The Rancher's Reunion. Tina Radcliffe

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      She tried to accommodate, but her pace continued to increase, driving her. Excitement bubbled over. All she wanted was to get to Sullivan Ranch.

      “So how was the flight?”

      “Much too long.” Looking around, she couldn’t stop smiling. Her senses greedily feasted on the American sights and sounds. It was the simple things she’d missed; the twang of an Oklahoma accent, the U.S. flag hanging high in the terminal, a sign advertising Mazzio’s pizza, the chatter of the crowd in English, and American food.

      The tantalizing aroma of a bagel kiosk caused a pause in her steps. Onion, chive and garlic. They all called out to her.

      “Want one?”

      “I do. But not one. At least six.”

      “Six it is.”

      When Will stepped toward the kiosk, she laughed. “I’m kidding, Will. I don’t want to eat anything until we get to the ranch.”

      “All right, but it’s way past dinnertime, and you sure don’t look like you need to be skipping any more meals.”

      “Are you calling me skinny?” She glanced down at herself. True, her clothes were a bit roomy, but she was alive and that was what really mattered.

      “Turn sideways and you’ll disappear.”

      “Someone is exaggerating.” Looking up, she caught the amusement in Will’s expression

      “Not hardly,” he said.

      Annie held up her palm. “Okay. Truce? Just for tonight?”

      “I suppose so. But that won’t be much fun.” He strode toward baggage claim.

      Annie paused, taken back by his humor. The ever-stoical Will Sullivan had cultivated a sense of humor? Shaking her head, she followed him. “Is Rose at the house?”

      “Are you kidding? Baking and cooking like crazy. She’s got plans for you.”

      Annie smiled, knowing he wasn’t exaggerating. Rose O’Shea was so much more than just the woman who ran the kitchen at Sullivan Ranch, and Annie couldn’t wait to see her again.

      Will stopped at the baggage carousel.

      “Those are mine.” She pointed to the well-worn tapestry bags.

      “Got ’em.” He easily hauled both bags off the moving conveyer as though they were empty. Hardly. Amazing how much she’d collected in two years. The rest of her belongings were shipped out in a trunk to arrive later.

      With one bag under his arm, the other dangling from his hand, Will maneuvered out the automatic doors to the curb, where he parked the luggage.

      Annie inhaled deeply. The springtime air smelled like rain. Everything was fresh and clean, exactly as she remembered.

      “Wait here. I’ll get the pickup.”

      “What? No. That’s silly. I can walk.”

      He leveled his gaze on her but said nothing.

      Too tired to argue, too tired to tell him not to get used to compliance, Annie simply eased herself to a bench and watched him cross the street to the hourly parking area.

      A few minutes later a huge, gleaming black truck pulled to a stop next to the curb. Dark, tinted windows and spotless chrome glowed.

      Will jumped out and picked up her bags, tossing them in the open flatbed.

      “You bought a new truck?” She was more than surprised. Will never indulged.

      “Life’s short.”

      Life’s short? Annie silently repeated the simple words to herself, the same words that had haunted her since the accident.

      Finished with the luggage, Will stood straight and grinned, wiping an imaginary fleck of dirt off a shiny bumper. The expression on his face as he faced her was nothing less than pure male expectancy.

      “That is one beautiful truck,” Annie said.

      He chuckled. “Good answer.”

      “What’s that logo?”

      “The Sullivan Ranch logo and URL. Brand-new. Like it?”

      Her eyes widened. “Are you telling me you have a web page?”

      Will gave a quick shrug. “Sullivan Ranch was taken, so I had to go with www.thesullivanranch.com.”

      “That means you have a computer.”

      “You bet. New laptop in my office.”

      Annie grappled with the concept of a modernized Will, while he opened the passenger door. She stared at the seat.

      “What’s the matter?”

      “I’ll need help to get up there.”

      “Turn around.” He placed his hands around her waist and lifted.

      The heat of embarrassment crept over her when he gently settled her onto the seat. “All r-right, th-then,” she said.

      Will walked to the other side of the truck and climbed in, apparently unaffected. “Sit back and relax,” he said, as they pulled away from the curb.

      “Yes, sir.” She settled into the soft, smooth leather upholstery and released the breath she’d been holding.

      Will smiled. “Tuckered out? Well, don’t worry, after a little R & R you’ll be back in tip-top shape, ordering right back at me.”

      “Promise?”

      “Promise.”

      When a yawn slipped from her mouth, Annie leaned her head back, content not to think, hoping her mind would continue to cooperate and block the events of the past few weeks.

      The silhouette of the familiar city faded as he led them out of town toward Granby, south of Tulsa.

      What happened to the lights?

      Annie searched in the dark, panicked. Suffocating fear clenched her body.

      Another alert?

      No, the antiseptic smells of the clinic were absent. She wasn’t at the medical camp. Confused, she reached out and touched a warm arm. Her fingers automatically slipped down to the wrist to check the pulse. It beat strong and regular.

      Annie blinked, eyes adjusting to the semidarkness.

      Will? Thank goodness, it’s Will.

      She was still in the cab of the pickup, which was now parked. The knot in her stomach relaxed then СКАЧАТЬ