“Kaye? Are you okay?”

She heard Caleb’s words through the layers of sorrow. The pain and grief rolled out of her, much like flood gates opening, and she had no control over them.

How long she cried, she couldn’t say, but it seemed like hours. When sanity returned, she felt the support and comfort of Caleb’s arms. This was the second time the man had held her and surrounded her with his strength.

She pulled away, wiping her face. “You’d never believe I was an efficient military officer who never once cried the entire time I was in the army. I didn’t even cry when my ex told me he was filing for divorce.”

“I believe you.”

His response brought her gaze up to his. “Really? I took the coward’s way out when I left here.”

Caleb’s finger lifted her chin. “I don’t see a coward. I see an amazingly strong woman who has dealt with a lot of tragedy.”

She searched his face, trying to see if he really meant what he said. His eyes held admiration—and something else.

LEANN HARRIS

When Leann was growing up, she used to spin stories to keep herself entertained, and when she didn’t like how a movie ended, she rewrote the ending—and still does.

Once her youngest child went to school, Leann gave in to her imagination and began putting those stories on a page. Since she was such a terrible typist, her husband brought home a computer, and her writing career was born.

Although she’s not a native Texan, she’s lived most of her adult life in Texas, married a fourth-generation Texan, and her two children are fifth-generation Texans, which is why most of her stories are set in the West or the Southwest.

She is active in her local RWA chapter and ACFW chapters. Since other writers nourished her, she wants to give to others the encouragement given her.

A teacher of the deaf (high school), she is a master composter and avid gardener, which you can look at on her website, www.leannharris.com.

A Ranch to Call Home

Leann Harris

www.millsandboon.co.uk

But for you who revere my name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in His wings.

—Malachi 4:2

For my sweet husband,

who has supported me in all things.

My thanks to:

Steve Gander of the Mesquite Pro-Rodeo

for all his help and insights on how a rodeo operates.

Jennifer Baade and “Branigan” for their help.

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Epilogue

Dear Reader

Questions for Discussion

Excerpt

Chapter One

Home. She was home.

After twelve years and a lifetime of experiences gained in the army, ex-captain Brenda Kaye was coming home to the little town of Peaster, Texas, west of Fort Worth to face—what?

Sucking in a long, steadying breath, she turned her army-surplus jeep down the dirt road that led to her family’s farmhouse. When she woke early this morning, she’d felt an urgency to go home. She knew better than to ignore that little voice, for it had saved her life more than once. She packed her clothes and a few personal items into her vehicle, notified her apartment manager she was going to Texas and started home. She didn’t call. Instead, she wanted to surprise her brother and grandfather. She didn’t know what her plans for the future were, she only knew she had to go home. Now.

When the familiar white farmhouse came into view, her stomach tightened. She’d faced some intimidating fellow soldiers and hostile Iraqi men and not backed down, but the sight of her home made her heart pound and her mouth go dry. The gravel road opened up into a large area with the white-clapboard house on the right and the barn on the left, fifty or so yards away. The house had a wraparound porch where the side kitchen door was the main door the family used.

She parked her jeep by an unknown truck but didn’t see her brother’s tan, two-tone F-150. Her grandfather’s old, faded, green Ford pickup sat on the other side of the unknown truck. She sat for a moment and rubbed her right calf, easing the cramping there. She felt the raised scars through the khaki pant leg, a painful reminder of why she was ex-captain Kaye.

Taking a deep breath, she got out of the jeep and looked around. Home. It hadn’t changed much, except for that beautiful horse trailer parked by the barn. She started up the porch steps when a voice called out, “Can I help you?” Kinda like he owned the place.

She stopped on the second riser, turned, ready to open fire, and faced a cowboy—an attractive cowboy, to be sure, but still a stranger. He stood outside the barn’s double doors. His clothes—a worn chambray work shirt rolled up to his elbows, well-worn jeans, boots and work gloves—were standard garb for a working cowboy. A curl of wavy brown hair hung over his forehead as he studied her. A one-thousand-watt smile curved his mouth. “You’re Joel’s sister, Brenda.”

Her stomach danced with awareness she hadn’t felt since her divorce. She put the brakes on her schoolgirl reaction. Ex-army captains don’t fall head over boot heels for a cowboy. “I’m used to going by Kaye. You’ll get a response from me faster if you call me that. I was looking for Joel and my grandfather. Do you know where they are?”

He sobered. “They’re at the hospital.”

“What?” She fought the fear of being too late. “Why are they there?” She stepped down to the ground. Her legs felt wobbly.

The unknown man stripped off his glove and walked toward her. “Your grandfather was out in the north pasture tilling the field when the tractor’s wheel slipped into a rut, flipped and pinned him underneath. Joel and I got him out, and Joel took Gramps to the hospital.” He glanced up at the sun. “That was probably three hours ago.”

“And they haven’t called?”

“No, but your grandpa walked to your brother’s truck.”

Experience taught her most men thought it was their job to lie to you about any injury they suffered. The stranger continued walking toward her.

“I’m Caleb Jensen.” He held out his hand. “Joel and I rodeoed together years ago when he was still on the circuit.”

She shook his hand. The strong handshake spoke of a man who was sure of himself and didn’t try to do a one-upmanship thing by crushing her hand. But with that subdued strength, she felt her stomach dance again. What was going on? When she looked up, she saw awareness in his eyes, and he was looking at her as if she were a woman, not an army captain.

Quickly masking her reaction, she withdrew her hand. Captain Kaye was back in control, not high school Brenda. “What hospital did they go to?”

“John Peter Smith.”

Fort Worth. Did she have it in her to drive the last leg into the city? Her legs ached and were beginning to cramp, but that urgency inside her made it impossible to stay here and wait. She headed toward her jeep to grab her phone for a quick call to her brother. Halfway there her weakened legs gave out. Before she ended up on her dignity, Caleb caught her and gently helped her stand.

Color heated her cheeks. Before her injury, there wouldn’t have been a problem driving the six hundred miles from Albuquerque, then turning around and driving to Fort Worth. Now she lived in a different world. “That drive took more out of me than I thought.”

“I understand.”

She walked on unsteady legs to her jeep, reached in and pulled out her cell.

“Your brother’s not answering his phone. It’s going to voice mail.”

Rats.

“Would you like for me to drive you there?”

She cringed, but the practical army side came to the forefront. “Thank you.”

He nodded. “Let me get my keys from the house.”

She watched him lope away, knowing her anxiety had been right on the mark. She needed to be here.

He quickly reappeared and jerked open his passenger-side door. Slowly she approached, eyeing that step up to the cab of his truck. It looked twenty feet higher than her lower-sitting jeep. When she turned to him, he held out his hand. Obviously, he knew her dilemma and his solution solved the problem. She rested her hand on his forearm, noting the tingle was still there, but ignored it and used his arm as a lever to get in.

When he hopped in and started the engine, his presence seemed to dominate the cab of the truck.

Kaye tried to discreetly rub her aching right calf. “How did you know who I was?”

“I’ve seen your picture at the house. Joel also talks about his sister, the captain.”

“Ex-captain.”

“Yeah.”

“Are you a hired hand at the ranch?” She wanted to avoid explaining why she was an ex-captain.

“No, I’m just a friend who occasionally helps out.”

That didn’t make a lot of sense. She looked out the window at the familiar sights of home, but somehow the guy sitting beside her managed to make her more aware of him than the scenery. She closed her eyes for a moment, the long day catching up with her.

“We’re here.”

The words jerked Kaye awake. She glanced around, seeing the emergency entrance of the hospital. Caleb raced around his truck and opened her door. Well, so much for being 100 percent.

Ignoring her embarrassment, she took his hand and got out. Again, her legs didn’t cooperate and she fell into him.

He steadied her.

“Thanks.”

He didn’t make a fuss. “I’ll go park the truck.”

