Follow a Wild Heart: A Christian Contemporary Western Romance Series

by Natalie Bright

  It bugged her that she could read him so well because she rarely got involved in other people’s lives. She grew up with older guardians, and after they passed, Carli accepted her lot in life that she was alone and would never know her birth family. Until a grandpa appeared out of the blue and left her a cow ranch. So here she was in Texas, getting entangled with everyone who lived in and around her ranch, including a little town of interesting characters. It wasn’t that long ago she had never even heard of Dixon. It could all be a bit overwhelming at times.

  Nathan and Carli had become good friends, as neighbors and over a common bond of horses, ranching, and so many other things. It was comfortable to spend time with him. She knew he wanted more than friendship. She sensed it in the way he watched her. Her heart still stung when she thought about that Georgia boyfriend. He was “the one”, her soulmate. Yeah, right, lesson learned. Once again, she promised herself not to give in. She wouldn’t let her guard down so quickly this time.

  Nathan stared at the road ahead for several minutes before answering, “Just got some stuff on my mind. What about you? How’s everything at the Wild Cow?”

  “Things are going great actually. I can’t believe I’m feeling more and more like it’s my home now. Honestly, I never thought I’d say that after moving from Georgia. I kept thinking I should go back, that I didn’t belong here. It was like two people were at war inside of me.”

  “Man, I know what that’s like,” Nathan said quietly, in a low whisper as if just to himself.

  Carli saw the worry etched on his face and sensed he was troubled about something. She liked him and wanted to help. But she wasn’t sure if he would be willing to tell her anything. Men rarely shared what was going on emotionally in their head. She decided to ask anyway.

  “What’s going on, Nate? Spill. You can tell me anything.”

  “It’s nothin’. What about you? You said you had something you needed my help with.”

  “Oh, yeah. I wanted to ask you about a family from this area. If you knew of them.” Before she could say anything more, Nathan parked right at the front door of the B & R Beanery and Buns. The place looked empty. Business was slow on a weekday morning.

  A young woman Carli had never seen before took their order. They settled in a corner. Carli loved the quiet and took a deep breath of the aroma from the roasting coffee berries. The minimal decorations, natural wood tables, and comfy sofas and easy chairs made for a relaxing atmosphere. She pulled out some papers from her tote and spread them all over the table.

  Nathan’s eyes opened wide. “Wow.”

  She couldn’t suppress her excitement or giggle at his reaction. “As you can see, I’ve been sorting through stuff at my grandparents' house and I actually found my birth certificate in an old trunk. Apparently, my mother, Michelle, rebelled against her parents, liked to party, and got into drugs.”

  “Your grandparents, Jean and Ward, never told you who your real father was? Seems your foreman and wife, Buck and Lola, would have known your mom at a young age. Did they know about you?”

  "I'm not sure." Carli stared blankly at the table. "I haven't talked to Buck or Lola about it yet."

  “This is a lot to take in.” Nathan let out a big sigh.

  Carli started to explain. "The birth certificate I had from my foster parents didn't have a birth father listed and I was afraid to ask. You don’t know how many times I wondered and thought about it, and as the years passed it didn’t seem that important. The one I found at my grandparents’ house has his name penciled in."

  Just then the barista interrupted with their orders.

  “Nathan Olsen. Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes? How’ve you been?”

  She set the coffees down and flipped her hair back over one shoulder. Carli watched the pretty blonde girl in tight jeans and Tee-shirt with the shop’s logo lay a manicured hand on Nathan’s shoulder as she flashed him a high-watt smile.

  “Uh, just fine. How ’bout you?” Nathan's eyes were fixed on his beverage.

  “Oh, c’mon now. You’re not blanking out on my name, are you? It’s Christy. High school? Cheerleader? Remember? I was a freshman when you were the senior quarterback.”

  “Uh, uh, sure. I remember you. It’s been a long time.” The words came from his lips, but Carli noticed there was no recognition in his eyes as he barely looked in Christy’s direction.

  “Surely you haven’t forgotten that homecoming party behind the bleachers, have you?” She winked.

