The Rancher's Sweetheart

by Cheryl Wright

  After removing the saddle, Kody offered Cracker some water, which he gladly accepted. Despite being anxious about this afternoon’s rendezvous, he cared for Cracker in the way he deserved to be treated.

  The next fifteen minutes were spent walking around the front paddock, allowing Cracker to cool down after their long and vigorous ride.

  Finally, he was treated to a brush down and returned to his stall.

  Now it was time to pamper himself. Right now he smelled like the devil. There was no way he would go anywhere near Molly smelling this bad!

  The shower was bliss. The steaming hot water rolled over his body, taking away all the aches and pains from the day’s work.

  Fixing fences was an ongoing job, but if he wanted to keep his stock inside his property, it had to be done.

  Adding shampoo to his hair triggered unwanted thoughts. Fantasies of Molly running her hands thought his thick brown hair as she kissed him ever so lightly. Teasing him endlessly, until finally...

  He shook himself, trying to erase the thoughts. All they did was awaken urges he didn’t want to contemplate. He wanted to get to know Molly much more before they even thought about taking the plunge.

  As he continued to wash himself, the combination of hot water and slippery soap was titillating. Especially as he began to wash his private parts.

  His thoughts were going places he didn’t want to go, so he turned off the hot water completely, leaving him with an icy cold shower.

  “Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!”

  He finally turned off the water and stepped onto the bath mat to dry himself. The fluffy white towel had him thinking about being wrapped in Molly’s arms.

  Stop it!

  Man oh man. He had it bad. The sooner he arrived in town and met with her, the better.

  His mind was telling him to step away – he was too heavily involved already – but his heart was saying meeting her was the best thing that had ever happened to him.

  Chapter Five

  He paced outside the hospital entrance waiting for Molly to appear.

  Despite everything, he’d arrived fifteen minutes early. He wasn’t a particularly patient man at any time, but the events of the past few days had him extremely nervous.

  At 4.01 precisely, she stepped outside. His heart did a little flutter at the sight of her. “I missed you,” he said, stepping forward and wrapping his arms around her. She stiffened, and he wondered why.

  As he kissed her forehead, she relaxed into him, and leaned her head on his shoulder. He pulled her closer to him.

  “I missed you too,” she said quietly. “And I can’t apologize more about last night, but when you’re the doctor on call...”

  He interrupted her mid-sentence. “I understand, I really do,” he said. “Although it is getting a little stale. This being disturbed all the time.”

  She put her arms up his back, then pulled back to look into his face.

  “I’m sorry,” she said, and looked sincere. “No interruptions today, I promise,” she said, stone-faced. “My shift is finished, and I’m not on call.” He stared at her, not sure whether to believe it or not. “I promise,” she said more forcibly.

  “Okay,” she said. “Let’s not put this off any longer.”

  He looked at her quizzically, then followed her lead.

  “We’re going to my apartment,” she said. “There’s something I have to show you.”

  He nodded but didn’t say a word. Didn’t dare in case he jinxed them. His heart beat wildly, more intrigued by the moment.

  “We can walk, it’s only two blocks away.” She took his hand, and his heart skipped a beat.

  “I really am sorry,” she said softly.

  “You have nothing to be sorry for,” he said, certain it was true.

  She squeezed his hand as they continued to walk. “You can decide that later,” she said.

  Every step he took was another step closer to finding out what she’d been hiding all this time. As much as he wanted to know, needed to know, a feeling of dread came over him.

  “This is it,” she said, standing in front of an apartment block.

  As they walked down the hallway, every step Kody took echoed in his head. Every step seemed like a death knell, not knowing what was about to transpire.

  But every step also brought him closer to the truth.

  She pulled out her keys and opened the door. As they stood in the entrance, he looked around. He thought about how confined it seemed compared to the big open spaces of his ranch. There was no way he could live here.

  As he continued to peruse the room, something was amiss. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but there was something. It was eating away at him.

