Redeeming the Texas Rancher

by Sands, Charlene

With that, her mother released her hand, but Cole held on a moment longer, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. Slowly, she inched her hand away, trying to disconnect, trying not to love him so much, trying to hold on to her anger. It was her only protection.

  The turkey came out tender, while the biscuits were a little undercooked, but all in all, the meal was delicious and everyone went for seconds. Thanksgiving was almost over and she’d made it through. After dinner she lent a hand to help clean up the kitchen beside Cole. He was humming, the low deep growl of his voice grating on her nerves.

  Humming?

  While she’d been hardly sleeping at night. Because of him.

  “I think I hear a frog croaking,” she said, wiping a platter.

  “No frog, just me,” he said, soaping up a big roasting pot.

  “What are you so happy about?”

  “I’m here, with you. Isn’t that enough,” he said softly, looking into her eyes.

  Their mothers were putting out dessert plates and fixing up the table for pie and coffee, out of earshot. At least, she hoped.

  “You know what?” She removed her yellow latex gloves and tossed them near the sink. “I’m through for now. I need some fresh air.”

  She left Cole in the kitchen and announced to Alice and her mom she was taking a walk. The ladies looked at each other, puzzled. Great, she’d aroused their suspicions. No matter, she had to get out of here. She grabbed her jacket, threw her arms into the sleeves and started walking down the street in her good shoes. Oh well. So she couldn’t walk as fast as she would’ve liked. It was fresh and brisk outside, the sun taking a back seat to gray clouds moving in quickly. She welcomed the crispness in the air, until she heard the click of boots from behind.

  Cole sidled up to her quickly. “Thought I could use a walk too.”

  She groaned. “I wanted to get away from you, in case you didn’t know.”

  “Oh, I figured.”

  “You didn’t finish cleaning up.”

  “It’ll keep.”

  “Our mothers are suspicious.”

  “I know that too.”

  “If you know so damn much, Cole, why are you out here with me?”

  She sped up her pace, walking as rapidly as her heels would allow, but it was no sweat for Cole. She wasn’t taxing his stride.

  “Maybe because I think we need to talk.”

  “I don’t want to hear it, Cole. You…you’ve hurt me.” She stopped walking, but refused to look at him.

  “I know I did. I never wanted to, sweetheart. I never wanted to see you hurt.”

  She waited him out. She couldn’t move, couldn’t say anything more.

  “I didn’t know Sarah would show up. And I didn’t know how I felt about her, either.”

  She gazed into his eyes then, bracing herself for his admission. He was still in love with her. Wasn’t he?

  “She’s gone, Day.”

  “You sent her away?”

  “It was mutual. We both have moved on with our lives. She’s got a great guy who loves her and wants to marry her. They have a lot in common. And I wish her all the best.”

  Day took some comfort in that. “You’re not in love with her still?”

  “I’ll always have feelings for her, Day. But only as a friend, a part of my past.”

  “Okay.”

  “And well, I’m sorry for everything. I want us to go back to the way we were. I’ve missed you.”

  “I’ve missed you too.”

  But it wasn’t enough. He wanted to go back to their secret affair. He wanted them to sneak around behind everyone’s back. He couldn’t commit to her, not the way she wanted. She wasn’t asking for the moon, for heaven’s sake. She only wanted to be treated like a real bona fide girlfriend. Was that so much to ask? Not that she would ask that of him. If he didn’t offer it freely, from his heart, she wasn’t going to force it out of him.

  He had to come to her with an open heart and mind.

  That’s the only way she would ever accept him.

  “But I’m sorry too, Cole. Because I’m afraid it’s too late to go back.”

  *

  Day would’ve liked to stay a little longer with her mother, but she’d promised Jillian she’d work at Barely There on Saturday. Yesterday, black Friday launched the official holiday shopping season and unfortunately for her, Cole was on the same early morning flight back to Texas. He never left the ranch for more than a few days—especially since his most trusted employee, namely her, was also away from the ranch.

