A Family For The Rancher. Allison Collins B.

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       Chapter Three

      Kelsey zipped up her jeans and looked in the mirror standing in the corner of her bedroom. Butterflies fluttered in her belly, and she smoothed a hand over the pink-and-white gingham shirt. She hated parties, hated the small talk, hated how lonely she always felt at gatherings now that Rob was gone. He’d been the one to talk to everyone, made sure she was included in conversations and never left her alone. Now she avoided parties like the proverbial plague.

      But she’d let it slip to her mom while they were moving into the big cabin by the lake the day before that Mr. Sullivan had invited them to the barbecue. Nothing could keep Bunny Randolph from a social gathering.

      “You ready, pumpkin? We need to get going so we aren’t late.”

      She turned around as her mom walked in the door. Bound and determined to remain youthful looking, her freshly blond hair was curled to perfection.

      “Kelsey Anne, is that what you’re wearing? Why don’t you put on a dress?” The words were punctuated with a swirl of her mother’s flowered skirt.

      “Mom, it’s a barbecue. It’ll be outside. In the dirt.”

      “But men will be there, honey. Cowboys.”

      Her mom’s eyes gleamed, and Kelsey fought not to roll her eyes.

      “I’m not interested in meeting any of them. I’ve got my hands full already with my patient.”

      “Ooh! I can’t wait to meet hi—”

      “Mom, no. He’s not a potential date, lover, boyfriend or husband. He’s my patient, and when he’s back up and running, we’ll be moving on to the next job.”

      Her mother’s lips pouted. “I don’t see why you can’t dress up just a little. Show your appreciation for all Mr. Sullivan has done for us. Thank goodness he offered you this cabin. I couldn’t stand being cooped up in that motel one minute longer. I don’t see why the hospital couldn’t have helped out with the cost since you didn’t get the job we moved here for.”

      “Once again, it’s not the hospital’s fault they lost the funding for a therapist. I just need to scrimp a little more and we can move on.”

      The pout hadn’t left her mother’s red-lacquered lips, so she linked arms with her and pulled her toward the door. “Now we need to head on down to the lodge. Just because I’m not interested in the party doesn’t mean you can’t have fun. Okay?”

      “All right.”

      They walked in to the living room, and Kelsey still couldn’t believe her luck that they’d be living here for the time being. It was like a log cabin on steroids, with luxurious yet comfortable furnishings and plenty of Western decor.

      Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the clear-as-a-bell lake edged with towering trees. This morning she’d been sipping a cup of steaming tea on the patio when two elk had wandered along the lakeshore, stopping to drink as the sun peeked over the mountain, turning their coats golden.

      With the pile of debts Rob had left after his death, she hadn’t thought they’d ever get to stay in anything so nice. Especially for free.

      Her daughter sat on the floor playing with an old plastic tea set her mom had gotten at a garage sale. Maddy did love setting it up and serving tea to her stuffed animals.

      “Come on, Maddy. Time to go.” She ran a comb through Maddy’s black curls and kissed her chubby little cheek.

      They piled into her car and drove toward the main lodge, about a half mile away. Parking and getting out, they were blasted by the sounds of a live country band. She spotted Hunter Sullivan as they neared the party, and waved, very glad to see a friendly face.

      He nodded his head at her and walked toward them. “Hey, Kelsey. Who’s this little angel?” He tugged on one of Maddy’s dark curls, and she instantly giggled.

      “Hi, Hunter. This is Maddy. And my mother, Bunny Randolph.”

      “Ma’am, pleased to meet you.” He tipped his hat at her mother, then took Maddy’s tiny hand in his own. “And Miss Maddy, it’s a real honor to meet you. Will you save a dance for me?”

      Maddy giggled again and buried her face in Kelsey’s shoulder. But before long, she peeked out at him again.

      Why you little flirt. You take after Grandma, don’t you? But then, who can resist a cowboy like Hunter? He certainly was good-looking, and his green eyes sparkled back at her daughter. Definitely a charmer.

      Turning around, she looked for Nash, finally spotting him in the shadows. He seemed to be staring at someone. Or more accurately, shooting daggers at them.

      “Hunter, who is that over by the speakers?”

      He glanced up, then frowned. “That’s Mindy and her husband, Ben. She and Nash dated in college. Till Ben stole her from him. They never come to these parties.” He made a sound of disapproval, his frown deepening. “Why now?”

      “Is he still hung up on her?”

      “Nah. I think he’s more pissed he lost his best friend than her.”

      “They can’t still be friends?”

      He shrugged. “Nash hasn’t gone out much—actually at all—since he’s been home.” He frowned once more, then smiled at her and patted his flat stomach. “I’m hungry. Let’s go eat.”

      They walked to the buffet tables set up near the dance floor. Something roasted on a spit, and the tantalizing aroma made her mouth water. The table was lined with bowl after bowl of salads, from green to three kinds of potato, and pasta salads. Baskets filled to overflowing with buns and rolls were next, then chips and dips. She groaned, wanting to try everything. A carving station with several types of meats sat apart from the buffet line, and she spotted a staggering array of red meat and barbecued chicken.

      Nash’s father had explained that while this was a guest ranch, they were also a working cattle ranch.

      “Mommy, cake!”

      She looked to see Maddy pointing at two more tables loaded with desserts: cakes, pies, cookies and a portable soft-serve ice-cream machine. The Sullivans sure knew how to throw a party.

      “Come on and sit with me,” Hunter said, leading the way to one of the picnic СКАЧАТЬ