Heart of a Rancher Read online

  She straightened in the rocker. “Take care of Gypsy?”

  “Yes.” He didn’t elaborate.

  Evidently she understood that she didn’t want to hear how they would go about taking care of a dead cow. She merely nodded. “And we’re going to the main house now?”

  “If you’re up to it.”

  She stood, looked around the front of the cabin and then toward Red, still grazing nearby. The log cabin was a good piece away, and naturally she couldn’t see it from there. Nor could she see a vehicle, he realized, since John didn’t need one at the shack.

  “How are we getting to the main house?” The tiny tremor of trepidation in her tone made him fight another smile.

  “I rode Red down here, but I thought we’d take the Gator back, given that your skirt isn’t exactly conducive to horse riding.” He watched Lightning take another interest in her shoes, and he gently steered the old dog in the other direction.

  She didn’t notice the dog, her attention more focused on his statement. “The gator?”

  John loved how she attempted to sound calm when her eyes gave her away. What, did she think he had some sort of live alligator around that they’d ride to the big house? He might live in the sticks, but he wasn’t ready to be featured on Swamp People yet. He leaned down to scratch Lightning behind the ears and checked his grin. “Come on, I’ll show you.” Then he led her behind the cabin to the small work shed he’d recently added for fishing supplies, opened the rolling door and pointed to the John Deere Gator that he and Landon used around the fields when they weren’t on horseback. “That’s my Gator, and it’s a decent ride. Probably not as fancy as your Escalade, but I can guarantee we won’t hit any cows.”

  “That’s your gator.” Relief flooded through her words.

  He climbed into the driver’s seat, pointed to the passenger side. “Yep. You ready to go?”

  She stood still for a moment, and John wondered if she expected him to usher her in. There wasn’t a door to open; the thing was basically an oversize dune buggy. So, if she wasn’t a princess waiting for a chauffeur to open her door, why was she standing there?

  “Everything okay?” he asked.

  “Yes, yes, it’s fine.” She blinked, took a step toward the Gator, and then he saw her dilemma—how to get in wearing that skirt. But before he could offer suggestions, she attempted to climb in ladylike and did a pretty good job. The skirt was slim and fitted, so she sat on the seat and then gracefully moved both legs into the vehicle. Then she let out a relieved sigh. “I’ve never seen one of these before.”

  Impressed at her ability to adapt, John started the Gator. “They’re pretty much a standard piece of equipment for farms around here.”

  She examined the bright yellow seats and the equally bright green exterior, then ran her hand across the shiny black dash. “It looks amazingly fun.”

  City girl or not, she was mighty cute. “You want to drive? It’s fine with me, as long as you promise not to take out any more livestock on the way to the house.”

  She didn’t mask her excitement with that prospect quickly enough, and John suspected—previous cow collision or not—she was about to hop out, round the Gator and take the wheel. But then she shook her head. “Not today, but yes, I’d like to drive it eventually.” She sounded practically giddy over driving a Gator. And to think John had wondered if he’d be able to impress the Chicago debutante. “And I promise not to hit any more cows when I do,” she added.

  “I’ll hold you to that.” Grinning, he backed out of the shed. “So a future Gator drive will go on the books. I’m thinking we’ll probably ride the acreage tomorrow so I can show you what I have in mind for the round pen, the campsites, trail rides and all. We can take the Gator for that, rather than ride horses.”

  “Oh, I want to ride horses, too.” She paused, looked at Red, then at the other horses meandering nearby and the multitude of Charolais cattle grazing on the hill. “I need to try everything if I’m going to tell the Brooks International board everything about the ranch. I want this to work, so they’ll agree to fund other similar projects.”

  “I want this to work, too.” John noticed her slight smile and suspected she looked forward to her weeks on the farm. Again, a trickle of pride shot straight to his heart.

  They passed over the fields with Dana surveying everything, her blond hair whipping wildly in the breeze. She gathered it into a makeshift ponytail and held it with one hand, while using the other to shield her eyes as she took everything in. She reminded him of Abi last fall at the county fair, absorbing all the new sights, sounds and fun. This affluent woman, a millionaire who’d already made her mark following after her father as a venture capitalist, seemed captivated by his world.

