Ann Roth - A Rancher's Redemption

Now hungry, muddy and wet, he showered and put on a clean flannel shirt and jeans. After phoning in an order for a jumbo pie with the works he jumped in the truck and headed for Harper’s Pizza, his favorite.

As usual, the small pizza hut was packed. Salivating over the mouth-watering aroma of the pizzas, Nick nodded at people he knew and shared flood stories with several ranchers before taking his place in the crowd waiting near the takeout window. Every few minutes the teenage kid manning the window called out some lucky Joe’s name to pick up their order.

In the midst of the noise, the door opened and a redhead sauntered inside. Nick wasn’t the only guy who checked her out. Flashing a pretty smile, she joined him in line.

“What a big crowd tonight,” she commented. “The bad weather must’ve kept people home for a few days, and I guess they’re making up for lost time.”

Nick nodded. “It’s been a heck of a few days.”

“My hair and I are both relieved that it finally stopped raining.” With an apologetic smile, she touched her hair. “It gets crazy wild.”

“Curly looks good on you,” Nick said. So did the long sweater she wore in place of a coat. A wide leather belt emphasized her small waist and rounded hips. She had long legs, too. Pretty face, nice body—just his type.

For some reason he flashed on Dani and the red-hot kisses they’d shared the other night. But Dani was off-limits. They were friends, period, and they’d both agreed to forget those kisses had ever happened. “I’m Nick Kelly,” he said.

“Hello, Nick Kelly.” The woman tossed her head, drawing his attention to her slender neck and a pair of long, dangly earrings. “I’m Sylvie Kitchen.”

They shook hands. Sylvie’s fingers were slender and warm. Attraction flared in her eyes.

Nick waited for a similar spark, but felt only mild interest. Maybe if he got to know her a little better...

During the ten minutes they waited for their pizzas he learned that she worked for the local tourism department, which after ranching, was the second biggest business in Prosperity. During the late spring and early summer months, hiking, camping and bicycling swelled the town by as much as ten thousand people.

“To kick off this year’s tourist season, we’re going to host a joint function with Prosperity Park,” she said. The park housed Prosperity Falls, an eye-popping cascading waterfall that was a popular place for marriage proposals and outdoor weddings and drew visitors from all over. “It’s going to take place in mid-April. I could get a couple of tickets for you and your girlfriend.”

“I don’t have a girlfriend right now,” he said.

“Oh?” She flashed a pleased smile. “Maybe you’ll want to bring someone.”

She arched her eyebrow and angled her chin slightly, as if half expecting him to ask her out.

“Nick Kelly, your order’s ready,” the teenage boy called out.

Nick signaled that he’d be right there, then redirected his attention to Sylvie. “I’d like to, but spring is pretty busy at the ranch. I doubt I’ll be able to make it.”

She seemed genuinely disappointed. “Here’s my card,” she said, scribbling something on the back. “If you change your mind, give me a call.”

Before slipping the card into his pocket he glanced at what she’d written. In case you want to reach me after hours, and a number.

Minutes later, shaking his head, he carried the pizza to his truck. A beautiful woman had just given him her number, but he didn’t want to call her.

What was wrong with him?

* * *

DANI LIKED EVERYTHING about Pettit Ranch—the vastness of her brother’s holdings, the hints of new spring grass coloring in the brown winter pastures, the grazing horses and cattle everywhere you looked. Most of all, the home Sly shared with his wife, Lana, and their daughter. Tonight Sly had gone to Tim Carpenter’s ranch, which was five hundred or so acres down the road, for a spur-of-the-moment Thursday poker game. Lana had invited Dani over for a girls’ evening.

“I come bearing gifts,” she said when Lana opened the front door. “Chinese, from Chung’s.” A take-out place they both loved. “And chocolate chip cookies, courtesy of Big Mama’s Café.”

“I so love those cookies!” Lana looked grateful, as well as tired. Between running two successful daycares and being mom to Johanna, a spunky two-and-a-half-year-old, she had her hands full.

As soon as Dani stepped through the door, the little girl squealed and threw herself at her knees.

“Hi, pumpkin!” Laughing, Dani scooped her up and swung her around.

Johanna giggled and held out her arms for more. “Again, Dani!”

She was no lightweight, but Dani couldn’t resist her adorableness. She spun around twice more, each time with Johanna reaching out to her and begging, “Again!”

Finally, breathless and worn out, Dani quit. “That was fun, but I’m pooped, Johanna. Now I want to visit with Mommy.”

Sometime later, she and Lana lingered over the dwindling pile of chocolate chip cookies, while Johanna marched around the kitchen, pounding on an old pan with a wooden spoon.

“She’s so cute,” Dani said.

“The cutest two-and-a-half year old ever, but then, I’m biased.” Lana laughed. “Sly and I are getting baby-hungry again.” She glanced at her daughter and lowered her voice. “Yesterday we signed up with an adoption agency. Of course, another miracle could happen. We could get pregnant again. But that’s unlikely, and we want another child.”

“I’ll keep my fingers crossed,” Dani said.

Drawn by their soft voices, Johanna stopped at the table. Her eyes lit on the cookies. “I want a cookie, Mama.”

“How do you ask?” Lana said.

“Please.”

“May I share some of mine with her?” Dani asked.

Lana nodded. “A small piece.”

Carefully breaking off a tiny chunk of her cookie, Dani gave it to her niece.

“Thank you.” The happy little girl kissed Dani’s cheek, then stuffed the treat into her mouth and continued marching around the kitchen.

“She adores you,” Lana pointed out. “And you’re so wonderful with her. Someday you’re going to make such a great mom.”

“First, I need to meet a guy who actually wants to settle down and start a family.”

“You will.”

“With my track record?”

“You forget that I’d basically given up on love when I met Sly. And look at me now.” Lana gave a dreamy smile. She and Sly had been married for two-plus years and they still acted like love-sick honeymooners. Dani envied them.

Her traitorous mind went straight to the one man she was trying not to think about—Nick. “Things have gotten weird with Nick,” she confided.

Lana frowned. “How so?”

“Swear you won’t tell Sly.” Dani’s oldest brother, who was seven years older than she was, tended to be on the protective side.

“I promise.” All ears, Lana leaned forward.

Assured, Dani explained. “You remember that Nick came over Saturday night.”

Lana nodded. “So that you could keep each other company after your breakups. I’ve always admired how you support each other that way.”

“Right. We had our usual great time together, but when we were watching a DVD after dinner, we fell asleep together on the couch. When I woke up, we were snuggled up close.” Remembering Dani hugged herself. “When Nick woke up, we kissed.”

“Is that all?” Lana waved her hand dismissively. “There’s nothing wrong with a kiss between friends.”

“This wasn’t exactly a friendly peck,” Dani said. “Nick and I... We’ve always had an unwritten rule—we might buss each other on the cheek, but never on the lips. But those kisses...”