Home on the Ranch 47 - Tina Radcliffe Read online

  Taking a large breath, she stared ahead, her gaze a million miles away. “I can’t. I wish I could but I seem to have blocked it out. Sometimes at night it starts to come back to me and then—” her gaze connected with his “—nothing. I don’t think I’m ready to remember anything but what they’ve told me.”

  Will shook his head.

  Annie’s gaze shifted and she stared over his shoulder. “Look,” she said. “The moon.”

  He glanced behind him. Sure enough, it was a full moon, unusually bright with a luminescent glow.

  “And the way those stars are scattered across the sky,” Annie said. “It’s like diamonds on velvet.”

  “I don’t think I could ever leave this place,” he said, leaning against the rail.

  “You don’t have to,” she whispered.

  Annie scrunched the pillow over her face to block out the annoying sunlight streaming through the lace curtains. At some point in the night her body finally adjusted, and gave in to the luxury of a mattress over the familiar cot she’d been sleeping on for the past two years. She ushered a thank-you to God for the few hours of real rest she’d gotten last night.

  A yelp of pain escaped when she sat up. Her leg was painfully stiff from being in the same position so long. The stitches pulled against her skin. She ran a hand over the area. Thankfully, it remained cool to her touch, with no signs of infection peeking out from the gauze. Today she’d remove the dressing and let the incision air.

  Annie glanced around. Her room. Except for dusting, everything had remained untouched. When the breeze from the open window whispered past, she could smell the familiar fragrance of lavender mingled with furniture polish. Rose had tucked handmade lavender sachets into every drawer.

  The bedroom truly was the only substantial thing Annie had ever called her own. Of course it wasn’t really hers. But a young girl could pretend it was her very own room and pretend she had a real family.

  The small space had been a nondescript guest room when Annie had arrived. Over the next year or two Rose had very quietly transformed everything, enjoying every minute of painting the walls, sewing the curtains and picking out colors for a quilt.

  Annie fingered the soft, gently worn fabric of the hand-pieced and machine-sewn quilt. “Around The World,” Rose called the pattern. Colors of peach and cream blended together into a soothing patchwork design, with a pale green border.

  Around the world. Well, she had certainly done that. All her life, it seemed. She had traveled from town to town with her gypsy mother until being brought to the ranch to stay with Rose.

  Why Rose? She’d often asked the question during those first years, trying to make sense of everything.

  “Your mother and I were neighbors when we were children. We grew up together. She spent a lot of time at my house,” Rose explained.

  “But what about my grandparents?” Annie asked.

  “Leanne always told me her papa was in the navy and her momma was restless.”

  “Restless.” Annie said the words aloud to the empty room. Was that her legacy? Restless.

  As promised, Leanne returned six months later, once she and her husband were settled. When her new stepfather began to take notice of Annie, Leanne was quick to return her daughter to the ranch with the necessary papers for Rose to share guardianship.

  Annie wondered if Rose had heard from her mother recently. While Leanne sent the occasional birthday card, the last real contact had been a quick, unexpected phone call when Annie turned seventeen, to let her know her mother was again divorced. At the time Annie feared Leanne would come and take her away. But no, she was headed to California to follow a “get rich quick” scheme.

  Wiggling her toes and stretching her arms, Annie reached for the flannel robe she’d tossed on the end of the four-poster bed. Frustrating as it was, she would have to use the cane until her leg limbered up.

  Her stomach growled, and she was both surprised and thankful. It seemed her appetite was back with a vengeance. Coffee and more pie sounded like a wonderful way to start the day. With any luck, Will hadn’t already finished off both.

  She fished in her tapestry bags for her hairbrush then headed for the private bathroom, throwing water on her face and brushing her teeth, before grabbing the cane. Voices reached her as she hobbled carefully down the oak floor of the hallway.

  Annie paused in the kitchen entry and discovered there was a guest at the table. Will sat across from a sophisticated blonde in a cream linen suit who gestured in conversation.

  She inched back out of the room.

