Rancher Daddy (Family Ties Book 2) by Lois Richer

Author:Lois Richer [Richer, Lois]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Contemporary, Romance, Christian, Western, Fiction, Family Life, Rancher, Orphan, Neighbor, Adoption, Secret, Daddy, Mommy, Inspirational, Forgiveness, Son, Young Boy
ISBN: 9781460388563
Google: WI6OBgAAQBAJ
Goodreads: 24885393
Publisher: Love Inspired
Published: 2015-08-04T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

A few days later Holly drove home after a consultation with Abby, preoccupied by the young girl so close to giving birth.

“Petra’s afraid of something,” Abby had insisted.

“Or someone. The question is who or what?” Holly mused aloud. “So far she’s resisted all my efforts to find out. But I’ll keep trying.”

“I wish she’d realize we only want to help.” Abby had waved off Holly’s offer to stay, insisting she’d spent far too many hours at Family Ties already.

Now as Holly drove into her yard, she noticed Luc’s truck parked under the big poplar tree she and her father had planted on her fifth birthday. For a moment the tree-planting memories marking each year of her life overtook Holly and she paused to let them roll through her mind.

“I miss you, Dad.” She took a bracing breath and brushed her fingers across her eyes to erase evidence of her tears.

Odd that Luc was still here. Ever since the night of the potluck he’d avoided her, and Holly was fairly certain she knew why. Because she’d kissed him. If she’d thought twice she wouldn’t have done it. But it had been so sweet of him to painstakingly hang those lights just for her.

The town grapevine still buzzed with talk about all the work Luc had gone to in order to make the night before her birthday special. She’d been embarrassed to walk away and leave him with the mess, but he’d been so insistent she go. And truthfully, it had hurt to realize her kiss had left him unmoved.

Not that Holly was looking for anything romantic with Luc, but the way he’d held her, danced with her—it seemed to Holly there’d been something growing between them, something deeper than the casual friendship they’d shared earlier.

“Is something wrong?”

Startled by the voice she’d been imagining, Holly jumped and let out a squeal. “Stop creeping up on me!”

“Really?” Luc lifted one eyebrow then glanced down at his cowboy boots. “Creeping? In these?” He shrugged. “Sorry.” He turned and walked toward his truck.

“Luc.” Holly had blown it and she knew it. She climbed out of her jeep and hurried toward him. “I’m sorry. It’s just that you caught me at a bad moment.”

“Oh?” He looked at her with those eyes, and it was like being x-rayed, as if he saw right through her.

“I drove into the yard and noticed that tree.” She ignored his dubious look. “I got caught up remembering when Dad and I planted it and, well, I miss him.”

“I miss him, too, Holly,” he said in a quiet tone. The stern lines that had kept Luc’s face impassive a mere moment earlier now dissipated with his soft smile. “Marcus left a big impact on a lot of people.”

As you have, Holly thought.

“I was going to tell you that I’ve about finished with your room.” He frowned. “I still have the floor to do but I can’t do that with your dad’s trunk shoved in the corner. Aren’t you ever going to empty it?”

“What is it with you and that trunk?” she asked with asperity.

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