Claiming Her Cowboy

by Tina Radcliffe

  Second shelf on the right. Tucked near the back. Exactly where she’d put it three years ago. Lucy opened the pantry door and carefully removed the vase from the original gift box. She placed the crystal cylinder in the sink under running water.

  “This is your house?” Meredith asked, her gaze sweeping the open spaces and high ceilings.

  “Yes. I bought the place a long time ago. It’s been empty ever since.”

  “Why has this house come between you and Jackson?”

  Lucy took a deep breath, turned off the faucet and faced Meredith. “I could tell you that he and I have had differing views on the future of the ranch, and this house. But the truth would be because we’re both bossy and pigheaded.”

  “That’s a shame.” Meredith stepped into the open living room. “So this is where he brought all that furniture.” She walked across the room and stood in front of the fireplace to admire the painting. “Bob Timberlake. It looks like a first edition print.”

  “Is it? I don’t even know where it came from,” Lucy admitted.

  “Oh, Jackson, I imagine.”

  Lucy’s gaze followed Meredith’s. As she glanced around, she realized how nicely the furniture and accessories fit in the lodge. It was almost as though they were supposed to be there.

  “Lucy, did you see the chandelier in the great room at the estate?”

  “Yes. It’s incredible. The heart-shaped crystals.”

  “My husband bought it for me because he had it in his head that the chandelier was something I longed for.” She smiled serenely. “I didn’t really. However, every time I look at that chandelier and see the prisms of light reflected from those hearts I remember how much he loved me. That chandelier was his expression of love.”

  Lucy was silent as Meredith continued.

  “Have you ever considered that what my nephew did with this house is his expression of love?”

  Lucy’s eyes widened.

  “Jackson knew right away that you weren’t a crook, and that Big Heart Ranch was legitimate. He respected and admired your steadfast devotion to the ministry God gave you.” Meredith laughed. “He’s been more than a little perturbed that you care more about his stall-mucking ability than his bank account or his family ties.”

  “I don’t understand. Then why didn’t he sign the paperwork?”

  “I asked him the same thing that day when you were at the house with the children. He said that if he signed it on week two, he wouldn’t have a reason to stay at the ranch for the summer. Jackson cared for you right from the beginning.” She smiled again. “He was determined to make sure you’d never lose Big Heart Ranch. I believe he said something about a Plan B.”

  Lucy’s jaw sagged at the words.

  “My nephew loves you.”

  “He certainly has a funny way of showing it.”

  “Oh, don’t get me wrong. He was completely in the wrong. I told him that from the start. He made a mistake.”

  Meredith stepped closer and took Lucy’s hands. “I’ve grown to love you as well, Lucy. You’re an amazing woman. It would be my dearest wish if you could find it in your heart to forgive Jackson. To give him a second chance. Do you think you can do that?”

  Emotion stinging her eyes, Lucy nodded.

  * * *

  “What are you doing?” Jack asked. He assessed the boxes spread over the kitchen floor. Lucy Maxwell was on the closet floor, with her boots sticking out into the kitchen of the lodge.

  She jerked when he spoke, and the sound of her head connecting with a shelf echoed in the kitchen. “Ouch.”

  Jack groaned. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to surprise you.”

  Lucy crawled out of the closet and looked up at him. “What does it look like I’m doing?”

  He opened his mouth and then closed it, determined not to make a mess of things today. Focus, Jack. The reason he was here was to fix what he’d already messed up.

  When she dusted off her jeans and began to stand, Jack quickly offered her a hand.

  “Thanks. I was getting a little stiff.” Their gazes connected, and she paused, glancing down at her hand in his before stepping back.

  “Dust bunny at twelve o’clock,” he said.

  “Huh?”

  Jack plucked a ball of dust from her hair and offered it to her. Lucy laughed when he placed it in her palm.

  He smiled. Lucy laughing was a very good sign.

  “So you were saying?”

  “Saying?” Lucy frowned, confused.

  “The closet.”

  “Oh, that.” Lucy gestured with a hand. “I’m moving on with my life.” She picked up a stack of small boxes and put them on the kitchen island. “Six trivets, Jack. How many trivets does one woman need?”

  He frowned. “I don’t know the answer to that question.”

  When she laughed again, the tightness in his chest eased. Maybe this wasn’t going to be as painful as he thought.

  “Thank you for the check. And the flowers and the recommendation you provided to DHS.” Her cheeks went pink, and she offered an embarrassed smile. “Actually, I have quite a bit to thank you for.”

  “You’re welcome.” He shoved his hands in his pockets. “Look, Lucy, I’m here to apologize. Let me do that before I put my foot in my mouth again.”

  “Okay,” Lucy murmured.

  “I steamrolled you with this whole Big Heart Ranch Retreat Center plan of mine.”

  “Yes. You did.”

  “I was an idiot. I thought I could force you to face your fears when I had no intention of facing mine until you made me.” He released a breath. “I’m sorry.”

