RaeLynn shrugged. “That’s something you two can talk about for sure. Just don’t be too hard on her. She did the best she could.”
Ricky held his arms out to her and gave her a hug. “I know. It’s all any of us can do.”
Chapter Seven
Hunter woke with a start. He hadn’t intended to fall asleep, but he realized he’d taken a nap with the baby while sitting in the rocker on Ricky’s porch. It had been a long time since he’d been tired like this. Felicia had suffered from postpartum depression, and he’d been the one to take care of Lynzee for the most part, but he hadn’t also had to raise a toddler and two preschoolers at the same time. He was bone tired.
His phone buzzed in his pocket, and he shifted his weight slightly to pull it out without disturbing the baby. Many guys didn’t like babies or understand them the way he did. He’d loved taking care of Lynzee when she was an infant, and it was nice doing it again, especially since he wasn’t sure if he’d ever get the chance to in the future. Call him foolish, but he was taking advantage of every moment with this one.
A glance at caller ID told him he couldn’t ignore this call. Dale, one of his ranch hands, would only call on a Sunday night if it was an emergency. He answered the phone quietly and listened to what Dale had to say. The east fence was down again, and it needed to be fixed right away.
Chris Jones, who lived on the other side of the fence, would call and complain if their cattle got out. Technically, that wasn’t the Double R’s problem. If Chris Jones didn’t want cattle on his land, it was his responsibility to fence them out. But he was originally from the city and didn’t understand that. Rather than listen to reason, he would call and complain to the sheriff, and even though the sheriff would politely tell him there was nothing he could do, it still caused problems for the ranch.
Making nice with the neighbors was one of Hunter’s jobs. The cattle had gotten out there multiple times over the past couple of weeks, so Hunter needed to be there to make sure the job got done correctly. He shifted the baby in his arms and got up. Wanda spied him and rushed over.
“You go back and sit down. You need to rest. What can I get you?”
“Actually,” he said, “I need someone to watch the kids for me. I just got a call that the fence is down on the east side, so I need to go figure out what’s happening.”
Ricky and RaeLynn joined them. “What’s this about the east fence being down?” Ricky asked. “I thought we fixed that the other day.”
Hunter nodded. “That’s what I thought. But I can’t see him cutting our fence and then being angry about it.”
Ricky nodded thoughtfully. “True,” he said. “There’s that fellow just south of him that I don’t think has a lick of sense. Jones called me the other day to complain about our cattle being on his land. I sent some guys over there to look into it, but they told me the cattle weren’t ours. I’ll check in with them to see if they remember who the cattle belonged to.”
Hunter nodded. The rancher in question was new to ranching. He was one of those guys who’d had a midlife crisis, quit his corporate job and decided to become a rancher without knowing anything about the business. They’d all tried to be helpful and give him advice, but it seemed like most of the time they all just dealt with headache after headache caused by this guy.
“I’ll do some looking around while I’m there and see if I can figure anything out,” Hunter said.
Ricky patted him on the back. “Good, good. It’s always reassuring to know I can count on you.”
Hunter appreciated the trust Ricky put in him, even if it sometimes complicated things. Like now. He shifted the baby in his arms and looked over at Wanda. “So will you be able to watch the kids for me?”
Wanda hesitated, and Hunter realized his mistake. Wanda had a Bible study with her lady friends on Sunday nights. He felt like an idiot for not remembering.
Before Wanda could respond, RaeLynn said, “I can watch them for you,” she said.
The way RaeLynn looked at Wanda told him that she’d remembered about the Bible study. That only made him feel worse. And here RaeLynn was jumping in to help with the kids again when she’d made it clear this wasn’t the life she wanted for herself. He’d felt bad enough when she’d helped with the kids before, but now that he knew she was Ricky’s granddaughter, he felt even worse.
He looked from her to Ricky, then back at her. “Ricky just found out that you’re his granddaughter. I don’t want to take you away from him.”
Ricky shook his head. “You know those kids are number one priority to me. The fence situation needs to be straightened out, and the kids need to be taken care of. It seems to me that if a good woman who loves the kids like RaeLynn does offers to help, you should take her up on her offer.”
Of course Ricky would say that, but the older man hadn’t grown as close to RaeLynn as Hunter had so he likely didn’t realize what this meant to RaeLynn.
Since kissing her, Hunter had been thinking a lot about a relationship with her and what it would be like to love her. That had made him think a lot about his previous marriage and where he’d failed. He hadn’t put his wife’s needs ahead of his own. Granted, he hadn’t recognized just how badly she’d needed to be off the ranch. But since he knew this wasn’t the life RaeLynn wanted for herself, it seemed unfair of him to ask her to share it with him.
Part of him hoped that as she bonded with Ricky, she’d want to stay of her own accord. But he didn’t want her to stay because she felt obligated to help him with the kids. He’d let her help for now, but he was going to have to find a way to wean himself off needing her so much.
Before he’d fallen asleep, he’d overheard Katie and Sam, elated at having another aunt, ask her if this meant she would stay at the ranch forever like everyone else. RaeLynn had told them she had to get back to Denver but had promised to visit often.
