A Rancher's Honor

by Ann Roth

  Lana sighed. “No one can be sure he poisoned those cows, Kate. Refusing to answer Sly’s questions doesn’t make him guilty.”

  “But he pointed a gun at Sly.”

  “Yes, but it doesn’t prove anything. And don’t forget my parents. I want to be able to bring whoever I’m dating to their house for Sunday dinner. If he happens to be suing a member of our family, it just won’t work.”

  “I’ve met Sly, remember?” Kate said. “Besides being drop-dead gorgeous with a killer smile, he oozes charm. Lawsuit or not, once your parents meet him, they’re bound to love him.”

  “If only it was that easy. Even if Sly charmed them to death, on principle alone they won’t accept him.”

  “It’ll be months before you’re at the point where you want Sly to meet your parents—maybe long after the lawsuit gets settled,” Kate said. “Heck, you two may never even get that far. But you owe it to yourself to find out.”

  That made sense. “When you put it that way... Now I wish I had given him my number.”

  Lana could picture her friend’s big smile.

  “Why don’t you call him?” Kate suggested. “I’m sure his number’s in the phone book.”

  “Only if he has a landline. I’m not going to do that.”

  “Then just show up at Big Mama’s next Saturday. He’ll probably be back. If that doesn’t work, ask his sister for his number.”

  None of Kate’s suggestions appealed to Lana. Besides, today she had other things on her mind. She checked her watch. “Sophie’s meeting with that couple right now—the Andersons—but I refuse to let it bother me.”

  “That’s the spirit.”

  “They’re a married couple and I’m a single woman,” Lana said, anxious despite her bravado. “Sophie said that didn’t matter to her, but what if it does? What if she chooses them?”

  “You’ll drive yourself crazy worrying about that, Lana, so don’t. It’s obvious to me that you’re interested in Sly. He seems interested in you, too, so why not encourage him? I’m not saying you should ask him out, but a phone call can’t hurt.”

  “If I could say for sure that my cousin actually poisoned those cattle, I probably would call Sly. But I can’t. My parents would flip out.”

  “I don’t understand you, Lana. You’re thirty-two years old. What do you care if they’re upset?”

  “You’re not as close to your mom and dad as I am to mine,” Lana explained. “When they’re unhappy with me, they make my life miserable. Look at how they’re responding to my wanting to adopt.”

  “Well, then, you’d better forget all about Sly Pettit.”

  “That’s exactly what I’m going to do.”

  Chapter Six

  Sly’s truck was running on fumes when he pulled into the gas station Sunday afternoon. He wasn’t the only driver in need of fuel, and the only available pump happened to be the one adjacent to where Tim Carpenter was about to fill his truck.

  Talk about awkward. “Hey,” Sly said with a terse nod.

  Carpenter scowled at him. “Don’t ‘hey’ me. You can sue me to hell and back, but it won’t change the fact that I didn’t do a damn thing to your cattle. I won’t apologize for something I didn’t do, and I’ll die before you get a dime out of me. Stick that up your fancy lawyer’s butt. Better yet, I’ll let my lawyer do that.”

  His voice had grown steadily louder. People were staring now.

  So Carpenter had hired himself an attorney. He needed one. Sly raked his hand through his hair and strove for calmness, but he was seriously pissed. His neighbor’s nastiness only made things worse. He shook his head. “Hasn’t anyone ever told you that being an ass is a sure way to make your life miserable?”

  “You’re the ass.” Carpenter’s fist shot toward Sly’s nose.

  Sly dodged the punch and caught hold of the man’s wrist. “I wouldn’t try that again if I were you,” he warned in a low voice.

  Narrowing his eyes, Carpenter wrenched free and spat on the ground. “I’ll get my gas someplace else.”

  He jumped into his truck and roared off.

  Nearby, a man Sly didn’t know shook his head. “He’s got a temper on him, that one.”

  Gus Jones, a fellow rancher, left his Jeep at the pump and joined Sly. “Tim Carpenter has never been an easy man to deal with, but that was the worst I’ve ever seen him. You okay?”

