Home on the Ranch: Wyoming Sheriff Page 18

  Her husband had lived through many death-defying experiences in his life and had handled them with strength and heroism. But this one was different. She thought he was going to collapse.

  “Sit down, darling.”

  He did her bidding. Jessica crawled onto his lap and put her arms around his neck. She kissed every inch of his rugged features. “I’m convinced our love was meant to be, my beloved husband. Now you’re going to know the joy of watching your own baby come into the world.”

  “Mom?”

  She turned as Chase came in the den. “Hi, honey. Guess what?”

  “What?” He had a concerned look on his face.

  “Holden and I are going to have a baby.”

  “A baby?”

  “Yup.” Holden finally found his voice.

  “A boy or a girl?”

  “We don’t know yet,” he answered, obviously starting to believe it.

  Jessica slid off his lap and walked over to her son. “Think how fun this is going to be for you. A little brother or sister who doesn’t know anything. You’ll have to teach him or her everything! They’ll be the luckiest baby in the world to have a big brother like you. I never had one and wished I did.”

  He looked up at her in astonishment. “When’s it going to come?”

  “Maybe by summer.”

  “Where’s it going to sleep?”

  “Which bedroom shall we turn into a nursery? We’ll let you decide.”

  “I’ll go look.”

  As he dashed out of the den, she felt Holden’s arms wrap around her from behind and felt his tears on her cheeks and neck. “Every dream of mine has just come true. If you only knew,” he said in a broken voice.

  “I know. From the moment I met you, I lived with the pain that if I could ever get you to love me, I could never give you a child. Talk about a wonderful life.”

  “It’s wonderful because you’re in it. Never let me go, my love.”

  “As if I could.” She turned in his arms. “Congratulations, Daddy.”

  * * *

  Keep reading for an excerpt from Home on the Ranch: Texas Wedding by Sasha Summers.

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  Home on the Ranch: Texas Wedding

  by Sasha Summers

  Chapter 1

  “Move over, Santa Claus,” Renata said, patting her blue-gray mare, Luna, on the neck. A final click on her phone screen and she’d officially checked everyone off her Christmas list—early. With all the babies and weddings they’d seen the past few years there was a good chance she’d emptied her bank account in the process. Come Christmas morning, it would be worth it. “I even got something for you, Luna. A cowgirl is only as good as her horse.”

  Luna snorted, navigating the shallow creek with ease and keeping a slow and even pace. Renata glanced over her shoulder to make sure the two horses she was bringing back to the barn were still following them. They were. They probably felt the chill in the air, too. Nothing like the unexpected threat of an ice storm to make even the most rebellious horse eager to get back to the ranch. It was October. In Texas. The temperatures normally hovered in the mideighties for another month.

  She shivered and tugged up the thick flannel-lined collar of her coat. After her two-hour search, she’d earned a cup of hot chocolate in front of the fire—preferably in her flannel pj’s. This weekend was her last bit of downtime. Thanksgiving might be weeks away, but Monday Stonewall Crossing would officially begin its annual holiday craziness. The only thing on her calendar was tomorrow’s Ag Club meeting. It was her nephew Eli’s freshman year. If he wanted her to be there, she would. Besides, she loved helping out with the holiday floats—it was one of her favorite things about this time of year.

  She loved the holidays—loved how busy she was. Nothing like being busy to keep gut-wrenching loneliness away. Since she wasn’t one to wallow in self-pity, she made sure to stay occupied. Besides the Christmas parades and the town Gingerbread Festival, she had a stack of invites to holiday parties and get-togethers to fill her waking hours.

  One thing she could check off her list: Christmas shopping.

  “And since I have the best presents, I will continue to be everyone’s favorite aunt,” she said to Luna.

  Luna snorted, her ears flicking.

  “I’m glad you agree. I can live with being the cool aunt.” That was enough. It should be enough. But every time she saw one of her brothers with his wife, saw the adoring looks and stolen touches, she ached. She wanted that, desperately. An unwavering love connecting her to that one special person, tying them together for the world to know and see. And a baby of her own.

  Nope. Not going there. She’d focus on being thrilled that her four brothers were so happily settled. They deserved happiness. From now on, she was going to ignore every twinge of envy being surrounded by her nieces and nephews and blissfully content brothers and their wives stirred. Being single wasn’t the end of the world. She had plenty of friends and family that loved her. Better to concentrate on being the best sister, the best daughter and the very best aunt in the great state of Texas. Yes, that was a good plan. No point wishing her life away.

  Her humming grew louder and she sat up straight in the saddle. She and Luna led the horses up the hill and across the pasture to the fence line. Her brother Archer had asked her to check this stretch of wire. It was the oldest, showing signs of rust and wear, but he was hoping the replacement could wait until spring. “Archer will be happy,” she murmured, seeing no cause for concern.

  They’d moved down the fence when Renata spied a white truck parked on the side of the road. It had pulled well off into the grass, close to the fence line. The cab was elevated and the front passenger wheel was missing. Rental plates.

