A Ranch to Call Home

by Leann Harris

Out of the corner of his eye, Caleb saw Billye hug Kaye, then tell her a secret. He saw the direction Billye pointed and her face broke into a smile. Good for Billye. She was a nice lady.

  “You listening, Caleb?” Sawyer asked.

  “What?” Caleb turned back to Joel, Sawyer and Steve.

  Sawyer grinned. “What’s your opinion on what Steve said?”

  “What do you think, being the college expert?” Caleb answered. His gaze wandered to Kaye.

  “What I think is you’re in love and you’re not paying attention to our conversation.”

  Sawyer’s words jerked his attention back to the group. Caleb looked at the guys. “Okay, guilty.”

  “So get,” Steve said. “I’m not going to change your mind, and I think you have a more important conversation you need to have with a certain lady.”

  “Thanks, Steve.” Caleb turned, expecting to see Kaye, but couldn’t find her. He walked around the room, searching for her. He caught up with Billye and asked if she knew where Kaye was.

  “No, but she was acting weird when I talked to her a few minutes ago.”

  He raced outside and saw Kaye’s jeep driving out of the parking lot. It would take too long to hook up the horse trailer and follow her. He raced back to the reception and found Sawyer. “I need to leave and I don’t have time to hook up the horse trailer. Can I use your truck and have you bring Razor back to the ranch?”

  “Your horse goin’ to behave?”

  Caleb didn’t respond, but his brother took pity on him. He pulled out his truck keys and handed them to Caleb. He rushed off.

  “Bro, I need your keys,” Sawyer called out.

  Caleb stopped, pulled the keys from his front jeans pocket and tossed them to Sawyer. “Just tell Razor Kaye’s waiting. He’ll behave.”

  Sawyer’s expression was priceless and he wanted to savor it, but he needed to get to the ranch.

  * * *

  On her drive back to the ranch, Kaye couldn’t hold back the tears. Several times, she wiped them from her eyes so she could see the road. She’d dared to believe, and it looked like she’d lost again. The pain was too much.

  Are you sure?

  Kaye looked around, wondering if she’d heard right. Oh, she was losing it.

  She parked in the driveway, pulled Caleb’s boots from the backseat and walked into the house. Placing the box on the kitchen table, she found a piece of paper on the kitchen counter and wrote, “For Caleb.” She propped the note against the boot box and walked out to the barn, hoping to take Midnight on a ride. The bright moonlight bathed the countryside with golden light. When Kaye opened the barn door, she started to Midnight’s stall only to freeze several feet inside the barn. A beautiful bay horse stood in the next stall by Midnight.

  The horse greeted Kaye with a soft whinny.

  “Hello, gorgeous. What are you doing here?”

  The bay stuck her head out. Kaye knew an invite when she saw one and rubbed her muzzle.

  The bay had a black mane and tail, along with four black socks.

  “She’s a gift,” Caleb said.

  Kaye whirled and faced him.

  “Why’d you leave the party?” He moved toward her and stretched out his hand toward the bay.

  “I was tired.”

  His eyes narrowed. “That’s not the real reason you left.”

  “No. I just couldn’t watch you and that bigwig rodeo guy talk. You’re going out on the circuit again, aren’t you? Go. If you got the itch, don’t let me stop you. Once a rodeo man always a rodeo man.” She felt small and churlish, but she wouldn’t go through waiting for a man to come home again.

  “What? What makes you think I want to go on the road again?” He appeared genuinely perplexed.

  “Someone ID’d the man who was hanging around you all afternoon and when Jack thanked us, he gave Steve credit, too.” She tilted her chin up. “And I heard him make you an offer. He wants you to come back.”

  “I had already turned him down earlier, but he sweetened the offer. If you would’ve hung around a little longer, you would’ve heard me turn him down again.”

  “Why’d you do that?” A tiny ray of hope sprang to life in her heart.

  “Because I don’t want to travel that road anymore.”

