The Texas Rancher's Return

by Allie Pleiter

  If only it was that simple. “Not exactly. But because of work and this bison thing we’ve spent some time together. And, well, something’s there, you know? I’m thinking about possibilities for the first time. It’s scary.”

  “Of course it is. But Jim would never have wanted you to be alone, and he would want a father for Audie. I’m not saying it has to be this man, but if you think there could be something between you and it might be good for Audie, don’t let fear keep you from trying.”

  Brooke swiped a tear from her cheek with one of Audie’s T-shirts. “Is it time?”

  “Only you know that, sunshine. But if you’re asking me if it could be time? I’d say your heart will tell you. Take a small step forward and see what happens. I’ll say a prayer that your heart tells you to stop if you’re not ready. But know this—you’ll never be totally ready.”

  “Yeah, I know.” Brooke felt small and fragile, wanting to clutch at Audie’s pajamas like a teddy bear and crawl into her mother’s lap.

  “I’ll tell you one thing, though.” Brooke could hear a tear or two in her mother’s voice. “I sure am glad God sent Gary into my life. And I don’t love your father one bit less for loving Gary. Do you?”

  Gary had been an amazing stepfather. He’d never tried to replace her dad, but he’d stood in the gap Dad had left with such grace and strength. Audie had never known Brooke’s father, and Gary had been wonderful to his step-granddaughter. Mom always said love was elastic, stretching to fill any place where it was needed.

  “No, Mom. Gary’s great. For you, for me and for Audie.” She sniffed a little. “And you tell him that for me.”

  “Hearts can love more than once, Brooke. They have to heal first, but they can love many, many times.”

  Brooke called Jim’s face up from memory, heard his voice and remembered the way he used to kiss the back of her neck. There was loss and memory, but the pain wasn’t sharp and crippling anymore. There was a space in her heart now. A healed but empty place. Maybe it was time.

  * * *

  Gunner leaned back on the truck fender and watched Daisy with her calf. He’d been here since after Sunday supper, and it was getting on near 11:00 p.m.—his days started early on the ranch, and he’d feel it in the morning if he didn’t drag himself away and get to bed.

  Still, he couldn’t seem to make himself go. Since yesterday’s visit with Brooke and Audie, the orange calf consumed his thoughts. The little guy seemed perfectly healthy despite his early arrival—in no need of special care—and yet Gunner found himself totally preoccupied with him and Daisy.

  Okay, that wasn’t exactly true. What really preoccupied him was what had happened with Daisy and the calf when he brought Brooke and Audie out to the pen. That sort of spiritual animal-connection thing was Billy’s territory, not his. He loved his work, and was passionate about conserving the species, but this wasn’t any of those things. This was something else, something he couldn’t explain. Probably shouldn’t explain, given that just about anyone would think him crazy if he tried.

  He’d switched his cell phone to vibrate in order to keep things quiet for the calf and mama, so Gunner kept his voice low as he answered the call that came buzzing in his back pocket.

  “Hey, Els, how’s Hotlanta?”

  “Cookin’ fine, big brother.” Gunner’s little sister Ellie was enjoying a snazzy career in promotions for a chain of restaurants in Atlanta. Her job probably had a lot in common with Brooke’s, now that he thought about it. Their personal lives couldn’t be more different, though. Ellie was single, successful and just starting a serious relationship with one of the city’s rising star chefs. “We’re in negotiations to land Derek a regular spot on the morning news.”

  “Tomorrow’s Food Network star?” Gunner laughed, and Daisy looked up at him as if to shush her owner. “I gotta talk quiet—I’m by the pen with the new calf.”

  “Gran said Daisy calved early. Everything okay?”

  “It is, but the little guy’s fine.”

  “What did you name him?”

  Gunner found himself hesitating. There wasn’t a safe way to explain what he’d done in regards to that. “I’m letting a friend of mine name him.”

  “Is this friend a short, cute blonde or the adorable daughter who comes with her?”

  Gunner stared up at the sky in annoyance. “What did Gran say?”

