The Cowboy She Couldn't Forget

Vance glanced away. He’d seen over the years how Colt ignored his daughters. The man had never been demonstrative, but he’d given Vance a chance at a life. Hell, the girls had been lucky. When their father noticed his daughters were getting tired, he’d made them stop.

Colt had never been that generous with him. The man was never abusive, but had sometimes worked Vance twelve- to fourteen-hour days when it came to roundup time.

“Colt didn’t want you to get hurt,” Dickson stated. “Ranching isn’t an easy life.”

Ana shook her head. “We both know the truth. Colton Slater just wanted sons. And he sure didn’t want his daughters involved with his precious ranch.” She shot a hard look at Vance. “What about you? Do you have a problem working with a woman?”

He frowned. “What exactly do you mean by working?”

She moved around the table. “I’ve waited twenty-plus years to be able to feel a part of this place. I have the chance and the time, since I’m not going back to work at the school until the fall, and I plan to use it. You can either help me or get out of my way.”

Vance wasn’t sure he liked Ana’s idea. “What are you talking about?”

“You aren’t going to have all the say-so around here. Dad gave me at least half control of this place.”

Why was she acting as if this was war? “Up till now, the only person who had any control was Colt,” Vance argued, trying to keep the anger out of his voice. “He’s the boss. I still plan to carry out his wishes, because his situation is temporary. But if you want to work fourteen-hour days and smell like sweat and manure, feel free.” He started for the door, but stopped. “Just don’t plan for me to babysit you or your sisters, because the Lazy S is depending on this roundup.” He turned and walked out.

Ana realized she might have overreacted a little. But Vance Rivers had always been the thorn in her side. There was no doubt that Colt had favored him over his own daughters. Well, not anymore.

She stood a little straighter. “It seems I’m going to be working this summer.”

Wade Dickson shook his head. “I think you’d better get on that cowboy’s good side, or it’s going to make life difficult for the both of you.”

That was the last thing she wanted. She hadn’t forgotten the teenage Vance, with his bad attitude and swagger. He was good-looking and knew it. That day in the barn when he’d got her alone in the stall and kissed her until she couldn’t remember her own name wasn’t going to happen again. Nor was she going to run away like a scared rabbit.

Ana blinked, bringing her back to the present. “Dad’s stroke is more than making things difficult. But I don’t plan on ignoring my responsibilities to him or the ranch.”

Wade shook his head. “I hope Colt appreciates your loyalty, but don’t be too stubborn to think you can do this on your own. So you might want to find a way to get along with Vance. That’s the only way this is going to work.” The older man sighed. “Also, it might be a good idea to stop by my office tomorrow. There are some more details to go over.”

“What details?” she asked.

“It can wait until tomorrow, but not much longer. Bring Vance with you.”

Ana didn’t like the sound of that.

“What about your sisters?” Wade asked. “When are they coming home?”

Ana had no idea. “Not right away. So this is on me for now.” She tried to sound confident, but in reality she didn’t know even where to start.

* * *

An hour later in the barn, Vance worked the brush along the flank of his chestnut stallion, Rusty. He was angry, more at himself than with anyone else. He’d let her get to him...again. How many times had he told himself to forget about Ana? The woman wanted nothing to do with him. He couldn’t say he blamed her, not when their dad had ignored his girls all those years, while giving Vance the attention they should have gotten.

Many times he’d wanted to let Colt know how he felt about that, but the man had taken Vance in when he had nowhere else to go but into foster care.

Vance already had the stigma of having a father who’d been labeled no good for years. Calvin Rivers was well known as a man who couldn’t hold down a job, and drank away his paycheck when he found someone willing to hire him. Vance’s mother had gotten fed up and took off.

The strokes of his brush got more intense and Rusty expressed his irritation by dancing sideways in the stall. “Sorry, fella.” Vance smoothed a hand over his withers and put the brush away. “I didn’t mean to take out it out on you.”

He walked out of the stall and headed down the center aisle of the large barn, passing the dozen horses stabled here. He stopped and talked to two of the ranch hands, Jake and Hank, giving them instructions for tomorrow’s workday.

