The Black Sheep's Proposal. Patricia Thayer

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СКАЧАТЬ wants to sell, too. He’s a pilot in the air force. Why would he want a ranch?”

      With a shrug, Bernice filled the sink and added some liquid soap. Tess picked up a towel to dry. “And maybe those boys will decide to continue to lease the Rocking R to you.”

      “Sam Randell leased the land to Ray Meyers. And we both know Dad can’t run this place any longer.”

      Sadness crept in as Tess leaned against the counter in the small kitchen. She’d grown up in this house. Back then it had been just her and her dad. Now it was pretty crowded with Bernice and Livy added into the mix.

      That’s why Tess had moved into her daughter’s bedroom. It was more convenient for everyone to have Bernice move into Tess’s room.

      She knew this setup was only temporary. His disease was progressing, and his good days were becoming fewer. He hardly ever left his room. It made her sad to think of her father’s mind slowly erasing memories of his life…and that he was not always able to remember his daughter, or his granddaughter.

      Tess shook away the sad thoughts. “I need to talk to Mr. Randell. I need to know what he’s going to do, so I can make some plans.” She was hopeful she could stay on and continue to lease this house, along with barn space for the horses. She needed to make a living for her family. And there was her father’s cattle operation. Although small, she didn’t want to sell the calves yet. Roundup wasn’t for another few months.

      But if the worst happened and they had to leave, she’d get another place. She doubted she could find as good a setup as the Rocking R Ranch. Her father had built several of the horse stalls in the barn. The large corral had been Ray’s handiwork, too. That had been the reason the lease agreement was so cheap; her dad had also been the caretaker.

      They’d had such big plans as partners. The Meyerses were going to breed and train quarter horses. And her bay stallion, Smooth Whiskey Doc, was going to be their cutting champion. So far she had made something of a name as a trainer and rider. But she wanted and needed the money that her future champion stallion could bring in. She wasn’t thinking about herself, but Olivia. She was her sole parent.

      Her aunt’s voice brought her back. “What?”

      “Go work Whiskey,” Bernice said. “That always calms you.”

      She shook her head. “Dad will be up from his nap soon.”

      “Go. I can look after Ray.” She turned her niece around and nudged her toward the door. “Take a break, Tess. You need it.”

      Tess didn’t argue, just headed for the door. She found Livy on the porch playing with her dolls and the kitten.

      “Hey, sweetie, I want you to stay on the porch. It’s too hot to go out in the sun.”

      “Mommy, can I go see Grandpa? I’ll be quiet. I promise.”

      It was so sad. Livy and her grandpa Ray had had a close relationship since the day she was born. Now most of the time he couldn’t speak to her. “I think he’d like that. But maybe you should leave Jinx in the box in our room.”

      “I will, Mommy. I know Grandpa doesn’t mean to, but he sometimes squeezes too hard.”

      She knelt down in front of her daughter. “You know Grandpa’s sick. He doesn’t mean to squeeze too hard.”

      Livy’s blond ponytail bobbed up and down. “I know, Mommy. I wish he wasn’t sick.”

      “So do I, sweetie.” Tess had to fight her tears. “You’re my best girl.”

      Livy smiled. “And you’re my bestest mom.”

      They exchanged a kiss and then Tess started off, but her daughter called to her. “Are you going to go see Mr. Randell?”

      “No, honey, Mr. Randell is busy. I’m going to work with Whiskey.”

      Livy’s eyes narrowed. Tess knew her daughter was cooking up something else. “He’s a nice man. Maybe we should bake him a cake to welcome him home.”

      Butter up the enemy. That was an idea. “We’ll talk about it later. Remember, don’t leave the porch.” She turned and walked toward the barn, knowing that ploy wasn’t going to work for long. She had to come up with something to keep Livy from intruding on Luke Randell.

      Putting her wide-brimmed cowboy hat on her head, she glanced toward the large Victorian house. Perched on a hill with a grove of pecan trees lined up on either side for shade and protection from the elements, it was a sight to behold.

      She’d heard stories that Mrs. Sam Randell had been so humiliated when her husband’s brother, Jack, had been sent to prison for cattle rustling, she insisted they leave the area. It had been twenty-seven years since anyone had lived there.

      “Your father did a wonderful job with the upkeep,” a man’s voice said.

      Tess swung around to find Luke Randell. “Oh, Mr. Randell…”

      “Please, call me Luke.”

      “Luke, and I’m Tess,” she said, a little breathless.

      He’d changed into a long-sleeved shirt and a pair of boots. Cocked on his head was a worn cowboy hat, giving him a rugged look.

      “Do I fit in a little better?”

      Tess was tall at five-nine, but had to look up at him. Stand back was more like it. “You fit in dressed like you were before, but this is more practical for the ranch.”

      “Especially if I’m headed for the barn.” He smiled, and it caused her pulse to race. Great. She was acting like a teenager.

      “You want to see the barn?”

      He glanced around. “Actually, I was looking for your father. Is he around?”

      Oh, no. She wasn’t ready to discuss her father’s… situation yet. “I’m sorry, but he isn’t feeling well right now.” She rushed on to say, “I’m sure I can answer anything you want to know.”

      “I just wanted to let him…and you—know that my arriving early isn’t meant to disturb your operation. You still have another two months on your lease. As the lawyer informed you, I’m just living in the house until a decision is made about the property.”

      A decision? “What about your brother?”

      Luke still had trouble getting used to that term…for Brady. “Half brother,” he clarified. “Brady is a pilot in the air force, and the only information I’ve gotten from the military so far is that he’s overseas. I left word for him to contact me here.”

      “So your plans are to sell the ranch?”

      Luke sighed. If only he could, it sure would solve his immediate problems. “There are a lot of things to consider when or if this place goes on the market.” His gaze locked with her rich blue eyes and it caused him to get temporarily distracted. He quickly glanced away. He wasn’t about to let that happen…again.

      “I know you and your father need more information than that,” he told her. СКАЧАТЬ