The Lonesome Rancher / Finding Happily-Ever-After

“I didn’t ask specifically for this area, but when I decided to return to work, I signed on with a nurses’ registry. This position came up and I decided a different area might be a nice change.”

She met his gaze, refusing to be intimidated. “I must have checked out, or your mother would never have set up an interview. And she seems to approve of me.” Jade paused for a few erratic heartbeats. “I thought I was here to help her?”

She looked over the handsome man. Tall and well-built, he had Louisa’s large brown eyes. She had yet to see his smile.

“Of course,” he told her. “And I’m here to protect her.”

“The loyal son.”

He shrugged. “You took care of your mother, I’m sure she had your loyalty, too.”

With a nod, Jade glanced away. There were a lot of memories both good and bad, and some she’d like to forget. Now she needed to find out who she was.

“No siblings, no father in Dallas?”

“No siblings. No father,” she repeated. “It’s all in my résumé.” She wasn’t going to beg this man for a job, no matter how much she wanted to meet Clay Merrick. “I think it’s time we end this, and you can discuss your dislikes with your mother after she finishes interviewing me. Thank you for your time.”

She headed toward the house, praying that he would call her back, but he didn’t. Okay, so this wasn’t going to work out. Then he finally spoke her name.

“Ms. Hamilton,” he called as she reached the doorway.

Her heart was pounding hard against the ribs as she turned and waited. “Yes?”

“Okay, if my mother gives you the position, I’ll agree to a week trial period.”

“You’ll agree? I thought it was your mother’s choice? After all she brought me here.”

“And I have to protect my family.”

She was frustrated. “I have excellent references, Mr. Merrick. I’m highly qualified for this position. A position that isn’t even permanent. Just admit it, you don’t want me here.”

Sloan looked uncomfortable. “I didn’t say that. I’d put anyone on a trial basis.” He glared at her. “And whether I like it or not, I am a product of my father’s very public profession. Sometimes it’s hard for me to trust people. But my mother trusts you and that’s what’s important. So if she gives you the job, I won’t interfere.”

Guilt washed over her. She’d got what she wanted. All she’d been looking for was a small piece of this life, this family.

An hour later, Jade had been hired as Louisa’s nurse, and shown the equipment that would rival some hospitals’ therapy rooms.

Now, she was standing outside what would be her living quarters for the next month or so. She’d gotten the job, but she didn’t feel like she expected to feel. For the first time since learning of Clay Merrick, she was questioning her decision to come here.

She opened the door and her breath caught. It was not where she expected to stay, not as hired staff. There was a sitting room with the walls painted a buttery-yellow, and carpet a light shade of green. A love seat was covered in ivory chenille and faced a marble fireplace. All the furniture looked to be expensive antiques.

She continued through double doors and saw a four-poster bed with a sheer canopy draping over the top. The bedspread was a hand-sewn quilt in yellow and green hues. She touched one of the intricate appliquéd squares. The detail was incredible and she wondered if Louisa had made it. Then she saw the LM stitched along the edge.

Again she glanced around the suite. It was all so perfect. And she didn’t belong here.

There was still time to leave. She had time to tell Louisa that she’d changed her mind.

She swung around as Marta walked in, pulling her wheeled suitcase. “Are you sure this is my room?” Jade asked.

She smiled. “Sí, señorita. Señora Louisa told me to put your clothes in this one so you are close to her. She’s across the hall.”

That could also mean Jade would be close to Clayton Merrick. “Doesn’t her husband also stay there? I mean, I don’t want to disturb them.”

Marta shook her head. “Oh, no. Not since the Señora Louisa had her stroke.”

Jade had a lot of questions about the senator, but decided they could wait. “I see.”

Marta finished hanging her clothes in the closet. Since Jade had worn uniforms for work, her personal wardrobe was minimal to say the least, so the task was done quickly.

“How long does Louisa usually nap?”

Marta closed the dresser drawer. “About one hour.” She smiled. “Today she might be awake sooner.” Marta took Jade’s hand. “Thank you, señorita, for coming here. Mi prima needs you to help make her better.”

This was the hard part for Jade. During their phone conversations, she’d gotten to like Louisa, but it suddenly hit Jade now how much her news could affect everyone. More than likely she’d be tossed out once they discovered who she really was. That was if the senator even believed her story. But still she’d come this far and needed to meet her father.

