The Rancher Next Door

by Darlene Mindrup

  If that was their only way to have heat, then somehow she would have to manage to get some firewood. But where did one get firewood in the middle of the desert? Shrugging these thoughts away, she pulled out the cocoa to make the frosting. She would worry about that later. Right now she had two siblings to please.

  The cake was no surprise to either of the twins since it was Saturday and they had wandered in and out of the kitchen all day.

  “I’m bored,” David told her. “Why can’t I go to Mitch’s?”

  “I told you. I thought we’d have a birthday party. Just the three of us.”

  Renee gave her brother a withering glare. “Don’t be a dink,” she told him. “Jenny’s worked hard to have a celebration for us.”

  David looked contrite. “Aw, I’m sorry, Jen. I didn’t mean right now. I thought maybe I could go later. Exercise Dynamo.”

  Jenny smiled halfheartedly. Despite herself she was a little hurt. “That’s okay. Maybe later. I was thinking, though. Do you know any way we might be able to get some firewood? I thought we might have a fire this evening. Maybe toast some marshmallows.”

  Renee’s eyes lit up. “That would be fun.”

  Fudge, Renee’s puppy, ambled out into the kitchen, still limping slightly. He headed straight for Renee, who scooped him up with one hand while burying her nose in his fur. “Little chocolate ball,” she told him. “I could just eat you up.”

  His little tail wagged furiously as his pink tongue snaked out to make contact with Renee’s nose. It was hard to believe this was the same puppy they had found on the road that day. The pup had healed remarkably well in just three weeks, with only a slight limp testifying to his injury.

  It had also been three weeks since Jenny had last seen Mitch except for quick glances at church, and then Amanda had been hanging on his arm. Jenny didn’t know if he was angry at her for taking the pup and leaving, or not. All she did know for sure was that they seemed to always be at cross purposes. Jenny missed him, though she tried hard to keep him from her thoughts. He could never be a part of her life, so it was best to forget about him and get on with living.

  “Jenny?”

  She looked questioningly at David.

  “I said there’s an old paloverde about fifty feet from here. I could chop it up and bring the wood.”

  Jenny was reluctant. A twelve-year-old—no, he was thirteen now, wielding an ax? Was that a good idea? She had to let him grow up sometime, she supposed. Mitch had accused her of smothering David. She looked at him now, really looked, and realized that he was taller than she was now and his muscles were forming from the hard work he did helping Mitch. He was going to be as handsome as Renee was beautiful.

  “Mitch has let me chop wood at his place,” he told her, as though he could read her thoughts.

  Irritation welled up inside that Mitch never considered it necessary to seek her permission. Still, David hadn’t come to any harm under his tutelage. If anything he seemed to be blossoming into a responsible young man. She felt the annoyance drain out of her.

  “Do we have an ax?” she questioned.

  “Sure. There’s one in the shed. There are a lot of tools in the shed. I’ve been cleaning them up the way Mitch showed me.”

  Figured. Smiling, Jenny reached out to ruffle his hair only to realize that to do so she would have to reach up.

  “Go ahead,” she told him.

  “I’ll help,” Renee volunteered.

  David fixed her with an eloquent look. “You can help carry the wood back, but I’ll do the chopping. It’s man’s work.”

  Renee rolled her eyes but refrained from commenting as she traipsed along behind him.

  Jenny watched them walk across the yard, thinking again how good life was. Renee was only slightly smaller than David, though David’s gangliness was fast disappearing and turning into firm muscle. Renee was also starting to develop curves in all the right places. Jenny felt a slight qualm. What would the next few years bring? Both her siblings had the potential to become real heartbreakers. She only hoped she had the ability to channel them in the right direction.

  Drying her hands on a paper towel, she got out the cake decorating paraphernalia.

  * * *

  Several hours later Jenny pulled into a parking spot at the Prescott National Forest picnic grounds. She had agreed to arrive a half hour later than everyone else to give the guests time to arrive. There were several cars, but the one that caught Jenny’s attention was a blue Jeep. She should have realized that Hattie would have invited Mitch.

  “Hey!” David exclaimed. “That looks like Mitch’s Jeep.”

  “I wonder what he’s doing here,” Jenny said innocently.

  As they approached the picnic tables, people jumped out from behind the trees surrounding the picnic area.

  “Surprise!”

  David stood with his mouth wide open, while Renee ducked her head and turned a bright red. It only took David a moment before he was joining in the fun, friends from school slapping him on the back.

  Several of Renee’s friends had surrounded her, as well, and were hugging her and laughing.

  “Well, at least they were surprised.” Hattie laughed as she joined Jenny.

  “You can say that again. It’s been a while since I’ve seen David speechless.”

  Hattie pulled her arm through Jenny’s and walked her toward the picnic tables.

  “We thought we’d eat first and then have the twins open their presents.”

  “Sounds good to me,” Jenny told her.

  Jenny added her contribution to the potluck.

  “This was a really good idea. I’m glad you thought of it.”

  Hattie grinned. “I’m a party person. I think I mentioned that before. Right now, we need to mingle.”

