The Rancher's Legacy (Red Dog Ranch Book 1)

by Jessica Keller

  Reporters?

  That didn’t make any sense.

  Rhett caught the ridge of trim around his door so she couldn’t tug him forward anymore. “Slow down. What are you talking about?”

  “Downstairs.” She trained both of her pointer fingers downward. “Some from the papers and a couple from the internet. There are even ones out there with camera crews and they all want to see your pretty mug.” She let go of him and pursed her lips. “Oh, you need to change. Maybe shower too?” She pulled a face. “No, that will take too long.” She put her fingertips on his chest and gave him a push back toward his room. “Go make yourself presentable.”

  “Call me slow, but I’m not following any of this.” Rhett crossed his arms. “Why would reporters have any interest in talking to me?”

  Shannon gave a long suffering huff and tapped on her phone. She pulled open a webpage and shoved the phone in his face. “This is why.”

  Rhett jerked his head back and snatched the phone from her so he could hold it at an angle where he could see the screen. A picture of Sheep and Romeo was splashed across the top of the page.

  Fund-raiser by Macy Howell: Red Dog Ranch

  The bar showing donations was already past its goal and a small flag in the corner announced that it was a trending fund-raiser. The page went on to talk about all the lives the ranch had touched and changed, Macy’s included.

  This place is home not just to the generous family that runs it free of charge to participants, but it becomes home to every foster child who steps onto the ranch. It’s the only taste of home some kids ever know. When I was a lost child it became my home too.

  She went on to explain all the free programs offered at Red Dog Ranch, followed that with detailing the destruction wrought by the tornado and ended with a call to action.

  I’ve known the ranch’s amazing owner, Rhett Jarrett, all my life and he’s the one who taught me long ago to dream big, impossible dreams, so I’ve placed the amount we need to raise high. There are only weeks left until camp starts. Will you dream big with us?

  Rhett’s throat burned with emotion. “I need to find her.”

  “What you need to do—” Shannon grabbed his shoulders, turned him slightly and guided him all the way into his room “—is change and deal with all these people waiting in our dining room.”

  “You’re right.” Rhett crossed to his closet and pulled a fresh shirt off a hanger. “But when I’m done with them, I’m going to figure out where she went.”

  “Macy?” Shannon cocked her head. “Oh, she’s over at the Donnelleys’.”

  Rhett’s mouth was probably wide open. “Jack told you but not me?”

  “No.” She batted the suggestion away. “It took me all of ten seconds of thought to realize that Macy literally had nowhere to go but the Donnelleys’ unless she went to one of the hotels. I guessed.” Shannon shrugged. “I went there a few hours after she left and sure enough, there she was.”

  Jack hadn’t said a word. Not that Rhett had told his new friend that he was trying to find Macy, but it was curious that her staying at their house hadn’t come up. Then again, Rhett hadn’t confided in Jack about what had happened between the two of them. Additionally, Macy very well may have asked the Donnelleys not to tell anyone she was staying there and the Donnelleys would have honored her request.

  Just like his parents had honored his birth mom’s request.

  Still, Shannon had figured out Macy’s whereabouts when he hadn’t put two and two together. “I can’t believe I didn’t figure that out.”

  Shannon didn’t even attempt to hide her eye roll. “Seriously, Rhett, where else would she have gone?”

  Nowhere.

  The thought gutted him.

  Red Dog Ranch was her home—her world. And he had unintentionally shoved her out in the cold.

  “I need to apologize to her.”

  Shannon’s answering laugh was quick and sharp. “Oh, you need to do a lot more than that.”

  He scrubbed his hand down his face. “I never told her to leave the ranch. It was a miscommunication.”

  “And then some,” Shannon said.

  “Point made.” He held his hands out.

  “My advice?” She sauntered into the hallway. “A lot of groveling, some pleading and definitely kneeling down when you beg that woman to marry you, okay?”

  Rhett swallowed a few times and then nodded. “I will.”

  “Get her back, Rhett. She’s family.”

  He smiled at his sister and then he shut the door so he could get ready.

  The afternoon flew by in a blur of interviews and phone calls. Not only had Macy’s online fund-raiser gone viral, but Clint Oakfield had penned a blog entry about his experience at the ranch when the tornado hit and he had shared it everywhere he had an online presence. He expressed how he cared about the vision of Red Dog Ranch and he implored his fans to stand behind the rebuilding efforts. People in the comment section were offering to donate supplies or put together teams of free labor. Clint ended his post with a promise to host a benefit concert with all proceeds going to support the ranch’s foster programs. He pledged to partner with Rhett and the ranch for as long as they would let him.

  Once the first interview aired they had to forward the office line to the house phone and Shannon was flooded with incoming calls.

  “How does Macy handle this all day? I can’t answer these fast enough.” Shannon set the phone down to refill her water. “Everyone wants our address so they can send checks. People are planning workdays and wanting to coordinate the best way to help. Our voice-mail box has already reached capacity!”