To meet Senator Clay Merrick.

The housekeeper opened the doors to the small terrace, then left the room.

“Thank you, Marta,” Jade called to her.

“De nada.” The housekeeper closed the door behind her.

Jade sighed and sat down on the chair at the desk. It had only been in the past six months that she discovered her life had been a lie. Going through important documents, after her mother’s death, Jade had been shocked to find adoption papers.

Renee Hamilton wasn’t her biological mother.

Another shock, she found the name of Kathryn Lowery listed as her birth mother, but the father, unknown. She’d also found a copy of Kathryn Lowery’s journal.

Jade reached in her purse and took out the old manila envelope that had been in her mother’s safe-deposit box. Inside were the only clues to her real identity. She stared down at the thirty-year-old photo. It was a group picture, but two people stood out. An attractive woman who looked to be in her early twenties. She stood out because the resemblance to Jade was uncanny. Kathryn had the same eyes as her daughter.

The man was a little older, maybe in his late twenties. He had sandy-brown hair and dark eyes with a cleft in his chin. Jade touched the matching dimple in her own chin.

She didn’t need to know the man’s name because in the backdrop of the picture was a large banner that read, Clay Merrick for U.S. Senate.

Almost immediately after she found the papers, Jade had gone in search of Kathryn Lowery and discovered she once lived in Austin, but had died twenty years ago with complications from pneumonia.

It had been easier to research Clay Merrick since he was a public figure. She’d discovered that he’d been married thirty years ago when he was involved with Kathryn Lowery. Had that been the reason he’d pushed her aside?

Kathryn’s journal hadn’t said much, only how much she’d loved Clay. She’d worried about Merrick’s career, and she’d agonized over giving her baby away.

Jade’s chest tightened feeling the rejection all over again. Had Kathryn even had the chance to tell Clay about the pregnancy? Had he been the one to insist she give the baby away?

This had been what brought Jade to the River’s End Ranch—and the nursing job—and to the very real possibility that Clay Merrick was her father. She wasn’t even sure she could confront the man. If she did, would he listen to her, or would he deny it all?

Jade folded the picture and put it away. All she knew was she couldn’t give up until she discovered the truth.

Later that afternoon, Sloan finally got hold of the senator.

“You should have been here to hire Mom’s nurse,” Sloan said as Jade Hamilton was getting settled in upstairs.

“It was your mother who wanted to do this, son. Why, is there a problem with who she hired?”

Only that Jade Hamilton was far too distracting for him. “No, so far as I can see. But you should still be here.”

“I’ll be home as soon as I possibly can,” Clay answered. “Just after the vote comes to the floor.”

Sloan knew the senator’s sense of duty. He also knew Clay loved Louisa, but lately he hadn’t been around much. Of course Louisa hadn’t been very receptive to her husband since her stroke. She had pushed Clay out of her bed, her room and practically out of her life.

“I thought they had enough votes without you being there.”

“How would it look if I’m not here working for my state?”

“What about being here for Mom?”

There was a long sigh. “I talk to Louisa every day. She doesn’t have a problem waiting another week until we recess.” There was a pause. “Of course, if there were someone to replace me here at the capitol, I could retire and be home full-time.”

Clay had hinted about Sloan taking his senate seat since college. “Well, you’re going to have to look elsewhere, because I’m happy right here.” His father already knew that. Sloan had been involved in breeding free range cattle for the past five years, and that suited him totally.

“Think about how much more you could do if you came to Washington. You could promote your projects. Maybe find some funding for research on drought tolerant grasses.”

Wouldn’t the cattle industry love that, especially when he was promoting hormone free beef, Sloan thought. It was times like this, he felt he was letting his father down. “Sorry, Dad. Have you thought about Alisa taking your place?”

“Son, your sister’s only been out of college a few years.” There was a pause. “Of course, she’s been pretty vocal on some issues. And there is the fact she is a natural born charmer.”

And even though Clay had never made him feel different, Sloan was aware he wasn’t a true Merrick, not by blood.

Clay had accepted and loved the eight-year-old boy when he married Louisa, then adopted him a year later. And Sloan adored his younger half sister. “Alisa would be the best choice to carry on the family legacy.”

