The Rancher's Family--A Clean Romance

by Barbara White Daille

  He glanced toward the doorway into the hall as if his brother would materialize behind her. Then he looked up at the ceiling. Listening for footsteps? For the sound of the shower running? “He isn’t here,” she said. “He’s already gone off to work for the day.”

  “And left you all alone at home.”

  Before she could protest, he went on, “I’d better head out, too. I know where to find him.” He stopped in midturn toward the door. “Any message you want me to pass along when I see him?”

  Who knew what Garrett would make of anything she could say. Maybe best to let Wes explain what she was doing in his house. “You can just tell him I’ll be here when he gets...back.”

  So much for her good intention. Judging by the man’s grin, he’d noticed her careful sidestep around the word home and now thought the worst anyway.

  * * *

  FROM THE DRIVER’S SEAT of his truck, Wes watched a roadrunner scratch at a patch of bare earth near the sagging fence line he’d come to repair. Some local tribes claimed this bird warded off evil and brought good luck. He could use both.

  In the distance, he saw a familiar truck headed in his direction. Garrett.

  Wes frowned. His brother had gotten here ahead of schedule. How long had he been sitting, thinking, when he should’ve been working as hard as Cara probably was? The dashboard clock reassured him Garrett wasn’t early after all.

  Why Wes had left the house so soon, he didn’t want to admit. Still, he couldn’t avoid the answer. He didn’t want to see Cara again.

  Not a problem he’d face much longer. She’d finish her job, then his life would go back to normal. As normal as it could ever get.

  He watched his brother climb out of his truck, both hands full, and shove the door closed with his elbow.

  The roadrunner cocked its head as if evaluating the situation. Even with a wingspan nearly equal to their length, roadrunners preferred to stay grounded. Those wings, held close to their bodies, combined with their long, sleek tail feathers, gave the birds an advantage on land. Their speed easily exceeded the limits on the county roads.

  His speed when he’d left home would have beaten any roadrunner’s. Of course, he hadn’t actually run from the house this morning, but he couldn’t get out of there soon enough to suit himself. No need to stay. Cara would find the note he’d left her and get to work more quickly without him hanging around. Exactly what he wanted—along with getting her out of his mind.

  He focused on Garrett, carrying a monster-sized insulated mug in each hand. Wes leaned over and opened the passenger door.

  “Nice to see you didn’t start without me, bro. Here.” Garrett held out a mug. “Courtesy of Paz, since she knows how much you like her hot chocolate.”

  “Yeah, like you don’t. You knew she’d send some along for me. That’s probably why you volunteered to help me out today.” To tell the truth, he’d looked forward to the drink. It had been a long time since he’d had some of Paz’s chocolate.

  And whose fault is that?

  Ignoring the voice in his head, Wes swallowed some chocolate. “Yeah, that chili powder really gives it a kick, doesn’t it?”

  “Makes it good and hot,” Garrett agreed. “Like that lady you left behind.”

  Wes froze with the mug halfway to his mouth. “You stopped by the house.”

  “I was early. Thought I’d catch you there. I didn’t expect to catch you up to something, too. She’s definitely a hot one.”

  “I wouldn’t know, and I’m not up to something.”

  “Wouldn’t know?” Garrett conveniently skipped over the second half of the response. “How could you miss it? All that red hair.”

  Golden red. He blinked, trying to drive away the automatic thought. To chase away the memory of Cara standing in the sunshine. Where had this fixation on color come from lately? Spending too much time sorting out Mark’s crayons?

  “And those big blue eyes,” Garrett went on enthusiastically. “For sure, she’s worth a second look. Good thing you’re staking a claim before all those lonesome cowhands at Jed’s meet her at the next cookout.”

  “Knock it off, Gar. You always did talk too much.”

  “I wouldn’t have had to if you’d talked enough.”

  History, old and new. Now he made the convenient conversational jump. “I said I’m not interested. I haven’t staked a claim. And it’s not her first visit to the Garlands. Those boys must’ve seen her before.” Because Garrett was right. No red-blooded male would have let Cara’s arrival go unnoticed.

