The Reluctant Wrangler

by Roxann Delaney

  He’d spent the past week trying to come to terms with what had happened. Jules had told him several times that good people sometimes weren’t able to be honest about something for a reason. It might not be right, but they were protecting themselves or someone else. Nikki had done that. After talking at length on the phone with his parents, Mac had realized they’d been protecting him. He understood now that Douglas MacGregor would always be his father, whether MacGregor blood ran in his veins or not.

  Thinking of how much he’d learned over the past few days and hoping this visit would go well, he watched as Jules turned around, and he held his breath. She lifted her arm and… “Wait! Is Jules waving to us?”

  “She is!” Shawn shouted, and was out the door and up the walk before anyone could answer.

  “You go on, Tanner,” Mac said. “I’ll be along later.”

  Tanner reached for the handle and opened the door. “No. We all go together.”

  “But maybe family—”

  “We’re all family at the Rocking O. Remember?”

  “Right.”

  As Tanner and Mac were getting out, Shawn returned. “She said to tell you that we need to park in the driveway of the house next door.”

  “Over there?” Mac asked, pointing to a row of tall bushes separating the two properties.

  Shawn stepped closer. “Nikki’s gone right now, and she’s afraid that if Nikki sees the Suburban when she comes back, she’ll leave.”

  Mac looked over the top of the vehicle at Tanner. “That’s not a good sign.”

  Tanner nodded, his mouth turned down in a frown. “It’s worse than I’d thought it would be. It’s a good thing we brought Jules. She’s much better at handling situations than I am.”

  “Better than me, too,” Mac admitted.

  Shawn walked around to the driver’s side and slid onto the seat. “I’ll move it.”

  Mac waited for Tanner, and they walked up the sidewalk together, joining Jules.

  “Ayita,” Jules said, “this is Tanner and our friend William MacGregor. You met Shawn. He’s moving the car.”

  “Welcome,” Ayita responded as they all walked past her and into the house. “My home is small, but I hope you can find someplace comfortable to sit. You’ve had a long drive.”

  “Thank you for seeing us,” Tanner answered with a nervous smile. He waited until Ayita was sitting on an obviously well-loved easy chair, and then he sat on the end of the sofa closest to her. Jules sat next to him, and Mac chose the small sofa across from them.

  Ayita smiled at Tanner. “You’re an older version of the little boy I remember. You’ve done well. Nioka says the ranch is beautiful.”

  “We’re very proud of it. Somehow we’ve made it through the hard times.”

  “I watched your career over the many years. You have the talent of both your parents.”

  “I’ve retired from rodeo,” he answered, taking his wife’s hand. “Jules and I have a son. Wyoming will be two in October. I hope he’ll get to meet you soon.”

  Ayita nodded and sighed. “I would like that very much.”

  When Shawn walked in the door, he hurried to sit next to Mac. “I don’t think Nikki can see it if she comes from the west.”

  “She won’t be looking for anyone,” Ayita assured him, “but I thought it best not to let her know you are here. Mrs. O’Brien, there is lemonade in the kitchen. Would you mind getting everyone some?”

  Jules glanced at Tanner with a smile before standing. “It’s Jules, Ayita, and I’d be happy to. Shawn, would you come help me?”

  “There are glasses in the cupboard and ice in the freezer,” Ayita said as Jules and Shawn started for the kitchen. “If you hadn’t told me who you are, Shawn, I would have thought you were Tucker.”

  Shawn ducked his head, obviously embarrassed. “That’s what everyone says.”

  Tanner leaned forward. “Has he ever contacted you?”

  Ayita shook her head, then looked up as the front door opened.

  Mac’s gaze followed Ayita’s.

  “Charlie said I could start on Monday,” Nikki announced, tossing a set of keys to a nearby table and picking up a bundle of what appeared to be mail.

  The heaviness Mac had felt in his chest eased, and his heart hammered. He’d come to terms with the reason for her deception, thanks to Jules and Kirby. She’d done the only thing she could do, considering how Tanner had felt about their mother. But Mac’s joy at seeing her was dimmed by the fear that she would turn and leave when she realized they were all there.