Watching him drive off, Kaye wished she had the cane that was stuffed in her jeep, but her brain had short-circuited there at the ranch. She took an unsteady step to the emergency room entrance, praying her legs held.

By the time she got to the door, Caleb was there beside her, offering his arm. The instant they walked through the doors the antiseptic smell enveloped her, bringing back memories of the months she spent in various hospitals. Her first instinct was to turn around and walk out.

She must’ve hesitated because Caleb looked at her. “Are you all right?”

“Yes,” she forced out through gritted teeth and walked to the information desk. The grandmotherly lady looked up. “May I help you?”

“My grandfather was brought here. I want to know what his condition is.”

“What is his name?”

Before Kaye could answer, she heard, “Sis?”

She turned and saw her brother and grandfather. Gramps was in a wheelchair, an attendant pushing him. Gramps’s right arm was in a sling, and his face sported bruises around his right eye, along with a cut above his brow. His ear looked like one of the cows in the back pasture had been chewing on it or his old, mean bull had stomped him.

“Gramps, are you all right?” She made her way to his side. Fighting her welling emotion, she carefully brushed a kiss across his cheek. When she pulled back, she had to blink away the tears.

“I look worse for wear, but nothing broken,” he muttered.

Not trusting her voice, she nodded.

“His shoulder was dislocated,” her brother explained.

“They knocked me out before they put the shoulder back in place,” Gramps grumbled. “Thought I was too old to stand up to the pain.”

Joel fought a grin and managed not to smile.

“I dislocated my shoulder once, Grandpa Niall,” Caleb offered. “They didn’t knock me out, but the pain did. Be grateful they put you to sleep.”

Gramps frowned.

Kaye glanced at Caleb. Nice of him to ease her grandfather’s pride. Joel glanced from Caleb to her. She saw the question in her brother’s eyes.

“Let’s get you home,” Kaye said, ignoring her brother.

“I’ll go get the truck.” Joel raced out of the E.R. Caleb followed.

Gramps looked at her. “What are you doing here?”

“It’s good to see you, too.”

He waved away the comment. “You know what I mean. You haven’t shown up unannounced since the day you graduated from high school and left for the army.”

The rebuke hurt, but it was well deserved. “Gramps, I woke up early, and I knew inside I had to come home. Grandma would’ve said The Spirit whispered to me.” She knew her grandfather would understand her feeling.

“About time.”

Leaning down, she whispered, “I’m a little unsteady on my feet after that long drive, so I might need to hold on to your wheelchair.”

Glancing up again, his gaze softened.

Both trucks pulled up. Caleb helped her back into his truck while Joel and the attendant got Gramps settled into the front seat of Joel’s truck.

“I’ll follow behind you,” Caleb called out. Getting into his truck, he looked at her. “Seat belt.”

“Are you usually so bossy?” Kaye wasn’t used to taking orders from civilians.

“No, just safety conscious.”

The way he said it made her realize there was more to the situation than just buckling a seat belt. She wondered what.

* * *

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 horse, Razor, trotted up to him, looking for a treat.

“Sorry, big guy. I don’t have anything.”

The horse nudged him. Razor could always be depended on to bring him out of his funk. “Did you see her? Kaye is home. I’d only seen pictures of her, but meeting her in person—wow.” Absently, he rubbed Razor’s nose as he thought of those blue eyes, which could bore through a man. You weren’t going to hide anything from her.

Too bad he hadn’t met her before Albuquerque.

Razor lifted his head and galloped around the fence. It brought a smile to Caleb’s face.

“I see your horse is in high spirits.” Joel stopped beside Caleb.

Caleb rested his booted foot on the bottom rail of the fence. “How’s your grandfather, really?”

“Doc says he should be fine. They want him to keep his arm in a sling for the next few days, but nothing was broken. Badly bruised, but not broken. How that tractor didn’t do more damage than it did, I don’t know. God was looking out for Gramps.” Joel kept his gaze on Razor.

“That’s for sure. I’m glad I rode out to that pasture.” Caleb still remembered the numbing fear that had raced through him when he’d seen the overturned tractor.

“I’m thankful, too.”

They both kept their cell phones in their back pockets, and it had proved to be a blessing. Caleb had called and Joel had come within ten minutes.

A deep sigh escaped Joel’s mouth. “It’s been a day of surprises.”

An understatement. “Did you know your sister was coming?”

“Not a clue. I talked with her last week, and she mentioned she was feeling stronger but didn’t say anything about coming home. The equine therapy has helped. First time I saw her in the hospital in San Antonio after she’d been wounded, it shook me, and that was weeks after the explosion. It gets to a guy’s gut to see his little sister so broken.” He looked down at his clasped hands and took a deep breath. “Seeing her now, it’s mind-blowing.”

“And she’s home.”

Joel laughed. “Yeah. I often wondered what she was going to do after the army, if she would come home.”

“You have part of the question answered.” Which was more than Caleb knew about his own life. “Are you glad she’s here?”

“Of course, but I’m not sure if she sees it that way. She was good at what she did. The career she loved is over thanks to a suicide bomber, and she comes home to find—” he swept his arm in a wide arc “—this mess with Gramps and the drought. Not to mention she doesn’t even know yet about the charity rodeo that I somehow got appointed the head honcho.” He blew out a breath and rubbed the back of his neck. “How that happened, I still don’t know. This is just one more thing to add confusion to her world. And my world.”

They watched Razor.

An idea popped into his brain. “I think I know something that can keep your sister busy and might help her decide what she wants to do.” Caleb wanted to laugh out loud at his great idea.

“Yeah, what’s that?”

“Put her in charge of the charity rodeo. Let her organize it. You’ve been complaining constantly about all the things you have to do since you drafted me into this shindig. I thought you were going to drop like a sack of feed when you saw Nan White on the organizing committee.”

Joel shuddered. “Who would’ve thought?”

Anyone with eyes, but Caleb decided not to mention it. “I think with all the different things you and I need to do, giving it to Kaye would keep her busy and she could think of the future.”

Joel’s distressed expression turned into a grin. “I like how you think, friend.”

“Do you think she’ll accept?”

Joel shrugged. “Don’t know. But I’m going to give it a shot, because heaven knows I don’t want to ramrod it.”

Caleb shared his friend’s feelings about being in charge, but with Kaye running the show, their prospects looked mighty good. And oddly enough, the idea of working with Kaye appealed to him in ways that he didn’t understand.

Chapter Two

“Who knew you could cook?” Kaye teased, loading the dishwasher. She leaned against the counter, and her fingers snagged the top wire shelf of the appliance. “And you have a dishwasher—a brand-spanking-new dishwasher.” It boggled the mind. Nothing else in this room had changed for over twenty years but this happy little appliance.

Joel leaned back in his chair and grinned. Caleb grabbed his glass of tea and gulped, but she saw his smile.

“A Crock-Pot.”

Joel’s response didn’t make sense. She’d been talking dishwasher. “What?”

“That’s my secret to cooking. Once Gramps and I discovered it in the back of the cabinet, we started using it. We had dinner ready when we came in at night.” His voice rang with pride.

“It prevented us from starving, that’s for sure,” Gramps added. The bruising on his face had colored even more, making Kaye want to grimace, remembering when her face had sported similar bruising.

“Well, you’ll have to give me some recipes. It’s been a long time since I’ve cooked for myself or my ex—” she swallowed the rest of the bitter word, glancing at Caleb to see if he caught her mistake “—on a regular basis. I think I’d rather be out in the field working with the locals than cook. I guess I didn’t get the cooking gene from Mom.” She wanted to snatch back the words. How was she going to do this when she kept stepping on land mines?

“Do you have any idea what you want to do now, Sis?” Her brother’s question snapped her out of the past.

“You mean, what do I want to do when I grow up?”

That brought laughter.

“Well, I haven’t—”

“I have an idea,” Joel said.

That had a suspicious ring. She glanced at her grandfather, then Caleb. There was a twinkle in Caleb’s eyes that set her teeth on edge. She couldn’t tell if Gramps was smiling since his face was so swollen.