  “You know Gran. She said just enough and then clammed right up once I showed any interest in my brother’s social life. Is this a thing?” Ellie drew the last word out with a twang that gave the term a dozen meanings.

  “No, this isn’t a thing. Audie’s just some little girl who is all into bison. Her class is coming here later this week. I don’t know what made me tell her she could name the little guy. She’s in the third grade. I’ll probably end up with something terrible like Rainbow Sparkle.”

  Ellie laughed, and Gunner smiled. Making Ellie laugh had always been one of his favorite things to do in the world. “You’re probably right. Then you can call him Spark or some other manly derivative suitable for cowboy life. Call me if you get stuck—I am a communications professional, you know.”

  “So’s her mom. She works for DelTex—the Ramble Acres people—so you can see why this isn’t a thing.” He gave the word Ellie’s telltale drawl.

  Gunner heard Ellie shift and sigh. “Speaking of things...” She paused a long moment before she said, “Kayla’s getting married.” When Gunner didn’t reply, she added, “I figured you’d want to know.”

  Gunner kicked his legs out and sank back against the truck. “Yeah, well, it’s not like I’ll get an invitation, is it?” Gunner and Kayla had been a thing. A very serious thing. Only, as it turned out, the seriousness had all been on Gunner’s side. The night he’d found her getting all cozy with some rodeo wannabe stood as one of the worst nights in his life. The only good thing about that whole drama was that Mama’s ring hadn’t yet made it onto Kayla’s finger, even though Gunner had been only days away from asking.

  “You’re not mad I’m still friends with her, are you?”

  Gunner was, but it wasn’t his call to make. “It’s a free country, Ellie.”

  “You two would have been good together, but she wasn’t ready. I’m sorry you got hurt.”

  “Seems she up and got ready.” He’d never told Ellie he had planned to propose to Kayla. He hadn’t told anyone. Given his past, no one expected him to even think about settling down. He’d come to think of the whole thing as a bullet dodged, but somehow the news of Kayla’s engagement jabbed under his ribs. “I’m happy for her.”

  “You are not. And I don’t expect you to be. I just thought you ought to know.”

  “And now I know. Let’s talk about something else. Things heating up between you and Derek? You planning on catching any bouquets at Kayla’s wedding?”

  He could hear the smile in her voice. “Could be. I always said I wanted to marry a man who cooks.”

  “I’m happy for you. And that’s not a lie. Kayla, not so much, but you? You still have to bring this Derek out to the ranch soon so I can decide if he’s good enough for you. He’ll have to ask me, you know.”

  “You’d make Derek ask you for my hand in marriage? You’re the last person I’d call old-fashioned.”

  “Protective never goes out of style.” Daisy snorted and gave Gunner another look as if to say “Are you going to be talking long?” He rose off the truck. “I’d better get back to the house. Daisy’s giving me looks.”

  “We can’t have that. Hey, how is Gran? She says she’s fine, but is she? Really?”

  Gunner gave the corral gate a final check. “She’s doing okay. Aches and pains, but still going strong. As a matter of fact, she wants me to take her to some whoop-de-do charity thing later this month for Senator Rostam. A black-tie gala. Can you see me at one
of those? I told Gran I was sure she could do better with someone else.”

  “Still trying to make you into the community pillar Dad was, hmm?” came Ellie’s amused voice. “Someone ought to curb that woman’s optimism.”

  “I own a tux. I clean up just fine.”

  “You own Dad’s tux, and you hardly clean up ever.”

  “Vintage tuxes are cool. I’ll be fighting off grandmothers all night.” His low laughter died down as he looked around the dark yard. “I miss you, Els. Feels weird being back here without you.”

  “Is that why you’re resorting to grade-school field trips?”

  “Community relations, Ellie.”

  He could hear Ellie’s laugh over the phone. “You and a bunch of third graders—that’s not community relations, that’s a crime against nature.”

  Gunner quoted the Blue Thorn website. “‘Blue Thorn Ranch has a commitment to community awareness. People who understand the bison will respect the bison and the land they need to survive.’ You wrote that.”

