The Rancher's Secret Wife

by Brenda Minton

  She downshifted as they drove through town. “No, Reese, not really. I have a borrowed family. They’re yours, not mine.”

  “And that borrowed family cares about you. You need to stop pushing people away.”

  It was a habit. She could have told him she’d been pushing for as long as she could remember. From the day she heard her parents whisper that they should have trusted God more and waited, she’d been pushing. More than twenty years had passed since that moment when she’d realized she’d become their mistake.

  They should have waited for Melissa—their birth daughter.

  “I can’t discuss this. My head hurts. I’m very close to being sick.”

  “Are we there?”

  She nodded as she pulled into a parking space. “We’re here.”

  “Do you need help getting in?”

  “I’m fine.”

  She met him at the front of the truck. He had the white cane in his hand, and they walked side by side up the sidewalk. A young family came out of the office, moved to the side and watched them enter the building.

  “In here.” She touched his arm at the door that led to her doctor’s office.

  Reese took her hand and they walked in together. Cheyenne smiled at the receptionist who looked up from her paperwork when they entered.

  “I have an appointment with Dr. Richards.”

  “Yes. She said to bring you right back. You can both go in.”

  “No, that’s okay.” Cheyenne led Reese to the waiting room. “I can go in alone.”

  “I want to go with you. If there’s a reason, I can leave. Cheyenne, this isn’t the plan we made in Vegas, but it’s what we have now. I’m not going to sit out here while you’re in there alone.”

  The door that led from the waiting area to the exam rooms opened. A nurse smiled at Cheyenne. “Are you coming back?”

  “We’re coming back.” Reese reached and found her arm. “Let’s go.”

  Cheyenne nodded, and together they followed the nurse back to an examination room where she told them to take a seat. Her heart thudded hard as she thought about what the doctor might say. She had six weeks to go. She thought about the baby being in danger. She thought about delivering alone. Her head pounded and she closed her eyes.

  “It’s going to be okay.” Reese stood next to the exam table where she sat. “You’re not alone.”

  “I know.” She lifted his hand and kissed it. “Thank you for being here.”

  “I wouldn’t be anywhere else.”

  The door opened and Dr. Richards walked in. She was young, sweet and always smiling. But today she looked concerned and that wasn’t what Cheyenne needed.

  “Cheyenne, I’m glad you came in. I’m going to take your blood pressure and we’ll go from there. But how are you feeling right now?” As she talked, the doctor looked at Cheyenne’s feet and then her hands. She lifted a light and checked her eyes. “Blurry vision?”

  “No, just the headache and a little nausea.”

  The nurse walked in and picked up the blood pressure cuff. Cheyenne held out her arm. Reese moved back a step, but his hand rested on her back, lending support, strength that she desperately needed.

  “One-thirty-five over eighty,” the nurse spoke quietly to the doctor.

  “Okay. That’s a concern. You’ve been taking the meds?”

  “Yes.”

  Dr. Richards drummed her fingers. “Still working at the salon?”

  “Yes.”

  “Well, right now I’m not inclined to put you in the hospital. I think we’ll try bed rest for a few days and see if that brings your blood pressure down. I’ll contact Jesse and see if he can help monitor that for us.”

  Cheyenne exhaled a pent-up breath and nodded again. “Okay.”

  “So, you have a ride home?”

  Cheyenne looked at Reese. He brushed a hand through his hair and shook his head. “I’ll make a call.”

  “We’ll get a ride.”

  “I’ll take care of it.” Reese walked to the door and had his phone out as he stepped into the hall.

  Cheyenne closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Nothing was going the way she planned—not even her heart.

  * * *

  Reese opened the door to the stable apartment. He knew that Madeline had gotten Cheyenne situated on the couch after they got back from town. He had gone to the house for food because she didn’t have a lot to choose from, and he knew his mom had homemade chicken noodle soup. She kept it in the freezer for situations like this.

  “Soup’s on,” he called out as he walked through the door. No answer. “Marco?”