  Carli watched them. Please don’t ask her what she’s been up to. Definitely rude, but Carli wasn’t in the mood to hear a long-winded life story.

  “Where’s Belinda?” Carli asked to save Nathan from a jam. She had become fast friends with the co-owner of the coffee shop, Belinda, the “B” in B & R. This place had soon become one of her sanctuaries where she could relax and unwind, plus Belinda was a good listener. Carli had become her official taste-tester and willingly tried every new coffee concoction Belinda could invent.

  Christy glanced at Carli with a slight frown, as if suddenly realizing there was another customer in the shop besides Nathan. “She’s staying home with a sick kid. I’m helping her out this week.” She answered Carli’s question, but kept her gaze on Nathan. “Normally you can find me at the Chamber office. I’m in charge of community events.”

  Nathan gave her a half-smile before turning his attention back to his coffee. He cleared his throat and looked at Carli. “You were saying?”

  She grinned at the blush on his cheeks. She’d definitely have to ask him about that party behind the bleachers some other time, but right now she had more important things on her mind.

  “I know my birth father’s name.” Carli had never said that out loud to anyone. It felt strange and made her heart beat faster. To actually have a name and now, to be sharing it with someone. She completely forgot about her latte, instead stared into Nathan’s eyes.

  “That’s big.”

  “No kidding. I don’t know if he’s still alive or maybe dead. I don’t know if I want to meet him. Maybe he hates me or maybe he doesn’t even know anything about me. Do I want to meet him? Does he look like me? Is he nice or a creep? So, I’m thinking of looking into one of those heritage websites. Who knows? Maybe send my DNA in and look for a match. What do you think, Nate? Would you do it?”

  “Whoa, now. I need to process.”

  “This is what swirls around in my brain all the time since I found the certificate.” Actually she had wondered about her family history for most of her life, but never told anyone. This was the first time she was ever this close to knowing the truth before. In the past few months, she had learned more about her Jameson side. It was like she was on a fast-moving genealogy train and there was no way to slow it down. She’d either come out of this wiser for it or it would end with a crash and burn.

  “Have you told Buck and Lola? That you want to find your birth father?”

  “No, not yet. I will. I just want to look into it myself. Lola and Buck started working at the Wild Cow as young newlyweds for my grandparents. Of course, they remember my mother, Michelle, before she ran away. Do you think my birth father might’ve been a local boy?” Emotion filled her eyes with tears, and it surprised her. Even though she had stared at his name on paper numerous times, she couldn't bring herself to say it out loud…until now. She swallowed the tears and cleared her throat.

  Nathan covered her hand with his. “Carli, I’m sorry for the pain of your past. We don’t always understand why people do the things they do. I don’t know what was going on in your mom’s mind when she found out she was pregnant. Did that guy know he was the father? Did he abandon her? Maybe he knew nothing about a baby. Maybe she ran away, and he never saw her again. If you’re curious, do the research. But take it slow.”

  “Thanks, Nate. It means a lot to have someone I can talk to about this stuff.”

  “What about Lank? Have you told him?”

  Carli paused in surprise as she looked
at Nathan. “What has this got to do with Lank? No. I have to be careful of that situation.”

  “No reason. Just wondering. I think that’s smart, Carli, to keep this information close to the vest for a while until you can find out more.”

  “I’m his boss. He’s my ranch hand. Why would I talk to him about my personal life?” Carli looked at Nathan in surprise. Where was he going with this conversation and why did he bring up Lank? No doubt she felt a spark when Lank was around, but it never crossed her mind that anyone else might notice. Was Nathan that interested in her that he sensed there might be something between her and the ranch hand?

  “I don’t want to bad-mouth anyone. Lank was a little wild in the past. String of girlfriends, typical for a guy on the rodeo circuit. Not the most stable kind of guy in case you’re thinking of taking him into your confidence.”

  “I appreciate your friendship, Nate. This isn’t something I feel comfortable sharing with Lank or anybody else right now.” She leaned forward and put her hands on his. “Thanks for listening. I really mean it.”

