The Rancher's Family Wish. Lois Richer
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can’t come,” Beth explained. “Mama’s gonna lose this job and we need it to pay our bills.” The words were an exact repeat of her mother’s earlier meant-to-be-silent mutterings.
Sophie almost groaned out loud. Tanner so needed to hear that sad story, he of the billion-acre ranch with money coming out of his ears, thanks, according to church gossip, to Burt’s generosity. Now he’d feel sorry for her. Sophie thrust back her shoulders, independence reasserting itself.
“That’s enough, Beth. You and Davy get your sweaters. You’ll have to come with me and sit quietly in a corner of the kitchen while I work. Go now. Monica and Tiffany will meet us there.” She said hello to Tanner and beckoned him to follow her to the kitchen.
“Monica and Tiffany?” he said in a dazed voice. “You have more children?”
“They’re my catering helpers.” Sophie pointed. “Your pies.”
When there was no response, she paused in lifting the pan holding her perfectly sliced roast from the oven to look at him. Her heart gave a bump of pure sympathy. The poor man was gazing at her pies as if he hadn’t eaten for months. So maybe his massive inheritance couldn’t buy everything, but she had no time to think about that now.
“Tanner?” She said it more crisply than she intended. He lost the hungry look and snapped to attention. “Sorry to rush you. You’ll have to wrap them yourself. The foil’s over there. I’ve got to load up and get going.”
“I’ll help you.” He took the heavy metal server from her and insisted she lead him to the garage where the van was open, waiting. He stored the container where she indicated, then carried out the other dishes, refusing to let her lift even one though she assured him she’d done it many times before.
“Thank you for your help,” Sophie said when everything was placed so it couldn’t move during the trip. “Now I must leave. Beth. Davy,” she called.
“Aw, Mom. Do I have to go?” Her son glared at her. “I’m not a baby, you know.”
“I know you’re growing up fast, but you’re still too young to stay alone. Now please come on. I don’t have time to waste arguing.” Too aware of Tanner standing next to her, Sophie reached out to grab her son’s arm to draw him forward.
“I could take your children back to the ranch with me while you work.”
The cowboy’s offer stunned her. It must have stunned him, too, because Tanner gawked at her, green eyes stretched wide as if he was in shock.
“It’s very kind of you to offer but you’re a stranger,” she said as nicely as she could. If only she could accept. It would save— What was she thinking? It was impossible.
“There will be eleven other men at the meeting. One will be Pastor Jeff and at least two others are church board members. You can call any of them for references if you want.” Tanner waited. Could he know how desperately she wanted to accept his offer? “Please let me help,” he murmured when she’d wasted several more moments. “These pies—you’ve no idea what they mean to me. I’d like to return the favor, if you’ll let me.”
“You already did by taking the rabbits,” Sophie reminded. He only smiled and waited, watching her with that intense contemplation that had turned more hazel now that flecks of copper glinted in the depths.
“Can we go to his ranch, Mom?” Davy’s hopeful voice broke the silence.
“What about your meeting?” Sophie knew Davy wouldn’t settle while she was working, and that would disturb Beth, which would distract her. She desperately needed tonight’s job to go right. Dare she risk leaving her kids with this man?
“I draw up the usher schedules ahead of time. It’s just a matter of everyone confirming dates and then sampling your pie.” Tanner’s grin made her stomach swoop so she felt off balance. “It’s an excuse for guy time. Your kids won’t be an issue, Sophie. Moses will make sure of that.”
As Tanner explained to the kids about a Native American man who lived at the ranch, Sophie could no longer resist his offer. She lifted her cell phone from her pocket and dialed the pastor’s number. Once she’d laid out the situation, Pastor Jeff gave his wholehearted reassurance.
“Tanner’s a great guy, Sophie. He’s going to turn Burt’s ranch into a kind of outreach camp. I’m hoping our church can partner with him.” His effusive praise for the rancher went on and on. When she didn’t immediately respond, Jeff said, “If you’re still worried, know that I’ll be there to make sure nothing happens to Beth and Davy.”
“I appreciate that, Jeff.” She ended the call, closed the phone, then looked at Tanner. “Thank you, I’d like to accept your offer.”
He nodded and turned away, probably to hide the embarrassed flush rising up his neck. Sophie regretted causing that but she had to be sure the kids would be safe. She drew Davy aside and stared him straight in the eye.
“Same rules as at home, buddy. You don’t go anywhere on the ranch if Tanner isn’t there. You obey him and Moses without question. If I hear one word—”
“You won’t.” Davy eagerly grabbed his jacket and held out his sister’s. “Come on, Bethy. We’re going to a real ranch.”
Davy’s use of the old pet name for his sister made Sophie smile. His good mood probably wouldn’t last, but while it did she’d enjoy it.
It took only minutes to store the now-covered pies in the side boxes of Tanner’s truck, minutes more to kiss her babies and promise to pick them up as soon as she was finished working. Sophie searched her brain, worried she’d missed something, forgotten something important.
“Go do your job, Sophie.” Tanner’s quiet reassurance brought back the reality of time. “I promise I’ll keep Beth and Davy safe for you.”
“Thank you,” she said sincerely. A moment later, with her kids safely belted into their seats, Tanner drove away and Sophie left home with her meal, clinging to her wobbly faith that this time God would be there for her.
She’d almost forgotten the Sunday she’d been on cleanup duty after a potluck at the church and overheard Burt speaking to someone about Tanner.
“He had a rough childhood and his teen years weren’t much better. His past dogs him. But there isn’t a man I trust more than Tanner Johns. His integrity, honesty and uprightness are part of what makes him tick.”
The old man must have truly trusted Tanner to bequeath his beloved Wranglers Ranch to him. Burt’s latest dream for the place was something the whole congregation had learned about from a presentation he’d made a few weeks before his death. The reason Sophie remembered that specific conversation, though, was because of Burt’s last words.
“As I keep telling Tanner, we must fan into flame the gift of God inside us.”
So, Sophie wondered, what was Tanner’s gift? Knight in shining armor?
The mental image of him riding a white steed, or in this case his white truck, to her rescue made Sophie blush. She got back to work forcing away that image and the memory of the way her senses had reacted to the big cowboy, especially to that slow, easy smile of his. She’d been this route before with Marty, and life had been a painful teacher.
Her husband Marty’s greatest attraction had been his charm. He’d been as big a kid as his own children, fun-loving, living for the moment, never giving a thought to tomorrow, often to the detriment of his family. In the two years since his death Sophie had finally put her life back together and regained control. Sure, every day was a struggle to make ends meet, but it was her struggle, her bank account to hide away for real emergencies. She was the person she depended on. No way was she giving up her independence or security now.
Sophie wasn’t ever going to be dependent on any man again, even if he was a big strong cowboy with a smile that made a zillion butterflies skip in her stomach.