Love Without End: A Kings Meadow Romance Page 20

  Kimberly looked toward the nearest mountain. “And it’s still up there after all this time?”

  “Parts of it.”

  “Amazing.”

  He held the stirrup for her and watched as she put her foot in it, grabbed the horn, and pulled herself into the saddle. It wasn’t exactly graceful but neither was it tentative. Apparently her mind was on Tara, Pete, and Zeb McHenry’s sluice box.

  “Maybe you and I can ride up there sometime,” he said.

  She looked down at him, and he knew the instant she realized where she was, what she’d done. Surprise flashed in her eyes, and then the corners of her mouth tipped upward in the smallest of smiles. Proud of her, he grinned while patting the mare’s neck. Kimberly leaned forward and did the same.

  Chet wondered if that small step into the saddle represented a much bigger step toward their future.

  Anna

  1970

  EARLY IN THE MORNING OF HER FORTIETH BIRTHDAY, Anna lay in bed in the cottage that had been built for her, staring at the ceiling and mulling over the events of her life. Later today, she knew there would be cake and presents in the main house, along with lots of hugs and laughter. But for now she was alone. Well, not completely alone. Max the cat was curled up against her hip, purring.

  And the Lord was with her, His presence sweet. His presence was always sweet. Forty years had taught her that.

  Forty years. She pictured herself at twenty, less wrinkled but also less wise. Some would think she was old. An old maid. Maybe she was.

  She thought of Miles Stanley, the only man she’d ever loved. He’d been gone twenty-two years already, yet it seemed only a blink of time. She didn’t mourn him anymore, but she did remember him with great fondness. Sometimes she wondered how different her life would have been had they married and had children.

  Thinking of children brought a different image to mind—little Chet, Richard and Claudia Leonard’s son. Chet was two and a half already and always on the go. A bundle of energy if ever there was one. Running both his mother and his Nana Anna—as he called Anna—to a frazzle most days. Oh, that child was the apple of Anna’s eye, to be sure. It saddened her that Abe hadn’t lived to meet his grandson and that Violet had known Chet only while he was still a tiny infant.

  No one had been thrilled when Richard announced he was foregoing college to marry Claudia as soon as she graduated from high school. There’d been many a late-night row between Richard and his parents over that decision. Neither Abe nor Violet had thought Claudia was the right girl for their son. But in the end, they’d relented. It turned out they were wrong about the girl. All wrong.

  Last December, during the televised lottery drawing for the draft, Anna had been more than a little glad that Richard had both a wife and child to keep him out of the army and away from Vietnam. Remembering it now, she said another prayer of thanks to God for his safety.

  She reached down to scratch Max under his chin. The cat’s purring revved like a boat motor, making Anna chuckle.

  Sounds from outside told her the ranch was coming awake. Claudia would be gathering eggs and feeding the chickens soon. Richard would be tending the livestock in the barn and corrals. She should rise and go help, and yet she stayed in bed, continuing to ruminate.

  What would Abe think of the ranch now? In the last five years, all but a small herd of cattle had been sold off. Richard was fully committed to making the Leonard ranch one of the finest Quarter Horse ranches in the country. More brood mares had been purchased whenever there were funds to spare. A couple of studs with fine pedigrees had been added too. Of course, in her mind, none of those horses would ever be as fine as Shiloh’s Star had been or as good as his offspring were today, but she couldn’t argue with the wisdom of adding new bloodlines to the mix.

  From outside her bedroom window, voices raised in song burst forth. “Happy birthday to you . . .” Perhaps calling it a song was a bit generous. The performance was decidedly off-key, more shouting than melody.

  She reached for her robe and pulled it on as she left the bed and walked to the window. She brushed the curtains aside. There stood Claudia and Richard, Chet in his father’s arms, along with their one and only ranch hand, all of them bundled up against the chilly March morning.

  Anna’s heart welled with thankfulness for the family God had given her. She might have been orphaned as a child. She might never have married or given birth. But she’d been given surrogate parents who’d loved her. She’d helped raise Richard, and now she was Nana Anna to that adorable child in his daddy’s arms. Life was sweet.