  “Where was I when she was around?”

  Wes swallowed another mouthful of chocolate. “Probably dancing till closing time at the Cantina.” Everybody in Cowboy Creek knew how his brother liked to spend his nights off. Wes eyed Garrett, who was just as likely as Mark not to give up till he got answers. At this rate, they’d never get any work done.

  Briefly, Wes explained about Andi’s new business and Cara’s part in helping her. “She’s only coming by the house for a day or two, sorting through some of Patty’s crafts for Andi.”

  He expected a smart remark somewhere along the lines of strike while the iron’s hot, but to his surprise, Garrett nodded, straight-faced. “Good idea. It’s time you started thinking about clearing up all that stuff. Started looking at moving on.”

  “The only place I plan to move on to is over by that fence.”

  “What’s with the sudden rush to get to work?”

  “Not sudden.” Wes forced a laugh and gave an obvious lie. “I’ve been waiting half the morning for you.” He climbed from the pickup truck and made his way to the rear.

  A moment later, Garrett’s door slammed.

  The roadrunner cocked his head, evaluating again. Now obviously suspecting danger, the bird took off in its typical hop-run. Wes wouldn’t have minded going along. Leaving the truck hadn’t left the conversation behind. Yeah, Mark definitely got his stick-to-the-subject trait from his uncle, Garrett.

  Swallowing a sigh, Wes let down the tailgate and set the mug of chocolate to one side. Sure enough, before he could hoist himself onto the bed of the truck, Garrett clapped a hand on his shoulder.

  Wes looked toward the horizon and considered, as the roadrunner had. Maybe the bird had gotten it right about the danger. He turned, shaking off his brother’s hand. “Now what?”

  “I’m serious, bro.” Garrett shrugged. “All right, maybe you’re not interested in the woman back at the house. When you’re ready for that, you’ll be ready. But you need to be careful.”

  Wes choked on a laugh. He’d never forget being a teen and having his brother—the only family member he had left—sit him down for “the talk.” Girls and birds and bees and all the rest of it. Looking back, he had to give Garrett credit for trying, especially when he hadn’t expected the overnight promotion from older brother to stand-in dad. But it was the most uncomfortable conversation they’d ever had. Until this one, maybe.

  “Come on, Garrett. I’m all grown-up now. We don’t need to have any more talks.”

  “Doesn’t matter. We’re having this one. It’s way overdue. And you’ve been cutting yourself off for way too long.”

  “And you’ve been hanging around your boss too much.”

  “This isn’t coming from Jed. This is from me. Your brother. Mark and Tracey’s uncle. If you can’t listen for your own sake, then do it for theirs.”

  Maybe they’re concerned about your kids, too, Cara had told him in a soft voice.

  Garrett resettled his hat. Years ago, that sight would have given Wes a sure sign his older brother was about to lay down the law to him. Too bad. He no longer had to answer to anyone.

  “You ought to get out more,” Garrett said.

  Wes had. The afternoon he had met Cara. Little did he know their meeting would lead to this. “I took Mark for ice cream just the other day.�
�

  “Okay, it’s a start. But not enough. If you’re not interested in seeing that woman—” this time, doubt laced Garrett’s tone “—at least get out once in a while. Visit with folks. Go into town for a beer with the boys. Come to a cookout at Jed’s. Take Mark to the Bowl-a-Rama. Do anything that will get you away from the ranch for a while. Everybody but you can see you’re spending all your time here.”

  “Then that ought to prove to everybody I’m doing fine.”

  Fine. Just what he’d told Cara.

  He was doing fine. Why didn’t folks believe him?

  CHAPTER NINE

  LIKE A PARCHED HORSE catching sight of a creek, Wes found himself drawn to the room at the end of the hall. What was wrong with him?

  To his credit, when he had gotten home a few minutes earlier, he had done better than this. After calling out to Cara to let her know he was there, he had gone to take his shower. Had somehow managed to avoid walking down this hall. Those good intentions hadn’t lasted long.

