The Rancher's Family Wish (10 page)

“You’re single, with no family—at least not that I know of. How do you know so much about kids and parenting, Tanner Johns?” Sophie suddenly saw the big cowboy in a fresh light. “I think you’re one of those men who are born fathers.”

She smiled at his surprised look, then rose to clean up the kitchen. Tanner simply sat there staring at her as if she’d told him his cattle were dinosaurs.

“No, that’s not it,” he said in a choked voice, breaking a long silence. “That’s not it at all. I’d be a lousy dad. I’ll go check on Beth.” He left, striding across the yard as if chased by a bull.

Surprised by his rapid departure, Sophie studied his disappearing figure and realized how alone the cowboy was. Despite a full slate of staff and his friendly interaction with anyone who came to Wranglers, Tanner somehow remained aloof. Because it just happened that way, or was that his choice?

Get your mind off Tanner, Sophie, and clean up this mess. You have that anniversary party to cater tonight, remember?

But her brain wouldn’t leave the subject alone. When Tanner later waved her and Beth off, Sophie’s last view of him was a solitary figure standing tall and strong, but alone.

She wondered what it would be like to live on Wranglers Ranch.

With Tanner?
an inner voice asked.

She refused to answer it.

* * *

“Sophie’s supposed to arrive soon with food for that Big Brothers group the church is bringing,” Tanner said the following Friday, striving to mask the anger he felt. “Keep her and the kids away from here, okay, Moses?”

“Her boy won’t like it,” Moses reminded. “He likes to walk Goliath around this way.”

“Not today. Tell Davy we need him to accompany the group on their ride. I’ll clear it with Sophie.” Tanner pressed his lips together. “Whatever you do, don’t let anyone near this mess.”

“You know who you ticked off that would do this?” Moses asked, surveying the charred remains of the old log cabin he’d been restoring.

“No,” Tanner muttered but in the back of his mind he saw the face of Tige, a former street gang leader who’d been an addict back when Tanner had lived on the streets. Was their meeting in the grocery store yesterday coincidental?

A prickly warning he hadn’t felt in ten years feathered up his spine. Was this fire Tige’s doing?

“Ask Lefty to use the loader to clean this up, will you? He can scrape it right down so it looks like we’re clearing a spot.”

“Sure. The police?” Moses’s arch look said the question was perfunctory.

“They’re certain it was arson but found no clues so they’re not hopeful about finding the culprit. Can you ask the boys to keep it quiet that we had some vandalism last night? We don’t want to alarm anyone.”

He waited for Moses’s nod before walking toward the house, but he couldn’t silence his brain from repeating the question uppermost in his mind.
What did I do wrong, God? Don’t You want me to go for Burt’s dream?

It wasn’t that he didn’t trust God anymore, but they’d come so close to losing everything. Wranglers Ranch land was tinder dry. If he hadn’t happened to wake up around two and smell the smoke...

Tanner checked that the wood was stacked and ready on the patio, the only safe place to have a campfire after the ride. Then he made sure the tack the group would use was in perfect condition. As he did his mind replayed the previous day’s events.

He’d never expected to see Tige again, let alone in a grocery store. Nothing much had changed. Lulu still hugged his side like a leech, eyes glazed, blond hair stringy and thinner than Tanner had ever seen her. She was using. Tige was, too, though he was better at hiding the effect of his last fix.

“How are you, buddy?” Tige had slapped him on the back. Years ago that slap would have felled Tanner but he’d toughened up a lot since he’d been that helpless kid living on the street under Tige’s auspices. “You still a cowboy?” he’d said, studying the boots and hat Tanner wore. “Musta stayed with that guy who kept hounding you, huh?”

“Yeah.” Tanner hadn’t wanted to give too much away. “And you?” Two kids hung on the sidelines. “These your babies?” He’d been astonished to see them so grown.

“Yeah. Teenagers are pests.” Lulu had brusquely brushed off the two teens’ request for money for a soda and Tige’s language to them was no less rough. The boys had cowered away with shamed faces and scared looks.

Tanner’s heart went out to them. How well he remembered feeling shrunken, worthless and afraid when he was with Tige.

“Good-looking boys,” Tanner said with a smile in their direction.

“Think they’d make good cowboys, like you?” Tige’s smile held no warmth.

