Rich, Rugged Ranchers

“Surprise!” the gathered crowd shouted in unison, stunning Ruth into silence. Tears filled her eyes. With her hand to her chest, she truly appeared surprised.

Logan and Sophia looked at each other. For a brief moment in time they shared the triumph. They’d pulled it off.

The festivities got under way quickly. Ruth was swarmed by guests giving their congratulations, kisses and loving hugs. She was the center of attention, as she should be, with her husband, her children and grandchildren by her side.

Sophia took a minute for herself. She strolled to the edge of the beautifully landscaped yard. Beyond the whitewashed wooden fences illuminated by strings of tiny lights was pasture land that stretched for miles. It was so vast and remote, so steeped in eerily quiet darkness that a chill ran down her spine. She shivered in the warm night and rubbed her hands up and down her arms, attempting to bank her feelings of uncertainty. Those anonymous notes were weighing on her and affecting her daily routine. She couldn’t get them off her mind.

“Need some quiet time?”

The voice from behind made her jump.

She whirled around. “Oh!”

Logan’s face was cast in shadows, making him look sinister, but oddly enough his comment had been soft and calming. “Apparently not, since you’re here now.”

Logan flashed a smile. His expression wasn’t one of battle. He offered her one of the two crystal champagne flutes he held in his hand. “Here, have a drink.”

Sophia shook her head. “I don’t … drink.”

“It’s sparkling cider.”

Thoughtful, Sophia mused.

As he handed her a glass, his fingers caressed hers, and she felt the impact of his touch down to her toes. “Thank you.”

“To Ruth,” he said, and then added, “and to you. You pulled off a great surprise party.”

Warmed by the compliment, she brought her glass to his with a gentle clink. “Thank you. But you helped.”

“Very little.”

He was being magnanimous tonight. Sophia welcomed it, but as she brought the drink to her mouth, her hand trembled. She still hadn’t gotten over her initial bout of nerves. Or was it Logan making her nervous?

“What’s wrong with you, Sophia? You’ve been jumpy for days.”

Logan had noticed.

Sophia turned to face the bleakness of the distant pasture. She couldn’t look at Logan now. She was weak and vulnerable at the moment, and tears welled in her eyes. It was ridiculous that a little kindness shown by Logan Slade could bring on so much sentiment. “It’s nothing that concerns you.”

He moved closer. His presence surrounded her from behind. “You admit there is something?” His warm breath caressed her earlobe.

Sophia squeezed her eyes closed.

“Answer me, Sophia,” Logan said.

He made her believe he cared about her. Why else would he question her? But Sophia couldn’t place much faith in Logan’s motives. She’d learned that lesson long ago. If the notes persisted, then Sophia would confide in a Slade, but the man she would tell would be Luke.

Sophia spun around to face Logan. “We should get back to the par—”

“Miss S-Sophia, Mr. Logan.” Edward came running toward them, his face animated. The night’s breeze fluffed the wisps of his hair as he approached. “L-look what just came. It’s a g-giant f-flower horse! Y-you have to s-see it!”

When he reached her, Sophia crouched down to his level. His eyes, lit with excitement, lightened Sophia’s heavy mood. “Hi, Edward. So what is this we have to see?”

“A h-horse made of f-flowers. It’s as b-big as a real h-horse. Mr. Luke sent it for the p-party. Y-you have to s-see it.”

Sophia glanced at Logan. His lips twisted, but he didn’t let on to Edward that he’d interrupted a private conversation.

“Would you like to show it to me?” Sophia asked.

Edward’s head bobbed up and down.

Sophia chuckled and put out her hand. Edward looked into her eyes first, then shyly took her hand. “Lead the way, my friend.”

Edward took off at a fast pace, with Sophia running on the tips of her toes to keep up.

She assumed Logan was somewhere behind them, making his way back to the festivities.

Secretly, Sophia was grateful for the interruption.

Or should she call it an escape?

Logan swirled bourbon and soda in a tumbler, his shoulder braced against the patio pillar, his gaze keenly fastened on Sophia. She swayed her hips in time with the music on the dance floor and caught the attention of every male at the party, married or not. Even the damn disc jockey was eyeing her. How could he blame them? She was a stunner in a black-sequined dress that shimmered under the festive party lights. At this time, in that dress, Sophia couldn’t conceal her luscious form. She didn’t try to cover herself up with a jacket or sweater. She was a curvy glamour queen with her hair up in a tangle, held together by rhinestone clips.

