A Rancher's Pride

chapter Eighteen





Much as she believed Sam about Ronnie’s stories, Kayla now couldn’t doubt the ones Ronnie had told her about his obsessive hours spent on the ranch. Since the day of their argument a week before over sending Becky to school, he had disappeared before sunrise every morning and hadn’t come home again until dinner.

Through the kitchen window, Kayla watched Becky in the backyard, playing with Pirate. Sam would have a fit if he knew the dog still came to visit the ranch every day. But how could he know?

Besides, Becky missed her daddy, and the puppy made a good distraction.

Kayla wouldn’t admit that she missed Sam, too.

Yet, maybe it was better this way. The distance between them now would make the permanent separation easier—for all of them.

Tomorrow marked the end of their six weeks. They would go to the courtroom at Town Hall, where Judge Baylor would make his decision.

A short while later, when the cell phone she had left on the kitchen counter rang, Kayla had her hands filled with the vegetables she’d just taken out of the crisper. She dropped them into the sink and hurried across the room.

Seeing the Chicago exchange on the display, she grabbed at the phone and flipped it open. Had Matt finally found some information she could use to take to the judge?

“It’s a girl!” he said joyfully.

“Oh, Matt, that’s wonderful!” Even as she congratulated him, she had to fight the sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach.

“Six pounds, eight ounces,” he went on, “and I know you won’t believe this, but she’s got red hair like Kerry.”

She laughed. “Told you so. With all the redheads in her family, you didn’t stand a chance.”

“I know. Well, I can live with it.”

“I’m sure. What’s her name?”

“We’re still trying to decide. It’s turned into a family matter. Kerry’s brothers are trying to round up votes for their choices. Her uncle claims since he brought us together, Kerry and I should name the baby after him. I don’t think so.”

“Maybe not,” she agreed. “Well, give her a hug from me and tell her I’ll see you all soon.” Too soon.

Her heart throbbed painfully. What had been only a thought in her mind a few minutes ago had turned into stark reality now that she’d given voice to it. She looked through the kitchen window and over toward the barn, where Becky appeared to be putting the dog through his paces.

She would be home again, very soon. The question was, after the hearing was over, would she be taking Becky back with her? “Can’t wait to see the baby,” she added, forcing a lightness she didn’t feel into her tone. “Congratulations again.”

“Thanks,” Matt said. “But, Kayla, that’s not the only reason I called.”

“Oh?” She gripped the phone tighter.

“First item, we’ve reached Ronnie. She was off to the Bahamas with a friend. A female friend. Whatever wedding plans she had were called off, and she said she’s not getting remarried after all. But she has confirmed that she’s given custody of Becky to Robertson. Permanently. And she’s willing to sign any paperwork necessary.”

Kayla sighed. “Well, at least we know.”

Now she only needed to fight Sam.

“Second item,” Matt continued. “We’ve gotten some updated reports on Robertson. They show he’s been working to pay off a lot of outstanding credit card bills. Very large bills.”

“Where did he get the money?”

“He’s sold some of his stock—animal stock, that is—in the past couple of weeks. And he’s planning to put part of his property up for sale.”

She gasped. Through the window, she looked at the barn and at the tree-covered hills in the distance. Sam loved this ranch. He wouldn’t part with any of it, she knew. Not unless he had dire reasons for it. “Why?” she asked Matt. “Do you know?”

He hesitated.

It wasn’t like him not to be up-front about anything. “What is it?”

“I don’t know this for sure.” He sounded troubled. “But he could want to show he’s solvent when he presents his case to the judge.”

“Solvent?”

“Yes. He could use his newly inflated bank account to prove he has the means to take care of Becky financially.”

“And I don’t,” she said dully.

“We both know what a teacher’s salary is like.”

“We do.” She swallowed a sigh. “Well, thanks for letting me know, Matt. And again, hugs for Kerry and the baby.”

When they ended the call, she sat with the phone still clutched in her hand.

The news from Matt had shaken her. Badly.

She would give Becky all the love and care in the world, but when it came to finances, she couldn’t compete with a rancher’s income. Especially with the additional amounts Sam’s land would bring in.

If the judge took Sam’s assets into consideration, he would never rule in her favor. She would never win custody of Becky.

She would have to face making the trip home to Chicago alone.



HIS FOOTSTEPS DRAGGING, Sam crossed the yard, headed toward the house. It was getting on time for supper, and he wanted to prolong the minutes before he would have to go in and sit down at the table.

And he knew full well why.

In the weeks that Kayla had been on his ranch, even with all the upset between them, he felt closer to her, felt more of the joy a real family could bring, than he ever had with his ex. But he couldn’t get used to those things. Couldn’t let himself get any more wrapped up in Kayla. Couldn’t dwell on what he wanted anymore.

The judge had shot a long-held belief out from under him earlier this week.

Kayla would shoot one of his dreams dead, too, when she left him.