“Maybe.” The ice cream in Tanner’s hands dripped with condensation. He held up the container to show them. “This is melting. I’ve got to go. Good seeing you.”

“Yeah. Likewise. Hey, maybe we can get together, reminisce about old times, huh?” Tige’s cagey smile had bothered Tanner but he’d pretended to be enthusiastic.

“Sure. Where you at now?” he asked.

“Oh, here and there. No fixed address, you know.” Tige’s face turned cunning. “You?”

Since Tanner couldn’t lie he gave the best answer he could. “Same place.”

“Still with Amy?” Tige’s sly tone said he knew the truth.

“I haven’t seen her since the day I left,” Tanner said, keeping his face impassive. He held up the ice cream. “I’m getting soaked. See you around.”

“Say, Tanner.” Tige’s fingers on his arm were not gentle. “Can you lend me a couple of bucks?” His eager look bounced from Lulu to the kids and back. “My check got held up.”

“I haven’t got much but I’ll give you what I can.” Tanner had been glad he’d left his wallet in his truck. “Let’s see,” he said, pulling his money from his pocket. “I’ve got maybe a hundred and twenty five after I pay for the ice cream. Will that—”

“You can have your ice cream another time, okay?” Tige had snatched all the money. “Thanks, buddy. Good seeing you.” Clutching his cash, Tige had hurried away with Lulu in tow. The boys looked uncertain as to whether or not they should follow until their mother bellowed. They gave Tanner a look that begged for help.

So he’d done something he probably shouldn’t have.

“If you two ever need a break, come see me at Wranglers Ranch,” he’d said in a very quiet voice, too quiet for their parents to hear.

Now, a day later, this fire told Tanner he should have kept his mouth shut. He felt certain Tige had something to do with it because he’d tried to interfere in Tige’s business by talking to his kids. If his old street mate visited again it would be because he’d figured out that Tanner owned Wranglers. When that happened Tige wouldn’t be satisfied with a measly hundred bucks.

Worried about visitors, but especially worried that Sophie and her kids could be in danger, Tanner had told the police investigators about his past association with Tige. They’d brushed off his concerns. They knew Tige, insisted he wasn’t into arson. He was into drugs, lots and lots of drugs that hurt innocent kids and dragged them down to a life of misery. But arson? They’d shaken their heads.

“Tanner?” Sophie’s voice drew him out of his reverie and back to the present. “Are you okay?” she asked, staring at his bunched forearms.

“Yeah. Sure.” He forced his muscles to relax and smiled. “Can’t a guy daydream?”

“Looked more like a nightmare from your scowl,” she said with a frown. “What was your daydream about?”

“My birthday’s tomorrow,” he said, blurting out the first thing he could think of to evade that curious brown gaze. “March first.”

“Really?” Sophie stared at him for several minutes as if she had trouble believing him. “You looked upset.”

“You’d be upset, too, if you had only three more years in your twenties. I’m getting old.” She didn’t look convinced by his joking so Tanner didn’t push it. He just wanted the conversation off himself. “Everything okay for the ride?”

“Sure. Except I didn’t see any ice cream in your freezer.” She kept looking at him as if she knew he was hiding something. “I thought you said you were going to buy a gallon yesterday.”

“I forgot. I can go get it now,” he said, eager to escape her too-knowing gaze. “What flavor do you need?”

“No, don’t make a special trip.” She grinned. “Actually I don’t
need
it. I made different desserts than I’d planned, chocolate ones. We’ll be fine without ice cream.” She paused, then asked quietly, “Tanner, what’s wrong?”

Thankfully he heard the chug of the church bus just then.

“There are our guests,” he said, forcing enthusiasm into his voice. “Let’s go greet them. Where are Beth and Davy?”

“Talking to Moses.” Sophie eyed him uncertainly but offered no objection when he threaded his fingers with hers and led her toward the group.

Tanner liked the feel of Sophie’s hand in his. At least she trusted him that much. For now—until she learned that associating with him might be a problem. That thought made him release her hand. He couldn’t endanger sweet Sophie or her kids. Maybe it was time to think about hiring some kind of security to prevent another issue like last night’s fire.

Help me protect her and her children
, he prayed silently as the group assembled with their horses.
Please, God, don’t let anything happen to Sophie.
His heart hurt at the thought.

When had Sophie begun to matter so much?

