The Forest Ranger's Child (5 page)

Chapter Four

A
s Dad and Lily pulled into the yard at Emerald Ranch, a black-and-white dog trotted from the barn to greet them with several loud barks. Lily looked around with interest. Everything appeared the same, except a long stable had been erected near the corrals. And the place had a slightly disorderly appearance in upkeep. A few rails had fallen off one of the fences and the gate hung on its hinges. The enormous red barn sat off to one side, needing a fresh coat of paint. So did the white house. Never in all her growing-up years had Dad ever let the blue trim reach the point of peeling.

No vegetable garden had been quartered off at the side of the house and furrowed for planting. It wasn’t too late to get some seeds in the ground and Lily made a mental note to take care of that soon. Her mouth watered at the thought of homegrown tomatoes and yellow crookneck squash. She didn’t say anything, but couldn’t help wondering why Dad had let the place fall into disrepair.

Corrals surrounded the barn for working horses, all empty except two. A number of pretty mares and younger colts lifted their heads from a trough of hay long enough to blink at them before going back to feeding. Where was all the livestock Dad used to have around the place? The cows, horses, pigs and chickens?

He parked the truck beside the stable and got out, moving with less agility than she remembered.

“Hi, there, Beans.” He ruffled the dog’s ears and coughed again.

His boot heels tapped against the wooden porch. White wicker chairs sat angled to one side with a small table to rest glasses of lemonade in the evening. Lily remembered sitting here almost every day when she’d been young. Now, the chairs needed a fresh coat of paint and new cushions.

As they walked into the house, Lily was overwhelmed by the scent of pine. Memories flooded her as she gazed around the dingy room. The curtains were drawn closed. Magazines, papers and dirty dishes littered the coffee table. A thick layer of dust coated the end tables and bookshelf. From the looks of the worn carpet, it hadn’t been vacuumed in some time. When had Daddy last cleaned?

He led her back to her bedroom and she was surprised to find it just as she’d left it, except for a layer of dust. The small window where she’d sat daydreaming…and used to sneak out of the house after a fight with Dad. The stuffed animals and dolls crowding her bed, which no longer held any appeal to her. The purple afghan Mom had made for her sixteenth birthday, just before she died. Lily planned to keep that forever.

Without thinking, she reached a hand up to touch Mom’s large engagement ring, which she wore on a chain around her neck. Dad had given the ring to Lily the day they’d buried her mother and she’d never taken it off since. She’d thought of pawning the ring for money to take care of herself and the baby but hadn’t been able to do so. The warm weight of the ring beneath her shirt gave her comfort, as though Mom were always with her, watching over her.

Lily had sure let her mother down this time. And Dad, too. Lily didn’t deserve their affection. And yet she realized they both loved her as unconditionally as she loved her unborn child. She knew now that even Dad with his irascible temper still loved her.

“Once you get settled, I’d like you to meet someone,” he said.

She lifted her hands in a careless gesture. “I’m settled now, Dad. I have nothing to put away.”

“Okay, then. Come on.” He turned and she followed him outside to the stable.

The dog had been lying on the front porch and hopped up to pad after them, tongue lolling out of the side of his mouth.

“This is Beans?” Lily asked.

“Yep. A good cattle dog, but I haven’t had much work for him lately because we no longer have any cows.”

“Why not?” She walked beside Dad, having no difficulty keeping up with his ponderous stride. She remembered he used to walk so briskly.

“Um, I’m just too busy with the horses to take care of cows anymore.”

She didn’t believe that. Dad too busy to herd a few cows? Even if he wasn’t in the market to sell them, he always raised a couple of cows for beef. But she’d been gone for years and no longer knew anything about her father’s life.

She breathed deep of the fresh air, glad to be out of the stuffy house. This afternoon, she’d start scrubbing the rooms from stem to stern. Right now, she figured Dad had a ranch hand or horse trainer he wanted to introduce her to.