  Carli looked at Nathan but didn’t say anything more. What a change of topic from her birth father to Lank and his many dates. She tried not to let the surprise show in her eyes. Since when had Nathan Olsen become concerned about what she tells her ranch hand, Lank Torres?

  Chapter Three

  “Hey, I wanted to ask you about next weekend.” Nathan Olsen shrugged out of his Carhartt® ranch jacket and let it hang over the back of his chair.

  Carli studied the handsome face of her neighbor and friend and considered if there might be anything more besides friendship between them. He was so easy to talk to as evidenced by the fact they were still sitting at a tall metal table in the B &R Beanery in downtown Dixon. Talking with Nathan was like being with an old friend. She glanced down at her coffee which had long since grown cold.

  “What do you think about art galleries? An art museum in Amarillo is having an exhibit I’d like to see, if you want to go. Do you like that kind of stuff?”

  One of her favorite pastimes had been wandering through museums and galleries. She smiled, “Sure, sounds like fun.” It was comfortable being with Nathan, safe.

  “They’re featuring an artist’s demonstration. Bronze sculptures, kind of like Frederic Remington. I’d really like to see his work.”

  Carli smiled again to reassure him. “Sure, I said I’d go. Sounds great.”

  “How about another coffee?” Nathan stood.

  “Yeah, thanks, Nate.”

  He leaned closer, his mouth just inches from her ear. “When I get back, I want to hear more about the birth certificate and what you found. I bet you were a cute baby.” He winked.

  Carli felt her cheeks grow warm and she couldn’t suppress her laugh as he walked away. Turning her attention back to the paperwork, she tried to put some of it in order before folding and stuffing it back into her bag, as Nathan placed their order. She had so much more digging to do on the subject of her birth father yet was hesitant to share her secret with anyone else.

  The overeager Christy at the register was shiny and big-smiled. She and Nathan shared a laugh about something.

  “Who’s your lady friend over there?” Christy whispered, but in the empty, cement floor shop, her voice carried over to Carli.

  “That’s Carli Jameson. She owns the Wild Cow Ranch.”

  “Ohhh, she inherited Jean and Ward's place?” She looked in Carli’s direction with a straight face, but Carli managed to give her a little smile. Christy leaned closer to Nathan. “You guys dating?”

  “Kinda. We’re good friends.” Nathan collected their order and thanked Christy. “Keep the change.” When he returned to the table, he had two big carrot-applesauce muffins for them.

  Nathan’s answer of “kinda” raised Carli’s inner antenna, and when she noticed Christy disappearing into the back, she couldn’t resist teasing him a bit. “You Texas men sure do attract the girls, dontcha?”

  “Her? She said we went to high school together.” He leaned closer across the table, glanced over his shoulder, and whispered, “I don’t remember her.”

  “Well, darn. I was anxious to hear about that homecoming party.” Carli giggled when Nathan blushed and glared at her.

  “Don’t remember a thing and that’s my story.”

  “You may not remember her, but I think she’s giving you the eye and is definitely interested. You must have made an impression.”

  Nathan turned around just as Christy appeared from the back room and was immediately greeted with a wide toothy smile followed by a flip of her hair over one shoulder. He whipped his head back around to Carli. And his face turned scarlet.

  “Nathan Olsen, you are blushing like a teenager.” Carli giggled again.

  “Carli, quit it. Maybe we should go.” He squirmed in his chair. “Besides I might be interested in other pursuits.”

  “I’m just teasing. But you should be flattered. A cute girl hitting on you.”

  “She’s not the cute girl I want.” His comment hung in the air between them, uncertain, awkward, but full of promise.

  Carli chose to ignore it. “All right, Nate. So, talk. What’s up with you? You’re not your jolly, carefree self today.”

  “I’m thinking about making a change.”

  “A change? Something is really bugging you, isn’t it?”

  Before he could answer, the door chimed softly and Carli watched a woman and two youngsters enter, a boy around thirteen and a girl maybe fifteen or sixteen. Nathan and Carli’s conversation came to an abrupt end, interrupted by the clatter of chairs.

