Made for the Rancher

by Rebecca Winters

  “I’d love that. The rally starts at six, and should come to an end by seven or seven-thirty at the latest.”

  “Perfect, then I’ll drive you home and we’ll put Moondrop to bed.”

  Heaven. “But I feel guilty making you wait in Helena so long for me.”

  “I’ll have plenty to do while I’m there.”

  “Then I can’t wait,” she said.

  “It’s going to be a long week, but it’ll be worth it. Come and walk me out to my truck.” He rubbed Moondrop’s forelock. “Be a good girl and mind Jasmine. See you soon.” He grasped Jasmine’s hand, and they left the barn.

  When they reached the truck, he cupped her face in his hands and gave her a long, hard kiss that made her go weak with longing. “I’ll phone you before Saturday. I want a daily progress report on Moondrop.”

  He’d said “daily,” making her feel euphoric.

  She couldn’t bear it when he climbed in the cab and drove away from her. When she couldn’t see his taillights any longer, she hurried back into the barn to say good-night to Moondrop. After closing the barn doors, she dashed to the rear entrance of the ranch house.

  Her parents had gone to bed. She was glad because when she looked in the bathroom mirror, there was no question she’d been thoroughly kissed. Her parents would notice the rash caused by the rasp of his hard jaw. Those electrifying moments in his arms had transported her to a place she’d never been before. She could never get enough of him. It wasn’t possible.

  Sleep didn’t come for a long time. She could still smell him and relived every single moment from the time he’d taken care of her at the crash scene to their parting tonight. There was no one in the world like him. If he didn’t feel the same way about her, then she was headed for a heartache she didn’t want to think about.

  Between training Moondrop and finishing up some work at the university, she’d stay busy until next Saturday when she could be with him again. She knew her parents wouldn’t mind driving her to Helena, not when they heard Wymon would be bringing her home.

  What if she’d never met him? It made her stomach sick to think about it.

  I’m so in love with him, I’ll never be the same again.

  * * *

  EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING on his way to join the stockmen in the upper pasture, Wymon drove to the Clayton Sapphire Gem Shop farther up the mountain road. His family owned a mine that had supplied sapphires for years from the very mountains he loved.

  His father had built the gem shop for his mother to run. What had started out as a hobby had turned into a career for her. Over the years she’d made a name for herself in the sapphire business and continued to receive orders from all over the country.

  Today he was on a special mission for one and hoped to get to the shop before she arrived at nine. He checked his watch. Six thirty. That was good. He didn’t want her to know what he’d been up to.

  After parking in front, he let himself in with the key and walked through to the back room where he opened the safe. His mother kept her most prized sapphires locked up inside. When much younger, he and his brothers had spent plenty of hours up there with her, poring over her inventory for amusement. The sapphires came in a wide assortment of hues, and each brother had his favorites.

  Wymon remembered one sapphire that was an unusual spring-green color. He hadn’t thought about it in years until he’d looked into Jasmine’s eyes at the crash site. They were identical in color to the stone. He wondered if his mother had sold it a long time ago, or if it was still in the safe.

  She kept the different colored stones separated in little velvet bags. Using his flashlight, he started looking in each bag of gems, reminding him of happy times in his youth. The last bag had to contain the green ones.

  He reached for a square of velvet on a worktable and poured them out to get a good look. The greens came in different shades. As he separated them, the spring-green stone seemed to wink up at him.

  His mother hadn’t sold it!

  Excited, he put it in his hand and focused the flashlight on it. The round solitaire had to be at least two carats and had a hidden green fire like Jasmine’s eyes. Without hesitation, he found an empty velvet bag and put the stone inside it.

  Once he’d slipped it in his pocket, he put the other stones back in the bag and stored everything away in the safe. Like a thief in the night, he quietly left the shop and headed up to the pasture with his precious quarry. He had plans for it. Later he’d tell his mother what he’d done and pay her full price.

  When Saturday arrived three days later, he left early for Helena and stopped at a jewelry store on his way to the state capitol building.

  “May I help you, sir?”

  “Yes. I have a green sapphire here I’d like mounted on a wide gold band.”

  The man took a look at it through his loupe. “This is an extraordinary stone with an exceptional cut and vivid saturation. I don’t think I’ve ever seen one quite like it.”

  “It came from my family’s mine in the Sapphires.”

  He stared at Wymon. “You’re talking the Clayton mine? Your mother runs the shop?”

  “That’s right.”

  “She’s an excellent jeweler herself.”

  “She is, but I don’t want her to know about this.”

  The other man nodded. “Give me a minute, and I’ll show you what I have.”

  Within ten minutes Wymon had picked the band he wanted plus a thin wedding band to match. “Can you have everything ready by later this afternoon? I’ll only be in Helena today.”

  “I’ll put a rush on it.”

  “Thank you. I’ll be back.”

  With little time to spare, he drove to the state capitol where Jim was waiting for him. Together they joined the committee of ranchers and sat around the conference room table where the governor presided with his circle of advisers.