  Then he realized. There were toys in the apartment.

  For a moment or two he stood stunned. She was a mother? She had a kid? That was the big secret? He breathed a huge sigh of relief as he stood staring at the toys.

  For a while there, he’d thought it was something dreadful that meant they couldn’t be together.

  “Take a seat,” she said, indicating for him to sit in a recliner chair, not realizing he’d figured it out. “I’ll be back in a moment.”

  A young woman came out of the kitchen as Molly went into another room. “Hi, I’m Karen,” she said.

  Kody stood. “Pleased to meet you,” he said, extending his hand. “I’m Kody.”

  “Yes, I know,” she said, then sat down on another chair.

  His interest was really peaked now. Who was this Karen person, and why was she here?

  He felt Molly’s presence before he saw or heard her.

  “Kody,” she said. “There’s someone I’d like you to meet.” She stood in the doorway of one of the rooms and appeared to be trying to coax someone out.

  I’d like you to meet, Madison.” she said when the little one finally appeared. The little girl smiled at him tentatively and looked like she might even burst into tears.

  She stayed close to Molly and held tightly to her hand as she walked slowly toward him.

  “Hello, Madison,” he said through the fog of his brain. He did his best to smile but didn’t want to scare the kid.

  Molly came to sit beside him. “Madison is a big three-year-old.” She grinned at the child who smiled for the first time.

  She had a sweet smile, and Kody was endeared by her.

  “Hello,” she said coyly, then moved forward and wrapped her little arms around him in a big hug. Kody felt a huge lump at the back of his throat, making it hard to swallow. He slowly put his arms up and wrapped them gently around the toddler.

  He looked at Molly over Madison’s shoulder and grinned. He felt like a big goof-ball right now.

  Madison suddenly dropped her hands. “Can I go and play with Karen now,” she asked.

  Molly looked long and hard into his eyes, then turned back to the child. “Sure, honey. Off you go.”

  He leaned back in his chair, highly relieved. “Madison is the big secret,” he said, barely audible. “She’s very cute.”

  Kody reached across and took her hand. “You must have been young when you had her,” he said, leaning closer to Molly.

  “What? No!” she told him. “Madison is not my daughter, you big dope. She’s my niece.”

  Now Kody was confused. If she wasn’t Molly’s child, why was she living with Molly?

  “I can see you’re confused, but we can’t discuss it here.” He nodded knowing she was right. “Anywhere in public isn’t really suitable unless it’s quiet. And I don’t want to go back to the hospital for fear of being dragged into something.”

  “We can go to my place,” he offered. “It’s quiet at the ranch, with little chance of being disturbed.”

  Molly looked relieved. “That’s a great idea,” she said. “Let me get changed first, and then we can go.”

  As she left the room, Kody sat back in the chair. His head was full of scenarios now. Something seemed terribly amiss, but he wasn’t sure what.

  They
went to the ranch in Kody’s truck. That way, he’d told her, they could have dinner later. Of course, young Madison was welcome to come along too.

  Molly had frowned at the suggestion, and he wasn’t sure why, but she came in his truck anyhow.

  She didn’t say a word on the trip home, so he didn’t interrupt her thoughts.

  He made a fresh pot of coffee when they arrived. He figured the way she was so mysterious about the whole situation, he might need it.

  And she might need it for courage.

  They sat outside, in the fresh air. The fact it was a little less formal out there should also help. He handed her the coffee and sat down with his own.

  “Molly,”

  “Kody...”

  They spoke at the same time. “You first,” she said.

  He took a long sip of the hot brew. “You don’t have to tell me anything, if you don’t want to,” he told her in a soft voice.

  She stared at him momentarily, then said “Yes. I do.” She brushed the hair from her face and looked down into her lap. “Madison is my sister’s child.”

  He didn’t say a word, for fear the interruption would upset her.

  “My dead sister,” she added and looked up at him. “She was a drug addict.” She paused, and he wondered if she was waiting to see his reaction.

