The Rancher's City Girl. Patricia Johns
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Название: The Rancher's City Girl
Автор: Patricia Johns
Издательство: HarperCollins
Жанр: Современные любовные романы
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Who knew I’d have the ranch?
He still felt a familiar surge of gratitude at that thought. This ranch meant more to him than anything else.
A rustling sound behind him pulled him out of his memories and he turned to see Eloise in the doorway of the kitchen. She hesitated, green eyes meeting his. She pulled her curls away from her face, and her lips parted ever so slightly, and he could feel all of his orderly thoughts slipping away. What was it about this woman that addled his brain like that? He cleared his throat.
“You ready to head out?” Cory asked. “It’s a pretty deep cut, apparently.”
“Sure. Let me grab my supplies—”
“I’ve got a fully stocked kit in the truck.” Cory pulled his thoughts away from dangerous territory and surveyed her attire. Her jeans were all right, but the delicate teal blouse didn’t look as if it would survive long out here. Dare he say anything? There was an injured ranch hand waiting.
“Then let’s go.” She turned to Zack. “Thanks for checking on Mr. Bessler for me. He’s almost sleeping now. His painkillers have taken effect.”
“No problem,” Zack said with a wave. “It’s good to have you here.”
She turned and followed Cory to the door, then out to the truck. He pulled open her door, then headed around to the driver’s side. When he hopped up into his seat and the truck rumbled to life, Eloise eyed him tentatively. “Your father wants to scatter his wife’s ashes one of these days soon.”
“Okay.” He put the truck into Reverse and eased out of the drive, then pushed it into Drive and headed down the gravel road. “Here?” he clarified. “Does he want me to do anything?”
It felt awkward to be suddenly so intimately aware of his father’s dying wishes. Moving from boyhood fantasies of a superhero of a father to the startling reality of the dying old man was a shock to the system, and he felt mildly embarrassed at the mention of Ruth. He’d seen the pictures on the wall in the Bessler house, but so far, Ruth Bessler was little more than a shadow—a name his father mentioned with a look of annoyance shot in Cory’s direction. At least right now they were a father and son in the same house, but as soon as Ruth came up, it was as if miles suddenly slid between them.
“I said I’d help him with it, so you don’t need to worry.” Eloise cleared her throat. “He wants to do it off your property.”
Cory couldn’t say he was surprised. His father jealously protected Ruth’s memory, and he didn’t imagine that the old man would want to lay her to rest on his illegitimate son’s land.
“That’s understandable,” he said. He scanned the passing horse barn out of habit, his eyes skipping over each gate to check that it was locked.
“Why do you put up with him?” Cory’s tone was sharper than he intended and he winced inwardly.
“It’s part of the job.” Eloise frowned. “But then again, he’s not my father, so I don’t have the same expectations you do.”
“I don’t have a lot of expectations. I don’t even know the man.”
“My patients all give me something unique. Your dad is no different.”
“You must see a different side of him, because I can’t get beyond his surliness.”
“He definitely can be a grump. But when he talks about Ruth...he really loved her. Still does, I daresay.”
Cory didn’t answer. He wasn’t sure how much a man could love a woman while cheating on her, and anger simmered inside him again. For all of Robert’s adoration for Ruth, he hadn’t been able to love his only son, and that fact still rubbed him a little raw. Eloise turned her gaze out the window and pursed her lips thoughtfully. “Is it far?” she asked.
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