The Rancher's Family Wish

“Maybe you haven’t read about her. Abishag was a beautiful young woman who was chosen to marry David in his old age and cherish him.” Tanner shrugged. “I’m not sure what Burt’s lesson about her was but there must have been one because he chose that name for a mare.”

“Abishag is a really pretty horse. She has black and white spots.” Davy turned to Tanner. “What kind did you say?”

“A pinto,” he said, then fell silent as the children regaled their mother with all the things they’d done with Tanner.

“Okay, odd names aside,” Sophie said when they finally ran out of stories, “since my kids are so impressed with Wranglers Ranch, maybe you and I should have a discussion about arranging for the homeschool kids to come here. This sounds like a great place to visit.”

Davy cheered so loudly the dog started to yowl.

“Sheba, quiet.” Tanner tried to shush the excited animal.

“Sheba.” Sophie slid her arm around each child’s shoulder. “As in queen of—?” She arched one dark eyebrow in a question.

“Everything.” Tanner laughed at her groan. It was such fun teasing with Sophie. He walked with her as she shepherded her family out to her van, waited till they were all buckled in, then leaned toward the driver’s open window. “I really appreciate those pies, Sophie. And I hope you’ll come again soon. Your homeschool kids are also welcome if they want to visit.”

“I’ll see what the rest of the board thinks. They might want to visit your ranch first.” She frowned. “Would that be a problem?”

“Not at all, but you should give me a heads-up before you come,” he said quickly. He liked to be prepared, get his barriers up, Burt would have said. “We’re working on replacement fencing up in the hills and I’m not always here.”

“Okay.” Was Sophie’s hesitation because she was as loath to leave as he was to have her go? “See you.”

I hope so.

He nodded and waved. When the van’s red taillights disappeared around the bend, Tanner let his hand fall to his side, marveling at how alone it suddenly felt in this place that had been his home for so long, the place he enjoyed particularly because of the solitude. Tonight he’d welcome company to stop him from thinking about Sophie, but Moses had disappeared to his little cottage after the kids had fallen asleep.

Tanner walked back inside Burt’s home, then jerked to a stop, suddenly seeing the rooms through new eyes. The updated modernity of the stainless steel kitchen and pristinely tiled bathroom didn’t match the worn and shabby masculinity of the living room. Whenever possible Tanner avoided sitting in Burt’s leather chair, the place where the kids had slept, because it had a spring that hit him in exactly the wrong spot. And it was becoming increasingly difficult to get comfortable on the stained and sagging plaid sofa, which was far too tattered to be restored by simple cleaning.

Tanner kept the place as tidy as he could, but tonight, through Sophie’s eyes, he wondered who in their right mind had chosen the dreary red-and-black wallpaper, which in no way went with the horrible mud-brown carpet that was alternately matted in places and threadbare in others. There was no warm, cozy feeling here, not like at Sophie’s home.

He thought about her suggestions for a day camp, which in his opinion had real merit. But if he pursued it there could be occasions when groups would have to come inside, say if it was raining or too windy outside. Burt had worked hard on the exterior appearance of Wranglers Ranch because he wanted those who visited to see his ranch in top-notch condition. Shouldn’t that include the inside of the house, as well?

This room definitely didn’t say “welcome.” Tanner didn’t have a clue how to achieve a hospitable feel, but he figured there were people in Tucson who did. He’d told Sophie he’d be working on fences, but his ranch hands were more than capable of doing that. He went along only in hopes the open spaces would help him figure out how to make Burt’s dream live. Instead Sophie had showed him how to start.

Tanner went back to the kitchen, grabbed his Bible from a shelf and sat down, prepared to ask God about his next move. Immediately his nose caught Sophie’s citrusy fragrance and his brain framed her laughing face.

Would she come back to Wranglers? Soon?

And why did it matter so much?

Chapter Three (#ulink_ae014ea6-c916-5350-83bb-40c1817f24bf)

Two weeks later Sophie ended her morning visit at the hospital after praying for added strength for Edna.

She thought God would answer that prayer because of Edna’s strong faith in Him. But as she drove to Wranglers Ranch, Sophie couldn’t bring herself to ask Him to affirm her decision to return to the ranch and the man she couldn’t stop thinking about. She just couldn’t trust that God would help her get over this silly attraction to a real-life cowboy.