“I’m afraid to ask.”

Joel stood. “Come with me and I’ll show you.” He led everyone into the formal dining room. Scattered papers covered the entire surface of the table. “I’m in over my head, and I think with what you did in the army, you can help me.”

“At what?” She stared at the mess. It looked like her brother had left the windows open in the dining room and the wind had scattered everything. Stepping to the table, she picked up several sheets. Calf tie-down, steer wrestling, saddle bronc riding, bull riding, bareback riding. “A rodeo?” She looked at the three men gathered around.

“The drought has hit most of the ranchers hard in the county, Sis, nearly wiping us out,” Joel explained. “We’ve had to buy feed and hay since our crops failed. Some don’t have the money for seed to plant this next season and will go broke with another year like last year and lose their ranches. At church, we came up with the idea of a charity rodeo with all the prize money, entry fees and ticket sales going to buy seed and feed for the ranchers. County fairgrounds will donate their facility without charge. Now all we have to do is organize the thing.” He ran his hand through his hair. “I was elected to organize this shindig and get it going.”

Kaye’s eyes widened but she didn’t say anything. There was more coming, and she felt it.

“I’m in over my head. I can’t work the ranch and do this.” He waved at the pile. “I could use some help.”

There it was.

“Isn’t that what you did in the army as a public-affairs officer?” Joel further pressed. “Organizing things for the army and local residents?”

She admired her brother’s cunning. He knew how to bait the trap and spring it. When they were growing up, he’d always managed to steer her into doing things he didn’t want to do. “You haven’t lost your edge, have you, big brother?”

The twitch of his lips ruined his innocent expression.

She tried to remain stern, but the humor of the situation bubbled up. Caleb and Gramps stood still, afraid to breathe. “You were always too smart for my own good.”

“Does that mean yes?” The note of hope in her brother’s voice made her want to either laugh or throw something at him.

“I’ll do it, but you’re not off scot-free.”

Joel grabbed her around the waist, lifting her off her feet and twirling her around. “That’s okay.”

“Put me down.”

He did, then kissed her on the cheek. “Thanks, Sis.”

Kaye shook her head. “What more could I expect from my big brother, who was known to get his own way?” She also figured she needed to pay him back. He’d kept the ranch running when she’d run so fast away from here, leaving him to pick up the pieces.

“Want to see what I’ve got so far?”

“No, but if I’m going to do this, I guess I need to see what I’m up against. Show me.”

* * *

Caleb stood by the corral, watching Razor. The spring night carried soft smells of honeysuckle and wild roses. In spite of the drought, some flowers were blooming this year.

There was the hope of rain this week. A promise. Every rancher in the county prayed rain would come.

“Is that your horse?”

Caleb jerked at the sound of Kaye’s voice.

“Yes. That’s Razor.”

“He’s a beaut.”

Razor trotted up to the fence. He stood before Kaye, his tail swishing.

She reached out her hand to rub the horse’s muzzle.

“I wouldn’t do that.” Caleb’s hand shot out catching her by the wrist. The contact sizzled. Her eyes widened as she felt the electricity, too. Instantly, he drew back his hand. “He’s prickly.”

Kaye turned her gaze back to Razor and lightly stroked the horse’s muzzle and forehead. Amazingly, stunningly, Razor stood quietly and allowed her to do it, making him look like an idiot.

“This is prickly?” She moved her hand under his chin and continued stroking him. “Hey, big guy. It’s nice to meet you.” She reached into the pocket of her light sweater and pulled out a carrot. “Could I offer you a treat?”

Razor nodded and closed his teeth around the carrot.

Leaning against the fence, Caleb marveled at the woman’s approach. “You came prepared.”

“I learned the hard way it’s always easier to offer a gift. It paves the way. It works with people as well as animals. Particularly in Iraq.”

Joel had bragged about what his sister did in the army. And Caleb had stayed at the ranch the week Joel and his grandfather had visited her in the hospital in San Antonio.

“Razor is the best at what he does, but some folks have gotten on the wrong side of him.” Caleb felt foolish for sounding the alarm, but who knew Razor would behave himself? “Razor is a fine working horse, but he’s a little temperamental.”

“Temperamental?”

“Folks need to be cautious when they approach him. He can be unpredictable. He needs a firm hand.”

“I understand. I’ve spent the last twelve years dealing with prickly males.”

Caleb’s eyes widened, then he snorted. “Point taken.” He liked her quick wit.

“Well, he’s a beautiful animal. And I think I’ve won a friend.”

“Just be warned, he’ll be looking for a treat from now on.”

“I hear you. But remember, I was a public-affairs officer. My job was to read people and interface with the local population.”

“Interface?”

She caught the irony in his voice. “Sorry. Force of habit. It’s easier to talk and get to know the local civilian population if you come with a present.” She sobered. “I guess I’ve joined the ranks of that civilian population, haven’t I?”

Obviously, the lady’s choice hadn’t been one she’d welcomed. Circumstances had overwhelmed her. He identified with that. “But something tells me you’re the right person to tackle that charity rodeo. Since you interfaced with the locals, I think you can probably do this job in your sleep.”

“Sometimes dealing with your own hometown is more of a challenge.”

He knew that. “You’ll be better than Joel. Or me.”

She laughed, a clear, beautiful sound that transformed her into a stunning woman. He didn’t think she had on a speck of makeup, but there was a natural beauty to her. She wasn’t like some of those girls who showed up at the rodeo, playing at being a cowgirl, pretending to be something they weren’t. He could tell that Kaye had been through some hard experiences, but she wore that experience with dignity. And that appealed to him.

“Well, since I’m at a crossroads, I guess I’ve got the time.” Razor dipped his head, looking for another carrot. She gently pushed his face away. “One wasn’t enough for you?”

The horse raised his head. She pulled a second carrot out of her other pocket. The horse nodded and took the second one from her. “If I pull this thing off, are you going to compete?”

“Not me.”

“Why not? I though you said you knew Joel through the rodeo.”

“True, but that was a long time ago. I started working as a pick-up rider. My brother was the star.”

“Oh, good, you could ride pick-up for the charity rodeo. That will work, as well.”

“No can do.” He didn’t look at her but rubbed Razor’s neck.

“Why not?”

She’d touched a raw spot in his heart. He didn’t know if he wanted to charge that hill yet, so he hoped to divert her. “I can help with other things—with your vendors, stock supplier, but I won’t do pick-up.”

Confusion filled her eyes, and she opened her mouth, but then closed it. “Okay. I’ll take you up on the offer to help.”

He nodded.

She studied him. “If you don’t mind me asking, why’d you become a pick-up rider? Most of the guys I knew growing up here wanted to compete and win. That’s where the action and glory are.”

“And if they don’t win or place, they don’t get money. What I did pays every rodeo.” And since he’d supported his brother and him, he’d needed a paycheck he could count on. He knew she wanted to ask more, but he wasn’t willing to say more. “Why’d you join the army?”

“At the time, it seemed the best choice.” Her bleak tone told the story.

He’d sung that same song, the same verse of that heart-wrenching tune. Of course, he knew the real reason she’d joined the army. He’d been with Joel in Phoenix getting ready for the rodeo when Joel had gotten the bad news his parents and grandmother had been killed in a car accident. That New Year’s Eve had dramatically changed his friend’s life. Kaye’s, too.

He stole a glance at her. Her expression told him she didn’t want to talk anymore about why she’d joined the army.

“You must’ve liked the army since you became a captain.”

Facing him, she leaned against the fence. “You know the thing I liked the most about the army?”

“What was that?”

“The order. And structure. You can depend on certain things. And you always knew that you’d have a place to sleep, clothes on your back and three squares a day.”

He understood that. There were times when he hadn’t known where Sawyer and he would get their next meal. They’d often did without when they were living with his mother, but once he’d had custody of his brother, they’d never gone without. “I understand.”

