Made For The Rancher

Since then he’d dated his fair share of women. But he didn’t like it that after all this time he once again found himself attracted to a woman who’d purposely put herself in a position to embrace an exciting life far away from Montana with a man of prominence and means.

Though Wymon didn’t have an idea of the perfect woman, he hoped one day to meet someone who wanted the same basic things from life that he did. So far she hadn’t come along. And if she never did?

He wheeled around and bounded back down the stairs, setting the half-empty bottle on the kitchen counter before leaving the house. Needing to channel his frustration, he raced up to the barn and saddled his quarter horse.

“Let’s get out of here, Titus. We both need a workout,” he said and headed off into the mountains to clear his head.

Chapter Three

By midafternoon Jasmine’s parents had arrived at the hospital. She told them everything that had happened, leaving out the part about Rob proposing to her. Dr. Turner had transferred her to a room on the second floor and ordered her to rest. Her folks would be coming back in the morning to pick her up and drive her back to Philipsburg.

At six that evening, Rob’s parents showed up and asked her to walk with them to his room, which was four doors down the hall. Jasmine had met them on several occasions and was comfortable being in their company.

While the three of them congregated around Rob, their dinners were brought in and they ate. His folks shed tears and were overjoyed that they’d both survived the crash. She doubted Rob had told them about what had happened in the cockpit before the hawk had flown into the propeller.

They treated her as if she’d be a member of their family one day soon, adding to her consternation. Rob lay there with his head bandaged. A plastic surgeon had put in the three stitches needed. They’d given him pain medication after monitoring his condition all afternoon.

Hard as it was, Jasmine had to pretend everything was all right between them in front of his parents. “Rob? How are you feeling?” she asked him.

“Rocky—dizzy—” The way he stared at her between narrowed lids made it clear to her that he wanted to say, How the hell do you think I feel after you rejected me?

Guilt stabbed at her. “I’m so sorry you were hurt. Just remember that you saved our lives because of the miraculous way you landed the plane. What will happen to it now?”

“I’ll take care of it,” his father answered for him. “We just want him to get well and back on track as fast as possible for the big rally in three weeks.”

You couldn’t keep a Farnsworth down. “I want that for you, too.”

Rob grimaced at her remark. She knew how much emotional pain he was in. But she was in pain, too, because she knew in her heart she wouldn’t be changing her mind about him. He was a good man, but marriage to him wouldn’t work.

His mother turned to her. “Tell us about Mr. Clayton—I hear he came to your rescue after the crash landing.”

Jasmine didn’t dare look at Rob, knowing both men were political foes over the grizzly issue. “I undid the latch the way Rob told me to and tried to pull him out of the cockpit, but he was trapped. That’s when Mr. Clayton saw us. He carried me to the trees, then ran back to help Rob.”

“What an amazing coincidence that he would be there at that precise moment,” Rob’s mother murmured.

“I know. It was like he appeared out of the blue. Apparently he’d seen the plane go down and called 911. After he lifted Rob from the wreckage, he brought him over by me and gave him CPR. He was amazing. While I was sitting there in a daze, he brought me a cola and covered us with blankets. It wasn’t long after that that the paramedics arrived.”

Mr. Farnsworth cleared his throat. “We’ll have to thank him for helping save your lives.”

Jasmine noticed Rob didn’t say anything. She decided to leave it to his parents to ask the doctor how to get in touch with Wymon Clayton. Just the thought of him made her heart race, followed by more guilt that she would still be thinking about him.

She didn’t want to be reminded of the way it felt when he’d placed the blanket around her shoulders at the crash site. When his chin had brushed her hair and she’d smelled the soap he used in the shower, she’d felt his presence in every atom of her body.

Fearing this conversation was bothering Rob, she didn’t dare volunteer any more information about the man who’d rescued them. Their son didn’t need to know that they’d eaten lunch together in the hospital cafeteria and had talked about their families. Already, she was thinking ahead to the rodeo next weekend in Philipsburg, wondering if he’d be there. Forbidden thoughts she shouldn’t be having continued to bombard her.

A nurse came in the room to check Rob’s vital signs. She told them visiting hours were over and that Jasmine needed to get back to her room to be checked. Jasmine was so relieved for the interruption, she could have cried. This was one time Rob couldn’t object.

She said good-night to his parents and squeezed Rob’s hand. “Get a good sleep. I’ll call you on the phone tomorrow after my parents drive me home.” He gave her a wounded stare before she left the room and hurried down the hall.

After getting ready for bed, Jasmine lay there with the TV on, not watching anything. Because she’d slept all afternoon, she was wide-awake now. At ten o’clock the news came on.

Their accident was the lead story. To her relief there were no pictures, just the statement that Representative Robert Farnsworth and a companion had survived a crash in the Sapphires, with Mr. Farnsworth suffering a concussion. More news to come later.

She imagined Rob’s campaign manager, Buzz Hendricks, had made certain to keep the details to a minimum. If news had leaked out that it was Wymon Clayton of all people who’d come to the rescue, that wouldn’t have been the kind of information Rob would care to have taking the spotlight away from him.

