The Rancher's Christmas Match. Brenda Minton

later they were easing down the paved driveway of Mercy Ranch. It appeared to be a sprawling place, with rolling hills of winter-brown grass. White vinyl fencing split the land, creating corrals, smaller pastures, then wide-open fields. Her passenger pointed toward a large, log-sided home, but beyond that she saw an older white farmhouse, a metal building that appeared to be living quarters and, to the left, a large stable.

      She parked next to the log house. The place glittered in the late-afternoon sun as the light reflected off the windows. A dog, a big yellow Labrador, lazed on the front porch.

      “Here we are,” he said. But he sat there a moment, not moving.

      “Are you going to be sick again?” Allie asked from the back seat. “Does your head hurt? Is your vision blurry?”

      “Allie,” Rebecca warned.

      He didn’t seem offended. But he did turn and ask Allie to repeat what she’d said. She did and he smiled.

      “I do have a headache and I’m not going to be sick. And my vision is just fine.”

      He got out of the car and said to Rebecca, “If you need to see Jack, I can get him for you. Oh, and I’ll take my keys.”

      She handed him the keys she’d dropped in her purse. “I’m thirty minutes early.”

      “He won’t mind that you’re early.” Isaac closed the door and walked away.

      She hadn’t planned on getting out, but the cowboy had stopped walking and leaned against the front of her car.

      “I think he needs help, Mom,” Allie piped up.

      Rebecca closed her eyes and sent a rare petition for aid from above. “Come on, let’s help him to the house and we’ll see if Mr. West is available.”

      “Good!” Allie jumped from the car and hurried around to pet the dog that had meandered off the porch to greet them.

      “Allie, you don’t know the dog.” Rebecca called out the warning, but it was too late. Allie had her arms around it and the animal didn’t seem to mind.

      “Decide to come on up to the house?” the cowboy asked.

      “Allie thought you might need assistance.”

      “That’s kind of her. It isn’t usually this bad.”

      “Maybe you should see about getting help.”

      He didn’t take her advice at all seriously. Instead, he leaned on her a bit.

      She considered putting some distance between them, but at that moment he stumbled. She put a steadying hand on his arm.

      “If you can help me to the house, I’ll get Jack for you.”

      They were halfway there when the door opened and a man stepped out on the porch. He looked like an older version of the cowboy, but broader through the shoulders, and his dark hair had grayed. At the sight of the two of them, he shook his head.

      “Isaac, I’ve been wondering what kept you.”

      Isaac. She groaned, because now she understood his amusement with her name. Isaac and Rebecca, the Bible couple, parents of Jacob and Esau. She wanted no part of it. She didn’t want to be a biblical reference.

      “Dad, let me introduce you to Rebecca. She gave me a ride home when it appeared I might be intoxicated.” He winked at her. “Rebecca, meet Jack West.”

      Jack stepped down off the porch, his left side trembling as he navigated the stairs. His arm jerked a bit and he said something under his breath. Even with his obvious physical problems, he appeared strong, and he smiled at her with all the charm she’d expected after reading articles about him and speaking with him on the phone.

      “Miss Rebecca, I’m glad you’re here. And that must be your little girl, Allie. I’ll apologize for Isaac. He isn’t as funny as he thinks he is. But he’s most definitely sober.”

      With a tip of his hat, Isaac headed for the stairs. “Sorry to disappoint you, darlin’, but I needed a ride home and your offer came at the right time. I’m going to leave you all to your meeting.”

      His gaze shot past her, to where Allie played with the yellow Labrador. His smile dissolved. “Maximus, stay.”

      His command caught Rebecca’s attention and she turned to witness the dog leaning close to Allie as her daughter froze and then fell to the ground. As the seizure took control, Maximus stretched out beside her. Rebecca felt the world close in around her as she hurried to Allie, rolling her to her side. Allie’s body jerked, and as the seizure continued, Rebecca glanced at her watch, timing the event.

      Jack and Isaac had come over to sit next to her, and Isaac was on the phone.

      Finally, the seizure ended and Allie lay motionless, her body curling in a fetal position as tears streamed down her cheeks. The dog licked her face and remained still, but near her side. Rebecca waited a moment, then gathered Allie in her arms.

      “I’m sorry, Mr. West, this meeting was a bad idea. I can’t do this.” She blinked away tears that threatened to fall.

      “Now, let’s all stay calm.” He had a hand on her shoulder, the way a father or grandfather would. She shut her eyes, wondering what that would feel like to have a father who cared.

      “I called Carson, and he’s on his way.” Isaac West spoke, his voice steady. He was obviously sober. Sober, steady, calm. How had she missed that?

      He stood up and held a hand out to his father. Jack clasped it readily and rose to his feet.

      “Can we take her inside now?” Isaac asked.

      Rebecca nodded and tried to stand, while still holding her daughter close. Isaac reached for her child, his gray eyes warm with sympathy. Without thinking, she tightened her hold. Allie whimpered in protest.

      “I’m only going to carry her inside for you,” Isaac offered.

      Rebecca closed her eyes again, aware of the stillness all around her, the stillness of the child in her arms. Jack West’s strong hand again settled on her shoulder as she remained on the grass, cradling Allie close.

      “Let Isaac help you. We’ll get you both inside and warmed up. My other son Carson is a doctor. He’ll be here in just a few minutes to examine her.”

      She looked down at Allie. Slowly, she loosened her grip and Isaac took the child from her arms. Jack offered a surprisingly strong hand and pulled her to her feet.

      The dog, Maximus, remained near Isaac, his intelligent eyes focused on Allie.

      “He knew,” Rebecca said, reaching a hand to the animal and letting him lick her fingers.

      “He knew,” Isaac said softly, a different version of the man she’d met in front of the store.

      This version was a different kind of threat. His gaze rested on the little girl in his arms, concern shifting his features. Less than thirty minutes ago he had been having a hard time walking out of the local feed store. She tried to take her daughter from his arms.

      “I can carry her,” she said, as she reached for Allie.

      “You help Jack and I’ll manage,” he said, winking at her.

      “But you were just...” She was unsure how she should put this without hurting his feelings.

      “I’m fine. The balance issues come and go.”

      She didn’t know what to say, but she really didn’t have time to think about it. Allie had begun to cry as the effects of the seizure abated and she came back to herself a bit more.

      “Trust me,” he said.

      Trust wasn’t easy for Rebecca. Especially where Allie was concerned.

      Life had proved to her that there were few people she could trust.