  Even for an old maid at forty.

  Thirty-two

  THE LAST TWO WEEKS OF JULY PASSED IN A BLUR. Kimberly and Tara spent every spare moment at the ranch, and with each passing day, Chet’s love for Kimberly deepened. He came up with lots of errands for Tara and one or both of the boys to run, giving Kimberly at least a little time each day on the quiet mare Chet had selected as her horse. And the lessons, brief though they sometimes were, were working. Kimberly had a growing confidence around and on the mare.

  It was time to give Tara her surprise. Chet and Kimberly decided it would be the day before their first guests arrived at Ultimate Adventures. After that, no one would have time for themselves for a good long spell.

  Chet stood in the doorway to the guesthouse office, his shoulder leaning against the jamb. Kimberly sat at the desk and read to him off the computer screen. “That means we’ll have guests at the ranch at least twenty days in August.” She looked up and met his gaze. “Do you think we should close reservations for the month?”

  It was difficult to care about business when she looked so pretty in that green blouse. It was the same shade of green as her eyes. Her time in the sun with the horse had brought out a smattering of freckles across her nose too. Adorable.

  “Chet.”

  “Sorry. What did you ask?”

  “Come over here and look at the budget and this balance sheet, boss man. If my calculations are right, the Leonard ranch is going to turn a nice profit. And this is even with the great discounts you’re giving during the first month in business and after you pay the chef’s salary.”

  Okay, that managed to get his full attention. He pushed off the doorjamb and went to stand beside her chair. He looked at the printouts on the desk, then picked up one sheet of paper to look at it more closely. “Really?” He glanced at Kimberly. “Are you sure?”

  “I’ve been over it a half-dozen times. I’m as sure as I can be.”

  “Just from renting out that old line shack and pampering folks with a few well-cooked meals and some super comfortable beds?”

  She grinned at him. “Yes. Just from that. And it looks like the glamping website has brought additional traffic to the Leonard Quarter Horse website too. A noticeable increase. That’s what Allison Kavanagh said in an e-mail I got earlier today. That’s got to be a good sign, don’t you think?”

  One more reason he loved Kimberly. Because she cared about what happened on this ranch. Maybe he should—

  The sound of a truck engine starting up in the barnyard interrupted the direction of his thoughts. A good thing for now. He wanted to give Tara her surprise first. Then he wanted to ride with Kimberly up to the plateau that overlooked the valley. He wanted her to see this land he loved, though not as much as he loved her.

  “Let’s see what Tara’s up to,” he said, offering his hand.

  Kimberly’s smile faltered a little. Then she drew herself up with resolve. She placed her fingers in the palm of his hand, a look of trust in her eyes. It made Chet feel like he could do anything.

  KIMBERLY’S HEART THUMPED HARD AS SHE RODE Sunset toward the barn door. From outside, she heard Tara and the boys laughing over something, but the laughter stopped abruptly as Kimberly emerged into the light on horseback. The look of surprise on Tara’s face was priceless.

  “Mom?”

  Kimberly grinned. “Hard to believe, isn’t it?” She reined in, stopping the ma
re.

  “When? How?”

  “Sam and Pete kept you busy while Chet and Anna worked with me.” She stepped down from the saddle, pleased that she did so without clinging to the saddle horn as if her life depended upon it. “We wanted to surprise you.”

  Tara hurried over and gave her mom a big hug. “I never had a clue. I never would’ve thought you’d even try. This is so cool. It’s so cool. We’ll be able to go riding together. It’s gonna be so much fun. What made you decide to try?”

  “You, silly.” She brushed Tara’s nose with the pad of her thumb. “I wouldn’t have succeeded without all the encouragement I got.”

  Tara almost hurled herself at Chet, giving him the same bear hug she’d given her mother. “Thanks, Mr. Leonard. Thanks so much.”

  Chet’s expression was comical. He didn’t know what to do with this overt display of affection. Anna got a hug next. Thankfully Tara didn’t knock the older woman off her feet with her enthusiasm.

