Home on the Ranch 47 - Tina Radcliffe Read online

  “Shoot.”

  “What did Will’s father have?”

  “Have?”

  “What did he die from?”

  Closing her eyes for a moment, as though hiding some secret pain from Annie, Rose sighed. “In the end it was pneumonia.”

  “In the end?” Annie said the words softly.

  “Annie, he had a disease. I can’t tell you any more than that.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry. You’re right. I’m keeping you from your show.” She stood.

  “No,” Rose grumbled. “That’s not what I mean. It’s Will. He doesn’t want me to discuss his father. I promised.”

  “I don’t understand. Can’t you discuss it with me?”

  Rose’s face reflected her increasing discomfort with the topic. “Ask Will.”

  “I can’t ask Will.”

  “Sure you can.”

  “Last night was the first time in all these years he has even suggested there was something else going on with his father.

  He shared a little, but the ‘do not enter’ signs were up all over. I couldn’t betray our trust with a bunch of nosy questions.”

  “That’s our Will,” Rose said with a sigh. “‘Do not enter’ is right.”

  “What should I do?” Annie asked.

  “Short of breaking his arm, I imagine you’re just going to have to wait until he’s good and ready.”

  “That’s what I was afraid of.”

  “Let’s just pray he doesn’t wait until it’s too late like his daddy.”

  Chapter Nine

  So that was what women called a simple black dress.

  Yeah, it was black.

  Simple?

  Anything but.

  One simple black dress had transformed Annie Harris into a stunning mystery. Her dark hair was pulled back with a sparkly clip. She wore no jewelry except the pearl earrings he had given her.

  The more Will observed, the more he realized there was something else different, something he couldn’t define. A confidence, an aura.

  Annie was a woman. A drop-dead gorgeous woman.

  This new Annie left him confused and off-kilter. He didn’t like feeling like a schoolboy vying for a girl’s attention.

  Will considered the issue as he watched her from across the room. Unobtrusively, of course. The idea was to keep an eye on Annie without looking as if he was keeping an eye on Annie. Big brother, best buddy–like, he assured himself.

  Seemed he wasn’t the only one with that idea. In fact, judging by the attention she had garnered so far this evening, there were quite a few people interested in the sleek mystery woman in black, and they were mostly guys.

  Will glanced around at the ample turnout for the Sullivan Ranch–KidCare launch party Margaret had thrown. Annie was as much a part of Sullivan Ranch and the success they’d enjoyed so far as he was. Yet he’d hardly even caught her eye since they’d arrived.

  Fact was, since the small country western band had started playing an hour ago, she’d fended off more cowboys than any other woman in the room.

  Will had also seen the frequent sweep of Annie’s hand gesturing toward her healing leg, and the refusals to dance.

  His ears perked as the band gathered back on the small stage for the next set. This time they struck up the notes of a popular song. He recognized the “missing my girl, got a horse for a best friend” tune. Noting Annie was alone, he decided maybe if he was quick enough, he could get across the room to keep her company.

  See if she needed moral support. After all, this was her first social outing, and because it was understood that was what friends did. Help each other when needed, so to speak. Too late.

  Some yahoo had her cornered and was no doubt telling her tall tales.

  Will’s stomach clenched.

  He must be hungry. The dessert table overflowed with delicacies. No expense had been spared for this spread. Surely something would satisfy him.

  After filling a small china plate with a variety of sweets, he stood against the wall and hummed to the music, tapping the toe of his new black boots and watching the activity. From across the room Ed Reilly caught his eye. The older man gave him a nod of acknowledgment.

  Will popped another pastry into his mouth. By the time the song was over the dish in his hand was empty. He frowned and examined the crumbs, wondering what he’d eaten.

  The band played the introductory chords to a second number, a slow piece, this one a sweet, sentimental, old gospel ballad. Will set down his plate, and again prepared to cross the room to catch Annie. A feminine hand on his arm stopped him.

