The Widows of Champagne

by Renee Ryan

  “I know the way.” Max shuffled past her, pausing only a second to kiss her cheek and whisper, “He’s a good man, as fine as my Benoit, and certainly as brave.”

  Her father-in-law’s words were tantamount to a blessing.

  How often she’d played this reunion in her mind, and still, she couldn’t stop staring.

  Richard broke the silence first. “May I come in?”

  “I... Yes. Please. Come in. Come. Come.”

  He moved across the threshold, looking nothing like the Gestapo agent he’d once been and everything like the brave man Max claimed.

  Gabrielle shut the door behind him, wondering if he’d been at the signing, not sure that it mattered. All that truly mattered was that he was alive. And looking well. There was much to say. But for now, all she wanted to do was take him in with her eyes. The broad shoulders, and the blue-blue eyes that had presented themselves in her dreams many nights since his departure.

  With no more pretense, deception or war between them the mood should have been light. The air seemed to pulse with tension.

  “This is one of the reasons I came.” He indicated the bottle he held in his hand.

  The glass was streaked with dust and caked with mud in several places, but Gabrielle easily read the label. “The 1928 I sent to Berlin.”

  “I recovered every case. Apparently, Hitler was not much of a champagne connoisseur. He seized the wine out of greed.” He placed the bottle in his palm, his gaze narrowing over the label. “I only brought this one bottle with me. The others will be delivered later in the week, along with the rest of your champagne, and the thousands of cases stolen from your neighbors.”

  “It’s a blessing you found even one bottle. Thank you.” The words didn’t seem enough.

  “I’m afraid the news I come bearing isn’t all good.”

  She waited.

  “By the time von Schmidt was captured, he’d already sold most of the valuables he stole from your family. I have the list of missing items and have begun making inquiries. I will recover what I can, but it’s a tangle. It may take years.”

  “What are a few years?” She surprised herself with the certainty in her voice. “When I am so very good at waiting.”

  He looked at her for a long moment, and she watched the wariness drain from his features. Then his face broke into a smile. “And I’m very good at keeping my promises.”

  She took the bottle from him, set it on a nearby table, then placed her hand on his heart. “Welcome back, Richard.”

  He wrapped her in his arms. Promises were made. Promises they would have a lifetime to keep. And then they kissed. Long and deep and when they pulled apart they both acknowledged that the spark of attraction was stronger now than when they’d last met.

  “I think it’s time my grandmother met my friend Richard Doyle.” She reclaimed the champagne bottle, took his arm and led him through the château.

  It was Josephine’s idea to open the champagne. Gabrielle found the glasses. Richard pulled the cork and poured the liquid. A brilliant, bubbling gold. They toasted to the future.

  Outside, church bells rang. The high-pitched peals rolled through the village, across the vineyard, summoning workers home, families to their dinner tables and, inside the château on the hill, they called Gabrielle and Richard out into the night.

  With the vineyard as his backdrop, moon and stars overhead, Richard took her hands. He pressed his lips to her right palm, then her left, then pulled away to gaze into her eyes. “I love you, Gabrielle. I felt the stirrings of it the first time I saw you. It only grew stronger from there.”

  She drew her hands free of his, gathering her thoughts. She would prefer never to think of their original meeting. But it would stand between them if they didn’t speak of it now. “I wish I could say the same. It would not be true. Wolfgang Mueller was a chilling, fearsome man. I was terrified the first time we met.”

  “A calculated move on my part, and one of the many regrets I carry with me from the war. I can only offer you a contrite heart, and say I am sorry for the pain I caused you.”

  Absolution came easy to her lips. “I forgave you the night you told me your real name.”

  A look of uncertainty moved in his eyes. That moment of naked vulnerability touched her in ways mere words could never have done. “Tonight,” she said, “we begin anew. No more façades. No more deception between us. No more lies, only truth and honesty.”