  John was so busy watching her that he forgot to slow down when they approached the biggest hill in the pasture and consequently caught a bit of air. She grabbed at the dashboard before she slammed back down on the seat.

  “Whoa!” Her excited laugh filled the air, and John found himself joining in.

  “Sorry,” he said, slowing down and deciding to take it easy for the remainder of the journey. No need to toss her into the field on her first day at the ranch.

  She’d lost her grip on her hair when they went airborne, and it whipped in front of her eyes as her laughter subsided. He watched her gather it again and pull it away from her face, and the pale pink polish on her nails shimmered in the sun and added another extremely feminine quality to the woman riding next to him.

  John pulled his attention away to make certain he didn’t hit any more unexpected hills, and then he heard her gasp as the log cabin and barn came into view.

  All of her attention focused on the scene. “Oh, my, it’s beautiful!”

  He’d always thought so, but he was a country boy, and this was pure country. Hearing her echo his sentiments with such enthusiasm, particularly when he wanted so much to impress her with the ranch, felt good.

  “That’s Abi.” His niece, her strawberry pigtails bouncing as she jumped off the porch, ran toward the approaching Gator.

  “Hey, Uncle John! Is that the city lady? Are you really from a big town where the wind blows all the time? Uncle John says you’re going camping with us so you can see what it’s like, ’cause when we have a dude ranch people will camp and hike and stuff. I haven’t been camping before, but we’re gonna be in a tent and cook hot dogs and marshmallows, and you eat everything with your fingers. But it’s okay, ’cause you can lick your fingers to get the gooey stuff off when you’re done.”

  John barely got the Gator turned off before Abi stood within feet of Dana. And continued asking questions.

  “You sure are dressed up. Did you go to church? Today is Friday, not Sunday. Did we miss church?”

  “Abi, this is Miss Dana.” John hoped his niece would stop talking long enough for the introduction, and she obliged. “And no, we didn’t miss church.”

  “These are the clothes I wore to work this morning, and then on the plane.” Dana smiled at Abi, and John could see that she, like John and everyone else who met the precocious child, was smitten. “I didn’t dress right for the farm, did I?”

  “Nope, you sure didn’t.” Abi’s head shook so hard her curly pigtails practically slapped her freckled cheeks. “You dressed for church. Or really, you kind of dressed for Easter or maybe Christmas, a fancy church day, not a regular church day.”

  John laughed, and Dana grinned.

  “I did bring a couple of outfits that might work on the farm, but I’m pretty sure I’ll need to go shopping and buy some more. Maybe you and your mommy could help me find a place to buy some farm clothes while I’m here?”

  Abi’s head shake turned to a full, enthusiastic bob. “Sure we can! I like to go shopping, and Mommy does, too. And Grandma comes sometimes. We can go to the square, and we can get candy at
the Sweet Stop and then go to the toy store, and maybe we can go get a double-chocolate milk shake when we finish. I’ll go tell Mommy. Are you ready to go?”

  This time Dana laughed. “Well, I was thinking maybe tomorrow. I’ve kind of had a full day already today. And I do have some clothes I can wear, as soon as I get my bags from the car.”

  “We’ll get those for you.” John climbed out of the Gator.

  “Oh, all right, then.” Her disappointment undeniable, Abi handled it pretty well for a seven-year-old. “I guess tomorrow will be okay. But tomorrow is Saturday, so I have my riding lessons from Grandma in the morning. But we can go after that.”

  * * *

  Dana didn’t know when she’d seen a more adorable little girl. Abi’s curly red hair, copper freckles and intriguing hazel eyes reminded her of the young actress who’d played Annie on Broadway. Except, in Dana’s opinion, little Abi was even cuter, with a realness that could only be attributed to being raised on a ranch, surrounded by family and grounded in rural country. All foreign to Dana.