  The ring of the telephone intruded.

  “I’ll get it, Dad,” Sam said, then jogged toward the house.

  “You knew about this and didn’t say a word?” Tara said to Pete.

  He grinned, and she punched him in the arm.

  Chet moved to stand beside Kimberly. Her heart quickened at his nearness. “Thank you,” she whispered.

  “You’re welcome. Listen, I was hoping maybe the two of us could—”

  “Hey, Mrs. Welch!” Sam called from the house. “The phone’s for you. It’s on the Adventures line.”

  “I’ll get it in the guesthouse.” Kimberly handed the mare’s reins to Chet. “Did you decide to take more reservations in August or not?”

  “Whatever you think best. I trust you to make the right decision.”

  Those words meant more to her than she could express. She touched his forearm and smiled. Then she hurried toward the cottage. When she reached the office, she sank onto the chair and forced herself to take a few deep, slow breaths. She didn’t want to sound winded when she answered the call. Finally she picked up the handset. “Mrs. Welch speaking.”

  “Kimberly!”

  She didn’t recognize the woman’s voice, didn’t know how the person had known her first name.

  “It’s Irena Wainright.”

  Dread filled Kimberly. Was Irena calling to cancel their reservation? Please don’t let that be the reason.

  “I know I’m going to see you tomorrow, but I couldn’t wait to tell you something.”

  Her pulse began to regulate itself again. “Oh? What’s that, Irena?”

  Kimberly and Irena had been friendly acquaintances, years ago. Not close, like their daughters, but casual friends whose lives were similar in many ways. Occasionally their social circles had crossed. They’d worked on a few of the same charities. They’d shopped in some of the same upscale boutiques. But after Kimberly’s life had begun to unravel, she hadn’t seen anything of Irena. Why would she? Their worlds had suddenly moved far apart.

  “Kimberly, I’m sure you remember that Jeffrey sits on a number of nonprofit boards. Including the board of directors of the Wildwood Center. Well, today they had to dismiss the managing director, and I thought of you the instant he told me. You have a degree in the performing arts as I recall. Isn’t that right?”

  “Yes, but that was a long time ago. I never actually used it. I got married and then Tara came along. I’m afraid my degree is pretty worthless.” She’d learned that after Ellis died and she started submitting applications anywhere and everywhere.

  “Listen, there’s no point having a husband on the board of directors if I can’t use his influence to help a friend. Jeffrey knows you, and he thinks you’d do great at this job. He says it’s yours if you want it. I know you could do it.”

  “I don’t know, Irena. Managing director? I’ve never—”

  “Don’t say you aren’t capable. You created the Leonard Ranch Ultimate Adventures from scratch from what Tara told Patty. It’s obvious you have a head for business, and you have the degree the Wildwood Center requires, whether you’ve ever used it or not.”

  Kimberly felt dizzy.

  “Promise to think about it. The salary is good. High five figures to start. I know you’d love the work. So think about it.”

  “Yes. I’ll think about it. Of course.”

  “I’ll bring along all of the details when we come tomorrow. See you then.”

  “Thanks, Irena.” She swallowed to relieve the sudden dryness in her throat. “See you tomorrow.” Kimberly ended the call and put the handset in its cradle. As she withdrew her hand, she noticed it was shaking.

  A chance to go back to Seattle. A real chance. It was what she’d wanted and hoped for all these months. She should be excited, joyous, ready to go pack her bags.

  Only she wasn’t, and she had to wonder, What do I want and hope for now?

  CHET KNEW SOMETHING HAD CHANGED THE MOMENT he saw Kimberly’s face. She looked stunned . . . uncertain . . . perhaps lost. He strode over to where she stood outside the cottage’s front door. “Is something wrong?”

  She shook her head.

  “Who was on the phone?”

  “Mrs. Wainright.” Her eyes widened. “She called to tell me about a management position with a prestigious theater company in Seattle. A job her husband says is mine if I want it.”