  “And the knowledge that together, we are better. Together—” he smiled, and oh, what a smile it was “—we are stronger.”

  “Together,” she said, understanding his heart as if it were her own, “we are one.”

  She slid into his arms then. Once there, she knew only conviction. This man was her future. She would live out the rest of her days with him by her side. “This is when you’re supposed to kiss me, Richard.”

  “Gladly.” As his head came down to hers, Gabrielle lifted onto her toes, welcoming him into her life, on this, the first of many nights they would spend under the moon and stars, on the edge of the vineyard her family had tended for two hundred years. And, God willing, would tend for many—many—more to come.

  * * *

  Keep reading for an excerpt from The Cowgirl’s Sacrifice by Tina Radcliffe.

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  The Cowgirl’s Sacrifice

  by Tina Radcliffe

  Chapter One

  Kate Rainbolt’s gaze followed the man who entered Eagle Donuts. He moved past the tables of early morning customers with smooth, long-limbed confidence. A tall man, he wore a black barn coat, faded jeans and scuffed boots, not unlike dozens of other Oklahoma cowboys.

  She was ready to dismiss him when something set off an internal warning, urging her to take a second glance. Kate tensed and stepped away from the counter, feigning interest in a display of coffee mugs. When the cowboy lifted his head and tipped back the brim of his hat to assess the inside of the shop, she saw his face, and her heart slammed against her chest.

  Jess McNally.

  She’d been back in Rebel for an hour, and naturally, she’d run into her former beau.

  Her only beau.

  Usually, Kate kept her emotions hidden behind a mask of greasepaint and an outrageous, red felt cowboy hat. But she wasn’t a rodeo clown any longer, and it would take work to hide the emotions rocking her to the core. The last time she’d seen Jess was ten years ago, when she’d rejected his marriage proposal.

  It was unfortunate that time had only improved his good looks. Dark hair peeked out from beneath a black Stetson, and a scruffy five o’clock shadow emphasized the angles of his face.

  Jess’s slate-gray eyes connected with hers, and she froze, chin down, her gaze going everywhere but back to the cowboy in front of her. She willed her pulse to slow before she dared to meet his gaze again.

  Ten years. He should not have this effect on her after all that time.

  “Kate?”

  “Hey, Jess.” She shoved her left hand in her coat pocket, ignoring the twinge in her casted arm and the pain that shot through her middle as she jostled her tender rib cage.

  “You’re back in Rebel?” he asked.

  She lifted her face. “For now, I am. What about you?”

  “Yeah. I’ve been back for a few weeks.”

  “So you’re visiting?” She prayed that his next words would be that he was leaving town soon. Regret wasn’t on her schedule today, and she lacked the mental stamina for a what-if game about whether or not she’d walked away from the best thing that had ever happened to her.

 
“Visiting? No.” He said the words slowly, paused and looked at her.

  A shiver galloped down Kate’s arms.

  “I guess Reece didn’t mention…” Jess ran a hand over his face.

  “Reece?” Her second eldest big brother hadn’t said anything special when she’d called to let him know she was on her way from Tucson, only that it was about time. His mantra du jour.

  “I’m the foreman at Rebel Ranch,” Jess said. “New position.”

  Kate blinked and focused her attention on the tips of her hand-tooled Western boots while trying not to reveal how surprised she was. Because she was absolutely surprised. She’d been offered the position of ranch foreman at Christmas. Her brothers Reece and Mitch ran the popular guest ranch and had mentioned it to Kate at their brother Tucker’s wedding.

  “Reece is expanding the cattle side. I’ll be supervising production and care of livestock and horses.”

  “Yes. I know about the expansion,” she said. Though she worked to keep her voice neutral, anxiety had her gnawing on her lip.

  There was another lengthy pause between them. Jess hesitated as if measuring his words. “Is my taking this job a problem?”

  There was no way she’d answer a loaded question like that. She was going to be living at the ranch temporarily. Even short-term, that would be way too close to Jess McNally, the man who had somehow managed to steal her job right out from under her. Yes, there would definitely be problems. Several of them.