  “Where’s the driver?” she asked, nudging Luna into a faster clip.

  A few hundred feet down the fence, she had her answer.

  A large canvas duffel bag and seen-better-days black felt cowboy hat lay in the brittle winter grass at his booted feet. He was tall, his red flannel shirt encasing broad shoulders and a lean torso. Other than thick black hair, she couldn’t see much. A camera covered most of his face. He was clicking away at the glorious fall sunset.

  Luna’s ears pivoted toward the man, the rapid-fire shutter echoing in the relative quiet of the country. Renata ran a hand along her horse’s shoulder and glanced at the sunset. There was no denying the view was incredible. Vibrant blues, purples and pinks that colored the sky, shot through with bold strokes of yellow and orange. To her, Texas fall sunsets were just as impressive as Vermont’s turning leaves. But then she loved her st
ate, the Hill Country and her hometown. Stonewall Crossing was beautiful no matter what time of the year it was. And she appreciated anyone who recognized that.

  “Evening,” she said, drawing Luna to a stop.

  “Good evening,” he said, setting his camera aside and grabbing her full attention.

  Oh my. Pale eyes with thick lashes. A strong jaw covered in a dark stubble. He was all strong angles, in the very best way. Strong. Manly. And super good-looking. The sort of good-looking it was easy to stare at. Like now. She was totally staring at him. “Need help?”

  He grinned, the corners of his pale eyes crinkling just right. “I think I’m lost.”

  He was lost. And she was staring. She blinked, hoping he hadn’t picked up on her dazed-with-admiration episode. “It’s wide-open country with twisty farm roads,” she agreed. “Folks get lost all the time. Take one wrong turn and you get stuck on Loop 8 or wind up back on the highway.”

  “Sounds about right.” Was she imaging things or was he staring right back?

  She tipped her hat back, trying her best to stop staring. He was handsome, so what? She cleared her throat, nodding at the pasture behind her. “And there’s not much out here. Most cows are leery of talking to strangers and offering up directions,” she teased.

  His eyes widened before he laughed. “I’ve noticed. They’ve all been giving me the cold shoulder.” His gaze held hers. “I’m Ash.”

  “Renata.”

  He was studying her face. Intent. Curious. Interested.

  She blew out the breath lodged tight in her chest. “Where are you headed?”

  He cleared his throat, then blinked, effectively severing their connection. “Stonewall Crossing. Staying at a place called the Lodge.”

  “The Lodge?” Her home sweet home? Looked like things just got more interesting. “You’re almost there. About another mile and a half down the road on your right. There’s a big gate—you can’t miss it.”

  He pulled his gaze from hers, searching the long stretch of road. “So, I was close?”

  “Yes, sir. Not so lost after all.”

  His gaze traveled across the sky before returning to her. “I don’t mind getting lost now and then. That’s when you find sunsets like this.”

  “And meet new people, too, I’d imagine.”

  He nodded. “If I’m lucky.” His smile took the chill out of the air and sparked the surface of her nerves. “Since the cows are no help.”

  Say goodbye. Ride off. Sitting here, making small talk, with the temp dropping, was ridiculous. But she didn’t want to ride off. “You’re a photographer?”

  He shrugged.

  She shot a pointed look at the camera.

  “Hobby.” He chuckled.

  “We get a lot of naturalists out here. Lots of birds and wildlife.” She forced her eyes from his, to sweep the land she so loved. She could almost see it in spring, awash with color. “You should come back in the spring. These fields are covered in bluebonnets, red Castilleja and black-eyed Susan.” She glanced back in time to see the muscle in his jaw clenched tight, the heat in his eyes startling her.

  “I’ll have to keep that in mind.” His voice was gruff. And her stomach tightened.

  What was happening?

  Luna nudged her boot with her nose, snorting. Her horse’s patience was running out. She nodded. “I’m assuming that’s your rental truck back there?” Meaning he wouldn’t be in town long.

  He sighed. “No spare.”

  “Might be worth making a complaint. Especially since you’re stranded and we’re expecting snow.” She gazed up at the sky. It didn’t look like snow. “Once I get the horses taken care of, I can come back for you,” she said, patting Luna again. “Luna’s getting impatient. Dinnertime and all.”

  He seemed to think about it, his gaze exploring her features before he finally said, “I don’t mind the walk. But I appreciate the offer.”

  “You sure?” she asked, ignoring the tug of disappointment. Not like she wouldn’t see him again.

  His jaw muscle tightened again. “I’m sure,” he added, shouldering his bag and putting his cowboy hat on. It might be on the worn side but he wore it well.

  She’d have time to decide whether or not she liked it later. After the horses were home and safe. She touched the brim of her hat with her finger and smiled. “Hope you get some good shots before the sun goes down. Not many lights out here—then it gets dark dark out. Take care.”

