Rancher To The Rescue

“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?”

“Every day.”

“How old were you?”

“Seventeen when the accident happened. You’d be surprised how much I miss her. But at least caring for her gave me the skills to find work after she was gone. Honestly, I have no regrets.”

“You shouldn’t,” Tina said fervently. “What a wonderful daughter you are. Your mom had to know that.”

Blushing, Kathryn dropped her gaze. “That’s nice of you to say.”

“No wonder Jake is so concerned for you.”

Kathryn’s gaze zipped right back up to Tina’s profile. “Oh, Jake doesn’t know. I mean, we haven’t discussed it.”

“No? Huh. Well, he is concerned, and he’ll help if you let him.” She glanced at Kathryn. “But that’s the Smith brothers for you.”

For the rest of the drive, Tina regaled Kathryn with the story of how she’d met the Smith brothers and married the eldest one. Clearly, she was wild about Wyatt Smith. “Jake’s the most wonderful father,” she enthused as she parked the SUV in the church lot. “We can thank Frankie for that. Isn’t he the most adorable kid?”

“He is,” Kathryn agreed, getting out of the vehicle when Tina did.

“I think Frankie is why Wyatt so easily accepts my son,” Tina went on, coming around to meet Kathryn. “Wyatt took care of Frankie when Jake and Jolene were deployed.”

“Deployed?”

Taking her arm, Tina turned Kathryn toward the building. They fell in step as they moved toward the door. “They were both career army. Didn’t you know? I don’t think Jake would ever have taken discharge if his wife hadn’t died.”

“I see.” The poor man. Kathryn bit her lips, but she couldn’t keep herself from asking, “What happened?”

“Training exercise.”

“Oh. Wow.”

Kathryn pondered that as they walked through the wide church foyer and into the sanctuary. Perhaps half-full, with the congregants gathered near the front of the space, the long, bright hall with its pale woods and white, padded pews felt foreign to Kathryn. The last time she’d been here, the room had been dark and shadowy, making it much easier to slip in unnoticed. As they moved toward the front of the sanctuary, a tall, handsome, solidly built man with dark, curly hair stood and started up the aisle to greet them, a smile on his face. Jake got up and followed along behind him.

“You made it.”

“Kathryn was kind enough to come with me. Kathryn, this is my husband, Wyatt.”

Wyatt Smith put out his big hand and gave Kathryn’s a hearty shake. Like Jake, Wyatt had dark brown eyes and the shadow of a heavy beard on his square jaw and chin.

“Nice to meet you, Kathryn.”

Tina looked to Jake then smiled and said, “She’ll do.”

Before Kathryn could ponder that statement, the Billings sisters rushed up to greet Kathryn with exuberant hugs.

“It’s so good to see you!”

“KKay! How marvelous you look!”

Ann Billings swept a hand across the ends of Kathryn’s hair. “You used to have the longest, thickest ponytail I’ve ever seen.”

“All the boys called you Rapunzel,” Meri said, laughing.

“I remember,” Kathryn murmured, overwhelmed by the greeting.

The pastor entered through a door at the rear of the auditorium just then, and the piano started playing. Wyatt urged the women forward. “Better sit.”

Jake held out a hand. Kathryn nodded, smiling weakly at the Billings sisters, and quickly entered the pew. Jake followed, with Tina and Wyatt bringing up the rear.

“KKay?” Jake murmured into her ear. She crossed her arms to quell the shiver that rushed over her skin.

“An old nickname,” she whispered. “My middle name is Kay.”

“Ah.”

She sat down next to a big, muscle-bound man with sleek black hair and the dark Smith eyes and beard shadow. He nodded at her.

“My baby brother, Ryder,” Jake said softly. He placed a hand on her arm, saying to his brother, “Kathryn Stepp.”

At Jake’s touch, Kathryn again fought a shiver.

Ryder Smith smiled. “Hi.”

“Hello.”

Someone passed Ryder several papers then. He handed one to Kathryn and the rest to Jake, who passed them on. Glancing down, she saw a list of names and prayer requests. She’d requested prayers for her mother while Mia had languished in the hospital in Oklahoma City all those years ago. Would it have made a difference if she’d come to pray in person?

