Claiming the Rancher's Heart (4 page)

His mind made up, Josh pushed through the crowd, responding to friends without slowing his pace. He reached the front entrance, expecting to see Stacie and her brother, but instead found Pastor Barbee and his wife standing by the door.

The midsixties couple had been on the dance floor since the square dancing started, so Josh hadn’t had a chance to say hello much less introduce Stacie. He could only hope they knew who she was.

“Have you seen Stacie Summers?” Josh kept his tone casual and offhand. “She’s Anna’s friend. The one I was dancing with earlier.”

“The pretty dark-haired girl.” Mrs. Barbee nodded approvingly. “With the pink boots.”

“That’s the one.” Josh cast a quick glance around, but once again came up empty. “You saw her?”

“She went outside.” The pastor gestured toward the door with one hand.

“She was with a man,” Mrs. Barbee added, a look of sympathy on her lined face. “Nice looking, but not as handsome as you.”

Josh wasn’t quite sure how to respond to that statement so he let it lie.

“Appreciate the information.” Josh opened the door and stepped into the cool night air. He paused on the sidewalk and scanned the familiar street. At the far end of the block, he spotted her.

She and her brother stood next to a late-model Lincoln Town Car. Though her arms were crossed and her spine as stiff as a soldier’s, she didn’t appear in any distress. Now that he knew she was okay, good manners dictated he should go inside and give her some privacy. But he had an uneasy feeling about the situation and he’d learned to trust his instincts. So he leaned back against the building, keeping his eyes fixed on the pair.

He planned to stay out of it, truly he did. But when she raised her voice and the man in the dark suit grabbed her arm, Josh was down the street and at her side in a heartbeat.

“Get your hands off her,” he growled. Brother or not, no man was going to raise a hand to Stacie. Not if Josh had anything to say about it.

The man whirled, releasing his hold on her arm, his lips thinning with displeasure.

Even if Josh hadn’t known this was Stacie’s brother, the resemblance between the two would have given it away. Although Paul was a good head taller than his sister and his hair a shade lighter, their almond-shaped eyes and patrician noses proclaimed them family.

“I don’t know how it is where you come from,” Josh said, “but around here we don’t manhandle a woman.”

Paul’s gaze narrowed and Stacie took a step away, the action bringing her closer to Josh. It seemed natural for him to slip an arm around her shoulder, but she shrugged off the support, making it clear this was
her
battle.

A mocking little smile lifted her brother’s lips. He shifted his gaze to Stacie. “Tell me you’re not walking away from the opportunity of a lifetime for a two-bit cowboy.”

“He’s not why I said no,” Stacie said in a calm voice. “Josh is an acquaintance, not a boyfriend.”

Josh bristled. Acquaintance? He was
acquainted
with the librarian in town, but he’d never held her in his arms. Or felt her lips against his.

“Then this stubborn refusal of yours makes no sense.” Paul’s gaze remained fixed on Stacie. “Why would you turn down such a terrific offer?”

“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you,” Stacie said. “But you just keep cutting me off.”

Josh hid a smile. He’d only known Stacie a short time, but even he knew she was no pushover.

Paul crossed his arms. “I’m listening now.”

Though his body language didn’t indicate a willingness to consider any position other than his own, his tone was somewhat conciliatory. It must have been enough, because the tension left Stacie’s shoulders and a glimmer of hope filled her eyes.

“I’ve never wanted to work in corporate America,” she said in a soft voice. “It’s just not me.”

“You have a degree in business.” Paul’s entire attention was on his sister. “This position will allow you to not only use your education, but also be close to us.”

Stacie opened her mouth but Paul continued without taking a breath.

“You don’t even have to interview,” Paul said. “The CEO is a friend and he’s willing to hire you based on my recommendation.”

“Paul—” Stacie raised a hand, but her brother was on a roll and seemed determined to finish.

“Best of all—since you’re unemployed, you can start next week.” He patted he suit coat pocket. “I have two return tickets. You can be back home tomorrow.”

Stacie…leaving? An icy chill gripped Josh’s heart.

“I’m not moving back to Ann Arbor.” Stacie’s chin lifted in a stubborn tilt. “Not tomorrow. Not in a week, a month or a year.”

To Josh’s surprise, Paul didn’t immediately reply. Instead, his gaze searched Stacie’s face for a long moment.

“I don’t understand you,” he said, his voice heavy with disappointment. “You have friends back home who miss you. Family that misses you. And now a great job handed to you on a silver platter. Why won’t you at least consider coming back?”

