A Rancher's Love

by Vivian Arend

  “Well done, guys.” Lisa offered high fives then casually pulled out her gun and shot her two teammates where they stood.

  The screams of laughter didn’t stop for a long time, especially since Lisa raced out of the basement twirling the ring around one finger.

  Josiah shook his head, but he laughed as well. “You are never going to live that down,” he warned as she happily presented him with her prize.

  “Life is danger,” she offered back with a smirk.

  But she did try to run, unsuccessfully, when her sisters and teammates surrounded her, grabbed her, and threw her outside into a snowbank.

  The entire night, Luke and Tucker put themselves on opposing teams. Once the dust settled, they’d played six rounds and the score between them was even, three-three.

  By now, it was late enough that couples had slowly begun peeling off to head home until only a few stragglers remained. Dustin and Shim were battling with Fern and Tansy for the fourth time in a row.

  Luke lifted a beer to his lips and sipped, watching the screens with amusement. “Those boys are gluttons for punishment.”

  “Completely,” Tucker agreed. “Oh, look. Dustin’s about to go down.”

  Fern was evil with her laser. She’d somehow attached it to her prosthetic, and she looked like a Star Wars hero while taking out Luke’s brother, yet again.

  In the kitchen, Kelli and Ginny were chatting. Heads nodding, laughter spilling free. Beside where Tucker and Luke sat, the fire crackled softly.

  “It was a good party,” Tucker said quietly. “Thanks for sharing it with me.”

  “It was a good party. Do we need to go one more round to find out who’s the ultimate champion?” Even as he asked, Luke sipped his beer slowly, not moving a muscle otherwise. Obviously comfortable where he was.

  Tucker watched the laser-tag screen out of one eye, but more of his attention remained focused there in the room. On his friend and Kelli. On Ginny, who radiated sunshine everywhere she went. “Nah. We’ll call it even for today. But next time, you’re going down.”

  “Deal.” Luke stretched his legs out, turning his head just far enough to meet Tucker’s gaze. “Happy birthday, bro.”

  Warmth like a summer day slipped in. Tucker offered a chin dip in agreement. “Happy birthday to us.”

  22

  It had been another busy day, but a productive one. Ginny admired the rows of containers lined up on her kitchen table with satisfaction. The neat labels with the beautiful logo Fern Fields had designed for her shimmered in a pale, glittering green.

  Goddess Gifts.

  Over the past month, Ginny had received half a dozen responses to her requests for information regarding local artisan products, and while the possibility of putting together a local gift box was still out of reach, Ginny kept exploring. Kept thinking and kept dreaming.

  Bonus, working from home meant never being far from relaxing. She stopped work at three o’clock, poured herself a cup of tea and took it and her notebook out onto the porch. She still had to curl up under a warm blanket, but the sunshine felt good. It had been an unusually warm March, and while they were still far from the time when green things would bloom outside instead of in the forced confines of the greenhouse, it felt as if magic whirled in the air. Deep breaths of the clean air refreshed her soul as well as her body.

  Flipping pages in her mother’s journal first, Ginny found a story that made her howl, because it was so her mother, and such a clear memory from when she would have been about thirteen, the journal entry triggering details from that summer night to return in glorious Technicolor.

  Found a bunch of recipe cards from the 1930s - 1970s. Dear lord, I can’t decide if the cooks who created these were sadists, or were simply fooling around and never thought they’d be taken seriously.

  * * *

  I decided I had to make one for the family, but the trouble came in deciding which one was off the wall enough to make them blink. Teenage boys will eat anything, after all.

  * * *

  I decided to try four of them all at once.

  * * *

  Poor Walter. When I put the food on the table, he looked as if he doubted my sanity. Still, he carefully scooped up one portion of each dish onto a plate and passed it around.

  * * *

  Caleb didn’t seem to notice. Luke and Tucker gave each other looks but tucked in like everything was normal. Walker smirked but dug in resolutely. Dusty asked for a second bean-stuffed tomato.

  * * *

  Ginny stared at me for the longest time before a noise escaped her. I thought for a second she was choking, but it was giggles.

  * * *

  Do you know how hard it is to keep a straight face when your daughter is snickering like crazy even as the menfolk dig into miniature castle-shaped creamed-chicken-Jell-O? Or a very bold pink Salmon Shortcake Delight?

  * * *

  I think every year on Canada Day, I’ll make one of these old-fashioned monstrosities.

  Ginny wiped away the tears, because the meal really had been that bad. The tastes, the colours—all of it incredibly terrible. When she peeked into the pocket on that page and found the actual recipe cards, she laughed all over again.

  The next time Dustin and Shim came for supper, she was totally making the creamed chicken recipe.

  Still snickering, she put aside her mom’s journal and picked up her own, flipping as usual to an open page about a third of the way in.

  At the top of the page, words poked her.

  My one regret.

  Interesting how with every one of these prompts, she could come back again and again, and every time the answer might be slightly different. If she’d read this question a year ago during her travels, she might have regretted not having asked all the right questions before she’d even left.

  But here and now, the answer rising up the clearest was how she felt deep inside, and how she hadn’t shared it nearly enough.