  Their eleven o’clock meeting ran through the lunch hour until two thirty. They presented all their latest findings and had legal representation there to answer any questions from the men who worked closest with the governor.

  Wymon’s adrenaline was working overtime because they’d be hearing the governor’s decision any minute now. Jim’s brow was furrowed. He darted Wymon a glance he read perfectly. They were going to lose this round again.

  Yup. They’d wanted the governor’s backing.

  The most outspoken of their adversaries—chief among them Rob Farnsworth—had done their homework over the last six months and were using scare tactics to combat their plan. No matter how accurately Wymon’s side had presented the facts—that the Yellowstone grizzly population was accepted by the public, that there’d only been eight fatal attacks by bears in 140 years, that grizzly bears didn’t go after livestock—their ears were closed.

  The governor cleared his throat. “Gentlemen? You ranchers and wild life experts who want the grizzlies introduced back into the Sapphires have presented a strong and passionate argument on this issue.

  “We appreciate the statistics you’ve accumulated and your reasoning. But I’m afraid the consensus for now is to wait until next January when the legislature is in session. That will be the best time to propose a new bill. The public still needs more educating on this issue. I wish you well.”

  The governor’s response came as no surprise. Dejected, but not devastated, Wymon shook the governor’s hand and walked out of the room with the other committee members. They parted company on the steps of the capitol and agreed to meet in two weeks to brainstorm ideas and start working on preparing another bill.

  Jim’s gaze met Wymon’s. “Let’s get lunch.”

  “I’ll follow you.”

  They headed to Tiny’s Grill. Wymon pulled his Montana map out of the glove compartment and took it inside with him. Over steak sandwichs, they worked out a
new battle plan, outlining the geographic areas they needed to focus on.

  “We’re going to have to do a thorough canvassing, Wymon. Door-to-door visits, signatures, pledges, the works!”

  “Agreed. That’s why I turned down the job with the Cattlemen’s Association. I’ve freed myself up. Let’s do it together.”

  “My wife will handle the horse sales while I’m gone.”

  Wymon nodded. “Eli’s running the ranch right now. How soon can you get started?”

  “A week from Monday morning, I’m your man. In the meantime, we’ll stay in touch.”

  He nodded. “I’ll plan to drive to Missoula to pick you up. We’ll go on the road for the week, pass out our brochures and see how it goes.”

  “If we manage to influence enough voters to sign our petition, we’ll contact the committee and get them doing the same thing.”

  “It’s a plan.”

  “I’ve got to get back to Missoula. My wife is waiting for me to take her shopping for some new furniture. I promised. Luckily the store’s open until nine.”

  Wymon smiled. “That’s one promise you don’t dare break. See you in a week.”

  He watched Jim leave, but his mind was already on Jasmine. She’d made a promise to Rob Farnsworth she couldn’t break, either. Wymon didn’t have to like it, but he understood. Jasmine’s compassion was part of what made her such an exceptional woman. It showed in every aspect of her life.

  After paying the bill, he left the restaurant and headed back to the jewelry shop. When Wymon saw the finished products inside the ring box, his breath caught. “They’re perfect.”

  “That’s a real compliment coming from you.”

  Wymon paid him and put the velvet box in his pocket. He didn’t know the moment he would give the ring to Jasmine. They hadn’t been seeing each other long enough, but he wanted to be ready when the time came. He knew it was coming just as surely as he knew the sun went down over the Sapphires every night.

  More than satisfied with his purchase, he left the store and drove the six miles to the fairgrounds. With the representative’s father funding the event, Rob Farnsworth would surely draw a capacity crowd.

  In the posters advertising tonight’s event, Farnsworth was flashing the smile he was famous for. The last time Wymon had seen the man’s face, he’d been snarling.

  The lot on the west side of the exhibition hall was already filling up. Wymon decided to park with the rest of the vehicles and sit it out until Jasmine phoned him. While he waited, he called the ranch to talk to his mom who was anxious to know what had happened at the meeting with the governor. Roce had come home to the ranch for the weekend, so Wymon was able to talk to him, too.

  While he told him the bad news, a couple of vans from TV stations in Helena pulled in to the reserved parking. He watched for any sign of Jasmine being dropped off by her parents, but by now the place was thick with people and security, making it hard for him to spot her.

  It was a good thing he’d come when he did and that he’d driven the Audi. Farnsworth would have recognized Wymon’s truck. Better yet, being this close to the hall, Jasmine wouldn’t have to walk far to find him after exiting the building.

  “So where are you now?” Roce asked him.

  Wymon told his brother what was going on. “I won’t be back to the ranch until late.”

  Roce’s whistle pierced his ear. “You sure you should be out in the parking lot waiting for her? Farnsworth might come after her and see you.”

  He took a deep breath. “They haven’t been a couple since the crash. If he realizes what’s happening tonight, he’ll have to deal with it.”

  “Knowing what he’s like, he could make trouble for you and your committee.”

  “He’s already done his best on that count.”

  “I’m afraid you have a target on your back that has turned personal. Be careful, bro.”

  Wymon could always count on his brothers watching his back. “I hear you. See you tomorrow.”

