Second Chance Rancher

by Brenda Minton

  Johnny was agitated, his movements jerky. He hadn’t been out of jail long but odds were he was already messed up.

  Willa must have heard her because she relaxed, just slightly. Johnny loosened his grip, and when he did, Willa spun, bringing her head up under his chin. He jerked back and she brought the palm of her hand up, knocking him backward before bringing her knee up. He fell to the ground and she ran. Dane caught her, holding her tight.

  Lucy wanted to cheer but she’d do that later. Instead she ran forward and forced Johnny to the ground, her knee in his back. “And that, Johnny, is how a low-life abuser learns a lesson.”

  “Get off me, you...”

  She pushed his face down. “Ah, ah, ah. Watch your language. We’re at church.”

  “Good job, Lucy.” Pastor Matthews knelt next to her. “The police should be here in a minute to give Johnny a ride back to County.”

  “That’s good, because I’ve worked up an appetite.” Lucy grinned at the pastor. “This is a good day.”

  Because Willa had learned that she had power.

  “Yeah, it is a good day. I think we need to add self-defense classes to our lesson plan.” Pastor Matthews stepped away as the officer arrived to take custody of Johnny.

  As she watched the cop read Johnny his rights, she wondered how it happened that a man could beat his wife to such a degree and spend only days in jail.

  “You okay?” Dane appeared at her side.

  “Of course I am.” His arm went around her and she allowed him to pull her close. Only a fool would deny that gesture of comfort from a man who smelled as good as he looked.

  Or maybe only a fool would get this close to a man when she knew that nothing could come of this relationship.

  * * *

  Dane helped Lucy move Willa to her aunt’s place, then he and Issy headed home. A Realtor from San Antonio had called him while they were on the road, telling him she was headed to the ranch with a prospective buyer. He pulled up just as they were getting in the Realtor’s SUV.

  Dane parked, unlatched Issy and met the real estate agent and the buyers midway across the lawn. He held out a hand to the Realtor, an older woman with deep auburn hair and dark sunglasses that kept him from seeing her eyes. Not particularly a look that endeared him to her.

  “Mr. Scott, good to meet you. I’m Liza McMillan. The Andersons really enjoyed your property.”

  He managed a smile. “Thank you.”

  It didn’t come out sounding a bit harsh. Or so he told himself as he stood there smiling at the couple, who didn’t look as if they knew the front of an Angus from the back. But they did have nice boots.

  The front door of the house closed with a definite thud. He glanced back and saw Haven heading his way. To the rescue. She was good at rescuing everyone but herself.

  “Dane, did you meet the Andersons?” She forced a smile that wasn’t much more genuine than his.

  What in the world was he doing? This ranch had been in his family for over one hundred years. His great-grandparents had held on to the land during the Depression. His parents had farmed it until his dad’s health forced him to call it quits. And Dane was going to give it up?

  Haven touched his arm and smiled up at him, reassuring and sweet. “Let me take Issy in the house.”

  He handed his daughter over, giving her a last hug. She patted Haven’s cheek. That was Issy’s way of familiarizing herself with people. She couldn’t look in their eyes, see their smile or expression, but she could pat their face, kiss their cheek and know their mood with a touch.

  As they walked away he heard his daughter whisper, “Daddy’s upset.”

  The Realtor, Liza, watched his daughter leave, then her attention was on him. Big questions loomed in her eyes as she pulled off those dark designer sunglasses.

  “Mr. Scott, I was informed you want to sell because you need to relocate to Dallas for your daughter’s schooling.”

  He stood there a long minute, letting his gaze wander over the property, the cattle, the barns and horses. For his daughter.

  “You’re correct.”

  “Okay, I just wanted to make sure.” She glanced back at the couple, who had taken a seat in her SUV. “I think we’ll have an offer for you in a day or two.”

  He swallowed regret and nodded. “Sounds good.”

  She left. He watched the dust swirl behind her vehicle until she turned onto the highway blacktop, and then he headed for the barn. What he needed right now was to clear his head. As he walked, he whistled.

  By the time he got to the stable, his horse, Daniel, was at the fence. The big bay, red with dark legs and a black mane and tail, looked ready for a ride. Dane pulled a saddle and bridle out of the tack room and went back for a halter and lead.

  Daniel was waiting for him. He brought the horse in, cross tied him in the center aisle and saddled him. He knew that Haven would understand. She would feed Issy. They would watch cartoons.

  He didn’t know what he’d do without his sister. But he also knew that she needed to live her own life. And it was time for him to move on with his.

  He put his left foot in the stirrup and swung his leg over the saddle. Daniel shuffled about a bit but then he was ready to go. As he rode off, Dane looked back at the stone-and-stucco ranch house, built by his parents after the old wooden house burned down when Dane had been a toddler. It was a good house. His mom had designed it. His dad had built it from the foundation up.

  When he’d sat them down to tell them about putting the ranch on the market, they hadn’t balked. They knew he needed to put Issy first. Whatever was best for his child, they’d said. It had set his mind at ease, somewhat.

