The Reluctant Rancher

by Patricia Mason

  Joseph waved aside her concerns. Within minutes, the older man had Mary bundled into her coat and seated in the borrowed truck. “Working here on the ranch will tell Luke all he needs to know. Be here bright and early tomorrow – well, not too early.” He grinned and Mary returned the smile. He really was a sweet old man.

  CHAPTER TWO

  The crisp cold air of the early morning held the fragrant scent of the evergreens growing along the long, lonely stretch of road. The world was covered in a heavy frost as yet undisturbed by man or beast. But the beauty of the majestic scenery failed to soothe Luke’s ragged nerves as he drove to his friend’s house.

  After tossing and turning for hours, he’d given up any hope of a full night’s rest. At dawn’s first light, he’d risen and dressed. His sleep – what little he’d gotten – had been filled with images of a silver haired nymph being chased by a thundering herd of cattle. He had no doubt yesterday’s visitor had inspired his restlessness and the bizarre dreams.

  He left the ranch with the sole intention of giving the good-hearted reverend a piece of his mind. Constantly yammering about how Luke should forget Debbie and get on with his life, he had no doubt who had inspired Mary’s sudden interest in acquiring a loan. But Luke wasn’t ready to start a relationship again. Not yet. Maybe never. The words of his ex-wife still haunted him in the dark hours of the night.

  He pulled up in front of the small frame house and jumped from the truck. He knocked on the kitchen door, waiting with barely controlled patience for someone to answer. As soon as the door swung open, he began his tirade.

  “What the hell do you mean, sending that woman out to my house?” he demanded. In his agitation, he paced back and forth in front of his bleary eyed friend.

  “Hell, Mark,” he continued to curse, at a loss for the right words to explain the real reason why he didn’t want Mary in his house. How did you tell a preacher that a complete stranger had stirred you to life, turned you inside out, and broken through a wall you believed to be impenetrable?

  Luke took a crumpled pack of cigarettes from his coat pocket and pulled one out with his teeth. He lit it quickly. The raw burning sensation that followed almost made him choke. He hadn’t smoked in years. But last night the uncontrollable craving had struck him and he’d knocked on the bunkhouse door, rousing a sleepy hand to bum a smoke. He slowly exhaled, watching the white smoke dissipate in the frosty air.

  “See what that woman has made me do?” he grumbled, shaking the long, thin cylinder at his friend.

  Mark held up one hand to stop his words. “Hold on a minute, Luke. Let me wake up. You’re not making any sense. Back up and tell me what happened.”

  Luke drew in a ragged breath. He explained how his grandfather had hired Mary as his nurse for the next month or so in exchange for Luke giving her a loan when she left. His head of steam came to an abrupt end, and he stopped talking.

  Mark nodded in approval. “That seems like a reasonable arrangement. I’m glad you decided to help.”

  Luke snorted in disgust. “I didn’t.” He started pacing again. “That’s the problem.”

  “What’s got you so worried, pal? Mary’s a good nurse. She helped Jennifer after Jessica’s birth. We couldn’t have made it without her. And investing in her business also sounds like a wise move. Heck, if I had the extra money, I’d give it to her myself.”

  His words didn’t impress Luke in the slightest. “You’d give money to the devil himself if he seemed pathetic enough.”

  “If it makes you feel any better, Jennifer tried to talk her out of it, but she wouldn’t listen.” Mark shrugged his shoulders as if to say he had done all that he could do.

  Luke took another long drag of his cigarette. “So, this isn’t another of your do-gooder schemes? You have no ulterior motive for sending Mary to the Circle T?”

  “I’m hurt, Luke. I’m truly hurt that you could think that of me. This had nothing to do with me. You and your grandfather hired Mary. I didn’t even suggest it, although I wish I had. Is Mary being there going to bother you?”

  “Of course not.” Luke realized he'd made his denial too quickly when he saw the gleam that entered his friend's eyes. “I’ve sworn off women, Mark, remember? I don’t want a repeat of what happened with Debbie.”

