“I can’t stay here. Tell them it was sweet of them to offer. But I can’t—”
“Why? You’re an old family friend.”
“No! I’m not. I’m a child your father took pity on. I have no place in his life.” She pulled Rich’s keys out of her jeans and headed for the truck.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m getting my bag.”
Ah, the infamous luggage he’d accused her of taking hours to pack. But bag? One bag? He watched her as she opened his storage box and pulled out a duffel bag. Without another word, she slung it on her back and started down the long gravel drive.
Rich stood there, stunned. Her entire belongings in one duffel bag? He thought of all his clothes, his gear, mementos of different events in his life. He couldn’t have fit it all in ten duffel bags. He realized he’d better hurry if he was going to stop her. With his cast, he wasn’t as fast as he normally was.
His father stepped off the porch. “Where’s she going?”
“I don’t know. She doesn’t have a job. Dad, everything she owns is in that bag.”
“I think we’d better take the truck. I have a feeling she’ll outrun both of us.”
She’d left the keys on the floorboard of the truck. Pete grabbed them as Rich swung up into the passenger side. They caught up with Samantha quickly. Pete pulled around her and parked the truck. They both got out.
Pete caught Samantha by the arm. “Honey, I know the family is a little overwhelming, but I’m not sure I understand what the problem is.”
She stared straight ahead. “I need to go.”
“That much I got. But why?”
Rich watched her, saying nothing. Finally, she looked at him and muttered, “It’s like the chocolates.”
Suddenly he understood. She couldn’t stay a few days because it would hurt too much when she left.
“Sam—” he began. But what could he say? Promise she could stay forever? He couldn’t do that.
His father looked at Rich. “What’s she talking about?”
Sam stood there, her head lowered, saying nothing.
Rich finally explained. “Sam’s very disciplined. She doesn’t want to stay with us because it will hurt when she has to leave.” He cleared his throat because the thought was so disturbing.
“Honey, you don’t have to leave,” Pete said. “I tried to find you when your father died. I was going to bring you back here, offer you a home. The offer still stands.”
“Pete, I can’t!”
“Why not?”
“Because it’s not fair to you…or your family. I can’t just waltz in here and put my feet up. I have to earn my way.”
“You can get a job, of course, but you could take a little vacation, couldn’t you? Give us a chance to visit? Janie always wanted to meet you. The world’s not going to run away if you pause for a few days, let us get to know you again.”
“Your family—”
“Will be delighted. Right, Rich?”
“Uh, yeah.” Rich stared at Samantha, irritated by the warmth she showed his father, especially since she always pulled away the moment he got close.
“Come back to the house. Janie will have gotten a room ready for you. We’ll get you settled in and eat dinner. We’ll help you find a job. Everything will be fine.”
“Are you sure, Pete? I can make it on my own.”
“Of course you can. You have for the past eight years.”
That information told Rich she was two years younger than him. Eight years she’d been out there struggling on her own. He doubted her father had left her anything.
“I’ll stay the night,” she agreed, lifting her chin.
Pete opened his mouth to protest. Then, with a smile, he said, “Good.”
Rich watched the two people in front of him. He knew his father didn’t want Sam to leave. And it wasn’t often that his father lost a fight.
Samantha finally nodded and said, “Thank you for understanding, Pete.”
“Come on, let’s go get you settled in.”
Rich followed along behind, feeling superfluous. For two days, he’d had Samantha to himself. But since they reached the ranch, it was Pete she turned to. Huh!
SAMANTHA PACED the bedroom she’d been given like a caged lion. Her hands shook and she was having difficulty thinking. She couldn’t believe how seeing Pete again had affected her.
He’d been special to her for the longest time. It was because of Pete that she didn’t consider all men evil. Her father told her she had to earn her keep, or he’d get rid of her. When he discovered that some of the cowboys tipped her for “doing such a good job,” however, he changed his mind. He’d forced her to give him the extra money.