  He hung up and checked his watch. The rally had started. He looked around. The place was crowded, but not so packed that there were lines of people waiting to get in.

  At five after seven he received a text.

  I’m coming out now. Where are you?

  His pulse sped up. I’m in the blue Audi parked in the second row toward the middle.

  Wymon got out of the car to watch for her, praying she came out alone.

  Chapter Eight

  Jasmine had to admit Rob had delivered a great speech. Now that it was over, his parents had gone up on the platform with him. They waved to her, and she waved back while Buzz took over the mic. She had no idea what they thought about her sitting with the audience instead of supporting Rob onstage, but she couldn’t worry about it. Rob would have to make the explanations when this was over.

  The crowd rose to its feet and everyone was shouting “Farnsworth” over and over again. This was the moment to escape.

  Jasmine moved past four people to reach the crowded aisle. She wove her way through to the back of the room and out the doors. When she stepped outside into the warm air, someone took hold of her arm. “Ms. Telford?”

  She whipped her head around to discover the same security guard who’d been waiting earlier to lead her inside the hall before the rally. She removed her arm from his grasp. “What’s going on?”

  “Excuse me for startling you, but you were hurrying so fast I was afraid I wouldn’t catch you in time. Representative Farnsworth asked that you stay here until he could join you.”

  Before Jasmine could say a word of protest, a tall, sharply dressed man stepped in front of them.

  “Please, inform Representative Farnsworth that Ms. Telford has another engagement.” Wymon’s authoritative voice sent shivers through her. “He needs to check with his manager, Mr. Hendricks, so this problem doesn’t happen again. Good night.”

  After sliding an arm around her shoulders, Wymon walked her to his car and opened the door. She sank on to the seat and looked up at his incredibly striking, familiar face. “If you hadn’t come when you did...”

  Wymon leaned in and kissed her mouth. “You kept your promise. He didn’t keep his. I waited to see if he could be honorable, but he’s still out of control, so all bets are off.” He made certain her skirt was tucked in before he closed the door and went around to his side of the car.

  “I’m so glad you were here,” she said softly as he started the engine and backed out of his parking space.”

  “So am I.”

  People were leaving the exhibit hall and the parking lot became a swarm of activity. Wymon maneuvered them through the chaos with expertise. After a few minutes they reached the access road to the highway. She was surprised he took the turnoff for Drummond instead of driving into Helena.

  “Didn’t you want to eat here first?”

  “When I saw that security guard grab hold of you, I changed my mind. Don’t look now, but we have company following us.”

  She got a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach. “Is it Rob? He promised me he’d tell his parents everything after the rally.”

  Wymon shook his head. “Don’t worry. It’s two security people no doubt hired with his personal funds to keep tabs on you. Hopefully they’ll tire of the drive when they realize we’re headed all the way to Philipsburg. With tonight’s traffic, it’ll take a good two hours. We’ll see if they’re up to it.”

  “Something’s wrong with him, Wymon.”

  “I agree, but I’m the one Rob is trying to intimidate. He knows he’s lost you, which means our coalition’s defeat wasn’t enough revenge for him.”

  She frowned. “What defeat?”

  “Our proposal for the grizzly reintroduction program was turned down a second time at the state capitol today. We want th
e governor behind us when we get a bill ready. He says we need to do more work before we bring it to him again. His approval will influence a lot of legislature.”

  Jasmine hadn’t realized. “I’m so sorry, Wymon.”

  “We’ll live to bring it up again another day.”

  She bit her lip, knowing Wymon had to be a lot more disappointed than he was letting on. “I wish Rob didn’t know where I live or work. If I could just disappear for a while, maybe he’d come to his senses and leave us both alone.”

  He reached for her hand and threaded his fingers through hers. “I have an idea how you can disappear for a while. We’ll have dinner first at this great roadhouse in Deer Lodge where they serve melt-in-your-mouth barbecue. Can you wait that long to eat?”

  “Of course.”

  “Good.”

  “What if those men stop there, too?”

  “It’s a free country, Jasmine. As long as they don’t bother us, there’s no problem.”

  “I don’t see how you can be so calm.”

  “When Eli and I were on the rodeo circuit, we learned a lot about getting our nerves under control. You have to watch out for the guys who try their intimidation tactics on you to throw you off your game. It was a great place to figure out what fights to pick and what fights to avoid.”

  “I never thought about the rodeo like that.”

  “Toly will tell you about guys who try to get inside his head and needle him. That’s what Rob is doing right now. He’s been in the military and knows how to apply those strategies. But because he’s a politician with bigger fish to fry, he’ll soon get tired of the game.”

  Jasmine wanted to believe that, but she’d known Rob long enough to understand his need to win outweighed everything else. She was deep in thought by the time they reached the restaurant.

  “I don’t know about you, but I’m starving,” Wymon said as he ushered her inside. “If those guys followed us all the way, I haven’t seen them yet, so don’t worry about it.”

  Once they were shown a table, they ordered a fabulous meal of hickory-smoked ribs, twice-baked southern yams with butter and cinnamon, apple fritters and coffee.