Chapter Eight

“I
can’t believe you wrangled a birthday party at Wranglers Ranch without me guessing.” Tanner’s delight at church folks gathered on his patio warmed Sophie’s heart. He thanked them, then asked her, “How did you manage this?”

“I had a little help while you were goofing off up in the hills today.” She smiled at her ranch hand accomplices who led the guests to the pizza buffet line. “I hope I didn’t miss inviting anyone who is important to you.”

“Cowboys do not goof off,” he said sternly, then smiled. “And everyone who’s important to me is already here.”

Tanner’s soft, reflective voice and the way he looked at her made Sophie’s stomach lurch and her heart race. Apparently only just realizing what he’d admitted, Tanner gulped, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he did.

“I mean, it’s very kind of you. Thank you, Sophie. I’ve never had anyone throw me a birthday party before.”

Those words squeezed her motherly heart so hard her arms ached to comfort him. What kind of a life had young Tanner led not to have had even one birthday party?

“But Burt...?” she murmured, then dropped it when he shook his head.

“He’d take me out for supper and give me a gift.” He grinned. “But I doubt Burt would have known how to throw a party. Guess that’s why I never had one before.”

“Then you must enjoy this one,” she said firmly. But instead of dissipating, the crackling awareness she always felt around him thickened. Desperate to break it before she said something she shouldn’t, Sophie resorted to teasing. “By next year you might be too old to enjoy another.”

“And here I thought you were so nice.” He shook his head sadly, gave a mock sigh, then headed off to get his own pizza.

“When can we give Tanner his gift, Mom?” Davy asked, Beth by his side.

“After we have cake,” she promised, smiling at Davy’s excited face.

What a change the big cowboy had made in her son’s life. So much so that Davy had insisted on using most of the small salary Tanner now paid him for helping at Wranglers. Amazing to think that the money Davy hoarded to buy a skateboard had been willingly depleted to purchase a special pocketknife for the cowboy. Her son was at last learning about giving and caring, and Tanner was the reason. How could Sophie ever repay him?

But not just for Davy. When Beth had confided her desperate yearning to sing in the kids’ church choir to Tanner, he’d taken that as his mission. Amazingly he’d found a voice coach with a reputation for successful work with Down syndrome children. Though now retired, Mrs. Baggle agreed to meet Beth. The two had immediately bonded. Mrs. Baggle insisted she would teach Beth for no fee. Sophie refused until the teacher finally admitted she’d always wanted to host an Easter Sunday brunch for her elderly quilting friends. Sophie insisted on catering it as payment.

Mrs. Baggle understood Beth’s vocal issues but Sophie doubted Tanner knew how difficult singing was for those with Down syndrome or that the genetic disorder made the voice lower, which required more energy and training to produce sound. Years ago the doctors had told Sophie that Beth might never sing on key at all, and she’d feared Tanner would get Beth’s hopes up for something that was impossible. She hadn’t trusted him, certainly hadn’t believed he’d find someone who not only taught her daughter to sing on key but encouraged Beth by making her feel her singing goals were reachable.

The voice lessons and a return to school had revitalized Beth. Sophie had never seen either of her children so happy.

Thanks to Tanner. And God answering her prayers.

If only she could finally learn to let go of the controls and trust Him.

“Scrumptious pizza. Thank you,” Tanner said. Sophie had been so deep in thought she hadn’t noticed he’d returned to sit beside her or that he’d finished eating. “I guess I’d better make a little thank-you speech—” His jaw dropped and his eyes opened wide. “You didn’t,” he whispered.

“Oh yes I did.” Sophie laughed at his surprise as Moses carried the three-layer chocolate cake toward him. Atop thick chocolate icing sparklers glittered and twenty-six candles fluttered in the soft breeze.

Beth immediately led the group in a rousing, if off-key, rendition of the birthday song. Then Tanner’s friends from church teased about his age and made a big fuss about his inability to blow out all the candles.

“Does that mean you’re an old bag of wind?” one of his usher buddies gibed.

“No, it means Tanner has a girlfriend,” Beth explained in her most serious voice.

Suddenly Sophie felt the intense stares of everyone on her. Her cheeks burned at the knowing looks. Tongue-tied, she couldn’t think what to say. Fortunately Pastor Jeff broke the embarrassing silence.

“Are you going to share that cake or hide it away like you did those pies?” he demanded with a wink at Sophie.