She’d caught on quickly. Money was the key. She began hiding money from her father. She gave him enough to keep him from getting suspicious. The rest she kept hidden. She had over seventy-five hundred saved. And she continued to put aside everything she could.
Because that was all she had.
Pete had given her money. But he’d given her more than that. He’d talked to her, asked questions, told her stories. He’d been her only friend.
To see him again, without warning, had brought back such joy. She shouldn’t have hugged him. And then for his wife to tell her they’d tried to adopt her. She closed her eyes, coming to a halt. To think she might’ve lived here, with family. But her father had obviously refused to give up custody of course, because she was making money for him. Even at the age of six.
She forced her eyes open and began pacing again. It would’ve been a dream come true. But it was too late. She was no longer a child. She could leave tomorrow. It wouldn’t be so hard. And she’d know where to find Pete if she…well, she’d know where he was.
But that was as long as she could stay. The Randalls seemed to be a happy group of people, loving each other. They were so rich in—in family…rich in love. Earlier, she’d met Jake and B.J., Brett and Anna, Chad and Megan, Toby and Elizabeth. All seemingly happily married. Then there was Russ, Rich’s twin. They were identical, but she could tell the difference. Imagine having a twin. Someone you could always trust.
The boy who’d taken Bella and put her away was Casey, Rich’s younger brother. He was still in high school, the youngest of the second generation.
They were the kind of family people wrote about. Not the kind of family she knew. And that was why she had to leave. She wouldn’t fit in here. She couldn’t. She didn’t know how to trust. She didn’t know how to enjoy life. Most important of all, she didn’t know how to love.
THE FOUR ELDER Randall brothers and their wives stayed up that night after the other family members had gone to bed.
Jake sat at the head of the big kitchen table. “What do you think, Pete? Will she stay?”
Pete looked sad. “I doubt it. We’re kind of an overwhelming bunch. Samantha’s used to being alone.”
“She’s afraid to stay because it will hurt too much when she leaves,” Janie added, having learned that from her husband.
“I can understand that,” Anna said softly. “I never thought I’d fit in, either.”
Brett, her husband, put his arms around her. “Aw, Anna, you were perfect. Still are,” he added with a grin.
She gave him a little kiss and leaned her head on his shoulder.
“She might stay longer if she could find a job. But that would be the only way. And she doesn’t have a car, so work would have to be nearby,” Pete said.
“We can always hire her to help Red and Mildred,” B.J. said.
“She’d be suspicious about that,” Pete said. “She’s independent.”
“But I can’t stand the thought of her out there by herself,” Janie said. “We need to be sure she’s safe. I’m afraid we’re a little too much for her but— Mom!” she exclaimed.
“What, Janie? What did you think of?” Pete asked at once.
“I told you Mom’s getting lonely and depressed, over there by herself, but she won�
�t move in with us. Too many people, she said.”
“Yeah, but you’ve asked her about hiring some help and she doesn’t want strangers around,” Pete pointed out.
“But Samantha isn’t a stranger. And I can explain to Mom that Samantha is uncomfortable with all of us.”
Jake leaned forward, grinning. “You might also explain that her grandson’s interested.”
Pete’s head snapped up. “Now, Jake, we’ll have no matchmaking here.”
Jake’s eyes widened innocently. “I was just stating a fact, Pete. Ask the others.”
Pete looked at his brothers. Brett shrugged his shoulders, but Chad was more vocal. “Hell, Pete, she’s a good-looking woman. Straightforward, independent. And I’ll admit I got the idea he wasn’t too happy that you and she were so close.”
“It must’ve been a shock to him,” Anna said.
“I know you don’t want to pressure them into anything,” Megan began, “but it’d be a perfect solution.”
Jake added, “You know, you were going to hire a new manager for your mother, too, since Sid quit last week. Seems to me that would be a good job for Rich, at least temporarily.”
“Well, that’s true,” Brett said. “He could live there and keep an eye on the two ladies. And Samantha could drive him when he needs to go to town.”
