by Danni Roan
Perhaps, Trace was right. Perhaps she could let him take some of the burden this change to her life would add.
Looking at her sister, and seeing her bright smile as she thought of Kade, was almost enough to convince her that marrying a stranger might work out for her as well. She needed to talk to Trace about his proposal a little more.
Last night she was angry and was trying to push him into admitting he didn’t mean what he had said, but today it all seemed too real. The temptation to go through with it was so strong.
“I think it’s so odd how you two ended up married and living on the same ranch,” Marissa said before thinking. “Who would believe that a purple-haired match maker would match you with your best friend’s cousin? It’s like some weird science fiction plot.”
Phil laughed, turning and touching Marissa’s arm. “Or maybe it’s just part of a grand plan worked out by a God who loves us,” she said.
Marissa pulled her arm back from Phil’s touch as a cold chill raised down her spine. She didn’t need some fairytale being in the sky to organize her life. Out dated beliefs in God and religion only held the world back sinking them into strife and conflict.
Finishing her breakfast, she bid her goodbyes to Michelle and Philomena then excused herself slipping outside to visit the horses.
***
Trace caught a hint of movement along the fence line and turned to look out the window of the stall he had been cleaning. He was hoping that he might see Marissa again today, but with as busy as the ranch was right now, he couldn’t be sure if it was her or another guest watching the foals play.
Squinting he made out the slim form of the pretty teacher and grinned. Although he knew he had pushed her the night before, he couldn’t help but like her, and if he were honest, he couldn’t deny his attraction to her.
Last night he had fallen into bed kicking himself for rushing his thoughts. Of course he had her considering the mad idea of marrying him, even if temporarily, to insure she didn’t make any other rash decision.
Was he a fool for doing this? He couldn’t see it if he was. He wanted her to know the love and joy that was waiting for her on the other side of this life-changing event.
Turning to finish his work Trace grabbed a halter, slipping it over the young horse’s head and led it outside, so he would have an excuse to meet up with Marissa. He couldn’t help but pull his hat down a little lower as he walked out of the barn though. There was no denying he felt a little like a love struck teen instead of the sensible man he was known to be.
***
Marissa gazed across the fields smiling at the antics of the baby horses as they kicked and bucked, or raced across the fields. In the two-and-a-half years that she had been coming to visit the ranch, she had always loved the summer season and watching the fuzzy foals learn to use their long legs.
“Cute, aren’t they?” Trace said making Marissa start.
“Very cute,” she said turning to look at the cowboy who was busy fiddling with the lead line on the horse he led.
“You want to go for a walk?” Trace asked still feeling awkward and out of place.
“We like to get young horses out on the trails sometimes to let them get used to new things before we have them under saddle.”
Marissa nodded. A walk might be nice. She still didn’t know exactly what she wanted to say to Trace. She only knew that his idea wouldn’t leave her alone, and that it seemed to answer so many of her own fears.
Together they walked along the fence line, making a turn as they passed the barn behind her sister’s house and following the line.
The sun was still fairly low in the sky, but the cheerful yellow light glowed among the greens and golds of the open prairie.
“You do this often?” Marissa finally asked.
“Pretty much, I get a little tongue tied with the guests, so I try to do more of the barn work when I can.”
Marissa stopped looking at him in surprise. “I find that hard to believe,” she said. “You’re very easy to talk to.”
“I don’t know about that. All I know is that when the girls start giggling, I get annoyed and want to run the other way.”
Marissa laughed. “I wouldn’t have pegged you as the shy type,” she chuckled.
Trace shook his head, his face heating. “I’ve always been that way,” he said. “I never had much time for anything growing up, but helping my dad and Daisy. We had a little farm and raised some sheep over at Biders Clump, but Daisy needed more care, and then when she started her center she felt she could do more good here,” he finished with a shrug.
“Does she live at the center full-time?” Marissa asked wondering about Trace’s sister again. “Or does she have a place of her own?”
“Technically she has a room at my place,” Trace admitted, “but she really lives at the center full-time. She almost never takes a day off, but she’s happy, and I help when I can.”
“Were you serious last night?” Marissa blurted stopping so fast that he took a step past her and had to turn to meet her gaze.
“I was.”
“It’s tempting,” she said. “I’m just afraid I have some crazy hormones affecting my thinking. I know the whole thing would give me a safety net, but I don’t know what to expect. We barely know each other.”
“That didn’t stop your sister,” Trace said echoing her hidden thoughts. “Besides, I’m only trying to give you an alternative.”
“You know about Kade and Michelle?” Marissa asked surprised. It had taken Michelle months to explain the whole thing to their parents.
