A Rancher to Trust

by Laurel Blount

  Dan fished around inside the truck cab for a minute. When he headed back toward the porch, he held a large brown envelope in his hand. Bailey knew what it was even before he handed it to her. Her heart went ice-cold.

  “You signed the divorce papers?”

  He nodded. “They’re notarized, so everything’s in order. You be sure to look them over, but I think you’ll find everything you’re going to need is in there. All you have to do is sign them, and it’s a done deal.”

  Bailey looked up from the envelope. “This is what you want?”

  “No.” His answer was swift and sure. “It’s not. But if it’s what you need, I want you to have it.” He looked away from her, off to the new fence standing strong and straight around her little pond. “I’m sorry, Bailey. I came back here to try to make things right between us, but all I ended up doing was making more promises to you that I couldn’t keep.” He darted an apologetic look back at her. “Seems I’ve got a habit of that where you’re concerned, and I know I’m causing you even more hurt this time. You’ve gotten attached to the twins.”

  “Very.” She wasn’t sure about much right now, but there was no doubt about that.

  Dan didn’t smile, but the crinkles in the corners of his eyes deepened as he looked at her. “I don’t know much about mothers. I never knew mine very well, but I’d say you’ve got the makings of a great one. I didn’t bring the twins with me today because I figured we needed to have this one talk without any pint-size distractions. But if you want to see them again, to say goodbye, I’ll bring them over before I leave town.”

  Bailey shook her head. To say goodbye. If she saw the twins again, if she had to kiss them knowing it was for the last time, she’d fall apart into a million pieces.

  “No, Dan. I appreciate the offer, but I don’t think I could handle that. It’s not that I don’t care about Finn and Josie, I want you to know that. I care too much, I guess. I hope you understand.”

  “Yeah, I do.”

  “But I’ll be praying for them and for you every day.” Bailey cleared her throat, trying her best to cling to the scraps of strength she had left. “You should probably get the twins’ things to take with you. I’ve got the portable cribs, and some outfits...”

  “You keep those things. You’ll likely be needing them for some foster babies soon.”

  Bailey’s stomach twisted painfully. Maybe that idea should have brought her some comfort, but it didn’t. “I bought them for Finn and Josie.”

  “I know. I appreciate how kind you’ve been. But Bailey, this isn’t easy for me, either. I just don’t think I could stand looking at all the cute things you bought for them. Seeing those reminders every day would just keep me wishing things were different. Know what I mean?”

  Bailey nodded. She knew.

  But it was what it was, and the sooner they got this over with, the sooner they could both move on with their lives.

  “All right. I’ll keep the things. And if I don’t manage to pull everything together to be a foster mom, I’ll just give them to Jillian. I’m sure she can find somebody who can use them.”

  “You’ll be able to pull things together. I’m sure of it.” Dan’s eyes zeroed in on hers. “But no matter what happens from here on out, remember this. You’re always going to own a big chunk of my heart, Bailey. That’s never going to change. If there’s ever anything you need me to do for you, anything at all, you know where to find me.”

  “At the Bar M.” She couldn’t quite keep the sadness out of her voice.

  “Yeah.” He held out his hand for her to shake, and she took it in her own. But then she tiptoed up and kissed him on his stubble-roughened cheek, just a little southwest of his lips.

  For a second she thought he would turn his head and turn it into a real kiss, but he didn’t. Instead, as she drew away, he looked down into her eyes and gave her hand a gentle squeeze.

  “I’ll be—” He stopped. “I was going to say I’d be seeing you. But I reckon I won’t be, most likely. But I’ll be thinking about you, Bailey, you can count on that.” One corner of his mouth tipped up. “Same as always.”

  He gave her hand one last squeeze, then he released it and went down the steps.

  One of the saddest things in the world, Bailey thought, was watching somebody you care about drive away. But she watched until Dan’s pickup had vanished behind the pines.

  Then she sank back down on the rocking chair. Just a few minutes ago, the air had seemed almost balmy. Now she felt chilled.

