The Lonesome Rancher / Finding Happily-Ever-After: The Lonesome Rancher

He nodded, but there was the suspicious look. “He’s staying in D.C. now because of an important vote coming up. He’ll be home in another week. I handle ranch business and any family business. Why? Is there a reason he should come sooner?”

Jade shook her head. “No. Only that it might lift your mother’s spirits.”

“Being apart from her husband is something my mother has had to deal with during their entire marriage.” He took a drink of coffee. “Merricks have been in public service for years. We should have all moved to D.C. years ago.

“Why didn’t you?”

He glared, then finally answered, “Because our mother didn’t want to take me and my sister from a normal life with our friends and school.”

She studied him for a moment. If anyone belonged here on the ranch, it was Sloan. “I can’t see you living in Washington, either. You seem to love this place too much.”

He smiled and she felt a warm rush. It quickly died. “Not everyone feels that way.”

Jade put down her fork. She wasn’t hungry any longer. She was itching to dig for more information. To get insight into her father. Instead she decided to only let Sloan talk if he wanted. “Isn’t your father happy that you’re running the ranch?”

He shook his head. “What made you think it’s my father?”

She opened her mouth to deny it, but couldn’t come out with the words.

“You’re somewhat right. Dad hasn’t taken much interest in ranching in a long time. Since I inherited my section of land on the ranch, I’m raising my own free-range cattle. I’m also experimenting with a drought-tolerant grass, which can stand up to our brutal Texas summers.”

She raised an eyebrow. So he wasn’t just a good-looking cowboy. “I’m impressed.”

He shrugged, then seemed to realize that he’d opened up to her. “Just testing right now.”

“Would I get fired if I said I don’t eat beef?”

His eyes narrowed. “It’s a free world.”

“I thought that would be a capital offense around here.” She tried to joke, but he didn’t seem to think it was humorous.

She stood and carried her plate into the kitchen, came back with the coffeepot and filled his mug and hers. “Sloan, you can be assured of one thing, I will always put your mother’s needs first.”

Jade sat back down. “Her stroke has been a big hit to her pride. She’s lucky. She should recover fully and lead a normal life.”

He shook his head. “Oh, Jade, why would she start now? Louisa Cruz Sloan Merrick never has before.”

Two hours later while Louisa was having her hair done at Sissy’s Scissor Salon in town, Jade took off to the drugstore to buy some personal items. Then to the general store where she purchased two pairs of jeans, some cotton blouses and T-shirts.

Since she’d been hired on the spot yesterday, she hadn’t had time to prepare for anything. Not for moving into the Merrick home, or having Louisa take her in as if they were long lost friends. At this point, she wasn’t sure how things would turn out. She hadn’t thought that far ahead. Honestly, she was a little afraid to know the outcome.

Thirty minutes later, she’d taken the shopping bag back to the black town car that Sloan insisted they take for their outing. The driver was Marta’s husband, Miguel, who was sitting on a bench in the shade.

With a smile, the middle-aged man took her purchases and placed them in the trunk. It amazed her how the Merrick family lived. It was so different from how she grew up in the small rental house in Dallas.

She couldn’t help but wonder if things would have been altered if Clay knew about her? Whoa, was she even his daughter? Yet, even though she didn’t have any proof, everything led her to believe she was a Merrick.

So would the state’s favorite son be forgiven for his past indiscretions? As far as she could tell, no one had a bad word to say about Clay or the family. Over the years, he’d helped pass legislation that had been beneficial for the state, especially the ranchers.

Was the man still a womanizer? Her own research hadn’t brought up a single story of him being unfaithful, or doing anything unethical. Of course, she knew otherwise.

Jade walked back to the salon and found Louisa sporting a new short haircut, her face glowing with a subtle amount of makeup.

“You look amazing,” Jade said.

The thirty-something hairdresser and owner, Sissy Henderson added, “I’ve been trying to talk Miss Louisa into this cut forever. Doesn’t she look years younger?”

Louisa made a groaning sound. “The cane kind of gives away my age.”

“That’ll be gone soon,” Jade told her.

She’d talked Louisa into leaving the walker at home and using the cane today. She’d handled it right off. “With the way you’re attacking your exercises, I’ll give it a few weeks.”

That brought a smile. “I’m going to hold you to that.”

They started for the door. “I bet the senator is going to flip over your new look. If so, you owe me a big tip.” Sissy winked and gave a wave as they walked out.

Sadness showed on Louisa’s face as they headed for the sidewalk. “It would be a first in a long time,” she murmured.

Jade caught the words and didn’t react to them. “Where to next? The Blind Stitch.”

Louisa hesitated. “Maybe that isn’t a good idea today.”

Jade was concerned about her change of heart. “Are you feeling okay?”

“A little tired.”

“They’re your friends, Louisa. They love you and miss you. And I think you miss them, too.”

“I do.” They made their way down the street and ended up at the quilt shop’s storefront. “It’s just that things have changed. I’ve changed.”

“Not inside. You’re still the same in your heart. That’s what they love about you.”

Suddenly the shop door opened and Jenny appeared. “Louisa Merrick, don’t you dare walk by without stopping in.”

Louisa’s face lit up. “Well, Jenny Rafferty, I guess you weren’t going to let me even if I tried.”

“You got that right.” The young woman hugged Louisa. “You look wonderful. Oh, my, I love the new do.” She nodded toward her hair. “So youthful.”

Louisa laughed. “I must have looked like an old hag.”

“Oh, you couldn’t if you tried.” She turned to Jade. “Hi, Jade. Thank you for bringing her by.”

“You’re welcome.”

Louisa waved a hand. “Wait a minute. Have I been set up?”

Jenny opened the door wider. “As if we could get anything past you. Come on in, the girls are anxious to see you.”