  “We’ve missed you, little sister,” Tanner said, filling the silence in the room.

  Nikki looked up, the envelopes falling from her hand. Her gaze darted around the room, finally lingering on Mac, and then on Tanner. “I…” She reached behind her for the door.

  “Come sit by me, Nioka,” Ayita said, her voice quiet yet firm. “Your family has come to see you.”

  Nikki hesitated, and then began to move, her steps unsteady as she walked to where her grandmother sat. Perching nervously on the arm of the chair, she glanced at her grandmother and took a deep breath before facing the others. “How did you find me?”

  “Mac was convinced you’d come here,” Tanner explained, “and I remembered where Ayita lived when I was a boy.”

  Nikki looked at Mac, then at Tanner. “But why are you all here?”

  Jules stepped out of the kitchen, a glass in each hand. “Because we love you, Nikki, and we came to apologize.”

  Nikki shook her head. “You have nothing to apologize for. It’s me who deceived everyone.”

  “Only because you thought you had to,” Jules said softly as she walked into the room. She gave Ayita and Tanner each a glass, then moved to place her hand on Nikki’s shoulder. “You took us all by surprise, that’s all. And we don’t blame you for not telling us who you are. In the same situation I would do the same.”

  “Where’s Kirby?” Nikki asked as Shawn walked in and handed a glass to Mac. “I tried to call Cheryl, but she’s on vacation, and no one at OKDHS would tell me anything about him.”

  “He had an accident while with his father,” Jules answered. “We’ll talk about it later, but Kirby is back at the ranch and misses you.”

  Nikki jerked forward, fear written clearly on her face. “What happened?”

  “A broken arm,” Jules answered with a shrug, making it seem less than it was. “But we thought the long ride might be uncomfortable for him.”

  Seeing the sad smile on Nikki’s face, Mac wished he could take her in his arms and assure her that all would be well, just as long as she came back to the ranch with them. “A lot has happened since you left.”

  When everyone started talking at once, Mac watched Ayita, her smile stretching wide and her eyes filling with tears. Would Nikki agree to return to the ranch, or would she choose this woman who had loved her since she was born?

  “So you’ve heard nothing from Tucker?” Tanner was asking Ayita.

  “He was here for a short while, two years or more after the man was here asking questions.”

  “That would have been the private detective I hired to find him.”

  “He was about the age of Shawn at the time,” she answered, nodding. “He needed something only Charlie Brightwater could give him, so I sent him to Charlie at the school. He wasn’t here for long, and he told me nothing about where he had been or where he was going.”

  “I wish I’d known,” Tanner said, glancing at Jules.

  “He asked me not to contact you,” Ayita explained. “I argued, but it did no good, so I finally gave him my promise.” She sighed. “So many promises have been made, and everyone is sadder because of them.”

  Tanner looked at Nikki, who now sat on the floor next to Ayita, her head in her grandmother’s lap. “Not so much, now that Nikki has found us.”

  Nikki’s smile was tentative, and she said nothing.

  Feeling anxious, Mac decided it was time. Standing, he walked to where she wa
s sitting and held out his hand. “Nikki, would you come outside with me?”

  She leaned back, only a little, but the fear in her eyes said all he needed to know.

  “Go on, Nioka,” Ayita said. “The garden is blooming.”

  Nodding, Nikki took his hand and he helped her stand. “This way,” she said, leading him toward the kitchen.

  The garden was still beautiful, even in the last of autumn, as Nikki and Mac stepped out onto a flagstone patio at the back of the house. Instead of taking a seat on one of the many chairs filling the patio, Nikki remained standing and turned to look at him. “Why are we out here?” she asked.

  “I know a simple apology isn’t enough, but I don’t know what else I can do.”

  “No,” she answered with a small shake of her head. “I should be apologizing to everyone. What I did was unforgivable. I should have told Jules who I was when I applied for the job.” Lowering her head, she sighed. “My mother warned me that I wouldn’t be accepted. She was right.”