  Kate glanced at the wall clock. “If you’ll excuse me. I have to be somewhere.” She nodded to Jess. “It seems I’ll be seeing you around.”

  Confusion now shone in his eyes. Well, she didn’t blame him. She was confused too.

  A stop just outside of town to fill her truck with gas and check the tires proved frustrating. Kate struggled to complete the task with the use of only her right arm, once again realizing how much she’d taken having two functional arms for granted. Okay, so it was awkward, and yes, she was in pain. However, she knew she was blessed to be alive after a one-on-one with a bull, and she was grateful. The accident had caused her to reflect on life and led her back to Oklahoma until she could figure out what she was going to do going forward.

  Before hopping back into the truck, Kate made a cursory check of the covered flatbed on the ancient pickup that held all her worldly possessions. All of them, except her horse. She’d left Einstein in Tucson. A friend would drop the gelding off when she passed through Oklahoma in a day or so. Kate had sold her own horse trailer weeks ago to make a dent in medical bills and pay for the room she’d rented while she recuperated.

  Twenty minutes later, the trailer hitch jangled as she turned onto the ranch road. The elaborate metalwork double R on the archway over the gate to Rebel Ranch greeted her. The sight of the entrance against the early April blue sky cheered her spirits.

  Spring in Oklahoma. That meant the promise of azaleas, tulips, dogwoods and wisteria in the days and weeks to come. Today, the blossoming redbud along the tree-lined drive had already exploded with bright pink-and-purple flowers. She eased off the gas pedal to appreciate their beauty before guiding the truck to the Rebel Ranch main house, where the offices and VIP guest suites were located.

  Kate got out, shrugged off her jacket, and glanced around.

  Rebel Ranch.

  It was twenty-two years ago this month that her momma passed and her daddy took off, leaving the younger Rainbolts to be raised by their big brothers. Yes, those events had triggered huge changes for the five Rainbolt siblings. They’d inherited the undeveloped land that had belonged to their maternal grandfather. Six years ago, Reece had formulated a plan to turn the property into a guest ranch. By then, Kate had already been chasing her rodeo dreams.

  It was good to be back, even though Rebel Ranch hadn’t always exactly been home. A double-wide on the other side of town had been her real home growing up. They were dirt poor in those days, but they’d had each other.

  “Bug?”

  Kate whirled around at the nickname and grinned, joy flooding her heart. Mitch, the eldest Rainbolt, stood outside the doors of the two-story house that served as the administrative headquarters.

  Mitch. The family rock. He strode across the gravel and was at her side in a heartbeat.

  “I’ve missed you, big brother.”

  “You too, Bug.” Ladybug Rainbolt, he called her, because she was forever flying away.

  Mitch pressed a kiss to her forehead and stepped back. “I guess I better not hug you.” He eyed her casted arm and frowned. “You didn’t mention a broken arm.”

  “It wasn’t worth mentioning.”

  “Yeah. Wait until Reece finds out. He’ll have something to say. Count on it.” Mitch looked around. A few curious ranch hands observed them from afar. “Where’s your trailer?”

  “Sold it.”

  Her brother frowned. “And your horse?”

  “He’ll be here in a few days.”

  “Sounds like you have a story to tell. Let’s go inside.”

  “Can a girl get a cup of coffee?” she asked.

  “Yes, ma’am. A fresh pot for Bug Rainbolt. Have you eaten lately?”

  Kate grimaced, recalling how she’d almost scored Eagle donuts. She’d been dreaming about those donuts for a good long time. Another black mark on Jess McNally’s record. He’d disturbed her peace of mind and her breakfast.

  “I could use a little snack,” she admitted.

  “Eagle donuts work for you? We have your favorite.”

  “Apple fritters?” She sighed with anticipation. “Oh, yeah. Now you’re talking my love language.”

