The Secret Truth at Dare Ranch

by Gorman, Cheryl

  Dani smiled back at him. "I showed Daddy how to measure the feed and everything. He had to help me carry the buckets though. They were kind of heavy.” She reached for her glass of juice and sucked down a noisy swallow.

  "Ladies, don't slurp, Dani," Lexie said in a firm tone.

  Dani threw her a quick glance. "Sorry, Mom," she said in a quiet voice.

  Mitch turned his attention back to Lexie. "When I went to pick up the dog, Bill Lovett's oldest boy, Frank, needed to make some extra money so I offered him the job."

  Lexie thought about the near negative balance she had in the ranch's business account as her back stiffened with annoyance. "I can't believe you did that. I don't have the money to pay him."

  Mitch swallowed a mouthful of food. "That's not a problem...because I do."

  Dani scraped back her chair. "May I be excused?" she asked. "I want to show Toby my room."

  "Go ahead," Lexie said. "Keep an eye on him," she called as Dani skipped out of the kitchen with Toby on her heels. "He isn't housebroken yet!"

  Lexie listened to her footsteps pound up the stairs.

  Lexie tossed her napkin onto the table. "Look, I appreciate what you're trying to do but I don't need charity."

  Mitch reached over and grasped her hand. "It isn't a hand out," he stated with an edge in his voice. "Friends help each other. You need a rest and I wanted to give it to you. That's all.” He took his hand away, leaned back in his chair and looked at her.

  Suddenly, she felt lower than a slug. "I'm sorry," she said in a grudging voice. "I don't mean to be ungrateful it's just that...I've been taking care of things myself for a long time.” But was that really the problem? Mitch had captured Dani's heart and he'd just taken a burden of worry from her shoulders. It would be so easy for the two of them to depend on him, to expect him to be around...but would he be around? She looked at him. "How long do you plan to stay in Chimney Rock?"

  "That depends."

  "Oh what?"

  He stood up from his chair and reached for her. Before she could blink his arms wrapped smoothly around her. "You and Dani.” He lowered his head and gave her mouth a nip. She sucked in a breath at the warmth of his lips, the lingering taste of pancakes and coffee. "As much as I'd like to spend some serious time kissing you, I promised Dani I would read her a story.” He looked around at the mess. "After I clean the kitchen."

  "I'll take care of it. You go ahead upstairs."

  # # #

  Lexie stood in the alleyway of the barn and tightened the cinch on her saddle. Aspen filled his stomach with air to keep the strap from gripping his girth. She gave him a couple of pats on his belly. He released the breath and the girth loosened.

  Dani had spent Saturday night with Mitch and Judson. She'd been in little girl heaven having her father and grandfather to fawn over her and cater to her every whim.

  The kiss she'd shared with Mitch in the kitchen still made her feel warm and tingly all over. She couldn’t get the feel of him out of her mind. Or the way he'd joked with Dani and laughed as they'd cooked breakfast. The gentle way he had with her.

  He had changed during his time away from Chimney Rock but everybody changed. She'd certainly done her share of changing. He was softer in some ways, the recklessness of youth had calmed. He'd grown into a fine man. But despite all that she knew he still intended to take the ranch. And what of Dani? Did Mitch understand how badly their daughter could be hurt? He'd told her he had no intention of hurting her and maybe he didn't. But people hurt the ones they loved all the time not meaning too.

  He had sparked the mayor's interest with his talk of the hospital and the profits it had the potential to bring to the area. She loved Tommy and Emily Flowers but when those two got a whiff of money it went straight to their heads. She knew they would be relentless in trying to convince her to sell. Now she had them to fight in addition to Mitch.

  But they would be much easier to handle. She knew they only wanted the best for her and Dani. When all was said and done, they would stand by her. No, fighting alone wasn’t in her nature. She liked working as a team, getting her friends involved and helping them in return. Her heart lifted in spite of her troubles. She had ranching ingrained in her blood. All she needed was some fresh air to clear the troubles from her mind.

  Lexie finished saddling Aspen and gave Morning Star an absent pat as she passed. The black mare pricked her ears, bobbed her head and pawed the ground in her stall. “I know. I’ll take you out next, I promise. If the weather holds,” Lexie said to the mare.

