A Rancher of Her Own. Barbara White Daille

the corral, Cole and another of the ranch hands were finishing up a riding lesson with a couple of guests from the hotel.

      Near the barn, the stable hand, Eddie, stood grooming Bingo. They kept the Shetland for the smallest kids, including Jed’s great-grandson, Robbie.

      Rachel gave him a quick wave and went inside the house with Sharon.

      He thought of Jane’s question about what he told his daughter, then winced as he recalled his response. It sure wouldn’t win him any prizes for politeness.

      Maybe he ought to thank her for the question, since his reply would put some distance between them again. Distance he definitely needed, especially after her halfhearted agreement to help Rachel “practice with the flowers.” Her protest to him that she was not making an empty promise had sounded just as weak.

      The hotel guests also waved to him on their way to the hotel. In return, he tipped his Stetson.

      Cole had handed his reins to the other wrangler and walked up to join Pete. He nodded in the direction of the guests. “They’ve come a long way this week. And they’re talking about another visit to the ranch soon.”

      “Jed will be happy to hear it.”

      “I see Rachel got home okay.”

      “Yeah. Robbie, too,” he added, knowing Cole would ask about his and Tina’s son. He smiled. “Rachel’s all excited about her graduation.”

      “So I’ve been hearing. Sounds like it’s going to be a big production.”

      “Not nearly as big a deal as the wedding.”

      “The ladies are going to town with it, aren’t they?” Cole shook his head. “But that’s what it’s about, I guess. Lucky for us, we just have to get dressed and show up.”

      “Sounds like the voice of experience,” Pete said with a laugh.

      “That would be you, not me.”

      “Yeah.” Not such a great experience, as it turned out.

      He led the way to the barn.

      Not long after he’d hired Sharon, his divorce had come through. Marina hadn’t requested regular visitation with the kids. She hadn’t even wanted custody, claiming it would be better for him to have full charge, since she never knew when her schedule would take her out of the country.

      Her rise to fame had been the kind of overnight success story heard about only in the news. Well, now she was someone making that news, the latest glamour girl whose face and figure showed up on cover after magazine cover. And he couldn’t fault her for being happy about having the life she’d always wanted.

      Too bad she hadn’t bothered telling him she’d wanted that life before they’d married and started raising a couple of kids. Not that he ever had or ever would regret having Rachel and Eric.

      He loved his kids. And though his marriage had fallen apart, he sure as hell planned to hold his little family together.

      Inside the barn, Cole said, “I’ve got the order we picked up waiting in your office, all but a couple of items on back order.”

      “Some of it needs to go out to the supply cabins.” They went down the list together, discussing what should stay in the barn and what they should transfer. “Let’s load this up now, and you can take it out first thing in the morning.”

      Cole nodded. “Think you’ll be around, or are you going to be busy over at the hotel again? I’ve been hearing about that, too.”

      “From who?” he demanded.

      “Jed mentioned it. And he and Jane were talking about it over breakfast. With the renovations partially done, she said she intended to get some of her pictures taken.”

      “Tina’s still hoping to have everything finished up by late fall?”

      “Yeah. If she can push the contractors to move any faster. But that seems about as likely as pulling out the back teeth of a bull with lockjaw.”

      “I wouldn’t want her job dealing with them. You and the boys give me enough grief.”

      “Ha. And what about Jane?”

      “She’ll be done with her pictures soon, and I’ll be back here, where I belong.” End of story. He lifted a supply carton from the floor.

      “I’ll bring the truck around to the back,” Cole volunteered.

      “Sounds good,” he agreed, happy to change the subject.

      He didn’t want to talk about Jane. Despite all the strikes against her, he’d thought of her much too often. Worse, he was having a heck of a time getting images of her out of his head.

      Maybe he’d just stayed away from women too long.

      Since the divorce, he hadn’t dated or even brought anyone new around his kids. In fact, he’d pretty much kept himself to himself. He had no plans to jump into another relationship. But, for his kids’ sake, he couldn’t rule out the idea of marrying again someday. He just needed to find the right woman to make his family complete.

      No way was a smart-mouthed city slicker like Jane Garland the right woman to be a mom to his kids.

      And no way was she the woman for him...no matter how much he wanted her.