Ready for the Rancher

by Zuri Day

  * * *

  “There is breaking news this hour regarding Breedlove Beef and the controversy surrounding the low grades of meat some customers received instead of the high-quality Wagyu they’d ordered. Let’s go live to a press conference happening now.”

  The voice from the television drew Ryan’s attention back to the screen, where her brother stood at a podium. He looked terse and uncomfortable, as he read from a prepared statement.

  “My name is Dennis Washington. A few months ago I was hired as the manager for the Breedlove Beef Processing Center in Breedlove, Nevada, by the owner, Adam Breedlove. I abused the authority and access I had to the facility to engage in practices that were unethical and caused great damage to the Breedlove name and the company brand. I take full responsibility for any product delivered to any person or company that was not what they ordered, or expected. I exploited our prior friendship and Adam’s good name for personal gain. He knew nothing of what I was doing. For that, as well as the harm done to him and his family, I apologize.”

  Ryan had seen enough. She reached for the remote, but was stopped by the next face that appeared on the screen. Adam. Her heart raced. She leaned forward, taking him in as if it had been years instead of days since she’d seen him. He was surrounded by reporters yet appeared relaxed, managing to smile despite the tough topic. Even though his angular face was sharper than she remembered, as though he’d lost weight, the camera loved him. Ryan did, too. Which was probably why she spent more time than she should wondering about the gorgeous woman standing just behind Adam, along with what she assumed were execs from the ranch. In all the coverage watched or read there’d been no mention of charges or jail time for Dennis, and no mention of Luke at all. Time would tell if Ryan’s hunch was correct, that even when wronged Adam could be the bigger, better man. Instinctively, she picked up the phone to call him. But memories of his parting words stilled her fingers. Adam had moved on. When her phone rang a short time later with the name Victoria on her Caller ID, Ryan couldn’t have been more surprised.

  “This is Ryan.”

  “Hello, Ryan. It’s Victoria.”

  “Hi, Victoria.”

  “How are you, sweetheart?”

  Her interest seemed genuine. Ryan was floored. “Okay, I guess. Busy.”

  “Then I won’t keep you. I’m following up on the call I made a while back and the information regarding our event that my assistant sent you. Did you get it?”

  “Not that I remember. It may have gone to spam.” As for the call received in what felt like a lifetime ago, Ryan had forgotten it until now. “I’m sorry, there’s been a lot going on.”

  “I can only imagine how difficult this time has been for you, which is why I hope you’ll forgive my extreme presumption in placing you on the program for our affair. You don’t have to attend, of course, but I wish you would.”

  As Victoria talked, Ryan scrolled through emails and found an unread one from the CANN Foundation. It explained that Integrative Healing had been listed on the program and Victoria would love it if she could attend. Ryan was very surprised, and grateful. She asked a few more questions and then told Victoria she’d most definitely be there.

  Ryan arrived early, per Victoria’s request, ready to offer the services of massage and Reiki energy healing to as many of the one hundred women in attendance as she could. There’d been so many surprises about that day, starting with the fact that Victoria had not canceled her appearance, that she’d invited her even after what happened with Adam.

  “You two still haven’t talked?” Victoria asked, as they walked from the foundation offices to the ballroom.

  “No. I’m pretty sure that’s not going to happen.”

  “Breedlove men are very proud and when angered, or hurt, can be very stubborn. What you did was honorable and courageous, and I applaud your actions. They told me that you’re exactly the type of young lady that those attending this charitable event need to see.”

  Victoria was the only person besides Brooklyn who’d agreed with her actions. Ryan didn’t know what to say.

  “How’s your family handling all this? There must be friction.”

  “To put it mildly,” Ryan said, the understatement producing a smile. “My dad’s been in touch, keeping me updated. They’re grateful that Adam didn’t press charges that would have likely sent Dennis to prison. But neither him nor my mother is speaking to me.”

  “Stay encouraged,” Victoria said, placing an arm around her. “When it comes to family, we never give up.”

