Arlene James - Rancher To The Rescue

At least that’s what he told himself.

It was a far more comfortable thought than the idea that he might like having Kathryn Stepp around the ranch.

Kathryn folded the list of parts needed to repair her car and slipped it into the bag at her knee, biting her lips. Jake drove in silence for several moments, waiting for her to comment.

“I—I can cover some of this,” she admitted shakily, “but I’d have to pay out the rest.”

“We can arrange that.”

“It could take some time.”

“We’ll figure it out.”

“How long do you think the repairs will take?”

“Depends on how much time I have to work on it and how quickly I can find all the parts. Three, four weeks, at least.” He’d hoped to be well on his way to opening his shop by then, but now he’d have to divide his time between building the shop and working on her car. Seeing the tears that shimmered in her eyes, he said nothing of his own concerns.

“I asked the agency to hold my job, but I doubt they will. Reliable transportation is part of the employment contract.”

“Things will work out. We can arrange rides for a while.”

She shifted uncertainly in her seat. “Oh, I couldn’t ask—”

“In fact,” he went on, as if she hadn’t spoken, “I’d be pleased to offer you a ride to prayer meeting tonight.”

Eyes wide, mouth ajar, she looked as if he’d reached out and slapped her. “Uh, no thank you. That is...” She turned red in the face. “I d-don’t think it’s a good idea.”

For him to take her to prayer meeting, she meant. At least that was his assumption. He couldn’t figure out why she disliked him so much. He’d done his best to be gentlemanly and helpful. Well, if she didn’t like him, she didn’t like him. So be it. Still, she needed help, and Frankie was absolutely taken with her, so Jake would do his best.

This second client lived even farther from town than her first one. After they arrived at the elderly woman’s house, Kathryn thanked him, shouldered her bag and got out of the truck. Frankie began slapping his palm against his window and calling to her.

“Mizz Kat’ryn! Mizz Kat’ryn!”

Jake rolled down the window. Kathryn leaned inside, saying, “Bye, Frankie.”

To Jake’s surprise, Frankie smacked a big kiss on her cheek. “Bye-bye!”

Smiling, Kathryn threaded an arm through the window and hugged him. “Have a great day.”

“Hab gread day!” Frankie called as she hurried into the house. He sighed as if quite satisfied with himself.

Shaking his head, Jake rolled up the window and drove back toward the ranch, wondering why Frankie was so fixated on her. His sudden affection seemed out of proportion, especially given how much she disliked Jake. Kathryn had made it very clear that she didn’t want anything more to do with him than she must. That being the case, he hoped she wouldn’t turn down any job offer that came from the Smiths. Then how would she manage the repair of her car?

Jake decided to ask Tina to pick up Kathryn that evening. Maybe Kathryn would be more comfortable dealing with a woman, and getting to know Tina might make her more amenable to him. That way, even if Wyatt and Tina decided against hiring her, maybe Jake would ask her to watch Frankie for a few days. That would give Kathryn a little income and let Frankie spend some time with her.

If only she would agree.

* * *

Kathryn stared at the empty road and bit her lips. She’d assumed Jake would return to pick her up at the end of the day, but now that she thought of it, he hadn’t said as much. Instead, he’d offered to give her a ride to prayer meeting. Had her refusal to attend the prayer meeting left him with the impression that she didn’t need a ride home from work?

Unfortunately a ride was the least of her needs. The agency had called earlier to inform her that they had reassigned her clients. She was welcome to reapply once she had secured transportation again, but until then, she would be removed from their roster. The fact that she’d expected to lose her job didn’t soften the blow.

Suddenly, she spied a trail of dust being thrown up by a vehicle headed her way. She muttered a quick prayer of thanks and waved. To her surprise, as the vehicle barreled closer she saw that it was a large burgundy-red SUV, not the familiar olive-green pickup.

The SUV came to an abrupt stop near her, and a shapely woman with short, stylish, reddish-brown hair leaped out. Wearing jeans and a simple checked blouse with the tail tucked in and the collar turned up, she plucked off her sunshades and smiled.

“Kathryn?”

“Yes.”

“I’m Tina Smith. Sorry I’m late. If Jake had given me a little more lead time, I’d have had dinner on the table early enough to keep you from standing out here in the heat.”

“Oh. Uh. So Jake isn’t coming?”

“He and the rest of the guys are on their way to prayer meeting. I didn’t see any reason for all of us to be late.”

“Prayer meeting,” Kathryn murmured. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize how much I was imposing.”

Tina waved her words away. “No, no. Don’t worry about it.” With that, she got back into the vehicle.

Kathryn didn’t know what to do except slide in on the passenger side. “I hate putting you out like this.”

Tina waved a hand dismissively and put the SUV in motion.

“I—I don’t suppose Jake told you that I live on Sixth Street in War Bonnet, did he?”

“In War Bonnet?” Tina echoed. “Nope. He left out that little detail.” She shrugged. “Well, it won’t hurt me to miss one prayer meeting.”

Katherine winced. “I hate to be the cause of that.”

“Well,” Tina said cautiously, “you could always go to prayer meeting with me.”

Kathryn immediately shook her head. “I’m still in my work clothes.”

“You’re dressed as well as I am,” Tina pointed out.

Kathryn bit her lips. It was just that she hadn’t been to church in years. Her mother had required almost constant care, allowing breaks of only minutes to do the shopping and household chores. Years earlier they’d attended Countryside Church together, but Kathryn doubted she’d know anyone there anymore. Still, keeping Tina Smith away from church seemed selfish and ungrateful. At least, Kathryn mused, she’d surrendered to impulse that morning and worn the flowered blouse.

“I guess I’ll go to prayer meeting with you. I can remove the uniform top.”

Tina beamed at her. “Great! We just might make it on time then.”

Kathryn struggled out of the uniform top and stuffed it in her bag before pulling out a brush and going after her hair, raking it back from her forehead to the ends.

“That’s a very pretty blouse,” Tina said.

“Thanks. It was my mom’s.”

“It looks new.”

“She never got to wear it. Right after she bought it, she was in a serious car wreck.”

“I’m so sorry. That’s awful.”

Kathryn nodded and softly said, “She was paralyzed from the chest down.”

“How sad.”

For some reason, Kathryn found herself going on. “She had partial use of her left arm, but there were neurological issues, too. She couldn’t speak more than the odd word, and for the rest of her life she suffered terrible seizures that choked her and cut off her air.”

“Poor thing. I take it she’s passed.”

“Ten months ago.”

“Was she ill for a long time?”

“Just over eleven years.”

Tina shook her head. “I can’t imagine how difficult that must have been.”

“Very difficult,” Kathryn admitted, “especially after my father left, but I learned what to do.”

“Your father left, so you cared for her yourself?”