The Lonesome Rancher / Finding Happily-Ever-After: The Lonesome Rancher

Once outside the corral, they headed through the grove of trees and rode along the dry creek bed. Thanks to the recent autumn rains the plains were a rich green, but the trees on the hillside were changing color into bright, golden hues of red and orange. This was his favorite time of year, when all his hard work paid off.

Suddenly his mother’s words came to mind. You lead a boring life, son. He’d always worked hard, especially the last eleven months. He’d never been one to order ranch hands to do anything that he wouldn’t do. Damn, he was turning into a control freak. Maybe he could use some time off.

He stole a glance at Jade. It had been a long time since a woman had distracted him. Not because he didn’t want someone special in his life, but Clay’s public life had made it difficult to have much privacy. He was also suspicious of who his true friends … and lovers … were. As the son of a U.S. senator, people had expectations of him.

He expected to feel a pang of sadness over Crystal. Although she was from San Antonio, he’d thought he knew his former girlfriend better. After being together six months he’d soon discovered that she wanted the Merrick name and money. When they’d broken up she sold her story to the tabloids. He’d learned his lesson the hard way. It just seemed safer to concentrate on his work. The River’s End Ranch.

He heard his name called and looked toward Jade again.

“How am I doing?” she asked.

She sat relaxed in the saddle as she moved easily with the horse. He smiled. “Just fine. In fact you look pretty good, which is better for the horse. Believe me, they can sense an inexperienced rider.”

“So I’m not too bad for a city gal,” she said in an exaggerated twang.

She was a lot better than not bad. “A natural. I think you’ve ridden more than you said.”

“Actually, not so much,” she began. “Once my mother saw the size of the horse I’d been riding, she refused to let me continue the classes.” Jade glanced at him as their horses walked side by side along the trail. “My parents were older when they got me.”

He smiled. “So you were a surprise?”

“Yes and no.”

Jade enjoyed watching Sloan. If anyone was born to ranch life, it was this man. He was impressive astride his roan gelding, and handled the large animal with ease and grace. She quickly shook away any wandering thoughts. Gawking at good-looking cowboys wasn’t why she came here.

“I was always planned, but I didn’t arrive until they were in their late forties.” She wasn’t willing to tell him everything.

“No wonder they were a little overprotective of you.”

“I know. My mother wanted a baby for a long time.” She gave him a bright smile. “So giving up riding wasn’t so bad, not when my mother bribed me with ballet classes.”

“How did you like that?”

She smiled trying to hide her nervousness. “I loved the little outfits better than the dancing. Besides, I soon discovered I had no talent whatsoever, but my friends were in the class so I stuck it out for a few years.”

“From where I sit, you look pretty graceful to me.”

She was taken aback by his compliment. “You didn’t see me at nine when I was all arms and legs. The braces came later.”

She caught him studying her and it did funny things to her insides. She took a slow breath, trying to steady her sudden rapid heart rate.

“Well, everything seemed to turn out good,” he said. “You’re a beautiful woman, Jade Hamilton.”

“Thank you.” She looked toward the trail. No matter how attracted she was to this man, she couldn’t let this go any further.

“So, how far is this herd?”

“I have a turkey and a ham sandwich,” Sloan said as he looked into the lunch bag.

“Whatever. I don’t care which.” Jade sat down on the blanket spread under a big tree beside the creek. Water trickled over the rocky bottom, making a soothing sound. Across on the other side was the free-range herd. Sloan had told her the fence was to keep them in the large pasture where the soil was free of any pesticides or fertilizers.

The wind caught her hair but she barely noticed as she watched the black Angus steers feeding on the tall grass. A calm feeling came over her.

“It’s so peaceful here.” Although a Texan, she hadn’t experienced much of country life.

He sat down beside her and handed her the plastic wrapped sandwich. “Some people would think it’s boring.” He tipped his hat back and looked out at his herd, with a leisurely gaze. A breeze rustled through the trees. “I call it heaven. That’s why I picked this part of the ranch to build a house.” He nodded behind him. “It’s over there.”

“Your house?”

“Don’t look so surprised. I haven’t lived with my parents since college. I stayed with Mom after her stroke and still do when Alisa and Dad are away. It’s only temporary.”

Jade rose up on her knees and spotted the buildings off in the distance. “It must be nice to have your own place, yet be close to family.”

“It is. The Merricks have been on this land for a long time. They settled in this area around the turn of the last century. Built the first house and barn not far from here.” He pointed past the rise. “Started raising Texas beef. And finding oil on your land doesn’t hurt, either. Good investments over the years helped out.”

Jade was intrigued about the ancestors. Was this her family? “That’s quite something to live in the same place for over a hundred years.”

He nodded. “The Merricks were even close friends of the Kerry family the town was named for.” He gave her an easy grin. “It’s said that Angus Kerry beat Otis Merrick in a poker game and got to name the town. If things had turned out differently, it might have been called Merrickville or Merrick Springs.”

She caught the glint in his eyes, and reached out and slapped him on the arm. “You’re making that up.”

“It could have happened that way.” He took a big bite of his sandwich and chewed a long time before adding, “But you’ll have to ask a true Merrick, Clay or Alisa, about the details.”

Jade frowned, unable to finish her sandwich. Would they claim her? “You’re part of the family, too, in every way that counts.”

He nodded. “And Clay has never made me feel any less, but there are many differences between us. I don’t have the drive for political office like he does. And there’s pretty much been a Merrick in Washington for the last fifty years.”

“I take it you’ve argued about it?”

He shook his head, but she could see something was bothering him. “Clay’s more subtle. But some think because I have the name I should run for office.”

“That’s crazy.”

He looked surprised at her comment. “And I’d make a rotten politician. Alisa would be better at it, but I don’t want her to be pressured, either. If you knew my baby sister you’d know that no one can make her do something she doesn’t want to do.”

“I like her already.” Jade might have a half sister. Would she be gone before she got the chance to meet her? “Does she come to the ranch often?”

Sloan opened the cap on a bottle of iced tea. He handed her one. “She doesn’t work far away, only in Austin.” He took a drink. “She’d like to meet you, too. The woman who helped bring our mother so far along.”

“Louisa would have gotten there. She just has a little stubborn streak.”

He sobered. “We were so worried about her, especially when she was losing her desire even to do therapy. To us, you’re a miracle worker.”

“Just doing my job.” Would they think that if they knew her real reason for coming here? “Besides, your mother’s the one who wanted to improve.”

The wind caught the blanket edge and blew it against her leg. That was when she noticed the building clouds.

Sloan looked up, too. “I don’t like the looks of this. “We better start back and now.”