“Everyone knows about Kade and Michelle,” Trace said with a grin. “They’re our very own odd couple here at the Broken J.”
Marissa smiled, again feeling that warm stillness that being with Trace always brought.
“I’ll tell you what,” Trace said. “Why don’t you ride with me this evening on the mock cattle drive and chuck wagon dinner? You can protect me from the giggling girls, and we’ll get to know each other a little better. Whatever you decide, I promise you one thing, I’ll be here for you.”
“Isn’t that drive only for paying guests?” Marissa hedged.
“I can have a guest if I want,” Trace said. They were standing under the shade of one of the creek side cottonwoods and the sun filtering through the leaves was playing on Marissa’s soft skin like golden gems. “It’s not like we don’t have enough horses to go around,” he finished with a smile.
Marissa laughed. “I guess that’s true. What time do I need to be ready?”
“We start the drive at five and end up with the chuck wagon at about seven.”
“I’ll be there,” Marissa said. No matter what she decided to do she liked the fact that Trace was treating her with honesty. Even with his strong conviction on what her course of action should be, he didn’t seem to be judging her. She hoped that could last. For the first time in years, Marissa felt she had a connection with someone that went further than the comfort of a warm body to come home to each night.
Looking back, she realized how her relationship with Ray hadn’t been a true or lasting love, only a convenience.
It was somewhat of a shock to realize that her love for her former boyfriend had been an illusion. She had wanted someone to love, and now she had that chance if only she would go through with it.
“I’ll see you tonight,” she finally replied. “I’d better get back now,” she finished.
“I’ll walk you back,” Trace said turning and heading back along the fence line. He felt privileged to walk through the busy ranch next to Marissa.
As they made their way back behind the Ballard home, Trace stopped tipping his hat with a smile. “See you later,” he said leading the horse back toward the barn as Marissa headed for the back door.
***
Marissa hadn’t even made it across the hall when a knock fell on the door.
“Hello,” she said pulling the door open expecting that Trace had come to ask her one more qu
estion. Marissa was surprised to find the slim red-haired woman from the steakhouse the night before on the front porch.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” the other woman said, “Is Michelle here?”
“No, she and Kade headed down to the print-shop with Kadence a little while ago. I’m Marissa, Michelle’s sister.”
“I’m really sorry to bother you,” the woman said, “I’m Florence Tate and I was hoping that Michelle had seen my daughter Elsie.”
Marissa tipped her head to the side. “Was she coming to visit Michelle?”
“No, but I went into the house to check Hunter’s schedule, and when I came back out, she wasn’t on the porch with Fred where I had left her,” Florence said biting her bottom lip with worry.
“I’ll help you look,” Marissa said stepping out on the front porch and looking around as she pulled the door closed. “What does she look like?”
“Thank you,” Florence said looking relieved. “She’s about this tall,” she indicated lowering her hand by her hip. “She has long blonde hair and big glasses.”
“I’ll check the barn,” Marissa said. “You go back through the main house and the buildings behind it,” she encouraged. “I’m sure she’ll be fine.”
Florence nodded lifting her chin. “I’m probably over reacting,” she said as they walked down the front steps and headed back toward the main part of the ranch. “I haven’t been her mother very long, and honestly, she probably knows this place better than I do since her father works as a wrangler on the Broken J.”
“Who’s your husband?” Marissa asked trying to distract Florence from her obvious concern.
“Hunter Tate,” Florence said a smile breaking across her face like the morning sun. “You know before I moved here I had no idea they still made men like him.”
Marissa studied the other woman’s face. “They have some odd ways around this place,” she admitted.
They had almost made it back to the house when a lean cowboy stepped out of the barn leading a little girl by the hand. Marissa notice that they both wore matching braided string bracelet.
“Elsie,” Florence cried hurrying toward the pair. “Why did you wander off like that?” she asked squatting before the girl who pushed her oversized glasses up her nose with her free hand.
“I saw dad go past the barn and didn’t want to miss him,” Elsie said. “I wanted him to know you were here and come say hello.”
Florence looked up at the cowboy, her bright green eyes sparkling. “I was worried,” she said pulling the little girl in for a hug. “Next time make sure you tell me. You know I’m not as comfortable around horses as you are.”
“If you say so,” Elsie said hugging her back. “I’m sorry I scared you.”
Marissa watched as Florence stood only to be pulled into a hug by the cowboy. “She’s alright,” his deep voice rumbled. “You didn’t lose her.”
Florence sank into Hunter’s warm embrace and Marissa turned to walk away. She had seen the love and worry mingled on the redheaded woman’s face, but the joy and relief that had come when she found her family made Marissa’s heart ache. She was more positive than ever that the option Trace had given her was the best one she was going to get.
