Chapter Two

Luke

Luke stood over the hot grill, finishing the half-dozen rib-eyes. Tanner wanted to grill them himself, but Luke had taken over the task. It was serious business, cooking steaks, and Luke had seen firsthand how Tanner left them on too long, until every ounce of flavor had dripped into the coals and eating them was like gnawing on shoe leather. That wasn’t happening tonight. Luke had snatched the tongs from Tanner’s hand and quickly asked Tanner’s mother and sister who should grill the steaks. It was unanimous. They wanted Luke to man the grill.

Tanner came out of the house, the porch door slamming behind him. “How about a beer for the celebrity chef?”

“Truth hurts, doesn’t it?” Luke accepted the open bottle and took a swallow.

Tanner grumbled an indistinct reply and sank into a nearby chair. “You should have brought your boss-lady.”

Rachel. He’d thought about her all the way over, how her curls hung past her shoulders, down to the small of her back. How her schoolmarm dress hid her sexy body. How her lush breasts would feel in his hands. He jerked his thoughts from her, for the thousandth time.

Rachel Wilson thought she could priss around the ranch and get him and the other cowboys to drop whatever they were doing and snap to attention. The girl had another thing coming.

“She’s busy taking care of Jed. She barely leaves him.”

“How’s Jed doing?”

“He looks awful. Makes me think of my dad before he died. I’ve tried to go visit a few times but he tells me to go to hell. He doesn’t want me or anyone else seeing him like that.”

He flipped the steaks over and set aside the tongs.

“Everything I know about ranching, I learned from Jed. Times I didn’t care too much for the man, but I respected him. If he wants to be left alone, it’s the least I can do for him.”

“You think he’s really going to leave all that land to a granddaughter he barely knows?”

Luke shook his head. “I don’t know. When he first got diagnosed, he fretted day and night. One morning, he woke up and came down to the cabin. He had a smile from ear-to-ear. Said he’d figured out how to make it all work and that I needed to take him to the lawyers’ office.”

Tanner frowned. “What do you suppose that meant?”

“Who knows?”

A late spring breeze stirred, bringing the scent of peach blossoms from the orchard beside the house. Tanner’s mother had a dozen or so trees that would bear fruit in a few months’ time.

When his father had passed away, Luke was fifteen and Tanner’s mother told him flat-out he was coming to live with her family. Lucille Rusk had taken him in and it was a good thing too. His mother died when he was a child and with his father gone, he had no relatives.

A day after the funeral, Luke arrived with a single suitcase, half-expecting to be swept into Lucille’s maternal embrace to receive a word of comfort. Instead, she’d met him at the garden gate with Tanner and his two sisters. She’d shoved a spade into his hands and told him to get to work.

There were fruit trees that needed planting.

Lucille, a widow, had worked fifty hours a week as an ER nurse. She had more energy than anyone he knew, and she hadn’t even broken her stride when she took him in. She’d given him the guest room and kept a watchful eye on him until he graduated from high school. After, he spent a few years on the rodeo circuit, but returned to Colter Canyon to work for Jed. And to be closer to the Rusk family.

“Luke,” Lucille called from the back porch. “Need a beer?”

He lifted his bottle. “Got one. Steaks will be done in just a few minutes.”

She swiped a lock of silver hair from her eyes. “Table’s set and Molly just got here. She’s finishing the sides.”

“I don’t care about the sides, I want to know about dessert.”

Lucille looked affronted. “You think I’m going to invite you for dinner and not serve dessert?”

Tanner snorted. “She’d never do that to you, Luke. Me? I never get sweets. The only time I get offered dessert is when you’re sitting at the table.”

“What are you muttering about, son?” Lucille asked.

“I’m telling Luke that I think you lost weight.”

She waved a dismissive hand at Tanner. “Oh, hush.”

“What’s for dessert, Lucille?” Luke asked.

“Apple cake. I’m not having any because I just started a diet this morning, but Molly made double so you could take some home.”

“Music to my ears,” Luke said, taking the steaks off the grill and setting them on a platter. “Steaks are done.”

He and Tanner crossed the patio to the back door.

“You got enough cologne on there, man?” Luke asked. “I’m not going to be able to taste my dinner with that cloud of flowery shit I’m smelling.”

“I put enough on for the two of us. That way when you get lucky tonight you can thank me.”

Luke pushed past the door. “Don’t think I need any help in that department.”

Tanner replied with a rude comment, but Luke ignored him. He set the platter on the counter and hugged Molly. Tanner’s sister had been married for several years to a doctor. After a couple of years of hoping for a family, they’d found out at Christmas that Molly was pregnant. The last few times Luke had visited, he’d had to give her a side hug since her tummy was getting bigger.

“How’s Junior?” Luke asked.

“Doing somersaults all day and all night.”

Lucille finished serving iced tea and when everyone was seated, said a quick prayer of thanksgiving.

“Where’s the fine doctor?” Luke asked.

“Surgery. Putting a pin in a busted arm.” Molly said with a shudder. “Some bull rider got stomped on.”

Luke grimaced as he helped himself to baked beans.

