The Rancher Wore Suits. Rita Herron

hung up, thinking about the silent message behind his phone conversation. There were just too many families in need.

      God, she ached for one of her own.

      But if she didn’t swing this deal with Dex Montgomery, all the families who needed assistance for the remainder of the year would be left without.

      And their needs far outweighed her own.

      TY HAD SHOWERED and shaved when George knocked at the bathroom door. Ty barely managed to wrap a towel around him before the door squeaked open.

      “I took the liberty of calling your barber, sir.” George poked his head in and tssked again, then pointed to Ty’s neckline. “I noticed your hair has gotten a little unruly while you were away.”

      He was probably thinking it wasn’t the only thing that had gotten unruly, Ty thought. “Thanks. When do I go?”

      George’s eyes narrowed. “Your stylist is waiting for you in your suite, sir, as usual. He’ll give you a trim before you go to the office.”

      Ty nodded and waited until George left, then yanked on the velour robe hanging over the door handle. He didn’t know if he’d ever be comfortable having a man’s man in his life, much less in his bathroom.

      He grimaced. He was going to blow this if he didn’t get his act together.

      A few minutes later, he stared at the mirror in stunned silence. He had known he looked like his brother, but with his new haircut, he realized they were truly identical.

      He wouldn’t have known the difference between Dex and himself if he didn’t know he was Ty.

      But he was Ty, a Cooper, he reminded himself. A man who had always known exactly who he was and where he was going. A fifth-generation rancher who lived off the land.

      Until he’d met his brother.

      And learned about the Montgomerys.

      Now, dressed in Dex’s fancy suit and ties, he wondered if he would ever be that same man again.

      JESSICA GRIMACED as she hurriedly gathered her notes. The morning had been wild. Five ear infections, a four-year-old who’d stuffed a candy up his nose and a baby she’d had to put in the hospital for dehydration. Unfortunately, the three-month old had lost the last of its fluids on her lab jacket. Thankfully, the formula hadn’t soaked through to the suit she’d worn beneath, but the sour milk smell lingered.

      Dex Montgomery would not appreciate her new perfume. It wasn’t exactly the two-hundred-dollar a bottle type he probably bought for his lady friends.

      Her beeper chirped just as she reached the car. A moment of fear hit her when she read the hospital number. But she quickly jumped into Nellie and phoned the hospital.

      “Dr. Stovall here.”

      “Yes, this is Dr. Blankenship. You wanted me to call about Donny?”

      Jessica’s breath caught. “Yes?”

      “He’s through surgery and holding his own for now. The next twenty-four hours will tell.”

      Jessica thanked Dr. Blankenship then hung up. She closed her eyes and said a prayer, then shifted Nellie into gear and headed toward the hospital for the board meeting. She’d stop by to see Donny and his mother after the meeting. Maybe she’d have some good news to tell them, that Donny’s bill would be taken care of by some extra funds coming in, and that Donny’s mother wouldn’t have to lose her house to pay for her little boy’s surgery.

      Now all she had to do was convince Dex Montgomery and that barracuda business associate of his to help her.

      TY STARED at his grandfather across the boardroom table, emotions churning through him. He’d hoped Grandfather Montgomery would embrace him when he’d met him at the car and he’d worried the older man would recognize him as an impostor, but his grandfather had simply nodded good morning, started his Cadillac and driven to the office. He’d barely even looked at Ty, much less noticed the difference. Ty should have been relieved, but he wondered if Dex and Grandfather Montgomery ever hugged or really talked about personal things. Who had Dex turned to with questions when he was growing up?

      Then Ty had noticed the pipe on the seat and made his first mistake; he’d asked his grandfather what kind of tobacco he smoked. Grandfather Montgomery had frowned and replied that Dex knew he’d given up smoking thirty years ago.

      Was that the only thing he had in common with this grandfather? The fact that they’d both smoked at one time?

      No, he and Dex had his dark eyes, as had their father. He remembered the photo album at home. Grandfather Montgomery had probably had thick dark hair, too, but now slivers of gray were threaded through the dark brown, and it had thinned slightly on top. He was a tall man with a commanding presence and a voice that spoke with authority.

      Ty felt no real connection and it bothered him immensely. Inside, something twisted. He wanted to impress the man, to get his attention and prove he was worthy of being a Montgomery. He fought the insecurities, yet he had felt the same way in those damn meetings in Chicago. And when he’d gone to the bank for the loan back home.

      It was the same way he’d felt when Paula had published that stupid article about him. He’d met her when he was giving riding lessons at a nearby dude ranch when he was twenty-five. He’d fallen for her hard, only to find out later she’d been using him. Paula had returned to New York City and written an article for her journalism school, which had received an award and been published in a local magazine, complete with pictures, making him look like a clod with a run-down ranch. He’d not only been hurt but humiliated.

      Did Dex feel this need to prove himself all the time? As if he had to win Grandfather Montgomery’s respect?

      Could Ty have inherited his drive to want more from the Montgomerys? Could that ambitious need be the reason Ty had always wanted to expand the ranch?

      Had Pa Cooper recognized Ty’s ambition as a Montgomery trait—was that the reason he was so strongly against it? Because he didn’t want Ty to become like the Montgomerys?

      Grandfather Montgomery stood. “I believe our meeting is over, gentlemen.”

      Bridget, Dex’s financial advisor curled slender, manicured fingers over his and smiled. Ty had immediately recognized her from Dex’s description. Only, Dex had described her as efficient, brilliant, organized and attractive, while Ty’s impression differed. She was a waif-thin woman with steel-gray eyes, short brown hair that resembled a man’s cut, and a voice that hinted of arrogance. He had no idea what his brother found attractive about her; she was so skinny a good stiff Montana wind would blow her over.

      Had she and Dex been involved personally?

      And why had his brother never mentioned Dr. Stovall?

      “Thank you for coming,” Bridget said, nudging Ty to stand. She shook each of the men’s hands and he followed suit. The two Japanese men owned a small medical building which M3I had just purchased for a million dollars. He had listened to his grandfather crunch numbers, Bridget present flow charts, and he’d simply nodded, grateful they had things under control.

      He had no idea what they had just said.

      Was he ignorant compared to Dex? Uneducated—

      “That was a steal,” Bridget whispered.

      For a million, the foundation must be built of gold, Ty thought.

      “Dex, we have another meeting.” Bridget’s sharp high heels clicked on the floor. “The hospital board at Bethesda.”

      “Don’t worry, it won’t take long,” Grandfather Montgomery added.

      “Nos never do,” Bridget said with a laugh. “I just hope that Jessica Stovall doesn’t get emotional the way I’ve heard she can do.”

      Jessica…yeah, he liked that name. He could imagine her getting