Rafe: (Contemporary Western Romance) (New Horizon Ranch: Mule Hollow Book 2)

by Debra Clopton

  Chapter Twelve

  Two hours later, after Rafe had let the others know they’d have to grab dinner at Sam’s or fix it themselves, he called ahead and ordered a to-go order from Sam’s and picked it up at the back door. This was a date night for him and Sadie and he wanted as few people as possible to know about it…three people to be exact. Sam, he knew could keep a secret.

  He wanted Sadie all to himself and tonight he planned to have it that way.

  “There are a lot of beautiful places on this ranch. The unique thing about Mule Hollow area is the landscape. We’re not exactly hill country but we’re not exactly central Texas either. We have the best of both landscapes. Rocks, and valleys and vistas and yet we have oak trees that make artist’s fingers itch to paint them. And in the spring the bluebonnets are like carpets they are so lush. I’m taking you to a great place for this…date.”

  Sadie smiled at him from her seat and didn’t object to the use of date. “You love this place don’t you?”

  He nodded. “I do. I find peace here.” He drove through the pastures glad they were almost to their destination.

  “Peace. That sounds wonderful.” She suddenly sounded a little down.

  “Are you having second thoughts about calling off your wedding?” His stomach knotted looking at her. She shook her head and relief surged through him. Parking the truck to a halt near a stand of trees, he covered her hand with his. “Then what’s bothering you?”

  She bit her lip and glanced out the window.

  “Sadie?”

  “I thought you wanted to show me a great place?”

  His gut re-knotted. “Sure. Let’s go. It’s a short walk but the payoff is worth it.”

  “As long as you have a flashlight to get me back then I’m okay.” She laughed.

  “I have one. Nothing’s going to happen to you on my watch.” He glanced at her over his shoulder and wondered if that was what was bothering her…or was it something more serious than a dark walk through the woods.

  Sadie stared from the rocky cliff out over the river running rapidly about fifty feet below them. It was easy to see that and then on across the pastures as the sun began setting over the valley. “This…makes me speechless.” She glanced over at him and found him staring only at her. The turmoil churning in her stomach ramped up at the way he was studying her.

  “You make me speechless,” he said gently, his voice husky.

  She groaned silently-the man could send rockets to the moon with those eyes of his. Focus, Sadie. Focus. “No wonder you find peace here,” she said, softly then forced her eyes back to view-the landscape not the hot cowboy with the dreamy, dreamy eyes.

  “Yeah, the views are fantastic. The people too. You fit right in.” He tugged gently on a strand of hair hanging across her shoulder. “We…better eat before it gets cold.”

  “Good idea.” She breathed a sigh of relief since she was having thoughts that involved getting lost in the woods for days with Rafe Masterson.

  That was a really, really appealing idea.

  He spun on his boots and strode toward the backpack and Sadie busied herself helping get the blanket settled that he pulled out of it. Her pulse had gone from skittering to roaring like a wildfire in the last few seconds.

  She knew her emotions were off. Knew she shouldn’t trust them. Knew that the thoughts she was thinking were…emotionally overcharged because of everything that was going on in her head. But when he sank to that blanket and patted the spot beside him she didn’t hesitate. She sank down on the blanket and forced herself to look back at the landscape. But nothing she could do could stop the tingles that radiated through her as their shoulders brushed together then stayed connected, as if magnetically attached.

  As he handed her a plate and their fingers brushed and she shivered. “I know this is going to be great. Sam’s an amazing cook,” she babbled causing Rafe to chuckle.

  “Yes he is.”

  They ate in silence then and watched the sun as it began to change into an array of vivid oranges and pinks that seemed to accentuate the feelings filling her sitting beside Rafe.

  “Why don’t you have a girlfriend?” It was obvious that he didn’t have one but she simply could not understand it. The man could have his pick it seemed. And from what she’d heard casually mentioned from Maddie he hadn’t dated anyone seriously at all. Not even more than a few casual dates.

