The Rancher's Miracle Baby

by April Arrington

As kids, they’d been too afraid. As adults, they’d been too embarrassed.

  He’d hate for Tammy to be caught off guard like he and Dean had and risk offending Earl. Old Earl was a good man who just preferred to keep to himself. Something Alex definitely understood and respected.

  “Earl is...” He hesitated, searching for the right words. “Well, he’s got—”

  “Is that the place?”

  Tammy pointed at a house on the right. The front yard was littered with tree limbs but immaculate otherwise. Wooden crafts lined the railings of a spotless front porch, and wind chimes tinged together with the gentle breeze, filling the air with a harmonious tune.

  “Yeah, that’s it,” Alex said.

  The pup dashed across the front yard and up the porch steps to scratch at the door. Brody immediately waddled after the dog.

  Tammy halted Brody with a gentle hand, lifted him into her arms and whispered over his head, “It’s going to be tough to separate these two. You know that, right?”

  Alex nodded curtly, his chest aching as Brody squirmed in her arms and reached for the dog.

  The door opened, and a deep voice bellowed, “Well, look who finally decided to swagger home.”

  A bulky figure, clad in denim overalls and a plaid shirt, walked onto the porch and petted the pup. Thick scar tissue wound around his forearms in red and white patches and encased his broad hands.

  Alex quickened his step, edging in front of Tammy and Brody as the elderly man approached. “Hey, Earl.”

  Earl straightened, held out his hand and smiled. “Alex. I haven’t seen you in a month of Sundays.”

  The disfiguring grooves on one side of Earl’s face were deep and discolored. Each cluster of burn marks denoted the horrors of the house fire he’d survived years ago. The damaged web of skin marred his jovial expression and produced an uneven tilt to his facial features.

  Alex took Earl’s hand and lowered his gaze, a prickling sensation spreading through him. It was an odd mixture of respect, admiration and guilt that he always experienced around Earl. Respect and admiration for the other man’s bravery and good-hearted, forgiving nature. And guilt from his embarrassing childhood encounter.

  “I thought this pup might be yours,” Alex said, gesturing toward the Lab as he sat on the wide toe of Earl’s boot. “Figured it was time he found his way home.”

  “Yep, Scout’s mine,” Earl said. “Don’t matter how I fence him in, he manages to escape. That storm scared off a lot of my dogs, but I’ve managed to round up most of them. Glad to see you made it through okay.” Earl frowned. “Maxine stopped by yesterday and told me about Dean and Gloria.” He shook his head, his eyes sad. “Damned shame.”

  Throat closing, Alex managed a stiff nod and stepped slowly to the side. “Earl, this is Tammy Jenkins and Brod—”

  “Brody,” Earl interrupted softly, easing down the stairs. His step faltered, however, when a frightened expression crossed the baby’s features. “Hey there, fella.”

  Brody’s face crumpled, and he turned, burying his forehead against Tammy’s throat and balling his fists into her T-shirt.

  Alex cringed and rubbed his hands over his jeans. “Brody just—”

  “He’s just tired, is all,” Tammy chimed. “It was a long walk.” She climbed up the two stairs to reach Earl, her bare arm brushing Alex’s, and she smiled. “It’s nice to meet you. I’m Tammy.”

  “The barrel racer, eh?” Earl’s expression brightened at her nod, and he gestured toward the bandage on her temple. “Maxine told me that twister tore you off the road. Bet you gave it a run for its money, though.”

  Tammy laughed. “I tried.” Her laughter trailed off, and her voice grew heavy. “But some things you can’t outrun. I’m just glad I’m still breathing, you know?”

  “Yeah,” Earl murmured, meeting her eyes and nodding. “I know.”

  Alex stilled. Something passed between Tammy and Earl. An understanding? Shared emotion? He wasn’t sure. But it hung on the air between them, lifting the corners of their mouths into resigned smiles as they exchanged a look.

  Then Tammy spoke and the moment was over.

  “If it hadn’t been for Alex, I probably wouldn’t be here.” She turned her attention to him, and her smile widened. “He saved my life.”

