The Rancher's Surprise Daughter

He was wrong, right? She didn’t have to truly consider what he was asking for, did she?

Not one part of her wanted to uproot their lives to live at the ranch, even for a short amount of time. But since Luc was acting so...so calm about all of it—even logical, if she wanted to give him credit for that, which she didn’t—Cate probably should try to be, too.

Or at least pretend to be. Right before she told him absolutely not.

Chapter Four (#u02a4c5f0-945a-5a2b-9376-5c00f5dd13be)

The smell of hospital antiseptic assaulted Luc’s nostrils. He hated the scent of anything bleached or overly sterilized. Growing up on a ranch with dirt under his fingernails and dust on his boots, he firmly believed that being covered in or even ingesting a little of God’s good earth wouldn’t harm a person.

Of course, the fact that he was in the hospital waiting for his daughter to get out of surgery could probably explain his current aversion.

Cate had been as quiet as a teapot just under boiling all morning. He kept wondering when she’d blow. Tears. An outburst. Any show of emotion. But so far, not one crack in her shell.

When they’d prepped Ruby for surgery, they’d given her something to make her groggy and almost fall asleep before doing the anesthesia. He and Cate had been allowed to walk her back to the catheterization area, and then the medical staff had taken Ruby from there.

Luc had thought Cate would crumble in that moment. And it had looked like she was about to. Her shoulders had slumped, eyes glazing over with pain and moisture. He’d been ready to catch her. To comfort her. No matter what had happened between them, he wouldn’t hold their history against her at such an agonizing time.

But then Cate had stitched herself together like a desperate woman out on the trail. Bleeding and alone with no other choice.

Even though he’d been standing right next to her.

It had been like watching a storm roll over the mountains, dark and menacing, only to see it morph into white, harmless clouds that floated by without wreaking havoc.

Cate had stridden by him, shoulders back, stubborn chin thrust out. Down the hallway and into the waiting room she’d gone. She’d dropped into a chair and hadn’t moved yet. Not even to use the restroom.

Now she sat next to him with her eyes closed in the unforgiving chairs that boasted cushions but didn’t offer comfort. He knew she wasn’t sleeping. He’d guess she was coping about as well as one of the consistently used children’s books Emma had for Kids’ Club. Battered. Worn. With the pages barely holding together under the still-intact cover.

The ticking of the plain-Jane white clock with black hands in the corner marked the excruciatingly slow passage of time.

“You okay?” He finally ruptured the silence, questioning Cate.

“No, I’m not okay.” Her voice snapped, but then her chestnut eyes flashed open, filled with regret. “I’m sorry.” She toyed with the silver ring sporting a cross on her right hand, concentrating on it instead of him. “I’m just worried.”

It was the first chink in her armor that he’d witnessed. Capable Cate made raising Ruby on her own look easy. Like even single parenthood couldn’t deflate the wind in her cape.

“I am, too.” The dull ache in his gut had been there for days, reminding him of Ruby’s impending procedure.

Cate’s brow pinched. “Then why do you seem so calm?”

Funny. Didn’t she realize how composed she looked and acted? Something about knowing she wasn’t—that she’d confided even that small secret to him—twisted his insides.

“I’m not, really. But I’m choosing to believe she’s going to be okay. That’s what I’ve been praying nonstop for.” He wasn’t going to entertain any other options.

Her lips barely managed a curve. “Me, too.”

Had Cate slept at all last night? Drifting off had taken him much longer than normal. And then he’d been up before the sun to get here on time. Hints of tired were visible despite Cate’s perfectly applied makeup—not too much, not too little. Her clothes—black jeans, flats and a peach sleeveless shirt partially covered by a button-up gray sweater—shouted that she had it all together. Her protective covering was in place, but her weariness was palpable. At least to him.

“I don’t know what I’d do without her.” Cate’s hand pressed against her mouth. Luc wasn’t sure if it was to stifle a sob or because she’d realized what she’d said—and that Luc had, because of her, lived without Ruby for the past three-plus years.