He slid open the wide double doors of the stable. Drafts of sunlight filtered over bales of hay stacked on one side near a small tractor. As Lily stepped inside, she caught the musty scent of straw and horses. A smell she found familiar and pleasing.

Dust motes sifted through the air. Several saddles rested on racks along one wall with tack and various tools hung neatly on hooks nearby. Stalls lined the other wall. She gazed at it with curiosity, liking the building immediately. She remembered how she’d spent hours in the barn, brushing horses, bottle feeding baby calves, or hiding up in the loft to avoid Dad’s temper. Strange how much she now wanted to be back here at home.

Dad gestured toward one of the stalls far away from the mares and Lily heard the low nicker of a horse. A big sorrel stallion stood inside, a white star on his forehead. The quarterhorse lifted his proud head and took a couple of steps forward, his ears perked. Lily admired his conformation, sleek lines and wavy black mane. Dad had taught her to recognize good horseflesh when she saw it and this was a fine specimen. She could understand why Dad kept the stallion isolated from the mares. Just his presence in the stable could keep the girls agitated.

“He’s beautiful,” she breathed, unable to deny a shiver of delight at seeing such a lovely animal.

Dad grunted. “His name is Peg.”

“Peg? That’s an odd name for a stallion.”

“His name’s Pegasus, but I call him Peg.”

Lily edged closer, extending her hand slowly, palm up. Many stallions were temperamental and she didn’t want to get bit. “Is he gentle?”

“Very. A child could halter and tack him up. But he’s fast. You should see him move. A winged Pegasus. Like lightning.” Dad clapped his hands together and the horse jerked his head up at the sharp sound.

Peg nickered and nudged Lily’s hand. She rubbed the velvety softness of his muzzle, delighted to have a new friend.

Dad chuckled. “He’s after his treat.”

“Treat?” Lily ran her hands over Peg’s face and neck. A thrill of excitement tingled through her as she gazed into the animal’s intelligent brown eyes. How she wished she could ride him.

Dad reached into his pants pocket and withdrew a single peppermint cube. He handed it to Lily. “It’s not good for him, so I only give him one a day. But he loves it.”

Lily stared at the peppermint resting on her open palm, stunned that Dad would surrender it to her. Peg nudged her shoulder, eager for his treat. Lily laughed and lowered her hand so the horse could nibble the candy. She wouldn’t have believed it if she hadn’t witnessed it with her own eyes, but after the horse swallowed, he waved his head in pleasure. A low nicker came from his throat and he nudged her arm, as if begging for more.

“Well, look at that. He’s taken to you already,” Dad said.

Lily blinked, unable to explain the sudden rush of emotions cascading through her. Funny how much the acceptance of a mere animal meant to her. She’d always been better with animals than with people.

Together, they patted the stallion. Sharing this special moment with her father did something to Lily. Whenever they’d worked with horses, she’d been at peace with Dad. It was their one common ground. Something they both loved and enjoyed. How she wished they could be friends in other areas of their lives, as well.

Tears fogged her vision and she turned away so Dad wouldn’t see. She never used to be a crybaby, but that had been before she’d almost ruined her life. Before she’d turned her back on her father and the Lord. It wouldn’t be easy, but she was determined to mend all her broken fences.

“Wait until you watch him work,” Dad said. “He’s quick and needs very little guidance. I trained him myself. I spent so much time with him that I almost ignored the rest of the ranch.”

Was that why the place seemed in such disrepair? That didn’t make sense. If Dad was so busy, there ought to be some ranch hands around to do the other chores.

Dad jutted his chest out in pride. A pleased smile curved his mouth and Lily couldn’t help wishing he’d look like that when he spoke about her. She’d just need to show him that she could be a person he could be proud of.

“Which event?” she asked.

“Reining.”

“Has he won anything yet?”

Dad chuckled. “Oh, yes. It’s my pleasure to introduce you to the horse that won the Limited Open Reining World Championship and the Intermediate Open Reserve World Championship two years ago.”

Her mouth dropped open. Dad never kidded about things like this. “So, he’s a world champion? Are you serious, Daddy?”