  If Hattie was a party person, Jenny was not. She had always hated large crowds, feeling self-conscious. She had never seemed to fit in. She liked people, but she preferred them in small quantities.

  Hattie left her talking to Paul Taylor while Hattie wandered around speaking to others. Paul’s eyes followed Hattie’s progress a moment before he turned to Jenny. He smiled.

  “She’s one incredible woman. I’ve never known anyone so people-oriented.”

  Jenny nodded. “She’s certainly that. I don’t think there’s anyone she wouldn’t help.”

  Paul laughed. “I have to agree. If it hadn’t been for her, I wouldn’t be preacher here right now.” At Jenny’s look of inquiry he continued, “She knew my older sister. They went to school together when they were younger. When I graduated from seminary, Hattie heard that I was looking for a congregation. Since their previous preacher had just retired, she convinced the elders to offer me the position here. I’ll be eternally grateful.”

  Glancing over her shoulder, Paul smiled. “Hi, Mitch. I thought I’d see you someplace around here.”

  Jenny felt her heart slam into her stomach and then kick into high speed. Schooling her features to mask her sudden nervousness, she turned and gave him a forced smile. “Hello, Mitch.”

  Mitch nodded to them both before addressing Paul. “Couldn’t let my favorite partner down on his birthday.”

  Turning to Jenny, Mitch commented on David’s new cowboy hat.

  Jenny could see David across the way proudly strutting among his friends. She smiled. “He sure is proud of it.”

  “A birthday present, I take it?” Paul inquired.

  “Yes. He’s been after me for months now to get him one. I thought this was as good a time as any.”

  “Excuse me,” Paul said. “I think Brother Johnson wants me.” Nodding his head to both of them, he walked away.

  Jenny didn’t know whether to run or to stay. Feeling absurd for such foolishness, she looked up at Mitch.

  “I’
m glad you could come.”

  “I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.” He cocked his head slightly. “Surely you know that.”

  Jenny shrugged. Whatever his motives where she was concerned, it was hard to resist Mitch when he was being charming. She had to remind herself that he was here for David, not her.

  “Would you like to look around?” he asked.

  She hesitated, but could think of no real reason to refuse. If he could be congenial, so could she. “Sure.”

  Reaching out, Mitch took her hand and walked her away from the circle of people. The warmth of his fingers twined through hers left her feeling suddenly weak in the knees. She tried to pull her hand free, but he wouldn’t release it. No matter how much she tried to distance herself from him and the feelings he engendered in her, she couldn’t seem to do it.

  He pointed out various landmarks, plants and trees, being careful to keep the conversation safely impersonal until Jenny finally relaxed. After about ten minutes he turned to her.

  “We need to talk.”

  Jenny froze. Not now, she thought. She wasn’t certain what he wanted to talk about, but she wasn’t ready to discuss that potent kiss that had turned her neat little world upside down.

  “What’s wrong? Why have you been avoiding me?”

  That was a very good question. How could she tell him that it was self-preservation on her part? Seeing Amanda had brought all of her insecurities to the fore again.

  “I haven’t been avoiding you...” she hedged.

  “Is that the truth?”

  She stared silently into his questioning eyes, the silence lengthening uncomfortably.

  “That’s what I thought.”

  “Tell me about Amanda,” she said quickly and watched his face cloud over.

  “What has Amanda to do with anything?”

  “You were engaged once, weren’t you?”

  “I suppose Hattie told you that.”

  Jenny nodded, reaching out to pluck a leaf from a low-hanging branch. Twirling the stem in her fingers she asked, “Was there a reason she shouldn’t have?”

  Mitch let out a long sigh. “No. I suppose not. But that was a long time ago.”

  “Wasn’t she at your barbecue a few weeks ago?” she asked, glancing sideways at him.

  His chin lifted a notch. Turning to her, he pulled her to a stop. “Are you trying to hide behind her now, too?”

  Jenny jerked away, her eyes sparking. “You’re always suggesting that I’m hiding behind someone. What do you consider that I need to hide from?”

  “Your feelings, maybe?”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “I think you do.”

  Her feelings? What about his? Could it be possible that she wasn’t the only one caught up in this maelstrom of emotions? Their relationship had been like a never-ending roller-coaster ride. She wasn’t about to admit to feelings for him unless he gave some indication of his own, and she didn’t believe that was possible. What would a man like him possibly see in a woman like her? She found it positively ludicrous and it made her suspicious of his motives. She refused to be caught in a one-sided trap. Better to leave the words unsaid. She had the distinct feeling that once out in the open, her feelings could never be retracted.

  “Don’t be ridiculous. What feelings are you referring to, anyway?”

  Taking her by the hand he pulled her to a stop again. His other hand captured her free hand. He gently tugged her closer and Jenny could feel her heart’s increased rhythm when she saw the look in his eyes.

  Jenny could only stare up at him, frustrated at the way he could reduce her to a mass of whirling confusion just by his mere touch. Regardless of her seesaw feelings about his reason for seeking her out, she couldn’t bring herself to move. She wanted his kiss, but she couldn’t bring herself to say so.

  His lips covered hers in a kiss even more intoxicating than the first.