  Aside from his near miss with Carpenter’s fist and a big adrenaline rush, Sly was fine. He nodded.

  After filling the tank and paying, he left. When he got home, he was still so rattled that he jumped bareback on Bee and gave her free rein. Before long they were flying across the ranch, with the wind at their backs and nothing to see but livestock and acres of his rolling fields. Eventually Sly calmed down.

  That evening he called and updated Dave Swain. “After the rains we had last weekend, one of the lower pastures flooded,” he explained. “I need the money Carpenter cost me for my new drainage system, and I need it now. I want you to add a penalty to the lawsuit, so that every day Carpenter delays the settlement, it costs him more.”

  “I wouldn’t advise that,” Dave said. “It’d be like rubbing salt into the wound, and could make things even worse.”

  Thinking it over, Sly had to agree. “Okay, so now what do we do?”

  “Sit tight,” Dave said, “and let us lawyers earn our fees.”

  Sly didn’t enjoy playing this particular waiting game. Especially now, during the rainy season. Every day Carpenter delayed put the ranch in more jeopardy.

  * * *

  THE RAINS WERE heavy over the next week, and Sly divided his long days between spring calving and digging new ditches. The old system worked only sporadically now. Though the ditches diverted some of the water and reduced the danger of flooding, copious amounts of mud clogged every low-lying pasture. Cattle got stuck in the stuff. Fortunately, as yet none had fallen or sustained injuries, but they had to be moved. Sly, Bean and Ollie had herded them to higher ground.

  Between that and the usual ranching chores, they were all stretched thin. With so much on his plate, Sly barely had a moment to grab a decent meal, let alone think about Lana during the day. But at night when he should have been dead to the world, he lay in bed, wanting her. They were as mismatched as a flip-flop and a cowboy boot, and getting involved with her would only lead to trouble.

  Regardless, his desire for her continued to grow, until he had to kiss her again or lose his mind. If he was lucky, he wouldn’t enjoy the kiss half as much as he remembered. Then it would be easier to forget about her.

  That Saturday he spent a wet morning checking for new calves and looking for signs of heifers in labor. Around noon, the rain stopped. Sly was about to head home and change into dry clothes when he came across a black heifer. She was in labor and lying on her side, pushing hard.

  He stayed nearby, not too close, but within reach in case she needed help. Using his phone, he snapped a couple of photos. It was an easy birth, and mama cow did fine by herself. Finally, something to grin about.

  “Way to go, you two,” he said in a low voice that wouldn’t startle them.

  His first thought was that Lana would enjoy these photos. Covered in mud, he showered, changed, wolfed down a sandwich and then headed for her place.

  She lived in a town-house community that was well maintained. Flower boxes underscored every window of her two-story place, just as they did at the day care.

  Bushes lined both sides of her little yard, some already fat with buds on the verge of blooming. A pot of colorful tulips decorated the little stoop beside the door.

  Sly pushed the doorbell. Seconds later, she answered. Wearing jeans and a ragged, paint-smeared sweatshirt, with her hair banana-clipped off her face and a smudge of paint on her cheek, she looked cute.

  With t
hat, Sly silently admitted that he was here for more than a few photos. He wanted to kiss Lana and find out if she was as sweet as he remembered.

  “Sly,” she said, her surprised expression almost comical. “What are you doing here?”

  “I want to show you something.”

  “You obviously know where I live. I’m guessing you also have my number. You couldn’t call and give me a heads-up that you were coming?”

  He’d figured she’d tell him to stay away. “You asked me not to call,” he said. “I thought I’d surprise you.”

  The couple next door, whom he judged to be about his age, stopped their yard work and stared openly at him.

  Lana waved at them, then widened the door. “Come in.”

  After wiping his boots on a welcome mat that resembled a giant sunflower, Sly stepped into a house that felt warm and welcoming. More flowers filled a vase on the end table in the living room. She obviously had a thing for flowers—and bright colors. The whole place was painted in cheerful colors that couldn’t help but lift the spirits.

