The Rancher's Wife (3 page)

“We've been waiting out there for hours,” Traci mumbled against her neck. “It's cold, I'm bored and Logan refused to go anywhere. He wouldn't do anything but sit there and wait.”

Traci's frantic whisper tickled her ear. Amy laughed, drawing back to say, “Why did you ride out here anyway? You knew I was coming home today.”

Traci shrugged, stepping back and tugging at her hood. “You know Mama always starts cooking the night before Thanksgiving. If I'd stayed home, I'd have had to peel all the sweet potatoes for the soufflés.” She curled her lip. “A girl can get carpal tunnel doing that.” Her fingers picked at the cuffs of her jacket. “And I missed you.” She shrugged. “Besides, there were too many people stuffed in that house. I needed to get out of there for a little while.”

Amy smiled. “I take it Raintree's packed for the holidays, as usual.”

“Oh, you don't know the half of it. I spend one summer visiting you in Augusta and munchkins invade while I'm gone.” Traci shook her head. “When I got back to the ranch last August, six-year-old twins were tearing up the place.”

“Twins?”

“Yeah,” Traci said. “Dominic married their aunt last fall. They're seven now and I swear those boys got wilder. You'll see what I mean.”

Dominic, Logan's younger brother, had been Amy's friend the moment she'd arrived at Raintree all those years ago. She couldn't imagine Dominic getting married and settling down. He was a nomadic bull rider, living in the moment and always searching out adventure.

“Dominic got married?” Amy glanced at Logan for confirmation.

Logan nodded, a small smile appearing. “He came home for good last year and he's happier than I've ever seen him.” His smile slipped. “You've missed a lot.”

Amy tensed, looking away from the sad shadows in Logan's dark eyes.

“We're really glad you're coming home for a visit,” Traci said, squeezing Amy's arm. “It'll be nice for us all to be together again.” She withdrew, moving around the desk to tug at Logan's elbow. “Can we start back now?”

“Soon.” Logan nudged Traci toward the door. “Go on out and warm up the truck. We'll swing by Amy's, load up her bags, then head out.”

Amy watched Traci leave then cocked her head at Logan. “Who's doing the assuming now?” she asked. “I never said I was riding back with you.”

“No. You didn't.” Logan walked to the door. “But I promised Betty I'd get you home safely, and I always keep my promises. Plus, your sister's been looking forward to catching up with you and there's no way I'm letting the two of you ride back alone in this weather. We'll follow you back to your place, get your stuff and you'll ride back with me. So lock up and meet us out front.”

He left, leaving her glaring at the empty doorway. Amy huffed. It looked like Logan was getting his way again. At least, for the moment.

She firmed her mouth. Her plans hadn't changed. Not really. She'd accepted the new job and was moving to Detroit. Just as intended.

This trip home would still serve its purpose. She'd spend some time making amends, visit with family and find a gentle way to break the news of her move to her mother. Then, she'd move on to a new life and a fresh start.

It didn't matter what mode of transportation she took to the ranch. The path she'd follow would still be the same and her ticket to a new life was now in her possession.

Relaxing, Amy glanced down at the folded papers balancing on the corner of the desk, their ivory shade a stark contrast to the deep tones of the wood. She retrieved them, unfolded the pages, and slid her thumb over the bold heading.

Divorce Settlement Agreement.

She scanned the papers, each glimpse of blank space tightening her chest to the point of pain. Her fingers flipped up the corner of each page with a more violent flourish than the one before.

“If you're looking for my signature, you're not gonna find it.”

Her head shot up. Logan stood in the doorway, his wide shoulders and lean length obscuring the exit. His grin widened into a firm curve, sparking his dark eyes with intent.

“Not now. Not ever,” he said. “I never break my word.”

Amy's breath caught. This was the Logan she knew. A bold, decisive man. One who never faltered once his mind was set on something.

He stepped into the hallway, tossing over his shoulder. “Go on and lock up. We need to start back soon. Before the storm hits.”

The papers cracked in Amy's hand, crimping into a wrinkled heap before she dropped them to the desk. She stared ahead blankly, listening to the heavy tread of Logan's boots and the bell chiming on his exit.

The room was empty, her rapid breathing the only sound. Amy lifted her hand and slipped her fingers beneath the collar of her sweater to tug the silver necklace out. It dug into the back of her neck as she threaded her finger through the ring hanging from it. The weight of the silver band was familiar and comforting.

She squeezed her eyes shut. Only a few minutes with Logan and she'd reverted to old sins. She'd lost control, lashed out and goaded him into action.

