The Rancher and the Vet

by Julie Benson

  “Have I ever made you angry?”

  He smiled for the first time since Jess had gone missing. “Is that a rhetorical question?”

  She chucked. “Exactly. In all those times, I never once worried you’d hurt me. Then there was the night at the police station. You were so mad at Jess, but you never lifted a hand toward her.”

  “I thought about it.”

  “The important thing is you didn’t. Why can’t you see that? Why can’t you see what I do? A good, caring man desperate to do right by his niece and everyone else around him.”

  “Because I don’t know what I would’ve done if you hadn’t been there.”

  “You wouldn’t have hurt Jess.” Her voice rang with her certainty. She longed to hold him, to reassure him, but all she could do was rub his arm. The man wasn’t capable of violence. “If you think about it, deep down you know that. Your father attacked you. Did you fear for your life?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe. All I remember is that I couldn’t take the beatings anymore.”

  “You were defending yourself. If my father did to me what your dad did to you, I’d react the same way. I might not have the physical strength to beat him, but I’d hit him with whatever I could get my hands on, and I wouldn’t stop until he didn’t get up. Does that make you scared that I’ll hurt you?”

  “It’s not the same.”

  “Your father isn’t the only one who makes up who you are. Did you get your business sense from him? Is that where you got your negotiating skills?”

  He paused. His gaze focused on the road stretched out in front of them. “I remember one day before Mom died. While she was cooking dinner, Colt and I were sitting at the kitchen table working on homework. When Colt had trouble with his math, she came over to help him. She said he had to keep trying because getting a good education was important. She told us she wished she’d finished college, and that she’d dreamed of owning a clothing boutique, but she quit school to support her parents when her father became sick and lost his job.”

  He’d lost his mother so long ago. He carried childhood memories that probably had been overwhelmed by his dominant, unyielding father. Avery remembered his mother. Always smiling, she’d been genuine, affectionate and giving. All things Reed had to shut off to survive once she died.

  “Your business skills came from your mother. She’s in you, too, though you don’t realize it. You have her kind heart. You’ve done so much for me and for the shelter. You’ve worked hard to get to know Jess. You’ve learned from your mistakes.”

  “How can you say that after today?”

  “You screwed up. We all do.”

  “I still don’t know about children. The chances of me continuing the cycle of violence—”

  “Did Colt beat his wife or Jess?”

  “I’m not my brother.”

  “And you’re not your father. I can’t believe you’re afraid of a baby. You’ve been thrown into the deep end of the pool parenting-wise with a teenager, and you’re scared of a baby? Plus, you’ll have Griffin to turn to for advice. We can babysit Michaela to practice. By the time we have children you’ll be a pro.”

  He could either live his life in fear or he could take a risk, and end up having it all. “If you’re willing to take a risk on me—”

  “Isn’t that what I’ve been saying?” Avery rolled her eyes. “Now, is your proposal still on the table?”

  “If you’ll have me, yes.”

  * * *

  TWO HOURS LATER, when the police ushered Reed and Avery into a small security office in the airport, he still had no idea what he’d say to Jess.

  For a minute, he stood in the doorway staring at her, looking tiny sitting in the industrial metal chair.

  She refused to look at him. He deserved that.

  He walked forward, settled in the chair beside her and glanced at Avery for a shot of courage. He took a deep breath and faced his niece. “Jess, I don’t know what to say except I screwed up.”

  “You wanted to get rid of me.”

  “When your dad asked me to stay with you, I was so scared I’d mess up, or worse.” He clutched his knees to keep his hands from shaking. “My father used to beat the hell out of me.”

  “And Dad?”

  Reed nodded. “Your father was the best big brother. He protected me when he could, and I can’t tell you how many times he pulled me away before my dad and I could really go at it. One night after your dad moved away, my dad hit me. I nearly beat him to death. I was scared I might flip out one day and hurt you, too.”

  The ache in his chest eased. Letting go of the secrets he’d carried for so long felt freeing. “I had my lawyer working on getting your grandparents’ Association of Homeowners to make an exception for you to live there before I left California. I really believed that was best for you, but I never would’ve forced you to go live with them if you didn’t want to.”

  He wouldn’t mention that Colt knew what he’d been doing. Jess didn’t need to feel as if her father had been conspiring against her, too.

  She still hadn’t looked at him.

  “I’ve made more mistakes dealing with you than I have in my entire life. Talking to the reporter before I’d spoken with you was the biggest, but I’m willing to learn.” He placed his hands over Jess’s, and she finally glanced up at him.

  Her soft brown eyes glistened with tears. She’s so young, and I hurt her so much. “I love you, Jess. I always have. It took me a while to adjust to this stand-in-dad stuff, but now that I’m getting the hang of it, I like it.”