  “But you’re so good.”

  “Thank you, ma’am, but you see, rodeo was a means to an end for me. It kept Sawyer and me fed, a roof over our heads and money to put my brother through school. Ask me what my dream is.” He stepped closer.

  “What’s your dream?”

  “I want to own a ranch and share it with a beautiful girl, and I don’t mean this beauty here.” He rubbed the bay’s neck. “This little lady is a gift to that special woman I want to share my dream with. Why don’t you head over to that new saddle—” he pointed to the saddle on the stand next to the stall “—and look in the right saddle bag?”

  Kaye had never seen the saddle before and did as Caleb suggested. Her fingers closed around a velvet jewelry case. She pulled it out and opened it. There, in a platinum setting, was an oval sapphire flanked by two oval diamonds. Her eyes widened as she looked up at him for an explanation. “What’s this?”

  “For such a smart woman, you ask some dumb questions.”

  Kaye’s eyes widened and she covered her mouth with her hand.

  “I came to this ranch to think about my future. Tried to figure it out. My belief in myself was shaken and I didn’t know what to do. Then you showed up, and my heart went crazy. I love you, lady, and I want to make a life with you. Will you marry me?”

  Her dream stood before her. She looked at the ring, then back at Caleb. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”

  He drew her into his arms and kissed her. “I’m going to prove myself to you, lady. All I ask is for a fair chance.”

  His request cut across her heart. She’d judged him wrongly but promised herself and God she wouldn’t do it again. “I promise.”

  “Good. Why don’t we go tell your family our good news?”

  Joel and Gramps were pulling to a stop. Sawyer drove Caleb’s trailer.

  The men piled out of their truck.

  “The lady said yes,” Caleb announced to the group.

  “I knew it. I knew it,” Sawyer said. “When I saw that ‘look’ on his face, I knew he was a goner.”

  “What look?” Caleb asked.

  “That dumb look like you just ran into a wall.”

  After the laughter had died down, Kaye pulled Caleb inside. “Look on the kitchen table.”

  Caleb saw his name on the box.

  “Open it.”

  The men gathered around and watched as Caleb pulled off the top of the large box. Inside were the new boots that Jason had made.

  Caleb carefully lifted one boot out of the box.

  “By Harry, that’s one smart-looking boot,” Gramps said.

  The men looked at her.

  “I had Jason make them for Caleb since the last set of boots that he made were looking a little worn.” Caleb placed the boot in the box and reached for Kaye.

  “Aren’t you going to try them on?” Gramps asked.

  Caleb looked straight into Kaye’s eyes. “Nope. It will be a perfect fit.”

  Epilogue

  Three weeks later, there on the fairgrounds, Kaye and Caleb were married. The arena had been decked out in flowers and bunting. The entire town had decided that Kaye deserved an extraspecial wedding and had brought fresh-cut flowers from their gardens and new greenery from their yards.

  The ladies’ auxiliary group had white netting and bunting they’d strung between posts they’d brought from the church’s drama department. The Sweet Shop donated the cake and another church provided the reception food.

  Kaye ha
d found her grandmother’s wedding dress that had been carefully stored in a cedar chest. Since her grandmother had only been five feet, the dress looked cocktail length on Kaye, so they cut and hemmed it. Kaye had a wreath of flowers in her hair.

  Charlie Newman, along with the pastor from Kaye’s church, would officiate.

  Sawyer and Razor were Caleb’s best man and groomsman, while Billye and Midnight were maid of honor and attendant. Amanda and Branigan were flower attendants. Caleb looked fabulous in his Western suit and new boots.

  As Kaye walked into the arena, escorted by Gramps and Joel, she felt a sense of peace and coming home. She wasn’t going to have to look for her future. It was here, in Peaster with Midnight, Razor, Gramps and Caleb Jenson—the husband of her heart.

  As she walked in, she saw the stands were full of friends and neighbors. Caleb stood in the middle of the arena, next to Pastor Tom and Charlie Newman, waiting for her.