  “And my public-relations heart beats a little faster to hear you say it. Tell you what—I’ll see if I can get away before summer and you can tell me all about Cowboy Buckton’s Bison Love Festival for Third Graders.”

  Gunner could just see Ellie putting the title in air quotes with her fingers. “Save it, sister.”

  “You sure you’re okay about Kayla?”

  He wasn’t. It bugged him twelve ways to Sunday that she’d found some guy to settle down with when he clearly hadn’t made the cut. But if that wasn’t ancient history to him, it needed to be soon. “I’m long over it, Els.” Maybe saying it enough would make it true. He wanted it to be true.

  “Okay, then. See you in a month or so if I can pull it off.”

  “Bring Chef Wonderful with you when you come. I need to check him out.”

  Ellie laughed. “Derek works weekends. And I’m not letting you at him yet. He needs to meet the Bucktons in small doses, and probably you last.”

  “I’m wounded. And here I thought I was so charming.”

  “Somebody better warn those third graders, that’s all I have to say. Good night, Gunner. My love to Gran.”

  Gunner clicked off the phone and stared up at the empty sky. He hadn’t thought about Kayla in weeks. Months even. No, what surprised him most was how often the Calders had been creeping into his thoughts.

  He liked Audie, and was growing to like Brooke, but the only influence he’d let the Calder women have over his life would be with Rainbow Sparkle, or whatever name that poor calf ended up receiving. “Knowing Audie,” he said, staring back at the pen behind him as he recalled the girl’s pink backpack and purple sparkle notebook, “I reckon by Friday I’ll owe you an apology, little guy. You’re done for.”

  Chapter Nine

  Brooke closed her file and slid it onto Jace Markham’s desk. “I’ve been out to the ranch a number of times. I haven’t spoken to Adele a great deal, but I’ve spent considerable time with Gunner. It’s going to be a long, uphill battle to get him to sell, sir.”

  “Well, that’s no surprise to me. The whole point in you going out there is to work on softening him up. Or Adele—you should try and get in some more time with her. You said she likes you and your daughter. Make use of that.”

  Brooke didn’t like the sound of that suggestion—she certainly wouldn’t be using her daughter or the sweet relationship Adele had formed with Audie to close a business deal. But maybe Mr. Markham hadn’t meant it that way. She moved on. “Gunner is convinced whatever offer he gets won’t be fair. Are we prepared to spend a little extra money on this?” Brooke asked. “Maybe a lot of extra money?”

  Mr. Markham frowned. “I’m hoping it won’t come to that. That’s why we are counting on you to smooth the way here. You say you’re making progress.”

  “I’d say so, yes.”

  “Glad to hear it. I’ll make sure those above me hear it, too. Make no mistake, Brooke, this could be quite a feather in your cap if you pull this off.”

  She knew that. “What if I can’t budge him? Do we have an alternative? Surely this isn’t the first time DelTex has come across a situation like this.”

  After pulling the file toward him, Mr. Markham tucked it in a drawer. “I’ve got people working on that right now, as a matter of fact. But I don’t think it will come to that. I have faith in you. You’ve already made more progress than I ever could, and it’s clear those Bucktons have taken a shine to you and little...”

  “Audie,” Brooke offered.

  “Little Audie. Do you have a picture?”

  Brooke pulled out her phone and opened an adorable shot of Audie standing in front of the bison pasture. “Here she is, at the Blue Thorn, as a matter of fact.”

  “Isn’t she a sweetie?” Mr. Markham handed the phone back. “Just keep doing what you’re doing. It always pays to be on good terms with your neighbors, don’t you think?”

  Brooke felt a glow of maternal pride. Mr. Markham had never taken an interest in Audie before. Maybe she really was establishing herself at DelTex. “Isn’t that why DelTex has a community-relations department?”

  Mr. Markham laughed. “So when’s the big field trip?” Brooke had told him the whole story about how Gunner had been coerced into hosting Mrs. Cleydon’s class.

  “This Thursday. I hoped to take the morning off and go with them, if it’s okay with you.”

  “I’ve already told you to take all the time and resources you need to deal with the Bucktons. You don’t even have to ask.”