“Do you think Cowboy Tanner missed us?” Beth asked from the backseat, completely ignoring Sophie’s advice to stick with plain Tanner. “Bertie’s mom told Cora Lee’s mom that it was about time you got us a new daddy. Are we getting a new daddy, Mama?”

“No, honey, we’re not.” Sophie forced herself to unclench her jaw. Why did Beth’s best friend have to be the son of the block’s biggest gossip?

I am not interested in Tanner Johns.

Her brain laughed. Okay so she hadn’t been very successful at banishing a host of mental images of the rancher and his lazy smile. But nobody needed to know that, especially Bertie’s mom.

“I want to ask you something, honey,” she said, changing the subject quickly.

“Okay.” Beth nodded. Her blue eyes sparkled with excitement. “Is it a secret, like what Bertie’s mom said?” She frowned. “Maybe I wasn’t supposed to tell what she said.”

“Oh, that wasn’t a secret,” Sophie reassured her with a mental grimace. The whole block probably knew about Tanner now. “Listen, Bethy. I need to have an important talk with Tanner and I don’t want you to interrupt. I brought your crayons so you can color while we talk.”

“Okay.” Her daughter smoothed out the skirt of the dress Sophie had made her. There’d been no talking Beth out of wearing what was meant to be her Sunday best to the ranch today. Beth had a big crush on her Cowboy Tanner. Like mother, like daughter? “Can I see the rabbits, Mama?”

“If you don’t interrupt, maybe you can see them when we’re finished.” Sophie frowned. “Do you understand?”

“Only interrupt if it’s important,” Beth promised.

Of course, Beth’s important never meant what it did to others, but Sophie knew it was the best she could hope for. Talking about it more now that they were arriving would only confuse her daughter. She turned the corner, frowning as she noticed a group of people scattered all over the front yard. Some sat on the patchy grass, sipping from cans of soda, while others carried stuff from a big delivery truck. What was going on?

She parked her van in what she hoped was an out-of-the-way place, then she and Beth walked toward the door. Tanner met them, his grin wide and welcoming.

“This is a bad time for you,” Sophie said, dismayed because she knew Beth wouldn’t settle with so many people around. Even now she was chattering a mile a minute to a man she’d never met. “You should have put me off. I need to talk to you but it isn’t urgent.”

“There’s no problem,” he said easily. “Hey, Beth.” He smiled at her daughter, admired her dress, then turned back to Sophie. “They’re almost finished with the deliveries. Just taking a break while the designer rearranges a few things.”

Designer? For a place for street kids?

Stop judging, Sophie.

“We can come back another time if it works better,” she offered.

“Actually I was hoping you’d take a look while you’re here and tell me what you think of my changes,” he said with obvious eagerness. “Come on in. You, too, Beth.” He took the little girl’s hand and led her inside.

This was not the entry Sophie had used last time, but it led directly into the same room where her kids had fallen asleep. Only it wasn’t the same. The dowdy old room had been transformed with the addition of a bank of windows facing north.

“It’s so pretty, Mr. Cowboy.” Beth’s eyes were huge.

“Brilliant idea to make the windows floor to ceiling.” Sophie was astounded by the light flooding the room.

“They’re actually doors.” Tanner showed her how one door folded against the other until the entire wall was open. “The workmen out there are creating a stone patio with lots of seating, including around a fireplace.”

So Tanner was using Bert’s fortune for himself. A flicker of disappointment wiggled through her but Sophie shrugged it off. Why did it matter to her that he was making his living quarters more comfortable? This room had been ugly and desperately in need of a face-lift. Tanner had the funds and there was nothing wrong with modernizing.

“I’m sure it will be lovely,” she murmured.

“Actually you gave me the idea,” he said, shocking her.

“Me?” Sophie blinked. “I said nothing about redecorating.”

“No, but after all you said about day camps I got thinking how this room would be a great place to bring guests if it was raining or something. That grew into ‘why not have a patio area, partly covered, where people could relax after their ride?’ Or it could be for entertaining. I might have to do that if we get groups—” He paused. “I don’t think you approve, Sophie,” he said with a frown. “Is it the furniture? Maybe leather sofas are too much, but the designer said they’re the easiest to clean if someone spills. I’ve heard kids usually spill.”