Randall Riches by Judy Christenberry

Author:Judy Christenberry
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2002-12-25T05:00:00+00:00

RICH NOTICED that his father was frowning when he emerged from the hospital. Leaning against the front fender of his grandmother’s car, Rich greeted his grandmother as she got behind the wheel.

Just as Rich opened the passenger side door Pete called out to him. “Rich! Wait a minute, please. Come ride with me. Janie will ride with Lavinia. We’ll follow them to the ranch.”

Curious, Rich followed his father’s suggestion. He couldn’t help but wonder what his father was up to.

“You staying at your grandmother’s tonight?” Pete asked when they were on the road.

“Yeah, I thought I would. I’m worried she might feel a little afraid.”

“You’re a good boy, Rich.”

“Thanks, Dad.”

“Now tell me what happened with you and Samantha when you stayed at the hospital after we left.”

Rich sat frozen, staring straight ahead. Finally, he muttered, “Nothing.”

“Son, I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t know something happened.”

“It was nothing, Dad.”

Pete remained silent.

Finally, Rich said, “I was on my way out and well, all of you had kissed Sam on the cheek. So I leaned over to kiss her, too, and she turned her head.”

“You mean you kissed her on the lips?”

“I didn’t mean to.”

“What did she say?”

“Nothing. I left. How did you know something happened?”

“You weren’t exactly in a happy mood when you got to the restaurant. And when we got back to the hospital, I realized Samantha kept looking at the door, like she expected you to come in.”

They drove along in silence.

Finally Pete said, “I try not to interfere in your social life, son, but I don’t want Samantha upset…or even worse, running away.”

“Hey, she’s not getting ideas from me!” Rich yelled. “Everyone in Rawhide has assumed I’m marrying her. All I did was bring her to town. I made it clear that all I was offering was a ride.”

“Well, make sure everything is clear to Samantha, Rich. She’s had a hard life.”

“Look, I don’t have any problem with Sam hanging around. But I can’t have everyone thinking I’m marrying her.”

“What would it hurt for a little while? You just got back in town.”

“Dad! Look, I’ll move over to Grandma’s. To watch out for her and Samantha. But I’m making sure Sam understands I’m not interested in—in marrying.”

“Don’t hurt her feelings.”

“No, I won’t. But I’ll introduce her around. Tell everyone she’s like my sister,” Rich promised.

Pete noticed some disgust in Rich’s voice. “You think the family is too big as it is? That we don’t have room for one more?”

“Of course not. Russ and I didn’t resent Casey, did we?”

“No. You treated him like a toy. It’s a wonder he survived,” Pete said with a grin.

“Yeah, we did upset Mom a couple of times, didn’t we?” Rich said with a chuckle. “It’s just that I’ll be lying if I say I think of Sam as one of the family.”

“What?” Pete asked, his gaze fixed on his son’s face.

“Well, damn it, Dad, I don’t plan on marrying Sam, but that doesn’t mean I think of her as a sister! She’s—I just don’t have brotherly feelings for her.

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