The Rancher's Family Wish

by Lois Richer

  Tanner’s soft, reflective voice and the way he looked at her made Sophie’s stomach lurch and her heart race. Apparently only just realizing what he’d admitted, Tanner gulped, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he did.

  “I mean, it’s very kind of you. Thank you, Sophie. I’ve never had anyone throw me a birthday party before.”

  Those words squeezed her motherly heart so hard her arms ached to comfort him. What kind of a life had young Tanner led not to have had even one birthday party?

  “But Burt...?” she murmured, then dropped it when he shook his head.

  “He’d take me out for supper and give me a gift.” He grinned. “But I doubt Burt would have known how to throw a party. Guess that’s why I never had one before.”

  “Then you must enjoy this one,” she said firmly. But instead of dissipating, the crackling awareness she always felt around him thickened. Desperate to break it before she said something she shouldn’t, Sophie resorted to teasing. “By next year you might be too old to enjoy another.”

  “And here I thought you were so nice.” He shook his head sadly, gave a mock sigh, then headed off to get his own pizza.

  “When can we give Tanner his gift, Mom?” Davy asked, Beth by his side.

  “After we have cake,” she promised, smiling at Davy’s excited face.

  What a change the big cowboy had made in her son’s life. So much so that Davy had insisted on using most of the small salary Tanner now paid him for helping at Wranglers. Amazing to think that the money Davy hoarded to buy a skateboard had been willingly depleted to purchase a special pocketknife for the cowboy. Her son was at last learning about giving and caring, and Tanner was the reason. How could Sophie ever repay him?

  But not just for Davy. When Beth had confided her desperate yearning to sing in the kids’ church choir to Tanner, he’d taken that as his mission. Amazingly he’d found a voice coach with a reputation for successful work with Down syndrome children. Though now retired, Mrs. Baggle agreed to meet Beth. The two had immediately bonded. Mrs. Baggle insisted she would teach Beth for no fee. Sophie refused until the teacher finally admitted she’d always wanted to host an Easter Sunday brunch for her elderly quilting friends. Sophie insisted on catering it as payment.

  Mrs. Baggle understood Beth’s vocal issues but Sophie doubted Tanner knew how difficult singing was for those with Down syndrome or that the genetic disorder made the voice lower, which required more energy and training to produce sound. Years ago the doctors had told Sophie that Beth might never sing on key at all, and she’d feared Tanner would get Beth’s hopes up for something that was impossible. She hadn’t trusted him, certainly hadn’t believed he’d find someone who not only taught her daughter to sing on key but encouraged Beth by making her feel her singing goals were reachable.

  The voice lessons and a return to school had revitalized Beth. Sophie had never seen either of her children so happy.

  Thanks to Tanner. And God answering her prayers.

  If only she could finally learn to let go of the controls and trust Him.

  “Scrumptious pizza. Thank you,” Tanner said. Sophie had been so deep in thought she hadn’t noticed he’d returned to sit beside her or that he’d finished eating. “I guess I’d better make a little thank-you speech—” His jaw dropped and his eyes opened wide. “You didn’t,” he whispered.

  “Oh yes I did.” Sophie laughed at his surprise as Moses carried the three-layer chocolate cake toward him. Atop thick chocolate icing sparklers glittered and twenty-six candles fluttered in the soft breeze.

  Beth immediately led the group in a rousing, if off-key, rendition of the birthday song. Then Tanner’s friends from church teased about his age and made a big fuss about his inability to blow out all the candles.

  “Does that mean you’re an old bag of wind?” one of his usher buddies gibed.

  “No, it means Tanner has a girlfriend,” Beth explained in her most serious voice.

  Suddenly Sophie felt the intense stares of everyone on her. Her cheeks burned at the knowing looks. Tongue-tied, she couldn’t think what to say. Fortunately Pastor Jeff broke the embarrassing silence.

  “Are you going to share that cake or hide it away like you did those pies?” he demanded with a wink at Sophie.

  Laughter rippled across the patio. Monica and Tiffany brought plates and forks and a huge container of chocolate ice cream. At Tanner’s urging they took over cutting the cake and added generous scoops of the frozen treat. Davy and Beth passed around the filled plates.

