want to go in and have something to drink, put your feet up. That was a long drive.”

  She had no intention of doing that, but she let him take the horse and lead her away.

  “Sam?” Rich called.

  Strange how she could identify his voice among all the noise. “Yes?”

  “Come here. I want you to meet my family.”

  She guessed she couldn’t escape introductions. She moved from behind the trailer, anxiety in her heart, though she tried to hide it.

  The entire family must’ve been there, all staring at her. She lowered her eyes, wishing she were somewhere else.

  Until someone called her name.

  “Samantha? Is that you?”

  Pure joy rushed through her. “Pete? Pete!” And she launched herself into Rich’s father’s arms.

  Chapter Five

  Rich stood there stunned. The woman with whom he’d traveled—the difficult, quiet, always reserved woman—was hugging his father. His father! Rich quickly looked at his mother.

  Janie was staring at Pete, her husband and the young woman he was hugging, but she didn’t seem upset. In fact, she was smiling.

  What the hell was going on here?

  He wasn’t the only one wondering. Red spoke up. “I don’t know what’s going on, but why don’t we all go inside and have some coffee?”

  Sam seemed to immediately revert back to the solitary woman he knew as she moved out of Pete’s arms and apologized. “I’m sorry. I didn’t expect…I shouldn’t have…I have to go.”

  This was the reaction Rich had expected.

  “You’ll do no such thing,” Pete said insistently. “Let me introduce my wife, Janie. Honey, this is Samantha.”

  Janie beamed at her. “I guessed, or you’d be in big trouble, young lady. I keep a close eye on my husband.”

  Sam took another step backward. “I didn’t mean anything by it, I promise. But Pete is an old friend.”

  Janie stepped to Sam’s side and put an arm around her. “I know that. He used to come home from the rodeo and talk about you. That’s why we tried to adopt you.”

  When Samantha’s knees buckled at that statement, Rich wrapped an arm around her before his father could get to her side. Ridiculous idea, he and his father competing for the same woman. But Rich was going to be the one to support her, if anyone was.

  “Aw, Janie, you shouldn’t have sprung that on her,” Pete said. “She never knew.”

  “I’m so sorry,” Janie said.

  At the same time, Red was rounding everyone up.

  “To the house!” the older man ordered. “I gotta sit down.”

  Rich, however, wanted some answers. “What the hell is going on? Why didn’t you say you knew my father?”

  “I didn’t know Pete was your father,” Sam said, her voice shaking. “I didn’t know his last name was Randall.”

  “Come on, son,” Pete said. “Bring her on in and we’ll explain everything.”

  Rich made sure Sam knew she had no option, his arm tightening around her as he started forward.

  “Please,” Sam whispered, “I really should go.”

  “You’re not going anywhere until I get an explanation.” He pulled her along with him, his mind in a state of confusion. He did notice, however, how well she fit against him.

  They all walked inside, down the hallway and into the kitchen to sit at the four places left at the large table.

  Mildred was busy setting coffee cups and a plate of cookies on the table. Everyone else was looking on at the four people who had just arrived. No one wanted to miss the explanation for what they’d seen and heard.

  Janie took the first seat and Pete the one beside her. Rich wanted to sit between his father and Sam, but he wasn’t given any c
hoice. Pete pulled Samantha into the next seat, leaving Rich to sit at her other side.

  “Samantha is—was the little girl I saw at some of the rodeos. I first met her when she was six. She was cleaning out stalls with her father.”

  “At six?” Red asked, frowning. “You mean, she’d help him every once in a while?”

  “No, he’d assign her a stable and then go off and clean another one. She’d do the whole job by herself.”

  “That’s not right,” Mildred said. “That’s hard work. Why, she wouldn’t be old enough to handle a pitchfork.”

  Sam remained silent, keeping her gaze on the table. Rich watched her closely.

  “Yeah. I once tried to talk to her father about her. The twins were eight years old. Janie wanted a little girl, and I wanted Samantha to have a better life.”

  “I didn’t know,” Sam whispered.

  Pete patted her hand. “I know, honey.”

  Rich’s arm went around her chair. He wanted to be the one to comfort her.

  “I looked for her every time I traveled to any of the rodeos. Sometimes I’d find her and sometimes I wouldn’t. And whenever I did see her, it would break my heart to know she wasn’t being loved enough. Then, a few years back, I heard her father had died and she had disappeared. I contacted the police, but they said social services couldn’t find her.” He cleared his throat. “Where did you go, Samantha? You were only sixteen.”

  She shrugged her shoulders, still not looking at Pete. “I started waitressing. It was a better job for me. The cowboys…they weren’t all like you, Pete.”

  “I know, honey. So how did you end up with my son?”

  Sam looked at Rich briefly, then said, “I wanted to leave town and offered to drive him.”

  They all knew there was more to the story, but Rich wasn’t going to say anything in front of the entire family.

  “You’ll stay for a few days, won’t you?” Pete asked.

  “We’d love to have you,” Janie added.

  “Uh, I need to go. I—I’ve got a job waiting for me. But thanks for the offer.” Though both Janie and Pete protested, Sam rose with a brief thank you and headed for the back door.

  Rich intentionally didn’t catch up to her until after she was outside. He grabbed her arm and spun her around. “It’s not nice to lie, Sam.”