The Cowboy She Couldn't Forget. Patricia Thayer

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СКАЧАТЬ met hers. “It’s the only way to move on.”

      Vance didn’t want to rehash his past, because Ana and her sisters had the life of fairy princesses compared to his childhood. “Look, running the Lazy S isn’t an easy job.” He was aware of the toll it had been taking on Colt the past year. “We have the roundup soon. If you and your sisters want to help out, I’m not going to stop you.”

      “Like I said, I doubt my sisters will come home, but I plan to be around. In fact, I decided to move back to the house, at least over the summer or until Dad gets better.”

      Lord help him, Vance wanted Ana to stay around. The downside was she’d be here every day, reminding him of what he could never have.

      “Okay, the day starts at 5:00 a.m.”

      She looked surprised. “I want to go see Dad by ten o’clock. And Wade Dickson wants us to meet him tomorrow afternoon in his office.”

      “Why?”

      “I’m not sure. He said there are things we need to go over.”

      Vance nodded. “Then I guess you’d better get some sleep. Tomorrow is going to be a busy day.”

      She nodded. “I’ll see you in the morning.” She headed to the door.

      Vance fisted his hands, wanting to call her back. And for what? To tell her he’d always care about her. That he’d wished those visits to the ranch had been to see him. No. To her, he was only the poor kid Colt had given a place to sleep. Even now, with his success, would she see him any differently?

      Maybe over the summer she’d notice he was more than just another ranch hand.

      * * *

      The next morning, Colt felt the warmth of the sunlight on his face. Damn. Had he overslept? He blinked, opened his eyes and tried to focus. That wasn’t the worst of his problems. He couldn’t move. He groaned as he tried to lift his arm, and felt the touch of a hand, then a voice as someone said his name.

      He turned his gaze and stared into her pretty face. He nearly gasped. Then he blinked and realized it was Analeigh. Oh, God, she looked so much like...her mother. No. He didn’t want to think about Luisa now. But he knew that wishing wouldn’t make it so. He’d given up on ever completely forgetting his wife. Correction, ex-wife.

      Colt tried to pull away, but he didn’t have the strength. What the hell was happening to him? He tried to speak, but all he managed was another groan.

      “It’s okay, Dad. We’re here with you. You need to be still.”

      He groaned again.

      “Please, Dad. You’re in the hospital. You had a stroke, but you’re going to be all right.”

      Colt could only look at her, then he relaxed when someone appeared next to her. Vance.

      “Hey, Colt. Glad to see you’re awake. The doctors have a handle on this. You’ll be home before you know it. Trust me, everything will be all right at the ranch. I’ll make sure of it. You just rest for now and get your strength back.”

      Strength. He was weak as a kitten. He closed his eyes as all the fight left him.

      * * *

      Just before noon, Ana sat in Vance’s truck as they headed back to town to see the lawyer. She still couldn’t get the picture of her father lying in the hospital bed out of her mind. Her chest was tight with emotion. This had to be hard for a man like Colt. He had always been physical, hardworking. Now, that had all changed. Would he be stuck in a wheelchair the rest of his life?

      She thought about when she’d sat by the bed, praying he would open his eyes. Even his angry scowl was better than that blank look. No. She had to think positively. Her dad survived the stroke and he was going to recover.

      He still hadn’t spoken to anyone, except to say Luisa’s name. At least he’d said something.

      Ana felt Vance’s presence, turned sideways and saw him sipping the coffee he’d gotten from the hospital.

      He nodded to the one he’d brought for her. “Have some coffee. You look like you need it.”

      “Thanks.” She reached for the cup in the console and took a sip. “This is good.”

      He smiled as he concentrated on the road. “Got it from the nurses’ station. It’s their own private brew.”

      She could just see Vance Rivers flirting with the nurses to get what he wanted. “Thank you.”

      “Let’s talk,” he stated, then went on to say, “It’s only been forty-eight hours since Colt’s stroke and he’s still heavily medicated. You need to trust that he’s going to get better.”

      She glanced out the windshield, watching the open ranch land, mountains for a backdrop. “He looks so helpless.”

      “Give it time, Ana. You need to be patient and not get your dad riled up.”

      “Riled up?” That hurt. “I don’t plan to upset my father. How can you say that?”

      Vance raised a hand from the steering wheel. “I only meant that you’re too easy to read. Your emotions show on your face.”

      “I can’t help that.”

      Vance nodded, knowing Ana had always had trouble hiding her feelings. She had a big heart and that was why it was breaking right now. She wanted so much to help. She’d tried so hard to keep the family together, but in the end her sisters all left anyway.

      “You have to try, because Colt needs our help with his recovery.”

      Vance slowed the truck as they approached the small town of Royerton. Population was about five thousand in the ranching and farming community. He drove along Main Street, passing the small grocery, Quick Mart and the U.S. Post Office.

      “And I plan to do exactly that.”

      “Good. Maybe we should keep the topic on the ranch. But not include that you’ll be working with the other ranch hands.”

      “Like he’d care.”

      Vance pulled into a parking space outside the brick, two-story professional building. “Are you kidding?” He threw the gearshift into Park. “There were two rules that Colt enforced. One, work hard, and the other, stay away from his daughters.”

      Seeing Ana’s surprised look, Vance retrieved his keys and got out of the vehicle. He wasn’t about to tell her how difficult it had been to keep that promise, but he had because of the respect he felt for her dad. He’d been crazy about this woman for years. Could there be a second chance for him?

      “I didn’t know,” she said when he opened the passenger-side door.

      “There’s a lot about Colt you don’t know.”

      She took Vance’s offered hand and stepped down onto the sidewalk. “That’s not my fault.”

      “I didn’t СКАЧАТЬ