  She pulled her hands away from him and folded them in her lap. “Remember that day at the shelter when we were bathing Baxter?”

  He nodded.

  “I said if Dad died, I wouldn’t have anyone. You told me I’d have you. You lied to me.”

  Her justifiable pain cut through him. “I said that after I talked with the reporter, and I meant it. I was so happy with you and Avery that I forgot I’d even spoken to her. I should’ve called her back and told her to forget about doing the story, but I didn’t.”

  “What if you change your mind again?” Jess asked.

  “You have no reason to trust me, but I won’t change my mind. While I don’t deserve a second chance, if you give me one, I’ll do right by you. I’m willing to grovel if that’ll help.”

  Jess smiled ever so slightly and then bit her lip. “It might.”

  “I was an ass.”

  “And I’ll be happy to remind him of this if he ever starts acting like one again,” Avery added from the other side of the room.

  “What about my grandparents?”

  “Now, listen up. I’m not going anywhere,” Reed announced. “I’ll explain things to them. Even if they eventually come to stay with you here, I’m not leaving. And if you want to keep living with me when that happens, I’ll tell them that. You’re stuck with me. Got it?”

  Jess turned to Avery. “You’re my witness.”

  “Count on it.”

  He knew he had a long way to go to regain Jess’s trust, but at least she was giving him the opportunity. That was more than he deserved. “Now let’s get out of here.” Jess stood and he put one arm around her. Together they walked toward Avery. “Let’s go home.”

  Avery clasped his hand. “Since we’re at the airport, you should take the next flight to California. Save your business.”

  He shook his head. He had work to do at home with his family. “I’ll contact the district attorney in the morning to see if he’ll make an exception and start the paperwork without me being there.”

  “What have I missed?” Jess asked.

  After he gave her a brief explanation of his business situation, she said, “Could we go with you? I’ve always wanted to see San Francisco.”

  “Don�
��t you have a math test tomorrow?”

  She nodded, disappointment filling her gaze. Then she pouted. “Maybe we can go some other time. I just wanted to spend some time with you.”

  He laughed, seeing through her ploy, but thrilled by her actions. “Just because I was a jerk before and have a lot to make up for doesn’t mean you can pout and I’ll be a pushover.”

  “You can’t blame a girl for trying.”

  He glanced at the two females who filled his life with love. So what if she had a test? “I’ll write school a note saying you were sick. After what’s happened today, I’m not sure I want to let either one of you out of my sight.”

  * * *

  LATER THAT WEEK when they returned from San Francisco, Avery couldn’t help but smile as Jess regaled Nannette with the details of their trip. Reed stood on the patio grilling more burgers for the rest of her family, who were due to arrive any minute.

  Her family.

  She, Jess and Reed were just that. While he’d met with the district attorney to file charges, obtained the necessary affidavits and worked with his lawyer on a temporary injunction against Ethan, she and Jess had played tourists. They’d driven down Lombard Street, famous for its eight hairpin turns in one block. They’d visited Alcatraz, ridden the cable cars and seen the Golden Gate Bridge.

  “Reed says we’ll go back to San Francisco when we can stay longer, because he wants to show us all the stuff we didn’t have time to see.” Jess’s face glowed with enthusiasm as she explained how she and Reed had picked out Avery’s engagement ring.

  Staring at the simple, but way too large, emerald-cut ring, Avery realized that the fact that selecting it had been a family affair made the ring even more special. She and Reed hadn’t set a date yet. They both wanted Colt at their wedding. He’d be the best man, and she’d asked Jess to be her maid of honor.

  Plus, Avery wanted Reed to take time to settle things with his business before they dived into wedding plans. His lawyer indicated that, with the testimony from his employees and the no-competition clause Ethan had signed, Reed wouldn’t have any problem preventing his former friend from releasing a similar product. While in San Francisco he’d assembled his employees to discuss relocating to Estes Park. He said the company would pay relocation costs and give raises to those who wanted to move. For those who chose not to, he’d pay a year’s severance and offer assistance in finding other work.

  Reed materialized beside her and kissed Avery lightly on the lips. “A penny for your thoughts.”

  “That’s all they’re worth?”

  “I gave you a ring, but you want me to ante up for your thoughts?”

  She laughed.

  “Baxter, no!” Jess yelled. “Uncle Reed, your dog ate my hamburger and now he’s chasing Thor.”

  Reed shook his head and turned to Avery. “Those obedience classes can’t start soon enough.”

  “The good news is he hasn’t run away once since we brought him home from the shelter.”

  “The mutt knows a good thing when he’s got one.”

  He bent and kissed her long and deeply. Her heart overflowed with love. Life couldn’t be any better.

  His hands framing her face, his gaze open and loving, he said, “Looks like Baxter and I are both done running.”

