A Ranch to Call Home. Leann Harris

      * * *

      Caleb glanced over at Kaye. He wasn’t surprised exhaustion had overwhelmed her on the drive into Fort Worth. It would’ve been easier if she’d waited at the ranch, but she’d made it clear she wanted to see her grandfather. Faced with her determination, he couldn’t let her drive that last leg herself.

      He knew who she was and what had happened to her. When he spent time at the ranch, he stayed in her room. Over the past few years he felt he’d come to know the teenage Brenda. He wasn’t sure about this mature woman. Through the countless times he’d stayed there, she’d crept into his consciousness. Seeing her this afternoon in person had knocked him for a loop.

      The sparks of attraction he felt dumbfounded him. He was at the ranch to sort out the mess his life had become. His reaction was the last thing he expected. At least that was what he told himself.

      “I’m glad Gramps only had his shoulder dislocated. When I saw him under that tractor, I had all sorts of visions. Once he started yelling at me, I could breathe again. It surely was a sweet sound.”

      “Thanks for helping him.”

      “Anyone would’ve done that.”

      “No, they wouldn’t.”

      The force of her words made him realize her comment came from experience.

      She studied him before asking, “You said you were a friend of my brother’s from his rodeo days.”

      “That’s where we met.”

      “That was a while ago, wasn’t it?”

      “Ouch, I’m not that old,” he teased.

      “I’ve been gone that long.”

      “Can’t be that long ago, since you’re still a young woman.”

      She threw him a look that said she didn’t buy his line. “Remember, I’ve dealt with a lot of males in the army who tried to snow me.”

      “I call ’em as I see ’em.”

      Her gaze jerked back to his. She searched his face as if looking for the truth, then turned to stare out her window.

      He wanted to ask more questions, but from her closed posture, he knew she wouldn’t welcome any. Instead, he turned on the radio to fill the silence on the balance of the ride back to the ranch.

      An hour later, he pulled his truck next to Joel’s by the back door. Joel helped Gramps from his truck. By the time Kaye unhooked her belt, Caleb had opened the passenger door. She didn’t hesitate this time but stepped down to the ground. Her legs were steadier.

      They followed Gramps up the porch steps and into the kitchen. Sweat beaded on his forehead. “I think I’ll lie down for a while.”

      Joel walked Gramps to the master bedroom, which was Joel’s parents’ old room. Kaye settled at the kitchen table, her face fixed on the disappearing figures.

      Caleb joined her. “Your grandfather is quite something. Nothing seems to stop him.”

      “He’s amazing, for sure.”

      Joel appeared and joined them.

      Resting her elbows on the table, Kaye asked, “How is Gramps, really?”

      Joel wiped his hand over his face. “The doctors and nurses in the E.R. were amazed that only his arm was dislocated. I told them he was a tough old coot.” Joel rested his hand over hers. “I’m glad you’re here, Sis, but what prompted you to come home now? Don’t get me wrong, you’re welcome, but—”

      “What is this? First Gramps, then you. I’m beginning to feel unwelcome.”

      Joel wrapped his arm around his sister and hugged her. “It’s a surprise, but a happy one.” He fell silent. The truth wasn’t pretty. “Obviously, you’ve met Caleb.”

      “He introduced himself. He knew me, but I—”

      “She wondered who I was,” Caleb explained, “and where you and your grandfather were. She wasn’t too thrilled finding a stranger here who knew her name. For a minute there, I thought she might take me down.”

      Joel’s lips twisted into a smile. “I don’t know how much Caleb said about himself, but we were friends when I was on the circuit. He comes here occasionally and visits.”

      “So that fancy horse trailer I saw outside isn’t yours, but Caleb’s?”

      “It is.”

      Kaye turned to Caleb. “So what’s your specialty in rodeo?”

      Caleb’s expression closed down. “I’ll grab my things and clear out of Kaye’s room.”

      He didn’t wait to hear their response but strode into Kaye’s room and gathered the two shirts and jeans hanging in the closet. Snagging his duffel bag, he slung it over his shoulder. He looked around the room. Obviously, her family hadn’t touched anything in here since Kaye left. An old, faded poster from a Petra concert hung on the wall, along with posters for a world-championship rodeo. Dried mums from her high school homecoming and pom-poms hung over the dresser mirror. Yearbooks sat on the nightstand with a stuffed bear perched on top of them. When Caleb had first stayed in this room, he felt odd. But as time passed, it was like coming back and talking to a friend.

      When he turned to go, Kaye stood in the door, her duffel bag and backpack slung over her shoulders, staring at him. Joel stood behind her. He felt four times an idiot to be caught mooning after his abrupt retreat from the kitchen. She must wonder at his actions, but she’d blindsided him with her question.

      “I think I’ve got everything,” he said, looking around, giving himself time to take a deep breath. When he turned back, he realized there was no way that he could go through the doorway with his things and not press up against Kaye. He backed up, allowing Kaye and Joel into the room.

      She put her duffel bag on the bed and brushed back one of the short brown curls that fell on her forehead. “It always stays the same, doesn’t it?” She pointed to the mums. “I guess I need to do some updating.”

      Joel put down another duffel bag. “Yeah, I don’t know why you saved Kenny James’s mums.”

      “Spoken like a brother. Kenny was fun and he asked me to homecoming my senior year.”

      Joel rolled his eyes and looked at Caleb.

      “It’s something a girl does.” Caleb remembered the corsage his mother had kept from her wedding before a judge.

      “What’s Kenny doing now?” Kaye slipped off her backpack and put it on the bed beside the duffel bag.

      Joel shrugged. “His sister claims he’s some bigwig back East. I don’t know if that’s the truth, but he sure was a bust in rodeo.” Joel grinned at Caleb. “The guy flew off the horse the instant the gate opened. He missed his calf in the calf roping, and when he saw the bull he’d pulled to ride, he withdrew.”

      “Some guys aren’t cut out to rodeo.” Kaye waved her brother away.

      Her words struck a chord in Caleb’s heart, making his doubts roar back to life. He took a deep breath.

      “Now, get out of here and let me unpack. I think I’d like to take a shower.”

      As Caleb walked out of the room, he heard brother and sister teasing each other. The banter made him smile, reminding him of the exchanges he had with his younger brother, Sawyer. Now that Sawyer had his degree and no longer needed Caleb’s help, there was no reason for Caleb to continue working in the rodeo.

      Lately, he’d been dreaming of his own ranch and wondered if that distraction caused the disaster or at least contributed to the accident.

      Opening the side door to the horse trailer, Caleb hung his clothes and put his duffel bag on the bunk. He walked out to the corral behind the barn. His