  He’d never told anyone, not even his friend, what had transpired on his wedding night. How he’d been unable to maintain his desire long enough to consummate his marriage. Once she’d gotten the gold band on her finger, her true colors had come out with a vengeance. Luke had realized he’d made a mistake before they’d reached the hotel’s honeymoon suite, but he’d married the woman and he’d been willing to stand by his decision.

  Debbie had laughed while she ridiculed him. She’d gloated about how she’d fooled him by pretending to want him just so she could get his money. She had hurled other taunts and insults about his looks and his masculinity as she left the five-star room. Her words had cut to the quick and it had taken him a long time to get over the pain.

  He realized now that his failure in the marital bed had been a direct result of his lack of love for his wife. He’d used Debbie as much as she’d used him. He’d been looking for someone to love; she’d been looking for an easy meal ticket. Neither had gotten their heart’s desire.

  So now if he found himself yearning for something more, for someone to believe in him, yes, someone to love, he squelched those feelings and worked even harder on his ranch.

  As if sensing his inner turmoil, Mark broke into his thoughts impatiently. “How you can let that woman still get to you is beyond me.”

  “Your job is to forgive.”

  “My job is not to pass judgment,” Mark corrected. “Which I don’t. But the woman wanted your money and your ranch, Luke. And she went about it any way that she could. What she did had nothing to do with true love between a man and a woman.”

  Luke finished his cigarette and tossed the butt aside. He watched as it made a wide arch before landing on the frozen ground, the glowing end extinguished by the melting frost. He didn’t acknowledge his friend’s support, he didn’t have to. Even though he rarely said the words aloud, Mark knew the high esteem with which Luke regarded him.

  “I just hope I don’t regret this.” He turned to leave.

  “You won’t,” Mark grinned and slapped him on the back. “I promise.”

  “Yeah, just like you promised that horse I bought off old man Winchester was saddle broken.”

  “Hey, you can’t blame me for that,” he protested. “He just didn’t like your looks.

  “I have to admit I had a damn fine time showing him who was boss.” Finally Luke grinned, his bad mood lifting after speaking to his friend.

  After saying goodbye, he strode from the porch, waving one last time as he pulled from the graveled drive and headed out of town. Last night he’d decided to let his grandfather welcome Mary to the Circle T. He would attend the monthly cattle auction in Newport and leave the two to settle in by themselves.

  He’d taken one look at the curvy woman and felt his hard won control start to slip. A little time away was needed to shore up his defenses.

  “Damnation.” He slapped his hand against the steering wheel. He’d be better off just keeping his distance. And this trip was the perfect beginning. Maybe this attraction to Mary was the end of his long dry spell with women. A cowboy with a pocket full of change could always find himself a good time no matter how ugly he happened to be.

  * * * * *

  Several days later Mary woke slowly then sat up with a start.

  “Pooh bear,” she muttered. The time on the bedside clock read half past nine. Well past the time she should have been up and about.

  A chill permeated the early morning air even though the calendar proclaimed it to be mid-May. She bounded from bed. Time to decide what to wear. Joseph had been most adamant about her not wearing a uniform but clothes had been her enemy for a long time. For years, the only fashion available for women of Mary’s siz
e were shapeless garments made of polyester and gabardine. Within the last few years, designers had finally wised-up and started producing clothes for the plus-sized woman made of silk and satin and in beautiful flowing lines that flattered rather than fattened. But Mary didn’t have anyone in her life to care whether she wore the newer, sexier garments or not.

  She decided on a blue jogging suit. The fit wasn’t too bad and she had to admit the color made a perfect foil for her silvery hair. Catching her reflection in the mirror, she stuck out our tongue and her image grinned back. Yes, she was what some would consider pretty, but she knew not many men looked past her generous curves. Which saddened and upset her.

  Above anything else, she wanted to be a wife and mother. She believed with all her heart that somewhere out there, there existed a man who would love her, respect her, and cherish her until her dying day. A man who could fill the deep, aching void she felt inside. She just hadn’t met him yet. And with her luck, she thought grumpily, remembering the picture of Luke’s great-grandparents, he’d probably been born in the 1800’s and she lived in the 21st century.

