* * *
SINCE HER SISTER was working Saturday morning, Tara went out to the ranch to visit Walt and do more planning for the dance.
Josh met her as she got out of the car, and she hoped he wasn’t going to launch another discussion of why they shouldn’t have kissed. Once was bad enough—a second time would be downright insulting.
“Grandpa told me you’re working on the Boxing N dance,” he said brusquely.
It sounded like an accusation, and Tara raised her chin. “Yes. He said your mother has been asking about it, but he needed help making the arrangements, especially since there wasn’t much time left to put it together.”
“I see.” Josh’s face had its usual uptight expression.
“Let me guess. It’s your ranch and your land, so you’re upset that no one asked permission to hold a dance.” Yet as soon as Tara spoke, she knew it wasn’t fair. Walt should have talked to his grandson about the dance; she just didn’t want to acknowledge that to Josh.
“Not at all,” he returned stiffly. “But you were hired to organize the office, not plan social events. Are you expanding your résumé?”
“I’m doing it because Walt asked and he’s a... That is, I just wanted to help.” Tara had stopped herself from saying that Walt was a friend, but it was true. She’d come to care about him and knew he felt the same for her.
It was a peculiar revelation. She’d done things many people would call exotic and unique, odd or amazing, but to her, being able to call someone a friend was out of the ordinary, and warmth curled inside her at the thought.
Tara’s chin shot higher. Her arrangements with his grandfather weren’t Josh’s concern. “So what is your problem?”
He sighed. “Nothing, I guess. It’s just that the dance was something Grandma loved, and it almost seems wrong to have it so soon. She hasn’t even been gone for eight months.”
Tara’s exasperation vanished. How could she possibly understand how it felt to lose someone she loved as much as Josh had loved his grandmother?
“Wouldn’t she want the event to continue?” she asked carefully. “Walt told me it was special to her.”
Josh released a heavy breath. “Yes, that’s why I told Betty at the Roundup Café that we’d have it next year.”
“The dance is in two weeks,” Tara murmured. “If you prefer, you could help your grandfather instead of me.”
Josh instantly looked alarmed. Yet a curious thought came to her... Both men cherished Evelyn’s memory. Wasn’t that the most important common ground between them...not the Boxing N Ranch?
“I think Grandpa would prefer working with you,” Josh said, “but I’d like to be the one who pays for the time you spend on making the party arrangements.”
Though anger welled in Tara, she tried not to let it take control.
“The other day I saw an article from something called the Schuyler Outpost, dated August 20, 1892,” she commented casually. “It talked about hoof-and-mouth disease.”
Josh’s eyebrows drew together in confusion. “The Outpost was the town newspaper back then. Luckily we’ve never had an outbreak of hoof-and-mouth in the area.”
“I disagree... I think you have a raging infection right now. You have a lot of nerve trying to pay me for doing Walt a favor. He’s my friend and I’m glad to work with him on this.” She spoke more loudly than she’d intended.
A dull red crept up Josh’s neck. “I wasn’t trying to insult you.”
“Maybe so, but stop making assumptions about me and everyone else,” she advised tightly.
With that, she turned and unlocked the office door to wait for Walt.
* * *
LAUREN FINISHED HER SHIFT at the clinic and walked back to her apartment. She was unbelievably tired. Now that the workday was over, her depression came rushing back, along with exhaustion. It was amazing how much energy it had required to push her feelings aside and focus on patients.
She’d done what was necessary and told Carl to find someone who was strong enough to stand by his side and be a true partner. He didn’t need a wimp who’d panic because he was in danger or couldn’t even voice her opinion if she disagreed with him.
Sometimes doing the right thing was a real “pain in the neck traveling south,” as Tara sometimes described it.
Her sister was sitting in the grassy area in front of the apartment, reading a book. Despite everything on her mind, it made Lauren feel good that her sister would simply drop by for a visit.
“Hey.”
“Hey, back.” Tara cocked her head and frowned. “What’s up? You look as if something is wrong.”
Lauren’s eyes widened. She’d become an expert at hiding unpleasant feelings from people in case they rocked the boat. How had Tara guessed something was going on beneath the mask?
“I...” She bit her lip and blinked back a threatening tear. Part of her wanted to pour everything out to her sister, and another part still worried that Tara would think less of her.
Tara stood and tucked her book in a bag. “Maybe we should go inside to talk.”
Mutely Lauren nodded. She unlocked her door, and they went into the apartment. Sinking into the couch, she tucked her legs under her and watched as Tara took the chair opposite.
“Okay,” she said, “what’s wrong?”
“It’s truly silly.” Lauren gulped. “It isn’t as if I broke up with Carl. We weren’t even going out, not really.”
Tara winced. “I’m afraid this is my fault. In spite of what you said about not clicking, I thought you liked him. So when he asked for advice, I thought he should give it another try. I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t blame yourself. I don’t want to like him, but I do,” Lauren admitted.
“Then what happened?”
“Nothing. I just told him that anything other than friendship was out of the question.”
“Is this about you thinking you aren’t bold enough?”
