He’s the family she’s been missing.

Will discovering a secret daughter

change his mind about a family?

When Drew Calhoun returns home to save the family ranch, he knows he’ll run into his ex-sweetheart, Mandy Brown—but he doesn’t know he’s a father. Working alongside each other stirs up feelings both thought long gone. But now that the truth’s out, Drew’s still not sure he’s father material. Can he open his heart to young Ella and forgive Mandy for keeping secrets?

LOIS RICHER loves traveling, swimming and quilting, but mostly she loves writing stories that show God’s boundless love for His precious children. As she says, “His love never changes or gives up. It’s always waiting for me. My stories feature imperfect characters learning that love doesn’t mean attaining perfection. Love is about keeping on keeping on.” You can contact Lois via email, loisricher@gmail.com, or on Facebook (loisricherauthor).

Also By Lois Richer

The Calhoun Cowboys

Hoping for a Father

Rocky Mountain Haven

Meant-to-Be Baby

Mistletoe Twins

Rocky Mountain Daddy

Rocky Mountain Memories

Wranglers Ranch

The Rancher’s Family Wish

Her Christmas Family Wish

The Cowboy’s Easter Family Wish

The Twins’ Family Wish

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk.

Hoping for a Father

Lois Richer

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-0-008-90665-8

HOPING FOR A FATHER

© 2020 Lois M. Richer

Published in Great Britain 2020

by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF

All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.

By payment of the required fees, you are granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right and licence to download and install this e-book on your personal computer, tablet computer, smart phone or other electronic reading device only (each a “Licensed Device”) and to access, display and read the text of this e-book on-screen on your Licensed Device. Except to the extent any of these acts shall be permitted pursuant to any mandatory provision of applicable law but no further, no part of this e-book or its text or images may be reproduced, transmitted, distributed, translated, converted or adapted for use on another file format, communicated to the public, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher.

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“You and Drew aren’t arguing anymore,” Ella said. “I’m glad.”

“So am I,” Mandy agreed.

“Me, three,” Drew added.

“So does that mean we’re gonna be a fam’ly?” Hope shone in Ella’s brown-eyed gaze as it slid from her mom’s face to Drew’s.

“It means we’re going to be friends,” Mandy explained.

Drew hoped she was right, but he was a total failure at relationships. Yet he and Mandy had once been close. Surely he could figure out how to be her friend now.

It was probably best to avoid too many future interactions with Ella, though. She was vulnerable, and she wanted a father. Drew had no idea how to be one.

It struck Drew then that if Ben and Bonnie hadn’t been hurt, if Mandy hadn’t asked him to return to the Double H, he still wouldn’t know about Ella. The hot embers of feeling excluded flared anew.

Friendship with Mandy was going to be hard.

But being a father? That was impossible.

Dear Reader,

Welcome to the first book in my newest ranch series set just outside Glacier National Park in Montana. I hope you’ve enjoyed Drew and Mandy’s story and their journey to find that real love begins with our Father in heaven. Trusting in Him is a sure way to the find the beautiful things in life that He never meant for us to miss. I hope you’ll join me in upcoming months for two more Calhoun brothers’ stories.

I’d love to hear from you. You can write to me through Love Inspired publisher, at Box 639, Nipawin, Sask., Canada S0E IE0, or via email at loisricher@gmail.com. Or check me out on Facebook. I’ll respond as quickly as I can.

Until we meet again, I wish you joy, love and peace as you uncover the many blessings God sends your way.

Blessings,

Lois Richer

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

—Psalm 121:1–3

This story is for those who can’t celebrate Mother’s Day or Father’s Day because they’ve lost their precious child. Be still and know that God is with you, that He hears your heart’s hurting cry and waits for you to seek Him. He will be there.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

About the Author

Booklist

Title Page

Copyright

Note to Readers

Introduction

Dear Reader

Bible Verse

Dedication

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

Epilogue

Extract

About the Publisher

Chapter One

Finished.

Exhausted, Drew Calhoun attached the computer file of the financial analysis report for his investors’ group and hit Send. With a swish, the email was gone.

Contract fulfilled.

Too bad he didn’t have anyone to celebrate with.

He was about to leave his desk when he noticed the flashing light on his phone, signaling missed calls. He’d silenced the machine while he was working, and he was always working. Caller ID revealed his adoptive mother, Bonnie Halston, had tried to reach him four times in the past hour.

Worry skated up Drew’s spine. Bonnie never called this late at night. Something had to be wrong. He had no time to ponder what that might be because the phone rang again.

Bonnie.

“Hey, Ma,” he said, using his fondest term for her. “I’m sorry I missed your calls. I’ve been—”

“This is Mandy Brown, Drew.”