Despite his heavy-handed methods, the man came across as sincere and made some good points. But when Josh glanced at Stacie, she didn’t appear swayed.

“How many times do I have to tell you? I don’t want to be stuck behind a desk.” Her eyes flashed and Josh swore he saw steam coming from her nose. She reminded Josh of a bull ready to charge. “I only majored in business because Daddy insisted.”

“Dad wants you to have a good life. A secure future.” Paul’s tone made it clear he agreed. “He loves you, Stacie. We all do. And we’re worried about you.”

Stacie raised a brow.

“Okay,
I’m
the one who’s worried.” Paul’s voice broke. He took a moment to regain his composure before casting a sideways glance at Josh. “Send the cowboy back to the ranch. This is family business.”

Though listening to their intimate conversation certainly wasn’t his idea of fun, Josh kept his feet planted. He’d leave, but only if Stacie asked.

“He stays,” Stacie said firmly.

Paul closed his eyes and blew out a hard breath.

“Mom and Dad have always wanted what’s best for you,” Paul repeated, once again sounding surprisingly sincere. “We all want that.”

Stacie took a step forward and rested a hand on Paul’s arm. “The problem is what you think is best for me is not what
I
want.”

Anger flared in Paul’s eyes. “What is it you want to do, little sister? Spend your life walking other people’s dogs? Making lattes in a coffee shop? Or maybe you want to marry a cowboy and live in the middle of nowhere?”

Stacie’s hand jerked back and her cheeks pinked as if she’d been slapped. But if her brother thought that harsh words and bullying tactics were the answer, all Paul had to do was look in her eyes to see that he’d lost any ground he might have gained.

“I don’t care what you think of my choices, Paul.” Her voice was icy cold, a stark contrast to her brother’s heated passion. “Just because I have different goals, other things I want out of life…”

Paul’s lips pressed together and he appeared to be fighting for control. “You and Amber Turlington, always searching for your damned bliss.”

The words sounded like a curse. Still, Stacie couldn’t help but smile at the familiar name. She and Amber had been best friends all through school. “Amber and I used to joke that we were twins separated at birth.”

“She was never happy in Ann Arbor, either,” Paul said, a surprising bitterness in his tone. “She always wanted something more. And look where it got her.”

“Where it got her?” Stacie’s voice rose. She couldn’t believe his arrogance. “The school where she’s teaching in Los Angeles may not be nationally acclaimed, and she may not be making the big bucks, but every day she makes a difference in the lives of her students.”

“You haven’t heard.” It was a statement, not a question. The bleak look in Paul’s eyes sent a shiver of unease up Stacie’s spine.

“Heard what?” She knew Amber and Paul kept in touch. A long time ago Paul had desperately wanted to marry her friend. Though he’d moved on and married another woman, Stacie knew Amber still held a special spot in his heart.

A tiny muscle in Paul’s jaw jumped. “I thought Karen and you would have talked by now.”

Karen was one of Stacie’s sisters. She’d left a handful of messages the past week, but Stacie hadn’t gotten around to calling her back. “Karen and I haven’t connected. Did she hear from Amber?”

“Amber is dead.” The muscle in Paul’s jaw began twitching. “Some punk shot her in the school parking lot.”

His words seemed to come from far away. Stacie turned hot and then cold. A vision of Amber—auburn hair, bright green eyes and an ever-present smile—flashed before her. How could her friend be dead? She’d been the most alive person Stacie knew.

“It’s not true.” Stacie shook her head, trying to dispel the picture of Amber lying in her own blood. “You’re making it up. You want me to move back. To give up my dreams. Just like you wanted Amber to give up her dream for you. But she didn’t and I won’t—”

“Shh. It’s okay.” Josh moved to her side and this time when he placed a steadying arm around her shoulders, she didn’t resist.

“The funeral was Thursday,” Paul said, sounding incredibly weary.

Stacie swallowed a sob. It seemed easier to focus on her anger, rather than the pain tearing her heart in two.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Her voice sounded shrill even to her own ears. “I’d have come. She was my friend. My best friend.”

“Karen and I both left messages asking you to call us back,” Paul said simply. “I couldn’t leave that news on voice mail.”