His tone must’ve caught her ear, because her gaze searched his. “You do?”

“Yup, I had more peanut-butter-and-sugar sandwiches and ramen noodles than I care to think about.”

Razor bumped her shoulder. “Sorry, big guy, you ate it all.” She rubbed his nose. “I’ll come prepared with more next time.” Razor nodded.

“I think you’re on his good side.”

“I’m glad I haven’t completely lost my touch, unlike my stumbling into this rodeo deal. Joel may have thought he pulled one on me, but I’m not going to let you and my brother off the hook. I’ll need help.” Her tone brooked no argument.

He raised his hands. “I told you I’d help.”

She nodded. “This rodeo is scheduled for the last weekend of May. That gives me ten weeks. I’ve done events for the army in less time, but I had the manpower.”

“Which means that you’re going to be working us hard.”

“You got it, cowboy.” The humor in her eyes matched the curve of her lips. “Will you be available? You don’t have a rodeo scheduled, do you?”

Her consideration astonished and sobered him. He knew if he called Steve Carter now, he could be working next week. She hadn’t assumed. She’d thought to ask. At her rank, issuing orders was natural. His respect for her grew. “I’ve got the time, and between you and Joel, I think you’ll keep me busy.”

“Thanks, Caleb.” She turned and walked toward the house. He saw that she limped noticeably. When she got to the stairs, she paused, then slowly placed her right foot on the first step. She brought her left foot up to the riser before she tackled the next one. He knew she’d broken both legs in several places, but never once today had she complained.

Razor nudged him with his nose.

“Well, you made me look like an idiot. Here I was issuing a warning about what a skittish creature you are.” Razor moved his head, wanting his chin scratched. “Then you rolled over for her like a big puppy. I bet Bart McQueen would be amazed.” Bart had a nasty bruise on his thigh thanks to Razor.

Razor picked his head up and nodded.

“Traitor,” he grumbled as he walked to his trailer. Shucking off his boots, he stretched out on the bunk. Folding his arms behind his head, he remembered Kaye’s struggle up the steps.

The lady had guts. And smarts. And he didn’t doubt she was going to run Joel and him to the ground.

Oddly, he didn’t mind.

* * *

Kaye reread the verse Ps 94:17. Unless the Lord had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence. She closed her Bible and felt the deep peace that scripture brought her. She remembered waking up in the hospital in Ramstein, Germany hearing that verse. She’d been in and out of consciousness, and when she’d finally awoken, night nurse 2nd Lt. Jenna Mayfield had been there, reading to her from the Bible.

Each time Kaye read that verse, she knew that God had shielded her. “I don’t know what I’m to do now, Lord. Why’d you save me and not the others?” She’d been meeting a group of Iraqi women, talking to them, seeing what they needed and how the U.S. Army could help them. They’d made progress. After nearly four months, the women had trusted her enough to tell her of the dreams they had for their children. They’d been excited about the opening of a new school, and even girls were being educated. They’d been friends. She recalled clearly each face and the hope and excitement.

She took a long steadying breath as the sorrow washed over her. None of the five women had made it. The only reason Kaye had survived was because when the bomb went off she’d been reaching down to pick up her backpack to get the small gifts she had for their children. After the incident, Kaye knew none of the other women in the neighborhood would talk or cooperate with the Americans. She carried the weight of that guilt. That was the main reason she resigned.

The light knock on the door caught her by surprise. “Sis?”

“Come in, Joel.”

He cracked the door. “I wanted to say thanks again for doing this.” He walked into the room and sat on the edge of the bed beside her. “When I saw you standing there in the emergency room, it seemed like an answer to prayer. I didn’t know how I was going to manage Gramps, the ranch and this rodeo at the same time.”

“Caleb was here.”

Joel’s eyes widened. “He’s a guy.”

She cocked her head. “So?”

“Guys aren’t as good as girls at taking care of sick folks.”

“Please, Joel. I’ve been watching men do the cooking and cleaning and nursing for the past twelve years.”

“Okay.” He raised his hands. “But you are an answer to prayer. I’m glad you’re home, Sis.”

Was she an answer to prayer? Hardly, but was this rodeo an answer to prayer? “I’m glad I’m home, too, and Gramps is okay.”

“You’re planning on staying, aren’t you?”

“I don’t know, Joel. I know this is where I should be now. Helping with the rodeo might help me to know what my next step is.”

Joel slipped his arm around her shoulders and hugged her. “My mind went on overload when Caleb called this morning. I honestly don’t know how we moved the tractor, but we did.” He rubbed his neck. “I hope you don’t mind that Caleb’s here and spent time at the ranch.”

“Why would I mind? I haven’t lived here in a long time.”

“You still own half of this ranch.”

“If you want to be technical, yes, but really, this place is yours. You’re the guy who put his sweat and blood into it and oversaw everything since Mom and Dad died. You and Gramps.”

He nodded. “I’m glad you feel that way. Welcome home, Sis.” He kissed her cheek and walked out of the room.

Turning off the light, she slipped between the sheets. Home. She was really home. The house hadn’t changed much since she’d left, kind of like it was in a male time warp. The only thing new was the sixty-inch TV that took over half the wall in the living room. And that dishwasher. The house sported a twenty-year-old stove, a toaster that belonged to her grandmother, a washer and dryer her mother had bought the year Kaye was born. But that brand-spanking-new TV had all the bells and whistles on it and sported the football and rodeo channels.

Men were so predictable.

And when she’d walked into her bedroom earlier today, there had stood Caleb among all the tokens that the teenage Brenda had thought were important. It had rattled her and touched part of her soul she buried with her divorce. Here was a handsome man who saw her as a woman. Not Captain Kaye, meal-ticket Kaye or poor, pitiful Brenda who’d lost her parents.

Joel may have thought he’d put one over on her by dumping this rodeo in her lap, but she welcomed it. She’d been restless these past few weeks as she finished her equine therapy. Being around horses had put a longing in her heart to go home. But she’d known if she went home, she’d have to make peace with the past she’d successfully avoided until now. The thought frightened her. But maybe working on the rodeo would keep her busy enough to deal with the past or ignore it, which she preferred. And maybe she’d find the road God wanted her to walk for the rest of her life.

Maybe.

Chapter Three

“Yes, Nan, I’ll be in contact. And rest assured Joel definitely isn’t getting off scot-free,” Kaye added, getting up from the formal dining room table. One of the house phones had a cordless handset.

“Well, I hope so. I volunteered only because Joel asked. Don’t get me wrong. I would’ve helped with the rodeo,” Nan hastily added, “but not as one of the board members with all the extra work it requires. But the local ranchers need the help.”

“I will talk to Joel and the other two board members. Why don’t we meet this Saturday morning? Is the Country Kitchen Café downtown still there and in business?”

“Yes, it is.”

“Good. Then let’s meet there and coordinate what needs to be done. If we need to look at the fairgrounds, we can.”

“All right. You’ll notify the others?”

“I will.” Kaye disconnected and set the phone on the table, taking a deep breath.

She’d spent the morning going over the papers scattered across the formal dining room table, putting them in some sort of order. It reminded her of some of the offices in Baghdad. She’d spent the morning writing a list of things that needed to be done. More than once she’d wanted to throw up her hands and walk away from the mess. But as soon as that thought had occurred, the army side of her came roaring back, determined to make order out of the chaos. The ranchers needed the money, and the rodeo would raise those funds.

“How did you let your brother hornswoggle you into doing his job?”

Looking up, she spied her grandfather at the door. “Good question. I must be off my game.”

Gramps walked slowly to the table. When he sat, he adjusted the sling holding his right arm. “I think I’m going to throw this contraption into the trash.”

Standing, she came to his side. “Here, let me do that. You want it looser or tighter?”

“I want it gone.”

