Lost and Found Family

by Jennifer Ryan

The man waved his hand out. “She’s right behind you.”

  Luke turned and found Sarah standing there, smiling.

  She ran past him and launched herself into the older man’s arms. “I am so happy to see you.”

  “Me too, squirt. We brought your ladies. How are you? It’s been a while.”

  “I’m fine. How are my girls?”

  “Right as rain, squirt.”

  The second the older man released her, Sarah hugged the younger one. A shot of jealousy ran through Luke unlike anything he’d ever felt.

  The young guy picked her up, leaving her feet dangling at his shins. “Hey, how you doin’?”

  “Just fine.” She leaned back. “Did you finish school yet?”

  “Almost. One semester left.” He let her down. Luke felt the surge of jealousy rise.

  Back on her feet, Sarah tapped her fist into the young guy’s gut. “Behave.” She turned to Luke. “This is Tim and Randy Reed. They run Blaze Ranch, and they are here to deliver your new mares.”

  Luke raised a brow. “I need the extended version of that explanation.”

  She sighed. “I feel like I’m always explaining myself to you. I told you I managed to hold on to my uncle’s ranch. I expanded it while I was in college by doing some website design work.” She held her hand out to the sign on the truck door. “Blaze Ranch. Get it?”

  Understanding dawned in his eyes. “Because you burned it down.”

  “Just a little joke on myself. Tim is the ranch hand who used to bring the radio to the stables. He was always kind to me, so when I needed someone to help me get the ranch up and running, I hired him. His son Randy works for me when he isn’t attending school, along with several other people.”

  “You should come more often,” Tim chided.

  “If I had time . . .”

  “You need to make the time,” Tim coaxed.

  Sarah rolled her eyes.

  Luke wondered about the ranch. “Did Sean know about it?”

  “He knew I had the land when we were in college. I told him I wanted to build something out of it and he dismissed the idea.” She shrugged. “I should have taken that as a warning of what was to come.” She scrunched her mouth into a derisive frown. “I don’t like being ignored or told what to do, so I built the ranch on my own. If something happened, like my marriage to Sean falling apart, I knew I had a place that was all mine.”

  “So when you divorced him you weren’t going to tell him about the ranch?”

  “Well, Counselor, I owned it before the marriage, so it wasn’t part of the community property.”

  Luke wasn’t thinking like a lawyer but like a man who’d been used for what he had for too long. “I’m sorry. You’re right.”

  “She’s always right,” Tim said. “You should get used to that now.”

  Luke chuckled under his breath. “It’s starting to sink in.”

  Sarah turned shy. “I’m sorry I wouldn’t sell you one of my babies when you called about them. I want to make sure my horses go to good homes.”

  “Are you telling me I spoke to you before?”

  “Yes. Though I don’t remember.”

  “If you’d only sold me a horse, we would have met a long time ago.”

  “It’s strange how things work out. It’s like no matter what, we were meant to meet.”

  They shared a long look that said so much, because it really felt like the second she stepped into his life, everything felt different and headed in the right direction.

  Sarah’s smile brightened. “Want to meet Ace’s new girlfriends?”

  He got caught up in her enthusiasm. “I can’t wait.”

  They walked to the back of the trailer where Tim and Randy had backed out the horses. Luke stopped, stunned when he saw them. Magnificent. Ace was a gorgeous brown quarter horse stallion, but the ones Sarah had sent him were amazing. One sorrel, the other brown. Sarah walked up to each of the horses and gave them a good rub down their noses and the sides of their faces.

  “Tim, the ladies look wonderful. How’d they do on the ride over?”

  “Just fine. We have a couple new foals. I emailed you photos.”

  Sarah turned to him. “Meet my princesses. The brown is Jasmine and this is Gweneviere.”

  “Sarah, the horses . . . they’re outstanding. But you can’t be serious about giving them to me.” He knew they were worth a fortune. And no one had ever given him anything like this. The foals these horses produced would be the best on his ranch—any ranch in the state, for that matter.

  Sarah’s eyes turned defensive. “I’m not giving them to you.”