  Cars started showing up in the driveway full of people who wanted to hand Rhett a check or drop off construction materials. There were crews lined up to begin rebuilding the cabins starting next week.

  Rhett had never said thank-you so many times in his life. It was overwhelming.

  God delights in loving us. Don’t forget that.

  He should have known better than to doubt his mom’s wisdom. God’s love had no cap, no end. Rhett felt like he was flooded in blessings, but instead of wondering like usual when it all would end or if there would be a trade-off, he was simply thankful.

  Uncle Travis had reminded Rhett about the Bible verse that said to whom much is given, much is required. At the time Travis had been talking about Brock’s will. But Rhett had been given an inheritance far greater than three thousand acres of gorgeous Texas Hill Country. God had given Rhett an inheritance of love—the deep and abiding, never-giving-up type of love that no man could ever hope to deserve. He had been given much and he would spend the rest of his life making sure every person who stepped onto his property got to experience the same love too.

  And he needed to start with Macy.

  * * *

  Macy had spent most of the day staring at her computer screen in shocked awe as she witnessed the donation amount grow. She hadn’t expected it to catch fire overnight quite like it had. Of course it was a good thing—Red Dog Ranch would have an opportunity to rebuild faster and return more quickly to being a safe haven for hurting kids.

  Macy slammed her laptop closed and slung her purse over her shoulder. It was time to go to the ranch. She wasn’t going to sit around waiting for three years like last time.

  Macy burst out the Donnelleys’ front door and charged directly into a solid chest. Hands took hold of her arms, steadying her. Rhett’s handsome face—his strong jaw and shocking blue eyes—came into view and her heart squeezed. She loved this man.

  She needed a little space so she would be able to say the things she had planned to.

  Macy shrugged out of his hold. “Jack’s not home.”

  Rhett eyed her. “I’m here for you.”

  Trying not to let his words derail her, Macy gripped on to her purse strap as if it was a lifeline. �
��I’m going to take an educated guess and assume you know what I’ve done?”

  Rhett took off his hat and worked it around in his hands. His hair stuck up in the odd, adorable way it always did. “If you mean I need to thank you for single-handedly saving the ranch, then yes, I know about that. And I’m forever indebted to you for doing so.” He looked down at his hat. “I wouldn’t have acted that swiftly or even thought to take that measure.” He peeked at her with a tentative smile on his face. “You sure know how to take on the world and win. I’m glad I have you in my corner...that is, if you still want to be.”

  It took every ounce of her restraint not to close the gap between them. “I should have told you about being adopted. I should have told you when I first found the paperwork. I’m so sorry, Rhett. You have no idea how sorry I am.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  She wove her fingers together. “I looked up to Brock so much. I think I had him on a bit of a pedestal. He was there for me when I had no parents.” She shrugged. “A part of me felt like I owed him for letting me live here and giving me a job and basically giving me a family too. Selfishly I didn’t want to jeopardize that.” She rushed on, “And you and I weren’t speaking, and when you came here we avoided each other so I convinced myself it wasn’t my secret to tell—that you wouldn’t have wanted to hear it from me anyway.”

  He nodded his understanding.

  Macy sucked in a breath. “And I didn’t want to drive you further away from your family either. Brock was really afraid of that happening.” She took a half step closer. “I should have said something when you got back to the ranch.”

  His eyes searched hers.

  “But I held on to this idea that I had to honor Brock by keeping the secret. As if it was even more important since he was gone. That probably sounds stupid, but I feel so much loyalty to him and I’m sorry. I’m so sorry and I don’t know how I can even ask you to forgive me for keeping something so huge from you, but I am. Is this something we can get through?”

  He reached toward her, slipped a piece of hair behind her ear. He left his hand there to cup her face as he said, “I’m pretty sure we can get through anything as long as we’re together.”

  Macy pressed her cheek into his hand. “I thought about telling you so many times and I came close but—”

  “But you’re a woman of your word—one of the many things I love about you—so you kept a promise to a man who was like a father to you.” Rhett’s voice was full of tenderness. “I see only someone doing something admirable. You have nothing to apologize for.” He splayed his other hand over his heart. “I’m sorry I told you to leave.”

  “You had every right.”

  The muscles along his jaw stretched taut. “I only wanted an hour to collect my thoughts. I never thought you would take it as me asking you to leave the ranch. Please.” He rested his forehead against hers. “Don’t ever leave again.”

  “Never,” she whispered.

  He stepped back, set his hat on and thumbed toward his truck. “I brought someone else who wanted to see you.” He whistled and Kodiak’s head popped through the window. Her tail wagging was evident from where Macy stood.

  Macy couldn’t help but smile at seeing Kodiak. “How’s she doing?”