“Or … you can find the perfect woman and make me a grandfather. And I can start preparing my grandchild.”

Sloan heard the humor in Clay’s voice, but something told him the older man was serious. Suddenly Jade Hamilton came to mind. “I’d really have to rush things along.”

“I’m sure your mother would be willing to help you find someone.”

Had that been the reason Louisa was so eager to have Jade here? Well, darn. Was his mother playing matchmaker?

He shook off the thought. “Are you at least coming home to meet Mother’s new nurse?”

“I’m sure you hired a competent person.” Commotion came over the line and his father said, “Look, Sloan, I’ve got to go. They need me back in the chamber.”

As soon as Sloan hung up, the phone from the barn rang. “Yeah, Bud. What do you need?”

“An extra pair of hands. Polly is having trouble with her foal. The vet is on his way, but it looks to be an hour or so before he gets here.”

“I’ll be right down.” Sloan came around the desk and was headed out when he saw Jade Hamilton coming down the staircase.

“Mr. Merrick, may I talk with you? It’s about your mother’s schedule.”

“It’ll have to be later.” He hurried down the hall, past the dining room and through the kitchen. He grabbed his hat off the peg at the back door and turned around.

“This is important.”

“Do you think I don’t know that? But this ranch is my responsibility, too. Right now there are other pressing matters I need to look into.” He paused. Maybe he should show her what life was like out here. “Unless you want to help.”

She looked up at him with those big green eyes. “At what?”

He had trouble turning away, but knew he’d better. “Come on.” He grabbed her hand and pulled her along. “I have a foal to deliver.”

“You’re kidding. You want my help.”

“You are a nurse, aren’t you?” He walked at a fast pace but she managed to keep up as he hurried down the road to the barn. “Polly is having some trouble. No vet around to help, so you’re all I got.”

Before Jade could say any more, he nudged her inside the large structure. The place smelled of horses and fresh straw, but everything was neat and orderly, the way he liked things. They continued down a wide center aisle, past several stalls until they reached the large birthing pen in the corner.

His mare was already down in fresh straw, and her breathing was labored. “Hey, Bud. Has there been any change?”

The foreman shook his head. “She hasn’t made any progress.”

Jade looked at the large rust-colored animal. Okay, she was out of her element with this, but she found she couldn’t just stand there, either. She stepped through the gate and went to the horse’s head, knelt down and began to stroke her neck. “Hey, there, girl. It’s not going too well, is it?” She glanced at Sloan. “Well, it’ll be over soon.”

He felt a strange connection with her. As if they could handle this together.

He quickly turned toward his foreman. “Bud, this is Mother’s nurse, Jade Hamilton. Jade, Bud.”

“Ma’am,” he said in greeting.

“Hello, Bud.”

The horse raised its head and whinnied as if to say, “What about me?”

Rolling up his sleeves, Sloan washed up and poured disinfectant on his hands and arms. He looked at Jade, finding she was helping. “Keep doing what you’re doing. I need her to stay calm.”

Jade nodded.

He knelt down by the horse’s tail and began talking softly to the horse. After another contraction eased, he reached inside the animal and soon said, “Got it. I have a front leg.” He worked hard over the next few minutes to help progress things. Sweat beaded on his face. “Yeah, there’s the other.”

Jade kept talking to Polly.

“Get behind me, Bud, and help.”

The foreman wasn’t as big as Sloan, but he wrapped his muscular arms around Sloan’s middle, dug his boots into the floor and together they pulled. Their work began to pay off when the hooves appeared. “Come on, Polly, help us here,” Sloan groaned. There was another contraction and more of the legs showed, then a muzzle.

“Well, looky here,” Bud said.

“Come on, sweetheart.” Jade got into the act. “Let’s show ‘em what you can do.”

With another hard tug from Sloan, the foal was out. He released the legs and let both mama and baby rest. “It’s a filly.”

A cheer went up in the gallery as some of the ranch hands began to gather around. “Great job, boss.”

“Great job, Polly,” Jade added as she continued to stroke the exhausted animal.

Sloan’s gaze caught hers. “I guess this wasn’t in your job description, huh?”

