“Not just a general. A two-star general. Judge nothing by its cover at Big Heart Ranch.” Lucy put a palm on the ground and began to stand.
“Wait, let me help.” He held out a hand.
Lucy grabbed her straw Stetson from the ground, dusted it off and jammed the crown on her head over her chin-length dark hair. With a sigh of resignation, she accepted Jack’s outstretched palm. Her small hand fit neatly in his as he carefully assisted her to a standing position. “Feeling okay?”
She blinked and took a deep breath, but didn’t meet his gaze. “I’m good,” she murmured, slowly extricating her hand from his.
Lucy turned away from him in a quick movement and stumbled in the process. He reached for her arm.
“I’ve got it.” Lucy nodded her thanks, before stepping away from his hand on her elbow. She dusted off her jeans and grimaced at the red dirt and grass stains marring her once pristine T-shirt.
Her eyes widened when he stepped toward her. “You’ve got stuff in your hair,” Jack said. He reached forward, plucked a piece of leaf and twig from the dark tresses and placed them in her palm. “There’s still...”
Nodding, she removed her hat and ran her hands through the short cap of hair, ruffling the strands and releasing bits of grass and dirt.
“You got it,” he said.
They stood facing each other, silent for a moment. “Thank you,” Lucy murmured.
“No problem.” When he pulled down the steps to the wagon and yanked back a flap of canvas, Dub instantly appeared.
The little man’s jaw dropped for a moment, and then he screwed up his face. “Miss Lucy, are you okay?”
“She fell down,” Jack said.
“We gots to pray for her, Mr. Jack.”
“What?” Jack’s head jerked back at the words.
“We gots to pray for her, right now.”
“Dub, we can pray later,” Lucy suggested.
“No. Miss Lucy, we learned in Bible study that you should pray now. Not later. Later doesn’t always come.”
“I, ah...I haven’t prayed for anyone in a long time,” Jack said.
“Don’t worry. I’ll show you how,” Dub said. He took Lucy’s and then Jack’s hand in his small ones. “Now, close your eyes. I’ll talk to God. Don’t worry.”
Jack swallowed hard and looked to Lucy, hoping for an escape route.
“Planting seeds,” Lucy murmured.
Jack shook his head and then closed his eyes, swallowing hard as he recalled that he hadn’t prayed in over twenty-five years. Not since that fateful day his brother died.
So today he would pray, because a five-year-old orphan had told him to, and because he realized that Dub was right. Despite his misgivings about Big Heart Ranch, Lucy Maxwell still deserved his prayers.
Jack opened his eyes and rested his gaze on Lucy, and his thoughts whispered softly, reminding him how right the woman felt in his arms. In that moment, he reluctantly admitted that maybe he needed prayer, too.
* * *
“So you’re sort of a white-collar rebel. Aren’t you?” Lucy asked as she approached Jack Harris.
“Is that a trick question?”
The light from the campfire silhouetted his strong profile as he stood in front of what was supposed to be his tent. It also illuminated the cell phone in his hand, and Lucy clucked her tongue in dismay.
“Everyone else set up their tents hours ago.” She switched on the flashlight in her hand and shone the beam over the tarp and poles at his feet. “What are you doing?”
Jack casually eased his phone into the back pocket of his blue jeans, picked up a pole and fit it into another. “Is that a rhetorical question?”
She slowly shook her head. “You know, I would have never taken you for a rule breaker.”
“Rule breaker?”
“You’re using electronics.”
“I’m trying to put a tent together, ideally before midnight.”
He looked at his watch, an expensive electronic gadget that no doubt cost more than her car.
“Nice watch. Does it talk to your phone and your laptop, and monitor your heart rate and the size of your ego and all that good stuff?”
“Yeah. It does. Except for the ego part.” He met her gaze and raised a hand. “I know what you’re thinking, but in my defense, this tent did not come with instructions.”
“That’s because everyone knows how to put a pup tent together.”
