The Rancher's Family Wish (5 page)

“And that’s it? You came here?” she asked in disbelief.

“Not quite.” Tanner chuckled. “I ate the meal, even had seconds, but when he started talking about God I walked out on him. That didn’t stop Burt. He came back, again and again. I must have cost him a fortune in food but the man was relentless.”

“So eventually he talked you into coming to Wranglers.” Sophie nodded, then stopped at the look on Tanner’s face. “Not quite?”

“Not hardly. Burt had done some foster parenting years before so he had connections. He went to a social worker who was a friend of his and reported me.” Tanner grinned at her surprise. “She appeared with some cops to take me to a juvenile detention center unless I agreed to have Burt as my guardian. He’d talked a lot about his ranch and since I was keen on horses I agreed to go with him. I figured I’d spend some time at Wranglers, enjoy the food and let my bruises from a street fight heal. Then I’d run away again.”

“But you didn’t.” Sophie’s interest grew.

“I didn’t have the energy.” Tanner shook his head, his face wry. “That man about wore me out with chores around this place. When he wasn’t watching me, Moses was. I almost left the night before I was supposed to go to school, but I couldn’t get away from them. Then I realized some of the kids admired me because I lived on a ranch. Me! So I decided to stay for a while.”

“And you’ve never left.” Sophie had heard Burt speak about Wranglers Ranch but she’d never realized how much effort he’d put into his work with Tanner.

“God and Burt wouldn’t let me.” Tanner’s face grew pensive. “That man had a faith that astounded me. He prayed about everything and God answered. I couldn’t leave because I was desperate to figure out why that was. Because of Burt I finally accepted God in my life. I’ve never regretted that. God’s love changed my world.”

Tanner sounded so confident in his faith. Sophie wished she was. But somehow lately she felt out of touch with God, as if He ignored her pleas for a way to build her catering business, to help Davy, to enrich Beth’s life. And she still battled to be free of the condemnation her parents had heaped on her head when they’d first learned she was pregnant all those years ago.

Everybody pays, Sophie. For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. If you break God’s laws, you have to pay the price.

So now she was a widow, broke and alone with two kids, one mentally challenged and one well on the path to trouble. When would she have paid enough?

“Mama? Can we see the rabbits?”

Sophie shook off the gloomy thoughts to smile at her sweet daughter. Beth wasn’t a penalty. She was a blessing. So was Davy.

“Why don’t you ask Tanner?” She tossed a glance at the man who was becoming her best customer.

But he couldn’t be more than that because Sophie wasn’t about to trust Tanner or any other man with more than simple friendship.

* * *

When Tanner caught himself straightening a cushion for the fifth time on Friday night, he knew he was fussing too much. Moses knew it, too.

“What’s bugging you?” the old man demanded from his seat on the patio. “You’re like a cat on a hot roof. Is it that lady?”

“Sophie?” He saw the gleam in the old man’s eyes and chided himself for taking Moses’s bait. “She said five. She should have been here by now.”

“That young pastor is waiting by the front gate for the second bus from the church. Guess I’d better go take the hooligans to the north pasture.” Moses swallowed the last of his water, then rose. “They’re playing a game about a flag.”

“Capture the flag,” Tanner said.

“That’s what he called it.” Moses nodded and pointed to the dust trail. “That could be your lady.”

His
lady
? Tanner didn’t have time to sort through the rush of excitement that skittered inside his midsection because Sophie pulled in front of the house and braked hard. She jumped out of her van and hurried to the back.

“Is anything wrong?” He strode toward her, noticing Beth’s tear-streaked face in passing. Davy didn’t look at him.

“Very wrong,” she muttered, handing him two large trays of assorted goodies. Her face was white, her eyes troubled. “But I don’t have time to go into it now. I’ve got to serve crudités at a black-tie event in half an hour.”

“The kids?” he asked, balancing the trays in each hand.

“Are staying with me,” she said, her voice tight. “They can sit in the corner while I work.” Clearly Sophie was steamed.

“Why not leave them with me? They can—” Tanner swallowed the rest of his offer when her dark brown eyes flashed a warning.

Sophie slammed the van’s rear door closed, nodded toward the house and, after ordering the kids to stay put, followed him into the kitchen.