  He nodded. “I’m very sorry,” he said quietly.

  She waved a hand across in front of herself. “Water under the bridge. Madison is all I care about now. Caring for her and protecting her.” She sighed and sat back in her seat, taking a big mouthful of coffee as if it might sustain what she had to say next.

  “Her father is still alive, and trying to get her back,” she said quietly. So quietly that Kody had to lean in close to hear what she was saying.

  She looked up at him, determination in her eyes. “He’s a drug addict too,” she said, barely breathing as she spoke. “I have full custody, but he won’t accept it, and is trying to get her back.” A tear rolled down her face, and Kody brushed it away with his fingers.

  He put his coffee down and took her cup as well, then pulled her into his arms. “Oh Molly, you poor thing,” he said. “Keeping this all bottled up and having to deal with so much on your own.” He stroked her hair as he held her tight. “Why didn’t you just tell me in the beginning?”

  She pulled out of his arms and stared at him for what seemed hours. “Because I was afraid you wouldn’t want me.”

  He pulled her back into his arms again and held her tight. “Molly,” he said. “That would never have happened.” He felt her sobbing against his shoulder. “I love you, and nothing as tiny as a three-year-old would stop that.”

  She pulled back and looked at him. “Really?”

  “Yeah, really.” They stared at each other for a heartbeat, then Kody thought of his brother. “Let’s get Chase onto this,” he said. “You can’t keep Madison locked up forever.”

  She shook her head. “I, I can’t risk her being outside,” she said. “He might find her. And I couldn’t bear to lose her.” She shook her head as though chasing those demons away. “Not to mention what would happen if she lived with her father. Scum that he is. If it wasn’t for him, my sister would still be alive.”

  Kody didn’t interrupt but let her get it all off her chest. “She didn’t do drugs until he came along.”

  He stood, and she followed suit. He wrapped her a big bear hug and held her tight until she stopped shaking. “I’ll call Chase, and get some fresh coffee,” he said. “You need it, I think.”

  She followed him inside and waited while he made the call to Chase. “He’ll be over shortly,” he told her.

  He gave her a tour of the house while they waited. It wasn’t huge but wasn’t tiny either. Kody had built it with the future in mind. He’d hoped that one day he’d have a family, but it wasn’t to be.

  “I love the fresh air out here,” Molly told him as they stood outside waiting for Chase to arrive. “You have such a beautiful view here. The mountains, the paddocks, everything.

  He took her hand and led her to the stables. “Meet Cracker,” he said, handing her a piece of carrot. “He won’t bite and loves carrots.” He smiled at her, and for the first time in a few hours, he felt relaxed and happy.

  “Is this the horse that threw you,” she asked suspiciously.

  “Yes,” he answered. “No! Cracker wouldn’t throw me off his back. I have no idea what happened, but it wouldn’t have been his fault.”

  “Helloooooo.” Chase’s voice echoed through the stables. “I figured you must be out here,” he said, then suddenly looked officious.

  Molly stiffened next to him, and Kody put his hand to her back. “It will be okay,” he whispered in her ear, then led her back to the house with a bigger feeling of dread than he’d had earlier that day.

  Deputy Chris Dolan was waiting at Kody’s front door.

  He often accompanied Chase on official business and was the sheriff’s right-hand man. “Kody,” he said. “Ma’am.” He lifted his hat as he acknowledged Molly. The deputy had his pen poised over his notebook.

  Kody indicated for them to all sit down. “I have a fresh pot of coffee brewing,” he said. “Any takers?”

  Three hands went up, and Kody busied himself with refreshments while the sheriff and his deputy spoke to Molly.

  He stood at the kitchen window and contemplated his life with Molly and Madison in it. He’d built this house with a family in mind, but never contemplated this situation.

  He took a deep breath. He was assuming too much. Molly may never want to live here with him.

  Unless they could do something about the dead-beat father, his idea of the three of them as a family would never come to fruition anyway.