“We don’t have pup tents in the Financial District.”
“And yet the bottom line remains the same. Electronics are not allowed.”
“I wasn’t—”
“A simple rule. The children understand this rule.”
“But—”
Lucy cleared her throat. “We’re communing with nature, Jack. Enjoying everything God gave us. Didn’t you enjoy the trail ride here? The scenery is pretty stupendous. What about that campfire stew and those sweet potato biscuits? Our cook used to be a chef at a Michelin three-star restaurant. He’s a volunteer, too.”
“The meal was delicious.” He nodded. “To tell you the truth, I might have enjoyed the ride, if it were two hours shorter.”
“Nonetheless, you were warned. No electronics.”
“Technically, I wasn’t using my phone. It was a tutorial on putting up tents that I downloaded earlier.” He glanced at the pile of tarp and poles in front of him once more and grimaced.
“I know an electronics infraction when I see one, Mr. Harris.”
“Are we back to, Mr. Harris?” He turned and met her gaze. “How’s the head?”
Lucy gingerly touched her fingers to the back of her head. “I’m perfectly fine. It doesn’t even hurt.”
“Then why are your eyes crossed?”
She stiffened. “They are not.” Refusing to be distracted, she held out her palm. “If you’re trying to earn brownie points with the electronics police, it’s not working.”
“Apparently you’re feeling better.” He stared at her outstretched hand and held up two fingers. “How many fingers?”
“Two.” Lucy stretched her hand even closer to him.
He stepped back. “What if my aunt tries to reach me?”
“The sympathy card won’t work, either. Meredith has all the ranch numbers. They’ll contact us immediately. We even have a two-way radio for emergencies.” She put her hands on her hips. “We’ve been doing this for a long time, Mr. Harris. We have a contingency plan for everything.”
“No electronics,” he repeated. “Do you mind telling me how you’re going to wake everyone up in the morning? And what about breakfast?”
“Actually, I will have the pleasure of rousing our camp. I wake daily at dawn automatically. It’s a little-known talent of mine.”
“Why am I not surprised?” he muttered.
“Pardon me?”
Jack knelt down to smooth the ground cloth. “And meals?”
“We have a fire permit for the evening campfires, and our cook will be using a camp stove with a propane tank. Authentic meals, I’m afraid. Right down to the coffee.”
Jack took a deep breath.
“Now, may I have your phone?” She paused. “And your watch.”
He stood and hesitantly placed the cell in her hand. When their hands touched, Lucy stepped back and looked away. How could a simple touch be so potent? This was new territory for her and she was admittedly confused.
“What happens at night?” Jack finally asked.
“At night?”
“While we’re sleeping. If there’s an emergency. Coyotes, wolves, bears.” He frowned and glanced around at the looming dark shadows of the woods that surrounded them, as though evaluating the merit of her words. “Or illness.”
“We have security. I hired two wranglers to watch the camp during the nigh
t to ensure our site is secure, and because I am aware that kids will be kids. I don’t want any problems while I sleep. They’ll ride to the ranch in the morning and be back again at night.”
“That was a three-hour ride to get here.”
“They took the shortcut on the other side of the woods. It connects with the main road.”
“Any special reason we had to commune with nature this far out, as opposed to, say, one hour on the trail?” Jack glanced at her. “I would have been okay with the one-hour back route. I’ve got aches where I didn’t even know I could have aches.”
“I thought your aunt said you were experienced in the saddle.”
“I was. A long time ago.”
“Where did you ride?”
“Aunt Meredith’s stable used to be filled with horses. My brother and I spent every summer in the saddle.”
“Good memories?”
“Yeah, the best. I would have savored them more if I’d only known.”
“Known what?” Lucy asked.
He shook his head, dismissing the subject.
“Well, if it’s any consolation, there are actually other reasons for being this far out. I’ll explain when it starts raining.”
