A Rancher's Honor

by Ann Roth

  “That profile in the paper is sure to drum up business, so you’ll probably need his help again soon for a second day-care center,” her father said.

  “I’ve been thinking the same thing—when the time comes.” For now, Lana’s main focus was finding a baby to adopt. But she wasn’t going to mention that. She didn’t want to set her parents off.

  “That sounds exciting.” Liz gave her a pleased look. “Any ideas where you’d put it?”

  “Someplace downtown.” Home to insurance and title companies, two banks, a library, a hospital, museums, shops, department stores and restaurants. “Think of all the people with kids who work in or around the downtown area. Wouldn’t it be convenient if they could drop off their children near where they work?”

  Her father nodded approvingly. “That’s a great idea.”

  Everyone started talking excitedly, except for Lana’s mother, who frowned. “You’re already so busy, Lana. If you expand, you’ll only be busier. I don’t know why that social worker cleared you as a suitable mother when your day care takes all of your energy.”

  So much for steering clear of any controversy. Lana rolled her eyes. “Don’t start, Mom. I’ve made my decision and I’m happy with it. Because I’m focusing on finding a baby, I’m not going to expand just now.”

  “If I was pregnant and wanted to give up my baby, I’d choose a married couple,” her mother said.

  Lana was determined to prove that she would be as good as any couple. “I’d make a great mom, and I’ll do whatever I can to convince people that I’m the best choice.”

  Her mother’s lips thinned. “You have enough trouble meeting men without bringing a baby into your life.”

  Lana’s back stiffened. Her mom just wouldn’t quit. “Just because I’m not dating right now doesn’t mean I can’t meet men.” She’d had no trouble with Sly.... But they weren’t going to see each other again, so she wasn’t going to think about him. “As I’ve explained at least a dozen times, this isn’t a decision I made lightly. I’ve been contemplating adoption for ages.”

  For nearly two years now, in fact, after having spent four years trying to get pregnant, first the usual way, and then with the help of fertility drugs.

  There had been nothing wrong with Brent. Lana had been the problem, the fertility doctor had explained before delivering the staggering blow that their odds of having a biological child were slim to none.

  That still hurt, and always would.

  Longing for a child, Lana had suggested adoption. But Brent had wanted to father his own child, and a few months after learning of Lana’s inability to conceive, he’d left her for Julia.

  “I’ve always wanted a houseful of kids,” she continued. “It would be nice if I was married, but with or without a husband, I’m going to do this, and I would really appreciate your and Dad’s support.”

  Her mother’s mouth tightened. “I don’t—”

  To Lana’s surprise, her father cut off her mother with a warning look. “Leave her alone, Michele. I’m not happy about this either, but arguing with Lana isn’t going to work. She’s always been single-minded about what she wants and is not afraid to go after it. It’s one of the qualities that makes her a good businesswoman.”

  “I just want her to be happy, Chet. If she could just get over Brent...”

  “I’m right here, Mom and Dad, and FYI, I’m totally over him.”

  To Lana’s amazement, she was. Sometime in the past few days she’d stopped hurting. Come to think of it, Friday evening. Lana marveled over how she’d changed. As recklessly as she’d behaved, that night with Sly had helped her heal.

  “I’m glad to hear you say that, honey,” Lana’s mother said. “Now that you’ve finally gotten Brent out of your system, why not make an effort and put yourself out there before you act on this crazy idea to adopt a baby by yourself.”

  As much as Lana needed her mom’s support, she wasn’t going to get it tonight. Unable to bear one more negative comment, she gave up—for now.

  “I still have things to do tonight to get ready for tomorrow. I’m going home.” Ignoring her mother’s shocked expression, she stood. “Thanks for dinner.”

  So much for that warm, all-is-well-with-my-family feeling. She would keep moving forward with her plan and hope that in time, her parents would come around. If not, she’d go it alone.

