The Rancher's Family Wish (16 page)

Chapter Fourteen

S
ophie lowered Tanner’s unconscious body to the floor, resisting when Moses tried to pull her back.

“No!” She shoved his hands away and cradled Tanner’s head on her lap, praying he wouldn’t die before she could tell him how sorry she was that it had taken her so long to finally trust him. “Please God, help Tanner. Please?”

As if in a vacuum, Sophie noticed two security men rush in and heard Davy tell them what had happened. She watched Moses press a white tea towel against Tanner’s side, saw it stain a dark crimson red in seconds. She felt Beth curl next to her, repeating verses she’d memorized. But all these things were background. Sophie’s focus remained on the man whose lifeless body she held, the man who’d kept his promise.

The man she trusted.

“I can’t lose him now, God.” Not now that she’d finally realized that Tanner was a man to trust, to love.

Sophie didn’t know how much time passed before Moses insisted she move away so the paramedics could attend to Tanner. She did but watched every move while she answered questions policemen lobbed at her. But when Tanner was loaded on a gurney, Sophie pulled free of Moses’s restraining arm to grab Tanner’s hand and walk beside him to the waiting ambulance, praying with every ounce of courage she possessed.

“Is the party over?” his beloved voice suddenly demanded.

“For you it is,” Moses said in a gruff tone from just behind her. Of course Moses would be there. He loved Tanner, too.

Tanner said nothing for a moment. His eyelids fluttered, then lifted. He glanced around with a frown until he caught sight of Sophie.

“Hello, beloved,” he murmured in the most tender voice she’d ever heard.

“Hi.” The relief and joy flooding Sophie’s heart kept her from saying more.

“Security caught your friends. They’re not going to hurt anyone else,” Moses said.

“That’s good.” He licked his lips and blinked again, trying to focus.

“You’re going to the hospital now,” Sophie explained.

He nodded, obviously groggy. But when he saw the ambulance door open he said, “Wait,” in a loud, firm voice.

“Tanner, you need treatment,” Sophie insisted. “Don’t worry, you won’t be alone. I’m going with—”

“No.” He squeezed her hand. “Keep the party going. Make sure there are fireworks.” He paused, grimaced and exhaled as if the effort to speak was becoming difficult. “I promised the street kids that we would have fireworks in the desert.” He managed a crooked smile. “I have to keep my promise to them.”

“And you do keep your promises, don’t you?” How she loved the way his green eyes crinkled at the corners. “Because that’s who you are. I know that now.”

“Really?” He waved off the attendant’s insistent urging to leave. “Just a minute. It’s important.”

“Because a stab wound isn’t,” the woman barked. But she moved back a step.

Sophie looked at Tanner and saw the man he truly was, a man who cherished and protected those he loved. Tanner Johns was the man for her. She knew that now.

“We can talk when I get to the hospital, okay?” Suddenly shy with so many interested onlookers, Sophie pressed her lips against his in a brief kiss. “I’ll see you later, Tanner,” she promised.

“Fireworks?” he asked.

“I give you my word that Wranglers Ranch will have the best fireworks for miles around.”

“To go with the best eats,” he teased in a husky tone.

Sophie couldn’t help it. She leaned over and kissed him again.

“Gross.” Davy made a gagging sound. “Mom, Tanner’s got to get to the hospital. You can do that later.” He pulled her arm so she had to back away.

“Thanks, kid.” The grateful attendants loaded Tanner but before they could close the doors he called, “Keep praying, Beth.”

“I will, Mr. Cowboy,” she promised.

Then the doors slammed shut and Sophie lost sight of his smiling face.

Staying put while the ambulance with Tanner left was the hardest thing she’d ever done. And yet Sophie had no fear that Tanner wouldn’t be okay. He was in God’s hands now. She had no clue how to keep her promise to Tanner but she did know God was going to help her. And He would be with Tanner, too. All she had to do was trust.

“Come on, everyone,” she said briskly. “I promised Tanner we’d keep this party going and we’re going to do just that. Davy, you find Lefty and bring him here. He should be about finished with his rodeo display by now. Beth, you and I are going to make popcorn to pass around. Moses—”

“I know right well what my job is, missy.” His indignation turned to laughter. “You sure grew some courage.”