Lauren nodded miserably. “Yes, though it’s also partly because his work is so dangerous. He could get hurt or killed whenever he goes on duty. Even when he isn’t on duty, he’s on duty. You should have seen him break up a fistfight one time when we were at the movies. But it’s a lot more than that. I’m scared of arguments,” she admitted in a rush. “Even when people have small disagreements I get cold chills.”
“Why does conflict bother you so much?” Tara asked gently.
“My folks. It was wonderful when they adopted me, but their marriage was in trouble, even then. They argued constantly, and it got to the point that I cringed if anyone raised their voice or got upset. It always felt as if everything was about to get ripped away.”
Instead of scorn, Lauren saw sympathy in Tara’s eyes. “That must have been awful. You’ve never said anything about it.”
“I...didn’t want to tell you because...well, I didn’t want you to think I was stupid. Not to mention it seems selfish to complain about my family when you never got adopted. So here we are—you’re brave and I’m nothing but a coward.”
She was stunned when Tara laughed. “Good grief, Lauren. In some ways you’re braver than me. I would never have the nerve to give someone a shot or stitch up an injury. But it doesn’t matter, anyhow. You’re my sister. I’ve got my own hang-ups from childhood, and yours aren’t any worse than mine.”
Lauren slowly let the air out of her lungs. “Except you’re always confident and put together.”
“I learned early not to show weakness. That way nobody can hurt you, because they can’t find anything to exploit.”
It made Lauren sad, perhaps because Tara sounded so calm and matter-of-fact. For herself, she only remembered living in one foster home before being adopted. Children had come and gone in the Baxter household, and while they had made it clear they were guardians, not re
al parents, they’d been kind people.
“What did Carl say when you told him you just wanted friendship?” Tara asked.
“He was nice. I mean, he didn’t get upset or anything.”
Curiously, Lauren knew she might feel better if Carl had pushed harder, but he’d accepted her decision without protest. She supposed that deep down, a lot of women wanted someone who would fight for them, no matter how many barriers were put in their way.
Her spirits lifted marginally as she and Tara ate dinner together. They were growing closer. Tara had even recognized she was upset. Before, Emily was the only person who would have seen how she was really feeling.
It was something she could hug to herself when she tried to sleep that night.
* * *
JOSH SAT ON THE porch of the foreman’s house late into the evening, staring toward his grandparents’ home. At some point he’d have to either build his own place or build another one for the foreman. It was okay for now. Clyde and his wife were buying a home in Schuyler and didn’t want to move out to the Boxing N. Josh could cover any emergencies that came up at night, and Clyde could always be reached by phone if needed.
At the moment there were other issues to consider.
The annual party had become a well-established tradition, starting with his grandparents’ marriage, though the Boxing N had hosted community barn dances for over a hundred years. And it seemed as if everyone had been sad that it might not take place.
But Josh’s frustration had mounted that morning when one of the hands mentioned he was supposed to mow the pasture for the event and fill the gopher holes. Once more, things were happening on the ranch without his permission, even without his knowledge. Then he’d learned that Tara was involved, and it had almost felt as if she was taking Grandma Evelyn’s place.
Why hadn’t Walt asked his daughter to help? Sarah McGregor should be the one planning and organizing, not a prickly city woman.
Suddenly realizing his mom might be upset about it, Josh called her. But before he could say anything about the party, she thanked him for talking his grandfather into holding it, refusing to believe he hadn’t been involved in Walt’s decision. She felt it was a good sign that he was taking matters into his own hands.
And it was.
When the call was over, Josh took a deep breath and stood. He’d acted like an ass. Unfortunately it wasn’t the first time, and it probably wouldn’t be the last.
CHAPTER TEN
THE NEXT SATURDAY MORNING Josh was busy dressing a wound on a cow brought in by Patch Standish. Range cattle didn’t enjoy being corralled, and this one was turning a relatively minor case of first aid into a rodeo.
Dodging another kick, Josh saw Tara and his grandfather ride past.
What the devil is going on?
The moment of inattention cost him; the cow landed a hoof in his stomach. Patch snickered. They’d tied the animal well, so it wasn’t able to do significant damage, but it had still put some oomph into its indignant kick. They would keep her confined until they were sure she was healing without infection, but in the meantime she was a very cranky gal.
When Josh had finished disinfecting the gash, he quickly went to the horse corral and saddled Lightfoot.
A cold sweat broke out on his brow as he rode in the direction Walt and Tara had gone. He’d stayed away from them both over the past week, but he couldn’t ignore it when Walt was doing something unsafe.
What if Grandpa lost control of his horse? He could fall trying to dismount. His slowly healing ligaments and muscles could even be reinjured simply by mounting and stretching his leg over the saddle.
Josh urged his stallion along, praying he wouldn’t find a disaster ahead of him.
At length he halted Lightfoot on a rise, gazing in every direction before finally spotting two figures. They seemed to have stopped beneath the shade of a black cottonwood tree and were looking toward the mountains.