  * * *

  “WILL YOU LOOK at that,” Sly murmured as he scanned the morning paper over breakfast on a Tuesday morning in mid-April.

  Mrs. Rutland, his forty-something housekeeper, stopped working on whatever she was making for dinner to peer over his shoulder. “Ah, you’re reading the Small Business Profile of the Month. I read it earlier, while the coffee percolated. I’ve heard great things about Tender Loving Daycare, TLD for short.”

  “Have you,” Sly said distractedly.

  Because he recognized the owner of the business from the photo accompanying the article. It was Lana, the woman he couldn’t seem to stop thinking about. Even now, more than a week after their night together, a mere glance at her smile caused his body to stir.

  Hell, just imagining her did that.

  After a week, he realized he wanted to get to know her. Nothing serious or long-term, but a chance to explore their attraction.

  Now he had her full name. Lana Carpenter. Sly grimaced at that. He hoped she wasn’t related to Tim Carpenter, the man he was suing. According to the attorney, Carpenter should receive the notice sometime today.

  “These monthly profiles put small businesses on the Prosperity map, both for us locals and the tourists,” Mrs. R said. “With hundreds of businesses to choose from, I think it’s wonderful that the Daily News picked a day care this time. You don’t have any kids yet, Sly, but someday you will. Maybe you’ll send them to TLD.”

  Sly had already raised a kid—his brother, Seth. And look how that had turned out. The experience had soured him on having his own children. He’d have to be nuts to put himself—or some poor kid—through that again.

  He went back to the article, his eyes on the photo. Lana looked happy and beautiful, as did the boys and girls gathered around her. But, hell, if she had her arms around Sly the way she did around those little ones, he’d be grinning just as widely.

  “How do you know about the day care, Mrs. R?” he asked. “Your son and daughter are grown. When they were little, Lana Carpenter was probably in day care herself.”

  “A couple of my kids’ friends take their children to TLD. They’re always talking about how great Lana Carpenter is. She has a special way with children. They love her.”

  She also had other special ways, private things that made a man wild. Sly’s body hardened. He wished he could stop thinking about her, but so far he hadn’t had much luck with that.

  Which was why he’d decided to see her again, casually. He’d returned to the Bitter & Sweet last Friday night in case she was there.

  She wasn’t. He’d danced with a couple of different women, both of them signaling that they were open to more than dancing. But neither could compare to beautiful, funny, sexy Lana, and after an hour or so, he’d left.

  Hands on her ample hips, Mrs. Rutland looked worried. “Is something wrong with your omelet?”

  Sly realized he was frowning. He curled his mouth into a smile. “It’s real good.” He glanced at his watch and was surprised to discover how late it was. “I told Ace I’d help him and the others move part of the herd today,” he said as he shoveled in big bites. “I’d best finish and get out there.”

  * * *

  COUNTING LABOR, FENCING, feed and vet care, cattle cost a bundle to raise, nearly three thousand dollars per animal per year. Growing his own summer and fall pasture grass cut down on food costs, and the nutrient-rich crop helped keep the animals strong and healthy. But in winter and spring
, Sly relied on vitamin and mineral supplements for that. Supplies were running low, so late Tuesday afternoon he headed out to pick up more, as well as a roll of barbwire for the fences, which always seemed to need mending. But instead of turning east toward Drysdale’s Ranching and Farm Supplies, he headed west.

  Before he knew it, he was driving along River Drive, a pretty street that followed the Ames River through town and ended at Prosperity Park and the awesome Prosperity Falls. The cascading waterfall was a popular site for marriage proposals and outdoor weddings, and drew visitors from all over.

  Miles before reaching the park, though, Sly turned off, onto Hawthorn Road. The colorful Tender Loving Daycare sign immediately drew his attention. So this was Lana’s day care. He slowed way down to study the square clapboard building. Painted a soft green, it had purple shutters and window boxes. April was too early for flowers in the boxes, so colorful windmills stood in their stead. On one side of the building, a big fenced yard marked a kids’ paradise of swings and slides and all sorts of climbing toys. On the other was a parking lot.