  How much she loved and appreciated Caleb for everything he’d ever done, not just for her, but Dare as well. How much she enjoyed Walker and Ivy’s company, how much big brother Luke and live-wire Kelli meant. How Dustin made Ginny laugh and smile, and his wide-open future was something she couldn’t wait to encourage him to explore. How Tamara was magically meeting Ginny’s needs for a mother figure and a good friend at the same time.

  How much she loved Tucker. Body, mind and soul.

  That one was too huge to rush past.

  The feeling inside wasn’t something new. She’d probably loved Tucker in some way since she was a giddy youth. But the real moment of the change, she remembered so clearly.

  Out on the dance floor. The end of January. In that moment, she’d known that everything he’d said before was absolutely true.

  He’d claimed her. Straight up, no doubt about it, he’d made it plain that he wanted her. Damn the consequences; damn her trying to make his life easier.

  I want you even if it’s not easy.

  She glanced in her notebook.

  My one regret.

  She was pretty sure Tucker knew she cared about him. He had it down pat that she liked having him around. But given his background, given his parents, how often in his life had he heard the actual words?

  She’d been holding them back, and that was wrong.

  Ginny dropped the journal onto the bench and shot to her feet.

  Here’s where the magic took place, because the prompt from her mom didn’t feel like a chance to pour out her heart and set a solid foundation to build on.

  This one felt like the encouragement to fix a mistake.

  She pulled on her boots and coat, and headed into the sunshiny day.

  Crossing the path between the cottage and the main ranch house was easily done. She knocked briefly then let herself in, happy to discover Tamara in the kitchen with Caleb by her side.

  Ginny paused for a split second when she realized she’d interrupted them kissing. But then again, who cared? “I need to t
ell you something,” she announced.

  Tamara’s cheeks were rosy, but she stayed tucked up against Caleb’s side. “Yes?”

  Ginny marched up to Caleb and looked him straight in the eye. “You are amazing, and I am so glad you’re my big brother.” She turned to Tamara. “I think you’re the coolest sister-in-law ever, and I’m so glad you’re in this family. I love you both so much.”

  Then she threw her arms around their necks and squeezed tight for a moment.

  A deep chuckle escaped Caleb. “Well, that’s good.”

  “It is,” Ginny said happily even as she wiggled free and headed back to the door. She regally waved a hand in the air as she left. “Sorry to interrupt. Carry on with your fooling around.”

  Laughter danced behind her as she closed the ranch house door.

  The next couple of confessions took place over the phone. Ginny caught Ivy and Walker at home, and brought them up to speed by all but shouting it at them after Walker obediently opened up to speaker phone.

  “I love you. You guys are the best, and you’re going to be super parents. But right now, you’re a super brother and sister, and I can’t wait to enjoy more time with you going forward.”

  Walker’s deep rumble of amusement trickled over the line. “A little early for drinking, isn’t it, kiddo?”

  Ginny blew a raspberry. “Gotta run. Chat soon.”

  “We love you, too,” Ivy said softly before hanging up, the sound of laughter once again echoing in Ginny’s ears.

  Luke was working, and so was Kelli, which meant she’d share with them later.

  But Tucker? She knew where he was. As if he was the north pole and she was tuned in on him, tracking him down took only minutes.

  A crowd had gathered at the railing to watch Luke work one of the new rides. Tucker stood in the middle of the men, the hands around him a mix between nonchalance and sheer hero worship.

  She didn’t blame them. Tucker was everything thirteen-year-old her had dreamed of in a man. The tall, dark-haired, and broad-shouldered parts were very nice, but it was the rest that she’d truly come to appreciate. Confident as he pointed out Luke’s actions, explaining the training method patiently to the young man beside him.

  Tucker must’ve caught a glimpse of her motion, because of course he did. The man was aware of everything that went on around him, including her unsteady half stride, half run approach.

  He straightened, turning toward her. “Ginny? Everything okay?”

  She all but threw herself at him. Forget looking calm or sophisticated, the words burst free. “I love you.”

  Masculine snickers sounded, and suddenly the crowd of men at the railing all seemed to have urgent tasks, sliding farther away to give them privacy.

  Tucker’s jaw hung toward the ground. “Goddess?”

  Ginny shook her head. “No. You’re usually really good at doing the right response at the right time. So when I say I love you, you say it back, okay?”

  His lips twitched. “What was I thinking?”

  “I have no idea,” she shouted, amusement rising as laughter welled inside. “Tucker Stewart, I love you.”

  His expression had gone absolutely unreadable. “You have no idea how tempted I am to simply repeat back what you said, word for word.”

  She smacked him gently on the shoulder. “Don’t be a turkey, say my name.”

  “Ginny Stone,” he said obediently.

  “You’re going to make me pull it out of you one word at a time, aren’t you?” she demanded.

  “Okay.”

  He was the most frustrating and most wonderful man on the entire planet. “Repeat after me. Ginny Stone, I love you.”

  He turned her in his arms and pressed her against the nearest fence post. “With everything in me. Now and forever. Until there’s no breath left in my body, and if it’s possible, even longer than that.”