He glanced at her, his stern mouth barely twitching with a smile. “I certainly am.”

Awe seeped through every pore in her body. Her father had a world champion reining horse living in his stable. Amazing!

“Are you boarding him? Who’s his owner?”

Dad coughed again, covering his mouth with one hand. “I am, darlin’. He belongs to me.”

Darlin’. He’d called her that name when she’d been young. During the few times when he’d shown her affection.

“A horse like this would also make a good cutting horse. He needs cows to chase,” she said.

“You’re right. Now you’re here, we’ll get some cows as soon as we can.” He took several deep inhales, as if he couldn’t catch his breath.

“Dad, are you all right?”

He lifted a hand, brushing her concerns aside. “Of course. I’m fine.”

She shook her head, trying to make sense of this. “I don’t understand. Where did you get Peg?”

“I bought him just after you left. His previous owner was lazy and didn’t realize Peg’s potential. I worked with Peg and took him to a lot of competitions. We lived on the road for almost a year, driving from event to event. Peg’s a great traveler. I sold most of my livestock and hired a hand to take care of the ranch while I was gone. Peg won almost every event I entered him in, but the ranch didn’t do quite so well. Remember when you called several years ago, I told you I had a sweet horse I wanted you to meet?”

No, she didn’t remember, but she’d been selfish and wrapped up in herself back then.

“Well, here he is. Pegasus. The best horse I’ve ever seen or had the pleasure to own.”

She whistled low beneath her breath, proud of her father’s accomplishment. And a lot of regret that she hadn’t been here to share it with him. No wonder the ranch looked run-down. Dad had been on the road with his horse. But why hadn’t he fixed the ranch up since he’d returned? “To be the world champion in reining, Peg must be worth a pretty penny.”

“He is. About two hundred thousand dollars worth. I’ve got a number of colts and fillies sired by him that I’ve been working with and several quality mares expecting his foals in a few months. And he’s yours now.”

“Mine?” Confusion filled her mind.

“If you’ve got the gumption to stay this time, I’ll give him to you, Lily. I figure we can turn Peg to stud. Now you’re here, we can build Emerald Ranch up again like it used to be when your mother was alive.”

She froze, her mind racing. In spite of everything, Dad wanted her to stay. To help run the ranch. And from the looks of things, he needed her help. Badly.

His request touched her like nothing else could. And yet, she knew it was futile to think of staying. Maybe Dad loved her in his own way but he didn’t like her much. They just didn’t get along. They never had. She couldn’t stand to spend the rest of her life arguing with him. “But
you
can do that, Dad, can’t you?”

He shook his head. “If you’re not here, I have no reason to work the ranch anymore.”

His words shocked her. He loved Emerald Ranch, just as she did. “But Emerald Ranch is your whole life.”

“No, Lily.” He looked at her, his hazel eyes piercing her to her soul. “The ranch isn’t my life. You are. And now that baby you’re carrying.”

She’d never expected to hear such words from her father. He hadn’t said he loved her, but he couldn’t put his feelings more bluntly. Her heart gave a powerful squeeze.

“I’ve been a bit under the weather lately,” he said. “I’m getting old and my body’s wearing out. I just can’t do it alone anymore.”

Something was wrong here. Something she didn’t understand. Was Daddy ailing? She’d speak with Dr. Kenner when she went in for her next prenatal appointment. He’d been the family’s doctor since she was born. Hopefully he knew something about Dad’s hacking cough and why he didn’t seem to have as much energy anymore. And in that moment, she felt so selfish. Dad had always been here, waiting. Bigger than life. Too tough to ever die.

Or was he?

He stared at her, not quite smiling, his eyes aglow with expectancy. “Well? What do you think, darlin’? It’ll take a lot of work, but once you have the baby, you can start training horses again. We can make a go of this together. Mom would be so happy if she were here.”

He talked as if he expected her to stay. As if he expected her to keep the baby. “Dad, I think we should talk about this a little more. I’m not sure I can—”