Not wanting to thunder up and spook the other horses, Josh slowed Lightfoot to a walk when he got close. Through the rustling of leaves in the breeze, he heard Tara’s low, sultry laugh.
Walt must have heard his grandson’s approach, because he turned his head.
“Hey, Grandpa,” Josh called. Now that he could see everything was all right, he wondered if he’d overreacted. Again. “I was concerned when I saw you ride out. I didn’t know the doctor had okayed you to ride.”
Irritation crossed the old man’s face. “I don’t need a babysitter. Anyway, I brought Tara along for company.”
“I see.” Josh knew his tone was dry. Despite the assistance Tara had given with Andrew, it was hard to think of her as adequate support in case of emergency. She probably couldn’t even find her way back to the house.
“I’m perfectly all right,” Walt emphasized.
Josh hadn’t missed that his grandfather was sidestepping the question about the doctor. “Didn’t the orthopedist say to take it easy?”
“You don’t see me roping cattle or branding them, do you?”
“Riding can be strenuous.”
“How? I’m on the finest fence-riding horse on the ranch.”
“Zelda is a sweetheart,” Josh admitted.
His grandfather had chosen well—Zelda was an unflappable mare with a sweet, even gait. Josh sighed, recalling what Tara had said about not treating Walt as if he was a child. It was all too easy to fudge on important things like dignity and pride, though his grandfather was equally guilty on that issue.
“Besides, Tara and I’ve gone out several times and nothing has happened,” Walt announced, his glare daring Josh to say something.
Several times?
How had he missed that? Josh glanced at Tara, but her face remained expressionless. His frustration flared again; it was unlikely his grandfather would have attempted to go riding if she hadn’t been there.
“Do you mind if I join you?” he asked.
Walt shrugged, and she shook her head. They started moving again.
The silence was awkward, but Josh ignored it and kept a discreet watch on his grandfather. The tension on Walt’s face suggested pain, though it could also stem from annoyance that he’d been caught doing something that would worry the family. It didn’t take a psychologist to understand why he’d chosen Tara as his riding companion. After all, she wasn’t as invested in keeping his activities within bounds the way his daughter and grandchildren were.
As Tara twisted in the saddle to look at something, Josh reined in his body’s response. Her snug jeans and T-shirt revealed curves that reminded him of the minutes they had spent kissing.
Damn it all. He wanted to pound his head on a rock.
As little as he’d wanted her there, he couldn’t deny that order was emerging from the chaos in the ranch office. The paychecks were going out regularly, and he’d stopped getting polite calls to remind him about unpaid bills—bills he hadn’t known were due because Walt had put them aside to “deal with later.”
The efficiency with which online bill paying had been established was amazing. Some of the companies in Schuyler had complicated processes, but Tara had gotten it done, even going in person to pick up authorization forms for him to sign. He’d heard that several were now offering her contracts.
It was hard to admit, but she had better skills for the job than anyone he could have hired locally. She’d even suggested looking into direct deposit for the cowhands’ pay, which would save everyone time and money. She was very good at the technical end...if only she wasn’t so determined to thwart him in every other way.
“Tara, what do you think of Montana?” he asked when the silence had continued for over a mile.
“As a tourist?” she asked. “Or as someone who doesn’t love ranching as much as you?”
Josh clenched his jaw at the
dig. “I’m asking your impressions as someone who has spent most of her adult life in foreign cities taking taxis,” he returned.
“I’ve gone into the countryside whenever I could,” she said. “The Australian outback is even vaster than Montana. It’s compelling.”
“You took a tour?”
“Actually, I went on walkabout with an old Aborigine I met on vacation. I really had to join with the land. He sometimes went days without saying a word. But when he did speak, it was always to say something worth hearing. He’s one of the wisest people I’ve ever met.”
“I’m surprised he’d take you.”
Tara nodded. “So was I, but it was a priceless three weeks. Eventually I had to get back to work, while he continued on his way.” She paused before adding reflectively, “I never did learn his name.”
Josh tried to picture such a cool, sophisticated woman spending weeks in the rugged circumstances that would have been part of an Aboriginal walkabout. His imagination failed him.
“That still doesn’t tell me what you think of Montana.”
“It’s a beautiful part of the United States. I understand why Lauren decided to move here after coming to Emily’s wedding.”
It was a reminder that one of his sisters-in-law was close friends with Tara’s newfound sister. He’d have to guard his tongue around the family. Their patience with him was already strained.
“I’m surprised you went riding today,” he commented. “I thought spending time with your sister was your top priority.”
Walt sent him a sour glance but remained silent.
Tara just smiled faintly. “It is, but Lauren is helping at the bloodmobile.”
Something on a fence caught Josh’s eye. He hesitated before riding down to investigate. A wire had come loose. He dismounted—same as the ranch hands, he carried tools in his saddlebag, and it didn’t take long to handle the repairs.
Clyde had just started as foreman, but no matter how good he might be, there would be times when a fence was down or something else had happened. Anyway, the first task Josh had given him was recruiting ranch hands to replace the ones who’d quit. Sad to say, but Clyde would probably be more successful at it than Josh had been.
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