  A brisk, northeasterly wind slapped at Lexie’s face and curled around her body in icy fingers. She shivered slightly beneath her coat and dug out the gloves she had stuffed in the pockets.

  A smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. She climbed onto Aspen’s back and turned him toward the farthest pasture that hugged the base of the mountains. She knew she’d find Skinny and her other ranch hand checking the herd.

  She nudged Aspen into a slow canter. He didn't resist. He was always ready for a good run. It felt wonderful to ride across the pastures with the wind rushing around her. No way would she ever give this up. She loved it too much.

  When she topped the second hill, she saw Skinny first. He looked like a stick figure sitting on his massive, gray gelding. Even his head was skinny. His features were angular, his face thin as a reed and he was tall. He ate enough for three men and never gained an ounce. That was enough reason for any woman who watched her weight to hate him. Despite the way he felt about her, Lexie admired him not only for his ranching skills but for the fact that he'd stuck with her after Mason passed away.

  He’d been loyal to Mason Dare until the bitter end. He supported him though he didn’t always agree with him, he stood by him, no matter how wrong her father could be at times. This morning when she'd stepped out of the house he'd been waiting for her to put in his notice. She’d tried talking him out of it, but as usual, his sexist attitude toward working for a woman, got in the way.

  Lexie wasn’t about to give up. She couldn’t. Skinny couldn’t walk away now. She needed him badly.

  She’d never be able to hire another foreman in her present financial state. Perhaps she could use her father’s memory as leverage. She wasn’t Mason Dare's daughter for nothing. She had inherited a lot of his grit and determination.

  Skinny tipped back the brim of his battered hat as she rode up beside him.

  “Lexie,” he said in a deep, gravely voice.

  “How’s it going?”

  He settled deeper into his saddle, the leather creaking, the gelding shifting on his feet. “We’ll start bringing em’ down in a while,” he said tightly. Her pride felt the scrape of his tone but she pushed it down. Skinny never liked it when she asked him questions about his job. Asking questions was a right that had been reserved for her father only. No wonder the man had never married. No woman would have been able to stand him. She wanted to tell him so, but couldn’t afford to knock heads with him now because she needed him too much.

  She swallowed the words fighting to push out of her throat. “My father had every faith in you and so do I.”

  He turned his head and lifted one corner of his mouth in a smirk. His hard black eyes watched her like a hawk. “No use trying to sweet talk me into staying.”

  Determination welled inside her. Sweet talk wasn’t what she had in mind. Lexie reached into the back pocket of her jeans and pulled out a piece of paper. Without taking her eyes from Skinny’s face, she handed it to him.

  He looked at the newspaper clipping fluttering in the wind, like it was a rattle snake ready to strike. The paper made a rasping noise against the leather of her gloves. Silence stretched between them. Only the sounds of the wind and the cows cropping grass were heard.

  Skinny’s lips thinned even more than they already were. He turned his head in a jerky motion and gazed out at the herd. A soft growl rose from his throat. Lexie knew she had him. Blackmail was such an ugly word but emotional blackmail was even wo
rse. She hated having to use it against him but now was not the time for her conscience to overrule her heart. She had to keep the ranch no matter what and Skinny was a major part of her keeping it.

  Lexie folded the article and put it back into her pocket. She didn’t have to remind him what it said. If it weren’t for her father, Skinny Martin would be serving time for manslaughter.

  After a moment, Skinny turned. He lifted his chin and grimaced. “Okay. But after this, your daddy and I are even.” With those last words he turned his horse and trotted away.

  Lexie heaved a sigh of relief. The cows moved at a steady pace across the pasture, the low mooing filled the air; their massive hooves crushed the grass beneath their feet.

  She clucked to Aspen and turned him south toward the barn. A cow swung her big head around and rammed her leg. The force of the blow made Aspen shy and sent her flying from his back.

  Lexie hit the ground hard. She rolled over onto her knees, pushed her hands into the earth and lifted her gaze. A cow's chest, powerful legs and hooves headed straight for her.

  # # #

  Mitch brought the truck to an abrupt halt. He'd picked Dani up from school and left her in Hattie's capable hands to see if he could help Lexie. What he didn’t expect to see was her rolling away from a cow's path and pushing to her feet.