  Those beautiful eyes lingered, traveling over his face, then down to his chest and arms, soft and appreciative. Pleasure fluttered through Alex, easing through the numbness under his skin. It’d been so long since a woman had looked at him like that. With approval and subtle—Lord help him—wanting.

  He grunted and tore his gaze away. She was so young and susceptible. Too young to recognize what a hollow, broken man he was. And too susceptible to an attraction born out of gratitude.

  “She’s exaggerating,” he said, waving a hand in Earl’s direction. “I just happened to be in the right place at the right time.”

  “Watch that, son,” Earl chuckled. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned in life, it’s to never brush off a compliment from a woman. Those come few and far between for some of us.”

  Alex ducked his head, feeling like more of a heel than ever. Tammy’s sweet compliments, pretty face and bright smile were things he imagined Earl had stopped encountering years ago after he sought seclusion in his isolated home. And Earl deserved them more than he ever would.

  Alex sagged with relief when Tammy changed the direction of the conversation.

  “I take it you didn’t have much damage from the tornado?” Tammy asked.

  Earl shook his head. “Nope. Just some broken branches and a roughed-up hay field.”

  “That’s good,” she said, eyeing the porch. “Because it’d be a shame to lose all these beautiful crafts. Do you make them yourself?” At Earl’s nod, she jiggled Brody gently in her arms and pointed at a wooden dog balanced on the porch rail. “Look, Brody. Do you know what that one is?”

  Brody lifted his head and looked at the figurine, darting sideways glances at Earl.

  “Need a hint, baby boy?” Earl asked, grinning. “It makes a sound like this...”

  Earl barked. Well, howled, really. He did his darnedest to imitate the wooden bloodhound, but his voice cracked and a coughing spell overtook him, doubling him over. A chorus of muffled barks escaped the closed front door, and Scout yipped, then gnawed at his boot.

  “Dagnabbit, Scout.” Earl shook his leg, laughing and waving his arms in circles as he stumbled. “You bite more than any dog I’ve come across.”

  A high-pitched cackle split the air. Brody threw his head back against Tammy’s shoulder, his small chest jerking with powerful giggles. Tammy joined him, struggling to keep Brody in her arms as he squirmed and reached for Scout.

  Alex smiled, his breath catching at the sheer joy on the baby’s face.

  “Oh, you like dogs, eh?” Earl spun and opened the front door, and four more puppies streamed out to nip playfully at Scout’s ears. “Put that boy on his feet, Tammy, and we’ll have some fun.”

  And it was fun. More fun than Alex had experienced in what seemed like forever. The sight of Earl, Brody and Tammy bumbling around on the front porch, chasing pups and tripping over their own feet, had him chuckling. He sat on the top step and watched, reminiscing over the fun he and Dean used to have as kids.

  Alex closed his eyes. How damned wonderful it had felt back then. To be young and have his best friend.

  When the trio lost their breaths from exertion and laughter, Earl coaxed Tammy into a rocking chair, set Brody in her lap, then brought out sandwiches and glasses of sweet tea. Alex sipped his drink on the porch steps and tried not to stare at Tammy’s graceful movements as she carefully tipped her glass to Brody’s lips, wiped the baby’s mouth and laughed at Earl’s tall tales. They enjoyed each other’s company for over an hour and, soon, the golden glow of the
setting sun faded and night arrived, bringing with it a full moon that cast a white light over the front porch.

  “It’s a beautiful night,” Earl said, setting his empty cup on the porch rail. “And a long walk home for y’all.” He nodded at Alex. “How ’bout a hayride back? I loaded up a few bales on the trailer last week. Just haven’t had time to haul ’em off for sale. Bet Brody would like it, and it’d save you another long trek.”

  Alex glanced at Brody. The baby snuggled deeper into Tammy’s embrace, slipped his thumb into his mouth and blinked heavily.

  “You want to, Alex?” Tammy asked, studying his face.

  Alex tightened his grip on his glass. The gentle plea in her eyes and the exhausted child in her arms made it impossible to refuse the request.

