Authors: Lynnette Kent
A Wife in Wyoming (21 page)
He drove under the sign for the Circle M and continued along the road to the exact point where Caroline had stopped her truck that Sunday she brought him home from church. From here he could observe the rolling plains of the ranch itself, which flowed into the more rugged foothills, and above it all the Big Horn peaks still frosted white against a perfect blue sky. This was the opposite of the view he'd enjoyed on his way down through the mountains, but every bit as beautiful, every bit as stirring.
Leaning against the side of the truck, Ford took a deep, filling breath and let it out slowly. He didn't try to think, but let his brain process on its own as he watched a distant hawk drifting on air currents. Gradually, a softly spoken sentence floated into his mind.
“I couldn't protect them if I wasn't here.” Nate had said that last night, talking about his mother and his sister.
That had always been Ford's goal, tooâprotecting his family. He'd wanted to earn enough money so they never had to worry about being poor again. He'd single-handedly tried to prove that the Marshall boys were just as good as anybody else.
But what if that wasn't what they needed anymore? Wyatt, Garrett, Dylanâthey'd all made a place for themselves in the community, a name they were proud of. They didn't require or request him to defend them.
And what if the money wasn't as important as he'd believed? Maybe the help he could offer now was a different kindâthe sharing of daily tasks, the shouldering of burdens small and large, the celebration of victories as they came. They'd all tried to explain that to him, in one way or another. Could be he should start listening.
He remembered being surprised that Caroline had given up her family for her job. He was the one to talkâhe'd done exactly the same thing. Maybe the best gift he could offer his family was the gift of himself.
And maybeâhis heart lifted as the possibility bloomed in his mindâmaybe choosing to be with Caroline didn't mean abandoning his brothers. Maybe marrying Caroline was just another way to protect themâbringing a woman into the family who could share their lives, ease their worries, plain and simple make them smile. She was a genius at making a man smile.
He found himself short of breath just considering the prospect. Living on the ranch, seeing his brothers every day, holding Caroline in his arms at night...even putting up with her quixotic, bighearted ideas, like a ranch program for truculent teenagers. Legal services for battered women.
Pro bono
work for folks who couldn't afford to pay an attorney. The possibilities, as he stood there and mulled them over, were endless.
He might, indeed, end up saving the world.
Every instinct urged him to race to the house, find Caroline and drag her off somewhere private to share his new perspective. Or...forget privacy. Just propose in front of his three brothers and six crazy kids. He didn't have a ring, or a job, but she might take him, anyway.
An idea hit, and he knew instantly it was the right choice. Back in the truck, he gunned the gas, made a U-turn and headed out again. Diamonds were always nice for an engagement present.
But Ford was going for the gold.
* * *
D
INNER
HAD
BEEN
eaten and cleaned up. Caroline was sitting on the ranch house porch with Garrett and Dylan, the three of them pretending to be cheerful while they watched Justino and Thomas playing catch. The Bradley family had walked up to visit the horses. Lena, Becky and Lizzie were, predictably, focused on their phones.
At the rumble of tires on gravel, Caroline sat forward to see Ford's truck coming down the drive, towing a horse trailer.
Dylan stood up. “What's he done now?”
Garrett stayed seated. “Did we need another horse?”
The truck stopped in its usual spot in front of the house. Ford dropped to the ground on the driver's side and, without a word, headed for the trailer. The teenagers followed, gathering at the rear of the rig while he worked on the latches. Garrett glanced at Caroline as they went to join the audience. “Do you know what this is?”
“I have no idea,” she said, although deep inside her heart, a tiny hope wriggled.
Ford pushed the doors open wide and pulled down the ramp. Finally, he looked at Caroline and grinned. “Why don't you unload her? She's yours.” Even in the shadows of the trailer, the horse's rump glowed a rich, palomino gold.
“IâI... Oh, Ford.” She walked up the ramp, touched the mare's hip and rubbed. “Hey, Allie. How are you, girl? Can you back up?” She grabbed the creamy tail and tugged gently. “Come on, Allie. That's it. Back up. Good girl. Good.” The sweet quarter horse took her time but gradually, with encouragement, she came down onto solid ground. Caroline stroked the beautiful white blaze on Allie's face and felt tears running down her cheeks.
Lizzie stated the obvious. “That's the horse you rode in the barrel race.”
“Is it your birthday or something?” Thomas asked.
“Or something,” Ford said. “Miss Caroline knew this horse when...well, a long time ago. They make a really great pair, don't they?” He gave the lead rope to Lizzie. “You guys take her up to the corral and give her a thorough brushing. We'll keep her in a stall for a few days, introduce her to the rest of the herd gradually.”
Allie walked off with her herd of caretakers. “I'll supervise,” Garrett said, heading after them.
“Me, too.” Dylan followed.
“Aren't they tactful?” Caroline gazed up at Ford. His face was as relaxed as she'd ever seen it. “You bought me a horse.”
“She wasn't being taken care of. And that hurt you. Besides, you should have your own horse at the Circle M Ranch.”
“Just for the summer? Iâ”
Ford took her hands in his. “How about just for the rest of your life?”
She wanted it so much, for a minute she couldn't say the words. “You're staying?” she croaked.
“If you'll have me.” He kissed the knuckles of one hand and then the other. “Marry me, Caroline. You know I love you.”
“Oh, yes. Yes!” She glanced at the barn. “But I can't hug and kiss you now.”
“I'll take a rain check.” His blue eyes glinted, and his grin was wide and free. “We've got plenty of time.” He spread his arms wide. “All the time in the world.”
* * * * *
Keep reading for an excerpt from TEXAS REBELS: EGAN by Linda Warren.
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Prologue
My name is Kate Rebel. I married John Rebel when I was eighteen years old and then bore him seven sons. We worked the family ranch, which John later inherited. We put everything we had into buying more land so our sons would have a legacy. We didn't have much, but we had love.
The McCray Ranch borders Rebel Ranch on the east and the McCrays have forever been a thorn in my family's side. They've cut our fences, dammed up creeks to limit our water supply and shot one of our prize bulls. Ezra McCray threatened to shoot our sons if he caught them jumping his fences again. We tried to keep our boys away, but they are boysâyoung and wild.
One day Jude and Phoenix, two of our youngest, were out riding together. When John heard shots, he immediately went to find his boys. They lay on the ground, blood oozing from their heads. Ezra McCray was astride a horse twenty yards away with a rifle in his hand. John drew his gun and fired, killing Ezra instantly. Both boys survived with only minor wounds. Since my husband was protecting his children, he didn't spend even one night in jail. This escalated the feud that still goes on today.
The man I knew as my husband died that day. He couldn't live with what he'd done, and started to drink heavily. I had to take over the ranch and the raising of our boys. John died ten years later. We've all been affected by the tragedy, especially my sons.
They are grown men now and deal in different ways with the pain of losing their father. One day I pray my boys will be able to put this behind them and live healthy, normal lives with women who will love them the way I loved their father.
Copyright © 2015 by Linda Warren
ISBN-13: 9781460379851
A Wife in Wyoming
Copyright © 2015 by Cheryl B. Bacon
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