  “Hey, Will,” Joanie LaFarge smiled. “Official congratulations on your new venture.”

  “Thanks, Joanie.”

  “This sure is nice of the Reillys.”

  Will nodded in agreement. “Having a good time?”

  “Are you kidding? Chris and I never get out. I would have been thrilled with pizza and a movie. But this…” She gestured around the room. “This is incredible. I guess Sullivan Ranch is in the big leagues now.”

  “Not hardly,” Will said with a chuckle.

  “Well, you better not tell Margaret that,” Joanie said. “She’s got you fast-tracking from rancher to Sullivan Ranch CEO. And she’s talking you up like you’re on a political ticket.”

  “No worries. I’m sure you and Chris will keep me grounded.”

  Joanie laughed. “Yes. Chris will have you mucking those stables with him if your head gets bigger than your ego.”

  “Yeah, he will.”

  “Are you talking about me again, Sullivan?”

  Will greeted Chris with a handshake.

  “Where’s your girl?” Chris asked. “My girl?”

  “Annie.” Chris looked around, his gaze finding Annie and Ryan the same time Will’s did. “Aww, who introduced her to Doc Jones? Now that was a mistake.”

  “Margaret’s been matchmaking,” Will said.

  “There’s nothing wrong with a little shove in the right direction,” Joanie offered. “But clearly Annie is not the match for Ryan.”

  “Thank you, Joanie,” Will said. “That’s exactly what I told Margaret.”

  “No, he’s not the cowboy Annie has her eye on,” she said, with a wink to her husband.

  “What?” Will looked over his shoulder and spotted Annie, Jones at her side grinning like a fool.

  Chris took a long sip of his tea and shook his head. “Oh, boy, Sullivan. You really don’t get it, do you?”

  “I’m missing something here, aren’t I?”

  Joanie patted his arm. “It’s okay. Men are always slower than women when it comes to these things. Ask Chris.”

  Will glanced around for his beverage glass, the conversation suddenly making him awful thirsty. “Every time I set something down it disappears.”

  Chris laughed. “The bar’s over there.”

  “Thanks,” Will said.

  A moment later, he discovered himself elbow to elbow with Ryan Jones.

  “Club soda and lime,” Will told the bartender.

  “Sullivan.” Ryan nodded a greeting, placing his order for two colas.

  “Hey, Doc. Haven’t seen you in a while. I must be doing something right.”

  Ryan smiled. “Probably not. Find an equine vet yet?”

  “Yeah. Got a new guy lined up.”

  “You better. That horse of yours needs someone familiar before she delivers.”

  “You’re familiar with her.”

  “Only by default. You should have gotten a new vet when yours retired.”

  “I did, if you recall. Twice. One had twins and the other moved.”

  “Sad story. Well, I’ve got enough to do with my practice. I don’t even have time to get out and see my own horse.”

  “That’s a shame, Doc.”

  “Yeah. I can see you’re heartbroken. Which reminds me—where have you’ve been hiding Annie all this time?”

  “She’s only been home two weeks.”

  “Why
didn’t I meet her years ago?”

  “I don’t know. You tell me. As I recall you only had eyes for Kait Field. By the way, whatever happened with you two?”

  “Okay, okay,” Ryan interrupted, one palm raised in gesture. “Let’s not go there.”

  “And for the record,” Will said, “I have not been hiding Annie.”

  Ryan raised his brows. “A mite touchy, aren’t you?”

  “Just concerned. She’s been through a traumatic event.”

  “I know. She told me.”

  “She talked to you about her mission trip?”

  “Yeah.”

  “You two sure have done an awful lot of talking, haven’t you?”

  “We’ve talked some.”

  “Well, don’t let her overdo herself tonight.”

  “Don’t worry. I intend to take good care of Annie. She’s a very special woman.”

  “She’s a good kid,” Will agreed tightly.

  There was a silence as Will received his drink from the bartender. Why did he suspect there was something else on Jones’s mind? He glanced at the other man.