  She remembered nothing of the ceremony but the joy in Caleb’s eyes. When he kissed her, the stands erupted in cheers.

  The reception was held on the fairgrounds. After an hour, Caleb pulled Kaye aside. He kissed her, then whispered, “I love you.”

  She would never tire of hearing that. “I love you, too.”

  The past two weeks, as her joy increased, she’d watched the life drain out of her brother. When she’d prayed about it, a plan formed in her brain. “I’d like to float an idea by you.”

  Caleb smiled. “Okay.”

  “What if we didn’t try to find a ranch, but stayed at the Kaye ranch?”

  “You might have too many men with opinions.”

  Anticipation raced through her. “Not if we encouraged Joel to try to fulfill his dream and go back on the rodeo circuit. We could help Gramps until Joel came back. I watched him, Caleb. His face lit with joy at the rodeo. He gave up so much for me. I want to give him back his dream now.”

  Caleb cupped her face with both hands. “You are an amazing woman, Kaye.”

  “Brenda.”

  His brow shot up.

  “Brenda’s finally come home and made peace.”

  “Good, because this cowboy has also found home.” He kissed her again.

  “C’mon. Let’s go tell my brother he’s free to pursue his dream, ’cause Brenda’s found hers.”

  “Yes, Brenda.”

  That name sounded so good. Thank You, Lord.

  * * * * *

  Keep reading for an excerpt from PROTECTING THE WIDOW'S HEART by Lorraine Beatty.

  Dear Reader

  Captain Brenda Kaye captured my imagination the minute she appeared in Redemption Ranch. She was taking equine therapy for the injuries she received in Iraq. Well, each time I went to write Tyler and Beth’s story, Brenda popped into my head until I promised her a story of her own.

  So who could take on this determined lady? One morning as I read our local paper, there was an article on a man who made his living by being the pick-up rider in the rodeo for saddle-bronc riding and bareback riding. The pick-up man gets paid for each rodeo he works. The cowboys pay a registration fee, but if you aren’t in the top riders, you don’t make money. The minute I read the article, I found my hero. Caleb is a man who’s struggled with life and is at a crossroads in life, as is Brenda.

  This story was an emotional one for me as well as my hero and heroine. I hope their stories will touch you as much as they touched me.

  Leann Harris

  Questions for Discussion

  Kaye came home because she had the “gut feeling” she needed to. Has that happened to you?

  Kaye ran away from hurts and memories she didn’t want to deal with, yet she had to face those hurts once she was home. Has that happened to you or someone you know?

  What did you think of Caleb? His background?

  Have you ever heard of pick-up riding?

  Joel dumped the charity rodeo in his sister’s lap. What do you think of his actions? Has someone else managed to do that to you? How did you react?

  Kaye decided to take her experience with PTSD and help others. Do you think this was a good decision?

  Were you surprised when Caleb told Kaye that was his first official date?

  What did you think of Caleb’s desire to care for his brother?

  Caleb blamed himself for the accident that injured the cowboy he pulled off the horse. Was it reasonable to blame himself for the accident? Have you tried to take responsibility for something beyond your control?

  Guilt was a driving force for both Kaye and Caleb. Were they unrealistic in their thinking?

  What did you think of Caleb’s dream?

  Kaye realized what her brother gave up because of the accident that killed their parents. What did you think of Kaye’s actions of freeing her brother to pursue his dream?

  Have you ever been involved in a charity event? How did it make you feel? What did you learn from it?

  We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin Love Inspired story.

  You believe hearts can heal. Love Inspired stories show that faith, forgiveness and hope have the power to lift spirits and change lives—always.

  Enjoy six new stories from Love Inspired every month!

  Connect with us on Harlequin.com for info on our new releases, access to exclusive offers, free online reads and much more!