A full week of keeping himself busy away from the ranch house and far from her hadn’t provided the time he needed to come to terms with it all.

He’d missed Kayla more than he should have this week.

He’d missed Becky, too. Every night, he made sure to talk with her before bedtime, at least as much as he could with his limited vocabulary. Though he now spent his evenings in the office, thumbing through the sign language dictionary, the solitary study sessions weren’t enough.

And not nearly as much fun as learning from Kayla.

As he approached the house, she came to the back door and looked at him through the screen. She nodded shortly. “You’re later than usual.”

“Had to hoist a lost calf out of an arroyo,” he said. “Filthy job. I showered out in the bunkhouse.”

“Do they get lost like that often?” she asked.

“Often enough.” He braced one booted foot on the second step and leaned against the railing. Delaying, just as he’d done with the shower.

“Time for Becky to come in and wash up yet?” he asked.

“Yes. She’s over by the barn. But—”

“I’ll get her.”

“Sam, wait.” When he stopped, she hesitated, then continued. “She’s playing with Pirate.”

“Don’t I know it.” He could tell he’d surprised her with the news. Did she think he didn’t know what went on around here? “I’ve seen the mutt hanging around every night when I come home.” Turning back, he headed toward the west side of the yard. He’d only made it halfway to the barn when Becky ran from around the corner of it. The dog bounded at her heels.

Before he could say a word or do anything to chase the animal off, Becky raised her hand and tapped her thumb against her chin. She held her first two fingers in a V near her cheek, forming the sign he’d once playfully used with Kayla.

“Daddy, see.”

His chest swelled with emotion, and hell, with a little pride, too. He could understand his daughter. He could talk with her.

“Okay,” he signed, and waited.

She turned and clapped her hands, and the dog sank to his haunches.

Next, she raised her hands in the air, palms skyward, and the puppy sat up and begged.

Finally, she swung one hand in a huge circle, and that darned pup rolled over on his back in the dirt and lay there till she’d given him a belly rub.

Becky’s laughter almost drowned out the sound of the puppy’s barks.

Sam shook his head. “All right, that’s it.”

He turned abruptly and nearly crashed into Kayla. He’d been so caught up in the performance, he hadn’t noticed she had come down from the porch and moved to stand almost beside him.

Her eyes wide, she said urgently, “Pirate’s the only friend Becky gets to play with out here. I know you don’t like Porter, and with good reason. Very good reason. But that doesn’t mean you need to cut Becky off from playing with the puppy.”

Nodding, he waved Becky over to him. When she came to his side, he took her by the hand and led her to his pickup.

“Sam?” Kayla came up behind them. “Where are you going?”

He gave her a long, thoughtful look before replying. “Why don’t you come along and see?” he asked. “Instead of jumping to conclusions?”



KAYLA WATCHED SAM SETTLE Becky in the backseat of his truck. Then, to her surprise, he opened the tailgate and allowed Pirate to jump onto the flatbed. He probably wanted to make darn sure the pup went back to his own home.

Unless he planned to take him somewhere else and drop him off.

Her heart told her he wouldn’t do a thing like that. But obviously, he also didn’t plan to give Kayla an explanation. And he didn’t plan to wait. If she wanted to know what he was up to, she would have to go along for the ride.

After a word to Sam, she ran into the house to let Sharleen know they were leaving, then she dashed back out to the truck.

They made a short, quiet trip to the neighboring ranch. She spent most of it looking over her shoulder, watching her niece sign to Pirate through the back window of the truck’s cab.

When they reached Porter’s house, Sam let the dog out.

Pirate barked and jumped up and down beside the truck, trying to get to Becky, who was struggling to unfasten her seat belt. Kayla shook her head at Becky. Who knew what would happen between Sam and Porter, and she didn’t want her niece anywhere near them.

She lowered her passenger window so she could hear whatever went on.

A moment later, the front door swung open and Porter came out onto the porch, glaring at Sam. “What do you want?”

“It’s about time we had a talk.”

“Got nothing to say to you, Sam.”

“Well, I’ve got something to say to you.”

Porter’s hands closed into fists.

Kayla yanked the door handle and pushed so hard that when the door flew open, she nearly tumbled to the ground.

“Sam.” She hurried over to him.

He put out a hand to stop her and said to the other man, “About that dog out there by my truck.”

Porter looked over at the puppy and laughed. “Can’t complain about the mutt now. He’s on my land, not yours. Which reminds me, I thought you swore never to set foot on this property again.”

“You thought wrong. I swore only one thing when it came to you, and you know what that was.”

“Yeah.” Porter nodded.

“I kept your secret all these years. But I hear you’re not so good about keeping your mouth shut.”

Kayla edged forward, holding her breath. What did that mean?

Porter laughed. “Well, you know how it is when a man gets a little too much drink in him.”

“I know when a boy does it,” Sam corrected.

Porter ignored that. “So, who told you? Ellamae, our esteemed town clerk and town crier?”