After the music, the pastor said a few words then prayed not only for those on the printed list but also for those who turned in request cards that evening. After the pastor, others began to pray aloud. Kathryn kept her head down, but every second she felt Jake’s warm presence at her elbow. Again, she wondered if she’d offended him earlier by initially refusing to attend this meeting. She should’ve explained how uncomfortable big groups of strangers made her.

As the service came to a close, she glanced around her while waiting to exit the pew. She didn’t know the current pastor, but to her surprise she knew quite a few of those present.

Tina was already at the door at the back of the sanctuary before Kathryn made it out to the aisle. Slipping around Jake, Kathryn quickly followed the other woman.

The Billings sisters waylaid her again in the foyer, chatting about the changes in their lives. Both had married and borne children. Their husbands soon joined them, little ones in tow. Kathryn looked on with sharp, silent envy. Meri commented on the bag that Kathryn carried, but before Kathryn could reply, something hit her from the side so hard that she stumbled. Out of nowhere, Jake steadied her, his hands at her shoulders.

“Frankie!” he scolded. “You nearly bowled her over.”

Kathryn felt the boy’s arms hugging her even as she looked down.

“I sorwy,” he said, his eyes huge in his little face.

Smiling, Kathryn smoothed his dark, shaggy hair. “No harm done. Hello again.”

He grinned at her. “Hello.”

“KKay has an admirer,” Meri observed, chuckling.

Frankie’s brow wrinkled. “KKay?”

“It’s an old nickname,” Kathryn told him. “Something my friends used to call me.”

“KKay my fren!” Frankie announced.

Chuckling, Kathryn said, “Yes. We’re friends.”

Conversation continued for several more minutes. Terribly aware of Jake at her back, Kathryn struggled to pay attention, saying little. Finally, the Billings sisters and their families began to leave. Glancing around, Kathryn realized with a start that only she, Jake and Frankie remained. When had Tina left?

“Come on,” Jake said, his hand against the small of her back. “We’ll take you home.”

Kathryn tried not to tremble at his touch or look into his eyes for fear he would see how he affected her. Instead, she simply allowed him to escort her from the building, Frankie at his side.

“What did you think of Tina?” he asked, pointing to his truck.

“She’s nice. I like her.”

“I talked to her about you. If you’re interested, we have a place for you at Loco Man.”

Shocked, Kathryn came to a halt, bleating, “Wha-a-t?”

“A job,” Jake explained. “Tina’s got her hands full with her son and the B and B.” Stopping in his tracks, he turned to face Kathryn. Beside them, Frankie listened to the conversation with interest.

Kathryn shook her head. “B and B? As in bed-and-breakfast?”

“That’s right. She’s planned to turn the ranch house into a bed-and-breakfast ever since Uncle Dodd left it to her.”

Kathryn shook her head again, confused. “I—I thought he left the place to you and your brothers.”

“He left the ranch to me and my brothers. The house is Tina’s. But it’s all worked out for everyone. The thing is, Tina could use some help, and you seem well qualified. You cook, right?”

“Why, yes.”

“And you clean.”

“Of course.”

“And you obviously sew and like to decorate. Tina’s at the decorating stage now, and she won’t rent rooms until she has the house looking like she wants it. Oh, and I might ask you to watch Frankie. I dump him on her too often. When I have to take him along with me, he misses naps and playtime.”

Kathryn tried to wrap her mind around this. “You want me to cook, clean, help Tina open a bed-and-breakfast and watch your son. Is that right?”

“That about covers it.”

“But why?”

“I told you. Tina needs the help. And Frankie thinks you’re great. If you can watch him at least some of the time, it’ll free me up to work on your car. Seems like a win for everyone.”

Kathryn tried to formulate a reply, but her mind was reeling. Had that conversation on the ride here with Tina been a kind of job interview? Did she dare work for Jake Smith and his family? She could cook and clean, no problem, but as for the rest, she just didn’t know. Despite her need for income, her natural caution wouldn’t allow her to accept without thinking through this offer.

They reached the truck. Jake picked up Frankie and settled him into his seat while Kathryn let herself into the cab. Suddenly so burdened with concern that she felt on the verge of tears, Kathryn couldn’t speak. In the charged atmosphere, even Frankie remained silent on the drive to her house. She just kept wondering how this had happened.