  Sly had to find out if the attraction between them was as strong as he remembered, so he pulled in, noting that the lot was empty except for a minivan, a light green sedan and his truck. But then, it was after six. Sly was debating whether to go inside or take off, when the door opened. Amy Simmons—no, Amy Watkins now—sauntered through it holding the hand of a pint-size little girl. Lana followed behind them without a coat, as if she didn’t expect to stay out long.

  Amy noticed him right away. “Well, hello there,” she said, approaching him with a dazzling smile. “What brings you here?”

  Sly had no choice but to slide out of the truck. “Hey, Amy.” He nodded at Lana. “I’m here to see her.”

  Lana had moved to stand beside Amy, her eyes wide with surprise. “Sly—uh, hi,” she said.

  Amy gave them both speculative looks. “I didn’t realize you two knew each other.”

  They knew each other, all right, in ways that would make Amy blush if she realized.

  Lana met his gaze, her green eyes warning him to say nothing about how they’d met. He gave a subtle nod, then smiled at the girl peering from behind Amy’s knees. “Is that your little girl, Amy?”

  “Yes, this is Courtney. She’s three now.” Amy scooped up her daughter and kissed her. “Say hi to Sly, sweetie.”

  The girl giggled. “Hi, Thly.”

  She was about the cutest thing Sly had ever seen. “Hey there, Courtney.” He patted her head. “How’s married life?” he asked Amy.

  “I’m enjoying it. Jon and I are having so much fun with Courtney that we’re having another baby in the fall.” She touched her softly rounded abdomen. “Well, I’d better get this little one home. See you tomorrow, Lana, and thanks for keeping her a few minutes late.” Amy flashed a sly smile. “You two have fun.”

  “How did you and Amy meet?” Lana asked as the woman buckled her daughter into her car seat.

  Sly watched the minivan roll out of the parking lot. “We dated years ago.” Amy had wanted to get serious, but he hadn’t and they’d broken up. “Coming here now is bad timing on my part,” he added. “She’s a big gossip.”

  “Tell me about it.” Lana fiddled with the cuff of her blouse, her expression both curious and openly pleased that he was there. “How did you find me, and what are you doing here?”

  “I saw your business profile in the paper. Great article.” He dug his copy from the hip pocket of his jeans and handed it to her. “In case you didn’t get a hard copy.”

  “Thanks, Sly.”

  As she took it from him, her fingers casually brushed his. Heat shot straight to his groin, and by the sudden flush of her cheeks, she, too, felt the powerful connection between them. Yes, the pull between them was as strong as he remembered.

  He cleared his throat. “I didn’t get a chance to say goodbye before I left you that morning.”

  “I’m glad you let me sleep in. Oh, and thanks for the aspirin. It helped.”

  “No problem.”

  Silence.

  In the uncomfortable moments that stretched between them, Lana glanced over her shoulder at the day-care door, as if she wanted to slip through it. “I—”

  “You—” he said at the same time, then paused. “Go ahead,” Sly insisted.

  “I want you to know that I usually don’t spend the night with a man I just met. You were the first and the last.”

  “I’m honored that you picked me. I enjoyed our night together.”

  Her warm eyes flashed that she had, too. She had a mouth made for loving. Plump, soft lips that were naturally pink. They parted a fraction, just as they had seconds before he’d kissed her on the night they’d spent together.

  Sly definitely wanted to explore that heat, unleash her fiery passion and enjoy a repeat of their memorable night together. He moved closer and tucked her hair behind her ears with hands that shook.

  He wanted her that much. Too much.

  The strength of his need scared him. If he was smart, he’d turn around and leave. But his legs refused to budge.

  Finally Lana swallowed and backed up a step. “Is there anything else you wanted?”

  Besides kissing her and more? At the moment Sly couldn’t think of a thing. He was debating whether to ask her out or walk away while he still could when she spoke.

