The Rancher's Secret Wife

by Brenda Minton

  “No, not really.”

  “A glass of water?” He stood, the perfect cowboy, the real deal. And he had married her. She sighed and started to nod.

  She caught herself. “A glass of water would be good. You know, you don’t have to stay here with me.”

  “Do you want me to leave?”

  She didn’t have to think about that. “No, not really. And I got you sidetracked. You didn’t tell me what Adam MacKenzie wanted.”

  He clicked the cane side to side as he made his way through to the kitchen. “He asked me again if I would help with Camp Hope. They want to do a weeklong camp for kids with disabilities.”

  “And you said?”

  “I told him I’ll do it.” He returned with a bottle of water, opening it before he handed it to her. “I’m not sure what I can do, but I’ll help if I can.”

  She took the bottle of water from his hand. He pulled the chair closer to the couch and sat down.

  “You’re not sure what you can do? Really?”

  He grinned again. “You were a cheerleader in high school, right?”

  “Are you kidding? No, I wasn’t a cheerleader. I was far too dark and scary for that.”

  “You were dark and scary. How?”

  “Literally, dark and scary. I went through an angry phase.”

  “You were goth?” He laughed and then he shook his head. “I would have loved to have seen you like that, with your blond hair and blue eyes. As a matter of fact, I’d love to see you right now.”

  His smile faded and she wanted it back. She crept from the couch to sit on the trunk in front of his chair. With a tremble inside she reached for his hands and lifted them to her face. “I think you see me better than anyone ever has.”

  “I know I do.” He spread his fingers over her cheeks and moved them across her face and then down to her mouth. His finger drifted across the sensitive skin of her lips. “I know you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”

  “I would like it if you would kiss me,” she whispered as she leaned close.

  “I think you’re supposed to be on bed rest,” he teased, leaning to touch her lips so briefly it could have been a butterfly flitting away.

  Cheyenne moved her hands to the back of his head and pulled him close. “Please kiss me.”

  He pulled her gently to him and kissed her. Gently he held her. Gently he took her heart. She didn’t know how to get it back, but she knew that in time he would break it into a million pieces.

  “Cheyenne, I’m not sure if I can let you go.” He tangled his fingers in her hair. “I’m not sure if I want to let you go.”

  “Reese, don’t. This isn’t real. These moments are happening because of what we’re going through.”

  “Isn’t it?” He reached for her hand, and she knew he felt her tremble. “Isn’t it real?”

  “Emotion. We’re both going through so much.”

  “Right. Of course you’re right.” He heard a car pull in. “That would be Heather coming for the night shift, and you need to be on the couch.”

  “Stay for a little while.”

  He smiled and shook his head. “No, I think I’ll head on back to my place. But Heather will be here if you need anything.”

  She touched her fingers to his, a light touch that didn’t hold him, but it kept him at her side for a moment. “I’m sorry.”

  “I don’t know why. We both knew what we were doing, Cheyenne. We made an arrangement and for a minute it felt like...” He shook his head. “But you’re right, this is just emotion.”

  She watched him walk to the back door and greet his sister. His profile was strong. His smile shifted his features, made him more amazing. He lifted a hand to wave before he walked out the back door. Heather locked the door behind him.

  “How are you feeling?” Heather took the seat Reese had vacated, and she put her feet up on the trunk.

  “I’m good. Jesse came by earlier to take my blood pressure. It’s lower than it was.”

  “Cheyenne, I’ve known my brother a long time. My whole life, actually.” Heather smiled and made a face. “I know when something is up. I know when he’s hurting. And I can tell by your face that you’re not in the best place.”

  “We’re fine. I think it’s just too much...being together like this. We hadn’t planned on being this close. I should have thought about that before I came to Oklahoma. If I’d stayed in Vegas, this wouldn’t have happened.”

  “You would have been alone.” Heather patted her arm. “Let me get you some ice cream.”

  Cheyenne smiled but she shook her head. “No, thanks. Reese has fed me several times already and I’m stuffed. What I want is to get up.”