  “You are quite forgiven.”

  “Yeah?” He cocked his head. “I expected a lot more, you know...”

  “Groveling?”

  Jack nodded.

  “Normally, I would require that.”

  “Oh?”

  “Except I have so much to be thankful for, I’m feeling benevolent today.” She paused. “And it’s possible that despite your arrogant and high-handed ways, you actually did me a favor by forcing me to face my fears and let go of control.”

  “Um, thanks. I think.” He met her gaze. “But it goes both ways. By twisting my arm, and pushing me to be a buddy to Dub, you helped me move past the guilt of my brother’s death.”

  An awkward silence stretched between them. Jack met her gaze. “What are we going to do now?” he whispered.

  Her expression was solemn as she lifted her chin and really looked at him. “I don’t know.”

  “You’re still afraid, aren’t you?”

  She sighed. “Well, duh. Of course I am. I’m terrified. I don’t have any more closets, Jack.”

  “I’m not that other guy, you know. I won’t ever leave you. I’m not perfect. When life gets messy and complicated, like you said it would, I won’t ever disappear.”

  “What are you saying?”

  “I’m saying that I love you, Lucy Maxwell.”

  Tenderness filled her eyes, followed immediately by wide-eyed panic.

  “It’s only been six weeks, Jack.”

  “Yeah. How about that? Six weeks is all it took for me to fall in love with you.”

  Lucy’s mouth formed an O of astonishment. “You’re really in love with me?”

  “How could I not be? You’ve been turning my life upside down since day one.”

  “Your life? What about mine? I now have an admin and a guest ranch. With the new budget, we’ll be able to add a few more houses to the boys’ and girls’ ranches. That means we can help a few more kids. Thanks to you.”

  “Don’t give me the credit.” Jack aimed his thumb heavenward. “I’ve been asleep for twenty-five years. He and my aunt woke me up by sending me to Big Heart Ranch. They’re quite a team. They get all the credit.”

 
Lucy gave a hesitant nod. “Yes. With a little help from the general.”

  “You know that this means you have to trust me. No more Plan B. No more waiting for the other boot to drop. I get that this ranch is your ministry, and that doesn’t scare me.”

  “Maybe it should.”

  “Not at all. These are God’s kids. This is your job. God willing, I’ll partner with you in that job and at night we can go home to our children, Dub, Ann and Eva, each night.”

  Lucy gasped and reached for the counter as her knees wobbled. “You want to adopt them?”

  Jack slipped an arm around her waist and helped her to a chair. “Of course I want to adopt them. I’d be lost without them. Without you.”

  “Adopt?” Lucy repeated the word. “Five hearts will get a second chance, Jack.”

  “A family. A forever family.”

  “Except I haven’t even told Dub and his sisters about the foster plan yet. I haven’t asked them if they want me to be their mom.”

  “Of course they do. But why haven’t you told them?”

  “I’m waiting for the official paperwork to be delivered. I can’t tell them until then. What if...”

  He put a finger to her mouth. “No more what-ifs, Lucy. No more zombie apocalypse backup plans.”

  She nodded. “You’re right. You’re completely right.”

  For a few moments, Lucy simply stared at him. Then she stood and wrapped her arms around his neck. She closed her eyes tight and opened them. “Oh, Jack,” she murmured. “Who ever thought I’d fall in love with the ornery lawyer with the cute dimple?”

  “I have a cute dimple?”

  When she nodded, Jack lowered his head to meet her lips.

  “Ah, Lucy,” he breathed when they separated. “We have to get busy.”

  “How so?”

  “We’ve got paperwork to file if we want to finalize the adoption in time for the wedding.”

  “What wedding?”

  “Lucy Transparent Maxwell, will you marry me?”

  “Oh, Jack,” she murmured again, reaching up to kiss him. She leaned back in the circle of his arms.

  “A wedding,” she breathed.

  “Yeah.”

  “With Dub and Ann and Eva.”

  “Is that a yes, Lucy?”

  “Yes. It’s a yes.” She reached for a notepad on the counter. “We have so much to do. We’re way behind schedule, Jack. We have to catch up and start making those forever memories for those kids. For us.”

  He laughed and took the paper from her. “We have a lifetime, Lucy. A lifetime for our little family.”

  “I love you, Jack.”

  “I love you too, Lucy.”

  * * * * *

  If you loved this story, pick up these

  heartwarming books from beloved author Tina Radcliffe:

  STRANDED WITH THE RANCHER

  SAFE IN THE FIREMAN’S ARMS

  ROCKY MOUNTAIN REUNION

  ROCKY MOUNTAIN COWBOY

  Available now from Love Inspired!

  Find more great reads at www.LoveInspired.com

  Keep reading for an excerpt from A MOM FOR HIS DAUGHTER by Jean C. Gordon.