  “About time you got up. We were debating whether or not to wake you for dinner,” Will called. A hint of a smile played on his strong mouth.

  “Dinner? What are you talking about?” She glanced at the black, wrought-iron rooster clock on the wall. Three o’clock? “I slept over twelve hours.”

  “You needed that sleep,” he said.

  “Apparently,” Annie admitted. “I missed church.”

  “Are you kidding me?” Will laughed.

  Rose pulled out a chair. “Come sit down, honey.”

  “Oh, no, no.” Annie shook her head. “You have a guest. I don’t want to interrupt. Besides, I’m not dressed.”

  “Don’t be silly. This is just Mrs. Reilly,” Rose said, dismissing Annie’s concerns with a wave of her hand. “Now sit yourself down.” She pulled out a chair. “I’ve got a fresh pot of coffee brewing.”

  The woman seated at the table raised a perfectly arched brow at Rose’s remark.

  “That sounds wonderful,” Annie admitted. She carefully lowered herself into a ladder-backed chair.

  “Annie, this is Margaret Reilly,” Will said. “She and her husband, Ed, are involved in a joint venture with Sullivan Ranch.”

  Annie offered the woman her hand. The blonde’s grip was strong and businesslike as her assessing gaze met Annie’s head-on. A second glance at the woman’s polished features and Annie realized Margaret was her own mother’s age.

  “Call me Margaret. I’m delighted to finally meet Will’s little sister.”

  Little sister? Her glance darted to Will, who had suddenly become preoccupied with the floor tile.

  Well, why was she surprised? The words only verified what she knew all along.

  “I understand you’re a nurse,” Margaret said. “I don’t know how you do it. That sort of work definitely has to be a calling.”

  “Annie is called. Did you know she had a full-ride academic scholarship to the University of Tulsa?” Rose spoke with pride. As she talked, she filled a mug with steaming coffee and set it on the table in front of Annie.

  “TU? I’m impressed. So, what are your plans now that you’re back? How long are you visiting?”

  “Visiting?” Rose interrupted, her voice taking on an edge. “Why, Annie is family.”

  Margaret gave a small, tight smile. “So you’ll probably be looking for a job, and I know they’re desperate for nurses in Oklahoma City. I have a colleague who is on the board of several hospitals. I’d be happy to give her your name.”

  “OK City is too far,” Rose said. “They’re hiring right here in T-town.”

  “I’m not really sure what I’ll do once the doctor releases me,” Annie answered. “But thank you for thinking of me.”

  “Oh, yes. Will mentioned your accident. You were overseas.”

  “But she’s not going back. Right, Annie?” Rose asked with concern.

  Annie reached out to put her hand over Rose’s. The conversation was spiraling out of control.

  Will cleared his throat.

  Annie recognized the pained expression on his face as a desperate plea to change the subject.

  “Have we got any fruit in the house?” he asked, with a quick glance around.

  “Fruit?” Rose asked, distracted. “What on earth are you talking about? There’s fruit in the basket, where it always is.” She grabbed the willow basket off the counter and dropped it squarely in front of Will.

 
; Margaret stood. “I must get back to the house. We’re hosting that big charity buffet tonight.” She paused to give Will her complete attention. “I can still count on you to be there, right?”

  Will frowned slightly, confusion evident his face. “Tonight?” He scratched his head. “Did I know about this?”

  Margaret gathered her leather clutch. “You certainly did. Ed and I both told you there will be several very important contacts for the ranch attending this party, including several well-connected young ladies that you certainly must meet.”

  Margaret Reilly was pointed in her plan for matchmaking. No doubt she’d find the perfect wife.

  The perfect wife for Will Sullivan.

  The sharp pain of realization made Annie wince. She blinked and mindlessly lifted the coffee mug to her lips, taking a swig of the hot beverage. The immediate result burned her mouth and brought tears to her eyes. With a noise of pain she swallowed.

  “You okay?” Will asked, jumping to his feet.

  “Hot. Hot,” Annie sputtered.

  He moved quickly to the sink, filling a glass with tap water. “Here, drink.”