  Lifting her chin with a finger, he forced her to look at him. “But you are. That’s why we’re here.”

  Her eyes glistened with tears and she turned away. “Maybe things are better as they are now.”

  “Bridey knew who you are.”

  She moved to look at him. “How?”

  When he reached out and touched her cheek, she stood very still. “She recognized you when she first met you. You reminded her of her mother.”

  Nikki’s eyes widened. “I did?” When he answered with a nod, she smiled.

  “I have more to say, if you’ll hear me out.” When she nodded again, he moved closer. “I don’t know how I can ever make up for what I did, but I’d like to take a lifetime to try.”

  Her eyes widened again and she took a step back. “I…I don’t know what you mean.”

  He closed the space between them. “I love you, Nikki, with all my heart. I knew I shouldn’t, and I tried not to, but every day I spent with you, I loved you a little more. I’m amazed by your kindness, the way you work with the boys and let them know how special they are to you. I’ve never met anyone like you, and I don’t want to lose you.”

  Her gaze dropped. “I don’t—”

  “The boys need you. Kirby needs you.” She seemed to waver, but said nothing. “And I need you.”

  She looked up, her teary gaze meeting his.

  He was done wasting time. “I want you to be my wife.”

  “Oh, Mac, I—”

  He pressed a finger to her lips. “If you’re going to say no, please think again.”

  Behind him, he heard the sound of a door opening, then footsteps on the flagstone. Nikki looked up and he turned around.

  Tanner walked toward them. “Don’t say no, Nikki.”

  Jules followed, and they stopped next to Nikki. “And come back home with us.”

  “Please,” Tanner added.

  “I…” Nikki began, and then turned to look at Mac. “I’ve never even considered the possibility,” she admitted. “But I can’t deny that I love you, too, so I guess I’ll have to accept.”

  Ignoring the others around them, who were laughing and cheering, he let out a yell and scooped her into her arms. “You won’t be disappointed,” he told her. “I’ll spend my life making you happy.”

  “I’m already happy,” she answered, pressing her palm to his cheek as tears filled her eyes. “There’s nothing that could make me happier than to marry you.”

  “Don’t be so sure of that.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “It’s all Jules’s doing.”

  Nikki turned to her sister-in-law. “What is it?”

  “Kirby won’t be going back to his father,” Jules explained. “I also managed to get Mac temporary guardianship, until all the necessary paperwork is done. Then Kirby can be adopted. Don’t ask me how I did it,” Jules said with a wave of her hand. “I can’t tell you, but it’s done.”

  “But adopted?” Nikki asked.

  Mac smiled and held her closer. “By us, if that’s what you want.”

  Her eyes danced with joy, and she kissed him, with the whole family watching. “How can I ever thank you?” she whispered.

  “Spending a lifetime with me,” Mac answered. “But you might ask Jules and Tanner the same.”

  When she looked at Tanner, who stood with Jules and Shawn, he said, “You can come home with us. That’s all the thanks we need. We’re a family.”

  “A family,” Nikki whispered. “I finally have a family.”

  Epilogue

  Nikki wove her way through the friends and neighbors who had gathered at the ranch to share in her marriage to Mac. The early-spring day had dawned clear and cool, and she hadn’t stopped smiling since it had begun.

  But she didn’t get far before Hettie Lambert stopped her. After a hug, Hettie stepped back. “I just want to know where you found your beautiful wedding dress, and then I’ll leave you alone.”

  Nikki’s smile widened. “Mac’s mother had it made for me in Boston,” she answered, smoothing her hand down the gleaming satin of her gown. “When she heard I wanted a traditional Cherokee wedding dress, she searched for someone who could make it.”

  “The beading is exquisite, and I love Mac’s shirt.”

  “It’s called a ribbon shirt,” Nikki explained. “Another Cherokee custom.”

  Hettie leaned closer. “I’m so pleased to see Tanner accepting his Cherokee heritage.”

  “I am, too, but don’t expect to see him wearing a headdress,” Nikki added laughing.