Apparently, she was going to pull rank on the old boy. “That’s fine, but I’m sure the doctors told you that it would take longer for that shoulder to recover without it. And if you want to mess with this longer, then ignore the medical advice. I know how annoying it is, because there in San Antonio I refused therapy until one drill sergeant of a head nurse told me to move my sorry bu—posterior out of her ward. She only wanted those patients who were brave enough to heal. I had to do a lot of things I didn’t want to do these past six months to be able to walk again.”

His mouth compressed into a frown. “Going to use guilt on me, are you, girl?”

“If it works, I’m using it.”

She could see her grandfather considering her words. “I like how the army trained you.”

“If I was still in the army, I’d simply give you an order.”

He laughed. “I bet you were a handful.”

“According to Mom, I always was a handful.” The mention of her mom sobered her.

Gramps rested his hand on her arm. “You need to make peace with what happened.”

She tried not to jerk away, but his words were like a live wire touching her skin. “What about your sling?”

“I need this thing looser.”

She readjusted the strap.

“So can you make sense of this mess?” He nodded toward the table that now sported neat stacks of papers.

“Barely. I’ve been looking through everything. What I need is Joel in here, not outside chasing down cows.”

“Why not call the other folks on the committee?”

“I just finished talking to Nan White. And she told me about Mike Johnson and Laurie Benson.”

“I’ve heard your brother talking to them.”

“So why didn’t he tell me about the others? I found a note buried in this chaos.” Kaye finished adjusting the sling.

“Because Nan recently got divorced and has been eyeballing your brother like he’s a side of beef.”

A chuckle burst out of her mouth. “So it wasn’t my talent that impressed my brother. He just wanted a stand-in.”

Gramps started to shrug, but the pain stopped him. He hissed. “I think I might take one of those little pills the hospital gave me and sit in my chair.”

“Let’s get you settled, then I’ll get your meds.” She’d been through enough pain; she could identify with Gramps in a way she would’ve never understood before.

Gramps hobbled into the living room and eased into his well-worn recliner. Kaye grabbed the pills and a glass of water from the kitchen and returned to his side.

He took the meds without any argument, which meant he was hurting. He settled back in the chair and closed his eyes. “Turn on that TV to one of the sports channels and I’ll sit here and listen to it.”

Kaye smiled and turned on the TV.

“Why don’t you go and see if you can corner your brother and drag some answers out of him. I won’t move.”

Not sure she wanted to leave Gramps, she stood there.

Gramps opened one eye. “Go. Midnight is out in the corral.”

She didn’t want to insult her grandfather, so she retrieved the handset from the dining room table and put it on the table beside the chair. “I’ve put the phone by your chair. Call if you need anything.”

He nodded and waved her away.

She kissed Gramps’s forehead and reluctantly walked away, praying she’d made the right decision.

Out on the back porch, she stretched her protesting back and shoulders. Sitting that long had allowed her muscles to stiffen, and she’d worked so hard to build them up. The first time she’d gotten out of the hospital bed in San Antonio, she’d landed on her backside, her muscles like jelly. She’d done it in front of the drill-sergeant nurse, but that weakness made her realize she needed to fight.

Midnight was in the corral behind the barn, as Gramps had said. A ride just might be the thing. Besides, after talking to Nan and Gramps, she had a few things she wanted to discuss with her brother.

Nan had been great after Kaye had told her what her job in the army had been. Kaye planned to talk to the other two members of the committee later, after she “chatted” with her brother. He was still the head honcho and she needed his input.

Stopping before the fence, Kaye called out to the horse. “Midnight, want a peppermint?” She held up the treat and noisily unwrapped it. The horse trotted to her side, putting her face near Kaye’s hands. “Oh, you’re easy. Didn’t take much convincing, did it?” The horse happily lipped the candy. Kaye slipped the bridle over the horse’s head and walked her into the barn. It only took moments for Kaye to saddle the mare. Kaye found the wooden folding steps they kept in the corner of the barn and used them to mount the horse. She looked forward to the day she wouldn’t need the extra help with mounting. Before the accident, she could pull herself into the saddle with ease.

She shook off the pity party. There was no use in playing the what-if game.

Touching her back pocket, Kaye made sure she had her cell phone. She considered calling Joel, but she wanted to surprise him with questions about the rodeo and didn’t want to give him time to come up with an excuse.

She studied the western horizon, noting the gathering clouds. “It looks like we might get some rain,” she told Midnight, patting the horse on her neck. “We can only pray it does.” She guided Midnight back inside the barn and snagged her old cowboy hat from a hook. It amazed her that her brother had kept it, but she’d put it to good use.

“Let’s see if we can find the guys before we have some weather.” She remembered they’d talked about checking the stock at the western edge of the ranch.

As she rode away from the barn, she felt a freedom, and long-ago hopes flickered to life in her heart, sparking a smile. The years seemed to melt away and she didn’t have a care in the world.

Her body relaxed into the rhythm of the horse’s gait. When she was in the army, she’d always found a stable where she was stationed so she could ride, but riding here at her family’s ranch brought back good memories. The wind picked up and the sky grew dark. After several minutes, when she still hadn’t seen any signs of either Joel or Caleb, she considered going back to the ranch house. The land dipped toward a small stream. Trees grew in abundance down here by the river, and it was always a place where they had to rescue stray calves. Maybe she’d find the guys there.

As she headed toward the stream, a blinding light split the sky, and the ground shook with the earth-shattering sound. Her mount danced sideways and electricity seemed to race over Kaye’s skin, raising the hair on her arms. She struggled with the reins, trying to keep the horse from bolting.

“Easy, girl.”

The horse’s head came up and Midnight shook. Kaye patted the mare’s neck. “Easy.” What she didn’t need was her mount charging off in a blind panic.

As she nudged her horse forward, she thought she heard her name, turned and saw Caleb racing toward her.

Before he could reach her, the sky opened up as if someone had turned on the shower full throttle. These were no little droplets but a full barrage of stinging drops.

“Let’s take cover under the trees,” he shouted, nodding toward the stand of trees.

They both headed for the shelter. They were almost there when another flash of lightning streaked across the sky. The boom nearly threw Kaye off her horse, singeing her skin and throwing her back to another blast that tore her world apart.

* * *

“Wow, that was close.” Caleb looked around to make sure the lightning hadn’t hit any of the trees surrounding them. When Kaye didn’t answer, he turned to her. They were both drenched and the cold rain ran down his back in rivulets. But what chilled him was Kaye’s blank expression.

“Kaye, were you hit?”

Kaye appeared frozen.

He nudged his horse closer to her. “Are you hurt?” He did a quick scan for any injuries.

Again, she didn’t answer.

“Kaye, are you okay?”

Her eyes were wide-open, but she wasn’t seeing him next to her. She clutched her horse’s reins so tightly that her fingers had gone white. Her mount danced nervously. Caleb reached over and pried her fingers loose from the reins. Her body began to shake so hard, he thought she’d fly apart. And she wasn’t doing her mount any favors.

“Kaye?”

Nothing.

Another flash of lightning, accompanied by booming thunder filled the air. Kaye seemed to shrink farther into herself.

Caleb grabbed Midnight’s reins and wrapped them around his saddle horn, then pulled Kaye from her saddle and settled her in front of him. He took off her cowboy hat and folded her close to his chest.

Her body shook as if she were on a Tilt-a-Whirl at the state fair. He rested his chin on her head and rubbed his hand over her back. The world around them disappeared while Caleb held this brave woman, who was seeing another world, living through a different storm.

He could only guess at the horror she saw, but he knew she’d endured a lot in the hospitals she’d been in. He experienced nightmares about the accident that had just happened with the rider who was hurt, but his nightmares were nowhere in the realm of hers.

Midnight danced, but Razor stood rock steady underneath him. Midnight calmed.

Caleb started praying. He might not know what she saw, but God did.

