Linda Ford - Falling for the Rancher Father

“Wouldn’t Eddie know if that is so?”

She gave silence assent.

“Has he ever mentioned this man?”

She shook her head.

“Then we’ll have to be cautious and on guard.”

We? When had they become we?

“Anyway. Thank you for bringing him home safely.”

“You’re welcome.”

He smiled.

She knew her eyes widened but she couldn’t help herself. His smile transformed his features and made him look...well, nice.

“Please come in.”

“My horse...”

“I’ll tend to him later.”

She let herself be ushered to the door five steps away, let him reach around her and hold it open for her to precede him.

“Did you ask her?” Allie demanded.

Mercy knew what Allie wanted, but Abel hadn’t asked.

He took her coat as she slipped her arms out. He hung it next to his and went to the stove. “Have you had breakfast?”

“No.” Ladd had interrupted her plans for the day. Not that she minded.

“Then join us. We haven’t eaten yet.”

“Thank you.”

“But first I have a son to deal with.” He sat on the edge of the bed and pulled Ladd to his knee to face him. “I’m happy you’re safe, but what you did was foolish and against the rules.”

“Yes, Papa.”

“Haven’t I told you that there is a price to pay for foolish and sinful choices?”

“Yes, Papa.”

“There is no escaping. The Bible says, ‘Be sure your sin will find you out and whatsoever a man soweth he shall reap.’ I simply want to save you the pain and sorrow of reaping a bad harvest. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Papa.” Ladd spoke softly, his head bowed.

“You know I must punish you.”

“I know.”

Mercy wondered what form of punishment Abel had in mind. She’d witnessed how rigid he was about rules. Would he mete out unmerciful judgment?

“After breakfast, you will clean up the kitchen and do the dishes by yourself, and while you’re doing it I want you to consider why I forbid you to go out on your own. You could have been hurt or lost.”

“God sent a man to help me.”

Mercy and Abel exchanged a look. His was full of concern and worry. For her part, she wondered how he’d deal with this.

“Son, like I said, I’m glad you’re safe and sound. Let’s leave it at that.” He patted Ladd on the back and returned to the stove.

“Do you drink coffee?” he asked Mercy, then realized she still stood. “Please, have a seat.”

She sat on one of the chairs. Allie hung over the back, her face so close to Mercy’s she breathed in the sweet scent of her skin. “I like coffee fine,” she answered.

He filled a new-looking coffeepot with water, ground some beans and tossed the ground coffee into the pot. In a few minutes he poured her a cupful.

She cradled her hands about the cup.

He sipped his coffee as he turned his attention back to the pot of porridge he cooked. He handed bowls to Ladd. “Set the table, please.”

Mercy kept her attention on her cup as she tried to ignore his presence. It was impossible. He was so big in such a small space. And so vital. He touched Allie’s head, brushed Ladd’s shoulder, smiled at them.

Her mouth went dry. She gulped coffee but the dryness remained.

The children were fortunate to know such affection and approval from their father. What had happened to their mother, she wondered?

He filled bowls, set them on the table and sat down. “Let’s thank God for the food.” The children bowed their heads and Abel said a prayer of thanksgiving, not only for the food but for the safety of his son.

Allie and Ladd sent silent signals to each other across the table. They ducked their heads to eat their breakfast, then looked steadfastly at their father.

Abel cleaned his bowl and drained his coffee cup. “Mercy—you don’t mind if I call you that, do you?”

“I answer best to it. After all, it’s my name.” She knew he meant to ask her permission to use her Christian name, but some perverse imp prompted her to answer indirectly.

His smile was fleeting. “Fine. Mercy, I find myself in a quandary.”

She offered him no assistance. He had gotten himself into this quandary without her help. He’d have to get out the same way.

“I need to get wood and cut logs. I can’t leave the children to do it. And they are quite insistent that they want you to stay with them. Will you?”

Although she understood what he wanted, he’d been much more direct about telling her to leave. He could be equally direct about asking her to come back. “Will I what?”

His eyes narrowed. He’d correctly read her resistance.

Just as she understood that he swallowed his pride to ask her straight out. “Will you please stay with the children so I can get at my work?”

She laughed, with relief at being welcomed back and also with a touch of victory that he’d had to lessen his rigid stand. “Why, I’d be pleased to.”

The children grinned. Ladd immediately set to work cleaning the table and washing dishes.

Abel pushed back from the table. “Thank you.” He wrapped slices of bread and syrup in brown paper, snagged a can of beans and then grabbed his coat and hat. “I’ll be on my way.” He hugged the children and hurried out.

She stared at the door for a heartbeat after he left. Two and then a third. His thanks had been perfunctory. His leaving hasty. And why not? He had to prepare for winter. Had to provide the children’s needs.

No reason in the world to wish he could linger a bit and talk to her. No reason at all.

In fact, it was a relief to have him gone. He was too big. He crowded the tiny room and made her uncomfortable. Whew. She released the air from her tight lungs. Now she could breathe easy without concerning herself about his reaction to what she said and did.

She rubbed her arms, remembering his solid chest and warm hands.

Why had his hug felt so good? Like it filled up an empty spot in her heart. She shook her head. Where had such foolishness come from?

Chapter Five

Abel led Sam in the general direction he planned to go but, before he ventured farther, he left the horse waiting as he scouted around the cabin. If some crazy man hung about in the vicinity he wanted to know about it. Heavy gray clouds hung low in the sky. Dampness filled the air. At least the twins would be safe and dry in Mercy’s care.

Mercy! The woman seemed destined to fill his mind with confusion.

Shoot! He was crazier than any wild man. He’d hugged Mercy. Only because he was so all-fired relieved to see Ladd safe and sound. Or at least that’s the excuse he gave himself and initially it had driven his actions. But he’d felt a whole lot more than relief as soon as his arms closed around her. He’d noted a number of things—how she fit just below his chin, how small yet strong she felt, how her hair filled with the scent of summer flowers and fresh-mowed hay.

Momentarily, without forethought, his arms had tightened around her and then she’d stepped back, no doubt as shocked by his actions as he’d been.

A thorough search around the cabin yielded no evidence of anyone lingering in the area. So Abel returned to Sam and left to find firewood and good logs, though building a bigger cabin before winter seemed a distant possibility.

He worked steadily all day, grateful the rain held off. Shadows filled the hollows and hung around the trees as he returned to the cabin with logs. Rather than unload immediately, he headed for the cabin, driven by far more than concern for the children. All day his thoughts had tortured him with memories of Mercy in his arms. Yet only the day before he’d considered her a menace to his children’s safety.

Likely she still was, and he needed to keep that in mind. A woman interested in pursuing a wild life in a show, a woman who ignored his warnings about involving the children in her activities, a woman who rode like a man and...