Wed By Fortune

He led them to the rear of the barn, where he’d left the Gator parked. Once he helped Maddie into the backseat and secured her with a seat belt, something the previous owner had installed, he and Sasha climbed into the front. Then he started the engine.

What a turn this day had taken. Graham’s morning had started out in the usual way—a shower before downing coffee and the biscuits and gravy Roger had made for them. Then he’d ridden out to check on the pasture where they planned to keep the new horses.

When he’d spotted the damage to the fence, as well as the battered front end of the Cadillac Escalade that had been left in the pasture, wheel wells deep in the mud, he’d realized things weren’t going to be as usual today.

But nothing had prepared him for Sasha and Maddie’s arrival a few hours later, which ensured that, at least for the time being, things on the Galloping G would be far from ordinary.

He just hoped the changes would be good ones.

* * *

While Graham appeared to be doing his best to avoid any big potholes on the dirt road on which they’d been driving, the Gator made a quick swerve, causing Sasha to grab the dashboard and brace herself. She turned and looked over her shoulder. “Are you okay, Maddie?”

“Yep.” The seven-year-old patted her seat belt and flashed a bright-eyed smile that revealed her missing tooth. “I’m all buckled in.”

“Sorry about that,” Graham said. “We had a heavy rain a couple days ago, and it left the road a mess.”

“I remember the summer storms we used to have,” Sasha said. “I actually thought they were cool.”

The rumbles of thunder and the lightning that tore across the sky had been an amazing, celestial light show. Some people were frightened by the sights and sounds, especially when they struck at night. But Sasha hadn’t been one of them. And she doubted Maddie would be, either.

Graham swung around a mud puddle. “Are the bumps and turns too jarring for you?” He nodded toward her belly.

Sasha cast a reassuring smile his way. “No, I’m doing okay. And believe it or not, the baby seems to be enjoying it as much as Maddie is.”

“Apparently, she takes after her mom in more than just her looks.” Graham tossed her a boyish grin. “You always were a tomboy who tried to convince Peter and me that you were as tough and strong as horseshoes.”

She responded with the title of a song. “Anything you can do...”

Graham laughed. “You used to sing that to us all the time.”

That was true. She’d taunted them with the lively tune from Annie Get Your Gun every chance she got.

Sasha had never seen the actual musical on Broadway, or anywhere else for that matter. But one summer day, when she was visiting, Uncle Roger had taken them all to see a local talent show. She’d loved the performance by a high school girl and boy who’d sung that song.

“That’s too funny,” Graham said. “I’d nearly forgotten it.”

Singing it to Graham had been one of her many ploys to get his attention, although it hadn’t worked.

However, it did seem to catch his interest now.

Graham turned to the right, following a narrow road, and pointed to a grassy area. “This is the stretch of broken fence I’ve been fixing. I’ll need to get it done soon because we plan to keep some of the rescue horses here.”

Maddie let out a little gasp. “Can we come back again and see it? After the horses get here?”

“Sure.” Graham shot a questioning look at Sasha. “That is, if your mom doesn’t mind.”

“No, of course not. Maddie would love to see them grazing in the field.” Sasha’s warm smile shot clean through Graham, setting off a spark in his chest.

He’d only meant to make Maddie happy, but the fact that Sasha realized he had a soft spot for her daughter and that she was so clearly pleased by it, caught him off guard. It also left him a little unbalanced, since he hadn’t meant to earn her praise.

As a result, he decided to end the tour for today and head back. Several quiet minutes later, he parked the Gator on the side of the barn.

“What’s that?” Sasha pointed to the concrete foundation they’d had poured last week. “Is Uncle Roger building something, maybe a new barn?”

“That’s going to be the new bunkhouse. We were going to remodel the old one, but after we got started, we realized it was in bad shape and wouldn’t meet code. So we decided to start from scratch. We also built a couple of cabins for the boys.”

Her brow furrowed. “The boys?”

Apparently, Roger hadn’t mentioned their plan to her.

“Horses aren’t all we hope to rescue,” Graham said. “We’re going to take in some troubled teenagers and put them to work gentling the horses, something we hope will give them a new perspective on life.”

Her eyes widened, and her lips parted. “Seriously? That’s a great plan. And very admirable.”

Graham probably should have let Roger tell her about it, since her uncle needed to score a few points. But what was done was done, so he shrugged. “The idea started out as a tribute to Peter, but then it sort of took on a spin of its own. We’ve already talked to the school board, as well as the juvenile probation department.”

“Taking in those boys won’t be easy,” Sasha said. “And even though you guys should be able to relate well, there will be a ton of paperwork and regulations.”

“Yes, we know.” And Graham already had that covered. “As a side note,” he added with a grin, “you weren’t the only one who went to college.”

“That’s right.” She returned his smile. “I forgot.”

As much as he liked living on the Galloping G, and as much as he loved helping Roger, he had a bigger goal in life than just working on someone else’s ranch.

“What was your major?” she asked.

“Business.” He’d actually earned an MBA. “So I have it all worked out.”

“I’d always assumed you’d eventually go to work for your dad.”

“No, I’d never do that.” He’d dreamed of having a business of his own someday, one that didn’t have anything to do with Robinson Tech. In fact, even though everyone, especially his father and his siblings, had expected him to join them at the corporate offices after his graduation, Graham had refused.

There was no way he could ever work with his old man. He and Gerald Robinson might have buried the hatchet in some ways over the past couple of years, but Graham still resented his father’s my-way-or-the-highway attitude.

Besides, he felt good about the nonprofit organization he and Roger were creating. And he planned to use his education and his connections to make it all happen just as they planned.

“Mommy,” Maddie said. “Can I go in the kitchen and find Uncle Roger? He might want my help fixing dinner.”

Sasha laughed. “Sure, honey. Go ahead. I’ll be there in a minute.”

When the little girl hurried toward the front porch, Sasha said, “Tell me more about this idea of yours. It’s not that I’m trying to dissuade you. I think it’s noble. But it’s... Well, it just surprises me, that’s all.”

Graham had a feeling it wasn’t just the idea that surprised her. It was the fact that he was still living here, eight years later. Some guys might be offended by that, but he liked being able to still pull her chain and tease her a bit. “I guess there’s more to me than met your eye, huh?”

For a moment, their gazes met and locked. He expected her to comment, to tease him, to... He wasn’t sure what was swirling around behind those pretty blue eyes.

Instead she let his comment go.