Marrying the Rancher

by Roz Denny Fox

  “I suppose you can call Mark. Let’s see, it’s still early enough in Honolulu so you won’t interrupt their dinner.” She checked her watch as she deftly set the timer again.

  “I can take his picture if you’d like,” Wyatt said. “I’ll set up his call if you need to refill that pan. I’d hate for you to burn those great-smelling cookies.”

  “That would be helpful, thanks.” She wedged her phone out of her pocket.

  Wyatt reached for it and their hands tangled. Tandy almost dropped the phone. He caught it, and she mumbled, “Mark’s number is under Lucinda, his mom’s name.”

  Touching her arm briefly as he slipped by her, Wyatt glanced around the small kitchen. “How about you go back and sit on the couch, Scotty? You can unroll the poster, hold it to one side and have the book on your lap. That way we’ll get everything in one photograph.”

  “Yay, yay, hurray! Mark will be so jealous. That’s the right word, isn’t it, Mama?” Stopping at the door, Scotty flung the question back over his shoulder. “That’s what Mark used to say about me when he pinned up new surfing posters.”

  “You’d only use that word if you feel unhappy that someone else received a gift or got an award. Being jealous or envious doesn’t reflect well on you. Or in this case, on your cousin. You boys should be pleased if good things happen to each other.”

  Watching Scotty pause to process that, Wyatt actually didn’t expect him to understand. Yet it was evident when he did.

  “I liked all of Mark’s posters, Mama. I guess I shouldn’t have wished some were mine.” His worried features reassembled into a grin. “I want him to like my poster. But if he doesn’t, it’s okay. Mark didn’t know any real surfers, but I know a wolf man. Come take my picture, Wyatt.” He disappeared into the adjacent room.

  Tandy’s hands stilled above the last drop of dough she’d placed on the cookie sheet. Briefly her gaze collided with Wyatt’s twinkling eyes. She took a deep breath and shook her head. He only offered a lopsided smile in return as he left the kitchen. He seemed to understand what she was trying to do.

  Shortly she removed the next batch of cookies and loaded up another one, and spent a moment listening to the excitement in her son’s voice as he talked to his older cousin. She placed several cookies on a plate then turned to take them into the living room as a carrot to entice Scotty to not talk forever. She ran right into Wyatt, who’d stepped back beneath the arch and stood watching her somberly. His hands flew to her waist to steady her.

  “What is it? Are they not getting along?” The earlier twinkle had faded from his eyes and his jaw had a serious set.

  He didn’t let go of her. “A while ago when Scotty spoke about his father...well, I hope you don’t think I overstepped my bounds. I know we’d discussed me getting him a book from the library. I should’ve asked your permission before I bought one instead. The poster was an impulse buy.”

  “It’s okay,” she rushed to say, stepping back until his hands dropped to his sides. “If anything I should’ve realized Scotty was affected by problems that blew up between Dan and me.” She handed him the plate and stood rubbing her arms.

  “Do you want to talk about it?”

  “Well, we married in the haste that often comes when soldiers learn they’re about to be sent off to fight. The long and short of it is I wanted children and had no idea Dan didn’t until I learned I was pregnant. I thought he had a change of heart when conflicts erupted and we were both deployed. Wrong.” She rubbed her arms harder.

  Wyatt set the plate on the counter and took her hands. “It’s okay. It’s really none of my business.”

  She squeezed his hands then let go. “Anyway, due to deployments Dan and I saw little of each other. Maybe if we’d lived together he would’ve wanted children.”

  “What a stupid man. Scotty’s a great kid.”

  She returned to loading dough on an empty cookie sheet. “It hurts to look back and see how often I made allowances for Dan when he didn’t remember Scotty’s birthday, or mine. I told myself he’d been promoted and had more on his plate than buying gifts. With that book and poster, you made Scotty happier than his father ever did. If I didn’t share the blame for missing so much, I’d be giving you more credit.”

  “I don’t need credit. I need a cookie.” Wyatt grinned crookedly. “It’s been ages since I’ve had a homemade chocolate chip cookie.”

  “Heavens, eat a couple. I’ll send some home with you, too.” She gave him the plate.