He said good-night and went through the wide door into the cool May evening. This had always been his favorite time of day. Work was done. The sun had gone down and the animals were all settled in for the night.

He knew his days on the Lazy S could be numbered. It was past time he left here, especially now that he had his own section of land. He’d already planned to leave in the fall after the alfalfa harvest. Now with Colt’s stroke...

He headed along the path toward his place. A hundred yards away was the foreman’s cottage. About four years ago, Colt had given him the three-bedroom house when he made Vance ranch foreman, after Chet Anders retired. Vance had been twenty-six and had just finished his college courses for his degree. That had been important to Colt. He was grateful, too.

Vance slowed his pace as he reached the house, seeing a shadow on the porch. He paused, then realized it was Ana sitting on the glider swing. Funny, for years he’d dreamed of her coming to visit him. He doubted this time was for the same reason he’d had in mind.

“You want another strip of my hide?” he asked, then kept walking into the house and flipped on the wall switch to light the compact living room.

He was surprised to see that Ana had jumped up and followed him, but stopped at the threshold. “No, I just want to talk to you about something. If you’ll give me a few minutes.”

Vance turned around to see the worried look on her face. He’d caught a glimpse of her vulnerability at the hospital today, but she also could have a cutting tongue. But he couldn’t seem to take heed to the warning his brain sent as he glanced over her slender body, her rounded hips and long legs incased in worn jeans. He bit back a groan. She had just enough curves to twist a man’s gut, making him want what he had no business wanting. Somehow Vance had to stop it if he planned to work with her.

Why couldn’t he have these feelings for any other woman but her? Why hadn’t he been able to move on? Forget the girl who hadn’t cared about him years ago. By the looks of it, her feelings hadn’t changed. Ana Slater didn’t want him.

He was frustrated as he said, “Whatever I do or say, you attack my character. Even I have limits.”

Ana knew her anger had gone too far. It wasn’t Vance who caused the problem between her and her father. “I apologize. I let old feelings get in the way of what we need to do. And that’s run this ranch.”

When he stepped aside, she released a breath and made her way past the overstuffed sofa to look out the window that faced the barn and corral. It was easier than looking at Vance. He made her feel things whenever she got near him. It was strange because it had been years since the man had come close to her. Of course, she hadn’t given him a chance.

“So you want to call a truce?” he asked.

She looked over her shoulder and nodded. “Wade pointed out we need to work together.” She rushed on. “For the good of the ranch, and to help ease Colt’s mind so he can concentrate on his recovery.”

“We can’t expect miracles.”

Ana couldn’t help but smile. “I’ll settle for getting him to do what he needs to do to get back here.” She released a long sigh. “I know you think that I don’t care about my father, but I do.”

“I never said that. In fact, I know how many times you’ve come out here and checked on him.” Vance raised a hand when she started to deny it. “And no, Kathleen didn’t rat you out. I’ve seen your car up at the house, and when you come by to go horseback riding. Why didn’t you ever stay and talk with Colt?”

Tears formed behind her eyes. “That’s a little difficult when Dad hasn’t exactly welcomed me with open arms.”

“Okay, his disposition has always been a little gruff, but maybe you can change that now.”

Ana thought back to when life here on the Lazy S, with her mom and dad and younger sisters, had seemed about perfect. That had all changed overnight when Luisa Slater just walked out of their lives. It had been as if all the love was sucked away. The twins, Tori and Josie, were only three years old then. Marissa was barely a toddler.

If they hadn’t found the note, they might have believed Luisa had been kidnapped. But no, there was no doubt that the woman wanted out of her marriage and to have no part of her children. That same day, Colt had changed, too. He’d closed up and shut his family out.

“He had four daughters who begged for his love. It’s as if he blamed us for our mother’s disappearance.” Ana glared at Vance. “Were we responsible?”

He shook his head. “I can’t answer that, Ana. I never met your mother. I’ve only dealt with mine. And April Rivers had no trouble packing up and leaving, too.”

Ana gasped, realizing how closely their lives paralleled. “I’m sorry, Vance. I forgot.”

“That’s what I want people to do. Forget about my past.” His dark gaze met hers. “It’s the only way to move on.”