  His dedication to the Circle R was something to be admired and it saddened her that she could no longer be a part of it. The first chance she got, she was going to make Arnold Jasper an offer for the property she’d had her eye on. Even if she had to do some creative financing, she was determined to make that plot of land her own.

  After saying goodbye to their mothers at the airport, she and Cole had boarded the plane together. Their seats, of course, were next to each other. Cole had made the reservations days ago, when things were good between them. Day wasn’t due to work until noon, and it was cutting it close, but she was certain she’d get there in time.

  Sitting next to Cole on the flight wasn’t ideal. She tried hard to ignore him for the most part, but the big handsome cowboy wasn’t easy to disregard with those broad shoulders and deep dark eyes.

  “I’m thinking I liked your pecan pie best of all,” he said. “You’re baking sure has improved.”

  “Is that a compliment, Cole? Because it could use some polishing up.”

  He laughed. “Don’t you recall all those attempts you made at making pies from scratch? You’d bring over your creation and we’d all have to swallow it down and pretend it wasn’t awful. I recall one blueberry pie that was as sour as a rotten lemon.”

  The memory made her smile. “Oh yeah, I forgot to put in the sugar on that one.”

  “You tried.”

  “I was, like, ten years old at the time.”

  “Yeah, you were just a kid.”

  “You’ve always looked at me as a child,” she said, suddenly unhappy about reminiscing with Cole.

  “Not lately, sweetheart,” he nearly growled. That low deep tone brought tingles. And that only pissed her off even more. “And like I said, I’d take your baking any day.”

  She frowned. He was buttering her up, but the damage was already done. She couldn’t go back to the way they were before.

  “I hate seeing you unhappy, Day.” The sincerity in his tone stunned her. “Things between us got all screwed up and I truly regret that,” he said quietly.

  “I do too, Cole.” She couldn’t face him or look him in the eyes. It was all too much.

  “I don’t know what you want from me,” he said quite seriously.

  Did it take a genius to figure it out? She wanted commitment. She wanted his love. She wanted a future with him. They were perfect for each other and even now that Sarah was gone and out of the picture he still couldn’t bring himself to admit that. He said he’d always love Sarah as part of his past, but he’d never loved her. Not even a little bit. And it was finally sinking in.

  But she could tell him what she wanted. She could finally get it off her chest and be done with it. He had to know how hard her heart was breaking. “I want everything, Cole. Everything you have to give and I won’t settle for anything less.”

  Cole stared at her and blinked. Fear entered his eyes. This thing with Sarah had really scarred him. Maybe he didn’t even know how much.

  After some time, the pilot came on over the loudspeaker to announce they were getting ready to land and that ended the conversation between them. She hooked up her safety belt, righted her seat and readied to touch down.

  Her conversation with Cole was over. They were over.

  The landing was a rough one, the wheels bumping and skidding along the airstrip, and she gripped the armrests tight.

  Cole’s hand came over hers and stayed there until the plane came to a complete stop and the
y were safe.

  “You okay?” he asked.

  “I’m…good,” she said. It was the biggest lie of her life.

  She’d never be good again.

  Chapter Ten

  By Saturday noon, Day was working the twelve-to-nine shift at Barely There. The place was hopping and Jillian had her full staff on duty. Coffee and treats were served but it was Barely There’s Saturday Super Sale that brought the patrons in. Word had spread to the surrounding ranching counties and new customers were arriving to check out the bargains. The day flew by and after a swarm of people and many sales later, Jillian finally put the Closed sign on the door.

  Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

  Day’s feet hurt, her eyes burned and her head spun around in circles. This morning she’d been in Arizona with her mother, then on a plane breaking up with Cole and tonight she was sitting around with her new friends, munching on the pepperoni and cheese pizza Jillian had ordered. It was the busiest day the shop had ever seen and they were celebrating with a bottle of red wine in the back room. Everyone had their shoes off, and the Cabernet certainly helped ease the weight of the day.

  “Um, this pizza is yummy,” Marcie said. “Mario’s can do no wrong.”