  They entered the elaborately decorated ballroom to more surprises. Ryan had expected to see well-heeled women wearing their favorite designers and enough diamonds to cancel the national debt. Some of the women indeed fit this description but others, though nicely dressed, were clearly out of their element. Victoria explained that every donor had purchased two tickets, one for themselves and one to be donated to a woman of lesser means. Victoria wanted them to experience a little bit of luxury, to be treated like queens for the day.

  With everything set up, Ryan thought it would be a good time to run to the restroom. She’d just begun to head that way when Victoria waved her over.

  “Are we ready to start?” Ryan asked.

  “Yes, lunch will begin in about twenty minutes.”

  “I thought that was happening after the show.”

  “No, the fashion show takes place as the women are eating. You didn’t read the email?”

  “Not entirely,” Ryan sheepishly replied.

  “You’re forgiven. Listen, I waved you over because I need your help. There’s someone we’ve invited who’s just a little nervous about this whole affair. She’s in one of our smaller dining rooms and I thought if you could go in and work some of your magic, she’ll feel more comfortable coming out.”

  “Oh, of course. I’d be glad to help. Where is she?”

  They walked out of the main ballroom and down a hall where smaller, private dining rooms were located. “She’s in the last room on the right.” Victoria’s phone rang. “I’ve got to get back.”

  “Oh, Victoria...”

  But she was gone. Ryan wished she’d gotten the woman’s name. But it didn’t matter. Once treatment began, her body would tell Ryan all she needed to know.

  Ryan gave a soft knock, and then opened the door.

  “Hello,” she said softly, as she stepped inside.

  “Hi, Ryan.”

  Ryan froze before slowly turning around and coming face-to-face with her birth mom.

  “What...are you doing here?”

  “Don’t be mad,” Phyllis said, her eyes searching Ryan’s face. “That lady, Victoria, asked me and Ida to come here. Ida couldn’t make it but she called me, the first time we talked in years. She said that Joe told you everything. She told me about the transplant, too, and you giving him a kidney. The best part is that she finally forgave me, Ryan, and if you will have me she gave me her blessing to be in your life.”

  Twenty-Four

  Ryan pulled into a parking space at the far end of the Strip, turned off her car and walked toward the sign with deep blue coloring and white lettering bearing her name. In the days since all of the secrets were revealed, and all the lives that they had affected were being mended, Ryan had finally allowed someone long denied a voice—the little girl inside her. The inner child who from a very early age had longed for her real mother. She placed a key in the lock and stepped into the interior painstakingly designed to bring peace to those who entered, a thought that was bittersweet because missing Adam denied her that serenity.

  A tinkling bell signaled the inner door opening. Brooklyn walked into the foyer. “Ryan!” She rushed over and gave her a hug.

  “Come on, I just made tea and don’t have an appointment for another thirty minutes.” They began walking toward the back and the mini kitchen. “Needless to say I’ve
been very concerned about you.”

  “I’m sorry to have worried you.”

  “No apology needed. I saw your brother’s press conference. When you left the message about canceling clients and taking time off, I thought it was a wise thing to do.”

  Brooklyn busied herself making the tea. For several seconds, Ryan watched her, realizing that the woman she considered to be her best friend knew almost nothing about her past. Brooklyn finished dressing the tea and handed her a steaming mug.

  “Okay, sit,” Brooklyn commanded, in a voice that was soft yet firm. Ryan pulled a chair away from the quaint bamboo table and sat down. Brooklyn took the seat next to her. “Talk.”

  Ryan hesitated, but only briefly. “I’m adopted.”

  Brooklyn nodded. “I had a feeling that you were.”

  “Your intuition?” Ryan asked.

  “I guess so.”

  “I should have known.”

  “That time you told me about a client looking for her parent, I had a gut feeling it might have been you.” Brooklyn smiled, and squeezed Ryan’s arm. “It’s okay.”

