Snowbound with the Cowboy Page 19

  Now that his days of competing were over, he could see the bare truth.

  It had never been about the glory. He’d needed to leave his past behind. The tragedies and heartbreak, and the expectations he could never meet. Dad had died years ago, but was he still trying to earn acceptance and love from a man who’d had none to give?

  And what about the one person who he knew was the love of his life—was he willing to walk away from her, as well?

  After Sara broke up with him in high school he’d donned the mask of nonchalant indifference he’d hidden behind after the deaths of Heather and his mother. It had been the way he’d survived that pain as a kid and he’d used it ever since. To risk loving someone was to risk facing devastating loss. It was never worth the pain.

  But maybe it was time to let that go and instead take chances.

  With all of his efforts at maintaining a platonic relationship, he hadn’t allowed himself to truly see what was before him—a lovely, inquisitive, dedicated woman with a loving heart.

  He hadn’t realized how wonderful it was to see someone every day. To build on a relationship with shared experiences and deepening trust.

  The conversations and laughter, and holding Sara close to kiss her good-night before she left for her cabin had become the highlights every day.

  How had he been blind for so long? He’d tried to run from commitment all his life, but this time he wasn’t going to make that mistake.

  Glancing in his rearview mirror, he turned sharply up the exit ramp ahead, and then he headed for home.

  * * *

  The bells above the front door of the clinic jingled just before the noon closing time on Saturday.

  Sara stopped writing some notes on the last dog she’d seen for the day and listened, hoping it wasn’t another emergency.

  At the familiar voice she stood, then hurried to the front desk, where Neta was writing a receipt for a payment on account.

  “Hey, Jess.”

  He looked up at her and smiled. “Good to see you. It’s been a while.”

  “A couple weeks.”

  “Just because my brother can be stupid doesn’t mean we don’t all want you to come out. You’re welcome to Sunday dinners every weekend, if you’d like.”

  She nodded, knowing that she would never take him up on the kind offer. It would be awkward, being out there without Tate...rather like a pesky remora still trying to cling to a family that would never be hers. “How is Abby feeling?”

  He grimaced. “Mornings are pretty miserable. I feel so sorry for her.”

  “I suppose Chloe and Devlin are busy with their wedding plans?”

  He chuckled at that. “I wouldn’t know, except for the ongoing discussion about where to have the ceremony. Dev thinks the church is easier. Chloe wants someplace outside with lots of flowers. The only thing I know for sure is that it will be Memorial Day weekend so their friends have more time to travel.”

  She fell silent, not wanting to ask more.

  “As for Tate, this is the day of that rodeo contractor’s auction,” Jess added. “So he left yesterday. If it goes well I suspect we’ll only see him a few times a year.”

  There was a thread of sympathy in Jess’s voice and she knew he was probably thinking about that humiliating scene with Tate and his...friend, and feeling sorry for her. “I hope he does well.”

  Neta handed him his receipt and he slid it into his billfold, then she gathered up her coat and purse, waved in farewell and headed for the back door.

  “We all think he should come back.” Jess hesitated. “You do know that the woman who showed up at the ranch is a buckle bunny who has dogged him for several years, right? She somehow tracks him down and then just randomly appears. I told him he needs to renew his restraining order.”

  Was that true, or was Jess just trying to defend his brother?

  She might never know for sure. “That must be really difficult.”

  “Just wanted you to know.” He settled his Stetson in place and walked out the door. She locked it behind him, then leaned against it, thinking.

  Jess had come in to make a payment that he easily could have sent by mail or paid online, and he’d come at the end of the morning when the other clients had left. Had he really just wanted to tell her about Tate?

  It was honestly kind of sweet of him, but she’d seen Tate’s truck at the strip motel, and excuses didn’t matter. The relationship was over.

  Tate had turned out to be just like her unfaithful father. And that was something she could never forgive.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Sara’s phone chimed just as she was leaving Millie and Warren’s apartment on Sunday afternoon. She glanced at the screen, then did a double take.

  Tate: I’m back for just a few hours and have caught your other cat. Please come and get it—there’ll be no one here to feed it. House door open.

  She glared at the screen. Then sighed.

  She could have happily gone forever without seeing Tate Langford again.

  Yet...if he let the cat loose, how would she ever catch it? It might disappear into all the little nooks and tunnels between the bales in the loft, and she could spend hours trying to find it to no avail. If there weren’t enough mice around, it could starve.

  She tapped out a quick OK. Be there in twenty.

  Added a grumpy emoji.

  Then had second thoughts and deleted it.

  When she arrived at the house she felt a pang in her heart at the wispy wildflowers starting to bloom along its foundation. Soon there would be a profusion of color if someone were here to water them, but that didn’t seem likely now.

  Tate stepped out onto the front porch and waited for her to walk up the stairs. “Thanks for coming.”

  She frowned, trying not to meet his eyes. “Where’s the cat? Is she in a carrier?”

  “Inside.”