  Letting go of her hands, he wrapped his arms around her. As she had felt before, so she felt now. Safe. Cherished. Protected. Her hands slid up his arms before gently wrapping around his neck. It seemed an eternity before Mitch finally pulled his lips away and stared down into her eyes.

  “Those feelings,” he told her huskily.

  Jenny called herself all kinds of a fool as she realized that she had fallen irrevocably in love with Mitch, and she was too dazed to think clearly about what she should do about it.

  “Jenny? Mitch? I thought I saw them come this way.”

  By the time David and Mark reached them they were standing a safe distance apart.

  “There you are. We’ve been looking all over for you,” David complained.

  “Well, now you’ve found us,” Mitch told him reasonably. Jenny couldn’t have spoken if she had wanted to.

  “Mom wants to eat now,” Mark told them.

  Once again curling his fingers around Jenny’s hand, they followed the boys back to the clearing. For the time being, they seemed to have reached a pax in their turbulent relationship. For the rest of the day Jenny lived in a kind of dreamworld.

  Mitch remained by Jenny’s side for most of the day. They sat together to eat. He was there when David and Renee opened their presents. When they reached Young’s Farm, he helped them choose a pumpkin from the hundreds in the field and then cheerfully paid for it. Sitting on the sweet-smelling haystacks, they rode in the tractor-pulled wagon back to the main buildings.

  After they toured the facilities Mitch bought them a fresh baked pie from the cafeteria. They argued good-naturedly over the type, but finally compromised on apple.

  “It doesn’t make sense to buy a pumpkin pie when you have the pumpkin to make your own,” Jenny remonstrated with the twins.

  The twins wandered off to watch the singing sideshow while Mitch took Jenny to the country store. The tiny little room was filled to capacity with both items and people. As they were walking out the door, Jenny noticed some of the crafts for sale. The prices seemed exorbitant to her, but Annie wouldn’t have agreed.

  “Jenny!”

  It was as though her thoughts had conjured the young woman up.

  “Annie. What are you doing here?”

  “I always come to the pumpkin festival. It’s tradition. Besides, I have to keep an eye on the competition.” She grinned, pointing at the craft display. Looking over Jenny’s shoulder, she smiled at Mitch.

  “Long time, no see, cowboy.”

  Mitch grinned at her. “Not my fault. You’re the one who moved to the big city, far away from your friends.”

  Annie made a rude sound with her lips. “I’d hardly call it an insurmountable distance. Speaking of which...” She turned to Jenny again. “Have you thought about what I said? About moving to Prescott?”

  This was not something Jenny particularly wanted to discuss right now, but knowing Annie as she did, unless she gave her an answer she would be nagged to death.

  “I’ve thought about it, yes.”

  “Well, have you talked with the twins?”

  “Not yet.” She turned to face Mitch and was surprised at the absolute immobility of his features. They seemed to be carved in granite and his eyes had taken on an icy hue.

  “If you’ll excuse me, I need to talk to someone,” he said and, pushing past Jenny, went swiftly out the door.

  “Now, what was that all about?” Annie wondered, frowning at Mitch’s retreating figure.

  Jenny shook her head. She was back on that roller coaster again. How could a man be so fun and considerate one minute and as cold as ice the next? She was thankful that she had restrained the impulse to tell Mitch how she really felt about him. At least she had salvaged her pride. Funny thing about pride, though; it was a very lonely feeling.

  Chapter 9


  Jenny pulled the pumpkin pies from the oven, sniffing appreciatively before setting them on the hot pads on the counter.

  This was the last of the pumpkin from the one Mitch had bought almost four weeks ago now. She had taken it home, baked it and then scooped out the flesh and frozen it. Out of her efforts she had managed to get several bags of pumpkin to freeze.

  The twins had enjoyed the fruits of her labor: pumpkin bread, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin pies. And every time she made something, remembrances of that day came back to haunt her. Mitch holding her hand... Mitch smiling and picking pieces of hay from her hair, then tickling her nose with it... Mitch smiling that warm smile that sent her senses soaring...

  It hadn’t taken long to realize what had brought about Mitch’s changed attitude. He believed that she, like Amanda and his mother, was longing for city life. Jenny smiled wryly. If only he knew. But Jenny had decided that if something was developing between her and Mitch—and she still had a hard time believing that—it was something best left alone.

  Until Mitch could bring himself to let go of the past, for them there could be no future. He would always be watching. Wondering if the woman he loved would leave him again. And how exactly did Amanda fit into all of this?

  It occurred to Jenny that she had always had insecurities of her own because of her looks. To see someone so handsome, wealthy and charming with such vulnerabilities was enlightening.

  Turning from her perusal of the landscape outside the kitchen window, her look returned to the pies cooling on the counter. They’d been invited to Hattie’s for Thanksgiving tomorrow. Jenny wrinkled her nose at the thought that she had almost cried off of going because Mitch would be there. The twins would have been devastated.

  She had talked with the twins about moving to Prescott. As she had figured, they both had adamantly refused, although David was by far the most vociferous. His attitude had taken a one-hundred-eighty-degree turnaround. In a way it was a relief. In another part of her mind, she still questioned the wisdom of allowing the twins to grow up in such isolation.