  He leaped from the truck and rushed to her side. "Are you okay?"

  She smiled. "I'm fine.” She brushed bits of grass and dirt from her jeans. "I haven't fallen from a horse since I was eight.”

  He helped her to her feet but kept his arm around her until he was sure she was steady on her pins. How could she be smiling at a time like this? She'd scared the bejesus out of him. "When's the last time you were trampled by a cow?"

  She threw him an amused look and shook her head. "Not for at least a week.” She started toward Aspen who stood placidly by nipping at tufts of grass.

  In two steps he was at her side. Mitch laid a hand on her shoulder turning her slightly toward him. "It's not funny. You could have been seriously hurt or worse.” God, he didn't want to think about a cow's hooves bruising her body or breaking some of her bones.

  Lexie frowned and searched his face. "I'm okay, really. Don't worry. Where's Dani by the way?"

  "With Hattie. Would you like me to ride Aspen back and you take the truck?” He watched Lexie settle onto her horse. She winced as she plopped into the saddle. Absently, she rubbed her thigh before she looked up and saw him. Cows milled around them while Aspen stood quietly, his tail blowing in the stiffening breeze.

  "No, I'm okay. I'll meet you back at the house."

  Lexie tugged on the reins of her bridle and started to move away. Mitch reached out and clasped her hands holding the reins. They were covered in supple suede and the warmth of her skin seeped through the leather into his palms. A shiver ran down his spine and desire to feel his hands on her again curled in her stomach.

  “Lexie, I meant what I said. I want to help you."

  Lexie moved the horse back a few steps to dislodge her hands from his hold. "Are you sure it's me you want--and not just the ranch?"

  She whirled Aspen around and trotted toward the barn.

  The wind swept the hat from her head, but the strings attached to the band kept it from being blown away. Her hair sprang free and flew out from her head like a silken flag. He couldn't imagine her living anywhere else but this ranch. So how did that affect his plans to buy it?

  Chapter Eight

  Lexie stretched out her legs on Dani’s bed and kept reading, but anxiety danced up her spine. Outside, a storm with driving wind and rain lashed the house. The valley had been really dry during the summer and she’d worried about forest fires from unexpected lightning strikes, or the toss of a cigarette onto dry brush by a careless camper. But now, with all this rain there was a good chance the Puma River that twisted and flowed across the ranch would rise and overflow its banks.

  The cattle often panicked in weather like this, running blindly through fences or getting caught in swift flowing streams. She shuddered. She couldn’t afford to lose any cattle because she needed all of them to take to market if she expected to keep the ranch.

  After Dani fell asleep, she’d get in the truck and go check on things. Hattie planned to sleep over tonight anyway because of the storm. The light on Dani's nightstand flickered several times.

  "Mama, what’s wrong with the light?"

  She reached over and touched Dani’s head then she lightly kissed her on the temple. "Just the weather, honey. Don’t worry."

  Toby lay at the foot of the bed. He lifted his small head. His black eyes stared anxiously at the window for a moment, before he lowered his head once again to rest on his front paws. Lexie closed her book and lay it aside.

  "Will you stay with me for a little while?” Dani asked and laid her head on Lexie’s shoulder.

  Lexie smiled and smoothed a hand over Dani's head. "Sure, honey.” She scrunched down into the covers and pulled Dani close to her side.

  "Dani?”

  Lexie turned her head at the sound of Mitch's voice. "What are you doing here?"

  Dani pulled herself from Lexie’s arms and sat up. "Daddy," she said with a smile in her voice. She yanked back the covers and patted the bed. "Come sit with me."

  Mitch smiled and his gaze slid to Lexie. Warmth floated to her toes. Lexie rose from the bed and laid her book on the nightstand. She walked to the window and looked out at the storm. "It's getting worse."

  He sauntered over to the bed and lay down beside his daughter. Water droplets sparkled in his hair and his face appeared flushed. Dani giggled, laid her arm over Mitch’s chest and snuggled in. Mitch patted her back and looked at Lexie over Dani’s shoulder. "I came by to make sure you and Dani were okay. I went down to the barn first and checked on the horses. They're a little skittish because of the thunder and lightning but otherwise they're fine.”