“Tanner taught me. ‘If God be for us who can be against us?’” she quoted. “Right, Beth?”

“Yes, Mama.” Content that her beloved Tanner was going to be okay, Beth walked inside the house ready to help her favorite cowboy’s ranch.

The hands arrived in groups of twos and threes, their faces sober, fear waiting to grab hold. It was up to her to show her faith.

“Tanner’s going to be okay,” she assured them. “But he wouldn’t leave until I promised we’d ensure the fireworks are every bit as great as he promised the kids. To do that, we’ll need your help. Can we count on you? Can Tanner?”

“Yes!” they agreed in a cheer. “For Tanner!”

“Great.” Teary-eyed at their respect for their boss, Sophie pressed on. She would trust God to help her keep her promise. “Moses says most of our guests don’t know about Tanner’s stabbing. Let’s keep it that way with the celebrations continuing because that’s what Tanner wants. Lefty, can you handle the fireworks?”

“I’ve helped out the city for years. In fact I taught Tanner. No problem.” He selected three other men and told her they’d be ready in half an hour.

“Great.” She heaved a sigh of relief.
Thank You, Lord, for Lefty.
“Moses, what else do we need?”

“Me and the boys will handle crowd control,” the old man said and left immediately with his helpers.

“Davy, you, Beth and I are making popcorn,” Sophie said before her son could follow the others.

“Aw, Mom! We didn’t mean to get caught by that guy. We were just going to get some carrots for the horses.”

“So you disobeyed Lefty and Moses when they told you to stay put.”

Their shamed faces were answer enough.

After this evening’s events Sophie needed to keep her children close. She’d have to deal with their disobedience later. But for now all she said was, “Do it for Tanner. Okay?” Davy nodded and got to work without complaint.

Somehow everything went off without a hitch. As she watched the spectacular display of lights, Sophie heard
oohs
and
ahhs
, gasps of wonder and squeals of delight with a heart full of thanksgiving. God had helped them fulfill Tanner’s goal. As the final starbursts of red, white and blue filled the sky, the crowd burst into the national anthem. When it was over a hushed silence fell. Then Pastor Jeff spoke.

“Before we leave let’s pray and thank the God of our land who has blessed us with this place, Wranglers Ranch.” Pastor Jeff offered a short prayer, then wished the group a happy Fourth.

Her heart full, Sophie stood in the shadows with an arm around each child and listened to groups of chattering kids as they climbed aboard buses that would return them to the city. There were many positive comments but the best came from a teen who stopped to ask her if he could come back to Wranglers Ranch tomorrow to talk about God.

“Come back whenever you like,” Sophie offered. She had no idea what Tanner could do for him but she knew he would do something because Wranglers Ranch was God’s ranch and Tanner was committed to doing God’s will. She trusted them both.

Now she needed to tell that to Tanner.

* * *

Groggy and in pain, Tanner wakened to semidarkness and Sophie by his bedside, holding his hand. She’d been dozing but must have sensed his return to lucidity for her eyes suddenly opened and she stared straight at him.

“Hello.” He stopped, aghast to see tears rolling down her face.

“Thank you for protecting my kids,” she sobbed. “But I wish it hadn’t cost you so dearly.”

Privately Tanner thought a little flesh wound was worth it if meant what he hoped it did. “Sophie—”

“I love you, Tanner,” she blurted and dashed the tears from her eyes. “I’m just sorry that you had to get stabbed before I came to my senses and realized that. I also realize God is trustworthy. Even when I didn’t feel Him, He was at work for you, for my kids and for me because He loves us with a love I can always count on.” A tremulous smile tilted her lovely lips. “Why did it take me so long to trust the gift of love?”

“That’s what I’d like to know,” he said plaintively. He shifted in the bed so he could gaze at her. That’s when he finally realized that in God’s eyes his miserable past filled with terrible mistakes didn’t matter anymore. God had blessed him with the opportunity to reach kids, and he’d sent Sophie to help.

“Tanner?” Worry tinged the edge of her voice. “Maybe I shouldn’t have told you that. Maybe it’s too soon—”

“Too soon?” He burst out laughing and then caught his breath as his side reminded him he wasn’t totally fit. “I’ve been in love with you forever, woman.”