  “Is the coffee still hot? By the way, I never thanked you for stocking my kitchen with a pound of Hawaiian coffee. It’s tasty.”

  “You’re welcome. And help yourself. I didn’t turn off the coffee maker.” She gestured to the pot.

  Wyatt moved behind her and poured his coffee as the oven bell blared.

  She and Wyatt bumped hips again in the small kitchen. She felt how solid he was when she bent to drag out the steaming cookie tray and replaced it with one she’d just filled. Then her brain turned to mush for a moment because he hadn’t moved and she brushed against him again while scooping fresh cookies onto the cooling rack.

  Feeling klutzy, she said, “Why don’t you take the plate in to tempt Scotty to get off the phone. Remind him not to share with Mr. Bones, though. In fact, let me get him a doggie treat. He begs so sweetly that both Scotty and I have difficulty denying him.” She set down the pan, sucked in a deep breath and hurried to the pantry.

  “Dogs, cats and kids learn early that certain beseeching tilt of their head.”

  “And their eyes,” she added, handing him the doggie treat. “We service men and women carried gum and candy for kids we met in the poorest parts of war zones. We couldn’t resist their big, hopeful eyes. I think eyes speak a universal language.”

  “Yours are striking. Some eyes aren’t lively. Yours are,” Wyatt said, juggling the plate, his mug and the dog jerky.

  “Really?” Not in the habit of receiving compliments from men, Tandy was embarrassed. “I’ve never considered my eyes as anything but dull. I’ll take lively as a compliment. As a kid I wanted blue eyes. Or brown eyes flecked with green or gold.”

  “They’re not dull at all.” Wyatt cleared his throat. “I hear Scotty jabbering away. I’d better go deliver these cookies and the doggie treat.” He set down his mug, bit into one of the cookies and held her gaze a moment longer. “These are definitely as good as they smell,” he said.

  “Thanks.” Tandy grabbed the oven mitts for something to do with her idle hands.

  Wyatt shoved the rest of the cookie into his mouth, grabbed the plate and ducked back into the living room, leaving her combing through their last exchange. In doing so she found a few more reasons to give the man credit. In her old work environment some of her male counterparts griped endlessly about food in the mess halls. Certainly none would’ve ever been caught dead complimenting a fellow soldier’s eyes, either. That placed Wyatt in a category by himself.

  Suddenly at loose ends, Tandy thought she’d better be on guard against growing too fond of his compliments. The last thing she wanted was to fall for any man so soon after her hurtful split from Dan. As nice and as different as her renter and her dad’s former friend seemed to be, it wouldn’t do to be gullible. While her heart was mending, she had Scotty’s heart to consider. His earlier comment drove home how, as young as he was, his father’s neglect had left a hole.

  She’d gone back to filling the last cookie sheet when Scotty came running into the kitchen. He clutched the phone and was shoving a cookie into his mouth. “Mama, Mama,” he said around the gooey confection, “will you take a picture of me and Wolf...uh, Wyatt?” The boy wiped his mouth with his arm, spreading chocolate across his cheek. “Mark doesn’t believe I know anybody who helps wolves. He said I hafta prove it by sending a picture. He says you probably bought me the book and poster.”


  “Honey, you have cookie crumbs all over your face and I have uncooked dough all over my hands. Let your cousin think what he will. You know the truth.”

  “But he thinks I’m lyin’ and I’m not.” The boy’s face crumpled.

  “Oh, all right.” Tandy huffed out a breath in exasperation. “Tell Mark you’ll text him back. Wash your face while I wait to unload the last cookie sheet.” She quickly checked over her shoulder and saw Wyatt standing under the arch again, still holding the plate of cookies.

  Tandy grabbed for her son. “Scotty, wait. Did Wyatt agree to have his picture taken with you and sent to Mark? You can’t shoot and ship off photos without the other person’s consent.”

  Scotty showed his shock by how fast he stopped. “Is it all right?” he begged Wyatt. “You heard me tell Mark you aren’t a werewolf. I told him my mom said those aren’t even real. Doesn’t matter that Mark has a movie where men go into the woods and change into wolves.”

