The Trouble With Cowboys (31 page)

What she didn’t understand was why Dylan was with them. Miss Lucy had said he was taking Luke to the airport, which was why Annie had gone to his place on a Friday night.

Annie halted Braveheart and praised him for a job well done. She patted the horse, her mind still on the phone call.

Had Dylan run into Sierra after dropping Luke at the airport and convinced her to come home? Why had he told Annie to stay put? There’d been something in his voice, something she couldn’t get a handle on. It was almost like they had something to settle. But last night they’d said everything, hadn’t they?

The memory of his kiss had haunted her into the early morning hours. The look on his face when she’d hurt him. Today her work hadn’t had her full attention. Instead, regret and longing filled her to overflowing.

She’d had an ongoing conversation with God. Why was it, just when she’d found the love she’d been seeking all her life, he turned out to be the one man she couldn’t have?

Annie scratched the horse’s withers, his favorite spot.
How am I going to face him week after week, God? How am I going to run into him at the market, at the Chuckwagon, at church, feeling what I do and knowing I can’t have him? Why did You give me these feelings, Lord?

Her eyes burned with the tears she hadn’t let herself shed. She blinked hard. She would not cry. He was on his way even now. He’d found Sierra somehow and was bringing her home. Annie would keep a safe distance, thank him politely, and leave.

Then she would focus on changing her ways with Sierra. By letting her sister set her own course, staying out of her business. She would encourage, she would be supportive, but she would lock her lips unless Sierra asked for her opinion. And she would pray— yes, there’d be lots of that.

Her love compelled her to do more, but she’d learn to let go. With God’s help, she would turn the reins over. How else would her baby sister learn to ride solo?

Annie took Braveheart for another circle, praising him when he followed her guidance. Her goal had been to saddle up Braveheart and see how he responded. When she’d put the bareback saddle on him, he’d mouthed for the bit. The horse wanted to ride again. Dylan would be overjoyed. But for now, she’d been reining him from the ground.

As nicely as the horse was responding, she was certain he’d let
Dylan ride soon. Pleased with his progress, she led him back to the barn, removed his tack, and put him in his stall.

She heard the truck coming down the drive before she saw it. Annie’s heart thumped like hooves over dry ground. She could handle this. At least Sierra and Ryder would be there to serve as buffers. The waning daylight would hopefully hide any traces of her earlier emotional struggle.

She left the barn as Dylan cut the engine. The door opened. Dylan stepped out, his eyes trained on her.

Annie’s gaze cut to the other side of the cab, but it was empty. “Where are they?”

He closed the door, walked around the truck. “Took ’em home.”

She swallowed hard. “Oh.”

Dylan approached with that easy stride of his. Annie wrapped her arms around herself.

“Luke was with them.”

Annie’s mouth went slack. Luke? What was going on? “What do you mean? I thought he was on his way home.”

Dylan stopped a few feet away. “Think he found himself a new home.”

Dylan knew. She could see it in his eyes. The secret was out. Panic settled in. Everything inside quivered like the aftershocks of a great quake.

“I think that boy’s in love with your sister.”

Annie hoped it was true. But what if, after the shock wore off, after the novelty of being a father wore off, Luke left them both high and dry? What if he hurt Ryder the way their dad had hurt them?

This was happening too fast. And Ryder was with them now. What did the child know? Surely they wouldn’t tell him tonight.
They had to give him time to get to know Luke before springing the news on him. Surely they wouldn’t . . .

She had to get over there, now. “I have to go.”

Annie retrieved her keys, heading toward her truck.

“No, Annie . . .”

Slow down, Sierra
, she’d say
. Think it through. You have to handle this carefully
.

She reached for the truck door, her mind spinning.

Stop, beloved
. The whisper came quietly into her heart.

She stopped cold. Her fist tightened on the keys.

They need me, God. I have to help her, make sure she handles this right. It’s too important to mess up. How else will she have the wisdom to take things slow? She’s like a whirlwind, God, fast and impulsive. She’ll jump right in now that Luke knows, and not even consider the consequences. I know her, Lord. Who else knows her like me?

I do
.

The words hit their mark. The air rushed from her lungs. Guilt pricked her heart. Of course God knew Sierra. Hadn’t He formed her?

Had Annie really thought she knew Sierra better than God? Believed she could handle her sister better than the One who’d designed the universe, who’d set the stars in the sky?

She let loose of the door handle. She was only kidding herself. She’d never been in control of Sierra, not really. Hadn’t the girl always done as she pleased?

But God had made Sierra. Surely He could direct her. Annie had decided as much the night before, but here she was, trying to take the reins again. She closed her eyes, disappointed in herself. Clearly this was a one-day-at-a-time kind of thing.

Okay, God, she’s Yours
.
For real this time
.
Please guide her. Help me to step back and get out of Your way
.

Annie turned, leaned on the truck door, and heaved a deep sigh. It was all in God’s hands. He would work it out.

“Well done, big sister,” Dylan said.

She hadn’t heard him approach. Hadn’t realized he’d been aware of her struggle. She didn’t like how he seemed to read her mind, or how close he’d come to stand, barely an arm’s length away.

“It’s not easy,” she said.

His eyes locked onto hers. “It never is.”

She had a feeling they weren’t talking about Sierra anymore.

“Guess I have a new nephew to spoil,” he said.

He had a right to be angry with her and Sierra. But if he was, she couldn’t see it in his eyes. They roamed over her face like the gentlest caress. They pulled at her, threatened to draw her in.

It sank in then, what it all meant. They were aunt and uncle to the same child.

“They’ll be all right,” he said. “Luke will be there for Ryder.”

“You don’t know that.”