She smiled. “I guess not, but I’d call it an added bonus. I’ve seen my share of babies being born, but nothing like this. Thank you.”

He seemed surprised by her words. “You’re welcome.”

Jade climbed to her feet and brushed off her slacks, not caring she’d probably ruined her best pair.

Sloan was washing off when he handed Jade a towel. “You want to do the honors?” He nodded to the filly.

They turned toward the foal as she was starting to stand. Jade began to wipe the animal down. Then Sloan pulled her back as the mare decided to stand up.

“Be careful,” he warned. “Polly is gentle but she’s also a new mama.” They moved toward the other side of the pen, and finished the job on the foal, then nudged her toward her mother’s tit to feed.

“Good job, Miss Jade,” Bud said, coming up to her. “I think Polly liked having another female around.”

“Thank you,” she acknowledged to the older man who looked as if he’d spent years in the sun.

“Hey, what about me?” Sloan said. “I had something to do with the birthing.”

“And you had my help, kid. Remember I had all the muscle behind you.” He smiled brightly, showing off the lines around his eyes.

“And I was holding on to a slippery foal.”

Jade could easily see the closeness of the two men. It was obvious how much they cared about each other. She hadn’t experienced many friendships outside her mother, and Jim Hamilton had been gone from her life shortly after Jade’s arrival.

Renee had health issues by the time Jade reached high school. She hadn’t had the time for friends with her mother’s advancing MS.

Even when Jade began her career, she’d still spent more time with her mother than friends, except Carrie Bradley. Even Carrie had caused some jealousy with her mother.

She suddenly heard her name. “What?”

Sloan was watching her. “I said, you came through. Thank you.” He glanced over her messy attire. “If Marta can’t work her miracle, then I owe you a blouse and pants.”

“It’s okay.”

“It would be wise to wear jeans during your time here,” he told her.

“Why, will there be more deliveries?”

Sloan didn’t want to like this woman. As far as he was concerned, she was an intruder. “Maybe if you’re good at your job you’ll be able to get my mother back on a horse.”

Horseback riding! “I didn’t know that was in my job description, either.”

Sloan frowned. “You don’t ride?”

She straightened. “Maybe once or twice as a kid. I was raised in the city.”

“You were raised in Texas.”

Bud chimed in. “A few lessons and I bet you’ll be a natural.”

“I don’t have time for lessons. My time here is to be spent with Mrs. Merrick.”

The foreman pushed his hat back off his forehead, showing off his salt and pepper hair. “I’d say once you get to know Miss Louisa you’ll realize how hard she is to keep up with. She was a very active woman. Her stroke slowed her down some, but with your help, we’re hopin’ she’ll be back to normal real soon.”

“I’ll be working on that. I’ll know more after I talk with her doctor.” Jade tried not to think about how her deception could affect Louisa. She wanted to blame everything on Clay Merrick, but she knew that she could have gone to Washington to talk to the man, but she’d chickened out.

Instead when she found this job and put in an application, she’d been totally surprised Louisa called her back. After a short talk, she asked her to come to the ranch for an interview.

“My mother’s a very determined woman,” Sloan said. “But she’s not ready to be cut loose on her own yet. So you can’t let her ride roughshod over you, either.”

“I’m not a pushover, Mr. Merrick. I know how to handle my patients.”

“Mr. Merrick,” Bud repeated and began to laugh. “There hasn’t been anyone here called Mr. Merrick since Sam, your grandfather.” Bud pushed Sloan’s hat playfully. “It’s just Senator and Sloan.”

Sloan shook his head. “We’re pretty informal around here.”

“So it’s first names and wear jeans,” Jade said.

“And boots,” Bud added. “You don’t want to walk around a barn and horses without boots on.”

This time she laughed, no matter how much she didn’t want to.

“We’ve lived here twenty-six years last May,” Louisa said as they sat at the supper table that evening. The meal was in the garden room off the kitchen, another space with lots of windows. A large glass-top table and comfortable chairs was the central feature. Clay pots were filled with live plants that lined the open windows, inviting in the pleasant fall weather.

“Back then, Samuel and Alice Merrick were still alive and this was the area’s largest cattle ranch. And this house resembled a mausoleum. It was very formal and cold.” Louisa smiled at her son. “Then Clay brought us here to live.”