The dig of the necklace turned painful, her finger straining to reclaim the ring. Amy gritted her teeth, slid the ring off her finger and shoved the necklace back beneath the cover of her sweater.

There was no way she was slipping back into old habits. Always trailing after Logan, begging for whatever attention he deigned to throw her way. What she'd felt for him all those years ago had been exactly what he'd called it. Ill-begotten hero worship. Nothing but a young girl's ridiculous fantasy. Something cynical–Logan would never deliver.

No. She'd come too far and worked hard to change. No way would she ever be that selfish girl again. She'd gotten over her obsession with him long ago.

Amy jerked open a drawer, yanked out her purse and shoved the wad of papers deep inside. This wasn't ending here. Like it or not, Logan was signing that agreement. And they were both going to shed the past and begin new lives.

She made her way through the lobby, flicked off the lights and hovered by the window. The gray clouds grew thicker and the furious sweep of leaves through the parking lot whispered to a halt. Small white pellets plummeted from the sky in scattered patterns, slamming into the concrete and pinging against the glass pane.

Logan stood at the foot of his truck. Eyes fixed on hers, he crossed his muscular arms over his broad chest and leaned back against the tailgate. He didn't shiver or waver. Just stood there. A solid pillar of heat in the freezing onslaught of ice, not heeding its vicious bite.

Amy clenched her jaw. A sharp ache throbbed in her head at the tight press of her teeth. There was no need to rush. No need to try to outrun the storm. It had already hit.

Chapter Two

He'd come on too strong. Had pushed Amy too hard.

Logan shifted to a more comfortable position in the truck's cab and eased his foot off the accelerator. He glanced to his right, finding Amy in the same position she'd adopted an hour ago. Perfect poise, legs crossed at the ankles and eyes straight ahead. Her hands shook in her lap.

“Cold?” He stretched over to cut the heat up and angle the vent toward her.

“No. I'm fine, thanks.”

She didn't look it. The closer they got to the ranch, the tenser she became.

“How much longer?” Traci asked from the backseat, removing her earbuds. “I'm getting stiff.”

Traci rearranged her long length in the back of the cab, stretching her legs out to prop her boots on the console. Logan's mouth twitched at the sight of the muddied heels. A few clumps of dirt dropped from them, tumbling into the front seat by his jean-clad thigh.

He eyed her in the rearview mirror. “You got two floorboards back there, Traci.”

“And a lotta leg,” she drawled, raising her voice above the deep throb of music from her cell phone. “I'm starving. We haven't missed dinner, have we?”

Logan shook his head. “Nope. We're right on time. Not much farther now.”

Traci stuck the earbuds back in, settled against the seat and closed her eyes.

Logan faced the road again and they traveled in silence for a couple of miles before he glanced at Amy. The brash glow of the low-hanging sun flooded the cab and highlighted the pinstripes in her pantsuit. Her black hair was pulled up, giving him a clear view of her pale cheeks and blank expression.

Logan opened his mouth to speak but shut it quickly. He used to be able to talk to Amy about anything. Never even gave a thought to what he would say. Knew she'd be as eager for his thoughts as he'd always been for hers. But over the past twenty-four hours, he'd discovered that even though they were no longer separated by miles of road, a distance still remained between them. One he had no idea how to cross.

“Is dinner still at six?” Amy's green eyes flicked to the clock on the dashboard.

“Yeah. Betty runs a tight ship.” It was almost 5:30 p.m. They'd cut it close. “We'll make it.”

Barely
. Despite his best attempts last night, they'd been unable to start home before the storm hit. Instead, the ice fell fast once they'd arrived at Amy's apartment and by the time he'd loaded Amy's bags in his truck, the roads were too slick to drive on. They decided it would be best to spend the night and start back in the morning after the ice began to melt. Traci had slept in the guest room and Logan had slept on the living room couch.

He winced and rubbed the kink in the back of his neck. Or better yet, he'd tried his damnedest to sleep. It'd been hard to do with his legs dangling off one end of the sofa and his head the other. It didn't help matters that Amy's bedroom had been only a few feet away. He'd heard the rustle of sheets every time she'd tossed and turned. Apparently, she hadn't been able to sleep either.

He rolled his shoulders and tightened his hold on the steering wheel. At least they were almost home now rather than holed up in that suffocating apartment. It'd been obvious that Amy had already begun preparing for her move to Michigan. The stacks of boxes lining the living room walls had glared at him from the moment he'd entered. He'd done his best to ignore them but they'd loomed over him all night.

Logan's mouth twisted. No wonder sleep had eluded him. He hated this. Hated how quickly he'd become fixated on Amy again. How every thought running through his mind centered on her and excluded common sense. It made him feel weak. Vulnerable.