Regret mixed with shame washed over Stacie. She leaned against Josh, drawing strength from his support. She’d been wrong to blame Paul. It was her fault for not calling back. She’d put off dialing his number for one reason: every time she talked to him or Karen, she hung up feeling like a big failure. Now Amber’s parents probably thought she didn’t care enough to come back for the funeral. “I can’t imagine how hard this is on her family.”

“I know exactly how they’re feeling,” Paul said. “That’s why I’m here. I love you, Stacie. I want to make sure what happened to Amber doesn’t happen to you.”

She lifted her gaze to find Lauren and Anna staring, waiting for her to finish the story. “I convinced Josh that my brother could see me safely home. Paul and I spent a couple of hours talking…crying…talking some more. He slept for three or four hours then headed back to Billings to catch his flight.”

Though she and Paul disagreed on most issues, they’d both loved Amber. Stacie felt tears sting the back of her lids, but she blinked them back. She’d never liked crying in public. Even if in this case the “public” were her close friends.

Anna, sponge in hand, interrupted her counter cleaning to eye Stacie with a thoughtful look. “I’m still confused. Your brother wanted you to move home because a high school friend of yours died. I don’t get it.”

“I do.” Lauren took a dainty bite of her egg sandwich. “Amber was looking for her bliss and she died. Stacie is doing the same and Paul is worried something may happen to her.”

“That doesn’t make any sense.” Anna took a swipe at the kitchen counter. “Stacie’s in Montana, not big, bad L.A.”

“Her brother lost someone he loved.” Lauren tapped a finger on the tabletop. “When Stacie didn’t return his calls, he panicked, thinking something may have happened to her, too.”

“I think he knows better now,” Stacie said with a dry chuckle. Heck, if she didn’t laugh she was going to cry. “How many women have their own watch-dog?”

Lauren shot her a questioning glance.

“Josh came searching for me,” Stacie explained. “He wasn’t sure Paul was trustworthy.”

Anna smiled. “Welcome to the cowboy world, where men think all women need to be protected.”

“It was sweet,” Stacie admitted, “considering we barely know each other.”

Lauren choked on her sandwich and Anna let loose a very unladylike snort.

Stacie pulled her brows together. “What is it with you guys?”

“Puh-leeze,” Lauren said. “I saw how you two were looking at each other, how close he was holding you on the dance floor. I couldn’t have asked for a better advertisement for the survey unless you were naked and getting it on.”

“Oh my God, Lauren,” Anna’s peal of laughter rang throughout the room, “you are so bad.”

Stacie took a sip of coffee, even as her cheeks heated. “Well, anyway, that was our last date.”

“Why?” Anna asked. “I saw real chemistry.”

“Lots of chemistry,” Lauren added, an impish smile on her lips.

Stacie ignored the good-natured teasing. “Josh and I decided on the first date that we weren’t—” Stacie paused. To say that they weren’t a good match might be a slap in the face to Lauren’s survey. “That while we get along great, we don’t want the same things out of life. Sort of like Amber and Paul.”

“I could put you back in the system,” Lauren volunteered. “Match you again.”

Stacie shook her head. Talking to Paul about her dreams had only reinforced her desire to find her bliss. While Paul thought hearing about Amber would make her run back to Ann Arbor, the story had the opposite effect.

Regardless of what her brother thought, Amber had been happy in L.A. in a way she’d never have been happy in Ann Arbor. Just like Stacie would never be happy until she found her purpose in life.

Surprisingly Lauren didn’t try to change Stacie’s mind. Instead she forked a bite of coffee cake. “Remind me to give you the postmatch survey after church.”

“You’re going to church?” Anna’s blue eyes sparkled. “After the comment you made about Stacie and Josh on the dance floor?”

“It’s her penance,” Stacie said, unable to keep her blood from heating at the thought of her and Josh on the hardwood…naked.

“I promised Pastor Barbee we’d be there and I’m a woman of my word,” Lauren said, suddenly all prim and proper. “Service starts at eleven.”

“Count me out.” Anna sat back in her chair. “I need a breather from the Sweet River folks.”

“Don’t give me that,” Lauren said. “Every time I saw you last night you were smiling.”

“I had an okay time,” Anna admitted. “But I grew up here. I know what this place is like, and I’m not going to let them suck me back into the fold. Self-preservation dictates I keep my distance.”

“Me, too,” Stacie said, knowing if she didn’t she might end up with a naked cowboy in her bed.

“Well, you can both start keeping your distance…tomorrow,” Lauren declared. “The church is having a box-lunch fund-raiser after the service and we’re participating.”