  “I know that now, but for twenty years that was a secret I felt forced to keep.”

  Brooklyn set down her cup. “Hang on a minute, I’ll be right back.”

  “I shouldn’t—”

  “No, you’re fine. I just need to grab my phone.”

  Ryan waited, sipped her tea, amazed at how much a lie could weigh and how much lighter she felt since learning the truth surrounding her birth.

  “Okay, I’m all yours.”

  “But your clients?”

  Brooklyn waved a dismissive hand. “I just silenced the ringer. Besides, right now, you’re more important.”

  Ryan shared everything about what had happened that culminated with Ryan seeing her biological and adoptive mothers together for the very first time.

  “All of us were suffering individually,” she finished. “Afraid of a bogeyman created in our minds. There’s still a lot of work to do, and we’ll probably never go on a girls’ trip, but we realized there’s room to be civil. My birth mom Phyllis understands that Mom isn’t the devil, and Mom understands that Phyllis isn’t a threat. I never thought this day would come.”

  “I’m so glad it did.” Brooklyn leaned over and hugged Ryan. “What about Adam? How does he feel about it?”

  Ryan sighed, realizing that even with the bomb she’d dropped about being adopted, there was another explosive topic to deal with.

  “You watched Dennis’s press conference, right?”

  “Yes, but I didn’t really understand the apology.”

  When Ryan finished the short version of what had happened a few minutes later, all Brooklyn could say was “Wow.”

  “I know. It’s like I’ve been trapped in a really bad movie and can’t get out.”

  “You love Adam! What are you going to do?”

  Ryan shrugged. “I’ve reached out to him. He hasn’t called back, but he knows how I feel. Right now, I’m focusing on Dad and the upcoming surgery. I can’t live in the past.”

  Brooklyn’s phone buzzed with a call she had to take. Ryan reheated her tea and walked into the office she hadn’t seen in a week. She hadn’t planned on working but now didn’t want to leave. So she retrieved her laptop from the car, fired it up and within two hours had rescheduled the clients from the past several days, giving a discount for the inconvenience her unexpected absence had caused them. She called the web designer and discussed ideas for her upcoming blog. Life lessons were never only for the person who learned them. She knew there were other adoptees out there navigating the sensitive waters flowing between the moms who birthed them and the moms who raised them. Too many families kept too many secrets, leaving wounds sometimes not recognized and scars that never healed. As she finished up the notes on what she wanted to send over, her phone rang.

  Dennis.

  What did he want? He was back at their parent’s home in Bakersfield. How could she help him? A favor perhaps? Something to ask her ex-lover and his former boss? She let the call go to voice mail. Adam was currently not speaking to her, and with Dennis there was no more to say.

  The week passed quickly. Ryan tried to embrace her new normal. Work helped. The pavement-pounding, networking and social media presence was paying off, along with referrals and repeat business. Learning that Joe was her birth dad had filled her heart with more love than she thought she could hold. Still, she missed Adam with every breath. It was crazy to believe he’d contact her after everything Dennis had done and how he felt she’d betrayed him. She tried to not think about him, to bury her emotions beneath a pile of paperwork and scheduling screens. Just when she’d managed almost an hour without a thought about Adam, he called.

  “This is Ryan.”

  “Hello, Ryan. It’s Adam.”

  “Hi.”

  “I got your messages but have been out of the country. I’m still out, but will be back on Saturday.”

  “I thought you might still be upset with me.”

  “I’m not angry with you, Ryan. Not anymore. What happened wasn’t your fault.”

  “At times it felt that way.” Ryan’s honesty was met with silence. “Adam?”

  “I should have contacted you sooner,” he said. “My schedule’s been crazy. How are you?”

  “I’m okay.”

  “Ryan, what else did you want to share that day you came to my office? I was so angry at the news about Dennis that I couldn’t hear anything else.”

  “I’ve tried to put myself in your shoes and can somewhat understand you being so upset.”

