The Reluctant Rancher by Joann Baker & Patricia Mason

Author:Joann Baker & Patricia Mason [Baker, Joann & Mason, Patricia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Blush Publishing
Published: 2014-03-20T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

A few days later, Luke shifted restlessly in his saddle and tried to find a comfortable position on the cold wet leather. He’d given up any hope of staying dry in the deluge now falling. He cursed each cold drop of rain that found its way beneath his weatherproof poncho. For hours he had ridden through the unrelenting downfall and there seemed to be no relief in sight.

Another cow escaped from the herd and he wheeled Lucifer around to catch the errant animal. Tired and damp, he just wanted to go the hell home. He and his men had been up since before dawn moving cattle across the water logged plains.

The cattle had to be rounded up and moved to the mountain pastures pronto. He didn’t care what the weatherman said, the town of Fiddler Creek, as well as his ranch, was in for a good old-fashioned flooding.

He urged his stallion forward and headed for the mountains. More than one cow had already strayed through the boundary fence he had repaired earlier that week. Or thought he had repaired. He winced. His mind had been more on Mary than the job at hand. She had him so confused, he was behaving like some greenhorn kid.

Luke cursed roundly as the clouds above him broke open again drenching him all the way through in spite of his waterproof poncho. It was nothing more than he deserved he thought as he tugged the collar of his slicker up around his neck. Why shouldn’t the fates decree their displeasure with him?

The past few weeks had been both heaven and hell. Every time he looked at Mary his heart thudded and a little more of his soul thawed. He wanted this woman with a blinding need that increased with each passing day. The torture of wanting her and not being able to have all of her sweetness drove him mad.

But something, some deep buried sense of honor kept him from taking her. He knew that more than one woman had been swept away by passion, only to regret the hot savage flames once they cooled. The essence of goodness, she represented everything his life lacked. More, she looked at him as though she would stay with him forever if he asked.

And during these last few weeks, Luke realized he no longer wanted a flash in the pan romance. He wanted a deep, lasting relationship like the one his great-grandparents had shared and what he had seen between Joseph and Emma.

At the dance he’d almost went down on one knee and asked Mary to run off to Vegas and marry him that very night. But then he’d overheard her conversation with Jennifer. She was leaving as soon as she got the loan.

Just like his ex-wife, she’d be gone as soon as the ink dried on the check. He guessed he should be grateful that she had spared him the bedroom scene, even though heaven knew he’d have no problem consummating his relationship with Mary. Damn it to hell, he wanted the woman badly.

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