Vance didn’t want to rehash his past, because Ana and her sisters had the life of fairy princesses compared to his childhood. “Look, running the Lazy S isn’t an easy job.” He was aware of the toll it had been taking on Colt the past year. “We have the roundup soon. If you and your sisters want to help out, I’m not going to stop you.”

“Like I said, I doubt my sisters will come home, but I plan to be around. In fact, I decided to move back to the house, at least over the summer or until Dad gets better.”

Lord help him, Vance wanted Ana to stay around. The downside was she’d be here every day, reminding him of what he could never have.

“Okay, the day starts at 5:00 a.m.”

She looked surprised. “I want to go see Dad by ten o’clock. And Wade Dickson wants us to meet him tomorrow afternoon in his office.”

“Why?”

“I’m not sure. He said there are things we need to go over.”

Vance nodded. “Then I guess you’d better get some sleep. Tomorrow is going to be a busy day.”

She nodded. “I’ll see you in the morning.” She headed to the door.

Vance fisted his hands, wanting to call her back. And for what? To tell her he’d always care about her. That he’d wished those visits to the ranch had been to see him. No. To her, he was only the poor kid Colt had given a place to sleep. Even now, with his success, would she see him any differently?

Maybe over the summer she’d notice he was more than just another ranch hand.

* * *

The next morning, Colt felt the warmth of the sunlight on his face. Damn. Had he overslept? He blinked, opened his eyes and tried to focus. That wasn’t the worst of his problems. He couldn’t move. He groaned as he tried to lift his arm, and felt the touch of a hand, then a voice as someone said his name.

He turned his gaze and stared into her pretty face. He nearly gasped. Then he blinked and realized it was Analeigh. Oh, God, she looked so much like...her mother. No. He didn’t want to think about Luisa now. But he knew that wishing wouldn’t make it so. He’d given up on ever completely forgetting his wife. Correction, ex-wife.

Colt tried to pull away, but he didn’t have the strength. What the hell was happening to him? He tried to speak, but all he managed was another groan.

“It’s okay, Dad. We’re here with you. You need to be still.”

He groaned again.

“Please, Dad. You’re in the hospital. You had a stroke, but you’re going to be all right.”

Colt could only look at her, then he relaxed when someone appeared next to her. Vance.

“Hey, Colt. Glad to see you’re awake. The doctors have a handle on this. You’ll be home before you know it. Trust me, everything will be all right at the ranch. I’ll make sure of it. You just rest for now and get your strength back.”

Strength. He was weak as a kitten. He closed his eyes as all the fight left him.

* * *

Just before noon, Ana sat in Vance’s truck as they headed back to town to see the lawyer. She still couldn’t get the picture of her father lying in the hospital bed out of her mind. Her chest was tight with emotion. This had to be hard for a man like Colt. He had always been physical, hardworking. Now, that had all changed. Would he be stuck in a wheelchair the rest of his life?

She thought about when she’d sat by the bed, praying he would open his eyes. Even his angry scowl was better than that blank look. No. She had to think positively. Her dad survived the stroke and he was going to recover.

He still hadn’t spoken to anyone, except to say Luisa’s name. At least he’d said something.

Ana felt Vance’s presence, turned sideways and saw him sipping the coffee he’d gotten from the hospital.

He nodded to the one he’d brought for her. “Have some coffee. You look like you need it.”

“Thanks.” She reached for the cup in the console and took a sip. “This is good.”

He smiled as he concentrated on the road. “Got it from the nurses’ station. It’s their own private brew.”

She could just see Vance Rivers flirting with the nurses to get what he wanted. “Thank you.”

“Let’s talk,” he stated, then went on to say, “It’s only been forty-eight hours since Colt’s stroke and he’s still heavily medicated. You need to trust that he’s going to get better.”

She glanced out the windshield, watching the open ranch land, mountains for a backdrop. “He looks so helpless.”

“Give it time, Ana. You need to be patient and not get your dad riled up.”

“Riled up?” That hurt. “I don’t plan to upset my father. How can you say that?”

Vance raised a hand from the steering wheel. “I only meant that you’re too easy to read. Your emotions show on your face.”

“I can’t help that.”