  He shook himself, trying to chase the negative thoughts away, then poured the coffees and carried them outside.

  “I believe we have enough information to sort this out,” he heard Chase say as he stepped outside. “But it may take some time,” he said. “I suggest you keep the little one hidden for now. I’ll get back to you as soon as I know something.”

  He took his coffee and sat back to enjoy it. “Thanks Bro,” he said. “At least you have decent coffee. The station coffee is horrific.”

  “Sure is,” Chris added. “Undrinkable even.”

  Chase laughed. “Which is why I frequent Aunt Lizzie’s Kitchen. Now that woman knows how to make coffee!”

  Chase and Deputy Chris had left, leaving them alone.

  They sat in silence for a few minutes, until Kody broke the awkward silence. “Have we got time for a walk,” he asked. “Or do we have to rush off?”

  Molly checked her watch. “Are we still doing dinner? I’ll have to feed Madison first. Or I could get Karen to do it.”

  Kody stared at her. “Who is this Karen, anyway?” he asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.

  She laughed, and the happy sound warmed him. “She’s Maddison’s nanny. A live-in nanny, since I work all kinds of odd hours.” She watched as she waited for his reaction.

  He shrugged. “I guess being a single parent brings its challenges,” he said. “I can’t imagine how hard it’s been for you.”

  He stood to collect all the coffee mugs, and Molly stood too. She stepped toward him, looking so forlorn that Kody moved toward her and wrapped his arms around her. “I love your big bear hugs,” she said quietly. “They are so.... comforting.” She rested her head against his shoulder and let him take her weight.

  As he brought his hand up her back, he felt her shift her weight to bring her closer still. He revelled in her nearness – he could stand like that all day. He felt so enthralled by this woman, and he wanted more of her. Her and Madison.

  He certainly hoped Chase could sort this mess out. The sooner he managed to do that, the better he would get to know Molly, as well as her little niece.

  They stood like that for some minutes until Molly broke the spell he was under. “Can we go for that walk? I think I need some fresh
air to clear my head.”

  She pulled back and looked up into his eyes, then slowly moved toward his face. Kody looked down into her mesmerizing blue eyes. He felt drawn to them, to her, and moved toward her lips.

  “I’m going to kiss you,” he whispered. “Is that okay?” He waited mid-way for her response.

  Her eyebrows shot up. “Don’t ask to kiss me, just do it, silly!”

  As he moved toward her, he could smell the light fragrance of lavender. It wasn’t overpowering and was definitely the essence of Molly. Every time they’d met, her lavender fragrance was one of the first things he noticed.

  He lightly brushed his lips against hers, then leaned down to her neck. He brushed light kisses all the way down, then worked his way back up again.

  “Kody,” she whispered breathlessly. “Just kiss me for goodness sakes.” She moved her head so he had no choice.

  He leaned into her, and claimed her lips, covering her mouth with his. He’d been deprived of a real kiss until now, and it had proved to make him only want her more.

  Molly melted into his arms, and returned the kiss, pushing her tongue into his mouth. He savoured it and responded with his tongue.

  “Molly,” he whispered hoarsely. “We need to stop, otherwise it might go further.” He pulled back and looked into her eyes. He saw the need there but knew this was not the time. He would not take advantage of her during this difficult time.

  “Today is not a good day, after all you’ve been through,” he said, pulling out of her arms. “Let’s go for that walk. I think the fresh air could do us both some good.” He winked, then guided Molly toward his garden. It was a mixture of flowers and vegetables, and was impressive, if he did say so himself.

  “You did all this?” Molly’s eyes were wide.

  “Yeah, over the years,” he said. “Bit by bit. It supplies most of my vegetables. So much nicer than bought stuff,” he told her.

  “Over there is the chook pen,” he said. “I get six or eight eggs a day from that lot, most of which I don’t use. When I have enough I hand them out to my brothers. No point wasting them.” He shrugged.