  “Enough chocolate for you?” Sophie asked, tongue in cheek.

  “Almost.” He licked his lips then frowned. “You shouldn’t have hired staff for this,” Tanner scolded. “I’ll pay Monica’s and Tiffany’s wages.”

  “You certainly will not.” Indignant, she glared at him. “This party is the Armstrong family’s gift to you. Are you rejecting it?”

  “Nope.” He blinked and shook his head as he licked a blob of ice cream that was tucked at the corner of his lips. “No way. Burt didn’t raise a dummy. I am going to thank you for it.” He grinned and cupped a hand against her thrust-out chin. “Thank you, Sophie.”

  And then Tanner kissed her.

  That kiss was over and done before Sophie could react, but she was acutely aware that every eye in the place was on them. As if she needed that with every nerve in her body already tingling from Tanner’s kiss. She wished she could melt into the patio stones, and yet she wanted to replay that fraction of a second over and over, even knowing that now gossip about a relationship between them would run rampant at church. They didn’t know a relationship with Tanner was impossible.

  But you want a relationship. Don’t you?

  “Stop scowling, Sophie,” Tanner whispered in her ear. “They’re focused on the cake, not you.”

  Which was such a lie, but she loved him for it.

  Wait a minute—loved him? No! She didn’t love Tanner. She didn’t even trust him.

  And yet—was there anyone she’d ever relied on more than Tanner Johns?

  “Mama, our presents now?” Beth’s whisper nudged Sophie out of the fog she’d fallen into. She must have nodded because a moment later her daughter plunked the gift she’d helped wrap this morning in front of Tanner. “This is from Mama,” she said with a big grin. “You open it first.”

  He opened the card, laughed at the joke, then carefully unwrapped the gift. For several long moments he studied the coffeemaker as if he couldn’t quite understand it. Then Tanner lifted his gaze to hers and said, “Thank you,” in a polite voice.

  Sophie just smiled.

  “There’s more. Open my gift now.” Beth handed him a wildly decorated bag she’d made. When Tanner didn’t take out the contents fast enough she helped him, setting the six boxes of coffee pods in a row on the table in front of him. “These are to use with Mama’s gift. Now you won’t ever have bad coffee anymore, Mr. Cowboy.”

  It seemed to Sophie that everyone but Tanner understood how fitting the gift was because the entire crowd applauded.

  “Now we won’t have to make excuses not to drink his coffee when we come to Wranglers,” Pastor Jeff called out. “Tanner can actually serve real coffee.”

  Seeing Tanner’s confusion, Sophie leaned close and explained how the machine worked. “It makes a perfect cup of coffee every time,” she assured him.

  “Like you make?” he said, his breath brushing against her cheek, enhancing the intimacy of the moment.

  “Probably better than mine.” Realizing they were again the focus of everyone’s attention, Sophie stood, desperate to put some distance between them so she could corral her wayward senses. “Later I’ll show you how to use it,” she promised and began collecting plates.

  “Thank you, Sophie.” The sincerity in his voice and the glow in his green eyes made her heart
skip. Surely he wasn’t going to kiss her again? She cleared her throat, desperate to get away and clear her head.

  “I made the coffee tonight, not Tanner,” she announced as Monica and Tiffany waited by the coffee cart. “I guarantee it’s safe to drink.”

  As the group hooted with laughter, Sophie shifted away from Tanner. Some approached him to present their gag gifts while others headed for the beverage cart. All in all, she was fairly pleased with the way the evening had gone. She was about to go into the house when she saw Beth and Davy talking to two teenage boys whom she’d never seen before. Concerned, she approached them and heard Davy ask, “You mean you want to talk to Tanner? He’s the one who owns Wranglers Ranch.”

  When the boys nodded, Davy hurried toward his hero.

  “I’m Sophie. And you are?” She waited until the pair had exchanged a glance.

  “Rod” came from one, followed by “Trent” from the other boy.