She’d liked her job. All three of her clients were sweet, harmless, elderly folk, and she knew she’d made positive differences in their lives. What did she know about children? As adorable as Frankie was, she had no experience with little ones, boys especially. And the idea of seeing Jake on a daily basis made her insides quake.

The man rattled her in ways she couldn’t even describe. He’d hit her life with all the force of a whirlwind, a tall, dark, handsome whirlwind that somehow threatened to blow her careful, tidy existence to pieces. Everything familiar and comfortable in her life had disappeared since she’d met him.

Everything but her home. She still had that. For now. Without income, she’d never be able to fix her car, let alone buy out her father.

When Jake and Frankie dropped her off at home, Jake said, “Just think about it.”

Nodding, she let herself out of the truck and trudged inside to consider her options. She made a list of all the businesses in town within walking distance, but she already knew that those employed locally tended to hang on to their jobs. Calling other home care companies in the area would do no good. They’d all require proof of transportation, just as her last employer had. So it was sit at home for weeks without pay until Jake Smith got her old car running, and then hope she could get hired on with the agency again. Or accept his job offer. Seemed odd to let him pay her so she could afford to pay him for fixing her car, but she didn’t see any other choice.

Despite her emotional exhaustion, she slept little that night and rose early the next morning to prepare herself to accept the job at Loco Man Ranch. With no idea when Jake—or Tina—might reach out to her again, she made a second cup of coffee and carried it out to the porch where she sat and waited, long enough that she finally resorted to prayer.

Lord, can’t anything ever be easy? Can’t You help? Are You even there? What if Jake’s thought better of hiring me? What if I never get my car running and lose my house? I don’t understand what’s happening. I’m afraid.

She was so tired of being afraid.

With the temperature climbing to an uncomfortable level, she decided to go inside, but before she could get up, she heard the sound of tires on pavement and looked around to see a familiar olive-green truck turning into her drive. Correction, army green. So great was her relief that she feared collapsing if she tried to stand, and that kept her in her seat as Jake got out and came to her. Without a word, he crouched in front of her and pushed back the brim of his hat before removing his sunshades. Offering her a swift smile, he balanced his forearms atop his knees.

“You really should give me your phone number,” she said crisply, foregoing a greeting and keeping her gaze on his chin. The man was just too handsome.

As if he knew exactly what she was thinking, he dropped his head. She suspected that he was hiding a grin, but when he looked up, he appeared perfectly composed.

“I can do that. We’ll need yours, of course. Meanwhile, Tina would like for you to join us for lunch. She’ll show you around the house and give you a feel for what needs doing.”

Kathryn pulled in a deep breath, ignoring the way her heart sped up when his deep brown eyes met her gaze. “You should understand two things. One, I know nothing about children. Two, as soon as you get my car running again, I’ll find a real job.”

“You’ll do fine with the kids,” he said. “You’re careful and protective. Besides, in case of an emergency, there are four other adults around the place. And this is a real job.”

“This is pity,” Kathryn scoffed softly, dropping her gaze, “however well intended.”

“No, no, no. Tina really needs the help. The duties are many and varied. Once the B and B opens, I suspect she’ll even want you to help with the guests.”

That surprised Kathryn. Didn’t he see how uncomfortable she was dealing with strangers? “Oh, I’m not sure I’m cut out for that.”

“How will you know if you don’t try?” he cajoled gently. “You might surprise yourself. Anyone who can do what you did for your mother ought to be able to manage just about anything.”

Obviously, Tina had reported their conversation to him. Kathryn found, to her surprise, that she didn’t much mind, especially given the sound of respect in his voice.

“We’ll see.”

“Then you’ll take the job?”

“Yes. And thank you.”

“No need for that.” He pushed up to a standing position and slid his glasses back into place before tugging down the brim of his hat. “We need the help. You need the job. It’s that simple.”

It might be that simple for him, but Kathryn wasn’t so sure about her own part in this. Oh, why did he have to be so handsome and generous? She rose and squared her shoulders, preparing for an uncomfortable day.

Eventually, she told herself, she’d lose this strange, hopeless attraction. Meanwhile, she’d have income. Then, once her car was repaired, she could put as much distance as necessary between herself and Jacoby Smith.

Please, God, she prayed. Let it be soon.

Hopefully before she made a complete fool of herself.

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