  He stood and went over to a pile of limbs piled at the edge of the trees and pulled a few out and set them up to make a fire. She pulled her legs up to her and wrapped her arms around them, resting her chin on her knees as she watched him, waiting for him to answer her question.

  “I had a fiancé,” he said after he’d piled the branches into a pyramid and pulled a butane starter from his backpack to light some dried leaves and twigs.

  “What happened?” she asked when she couldn’t stand waiting for him to continue any longer.

  “I learned that she was only with me because I was doing well in the circuit. As soon as I messed up my knee she was gone.”

  There was a tightness and an edge to his quietly spoken words. Sadie flinched inwardly at the blow that must have dealt him. Losing his career, his dream and his fiancé, the woman he loved at the same time. No wonder he was cautious or leery of dating. “She just left?” the question came out before she could stop it.

  Finished getting the fire started he rose from his crouched position and stared up at the moon that now hung brightly over the valley below them. Its glow reflected off the river below. It looked like a gorgeous silver strand of ribbon deceptively peaceful looking when she knew the river was powerful and turbulent. Much like Rafe’s appearance at the moment. Though he looked calm and resigned she sensed the deep, hurt raging through him. She wanted to reach out to him. But she didn’t.

  She forced herself to remain seated clutching her knees instead of him. How could this woman have done that to him?

  He shrugged and came to settle back on the blanket beside her. “It was a little more complicated than that. In reality I knew it was coming. We’d started fighting all the time. She was disappointed that I didn’t win the championship the year before. And I was disappointed that she didn’t want to go ahead and get married and start a family. She didn’t want a family right away.”

  “And you did.”

  He nodded. Sadie’s heart clutched thinking how badly she wanted a family. And how often she’d talked with him about it. Andrew was focused-or so she’d thought he was focused on his career. “I did and I do. But,” he looked straight at her with eyes that reflected the moon. “I had my accident seven years ago and I’ve never found anyone in all that time who inspired me to risk loving again.”

  Sadie couldn’t look away. Her lungs burned with the need to breathe but she couldn’t. He was saying… “Why are you looking at me like that?” She knew in her heart of hearts that she was hoping, praying that the look in his eyes meant she had changed his outlook.

  He thread his fingers through her hair and cupped her head as he looked deeply into her eyes. “And then I met you. And you, from the very first moment inspired me to hope again. Does that scare you?”

  “A little.” She had to be honest. Everything about Rafe turned her world upside down. “I’ve just made major changes in my life. This is all happening so fast. It hasn’t even been a whole week.”

  “And yet I know that I want you in my life. I’m falling in love with you.”

  His words tumbled through her joyously-before she shut them down. “Rafe this is too fast-” her words were cut off when Rafe kissed her-took her breath away with a long, slow kiss.

  She knew that without a doubt she’d made the right, rash decision six days earlier. Because if she hadn’t gone by her ex’s condo to call off her wedding then tomorrow she would have married the wrong man. For the wrong reason.

  And she would have missed out on finding Rafe.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Sadie went through Saturday in
a daze. She felt such relief knowing that she’d dodged the mistake of her life when she’d called off the wedding. There was no longer any trepidation or guilt about her decision. It had been right.

  The dazed part was because of Rafe. In a matter of a short few days he’d stolen her heart-she tried to talk herself out of this notion.

  Could she trust her heart after nearly messing up so badly with Andrew?

  She made it through breakfast and was proud of the fact that all the food was edible. Everyone teased her and had a good laugh over the lasagna episode and their chant became “Where’s the lasagna” every time they saw her. It was funny and she didn’t mind being teased about it.

  Rafe lingered in the kitchen before following Chase, Dalton and Ty out to the trucks. “How are you doing today?” he asked.

  “I’m okay,” she said. “I know that calling the wedding off was the right move and Amber saved me so much by canceling everything so I’m fine.”

  “Good, I just wanted to make certain.” He gave an encouraging smile that was so sexy Sadie was still baffled by how this amazing man was still walking around single.