“He stole from you.” Her fury showed in her stance, in the flicker at the corner of her mouth and in her lovely pain-filled eyes. “My son stole from you.”

“Ah.” Tanner clamped his lips closed and said nothing more.

“You knew?” If anything her anger burned hotter. “You knew and didn’t say anything?”

“Sophie, he made a mistake. He took the arrowhead without thinking and then he didn’t know how to put it back,” he said in a soft voice. “But he would have. Davy’s not a cheat.”

“You could have fooled me.” Her shoulders sagged. A rush of compassion filled Tanner. She hadn’t even started her job and she was worn out.

“You can’t do your best work worrying about them. Leave Beth and Davy here,” he insisted softly. “Moses will talk to Davy, and trust me, Moses knows exactly what to say to get your son to consider his actions.”

“Reward him by letting him stay?” Her brows drew together.

“Sophie.” He watched her watch him. “Davy knows right from wrong. You don’t have to bat him over the head with it. What he needs is to see how his actions affect others.” He touched her shoulder. “Besides, Beth shouldn’t suffer for his mistake. Leave them here. We’ll talk later.”

She studied him for several minutes, caught sight of the clock and heaved a sigh.

“Are you sure?”

He nodded.

“I don’t feel good about this,” she said. “I feel like Davy’s getting paid for stealing.”

“He won’t feel like that when he leaves here tonight, I assure you.” Tanner squeezed her shoulder. “Go do your job. You can deal with the rest afterward.”

“You’re always bailing me out,” she murmured.

“Seriously?” He waved his hand at the trays of baking. “Who’s bailing whom? But let’s not argue it. You’ve got a job waiting and I need to check if Moses needs help. I’ll get the kids so you can get on the road.”

“You are a very nice man, Tanner Johns.” Sophie spared a long moment to study him before she led the way back to her van. “No wonder Burt trusted you.” She opened the van door. “Okay, you two, out. You’re staying with Tanner till I’m finished with work. And no, this is not a vacation, Davy.”

Tanner watched her pin the boy with a severe look that sent him scuttling out of the van. Sophie looked as if she’d say more but Tanner had a feeling Davy needed time to process what he’d done, time away from his mom.

“See you later,” he said with a wave, then shepherded the kids toward the house.

Sophie drove away.

“Did Mom tell you?” Davy muttered as they walked.

“That you took something that didn’t belong to you?” Tanner shook his head. “She didn’t have to. Neither did Moses.”

“How come?” Davy frowned as he peeked at Tanner through his lashes.

“I saw you take it when Moses showed you the collection.”

“But you never said anything,” Davy sputtered.

“Why would I want to hurt your mom by telling her you stole from us?” Tanner looked the boy square in the eye and watched him squirm. “Your mom loves you. It must have hurt her a lot to find out what you did.”

“Yeah. I didn’t think about that.” Davy tried to smile when Beth slid her hand into his and hugged him.

“I love you, Davy,” she said.

Tanner’s heart pinched. What a special child. They both were. He wanted to reassure them they’d be okay but they weren’t his to reassure. All he could do was support Sophie.

“Come on. We need to help Moses with a group that’s visiting.” He saw Davy lagging back and urged him forward. “What’s the matter?”

“I have to apologize to Moses,” the boy said, head down. “What I did was wrong. I knew it and I did it anyway. I wish I hadn’t.”

“That’s the first step to learning,” Tanner assured him. Sophie might think she had a problem with this kid but from his perspective, Davy seemed a good kid who’d simply given in to an impulse. Her parenting skills were not at fault and he was going to tell her that the next time they got some time alone together.

Tanner had a hunch Sophie might not like the rest of what he was going to tell her, but he’d just had an idea about how he could help her teach Davy about responsibility, an idea that if carried out, was going to mean he’d have a lot more contact with the single mom.

Now, why did that make him smile?

Chapter Four

“I
can’t believe it.” A week later Sophie stared at the son she’d struggled to control. “A few hours of after-school work at Wranglers Ranch and Davy seems a different child.”

“It’s the horses,” Tanner said. “Animals who’ve been abused or mishandled always seem to have a life-changing effect on people who work with them.”