  Wyatt laughed. After finding his mug and taking another swig, he said jovially, “I’m fine with a photo. I did wonder about it when I heard you telling your cousin I’m not a werewolf. You should just use my name, though.”

  “Yep.” Scotty plopped the phone down on the kitchen counter and, after punching his fist in the air, disappeared down the hall.

  Tandy let out a sigh. “I keep thanking you for things, but thank you for indulging him. I wasn’t aware of the rivalry that apparently developed between him and Mark while I was deployed. He has two other cousins, both girls. I guess it’s natural that he mostly hung out with Mark even though he’s a few years older.”

  The oven bell went off and she spun around to rescue the cookies.

  “You’re still busy. Should we just do a selfie? Frankly I don’t know why his cousin thinks seeing me proves I work with wolves, but I could tell listening to one side of the conversation that the other boy thought Scotty was making up a story. I suppose if they spent time practically as siblings that’d explain it.”

  Scotty exploded back into the room. His face was clean, but his hair in front stood on end where he’d obviously scrubbed off with a towel. Tandy’s heart gave a little lurch when obviously seeing it, too, Wyatt casually brushed a hand over her son’s spiky hair until it fell into place.

  “Where’s a good spot for a selfie?” he asked, picking up Tandy’s phone from the counter.

  “Maybe you should sit on the couch,” Tandy said. “With cookie fixings all over in here, the background might look too messy.”

  Dashing over, Scotty hugged her. “The kitchen smells yummy. Too bad Mark can’t smell it over the phone. How can talking and pictures go all the way to Hawaii, but cookie smells can’t?”

  Tandy rolled her eyes at Wyatt over the top of her son’s head. “If you can explain that while you take your picture, I’ll fill a Tupperware with cookies for you to take home.”

  His deep laugh filled the room. “Come on, Scotty. I’ll tackle a simple version of quantum mechanics versus optics.”

  The two went into the living room and Tandy realized it’d been a long time since she felt this lighthearted. For that she might bake cookies more often.

  She had the last pan out and a to-go container ready for Wyatt by the time her son skipped back into the kitchen. Scotty bubbled over with how easily they’d sent two pictures to Mark, who’d rung back to say he was sorry for doubting his cousin.

  “I’m yawning, so Wyatt said we can finish reading the book tomorrow. Is that okay, Mama?”

  Wyatt had entered the kitchen to return Tandy’s phone to the counter. “We read the first chapter. It deals with tracking wolves. Tomorrow afternoon, if you don’t mind, I said I can show Scotty how to see the difference between Mr. Bones’s paw prints and other tracks, like a horse or cow. Then maybe read more of the story.”

  She nodded. “Here are the cookies I promised you. Thanks again for the pizza, the book and the poster, and for helping Scotty call Mark. Tomorrow will be a routine day of us checking cattle in the grazing area and moving another batch out of arroyos. I don’t know if you’ll have time to join us there. It might be too dark to see prints around the barn when we return.” It dawned on Tandy that she was rambling. She nervously took a breath. “Anyway, Scotty and I will be on our own tomorrow. Manny plans to see Stewart Darnell about a bull and I assumed you’d go out to find your wolves.” She briefly set a hand on Scotty’s shoulder, then lifting it she moved toward the front door with Wyatt.

  “That’s my plan.” He grabbed his jacket and hat and wagged the cookie container. “Thanks for these. The one I ate tasted exactly right to satisfy my sweet tooth.” He opened the door and stepped out onto the porch.

  Tandy started to go out to say goodbye but heard her phone ring in the kitchen. “Scotty, there’s my phone. You tell Wyatt good-night for us, lock up, then scoot on in and get ready for bed while I find out who’s calling.”

  The boy yelled, “Bye, Wyatt. I love my presents. I can’t wait to look at animal tracks tomorrow. I hope you have time. Thanks again for everything.”

  Glad to hear her son’s good manners, Tandy hurried back into the kitchen to scoop up the phone. She was a little out of breath when she swiped it to answer without checking to see who’d called.

  “I see you didn’t waste any time moving on. Here I thought you were so broken up over Dan.”

  “Lucinda?” Tandy recognized her former sister-in-law’s voice. “What are you talking about? You knew we were moving to my dad’s ranch in Arizona.”