  Daniel picked his way along the trail and Dane eased into the ride. The horse knew this path well and as the ground smoothed out and as Dane loosened his hold on the reins, the horse eased into a canter.

  It had been a summer day when he’d ridden along this fence trail and spotted Lucy coming up from the creek. He’d watched from a distance as she’d dismounted and led her big palomino to the shade of a tree. She’d sprawled out on the grass with a book. The horse had grazed a short distance away.

  This spot had been her escape. Her hiding place. It was Scott land so her father wouldn’t come on the property. He never found the spot in the fence where she’d sneaked through.

  As he drew closer to the creek he never expected to see her on this day the same as he had then. But with the sun low on the horizon he saw the movement of a horse in the trees along the edge of the creek. He pulled Daniel back and the horse slowed, and then stopped. Even from that distance he knew that it was Lucy. He gave his horse a nudge forward. Daniel broke into a trot and whinnied a greeting to the other horse.

  The chestnut mare Alex had bought returned the greeting, shaking her fine head. The rider walked out of the woods, spotted him and paused. Dane rode on, not at all put off by her appearance. She might not have wanted company but she wouldn’t send him away.

  What would he say to her? It would keep things simple if he waved and rode off, leaving her to read or doze in the grass, whatever she had planned. Stopping would definitely complicate things between them. Neither of them needed complications.

  “Looks like we had the same idea,” Lucy said as he approached and dismounted.

  “Seemed like a good way to unwind.” He led his horse closer and noticed that her hair was wet. “You took a swim?”

  She raised her hand to her hair, a self-conscious gesture. “No, just splashed my face and hair. It felt good. It’s been a long time since I’ve been down here.”

  “Twelve years.” He thought it should feel different after twelve years, but it didn’t. It felt frighteningly similar, as if he was still a kid discovering something beautiful on the shores of this creek.

  He wondered how no one else had
ever noticed her. Why was she still single and wary?

  “Yes,” she said. “Twelve years.”

  There was a long pause, then she shook her head, as if clearing her thoughts. “We’re no longer those two kids anymore.”

  “True.”

  “I’m not sure what we’re doing here, Dane.”

  He laughed. “Probably the same thing. We must have both needed a ride on a summer day to clear our heads?”

  “You know that isn’t what I meant. Us. We can’t go back to being those two kids.”

  “No, we can’t. I have a daughter now.”

  “And I have more baggage than any man should have to deal with.”

  And that’s where their opinions differed. Because he didn’t see her as a woman with baggage. He saw her as a woman with layers. And those layers made her unique, strong, determined.

  “I guess we both have baggage,” he said as he narrowed the distance between them. “But I refuse to see my daughter as baggage. She’s the best thing I’ve ever done.”

  “I agree.” Her voice was a little bit breathless. And then she surprised him by touching his face, her fingers lingering.

  “I don’t know how to walk away, Lucy. I don’t know how to not be impressed by you, drawn to you.”

  “We’re too old for a summer romance,” she warned.

  “I know.”

  He kissed her, his lips moving over hers as she continued touching his cheek, her hand eventually moving to the back of his neck. He never wanted summer to end if this was a summer romance.

  As the kiss ended, she rested her cheek against his. He felt the dampness of her hair against his face and felt her eyelashes graze his skin as she closed her eyes. He held her close and wondered how often she allowed herself to be held. He wondered how he could ever let her go.

  “Summer romances stink,” she whispered.

  “It doesn’t have to be just a summer romance.” The words were out and he couldn’t take them back. But he had no right to make promises.

  He’d be a fool to promise anything. But he’d be an even-bigger fool to let her go because since she’d driven back into his life, he felt whole. He hadn’t felt whole in a long time.

  “It is a summer romance.” She kissed his cheek and stepped away. “And I’m too old for games. I’m single, set in my ways, and I don’t want to hurt you or Issy. I can’t give you false hope.”

  “What is it that makes you believe you can’t be the person we want in our lives?”

  “Fear,” she said simply. “I’m afraid. Of being controlled. I’m afraid I’ll feel trapped or that I’ll give up my power.”

  “I would never hurt you, Lucy.”

  She nodded but he got the feeling she didn’t believe him.

  “What brought you out here today, Dane?”

  He touched his forehead to hers. “More people looking to buy the ranch.”

  She smiled so sweetly, her brown eyes melting to chocolate. “You have the power to hurt me, you know. I think I’m more afraid of you than I’ve ever been of anyone in my whole life.”

  That shook him to the core because he knew the abuse she’d suffered. How could he be the person she most feared?

  She smiled up at him. “You don’t get it, do you?”

  “No, I guess I don’t.”

  “I’ve never wanted to give up my power to anyone the way I want to give it up to you.”

  She walked away, a woman unwilling to give up control of her life. And he understood. She came from a place where power and control meant everything negative.

  For her, control meant freedom and strength. Of course she wouldn’t give those things up. Not to anyone.

  How could he convince her that she could give herself to someone without giving up who she was? He didn’t want to take from her. He’d realized something in the last few weeks. Having the right person at his side made him stronger.