“I think it’s your effect, too, Tanner.” Embarrassed that a stranger could manage her child better than his own mother, Sophie quickly averted her gaze from his intense one.

They stood side by side, silently watching as Davy half carried, half dragged hay to the freshly cleaned stall. The boy glanced once at Tanner, waited for his nod of satisfaction, grinned at Sophie and then continued working, his forehead shiny with perspiration.

“Look at him. I can barely get that same boy to clean his room.” She managed a huff of laughter to mask the feeling of failure that bubbled inside.

“Davy’s beginning to realize the satisfaction that comes from giving to others.” Tanner turned to face her. “Where’s Beth today?”

“A friend’s birthday party. Believe me, it wasn’t an easy choice for her, allotting her favorite cowboy second place to attend a birthday party,” she teased.

Tanner shrugged. “Love is fickle.”

“You can say that again.” Sophie knew he didn’t understand how much she meant those words, but since she didn’t want to explain and spoil this moment of sharing, she leaned against a fence rail and allowed the dappling sun to warm her. The heat felt good after three hours spent catering in frigid air-conditioning.

“You’re tired,” Tanner said after studying her. “Do you have time for some tea while Davy finishes his job?”

“That’s kind of you.” It sounded strange to hear that her son had a job. Sophie debated a moment before she said, “I’d rather have coffee than tea, though.”

“You don’t want my coffee.” Tanner gave a slight shudder.

“I’ll make it,” she offered, unable to quash her longing for a jolt of caffeine. “It would go well with the leftover cake from my event, if you’re interested?”

“Silly question. I’m always interested in cake.” Tanner licked his lips before telling Davy to come to the house when he was finished. Then in a much quieter aside he asked his foreman, Lefty, to watch Sophie’s son.

“Thank you,” she said after she’d retrieved the leftover dessert from her van. “I appreciate your thoughtfulness.”

“More like common sense.” He held the kitchen door open for her. “We don’t leave guests alone with the horses, ever.”

“So how is the guest thing coming?” After scooping grounds from the tin he handed her, she added ice water from the fridge and turned the coffee machine on. “Anything new?”

The freshly brewing aroma wafting through the kitchen teased Sophie’s nostrils. Apparently it had the same effect on Tanner because he closed his eyes, inhaled and smiled, his mouth stretching wide. Her insides quivered at the attractive picture he made.

“How come I use the same machine, the same coffee, and I never get this aroma?” he demanded when he finally opened his eyes.

“Don’t know,” she said with a shrug. He grimaced.

“Okay, keep your secrets. Guests?” He nodded, green eyes intense. “We’re getting some calls. Not the street kids I was aiming for, but kids. We have four groups booked for next week.”

“Our homeschoolers come on Monday so—three groups besides them? That’s good. Isn’t it?” Sophie didn’t understand why he wasn’t smiling. As soon as the coffee finished brewing she poured out two large mugs, opened the cake box in front of him and sat down.

Once he’d fetched cream for his coffee, Tanner sat opposite her. With delicate precision he selected the largest piece of cake, laid it on a plate, then slowly sampled it.

“Is it okay?” she asked, worried by his silence.

“I guess it’ll do.” He winked as he took a second helping. “Can you make this again next week?”

“I could.” She smiled. That wink got to her. Made her feel skittish. Nervous.
Young.
“Things must be improving if you’re feeding a group.”

“Not for a group. I want to take it to church for potluck Sunday.” Tanner licked the icing off his fingers.

“Better not. Everyone at church knows this recipe is mine. I’ve taken it several times.” She chuckled at his glower. “I could make you something else, though.”

“Hard to beat this chocolate.” He eyed the two remaining pieces but left them.

“Had enough?” Sophie couldn’t hide her surprise.

“No way. But Davy will want some.” He savored his coffee. “About the groups—I’m getting interest from several different organizations, but I’m hesitant to accept many bookings until we’ve had your group through and figured out what to expect. I’ve considered many scenarios but reality is far different from imagining.”

“You’ve checked into insurance and all that?” Funny, Sophie mused to herself. She didn’t feel the usual anxiety she experienced when her children weren’t under her direct control.

Because she trusted Tanner? No! She couldn’t afford to trust anyone.