“Really?” Her big brown eyes gazed at him with love. “Tell me again, please?” she whispered, squeezing his hand. So he did.

“I love you, Sophie. You make my days bright. I wake up wanting to share ideas with you and go to sleep thinking about all the things we can do together.” He saw a tiny smile flutter across her face. “I love the way you challenge me to be better, to do more and to think outside the box. No one has ever cared enough to push me.”

“Oh, Tanner.” Her eyes clouded.

“Except God,” he corrected. “But it took you to help me accept that if I wouldn’t let go of the past and accept God’s forgiveness, I couldn’t do what He needs me to do today.” He made a face. “I couldn’t ‘fan into flame’ my so-called ‘gift.’”

“It
is
a gift, Tanner.” Sophie’s eyes pinned him. “Your ability to get people together is a God-given gift. That’s what drew me to helping you spread the message of God’s love through Wranglers Ra—”

“Sophie,” he interrupted.

She looked startled. “Yes.”

“My side hurts like crazy. I’m kinda befuddled,” he said. “But will you please do something for me?”

“What?”

“Can you please get me a cup of coffee?”

She smiled but shook her head. “Nothing but water till morning. Sorry.” She touched his cheek. “Something else I can do?”

“Oh, yeah.” Tanner could hardly believe God had given him this woman to love. “Coffee isn’t my top request.”

“What is?”

“Will you please kiss me?”

“I was just waiting for you to ask.” A pretty flush of color tinted her cheekbones.

“Don’t wait anymore, darling Sophie,” he pleaded.

She didn’t kiss him immediately. Instead her fingers cupped his face, his eyes, traced a path over his nose to his lips and to his chin. Finally she spoke.

“I love you, Tanner. I trust you with my heart.”

Then Sophie kissed him and when Tanner came back down to earth he decided that kiss and the ones that followed were well worth the wait.

“What are you thinking?” she whispered, her head resting lightly on his heart.

“That for as long as I can remember I’ve longed for someone of my own, a history, a heritage that I thought would make me worthy of God’s love.” He smiled. “Instead God sent me to Burt and to you and the kids to teach me that it’s not my past that matters, it’s what I do with my future.”

“Mmm,” she agreed.

“You are the love of my life, Sophie. You and the kids are so precious, Beth with her steadfast joy in life, and Davy with his generosity of spirit.” Tanner hesitated, waiting until she lifted her head to look at him. “May I please be part of your family?”

Sophie began to cry. Tanner panicked until she explained.

“I’m crying because I’m so happy,” she blubbered.

“I hope I never make you sad, then. I notice you didn’t answer my question.” He held his breath, exhaling only after she nodded.

“With one caveat.”

“Which is?” How he loved her.

“It’s
our
family.”

“Deal. Seal it.” He held out a hand but Sophie made a face.

“Really, Tanner?” She shook her head in reproof. “In this family we’ll do things differently.” This time she kissed him with a fervor that left Tanner breathless. “Deal?” she asked when she finally drew back.

“Absolutely.” He leaned back against his pillow and promptly fell asleep. Deliriously happy, Tanner stirred from his drowsy state only when Sophie called his name. “Yes, love?”

“I forgot to tell you. The fireworks went off without a hitch and your ranch hands have Wranglers back to its pristine state, running smoothly and waiting for your return and the next event you plan.”

“Sophie,” he protested, cupping her chin in his hand and feathering his finger against her lips. “Do we really have to talk about the ranch right now?”

“Yes.” She grinned. “Because Tige’s sons asked Lefty if they could stay at Wranglers until they get their lives straightened out. Your retreat to help Tucson’s needy kids is happening.”

“With God leading, we’ll do lots more, my darling Sophie.” Tanner kissed the fingers he still held. “When are we getting married?”

The resolution to that issue was soon settled and sealed with a kiss.

Chapter Fifteen

S
ophie married Tanner at a very private ceremony at Wranglers Ranch in September. At least they thought it would be private.

Tanner, having helped with one wedding, confidently assured Sophie he was capable of planning this wedding. He asked Mrs. Baggle to play for the event and insisted Beth choose a fancy dress in her favorite blue. He also bought a suit and Stetson to match his own for Davy and special-ordered cowboy boots for both children. Davy’s were black and Beth’s where white with blue stitching. Both children walked a little taller in them.