Her voice jerked him back to the last day he’d spent on Hanging Hearts Ranch, their last time together before he left for college. He’d been so happy because Mandy had said she loved him and that she would eventually marry him.

The jagged scar on the left side of his face tingled as his brain clicked through the next two months, up to the last time she’d spoken to him. The day Mandy Brown, his best friend and the only person he’d ever loved, had dumped him.

“Drew? Are you there?” Her impatient voice snapped him back to reality.

“Yeah. Sorry.” He cleared his throat. “What’s up?” Keep it casual. Pretend you didn’t share those moments…

“I’m calling about Bonnie and Ben. Actually I’ve been calling for—never mind.” Mandy’s voice lost the edginess and softened. “It’s bad news, Drew. They’re in the hospital, in Whitefish.”

“They’re both ill?”

When it came to his adoptive parents, the Halstons, Drew’s recurring nightmare was of being orphaned as he had been when he was nine years old, of once again being swamped by loss and that awful alone feeling, like he’d never be part of a family again. That same fear was closing in now. “What’s wrong with them?”

“Bonnie and Ben aren’t ill.” Before he could breathe a sigh of relief, Mandy spoke again. “There was a fire at the ranch, in the tack barn.”

Was she, like him, remembering the hours the two of them had spent in that barn? Hours when they’d mended tack, polished saddles and cleaned pebbles from hooves while sharing their dreams for the future? Those special moments were embedded in Drew’s brain because Mandy was the only person with whom he’d ever shared his innermost thoughts. Later they’d shared even more.

And then it was over and he had no idea why.

Focus.

“A fire?” Drew gulped, struggling to mentally prepare himself.

In his mind he saw his foster parents standing beneath the big black metal sign that welcomed guests to Hanging Hearts Ranch, known locally as the Double H. Situated adjacent to Montana’s Glacier National Park, the ranch had been passed down through three generations of Ben’s family.

What Drew had liked best about Bonnie and Ben were their three priorities. He’d always known he and his brothers, Sam and Zac, came first with the couple. Hanging Hearts Ranch ranked second, and the animals who lived there came third.

No, make that four priorities. His foster parents loved God. Fiercely.

Not Ben and Bonnie, God. You took my parents. Don’t take them, too.

“How bad?” he asked.

“Originally they were airlifted to Missoula, but they’re back in Whitefish now. I’m sorry, Drew,” Mandy said, her voice very quiet.

“Tell me what happened,” he insisted through clenched teeth.

“You remember what Bonnie’s like about her horses?”

“Of course I remember,” he said, irritated that she’d imagine he’d forget a single detail about the Double H or anything else in his past. Including Mandy? “I lived with them for nine years.”

“I know.” She cleared her throat as if it was hard to speak. “When the fire broke out, three of Bonnie’s favorite mares were inside the tack barn getting reshod. The farrier got one out, but I guess the others were too frightened to follow. Before anyone could stop her, Bonnie rushed in to rescue them.” Her wobbling voice revealed her shaken state. “I was moving some stallions. I didn’t see her go in or I would have stopped her. You have to know that, Drew.”

“I know.” He had no doubt Mandy would have immediately interceded.

She loved his adoptive parents, had grown up on the ranch next door and called them Auntie Bonnie and Uncle Ben since she could talk. Mandy had celebrated every milestone of her life with the couple. Drew had sometimes envied the bond between the three, a bond he’d never quite forged.

“So?” he prodded, unintentionally sounding gruff. “Bonnie was injured?”

“Yes. She got the horses out but tripped at the door. Burning timbers fell on her, scorching her face, arms and neck. She also has a broken leg.” Mandy paused, then added in a ragged whisper, “She would have died if Ben hadn’t rescued her.”

Drew winced. His brother, Zac, said burns were the absolute worst injury he had to treat in his medical practice.

“And Ben?” He almost choked on that question.

“When he used his hands to put out the flames on Bonnie, his own clothing caught fire. He has severe burns on both his hands, his legs and his feet. Plus, he inhaled a lot of smoke.” Her voice trembled and she sighed. “The doctors say both their prognoses are good, but it’s going to be a long road to recovery.”

Mandy paused, and Drew knew she was thinking through what she wanted to say next. He’d learned to read her silences years ago. She had always been sensitive to others’ pain and empathetic to a fault, which meant she was now searching for a way to tell him the worst possible news in the kindest possible way.

“Finish it,” he urged, determined to get all the facts before deciding anything.

“They have very good care, Drew. You know how folks here are. Bon and Ben are a part of Sunshine. It’s their community, their town. Whitefish is just where the hospital is. The folks in Sunshine have ensured that your parents know they care.”