  “It does hit the spot,” Marla added.

  “Thanks to all of you and your dedication, we’ve recorded an all-time high in sales today. I couldn’t have done it without you. So raise your glasses and let me toast you, my fabulous staff.”

  Glasses clinked and everyone cheered the success of the store. Day was happy for Jillian. She’d come a long way and now had a life any woman would envy. The love a good man, an adopted child who adored her and a career that she managed to juggle exceedingly well.

  Day didn’t begrudge her the happiness. And she smiled and cheered with the rest of them, but inside she felt an unimaginable loss. Not only had she lost her love, but she’d lost her friend too. How could she ever go back to being Cole’s good buddy? How could she ever pretend that great loss wasn’t crushing her inside?

  It was almost nine-thirty when her phone beeped. Jillian’s also beeped a second later. They both read the group message at the same time. “Oh no,” Jillian said.

  And Day echoed her thoughts, adding, “Maddie’s gone into premature labor. She’s at the hospital now.”

  “Jack says the baby is six weeks early and is in some sort of distress. He’s going to meet me at the hospital.”

  “I’m coming too,” Day said. Maddie was a friend now, and someone she really cared about. Trey, Jack and Cole had been friends since forever and like it or not, she was a part of the group.

  “Don’t worry about the shop, Jillian,” Marcie said. “We’ll close up and take care of things. You two just go.”

  “Yes,” Marla added. “Go on, see to your friend. I’ll be sending along my prayers.”

  “Okay, thanks so much,” Jillian said, grabbing her purse and taking Day’s arm. “Let’s drive together.”

  And within ten minutes they were at Hope Wells Memorial Hospital. It took a few minutes to park and find out where the Walkers were. They were told that the labor was progressing but the baby’s heart rate was low and there was some concern. The respiratory team was standing ready in the room, but they weren’t sure how long it would be before the delivery.

  She and Jillian were directed to a waiting room in Maternity on the second floor of the three-level building. The hospital had been built ten years ago and serviced Hope Wells along with the other surrounding ranch communities. It was state of the art, from what Day had read and so that in itself made her feel slightly comforted.

  They took a seat next to each other. “I remember when Beau was in this hospital,” Jillian said. “He got knocked to the ground by some kid going way too fast on his bicycle. It was awfully scary, but Beau received expert care here and I’m sure Maddie will too.”

  “I’m sure too. The two of them are very excited about the baby,” Day said, pushing negative thoughts from her mind. She had to think positively. “He or she will be fine, right?”

  Jillian smiled. “Right. That’s what we’re all hoping for.”

  Jack and Cole walked into the waiting room together, their faces somber. Jack immediately walked over to Jillian and kissed her on the cheek. He sat down beside his wife on the opposite side and because the seats were grouped in threes, Cole took a seat across from them.

  “Is Monte watching Beau?” Jillian asked.

  Jack nodded. “But we need to update him every hour. He’s worried.”

  They all were.

  Cole glanced at her, a greeting with his deep dark eyes. She gave him a small smile, the best she could muster, and then looked away. It would be easy to seek him out, to have him take her hand and lend her comfort the way he did on the plane this morning. Cole was good for her in a crisis, but she’d have to get used to not relying on that any longer.

  She could do it.

  It would take time.

  Right now, her focus and all her prayers were for Trey and Maddie and that baby struggling for life right now.

  As long, quiet minutes passed she put her head down and dozed. She woke with a start somewhat later, sensing someone watching her. It was Cole, his gaze relentless, all that glorious deep brown focused on her. He was slouched in the chair, his long legs stretched out with one boot over the other. A sharp unwelcome thrill ran up and down her body. Damn, why couldn’t she be immune to him?

  Jack and Jillian were dozing beside her, Jillian’s head on Jack shoulder.

  And then footsteps approached and she turned to find Trey entering the room, wearing a hospital green scrub suit and a big smile on his face.

  “Trey?” She jumped out of her seat, waking the sleepy couple beside her.