Jade forced a smile, not wanting to think about her father adopting another man’s child, when he’d abandoned his own daughter. But had he even known about Kathryn’s pregnancy?

She shook away any negative thoughts. She was here now, in this house, and so close to finding out who she was. And she had no idea what would happen next.

Her first day had been an interesting one. Once Louisa had woken from her nap, they’d gone into the exercise room that had every piece of equipment imaginable. Jade had to work hard to get Louisa focused on the routine she was supposed to do daily. The woman was in very good shape for her age of fifty-eight, even after a stroke, but exercise would help tremendously for her recovery.

And it helped Jade’s conscience that Louisa wouldn’t be helpless when she left. She did not doubt that when her true identity was discovered, she wouldn’t be welcomed any longer.

She closed her eyes. It wasn’t supposed to be this way. It was Clay Merrick who should have answered the door—and been the one to interview her. She’d had a plan to confront him. To question him about her mother and why he left. Now, she wasn’t sure what to do next.

Louisa spoke up. “Since you’ve helped bring a foal into the world, you’ll probably be bored tomorrow.” She turned to her son. “Unless you have something else in mind for Jade.”

Jade felt heat rush to her face. “Louisa, I’m here for you,” she insisted. “It’s whatever you want me to help you with.”

“I’m flexible with my schedule. And I’m happy you were there for Polly,” Louisa said. “That chestnut is a favorite of mine.” With a sigh, she went on. “It seems like yesterday that she was a foal. Where does the time go?”

“Mother, Polly’s only three years old,” Sloan reminded her. “And if you hadn’t been asleep, I would have had you there, too. Next time, I’ll make sure of it.”

Louisa smiled. Jade doubted much happened around here without this woman knowing about it.

Had she known about her husband’s past? Had he ever told her about Kathryn Lowery? Did he still have affairs with younger women?

“Jade …”

She jumped, realizing someone had called her name.

“Excuse me. Did you say something?”

“Are you feeling all right?” Louisa asked and nodded toward the plate of enchiladas. “Is the food okay?”

“Oh, yes, it’s delicious.” She glanced at Marta as she came into the dining room. “I guess I’m a little tired.”

Louisa frowned. “That’s right, you came all the way from Dallas, and here we put you right to work. We could have waited a day or two.”

Jade smiled. “No, really, I’m fine. Please, don’t worry about me. I came here for a job, so I planned on starting right away.”

Sloan watched Jade Hamilton. Even exhausted, the woman was beautiful. She looked more like a model than a nurse. It still puzzled him to why she was here. A rural ranch outside of Kerry Springs wasn’t exactly an exciting place to live.

“I hope you don’t regret being so far away from everyone and everything familiar,” he said. “A small town has a lot of disadvantages.”

“And it has a lot of advantages, too,” she told him. “Such as no five o’clock traffic, which means no crazy drivers.”

“We also have no nightlife.”

“Drinking in bars can be overrated,” she argued.

“What about fine dining?”

Jade smiled. “I heard that Rory’s Bar and Grill has great barbecue.”

Sloan nodded. “The best.”

Louisa jumped in. “Son, you’ll have to take Jade in to give her a sample.”

Great, he’d walked into that one. “Ms. Hamilton needs to focus on you.”

Those beautiful eyes widened. He suddenly wondered what else he could get her to react to. Whoa, he needed to take a step back. This was an employee, his mother’s nurse.

He stood. “I should check on the filly.”

“Why don’t you take Jade along?” his mother suggested. “I mean, she did help deliver her.”

Jade shook her head. “No. I need to stay with you.”

Louisa shrugged. “I’m going to watch television with Marta. If I need to go upstairs, there’s the elevator.” She waved her arm. “Now, go. You’re dying to see that foal again.”

Jade relented.

Sloan shot his mother a disapproving look, but it didn’t seem to faze her. He waited for Jade to head out the door first, turned back and spoke in Spanish. “Basta, Madre.”

She smiled up at him. “Enough what, dear?”

He ignored her innocent look as he met up with Jade. The evening was cool and he handed her a jacket from the hook near the back door.

“Here, you better put this on,” he said as he held it out for her. When she slipped her arms in, he caught a whiff of her perfume, a fresh citrus scent.