  “What?”

  “Mind if I drive her home tonight?”

  “Who?” Will asked.

  “Annie, Will. Annie.”

  “The ranch is a good five, six miles out of your way.” Will stated the obvious.

  “I don’t remember you being this dense in high school,” Ryan said, scratching his head.

  Will glared. “So you’re asking my permission?” Raising the glass in his hand, he took a long a swig, his mouth suddenly dry as dust. He didn’t like the direction this conversation was taking. Didn’t like it at all.

  Ryan raised his brows. “Wanted to show due respect to her elders.”

  Elders?

  Will nearly spewed his drink.

  Will poured himself another tall one, though he supposed sitting in the dark kitchen drinking wasn’t going to solve anything. One hand was wrapped around the chilled milk glass, while the other absently played with a note, moving the paper in and out between his fingers.

  A telephone message he’d taken earlier. Nothing would satisfy him more than to crumple the little scrap and toss it in the trash. But there were only so many times he could tell the man to call back next week. Besides, he’d been raised to do the honorable thing. Which was no less than stinking irritating at times.

  Like right now.

  Besides, this time the man from medical missions had let some interesting information slip. Information Will intended to get to the bottom of.

  Will glanced at the luminous dials of his watch. The party had been over for two hours.

  Where was Annie?

  Annie is a woman, not a child. He repeated the words silently. She’ll be home anytime now. His mind raced with a running commentary.

  She was with Ryan Jones. The man had volunteered to be in a bachelor auction. What did that say about his character?

  And for that matter, what did he really know about the guy? Back in high school he’d been an honor student and on the basketball team. He’d gone to college in state and then vet school. Now he had a practice in Granby, catering mostly to small animals. Not an equine specialist, he came out to Sullivan Ranch more as a courtesy to Will as anything else. He also boarded a horse at the ranch. A horse he seldom had time to ride due to his busy schedule.

  Will always thought Jones was a straight shooter, but that was Annie he was standing so close to. The current situation threw a whole new light on things.

  Then again, it had occurred to Will that the situation might be a good thing. If Annie dated Jones, she’d have a reason to stay. Maybe he could talk some sense into her.

  Will shook his head and took another swig.

  No, that plan didn’t sit well with him, either. If he was going to have to get used to the idea of Annie being with someone he sure didn’t want it to be in plain sight. That could prove to be more painful than he wanted to consider.

  A moment later he heard the crunch of tires on gravel through the open kitchen windows. A car door shut.

  Should he hit the stairs running before she got her key in the door, or stay here in the dark and hope she’d pass right by and not notice him waiting up?

  He chose the latter.

  The way his luck was running it seemed no surprise when the kitchen light came on, blinding him.

  “Did you drink all the milk?” Annie asked, as she tossed a beaded black clutch on the table and yanked open the refrigerator door.

  “Hi to you, too.”

  She turned slightly and narrowed her eyes but said nothing.

  “’Course I didn’t drink it all. There’s a little left.”

  “Define ‘a little.’” Pulling a clean glass from the dishwasher, she poured the remaining milk and tossed the carton into the recycle bin. “Any cookies left?”

  “Somebody cranky?”

  Hands on hips she stared him down. “My feet hurt. My leg aches. My head is throbbing and I’m starving.”

  Will bit his tongue to keep from reminding her that if she hadn’t been the center of attention all night she might have had a minute to eat and rest her feet. “So take off your shoes.” He got up and grabbed the entire cookie jar, setting the brown ceramic pot on the table.

  “Have you ever noticed you never do anything halfway?” She kicked her shoes under the table and slid into a chair.

  “Nope.”

  “Nope, you never do anything halfway or nope, you never noticed?”

  “Both.”

  She reached into the jar and pulled out three cookies. “Thank goodness. I’ve been thinking about these cookies for hours.”

  “Have fun tonight?” he asked. Her smoky eye makeup was slightly smudged and her lipstick had faded. Yet she was more alluring now than any woman at the party tonight.