“Tell me about Dominic.”

He turned his head to find Amy studying him. Those emerald eyes traveled slowly over his face and lingered on his mouth, warming his cheeks. Her lips trembled slightly.

She looked away, asking, “Who did he marry?”

“Her name's Cissy. He met her one night on his way back to Raintree. She was stranded by the side of the road with her nephews.”

“Are those the twins Traci mentioned?”

He nodded. “Cissy's sister died early last year and the twins' father didn't want them. Cissy took the boys in but had a hard time providing for them. Dom brought the three of them to the ranch and we set her up with a job.” A smile stretched his cheeks. “Dom fell hard for her. He loves those boys, too.” He released a low laugh. “We all do. They're great kids, Amy. You'll love ‘em. And Dom and Cissy are expecting—”

Logan bit his lip, cutting off his words.
Babies. Twin girls.
Nausea flooded his gut. He couldn't say either of those things to Amy. Could barely say them out loud himself.

Red blotches broke out on Amy's neck, marring her clear skin. She smoothed her hands over her blouse and sat straighter in the passenger seat. “I'm happy for him,” she whispered.

She would be. When she'd first arrived at Raintree, Logan recognized right off that Amy shared the same wild streak as Dominic. It hadn't taken long for Amy to begin regarding Dominic as a brother and Dominic was equally fond of Amy.

Logan frowned. He'd always been pleased with Amy's close connection with Dominic but after his own friendship with Amy eroded, Logan found himself envious of her bond with his younger brother. Which was ridiculous. More of the irrational behavior Amy inspired in him.

“I called Dom last night,” Logan said. “Asked him to let everyone know we were running behind. He said Betty was excited to see you. Said she couldn't stop smiling.”

Amy tucked a strand of raven hair back into her topknot. “I'm looking forward to seeing her, too. It'll be a good visit.”

Logan glanced in the rearview mirror at Traci. She bent deeper over the cell phone in her hands and her fingers flew over the screen. Her music blared, the rhythmic bass pumping past the earbuds.

“Betty never mentioned anything to me about you moving to Michigan,” he murmured. “You haven't told her your plans, have you?”

“Not yet.” Amy twisted her hands in her lap. “But I will. There's plenty of time. I don't want to upset her at Thanksgiving.”

He scoffed. “You think Christmas would be a better occasion?”

“No.” She sighed. “But I couldn't bring myself to tell her over the phone. I will, though. When the time's right.”

“Augusta is far enough. Michigan will feel like the other side of the world to her. You're gonna break her heart, Amy,” he said, ignoring the tightness in his chest. He eyed Traci again. “Your sister's, too.”

“They'll understand. They'll be happy for me.”

“Knowing you're thinking of moving clear across the country won't make them happy.” Logan grimaced. It sure didn't sit well with him. “No one that cares about you would be happy hearing that.”

“What would you have me do, Logan?” Amy glanced over her shoulder at her sister before whispering, “Stay in limbo with you forever? The opportunity came and I took it. I have to move on at some point. We both do.”

Her argument was sane and sensible. The kind he should agree with and understand. But he couldn't bring himself to accept it.

Logan palmed the steering wheel roughly and took a right turn onto the long dirt drive of Raintree Ranch. He lifted his foot from the pedal as the truck dipped into a pothole, sloshing muddy water against the sides of the cab. Fragmented patches of white speckled Raintree's sprawling fields. The late-afternoon sun that had melted most of the ice hung low on the horizon and night loomed closer with every minute.

Amy's pants legs rustled as she sat taller, craning her neck and looking out at their surroundings. Logan took the next turn through a gated entrance and she braced her hands on the dash, swiveling to glance over her shoulder at Raintree's wooden sign as they passed. The sweet scent of her shampoo released with her movements, lingering around him and making him ache.

They traveled past the large stables, barn and paddocks lined with white fencing and the multi-storied main house emerged into view. Logan smiled. The white columns and wide front porch were already adorned with garlands, wreaths and bows for the holidays. Betty must have decided to decorate early for Amy's return.

A tender expression crossed Amy's features. Logan's chest warmed. No matter what she said, Amy had missed Raintree. Her longing for their childhood home showed in every sweet curve of her face.

“It still looks the same,” she said.

The gentle look in her eyes faded as the truck drew closer to the house. Her mouth tightened. She eased back in the passenger seat, shoulders sagging.

“Nothing's changed.” Amy trailed her hands away from the dashboard and dropped them in her lap, fingers twisting together.