  Oh damn, he was good, because how could a girl possibly get pissed after her man had said something so incredible?

  Ginny cupped his face in her hands. “I should’ve said it sooner. I should’ve said it years ago, because something inside me has always loved you.”

  “One step at a time,” he reminded her with a wink. “I do love you, Ginny.”

  Then he kissed her.

  They’d had so many kisses over the years. Sweet and innocent. Wickedly hot, nearly spontaneous combustion. They’d had lazy kisses that rolled along until an energy-consuming spark ignited them.

  But this kiss was about forever. About love and about being together for all the right reasons.

  No regrets.

  A shot of hot air blasted past her ear, and Tucker chuckled, his lips curling into a smile even as they stayed pressed to hers. “I think we’re being told to move along.”

  Ginny glanced over her shoulder to discover one of the horses had come over to investigate what they were doing, sticking its nose past her cheek and between her and Tucker.

  “I didn’t request a horse chaperone,” she said, glancing around to discover Luke grinning at them.

  “Hey, you interrupted our foreman in the middle of a task. I can’t help it if you get interrupted when you’re in the middle of something as well.”

  Tucker straightened, curling Ginny against his side. “I’d apologize, but after all these years, Ginny finally came to her senses and told me she loves me, so it was kind of important.”

  Ginny pinched the bridge of her nose. “I do not believe you just said that.”

  “She has this thing about privacy. I simply don’t get it,” Tucker said. “Very shy and retiring, our Ginny.”

  “I noticed,” Luke said dryly. He waved a hand toward where the rest of the ranch hands had begun whistling and cheering. “We all noticed.”

  Laughter floated up from somewhere around her toes and rose skyward. It was the contagious type, because Luke laughed as well, and Tucker stared at the ground and shook his head as if the two of them had lost their minds, but she knew he was amused.

  He didn’t need to grin from ear to ear for her to know how he felt, what he thought.

  How much he loved her.

  Spring arrived. Tucker hovered between exhaustion and bliss, each day starting with early chores and often dragging late into the night.

  But no matter what time he was done, his days also finished with him at the cottage with Ginny by his side, and he woke up wrapped around her. And that made it all worthwhile.

  Alex came rushing into the office one morning. “It’s time.”

  Tucker blinked for a second. “Damn, the way you’re buzzing, I’d have guessed you had a baby on the way.”

  His friend grinned. “Nah, that’s Ryan and Madison.”

  “Damn, they do not fool around—” Tucker stopped as Alex outright guffawed. “Okay, bad phrasing.”

  “Sorry to laugh and run, but Dad is up for preliminary tests in two days. And Mom just messaged that her doctor says he suspects her appointment will be within the week.”

  Wow. “Good news, although we’ll miss you while you’re gone,” Tucker shared honestly.

  Alex held out his hand and shook Tucker’s firmly. “I’ll be back. There’s a lot I still need to accomplish.”

  “Need me to look after anything while you’re gone?”

  The other man’s smile turned sheepish. “Don’t think it’s a good idea to ask you to run interference if Yvette starts dating any of the hands, but I’m still tempted.”

  Tucker patted him on the shoulder as he walked Alex to the door. “Sorry, can’t make any promises in that direction. But I will try to sing your praises as often as I can.”

  “More than I could hope for.” Alex tipped his hat and left.

  Changes were happening, although still not all the ones Tucker hoped for. His uncle, for example, was still tight-lipped and uncooperative when it came to his relationship situation. Or the seeming lack of it.

  At least the woman had stopped making macramé before his rooms were buried in them.

/>   But convincing a sixty-something to get his butt in gear was low on Tucker’s list when it came down to it. Since he appreciated not having his love life meddled with, he gave Ashton the same consideration.

  The last weekend in April, the Stones held a joint birthday party for Caleb and Tamara, who happened to have birthdays only one day apart from each other. The entire family was invited, which included Tucker, a fact that tickled him silly.

  Crossing the short distance between the cottage he now shared pretty much full time with Ginny and the main ranch house, he caught himself one second away from damn near skipping. Walking hand in hand with Ginny felt so right Tucker couldn’t believe he’d lasted so long without her being his.

  The chaos of the meal and party were sheer joy.

  After dinner, Ginny tugged him into the laundry room for some privacy. She tangled her arms around his waist and grinned up at him. “You’re smiling an awful lot there, superman. You’ll lose your fearsome reputation if you don’t watch out.”

  He raised a brow. “Superman?”

  Ginny covered her mouth and snickered harder. “You look so perturbed right now.”

  Shrieks of laughter rang out from the main room, and Tucker leaned back to see what was going on.

  Dustin sat on the couch in the living room, a niece on either side as he pointed out things in the old photo album in his lap. Sasha made all the noise.

  Dustin offered her a mock-glare. “You take that back.”

  “What are you tormenting your uncle about now?” Tamara demanded.

  Everyone peered at Sasha who continued to grin hugely. “He’s a total write-off as a fashion statement, Mom. Look. He’s wearing a fuzzy sweatsuit. Uncle Luke looks terrible as well. I want to know if he kept any of his vests or acid-washed jeans, because I could wear them to school now and win all the retro-awards.”