  She did, swishing the cool and soothing water over the inside of her scalded mouth before swallowing.

  “Goodness, child. Are you all right?” Rose questioned.

  Humiliated, Annie nodded. Oh, this day was starting out fine. Little sister and child, all in one brief fiasco.

  “It was nice to meet you, Margaret,” Annie said, hoping to move past the awkward incident.

  “My pleasure, Annie. I know we’ll see each other often. My husband, Ed, and I work very closely with Sullivan Ranch.” She turned to Will. “Don’t we, Will?”

  Will gave a short nod.

  “I’m sorry. What is it you do?” Annie asked.

  Margaret gave a bemused smile. “Why, Ed is the CEO of KidCare.”

  Annie raised a brow.

  “Oh, my. You have been gone for a while.”

  “KidCare is an international children’s ministry consulting firm based in Tulsa,” Will answered.

  “Basically we connect and support children’s charities, ministries and youth organizations,” Margaret said.

  “How does that involve Will?” Annie asked.

  “Ed had several great ideas and came to me with a business plan about eighteen months ago,” Will explained. “Sullivan Ranch will be hosting events for KidCare. In return, KidCare backs the operations and promote the events.”

  Annie nodded. She imagined the publicity alone was a boost for the ranch. “That sounds really exciting.”

  “Oh, it is,” Margaret assured her. “Sullivan Ranch has their first big program coming up. A local denomination is holding a get-together for their junior high kids from across the Tulsa area. They’ll be camping out right here.”

  “Where, here?” Annie asked.

  “Right here on the ranch,” Will said. “I’ll show you around later. You won’t believe the changes. I’ve added a few cabins on the other side of the peach trees, near the Dearborne property line. There’s a campground, too.” His eyes lit up and his face, normally a mask of composure, seemed almost animated.

  “Really?” Annie said. “What a terrific idea. I can’t wait for a tour.”

  Margaret wrinkled her nose. “I’ll pass on the camping, but I will be coordinating the catering for the barbecue.”

  Rose coughed. “I keep telling you I can handle a little barbecue,” she said, while giving the already sparkling countertops a brisk rubdown with her sponge.

  “I’m certain you can, Rose,” Margaret returned. “But there will be about fifty or so campers, and I wouldn’t think of imposing upon your goodwill. Besides, there are health regulations we must adhere to.”

  Rose inhaled sharply.

  Ouch. Business or not, Margaret didn’t understand who ruled the culinary roost at Sullivan Ranch. Rose O’Shea did, and she’d done it single-handedly for over twenty years.

  “What time is that party tonight?” Will asked, interrupting the uneasy silence.

  “Seven. Of course you’ll be there early so we can take care of some KidCare business before everyone arrives,” Margaret said. She caught Will’s eye, making it very clear she expected full cooperation.

  “Probably won’t make the party early,” Will finally answered Margaret, as he walked to the sink and rinsed his mug. “This is Annie’s first full day back.”

  Margaret blinked with surprise. “I see. Then we’ll expect you at seven. Don’t forget a tie.”

  “No, ma’am, I won’t.”

  There was a strained silence before Margaret spoke again. “Ed has those brochures ready for you. They’re in the car if you’d like to collect the box now.”

  Will pursed his lips, then nodded and grabbed his hat.

  Margaret adjusted her jacket. When she turned to Annie, control was back in place. “I’ll see you again, Annie. We’ll plan to do lunch once you’re settled.”

  Annie smiled, though somehow she just couldn’t see her and Margaret doing lunch.

  “Thank you for the coffee, Rose,” Margaret added, following Will.

  Rose gave a curt nod.

  When they were well out of earshot, Annie rubbed her hands together. “Well, that was fun.”

  “Don’t even get me started,” Rose fumed, clearing the table. “That woman thinks she can run Will, the same as she runs her husband.” Rose took a deep breath. “Now, what do you want to eat?”

  Annie opened her mouth to suggest pie, but shut it quickly as Rose continued: “And don’t you dare say pie.”