  “No can do.” Heather reached for the remote and flipped on the TV. “Want to watch a chick flick?”

  Romance. She wrinkled her nose and shook her head. “No, thanks.”

  “Western?”

  Cowboys. “You go ahead. I’ll rest.”

  “Mystery.” The mysteries of men... She smiled and Heather frowned. “Anything?”

  “I’m not much of a television person. I haven’t had much time, working two jobs the past few years.”

  “What did you do in Vegas?” Heather turned off the TV.

  “I waited tables.” Cheyenne reached for her bottle of water and Heather slid it close for her to pick up. “And I was a dancer. Those ballet lessons finally paid off.”

  “Oh.” Heather bit down on her bottom lip. “Did you enjoy it?”

  Cheyenne laughed and shook her head. “Nothing in life prepared you for this, did it? I mean, who would have thought a Cooper would marry a showgirl.”

  “Really, Cheyenne, give yourself a break. And us? We’re not perfect.”

  “You look perfect to me.”

  “It’s an illusion. We fight. We make mistakes. We hurt each other. No perfect here. So did you enjoy your dancing career?”

  “No, I didn’t enjoy it, but I made decent money. Most of which my husband took to the casino.”

  “That’s rough.”

  “Not as rough as finding out we were never married.” There was more to the story, but it was the more that Heather didn’t need to hear, that no one needed to know. Like how it felt when Mark put her in a car and drove her to an abortion clinic. She closed her eyes against the memory.

  “Cheyenne, are you okay?”

  She looked up and smiled. “Of course I am.”

  “You looked like you were in pain. Jesse said to call if you had any pain at all.”

  “I’m not in pain.” She closed her eyes. “I’ll take a nap and you watch whatever you want. And don’t be afraid to go to sleep. I promise I’ll be okay.”

  She would be okay. She had always been okay. Somehow God would get her through this, and she would survive and raise her little boy. She slipped a hand to her belly and remembered how angry she’d been when she took that first pregnancy test. She’d called this unfair. She’d cried. She’d lost hope. And God had sent Reese Cooper.

  After she no longer had Reese, she would still be okay because she would still have God.

  * * *

  Reese climbed in the truck with Gage after a pretty sleepless night. He’d just gone out to check on Cheyenne. Rachel Johnson, their pastor’s wife, had brought a casserole and offered to sit with her while Reese ran a few errands.

  “You look rough.” Gage shifted into Reverse and backed the truck out of the parking lot.

  “Thanks. I feel pretty bad so it’s nice to know I look the same.”

  “Did you think I would start playing nice?” Gage laughed. “I’m the bad one, remember?”

  “Yeah, right. Where’s our little brother Dylan? At least he’s decent and has a good bedside manner.”

  “Dylan is meeting the folks in Kansas. And you’re right. He’s pretty near perfect.”

  “Is that anger I hear? What’s up with the two of you?” Reese clicked his seat belt in place and waited for Gage to answer. If he would answer.
r />   “Dylan is the one with the problem, not me.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “Nothing much. But if I have to knock him down again, I will.”

  “Gage, why don’t you go ahead and tell me what’s going on?”

  The truck picked up speed. “Nope.”

  “Fine.”

  “Where are we heading?”

  Reese turned down the loud rock music on the stereo. “Camp Hope.”

  “Okay. Fasten your safety device and put your seat in the upright position.”

  “I’d like to get there in one piece.”

  “Kidding. Stop taking everything so seriously.” Gage laughed. “I would never speed.”

  “Right.”

  A few minutes later they pulled up the long driveway to Camp Hope. Reese felt pretty certain they’d gotten there in record time. When they came to a stop he turned toward his brother.

  “One of these days, Gage, life is going to catch up with you.”

  “Yeah, it probably will. Fast trucks, loud music, faster living.”

  “Good thinking. Glad you listened to Mom and Dad.”

  Gage snorted. “You know, I’m about tired of being a Cooper. I’m tired of everyone thinking that being the kid of Tim and Angie means being perfect.”