With her thoughts less than charitable, she turned off the TV, refusing to think any more about it tonight. Every time someone came in her room, she secretly hoped it might be the charismatic rancher just wanting to check up on her. But why would he do that when he knew she’d been on her way to Seattle with Rob? She was delusional to think he’d be interested in her.

What a pathetic fool she was to wish that he might want to see her again. Wymon was so attractive, he could have any woman he wanted and was probably living with one right now. During their conversation earlier, neither of them had talked about their personal lives. Those feelings of hers were all one-sided, and she needed to put them away.

Before she finally went to sleep, she came to a conclusion. In a few days when Rob was well, she would tell him emphatically that she couldn’t envision a life with him. They had different temperaments, and it was better that they stop seeing each other.

She couldn’t possibly go to the rally with him feeling the way she did. Even if she’d promised him several weeks ago, surely he couldn’t want her there now that she’d turned down his proposal.

Jasmine did like him for many reasons, but it wasn’t love. He deserved to find a woman who adored him heart and soul, who was compatible with him and wanted everything he had to offer.

In the morning, Dr. Turner did his rounds and released her, pronouncing her fit and ready to go home. Before he left the room she had a question to ask him.

“Would you by any chance know the directions to the Clayton ranch business office? Since I’m here in Stevensville, now would be the perfect time to drive there and thank Mr. Clayton in person for all he did for me and Rob yesterday.”

“That’s easy. Travel five miles out on Highway 93. The ranch is clearly marked on the right. You’ll find the main ranch house about a mile up the road.”

“Thank you so much.”

“You bet.”

“I have one more question. Do you know of a store here that carries Western gear and blankets, that sort of thing?”

“Sure. Frost’s Western Saddlery on Main Street.”

“Wonderful. Thanks again.”

“Best of luck to you and Representative Farnsworth.”

One of the orderlies wheeled her out of the hospital to the car where her parents were waiting. She thanked him and hugged her parents. Once she’d gotten in back and her dad had put her bag in the trunk, she leaned forward.

“If you don’t mind, I want to buy a gift for Mr. Clayton and take it to him before we drive home.”

Her mom turned around. “What did you have in mind?”

“A saddle blanket. He used some blankets from his truck to keep us from going into shock. I think it would be a nice reminder.”

“I think that’s a lovely idea.”

“Dr. Turner said I could find one at Frost’s Western Saddlery on Main Street.”

Her dad nodded, and he drove there, parking in front.

“I won’t be long,” she told her parents as she hurried into the store and approached the middle-aged man who asked if he could help her.

“I’m looking for a Nez Perce saddle blanket,” she said. She had one herself and loved it.

“I have several. Come over this way.” The man led her to another part of the store where he brought out four different samples. Her eye was drawn to a black-and-beige blanket with a distinctive indigenous design. For some reason she could see Mr. Clayton using it.

“I like this one.”

“That’s an excellent choice. It’s a heavy-duty wool blanket. Perfect for our Montana weather, especially in the winter.”

“How much is it?”

“Two hundred dollars.”

There wasn’t enough money in the world to pay Wymon back for what he’d done for her and Rob. “I’ll take it. Could you wrap it as a gift for a man?”

“Of course.”

She handed him her credit card and walked around the shop. When she saw a beautiful, long-sleeved ivory Western blouse with snap closures, she lifted it off the rack. Delighted to discover it was her size, she rushed over to the counter with it. “I’d like this, too, but it doesn’t need to be wrapped.”

Before long the salesman had bagged her purchases and handed her card back to her. “Come and visit us again,” he said.

“I will. Thank you.”

She hurried outside to her family. “The Clayton Ranch is only five miles from here. The doctor gave me directions. Mr. Clayton might not be in his office, but it doesn’t matter. I’d just like to drop this off to let him know how much I appreciate what he did for us.”

“We’d like to thank him ourselves,” her dad said. “Tell me the directions.”

It wasn’t long before they arrived at the ranch with its arch of antlers welcoming them to the property. They drove up the road. The setting was like something out of a storybook with the gorgeous mountains in the background. Around a curve sat a fabulous two-story ranch house that had to have been built before the turn of the last century.

They pulled up to the office parking area. “I’ll run in and see if he’s there. If he is, I’ll phone you to come in. Otherwise I’ll just leave my gift.”

She pulled the wrapped package out of its sack and walked up on the porch. There was a sign to ring the bell. After a minute, a pretty Hispanic woman opened the door. “Yes?”

“I’ve come to see Mr. Clayton. Is he here?”

“He’s just leaving. Did you have an appointment?”

“No.”

“May I tell him who’s calling?”

“Jasmine Telford.”

“Come in.” Jasmine followed her through the entry hall to the living room. “Wait here. I’ll get him.”

Jasmine looked around the beautifully decorated room. It was straight out of the pages of True West magazine.

“Ms. Telford?”

Wymon’s deep voice set her heart racing before she turned around to see the handsome rancher enter the room, wearing his cowboy hat. She’d been told she’d caught him on his way out. It was pure luck that he was still there.

