Buchanan's Pride (17 page)
Authors: Pamela Toth
“It's just nice being neighbors again,” he replied with a slow grin. “Instead of strangers sharing a line of fence.”
“You never stopped being a neighbor to me,” Leah admitted, remembering all the times he'd offered his help, only to have it tossed back in his face.
He gave her a friendly hug and insisted she let him know if she needed anything. “I promised John I'd look after you,” he said.
His words sent fresh pain and regret rushing through her, but she didn't reply.
“When Ashley and I were courting, it took me a long time to figure out what was really important,” Taylor said gently. “Luckily she gave me more than one chance to get it right. Take some time to figure out what you really want and what to do about it.”
The best place she could think of to do that was the site of her father's fatal accident. Now that she'd followed the dirt track to the spot where he'd overturned his ATV, she dismounted and dropped Jewel's reins. Tongue lolling, Duke flopped down on the grass nearby.
The first thing Leah did was to drag in a deep breath, hands curled into fists, and shout out the anguish she'd been carrying around for what seemed like forever. Jewel raised her head and stared before resuming her grazing. Duke ran over and thrust his nose against Leah's hand, whining softly.
“It's okay, boy,” she told him hoarsely as she lay down in the grass and stared up at the fluffy clouds overhead. She was surprised at how much tension she'd purged. Now she was ready to deal with the truth.
Turning John down because he was a Buchanan had been one more futile attempt to win her father's approval, just as her struggle to keep the ranch had been.
The irony was that none of it was going to make a difference. Now that he was dead, she'd never get the approval she'd sought for so long. It was too late.
Once again tears filled her eyes and trickled down her face, but this time they were healing tears. She hadn't been responsible for his drinking, nor was she responsible for her mother's depression. Her parents' problems had been out of her hands and she carried neither the responsibility nor the blame for their choicesâonly for her own.
Leah lay where she was for a long time. She listened to Duke's breathing and the sounds Jewel made as she grazed. This ranch would never be a shrine, Leah realized. It wouldn't bring him back or make her mother wholeâand it sure wasn't going to make up for what was missing in Leah's own life.
Taylor was right. No matter what you poured into it, the land couldn't love you back. But John had loved herâperhaps he still did. It
couldn't
be too late. Love gave you more than one chance and she was about to take hers, even if she had to fly to Seattle to convince John to propose again.
couldn't
be too late. Love gave you more than one chance and she was about to take hers, even if she had to fly to Seattle to convince John to propose again.
Feeling freer than she had in years, Leah got to her feet and walked over to where Jewel was grazing contentedly. She needed to book a flight to Seattle. If Phil didn't think he could manage alone while she was gone, she'd ask Taylor for help. That was what neighbors were for.
When Leah got back to the yard, Phil's truck was gone, but he had already put the horses in for the night. Duke had taken off on some business of his own, so she led Jewel through the barn doorway.
Phil must have forgotten to turn off the tack-room light. Leah made Jewel comfortable and then, humming to herself, headed down the aisle to the tack room. As she ducked inside to flip off the light, her hand froze and she stared.
A familiar duffel bag sat on the narrow cot. It hadn't been there before. She knew John had taken the bag with him when he left. Heart racing, she turned slowly back around, ears straining.
He was standing in the aisle, dressed in a T-shirt and jeans. His head was bare and he was holding a bouquet of red roses wrapped in green paper. In her whole life, no one had ever brought her roses.
“How did you get here?” she demanded foolishly. “I didn't see a car outside.”
“I parked it in the shed. I wanted to surprise you.”
Leah's feet felt as though they were nailed to the floor. “Why did you come back?” she asked, hardly daring to hope, despite the flowers. Maybe they were for someone else.
Gaze locked on hers, John closed the distance between them. He held up the roses. “I came back to give you these.”
Scarcely able to breathe, Leah took them from him and cradled them in her arms. “Thank you. They're lovely.” She could hardly believe he was here. She had missed him so much. “What do you want?” The question came out in a whisper.
“You.”
The single word loosened something inside Leah that had been wound too tight for way too long. She set the flowers down with care and hurled herself into his waiting arms. “I missed you!” she cried, holding him tight.
“I didn't know if you'd want to see me. I made so many mistakes,” he said, covering her face with kisses. “There has to be some way to work this out. We'll hang on to this ranch, if that's what you want. We can move your mother to Seattle or keep her here, whichever you think is best. I'll cut back on the business. Maybe I can find work here. Hellâwe'll figure out something.” With a groan, he covered her upturned mouth in a kiss that sent tingles all the way to her toes. She allowed herself a long moment to soak up his heat and strength, and then she broke away.
Keeping his hands on her shoulders, he only let her go so far. “Don't say no. Give us a chance,” he begged before she could reply. “Maybe I can't change who I am, but I love you, and I know you love me.”
Suppressing a grin, Leah rested her hands on his. “I'm thinking about selling the ranch to your half brother,” she announced. Why hadn't she thought of it before?
“Are you sure?” John demanded, looking dazed. He plopped down on a hay bale as if his legs had gotten shaky. “I'd never expect you to give up your heritage.”
“It's only land,” she replied in a breezy voice, and then she lapsed into giggles as his mouth dropped open.
Leaping up, he swept her into a bone-crushing hug. “You don't have to sell. If you aren't sureâ”
“I'm sure,” she interrupted. “It's time to move on, and I'm ready. Would we have room for horses where we'll live?” She'd give them up if she had to, but she hated to leave Jewel behind.
“As many horses as you want,” he replied, kissing her hair.
She was eager to tell him about her visit to Taylor's, but even more impatient to hear about him. “How long can you stay?” she asked.
“I have orders not to come back until I've persuaded you to marry me,” he replied. “How long will that take?”
Sudden shyness made her duck her head. “Ask me and find out.”
To Leah's surprise, he went down on one knee in front of her. Eyes glittering with emotion, he took her hand. The other she pressed to her mouth to stop its sudden trembling. “Leah, will you be my wife, to have and to hold for all the days of our life?” he asked with a gentle smile.
Brimming over with more happiness than she had ever dared hope for, she leaned closer. “I'll follow you anywhere,” she said softly. Cradling his face in her hands, she pressed her mouth to his in a kiss overflowing with promise and joy.
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IMPRINT: e-book Blush Single
ISBN: 9781460862803
TITLE: BUCHANAN'S PRIDE
First Australian Publication 2012
Copyright © 2012 PAMELA TOTH
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilisation of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the permission of the publisher, Harlequin Mills & Boon®, Locked Bag 7002, Chatswood D.C. N.S.W., Australia 2067.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
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