  She tucked away her sad thoughts and made her way down the back stairs to the kitchen. She’d arrived at the Circle T packed for a month’s stay eager to spar with the burly rancher, only to find that Luke had left town. Joseph had welcomed her with open arms and Mary pushed aside the deep sense of disappointment.

  She poured herself a cup of steamy coffee and hoped the jolt of caffeine would pry her heavy eyelids apart. Her dreams over the past few nights had been filled with a green-eyed cowboy she’d just as soon forget.

  “Good morning, Mary.”

  Luke’s deep voice sent shivers up and down her spine. From her first meeting, his captivating voice had become one of her greatest weaknesses. He could probably talk about branding cattle and turn her insides to mush.

  “Good morning, Mr. Tanner.” She willed herself to sound and look casual as she turned to face him.

  A red checked shirt topped a pair of faded jeans. To her, he looked as sexy as John Wayne ever did on the big screen. Mary tried to calm her erratic pulse as she took a seat at the scarred wooden table.

  “I see you’ve already had breakfast.” She waved a hand at the neatly washed and stacked dishes.

  “Yep,” Luke replied, his expression unreadable. “I figured since I hadn’t had the dubious honor of eating anything you had prepared, I’d better have at least one good meal today.”

  Luke's mouth curved into a grin that transformed his rough features into a thing of beauty but his words still ignited Mary’s as usual too-quick temper. “Now listen here, Mr. Tanner...”

  “Simmer down, sweetheart. I was only having a bit of fun. My grandfather told me you’re a great cook.” He walked to the sink and dumped his coffee before picking up his faded Stetson.

  “Well, your ‘bit of fun’ was at my expense and I don’t like it,” she snapped. He’d been gone for four days and she’d been looking forward to seeing him again.

  “The name’s Luke.” He placed the hat on his head then bent down to whisper in her ear. “I can’t say I care much for jogging, but this suit is a blessing to any man’s morning.”

  Whistling he opened the back door, and let it slam close behind him.

  Mary felt the blood rush to her cheeks at his flattery. She took a sip of her coffee and wondered if she had imaged the feel of his lips on her ear. It didn’t matter. She could still feel the warmth of his breath and hear the deep timber of his sexy voice. That would definitely fuel a few more of her impossible dreams.

  Ten minutes later Joseph’s arrival forced her from her musings. She realized she hadn’t even started breakfast and hastened to put water on to boil for their morning bowl of oatmeal. Joseph placed two slices of bread in the toaster before taking a seat at the table.

  “Boy, am I starving this morning.” The older man grinned. “It must be all that fresh air we’ve been getting.” On the second day at the ranch, Mary had suggested some light exercise, nothing too strenuous, just short walks around the ranch yard. Since his arm was broken, Joseph hadn’t been doing his daily chores or getting the exercise he was used to.

  “This won’t take but a minute.” She waved to the boiling pot. “I guess I slept in late this morning, too.” On chilly mornings when his arthritis bothered him, Joseph didn’t rise much before nine. She pulled a knife from the drawer to butter the toast then realized she already had one. Determined to get her mind back on track, she finished the toast and placed a bowl of creamy cereal on the table.

  “How are you this bright and beautiful morning, my dear?” Joseph opened the sugar bowl and put two heaping tablespoons on his cereal. Mary hid a smile. She’d replaced the pure cane sugar with a substitute and he had yet to comment on the difference.

  “I want to talk to you. I called Dr. McAllister yesterday and got an update on your condition.” She spooned the sugar substitute into her second cup of coffee.

  “Now, now, Mary, why bother Logan? I’m doing fine. I hope you’re not getting bored way out here in the back of beyond.” It took the better part of an hour to drive into town from the ranch and, with no transportation of her own, Mary hadn’t left the Circle T since she’d arrived.

  “Of course not. I’m used to entertaining myself. And don’t try to change the subject,” she admonished with a smile. “Logan seemed more concerned with your general health than he did your fall. Apparently your blood pressure is up and so is your blood sugar.”

  “Nonsense,” Joseph blustered. “I’m fit as a fiddle.”