Yes, her siblings had said the same thing. But RaeLynn had a strong reason to leave. And he knew the foolishness in trying to make someone stay if they didn’t want to be here.
It seemed that out of everyone here, she had the best bond with the kids. She loved them, and they loved her. That was the real trouble. They’d all bonded with RaeLynn. It would be better for the kids and him if he stopped relying on her so much.
As much as it pained him to do so, he needed to create distance between them. He’d accept RaeLynn’s help tonight, but he’d work on finding other solutions for the future. Letting her go was going to be hard enough on his heart. He wasn’t about to let the kids get hurt, too.
* * *
RaeLynn closed her laptop and looked out her window. Gerald had liked her article on the Double R so much that he’d asked her to stay in Columbine Springs and do a bigger community spotlight, sharing other stories in the community. When she’d told him she’d had to leave out many things in order to make her word count on the ranch article, he’d decided that the larger community deserved recognition.
This was a good thing because it gave her the opportunity to stay at the Double R a little longer, and it also gave her hope that perhaps he wasn’t going to sell the magazine after all. He hadn’t said as much, and he’d dodged her question when she’d asked him directly. She was worried that he was in negotiations and so couldn’t reveal anything confidential. But if a deal was in the works, surely he wouldn’t want her to spend so much time and energy on a great spotlight.
She saw Hunter’s SUV pull up to his cabin. She hadn’t really talked to him much during the past couple of days since watching the kids Sunday night. She’d have liked more than a quick wave hello or chatter over dinner at the ranch, especially since they hadn’t talked about the kiss yet. She was still thinking about it, still wondering what it would be like to have more with him. Sometimes she indulged herself in the fantasy of staying at the ranch, pursuing what might be between her and Hunter, getting to know her family better.
; Of course, that would never happen. She’d always be able to come here for visits, like she did with the rest of her family. Like her mom was going to be doing today. But visits wouldn’t be enough for a relationship with Hunter.
She smiled as the children ran from the car and into the house. Hunter was getting the hang of things, and for that she was glad. Another car pulled up, and she recognized it as belonging to the social worker.
She said a prayer that it would go well and that Hunter would find favor with the social worker. She had no doubt in her mind that the very best thing for Hunter and the kids was to be together. He loved those children, and they loved him. RaeLynn had full confidence in that.
She was grateful for the forgiveness message she’d gotten in church on Sunday. That was one of the things she’d seen beginning to heal. She was less bitter over the past, less bitter over not having a childhood so that she could take care of everyone else. Actually, she was better in general. Like a weight had come off her chest, and that despite the hardships, the good that had come out of it was worth all the pain she suffered.
The blessing of having the insight from her past was that she understood how to help Hunter. And, in helping him, she was finding healing for her heart. Her phone beeped with the text from her sister, and when she opened it, it was a picture of her niece in her new dress.
RaeLynn sent the obligatory hearts and smileys, noting that her heart didn’t feel so heavy anymore as she did so. Usually, when her sister texted her, she got a sinking feeling in her stomach, worried that her sister would want something. But now she was getting used to the idea that she and her sister could just text, and it wasn’t about wanting anything, and she realized that maybe people didn’t always want something from her, other than a relationship. And that felt really good. Freeing.
She went inside her cabin and looked around for the tenth time, making sure everything was in order. She knew it was, but she still didn’t know how it was all going to go. Her mom was coming for the weekend, partially to spend time with RaeLynn, but also to make amends with Ricky. Her mother seemed different, like forgiveness had changed her and she’d been released from the weight of the past. She stared at Hunter’s cabin again, hoping everything was going well inside. Before she could give it much thought, her mom’s car pulled up.
RaeLynn greeted Luanne on the porch and gave her a big hug. It was good to be in her mother’s arms. It felt like old times as they began to chatter like nothing had changed, except everything had.
She’d never imagined herself in a situation where the truth would be out in the open and everyone would be good with it. She’d always felt warmth from her mother, but it was deeper now, like their relationship had reached a new level.
Before she could usher her mom in, the door to Hunter’s cabin opened, and Eleanor walked out, followed by the children. Everyone was laughing and smiling, and RaeLynn smiled as Phoebe gave the social worker a hug. It was so sweet that it left a bit of an ache in RaeLynn’s heart. She’d been missing the little girl. They’d have dinner together tonight, and she was sure she’d get one of those hugs herself, but she kind of wanted one now.
RaeLynn pushed the longing aside and turned back to her mother. “We should get your stuff inside.”
RaeLynn’s mother looked over at Hunter’s cabin. Eleanor had gotten into her car and was driving off, and the kids were still running around under Hunter’s supervision. Even from a distance, she could tell he was smiling, and she was glad for him because that meant things must have gone well.
“Is that the guy you were telling me about?”
RaeLynn nodded.
“Such cute kids,” her mom said. “I can see why you can’t resist them.”
RaeLynn smiled. “They are pretty great,” she said. “I’m just frustrated because we haven’t spent a lot of time together lately. At first, we were together all the time, but it seems like he’s been keeping his distance the past few days.”