  Luke narrowed his eyes. He should have known better. “How much do I owe you? I’ll pay you whatever you’re asking.”

  “Really. Whatever I’m asking?” She raised a brow. “I suppose I have the perfect excuse to steal you blind on these horses.”

  “How much?” Luke wasn’t buying her ruse to gouge him. He knew she’d be fair. He could all but see the twinkle in her eyes.

  “Kiss me, big guy.”

  He didn’t have to be asked twice and planted a kiss on her that said how much he appreciated her and this gesture that would ensure his ranch thrived.

  To his dismay, she pulled away far too soon and looked him right in the eye. “These horses are a gift for Ace. Although you have some really nice mares, you don’t have any that compare to my princesses.”

  He cupped her beautiful face. “There is nothing that compares to you.” He kissed her, loving her for her generosity and kind heart. She loved her horses, that was clear, but she’d given them to him, knowing he’d take care of them. He’d love them the way she did.

  She trusted him with the horses, her kids, and her heart.

  All he wanted to do was make her happy.

  He feared ever disappointing her or losing her.

  There was no one like Sarah.

  His life was better with her in it.

  Now all he had to do was make it permanent.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Sarah had loved making Luke outrageously happy this morning. The love and appreciation she’d seen in his eyes when she gave him the horses stuck in her mind and heart. She wanted to make him feel and look at her that way every day.

  But how was she really going to make that happen? It seemed so easy to talk about and wish for it, but the reality for Sarah was a lot harder.

  She needed time to think, plan, and figure out a way to run her businesses in Silicon Valley and be with Luke in Carmel. She also wanted to make sure the boys were really okay with her relationship with Luke and the possibility they would move to the ranch permanently.

  While Luke made it clear he wanted them to be a family, he’d never mentioned marriage.

  Did she want to get married again?

  Yes. Being Luke’s wife, having a real partnership and love, would make her really happy.

  Luke talked about more children and a life together like he could already see it all.

  She’d always wanted a big family. The need grew out of her loneliness as a child. She’d wished she’d had a sibling. Someone to share everything with. Someone who understood her like no other.

  She loved her father, but their relationship was more a friendship since he’d found her when she was nearly an adult in age, though she’d had a lot of heartache and had to grow up faster than most kids. Abby was more like a sister than just her assistant. And Tim was like an uncle, Randy a cousin. Her team at Spencer Software felt like a family.

  But she wanted more with Luke. She wanted that deep connection and a lifetime of memories from a bond that would never break.

  Still, she’d been disappointed before, and allowing herself to believe in Luke’s vision for them was hard to do without doubts creeping in.

  Luke drove them down the drive to Margaret’s house. The boys sat between them, buckled together on the bench seat, wishing they could stay at Luke’s instead, to go riding and play and hang out with the man they’d beco
me close to, too.

  They stopped outside Margaret’s home. A sense of déjà vu came over Sarah when she spotted Margaret sitting on the porch, waiting like a sentry for the enemy to arrive, and spoiling for a fight, just like the first day she’d arrived.

  Luke reached across the boys and laid his hand on her shoulder. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”

  Tell her that. She didn’t say anything because of the boys.

  She slipped out of the truck and held the door for the boys to climb down. “I want you two to go upstairs and put away your things. You can watch TV for an hour, then we’ll do homework and have lunch.”

  “Okay,” Jack said, heading toward the house, Nick right behind him.

  “Hold it,” she called to them. “Thank Luke for taking care of you while Mommy rested.”

  They ran back and threw their arms around Luke’s legs. “Thank you,” they said in unison.

  Sarah’s heart melted.

  Luke put a hand on both boys’ heads and gave their hair a ruffle. “You’re welcome.” He released the boys and hooked his arm around her shoulders just as Bridget pulled into the driveway.

  The boys raced up the porch steps, said hello to their grandmother, and went in ahead of everyone.

  Luke greeted Bridget as she met them on the walkway up to the porch. “Hey, Bridge. Sophia at school?”