“I know I’m the last person you ever expected to see again, and I don’t want to hold you up. But I was just released from the hospital and wanted to thank you again before I left for Philipsburg. This is for you,” she said, handing him the gift.

He took it from her. “You shouldn’t be giving me anything.”

She smiled. “Let’s agree not to argue about it. You and I both know what you did. Please, accept this with my heartfelt gratitude.”

Their eyes held for a moment before he took off the wrapping. When he let the blanket unfold, she knew she’d picked the right one for him. She could see the pleasure in his silvery eyes.

“You have excellent taste. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Well, I’d better be going.”

He studied her face. “Give Mr. Farnsworth my best. I’m sure you’ll both be happy to get home and put that plane crash behind you.”

It already was behind her. She’d hoped Mr. Clayton would want to talk to her for a few more minutes, but he was on his way out with other things on his mind. Worse, he assumed she and Rob were still a couple.

Mr. Clayton didn’t know anything about her relationship with Rob. At this point she didn’t dare blurt out that they wouldn’t be seeing each other anymore. As if Mr. Clayton cared...

“Thanks again,” she said and gave him a wave before exiting the door. Once in the car she told her parents she’d given him the gift. “He’s a busy man and was on his way out. That’s why I didn’t invite you in to meet him.”

Her mom smiled at her. “I’m sure he appreciated the gift.”

“I think he did. Thanks for bringing me here.”

On the way back to Philipsburg she unloaded about Rob. “Right before the crash he asked me to marry him, but I had to turn him down. Right after I told him that, the hawk hit the propeller. It was awful!”

Her emotions got the best of her, and tears started running down her cheeks.

“Oh, darling,” her mother said sympathetically, turning around in her seat.

“Sorry. I really don’t want to think about it anymore. As for Rob, I do like him a lot, but I’m not in love with him. I know he’ll meet someone someday who wants the same things in life and will jump at the chance to be his wife. I’m just not that person.”

“It’s better you found out now, honey,” her mother said.

“I didn’t know how strongly I felt until we took off in his new plane. He couldn’t stop talking about his work. I thought we were going on a mini vacation to get away from his deadlines, but he told me he had business in Seattle. That’s when I realized his work is like an obsession with him.”

“Some people are made that way,” her father stated.

“Some people aren’t! I’m afraid I’m one of those.” Her dad laughed and she continued, “All I know is, I can’t live with his energy and won’t be attending his rally. He’s hoping I’ll change my mind, but I won’t. I know you two like him a lot and are probably disappointed.”

Her mother looked back at her. “You’re the one who has to live with him. If he isn’t your be-all, end-all, then the last thing we’d want is to condemn you to an unhappy marriage. One day the right man will show up when you least expect it.”

With that statement, Jasmine felt chills run up and down her spine.

* * *

WYMON STOOD THERE holding the blanket in his hands. How he wished Jasmine Telford hadn’t come by the ranch house just now! If he hadn’t stopped to eat breakfast first, he would have missed her. To see her again this soon hadn’t given him enough time to get over his feelings for her. Now this!

He examined the elegant blanket she’d handpicked for him. His gut told him this hadn’t been Representative Farnsworth’s idea.

Wymon figured the other man didn’t have a clue that she’d bought him a present, certainly not one that suited him so perfectly. Her parents must have driven her to the ranch before taking her home because her boyfriend was still in the hospital recovering from his concussion.

After wadding up the wrapping paper, Wymon left through the front door and headed for his truck. He put the blanket and paper on the seat next to him and drove to the pasture to join the stockmen. But the whole way there he was haunted by the woman who’d come to mean so much to him in such a short time. He could feel the depth of her gratitude down to his bones. Damn, damn, damn.

For the rest of the week he divided his time between ranch work and his talks with various members of the coalition. To his chagrin, no matter how hard he worked, Jasmine Telford kept invading his thoughts until he was just about driven out of his mind.

A big mistake was putting the new blanket on Titus. Now there was a connection with her he could feel every time he mounted his horse. It reminded him of putting one of his blankets around her at the crash site. Had that been the reason she’d chosen this particular gift for him? Somehow he had to throw this off, but heaven help him, he didn’t know how.

* * *

THE DAY OF the rodeo, Wymon had ranch business in Missoula and was going to be late if he didn’t hurry. When he got in his truck, he reached behind the visor before realizing the really good sunglasses he used for driving long distances weren’t there.

Where had they gone?

He didn’t have time to stop in town for another pair and would have to purchase new ones later.

After the morning meeting with the president of the Cattlemen’s Association, he swung by the veterinary hospital. Roce was waiting for him so they could drive together for the hour-and-a-half trip to Philipsburg to meet up with Toly for the rodeo.

“What happened at the meeting?”

“The committee wants to put up my name as president elect of the association.”

“Congratulations, bro.”

“Save it, Roce. I told them no.”

“Why? You’d be a breath of fresh air.”

He shook his head. “Since the grizzly decision was put off a month, I need this time to rally more support and donors before our next meeting with the governor. I don’t have time to think about the Cattlemen’s Association right now.”

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