  “Polo,” she whispered from the living room.

  Reese set the soup on the table and walked back to the living room. “You okay, Polo?”

  She laughed a little and he sat down in the chair across from the couch.

  “I’m good.” She moved on the couch. “I don’t know if I can stay on this couch and let everyone take care of me.”

  He thought about that and then he nodded. “Yeah, it isn’t easy.”

  A long silence followed. “I’m sorry.”

  “No, don’t be sorry. I’m just agreeing with you. It isn’t easy to be in this position, where you need to be taken care of and there’s nothing you can do about it. There’s no way to change what’s happening, though, so you accept the help and make the best of it.”

  “I could be on this couch for the next few weeks, Reese. I can’t begin to imagine just lying here, letting everyone wait on me. I can’t help but think that I should have stayed in Vegas. This wasn’t part of the deal, you having to take care of a pregnant woman.”

  “I’m glad you’re here.” He pulled his phone out of his pocket. “I also think you should call your family.”

  “Reese, not now. I’ve talked to them, but I’m not sure any of us are ready for this. It’s been a lot of years.”

  “I’m going to say something pretty tough, Cheyenne.”

  “Okay.”

  “You didn’t let them make that choice. You left and they didn’t have a way to reach you.”

  There was silence. He wanted to see her face, see her expression, and he couldn’t. He moved from the chair to the trunk in front of the couch. He held out his hand and her fingers laced through his.

  “I need to see you.” He leaned close and she drew his hand to her face. He touched, felt her sorrow, felt the tears trickling down her cheeks. “I’m sorry.”

  “It isn’t your fault. You’re probably right about me taking the choice away from them. But, Reese, they have a daughter, a real daughter. I was always the mistake.”

  “You’re not a mistake.” He brushed the hair back from her face, letting the silky strands slide through his fingers.

  “Yeah, I’m pretty sure that’s what I am. They rushed out to adopt when they thought they couldn’t conceive. You rushed to the altar with someone you thought you’d never see again.”

  He leaned to kiss her. He gave her one sweet kiss and then he backed away.

  “You’re not a mistake. You’re strong and beautiful. And sometimes what we feel at one moment isn’t what we will always feel. Maybe they had a moment when they thought something or said something, but now, years later, they have other feelings.”

  “I’ll let them know. Just not yet.”

  He put the phone back in his pocket. “Are you hungry?”

  “Starving.”

  “I’m going to heat up Mom’s chicken soup.”

  Her hand touched his cheek. He didn’t move away. She brushed her fingers across his cheeks and then through his hair and then to the back of his neck. He leaned and kissed her one last time before getting up.

  “Soup.” He smiled and walked away.

  He had the soup in the microwave when someone knocked on the door. He waited for Cheyenne to answer. When she didn’t, he walked through the room, found the door and opened it.

  “It’s me,” Jesse said.

  Reese motioned his brother inside
. “I think she’s asleep.”

  “She is. And is that chicken soup I smell?”

  “Mom has it in the freezer.”

  “Good to know.” Jesse walked away. “I’m going to take her blood pressure before I head home for the night. I’ll be back in the morning to take it again.”

  “Thanks.” Reese eased through the room, found a chair and sat down.

  “Cheyenne, can you wake up?” Jesse asked. Reese smiled because Jesse had always sounded like a doctor. Even as a kid, when one of the younger siblings got hurt, Jesse kept cool and took care of things.

  “I’m awake,” Cheyenne muttered, still sounding half-asleep.

  “Good.” Jesse rummaged for something. “I’m going to take your blood pressure. But I want you to remember to call if the headache gets worse, if your vision blurs or if you have abdominal pain.”

  “Got it,” she whispered, fear trembling in her tone.

  “No driving yourself,” Jesse said with force, and then the blood pressure cuff pumped up.

  “What is it?” Reese asked after a long minute of waiting.

  “It’s lower than it was at the doctor’s office. I’m not sure what the plan is, but she needs someone here with her tonight. Are you staying?”