“Well, I know this.” He stepped forward until they were toe-totoe. His eyes were like a beacon of light. “I love his aunt.”

Annie’s heart twisted at the welcome words. Even so, fear trickled in despite her decision to lay down her prejudice.

“Dylan. . .”

“What is it, Annie? What’s holding you back?”

She took a deep breath. “I’m afraid.”

Dylan put his hands on the truck beside her, leaned in.

“I know about fear, Annie. So does your sister. Even Braveheart . . . you helped him find his way when he was terrified to take a step. He learned to trust you. You can learn to trust me too; I’m a loyal man. It takes a leap of faith to work past fear. I’m asking you to make that leap.”

Her heart beat up into her throat. His musky scent filled her
lungs, intoxicated her. Made her remember other times. His integrity at the cabin. On the porch, a baby in his arms. On the phone, helping a lovesick teenaged girl. He was a better man than she’d ever given him credit for.

His thumb stroked her cheek, lit a fire of need inside her. The way he made her feel, this cowboy. The way he held her, safe and secure in his arms. She closed her eyes against the feeling, against the sight of him.

As darkness closed in, she thought of Braveheart. Unsighted, dependent upon others for his every need. If it had been this hard for the horse to trust, she was amazed by his courage. Amazed by Dylan’s courage too, for taking a risk on her.

“Open your eyes,” he whispered. “Tell me you love me.”

She did as he said and fell into his gaze. Even as the fear swelled inside, she said the words. “I do. So much.”

His eyes lit. A tiny smile formed as he threaded his fingers into her hair. “That’s all I need to know.”

His lips fell onto hers, moving tenderly, sweeping away all her fears. She melted into his arms. His hands were magic, his body strong and solid. She wound her arms around his waist and hung on tight, feeling braver as joy flooded her soul. The scariest thing about a leap of faith was the first step.

He broke the kiss, pulled her into his chest, and lifted her off her feet. “Ah, Annie. You make me a happy man.”

She could hear the rush of his heart, a rhythmic beat she found comforting. So much had happened in the past twenty-four hours. So many obstacles overcome. Obstacles she’d believed were insurmountable.

“I never would’ve believed,” she said. “I thought it was impossible.”

“I have a Friend in high places,” he whispered into her hair. “Impossibilities are His specialty.”

“I noticed,” she said as her feet hit the ground again.

He was looking at her in that way she loved. That way that made her feel she was the only woman in the world.

She thought of Sierra and Luke and Ryder. She hadn’t even thanked Dylan for bringing her sister home.

Dylan pulled her closer.

“Wait. You haven’t told me what happened. How you found Sierra, and how you found out about her and Luke and—”

He put his fingers over her lips. “Later, woman,” he said, then covered her lips with his own.

Epilogue

T
he March wind tugged at Annie’s hair. The afternoon sun flooding from a clear blue sky was a welcome sight after the long, cold winter.

She crossed her arms against the chill and called into the house. “You about ready, Ryder?”

“We’re finishing up his bag,” Dylan said.

They would be here any minute. Annie drew in a deep breath and let it out. Three days ago Sierra and Luke had become husband and wife after a seven-month courtship. Luke had worked on Dylan’s ranch through the winter, and Sierra had spent the fall and winter in a paid internship at her friend’s studio. She was ready to strike out on her own with a portfolio full of beautiful portraits.

As for Annie and Dylan, they’d settled into the kind of relationship she’d once only dreamed of.

The screen door squeaked, then a few seconds later Dylan’s arms came around her. He pulled her into his chest and kissed her temple.

“Stop worrying,” he said. “They’re gonna be fine.”

She relaxed into his embrace, sighing. “So far away.”

“Only an hour.”

Still, she was used to her sister being right down the hall. Used to Ryder’s big hugs every night when she came home.

Annie’s eyes burned at the thought. “That’s forever away.”

His arms tightened.

Ever since Luke had scored a job as manager at a ranch in Cody, Wyoming, Sierra had been eager to start her own business in a town big enough to support it. Never mind that she was leaving her big sister behind.

In the distance Luke’s truck pulled into the drive and Annie straightened. Time to do this. She’d try to keep her tears at bay—no sense ruining Sierra’s grand adventure.

Moments later Sierra popped from the truck and trotted toward the house. Fresh from a short honeymoon up at Big Sky, her face glowed and her eyes sparkled.

Annie and Dylan came off the porch and greeted them.

“Missed you, sis,” Sierra said as she hugged Annie.

Ryder barged through the screen door. “Mommy! Daddy!” He flew down the steps, dropping his overstuffed bag in the grass, and threw his arms around both of them. A moment later Luke scooped him up, and Ryder wound his arms around his dad’s neck.

As Annie had hoped, they’d waited several weeks before telling Ryder who Luke was. By then they’d already formed a close friendship. Annie had to admit Luke was good for her nephew. She’d never seen him as happy as when his daddy tussled with him on the floor or saddled up behind him.

Ryder gave his parents an exuberant synopsis of their last three days. Annie smiled, watching them together. Luke had swept into her sister’s life and loved the fear away, much as Dylan had done for her.

Amazing.
Impossibilities really are Your specialty, aren’t they, God?

Awhile later, after they’d caught up and loaded the rest of their belongings, Luke pulled out his keys. “We’d better hit the road, darlin’.”

They all exchanged hugs, Annie saving Sierra for last.

“We’ll be back in two weeks,” Sierra reminded her.

“I know.”

“We’ll be fine.”

“I know that too.”
Please, God. Go with them. Keep them safe
.

Sierra squeezed tight. “Thanks for everything, Annie. You’re the best sister anyone could ask for.”