Rescued by a Rancher

by Mindy Neff

  “Sounds like a plan. But man, I sure hope you didn’t just call your wife a dog. I’d be able to black-mail you for life.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Tracy Lynn sat in front of the Christmas tree in Millicent Lloyd’s living room, her hands wrapped around a mug of fresh coffee. Who would ever have thought she’d be slumber-partying with Miz Lloyd on Christmas Eve morning—her birthday.

  Her trip to the cemetery and the day and a half spent with Millicent had been a time of healing for Tracy Lynn. The pain of her loss still pressed on her heart, but it was manageable.

  She couldn’t help but wonder if Linc had understood the significance of her leaving the wedding band, that it was simply her way of telling him he was off the hook, free to go back to Dallas if that’s what he chose.

  Life was too precious and too short to live with the wrong choices. She wouldn’t wish that on him.

  Millicent walked into the room wearing a navy-blue wool coatdress that made her blue hair look quite stunning.

  “You look nice,” Tracy Lynn said, glancing down at her own drugstore sweats.

  After they’d returned from the cemetery that first night, Millicent had called Becca Sue and assigned her phone duty, so friends and family wouldn’t worry over Tracy Lynn’s whereabouts. Then she’d ordered toiletries, bikini panties and sweats from Chandler Drugstore and cackled over the stir such a request would cause.

  Mr. Chandler had delivered the items himself, which had really tickled Miz Lloyd.

  “Well, I figured one of us ought to appear presentable, since it’s your birthday. You’re liable to get caught in your pajamas if we have early callers.”

  Tracy Lynn smiled, grateful she’d had this time to get to know Millicent Lloyd. The woman was a softie, always trying to hide her generous heart behind a gruff tone. “Sit down and enjoy the Christmas tree with me. I’ll run get you a cup of coffee.”

  “You stay put, Tracy Lynn. I’ve already had my coffee limit for the whole day—although you made it so weak I practically had to help it out of the pot.” Millicent sat in the olive-green upholstered recliner. “You doing all right this morning?”

  Tracy Lynn nodded. “I’m okay. Thank you, Miz Lloyd. For taking me in and for knowing all the right things to say. You’ve been a blessing.”

  “Oh, pshaw. I didn’t do anything more than give you a ride—and set Darla Pam Kirkwell’s tongue to waggin’ over me wearing bikini underpants.”

  “Do you think Mr. Chandler told Darla Pam?”

  “’Course he told her. She was in the drugstore when I called. I could hear her trying out her imitation Marilyn Monroe voice on him. Last week she thought she was Mae West. She spoke to me on the street, and I was sure her girdle must be pinching.” Millicent grinned. “Asked her about it, too.”

  Tracy Lynn laughed. “Miz Lloyd, you’re something else.”

  “Yes, well, since we’ve talked about ladies’ drawers and spent two nights under the same roof, you’d best just call me Millie. Besides, ‘Miz Lloyd’ sounds too stuffy. Especially for an old gal who’s got half the town speculating about her underwear.”

  The doorbell rang and Millie sprang up. “Told you someone might come to call and catch you in your pajamas.”

  Before Tracy Lynn could decide whether to run or stay put, Millie had the door open.

  She relaxed when Sunny, Donetta and Becca Sue came in, carrying gifts. “Hey, y’all.”

  “Hey, yourself,” Donetta said. Setting down her package, she wrapped Tracy Lynn in a hug. Sunny and Becca Sue joined in, and for a long moment the four of them simply held one another, wordlessly.

  When they broke apart, Millie was dabbing at her eyes and thrusting a tissue box in their direction. “You girls mop up before you drip all over my sofa.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Becca plucked a tissue and passed the box. “Might have known the rest of us would ruin our makeup, and Tracy Lynn hasn’t even put hers on yet.”

  “Why is everyone so dressed up?” Tracy Lynn asked.

  “Because we’re celebrating your birthday.” Donetta pointed to the gifts on the coffee table. “You already know we always get you clothes and make you try them on. We couldn’t have you showing us up. Would you look at Sunny? She’s wearing a dress.”