With everything ready, Mrs. Baggle hit a few notes signaling Tanner to walk to the front with his best man, Moses. He was astounded to see the patio filled.

“Who invited all these people?” he whispered to Pastor Jeff.

“Your guests come courtesy of Trent and Rod,” Jeff said with a laugh. “You did tell them they were part of the family, remember? They’re telling their new friends they intend on staying as long as they can since their parents are locked up. So they told everyone at church about your wedding with some help from Lefty and the other hands.”

“Good. The more the merrier.” Tanner smiled at Tige’s grinning sons.

When Mrs. Baggle played the first chords of “Here Comes the Bride,” Tanner inhaled, waiting impatiently to see the woman he so dearly loved. Sophie’s neighbor Edna came down the aisle first, without a walker, resplendent in a gown of swirling fall colors, delighted to be part of the event. She took her place beside Moses, favoring him with a sweet smile that was returned so fulsomely that Tanner thought perhaps his friend also had found someone to care about.

Then Sophie appeared. She’d chosen a short ivory lace jacket and matching knee-length skirt that swirled around her pretty knees. Then he saw her boots—ivory, ladylike, lace-up Western boots. He smiled, his delight growing at seeing a jaunty ivory hat perched on the side of her head. She’d certainly embraced the ranch theme and he loved it, loved her.

Sophie walked slowly toward him, her gaze holding his until she paused just a moment to smile at her kids. Then she moved to stand in front of him.

“Wow!” Tanner barely heard the laughter as he gazed at his beautiful bride.

“Wow yourself,” she murmured. “You clean up nice, Mr. Cowboy.” Then sliding her hand into his, she turned with him to face Pastor Jeff.

“Friends, we’ve gathered today to witness the marriage of Tanner and Sophie.” He continued to speak, explaining how God had drawn them together. “Sophie and Tanner will now say their vows to each other.”

Tanner inhaled. He’d worked so hard to memorize the words that he felt in his heart. He wasn’t going to let nervousness mess this up.

“Dearest Sophie. For most of my life I’ve dreamed of being part of a family, but I never thought I was worthy. Burt offered me unconditional love, but when he died I figured I’d lost my chance to have a family. I sure had no clue how to make his dream come true. Then you came along, sweet Sophie, and hope bloomed. You taught me about love and showed me how to spread it around. From you I’ve learned to forget the past and focus on God’s plan for the future. Because of you Burt’s dream is happening. Because of us.” He inhaled, then said the rest unrehearsed, from his heart.

“I promise I’ll always be here for you, always love you, and always love Beth and Davy. I promise to work with you, with God leading us, to fan whatever gifts He gives us into flame. I love you, Sophie. And I promise to keep my promises to you. Forever.”

He slid the solid gold circle of promise on her finger right next to the diamond solitaire he’d had specially designed just for his Sophie.

“Tanner.” Sophie inhaled. A slow smile moved across her face. “I love you. I love the way you cherish me so I feel special. I love the way you encourage and support me. I love your joy in life, your love for my kids, your determination and grit to fulfill Burt’s wishes. And I love that you’ve included me in the Wranglers Ranch ministry. But most of all, I love that I can trust you.” She gave him a cheeky grin. “I know it took me a long time to get there but I know now that God knows what He’s doing. It’s going to be a great life and I can hardly wait to share it with you.”

Sophie slid a plain gold band, exactly the style Tanner wanted, on his finger.

Then Tanner kissed the woman whom God had sent him, the one with whom he’d share a wonderful family on the ranch he loved, reaching kids who needed to know about God’s love.

In the silence of that precious moment, Beth’s voice penetrated.

“Know what, Davy? Mama should have known you can always trust a cowboy.”

* * * * *

If you liked this story, pick up these other books from Lois Richer:

A DAD FOR HER TWINS

RANCHER DADDY

GIFT-WRAPPED FAMILY

ACCIDENTAL DAD

Available now from Love Inspired!

Keep reading for an excerpt from
THE SINGLE DAD’S REDEMPTION
by Roxanne Rustand.

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