The Rancher's Promise

Wildflower blew out her breath to get his attention. She watched him with unblinking liquid brown eyes, staring so hard it was as if she were trying to give him an important message. Good thing he spoke horse.

“I hear you, girl.” He rubbed her muzzle. “Let’s try to walk you. Are you game?”

She followed him into the aisle, head down, winded. First foals could be tough on a small mare. He and his dad had kept a close eye on her and they’d caught her trouble as early as they could, but she had a hard row ahead. He wished Cheyenne had been able to make it back home from vet school. He could really use her help right now. He didn’t want to be the one she blamed if things went wrong.

“Just keep it slow and steady, girl. I’m right here with you.” He and Wildflower had made it to the end of the aisle and carefully turned around before hooves drummed outside. Rori rode up, dismounting in a graceful sweep. She was a welcome sight, as hard as that was to admit. “Did you reach Nate?” he asked her.

“I heard him running to his truck before he hung up on me. He promised to break speed limits on the way over.” She patted Copper’s neck and led him into the end stall she’d used yesterday. “Your dad said he’s on his way, too.”

“You’re a lifesaver. Of all the mornings to forget my cell phone.”

“It’s hard to function properly before sunup.” She unbuckled the old bridle and gated the horse in. “She’s not looking so good. Is there anything I can do to help?”

“We’ll see. If she holds off until the vet gets here, then you are free and clear. But if not, I’ll need your help with the foaling.”

“Okay.” She reached over the rail to grab the empty water bucket from Copper’s stall. “I’ll fetch some water first, and then take over walking her if you want to get the stall ready.”

“I’ll take you up on that. Here.” He ambled close and stole the bucket from her grip.

This close, she could smell the hay on his T-shirt and the soap from his morning shower. Without a hat, his dark hair stood up on end, still shower damp, and his lean cheeks were freshly shaven, showing off the deep groves bracketing both sides of his mouth, groves that transformed into dimples when he grinned but now they were grim set lines.

“Thanks ahead of time.” He put distance between them. “It’s good to have you here after all.”

“Oh, you say that as if it had been a huge question? I thought we settled that.”

“I know. I might not have been fully truthful yesterday. What I want to feel and what I admit to feeling are two different things.” He handed over Wildflower’s lead. “This is the truth. When I saw you ride through that door, I knew I could count on you.”

“Back at you.” She clucked to the mare, encouraging her forward. “The vet is going to be here in a bit. Your dad is coming. She’s going to be just fine.”

“As long as we can get that foal turned first, she will be.” Grim, determined, he hiked to the nearby sink. The walled-off room hid him from her sight, but nothing could diminish his steady, capable iron will and his endless decency.

It was heartening to know some things didn’t change. That for all the prickly layers and cool granite Justin had become, he was still underneath the cowboy she’d always admired. His heart wasn’t switched off completely, after all. She may as well face the fact that she would probably always be just a little bit in love with him.

She cooed soothingly to the struggling mare as they took slow painful steps down the aisle.

Chapter Four

Justin upended the bucket into the stall, letting fresh grain tumble into the feeding trough. The polite old gelding nickered what sounded like thanks and swished his tail before nosing in to lap up the treats. One animal cared for. He knuckled back his hat, watching Rori out of the corner of his eye. The bulk of his thoughts ought to be centered on the expecting mare, but his mind seemed drawn magnetically to the woman, fresh-faced and so wholesome she made his teeth ache.

She looked as if she belonged here with her light hair tied back in a single ponytail swinging slightly with her slow gait. The concern for the mare touching her face made her a hundred times more beautiful than any makeup artist could. With the sun spearing through the skylights above and through the open doors, she looked ethereal, too lovely to be true, and something straight out of his forgotten dreams.

Footsteps padded through the grass and dirt. Dad’s gait, dragging a bit from a long night spent up and down checking on the mares. Frank came into sight. “Looks like she surprised you.”

“Yep. I came out to feed the stock and Wildflower was down in the field.”

“I wasn’t talking about the horse.”