Vance nodded, knowing Ana had always had trouble hiding her feelings. She had a big heart and that was why it was breaking right now. She wanted so much to help. She’d tried so hard to keep the family together, but in the end her sisters all left anyway.

“You have to try, because Colt needs our help with his recovery.”

Vance slowed the truck as they approached the small town of Royerton. Population was about five thousand in the ranching and farming community. He drove along Main Street, passing the small grocery, Quick Mart and the U.S. Post Office.

“And I plan to do exactly that.”

“Good. Maybe we should keep the topic on the ranch. But not include that you’ll be working with the other ranch hands.”

“Like he’d care.”

Vance pulled into a parking space outside the brick, two-story professional building. “Are you kidding?” He threw the gearshift into Park. “There were two rules that Colt enforced. One, work hard, and the other, stay away from his daughters.”

Seeing Ana’s surprised look, Vance retrieved his keys and got out of the vehicle. He wasn’t about to tell her how difficult it had been to keep that promise, but he had because of the respect he felt for her dad. He’d been crazy about this woman for years. Could there be a second chance for him?

“I didn’t know,” she said when he opened the passenger-side door.

“There’s a lot about Colt you don’t know.”

She took Vance’s offered hand and stepped down onto the sidewalk. “That’s not my fault.”

“I didn’t say it was.” He opened the door to the lawyer’s office and let her walk inside first. “I just wanted you to be aware of it.”

“What about you? Did that rule apply to you?”

He nodded, wondering if she remembered that one time in the barn.

“Since you’re still around, I guess you never told him that you accosted one of his daughters in the barn.” She turned her back on him and walked into the reception area.

“Whoa. I wasn’t alone that day, or the only one responsible for what happened. If I remember right, there was a certain young girl who’d been sniffing around a young teenage boy. Not a good idea. You know, raging hormones and all.”

“I didn’t have raging hormones,” she retorted.

“Not yours. Mine.” He studied the blush on her cheeks. He, too, was remembering the day she’d let him lead her into a stall and kiss her. If one of the other ranch hands hadn’t come back early, he wondered how far he could have gone. He started to speak when Wade Dickson came out of his office and greeted them.

“Hello, Ana and Vance.” He smiled. “Please come inside.”

They went ahead of the lawyer into the adjoining room. Nothing too fancy, but there were nice comfortable chairs and a large desk. Wade had his law degree from the University of Montana hanging on the wall.

“Have a seat.” He walked around the desk and sat across from them. He opened a folder and glanced over the contents, then looked at Ana. “Are you sure your sisters can’t come home?”

“Not right away. Why?”

“I didn’t tell you everything last night. There’s a slight problem with the ranch.”

Ana slid to the edge of her chair. “What is it?”

“As you know, the Lazy S is a sizable spread.” He quoted the section amount. “Your father owns that land outright. But there’s a lot of grazing acreage that is leased from the state. And the payment is past due.”

“How is that possible?”

“Only Colt knows the answer to that.” Wade paused. “I managed to get an extension from the state, but it’s only bought us a few months to come up with the money. And if you don’t pay it, someone else gets a chance to bid on the property.”

Ana glanced at Vance. “Then we need to pay it.”

Wade looked worried. “There aren’t enough funds available.”

CHAPTER THREE

ANA’S EYES WIDENED. “What do you mean, there aren’t enough funds?”

Wade leaned back in his chair. “It means the Lazy S has had a rough few years. I just recently learned this because I’ve been notified by the State Land Leasing Board.”

Ana turned to Vance. “Why didn’t you say something?”

He was as shocked as she was. “First of all, I didn’t know anything about the lease coming due. I knew beef prices were down and that we lost several head in that big storm last winter, but...” He’d never dreamed it had been this bad.

“What do you mean, you didn’t know? You’re Dad’s foreman.”

“I may physically run the operation, but Colt funds the business account. I use that money for payroll and for the feed and supplies. Colt kept the ranch finances.”

He thought about the land that Colt had given to him a few years back. He’d planted an alfalfa crop on the acreage. It should be ready to harvest in about six weeks. That gave them the time, but would the profit be enough?