  “I’m talking about moving on and moving in with a new man. Don’t play coy. The one in the photo Scotty sent Mark. Is the dude an ex or were you two carrying on the whole time I looked after Scotty?”

  “Geez, Lucinda. Calm down. He’s a wildlife biologist working on a wolf project in the area. He’s renting a cabin from me, and he rented from my dad last year. The man’s been kind to Scotty, and Scotty wanted to share his new things with Mark. But since Dan plans to remarry ASAP, what would be the big deal if I met someone I cared to date?”

  The woman on the other end of the call sputtered. “It’s just you acted so upset with what Dan did. By the way, he already married Su Lin. They’ll be here next week, so it’s better if Scotty doesn’t contact Mark as much. Dan’s going to be based at Fort Shafter for at least six months. The newlyweds will live with me until they find an apartment.”

  The news shouldn’t have stunned Tandy, but it did. It wasn’t that she expected Dan to not marry this soon. But she assumed he’d remain in the Philippines.

  She gathered her shock and worked to control her fury. “I’ll handle Scotty. You see Mark doesn’t call him. And isn’t it a damned shame your brother’s decision has to affect our innocent kids?” Her voice cracked so she rushed to end the call. “It’s getting late here and it’s Scotty’s bedtime. And I’d like it if you kept your nose out of my business.” She stabbed the disconnect button but wondered how the gaiety she’d felt moments ago could so rapidly and thoroughly dissipate.

  More anger coursed through her. How dare Lucinda accept one standard for her brother and expect something entirely different of her? Tandy had done her best to brush off Lucinda’s snide jabs. She’d established in her mind that she wasn’t looking for involvement with another man. However, neither was she averse to having a handsome, rugged, nice guy like Wyatt Hunt living a stone’s throw away. Especially someone who treated her son so well.

  “Mom, I’m ready for bed. But will you help me hang my wolf poster first?” Scotty hollered.

  “Coming,” Tandy called. She pocketed her phone. Somehow it felt like that small act gave her a final separation from her unsettled past. And her sense of well-being returned.

  Chapter Four

  The sun struggled to come up through a layer of clouds when Wyatt took his backpack out to his vehicle for another hike up t
he mountain. He heard a clanking metal sound, looked around and saw Manny at the barn hitching a horse trailer to his pickup. Realizing the arthritic man was having trouble connecting the tongue to the hitch, he jogged over to help.

  “Hey, Manny. Need a hand?”

  “Seems so. Some days these old fingers won’t work.”

  Leaning down, Wyatt quickly connected the hitch and gave the ball an extra twist to make sure it was tight. “Any time I’m around, you only have to ask and I’ll help. I know you were planning to retire soon.”

  “I was. But Curt was a good friend to me, which is why when his daughter asked my advice on the best way to rebuild Spiritridge Ranch, I had to answer the call.”

  Wyatt pinched his bottom lip and nodded. “I can see you wanting to give her the benefit of your experience. Isn’t working when it hurts going overboard?”

  “It’s plain mean how ranchers in the community are ganging up on her.”

  “So you plan on pitching in until she hires someone? I’m sure she appreciates it.”

  “To make this ranch work well for her and Scotty, she needs one seasoned cowboy. Each time I figured her ad brought a possibility, they ended up feeding her half-assed excuses for not taking the job. It ain’t right, I tell you.”

  “I’ve felt guilty since she said they gave her grief at the association meeting for renting to me. But you’re saying they were biased against her even before anyone knew I was coming back?”

  “Yep.”

  “On one hand I’m relieved to hear it’s not only my presence causing Tandy grief. On the other, I don’t understand because her family ranched here for years. Do you think at the bottom of it, it’s because Preston Hicks wants this ranch?”

  “I wish I knew. He didn’t try to buy the place until Curt got sick. He pushed harder after the newspaper ran a story saying Tandy was leaving the army to claim her inheritance. Hicks already owns the biggest ranch around. At his age, what does he need with more land? Millie Dawson ran cattle down in the valley for twenty years, so it can’t be the old-timers don’t cotton to the notion of a woman rancher.” Manny frowned.