  Maybe she did realize that and it frightened her. Perhaps it should frighten him, too.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Lucy walked the perimeter of the hotel conference area, Daron McKay at her side. He was a fellow soldier, a friend and her business partner. They’d shared almost everything. She’d known when he was falling in love with his wife, Emma. She’d known when he had nightmares stemming from Afghanistan.

  But she didn’t know how to share with him that she was in over her head with Dane Scott. Even after spending the last couple of days working in Austin with him, she still couldn’t put it into words.

  “You’re quiet today.” Daron made the observation as they studied the exits from the room. “Anything I need to know about?”

  She wanted to shrug it off but she couldn’t. He was the closest thing she had to a best friend. “My little sister is having a baby.”

  “Yeah, you said that when you called.” He checked the lock and the alarms on the door. “Boone and I will take care of things and you take care of your family. Pregnancy is only nine months, not forever.”

  “Right,” she mumbled as they kept moving. What was she supposed to tell him, that her sister was the least of her worries? That sounded heartless. Instead she was very worried about her sister, about the baby that Maria wasn’t sure she would keep.

  “This isn’t about your sister, is it?” Daron took off his cowboy hat and smoothed back his hair.

  “Not really. It’s about...” She kept walking but not before she saw the amused glint in his eyes. “Just leave me alone.”

  He caught up with her, laughing. “Has Lucy Palermo fallen for a man?”

  “Shut up, jerk.” She kept walking, picking up speed and hoping he would just go away. He wouldn’t, though.

  “Come on, Luce, you’re human. You are actually a decent human being.” He made a face. “Okay, I’m only going to say this once because we’re friends and in a weird way you’ve always been one of the guys. You’re a girl, but you’ve just been our friend. We forget that you’re a woman.”

  “Thanks. That’s so reassuring. I’m one of the guys.”

  “This is awkward. Like giving Boone advice.”

  “Again, not really helping.” She put a hand on her holstered gun.

  The gesture broke the awkwardness of the moment and Daron laughed. “Okay, let me be honest. You’re difficult to get to know. Your attitude puts people off and sometimes frightens small children.”

  She stopped him. “Small children like me. Your daughter loves me.”

  Issy loved her, too. And she thought Dane’s little girl was the best thing ever. But when Dane had asked her to go to church, it had felt as if he were testing her.

  She got it; a couple shouldn’t be unequally yoked. It made sense. A couple should have common ground because if they didn’t, the ground would always be shifting beneath them.

  “My daughter does love you,” Daron said simply. “Children and animals see the real you. Emma and I love you. Boone and Kayla love you. Our families love you. Yes, you do your best to push us all away. But the truth is, Lucy, you’re one of the best people I know. When Emma needed you, you were there for her. For us.”

  His words warmed her cheeks and she had to move away so that he wouldn’t see that his speech had brought tears to her eyes. The man could be so ruthless when he was being kind. She would have gotten away from him but he tugged her back and into his big, stupid arms. She squeezed her eyes shut and remained stiff as he held her close and patted her back.

  “I’m not a child who skinned her knee,” she blubbered against his shoulder. “And I don’t cry.”

  “No, you’re a woman who hasn’t figured out that there are people worth trusting.” He let out a pained sigh. “Lucy, you’re beautiful.”

  She pulled out of his embrace and wiped at her eyes. “I can’t believe you made
me cry. It wasn’t that long ago that you were watching Emma from a distance, pretending you weren’t desperately in love with her.”

  “I can now admit that I was but a shell of a man without her.”

  Lucy rolled her eyes. “I’m done getting in touch with my inner self or inner child or whatever it is you think I need to do. I’m fine. Really.” She stomped off.

  “Of course you are.” He caught up with her as they exited the conference room. “Lucy, if this guy is the one, give him a chance.”

  They made their way to the bank of elevators and Daron pushed the up button. “I know that I like him. That doesn’t make him The One. I like you and I would never think of us as a couple.” She shuddered.

  “That’s because I’m not The One.”

  They stepped into the elevator and he pushed the button for the floor where their client waited. Lucy waited until the other occupants stepped off the elevator before she resumed their conversation.

  “I’ve spent a lot of my life avoiding relationships,” she admitted. “I’m afraid. I don’t know how to open up and I don’t want to lose myself to a person who might let me down.”

  The elevator doors started to open. Daron pushed the button to close them. “I think what you want to say is that you’re afraid you’ll marry a man like your father and you won’t know it until it’s too late. I would advise you to trust yourself. Because if you don’t, you’re going to spend your entire life avoiding what might be the best thing that ever happened to you. We all have stuff we’ve gone through, Lucy. So you say you don’t want a man to have control of you, but you’re letting your father control every single day of your life. Every time you shut yourself off, he’s controlling you.”

  The doors opened and they stepped onto the tenth floor.

  “Thank you. For the advice,” Lucy said.

  “You’re welcome. I only hope that you take it.” He led her to the door at the end of the hall where their client waited for them.

  Then it was time to work. Their client was notorious for avoiding his security detail. That’s why the two of them weren’t trusting this project to the men they sometimes contracted to help with bigger jobs.