  “We have a healthy baby girl.” Tears welled in his eyes, the strain—despite his big smile—evident on his face.

  Day approached him first. “I’m so happy for you! Congratulations. And baby and mama are fine?”

  “They are. Both are troopers. The baby had some fluid in her lungs, but the respiratory team worked on her and said she’s going to be fine. She’s pretty tiny though.”

  Jillian reached him on tiptoes and gave him a hug. “Thank God everything’s okay.”

  Jack joined in on the hug, patting his cousin’s back. “Congrats, man. We were all worried.”

  “No more than me,” he said in great relief.

  Cole waited for Jack to back away before shaking Trey’s hand. “Congratulations. You’re a new daddy. How does that feel?”

  “Pretty darn surreal. Gosh, she’s little. She’s only five pounds one ounce.”

  “Tiny, but mighty,” Cole said.

  “Amen to that. And Maddie and I want you all to see the baby. We’ve gotten the okay from the doctor. But only for a few minutes.”

  “Really?” Day’s eyes widened. “I’m in.”

  “Me too,” Jack and Jillian chorused together.

  “Count me in too.” Cole made it unanimous and Trey led them down the hall into the labor delivery room.

  Maddie was propped up against the bed, her face beaming as she held her sweet baby bundle. Only the infant’s teensy face appeared out of the striped receiving blanket. But it was enough to see how precious she was.

  “Hi, everyone. Meet our daughter, Isabella.”

  Day took a peek at mama and baby and her heart nearly burst. The baby was a miracle. Joy entered her heart and she automatically looked to Cole. He caught her gaze, and his brows lifted as if something had just dawned on him. As if he was seeing her for the first time. The connection stymied her. She shouldn’t have looked at him. She shouldn’t wish for things he was incapable of giving her. She gulped air and refocused on the baby. “I love her name.”

  “So do we,” Trey said, the proud papa.

  “She’s gorgeous. Maddie, congratulations. And thank you for letting us see her,” Jillian said. Jack wrapped his arm around his wife’s waist then, his gaze lovingly on the new
addition to the Walker family. Judging by the way they were ogling Isabella, it probably wouldn’t be long now before they had a baby of their own and give little Beau a brother or a sister.

  “She ten times pretty,” Cole said softly.

  “Thanks, I think so too,” Maddie said. “I’m so happy you’re all here to share this day with us.”

  The nurse walked in then, and stated there were too many people in the room. Dakota was the first to say farewell. It was almost midnight and luckily tomorrow wasn’t a workday for her.

  She walked out of the room and into the elevator, pushing the first-floor button. When she glanced up Cole was entering the elevator right behind her. “I’m told you need a ride.”

  “I don’t…oh, yeah I guess I do. Jillian drove me here. Actually, I only need a ride to my car. It’s parked behind the shop.” What choice did she have? Jillian and Jack were family and wanted to stay a little longer. She could be stubborn and wait for them but rather than cause a scene, she accepted the ride. “If it’s not too much trouble. Thank you.”

  Cole snorted at the formality in her voice. It was her only defense.

  They exited the hospital silently and Cole put a hand to her back, leading her into the parking lot. “My car’s over here.”

  And a minute later, she was in his SUV heading toward Barely There. It was a short drive to the shop, and once they arrived, Cole parked and turned to her. “The baby’s pretty cute.”

  “She’s precious.”

  “What a relief both of them are okay, right?”

  Day gripped the door handle. “Yes it is. Well, thanks again. I’ve gotta go. I’m tired and I bet you’re beat too.”

  Cole sighed. “I liked it better when we were tired together.”

  Day squeezed her eyes closed. Sleeping with him had been a dream come true and those memories were always with her. To have Cole bring them up just wasn’t fair. “Yeah, well…that was then.”

  Cole hesitated, his lips drawing down before giving a curt nod. Maybe she’d finally gotten her point across.

  “Goodnight, Cole.”

  And with that she climbed out of his car and got into hers. She started the engine and drove off, Cole following behind her, until the fork in the road divided them.