Gorgeous.

Hunter had her in his arms now. Every so often, she would smile at him, making mush of the poor kid. She’d already danced with Ward, Ruth’s husband and young Edward. She appeared to be having a great time, but there was something underlying, something not quite right about her tonight.

When she wasn’t in the limelight, her expression held tension. He’d seen her dart cautious glances around, as if watching for something or someone.

Lately, every time he’d approached her she’d just about jumped out of her skin. It wasn’t his concern, unless what was troubling her had something to do with Sunset Ranch.

Then it mattered to him.

Ward walked over to him, drink in hand. They drank together for a while in silence, keeping their eyes trained on the dance floor. When the song ended and the DJ announced a fifteen-minute break, the hum of lively conversation and laughter reached their ears. Sophia made quiet work of seeing that everyone was accommodated and having a good time. The food had been served and things were going smoothly.

“Ruth is sure having a good time,” Ward said. “Your father would have been pleased to see this.”

For once, Logan had to agree about his father. He’d been a fair and decent employer—that much he would grant him, and he would have approved of honoring Ruth’s service to Sunset Lodge like this. “She sure was surprised.”

“You pulled it off,” Ward said, taking a sip of whiskey.

“Not me so much. Sophia.”

Logan’s gaze landed on her again. She was never far from his scope of vision. He’d been deliberately watching her all night. Truth be told, even if he tried, he wouldn’t be able to keep his eyes off her.

“She’s a hard worker. Real nice, too,” Ward said. “I think my boy is smitten.”

Restrained laughter slipped from Logan’s mouth. “Yeah. Him and all the rest of the crew. She’s no different than her mother in that regard.”

Ward shot Logan a sideways glance. “Maybe the two women should be judged on their own merits. Or better yet, maybe they shouldn’t be judged at all.”

Ward’s little lecture was getting on his nerves. Sure the man had status on the ranch. He and his father had been close, and Ward looked upon the Slade boys as kin, but Logan wasn’t going to change his mind about Sophia Montrose, no matter how many people came to her defense.

“Just being cautious, Ward.”

“That why she’s been in your line of vision all night?”

Logan eyed him with a sour look. “You keeping track?”

“I’m thinking you should go over there and ask her to dance when the music starts up again.”

“And I’m thinking she’s got no room on her dance card.”

Ward let out a hearty laugh. “I bet she’d make room for you.”

Logan shook his head slowly. “Doubtful. I’m the devil to her.”

Ward finished off his drink and set it down on a nearby table. “Maybe you should stop acting like one. Give the lady a chance.” With that, Ward walked toward his son and started up a conversation with him.

Logan frowned and marched over to the bar to get another drink.

Before dinner, Logan walked up the steps to the deck and offered up a toast and tribute to Ruth. Everyone stood and raised their glasses. His speech was short but filled with gratitude for her outstanding service, especially during these past few trying months after his father’s death. He managed to get a few laughs with anecdotes about Ruth’s first days on the job and he wished her well in her retirement.

When the speech was over, Ruth was summoned up to say a few words. Her heartfelt goodbye and vow to get even with Logan for conning her with this surprise party brought some misty-eyed laughter from the gathering.

After dinner, dessert and coffee were served, the music mellowed out and one by one the guests began taking their leave. Sophia walked many of them outside. Logan didn’t miss the way she stood on his doorstep with a proprietary hand on the door as she thanked the guests for coming and wished them a safe drive home. She said all the right things. She was the perfect hostess.

Logan was just about to pay her the compliment when his phone buzzed. It was late and he didn’t want to take any calls tonight but when the caller ID popped up on the screen, Logan immediately answered the call from his youngest brother.

“Hey, Justin. How’re the marines treating you these days?”

Logan walked into his office to speak with his brother about when he was coming home. His brother loved the military, but Logan sensed a longing for Sunset Ranch in him lately. Twenty minutes later, when he strode to the backyard, he found all the guests gone. The housekeeping staff was folding up the tablecloths, breaking down the tables and stacking the chairs. They were an efficient machine that didn’t need any help from him, so he pivoted and went in search of Sophia.