  He opened the screen door and she stepped in, prepared to see the reno projects she and Tate had worked on. But the scene was disconcerting. Unfamiliar. Was everything pink?

  She yanked her sunglasses off and stuffed them in the pocket of her jean jacket, then blinked.

  Every flat surface in the kitchen and great room was covered with rose petals.

  “What is this?” She faltered. “I don’t get it. Is—is this some kind of joke? Where’s the cat?”

  She surveyed the room again, half-afraid she was hallucinating.

  “The cat is in a carrier by the door.” Tate stood a few feet away from her, with a tentative quarter smile. “I didn’t know how to at least have a chance to talk to you. I know you are—or were—really upset, and I don’t blame you a bit.”

  She glared at him. “This doesn’t change anything, Tate. You lied to me. All the while we were together, you had some other woman stowed away somewhere—someone who apparently was missing you and wanted you home. You two obviously know each other very well.”

  “Not in the sense you mean.”

  Sara shuddered. “Is she here?”

  He shook his head. “Open the folder on the counter and take a look.”

  Keeping a wary eye on him, she lifted the cover with a fingertip, then looked down at the thick stack of documents inside. “W-what is this?”

  “Copies of restraining orders. Five years’ worth, because each only lasted twelve months. You’ll also see records of violations of those orders. I never invited her here—half the time I have no idea how she tracks me down.”

  So Jess hadn’t been trying to cover for his brother after all. He’d been telling the truth.

  “But that kiss.”

  “Her obsession, not mine. If you imagined that I was kissing her back, you didn’t look close enough.” He shrugged. “She has mental health issues, obviously. I don’t dare shove her away and risk harming her—or get her riled, because then the
situation can really go downhill. I just wish she would stay away.”

  “But you were at that motel.” Sara narrowed her eyes at him, watching for obvious deception. Her dad had been a skillful liar too. “I saw your truck next to hers when I drove by after work.”

  “True, but I was in my truck, waiting for a deputy to arrive so I could identify her. Sometimes she ends up charged with harassment, sometimes they lock her up for a while or she spends time in a mental health facility and then they let her go. This time they’re sending her back to her family in Colorado. I’m not her only target, by the way. I hear she’s fixated on a number of other rodeo cowboys.”

  Sara felt like a deflating balloon as her tension and anger slowly dissipated. She brushed a hand over a scattering of rose petals. Picked a few up, then looked up at him and managed a wobbly smile as a flood of emotions rushed through her. Relief. Joy. Wonderment. And love. “I thought these petals were real!”

  He ducked his head and gave her a sheepish grin. “Not possible in Pine Bend, but I had these overnighted by Amazon, hoping the surprise might help. I was afraid you would turn on your heel and walk out.”

  “I...I don’t know what to say.”

  “All I want is another chance. I want to work harder at this and try to get this right.” He moved toward her and gently took her hand in his. “I was halfway to Colorado when I came to my senses and realized I was driving away from the one person I’ll always love. You.”

  Epilogue

  Abby reached out to adjust the wildflowers in Chloe’s hair, then stepped back to check the effect. “What do you think—is that right?”

  “You are the most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen,” Sara murmured. “I’m so happy for you and Dev.”

  Chloe reached for her and gave her a big hug. “I can’t thank you and Tate enough for working so hard on these flower gardens. When I saw what you’d done I just knew this was the perfect place for our wedding.”

  “They were my aunt Millie’s pride and joy when she lived here. I brought her up a few days ago to see them and she was so touched, she burst into tears. She’s thrilled to see them brought back to life.”

  Abby leaned a little closer and lowered her voice. “So...anything new between you two? I keep noticing how Tate watches you from afar—like he’s afraid you’ll disappear.”

  “Disappear?” Sara laughed. “Not likely. The vet clinic is booked solid for the next three weeks, and I’ve got meetings with Mrs. Groveland about the animal sanctuary she wants to build in Pine Bend. Plus, I’ve promised Tate I’d come up to tend the gardens for him through the summer. The most exciting thing—after this wedding—is waiting for that late-October baby of yours. How are you feeling?”

  Abby chuckled. “A lot better now. For which I’m extremely grateful.”

  Pastor Bob wound through the small crowd of friends and relatives to Chloe’s side. “If you’re all set, we can begin in a few minutes. Your violist is ready to start.”

  “Yes!” Her eyes sparkling, Chloe impulsively gave him a quick hug and a kiss on the cheek, then she went to find Devlin.

  “That is one very happy bride,” Abby said with a chuckle. “I’d better round up my not-so-ladylike flower girls before they end up with grass stains on their dresses.”

  Sara scanned the yard. “They were with Betty a few minutes ago and now all three of them have disappeared. Good luck.”

  Sara stayed at the edge of the lawn, her heart overflowing as she surveyed the gathering.

  Millie and Warren had come, and were sitting on a stone bench holding hands. There were some folks from church, friends of the family and a few of Devlin’s old military buddies. Chloe and Devlin had preferred a simple ceremony over Memorial Day weekend, with just people they knew well.