  “If you’re so fit, then why do you need me here?” She knew he could have serious problems if he didn’t take some remedial action now.

  “Now don’t be thinking I don’t need you, Mary. I really do. You can show me what I can and can’t eat and make sure I take my medications on time. My cast should be ready to come off in a few more weeks. You might even need to help me with my therapy afterwards. Say you’ll stay until then. Please?” He looked at her pitifully.

  “Alright. But I want to do something else besides being at your beck and call and doing a little cooking.” Still smarting over Luke’s challenge of doing housework, she continued. “Luke said you were taking care of the house before the fall. Didn’t you have a cleaning lady?” Mary hated to admit to the curiosity burning inside about the other people in Luke’s life. Especially if there just happened to be a woman somewhere in the mix.

  The old man shook his head. “It’s just us, bachelor number one and bachelor number two. As you can see, we tend to neglect this old house. You should have seen it in my mother’s day and before my Emma passed away. The floors shone and the windows sparkled.” Joseph’s eyes took on a faraway expression.

  “I can’t promise to be Ms. Suzy Homemaker,” Mary cautioned, her heart aching in sympathy for the older man’s loss, “but I can wield a mean broom and mop when I take a notion.”

  Joseph rose and placed his dirty dishes in the big stainless steel sink. “That would be fine, Mary. But we didn’t hire you to be a scullery maid. Tell me what you want to do and I’ll get one the ranch hand’s wives to help you with the heavy stuff like I did for Emma. In the meantime, I’ll give you the nickel tour.”

  Even though she’d been dying of curiosity, Mary had so far confined herself to her bedroom and the general living areas. Joseph and Mary usually retired at the same time each night. She hadn’t wanted to be intrusive and spent the early evening hours in her room, restless and lonely. She now knew the bed creaked, dust bunnies multiplied in the corner, and the faucet in the connecting bathroom leaked.

  “Don’t you mean the ten cent tour?”

  “Nah, things are a lot cheaper out here, honey.” They both laughed at his corny joke as he allowed her to precede him from the room.

  The first door on the right at the top of the stairs housed the master bedroom. Luke’s room. Mary entered it slowly. This room, hidden behind its solid oak door, held the deepest fascination for her. S
he sighed as she scanned the spacious room, hoping to catch a more revealing glimpse of the man she now called boss. But no photographs or personal items cluttered the surfaces. As if reading her thoughts, Joseph spoke.

  “Emma and I had many good years in this room but the memories were just too strong for me. I finally convinced Luke to move in here about a year ago. He hasn’t done much with it I’m afraid to say.”

  Mary straightened the covers on the king-sized bed. “You mean he didn’t use this room during his marriage?”

  “No,” Joseph shook his head. “He didn’t feel right usurping me. And quite frankly, I didn’t like the girl so I didn’t push the issue. If they had stayed together, I would have gladly moved to another room.”

  Mary felt her heart pound. She didn’t want to hear all the intimate details of Luke’s marriage. And yet she did. Did a failed marriage lie at the root of his black moods?

  After helping her straighten the bed, Joseph motioned for her to open the door at the other side of the room. Mary walked in and lost her heart. Love seeped from all four corners of the surprisingly large space. The walls, painted a pale yellow, provided the perfect contrast for a large mural of snow-white bunnies frolicking in an enchanted forest. A thick layer of dust covered the crib, rocker, and changing table, but the beauty of the antique furniture had not dimmed with time.

  “This room hasn’t been used since Luke was a baby,” Joseph said, a look of sadness in his eyes. “Emma saved all of his things. They’re stored in the attic but I don’t think my grandson will ever have any use for them. I’ve told him I’d like to see a great-grandchild or two before I go, but the most important thing to Luke right now is the Circle T. The Tanner land.” Joseph sighed and Mary could sense something troubled her patient.

  “Is that wrong?” she questioned. “I would think you’d be glad Luke showed such an interest in running the ranch.”

  “Oh, I am,” Joseph hastened to reassure her. “It’s just that he hasn’t found the true spirit of the land yet.”