  “I wish I had your metabolism,” Mitch said. “You have no idea the havoc my wife’s pies are playing on me.”

  Kate chuckled in response. As they headed to the ranch offices, she looked up at her big brother. He was fourteen years her senior and still as trim as ever.

  Mitch pulled open one of the double doors and held it for Kate. She entered the welcome center and glanced around at the comfortable leather couches and chairs that surrounded a fireplace. An enormous television filled another wall. There was even a billiards table.

  “Wow, you’ve redecorated in here.”

  “Yeah, tourist season will be on us before you know it. Reece likes to freshen things up once a year.”

  Every time she came home, she was a little surprised at what her brothers had created from nothing. Tourists came from all over the country to stay at the ranch owned by the Rainbolts. She was part of this somehow. Was this her future? Or simply a rest stop? She wasn’t sure.

  At the reception desk, Violet Boerner, who managed reservations and the phones, offered an enthusiastic wave while she held a landline to her ear. Kate waved back, warmed by the gesture. Okay, maybe Rebel Ranch was the closest thing to home that she had right now. And for this haven of refuge, she was grateful.

  Across the expansive room, a door opened and Reece walked out, occupied by a folder in his hands. He looked up and stopped. A grin split his face before he picked up his steps to meet her.

  “Look who’s finally home,” he said. He took in her cast. “Ouch. I don’t recall you mentioning bodily harm in your texts or calls. Not that there were many of either.”

  Mitch was the gentle family rock, but Reece was the no-nonsense brother who kept her grounded. Tag-team substitute parents. When he reached out to hug her, she winced at his generous embrace.

  “Your shoulder hurts?” he asked.

  “Oh, you know. A little muscle pain here and there.”

  He crossed his arms and peered down at her, clearly ready to interrogate. Reece would be her toughest critic. He was a former rodeo cowboy, and his scrutiny would be difficult to evade.

  “Where’d this happen?” His expression remained unyielding, his gaze assessing.

  “Tucson Rodeo. A run-in w
ith a frisky bull. No big deal.”

  “I thought the idea was to stay inside those barrels.” He offered a sound of pure disgust. “Seriously, Kate, why didn’t you give us a heads-up?”

  “Reece, you of all people know it’s the nature of the job.” She turned to Mitch. “Will you back me up here? I can remember Reece coming home bruised and banged up plenty of times.”

  “True,” Mitch said. “But he’s never had as much sense as you have.”

  “That’s not helpful,” Kate muttered. Injuries were part and parcel of her career. They were well aware that she’d gone from rodeo barrel racer to rodeo clown. She was a bullfighter now, spending her time jumping in and out of barrels to protect the rodeo bull riders.

  “Maybe it’s time to call it quits,” Reece said. “Rodeo is a young man…person’s sport.”

  “Surely, you aren’t saying I’ve tapped out?” she countered. “My friend Franny is as old as Mitch, and she’s still in the rodeo.”

  “Ouch,” Mitch muttered.

  “Yeah, but your friend isn’t sitting in barrels. Kate, I’m taking the long route to say we missed you.”

  His stern features softened with the admission, and Kate’s throat tightened. There was nothing she could say to that. She’d missed her brothers more than ever, and the accident had only emphasized how important family was.

  “Come on.” Reece nodded toward the conference room.

  Kate walked around the spacious room, admiring the framed photos of Rebel Ranch in various stages of development. She noted a recent photo of Ballard Farm, the property next door to their original holdings and Reece’s latest project with his wife, Claire.

  “Things are coming along at the farm?” she asked.

  “Yep. We’ll open the bed-and-breakfast in time for the Memorial Day crowd.”

  “Wow. That’s coming up fast.”

  “Yeah, tell me about it. We’ve got a lot of the ranch finances and sweat locked into this venture.”

  Violet walked in a moment later with a tray that held donuts, fritters and a coffee carafe, and she gestured for Kate to sit down.