She followed his gaze when he glanced up at the night sky. A stretch of deep blue-black edged with the fading orange of the setting sun filled the skies. Around them, the only sounds were the katydids singing and the muffled chatter of tent conversations.
“Doesn’t look like rain to me,” he finally said.
“All meteorological indicators point to rain tomorrow afternoon, and it’s going to be a gully washer.”
“A what?”
“I’ll explain that tomorrow, as well,” she said. “In the meantime, relax. Enjoy yourself, and I’ll have Rue drop off some ibuprofen.”
He stared at the pile of poles and fabric at his feet. “Enjoy. Yeah, I’ll get right on that.”
“Would you like some help with your tent?” Lucy asked.
“It’s a simple pup tent. I ought to be able to put it together myself.” He turned his head to look at the other tents, all efficiently raised and ready for the night.
“I’ll send Dub out to help you. Please escort him back to the camp wagon when he’s done.”
“You’re telling me that a first-grader knows how to put up a tent?”
“Kindergartener.” She nodded. “And yes, Dub is extremely intuitive.”
“Great. First undermined by a chicken, now I’ll be schooled by a five-year-old.”
“We’re all about sharing our special skills here.”
“Are you?”
“Yes. Oh, and do hurry, or you’re going to miss dessert. Dub is so excited about ice cream and cake that he’s sitting in that wagon talking to the cook nonstop.”
“Ice cream?”
“Anything is possible at Big Heart Ranch.”
“It’s got to cost a fortune to bring ice cream out here in the middle of nowhere in July. That’s how you allocate donations?”
“Put away your calculator heart, Mr. Harris.” She pointed a finger at him. “This did not come out of our budget. The mayor of Timber donated the ice cream. They’re bringing it out on dry ice with the Ute, from the main road.”
“The mayor?”
“Yes. He supports our ranch one hundred percent. It helps that he owns an ice cream parlor, as well.”
“We better get the Dubster over here to save me, so he can have his cake and ice cream.”
“Will do.” She turned to leave, but then stopped and faced him. “I didn’t thank you for coming to my assistance this afternoon. Thank you.”
Jack nodded without meeting her gaze. Head down, he shifted position as though unaccustomed to thanks, and tucked his hands into his front pockets. This was a vulnerable side of the man she hadn’t seen. It was oddly attractive.
“And thank you for praying with Dub earlier. I have no idea if you’re a praying man, but Dub needed that. A male role model and all.”
“Me? A role model?” He scoffed. “I don’t think so.”
“You underestimate yourself, and you were great with Dub.”
“Hmm. Was I? Aunt Meri had me in church all the time when I was Dub’s age.”
“And now?”
“I seem to have misplaced a good excuse for why I haven’t given God the time of day.”
She nodded slowly. “You’re very close to your aunt, aren’t you?”
“I owe her a lot. My aunt gave me hope when I needed it most.”
“She gave us hope, too. Once she got on board, the entire community followed. Now that’s exactly what we offer in return at the ranch. Hope. No one understands that more than Meredith Brisbane.”
“My aunt is getting older. I’m not sure about her decision-making ability anymore.”
“It isn’t necessary for you to keep reminding me that this isn’t personal. I get that, Jack. All I’m saying is that you shouldn’t rule out the possibility that God has a hand in all our lives—yours, mine, your aunt’s and Dub’s. Have you considered that you might be here for a reason, and perhaps it has nothing to do with Big Heart Ranch’s donation?”
“You really believe that?”
“You’ve been with us only twenty-four hours, and already I’m sensing a change in you.”
His gaze met hers, and for once the gray eyes were without shutters. He stared for a long moment as if searching for something. Maybe the same thing she was—trying to figure out what was happening between them.
“I believe anything is possible, Jack,” she whispered. “And trust me, that thought scares me as much as it does you.”
Chapter Five
“Rise and shine.”