  Abi’s attire also set her apart from any little girl Dana had ever been around. She wore a yellow shirt with denim cutoff shorts and bare feet. Even when she’d been playing as a child, Dana never went without shoes. The feature only added to Abi’s appeal; this was a true country girl. “Maybe I could come and watch your horseback-riding lessons.” She hoped to add some consolation for making Abi wait until tomorrow to shop.

  Freckled cheeks pumped up with her smile. “Okay!” Then she proceeded to tell Dana about everything she’d learned in her riding lessons, while the cabin door opened and another tall cowboy Dana knew must be John’s brother stepped onto the porch. The exact image of John, except where John’s light brown hair was wavy and a little longer, Landon had a short, military style. But they had the same broad grin, the same amber eyes and the same deep dimples bracketing their smiles. Definitely brothers.

  “Abi, let her get a word in every now and then.” He stepped off the porch and tweaked one of Abi’s pigtails. “You’ll have to learn to talk when she takes a breath. I’m Landon, and we’re glad you’re here, Ms. Brooks, even if you’ve gotten off to a rocky start with your arrival on the farm.”

  A rocky start. Right. With all her attention focused on John, she’d almost forgotten about her entrance to the ranch. “I’m so sorry about Gypsy.” The guilt of killing this family’s oldest cow hit her hard as she continued to meet more of the Cutters.

  “Gypsy? Is Gypsy okay?” Abi’s question caused Dana to realize that rarely being around children had removed her natural protective filter for the information she should share. Abi’s attention moved to the field. “Where is Gypsy?”

  “Um...” Dana looked to John for help.

  His mouth shifted to the side as though debating what to say, but then the cabin door opened again and a woman stepped out. Her hair, the same strawberry-blond as Abi’s, fell in long waves to her waist. “Abi, your chocolate milk is ready and on the kitchen table. Why don’t you come on in and drink it while it’s good and cold?”

  “Yum.” Abi scrambled past the group and hurried into the house.

  Landon looked adoringly at the stunning woman. “Ms. Brooks, this is Georgiana, my wife.”

  “Please call me Dana.” She already felt over-the-top formal in her business suit and didn’t want them addressing her formally, as well. Looking back, she knew that wearing the outfit instead of something more casual was a mistake. It put a barrier up between her and this kind family, so willing to take her in and to forgive her for killing their cow.

  “All right, then,” Landon said, his Southern drawl stretching out the words. “Georgiana, this is Dana.”

  “Nice to meet you,” Dana said.

  “You, too.” Georgiana lowered her voice and explained, “The window is open. I heard Abi’s question about Gypsy and thought it’d be a good time for her to have her chocolate milk.”

  Landon wrapped an arm around his wife and kissed her cheek. “Smart thinking.”

  “I feel terrible about what happened.” Dana sensed the warmth of John’s presence before she turned to verify that he’d moved to her side.

  “We live on a ranch with a lot of livestock. We’re kind of used to the fact that they don’t all live forever.” His rich baritone sent goose bumps marching down her arms. Thank goodness for the long sleeves on her cardigan.

  Dana had no idea how she’d control this crazy response to the cowboy. No guy from the city had ever had this effect on her senses, where every cell in her being seemed to stretch toward him whenever he neared. She knew she should say something, but once again, staring at those two dimples bracketing his smile, she found herself speechless.

  Landon turned to John. “I talked to the guy at the rental car place in Stockville. They’ve got someone on their way to tow the vehicle, so we should go get Ms. Brooks’s—Dana’s—things out before they haul it.”

  “All right.” John turned to Dana. “You good to stay here with Georgiana and Abi while we get your luggage?”

  Thankfully, her brain started working again, and she found words. “Sure.”

  “They’re getting you another vehicle, but it won’t be delivered until tomorrow afternoon. That okay?” Landon asked. “You can use one of ours in the meantime if you need to go anywhere. But you should know that Georgiana already canceled your room at the bed-and-breakfast. We want you to stay here.”