  “Well, I am honored,” Tracy Lynn said. She wanted so badly to ask Sunny if Linc was spending Christmas with her and Jack, or if he’d already gone back to Dallas, but the timing just didn’t seem right.

  “I don’t have anything against dresses,” Sunny said. “I just don’t see the need to wear them when half the time I’ve got my arm stuck up a cow’s butt.”

  “A charming image,” Becca said. “Speaking of uncouth manners, Miz Lloyd, did you know Darla Pam Kirkwell was over at Anna’s last night telling everyone who would listen that you were flaunting your bikini underwear in front of Mr. Chandler?”

  Millicent gave Tracy Lynn an I-told-you-so look. “At least I’ve still got the figure to look good in them. Darla Pam’s got to pour herself into a big ol’ girdle, poor thing. Now, like I told Tracy Lynn, I’d be pleased if you all would call me Millie. Especially if we’re going to continue discussing underpants and cow’s butts. I can’t decide who’s worse—you girls, or Birdie.”

  “Grandma Birdie,” they all said in unison.

  “Thank goodness for that. Tracy Lynn, are you going to open these birthday gifts, or are we all just going to sit around with our teeth in our mouth?”

  “I guess I’ll open presents.”

  When everyone was seated, Millicent handed her a box wrapped in lavender paper with a white bow. “This one’s from me.”

  Tracy Lynn paused, touched. “You didn’t have to get me a present. What you’ve done for me these past two days has been the best kind of gift.”

  “Oh, hush up and open the box. And if you don’t like it, blame Donetta. She picked it out. Now, rip that paper. Nobody’s going to use it again, and we don’t have all day.”

  Tracy Lynn laughed and did as she was told, then drew in a stunned breath. It was a long-sleeved, figure-skimming cashmere dress in the softest shade of poinsettia-pink. “Oh, my gosh. It’s beautiful! Thank you.”

  Becca folded the dress as Tracy Lynn continued opening packages—thigh-high stockings and lacy blue underwear from Sunny, an antique pink zirconium barrette from Becca’s shop, and a pair of strappy high-heeled sandals that were ridiculously inappropriate for cold weather and exactly the thing she would have picked out herself. Her friends knew her well.

  “Come on,” Donetta said. “Let’s go and watch you try on all your new things.” They all piled into the large dressing-room area in Millicent’s master bathroom to primp and fix their hair—a girls’ bonding session just like the ones they had at Donetta’s Secret.

  The cashmere dress hugged Tracy Lynn’s body, making her think of Linc and the way he loved to rub his hands over her soft sweaters. It had been only two days, but she missed him so much, she ached with it.

  Determined not to spoil the party, she stood up to model the finished product—and nearly fell off her high heels when the very object of her thoughts strode right into Millicent’s bathroom as though he had an engraved invitation. And it wasn’t just his presence that stunned her, but what he was wearing—a perfectly tailored black tuxedo jacket.

  The other women stood back. For a heart-stopping moment that seemed to draw out for eons, he froze, his intense gaze caressing her from her freshly washed hair to her brand-new sexy shoes.

  “You take my breath away.” They were the only words he said as he swept her off her feet and carried her out of Millicent’s house.

  “Linc? What in the world?”

  Instead of heading for his truck, he turned and continued down the sidewalk.

  “Honestly, Linc. Put me down.” She checked to make sure her dress hadn’t ridden up to the point of indecency.

  “You’re liable to break your neck in those shoes.”

  “These are cute shoes, and I
can walk just fine in them. Where are you taking me?” He didn’t answer.

  They’d walked a block and a half, and the darn man wasn’t even winded.

  “I hope you know the curtains are fluttering in every house we pass. I’m sure the poor residents are afraid to even come out on their porches. Seeing an intimidating, unsmiling man in a black tuxedo—they’ll probably call the sheriff.”

  No response.

  “Might I remind you that people in polite society do not make scenes by carting women smack-dab through the middle of town?”