  “We’re having a birthday party for Tanner tonight. Would you like some cake?” She saw the direction of their eager gazes and added, “Or pizza?” At their nods she led them to an empty spot and motioned for Monica to bring two drinks while she retrieved a pizza.

  Apparently starved, the boys gulped down several slices of the pie before Tanner appeared. Sophie saw surprise on his face.

  “Trent and Rod would like to speak to you.” Something in Tanner’s manner made Sophie believe he wanted a few minutes alone with the boys. “Come Beth, Davy. We’ll get some cake and ice cream for the boys. And maybe another drink.” She shepherded her kids away to give Tanner privacy.

  “Do you think those are some of the street kids Tanner talks to?” Davy asked with a backward glance.

  “What do you mean?” Surprised, Sophie listened as she cut two large wedges of the remaining cake and handed Beth and Davy each a glass of iced tea to carry.

  “Tanner finds kids who don’t have a home or food. Sometimes he takes them for a hamburger,” Davy said knowledgeably.

  A flutter of worry about the big generous cowboy grew to a ripple. Tucson was mostly a safe city but still—a shiver tiptoed up her spine. “Does Moses go with him?”

  “I don’t think so.” Davy frowned. “He told me not to say anything.”

  “I’m sure Tanner won’t mind me knowing.” Sophie led the kids to the table where the cowboy was holding an animated discussion with the boys, who vehemently shook their heads at whatever he was saying. Silence fell while she served the cake and drinks. “Eat up. If you want more, we have lots.” Then with a smile at Tanner she gave her children jobs to help with the cleanup.

  “Mama, are those boys friends of Mr. Cowboy?” Beth’s face scrunched up in a frown.

  “Why do you ask, honey?” Sophie paused to study her daughter.

  “’Cause he’s giving them money.”

  Sophie turned in time to see Tanner slip a bill into the palm of the oldest boy. Since Tanner didn’t look upset or angry, she turned back to her work.

  “They’re leaving now. Mr. Cowboy is watching them. He looks sad.” Beth dropped the paper she’d collected into the trash. “I’m going to give him a hug.”

  Sophie put her hand on Beth’s shoulder. “Wait a minute, okay, sweetie? Give Tanner some time to himself.”

  “Can I pray for him?” her daughter asked, blue eyes glowing huge in her round face. “He’s my friend. We pray for our friends, don’t we, Mama?”

  “That’s a great idea,” Sophie approved.

  “’Kay.” Beth sat down on a bench, bowed her head and began silently praying.

  From the corner of her eye Sophie saw Tanner motion to Lefty and give him directions. The man hurried away and a moment later one of the ranch’s four-wheel-drive vehicles left a cloud of dust as it took off down the driveway. Tanner turned and caught Sophie staring. He walked toward her.

  Not wanting to intrude, she merely asked, “Everything okay?”

  “They’re two street kids whose parents are, I believe, abusing them. I met them in a store the other day when I saw an old—acquaintance.” There was a pause before he said the word, as if he’d deliberately avoided saying “friend.” “I told them to come here if they needed anything. They said they hadn’t eaten today. Thanks for feeding them.”

  Sophie shrugged. “No biggie, as Davy would say. Feeding a kid is easy to do, not like trying to reach their souls, as you do on your street visits.” She said it nonchalantly.

  Tanner jerked as if she’d struck him. “How do you know—” Then he shook his head. “Davy.”

  “No secrets with kids around.” Sophie sensed his reticence. “You don’t have to tell me anything.” She knew it was the right thing to say when he remained silent for a moment.

  “I knew their father back in the days when I lived on the streets.” He glanced around. “I need to mingle right now. But can I tell you about it when everyone’s gone? You don’t have to hurry home tonight, do you, Sophie?”

  “It’s Friday. No school and I don’t have anything scheduled for tomorrow so I guess we could stay for a while,” she agreed. “Go enjoy your party, Tanner.”

  “I am,” he said, his eyes dancing. “Some parts more than others.” His gaze rested on her lips.

  “I need to check on Monica and Tiffany.” Sophie said it quickly, feeling as if her face was on fire. “Excuse me.” She hurried away, knowing he was watching her with that cute lopsided grin of his.