Janie looked at her husband. “Pete? What do you think?”
“I’m not sure Rich is ready for that big a job.” As his brothers started to protest, he held up his hands. “I don’t mean the job. I’m talking about his ankle. He had to take another pain pill tonight. Samantha gave them to Janie. Said the doctor warned about using too many.”
Anna looked up. “How many did he take today?”
Janie answered. “Only this one. But he had three yesterday.”
“Then he’s doing fine.” As a nurse-midwife, Anna was the medical expert on the ranch. “But Pete’s right. He’ll need to go slowly. Maybe keep him here at home for a week before you spring his grandmother on him. It will lull any suspicions he might have,” she added, grinning.
Janie exclaimed, “We’re really not matchmaking! We just want to keep Samantha around. I’d like to get to know her. Wouldn’t hurt to have a little help for Russ’s wedding, either. Since Abby’s mother is dead, I’m going to be doing a lot.”
“Yeah, and we want her to stay for the twins’ birthday,” Megan agreed with a grin. “Since Russ is getting married on his birthday, that means she’ll be here for the wedding.”
“I’m not sure she’ll want to stay if we say anything about those things. She won’t be used to big celebrations.”
“Okay, we’ll play on her sympathy to help us with Mom. Pete, you can handle that, can’t you?” Janie asked, a twinkle in her eye. “You were always good about talking me into things.”
“Were?” he asked, acting highly offended that she thought he might’ve slipped.
“All right, I’ll go talk to Mom first thing in the morning and then you can approach Samantha at lunch.”
“All right, but everyone’s going to have to keep an eye on her tomorrow. She may try to leave as soon as she gets up,” Pete warned.
In agreement, the couples went upstairs together, as they did most nights, to their own suites.
Once they were alone, Janie turned to her husband. “I hope it works, Samantha and Mom. Mom can be difficult now that she’s all alone.”
“Samantha’s tough, honey. She’ll be able to handle her. But we’re going to have to be careful and not let on anything to Rich.”
“We’re doing the right thing, aren’t we?”
Pete wrapped his arms around his wife. “We’re trying to keep Samantha safe. There’s nothing wrong with that. As for her and Rich, I’d be pleased, but we won’t pressure them. If they don’t get along, we’ll find someone else for Samantha. I don’t know about Rich. I’m not sure he’s ready to put down roots.”
“Well, I think he is.”
“Mothers always do,” he said with a laugh.
“Do you think it was mothers who started the match-making? It’s the men in this family who insist on matching everyone up!”
“Yep. And they’ve done a pretty damn good job!” he said before he kissed her.
When he raised his lips, Janie leaned against him. “Well, I didn’t say I was complaining.”
“I just want our sons to find the happiness I’ve had, sweetheart. And I’d like Samantha to have a chance, too. But I think Rich is going to have to be patient.”
“Not always a Randall trait,” Janie pointed out.
Chapter Six
Janie drove to her mother’s home, the closest house to the Randalls’, early the next morning. Though her mother could sleep late, she never did. Old habits die hard.
“Mom?” she called as she opened the back door.
“In here, Janie,” Lavinia Dawson responded from the kitchen.
“How are you this morning?”
“Wondering if you’ve forgotten me,” Lavinia said tartly, keeping her back to her daughter.
Janie hurried to the sink where Lavinia was working. “What are you talking about?”
“Well, I waited all evening for you to tell me Rich made it home all right. You never called.”
“Oh, Mom, I’m sorry, but— Why didn’t you call me?”
Lavinia lifted her nose in the air. “I didn’t want to be a bother.”
Janie laughed. “You must’ve fallen asleep early.”
Lavinia had the grace to grin and nod. “But he did get home all right, didn’t he?”
“Of course. About four o’clock. We gave him a pain pill last night, but I think he’s going to be okay soon.”
After a quick look at her mother, Janie went to the table and sat down. “It’s who else arrived that stunned us and distracted me.”