“Shoot, Luke and me have more hardware than the Mercantile,” Tanner said.

“Don’t remind me,” Lucille added. “I’m glad you two boys aren’t riding bulls anymore. That’s where I got all my gray hair. Pass the potato salad.”

Molly smirked. “What happened to the diet?”

“It starts tomorrow.” Lucille heaped potato salad on her plate.

“Well, I’m having potato salad and dessert tonight,” Molly said. “I have my gestational diabetes test on Monday. So, I’m living it up just in case.”

“You could come to the Magnolia with us,” Tanner said. “Really live it up.”

Molly grinned. “Joe could meet me there after surgery. It would be like old times, dancing all night at Colter Canyon’s Magnolia Saloon and Whorehouse. That would be pretty classy for a baby-mama. Hanging out at a dance hall, tummy sticking out like a volleyball while a bunch of drunk cowboys size me up. I think I’ll pass.”

After dinner, Tanner and Luke cleared the dishes while Lucille and Molly set out cake and dessert plates.

“Luke, I thought you might bring a plus-one to dinner tonight.” Molly’s voice held a teasing tone.

Luke’s thoughts went back to his conversation with Rachel. Ever since she’d stepped foot on the ranch, he’d been restless. On edge. It wasn’t just that Jed was ailing, it was her. He’d been aware of her living in the main house in the way he hadn’t expected. She was pretty, damn pretty, but there was something more. The few times their eyes met, a jolt of pure need heated his blood.

That afternoon, she’d come to his cabin. Part of him wanted to warn her from ever coming back and the other part wanted to yank her inside, slam and lock the door and taste her lush lips. Press a kiss to her mouth that would tell her just what would happen if she ventured down to his cabin again.

He shouldn’t want her. He knew that. He tried to stop his imagination running wild, but somehow, once he started thinking about her, he’d always end up with her naked in his bed, or bent over his couch, or in his shower with soap suds running down her belly. He couldn’t stop the images, but, truth be told, he didn’t want to.

The first time he saw her she had just arrived at the ranch, with matched luggage and dressed in a skirt and heels. What a sight. Better than anything he’d ever seen. He tried to erase the image, but he couldn’t. He was sure she would only be there a day or two, just long enough to figure out how to claim her inheritance when the time came. He told himself she’d be gone soon, and that with time he’d forget about her. But to his surprise, over the next few weeks, Jed declined, and she remained.

“I heard she’s hot,” Molly taunted.

“She’s all right.”

Molly snorted.

Luke held back a sharp reply. Molly might not be his sister but she was as good as family and he knew if he gave a sign of being irritated at her teasing, she’d stay on the topic like white on rice.

“I think she’s making your life miserable. I can tell when you’re grumpy.” Molly grinned. “Madame Molly knows all.”

“She doesn’t make my life miserable. Not by a long shot.”

Tanner shook his head. “You’ve been bitching and moaning about her since she first showed up.”

Luke cut a piece of cake. “She’s a pain, for sure. But she’s not the type to stick around Colter Canyon.”

Molly arched a brow. “Sure about that?”

“I’m positive. She’s got city girl written all over her.”

“You think she’s going to sell the ranch when Jed passes?” Lucille asked.

“Jed’s too mean to pass.” Luke said.

“You’ve been saying that all along,” Tanner said. “The guy smoked like a chimney. Now he’s on Hospice.”

An image flashed in Luke’s mind. Jed, mounted on his favorite gelding at sunrise with a cigarette in hand. It was true. Jed almost always had a cigarette.

One time in those ten years, he’d seen Jed drunk. It was after a wedding held on the ranch. A cowboy married his sweetheart under a grove of oaks and after Jed had provided a barbeque dinner and drinks. Luke helped him home, keeping the older man from stumbling on his way back to the house. When they’d gotten to the steps, Jed clapped him on the shoulder, saying Luke was the closest thing to a son he had since he’d lost his own son. Then he’d climbed the steps and disappeared into the house.

When Jed got sick, he’d come down to Luke’s cabin and told him he wanted Luke to take care of the ranch when he was gone. Luke had believed him, thinking he would either leave the ranch to him or sell the property. Not once had Luke imagined some long-lost granddaughter would show up.

“Yeah,” Lucille sighed, pulling him from his thoughts. “I don’t ever recall seeing Jed Wilson without his smokes.”

“I can’t imagine the ranch without him,” Luke said. “Damn cigarettes.”

“One of the nurses in the ER has moonlighted a few times, watching Jed. She said he gets delirious. He’s taken a swing at his granddaughter once or twice.”

Luke stared in disbelief, the notion of Jed lashing out at Rachel, almost too terrible to fathom. “I hadn’t heard that.”

Lucille shrugged. “He’s got to be on a lot of drugs. They can mess with a person’s mind. Fortunately, the girl is quick. As far as I know Jed hasn’t landed a punch.”

Something twisted inside Luke’s gut. The conversation drifted to a different subject, but he couldn’t help feeling unsettled. His appetite waned and suddenly the idea of going to a dance hall sounded unappealing.