A heaviness settled in Logan's arms. “Yes, it has. Everything has been different since you left. For all of us.” He covered her smaller hands with his palm and squeezed. “Please think this move over. Before you make a final decision.”

She slid away from his touch. “The decision's already been made.” Her voice lowered to a whisper. “It's for the best.”

“Amy—”

“The twins are out,” Traci shouted over her music, perking up and dragging her feet from the console.

Logan released a harsh sigh, bringing the truck to a halt and removing the keys from the ignition. Two blond boys scrambled over the ground at the end of the drive, gathering up what was left of the sleet and packing it into muddy balls.

“Hide everything you value and get your armor on, Amy,” Traci said, yanking out her earbuds and shoving them along with her cell phone into her bag.

“Are they that bad?” Amy asked, a hesitant smile peeking through her tight expression.

Logan grinned. “Nah. They're just being boys.”

“Yeah, right,” Traci drawled. “Tell me that the next time they break my phone. Or take my bras and use them for slingshots. Or draw plans for their fort on my homework—”

“All right, Traci.” He laughed, muscles relaxing. “I know they've done you wrong a time or two but they do it with love.”

Traci harrumphed and shoved her door open.

“That's one warped way to look at it,” she grumbled good-naturedly, jumping out and taking swift strides up the dirt drive.

The boys noticed Traci approaching and stilled. A huddle, quick whisper and nod later, they advanced, surrounding her and pelting her with their icy bundles.

“Stop it, squirts,” Traci squealed, “or I'll smooch you into oblivion.”

Traci swooped down with open arms, bag flopping over one shoulder, and chased them. One twin escaped but she caught the other, scooping up the wriggling boy and plastering noisy kisses all over his face.

“Yuck!” The escapee ran several feet across the mud and jerked to a halt at Logan's open door. He scowled, jabbing a dirty finger in Traci's direction. “Look what Traci's doing to Jayden, Uncle Logan. Tell her to stop.”

Logan stifled a laugh. Leave it to Kayden. He was always the first to point the finger of blame.

“Come on, now,” Logan said. “You can't go on the attack, then cry for help. Don't dish it out if you can't take it.”

“I ain't did no dishing,” Kayden argued. He paused, forehead scrunching before saying, “I
didn't
do
any
dishing.”

“That sounds better,” Logan praised.

Kayden nodded. “Aunt Cissy don't like us using no double negatives.” He climbed onto the truck's running board and leaned into his hands on Logan's thigh. “Anyways, I ain't did no dishing. We were just throwing snowballs.”

“There's no snow out here, buddy.” Logan ruffled his golden hair. “Y'all were throwing ice.”

“So.” Kayden shrugged. “It's white.”

“Unlike a friendly snowball, ice hurts and I'm sure Traci felt a twinge or two. Both of you owe her an apology.”

“Yes, sir.” Kayden rolled his eyes, the blue pools skimming over Logan then narrowing on Amy. “Is that her?”

Logan turned, absorbing the warm look Amy directed at Kayden, and smiled. “Yeah. This is your aunt Amy.”

Amy frowned but quickly adopted a polite smile when Kayden leaned in for a closer look at her.

Logan helped Kayden jump from the running board back to the ground. “Why don't you go around and introduce yourself properly?”

Kayden took off, his blond head bobbing out of view as he rounded the front of the truck.

“It's not a good idea introducing me as their aunt, Logan.” Amy unbuckled her seat belt. It snapped back with a clang. “I'm leaving for good soon.”

“Maybe.” Logan met her hard stare with one of his own. “But you're here now.”

She shook her head, grabbed her purse and climbed out of the truck. Logan followed, strolling to the other side of the truck to find Kayden tipping his head back and staring up at Amy.

“Gahlee, you're tall,” Kayden said, mouth hanging open.

Amy's grin faltered as she teetered, her high heels sinking into the mud of the driveway. Logan stifled a laugh. The combination of melted ice and dirt had turned the path into slick mush. She yanked against it, attempting to jerk her shoes free, but the sludge won out.

Kayden stepped closer, studying her sinking shoes, then observing the rest of her. He blushed and stuck out dirty fingers. “I'm Kayden. And that's my brother, Jayden, over there. Good to meet 'cha.”

Amy lowered with care, braced with one palm against the truck for balance and shook his hand. “It's very nice to meet you, too, Kayden.”

“Boys,” a deep voice called.

They all turned. Dominic ambled down the wide front porch steps of the main house and crossed the lawn toward them.

“Uh-oh.” Kayden smirked.

He tore off toward the house, Jayden and Traci following. Dominic swept the boys against his thighs as they passed, kissing their heads and shooing them toward the porch with a pat on the butt.