  At the doorway she gave in to the urge to turn back and check. Sure enough, Tanner stood in place, watching her with those intense green eyes. But he wasn’t smiling. He looked as if he were struggling with a decision. Then Beth tugged on his pant leg and he smiled at her.

  Something was definitely bothering Tanner, and Sophie could hardly wait to learn what was going on.

  * * *

  “I dropped them off on Fourth Street, boss. That was as far as they’d let me take them.”

  “Thanks, Lefty, I appreciate it.” Tanner watched his foreman leave the patio while his mind swirled with questions about Tige.

  He put away the questions to entertain his guests, but when they’d all left and he was finally alone, he sat down on a bench to think about Trent and Rod. Had Tige sent his kids with that story? Tanner didn’t think so but—

  “Davy and Beth fell asleep.” Sophie’s glance around the empty patio told him she was waiting for that talk he’d promised. He didn’t want to tell her anything about his ugly past, but his conscience demanded Sophie know the risk her kids might be taking if things escalated with Tige.

  Are you going to tell her everything about your past? Including the child you abandoned? Because if you don’t, you know that someday Tige will.

  He ignored the voice in his head.

  “Let’s sit down.”

  “Okay.” Sophie shivered slightly, prompting his realization that the night air had cooled.

  Tanner added a couple of logs to the fire still burning in the fire pit to ensure she’d be warm enough. “First of all, thank you for making this birthday so special. I appreciate all the trouble you and the kids went to.”

  “It was our pleasure.” Sophie sat with her beautiful face lit by the dancing flames.

  “About those boys. Trent and Rod are the sons of a man I knew as Tige from my days of living on the streets.” Tanner wanted to hurry through the past and avoid long-buried thoughts that still brought pain. “I happened to meet Tige the other day when I went to the grocery store.”

  “Happened to meet?” Her brown eyes narrowed. “That’s odd, isn’t it?”

  “Yeah.” He grimaced. “I don’t believe in coincidences, either. Maybe word is getting out about Wranglers and he recognized my name. I don’t know.” He kept going, anxious to get it said. “He’s not a nice man, Sophie. Neither is his wife, Lulu. For as long as I’ve known Ti
ge he’s been into drugs, selling and using, friendly when he’s high, mean and nasty when he’s not. Anyway in the store that day I noticed his kids seemed ill at ease and I felt sorry for them. I told them to look me up if they ever needed anything. I guess that’s why they showed up today.”

  “Because they were hungry.” Sophie sat silently watching him, her face impassive. Finally, her voice very soft, she asked, “Why are you telling me this, Tanner?”

  “That day I met him—Tige hit me up for some money.” He exhaled, hoping, praying she wouldn’t grab her kids and run when he explained. “The morning after I saw him I found a fire blazing in one of the old buildings Moses has been restoring. Understand that there was no electricity, nothing in there that could have caused a fire. Yet it burned hot and fast.” He could see she didn’t understand his inference. “The police insist it is arson but they found no clues as to who lit it.”

  “You think Tige did it.” Awareness dawned, then she frowned. “But why?”

  “As a kind of message that he’s watching me. At least that’s how Tige used to operate.” Tanner couldn’t shake the black mantle of dread. “He used to pass out what he called ‘warnings,’ maybe a beating, maybe something else equally nasty, to let you know that he was always watching.”

  “And if you didn’t do what he wanted?” Sophie whispered, her pupils wide.

  “His usual modus operandi was violence to make sure you did.” Now came the hard part. “His sons are scared.” He condensed what the boys had told him. “Apparently Tige and Lulu got high after I saw them. Those boys hadn’t eaten for ages. They know they’ll get in trouble if Tige finds out they came here, but they had nowhere else to go.”

  Tanner noticed Sophie didn’t ask him about Children’s Services or any other agency. Was that because she trusted him to do the right thing? But Sophie didn’t trust.

  “So now you’re worried about us,” she guessed. He nodded, sobered by concern. “What will Tige do if he finds out you interfered with his kids?”

  “Tige only goes after someone if there’s a profit for him.” Tanner saw her absorb that. Her eyes expanded in understanding.