  After helping Earl secure the pups inside the house, Alex joined him at the shed while Tammy waited with Brody on the porch. Alex asked to borrow a chain saw, and after loading it up, he hooked the hay-laden trailer to Earl’s truck.

  “I think that’s good,” Earl said, tugging on the chains of the hitch.

  Alex nodded and moved away.

  “You ever gonna look me in the eye, son?”

  Alex stopped. His cheeks warmed beneath Earl’s scrutiny. He pressed his palm to the hard metal of the truck and turned his head, forcing himself to meet Earl’s gaze.

  “You only live a mile down the road, and I rarely see you,” Earl said. “You still holding on to the past? ’Cause I don’t hold grudges, and I ain’t mad at you. Never was.”

  Alex cringed. “I know.”

  “No. You don’t.” Earl sighed and tapped a blunt finger against his damaged face. “When a person has trouble looking, it’s usually because they’re more uncomfortable with themselves than they are with me. Either that, or they’ve never encountered a hardship like the one I sport. With you, I suspect it’s the former.” He frowned. “You and Dean were good boys, Alex. And you’ve grown into a good man. You got nothing to be ashamed of.”

  Alex swallowed hard, his tongue clinging to the dry roof of his mouth. “I’m not ashamed.”

  “Yeah, you are,” Earl stressed. “You’re ashamed of something.” He looked away, peering across the moonlit lawn toward the front porch. “As for that young gal, she didn’t bat an eyelash when she got a good look at me. Not like most people.” He nodded. “I think she’s seen something a whole lot uglier in her life than that tornado. And she don’t seem to be ashamed of nothing.” The corner of his mouth curled up into a small smile. “A man can’t help but admire that.”

  A breeze rustled through the tall grass, and an owl hooted in the trees behind them.

  “Night’s calling,” Earl said. “Better get a move on.”

  He walked away, climbed into the driver’s seat, then revved the engine.

  Alex stood still for a moment, absorbing the vibrations of the truck’s motor beneath his fingers. “I’m not ashamed,” he whispered.

  But his voice shook, and the words didn’t ring true. His wrist tingled where Tammy had forcefully stilled it two days ago in the hallway of his home, and a bead of sweat trickled down his cheek. He wiped it away with the back of his hand and wondered if Earl was right.

  And if so...what kind of ugly had Tammy seen?

  * * *

  SOMETHING ABOUT A clear night sky had always been soothing to Tammy. Maybe it was the shine of the moon or the way the glittering space stretched on endlessly, as though it could swallow up any problem. No matter how big that problem might be.

  Tammy tilted her head back for a clearer view of the stars, shifted to a more comfortable position on the hay bale and cradled Brody closer to her chest. Goodness knew she’d encountered her fair share of problems in the past forty-eight hours. A wrecked truck and trailer. She was already a day overdue at Raintree with just a brief message that she was okay having been sent to Jen via the sheriff’s office. To save the battery, she kept her cell phone powered off with the exception of an hour in the morning, afternoon and evening, hoping service would return so she could call Jen. It hadn’t. Which added to her troubles.

  But not finding Razz was, by far, the worst of them.

  The thought made her chest burn, the pain fueling her fears of never finding her racing partner. No—her family, really. She’d never been able to trust many people as implicitly as she trusted Razz. Every time she entered the arena with the quarter horse, they were dependent upon each other for success and survival. And she never doubted Razz to deliver either.

  “Y’all all right back there?”

  Earl’s shout barely reached the back of the trailer, but the wave of his broad hand from the truck’s window signaled he was checking on them. Just as he had twice since pulling onto the dirt road and heading toward Alex’s ranch.

  “Yeah,” she called back, holding Brody tight with one arm and waving with the other.

  The engine rumbled, and the truck moseyed along the path, bumping gently over uneven dirt and crunching over rocks. A tendril of hair blew across her face and caught on her eyelashes for the umpteenth time. She blinked and brushed it back, tucking it behind her ear.

  “Too much wind?” Alex eased to the edge of the hay bale facing her and gestured toward the baby in her lap. “There’s enough room in the cab for you and Brody if you’d like to sit in there.”

  “No, thanks. It’s a warm night and he’s already knocked out.” She smiled. “The fresh air will do him good.”