  “Technically it isn’t canceled, but I told the Tingles that we planned on your staying at the ranch, unless you’d rather not,” Georgiana said. “But I can’t imagine you’d enjoy being in a tiny room cooped up over the next few weeks. Out here you can have run of the place and the land. Plus, you’ll be able to visit the farm firsthand every day, be around the horses. And you’ve probably already figured out how much we love having company.”

  “That’s fine.” Dana was surprised that the family so easily took her in, working her into the day effortlessly. “I appreciate all your help.”

  “Not a problem at all.” Georgiana’s smile claimed her face, and Dana was taken aback by her natural beauty. Hazel eyes in a heart-shaped face, copper freckles, bright smile. In a green T-shirt, denim capris and bare feet, she looked as pretty as any model.

  “Georgiana, Dana isn’t exactly dressed for the farm, and since we might be gone a little while, do you think you could get her something more comfortable to wear?” John asked, then added, “Right now, she’s wearing a suit and heels.”

  Dana wondered why John described what she wore, since Georgiana looked directly at her, and then the pieces clicked into place. The beautiful woman was blind.

  “Oh, my, you broke down and had to walk all that way in a suit?” Georgiana asked. “Bless your heart. Yes, come on in, and we’ll find you something to wear. Abi can help. She loves picking out clothes. She helps me all the time.” Georgiana laughed. “It’s kind of hard for me to match things, you know.”

  “Georgiana will take care of you until we get back.” John’s voice was quiet, and Dana turned to see that his eyes held an admiration and kindness toward his sister-in-law. He was right; regardless of her disability, Georgiana wanted to take care of her guest, and Dana wanted to let her.

  “That’s fine,” she turned to Georgiana. “I’d love to borrow something, if you don’t mind. And I’ll call the bed-and-breakfast and let them know I’m officially canceling my reservation.”

  Georgiana clasped her hands together. “Wonderful. We’re so glad you’ll be staying with us.”

  “One thing, though, Georgiana,” Landon said.

  “What’s that?”

  “She’s got a good four or five inches of height on you. Probably want to consider that when you’re finding her clothes.”

  Georgiana’s grin showcased the copper freckles on her cheeks and the hazel in her eyes. “So if
she wears my pants, we’re talking high waters.” She lifted a shoulder. “Not a problem. I hear capris are in this year.” She waved a hand toward her own outfit.

  Dana already liked the woman. “You heard right. They definitely are.”

  “We’ll have dinner ready when y’all get back so John can eat before he heads to work,” Georgiana said to the rugged cowboys walking toward an old blue truck, their boots kicking up a bit of dust as they moved.

  “Sounds great.” John climbed into the passenger side of the old pickup, looked at Dana and knuckled his Stetson. “Oh, by the way, welcome to the ranch.”

  She stood beside Georgiana and watched them drive away, mesmerized with the lifestyle so different than her own. And equally mesmerized by the breathtaking cowboy with the sexy smile, and eyes that looked like honey in the sunshine.

  “Come on, we’ll go get you some clothes.” Georgiana took a couple of steps, opened the door and led the way inside. If Dana didn’t know she was blind, she wouldn’t have been able to tell.

  They entered the log cabin, and Dana viewed the beauty of plank wood ceilings, hardwood floors, exposed beams and a huge stone fireplace. Even the furnishings were rustic but homey. “Your room is upstairs, on the left. I’ll show you.” Georgiana started up the stairs. “Abi, you can come help me pick out some of my clothes for Miss Dana to wear if you’re done with your milk.”

  “Cool!” Abi abandoned her spot at the kitchen table and ran toward the stairs.

  “I didn’t hear you put your glass in the sink.” Georgiana’s motherly tone was endearing.

  “Oh, yeah, right.” Abi turned, ran back to the table and moved her empty glass to the sink. Then she darted back across the living area to pass them going up the stairs. “I’ll go pick out something nice.”

  Georgiana laughed. “Abi loves to help.” She slid her hand along the wall until it met the first door facing and then pointed to the open door. “That’s your room. There is an adjoining bathroom, and you should have all the linens and things you need, but if anything is missing, just let me know. We really are glad you’re here.”