  She stared into space for a few minutes, watching Lucy Ball. The calf had finally abandoned her crowbar in favor of a bright pink watering can. Bailey had snagged it at the dollar store, and she’d absentmindedly left it in the yard after watering the daffodil bulbs she’d planted along the front of the house.

  It was made of plastic, and Lucy would destroy it in no time flat. Bailey would have to figure out some way to take it away from her.

  But first... Bracing herself, Bailey bent up the metal tabs securing the flap of the envelope and pulled out the sheaf of papers. Flipping through them, she saw Dan’s scrawled signature everywhere it needed to be. But when she got to the end of the documents she’d given him, there seemed to be a few extra sheets tacked on. Bailey scanned then, frowning.

  It took her a minute or two to absorb what she was reading, but when she understood what she was looking at, she was still confused. This didn’t make any sense.

  Dan had enclosed the deed to Abel’s cabin, along with the paperwork necessary to transfer it into Bailey’s name. There was a sticky note stuck on the last page.

  Abel gave me the cabin free and clear. I didn’t want to accept it, but you know Abel. He was too stubborn to take it back. You understand how I feel about this place, so I’m giving it to you. You’re probably shaking your head right now.

  Bailey gave a surprised, tear-clogged laugh. She was, actually.

  But don’t feel bad about taking this. The time I spent at this cabin was the worst part of my life in Pine Valley. But the time I spent with you, Bailey Quinn, that was the best. I want you to sell it and use the money to make your dreams come true. God bless you. Dan

  It was a lot to take in. So Bailey sat on the porch until the afternoon faded while tears streaked down her chilly cheeks, watching Lucy Ball break the watering can into half a dozen pieces.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Early the following Saturday morning, Bailey stood barefoot in her kitchen having a fight with her sink.

  She hadn’t intended to get up this early. The ache she’d felt in her chest watching Dan drive away hadn’t eased off any. Sleep was the only relief she got, but last night she’d dreamed nonstop about Dan and the twins. She’d woken up with tears on her face, and the pain had been almost unbearable. She’d finally thrown back the covers, even though it was still dark and she wasn’t supposed to open the store until ten.

  She’d get some coffee, spend some time praying and reading the Bible, then start making lists of all the home repairs she needed to get done for the foster care home study. Once she got that process rolling, she’d get her energy and her enthusiasm back.

  Of course she would.

  Unfortunately, her morning plan had hit a snag when her sink decided to be a brat. The old faucet handle was stuck and wouldn’t turn. It was offering only the tiniest trickle of water, and this was interfering with the all-important production of her first cup of coffee.

  This was not okay. She definitely needed coffee—probably a lot of coffee. Otherwise she didn’t know how she could possibly face another long, miserable day of minding her store when all she could think about was how much she missed Dan and the twins.

  She hated feeling like this. It wasn’t like her. She loved her little store. She’d loved it since the day she’d held her grand opening, but now she dreaded going in every day. The idea of standing behind
that counter for another eight hours made her feel sick to her stomach.

  Of course her only other option was stay home, and that didn’t sound any more appealing. Everywhere she looked, she saw something else that needed fixing. Once seeing the projects all around her had felt energizing. Now it just felt exhausting.

  And at least at the store there was coffee.

  Bailey sighed. She had to stop moping around and take charge of her life again. She’d start by dealing with this stupid faucet.

  “Come on,” Bailey muttered. She took hold of the handle and wrenched it wide-open, hoping to get a better flow.

  Instead, the handle broke off in her hand. The frustrating trickle stayed exactly the same.

  For a second or two, Bailey just glared at the metal and porcelain handle lying on her palm, willing herself not to fling it across the room.

  “This is only temporary.” She spoke aloud, her words echoing in the empty kitchen. “I’ll get back to the way I used to be sooner or later, and things will be fine.”

  In spite of the encouraging words, Bailey found herself blinking back tears. Her new tendency to start crying at any moment was getting out of hand. Like last night when she’d found one of Finn’s little blue socks wedged behind the couch cushion. She’d sank down with the soft scrap of cotton in her hand and boo-hooed like an idiot.