  “No one said you had to be perfect. You can make mistakes without going crazy.”

  “Maybe I want to go a little crazy.” Gage sounded pretty serious. “Can you get a ride back to town?”

  “Seriously, you’re going to drive me out here and dump me?”

  Gage laughed. “Yep. Don’t worry. Adam just walked out of his office. I’m hitting the road. I’m not sure when I’ll be back.”

  “Gage, be careful.”

  “Will do.” Gage tossed something at him. Reese caught his hat and shoved it on his head. “Reese, I

  really am glad you’re doing okay.”

  “Thanks.” Reese stepped out of the truck and closed the door. As he stepped back, the truck moved past him and down the drive.

  “Was that Gage?” Adam walked up behind him.

  “Yeah, I think. Or some alien inhabiting his body. I came out to talk to you for a few minutes, but it looks like I’ll need a ride home.”

  “No problem. Are we going to talk about the camp?” Adam touched his arm. “There’s a picnic table over here. It isn’t too hot yet, and the fresh air feels pretty good after being inside.”

  “Yeah, it does.” Reese pulled the sunglasses out of his pocket and slid them on. “What is up with my brother?”

  “Growing pains?” Adam stopped him in front of the picnic table. “Right here.”

  “Thanks.” Reese sat down on the bench of the picnic table. A cold nose hit his hand and he smiled. “Jenna still raising collies?”

  “Collies and German shepherds.”

  “Nice.” He ran his hand over the thick coat. “About the camp... I like the idea, Adam. But I have something else I’d like to bring up.”

  “Shoot.”

  “A retreat for soldiers returning from combat. A place where they can get away for a few days or a week and not have to worry about fitting in, trying to make everyone else comfortable with what they’re going through. They can be around people who have been there. They can talk, maybe have group counseling sessions. A place where they can find a way back into life.”

  Adam whistled. “I like it. And what if we go one step further and do a family weekend once in a while?”

  “I have some money that I need to invest. I’d be happy to help build on. Whatever you need.”

  “I think this is a deal, Reese.” Adam reached for his hand and shook it, his grip tight. “I think Jenna is going to love this idea.”

  “Good.” Reese let out a breath, and then he relaxed with the warm sun on his face and the familiar scent of drying summer grass. In the distance he could hear horses whinnying and kids playing. He could picture it because he’d seen this a thousand times in his life. “It feels good to be here.”

  “What if we set you up an apartment on the campus?”

  Reese nodded. “I might take you up on that. I don’t need much.”

  “Have you forgotten you have a wife?” Adam’s tone teased but Reese heard the concern.

  What did he say? Cheyenne planned on staying in Dawson after her son was born. He wanted people to accept her, to include her. He didn’t want them to think the two of them had walked out on their marriage.

  “Cheyenne and I won’t...” He started over because Adam could handle the truth. “Adam, I married Cheyenne to give her insurance and a way to get back on her feet.”

  “So the marriage...?”

  “...will be annulled after her baby is born.”

  Again Adam whistled. “How do you feel about that? The two of you seem pretty tight.”

  “We’re friends.”

  “Gotcha.” Adam touched his arm. “Jenna is in the arena. Do you want to tell her what we’re going to do?”

  “Let’s go.” He stood and with the cane in his right hand he walked with Adam. New territory meant new obstacles. It meant being unsure of what was in front of him. He had no idea what lay between them and the barn. “As we walk could you give me the lay of the land?”

  “Yeah, of course. We were at the office, a single-wide trailer. You know that to the south of the office, that’s left after you come off the porch, is the chapel. We’re heading that way and then we’ll go left again. We’ll go past dorms and then we’ll be at the stable and the arena. There’s another dorm past the stable.”

  “Thanks. That helps.”

  It was a long walk and he didn’t have to stop. All of those weeks in physical therapy had gotten his body back in shape. For the most part, he’d gotten past the pain.

  “Right here.” Adam turned him toward the barn. “This door leads to the stable. It’s set up pretty much like the one at Cooper Creek but maybe not as fancy.”

