The Rancher's Reunion

“Is that the story of my life or what? I bore women to sleep.”

“You should be honored. I don’t nod off for just anyone, you know.”

The circles beneath her eyes told Will she didn’t exaggerate. He knew it wasn’t only plane rides keeping her awake. What happened over there that continued to haunt her nights? She’d refused to discuss the accident on the phone.

“What else do you want out of here, Rose?” He motioned to the refrigerator.

“Grab that spicy mustard Annie likes, and the blackberry pie from the counter.”

“Oh, well, now I know I’m in heaven. Blackberry pie.” Annie licked her lips. She stood and awkwardly leaned against the chair back, then hopped to the cupboard.

“I’ll get whatever you need,” Will said.

She pulled out a plate. “I’m not helpless. Now please slide that pie over here.”

“You can’t eat dessert first.” He held the tin barely out of her grasp.

“Watch me.” Annie grabbed the pie from Will’s hands. She set it down and transferred a generous chunk onto her plate then to her mouth. Slowly chewing and swallowing, she closed her eyes for a moment in silent appreciation. “Nobody cooks like Rose.” A fork pointed at him, she continued, “You’re spoiled rotten.”

“Got that straight.” He swiped a small crumb that had fallen from her fork to the polished wood table. Tasting the morsel, he stopped and relished the rightness of having the people he cared about most gathered together in his kitchen. Heartfelt words slipped out before he was aware of it. “It’s so good to have you back.”

Annie paused. “Thank you, Will.” She sounded almost shy.

“Are you saying all I have to do to keep you here is keep the pie coming?” Rose asked.

“That’ll do it,” Annie agreed, eyes still locked on Will as she sat back down. “Of course, you’ll be rolling me down the front steps when I leave,” she added.

“You just got here. Don’t start talking about leaving,” Rose moaned.

“Rose,” Will reminded softly. They’d discussed this topic after Annie’s phone call.

Don’t get your hopes up, he’d said.

He thought Rose would collapse when she heard about the attack on the Kenyan border clinic. A bullet hit Annie’s leg. They’d received a late-night phone message from the U.S. Embassy informing them Annie was in a Nairobi hospital.

Will’s jaw clenched as he remembered. Then and there he decided to call and demand she come home—at least until she healed. Before the call went through he’d already determined he wouldn’t allow her to draw him into an argument.

Her quick wit and sharp tongue he could handle. The acquiescence he heard in her voice was a sucker punch to his gut. Annie was scared and wanted nothing more at that moment than to return to the States.

But for how long?

Now that she was here, it would be difficult for Rose to let her go again.

“I know, I know,” Rose said, stirring the potato salad with vengeance. She turned her head, using the corner of her apron to wipe moisture from her eyes.

Rose’s heartfelt response slammed into Will. A surge of protectiveness for the woman who’d mothered him for so long welled in his chest.

He glanced at Annie, who sat at the table looking miserable and seeming unsure what to do. For the first time in a long time, Will sent up a prayer. He didn’t set much stock in them anymore, but Annie defied rational thought. Will was more than frustrated, so he prayed for some kind of intervention, hoping there was a way to make Annie stay.

Chapter Two

Will sat in the rocking chair with one boot propped on the railing and the other on the porch.

Alone with the stars. The time of day he liked best. It was quiet enough to hear an occasional car out on the service road a mile away. The soft night breeze brought only a rustle from the trees and a whinny from the stable.

He used to come out here at night mad and frustrated, trying to make sense of life. Now, after years of tangling with his demons, he’d finally found an uncertain peace. He imagined his father sitting in the same beat-up rocker and coming to similar conclusions.

Seeing Annie again brought all the conflicting thoughts back. Vibrant and alive, she had a future that was hers to take.

For only brief seconds did he despair his own destiny. Then he pushed the negative thoughts away. He wouldn’t allow them to control his life ever again.

He’d gone to the wall and back with God on this.

Huntington’s.

There was a fifty-fifty chance he had the disease that slowly destroyed his father.

A mere toss of the coin.

Those odds were what had kept him awake at night when he was younger. He’d been haunted day and night after his father’s death. Every tremor, every stumbled step reminded Will of the deterioration that forced his father into a wheelchair and then to the bed that became his final prison.

Huntington’s was the Sullivan family secret. Only Rose knew, and she’d honored Will’s privacy.

The first time they’d discussed the subject she’d begged him to be tested.

He couldn’t do that, even for Rose.

If he was negative, sure, the anxiety would be over. But if he was positive, he’d spend every moment of every day anticipating symptoms, seeing even more demons around every corner.

There was no medical advantage to being tested. A positive test result couldn’t tell when he’d actually develop the disease or to what degree. It only meant he was positive for the gene. There would be even more unanswered questions. Another can of worms to deal with.

It was about the time Annie left he realized he had two choices: walk away from God or walk with Him. He’d chosen the latter, knowing there was no way he could make this journey alone.

Will planned to savor each day, appreciating what was set before him. He had the ranch and his friends. Life was pretty darn good. Yes, his was an uncertain peace. But peace, nonetheless.

On his terms.

Just the way he liked things.

He stared out at the land. Even in the darkness he recognized every landmark on the property, from the maple trees in front of the house to the horse barn rising to the right, to the silhouette of the peach orchard far to the north.

Sullivan Ranch. His legacy.

But could he hold on to that legacy?

Will’s ears perked at a sound from in the house. He stopped the easy motion of the chair and listened. The screen creaked and pushed open.

He tipped back his head to look.