  Well, she wasn’t an idiot, and she was going to get past this. But she wasn’t going to do it without some help. Bailey squeezed her eyes closed.

  Dear God, help me get myself back on an even keel, because I honestly don’t know how much more of this I can take. She waited, but she didn’t sense any answer. Please, she added desperately.

  Then she stiffened. Somebody was knocking on her front door. She swept a quick glance at the fitness tracker on her wrist and frowned. It was way too early for visitors. The only person she knew who’d be likely to show up at this crazy hour was...

  Dan.

  The broken handle still clenched in her fingers, Bailey jogged through the living room, finger-combing her hair with her free hand as she went. Breathlessly, she pulled open the door.

  Abel stood on her porch, his lean face worried. Hoyt Bradley stood behind him, and he didn’t look much happier than Abel did.

  Bailey’s hope tanked into disappointment, followed quickly by a little stab of fear. Abel wouldn’t just show up like this without a good reason. “What are you guys doing out here so early? Has something happened to Dan?”

  To her relief, Abel shook his head. “Far as I know, Dan’s fine. I sent you an email saying that Hoyt and I’d be coming out and to let us know if it wasn’t convenient. Didn’t you get it?”

  “I’m behind on my email.” She’d seen Abel’s message in her inbox, but she hadn’t opened it. She’d been feeling a little too raw for that. “Why’d you need to come by?”

  “Well.” Abel looked at Hoyt, who only shrugged uncomfortably. “Look, it’s kind of chilly out here. Do you think we could talk about this inside?”

  “Sorry. Sure.” She stood aside to let them come in. As Hoyt edged past her, she noticed the large metal toolbox he was holding. She frowned as she shut the door behind them.

  “All right, Abel. Spill it. What’s going on?”

  “I told you she wasn’t going to like this,” Hoyt muttered to Abel. “And I know I don’t like getting in the middle of it.”

  Bailey’s eyes narrowed. “In the middle of what?”

  Abel held up a hand. “Now, don’t get all ruffled up. It’s simple enough. Before he left town, Dan hired Hoyt to finish up your repairs. He said what with the twins and having to head back to Wyoming quicker than he’d thought he would, he wasn’t able to finish them. He didn’t want to leave you in the lurch.”

  Dan had done what? Bailey fisted her hands on her hips as her emotions went into overdrive. She hadn’t known a person could be so annoyed and so utterly touched at the same time. She turned her gaze to Hoyt, who set his toolbox down with a clank and held up his hands in surrender.

  “Look, Bailey. None of this was my idea. Danny came asking me for a favor. We go way back, and I didn’t like to say no, that’s all.”

  “He didn’t say anything to me about this. Not one word.”

  “You’d never have given him the go-ahead,” Abel answered easily, his eyes skimming the house as he spoke. “Like they say, it’s easier to ask forgiveness than to get permission sometimes. I don’t see what the problem is, Bailey. You’ve got plenty to do around here if you want to get ready for that foster care inspection. And you already agreed to let Danny help you. He’s just doing it long-distance, is all.”

  “Danny’s put the money down for this job before he left town,” Hoyt added. “So I hope you’re not going to make a fuss. But the bottom line is, this is all up to you. I told Danny I couldn’t work on your property without your permission.”

  Bailey listened silently, then looked at Abel. “Let me guess. That’s why you came along, isn’t it? Dan asked you to talk me into accepting the help. He figured I’d listen to you.”

  Abel shifted his weight from one boot to the other. “I reckon he thought maybe I could help you see the good in this plan of his, yeah. Look, Bailey, Danny just feels bad about leaving you in a fix, and he wanted to make sure these repairs got done as fast as possible.”

  “It’s going to be weekends, though,” Hoyt put in quickly. “Weekends and evenings. I’m snowed under at work. And just from what Danny told me and what I’ve seen so far, you’ve got a lot that needs doing. But I’ll get it done—and done right.”

