Honorable Rancher. Barbara Daille White

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      “Mom, stop,” Lissa shouted from the backseat. “There’s Nate.” In the rearview mirror, Dana saw her point off to one side of the schoolyard, where her best friend had just jumped down from Tess and Caleb’s SUV.

      Dana blinked in surprise at seeing Tess in the driver’s seat. The newlyweds had spent a couple of days in Santa Fe but were scheduled to leave that afternoon for a cruise. She unbuckled her seat belt and climbed out of the van with the kids.

      The two girls walked away, chattering and hiking their backpacks up on their shoulders. Carrying his lunch box and scuffling his feet, P.J. trailed behind them, unwilling as always to have anyone see him arrive with the girls.

      Dana shook her head, then turned to Tess. “What are you doing here? Isn’t your ship sailing?”

      “Yes, but we have plenty of time before our flight for the coast. We decided to come back and surprise Nate and Mom at breakfast before Nate left for school.”

      Relieved, Dana nodded, unable to hold back a smile. “On Saturday, you said Nate was the one dealing with separation anxiety. But you’re the one missing her already, aren’t you?”

      Tess shrugged. “It’s silly, but you’re right. I’ve never been away from her before.”

      “It’s not a bit silly. I’d feel the same way.” Happy to have something to keep her mind—and Tess’s—off Ben, she said, “She’ll be all right. Your mom and Ellamae will keep a close eye on her. She’s got plenty to keep her busy. And Lissa can’t stop talking about the sleepover in a couple of weeks.”

      “I know. Nate reminded me about it three times on the way over here this morning. Well, I’d better get going. I left Caleb back at the Whistlestop, making a few last business calls before we head out. Dana...”

      At Tess’s hesitant tone, she frowned. “What?”

      “He’s not happy leaving before the closing on the ranch.”

      Dana stiffened, sure she knew where Tess was going with the conversation. A former bull-riding champion turned ranch owner, Caleb Cantrell had invested his money wisely and had plenty to spare. He also now had a wife and daughter to spend it on.

      Dana felt Tess’s happiness as if it were her own.

      Which meant she could also understand her friend’s worry for her. She worried, too. For the sake of her children, she had to find a way to lighten her own load. A permanent solution. The commission from the sale to Caleb would definitely feed her hungry checkbook. But that money was just one more thing in her life...like love and marriage...that wouldn’t last forever.

      Hoping she sounded unconcerned, she laughed and shook her head. “You two need to stop worrying over everyone else and go enjoy your trip. Tell Caleb I’ll survive till you get back.”

      “It wasn’t only your survival he was thinking about. He’s eager to get his hands on that ranch.”

      “He should be focused on getting his hands on his new wife.”

      Tess laughed. “We’re taking care of that. Oh, before I forget, he wanted me to tell you something. A friend from his rodeo days is going to get in touch to look at property. His name’s Jared Hall.”

      “Great.”

      Tess nodded. “But really, Dana, Caleb said he’d cut an advance check on the commission—”

      “Enough. Quit trying to mother me.” She smiled to soften the words. “I’m not Nate. But like her, I’ll be all right until you’re home again. Now, just stop. And,” she said, faking a threatening tone, “if you don’t, you’re fired.”

      “Okay, okay. I definitely want my job. By the way, did you have a pleasant ride home with Ben the other night?”

      She couldn’t help flinching at the change of subject. Or more truthfully, at the mention of his name. She forced herself to meet Tess’s eyes and raise her brows in mock-surprise. “‘Pleasant’? You’ve never used that word in your life. Of course we had a ‘pleasant’ ride. What else would you expect?”

      “Since you’ve asked...the two of you have seemed awfully uncomfortable with each other lately.”

      “We’re fine.”

      “Maybe you are, at that,” Tess said, her face suddenly as blank as P.J.’s when he was caught up to mischief. “I admit, you looked pretty relaxed in his arms on the dance floor the other night.” As Dana opened her mouth, Tess raised her hands palms out and grinned. “I’m not asking anything about it. I’m just saying...whatever’s going on with you two—”

      “There is nothing going on. And I can handle our landlord. Very pleasantly, too.”

      Tess laughed and gave her a quick hug. They said their goodbyes, and Tess waved as she drove out of the parking lot.

      Dana climbed into the van and slumped back against the driver’s seat. No one else watched her. She was trying—and failing—to hide from herself.

      How could she have lied like that, and to her own best friend? She couldn’t handle their landlord. She couldn’t deal with her emotions about him at all. Worse, she couldn’t believe where those emotions had led her. And the risk they had caused her to take.

      Everyone in town made it plain they would always consider her Paul’s wife. They would always worship Paul. Only two days ago she had worried about their reaction to seeing her dance with Ben at the reception.

      What would folks say now, if they knew the widow of their beloved army hero had slept with his best friend?

      * * *

      BEN LOOPED Firebrand’s reins around one of the posts of Sam Robertson’s corral. The stallion’s dark chestnut coat gleamed in the setting sun, giving credence to his name. Ben patted the horse’s flank. As if in resignation, Firebrand snorted and nodded his head. Then he stood and stared over the corral rail.

      Squinting against the sun, Ben waved to Becky, out near the barn with her puppy. Sam’s little girl waved back. Pirate yipped a couple of times, then settled down at her feet again.

      Seeing Becky and her dog led him to think of P.J.

      That took his mind straight to P.J.’s mama. No surprise at the leap—or at what followed. Guilty thoughts flew in his brain like the flies buzzing around Firebrand’s twitching tail.

      Sam came out of the house carrying two long-necked bottles. “Here. Have a seat.”

      Ben nodded his thanks and took his time swallowing some of the ice-cold beer. It felt good going down.

      It felt good to sit on the picnic bench in Sam’s yard and watch the sun sink. He’d spent the past few days working hard, and he needed a break from the ranch. He needed a break from himself.

      No matter how much he’d tried to keep busy with work, he couldn’t stop himself from going over what had happened at Dana’s house just a few days ago.

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