  Tate moved to Sara’s side and slid his arm around her waist. “Does Chloe know about the phone call yet?”

  “I don’t think so... Dev took the call yesterday and he wanted to surprise her during the wedding toasts before we eat. I can’t imagine her happier than she is right now, though.”

  Against all odds, the family had somehow managed to keep the secret for an entire day—a phone call from a publisher wanting to buy the cookbook Chloe had so lovingly written.

  After the wedding ceremony, everyone drifted inside to the kitchen, where a bountiful buffet had been set out on the kitchen island and the dining room table.

  Tate brushed a kiss against Sara’s cheek. “Come with me for a minute—I want to show you something.”

  He led her through the house and out to the front porch, then shut the door. “I’ve wanted to ask you this for a long time, but I never found the right moment. Maybe this is too soon, and this is the wrong time, but I just want you to know how much I love you, Sara—I never knew I could love anyone this much. And after nearly losing you I just don’t want to take that chance again.”

  She looked at him, her knees trembling, as he pulled a small box from his jacket pocket and handed it to her. She gasped when she opened it and found a delicate gold band with a perfect solitaire diamond.

  “Marry me?”

  She’d never imagined this moment. Never imagined loving someone so much that an eternity together wouldn’t be enough.

  She stepped into his embrace for a long, long kiss that warmed her heart and filled her with joy. Then she looked up into the silver-blue eyes that had entranced her since senior high, and gave the only answer she could. “Yes—absolutely and forever, yes.”

  * * *

  If you loved this story,

  pick up the other

  Rocky Mountain Ranch books

  from top author Roxanne Rustand.

  Montana Mistletoe

  High Country Homecoming

  And don’t miss these other great books

  in her miniseries, Aspen Creek Crossroads:

  The Single Dad’s Redemption

  An Aspen Creek Christmas

  Falling for the Rancher

  Available now from Love Inspired!

  Find more great reads at www.LoveInspired.com

  Keep reading for an excerpt from A Rancher to Trust by Laurel Blount.

  Dear Reader,

  Thanks so much for joining me for the final book in my Rocky Mountain Ranch series for Love Inspired! I really hope you enjoyed following the last of the three Langford brothers as Tate overcame his troubled past and found happiness and love back in Montana.

  If you missed the first two books in the series, they are Montana Mistletoe (November 2018) and High Country Homecoming (June 2019) and can be found at www.harlequin.com.

  I love to hear from readers, and can be found at PO Box 2550, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52406, or online at www.roxannerustand.com; www.Facebook.com/roxanne.rustand; www.Facebook.com/roxanne.rustand.author; and by email at: roxannerustandbooks@yahoo.com.

  Wishing you good health, happiness and blessings in the coming year,

  Roxanne

  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

  A Rancher to Trust

  by Laurel Blount

  Chapter One

  As Dan Whitlock pulled his pickup to a stop in the middle of the quiet Oklahoma cemetery, his cell phone buzzed against his chest for the third time. He fished it out of his shirt pocket and checked the screen. Sure enough, he had two missed calls and a text f
rom rancher Colton McAllister.

  Call me.

  Dan looked out the truck window at the snowy cemetery and weighed his options. He’d planned to get this private errand over and done with before he touched base with Colt, but the new boss of the Bar M Ranch wasn’t known for his patience. Might as well go ahead and call him back. Then maybe Dan could tend to his personal business in peace.

  Colt answered the phone on the first ring. “About time.”

  “I was driving. Sorry, Colt, but my advice is pass on these heifers. They look a lot better on paper than they do in person. I know how bad you want to get in on the Shadow Lady bloodline, but trust me, these aren’t your girls.”

  Colt made an irritated noise. “I should have figured as much. Price was too good. I’ll start looking in a higher dollar range and see what I can find.”

  The Bar M didn’t have that kind of money to play around with right now. Dan started to argue but thought better of it.

  Not my call, he reminded himself, not anymore. As the elderly Gordon McAllister’s foreman, Dan had overseen the day-to-day ranch operations. But now that Colt’s grandfather had passed on, Colt had shifted from being Dan’s friend to being Dan’s boss. The younger McAllister preferred to handle things on his own.

  “Anyway,” Colt said, “I appreciate you taking a look. You about ready to head home?”

  Dan’s gaze drifted back to the scattered gravestones, sparkling icily in the brittle January sunlight. “Yeah, shortly. I have something I need to do first.”

  “No rush on this end. Take your time.”

  Dan could barely hear his friend’s muffled words over the whistle of the Wyoming wind and the sound of cattle lowing. Colt probably had his phone clenched between his chin and his shoulder, which meant his hands were busy with something else.

  “You out choring? I thought you were supposed to be helping Angie take care of those new twins of yours.”

  “I’m fixing that section of fence in the south pasture. I was going stir-crazy in the house, so Angie finally shooed me outside. Oh yeah. She said you had a phone call yesterday.”