  Brooke sat back. “But this is a class field trip.”

  He waved her concern off. “If you’re on Buckton land, you’re helping to serve our interest. When I said do whatever you need to do, I meant it.”

  Brooke felt it was time to ask, “If you don’t mind my asking, what is DelTex’s alternative to the Bucktons not selling?”

  “Oh, there are several options we’re working on. Believe me, we wouldn’t bank a project as large as this on the compliance of a single rancher. Oh, I almost forgot.” Mr. Markham smiled as he reached into his drawer. “If you’re looking to make some gains with Adele, I may have just the ticket. Literally.” He produced two black shiny cards with gold embossed letters. “Senator Rostam is having a gala for one of his favorite charities this Saturday night. Lots of big players will be there, and we have a few extra seats at one of our tables. Adele might be there, too. I think you should go.”

  A gala? Brooke hadn’t had to dress up for anything that nice in years. “Seriously? Me?”

  “I don’t think any of our younger staff has the grace to handle an event like this. I need a more dignified presence. And there will be a lot of people there who could help your career as well as DelTex. Think of it as a reward for the extra effort you’ve put in on Ramble Acres. I’m sure a single mom like you could use a fancy night out.”

  The last time Brooke had needed a babysitter, it had been nothing more exciting than a pizza and a pedicure. A fancy night out? On the company dime? There seemed no reason to say no, especially when it was her boss suggesting it. She took the tickets. “Thank you, Mr. Markham. I’d enjoy that.” Then, as she stared at the pair, she asked, “I know it’s an odd question, but is this something where I need a date, or can I come on my own?”

  “Well, no one needs a date in this day and age,” Mr. Markham said, even as he looked as though he didn’t believe that for a second. “But I’m sure you’ll think of someone to serve as your escort. Just make sure it’s not Stuart.” Stuart Higgins was the graphic designer on staff and a bit of a wild man. The thought of him at an event like this made Brooke cringe, and she could see why Mr. Markham had offered the tickets to her.

  “It’s black-tie. And if I know Nolan Rostam, the food will be fabulous.”

  What on earth will I
wear to a black-tie gala? Brooke thought as she slipped the tickets into her file. “Thanks again. I’m sure it will be a wonderful evening.” She looked at her watch. “So I’ll just take the morning on Thursday for the field trip and be back for the three o’clock department meeting.”

  “No reason to worry about that. You take the whole day.” He looked at his watch, as well. “That’s right, you need to be heading out. We can go over the sales brochures tomorrow morning. No need to stay late.”

  It bugged her when Mr. Markham said no need to stay late like that. His tone always made her feel as if she was letting him down a bit by not choosing to stay late on her own accord. He never came out and said it, but there was a catch in his tone that belied his friendly words. A subtle reminder that he knew she was often the first one to leave at the end of the day. Then again, he’d just given her a massive perk in the gala tickets. That had to mean her position and contributions counted for something despite her tight time frames.

  “I can stay late tomorrow if you need me,” she offered. “Audie has swimming lessons, and she walks over to the pool with a bunch of other kids from after-school care.”

  “Nonsense. No need. We’ll be just fine.” Again, the we was a subtle reminder that several other members of the staff regularly ate dinner at their desks. Still, hadn’t Mr. Markham just encouraged her to take a whole day off? Why should she let a few cutting remarks undermine the truth? She was pulling her weight—more than her weight, actually—and she didn’t have to keep crazy hours like the others to do it.

  “Those sales brochures will be on your desk first thing tomorrow morning.” The brochures were some of her finest work to date—they made Ramble Acres look like the best thing to happen to the county. Because, in many ways, it was. Austin was growing like wildfire, but some of the more rural areas had yet to feel the boom. DelTex was going to bring hundreds if not thousands of jobs into the area and would have a fabulous impact on local property values. Audie’s generation would know a different community—a more complex, vital, growing community where once only failing ranches had been clinging to a weak existence—thanks to the funds DelTex was pouring into the area. That was something families could appreciate, and her new campaign was going to excel at showing it to them.