“The judge.”

Kayla frowned. When had he been talking to the judge? And what else had they discussed? She pushed the questions away. She would deal with them later. Right now, she needed to focus on this conversation.

“You’ve been nothing but pond scum, Porter, ever since that day in your daddy’s barn. Maybe even before.” Sam stepped forward. “I think you owe me. And I think we ought to settle things right now. Nothing’s going to pay me back for what I did for you. But give me the mutt, and we’ll call it even.”

“What?” The man’s tone said clearly that he thought Sam was out of his mind.

Kayla had once thought so, too. She clasped her hands together, fighting to hold on to her emotions.

“I don’t like you much,” Sam said, his voice calm and steady.

She could hear the venom in his tone, but she never once felt the need to move away. Becky was safe. Sam wouldn’t hurt that man.

“My daughter’s taken a liking to your dog,” he continued. “Let me have the pup, and we’ll keep our past where it belongs.”

Shrugging, Porter shifted his gaze away from them. “Sure, Sam. Take the mutt with you right now.”

Sam turned, waving Kayla ahead of him.

Becky was all smiles when he let Pirate jump into the back of the truck again.

“Sam—” Kayla began.

“Wait till we get away from this scum,” he said tersely.

Not until Porter’s house was merely a speck in her side-view mirror did Sam say another word. As he spoke, he turned his head to look at her. “Did you think I was going to hit Porter?”

“No,” she said immediately. And truthfully. “Now who’s jumping to conclusions? That wasn’t about protecting Becky. I knew you wouldn’t touch him. But after what happened outside the barbershop that day, I was afraid he might hit you.”

He looked away again, nodding, but said nothing.

She took a deep breath. “I am confused, though. What was all that about Judge Baylor?”

Sam’s laugh sounded bitter. “He told me he’d been at one of our local saloons a long while back and had come across Porter there. The man started talking and never stopped.”

“About that night?”

“Yep.”

“And he was under the influence?”

“I believe so. Though, it might’ve been just the judge’s influence.” He shook his head. “That man’s got a way of getting things out of a person that they don’t even know are in them.”

Kayla felt a chill, and not just from the breeze coming in the window she had forgotten to close. “When did you and the judge talk about all this?” she asked in what she hoped was a casual tone.

“Last week. I ran across him when I went in to the feed store.”

What else had they talked about?

Kayla wanted desperately to know. Yet she couldn’t bring herself to ask the question. She came up with another one instead. “What exactly did Porter tell the judge?”

“It was more like the judge told him.” He said nothing else. They’d reached the road to the house. He drove along silently and parked the truck in its usual spot near the barn.

When he had climbed out, he released Becky from her booster seat and Pirate from the back of the truck. The two of them ran across the yard.

Sam rounded the back of the truck and headed toward the house.

“Sam.”

He stopped and turned back to her.

“What did the judge tell Porter?” Suddenly, she had to know.

Sam looked off into the distance. “Seems like Porter’s been running his mouth for years about everything under the sun. Including what happened in the barn that night.”

“You mean…?”

“He suckered me in, and then he went off and bragged about what he’d done and how he’d gotten me to cover for him.” He shook his head. “I’ve spent more than a decade keeping his secret. Keeping up that lie. But one night he got drunk in town—not long after it happened, either—and he spilled everything to one of his so-called buddies.” He laughed bitterly. “And you know how talk spreads around here.”

She did.

“All those years,” he said softly, “I lived with that lie. And all the while, everyone in town knew the truth.”

Her chest tightened and she inhaled a long, shaky breath.

She’d tried so hard in these weeks with Sam to keep thinking of him as the man who wanted to steal her beloved niece away. As the enemy. But, little by little, his actions had chipped away at that image. His concern for Becky. His willingness, finally, to learn to sign. The agreement he had just made about the puppy.

And now, his reaction over learning he’d been betrayed.

She wanted to throw herself into his arms and make him forget about the past. Help him erase that decade’s worth of deceit he’d been forced to bear.

Not good, when she’d just cautioned herself about keeping her distance from him.

But she had to do something.

“Let it go, Sam,” she murmured. “Porter’s not worth it. You are. And isn’t it better that everyone knows you’re a man to be trusted?”

“Everyone?”

Both his tone and his unyielding expression froze her in place. Could he mean her? But she did trust him. She knew he didn’t lie. She knew he wasn’t violent. She knew she could trust him with anything…

Except the one thing she valued most.

Nothing in the world could make her tell him that.

As if he already knew, he nodded and walked away.

“Sam.” She still couldn’t share what she’d been thinking, but she couldn’t let him leave with those unspoken words between them.

He turned back, his eyes dark, his face drawn, closed in.

She took a deep breath. “I wanted to thank you,” she said softly. “For taking Pirate in. Becky just loves that dog.”

“Yeah?” He looked over toward the barn. “Not as much as I love Becky.”