Justin frowned. Impossible to miss the grin on his dad’s face. He figured he would set them up, was that it? He shook his head at his dad. Now wasn’t the time to hash this out. The horse was the concern. His boots carried him down the aisle and before he realized it he was at Rori’s side, doing his best not to notice the light spray of freckles on her nose as he took the lead rope from her. As careful as he was, his fingers brushed hers. Her skin was warm and satin-soft, and a shoot of tenderness took root in his chest.

“You can go on up to the house now.” His voice sounded scratchy and thick with feelings best left un-examined. “Thanks for your help.”

“Any time.” She stepped away, shy and graceful as always, as if nothing significant had happened between them. Of course she hadn’t reacted to his accidental touch. Why would she? She backed down the aisle, glancing between him and his dad. “Call me if you need anything. I’ll be back with some coffee.”

“Bless you.” Frank tipped his hat to her. “I could use some chow, too.”

“I’ll see what I can do.” She ran her hand gently along Wildflower’s swollen side. “It’s going to be okay, girl.”

Don’t start liking her again, Justin told himself. He’d always been a sucker for a woman who was kind to animals. That’s what had gotten him noticing her in high school in the first place. A few years ago, that’s why he’d decided to trust Tia.

“Same old Rori.” Frank ambled close and rubbed the mare’s neck. “Good to see that it’s true.”

“What’s true?” He turned his shoulder, afraid that his dad had noticed something Justin wasn’t ready to admit to himself.

“You can take the girl out of the country, but you can’t take the country out of the girl.” Frank smiled as he spoke, as if he was greatly amused. “Why, what did you think I was going to say?”

“Let’s just help the mare.” His face heated. He didn’t like that his dad had figured things out. Just because he liked Rori didn’t mean a thing. Probably he always would like her. She was a nice woman. “Think we can wait for the vet?”

“Get Wildflower in the stall, and I’ll scrub up.” Frank gave the horse another caring pat, for the mare had nickered at the sound of her name. “It won’t be much longer now, sweetheart. You go with Justin.”

“Dad, you know nothing is going to happen between Rori and me, don’t you?” He gently eased the mare toward the birthing stall.

“Is that what you think?” A barrel laugh rang out as he disappeared into the washroom.

“Isn’t that why you have been trying to push me and Rori together?” Fresh hay crinkled beneath his boots and Wildflower’s hooves.

“I figured the two of you ought to resolve things. It’s not good to leave loose ends the way you have with that gal.” Water rushed, pouring into a stainless-steel sink. “Don’t you reckon it’s time you forgave her?”

“For running out on me?”

“For doing what she had to do. For following the path the Good Lord set her on.” The water cut off, and Frank ambled into sight, drying his hands and forearms on a fluffy blue towel. He tossed it over the top of an empty stall gate. “You’re not so good at forgiveness, son.”

“I don’t want to be you. No offense.” Wildflower lowered her head, heaving, her knees buckling.

“Let’s get her on her side.” Frank jumped to help. He had worked with animals all of his life, and it showed in the skill and comfort his touch seemed to bring Wildflower. The mare leaned her neck into his hands.

One day he wanted to be as good a man as his dad. The trouble was, he didn’t want to be as gullible. Their mom had left Dad twice. Both times Dad had wrestled with a shattered heart, later accepted her apologies and let her back into their lives. Then he’d taken care of her when liver disease set in.

No one in their right mind would ever call Frank Granger a fool, but he did have a big heart. Too big.

That was something Justin would make sure he would never have. No way did he intend to let any woman tread on his dignity like Dad had allowed Mom to. At the time, Dad had young kids who missed their mom and wanted her back, too, but a man could only take so much. Justin had already reached that limit.

“Sounds like Nate’s here.” Frank stopped to listen. “Yep, tires in the gravel. Help has arrived.”

Justin ran his hand down the mare’s nose, murmuring low to comfort her, and forced his thoughts away from Rori.

But it didn’t work.

“Need a hand?” Autumn swaggered through the mudroom and popped her head into the kitchen.