Fresh-Start Ranch

by Leann Harris

  Closing her eyes, Tessa’s chin tipped up. “I don’t know. For being so childish and pouting. You didn’t have any control over what happened in my life before I came here.”

  He reached up and cupped her chin. “It was the greatest blessing of my life when I found you. And that was before I knew you were my daughter.” He started to grin, but grimaced. “I’m glad that horse kicked me in the leg.”

  “Amazing how God can work in any situation.” She grasped her father’s hand. Looking at Ethan, she said, “Let’s get him inside, unload the horses, then I think we’ve got a trip to the emergency room in our future.”

  * * *

  Tessa sat in the E.R. waiting room, Lynda McClure at her side.

  Lynda shook her head. “I can’t believe you’re Doc’s daughter.”

  “I can’t, either.”

  “Thinking about it,” Lynda added, “I see the resemblance.”

  Lynda’s words warmed Tessa’s heart.

  Her expression serious, Lynda grasped Tessa’s hands. “I know that Ethan told you about his gambling, but—”

  Tessa held up her hand. “I was wrong about your son. I’ve been wrong about a lot of things, and I intend to make things right the instant I see him.”

  “Good.” Lynda nodded.

  Tessa had driven her father to the E.R. in Albuquerque while Ethan stayed behind to unload the horses, drive Kevin’s truck and trailer to the sheriff’s office and give a statement.

  The E.R. doctor came out, calling for Tessa. Lynda came with her.

  “Dr. Adams’s X-rays look good. We’d like to keep him here overnight just for observation.”

  Tessa knew it was the safe route, but there was still an uneasy tension in her gut. After Doc was settled into a private room, they were allowed to see him.

  Tessa grabbed her father’s hand.

  He smiled at her. “The one thing I heard as I slipped into unconsciousness was you calling me ‘Dad.’ That word gave me the strength to hold on.”

  “When I drove up to the clinic and saw your truck, I thought, ‘Dad’s here.’ It stopped me, because it felt so natural, as if I had the right.

  “I know I told you I’m sorry for acting so childishly, but I want us to start again. I want to find out what it’s like to have a father, one I can admire and talk shop with.”

  “I’d like that. I want to get to know you and find out what it’s like to have a daughter. A talented, beautiful daughter.”

  Wiping away the tears on her cheeks, she smiled. “I’d like that, too.”

  Doc looked over Tessa’s shoulder and smiled at Lynda. “Can you believe what a wonderful blessing has come into my life?”

  Coming to his side, Lynda nodded. “It’s a surprise, but I can’t think of anyone I’d rejoice more for. You, Vince, deserve it.”

  The door opened and Ethan appeared in the room. Without waiting, Tessa threw herself into his arms.

  “I was so wrong about you, Ethan.” She looked up into his face. “Please forgive me for acting like a childish idiot.”

  Ethan scooped her up into his arms and kissed her. He rested his forehead against hers. “You had your reasons.” He set her down.

  “Thank you for making excuses for me, but I was painting you with the brush I used for the man I thought was my father.

  “But when Kevin complained that you ruined William, all I could think was how wrong I’d been. The light went off in my head.” She wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged.

  “Does this mean that you think there might be a future for us?”

  Her head jerked back and she looked at him. “What?” Hope filled her heart.

  Doc sat up straighter, looking at them. “Girl, let the man ask you the question.”

  Lynda grinned at Ethan and her.

  Ethan got down on one knee, so that he was looking straight into her eyes. “Tessa, I love you. I’ve never been so sure about anything in my life. Because of you, I had to face the ghosts of my past and now feel free and filled with hope. I want you to be my wife. Will you marry me?”

  Tessa stared at Ethan.

  “Tessa,” her father said, “if you want my two cents, I’d say you need to accept it. Don’t let this opportunity pass you by.”

  Tessa turned back to Ethan. “Yes, Ethan, I’ll marry you.”

  He stood, scooped her up into his arms and kissed her. The door suddenly opened and Ethan’s family poured in.

  “We’re getting married,” Ethan told them.

  “About time,” Beth answered, just before Ethan and Tessa were swallowed up in a group hug.

  “I knew you weren’t as dumb as you looked,” Zach teased his brother. Zach got an elbow from his wife for his efforts. “I mean my condolences, Tessa.”

  Sophie glared at her husband. “Don’t pay attention to him.”

  Tessa looked up into Ethan’s face. “Don’t worry. I know a good thing when I see it.” She grabbed Ethan’s hand with both of hers. “And I don’t plan on letting go.”

  Epilogue

  Tessa looked out the large, plate-glass window of Beth’s old room in the McClures’ house. On the patio, guests gathered to witness their wedding. The past six months had sped by, with Tessa and Ethan deciding where they’d live and how to arrange the logistics of Ethan continuing work on the family ranch and Tessa working with her father in their practice.

  They had opted to build their home beyond the main ranch house. Their garage would also have a smaller clinic, where she could see patients here at the ranch. Two days a week she’d stay at the ranch and take patients there and three days she’d be with her father at his clinic.