“What if someone falls or a horse bolts or—”

“Our lawyer says we’re covered, Sophie. Not that our horses bolt.” Tanner tossed her an abstracted smile, but his forehead furrowed.

“But you’re still worried. Why?” Sophie felt his intense scrutiny before he spoke.

“What if that’s all we become, Sophie, a kind of entertainment for locals?” His hesitant voice dropped. “Burt’s goal was so much bigger than that. The day he found me—” He stopped.

“Doing some initiation for a gang, wasn’t it?” She was eager to hear the story behind the story so she asked, “How did you get involved in a gang?”

“I’d been living on the street.” He shrugged. “I was a lifer.” When she frowned he explained. “Lifelong foster child.”

“You never knew your mother?” Sophie saw sadness fill his face.

“As I understand it, she gave me away right after I was born.” A twinge of hurt edged Tanner’s husky tone. His chin jutted out defensively. This insecure man was far different from the competent-cowboy image she usually saw.

“Oh, Tanner.” She couldn’t help reaching out to touch his arm and press her fingers against his warm skin. “I’m so sorry.”

“I found out when I was seven. I didn’t really understand it then but it didn’t take long to figure out that nobody really wanted me, not the way other kids’ mothers wanted them.” He tried to smile but there was no humor in his next words. “I never stayed in a house more than six months before I was moved. The last one was abusive but the social worker didn’t believe me so I ran away.”

“And lived on the streets in Tucson,” she added.

“Yeah.” He nodded. “It was a lot safer than that home.” He drained his cup and rose to fetch the coffeepot. When Sophie declined his offer he refilled his own cup. “But I wouldn’t do drugs and that put me up against a guy who did.”

“You got into a fight and Burt rescued you,” Sophie finished.

“Burt sure blabbed.” Tanner smiled. “Street life was tough but it wasn’t all bad. I made some good friends. It was just that when they got high they turned into different people.” He shrugged. “Anyway I came to Wranglers and stayed.”

Sophie knew there was a lot more to the story, things he hadn’t said. She wondered what they were but before she could question him further, he turned the tables.

“What about you?” Tanner said. “Why haven’t you married again?”

“I don’t think I’m the type to be married.” Sophie strove to make her response sound carefree, airy. “Anyway I have to focus on my kids.”

“And when they’re grown?” Tanner arched one brow in a question.

“That’ll be ages. Beth will probably be with me for a long while.” Sophie couldn’t think of anything else to add without going into detail, which she did not want to do.

Fortunately Davy appeared. He gobbled down the cake and a tall glass of water and filled the gaps between with nonstop enthusiasm about his work.

“I want to hear all about it, son,” Sophie said half an hour later, delighted by the excitement she heard in his voice. “But you’ll have to tell me the rest on the way home. We need to pick up Beth in twenty minutes.”

“Aw, Mom—” The words died midsentence when Tanner cleared his throat. Davy wiped his face on his napkin, rose and stored his dishes in the dishwasher. “I’m ready when you are,” he said moments later.

“Great.” Blinking her surprise, Sophie glanced at Tanner, who was nodding approvingly at her son. “Could you bring that empty cake box, please?”

Davy instantly obeyed, then stopped in front of Tanner. “Tomorrow’s Saturday. Will I be needed for work then?” he asked, his tone quiet and respectful.

“Yes. If your mom can bring you out.” Tanner glanced at her, waited for her agreement.

“Bringing him here isn’t a problem,” she agreed as they walked to her van. “But I’m not sure about picking him up. I’m catering an anniversary tea tomorrow afternoon and I don’t know how long I’ll be.”

“Why don’t you come when you’re finished?” Tanner invited. “We can share a pizza.”

Something about the way he said that sent a frisson of worry tiptoeing up Sophie’s spine, sending her independence surging. A pizza might be the first step toward getting involved in a date-type of situation, and she did not want that. She rapidly postulated excuses to refuse, discarding all of them.

“You don’t like pizza?” Tanner asked with a frown.

“Yes, I do, but I’m not sure that will work,” she said finally.

“Aw, Mom.” This time Davy didn’t even glance at Tanner, his disappointment in her obvious. “We never do anything special after you finish work.”