  Reese stood to walk his brother to the door. “No, Heather will be over when she gets back from Tahlequah.”

  “Got it. Strange, but okay.” Jesse touched his arm as he brushed past. “Take care of her.”

  “Will do.” Reese closed the door after Jesse left and then felt his way back to the kitchen for the soup. He touched the dining room chairs and the bar before circling around to the microwave. “Ready to eat?”

  “Yes. I can get it, though.”

  He walked around the corner of the kitchen. “Cheyenne, I can do this. It’s a bowl of soup. You’re not getting up.”

  He found a deep bowl and filled it with soup. He also searched the cabinets and found a tray. He slipped the legs of the tray over his arm, picked up the soup and a spoon and walked into the living room.

  “See how amazing I am.”

  “You are.” She reached and took the bowl from him. “Are you going to eat?”

  “Not yet. I need to go help with a few chores.” He set the tray over her lap. “Will you be okay while I’m gone?”

  “I’m good. I have my cell phone. I’ll call if there’s a problem.”

  “I won’t be far away.”

  Reese walked out the door and into the stable. He heard Travis singing and he laughed. “You still can’t carry a tune in a bucket.”

  “I’m an amazing singer,” Travis responded, and then Reese heard boot steps heading his way. “You going to help feed?”

  “I had planned on helping Gage. He has some calves up that need shots.”

  “I think he and Jackson already took care of that.”

  “Fine, I’ll help you feed. Did the Mortons stop by for that gelding of theirs?”

  “Yeah, they were pretty happy with him, too.” Travis moved past him. “I already have feed in the wheelbarrow. I need to get a round bale moved out to the bulls in the big corral.”

  “I’ll feed. Do you have the ropes tied?” Their system for feeding was if the stall door had a rope tied to it, Reese knew there was a horse that needed to be fed.

  “Yep. Thanks for feeding. I’ll be back in thirty.”

  “Got it. Hey, where’s everyone at?”

  “I think they’re getting ready for that bull ride in Kansas. Mom has a friend out there, so she’s even going. I guess you’ll be staying here with Cheyenne.”

  “Yeah. I’m not going to leave her alone.”

  “I didn’t think you would. Hey, do me a favor. Don’t ride that green gelding while we’re gone.”

  Reese walked away, bumping the side of the wheelbarrow in the process. He reached to steady it.

  “Reese, man. I’m sorry.”

  Reese grabbed the handle of the wheelbarrow. “Let me be the one who decides what I can and can’t do.”

  “Yeah, I know.” Travis thumped him on the back as he walked past. “I’m going to get that round bale.”

  “I’ll see you later. Oh, when are you leaving for Kansas?”

  “Not for a couple of days. Everyone else is leaving in the morning.”

  “Good to know.” Reese waited for Travis to walk away, and then he started forward with the wheelbarrow. He had a system. He started at the far end, went down one side and then the other. The ropes on the doors kept him from having to step into each stall to see if there was a horse inside that needed to be fed.

  He’d fed the first three horses when the stable door opened. He turned, waiting for whomever to speak up. When they didn’t, he took the lead. “Who is it?”

  “Reese, sorry, it’s Adam MacKenzie.” The one-time pro football player had stepped closer. “I didn’t expect to find you out here.”

  “What do you need, Adam?”

  “I came to talk to you about the camp. I thought I’d give it another shot.”

  Reese nodded and touched the next stall door. There was no rope. He moved on. The next one had a rope. He scooped grain and dumped it in the feeder. Immediately the horse started crunching on his evening meal. Reese touched the hay to make sure the horse had plenty. The water was filled automatically.

  “Tell me what you have in mind.” A week or two made a big difference. When Adam first approached him, Reese hadn’t been able to think past finding his way through the house.

  “Okay.” Adam followed along as Reese fed. “I want to try a one-week camp for kids with disabilities. I thought if I brought in counselors with similar situations the kids would see their limits differently. They would see people like yourself, moving forward and grabbing hold of your life.”