The storm raged around them, cutting them off from the world. The leaves shook, but only a few drops worked their way down Caleb’s back. As he prayed, Caleb felt a deep connection to this woman—one he’d never experienced before. He didn’t quite understand the feeling, but he recognized a wounded soul when he saw one.

He lost track of how much time passed, but the lack of sound finally caught his attention. The rain stopped as suddenly as it began.

Kaye’s body relaxed and she melted into him. He continued to hold her, lightly rubbing her back. After a moment, she stirred and looked up at him.

Slowly she became aware of where she sat. She didn’t cry or accuse but quietly waited for an explanation.

“You seemed a bit— Uh, Midnight panicked and—”

She looked down at her hands. “Thanks.”

No further explanation was needed.

He wanted to ask her what she was reliving, but from her closed expression, he knew she didn’t want to talk.

“I think I can ride by myself.” She refused to look up.

“So how do you want to do this? You want to try to slip your leg over Midnight’s back, or do you want to mount from the ground?”

She eyed the maneuver she would have to make to slip onto Midnight’s back from his horse. “I think maybe let me mount from the ground.”

He gently set her on her feet, handed back her hat then unwrapped her mount’s reins from around his saddle horn. She slapped the hat on and looked around—he guessed for a rock that she could mount from.

He dismounted and cupped his hands so she could use them for a boost up.

“Thanks.”

She stepped into his hands and he lifted her over her horse’s back. Her neck turned red.

He remounted his horse and they started toward the house. They didn’t talk as they rode, but as they topped the next-to-last rise before the ranch house, the sight and smell of smoke filled the sky.

Kaye stopped. Caleb stopped beside her.

“The house and barn are in that direction.” She glanced at him.

“There were several lightning strikes close to us. Maybe one of the trees or some grass burned.” At least he hoped that was all it was.

They kicked their mounts into a run. As they topped the last rise, their worst fears were confirmed. The back porch of the house was on fire. Joel and her grandfather fought the flames.

Riding down the hill, they galloped to the barn. Joel stood outside with the hose, and Gramps held a bucket. Caleb raced to the back of the house and dismounted on a run. He took the bucket from the old man and ran to the outside trough and filled it. He threw the bucket on the edge of the porch. Kaye went inside and grabbed the broom and started to beat the two-by-fours anchoring the screens.

They worked for several more minutes at fighting the fire until they had it out. Finally, Joel stepped back and held the hose at his side. “I think we’ve got it. Anyone see any smoldering spots?”

“Looks like it’s out,” Caleb said.

Gramps stumbled to the singed picnic table and sat. Caleb set the bucket down. He collapsed next to Gramps on the bench as Joel turned off the hose.

Opening the screen door, Kaye joined the others. Part of the porch’s roof was blackened.

“What happened?” she asked.

“I was riding in when I saw the bolt of lightning hit the porch. I vaulted off my horse and ran to the hose and started fighting the flames. Gramps came out the back door and tried to help, but—”

“I was sitting in my chair asleep when a loud crack woke me. What that tractor didn’t do, the boom nearly did.”

They looked at the smoldering roof of the porch.

“It could’ve been worse,” Caleb said. His words were punctuated by the roof crumbling onto the porch.

Silence settled until a choked laugh escaped Kaye. She looked around, guilt flushing her cheeks.

Joel shook his head. Caleb fought his smile while Gramps just shook his head and walked back inside.

Caleb thought about what Joel said. “Did you see the lightning actually strike the house?”

Under the soot on his face, Joel frowned. “I did. Why?”

“Horsefeathers.” Gramps’s comment drifted through the screened back door.

Caleb rubbed the back of his neck. “Because if there was a direct strike, it probably fried all the electronics in the house.”

Kaye sat down next to Caleb. “What else could go wrong?”

“Do you really want to know?”

She shook her head. “No.”

But when it rained, it poured. And it was raining hard.

Chapter Four

Kaye pulled the marshmallow out of the fireplace and placed it onto a graham cracker. She topped it with a square of chocolate and a second graham cracker, and handed it to her grandfather. “This reminds me of the first time you took Joel and me on a campout.”

Gramps accepted the treat and tried to take a bite but lost hold of the s’more. It plopped in his lap. He glanced at Kaye. “Nothing’s going right today.”

Kaye quickly picked up the s’more and put it on a plate. “I’ll make you another.”

Gramps shook his head. “Nope, just give me back that mess. I’ll finish it.”

Kaye glanced at Caleb and saw him grinning. A laugh bubbled up in her, but she didn’t think Gramps would appreciate it. After the events of this afternoon, you had to either laugh or cry. She put the plate with the s’more in Gramps’s lap. He picked it up and took a bite.

Caleb handed her another marshmallow. “You seem to get the marshmallow just right, so mind doing mine?”

Kaye’s emotions binged all over the place. There was that sizzle she felt, but also she was on pins and needles, worried he’d ask about what happened during the storm.

This flashback had been the worst she’d experienced.

“Kaye?” Caleb said again, holding out the marshmallow.

“Well, since your last marshmallow resembled the black mess on the back porch, I guess I could.”

Caleb grinned. “That last one I did looked exactly like the mess on the porch.”

The lightning had blown all the lightbulbs in the house along with all the appliances—big screen included. Even the hot-water heater had been fried. Joel called the insurance company on his cell phone and was told to leave things alone until the adjuster could get out to the ranch tomorrow. If they had any working cameras or if their cell phones had a camera they should take pictures of the damages.

They’d put the things from the refrigerator in an ice chest and had hot dogs for dinner. The fire in the fireplace was Gramps’s idea. They had only two lightbulbs in the pantry, so they’d replaced one in Gramps’s room but had to find a lamp that still worked to put in the other lightbulb. Luckily, all their flashlights worked.

“I wonder if we’re the only ones who got hit,” Joel said.

“I’ll ask when I call the other members on the committee. Oh, by the way, I talked to Nan today.” Kaye pulled the marshmallow out of the fire and handed the skewer to Caleb.

In the light from the fireplace, Kaye could see her brother’s guilty look. “Oh?”

“That’s why I decided to ride out to the field, to have a little talk with you.”

Joel shifted on the chair. “About what?”

“About all the details I couldn’t find in your pile. Have you assigned jobs to the various board members? Nan didn’t know what she was to do.”

In the dim light, Kaye couldn’t tell if he blushed, but he wouldn’t look at her.

Joel stuffed the last of the s’more in his mouth. “Not exactly,” he mumbled around the graham cracker.

Her brother acted more like a teenage boy than an adult male. Caleb and Gramps avoided looking at her, too.

“We’re going into town Saturday morning to meet with the other members on the board of the charity rodeo. If we’re going to pull this off in the allotted time, everyone needs to be assigned a job, so before I do that, I want to talk to all the board members.”

“Well, let me know how it goes.” Joel tried to hand her another marshmallow.

“Oh, no, big brother.” Her firm tone drew everyone’s attention. “You and Caleb are going with me. Remember, you promised to help.”

He opened his mouth, then closed it.

She readied herself to bat down any further arguments. “Gramps, if you want to come, you’re more than welcome.”

Gramps nodded. “Better than sitting here with nothing working.”

Kaye took the marshmallow from Joel.

“So why didn’t you just call, Sis? When that storm hit, I thought you were here with Gramps.”

She paled at the question and her gaze flew to Caleb’s. His expression remained neutral. “After talking with Nan, I wanted to get some straight answers from you.”

“And you found Caleb, instead.”

“I did.” Kaye battled the fear that Caleb would mention how she froze up.

“We were caught out there in the field when the lightning struck,” Caleb explained. “Nearly rattled all the teeth out of my head and didn’t do our horses any favors. We raced toward that copse of trees, took shelter and rode out the storm.” Nothing in his tone indicated she’d flipped out.

Joel’s eyes narrowed. “I had to fight my mount when one of those strikes hit close.”

“As I said, our mounts weren’t happy, either.” Caleb popped the last of his s’more into his mouth. Was there a pattern here? Stuff the mouth and don’t have to answer the question.