Laughter rippled across the patio. Monica and Tiffany brought plates and forks and a huge container of chocolate ice cream. At Tanner’s urging they took over cutting the cake and added generous scoops of the frozen treat. Davy and Beth passed around the filled plates.

“Enough chocolate for you?” Sophie asked, tongue in cheek.

“Almost.” He licked his lips then frowned. “You shouldn’t have hired staff for this,” Tanner scolded. “I’ll pay Monica’s and Tiffany’s wages.”

“You certainly will not.” Indignant, she glared at him. “This party is the Armstrong family’s gift to you. Are you rejecting it?”

“Nope.” He blinked and shook his head as he licked a blob of ice cream that was tucked at the corner of his lips. “No way. Burt didn’t raise a dummy. I am going to thank you for it.” He grinned and cupped a hand against her thrust-out chin. “Thank you, Sophie.”

And then Tanner kissed her.

That kiss was over and done before Sophie could react, but she was acutely aware that every eye in the place was on them. As if she needed that with every nerve in her body already tingling from Tanner’s kiss. She wished she could melt into the patio stones, and yet she wanted to replay that fraction of a second over and over, even knowing that now gossip about a relationship between them would run rampant at church. They didn’t know a relationship with Tanner was impossible.

But you want a relationship. Don’t you?

“Stop scowling, Sophie,” Tanner whispered in her ear. “They’re focused on the cake, not you.”

Which was such a lie, but she loved him for it.

Wait a minute—loved him? No! She didn’t love Tanner. She didn’t even trust him.

And yet—was there anyone she’d ever relied on more than Tanner Johns?

“Mama, our presents
now
?” Beth’s whisper nudged Sophie out of the fog she’d fallen into. She must have nodded because a moment later her daughter plunked the gift she’d helped wrap this morning in front of Tanner. “This is from Mama,” she said with a big grin. “You open it first.”

He opened the card, laughed at the joke, then carefully unwrapped the gift. For several long moments he studied the coffeemaker as if he couldn’t quite understand it. Then Tanner lifted his gaze to hers and said, “Thank you,” in a polite voice.

Sophie just smiled.

“There’s more. Open my gift now.” Beth handed him a wildly decorated bag she’d made. When Tanner didn’t take out the contents fast enough she helped him, setting the six boxes of coffee pods in a row on the table in front of him. “These are to use with Mama’s gift. Now you won’t ever have bad coffee anymore, Mr. Cowboy.”

It seemed to Sophie that everyone but Tanner understood how fitting the gift was because the entire crowd applauded.

“Now we won’t have to make excuses not to drink his coffee when we come to Wranglers,” Pastor Jeff called out. “Tanner can actually serve real coffee.”

Seeing Tanner’s confusion, Sophie leaned close and explained how the machine worked. “It makes a perfect cup of coffee every time,” she assured him.

“Like you make?” he said, his breath brushing against her cheek, enhancing the intimacy of the moment.

“Probably better than mine.” Realizing they were again the focus of everyone’s attention, Sophie stood, desperate to put some distance between them so she could corral her wayward senses. “Later I’ll show you how to use it,” she promised and began collecting plates.

“Thank you, Sophie.” The sincerity in his voice and the glow in his green eyes made her heart skip. Surely he wasn’t going to kiss her again? She cleared her throat, desperate to get away and clear her head.

“I made the coffee tonight, not Tanner,” she announced as Monica and Tiffany waited by the coffee cart. “I guarantee it’s safe to drink.”

As the group hooted with laughter, Sophie shifted away from Tanner. Some approached him to present their gag gifts while others headed for the beverage cart. All in all, she was fairly pleased with the way the evening had gone. She was about to go into the house when she saw Beth and Davy talking to two teenage boys whom she’d never seen before. Concerned, she approached them and heard Davy ask, “You mean you want to talk to Tanner? He’s the one who owns Wranglers Ranch.”

When the boys nodded, Davy hurried toward his hero.

“I’m Sophie. And you are?” She waited until the pair had exchanged a glance.

“Rod” came from one, followed by “Trent” from the other boy.

“We’re having a birthday party for Tanner tonight. Would you like some cake?” She saw the direction of their eager gazes and added, “Or pizza?” At their nods she led them to an empty spot and motioned for Monica to bring two drinks while she retrieved a pizza.

Apparently starved, the boys gulped down several slices of the pie before Tanner appeared. Sophie saw surprise on his face.