  Harlequin.com/newsletters

  Facebook.com/HarlequinBooks

  Twitter.com/HarlequinBooks

  HarlequinBlog.com

  Chapter One

  Ginger Sloan kept one hand on her son’s shoulder and one on her small suitcase as they topped the wooden stairs hugging the side of the raised lakeside cabin and followed their benefactor, Mr. Nelson Cooper, across the wide deck. A patio table and chairs, two large rocking chairs and a big grill barely made a dent in the expansive space. All had been covered in heavy plastic to protect them from the weather. A quick glance past the railing revealed a large body of water sparkling in the moonlight. Its beauty escaped her. All she could think of was how isolated the place was, and what a fool she’d been to lose track of time.

  Her seven-year-old son, Elliot, had begged for a break from the cross-country drive they were making from Shelton, Connecticut, to the small town of Spring Valley near Phoenix, Arizona. He’d been so good about being cooped up in the car for two days she’d wanted to reward him. So when they’d seen a sign for a Mississippi state park touting their expansive playground and a lake, she’d agreed to the small detour. But they’d lost track of time, and had made a wrong turn leaving the park, ending up on the far side of the lake after dark. Thankfully, she’d spotted some cabins and stopped to ask directions. But when she’d turned the key in the ignition, her car had refused to start, leaving them stranded and dependent upon the kindness of strangers for help and causing every nerve in her body to tighten in anxiety.

  “I think you’ll find the place real cozy.” Cooper pushed open the door, smiling over his shoulder. “Let me get the lights for you.”

  Mr. Cooper, the owner of the cabin next door where she’d sought help, had been more than kind. He and his wife, Mae, had drawn her a map to I-55 and then, after her car wouldn’t start, had offered to let her stay in the empty cabin next to them. While she was grateful, her fears far outweighed her gratitude.

  “Mom, is that the same lake we saw before?” Elliot pointed to the water beyond the trees.

  “Yes.” She steered him into the cabin, her eyes taking a moment to adjust to the light. The main room was open concept with an L-shaped kitchen along the back wall. A long island with bar stools separated it from the living area. A massive stone fireplace with raised hearth, perfect for cozying up to, dominated the far wall. Windows, rising to the rafters, afforded an unobstru
cted view of the lake from the front. At the moment, it only revealed darkness, but Ginger allowed a quick second of anticipation to override her fear. The view in the morning would be amazing.

  Mr. Cooper had stepped from the room briefly, muttering something about a water valve. He returned with a broad smile on his dark face and rubbing his hands together in a gesture of accomplishment. “Well, I think you’re all set. The lights are working, the water is turned on, though I’d let it run a few minutes to clear out the pipes, and the pilot light is lit, so you should have heat soon.”

  Ginger pulled Elliot against her chest, keeping her hands on his slender shoulders. Mr. Cooper seemed kind enough, but it paid to be cautious. “Thank you, but are you sure this will be all right with the owner? He might not appreciate strangers staying here without his permission.”

  The man shook his head and smiled more broadly. “Don’t you worry none about that. I know Mr. Durrant, and he’d be the first one to offer you aid. Besides, he’s never here much. I take care of the place for him. Mae and I live out here full-time now that I’m retired.” He rested his hands on his hips and glanced around the large room. “Let’s see. I doubt if there’s any food in the place.” He walked to the fridge and pulled it open, then checked the cabinets, as well. “I’m going to go back to the house and gather up some things for you and your boy to eat. You get settled in, and I’ll be back in a jiffy.”

  “Oh, you don’t have to do that. We’ll be fine. I appreciate all you’ve done, Mr. Cooper.”

  He smiled and pointed a finger at her. “Now, no more of that Mr. Cooper stuff. You call me Nels. We’re friends now.”

  His words eased some of her tension, but she kept her guard up. Over the years she’d been conditioned to expect the worst at any moment.

  “Until we know what’s wrong with your vehicle, you need a safe place to stay and some food. But right now, you get yourselves settled in. We’ll get your car towed to Zeke’s in the morning, and let him take a look at it.”