  Hettie turned to speak to someone else, and Tanner stepped up to Nikki. “Where did Sally go?” he asked, glancing around the yard. “I saw her during the ceremony, but haven’t seen her since.”

  “She and Roger left shortly after the ceremony was over,” Nikki replied, surprised that he’d recognized their mother.

  “Why did she leave? I didn’t even get to say hello to her.”

  Nikki could only tell him the truth. “She said this wasn’t the time for the two of you to meet, after so many years, and thought it would be better to wait until another time.”

  Tanner nodded slowly, as if trying to grasp what it meant. “Maybe they can come for Shawn’s graduation in May.”

  “I’m sure she’d love that,” Nikki answered, smiling.

  “There you are,” a female voice rang out. Tanner moved away and Nikki turned to see Kate walking toward them, carrying one of her twin boys.

  When Kate reached them, she sighed loudly. “Aunt Aggie needs you, Hettie. She’s in the house with Bridey, and they can’t seem to agree on whether gas or electric is best for cooking. I refuse to comment.”

  Hettie tipped her head back and laughed softly. “And they think I can settle it? I stopped cooking years ago. But I’ll see what I can do.”

  When she was gone, Nikki turned to Kate. “I’m so glad you agreed to be a part of our wedding. I know your hands are full with the twins.”

  “We wouldn’t have missed it for the world. We all wanted to be here.” She looked at the eight-month-old she held and smiled. “Didn’t we, Tyler? And Daddy has Travis, so we’re all dandy.”

  Nikki looked up to see Trish and Paige walking toward them and waved. “All we need now is Jules.”

  “She’s on her way,” Kate answered with a nod of her head in the other direction. “In case you wondered, we planned to all be here together before you and Mac leave.”

  “You’re all so wonderful,” Nikki said as the others joined them.

  “Kate, are you crying?” Paige asked.

  Kate shook her head. “I never cry.”

  “Ha!” Trish said, adjusting the blanket on the baby girl in her arms. “Only when Dusty proposed, her wedding, my wedding, when I went into labor with Krista—”

  “Okay, okay,” Kate admitted. “There are those moments. Like this one.”

  Nikki felt tears of her own, thinking of the joy they all shared.

  Paige brought her back to
earth. “I’m supposed to remind you that it’s time to leave, Nikki, so we’d better wrap this up.”

  Each of Nikki’s friends produced a new silver dollar, while Paige explained. “It’s a tradition in my family for the bride’s closest friends to give her a shiny new coin on her wedding day for luck.”

  Nikki looked through misty eyes at the silver in her hand, and knew she was blessed.

  “Time for you to be off on the adventure of your new life,” Trish said, her voice thick with emotion.

  When they’d dried their tears, they joined the rest of the wedding party and guests. Nikki wiped the last of her tears with the back of her hand and smiled. This was what she had always dreamed of, being part of a big, caring family. And now she had it. All of it.

  Tanner, standing beside her, pulled her into a hug. “We’re going to miss you, little sister.”

  Nikki smiled and looked up at him, the threat of more tears stinging her eyes. “I’m going to miss you, too. All of you. But we won’t be gone so long. We’ll be back before Shawn graduates.”

  When Tanner released her, Mac, holding Kirby’s hand, slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her close. “I won’t have her to myself for long. She has a long list of EAP seminars to attend for accreditation. Somehow, though, we’ll squeeze in a little honeymooning.”

  But Nikki wasn’t listening to what Mac was saying. Across the new spring green of the lawn of the Rocking O, she could see a man coming toward them. He walked with a limp and leaned on a cane, but his approach was determined.

  As he drew nearer, Nikki recognized him. He’d been to the school when she was twelve, and he’d been a student there for a few weeks. He’d also visited her grandmother, but she hadn’t made a connection. Now she did.

  Slipping away from Mac, she walked toward their visitor.

  “Where are you going?” Mac called to her.

  She didn’t answer. Mac would understand when he knew. And so would the others.

  When she reached the man, he gave her a wry smile. “You grew up, Nikki,” he said.

  “So did you, Tucker.”

  ISBN: 978-1-4268-6922-8