  Chet’s stomach dropped. “You studied theater in college, didn’t you?”

  “Yes, but I never did anything with my degree. I’ve submitted I don’t know how many résumés over the last few years for positions like this one and never even got an interview.”

  “What did you tell her?”

  “I promised to think about it.” She brushed some stray wisps of hair off her face. “She’ll bring all of the information with her when they come tomorrow.”

  He’d lost his heart to Kimberly, and now she was going to leave, go home to Seattle where she’d always wanted to be. How could she not? This was what she’d told him she wanted from almost the first time they’d met.

  And Kimberly had seen enough of his financial information to know ranching had more lows than highs, plenty of times when the future would seem unsure. She’d seen that everyone had to pitch in to help with chores, that there was always more to be done than hours in the day to do it. She’d seen enough to know this way of life was a day-to-day commitment to the land and the livestock as well as to one another. It wasn’t glamorous. It was dirty boots and dusty jeans and sick animals and early mornings and late nights. It was a valuable horse dying unexpectedly. It was a barn burning to the ground. It was hard winters and summers plagued by drought. How could he ask her to embrace that kind of life when she’d made it clear from the beginning she wanted something different?

  “That’s great,” he finally said. “Really.” He looked away, back toward his family and her daughter and the mare Kimberly had been riding such a short time ago.

  “It is, isn’t it?” she replied softly.

  “Yeah. Really great.” He glanced at her again. “Listen, I remembered something I need to do in town. I . . . I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon.”

  He didn’t wait for her to answer. He strode to his pickup, hopped into the cab, started the engine, and drove away. He may as well have been driving away from his future.

  Thirty-three

  KIMBERLY DIDN’T SLEEP THAT NIGHT. EVERY TIME she closed her eyes, she saw Chet walking away from her with that long stride she’d come to love. It had hurt, his leaving like that, but it wasn’t as if she couldn’t guess why. He figured she was leaving Kings Meadow, and he wasn’t about to ask her to stay. And that’s what hurt the most.

  Please, God. Make him ask me to stay.

  Chet had never actually said the words, “I love you,” but he’d seemed to say it without words in a dozen different ways. The concert. The hot springs. The riding lessons. The kisses. The dancing on the Fourth. The work they’d done together on Ultimate Adventures. All of it had brought them closer to each
other.

  Around six o’clock in the morning, still unable to sleep, she arrived at another conclusion: She didn’t want to leave Kings Meadow. Not for any job. Not for a big salary. Not for a return to the big city. Not because she’d fallen in love with Chet—and she most definitely loved him, despite all her attempts not to. No, it was because she’d found a new kind of life here. A good life. A contented life. She’d found a new family, too, although she couldn’t claim them as hers. Not yet. But she wanted to claim them. If only Chet would ask her to.

  Several hours later, Kimberly and Tara arrived at the ranch. Wearing jeans, boots, cotton top, and a cowboy hat, Kimberly hoped she didn’t look as tired and frayed as she felt. Anna was alone when they got there. Chet and the boys were all up at Cabin #1, putting fresh linens on the beds, checking supplies, and making sure the large canvas tent was secure should a strong wind blow through. The ranch hands had separated the “dude stock” into a paddock and were now busy cleaning saddles and tack. Two used golf carts, purchased the previous week, sat in readiness for the use of the guests.

  “What can we do, Anna?” Kimberly asked.

  “Not a blessed thing. Everything for tonight’s barbecue is ready and in the coolers. The grill’s in the back of one of the pickups. Chet took brochures for all the different excursions that are available up with him to the cabin. You know the Wainrights already signed up for white-water rafting on Tuesday and gold panning on Wednesday. That leaves them several days still to fill, if they choose.”

  “They might want to relax in the hammock or go riding.”

  “That’s what I’d do,” Anna said with a smile.

  Kimberly glanced in the direction of Cabin #1. Should she go up there to see Chet or should she wait until he returned?

  “Mom,” Tara said, “I think I’ll brush the horses so they’ll look their best when Patty gets here.”

  “Okay.”