Rachel's Cowboy

by Judy Christenberry

  J.D., a handsome young man, well built and clean-cut, looked guilty, which bothered Vivian.

  “Isn’t that what you want?” she asked.

  “Yes, ma’am. But…how do you know Rachel Morgan?”

  “She’s Rachel Barlow now,” Will said. “And she’s one of Vanessa’s sisters.”

  J.D.’s heart stopped. Rachel had gotten married? “How—”

  Will was quick to explain. “She took back her original name, Barlow, after she found out who her birth family was.”

  J.D. started to breathe again, relieved that she hadn’t married. But he was still confused. “I thought Madge said you’d found one sibling, named Rebecca.”

  “How is Madge, by the way?” Vivian asked, naming the longtime housekeeper on the ranch.

  “Good. So, you found a second sister?”

  “Yes, Rachel is Rebecca’s twin.” She paused as she heard the front door open. Leaning toward the door to the library, she called, “Rebecca, is that you? Come in and meet J.D. Stanley.”

  Much to J.D.’s surprise, a double for Rachel walked into the room. Except for being obviously pregnant, Rebecca looked exactly like Rachel—tall and dark-haired. After introductions, she excused herself and went upstairs.

  “Um, I’m not sure you’ll want to sell me the ranch now, Vivian. I’ve made a mistake. In fact, I’ll find you a new manager. Just give me a month or two and I’ll have everything set up.” J.D. stood, his hat in his hand, edging toward the door.

  Vivian and Will exchanged a look. Then Vivian stood and excused herself, saying she wanted to check on Rachel. “Will you join us for dinner, J.D.?” she asked over her shoulder.

  She’d left the room before he could turn down her offer.

  “Sit down, J.D. I think we need to talk.” Will waited until the young man had done as he’d asked. Then he leaned forward. “I’m going to assume whatever happened between you and Rachel is private, having nothing to do with the ranch.”

  J.D. swallowed. “Yes, sir.”

  “Is she the reason you said you didn’t think Vivian would want to sell the ranch to you?”

  “Yes, sir. If she’s part of the family, Vivian won’t want to have anything to do with me.”

  “Did you do something against the law?”

  “No, sir.”

  “Well then, what kind of offer are you making?”

  J.D. stumbled over the figure he had carefully worked out.

  “That’s a very nice offer. I’ll go over it with Vivian, but in the end, the decision will be hers, you understand.”

  “Yes, sir. I didn’t mean to upset Rachel. But she may feel I have…not done the right thing.”

  “Dinner at seven?” Will suggested mildly, as if J.D. hadn’t spoken.

  The young man seemed confused and worried. Finally, he said, “Okay. You can call me at the hotel if Vivian changes her mind.”

  Will nodded and smiled.

  VIVIAN, after a brief knock, slipped into Rachel’s room. Rebecca was sitting on the bed with her twin.

  “Are you feeling better, Rachel?” Vivian asked.

  “Yes, I’m fine. Thank you for sending Betty up with the painkiller. Did—did Mr. Stanley leave?”

  “Yes. But he’ll be back to join us for dinner, of course,” Vivian said, watching Rachel closely.

  Her face remained expressionless and all she uttered was “Oh.”

  “I haven’t seen J.D. since last year,” Vivian explained. “And he wants to discuss buying the ranch.”

  Rachel stared straight ahead, not commenting on what Vivian had said.

  Rebecca patted her sister’s arm and asked, “Isn’t the ranch big? How can he—”

  “His mother died last year. He inherited a great deal of money from investments his parents had made. His father managed our ranch for twenty-five years. After he died ten years ago, J.D. took over the job. It’s been his home all his life. He was actually born there, you know. And it’s been his dream to own the place.”

  “Are you going to sell it to him?” Rebecca asked.

  “Probably. He’s a fine young man.”

  Rachel flinched, but she didn’t raise her head.

  Vivian continued. “However, he did seem concerned about something he felt he’d done that wasn’t quite…appropriate.”

  Rachel leaped from the bed, her arms wrapped tightly around herself, and hurried to the far corner of the room, where she stared out the window.