“Where is Ms, Montrose?” he asked one of the waiters in the kitchen.

“She left with Mrs. Polanski ten minutes ago,” he said. “She said to tell you good-night.”

Logan waited until the last of his staff had cleaned up and taken off before he plopped down on the sofa, letting go a weary sigh. He knew how to pick good horseflesh. He knew what stallions would produce the best offspring. He knew how to keep his farm running smoothly and in the black, but what he knew about throwing a surprise party would fit in a shot glass with room to spare.

Ruth had been pleased and had thanked him half a dozen times. Her service had been recognized. His father would have been proud of how it all went down.

His father.

Logan had idolized him. Growing up as the eldest son, he’d wanted to be just like Randall Slade one day: fair, decent, honest, hardworking. He’d thought the sun rose and set on that man’s shoulders. Until one day, his faith in his father had been destroyed.

It was past midnight on a school night when Logan woke from a bad dream. Sweat beaded on his forehead and his body trembled as his eyes opened to the darkness of his bedroom. Too keyed up to sleep, Logan rose and knew what would calm him. Logan had gotten only a glimpse of him when he’d first arrived today. Champion, the purebred Arabian stallion.

Logan tiptoed out of the house to keep from waking his parents. His father would not approve of an unsupervised visit to a horse new to the farm. Stallions were known for erratic behavior, especially in new environments. So Logan was careful not to make a peep as he walked toward the barn and the special stall designated for Champion.

He’d gotten ten feet into the huge barn when he’d heard whispers in the dark.

How he’d wished he’d turned around and run home.

But instead, he’d hidden outside of the tack room and listened.

“I need you in my life, Louisa. You’re the only woman I’ve ever loved.”

It was his father’s voice.

Panicked now, Logan couldn’t move. Curiosity and disbelief kept him glued in place.

His father was talking to Louisa Montrose, the manager of Sunset Lodge.

“I love you, too, mi amor,” Lousia whispered. “I want you with me always.”

Logan’s ears burned as he heard their soft sighs and passionate moans. It wasn’t so dark that Logan couldn’t peer through the slits in the wood and see his father sprawled over Louisa on the tack room cot, kissing her, making little sounds of pleasure whisper from her lips.

“You know why I married her, Louisa. It was a merger of our families’ land,” he said. “And she was pregnant with Logan.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Louisa said on a breath. “It doesn’t matter.”

Logan snapped his eyes opened. Reliving that memory never brought him any peace. Why would it? That night, Logan had been shocked and felt a keen overwhelming sense of loss. Everything he’d believed about his life was a lie. His father had been a scoundrel. He’d married for business reasons. He’d married because he’d gotten a woman pregnant. With that notion came great heartache. Logan’s birth had been an accident. They hadn’t wanted him. But even more than that, the man Logan had come to love, admire and idolize wasn’t who he thought him to be.

Logan had caught his father in the act of adultery fifty yards from where his mother slept.

Not a pretty sight for a boy on the threshold of manhood.

That memory put him on edge. Why in hell did Ward have to mention his father tonight? Logan rose from his seat and roamed aimlessly around the house. His restlessness unnerved him as the images of his father and Louisa Montrose played over and over in his mind.

He spotted Sophia’s black-sequined wrap lying across the entryway table. She’d left the party without it. On impulse, he picked it up and brought it to his nose, taking in the exotic scent that was uniquely hers. Logan closed his eyes for a moment, savoring the fragrance. Then, without hesitation and with her wrap clutched in his hand, he strode out the front door.

Tonight, not even Logan’s sharpest sense of warning could stop him from seeking Sophia out.

Sophia parked her car in the driveway and breathed a big sigh of relief. She was finally home. She’d had a long, tiring day and she was glad it was over. The party had gone as planned. Ruth’s husband had driven the grandkids home and Sophia had offered to drop Ruth back off at her house. On the way, Ruth had gushed again at how much she’d appreciated the party and how grateful she was to Sophia for all the work she’d put into it.