  A little bit of the worry Lexie constantly carried lifted from her shoulders. "Thank you," she said softly.

  "You're welcome.” Mitch exhaled a deep sigh, turned his head and closed his eyes.

  Mitch stayed until Dani fell asleep, her breathing steady, with a slight snore issuing from her lips. Carefully, he shifted her body to the mattress and pulled the covers over her. Then he leaned over and kissed her on the temple.

  For a moment, Lexie allowed herself to believe Mitch was serious about staying in Chimney Rock and being a father to Dani. What would it be like to have Mitch to lean on, to stand beside her through good times and bad?

  A pounding noise echoed from downstairs, followed by the repeated ringing of the doorbell. Adrenaline shot through Lexie's veins.

  Together, Lexie and Mitch raced down the stairs, but Hattie already had the front door open. Skinny Martin stood in the doorway wearing a bright yellow slicker. Water dripped from his rain coat and hat. Mud streaked his boots and jeans. Concern blanketed his thin, sun-worn face.

  Lexie stepped forward and gripped his upper arms. "What’s happened?"

  "Barn’s on fire. Two cows already drowned in the river."

  # # #

  Lexie whirled and walked toward the hall closet. In a few seconds, she’d donned her slicker, popped a hat on her head and started through the door after Skinny. Lightning glimmered illuminating the darkness for just a few seconds and thunder crashed through the open doorway.

  Mitch grabbed her arm. "Where do you think you’re going?"

  She looked up at him. "After my horses and cattle. I’ve got to save them."

  He shook his head. "No, I'll go. It's too dangerous. You stay here with Dani."

  She jerked her arm free from his hold. "I have to go, Mitch," she said in a firm tone. "Those horses and cows out there need me. I could lose everything.” Lexie turned and raced out of the door into the storm.

  Hattie stepped forward and touched Mitch's arm. "I'll take care of Dani. You go help Lexie."

  He intended to. He would help her save what he was trying to
take.

  When Mitch stepped off the porch, rain needled his face and stung his eyes. The wind stole his breath. He stopped briefly to fill his lungs with air. Lightning streaked like a neon finger over the sky, quickly followed by a crack of thunder. At his feet, the ground roiled in a sodden mass of water and mud.

  Mitch squinted against the rain and ran toward the barn. Fire licked over the worn wood. He had just reached the enclosure which led to the barn when Lexie streaked inside the burning building. Fear stabbed him in the gut and swam icily through his blood. Skinny followed close on her heels.

  "Damn it," he growled and ran after her. Intense heat and flame like living orange tongues, flickered and danced around him. He shielded his nose and mouth from the smoke that threatened to choke him. "Lexie!" he yelled through the noise of rain and wind. Around him, horses whinnied in fear. Suddenly, he spotted her next to Aspen’s stall. She struggled with the latch while the fire hissed around her.

  Mitch rushed over and brushed her hands away from the latch. "Get outside," he yelled. "Skinny and I will take care of the horses."

  But his words were ignored. She’d already started toward the stalls of the other horses. Mitch stripped off his coat, threw it over Aspen’s head to shield his eyes from the fire and led him out of the barn. He jerked the coat from the horse’s head and slapped him on the butt.

  Aspen tore through the gate and out into the rain-filled pasture. The air crackled with the sound of burning wood and the sizzle of rain as it washed over the barn walls. Around him, thunder boomed and crashed.

  Mitch saw Lexie step out of the barn with a cloth thrown over Morning Star’s head. She whipped the cloth from the mare’s head, turned swiftly and headed back into the barn. A beam fell across her path in a burst of sparks and flame. Mitch’s heart slid into his throat.

  Lexie leaped away from the fallen beam, then darted around it. Mitch rushed in after her. By the time all the horses were free, the rain had nearly smothered the fire.

  Lexie ran over to Skinny with Mitch at her side and gripped his arm. "I'm going down to the river," she yelled against the roar of wind and rain. Go up to the house and tell Hattie to call everybody we know who has a horse trailer. The horses can't run loose in this weather.” Lexie turned and raced toward her truck. She jerked open the driver's side door and slid inside.