  Vivian stepped closer to her. “Sweetheart, did J.D. do something to hurt you? Did he take advantage of you?”

  Rachel shook her head, but she didn’t face Vivian.

  Rebecca put her arms around her twin. “Tell us what happened, honey. You’ll feel better.”

  “I was attracted to him and we—we made love.” She told them the whole sordid story. “It meant nothing to him. I called him a couple of weeks later, and he couldn’t even remember who I was.” She looked at Vivian. “He did nothing wrong. Just acted like a typical man.”

  Rebecca hugged her again. “Must be something about us that we get used by men.”

  “Not you, Rebecca,” Rachel assured her, giving her twin a hug. “You and Jeff are perfect together.”

  “We are now, but it took a few years.”

  Rebecca and Jeff had known each other years ago, had loved each other years ago, before Jeff’s aunt and uncle had taken him back to Texas, leaving Rebecca with a broken heart and an unborn child. Only when she herself was brought to Highland Park, after having been located in Vivian’s search, did she see him again. Though that was almost five years later, it didn’t take them long to realize that they were still in love and together would make a great family for their son, Joey.

  Rachel was happy for her sister, but couldn’t stop the twinge that went through her. Would she be so lucky?

  She shrugged her shoulders. “I can’t claim youth as the reason I had such poor judgment. But I’ll survive.” She hugged Rebecca again. “At least I have you and Vanessa now.”

  Vivian added, “And me and Will, too.”

  “Yes, you and Will are remarkably generous people,” Rachel agreed with a smile. “And I shouldn’t have reacted as I did to one of your guests. I’ve been on edge for so long, and I felt safe here.” She gasped and said hurriedly, “Of course I know J.D. wouldn’t— It was just the shock. I’m sorry, Vivian. That’s a terrible way to repay all you’ve done for me.”

  “Nonsense!” Vivian protested. “You haven’t cost us much of anything. You don’t eat enough to keep a bird alive.”

  Rachel smiled, but it didn’t have any humor in it.

  “In fact,” Rebecca said, catching her sister’s hand, “we’re all worried about you. You mustn’t lose more weight, Rach. You’re too skinny already.”

  “Haven’t you heard you can never be too thin or too rich?” Rachel said, a teasing note in her voice.

  But Rebecca wasn’t amused.

  “Look,” Rachel said, squeezing her sister’s hand, “I appreciate your concern. But right now I have to concentrate on my work.” She smiled. “You know I always come back here between jobs.”

  “Of course. We want this to be your home, Rachel,” Vivian insisted.

  Rachel leaned forward and kissed her cheek. “Thank you.”

  “You will join us for dinner tonight, won’t you? I don’t want J.D. to think he’s not welcome here, too.”

  “I could just—”

  Rebecca squeezed her hand.

  “Yes, of course, Vivian, if you want me to dine with J.D., I’ll be glad to do so.” Rachel looked at her twin for her nod of approval. She had grown hungry for that familial camaraderie that she’d never had in her life.

  “Good. I’ll see you both at dinner.” Vivian slipped from the room, leaving the twins alone.

  “I’m sorry, sis,” Rebecca said softly. “I didn’t know you knew J.D.”

  “I guess I don’t. I’ll admit at the time I thought I was slumming a little, sleeping with a cowboy. But th
ere was something about him. Right after that is when I found you and discovered my mother had not only stolen all my money but had also put me deep into debt. That was a major distraction.”

  “Yes. I’m glad you took her name off all your accounts.”

  “I even feel guilty about that. I shouldn’t have offered her such a temptation.”

  “Rach, you were fifteen! You didn’t have a choice then.”

  “I know, but…I was careless with my life. I’ll make it back and I’ll be careful with the money I make now. I have to be. Modeling is all I know how to do.”

  The sadness in Rachel’s words brought tears to Rebecca’s eyes. “You have a lot of talent, Rachel. You’re going to be all right.”

  “Yes, of course,” Rachel agreed, but there was nothing convincing in her tone.

  J.D. STANLEY PACED his hotel room, covering the twenty-odd feet in a few steps. He’d put on a suit for dinner with Vivian and her husband. He might be a cowboy, but he knew how to dress while in the city. No boots tonight.