  “Nice place,” he said.

  “Thanks. I bought it after the divorce and have been fixing it up ever since. Do you want something to drink?”

  “I’m fine.” He shrugged out of his denim jacket and draped it over a nearby chair.

  She angled her head slightly, her expression curious. “What did you want to show me?”

  “This morning I came across a heifer giving birth and I snapped a few photos.” He pulled out his phone and showed her pictures of the heifer licking her baby and nudging it to stand.

  She studied each photo, her lips forming a provocative O that almost did Sly in. “Aww, so sweet.”

  “I figured you’d want to see them,” he said, desire making his voice rough.

  Oblivious of his need, she handed him back the phone. “You could have forwarded these to me and saved yourself the trip. You still should, so I can show the kids at the day care.”

  “I will. I didn’t send them because there’s another reason I stopped by.” He slid the phone into his back pocket. “There’s something I forgot to give you last Saturday.”

  She frowned. “Oh?”

  Sly stepped closer and kissed her. For all of a blink she held herself stiff. Then she went up on her toes and wrapped her arms around his neck. She was fine boned and barely reached his shoulders. Yet as small and delicate as she was compared to his big frame, she fit as if she’d been made just for him.

  He’d imagined he remembered how good she tasted, but he hadn’t realized she tasted quite like this. Sweet and cinnamony and something indefinable. She was intoxicating, and he wanted to kiss her forever. And a lot more.

  He urged her lips apart and tangled his tongue with hers. Lana made the sound he remembered from their night together, a mixture of a moan and a sigh that drove him wild.

  She wriggled closer. God, he wanted her. Smart or dumb, right or wrong, he definitely wanted to keep doing this, keep seeing her. Sliding his hands down her spine, he cupped her hips, bringing her tight against the part of him that was already rigid with desire.

  Suddenly she tensed and pushed her hands against his chest. “Stop, Sly.”

  Reluctantly, he stepped away.

  “What was that for?” she asked, frowning but looking thoroughly kissed and sexy as all get-out.

  “I’ve been wanting to do that since the afternoon at the day care.” He ran his finger over her lush pink bottom lip, watching with satisfaction as her mouth opened a fraction and her eyes lost focus. “I’m glad I did.”

  Though she attempted to hold on to her stern expression, she didn’t appear to be sorry, either.

  “Dani says you two scheduled a get-together.”

  “That’s right, in a few weeks.”

  Lana didn’t invite him to sit down, and he guessed she was about to ask him to leave. “You probably heard what happened at the gas station last weekend,” he said, wanting to talk about it before she kicked him out.

  She shook her head. “No.”

  “Your cousin tried to punch me out.”

  Her eyebrows arched in surprise. “He didn’t.”

  “Yep.” Remembering, Sly scrubbed his hand over his face. “Our lawyers have been going back and forth.” He hoped things got resolved and settled quickly, because he needed that money yesterday.

  Not wanting to get into that, though, he sniffed the air. “I smell paint.” He nodded at the smudge on her cheek. “That’s a nice shade of green.”

  Lana touched the spot. Her cheeks reddened. “Why didn’t you tell me there was paint on my face?”

  “I had other things on my mind.” His gaze dropped to her mouth, and damned if he didn’t want to kiss her again.

  Swallowing, she glanced away. “I’ve been working on the spare bedroom, making it into the nursery.”

  “Would you show it to me?” he asked.

  “Sure. Follow me.”

  * * *

  LANA SENSED SLY checking her out as she led him upstairs. Her whole body hummed, but then, she’d been humming since he’d pulled her into his arms.

  Oh, what a kiss. The man was an expert at kissing. He was also a skilled lover. But Lana wasn’t going to think about that. At the top of the stairs, they started down the hall.

  “It’s bigger up here than it appears from outside,” Sly said.

  “That’s one reason why I bought this place—there’s so much space. There are two bedrooms up here and a small sunroom at the end of the hall that I use as a home office.”

  Sly nodded. “This must be your bedroom,” he said as they passed the door.