  Chapter Three

  The old ranch Jeep, a rusty black model minus doors, roared to life. Will shifted gears, guiding the vehicle along the bumpy dirt and gravel road, leaving a wake of dust.

  “Sure you’re up to this?” Will asked.

  Annie pushed her windswept hair out of her eyes and tucked the strands behind her ears. She slapped a navy ball cap emblazoned with the University of Tulsa logo on her head, and turned in the seat to face him. “Are you kidding? After all that sleep?”

  “But your leg?”

  She had pushed the seat back as far as possible to accommodate and protect her extended left leg. Will glanced down at the uncovered wound. Her pant leg was rolled up to her knee, and with the dressing off he could see the incision on the back of her calf. It ran horizontal, at least four inches, with a small vertical zigzag. Tight stitches pulled the skin together. Several large abrasions around the area were scabbed and healing.

  The bullet, Annie had told him on the phone, penetrated the muscle and then exited, leaving the area a nasty mess. The surgeon opened the area to clean and remove shards of glass along with embedded dirt and gravel from her fall. Now that the infection was under control, the wound appeared to be healing nicely.

  So why was it he cringed every time he glanced at her leg? Will did not consider himself fainthearted. He could handle any number of emergencies related to the animals on the ranch, yet he found himself skittish about this. Maybe because it was Annie who’d been hurt. An involuntary shudder went clear through him.

  “You’ve seen worse accidents at the rodeo.”

  “Not the same thing. Trust me.”

  “Well, you’re going to have to deal with it. I hurt my leg. It’s healing. End of story.”

  He said nothing to her curt response, noting only that she seemed out of sorts since Margaret Reilly’s visit.

  In fact Rose was the same way. Plain cranky.

  Rose he understood. She’d run the Sullivan house since his mother left. At times he wondered what kept Rose here in Granby with him and the ranch. She had never married, often saying the Sullivans were all the family she needed, and later including Annie in her circle of love.

  His father had often told him a kitchen was only big enough for one woman. Will figured Annie didn’t count because she was like a daughter to Rose.

  Margaret Reilly? Well, that was another story. She got on Rose’s last nerve.

/>   On several occasions during strategic planning meetings at the ranch, Will had to pull Margaret aside to explain Rose’s role at the ranch wasn’t simply housekeeper. No, Rose O’Shea couldn’t be defined by the words housekeeper or cook. Margaret had a hard time understanding, but at least she’d stopped giving out suggestions for redecorating the house and reorganizing the kitchen in front of the feisty older woman.

  He wasn’t too sure why Margaret irritated Annie. Must be a woman thing.

  The campground appeared in the distance and Will pointed as they approached. The perfect spot, it was nestled in a protective shelter of trees. The tall redbuds, elms and birches were planted by his grandfather William Sullivan.

  “Finished those cabins a few weeks ago,” he told Annie. “Along with the shower facility. The covered areas over there are for picnics, barbecues and activities.”

  Six cabins, each able to accommodate four campers, stood in a semicircle to the right. The clearing to the left was for pitching tents.

  “You’ve got showers and toilets?”

  “Don’t want them coming to the house, do I?”

  “This is roughing it, Okie style? Those cabins are adorable.”

  “Adorable?” Will nearly choked on the word. “They’re not adorable.”

  “Sure they are. So you’re planning on quite a few campouts?”

  “More than quite a few. We’re booked nearly every weekend from now to the end of the summer.”

  Annie’s eyes widened. “Will, that’s a lot of work.”

  “You bet it is, and this has been over a year in the making. Besides campouts we’ve got one-night events like hayrides and church meetings. The riding lessons have picked up too.”

  “Who does the lessons?”

  “I wish I could say I do them all, but mostly I rely on Chris LaFarge and his wife, Joanie. Chris is a vet tech over at Doc Jones’s practice.”

  “You’re busy.”

  “There’s an understatement. I spend most of my time on the phone troubleshooting and scheduling. The frustrating part is trying to get any real work done in between calls. Getting to be a joke.”