  Tessa still marveled at the man her father turned out to be. The amazing thing was that Joan came out several times to see her and Doc while he flew back to Kentucky several times. Her parents were coming to know each other again, slowly, and they both wanted to continue to see each other.

  Joan came up behind her and asked, “Are you happy, Tessa?”

  Tessa turned and embraced her mother. “More than I can explain.” She pulled back and looked at her mom. “I have two wonderful parents, a man who is more than I could imagine and his big, wonderful, hugging family.

  “And I’m practicing veterinary medicine with my father. I’m so happy, Mom. What more could I want?”

  “Nothing.” Her mother smiled tentatively. “I’ve always loved you, Tessa. I failed you and I’m sorry.”

  Tessa hugged her mother. “Mom, you did the best you could. I am just glad you’re my mother. And look how our journey has ended. I’m happy. And I thank you for being there for me.”

  Joan’s trembling fingers pushed a lock of hair off her face. “I love you, Tessa.”

  The door to the room opened and her father walked in. “It’s time, ladies.”

  Both women wiped the tears from their cheeks and walked out of the room. As Tessa stood in the den of the house holding her father’s arm, waiting for the music to begin, she marveled at how God had turned the broken pieces of her life into a wonderful mosaic.

  Doc looked down at her. “This is the proudest moment of my life, escorting my daughter down the aisle.”

  Beaming, Tessa smiled at him. “I’m glad you’re here.”

  The multiple guitars began to play the wedding march.

  They stepped out into the beautiful spring day. As she walked down the aisle between the white chairs on the patio, her gaze locked with Ethan’s.

  Love and joy flooded her soul, and Tessa offered up her thanks to Heaven above, because she knew that only God could’ve orchestrated this, giving them all—Doc, her mom, Ethan and her—a fresh start.

  * * * * *

  Keep reading for an excerpt of Montana Dreams by Jillian Hart!

  Dea
r Reader,

  I hope you enjoyed Ethan and Tessa’s story. Ethan has appeared in all three novels dealing with the McClures. He is the dependable, likeable older brother who is the salt of the earth. Yet, because he is the stable one, the one who never grabs the spotlight, and is everyone’s strength, he stumped me. Surely he couldn’t be perfect. Well, the man knew how to hold his secrets, but with a lot of digging, I discovered his buried fears and flaws. Because everyone thought he had it together, he was ignored and not appreciated. The people we think are perfect and have it together, still have feet of clay and need grace.

  Of course, Tessa has overcome a lot, but had to learn to forgive those around her who weren’t perfect (which is all of us). It was a hard lesson, but after several stumbles, my overachiever finally learned that lesson. As I wrote Tessa, I felt her anger and confusion. Of course, when she finally yielded to God, He brought her through the storm into a bright new tomorrow.

  I pray you enjoyed their journey, found some surprises and saw a few truths.

  Leann Harris

  Questions for Discussion

  Ethan’s first meeting with Dr. Grant was tense. Do you think he was reasonable in his reaction? Have you been in a similar situation where you reacted before you knew what was happening?

  What did you think of Tessa’s response to Ethan’s assumptions?

  What changed Ethan’s attitude toward Tessa?

  Mary Jensen is back in Ethan’s life. What was their relationship before? How has Ethan dealt with that incident?

  Both Ethan and Tessa are horse people and find a common purpose. Have you had someone in your life that you were only able to relate to by a common interest, then found a real friend?

  Tessa tries to get Dr. Adams into the present day. Is there someone close to you who resists modern technology? What did you think of Doc’s attitude toward technology?

  Tessa’s mother surprises Tessa by giving her a new car. Was it a surprise when you learned the truth of Doc’s and Joan’s relationship?

  Was Tessa’s anger justified or over the top? Have you ever been so hurt and mad that you couldn’t talk about it?

  Joan Grant’s first love always guided her. What did you think of her solution to her situation of finding herself pregnant? Was she right not to tell Vince?

  When Tessa sees Ethan in the GA meeting, she rushes out. Did she handle the situation well? Poorly? What do you think she should’ve done?

  What did you think of how Ethan handled the situation with Tessa? With William?

  Ethan kept his secret of gambling and owing money from his parents. Was that a good idea?

  Ken McClure told his son that he needed to forgive himself, because God already has. What do you think of Ken’s advice to Ethan? Has that happened to you? Did it box you in as it did Ethan?

  Tessa is almost too late to set things right with her parents and Ethan. Do you think she should’ve “gotten over it” a lot sooner or was she enjoying her pity party?

  Do you think Doc Adams and Joan Grant (Tessa’s parents) are going to get together? Would you like to see that?

  We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin Love Inspired story.

  You believe hearts can heal. Love Inspired stories show that faith, forgiveness and hope have the power to lift spirits and change lives—always.

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  Chapter One

  “You always were good for nothing, girl.” Her father’s bitter voice grumbled through the small, unkempt house. “Get the lead out of your lazy butt and fetch me something to eat. I’m gettin’ hungry.”