  “See?” Abel said encouragingly, “That’s just what you need, isn’t it? And I’ll come out and help when I can, too. Don’t let your pride get in the way of your common sense, Bailey. You’ve got a passel of work to do out here. You’ve got siding that needs replacing and a couple of windows, and from the sound of that dripping coming from your kitchen there, you’ve got plumbing problems to boot.”

  Bailey looked down at the faucet handle still clutched in her hand. “The kitchen sink blew up on me this morning. Sorry I can’t offer you guys coffee, by the way.”

  Abel plucked the handle out of Bailey’s fingers and tossed to Hoyt. “I reckon you’d best start by taking a look at that sink, Hoyt. And put a rush on it. Bailey without her morning coffee is nothing to play around with.”

  Hoyt disappeared into the kitchen. Abel shut the door behind the contractor and then turned back to Bailey, his face serious.

  “You don’t look so good,” he said.

  “I wasn’t exactly expecting company at six thirty on a Saturday morning, Abel.”

  “That wasn’t what I was getting at. Your eyes are all red, and you’ve got dark circles under them. You look like the raccoon I caught raiding the chicken coop last week. Only not as cheerful. What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing. Or at least nothing I can’t get over.”

  Abel stood silently, his expression unreadable. “Danny told me he’d signed those divorce papers, and I was right sorry to hear it. I’d have been proud to keep you as my sister-in-law, Bailey.”

  Her heart constricted. “I appreciate that. But this was really the best choice, Abel. For me and for Dan.”

  Abel nodded slowly. “I reckon you’re right. If you don’t love him, then it’s better you let him go.”

  The careful restraint in Abel’s voice made Bailey feel sick. She and Abel had been good friends for years, but this mess she’d gotten into with Dan was pulling Abel’s loyal heart in two different directions.

  She swallowed. “It wasn’t that.”

  The lanky farmer’s blue eyes sharpened. “Are you saying you do love my brother, Bailey? Because if you do—”

  She cut him off. “It’s more complicated than that.”

  “No, it’s not, Bailey. If you two love each other, it’s simple enough. It’s just not easy.
”

  “Abel, I don’t want this to ruin our friendship, but you don’t understand how things stand with Dan and me.”

  “I understand enough to know that it gutted my brother to leave you behind. I told him he needed to stop pushing you so hard, but when I saw the look in his eyes when he came to say his goodbyes to me and Emily... And now you’re standing here looking like something the cat spit up.” He shook his head. “I should have kept my big mouth shut.”

  “This isn’t your fault, Abel.”

  “Maybe I should call Danny. If he knew how bad you’re hurting, he’d—”

  “Do what? Come back to me? He’s not going to do that, Abel. And I wouldn’t want him to. He made his choice.”

  “And you made yours.”

  “Yes, I have. And I won’t apologize for it. I’ve thought long and hard about this, Abel. Staying in Pine Valley is the smart decision. I wish with all my heart Dan could have seen that, but he couldn’t—or wouldn’t. I can’t help that, but I’m not going to ignore my own common sense to go along with him. Not this time.” She was preaching to herself as much as to Abel.

  Abel looked unconvinced. “For a person making such a smart decision, you don’t look too happy about it.”

  “Maybe I’m not too happy, but I’m not sure that matters.”

  “Of course it does.”

  “Really? You know the happiest I’ve ever been in my life, Abel? I was eighteen, and I’d just kissed your brother in a county clerk’s office in Tennessee, right after the man told us we were man and wife. We both know how that turned out. Sometimes the things that make us happy aren’t the smart choice. Like chocolate, for instance. It might make me happy, but that doesn’t mean it’s good for me.”

  Abel sighed. “Maybe not. But then again, what’s life without a little sweetness in it?” Her friend ran one hand through his shock of black hair. “You know, before he left, Danny said something to me about how he didn’t have the right to ask you to trust him enough to chuck everything you’ve got here to follow him out to the ranch. But now I’m not so sure that you trusting Danny is really the problem here. Sounds to me like the real trouble is you don’t trust yourself very much.”