  Well, it was only polite to check in on her, wasn’t it? And to see if there was anything she needed.

  Inside the office, half turned from the doorway, Cara sat cross-legged on the floor. Patty’s laptop sat on the dresser. A second computer rested on Cara’s lap. The wires of a pair of earbuds disappeared beneath her long hair.

  He hovered in the doorway, not wanting to startle her. Not wanting to admit—again—he and Garrett had both been right. She was a good-looking woman. And he shouldn’t be standing here looking.

  Bad enough he had spent so much time thinking about her the past couple of days. Even this morning, sitting alone in the truck before Garrett arrived, he’d acted like Mark, running through a never-ending list of questions about her.

  What had she thought about finding the house empty? Where had she gotten to in her sorting and typing? Had she managed to start on the office closet? He looked across the room. The door was closed tight, which only led to more questions. Why did she seem so reluctant to go near it? And why couldn’t his curiosity let that fact alone?

  Last time they’d talked, the conversation hadn’t ended well. How would she act around him now? Not that he’d lost sleep worrying about it. No matter what Cara thought, he always did his best for the kids.

  Computer keys clacked beneath her flying fingers. She hummed a couple of times, then sang a few words under her breath. He recognized the lyrics. She sang off-key, making him want to smile. Instead, straight-faced, he cleared his throat and for good measure rapped a few times on the office door.

  She looked up, giving him the smile he wouldn’t give her. And it was something to see.

  He leaned against the door frame. “Thought you said you’d be leaving early today.”

  “I planned to, but I want to get as much done as I can.”

  He nodded as he glanced around the room. “How’s it going?”

  “Good. I still need to start on a price list, then talk it over with Andi. But I’ve got everything in the room sorted and entered on the computer.”

  “Everything in the room,” he repeated.

  She glanced at the closet. Yeah, that closet... She’d definitely reacted oddly yesterday, nearly jumped backward out of it as if she’d stumbled across a rattler with its tail buzzing in the air.

  “I’ll get to the closet,” she said.

  Once again, he shrugged off his curiosity. The boxes and bins and dressers held larger crafts. Maybe she didn’t want to have to deal with a load of tiny clothes.

  She would probably like another postponement. “There’s always tomorrow.”

  To his surprise, she shook her head, sending her hair rippling against her shoulders. “Not tomorrow. I won’t be here. I’ve got good news. Andi called a few minutes ago to tell me she’s leasing a store.”

  “Here in town?”

  “Yes. She found an available storefront right on Canyon Road, prime real estate, she says.”

  “Almost the only real estate, when it comes to local businesses.”

  She laughed. “Andi said that, too. Anyhow, she’s insisting we have lunch in town tomorrow to celebrate, then go look over the store after she gets the keys. It’s right down the street from the Big Dipper.”

  “That’ll make it handy for anyone who likes ice cream.”

  “And you know I do. I told her that’s why she leased a place close by. She wants my help with the layout of the store, so she’s going to bribe me with ice cream.”

  “Will that work?”

  “I think you know the answer to that one, too.”

  He did. He had learned a lot about her in such a short time. She was loyal to her friends. She loved ice cream, especially chocolate. She liked soft rock music and sang off-key. She wasn’t comfortable around kids but made an effort with his son. Despite their last conversation, that item alone had him feeling grateful to her.

  “But don’t worry,” she added, her eyes gleaming, “I’m a good negotiator. I told her she’d have to throw in a dessert or two at SugarPie’s before I would agree to give her a hand. That sealed the deal. At least for as long as I’m still around.” She hesitated, then went on. “Give me a second to power down.” She returned her attention to the computer.

  He couldn’t tear his gaze away from her. He had learned a lot about himself in this short time, too. He liked this woman’s gleaming eyes and golden-red hair. Her smile and her sense of humor. Her loyalty to her best friend.

  When she closed the laptop, he reached out to help her to her feet and found more to like. Though her hand was small, her grip was strong. Her fingers, slim and warm, fit perfectly in his.