  * * * * *

  Keep reading for an excerpt from Cowboy for Keeps by Cathy McDavid

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  Chapter One

  The tie choked worse than a pair of hands around his neck.

  Conner Durham yanked at the knot, loosening the tie, and then ripped it off altogether. He flung the offensive garment onto the passenger seat beside him, where his rumpled suit jacket already lay. The interview, his third with this particular company, had been a complete and utter waste of time.

  He wasn’t getting the job; the hiring manager had said as much before dismissing him with the dreaded “Thanks, we’ll be in touch.”

  Turning his truck onto the long drive leading to Powell Ranch, Conner slowed his speed to the posted ten miles an hour. He’d have to find a different way to vent his frustration other than pressing his pedal to the metal.

  Maybe he’d take Dos Rojo out, work the young gelding in the arena. He and the mustang, named for his distinctive red coloring, were still ironing out the kinks in their relationship, deciding who was in charge. So far, they were even, with Dos Rojo coming out ahead some days, Conner on others.

  Driving past the main horse barn, he headed for his quarters, a four-hundred-square-foot efficiency apartment. Hard to believe a mere six months ago he’d owned a five-bedroom house and spent money as if it did indeed grow on trees.

  No more, and not again in the foreseeable future, unless his luck drastically changed.

  Luck, the lack of it, had to be the reason he couldn’t find a decent job. It certainly wasn’t his qualifications. According to the one-in-twenty prospective employers who’d bothered to contact him after receiving his résumé, he had qualifications coming out his ears. Usually more than the job required.

  Little did they know Conner was already downplaying his education and experience in order to make himself more hirable.

  Inside the apartment, he swapped the rest of his dress clothes for a well-worn work shirt and jeans. Threading his belt through the loops, he fastened the gold buckle. It was one of his most cherished possessions and proclaimed him Arizona State Champion in steer wrestling. He’d won the buckle in college, before abandoning his cowboy ways in order to earn double MBAs and make his mark in corporate America.

  Which he did, for six years, only to fall victim to a massive layoff and departmental downsizing. In the five minutes it took Human Resources to inform Conner that his good pal and fellow manager would take over his position and absorb the few remaining members left on Conner’s team, his entire life had changed.

  A knock sounding on the door provided a welcome distraction. Another minute and Conner might have started feeling sorry for himself.

  Yeah, right. Who was he kidding?

  “Door’s open,” he called, pulling on his boots and standing.

  “You decent?” Gavin Powell, Conner’s lifelong friend and current boss, barged inside. His glance went straight to the sleeping area, where Conner stood in front of the haphazardly made bed. “Good, you’re ready.”

  “You need something done?”

  Instead of answering, Gavin sniffed around the kitchen counter.

  “Hungry?”

  “I missed lunch. How’d the interview g—”

  “Don’t ask.” Conner strolled into the kitchen, adjusting his Stetson till it fit snugly on his head. “You live in a house full of people. Didn’t one of them fix you some food?”

  “Sage and the baby are taking a nap, since someone kept us up last night, crying. Dad’s down with the flu. Between laundry and helping the girls with their homework, the afte
rnoon got away from me. Do you have any idea how many papers parents are expected to read and sign? Three, just for Isa to go on a field trip.”

  Last spring, Gavin and Sage had married, joining them and their two daughters, each from a previous relationship, into one big happy family. Now they had a two-month-old son, making their family even bigger and happier.

  “Never mind,” he complained. “I’ll grab some crackers in the office. Which, by the way, is where I need you to be in an hour.”

  “What’s up?”

  “I finally hired a photographer. She’s meeting with us at four-thirty.”

  “Us?” Conner quirked a brow.

  “You heard right. I need someone to act as a guide. Who knows the story of Prince and is familiar enough with these mountains to lead a day ride. You’re the only one I can spare fitting that description.”

  Conner didn’t argue. He owed Gavin for the roof over his head and the food on his table. Literally. If Gavin hadn’t rescued him a few months ago, when his severance pay ran out, he might now be living in his truck.

  “What about Dos Rojo?” Conner asked. “I want to work him in the arena before the equestrian drill team arrives for their practice.”

  “Then I guess you’d better get started.”

  They parted ways on the porch. As Conner crossed the open area and headed toward the horse barn, the many changes occurring at the ranch during the last two years struck him anew. His own apartment was once a bunkhouse, back in the days when the Powells had owned and operated a thriving cattle business. The smaller of the two horse barns had been expanded to include stud quarters for Prince, the Powells’ pride and joy. And the cattle barn, now a mare motel, housed the many horses brought to the ranch to breed with Prince.

  Like Conner, Thunder Ranch and the Powells had suffered a grave financial setback, a combination of the economic downturn, loss of their range and encroaching housing developments.