  He would’ve been excited about making a deal to buy the only home he’d ever known, if it weren’t for Rachel. He hadn’t expected to see her when the door had opened at Vivian’s house earlier that day.

  Seeing her there, framed in the carved oak doorway, was like watching a dream come to life. She’d been starring in his nighttime fantasies for months. He remembered how beautiful she’d looked when he made love to her, how her eyes had flared when he took possession of her.

  Today her eyes flared again—but with a different emotion. Was it shock he saw in those blue orbs? Embarrassment? Regret? Or anger?

  Or was it just the reflection of his own feelings? He’d spent the remainder of the day reining in those emotions, finding a measure of control. Now he was ready for her—as much as he could be ready for Rachel.

  If she came to dinner tonight—and he doubted she would—he could greet her as a stranger. He was prepared.

  As much as he’d loved being with Rachel, making love to her, he had to admit they had nothing in common. By the time he’d left her in his bed early that morning, he’d known he’d made a mistake. He started his day at six each morning, while she seldom rose before nine. He ate big meals to fuel his work. She ate carrot sticks for a treat. He wore jeans; she wore swimsuits in winter and fur coats in July. Since they’d known each other for only three days, he wasn’t sure they had any similarities.

  It made him feel that their whole relationship was shallow. So why had she haunted him for six months?

  Something happened when their skin touched.

  Her slender grace and those teasing blue eyes drew him. She laughed as if he were in on the joke, rather than laughing at him.

  He’d gotten up at six the next morning, a little groggy, which made his job dangerous, and she’d packed and left with no note, nothing.

  So she’d realized their unsuitability, too.

  The first time she’d called, he’d been out with the cattle and she’d talked to Madge. She’d left no message. When she called that evening, the ranch had been enveloped in a brutal storm with raging winds that made reception sporadic at best. He could barely hear her, but he’d managed to ask the most important question. Was she pregnant? He had to know. He couldn’t believe he hadn’t taken precautions, but their passion had surprised him. He’d made a mistake.

  Rachel had hung up the phone without a reply.

  He’d heard nothing from her until today.

  He grabbed his keys and walked out of the hotel room. He’d have to explain to Vivian what happened. Or maybe he could explain to Will. He liked him, and it would be easier to explain his indiscretion to a man.

  J.D. wended his way through the tree-lined streets of Highland Park. The homes were stately, the landscaping perfectly manicured. Still, he couldn’t imagine living in such enclosed neighborhoods, unable to ride his horse or to see into the distance. He’d bet Rachel fit right in, though.

  He took a deep breath as he killed the engine. He was ready to go in. After all, the woman meant nothing to him. He hadn’t done anything to her that she didn’t want. Shaking his head as if to clear away the memories, he opened his truck door. He didn’t need to be thinking about that night.

  Peter opened the door in response to his knock. With a smile, he welcomed J.D. inside.

  “Thanks, Peter. Are Vivian and her new husband waiting for me?”

  “A’ course they are. All the family is gathered in the family room. You know the way.”

  He did. Ten years ago, when his father had died of a heart attack, he’d come to tell Vivian and her husband, Herbert, that his dad was dead. And he’d had the nerve to apply for the job his father had handled—managing the ranch.

  It had been Vivian who’d supported him in his request. Normally, she didn’t argue with her husband. But when Herbert had said he’d look for someone with more experience, Vivian had insisted that that hardly seemed fair. She’d suggested J.D. be given the job on a temporary basis so he could prove his worth.

  J.D. owed her a lot.

  With a deep breath, he strode down the hall to face the “family.”

  Chapter Two

  Rachel was almost sitting on her hands. A childhood habit of biting her nails when she was nervous seemed to be threatening her again.

  Suddenly J.D. appeared in the doorway. He hesitated before he stepped into the room. Will stood and offered him his hand. “Come on in, J.D. We’ve been waiting for you.”

  “I’m sorry if I’m late,” he immediately said, looking at Vivian.

  “Of course you’re not late, dear,” she answered.

  She would’ve said the same thing if he’d been an hour late, because she was a very forgiving lady. But he was actually on time. Rachel had found Vivian to be a wonderful hostess, always forgiving the worst social faux pas.