He bit down on the I know what you mean that begged for escape. Today was not the day for fighting. Things might not be fixed between them, but the seriousness of Ruby’s procedure had caused him to mentally call a time-out from his anger.

He was by no means over what Cate had done in keeping Ruby from him, but he was praying that God would help him to be one day. That kind of forgiveness would have to come from above.

But he did have an idea of what might help heal his wounds. And since they were just sitting here, listening to the unbearably slow seconds tick by...

“Cate, I really think you should consider—”

“You’re not going to start bugging me about us moving to the ranch again, are you?”

So much for his stealth move in bringing it up. “It just makes sense. We have guests all week right now and it will be tough for me to see Ruby as much as I want to. It will be easier for me to swing it during the off-season.” Of course, he would make it work to see Ruby no matter what, but if Cate would just consider the option, it would be a huge help. “You could contact her day care. See if they could give you a credit for the month. It would save money. My sisters are there—Mackenzie is—” determined, stubborn “—all about adventure and Emma’s a rock star with kids. You’d have family. Support. It wouldn’t be forever. Just enough time for me to get to know Ruby a little bit better.”

A groan came from Cate.

“Is that a yes?”

This time a huff escaped, sounding sky-high on the annoyed meter. Guess she hadn’t appreciated his attempt at humor.

“It’s a no. The same no I’ve been telling you since we met with the nurse.” Her arms crisscrossed her chest, another shield engaged and ready for battle. “And stop sending me pictures. They’re not going to change my mind.”

He curbed a grin, deciding his amusement definitely wouldn’t be appreciated. Cate had texted him yesterday morning after he’d bugged her plenty about the option of them temporarily moving to the ranch—please stop talking to me about the ranch.

So he’d switched to pictures. He hadn’t said anything, so he hadn’t broken any rules. Until today.

Luc had hoped the visuals might stir something in her. He’d sent her a shot of the cabin they could live in. His—but he’d happily give it up for them. It had two bedrooms, a cozy living room with a fireplace, stackable laundry and a tiny kitchen consisting of a row of kitchen cabinets and small appliances. But since the ranch provided all meals, Cate wouldn’t need much space for cooking. Not that she had anything much bigger now. And the cabin was certainly better than the apartment she and Ruby currently lived in. At least in his mind.

He’d also sent her pictures of the horses—that one may not have helped—and of the wide open spaces he considered one of the most beautiful places on planet Earth. He didn’t think he’d gotten very far since Cate had simply stopped responding to the photos. Stubborn woman.

“If Ruby bugging me hasn’t worked, nothing will. And trust me, she’s talked about it nonstop since you dropped the idea on us. Thank you very much for that.” She shifted in his direction, jutting a finger at his chest. “Parenting 101—don’t say anything in front of a child until it’s already been decided. You can’t just go around spouting ideas like that. She’ll never understand why we’re not doing it, and I’ll be the bad guy. We have a life, Lucas. We can’t just uproot it.”

Lucas. Why his full name coming from her lips caused a spark in his chest, he didn’t want to know.

“But your work is freelance. You can live anywhere.”

Cate’s eyelids shuttered as if weighted down. “Let’s not do this today, okay?”

Regret flared to life. She was right. Not the time.

Luc stretched his jean-clad legs out in front of him but couldn’t get comfortable. He’d worn his Ariat boots today. A green button-down shirt. Something about the hospital—or hostable, as Ruby would say—made him feel like a kid playing grown-up, and he’d at least attempted to look the part.

“Can I get you anything? Something to eat? Drink?” Why did he feel the need to keep talking? It wasn’t like him. If Luc had to guess, he’d imagine he was more apprehensive about Ruby’s procedure than he wanted to admit. Taking care of Cate—scratch that—getting something for Cate would occupy his mind and harness his energy. He’d much rather be doing than sitting.