The Rancher's Unexpected Family. Helen Lacey

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      “Exactly,” Nancy said and came around the table. “What’s going on with you?”

      “Nothing,” she said and got up. “I’m going to check on Jaye.”

      “He’s nice,” her mother said and smiled, seeming as though she knew exactly what was going on in Ash’s churning thoughts. “Really nice. Don’t you think?”

      Ash shrugged. “What I think isn’t important.”

      Nancy chuckled. “Oh, stop being so sensible. There’s nothing wrong with admitting you like him. Or that you think he’s...nice.”

      There was everything wrong with admitting that.

      “Have you been reading Jane Austen again?” she asked and took her dishes to the sink. “You know how that always makes you sappy and sentimental.”

      “And I love how you always deflect the conversation away from yourself whenever I mention the idea of you dusting off that cynical heart of yours.”

      Ash dismissed her mother’s words with a wave of her hand. “I’m not a cynic. I’m a realist.”

      “You’re a scaredy-cat,” Nancy said, grinning. “But with two failed marriages behind me, I’m probably not in a position to give advice.”

      “And yet, you still do,” Ash said with a smile as she moved around the counter. “Can you watch Tahlia and Micah? I’ll be back soon.”

      Ash headed outside and made her way toward the barn. The dogs raced around with sticks and the chickens were pecking around the yard. It was a warm morning and the ranch was buzzing with sounds and scents. The goats were bleating and walking the fence line of their pen, usual behavior when they spotted someone walking across the yard. And Rodney, the five-year-old alpaca who acted more like a dog than anything else, was following Uncle Ted around near the vegetable garden. It was a peaceful scene and Ash was consumed by a sense of how much good there was in her life.

      And then she heard it.

      Music. Loud and awful. Some kind of heavy, brain-draining rock that hurt her eardrums.

      She followed the sound into the barn and stood by the doorway. Cole was bent over the hood of her old truck, dressed in worn jeans and a black T-shirt that molded to his shoulders and showed off way too much of his gloriously well-muscled arms. And then she spotted her son, perched on an old fruit crate, about two feet away from the truck, laughing and flapping his arms in time to the mind-numbing music and clearly having a fabulous time.

      Ash stayed where she was and enjoyed the moment. She loved seeing Jaye so happy. He was mostly a cheerful child, and intelligent and compliant. He had something of a stubborn streak, too. Particularly when he wanted something—like entering the soapbox-derby race at this year’s spring fair. Part of her longed to let him spread his wings and enter the race. But she was scared for him and, as always, her priority was keeping him safe. If he got injured or bullied she would never forgive herself. It was better this way. Better to wait until the following year. He’d be older and better equipped to handle the risks. Sure, he was disappointed and made his feelings abundantly clear whenever he got the opportunity, but she was prepared to shoulder his frustration if it meant he was kept out of harm’s way. Overprotective...maybe. But she could live with that.

      “Mom!”

      Jaye’s voice broke through her thoughts and she frowned when she saw Cole jerk back and bang his head on the hood. He cursed loudly and then quickly apologized as he turned toward the radio and flicked down the volume.

      “Mom has a swearing jar in the kitchen,” her son said matter-of-factly. “Ten cents for every bad word.”

      Cole rubbed the back of his head. “I better start saving my dimes.”

      Jaye laughed loudly. “I’ve got a stash in my piggy bank if you run out.”

      Ash smiled to herself, enjoying the exchange between man and boy. Jaye’s only regular male company was Uncle Ted, and although he was kindhearted, he was also busy running the ranch and didn’t have a lot of spare time to spend with her son. It was nice to see him so relaxed and carefree and clearly reveling in Cole’s company.

      “Is your head okay?” she asked and walked toward the truck. “Not concussed or anything?”

      He gave her a wry smile and his blue eyes glittered spectacularly. “Nothing permanent. Just whacked the metal plate in my skull.”

      “You have a metal plate in your skull?” she asked, frowning.

      He laughed and grabbed the cloth Jaye was now holding toward him. “I’m kidding. About it being in my head. I do have two attached to my spine, though,” he said as he wiped his hands.

      Her frown increased. “Really?”

      “Really. I was in an accident around ten years ago.”

      “I read about that,” she said and forced herself to stand back while Jaye slowly got to his feet. Helping him came to her as naturally as breathing, but she knew she needed to give him his space and independence. “It’s what ended your career as a driver?”

      “It did,” he replied and moved around the front of the truck. “I broke my back and a bunch of other bones and spent months in the hospital.”

      Ash was horrified. “You could have been killed.”

      He shrugged. “It’s a dangerous sport. I knew the risks. I had a tire blow out and lost control. It happens. But I was stubborn and wouldn’t let it beat me. Then had to learn how to walk again.”

      “You couldn’t walk?” Jaye’s incredulous voice rang out between them.

      “That’s right, buddy. I spent a long time in hospital and then worked with a physical therapist to get back on my feet.”

      “I have a physical therapist,” Jaye announced, clearly proud to have some common denominator with the man in front of him. “I go and see her every two weeks, don’t I, Mom?” He didn’t wait for her to respond. “Her name is Becca and she’s really nice. Grandma says she’s a cougar, though,” Jaye said and then frowned. “But I don’t really know what that means.”

      Ash gasped slightly. “Ah, Jaye, why don’t you go and see if Uncle Ted needs any help with the vegetable garden.”

      He groaned. “But, Mom,” he complained. “I’m gonna help Cole fix the truck and that’s going to take—”

      “You can still help,” Cole said easily. “We’ll work on the truck some more tomorrow. And if it’s okay with you, I’d like to talk to your mom about a few things.”

      “About me?”

      Cole shook his head fractionally. “About Maisy. You know how I told you she wasn’t feeling so great this morning?”

      Jaye nodded, absorbing Cole’s words as though they were gold. “Okay, I’ll see you later. See you later, too, Mom,” her son said as he headed from the barn.

      Cole waited until her son was out of sight before СКАЧАТЬ