Falling For The Rancher. Roxanne Rustand
now he was gone, and nothing would ever be the same again.
âBarney lives with Marilyn now, sweetie. Remember? And Dr. Boyd is up in heaven.â
âCan we go see Barney?â Emma asked somberly.
âOf course we can. Maybe tomorrow.â Darcy pulled to a stop in front of the sprawling, rustic log home with river rock pillars and rock siding at the front porch. Set in the shade of towering pines, the house blended into its surroundings and matched the hip-roofed barn and wood-fenced corrals.
It had been the home of her dreams, but the house and clinic had been far beyond her financial reach.
A gleaming black crew cab Dodge pickup with Montana plates was parked in front of the garage, so apparently Logan was home. She stepped out of her SUV, smoothed her peach linen skirt and helped Emma out of her booster seat.
Twisting a strand of her blond hair around her finger, the four-year-old frowned and looked around. âWill there be Easter baskets here?â
âAt home,â Darcy promised. She bent down to fluff the layers of pink ruffles cascading from the waist of her daughterâs dress. âWe wonât be here long.â
A spiral-sliced ham was waiting in the oven back at the cottage, and creamy mashed potatoes were staying warm in a Crock-Pot. Several colorful salads were finished and in the fridge. But the day seemed strange again this year, with just the two of them to celebrate the joy of Easter.
It had to be different for Logan, as well, assuming he had observed the usual Easter traditions back in Montana. Then again, was he even a believer? Beyond the fact that heâd arrived intending to fire her, she knew nothing about him.
At the sound of hammering out past the barn, she took Emmaâs hand and headed that way, taking in the contrast of the many new boards that now replaced the broken ones.
As they rounded the barn, he came into view. He eyed the three-plank oak fence line stretching toward the heavy timber to the west. Tapped a top board upward into perfect alignment and nailed it in place.
âHello there,â Darcy called out. âHappy Easter.â
He spun around, clearly startled, and frowned as he dropped the hammer into a loop on his low-slung tool belt. He gave them a short nod.
It wasnât much of a greeting, but she resolutely strode forward with Emma in tow. âLooks like youâve been working hard since you got here.â
âYesterday and today.â He tipped his head toward the corral. âI need at least one safe corral finished before I can go back for my horses and the rest of my things.â
Emma had shyly hung back behind Darcy, but now she took a tentative step forward. âYou have horses?â
His cool demeanor softened as he looked down at her. âJust two. Drifter is a pretty palomino mare just about the color of your hair, and Charlie is a bay gelding with four white socks and a blaze. Iâve had him since I was twelve.â
She looked up at him in awe. âI want a pony but Mommy says not âtil Iâm bigger. Thatâs too long.â
Darcy cleared her throat, knowing all too well where that conversation was heading. âWe actually stopped by because I figured you donât know anyone in town yet, and thought you might like to join us for Easter dinner this afternoon. I didnât think to ask you when we first met on Friday.â
âWell, I...â
âItâs just the two of us here in town, so we wonât have a big family gathering or anything.â
Emmaâs eyes sparkled. âCould you bring a horse?â
He looked down at her and chuckled. âThat would be fun, but Iâm heading back to Montana as soon as I put away my tools.â
Emmaâs face fell. âMommy even made my favorite pink fluffy Jell-O. And then I get to hunt for Easter baskets. What if thereâs one for you?â
That deep slash of a dimple appeared when he smiled at her. âI think Iâm too old for that, darlinâ. But I know youâll have a great time.â
âWeâd better go home and let Dr. Maxwell finish up so he can get on his way.â Darcy reached for her hand. âI hope you have a safe trip. Let Marilyn know when youâll be back, in case someone asks.â
When he looked up at Darcy, his warmth faded as quickly as if heâd turned it off with a switch, and he was back to his aloof business persona. âProbably Thursday or Friday.â
âUh...Iâll let her know. Safe travels.â She turned away and headed back to the car with Emma.
How awkward was that? Heâd shown kindness to Emma, but if he was this cool and distant with his clients, he wasnât going to fare well.
Though if he didnât connect well with them, maybe heâd eventually put the practice up for sale, and perhaps by then sheâd be able to find favorable financing. A little flare of hope settled in her heart.
Maybe her dreams could still come true.
* * *
âWeâre down to only fourteen volunteers now,â Beth said on Friday afternoon as she studied the list on her iPad. She drummed her fingers on the vet clinic receptionistâs counter. âI never expected six would cancel. All of our posters promised there would be twenty, and the handyman fundraiser auction is tonight. Guess I was too optimistic.â
âThere should still be enough money for the church youth group trip, though,â Darcy said.
âFor the kids, probably. But not enough to cover the chaperonesâ expenses, and some of those parents just canât afford it otherwise. Without enough chaperones, the trip is off. Have you asked Logan to participate? Iâll bet he would be willing.â
âAsk him? I barely know him.â Darcy shuddered. âHe doesnât seem like the benevolent type. And this would be an awfully big favor.â
âWouldnât it be a great introduction for him in the community, though? Participating for such a good cause would surely cast him in a more favorable light. He didnât exactly have an auspicious start in town.â
âThanks to Paul Miller, who had no business starting those rumors at the cafe.â And mostly thanks to Logan himself, but she tried to rein in that uncharitable thought. âFor all I know, Logan doesnât even have the skills for this sort of thing. Iâve seen him wield a hammer, but that was only on a fence board.â
âCall him and find out,â Beth insisted. âYou have his cell number, right? Tell him the auction is for just twenty hours of labor. Surely he could manage to do something useful for someone.â
âMaybe. But I havenât even seen him all weekânot since he showed up and announced that my career, my whole life, is being turned upside down. Marilynâs and Kayceeâs, too, and you know how much they need their jobs.â Darcy thought for a minute. âOh, and I also saw him briefly last Sunday, when he refused my invitation for Easter dinner and was pretty much cold as ice when we talked. A very brief conversation, I might add.â
Beth grinned. âAnd here I thought he might just be the perfect match for you. Handsome, same career, lots to talk about...â
Darcy snorted. âNo way. Sounds like fairy-tale stuff to me. Been there, done that, and Iâm not going down that road again. Ever.â
âIf heâs been gone all week, maybe heâs changed his mind about buying the clinic and is scouting out other possibilities.â