“It so happens I’d planned pizza and games for tomorrow night,” she said quickly. Too quickly.

“Great! Can Tanner come, too?” Davy’s brown eyes glowed with excitement.

What could she do but graciously agree? After all, the man had singlehandedly managed to get her son started down a different path. Pizza was the least she owed him.

“Of course you are welcome to join us, Tanner.” She hoped her genial tone masked her uncertainty.

“I don’t think so.” He smiled at Davy to soften his refusal before his gaze returned to Sophie. “Thanks anyway, but you’ll be tired after working. Anyway I get the feeling Saturday nights when you’re not working are family nights. I don’t want to intrude.”

“You won’t be,” Davy insisted. “We need four people to play the games. Otherwise Mom has to play two spots and that takes too long. We need Tanner, don’t we, Mom?”

Need him? No, she didn’t
need
him. And even if she did she couldn’t afford to need anyone. Still, Davy’s plea and the obvious pleasure he found in the cowboy’s company was her undoing. Besides, if Tanner came, her son wouldn’t nag to go out with his “gang.”

“Please join us, Tanner.” Sophie swallowed all her inhibitions and smiled. “I’m not Italian but I make a decent pizza.”

“With onions?” Tanner kept a straight face when Davy choked off a complaint. “And anchovies?” A burst of laughter exploded from his chest when Davy couldn’t control his horrified expression.

“I’m afraid the best I can do is cheese, ham and pineapple, maybe some pepperoni.” Sophie mentally checked her store of groceries. She had paid for the ingredients for today’s job and tomorrow’s tea, which meant her cash was low. There was always her credit card but Sophie hated using that. After Marty died she’d been mired in debt once, and now that she was free she was never going the credit route again.

“A Hawaiian pizza sounds fantastic.” Tanner smiled at her. “Thanks. I’d like to come if you’re sure I won’t be in the way.”

“You won’t.” Davy was all smiles as he climbed into the van. “And you can bring me home so Mom won’t have to come get me,” he added, his eyes shining with excitement.

“Would that work?” Sophie felt self-conscious as she climbed into her van with Tanner watching.

“Sure. What can I bring? Doughnuts?” He winked at her startled look. “Kidding. Maybe some soda. Or ice cream?”

“You don’t have to bring anything,” Sophie said. “Just yourself. I’ve really got to go now. Beth will be waiting. See you.”

“Yes, you will, Sophie.” Tanner’s low words sounded like a promise and that produced a warm glow inside that grew when he smiled at her. “See you tomorrow morning, Davy.”

Sophie drove away while ordering herself not to glance in the rearview mirror. But she couldn’t help it. She gulped at the sight of Tanner standing there, watching them leave, hat tipped back on his head, hands thrust in his pockets, calm, in control.

What she wouldn’t give to feel like she was in control of her world.

“It’s great that Tanner can come tomorrow night, isn’t it, Mom?” Davy said. “You better make a lot of pizza and something nice for dessert.”

“Why?” she asked curiously.

“’Cause Tanner always seems hungry. When I got some water out of the fridge today all I saw was an apple and some juice.” Davy went silent for a moment, forehead furrowed as he thought. “Maybe when I go tomorrow I should take some extra sandwiches so I can share my lunch with Tanner.”

Sophie sighed. Another mouth to feed. And yet she couldn’t smother the smile that lifted her lips. Tanner was so appreciative of whatever she made. It was a pleasure to cook for him.

Watch it! It’s just a plain little family dinner, for the kids’ sake. You don’t want more than that, remember?

No, she didn’t. But it
was
nice to have her cooking appreciated.

Did that explain the kind of fuzzy afterglow that lingered for hours after Sophie had left Wranglers Ranch?

* * *

Tanner walked into the grocery store with purpose. Only he wasn’t exactly sure what that purpose was. What did one take for pizza dinner with a gorgeous woman and two kids?

He should have brought Davy with him instead of dropping him at home to clean up. Now he pushed his cart up and down the aisles, puzzling over choices.

Garlic bread? Nah, Sophie probably made her own. Soda? She probably didn’t like to give her kids so much sugar. Milk. That was an okay choice, surely? He chose two gallon jugs, then added a couple of pounds of butter. Everyone used butter, didn’t they?