  “Yep.” Bridget eyed Sarah. “You look fine to me. Kudos on the dramatic performance to get attention. You got Luke to swoop in and play your white knight.”

  Luke looked at Bridget like he was seeing her for the first time. “What the hell, Bridget.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Why does sex make men stupid?”

  Luke gave her an incredulous look. “What is the matter with you?”

  Sarah knew. Bridget’s divorce and her ex-husband’s new girlfriend had turned Bridget bitter and resentful of couples. But it didn’t make it easier to take her snide comments and rudeness.

  Luke didn’t appear happy about being called stupid.

  Bridget walked past them and up the steps to greet her mom.

  Sarah and Luke followed, only to have Margaret greet them with her own brand of snark. “Nice of you to bring my grandsons back where they belong.”

  Sarah didn’t want to fight. “Don’t start, Margaret. It was one night.”

  “Oh, it’s more than that. It’s your campaign to reel Luke in and ruin him.”

  Luke took a step closer to Margaret. “So you both take me for a fool?”

  Margaret gave him a sad, condescending frown. “I love you like a son. I don’t want her to hurt you, too. I thought you’d see through her lies and manipulations, but apparently even you have fallen for her . . . charms.”

  “She’s never lied to me. She hasn’t manipulated me. I simply took the time to get to know her. You should do the same, instead of believing what Sean told you and what you’ve assumed.”

  Margaret waved that off. “My son died unhappy. Because of her insatiable need for money, he was working late again, and he was probably so tired he didn’t see the accident coming.”

  “That is not what happened.” Sarah shook her head and sighed. “You really have no idea who Sean turned out to be.”

  “How would I? You kept him away from us. You couldn’t be bothered to visit. You didn’t want to bring the boys, it was too much trouble to travel even a couple hours with them.”

  “Not true.”

  Bridget waved that off. “Of course you’d blame Sean. He’s not here to defend himself.”

  Sarah had enough. “Apparently I’m not allowed to defend myself either.” She glanced up at Luke. “I’ll see you later. I’ve got work to do.”

  Margaret stepped in front of her, blocking her from entering the house. “The lawn could use a mowing again. Perhaps you could at least take care of that today.”

  She’d had Camille clean the house and had the gardeners come when she and the boys arrived. Since then, she’d kept up with the maintenance, but she’d be damned if she took orders from Margaret. “Why don’t you permanently hire a gardener to take care of the yard? Lord knows, you need one for this big property. You could use a housekeeper, too.” Sarah really couldn’t keep doing everything, or she’d end up passed out from exhaustion again. “Perhaps Bridget could do the work, since she doesn’t have a job right now. I’m sure she’d like to earn a little extra money instead of you just bailing her out all the time.”

  Bridget glared at her.

  Margaret sucked in a surprised gasp that Sarah had actually fought back for once. “Thanks to Sean, you have the means to have people wait on you and take care of you. You’ve even got Luke going out of his way to please you. Some of us have to take care of ourselves. And it’s not easy when you’re alone. I can’t afford this house, let alone hire someone to help with the yard and housekeeping. And as my condition worsens, the medical bills pile up.” Worry and resentment filled Margaret’s eyes.

  Bridget touched her mom’s arm. “Why didn’t you say anything?” At least she had some compassion for the one person who took care of her, even at Margaret’s detriment.

  Margaret gave a one-shoulder shrug, unable to say anything about what so obviously devastated her. “It’s gone. Sean needed money to start the business. I’ve helped Bridget here and there. I take care of my family.”

  “So do I,” Sarah shot back.

  “Right. You took everything of Sean’s, bought a big, new house, put the boys in private school, and probably spend all your money on fancy clothes and cars. Just look at that brand-new SUV.”

  Sarah had replaced her older model six months ago and given Camille her old one because she needed something more reliable than her rattle-trap sedan. But Margaret didn’t know that. She didn’t know a lot of things, and that was Sarah’s fault, because she’d kept her mouth shut about Sean, his death, and how he lived.

