Randall Pride. Judy Christenberry

      Contents

      Chapter One

      Chapter Two

      Chapter Three

      Chapter Four

      Chapter Five

      Chapter Six

      Chapter Seven

      Chapter Eight

      Chapter Nine

      Chapter Ten

      Chapter Eleven

      Chapter Twelve

      Chapter Thirteen

      Chapter Fourteen

      Chapter Fifteen

      Chapter Sixteen

      Chapter One

      Toby Randall drew a deep breath as the huge house came into view. Home. Like the man without a country, Toby felt as if he’d finally been pardoned.

      He hadn’t told his parents he was coming. Or even more importantly, that he wanted to stay…if he could.

      When he’d received that last e-mail from his mother Sunday afternoon, she’d passed on the Randall family news, as usual. It had only taken one sentence to change the direction of his life.

      A shout brought him out of his thoughts.

      “Toby!”

      He recognized his baby brother Josh’s voice from telephone calls home. But the gangly figure jumping up and down must’ve grown a foot since he’d last seen him.

      Toby waved through the open window. After waving back, Josh turned and sprinted for the house.

      By the time Toby had parked, his mother, B.J., met him at the back of his rig, throwing her arms around his neck. “Toby! You didn’t tell us you were coming,” B.J. protested. Since his mother had cut back her hours as a vet when she was pregnant with Josh eighteen years ago, he’d figured she’d be home. It would give him time to visit with her and Aunt Mildred before his dad got home.

      “Hi, Mom. Thought I’d surprise you.”

      “I’m so glad you did. How long can you stay? Where’s your next rodeo?” She was patting his cheeks, tears in her eyes.

      He knew his travels upset her and Mildred. He knew she’d be happy for him to stay here. But she wasn’t the reason he’d stayed away. He hadn’t been ready to explain himself. He hoped he wouldn’t have to now.

      “I’m taking a little break,” he muttered, hugging her even closer. “Where’s Aunt Mildred?”

      “She and Red are taking their afternoon siesta.”

      When he, his mom and Aunt Mildred had moved to the Randall ranch twenty-three years ago, Mildred had taken on the role of housekeeper—or assistant housekeeper to Red, the cowboy who took care of the four Randall bachelors. Toby couldn’t imagine those two being anywhere else, especially since they’d married. They’d also played the role of grandparents to all the Randalls…and him.

      B.J. linked her arm with his and began tugging him toward the house.

      “Mom, I’ve got to unload my horses.”

      “Oh. Of course. I’ll help you. Any injuries?”

      ‘Cocoa got kicked by a mangy steer, but I think he’s healing all right.”

      The two of them unloaded the geldings, and B.J. was feeling Cocoa’s leg when the back door slammed open and Mildred and Red, followed by Josh, spilled out of the house. “Hey, what’s Josh doing at home?” Toby suddenly asked. “Hasn’t school started yet?”

      “No. He’s in college now, you know, or will be. He’d be out with your dad, but he’s getting over the flu. I’m making him take it easy one more day.”

      By the time B.J. finished explaining, Red and Mildred swept him into a group hug and plied him with questions as his mother had.

      “I called Dad!” Josh announced. “He’s on his way.”

      “You shouldn’t have interrupted his work,” Toby protested.

      “Ha!” B.J. snapped, with a grin. “If Josh hadn’t called him, I would. You know he complains when he doesn’t get as much time with you as we do.”

      Toby gave silent thanks for the father who’d raised him—Jake Randall. He never made Toby feel like a second-class Randall. The two of them—Jake, thirty-five, and Toby, four—had become friends at once. The first thing Jake had done after marrying his mom had been to adopt Toby.

      He cleared his throat, afraid someone would notice the tears in his eyes. Damn, it was good to be home.

      AFTER PUTTING his horses in a corral where they could move around after having been in the trailer since five that morning, Toby followed the others into the big kitchen where he’d spent much of his life. Mildred immediately poured him a cup of freshly made coffee and added a plate of her cookies. He’d loved those cookies as a child, and he still did.

      With a casual shrug of his shoulders, Toby asked, “Where is everyone?”

      “Aren’t we enough?” Red asked, a teasing glint in his eyes.

      “Sure,” Toby said heartily, hoping no one noticed his consternation, and took a big gulp of coffee.

      “Your sister is already back in Laramie at school. It’s her senior year,” his mother said, taking pity on him. “You remember Caroline has decided to get a medical degree? She and Victoria and Jessica went down early to redecorate their apartment. And Lizzie is out. The twins and Jim are with the guys getting some work done. Jim and Josh are going down to Laramie this weekend. Drew and Casey are in class.” She looked at Red. “Did I forget anyone?”

      “Nope,” Red said, frowning. “I think that covers all the cousins. Nary a baby among them.”

      “You mean Casey counts as an adult now?” Toby teased.

      “Well, we’re making him use training wheels,” Red said with a big grin.

      Mildred added, “Your aunts are all at work.”

      “Janie’s out with the guys?” His uncle Pete’s wife, Janie, had been raised on a ranch and pitched in when they needed an extra hand. “You must be shorthanded right now,” Toby said, holding his breath for the answer.

      “Actually, we are,” B.J said. “But Janie’s not here. I told you her father died, didn’t I? She—and Pete—are spending a lot of time over there, when they can be spared.”

      Toby let out the breath he’d been holding. He’d been afraid they wouldn’t need his help. “Is good help as hard to find as it usually is?”

      Red stared at him. “Good help is always hard to find. Too many boys want the glamour of the rodeo.”

      Mildred elbowed him.

      When Toby had chosen