  He turned and marched up the front walkway to the small white church they attended on Sundays, stopped at the bottom of the steps and kissed her.

  And just that quickly, the outside world simply faded away.

  She reveled in his strength, the solid feel of him, the way his kiss spoke to her. It was a kiss that inflamed, a kiss that touched her soul and made her want to weep.

  A kiss that demanded she grasp onto hope and never let go.

  When he lifted his head, his eyes were the color of steel. “I’ve never been part of polite society,” he said roughly. “I was born to cause a scene, and I’ll cart the woman I love through the middle of town if I damn well want to. Which I do.”

  For several moments, Tracy Lynn was rendered speechless. The woman I love.

  From over his shoulder, she saw Millicent’s Bonneville pull up to the curb. Sunny, Donetta and Becca were in the car with her.

  Before she was able to find her voice, Linc carried her the rest of the way into the church. Her father was standing just inside the doorway. He, too, was dressed in a tux.

  Her mind whirled.

  Linc set her on her feet and tipped up her chin, his gaze holding hers.

  “I love you, Tracy Lynn Slade. And I think you feel the same.” He took her hand and placed it in the crook of her father’s arm. “If you do, meet me up there.” He nodded his head toward the front of the church where Pastor Glen stood, then turned and walked up the aisle.

  Tracy Lynn Slade. Her heart pounded and her body felt like a furnace inside the cashmere dress. She looked at her dad, then at her friends as they skirted her and preceded her up the aisle like bridesmaids.

  The significance of the birthday gifts dawned on her. Something old—the hair clip; something new—the dress; something blue—the underwear; something borrowed…Donetta’s shoes? They did wear the same size.

  “That’s a good man waiting for you up there,” Jerald said. “Gave me a piece of his mind. I thought he was going to take a poke at me, until I claimed age and illness for protection.”

  “Is this your doing, Daddy? Because if it is…”

  “I owe you an apology, honey. I was wrong to react the way I did when you told me about the baby.

  Your mama used to soften my rough edges. Without her, I seem to have become a self-centered jackass. I hope you can forgive me. You could never be an embarrassment to me, and I’m sorry I took away your joy of sharing your baby.”

  “There wasn’t a baby, Daddy. Not then.”

  “I know. Linc told me. You’ve been through a trial, sweet pea. I can’t be one hundred percent sorry about my part in this drama. That man up there loves you. It’s a parent’s fondest wish that their child will someday find someone who sees all the wonderful qualities in them that the parent does, who will love and cherish their child as much as they do themselves. I see that in Lincoln. And I see the same thing in your eyes when you look at him. If you’ll let me, I’d like to walk you down this church aisle and put your hand in your husband’s. I won’t be giving you away. I’ll be officially, publicly gaining one hell of a son.”

  “Will you still feel the same if we move to Dallas?”

  “Can’t imagine why you’d want to do a fool thing like that, but yes. I’ll still feel the same. I’m through butting into your business—for the next week or so at least.”

  Tracy Lynn smiled, her stomach jumping with butterflies. “Then walk me down the aisle, Daddy.”

  Linc’s gaze settled on hers and never wavered as she approached on her father’s arm.

  The small church was filled with family and friends. Ellie, along with Anna, Storm and the grandmas sat in the first row on the left. Jack stood with Linc. Several wheelchairs lined the sides of the pews. Sunny, Donetta, and Becca stood opposite Linc, waiting for Tracy Lynn to fill the open space.

  Oh, how she loved these people and this town!

  But she loved her husband even more.

  When he reached out and took her hand, she moved next to him, faced him, looked up into his handsome face.

  “This feels a whole lot like a wedding,” she said. “Did you forget that you already married me?”

  “I didn’t forget. I’m a gambling man, and I took a chance I might be able to dazzle you with romance. I’d like to renew our vows, this time in a church and for keeps, if you’ll have me.”

  “I can be dazzled with romance.”

  “Okay. Here’re the stakes. I’m going to sell the ranch in Dallas and—“

  “You are not!”