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  Dear Reader,

  Welcome to Big Heart Ranch in Timber, Oklahoma. I’m so excited about this new series. In this book and others, I’ll be introducing you to the staff and kids of this ranch for orphaned, abused and neglected children, owned and operated by the orphaned Maxwell siblings, Lucy, Travis and Emma.

  The first book of the series is Lucy Maxwell and Jack Harris’s story. What fun it was delving into the lives of the two stubborn main characters of this book and watching God teach them how to be open to His will. Not unlike the way He does for us when we’re stubborn and set in our ways. Thank You, Lord!

  I hope you’ll come back for more stories from Big Heart Ranch. Do drop me a note and let me know if you enjoyed this book. I can be reached through my website, www.tinaradcliffe.com.

  Sincerely,

  Tina Radcliffe

  We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin Love Inspired story.

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  A Mom for His Daughter

  by Jean C. Gordon

  Chapter One

  Everything Marc Delacroix had always thought he wanted rode on decisions he and his business partners would make in the next few hours. And he couldn’t care less.

  Oh, he’d gone through the motions yesterday of meeting with Fiona Bryce, the Cornell farm-to-table consultant. He owed his partners that much. They’d been picking up the slack for him even before Cate’s death. The lump that formed in his throat when he thought about his wife didn’t choke off his windpipe anymore, which he guessed was progress. This Lake George restaurant launch his partners had sent him north for felt a lot like a get-yourself-together-or-sell-out proposition. He curled his lip. Maybe he should sell out.

  His cell phone jolted him from his thoughts. He glanced at the caller ID. Mom. Just what he didn’t need when he was rushing to get his daughter, Stella, dressed and to her first morning at preschool in Schroon Lake. But he couldn’t ignore her. She was his mother.

  “Hey, Mom. What’s up? I only have a minute if I’m going to get Stella to school on time.”

  “But she’s not quite three yet. So little for preschool,” his mother protested.

  While he listened to his mother’s opinion on Stella and preschool for the third time, his thoughts drifted back to yesterday. Although he only had a vague idea of what Fiona’s program could do, he’d forwarded her presentation with his positive recommendation to his partners. He’d been unexpectedly mesmerized by the woman—her features, her movements—and had paid more attention to her than to what she’d said.

  “Marc?”

  “Yes, I’m here, Mom. I was thinking about my meeting at the research farm yesterday.”

  “I’m glad you’re taking an interest in your work again,” she said.

  More like an interest in my potential business consultant. But it was something. Better than the apathy that had paralyzed him for the past months.

  “You know I don’t mind watching Stella,” his mother said. “I’m free today if you want to get some work in. I usually don’t schedule any bookkeeping on Wednesdays to have a day free for errands and other things.”

  That was the drawback and blessing of having moved Stella from New York City to his hometown of Paradox Lake in the Adirondack Mountains. Lots of people always ready to help. Mom with her offers to take care of Stella. His twin sister pressing him to socialize, meet new people—Fiona, her coworker at the Cornell Research Farm in W
illsboro, popped into his mind again—and encouraging him to get started on La Table Frais, his restaurant project.

  Cradling the phone between his ear and shoulder, Marc picked up Stella’s shoes, slipped them on her feet and pressed the Velcro fasteners. He was inclined to agree with his mother, but his youngest sister, Renee, a child sociologist, had convinced him that being with children her age would help get Stella up to speed with the age-appropriate behavior she’d fallen behind on.

  “It’s a play group for two- and three-year-olds. And Andie will be there.” His older sister was one of the teachers at The Kids Place, the childcare center at Hazardtown Community Church, where he and his family attended services.

  “Stella. Red,” Stella said, pointing at her belly and her red T-shirt in a basket of clothes he had folded, ready to put away.

  “Okay.” Marc hoped he wasn’t pushing Stella too hard. Her speech development had stalled since Cate died. But referring to herself in a baby-like third person was something new he’d noticed since they’d moved here last month.

  “Pardon?” his mother said.

  Stella scampered over to the basket, pulled off the shirt he’d put on her and worked at putting on the red one.

  “Stella wanted to wear her red shirt instead of the one I put on her.”

  He could imagine the expression on his mother’s face about letting Stella have her way. Marc grabbed his phone from his shoulder. But the counselor they’d seen downstate after Cate’s death had said to choose his battles with Stella, and he wasn’t about to do anything to set her off before he even got her to The Kids Place.

  “I don’t want to upset her, Mom. She had a meltdown yesterday at the grocery store. Someone Stella didn’t know said hello to her, and Stella went ballistic. You know how reluctant she can be about talking to new people.” Or anyone other than him—even his family.

  “That’s what I mean. Stella may need more time with family to adjust to her new home. School’s off today for a teacher’s workday or something. I could have Robbie come and play with her.”

  Yeah. A playdate with his toddler cousin wasn’t likely to be at the top of seven-year-old Robbie’s wish list.