Sophia appreciated being appreciated and she was also glad to have made a dear friend in Ruth. After this weekend, Sophia would be managing Sunset Lodge by herself. Luckily, as her friend had reminded her, Ruth was only a phone call away if she needed advice.

With her body dragging, Sophia exited her car. She was ready for a hot shower and a good night’s sleep. She’d earned it this week.

Stepping from the pavement onto the flowery path toward her front door, she heard a noise. Footsteps crunching on spring leaves. She whipped around. Knotted in fear, she focused her attention on the source of the sound. It was coming from behind a row of pink azalea bushes on the side of the cottage. Straining her eyes to see beyond the porch lamp’s circle of light, she couldn’t make out anything in the dark. Her heart beat wildly. Crazy thoughts entered her head. She imagined someone darting out from the bushes to attack her. A madman was after her. He’d followed her from Las Vegas. He knew her every move.

Sophia couldn’t get inside the house fast enough. She fumbled with the key. It fell from her shaky hands and pinged onto the brick porch. “Oh, no.”

She scrambled to pick it up and out of the corner of her eye she saw another movement, a tall shadow that crossed into the lamplit path from the opposite direction of the azalea bushes. Fear immobilized her as she struggled to make sense of it. Fleeting questions rushed through her mind. Were they coming at her from two different directions? Steeling her nerves, she vowed she wouldn’t be a helpless victim. She whirled around, ready to take a swing, ready to defend herself, ready to scream. She opened her mouth, her arm raised for a fight.

“Sophia?” Logan’s questioning voice broke through her panic. She saw his Stetson first, as he approached from out of the shadows and into the light.

A dire gasp of relief escaped her throat. “Logan?” Slowly, she slumped against the front door, her legs shaking so badly she could barely stand. The door did a good job of keeping her upright. “Thank God, it’s you.”

“You look white as a sheet,” he said softly, as if she were a child. “What’s got you so scared?”

Tears welled in her eyes. She put her hand to her mouth and shook her head.

“Did someone hurt you?”

She continued to shake her head. “I’m f-fine. I, uh … What are you doing here?”

He held out the sequined wrap she’d worn to the party. “You left this.”

“I didn’t hear your car pull up.”

“I walked over.”

Sophia didn’t respond.

“You’re shaking like a leaf.” He took the key she was gripping for dear life out of her hand and inserted it into the lock. “Let’s get you inside the house.”

Sophia managed to step out of his way, and once he opened the door he put his hand to her back and guided her to the parlor sofa. “Have a seat.”

Sophia obeyed him automatically. She was still trembling as she sank into the cushions. She closed her eyes and inhaled a quiet breath to calm down. She was safe. Logan was here. The cushions gave way when he took a seat on the opposite end of the sofa.

“What happened out there?”

Sophia snapped her eyes open at his serious tone. All softness was gone from his voice. Leaning forward with elbows braced on his knees, he turned his head to face her.

“I want the truth.”

Despite her distracted mind, the insult registered. He believed that she was accustomed to lying to him and this time he demanded she speak with honesty. But she couldn’t do battle with him tonight over his remark. She was comforted to have him here. “The truth is, I thought someone was out there. I heard a noise by the azaleas.”

“Go on.”

Sophia looked away from him.

“There’s got to be more than that. You’ve lived on this ranch before. You know there’s dozens of species of animals that could make noises in the bushes before scurrying away. When I arrived, you said, ‘Thank God, it’s you.’ Has someone been bothering you?”

“Besides you?” She smiled sweetly but his frown said he didn’t find any humor in her statement. “Sorry. I was actually relieved that you showed up when you did.”

“Now I know something’s wrong. You’re never glad to see me. Tell me.”

Sophia sighed. She didn’t want to get into this with Logan, but her fear was very real tonight and judging by the look on his face, he wasn’t going anywhere without an explanation. “I’ve received three notes on my doorstep,” she began, and then recounted the incidents that had happened since she’d moved to the cottage. When Logan questioned her further, Sophia had no choice but to explain about the similar incidents in Las Vegas.

Logan sat quietly listening to her, asking a probing question here and there, and once all was out in the open about her would-be Fantasy Follies stalker, Logan made an announcement. “We need to go to the sheriff.”

“No,” Sophia said. “I won’t do that.”

“Why the hell not?”