“Trent and Rod would like to speak to you.” Something in Tanner’s manner made Sophie believe he wanted a few minutes alone with the boys. “Come Beth, Davy. We’ll get some cake and ice cream for the boys. And maybe another drink.” She shepherded her kids away to give Tanner privacy.

“Do you think those are some of the street kids Tanner talks to?” Davy asked with a backward glance.

“What do you mean?” Surprised, Sophie listened as she cut two large wedges of the remaining cake and handed Beth and Davy each a glass of iced tea to carry.

“Tanner finds kids who don’t have a home or food. Sometimes he takes them for a hamburger,” Davy said knowledgeably.

A flutter of worry about the big generous cowboy grew to a ripple. Tucson was mostly a safe city but still—a shiver tiptoed up her spine. “Does Moses go with him?”

“I don’t think so.” Davy frowned. “He told me not to say anything.”

“I’m sure Tanner won’t mind me knowing.” Sophie led the kids to the table where the cowboy was holding an animated discussion with the boys, who vehemently shook their heads at whatever he was saying. Silence fell while she served the cake and drinks. “Eat up. If you want more, we have lots.” Then with a smile at Tanner she gave her children jobs to help with the cleanup.

“Mama, are those boys friends of Mr. Cowboy?” Beth’s face scrunched up in a frown.

“Why do you ask, honey?” Sophie paused to study her daughter.

“’Cause he’s giving them money.”

Sophie turned in time to see Tanner slip a bill into the palm of the oldest boy. Since Tanner didn’t look upset or angry, she turned back to her work.

“They’re leaving now. Mr. Cowboy is watching them. He looks sad.” Beth dropped the paper she’d collected into the trash. “I’m going to give him a hug.”

Sophie put her hand on Beth’s shoulder. “Wait a minute, okay, sweetie? Give Tanner some time to himself.”

“Can I pray for him?” her daughter asked, blue eyes glowing huge in her round face. “He’s my friend. We pray for our friends, don’t we, Mama?”

“That’s a great idea,” Sophie approved.

“’Kay.” Beth sat down on a bench, bowed her head and began silently praying.

From the corner of her eye Sophie saw Tanner motion to Lefty and give him directions. The man hurried away and a moment later one of the ranch’s four-wheel-drive vehicles left a cloud of dust as it took off down the driveway. Tanner turned and caught Sophie staring. He walked toward her.

Not wanting to intrude, she merely asked, “Everything okay?”

“They’re two street kids whose parents are, I believe, abusing them. I met them in a store the other day when I saw an old—acquaintance.” There was a pause before he said the word, as if he’d deliberately avoided saying “friend.” “I told them to come here if they needed anything. They said they hadn’t eaten today. Thanks for feeding them.”

Sophie shrugged. “No biggie, as Davy would say. Feeding a kid is easy to do, not like trying to reach their souls, as you do on your street visits.” She said it nonchalantly.

Tanner jerked as if she’d struck him. “How do you know—” Then he shook his head. “Davy.”

“No secrets with kids around.” Sophie sensed his reticence. “You don’t have to tell me anything.” She knew it was the right thing to say when he remained silent for a moment.

“I knew their father back in the days when I lived on the streets.” He glanced around. “I need to mingle right now. But can I tell you about it when everyone’s gone? You don’t have to hurry home tonight, do you, Sophie?”

“It’s Friday. No school and I don’t have anything scheduled for tomorrow so I guess we could stay for a while,” she agreed. “Go enjoy your party, Tanner.”

“I am,” he said, his eyes dancing. “Some parts more than others.” His gaze rested on her lips.

“I need to check on Monica and Tiffany.” Sophie said it quickly, feeling as if her face was on fire. “Excuse me.” She hurried away, knowing he was watching her with that cute lopsided grin of his.

At the doorway she gave in to the urge to turn back and check. Sure enough, Tanner stood in place, watching her with those intense green eyes. But he wasn’t smiling. He looked as if he were struggling with a decision. Then Beth tugged on his pant leg and he smiled at her.

Something was definitely bothering Tanner, and Sophie could hardly wait to learn what was going on.

* * *

“I dropped them off on Fourth Street, boss. That was as far as they’d let me take them.”

“Thanks, Lefty, I appreciate it.” Tanner watched his foreman leave the patio while his mind swirled with questions about Tige.