  Murmurs and chuckles rose in the congregation. The pastor discreetly pushed the microphone forward, then crossed his arms, holding the Bible against his chest.

  “You’re happy in Dallas,” she said more gently. “When we were there, you smiled and laughed. Your joy was so evident. I can’t let you give that up, Linc.”

  “Babe,” he said softly, reverently. “Before you, I didn’t have laughter in my life. You’re what brings me joy.”

  Oh, my gosh. Along with Tracy Lynn, every woman in the church sighed.

  “What about the reminders here that trigger bad memories?” she asked.

  “Jack and I had a demolition party and buried them.”

  “The stable?”

  “Gone. Your courage in facing your fears helped me to face mine. Now I’ve got this huge, showy ranch on my hands that I can’t bear to leave. A really smart woman told me the town needs a fancy spa for stressed-out horses. I think that woman would be perfect to spearhead the project. Acupressure, chiropractic, massage, the works. I’ll even go for the music. Might add a little romance to the business of breeding.”

  “I was kind of hoping that horses weren’t the only thing you’d want to breed on that fancy ranch,” she said softly, accepting the pang of grief instead of fighting it.

  He took her face between his hands and kissed her gently, reverently. He rested his forehead against hers, his eyes liquid with emotion.

  “I was going to tell you about the baby tonight,” she said past the lump in her throat. “After midnight when it was officially your birthday. I was hoping the news wouldn’t bind you with unwanted strings, that it would be a special gift—for your birthday and for Christmas.”

  “Ah, babe. I’m so tangled up in your strings I don’t ever want to get loose. From the minute I staked my claim on the courthouse steps, that child was mine. Because it was part of you.” His fingers lightly skimmed her hair.

  “All I’ve ever wanted, for as long as I can remember, is you, Tracy Lynn. Every year you were my birthday and my Christmas wish.”

  “You’ve got your wish. I never imagined I could love anyone as deeply as I love you.” Her voice shook and she smiled. “Now you’ll have to think up a new birthday wish.”

  “That’s easy. I want babies with you.”

  A huge sob echoed in the church. Grandma Birdie, sitting in the front pew, waved her handkerchief, indicating everyone should stop looking at her and carry on, then pressed the cloth back to her mouth.

  “We’ll work on that for next year,” Tracy Lynn said. “Meanwhile, tomorrow’s your birthday. Do you have a more immediate wish?”

  “Yes. A promise that you’ll rescue this lonely rancher and let him love, honor and cherish you for the rest of our lives.”

  “Absolutely. I will.”

  Linc slid the wedding band back on her finger and kissed her until her toes curled. Then he looked at the pastor.
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  “Did you want to start the ceremony now?”

  Pastor Glen gave a wide smile. “You’re doing a much finer job than I could ever do. I’m even taking notes, so please continue.”

  The congregation laughed.

  “Okay, if I’m going to show off, I might as well do it right.” He reached in his pocket and pulled out another ring, a diamond engagement band that he slid onto her finger with the wedding band.

  “Good night, you weren’t kidding,” Tracy Lynn whispered. “That’s nearly as big as my eyeball.” The gems in the ring held enough sparkle to catch the eye fifty yards away.

  Linc chuckled. His society girl had just dropped every bit of her charm-school decorum. “I am so in love with you. Where have you been all my life?”

  She looked up at him. “Right here waiting for you to come rescue me from old-maid status.”

  “Good thing Becca Sue didn’t hear that,” Donetta whispered to Sunny.

  Tracy Lynn glanced over her shoulder and smiled at Becca’s frown. Because Becca had heard.

  Turning back to her husband, she said softly, “I love you, Lincoln Slade. And I promise to love, honor and cherish you for the rest of our lives. Are we at the kissing part yet?”

  “Oh, yeah. We’re definitely there.”

  ISBN: 978-1-4603-6889-3

  RESCUED BY A RANCHER

  Copyright © 2004 by Mindy Neff.

  All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9.

  All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.