  “We’ll see you at lunch?”

  She nodded. “And then I head over to No Place like Home for a bunny visit to the kids.”

  He surprised her with a sudden hard, quick kiss that sent her pulse skyrocketing. “You have a good heart Sadie Archer. I love that about you.” And then he strode out the door and Sadie slumped against the stove watching him leave.

  “Oh my word…” she whispered. Could this really be happening?

  Before she could move Rafe strode back into the kitchen. His expression was almost fierce as he zeroed in and he crossed the room to her.

  Sadie’s heart thundered and her knees grew weak at the intensity of his gaze. He swept her into his arms.

  “This is crazy, Sadie. But I just need you to know how I feel about this. Do you feel it too?”

  She nodded, holding his gaze but unable to speak because her mouth had gone parchment paper dry. But she did know what he was talking about and managed a stunned nod.

  “Good,” he said, a hint of a smile touching his lips, his eyes serious as they held hers. “Because I’m making myself clear right here and right now that I love you-and I hope that doesn’t run you off, but I plan to do whatever it takes for as long as it takes to prove to you it’s true. I want to win your heart. I want you in my life from here on out.”

  It really was happening. It really was. “I feel the same way. But-I need to take it slow.”

  He smiled. “We’ll go as slow as you want. Just as long as you know I’m not a man to toy with your affections and I’ve never felt like this before. You’re the best thing that has ever come into my life. Just so you know I aim to marry you, Sadie. If you’ll have me.” And then he kissed her.

  “Wait,” Sadie said, and pulled away. “Too fast. Way too fast.”

  Rafe pulled back gave her a serious look that caused her heart to pound harder-if that were even possible-then he tipped his hat. “Slow and easy from here on out. I just needed you to know how I felt. And, Sadie, I’m a one woman man, you are all I’ll ever want or need.”

  And then he strode out of the kitchen and Sadie had to sit in the nearest chair as her knees gave way.

  Was this really happening? Could she let this happen?

  Her heart felt heavy suddenly and flashbacks of walking in and finding Andrew and his secretary filled her mind.

  She had never felt so low or used in all of her life.

  Could she risk that again?

  Could she?

  Two hours later, still confused and worried about what was happening in her heart, Sadie had her bunny suit on-including her head with the floppy pink ears and her whiskered nose. She walked through the door of the beautiful large home that housed the refuge for abused women and their children, No Place Like Home.

  “Here comes Flossy the Bunny,” exclaimed Esther Mae who was peeking around the doorway of a room where the children were all gathered. Norma Sue stood at the other side of the arched entrance and was beaming as she gave Sadie a thumbs up when Sadie passed by her and the room where the children were sitting cross-legged on the floor waiting.

  “Hello, I’m Flossy alright,” she said, with enthusiasm, her heart turning over as she took in each tiny face looking up at her. As it had been from the first moment she’d ever experienced this sensation Sadie knew she was doing exactly what she was supposed to be doing. She loved the joy and wonder that exuded from the children. “I heard there were some boys and girls around here who wanted me to bring them some candy and read a couple of stories to them. Am I at the right place?”

  “Yes!” They cried in unison.

  Sadie’s heart melted as she took the pink sack she carried over her shoulder and set it on the ground in front of her as she sank into the waiting chair Adela was standing beside. “Well, then, let’s see what we have.” She grinned inside the big head-knowing that her bunny face had a huge smile on it already, she sometimes wished the kids could see how much joy their faces actually gave her. She pulled out lollipops and a small sack of homemade goodies that the Matchmakin’ Posse had fixed up for the ten children that were in the room. The matchmakers did more for this community than fix up couples. They had huge hearts, it was easy to see that as they helped her pass out the bags.

  Dottie and the mothers sat in chairs behind the kids and Sadie had to block out the sadness from looking at the fading bruises on two of the women’s faces. Thankfully none of the children had bruises-at least not visible ones. She knew though, that more than likely their little hearts were in turmoil from the experiences they’d been through. Pushing that out of her thoughts she pulled out the first story.