  Rachel had never seen J.D. in city clothes. But she had to admit they didn’t lessen his impact. In a taupe shirt and brown suit that matched his hair and eyes, he was a handsome man, with broad shoulders, slim hips and a determined look that said people shouldn’t get in his way.

  As she had.

  Vanessa stood and gave him a hug. “Welcome back, J.D. It’s been too long.”

  “It must’ve been, ’cause you’re all grown up, Vanessa,” he said with a warm smile. “I think you were sixteen the last time I saw you.”

  It hadn’t occurred to Rachel that J.D. might be interested in Vanessa. But she was a beauty and had what Rachel no longer had—money. She said a silent prayer that Rebecca hadn’t told Vanessa about her problem with J.D. She didn’t want to have spoiling Vanessa’s romance on her conscience.

  J.D. then greeted Rebecca and Rachel, commenting on their similarity in looks.

  He was lying, Rachel thought. She knew what her exhaustion and worry had done to her looks. She used to be able to appear in pictures wearing very little makeup. Now she spent more time on makeup and still looked wan.

  Rebecca put her arm around Rachel. “It’s so exciting to have my twin here. It’s amazing how much we’re alike.”

  J.D. nodded and smiled, but he didn’t bother confirming the lie.

  Vivian looked over his shoulder. “Are we ready, Betty?” she asked as the housekeeper appeared in the door.

  “Yes, Miz Vivian. Don’t want it to get cold.”

  They all walked to the dining room.

  “Where’s your son?” J.D. asked Rebecca. “Peter says he’s a fine boy.” He took the seat on Vivian’s right. He was sharing that side of the table with Vanessa, leaving the other side to the twins.

  “He prefers to eat with Betty and Peter. He doesn’t get to see them as much since we moved in with Jeff after the wedding,” Rebecca said.

  “Unless our company includes Jeff,” Will added. “It’s impossible to keep those two apart.”

  Rebecca beamed at Will. “It’s true. He and Jeff loved each other from the start.”

  “When did you get married?” J.D. asked.

>   “Last October, as soon as Jeff got unengaged to Chelsea. She immediately got engaged to his partner, and now we’re all one big happy family.”

  J.D.’s sideways grin, which tugged on Rachel’s heart, was his only answer, but there was obvious approval in it.

  “Jeff would’ve joined us this evening, but he does volunteer work at the legal aid office on Thursday nights,” Vivian said.

  “Good man.” J.D. nodded and accepted the bowl of fruit salad Vanessa was offering. “And how about you, Vanessa? Any boyfriends on the horizon?”

  She gave him a flirtatious smile. “Only you, J.D.”

  “Then I’d say these city boys are a might slow!”

  Vanessa giggled and Will and Vivian laughed.

  “Oh, did Madge tell you our baby is a boy?” Vivian asked.

  “No, she didn’t. In fact, she didn’t even remember to tell me you had remarried and were expecting until I got ready to leave. That was a lot to adjust to all at once. Congratulations.”

  “Thanks,” Will said. “I think it was a lot for me and Vivian to adjust to, too, but we’re very happy.”

  “I guess so. I haven’t seen Vivian look so young in a number of years.” J.D. smiled at his hostess.

  Rachel tried to concentrate on her dinner plate and ignore the fire burning in her stomach. She couldn’t possibly be jealous of Vivian, could she? But the warm smile J.D. had given Vivian was a long way from the brief nod she’d received.

  Dinner progressed, with Rachel stirring around on her plate what little food she’d taken, seldom tasting anything. She feared she’d throw up and look like a fool. She was giving J.D. Stanley too much power over her life. What little life she had.

  “Vivian says you’re going to the Bahamas to shoot swimsuits. Won’t it be a little chilly this early in the year?” J.D. asked, looking at Rachel directly for the first time.

  She glanced up, shocked to realize he was speaking to her. “No. No, the Bahamas are always warm.” She hoped. It might not be warm enough to swim, but she didn’t intend to get wet. She wasn’t going for fun.

  As if he cared.

  He didn’t speak to her for the rest of the meal.