  Part of him wanted to keep holding on. The sane part of him made him release her hand the minute she stood upright.

  “Thanks.” She spent a while putting the computer on the dresser, settling it just so and fiddling with the lid—all unnecessarily, as far as he could see. Finally, she said, “I have to confess.”

  That explained the delaying tactics. He waited.

  “I’d have made even better progress if I hadn’t been online most of the afternoon.”

  “Don’t tell me. You’re an internet shopper?”

  “No.”

  “A closet gamer?”

  “No, not that.”

  “Addicted to hanging out outline?”

  “Not that, either. I’m looking for a job.”

  “Sounds like you have one—with Andi.” He expected her to laugh or at least smile. Wrong again. Her expression suddenly turned solemn.

  “No, that’s just temporary. I really need to get back home.”

  Yet another thing he knew about her—where she lived. “What’s the attraction in Phoenix?”

  Now she grinned. “Oh...the heat, the saguaros, the local petting zoo. Just think of all the animals Mark could find there to inspire his drawings. Where does he get his interest in art, anyhow?”

  Nice. With one quick question—and that stunning grin—she had deftly turned the conversation away from a topic she evidently wanted to avoid. Unfortunately, she had also led them to one he didn’t want to discuss.

  “Most kids like to draw,” he said simply. “And speaking of kids, I’ve got to head out to get my two.”

  After collecting her laptop and a purse from the dresser, she left the room with him. “You go into town every day to pick them up? There’s no school bus that could bring them home?”

  “No. They’re young for that, especially Tracey. And Rhea, the babysitter, runs the day care center from her house. No transportation provided. I drop them off in the morning and pick them up again in late afternoon.”

  “That must interfere with your schedule.”

  He shrugged. “When it’s especially busy, Rhea will take the kids earlier in the morning or keep them later for me. We make it work.” He halted at the bottom of the s
tairs, expecting Cara to leave through the front door.

  She gestured to the kitchen. “I left a bag in the refrigerator. Paz sent along a lunch with me today. She doesn’t like seeing anyone go hungry.”

  “Or thirsty. She sent some of her spicy hot chocolate over with Garrett.” Great. He hadn’t planned to mention his brother.

  But Cara nodded. “I met him here this morning.”

  “Yeah. He mentioned stopping by. I told him you were here sorting through Patty’s crafts, and that’s it.” And that I’ve got no interest in you.

  “Well, if you’re wondering, I just said I’m staying at the Hitching Post.”

  “And he didn’t get anything else from you? He’s good at sweet-talking his way around women.”

  She laughed. “Not this woman.”

  A surge of...something...filled his chest. Whatever it was, it was something he shouldn’t have let himself feel. Not for this woman, whose laptop and job search and hometown with all its attractions proved how much she liked her big-city lifestyle. Good reason for him to keep his distance. Her eagerness to return to that big city told him she would have no interest in small-town life.

  He and the kids had been there, done that with Patty. He wasn’t going to risk putting them through it again.

  CHAPTER TEN

  LATE THE NEXT MORNING, Cara and Andi drove to town with Missy in the back seat of Cara’s car.

  First they intended to drop Missy off at the local day care center. Then, after lunch at SugarPie’s, Andi had arranged to pick up keys at the realty office. She was eager to show off the store she had leased. Truthfully, Cara was just as eager to see it. And they were both ready to get started on the cleaning.

  “You were lucky to find a location available and so close to home,” she told Andi.

  “I know I was. But don’t worry, boss, I did have a contingency plan in mind.”

  “I knew you would. And don’t call me boss. You’re the owner and CEO of this operation.”

  “Mmm-hmm...” Andi gestured. “Take a right after that blue house on the corner. Well, anyway, if I couldn’t find something here, the next step would have been to start looking in Flagman’s Folly. Now we don’t need to worry about that. Everything just seems to be falling into place, including finding so much inventory at Wes’s house. I can’t wait to see it all tomorrow.”