  “I suppose,” she finally answered. “But being social is exhausting. Let’s not do that again real soon, okay?” She broke a cookie in half and nibbled.

  “All right with me, but Jones may have other ideas.”

  “Ryan’s a good guy.”

  “So they keep telling me.” He reached across the table to swipe the other half of Annie’s cookie.

  “Hey,” she groused. “I bet you’ve already had six.”

  “If we run out I’ll make more.”

  “And I’ll rewire the Jeep,” she muttered.

  “What did you say?”

  “You heard me.”

  “I’m going to have to tell Rose on you.”

  Unfazed by his threat, she didn’t break a smile. “You do that, cowboy.”

  Will narrowed his eyes and leaned closer. “Who are you and what have you done with Annie?” he asked, folding the little note in his hand into a minuscule square.

  “I can’t be Little Annie Sunshine all the time.”

  “I guess not. But some sort of warning might be nice. We could clear the area of animals and small children.”

  This time she did smile.

  “So, looks like you and Jones hit it off.”

  “Like minds,” she said, thoughtfully examining the cookie.

  “Now there is a scary thought.”

  “How many chocolate chips do you suppose there are in one cookie?”

  “You’re a strange woman,” Will said. “I guess that’s why you two had so much to talk about.”

  “Actually we were discussing matters of the heart. Ryan is a wounded soul.”

  Will released a guffaw. “Wounded, my saddle.” He straightened in his seat. “That’s the sort of thing a guy says to a woman to make her feel sorry for him.”

  “Oh. A pickup line? I suppose we dumb females fall for it every time. Is that what you’re saying?”

  Will opened his mouth and immediately closed it. A wise man knows when to back out carefully when he discovers he’s stepped into a large cow patty. “That’s not what I meant.”

  “Are you saying he’s full of manure?”

  “No. I’m sayin
g I know guys.”

  “And I don’t?”

  “I sure hope not.”

  “Hmm. I’m not sure if that’s a compliment or an insult.”

  “So,” he said, trying to move things along, “you discussed Jones and his broken engagement.”

  “No. He didn’t mention an engagement. What engagement?”

  “Maybe you should ask him.”

  “Couldn’t you just tell me, Will?”

  “Don’t know if that would be right.”

  Annie snorted. A girly snort, but a snort nonetheless. “Please. You know you are dying to tell me.”

  “Guys don’t gossip.”

  She snorted again. “Uh-huh. Good one.”

  “So what exactly were you two talking about?”

  “Philosophical things. Heartache. Unrequited love.”

  “You were dispensing advice on heartache and unrequited love?”

  “I said we were talking.”

  “What makes you an expert on the subject?”

  “I never claimed to be an expert,” she said, her voice taut and edgy. Her hands were clenched on the table.

  Will realized she was getting mad. Plain mad. His brain scrambled backward to figure out what he’d said. Too late.

  She stood and half stomped, half limped to the sink with her empty glass. “You apparently have this image of me as some sort of kid. I’m not a child, Will, I’m a—well, I am not a child.”

  Will averted his eyes from her perfectly silhouetted form standing against the sink in the black dress. A shudder went through him. A man could only handle so much.

  No, she sure was not a child. Hoo boy. He’d grant her that.

  “Hey, look. I’m teasing you,” he said softly. “It just comes natural, like breathing. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. You’re right. It is an eye-opener to consider Miss Anne E. has had her heart broken.”

  She whirled around. “Why? Why should you be surprised? I’m not like my mother. I don’t fall in love at the flip of a Stetson.”

  “Ouch. Annie, I never said that.”

  The silence in the room became tense. He could hear her breathing as he stared down at the table. “So who is this fella who broke your heart?”

  “Once again you are misinterpreting what I am saying. I did not say my heart was broken. I simply empathize with what it is like to care for someone who doesn’t reciprocate your feelings.” She sat back down at the table and toyed with the few crumbs in front of her.