  “Gotcha. Hey, do you still have that mechanical bull?”

  “Yep. You want on?”

  Reese followed him through the barn. “Maybe soon. At least if I fall off, it can’t chase me down.”

  “Hasn’t happened yet.” Adam stopped. “Jenna, we have company.”

  From the other end of the barn he heard Jenna yell that she’d be there in a minute. And then she squealed, “Reese.”

  “In the flesh.” He smiled and they started walking toward her. When she reached them she grabbed him in a hug that took him by surprise. “Is that you?”

  She laughed. “It is, and I’m so glad to see you out here. You’re going to join us?”

  “More,” Adam announced. “He has a plan for a retreat that gives soldiers a place to regroup.”

  “I love it.” She hugged him again.

  And then his phone rang. He smiled an apology and pulled it out of his shirt pocket. “Hello.”

  “Reese, it’s Jesse. We have Cheyenne and we’re taking her to the hospital. Her blood pressure is pretty high, and I think we might need to transport her to Tulsa.”

  “I’ll meet you there.” He hung up. “Adam, can you get me to the hospital? Jesse is taking Cheyenne in.”

  “Of course. Let’s jump in the farm truck. It’s parked here, and we won’t have to go looking for my keys.”

  “Thanks.” He reached and Jenna’s hand touched his. She placed his hand on her arm and walked him outside. Man, it hit him head-on. He couldn’t get to Cheyenne without help. He couldn’t get anywhere without help. Almost thirty years of independence yanked right out from under him. He took a deep breath and exhaled slow.

  At least he had people who were willing to help out. The positive for the negative. He wished the replacement thought helped. It didn’t mean too much today.

  “Climb in.” Jenna opened the door for him. “And call me when you know something.”

  “Will do.” He closed the door and Adam already had the engine cranked. Within minutes they were on the road toward Grove.

 
“I’m sure she’ll be okay,” Adam said as they drove. “My sister had preeclampsia, and even though it gave us a scare, the delivery and the baby were fine.”

  “Thanks.” It was not his baby and not really his wife. He knew the reality of the situation. They all knew. No one was fooled into thinking he would be going to his wife or bringing home a new baby.

  As they pulled up to the hospital, it felt every bit like his wife and his son in there, in jeopardy. He’d been praying hard like they were his. He’d been sweating it all the way to town, worrying about them.

  The truck jerked to a stop. “Here we are.”

  Reese got out and it was hard, waiting for Adam to join him. He wanted to get in there, get to her side.

  “This way.” Adam took him by the arm.

  “Way to feel like a man.” Reese muttered, fighting a huge dose of righteous anger that he had to work to get past. “Sorry, I appreciate you, Adam. It’s just this. The situation makes me want to hit something.”

  “I have a punching bag back at Camp Hope. You could take up boxing.”

  Reese laughed and then he got it. Adam wasn’t kidding. “Yeah, you know, that might be good. A way to take out my frustrations.”

  “Exactly.” Adam stopped walking. “We’re looking for Cheyenne...”

  “...Cheyenne Cooper,” Reese finished.

  “Right this way.” The nurse walked off and Reese stood there.

  “Another moment that I love. Where did she go?”

  “This way.” Adam guided him down the hall.

  “Reese.” It was Jesse’s familiar voice. Reese had never been so glad to hear his brother.

  “Where is she?”

  “Down here. I’ll take you.”

  “I’ll let you go with Jesse.” Adam patted him on the back. “Call when you know something. And we’ll all be praying.”

  “Thanks and I will.” He reached and Jesse took his arm. “How is she?”

  “Not good. Reese, we need to get her on a Medi Flight to Tulsa, but there isn’t an available helicopter. Her blood pressure is high and the baby is in distress. Dr. Richards isn’t here. The other obstetrician is in surgery. And our hospital isn’t equipped with a NICU.”

  “Okay, get a helicopter, Jesse.” He jerked away from his brother. “We’re Coopers. That should mean something. We should be able to take care of her.”