  “Thanks.” His pale gaze searched hers. “Nice meeting you, Renata.”

  With a nod, she nudged Luna forward and the horse set off at a fast trot. The hammering of her heart had nothing to do with their ride back. Fifteen minutes ago, she’d been resigned to accepting her fate as the cool single aunt in her family. Now she wanted to spend a little more time having Ash look at her like that—with his clenched jaw and brooding pale gaze. She thought a night with him might just provide the sort of memories that could comfort a woman for a lifetime. He looked the type.

  And now she’d officially crossed the line into ridiculousness. It had been a long time since she’d been on a date and, obviously, the loneliness was getting to her. He was gorgeous and interested and she was sort of vibrating from the charged connection between them. But...she wasn’t that sort of girl.

  Even if, for the first time ever, she really wished she could be.

  * * *

  John-Asher was in no hurry. After his run-in with Renata, he needed to clear his head. He’d been too heartsick to notice the opposite sex, until now. And now, well, he hadn’t really had a choice. She’d sort of demanded his attention. Magnetic. Hypnotic. Whatever. It felt like she’d reached inside, grabbed hold of something long dormant and shaken it wide-awake. In ten minutes flat.

  He shivered, the nip in the air biting right through his flannel button-down and the undershirt beneath. It was fatigue. Period. The mind could play tricks on the body. And that’s exactly what had happened. A pretty girl. A friendly smile. A few laughs... She was being neighborly, nothing more. But she’d made his crappy day better.

  Since it was unlikely their paths would ever cross again—which was good—there was no cause for concern.

  This visit was pointless. After his interview at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, he knew what his first pick was. He was a damn fine diagnostician and a well-regarded veterinarian, and they appreciated that. But the University of East Texas Veterinary Teaching Hospital, right here in Stonewall Crossing, had been Shanna’s top pick. She’d researched every candidate town’s schools, its history and crime rates, and the potential for him to have a long-term career. This was the place she’d wanted to raise Curtis, the place she’d thought they could call home. And, even though she’d been gone for almost two years, the urge to make her happy hadn’t faded. He’d made her a promise. And he kept his promises.

  He shifted his duffel bag from one shoulder to the next and pushed his favorite felt cowboy hat down. The ache in his chest was constant and familiar. At times it would fade and he’d fight to hold on to it. If the ache was gone, Shanna would be gone. And that wasn’t something he was willing to accept yet. A jagged knot lodged itself in his throat, making his eyes burn.

  She wanted him to be happy—dammit, he was trying—but it was too soon for him to contemplate moving on. He and Shanna had had something special. She’d been his wife and best friend, the one who’d plucked a small-town country boy from the saddle and introduced him to the wonders of the world. Her zest for life had been contagious. Without her...life was hard. In the beginning, getting out of bed had been a challenge.

  Curtis was a balm to his soul. His son was the light of his life. With his all-consuming smiles and his joyful giggles, that little boy was all Ash needed to keep moving. Hurting or not, he’d be the best father he could be for his boy.

  Their family might be small,
but it was strong. The two of them would do just fine on their own—no matter what his mother and mother-in-law might think.

  His half-hearted attempts to move on failed epically. Online dating was a bust. Blind dates a no go. He’d even hit a club or two with his single friends but quickly realized he wasn’t interested in a hookup. Besides, he’d yet to meet a woman who sparked his interest. A memory of Renata smiling popped up so quickly he bit out a curse.

  Until today. And that spark had been so bright it had scared him. If he was being honest, it was more than a spark. More like a bonfire. He ran a hand along the back of his neck, rolling his head to ease the tension, and glared up at the wide-open sky and the first flicker of stars.

  Her quirky humor. Her smile. Those blue eyes. Altogether too tempting for a man in his position. And he’d let her ride off. No, he’d hoped she’d ride off. Because he wasn’t ready. How could he be? It wasn’t right.

  Frustration twisted his insides.

  The Lodge rose up, its windows spilling welcome light into the growing darkness. It was bigger than he’d pictured, more impressive, and likely warmer than the cold night air. The bite in the air had increased along this last stretch of road. His fingers tingled and his nose was downright numb. He almost wished he’d taken Renata up on her offer of a ride.

  Almost.

  Spending more time with her might have ended the fascination—or added to it. She might be the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen, besides Shanna. And, looking at her, he’d felt something he’d thought he’d lost with his wife. Attraction. Real, hard, knock-the-air-out-his-lungs attraction.

  Why was he surprised? He was lonely. So damn lonely he ached. But feeling this way after ten minutes with a stranger was unsettling. And out of character. He wasn’t a hormonal teenager, dammit. He had responsibilities and a family to take care of.

  He hurried up the Lodge steps and pushed through the thick wooden door, appreciating the instant warmth, smell of baking bread and bright light. A hot meal, a hot shower and a soft, warm bed was all he wanted. Tomorrow he’d have his interview and leave. And he wouldn’t spend another minute thinking about Renata.