Jed lay dying at home, it was just a matter of time. The notion sent a new rush of apprehension through him. Add that to the idea that Rachel might have gotten struck or almost struck by the old man and he felt a heavy weight push down on his shoulders.

After dinner Luke retreated to the patio and checked his phone. Rachel and he had exchanged numbers but he couldn’t say for certain if she’d actually call him if she needed something. Part of that was his fault. He hadn’t been friendly. But it was her fault too. Stubborn woman. She’d inherited Jed’s ornery nature.

Tanner came out of the house and frowned. “I can tell you’re not coming to the Magnolia with me.”

Luke shook his head. “I don’t know. I got a funny feeling over dinner. Can’t explain it.”

He looked away and thought about how many times he’d woken in the night and seen lights on at Jed’s house. Rachel had scheduled round-the-clock nurses, but he saw the shadows and always made out two people. When the nurses rose to tend Jed, Rachel did too. She must be exhausted. He regretted his rough words with her earlier.

Tanner leaned against the door and gave him a sympathetic look. “Must be weird, waiting for someone to pass. And not knowing what’s going to happen with the ranch.”

Luke shrugged. “If I can, I’ll buy it.”

“You got that kind of money?”

“My dad left me some. And I inherited a little from a great aunt a few years ago.”

“You think that girl’s going to sell, to you?”

“I hope so. She doesn’t know the first thing about ranching.”

“I think you have a soft spot in your heart for her.”

Luke rubbed his jaw. “I’m going to head home. I want to be nearby in case she needs something. Or if Jed does.”

Luke said his goodbyes to Molly and Lucille, hugging both women before heading out the front door. He turned his truck for home, a sinking feeling in his heart. When Jed told him not to come visit, he’d honored the old man’s wishes. Now he wondered if that had been the right thing to do. Maybe he should have dropped in once or twice, just to make sure the old man didn’t want company.

When he got home, he drove up to Jed’s house and parked his truck beside a minivan. It probably belonged to a nurse or attendant. Rachel sat on the top step, silhouetted by the light coming from the windows.

“You’re back early,” she said softly.

“Yes ma’am. It’s not fitting to go out when he’s ailing. I wasn’t thinking when I told Tanner I’d go out tonight.”

She didn’t reply. He’d probably surprised her with that admission. His words were blunt but sincere, a far cry from the earlier exchange. He didn’t want to argue with her, not when she was working so hard to care for Jed. Whatever Jed wanted to do with the ranch was his business.

“How is he?” he asked.

“The same. The Hospice nurses are changing shifts right now. I stepped out to take a little break.”

Luke came to the bottom of the steps. “Is he still asking for a cigarette?”

“Not for a few days. His nurse explained how cigarettes and oxygen tanks are a bad combination. He told her he didn’t care… actually, he said he didn’t give a rat’s ass… but she said if there was an explosion it would hurt the nurses and me.” She laughed softly. “He hasn’t asked since.”

He hadn’t heard her laugh before and the sound brought a smile to his lips. “You must be tired.”

“A little. I wouldn’t be anywhere else though.”

Her voice sounded sorrowful and he’d have liked to ease that somehow. She wouldn’t be living at the ranch long, he was certain. And although he didn’t know anything about her, he felt badly that she only had this short time with her grandfather.

“Wish I could sit and talk with him but I understand if he doesn’t want company,” Luke said.

“I’ll ask him tomorrow if he wakes up enough. He sleeps more and more. He’s so worn out.”

“He’s pretty ornery. I can’t imagine he’ll change his mind.”

She nodded. “Yeah. Ornery. That’s a good word for him.”

Luke thought about Lucille’s comments. Jed had tried to take a swing at Rachel. He studied her as she sat on the porch. She was small, petite, and even though Jed was sick, he’d spent his life ranching and could probably still land a powerful punch. Jed wasn’t a man prone to violence, certainly not towards women, but he was hurting. Probably not in his right mind. The notion that the old man might strike the girl sent a surge of protectiveness through Luke.

“I want you to call me,” he said. “If you need anything, you call me. Even if it’s in the middle of the night. You hear?”

“Middle of the night?”

Doubt edged her voice. Part of that was his fault. He’d treated her like a nuisance earlier and she had no reason to trust him, but he owed Jed this commitment. He’d worked for the man for over ten years, receiving twice the pay of any other foreman in Colter Canyon. Jed told him flat-out, several times, there was no one else he trusted more. Now the man was fading and Luke needed to take care of more than just livestock and fence lines.

“Anything, Rachel. I’m the foreman of Wilson Ranch. If you need something, anything, even just someone to be there, call me.”

She didn’t respond immediately. Probably because she wondered if his words were heartfelt.

“Is that clear?” he asked.

“Yes, it’s clear.” Her voice shook.

“I guess I’ll turn in,” he said.

“Thank you. Good night, Luke.”

He got back into his truck and drove to his cabin. He felt a pang of disappointment she hadn’t asked him to stay. They were both losing someone important to them and it seemed they should join forces. Commiserate. He went inside his cabin and shut the door. How much longer he’d be living here, he didn’t know. The uncertainty of that didn’t sit well with him.