  “Okay, then,” she said. “It’s chilly out here and I left my coat inside. I also need to get ready for tomorrow. Thanks again for the article.”

  She left him standing in the parking lot, feeling both relieved and confused.

  Clearly he’d misread her. She wasn’t so happy to see him after all.

  Actually, that made sense. He wasn’t supposed to think about her and he sure wasn’t supposed seek her out. They’d agreed on that.

  Yet here he was standing in the parking lot of the business she owned, aching for her, even though getting involved with her could be dangerous.

  What the hell was wrong with him?

  Chapter Three

  Lana made a practice of responding to TLD emails by the end of the same day she received them. She usually took care of that chore before leaving work, but thanks to Sly, today she’d been too rattled.

  If that wasn’t enough, her father had called to say that Cousin Tim was being sued by his neighbor. No one in the family had ever been sued, and they all were upset and banding around Cousin Tim. They offered to be character witnesses, lend him money for an attorney and whatever else he needed. Cousin Tim was too proud to accept their money, but said he’d let them know if character witnesses would help.

  Still a little flummoxed, Lana stood in the kitchen, waiting for the kettle to whistle so that she could make a cup of herbal tea. For days now, she’d tried to push the night with Sly from her mind, without much success. She assured herself that she’d eventually forget the handsome cowboy who dominated her waking thoughts. She certainly hadn’t expected to see him again, and had been both surprised and elated when he’d shown up at the day care.

  But her feelings had quickly turned to disappointment. Sly hadn’t asked for her phone number or a date. He hadn’t asked her a single question or said more than a sentence or two. In fact, he hadn’t seemed interested in getting to know her at all, or wanting her to know anything about him. Instead, his heavy-lidded expression had told her exactly what he wanted.

  More of what they’d shared on that wild night.

  Against Lana’s better judgment, she’d wanted that, too. The attraction between them was more potent than anything she’d ever experienced, even during her honeymoon days with Brent. To the point that when Sly had moved close to her, her mind had all but emptied.

  She frowned. How could she feel so strongly about a man she’d just met? She had no idea what his last name was or whether he real
ly was a rancher, where he worked or anything about his family. Although she had a hunch that Amy would fill her in tomorrow when she picked up Courtney after work.

  At last the kettle whistled, and Lana pushed Sly from her mind. Tonight she had better things to do than fantasize about the sexy cowboy. She carried her steaming mug to her home office, which doubled as the den.

  The only positive thing about his visit this afternoon was that he’d distracted her from dwelling on the lack of interest her profile had generated at AdoptionOption.com. With input from the social worker, Lana had carefully created the online profile with her photo and other information. Although many girls had contacted her, nothing had stuck.

  Lana wished she could figure out why. Was it because she was single, or something else? The lack of any serious interest was discouraging, and she wished she’d waited to share her decision with her family until she’d formed a promising relationship with an expectant mother.

  Not about to give up, she decided tonight she’d check the website after she checked her email. She sat down and scrolled through her inbox. There were ten—ten!—inquiries from parents who’d read the profile in the paper and wanted to visit TLD. Her friend Kate had also emailed, whining about an upcoming blind date her mother had orchestrated. Several other friends had sent the usual jokes and gossip.

  But one email stood out. “Baby,” the subject line read, from Sophie@AdoptionOption.com. Hardly daring to breathe, Lana opened the email.

  I got your name from the AdoptionOption website. I’m Sophie and I’m four months pregnant. I’m looking for the right person to adopt my baby. When I saw the article about you in the paper today and read your online profile at the website, I couldn’t believe it. You seem to really care about kids, and I would like to meet you. Text me at 406-555-2223.

  This was the chance Lana had waited, hoped and prayed for. Sucking in an excited breath, she jotted down the number with shaky hands.

  Yet as badly as she longed for a baby, she had to admit that she was also a little scared. Raising a child without a partner was going to be a huge job.