  “Good, but she misses you.” Rhett stepped into her line of vision again.

  “Wait. Rhett.” Macy grabbed his arm. “I forgot to tell you. There’s this organization in California that specializes in training therapy dogs and they caught wind of our fund-raiser. They reached out to me with an offer for you. They want to fly you out there for a week or two this fall so you can learn their methods and connect with their trainers. I think it would be amazing.”

  Rhett’s mouth opened, closed, opened again. “I feel like this is the right moment to say I finally understand the phrase ‘my cup runneth over.’”

  Macy held out her hand. “Should we head home?”

  “Well, we actually need to talk about that.” Rhett took her hand. “See, I don’t want you back as the assistant.”

  Macy’s heart plummeted. Had she heard him wrong? “But, Rhett, I—”

  “I want to hire you as my codirector,” Rhett said. “Equal decision-making power.”

  “Codirector of the ranch,” said Macy, trying out the title. “Are you kidding?”

  “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life. I can’t run the ranch without you. But more than that.” He took a step forward and held out his other hand so they were facing one another again. “I need you in my life. I want you beside me in all things.”

  She slipped her hand into his. “Rhett.”

  He glanced at her lips and then met her eyes. “I can’t promise a perfect life or even an easy one, but I can promise to love you every day for the rest of my life.”

  “I never wanted perfect.” She brought their joined hands up between them. Macy looked into his eyes and knew she wanted to wake up to the sight of him every morning. “I only ever wanted you.”

  He let go of her hands only to slip his fingers into her hair. “I love you, Macy.”

  Macy tipped her face up. “I love you too.”

  Last time his kiss had been slow and gentle, but this kiss was sure and full of tomorrows. This kiss proclaimed love and promises. He angled his head to deepen their kiss at the same time she tiptoed her fingers to the hair at the nape of his neck. When they finally came up for air they both just grinned at each other.

  His expression instantly sobered. “Macy, I don’t have a ring. I thought of a speech on the way over but I’m so nervous it’s fled. Will you—”

  “Of course I’ll marry you.” Heart full, Macy laughed and tugged him close for another kiss. It was a quick peck that left her wanting ten more. She moved in for another but then stopped. “I interrupted you again, didn’t I? And in the middle of... I’m sorry, Rhett, I couldn’t help it. I’ve been waiting to be able to give you my answer for years.”

  “A few more kisses and we’ll call it even.” He winked.

  “I like your terms.” She playfully jabbed him in the ribs.

  They climbed into his truck but Macy only scooted so far as the middle seat of the bench so Kodiak could stay sprawled with her cast in the passenger seat. Kodiak laid her head on Macy’s thigh and let out a long, contented sigh. When Rhett got in, Macy looped her arm through his. He pressed another kiss to her temple and pointed the truck in the direction of Red Dog Ranch.

  Toward home.

  * * *

  Don’t miss upcoming books in

  Jessica Keller’s Red Dog Ranch miniseries

  from Love Inspired!

  And enjoy these other Western stories

  by Jessica Keller:

  Home for Good

  The Ranger’s Texas Proposal

  Keep reading for an excerpt from Rocky Mountain Daddy by Lois Richer.

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  Dear Reader,

  Have you ever been faced with a situation you weren’t sure you could handle?

  Rhett didn’t feel equipped to lead Red Dog Ranch and definitely didn’t want to be compared to his father. At first he only saw his inheritance as a burden to escape from, but later on he was able to see it for the blessing it was in his life. I’m so glad he found a way to share his load so he could honor his father’s wishes while still pursuing his dream of training dogs.

  I think my favorite conversation in the book is when Mrs. Jarrett asks Rhett if he believes there’s a cap on how much love God can shower on us. I really identified with Rhett in that moment. It’s so difficult not to question and wonder and feel inadequate.

  But God delights in loving us. Don’t forg
et that.

  Thank you for spending time with Rhett and Macy. I hope you enjoyed their story as much as I enjoyed writing it. Make sure to look up the rest of the Red Dog Ranch series—each one follows one of the Jarrett siblings.

  Dream big,

  Jess

  We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin Love Inspired story.

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  Rocky Mountain Daddy

  by Lois Richer

  Chapter One

  One minute Olivia DeWitt was happily steering her car up the hill toward home, the next minute she was heading for the ditch.

  With a gasp of dismay she slammed on her brakes, managing to stay on the road shoulder—barely. She exhaled, slowly released her fingers from the wheel and then exited the car. The sight of the shredded tire made her groan.

  “You couldn’t have waited ten minutes before blowing?” Shielding her eyes, Olivia peered longingly at—was it still home?—The Haven, a massive stone house perched on the rocky mountain promontory above her. “At least it’s summer,” she consoled herself, then mocked the sentiment as a teasing breeze reminded her that June in the Canadian Rockies bore no resemblance to June in the eastern provinces.