  “Y’all ready for a story?”

  A little girl took the treat Adela held out to her and then came over to Sadie and stared up into her face. Sadie’s heart melted and then the little girl kissed her bunny cheek. “Thank you,” she whispered in Sadie’s big ear then she turned and hurried to her seat.

  “You have big feet,” said a little boy sitting in the front row. He was eating his lollipop.

  “They help me hop a long way.” Sadie smiled, and opened the book and began to read. She’d read the story so much over the last few months that she almost knew the story by heart. When she was done, she gave the children time to ask questions and after they were done she let the ladies lead them into the dining room and kitchen area where they had refreshments set up and a cute photo shoot area where Sadie took a photo with each child. One little girl, with dark hair and big navy eyes watched her intently for most of the time and finally when it was time to get her picture, she came over and climbed up into Sadie’s lap and gave her a kiss on her fuzzy cheek. Sadie’s heart turned to mush right there.

  When it was time to leave after many hugs and waves and the promise to return she headed out the door. Before she got to her car a young woman came from inside and stopped her. She had a fading bruise on her cheek.

  “Thank you,” she called. “Olivia, the shy little girl who kissed you. That’s my daughter. She, she hasn’t talked much since I took her and left her daddy.”

  “I’m so sorry. I noticed how cautious she was being. It’s probably understandable given the situation you must have been in. I find you very brave.”

  “I don’t feel brave. I feel like such a failure.”

  Sadie thought about how she’d been feeling with the whole Andrew fiasco. “You know, I recently called off my own wedding and ran. And if I let myself dwell on that I'd feel the same way. But, I’m not going to let myself do that. I thank God that my eyes were opened before I got myself into the bad situation that I was about to get myself into. I’m thankful for you and for the sake of your little girl that your eyes have been opened and you got out of your situation before you were hurt anymore, or Olivia was hurt anymore.” Sadie took off her bunny head so the woman could see her. “You are not a failure and neither am I. We’re t
wo women who have to take the first steps of the rest of our lives. What’s your name?”

  “Beverly.”

  “It’s nice to meet you Beverly. We are taking the first steps of the rest of our lives together. And we have a whole new, bright future ahead of us. I think that makes us successes. We’re in control of where we go from here.”

  “Thank you.” Beverly smiled cautiously. “You’re right.”

  Sadie reached out then and placed her paw on Beverly’s arm. “I’m staying at the New Horizon ranch. Dottie has my number. If you want to have lunch one day or coffee, call me. I’d love to visit.”

  Beverly’s eyes grew misty and she nodded.

  “I mean it, Beverly. You are not alone here. One thing I’ve found out about Mule Hollow is that it’s a welcoming generous place. And I want to be a part of that generosity. I’d love to take you to lunch and be your friend.”

  “Okay. I’ll call.”

  Sadie couldn’t help herself, she hugged her. And then she rolled up her eighteen inch feet and squeezed her large bunny rump into her car and drove back to New Horizon Ranch. And she was smiling all the way.

  She wasn’t going to let herself be held back by fear any longer.

  Chapter Fourteen

  She drove into the yard to find a shiny red Corvette sitting in the drive. Her heart sank and she scanned and found Andrew sitting at the patio table looking out of place in his business suit and tie. “Andrew, what are you doing here?”

  He crossed the patio to her, a frown on his face. “I came to explain. To fix this.”

  Sadie stared at him. “Explain what? There is no way you can explain yourself out of the situation that involved you locked in an embrace, kissing your secretary, like there was no tomorrow.”

  “It was nothing. It just happened. It didn’t mean anything.”

  “Whoa, just hold on a minute.” Sadie almost laughed this was so ridiculous. “Telling me it meant nothing is not helping your situation. Telling me you are sorry and you made a horrible mistake would be the better thing to say but even that wouldn’t help this situation or make a difference.”