“I’ve been through this before. The notes aren’t threatening and there’s nothing they can do anyway. And … I don’t want to bring negative attention to Sunset Lodge. Monday is my first day as a full-fledged manager.”

“You were scared out of your mind a minute ago.”

“It could be nothing. I have a secret admirer, maybe.” Sophia was grasping at straws.

“I’m sure you have more than a few of those, but if someone is putting notes on your doorstep and watching you … you don’t want to mess with that.”

“I don’t know that for sure. Maybe my imagination got the best of me. Maybe it was a wild animal in the bushes.”

“You don’t believe that,” Logan said, “and now I don’t, either. Not after hearing about the notes. Are you refusing to speak with the sheriff?”

She gave him a nod. “Yes, I am refusing.”

Logan’s eyes narrowed on her, but she wasn’t going to back down. She’d had enough bad press and negative attention when she married Gordon Gregory. She didn’t want a media circus here at Sunset Lodge. It was a place of serenity and beauty. She wouldn’t mar that perception with the law snooping around, questioning staff and guests. She loved Sunset Lodge too much for that.

Logan rubbed his jaw as he considered her from across the sofa. “You know we have a good security system on the ranch and at the lodge. Now I’m thinking that might have been breached. Someone on the ranch may be out for no good. That makes it my business, Sophia. And, frankly, it worries me. You won’t go to the law, and I can’t have you living here alone anymore.”

“Meaning what?” Sophia didn’t like the way he was steering this conversation.

“Meaning, you’re moving into the main house with me. And it’s not up for discussion.”

Seven

Every bone in her body was well aware that she was living alone with Logan Slade. The house was big, but not big enough to miss seeing him saunter into the kitchen in the morning with an unshaven face and sexy, mussed hair. Or notice him unbutton his shirt, exposing a sliver of bronzed skin as he headed to his bedroom for a shower. With Luke gone, Sophia didn’t have the buffer she needed to keep up the facade that somehow Logan hadn’t begun to wedge his way into her heart.

He checked in on her in the morning at breakfast and insisted that she have dinner at the house every night. When Sophia’s eyes would light up over his concern, his expression would turn to stone and he’d remind her that safety on the ranch was the key issue.

Sophia should have been exhausted. Putting in long hours at the lodge during the day was enough to fatigue an Olympic athlete, much less a woman of her size and stature. But the truth was, Sophia had restless energy. Seeing Logan coming in and out of the house every day, made her jumpy and anxious. They’d have brief, stilted conversations at meals, and before he rose from the table, Logan would gaze at her with yearning in his eyes. It was fleeting and reluctant, but Sophia saw it. He wasn’t as immune to her as he let on. Maybe the wall of defense he’d built up against her was beginning to crumble a little bit.

Now, three days into her stay at his home, Sophia watched him rise from the dinner table as usual, the moment the last bite on his plate was gone. “I’m going to turn in early,” he said, stretching his arms over his head. He looked a little weary with a five-o’clock shadow on his face and reddened eyes.

Sophia nodded. “Good night,” she said politely, then blurted what was on her mind. “I think I’ll take a ride.”

“Where? The stores will be closing soon.”

Sophia smiled. “Not that kind of ride. I’m not interested in shopping. I need some air. I thought I’d ask Hunter to saddle up a mare and ride out with me.”

“I sent Hunter home an hour ago.”

Sophia shrugged a shoulder. “That’s okay. I’ll find someone else.” Sophia rose from the table, grabbing his empty plate along with hers.

He reached out to touch her upper arm. “Just about everyone’s gone home for the night. Why don’t you turn in and do it another time?”

“I’m not a prisoner here, am I? I can saddle up a horse and take a ride.”

His hand wound around her arm, gently, but only to make his point. “It’ll be dark in less than an hour, Sophia.”

His penetrating gaze bored into her and they stared at each other for a long while. Finally, he released his hold on her. “Fine, suit yourself.”

Sophia didn’t get any satisfaction in upsetting Logan. She didn’t set out to annoy him, but she did need an outlet for her pent-up energy. And a ride along the paths of Sunset Ranch would do the trick. She wasn’t fool enough to go by herself. She should be able to find a riding partner, if not here at the ranch, then at the lodge.