  Millie Wilson straightened up, mop handle clutched in one hand, closed her eyes and prayed for strength. The Lord had to help her because she wasn’t sure she could do this without Him. The call in the middle of the night, a doctor’s voice on the other end of the line, her father’s collapse and terminal prognosis. If only there had been anyone—anyone at all—to take over his care. “I have to go to the market, Dad.”

  “You should have thought of that earlier,” he barked from the other room.

  And I came back, why? She swished the mop into the sudsy bucket, wrung it out and scoured the last patch of kitchen floor. Marginally better, but it was going to take more than one pass over. She didn’t want to think how long it had been since the floor had a proper cleaning—it would take a scrub brush and a lot of elbow grease to get out the dirt ground into the texture of the linoleum—a job for another time. Her back ached just thinking of it.

  “Millie?” A knock echoed above the hum of the air conditioner. A familiar face smiled in at her, visible through the pane of glass in the door. The foreman tipped his Stetson and rolled the tobacco around to his other cheek while he waited for her to open the door.

  “Hi, Milton. What’s up?” She squinted in the bright summer sun.

  “We got problems. Paychecks bounced. Again.” Milton paused a moment to gather his spit, turn aside and spew a stream of tobacco juice into the barren flower bed. “The boys aren’t going to stand for this. They’ve got rent due and mouths to feed.”

  “I know.” Why didn’t this surprise her either? She rubbed her forehead, which was beginning to pound. “I’m overwhelmed here. I haven’t even thought about Dad’s finances.”

  “They’re a shambles, that’s what.” Milton shook his head, his weathered face lined with a mixture of grief and disgust. “Work is scarce in this part of the county. No one wants to walk away from a job right now. I know Whip is sick, but if he doesn’t take care of his workers, then we can’t work for free. Those cows need to be milked no matter what.”

  “Give me a day to problem solve. Can you ask everyone to wait? I’m here now, I’ve been here for two hours. Let me figure out what’s what, and I’ll do everything I can to make good on those checks.”

  “We appreciate that, Millie. I know you’ll do your best by us, but I don’t know what the boys will go for.” Milton tipped his hat in a combination of thanks and farewell before he ambled toward the steps. “Keep in mind that if things don’t get better...”

  “I hear you.” Someone had to do the work, and it took a team of men to do it. As Milton headed off back down the driveway, Millie wondered if she remembered how to run a milking parlor. That part of her life seemed a world away, nearly forgotten. Probably intentionally.

  “Put ice cream on that list, girl, and get a move on.” In his room, Pa must have hit the remote because the soundtrack from a spaghetti Western drowned out every other noise in the house and kept her from arguing. The pop of gunfire and the drum of galloping horses accompanied her while she upended her mop bucket over the sink, stowed the meager cleaning supplies and made a mental grocery list.

  Time to blow this place. She grabbed her purse and the big ring of farm keys. She called out to her dad, not sure if he could hear her over the blaring television and hopped out the front door.

  “Mom.” Simon looked up, pushed his round glasses higher on his nose with a thumb and held out a handful of wildflowers. “I picked them for you.”

  “You did?” Just what she needed. One look at her nine-year-old son eased the strain of the tough last couple of hours. Love filled her heart like a tidal wave as the black-haired boy with deep blue eyes ran across a lawn that had gone wild. Blossoms danced in his fist as he held them up to her.

  Better than roses any day. “Thank you. They’re wonderful. I love the
m.”

  “I thought you needed something, you know, to make you smile.” He shrugged his shoulders, his button face puckered up with worry. “You’ve frowned the whole time, ever since you said we had to come here.”

  “Really? Oh, I didn’t mean to. Sorry about that, kiddo.” She took a moment to admire her bouquet of yellow sunflowers, snowy daisies, purple coneflowers and cheerful buttercups. “These certainly should do the trick. Am I smiling?”

  “Yeah. Much better.” When he grinned, deep dimples cut into his cheeks, so like his father’s that it drove straight to her heart.

  It was one pain that would never fade. She’d stopped trying to make it disappear years ago. There was just no use. Once, she’d loved Simon’s father with all the depth of her being. Losing him had shattered her. Ten years later and she still hadn’t found a way to make her heart whole.

  Being back home in this little corner of Montana made her wonder. Just how much would she remember—things she couldn’t hold back? She sighed, thinking of how young she’d been, of how truly she’d loved the man and, yes, it hurt to remember. She ran a hand along her son’s cheek—such a sweet boy—and kept the smile on her face.

  Simon was what mattered now.

  “Guess what?” she asked. “I need a copilot.”

  “I’m on it.” Simon leaped ahead, dashing toward the old Ford pickup. “Where’re we goin’?”

  “To the grocery store, unless you want to eat stale crackers and dried-up peanut butter for supper.”

  “Not so much. Can we have pizza?” He yanked open the black truck’s door. The rusty old thing squeaked and groaned as he scrambled behind the steering wheel and across the ripped bench seat. “It could be the on-sale kind. Want me to see if we got a coupon?”

  “That would be a big help.”