  “Right.” He fed the next horse, and then he stopped because he could feel anger mounting. He wasn’t sure why he felt angry.

  Adam had married Jenna Cameron, an amputee. He knew how strong a person with a limitation could actually be. Adam’s sister-in-law, Willow Cameron, happened to be profoundly deaf, so he’d witnessed people with disabilities achieving their goals.

  “Reese, I know this is tough.”

  “I know you do.” Reese finished feeding the last two horses in the barn and found the bench next to the tack room. He sat down and Adam sat next to him. “Tell me more.”

  “You’re perfect for this program, Reese. Not only are you facing this with strength and faith but you have a counseling degree. You could really help kids who are struggling to adjust to their disabilities.”

  “Adam, this may come as a surprise, but I’m still struggling to adjust. I can’t drive my wife to the doctor.” Wife. He shook his head because that really hadn’t been the thing he’d planned to start with.

  “I know it’s tough. And listen, Jenna is just a mile down the road if you need to talk to someone who has been there—literally been there.”

  He turned toward Adam. Even though he couldn’t see him, it helped to make that contact. “I appreciate that. And I’m glad you think I can do this.”

  “You’ve been riding, right?”

  “Yeah, with help, I can ride.”

  “Reese, you are handling this. There are kids who really need a role model like you.”

  “I’ll think about it.” He stood up. “I have to check on Cheyenne and make sure Heather will be here soon.”

  “The camp will start in a month.”

  Reese pulled out his cane and unfolded it. He walked to the door of the apartment and paused. “Sign me up.”

  “Thank you. And make sure you call if you need anything at all.”

  He stood in the stable and listened as Adam walked away. A minute later the door clicked shut and he heard a truck start. Alone again he bowed his head and said a quick prayer that he wouldn’t regret what he’d agreed to. And he prayed that Cheyenne would be safe.

  He had called her his wife. He shook his head and walked back to the apartment. There were some t
hings a guy just couldn’t explain or understand. Sometimes he just had to go with the flow and do what felt right.

  Chapter Eleven

  Reese walked in from the barn. Cheyenne smiled and clicked off the TV. “Who was here?”

  It had been a voice she didn’t recognize. She wasn’t really nosy, just bored—already. One day into bed rest and she was bored out of her mind.

  “Adam MacKenzie from Camp Hope.”

  “Oh, yes. They’ve been to the shop for haircuts. His wife is really sweet, and they have cute kids.”

  “They’re good people.”

  Cheyenne felt a little twinge and it wasn’t a contraction. She was huge, swollen and hadn’t brushed her hair all day. Jenna MacKenzie was sunshine pretty and as sweet as they come.

  “Is she a good friend of yours?” Ack, she wanted to take back the words, but they were already said and she sounded like what she couldn’t be: a jealous wife. “I’m sorry.”

  Reese sat down in the chair opposite the couch, a cute grin on his handsome face. He pulled off his sunglasses and slid them into his pocket. He did that with her, she noticed. Perhaps it was because he was comfortable, she thought. When he was around other people he kept the sunglasses on.

  “I never dated Jenna.” He cocked his head to the side a little and his grin softened. “I never dated a lot. I just thought when the right woman came along, I’d know. Besides, I wasn’t fond of the drama when things didn’t work out. Or wasting my time on a relationship that wasn’t going anywhere.”

  “And then you married me.” She laughed a little and so did he. “I’m sorry. This is probably way more drama than you counted on.”

  “It’s drama but not the ‘please take me back, I can’t live without you’ kind.” He took off his cowboy hat and dropped it on the nearby table.

  “Eww, is that how we women sound to you men?”

  He smiled, and she could see why a teenage girl would plead to have him back.

  “Sometimes,” he answered. “I always kind of wondered why they’d work so hard to make one guy love them when there were plenty waiting to love them.”

  “Interesting thought.” She leaned back on the couch and tried not to overthink what he’d said.

  “Do you need anything?”