Wade broke into his thoughts. “Ana, I’ve been trying for years to get your father to diversify. He lost a lot of his savings when the market tanked a few years ago. In the past, that money had always been his cushion through the bad years.”

Ana looked pale. “What do we do now?”

Vance wished he could offer a miracle, but he wasn’t sure there was one. “Like Mr. Dickson said, we have nearly six months.” His gaze met hers. “You can’t do this on your own. I think you need to get your sisters together.”

* * *

Thirty minutes later, Vance escorted Ana out of the Dickson law office.

“You look ready to drop,” he told her.

“Gee, thanks. What every woman wants to hear.”

He ignored her comment. “When was the last time you ate?”

“I had some toast this morning. I’m just not hungry.”

“It’s after one o’clock. You have a lot to deal with, so you need to eat.” He placed his hand on the small of her back and immediately felt the warmth of her skin, but resisted the urge to draw her any closer.

She sighed. “You’re right, but I should go home and figure out what to do about this mess.”

Nixing her request, he guided her a short distance down the sidewalk to a small family-owned restaurant, the Big Sky Grill.

“First, you’re going to eat.” He held open the door. When she didn’t move, he said, “I can keep this up all day.”

She glared at him with those big blue eyes, then finally relented. “Okay. A quick lunch.”

Once inside, they were greeted by the owners, Burt and Cindy Logan. Burt escorted them across the tile floor to a booth next to the picture window that looked out onto Main Street. Several patrons stopped Ana en route and wished her father well. When she finally got away, she slid into one of the bench seats while Vance sat down across from her and placed his hat on the space beside him. He pulled out a menu from between the salt-and-pepper shakers and went over the choices.

Cindy showed up with two glasses of water. “How’s your daddy doin’?” she asked.

“A lot better. He’s stable for now, but they’re still running more tests.”

The middle-aged woman placed her hand on Ana’s. “Tell Colt that we’re all praying for him.”

“He’ll appreciate that, Cindy. Thank you.”

They gave her their order and she left them alone.

Ana shook her head. “I can’t believe how many people care. Funny, isn’t it? He seems to have gotten along with everyone except his own daughters.”

Vance shrugged. “Why does that surprise you? The Slater family helped settle Royerton. Colt is well respected around here.”

Vance knew how Colt had treated his girls. It wasn’t that he was mean, he just pretty much ignored them. Over the years, Kathleen had always been the surrogate parent. “Okay, the man wasn’t the perfect father.” Vance leaned back in the seat. “So why did you stay, and not take off like your sisters?”

Ana stared at him with eyes that were the mirror image of Colt’s. “I stayed for my sisters, then I got the job at the high school.” She shrugged. “I’m not even sure it matters anymore.”

Vance leaned forward. “Look, Ana, I don’t know why Colt did a lot of things. There’s no doubt he isn’t a happy man. I’ve heard stories about how he was when he was younger, before your mother left.”

He watched Ana stiffen.

He wasn’t going to be put off. “Do you remember her?”

With a nod, she glanced away. “I was pretty young. But, yes, I can remember how beautiful she was. Her voice, her touch.” She turned back and he saw the tears in her eyes. “I wanted to hate her, but for years I just kept praying she’d come back and be our mom again.”

He reached across the table and touched her hand. “That’s understandable.”

She looked down at his hand and slowly pulled hers away. “Is it? Do you wish your mother would come back?”

“Sure. Every kid does, especially when your dad isn’t around to feed you and you’re hungry.” Vance blew out a breath. “And you can’t go to school because you don’t have shoes. Kids make fun of you for things like that. But sometimes you’re just too hungry to care, when you know you’ll get that free meal at lunch.”

He caught the look on her face and realized how much he’d disclosed.

This time Ana took his hand. “Oh, Vance. I had...had no idea.”

He shrugged it off. “No one did. At fourteen, I finally had enough and was trying to get away. I was big for my age and hoped I could go somewhere and get a job.

“I hid out in the back of a pickup truck in the parking lot so I could get out of town. I didn’t know it belonged to Colt until I found myself at the Lazy S. I decided to sleep in the barn before starting my journey in the morning. Of course he found me.”

Ana didn’t want to feel sympathy for the kid who had a rotten life. “And you became the son Dad always wanted.”