  “I work hard to provide for my children. I try to give them everything I never had growing up. I’ve even made sure that you were taken care of because you’re Jack and Nick’s grandmother, but you don’t appreciate anything I do for you. And I’m tired of it and you constantly blaming me for everything.”

  “What have you done for me? Cleaned the house and yard. You want a thank-you? Fine. Thank you.”

  “I did it for the boys and because despite your objections, I could see you needed the help. Bridget is so angry and lost in her own pain, she can’t see your failing health, let alone the state of your home.”

  Margaret put her hand to her chest. “You haven’t said anything.”

  “Because you don’t care to hear anything I have to say. But you are going to listen to me now, because this”—she pointed from herself to Margaret and back—“can’t go on. Not if you want to be a real part of the kids’ lives.”

  “I do. I want them to know me. And Sean. I don’t want them to forget him.”

  “Then you are going to have to meet me halfway and stop ignoring me and everything I do for you. I don’t deserve it, and you’d know that if you stopped being so stubborn.”

  “I know no such thing. Sean would have taken care of me. He would have made sure to keep in touch. He’d have sent pictures of the boys. He wouldn’t have just left me here all alone.” Margaret’s grief came out in full force, her eyes filling with unshed tears.

  “You could have all of that, if you’d only open your mail.”

  “What?” Confusion clouded Margaret’s eyes.

  Of course Sarah had to clean this up, too.

  She threw up her hands and paced a few steps back and forth. She glanced at Luke and then to Margaret and Bridget. She had to set things straight, but the thought of having to explain herself, yet again, made her so angry she wanted to punch something. “Come with me. I’ll show you how I take care of family. There’s something you need to see in the library.”

  She didn’t wait for them to reply. She walked in the front door and headed straight for the library Margaret clearly never used, excep
t to hide away the things she couldn’t face.

  The basket full of large envelopes all with the Spenser Software return address and logo sat on the credenza behind the desk. Sarah had discovered them the first week she’d arrived at Margaret’s when she’d vacuumed the downstairs rooms. It infuriated her to discover that not a single envelope, except the first she’d sent, had been opened.

  She slammed the basket down on the desk as Luke, Margaret, and Bridget entered the room. “Shut the door. I don’t want the boys to hear this.”

  She waited while Luke shut the door and Margaret and Bridget moved into the room and faced her across the desk. Margaret eased herself into the chair; her slight frame had gone thin and frail the last two years. Her own damn fault. She just didn’t know it. Because Sarah had provided.

  She’d taken the high road and done the right thing despite how hard Margaret made it to remain kind and not angry all the time.

  Bridget stood with her arms folded, ready to do battle over her brother, even if he didn’t deserve it.

  Sarah shouldn’t have let this go on for so long. She had her own excuses and reasons why she put Sean’s family on the back burner. He’d left her enough to clean up and take care of. She could only do so much.

  More excuses and reasons that didn’t matter to Margaret, who suffered because of her own stubbornness and Sarah’s.

  “You love Sean. You remember him a certain way.”

  Margaret cautiously nodded, while Bridget glared at her sister-in-law.

  “I have tried to allow you to keep your memories of Sean just as you remember him. Most of it is real. But what he told you about college, our marriage, the company . . . It’s all half-truths and lies. You’re so angry with me about what he told you, and I’ve allowed you to believe, because I didn’t want you to think less of Sean. Having two sons, I can see why you’d want to believe that Sean was a wonderful person without any flaws. But we all have flaws.”

  “Some of us more than others,” Bridget shot back.

  Margaret gave her one of those harsh looks she liked to level on Sarah, but it quickly faded and her gaze turned thoughtful. “He was wonderful until you came along and ruined everything. He had such a bright future ahead of him. The business was everything to him. He told me how you made him work so hard that he was never home. You were never happy because he couldn’t make money as fast as you wanted. He told me how you spent everything he made. You were so busy out having a good time that you couldn’t be bothered with the boys. He said you never let him come to see me, and kept the children away from us here. And I’ve seen you while you’ve been here. You’re constantly on the phone or computer, probably online shopping and chatting with your friends.” She said all the words, but the heat and certainty behind them waned as doubt crept in.