Proposal at the Lazy S Ranch

“No, I’ve just been working a lot of hours.”

“You’re being careful, aren’t you? Have you heard from Dane again?”

“No.”

Tori’s ex-boyfriend, Dane Buckley, had abused her. Josie shivered, recalling the night her sister had showed up on her doorstep with the bruises and busted lip. When she wanted to call the police, Tori begged her not to, not wanting anyone to know. They’d settled on getting a restraining order.

“You need to call Detective Brandon if Dane comes anywhere near you.”

She heard the hesitation. “What aren’t you telling me?”

“It’s just a feeling... Dane’s around. I saw a car like his down the street by the town house.”

Josie leaned her arms on the deck, fighting her anger. “Then tell that to the detective. He can check around to make sure you’re safe. That’s their job.”

“Okay, I will.”

“No, I mean it, Tori. You don’t want to take any chances with that jerk.”

Josie looked up and saw Garrett standing in the doorway. She quickly picked up the receiver, taking the phone off speaker. “Just listen to me about this. Please, promise me.”

She heard the exaggerated sigh. “I said I would. Right after I hang up I’ll call Detective Brandon.”

“Good. I better go, but could you send your samples for the lodge’s website design?”

“Sure. Bye, Josie.”

“Bye, Tori.” She hung up the phone and looked across the room at the man who seemed to be everywhere she was. “Is there a problem, Garrett?”

“I was about to ask you the same thing,” he said. “Is Tori all right?”

Josie shrugged. “She’s fine.”

Garrett walked to the desk. “Look, Josie, if someone is stalking your sister, it’s serious. Maybe I can help.”

Josie didn’t want to talk to Garrett about this, or anything else. “Thank you, but we have it under control.”

Garrett watched for a moment, and then finally nodded. “Okay, but the offer stands.”

“Fine. So what brings you here?”

“I just got a call from my foreman from the lodge. He has questions about the bathroom locations.”

Josie shook her head. “I have nothing to do with that. You need to ask Ana.”

“I would, but Ana’s not available. She’s tied up in meetings all day and can’t get away. If you want to keep this project on schedule, the rough plumbing problems need to get resolved before any walls go up.”

“Fine. The last thing I want is any delays.” She stood. She found she was excited about getting involved in the project. She’d always been a natural-born organizer. She just didn’t want to spend any time with Garrett. “How soon do you need me there?”

“Right now. I can drive you out, but Brody will be going with us. Then I can come back here to trailer his horse.”

Josie hated the idea, but what choice did she have? “Okay.” She grabbed her jacket off the back of the chair. She headed out, but Garrett’s voice stopped her.

“Brody’s in the kitchen. Kathleen is feeding him some lunch.”

Josie felt her own stomach protest from lack of food. “That’s not a bad idea. I could use some nourishment.”

They walked down the hall to the bright kitchen and heard laughter. At the big table sat Brody and her father. Kathleen was at the stove stirring a pot of soup. “Sit down, you two,” the housekeeper said. “And I’ll fix you something to eat.”

Colt looked up at them, as did the boy. Both smiled mischievously.

“Hey, Dad, did you know that Colt used to be a World Saddle Bronc champion?”

Garrett nodded. Who would have thought, gruff, strictly business Colton Slater could make his son smile?

“I might have heard it somewhere.” He nodded at the older man across from his son. “Hello, Colt. How are you doing these days?”

Colt looked at Josie. “Not bad. T...two of my daughters are home.”

“Colt’s learning to talk again,” Brody explained. “’Cause he had a stroke. But he’s getting better.”

Garrett sat down at the table. “That’s good news.” He looked at Colt. “Did Brody tell you we just bought one of your horses?”

“Yeah, Sky Rocket,” Brody said. “I’m going to learn to ride him really fast.”

Colt frowned. “I’m s...sure you are. But f...first you have to learn to take care of your animal so he’ll trust you.”

A confused Brody looked at his dad.

“It means when you get an animal you have to take responsibility for it. You need to feed and clean up after Rocket.”

He glanced back at Colt, his green eyes worried. “But I’m just a kid.”

Kathleen brought two more bowls of potato soup to the table. Josie reluctantly took her seat beside her father.

“You’ll learn some now, and as you get older you’ll do more,” Garrett told him. “You live on a ranch now. That means everyone does their share.”

Brody took a hearty spoonful of soup, then said, “If I do all that stuff, will you teach me how to ride a bucking bronc?”

* * *

Colt watched out the window as the threesome drove off to the lodge site. He had to admit that he’d enjoyed sharing lunch with them.

“See, that wasn’t so bad, was it?” Kathleen said. “Too bad you didn’t get cozier with your kids a lot sooner.”

Colt turned and made his way back to the kitchen table, but didn’t say anything. Nothing to say. He’d messed up big-time when it came to his girls.

Kathleen placed two mugs filled with coffee on the table, then sat down across from him. “Looks like you’re getting another chance at being their dad. I hope you realize how lucky you are.”