Jack groaned and opened his eyes. This was probably the strangest dream he’d ever had—bordering on a nightmare when he realized that it was Lucy Maxwell’s voice. He smelled bacon, too. Odd. Patting the ground beside him, he searched for his phone, but his fingers only came up with the cool, damp fabric of the ground cloth.
He blinked and realized where he was. In a tent. On the Big Heart Ranch epic trail ride and campout. In the middle of nowhere, Oklahoma. Without his cell phone or his watch.
“Mr. Jack?” A soft pummeling on his tent wall ensued. “Time to rise and shine. Miss Lucy said so a long time ago. Didn’t you hear her?”
Dub Lewis.
“I’m up.”
“Hurry. You missed breakfast and we gotta start the scavenger hunt.”
“I missed breakfast?” Jack rubbed his eyes. But he was sure it was only minutes ago that he’d heard Lucy’s voice.
“Are you coming?”
“I am. Be right there, Dub. Don’t move.”
“Yes, sir. But I have to make a trip down to the outhouse. And I gots to go bad.”
“Go. I’ll be right there.”
“I’m not allowed to go by myself. I have to go with my buddy.” There was a long pause. “That’s you.”
“Okay. Hang on a minute.” Jack unzipped his sleeping bag, tried to stand and fell over in a tangle. “Oomph.”
“You okay, Mr. Jack?”
“I’m fine,” he muttered. Once again he automatically reached for his phone to check both the time and the temperature. No phone. Right. Drill Sergeant Maxwell had confiscated it.
He grabbed his paddock boots, unzipped the tent and crawled out, managing to hit his head on a tent pole. “Ouch.”
“Mr. Jack, your tent is lopsided.”
“Yeah. I got up in the night and forgot I was in a tent and bent the pole. Maybe we can fix that today.”
“Okay.”
“How did you sleep, Dub?”
“Good, until the big boys came in.”
“Big boys?”
“Yeah. Stewie and Henry. They’re twelve. They’
re my brothers here at the ranch. We live in the same house. Miss Lucy made them sleep in the wagon ’cause they were naughty.”
“Oh, yeah?”
Dub nodded. “They tried to scare me with creepy stories, but I plugged my ears.”
“Good for you.”
Jack glanced down at the little man outside his tent. Today he wore jeans, a striped T-shirt and the red sneakers he favored. A small backpack was slung over his shoulder. The boy wriggled in an antsy dance, moving back and forth from one foot to another.
“I guess you’re ready to go.”
“Uh-huh.” Dub shot ahead down the path to the creek.
“Wait for me. Those woods can be dangerous,” Jack called. “Stop moving. Stand right there.”
“You missed the meeting,” Dub announced when Jack caught up. “Miss Lucy said she tried to wake you up, but you yelled at her.”
“I did?”
“Yeth. She said sometimes it’s better to let people sleep.”
“I had a hard time falling asleep,” he muttered. If he’d had his phone, his alarm would have ensured an early rising and that he didn’t miss anything. Plus, he’d know the forecast. The weather app on his phone would have provided the humidity, UV index, wind factor and temperature. Without an information overload, the world seemed off.
His gaze scanned the sky, which held low layered clouds. Okay, fine. No weather app needed today. Nothing said rain louder than cumulonimbus or nimbostratus clouds. Yesterday he would have said that it was impossible for the humidity to get any higher. Yet today it was so thick, he could easily swim down to the creek. Muggy Oklahoma air had drowned out the scent of pine and campfire cooking.
Yes. It was going to rain. All part of Lucy’s nefarious plot to annoy him.
“Ouch.” Dub slapped a hand to his forearm.
“You okay?”
“Yeth. Just a skeeter.”
“Skeeter?” Jack frowned. “Oh, a mosquito. Don’t scratch the bite.”
Dub nodded. “Miss Lucy passed out the scavenger hunt papers. I gots one for us. She said that if it rains, we’re going through the woods to the other side.”
“What’s on the other side?”
Dub shrugged.
“Anything else?” Jack asked.
Claiming Her Cowboy Page 6