  The moonlight highlighted Alex’s chiseled cheekbones and strong jaw. His gray eyes seemed more mesmerizing than ever beneath the soft glow of the night sky. Tammy dragged her eyes away and looked up again, savoring the pleasure spiraling through her as she recalled the brief kiss from yesterday. Focusing on the tender way his mouth had touched hers was a welcome distraction from her worries about Razz. And her body continued to clamor for more of his attention despite the familiar whisper of caution that always arose when she was around a man.

  “I was wondering why you...” Alex cleared his throat. “Well, why you didn’t...”

  “Hmm?” Tammy prompted, refocusing on Alex. “Why I didn’t what?”

  He propped his elbows on his thighs and scooted closer, twisting a straw of hay between his knees and asking in a low voice, “Why didn’t you ask about Earl’s scars?” He frowned and averted his gaze, focusing intently on the hay in his hand. “That’s usually the first thing most people ask after meeting him.”

  “I’m not like most people.” She smiled gently as he glanced up. “And I didn’t think it’d be polite to ask.”

  His brow furrowed, and he hesitated, casting a glance at the truck’s cab, then asking quietly, “But aren’t you curious?”

  The soft, sexy rumble of his voice and the moment of shared confidence sent delicious shivers over her skin, and she found herself wanting to coax him into further conversation. “Why?” She leaned in, raised an eyebrow and whispered, “Are you itching to tell me, Mr. Gossip?”

  An affronted expression crossed his face. “No.” He blinked, shook his head and sat back. “Not at all. I just wondered.”

  Her mouth twitched. He must’ve noticed it and the flirtatious gleam in her eye, because his lean cheeks flushed and he pressed his lips together as though trying to fight a smile. It got the better of him, though, and spread across his face, denting his dimples and casting a boyish look to his face.

  “Point taken.” He chuckled softly. “I’ve been duly chastised.”

  She laughed with him, stopping when he did. He looked away and stared at the dark clusters of trees lining the dirt road. The trailer squeaked over a pothole, and a sad silence filled the space around them.

  “Does it really matter how he got them?” she asked, settling Brody more comfortably against her middle. “Earl seems like a nice man. Better than most of the ones I’ve known.”

/>   Alex returned his attention to her, and the intense curiosity in his handsome face made her squirm uneasily on the hay bale.

  She straightened and held his gaze. “We all have scars, Alex. It’s just that you can’t always see them.”

  Her mouth twisted. She had scars of her own, too. Except she’d been luckier than Earl. There were no visible marks on her body or residual physical pain from the frequent beatings she’d endured beneath her father’s fists. But there were still wounds inside. Ones that had formed every time her mother had closed her eyes and walked away, ignoring Tammy’s cries for help and choosing her husband over her daughter.

  Tammy winced and studied Alex more closely, her eyes drifting over his broad shoulders, chiseled biceps and muscular thighs. He was well built and attractive with no physical flaws she could see. And no one could doubt his loyalty and genuine concern for his friends. Heck, he’d risked his own safety to help her, and she was nothing more than a stranger to him. But his guarded demeanor hinted that something hid beneath his skin.

  What could have driven him to choose to be alone for so long, as Maxine had put it?

  “The scars you can’t see are usually the worst,” Tammy whispered, hugging Brody close and resting her chin on top of his soft hair.

  Alex’s chest rose on a strong breath, his mouth opening and closing as he met her stare. For a moment, she thought he’d speak, but he didn’t. Instead, he nodded, then looked silently at Brody for the remainder of the ride.

  A few minutes later, they arrived at Alex’s ranch. Earl brought the truck to a stop in the backyard and Alex hopped off the trailer.

  “Here,” he said, reaching out. “Hold on to Brody and I’ll help you down.”

  Tammy stood, embraced the baby more securely and stepped to the edge of the trailer. His strong hands wrapped around her waist, then eased her down.

  Her heart tripped in her chest, making her breath hitch, and she gasped as her boots fumbled over the ground.

  “Okay?” Alex asked.

  His warm palms lingered on her sides, caressing almost, as he waited for her to get her balance.