  “You two sit here while I order,” the lady instructed as she pointed the kids to a nearby couch. The boy sank into the soft sofa, but the girl sat at a table.

  The boy was a typical young teen, with gawky legs and arms that the rest of him hadn’t gotten used to yet. He seemed shy but eager and curious.

  The girl’s hair was dyed as black as gooey asphalt and shaped into a spiky, disheveled cut. She wore an oversized black Tee-shirt with a white skull on front, black leggings, and black combat boots with the tops spread wide and laces dragging on the floor. Her feet clumped when she walked. Numerous leather and cord bracelets climbed her wrist.

  Through deep purple eyeshadow she peered at the woman who was probably her mother, and growled, “I want a coffee.”

  “Lexi, I told you. No coffee. It makes you jittery and gives you an upset stomach.”

  “I want a coffee and a muffin,” the girl gritted her teeth.

  “Brandon, do you want some hot chocolate?”

  “Sure, Mom.” The boy peered cautiously at his sister as though she might explode.

  “Lexi, I’ll get you hot chocolate too.”

  “I said I want a coffee and a muffin.” The girl pressed her lips tight, her voice rising in anger. She glanced at Carli to meet her stare.

  As Carli and Nathan watched the family, she remembered a girl like this in school, always in trouble, always angry. She also remembered parts of her life when she had been that girl. Resentful of the mother who had given her away and hating the father she never knew. It’s a wonder her guardians, the Fitzgeralds, hadn’t tossed her back to wherever they had found her.

  The mother carried a tray with drinks and food to their table and the boy happily took a chomp out of his muffin. The young girl stood and swiped at hers with one swing of her hand. It flew to the floor in Carli’s direction.

  “I’m sorry,” the woman pleaded. She looked frazzled. “Lexi, why did you do that? I’m not buying you another one.”

  “I said I want a coffee, not a kid’s hot chocolate.”

  Carli stood and Nathan gave her a frown. But she felt the anger and hopelessness this girl held inside. Carli had felt trapped before too. She picked up her plate holding the same kind of muffin Nathan just bought and approached the girl. “Hey, I’m not going to eat mine. I haven’t touched it. Would you like to have it? My name’s Carli, by the way.”

/>   The girl frowned, looked at her feet, and avoided Carli’s eyes.

  Carli put the plate down in front of her. “I like your boots. Pretty cool.”

  The mother acted as if she might say something, but then remained silent.

  “They’re Doc Martens.”

  “They look comfy, but also sturdy.”

  “Yeah.” The girl peeked up to meet Carli’s gaze. Then said in a monotone, “I like your bracelet.”

  “Thanks. It’s from a horse’s tail I braided. From my horse Beau’s tail. He’s honestly my best friend. Then, see here, I added a little clasp.”

  Drawn to the jewelry, the girl fingered Carli’s bracelet lightly.

  “That’s pretty,” said the mother. “We had to give up our horses because of the feed cost. The kids used to ride all the time.”

  “Hey, would you like to have it?” Carli kept her attention on the young girl. “I live on a ranch with lots of horses and they’re always losing strands from their tails. I can make another one.”

  The girl didn’t look at her mother, instead focused on Carli’s arm, then tentatively looked to her face almost like a scared fawn in the woods.

  “Really? You mean I can have it?”

  “Sure. I make them for people when I have time.” Carli unhooked the bracelet and started to place it on the girl’s wrist. First, she looked to the mother. “Is it okay?”

  “Yes, thank you very much. Lexi, what do you say?”

  “Thanks,” the girl mumbled under her breath while looking at her arm.

  The boy piped up, mouth full of muffin, “Hey, I want one too.”

  “Brandon, don’t be rude. And close your mouth when you’re chewing, please.” The mother frowned at him.

  His sister gave him a hateful look. “Boys don’t wear bracelets.”

  “Y’all will have to visit my ranch sometime. Maybe you can find enough horse tail hairs to make your own.” Carli blurted the invitation before she even thought twice about asking complete strangers to her home. It wasn’t the wisest move, but she couldn’t take it back now. Before Carli turned back to her table, she looked directly at Lexi. “It was nice meeting you.”