  “Yes.” Amy and Sheila had commented that Sly always stayed the night at their places, never his. Was he imagining a night here with her? Her cheeks warmed, and she knew she was blushing. “This is the nursery.”

  Sly stepped into the room, his eyes on the ocean-themed mural she’d sketched out on the wall. “You never said you were a talented artist.”

  “I wouldn’t exactly call myself talented,” she said.

  “You are, and this is pretty cool.”

  “Thanks.” Lana admired her work, proud of the friendly sea creatures that were still only half-painted. “It’s turning out really well. The other day I found some peel-off decals of whales and porpoises to put on the ceiling, over the crib.”

  “Cool idea. Whoever ends up here will be one lucky kid.”

  The words were a balm to Lana’s heart. “I hope so. I really want a child.” Feeling suddenly vulnerable, she lowered her gaze to the carpet.

  “What’s wrong?” When she didn’t reply, he tipped up her chin. “Lana?”

  His eyes were filled with concern, and her anxieties poured out. “I wish I knew who Sophie was going to choose. I’ve been trying to get together with her again, but I haven’t had any luck. We did talk once, but she prefers to text. She says she still hasn’t decided between me and the Andersons.”

  Lana was scared to death about that. “Say a little prayer that she chooses me.”

  “Will do. Why don’t you invite her over to show her what you’re doing here? This nursery could tip the scales in your favor. Plus, she’d get a chance to check out the neighborhood and your house.”

  “That’s not a bad idea.”

  “I understand how important this to you,” Sly said. “Sophie said she wanted to see me again. If it helps, I’ll come over when she’s here.”

  “You’d do that for me?” Lana wanted to melt.

  He actually blushed. Her heart expanded. She liked him a lot. Too much. “I’m not sure about that, Sly.”

  “Lana, Lana, what am I gonna do with you?”

  He touched her cheek. Fighting the urge to sink against him, she ducked out of his reach. “We can’t do th
is,” she said.

  “What’s between you and me has nothing to do with my lawsuit.”

  “We both know that it does. But it’s more than that. We don’t want the same things.” Except physically. Lana had never ached for a man the way she did for Sly.

  As if he’d read her mind, he laughed softly. “Say what you will. You can’t fight chemistry like ours. Look, I’ll give you my number. You call if you want me to be here when Sophie comes.”

  That sounded safe enough. “Okay,” she said.

  They headed downstairs. Sly jotted down his number and handed it to her. Then he grabbed his jacket and shrugged into it, his shoulders impossibly broad.

  “I’ll let myself out.”

  Before she had a chance to reply, he was gone.

  * * *

  MONDAYS WERE ALWAYS hectic at the day care, but today had been crazy busy. Lana had scheduled meetings with four different sets of parents and their kids, all of whom were interested in the day care. If that wasn’t enough, Brittany, the full-time employee, had called in sick, leaving Lana and Jasmine, her part-time assistant, to deal with the usual Monday chaos.

  Naturally, this was the day the guinea pig escaped. Jayden, a rambunctious four-year-old, had been so intent on catching the frightened animal that he’d wet his pants. And he didn’t have a change of clothes. Then Valerie, almost four, had vomited all over herself, which had upset all the kids.

  Lana couldn’t ever remember being this tired. All she wanted was to go home, put up her feet and relax. Unfortunately, she’d worked on the nursery over the weekend instead of picking up any groceries. It was either live on fast food, which wasn’t a bad idea once or twice but not for the entire week, buy groceries or starve. That was how she ended up pushing a cart through Sterling Foods during the dinner hour.

  To Lana’s surprise, for once the busy grocery store was quiet. With any luck, she’d zip in and zip out, and be home in no time. Eager to get the job done, she wheeled her cart toward the produce at warp speed.

  Until she rounded the corner and spotted Sly. Abruptly she stopped. He was loading a huge sack of potatoes into his cart. A clean denim shirt hugged his broad shoulders, faded jeans showcased his long, powerful legs, and those cowboy boots... He looked good. Really good.