“Hunter, I want you to meet Marissa,” Florence’s words made Marissa stop in her tracks and head back in her direction. “Marissa was helping me look for Elsie.”
“Hi,” Marissa said walking up to the cowboy. “I’m glad Elsie was with you.”
“Did you marry a cowboy too?” Elsie asked, “or are you a guest?”
“I’m neither,” Marissa said placing her hands on her knees and bending low to meet the little girl’s gaze. “I’m visiting my sister Michelle.”
“Did she take you for a ride in the pony cart yet?” Elsie said enthusiastically. “She’s the best driver on the ranch,” she finished with a delighted giggle.
“Yes, she has,” Marissa said. “I even got to drive it myself the other day.”
“My dad says I’m not big enough yet, but when I am he’ll teach me to drive. For now I just ride my pony at home.”
“What’s your pony’s name?” Marissa asked with a grin. She guessed that the little girl was only six or seven but she was very petite for her age.
“Moxie,” Elsie said. “She’s gray and has a long white tail.”
“Thank you for your help today,” Hunter said his smile conveying his appreciation as he stood with one arm around Florence.
“I didn’t really do anything,” Marissa said. “I’m just glad everyone’s okay.”
“I won’t run off like that again, Dad,” Elsie said looking up at the tall cowboy as the sun glinted off her thick lenses. “I’m sorry.”
“I’ll let you all get on with your day,” Marissa said with a smile. Taking in the vision of a happy family and hoping that someday she could have that.
She didn’t know the story behind the trio she was now walking away from, but the fact that they were obviously a blended family gave her hope.
Chapter 12
“Are you going to be here for dinner?” Michelle asked as Marissa came down the stairs later that afternoon.
“No, I’m going to do the cattle drive with Trace tonight,” Marissa said. “You don’t need to worry about me.”
“I won’t worry if you’re with Trace,” Michelle said. “I don’t know him well, but Kade speaks highly of him. Did you have a good day,” she finished placing the teakettle on the stove and nodding for Marissa to join her.
“I met a lady named Florence,” Marissa said slipping into a chair and letting Michelle make tea. “I take it Kadence is sleeping,” she added with a smile.
Michelle’s giggle was contagious and they both laughed for a minute thinking of how Kadence always protested naptime but could never stay awake after lunch.
“Do you have any other plans this week?” Michelle asked placing two steaming cups on the table before grabbing a tin of oatmeal cookies.
“Not really,” Marissa admitted. “I have a load to sort out in the next few days,” she admitted giving her sister a hard look. “I don’t want any back talk from you either Michelle,” she added cutting off her sister’s words. “You’re the one who ran off and married a complete stranger without even telling mom and dad,” she said lifting her cup while staring her older sister down.
Michelle shook her head. “I just don’t want you to make a mistake you can’t live with,” Michelle said.
“I know you worry about me, but I think everything is going to work out. Trust me big sister.”
Michelle nodded her eyes still troubled. “I’ll try,” she said. “I want you to know you can come to me if you need me though.”
Marissa smiled. “I know,” she said reaching for a cookie and sipping her tea.
***
By five o’clock, Marissa was dressed for a cattle drive and wearing her best boots. She was looking forward to spending the evening with the handsome cowboy, and she hoped he wouldn’t be too distracted to give her a bit of his time.
She had been on one of the drives before and the atmosphere was fun, even exciting. After the past two years of visiting Michelle, Marissa felt comfortable on a horse, and wasn’t afraid of the big cattle that were used for the mock drive.
“Hey you,” Trace called as Marissa walked toward the waiting horses. “You look like you’re ready to ride.”
Marissa smiled, but just shook her head as Trace turned to move the big-wheeled mounting block to the other side of the barn doors so that people could mount up easily.
“Why don’t you take a seat inside the barn,” Trace said nodding toward the door and a chair that sat in the shade of the big barn, “I’ll get everyone set then you and I can fall in at the back of the herd,” he finished with a grin.
Marissa nodded gratefully. She was glad she didn’t have to stand around waiting while all of the guests mounted up.
“Ready Trace,” the man called Hunter from earlier in the day called as he checked sto
ck then turned a smiling face to guests leaving the big house.
It took nearly twenty minutes for the guests to get ready for the ride, while a handful of wranglers were kept busy leading horses to three different mounting blocks and helping people into the saddle.
Marissa peeked out of the barn grinning when Kade swung up onto one of his big red mules and started leading the crowd toward the small group of cows that he had gathered earlier that day.
Several wranglers flanked the guests, and in the distance, Marissa could see the teens from outlying ranches working the herd and watching the guests as the cattle drive got under way.