Kaye anxiously waited, but Caleb simply continued eating his treat. He nodded toward the bowl of marshmallows.

“Could you do in another one?” he asked between bites.

His question snapped her out of her anxiety. She searched Caleb’s gaze and realized he wasn’t going to say anything about her flashback. “Sure.” She put two marshmallows on a skewer and held it over the flames.

A weight lifted off her shoulders. Still reeling from the incident, she didn’t want her family to know about what happened. Flashbacks weren’t that unusual for combat veterans and she’d had a few before now, but this last one was a real doozy. The noise of the thunder and sudden change in the air pressure had resembled the moments around when the bomb detonated. She remembered being pushed down into blackness when the bomb had gone off in the café. Snatches of the minutes after the bomb floated through her memory.

The cries.

The moans.

The stickiness of blood on her face.

And the metallic smell of blood and biting smell of cordite.

Through the panic this afternoon, a prayer had pierced the nightmare. The words had been a lifeline in the sea of pain and terror that she’d grabbed on to and held until the nightmare receded. When the world had come back into focus, Caleb’s strong arms had surrounded her. He’d smelled of man and wet horse, which had been a blessing and comfort. It was reality that she held on to.

She’d feared Caleb might ask what was wrong, but he hadn’t. And he hadn’t ratted her out to her brother when he’d had the opportunity.

“I think those marshmallows are ready,” Caleb whispered.

Jerking the marshmallows back, she pushed one onto the graham cracker he held.

“Thanks.”

Kaye nodded, thinking she was the one who should thank him. She breathed a sigh of relief, and the knot in her stomach eased. Caleb had just won her respect. And gratitude. When she looked at him, there was no disdain in his eyes, simply understanding.

“Whoever would’ve thought we’d be roasting our dinner over the fireplace,” Gramps grumbled. “I remember it wasn’t until I was eight before my folks got electricity at their ranch. I liked the convenience.”

“Well, tomorrow’s going to be a big day. After the insurance man comes, I’m going shopping. If y’all want any input into the purchases, you’d better come with me.”

“You can do that, Sis. We’ve got a lot to do here.”

“You know better what appliances we need,” Gramps added.

“Fine, but I think we don’t need that big a TV again. It seems a bit extreme.” That brought both of them up short.

Gramps opened his mouth, but Joel beat him to the punch. “Just do it in the afternoon, Sis. We need to care for the stock.”

“Not a problem.” Kaye swallowed her grin. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the mirth in Caleb’s face. This wasn’t the first time she’d maneuvered around obstinate men.

* * *

Kaye couldn’t sleep. Each time she closed her eyes, the smell of burned wood filled her lungs, reminding her of her flashback and the horror of cresting that last hill and seeing her home on fire. Or of a burning café in Baghdad.

She threw back the covers and scrambled out of bed, looking around for her beat-up jeans. She threw off her sleep shirt, slipped on her army-issued T-shirt and her running shoes and headed for the barn. She needed to check on Midnight. They’d both had a tough day.

Slipping out the kitchen door, she noticed that the moon washed the charred remains of the porch in silver light. It didn’t look as stark in moonlight, but with daylight the ugly scars would be there again.

She identified with that. She looked okay from the outside, but if you shone sunlight on her, you could see the burned and damaged parts. Her legs were crossed with cuts and burns, and she had massive scars from the surgery.

When she walked into the barn, the warm, comforting scent of horse filled her lungs, replacing the biting, charred smell of wood. She walked down the stalls and stopped at Midnight’s. She slipped inside and softly crooned to the horse. Midnight woke and turned to her.

“Sorry, girl, for waking you. I just wanted to make sure you were okay. Obviously, you are.” Kaye rubbed the horse’s muzzle. The horse snorted and nodded her head. Kaye slipped out of the stall, grabbed a curry brush and went back inside. “I didn’t mean to freak out on you.” With long strokes she worked the brush over the horse’s flank. “This time was... There weren’t words for this afternoon.”

That fact rattled Kaye. And of course, that memory was joined by other hidden memories lurking in this house. All the joy and laughter of her childhood drowned out by the sorrow that had reigned those last months of high school. She’d tried to remain numb her last months home, but thoughts of her folks had kept ambushing her. Her mom wasn’t there to help her pick out a dress for prom if she’d gone, and her dad didn’t get to see her graduate. Grandma never showed her how to make her special Chess pie. They were all gone in an instant.

Her hand stilled on Midnight’s side as she tried to catch her breath. “Lord, I’m drowning. I need something to hold on to. What am I going to do?”

She heard Razor in the next stall. She looked at Midnight and whispered, “I wasn’t expecting that.”

Kaye slipped out of Midnight’s stall and walked to Razor’s half door. “I don’t think you’re who God sent, my friend.” Putting down the curry brush on the half door, she rubbed the horse’s nose.

“I don’t know. Razor’s a godsend for a lot of cowboys.”

Instinct took over and she dropped to a crouch, ready to fight. Caleb stood at the barn’s side door. She relaxed, then tensed, wondering how much of her conversation had he heard. Well, she’d just gut her way through. “What are you doing up?”

“I could ask the same.” Caleb walked toward her. “I heard someone out here, then Razor moving, so I came to investigate. With all that’s happened today, I thought it wise.” He had on jeans, a T-shirt and flip-flops. He walked to her side. “You couldn’t sleep, either?”

“Yeah.”

She needed to thank him for helping her through the storm and not mentioning it to her family. As she searched for the best way to say it, he said, “Things around here haven’t been dull. I think there’s more excitement than Joel, Gramps or I could’ve come up with.

“Putting out fires and lifting tractors wasn’t something I imagined doing when I came to spend a little time with Joel and Gramps.” His grin punctuated his words.

“Does that mean you’re going to desert us?” She tried to force as much lightness as she could into the words, but they sounded desperate to her ears.

His expression lost all humor. “No. I promised you I’d help, and I keep my promises.”

Instantly, she knew this man had been let down by someone he trusted and would not break his word.

“Have you changed your mind about working as the pick-up rider?”

“No. But I could recommend someone.”

“I’ll take you up on that offer.” She paused, wanting to find the right words. “Thank you for not saying anything to Joel and Gramps about what happened out there in the storm.” She swallowed. “That lightning strike was so much like... I heard the boom and felt that pressure and sizzle and suddenly...”

“You don’t have to explain.”

Kaye closed her eyes and nodded, shamed by her weakness. And she wasn’t ready to talk to anyone about her memories.

Razor butted her shoulder, throwing her off balance. Caleb caught her. She looked up into his face, and for an instant there was that connection again. Their moment was spoiled when Razor butted her once more. The horse’s persistence made her smile. “Is he always so contrary?”

“I warned you about him.”

She picked up the curry brush, walked into the stall and began brushing him.

Caleb laughed. “You, my friend,” he addressed Razor, “know how to manipulate folks.”

“No, he’s not a manipulator. Razor is honest in what he wants, unlike my ex-husband.” The words were out of her mouth before she thought about them. Her loose lips shocked her. Well, she certainly was airing all her dirty laundry today, wasn’t she?

Caleb continued to stroke Razor’s nose. “You’re right. Razor’s honest in what he wants and doesn’t choose to hurt others to satisfy his own needs.”

Ah, he’d been hurt, too.

Kaye continued to brush the horse but refused to look at him again, knowing that they’d both said too much.

After several minutes of silence, she looked up. Caleb was nowhere to be seen. She didn’t know how to feel. How was she going to face him tomorrow?

* * *

By the time she walked into the kitchen at eight in the morning, Caleb and Joel were long gone. Someone had taken down the old coffeepot that her grandmother used, plugged it in and there was coffee. She’d spent the night fighting different nightmares. Finally, around four o’clock, she started praying and the last thing she remembered was singing “Amazing Grace” in her mind.

