The Black Sheep's Proposal

Suddenly Whiskey’s whinny brought him back to the present and the situation.

The buckskin answered back, but she wasn’t alone. Off in the distance was a gray stallion. Even from far away, Luke could easily see the battle scars on the animal’s hide as he pranced around nervously. Then suddenly rearing up on his hind legs, he gave a piercing whinny that echoed through the silence valley. There was no doubt who was the alpha male in the herd. The little mare turned and ran off toward him. Whiskey gave one last neighing sound, then slowly calmed down.

“Sorry, fella,” Luke said. “I think she’s already taken.” He glanced down at Tess. “You okay?”

She looked up at him with those deep-blue eyes. “I’m fine. Thanks for your help.”

“Glad to be of service.” He nodded to Whiskey. “I’d hate to see anything happen to this animal.”

Taking full control of the reins, she stepped away. “That buckskin has…been around many times. But I’ve never seen Whiskey so…excitable before. She must be in season.”

Luke couldn’t help be grin. “By the attitude of the gray stallion I’d say so.”

“Mommy. The pony is running away with the other ponies.”

Whiskey had settled down enough, she tied him to the tree. “That’s her family, sweetie.”

“Oh…I thought she wanted to play with Whiskey and Dusty.”

“Not today. Remember when we talked that there are times when horses mate…and make babies?”

The child nodded.

“Well, see that big gray stallion? That’s the buckskin’s mate. And if I let Whiskey go out there, they would have fought and one or both might have gotten hurt.”

Livy seemed satisfied with the answer. She wandered down to the creek and walked along the edge.

“That was interesting.”

She absently rubbed the stallion’s neck. “I didn’t expect to find a mare in season, or a stallion eager to fight.”

Luke glanced around. He didn’t remember too much about this place, but it was beautiful. A five-year-old did most of his ride around the corral. “I’ve heard stories about the alpha males in the herd. How sometimes they fight to the death.”

“That’s how it is in the wild. And I also think that’s what makes this place so beautiful… so untouched…”

“And why you don’t want to leave it,” he finished.

“Can you look at this beautiful place and tell me that it should be destroyed. Homes constructed…roads built…and the traffic—”

He held up his hands. “Wait a minute, I never said anything about developing this land.” There wasn’t anyone in the business that would give him the time of day, let alone invest any money in another project with his name on it.

She turned her back to her daughter and glare at him. “You’re in real estate,” she said, her voice low and controlled. “Isn’t that why you’re so eager to sell it?”

“I was in real estate,” he said. “Besides, I can’t do a damn thing right now.”

“You haven’t even tried to make a go of the Rocking R. I’d say that’s giving up before you give it a chance.”

“But I’ve never ranched before in my life.”

She crossed her arms over her breasts. “So, you could hire people.”

“Meaning you and your father?”

Something flashed in her eyes, then it was quickly masked. She shrugged. “It’s just something to think about.”

He studied her for a long time. He couldn’t help but think back to another persuasive woman, one who ended up making a fool of him.

“All I’m thinking about right now is finding my brother…”

He paused when he saw two riders coming over the rise from the other side of the creek. They must be friends because Livy was waving at them.

Tess sighed. “Well, looks like it’s time you met some of the neighbors.”

“Who?”

“Well, Randells of course. Looks like your family has come to welcome you home.”

CHAPTER THREE

HANK Barrett had lived along the Mustang Valley all of his seventy-plus years. And he’d been a neighbor of the Randell family for that same amount of time. Three of the now-grown boys, Chance, Cade and Travis, were like sons to him. Hank had been lucky enough to raise them after the loss of their mother, and their daddy had been sent to prison.

He slowed his horse as he caught sight of the couple across the creek on Rocking R property. He recognized Tess Meyers right off, and her young daughter, Livy, playing by the creek. The tall, well-built man was a stranger, although nothing made him think she was in danger as the two stood by their horses.

A closer look had Hank seeing more. The familiar way the man carried himself, the slight tilt of his hat. He smiled. So Sam’s boy had returned to the valley.

Chance rode up beside Hank. “Who’s that with Tess?”

Hank gave him a sideways glance. “Take a closer look.”

Chance’s eyes narrowed. “From a distance I’d say he looks a little like Travis. But he’s in San Antonio to interview a new veterinarian.”

“I’d say it’s Sam’s boy. Your cousin.”

Chance smiled, and tiny lines fanned out around his eyes. That was about all that gave away his age of forty. The expert horseman was in top shape. He needed to be to keep up with his young family, his lovely wife, Joy, and two young daughters, Katie and Ellie, and his baby son, Jake.

“That’s Luke? That skinny kid who looked like he’d cry if you said anything to him?”

Hank looked back at the couple across the creek. “I’d say that was because you and your brothers did your share of intimidating that youngster.”

Chance rested his forearm on the saddle horn. “So you think he’s going take over the ranch?”

Hank shrugged. “Not sure, but as head of the family, you should welcome him back.”

Luke barely remembered any of his Randell cousins. Only that he was too young to hang around with them.

“Who’s the old guy?”

Tess smiled. “Hank Barrett. And you better not let him hear you call him that.”