  “Still, it was wrong of me to cut you off that day without hearing everything you wanted to tell me. I’d like to have that chance again.”

  “I don’t know, Adam. It’s probably not necessary. What we had is over and—”

  “You still deserve to be heard. It wasn’t until my schedule slowed down that I remembered part of your text mentioned having incredible news. What did you want to tell me?”

  “I’m adopted and have been looking for my birth father. The day I came to your office, I’d found him.”

  Ryan told Adam about her childhood, about finding and building a relationship with her birth mom, Phyllis, and what she’d learned of her dad.

  “You’ve dealt with a lot. I’m proud of you, Ryan. You sound really happy.”

  “I am. No more secrets. It’s good to not hide it anymore.”

  “It also solves a puzzle that I couldn’t figure out,” Adam responded.

  “What?”

  “How you can be such an angel while Dennis is the devil in disguise.”

  They shared a laugh, reminding Ryan of the easy camaraderie that used to exist between them and making her wonder if they could ever get it back.

  “I’ve been very selfish.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  “Since the scandal broke, my complete focus was on the business and how I’d been affected. I was too angry to consider what you’d gone through, more than I ever suspected. While crisscrossing the globe to meet clients, I’ve had time to reflect on the whole situation and the strength it took to do what you did. I treated you unfairly, Ryan. I’m sorry.”

  “It’s okay.”

  “No, it’s not. I’m a better man than the one you’ve seen recently. I’ve missed you terribly and if given the opportunity, I’ll do everything I can to make it up to you. Will you forgive my past actions and give me that chance, Ryan? I didn’t mean what I said that day at the office. Will you see me again?”

  “Of course,” Ryan managed, while fighting back tears. “I appreciate the kind words but just so you know, life’s been pretty miserable without you, too.”

  “Then let’s end the misery for both of us. I’ll call you as soon as I land.”

  “Sounds good.
”

  “There’s one more thing.”

  “What?”

  “I love you, Ryan.”

  Ryan hadn’t expected the L word but answered from her heart.

  “I love you, too.”

  Twenty-Five

  A few months later

  Adam took one last look around the en suite bath, then returned to his bedroom. He closed the top of the carry-on luggage that rested on the bed, zipped it up and reached for the phone he’d tossed next to it earlier. Seconds later, a groggy voice answered the phone.

  “Adam?”

  “Good morning, Ryan.”

  “What time is it? Is everything okay?”

  “Everything’s fine. Look, I’ve got something cool to show you. A car is on the way to pick you up.”

  “Now?” He could hear what sounded like her moving around, perhaps getting out of bed.

  “I know it’s early but if we’re going to do all that I’ve planned, we have to start now. Don’t worry. I’ve taken care of everything. You’re spending the night. So throw a few toiletries in a bag and dress comfortably. Elvis will be there in about thirty minutes.”

  “What if I said I didn’t want to come over?”

  “Then I’d have to come kidnap you.”

  “I appreciate that, babe, but there’s a reason I didn’t plan anything this weekend. I’m really exhausted and just want to chill out.”

  “Then that’s exactly what we’ll do. Now, please, go get ready. Elvis will be there soon.”

  Adam ended the call, pulled the luggage to the floor and rolled it behind him as he left the room. Passing by the counter he picked up his keys, phone and sunglasses and continued out of the house to the wraparound porch. He stopped and put on his shades, taking a moment to breathe in the smell of freshly cut grass and to appreciate the cool morning breeze. The day was new and fresh, like his relationship with Ryan.

  Adam couldn’t wait to see her reaction to the plans he’d made. Her happiness meant everything, a fact that Adam found quite surprising given the chain of events that had led his heart there. Dennis Washington had cost him a chunk of money for a scheme that could have caused his business to fail before hardly getting started. Still, Adam could never hate his former friend. Knowing him is how he’d met Ryan. Since that Sunday when they’d reconnected, their love had blossomed. For that, he’d do it all again.