“’Bout time you hauled yourself outta bed,” Gramps mumbled as he walked into the kitchen. “You army folks get up this late?”

“Good morning to you, too.” She brushed a kiss across his purplish cheek. “I’m glad you found Grandma’s coffeepot.”

His eyes took on a faraway look. “I remember the first time she made coffee in that pot. Your ma was only a teenager.” He shook off the sad feeling. “Your brother and Caleb made coffee and peanut-butter sandwiches and left.”

The blown toaster sitting beside the coffeepot had belonged to Grandma, too. After pouring herself a cup of coffee, she sat at the table and slowly looked around the kitchen, taking in her mother’s stove and refrigerator. The blender and expensive freestanding mixer had thankfully survived since they weren’t plugged in. Mom had saved for six months to get that mixer.

Gramps put the bread and peanut butter on the table. “You might as well make yourself a sandwich.” He sat down beside her. “You okay, girl?”

Her head snapped up. “Why would you ask?”

Gramps grabbed her hand. “’Cause my face looks better than yours.”

She winced and opened her mouth to argue, but she understood what Gramps was saying. “The stove, refrigerator—they were all picked out by Mom and Grandma.”

Gramps folded his hand over hers. “They’re just things.”

“But there’s memories,” she whispered, her throat closing up.

“True, and to be sure they’re good ones, Brenda Lynn, but they are only things. We needed to replace half those things before nature took care of that. You should cherish those memories, girl, but you gotta make peace with them.”

His point hit too close to home. She slathered the peanut butter on a piece of bread and took a bite. With her mouth full, she didn’t have to respond.

Before Gramps could say more, there was a knock at the front door. She sprang to her feet, eager to leave the conversation, and saw an old schoolmate through the glass in the door. She opened the door. “Bryan?”

“Hey, Brenda. Long time, no see.”

She’d gone through all twelve years of school with Bryan Danvers. “It has been a few years. What are you doing here?”

“I’m your insurance agent.” He pointed to the embroidered shirt pocket with the name of the insurance company. “You had a lightning strike?” He looked down at his clipboard.

“We did, and all the males in this house are mourning the death of that sixty-inch TV.”

He clutched his chest. “Ouch. I can understand their grief. Why don’t you show me where this crime occurred?”

So male. “Follow me.”

* * *

Caleb rode slowly up to the stand of trees where Kaye and he’d taken shelter yesterday. A section of grass close to the river was blackened where the lightning had touched down.

Razor’s head came up.

“It’s okay.” Caleb patted his mount’s neck. “I know this place makes you nervous, but there’s nothing here now.”

He’d lain awake last night going over in his head Kaye’s limited confession. Flashbacks were normal, and that was what worried him if he got back in the arena with bucking horses—he might freeze up, leaving the cowboy hanging. He worked in tandem with another pick-up rider, but moments made the difference in saving a cowboy and him being hurt.

When the sound of another rider pierced his brain, he turned in his saddle and saw Joel riding toward him. “Any cattle down here?”

Shaking off the memories, Caleb answered, “I haven’t looked yet.”

Joel’s brow knitted into a frown. He scanned the area and saw the blackened spot down by the stream. “Is this where you and my sister took shelter?”

“No, it was in the stand of trees there.” He pointed.

Leaning on the saddle horn, Joel asked, “Did something else happen here? Sis kinda looked panicked when I asked where you two were.”

Caleb knew Kaye didn’t want her brother to know about her flashback, but Joel’s friendship meant a great deal to him. And Caleb knew if his brother had a need, he would want to know. “Let’s say that you should pray for your sister.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I know you know how to pray, and you might pray for me, too.”

Joel sat up, ready to press more questions.

“Let’s see if there are any strays down here.” Before Joel could comment, Caleb headed down to the river. If his friend questioned him too much, he just might guess what happened, and Caleb wouldn’t do that to Kaye.

* * *

Anything that was electronic in the house was fried. They documented every appliance and lamp. Thankfully, Joel’s laptop hadn’t been charging or they would’ve lost all the rodeo information, too. As Bryan took pictures of the damage, he updated Kaye on nearly all the sixty kids who’d been in their graduating class. Bryan took pictures of the porch and had Kaye sign the report.

“Can we start the cleanup of the porch?” Kaye asked, Gramps standing behind her. The charred smell brought too many memories.

“Yes, since I’ve got everything documented here. And those cell phone pictures, you can email them to me. By Friday, I should have the check for you, so do you need anything before then?”

“You going to be delivering dinner for us?” Gramps asked.

Bryan looked like he’d run into a wall but quickly recovered. “You were always a teaser, weren’t you, Mr. Kaye?”

Gramps scowled. “I wasn’t teasing. We’ve got no way to keep anything cold, and peanut-butter sandwiches aren’t on my list—”

Kaye touched Gramps’s arm. “You should probably get another cup of coffee, Gramps. I’ll hash things out with Bryan.”

With his lips pursed in a straight line, Gramps eyed the insurance adjuster and walked away.

“Did your grandfather get those bruises when the lightning strike happened?”

“No.” She explained about the accident. “I’m sorry, Bryan, Gramps is a little off his stride.”

“I understand. If a tractor fell on me and all the appliances in my house got fried, I’d be a little out of sorts, too.” He walked to his car, opened his trunk and pulled two hundred dollars out of a cash box. “This is for immediate expenses. If you need anything else, call.”

After Bryan finished, Kaye walked around the house and made a list of what needed to be replaced. Joel called, telling Kaye fences were down and cattle scattered. They needed to round them up. Kaye took pity on him and told him they couldn’t get the insurance money until Friday, so they’d shop on Saturday after the meeting.

That night, Cheryl, Bryan’s wife, drove up to the house and delivered a pot of stew and biscuits.

Kaye hugged Cheryl, thanking her.

“That’s what neighbors are for. I’m glad to see you home.”

When they sat down for dinner, Kaye nailed Gramps with a look. “Did you thank Cheryl?”

Both Joel’s and Caleb’s eyes widened and they exchanged panicked looks.

Gramps put down his spoon. “I did. I thanked her and told her to thank her husband for the help. Sometimes I’m a cranky old man. Cheryl laughed and kissed my cheek.”

“Good for you, Gramps.”

* * *

After dinner, Joel, Caleb and Kaye worked on cleaning the porch. Gramps wanted to help, but Kaye convinced him if he sat in the kitchen chair on the porch and directed the work, it would be better.

Caleb could only marvel at Kaye’s ability to change Gramps’s mind.

“She’s good,” Caleb whispered as Joel handed Caleb a push broom.

“That’s why I wanted her to do the rodeo.” Joel looked over his shoulder as Kaye settled Gramps into the chair.

“Okay, can you see from there, Gramps?” Kaye asked.

“I can, but y’all need to get moving. Sun’s going down and we don’t have light.”

Caleb wanted to laugh. Kaye didn’t take offense. The three of them worked together. Joel got on a ladder and looked at the roof. He took a broom with him and from his perch pushed debris through the remains of the roof. Caleb picked up the large shingles and pieces of wood. Kaye swept the floor.

Caleb caught Kaye pausing, and he watched her struggle with her emotions. When she looked up, there weren’t tears in her eyes as he expected, but determination. She finished sweeping, and if he hadn’t seen her “moment” he never would’ve known how she felt. Joel and Gramps didn’t see it, but he did and somehow, some way, she touched his heart in a way he didn’t understand, leaving him confused and wary.

* * *

The whirlwind of more insurance adjusters, repairmen and visits to the local hardware store became a blessing for Kaye over the next two days because the instant she stopped, she’d see something her mother or grandmother loved and the memories assaulted her, bruising her heart. They were heartaches and feelings she wasn’t ready to deal with.

Kaye made trips to the store for ice, where she discovered their neighbor to the north, John Burkett, had also had a lightning strike. It had hit a tree, and the tree had taken out the corner of their house, but other than Burkett Ranch, every other rancher had escaped damage from the storm.