“He brought someone with him? A bride! Rich got married! He always was—”
“No. Rich didn’t get married. He brought Sam with him,” she said, deliberately teasing her mother.
“Another cowboy? What’s surprising about that?”
“Not another cowboy. Do you remember me telling you about the little girl Pete used to see at the rodeo? Samantha? How we decided to adopt her, but we didn’t get to?”
“Well, of course I remember. Do you think I’m feeble?”
Janie grinned. Her mother was very sensitive about her age. “No. But that’s who Rich brought home with him.”
Lavinia’s jaw dropped. “You’re kidding. How did he know?”
“He didn’t.”
“Well, my goodness. I can’t believe that.”
“I know. But Mom, she’s been totally on her own for eight years. We don’t want her going back out into the world by herself. It could be dangerous.”
“Of course it could. Why don’t you offer her a home?”
“We did. She stayed the night, but she’s trying to leave as we speak. She told everyone goodbye when she came down this morning. Didn’t think she should eat breakfast even.”
“Why?”
“She’s very independent. Thinks if she accepts a favor, she’ll have to pay it back. That’s how a lot of the cowboys operated. She says she needs to be on her way to find a job. I’m afraid we’re such a big crowd, we intimidate her.”
“Told you there was too many of you.”
“I want you to help us.”
“What can I do?”
“Pete’s going to tell her you’re getting too old to live alone, but you want to stay in your house. We’ll hire her to help you out here.”
“I am not too old!” Lavinia shouted.
“Of course you’re not. But if Sam believes Pete, she might agree to live here with you for a while, until she gets to know us, to feel comfortable. And she’ll be safe. She’ll think she’s taking care of you, but you’ll be taking care of her.” Janie paused before she added the kicker. “It would mean a lot to Pete.” Pete was her mother’s favorite Randall since he was also her son-in-l
aw.
“I suppose I could. But is she a nice girl? What if she murders me in my sleep?”
“Mom, you know I’d never put you at risk. Samantha is worried about paying her own way. She doesn’t want to take favors. If she were a con artist, she wouldn’t worry about what we offer her.”
“Okay, I’ll agree.”
“Thanks, Mom.” Janie leaned over and kissed her mother. “There might be an added benefit.”
“What’s that?”
“Rich. He might be interested.”
JANIE MET PETE in the barn as he swung out of the saddle. “Did she stay?” he asked first thing.
“Just until lunch. We told her you were counting on having lunch with her. Then one of us would drive her to Rawhide.” She kissed him, then added, “And Mom agrees to play along with our plan.”
“Great! Let’s go see if I can talk her into it.” He wrapped his arm around Janie and they started for the house.
“How’s Rich?” he asked. “Has he gotten up?”
“Around ten. Those pills make him groggy. But he was doing better after a cup of coffee.”
When they reached the kitchen, Pete noticed Samantha’s duffel bag in the kitchen, probably so she could get away as soon as she’d finished eating. She was sitting at the table with Mildred, Rich and Red. The other men weren’t coming in for lunch, and everybody else was about their business.
When Red saw Pete and Janie, he hopped up to carry lunch to the table. Mildred was going to help, but Samantha waved her back to her seat and helped Red.
“This here little girl is right handy,” Red said.
That compliment brought a becoming flush to Sam’s cheeks. Pete checked out his son to see his reaction. Rich was staring at her, but he quickly studied his coffee when he realized his father was watching.
“Good,” Pete said. “I think she kind of decorates the place, too. Right, Rich?”
“Uh, yeah.”
Once they started eating, Pete began his machinations. “Sam, we need a favor.”
Her head snapped up, a wary look in her eyes. “What, Pete?”
“Janie’s mother lives by herself on the next ranch. Janie’s begged her to move here, but she says there’s too many of us already.” He paused, but Sam didn’t say anything. “Janie wanted to hire somebody to stay with her, help with the housework and keep an eye on her. She refuses to have a stranger in her house.”
Randall Riches Page 6