Her mother nodded slowly. “I’m sure it’s hard for him. Those kids have been through so much, and he probably doesn’t want them to get attached to another person who’s going to leave them again.”
Luanne looked her up and down. “I brought a lot of men into your lives before I should have. I’ve always been a hopeless romantic, and I’ve always fallen hard and fast. It took me a long time to realize that just because I thought I was in love didn’t mean he felt the same way, and it didn’t mean he should meet my kids.”
The regret in her voice made RaeLynn’s heart ache. All this time, she’d been so focused on how hurtful it had been to lose these men from her life, but she hadn’t really thought about the heartache her mother had been through. About how each of those men represented her heart being broken.
RaeLynn gave her a hug. “I never thought of it that way before. I’m sorry.”
Her mom hugged her back. “You were a child. It wasn’t your job to see that. Just like I got you to do a lot of things that weren’t your job. I’m surprised you don’t hate me.”
Her voice shook a little, and RaeLynn hugged her tightly. “You’re my mom. I could never hate you. Besides, I know that you were just trying to look out for us.”
RaeLynn gestured over at where Hunter and the kids appeared to be playing a game of tag.
“From what I’ve heard about their mother, she’s an alcoholic. And while that doesn’t excuse her behavior, it does tell me that she’s too sick to do what’s best for her kids. But she was smart enough to have someone in their lives who does, and that’s what’s important.”
“I know I made a lot of mistakes,” her mom said. “I probably should have told you that sooner, but it’s taken God a long time to work in my heart. I’m just grateful that I have the chance to make amends now.”
Lynzee noticed them talking and started to run over.
“RaeLynn! This your mom?”
RaeLynn smiled at the little girl and came down toward her. “She sure is.”
Everyone at the ranch knew her mom was coming, but it warmed RaeLynn’s heart to know that even the children knew and were excited.
Luanne came with her. “That’s right. I’m her mom.”
After hugging RaeLynn, Lynzee automatically went over to her mother and hugged her. “We’re so glad you’re here,” Lynzee said.
Such warmth emanated from the small child, but that was how the children on the ranch were raised. Lynzee loved with such an open heart, and maybe that was why RaeLynn found herself opening hers. It was hard to have a closed heart when everyone else around you was so loving.
As the older woman hugged Lynzee back, all the other children came running, Hunter trailing behind with Bella in his arms.
He was out of breath when he arrived. “I’m sorry about that. I hope we’re not intruding.”
Luanne laughed. “Not at all. I’ve heard so much about these little ones, so I’m glad to meet them first thing.”
He looked slightly relieved at her words, but RaeLynn could see the wariness in his eyes. What had made him become so distant? She wanted to ask, but they obviously couldn’t talk privately with everyone running around.
“Well, good,” he said.
RaeLynn smiled at him. “How did the meeting with the social worker go?”
Hunter grinned as he glanced around at the children. “I don’t want to go into details in front of them, but I will say that it went well. I’ve been officially granted temporary custody. I’ll still be subject to home visits and other requirements, but everyone seems to think the children are doing quite well here. Even Eleanor agrees.”
RaeLynn wanted to hug him, but with the wary look on his face, she wasn’t sure she dared. Instead, she said, “That’s great news. It must be such a relief.”
Hunter nodded, looking slightly more relaxed. “We still have some hoops to jump through to get permanent custody, but Eleanor said that
as long as things continue going the way they have been, she sees no problem with that happening.”
Bella fussed in his arms, and RaeLynn automatically reached out for her. The baby stretched her arms back, and even though Hunter let RaeLynn take her, the expression on his face told her that he wasn’t pleased with the situation. The baby felt good in her arms, and it was funny how easily she and Bella cuddled up to each other again. She inhaled the sweet baby scent. What was it about the feel of a baby in your arms that just made you feel so good?
RaeLynn was a fool for thinking that she didn’t want this in her life. The trouble was, she also remembered that the sweetness of the baby lasted only a few months, and then they turned into toddlers who threw themselves to the ground in kicking-and-screaming fits.
Hunter bent to console Tucker, who was upset a bug had landed on him. Her heart was full when she saw the tender way he ministered to him, giving him love and making him feel secure.
Hunter got the little boy calmed down and then looked at the women apologetically. “They got off their routine a little today, and everyone’s cranky. I want to get Tucker to lie down a bit before we go to the main house for dinner, so if you’ll excuse us...”
He looked at Luanne and smiled. “It was nice to meet you. I’m sure we’ll see you at dinner.”
RaeLynn’s mother smiled. “Yes. I’m looking forward to meeting everyone.”
Reluctantly, RaeLynn handed Bella back to him, pressing a soft kiss on the top of her head. Maybe tonight at dinner she’d get some more baby time.
They walked over to the car to finish getting her things when her mom said, “You really like him, don’t you?”
RaeLynn shrugged. “I suppose. But we want different things out of life, and it seems foolish to pursue something when our lives are going in such different directions.”
Her mom nodded slowly. “Do they have to be going in different directions?”
Her Hidden Legacy Page 10