Drew could imagine how much the inhabitants of the small town would relish a chance to pay back his parents for all the things they’d done and given to their neighbors over the years.

“Old friends from town and the church are taking turns being with them and watching over them, ensuring they have everything they need. As always, Ben and Bonnie’s attitudes are positive.” Mandy paused. “The thing is—I promised your parents I’d keep the Double H going.”

“Shouldn’t be a problem for you. Haven’t you been ranch foreman ever since Ben and Bonnie went to Hawaii last year?” Drew frowned. He’d never quite understood why his parents had given Mandy the job, but since they had… He wondered why she’d become suddenly silent. “Are you there?”

“Yes. I am their foreman.” Mandy sounded oddly hesitant. “And I’ll continue to do my job. That’s not the issue.”

“So what is?” Drew was only half paying attention because his brain had begun to organize next steps.

“The issue is… I need your help.”

“My help?” He blinked.

Mandy had always been strong, competent, independent. She had a knack for drawing people together. She prided herself on partnering with others to build success. People loved to work with her because she accomplished so much.

But in the almost seven years since Drew had left the ranch, Mandy had never once asked for his help. Actually, she hadn’t even spoken to him since she’d announced it was over between them!

“My help…” he repeated stupidly. “With what?”

“Running Ben’s outfitting business. I know ranching and cattle. I don’t have the time let alone the knowledge of tracking wild animals, their customs and particular habitats. I wish I’d paid more attention, but I didn’t. I don’t know all the specific details that his annual bird-watching groups want to hear or the best viewpoint to see whatever animal his guests are interested in. The trail rides have always been separate from my job.” She paused. “But you know what’s involved, Drew.”

“Hey, I—”

She didn’t let him finish. “You and Ben tramped the forest constantly from the first day you came to the Double H. He showed you how to track, how to find the most secretive animal, how to translate their signs in the woods and the best time and place to observe them. Probably taught you tons more than that, too. Whenever he took someone out, you always went along.”

“But that was eons ago—”

“Bonnie told me you still go out with him every time you come back,” Mandy insisted. “She said you’ve kept up with his work, even researched some stuff for him.”

“It’s not the same,” he argued. “Of course I’ll come visit them. But taking over for Ben—no. I can’t.”

“His first group arrives the day after tomorrow.”

“Cancel,” Drew said immediately.

“No way.” A hint of worry underlying Mandy’s swift response made him frown.

“Why?”

“Because.” She waited, huffed out a breath when he didn’t speak, then quietly said, “I shouldn’t be telling you their business.”

“If you want my help, you’d better.” Drew snapped, irritated that he was still affected by that soft catch in her voice.

“Ben just took out a loan to buy six new ATVs so he can escort larger numbers on the high country trails.” Mandy spoke quickly. “He’s already committed to take several groups of inner-city kids on overnight, four-wheeling treks so they can see the caves.”

Drew wanted to refuse again, but Mandy didn’t let him.

“There’s also a school science group booked. It’s a commission from the school board with a promise for more if this goes well.” A smile colored her voice. “Ben’s delighted. You know how long he’s tried to get a school contract.”

“And how determined he’s been to make everyone understand their responsibility to care for God’s earth,” Drew agreed. “I know, but—”

She cut him off again. Drew’s temper began simmering.

“Spring and summer are almost solidly booked. Canceling means Ben’s reputation would suffer. It also means forfeiting the deposits.” Mandy’s melodic voice altered, tightened.

“Okay.”

“Not okay. Without those deposits, we’ll never be able to cover the ranch loans,” she snapped. “Unless I sell some of Bonnie’s horses, and she’d never forgive me for that.”

“No, she wouldn’t,” he agreed slowly, mulling over news of the loans. Ben hadn’t said a word. “That riding academy is Bonnie’s pride and joy.”

“And I need those horses to keep it going. I’m doing my best to manage here, but—” Mandy stopped abruptly, then a moment later, she admitted, “I’m afraid, Drew. They could lose the ranch if we don’t make those loan payments.”

Drew gulped. Lose the family inheritance, which the couple had striven so hard to grow and improve? Lose the loving, nurturing place where Ben and Bonnie had brought him and his brothers when they were hurting and had nowhere to go? Lose the place where kids and adults alike came to discover God in a new way?

His parents would be devastated. Drew couldn’t fathom such a loss either.

If the years of good stewardship at Double H Ranch ended—what then? Ben and Bonnie lived to ranch. Though they’d never actually said it, Drew had always known his foster parents hoped to pass on their legacy to him and his brothers. He had deliberately chosen to ignore their hope because it was still as unlikely for him as it had ever been. He just didn’t fit in at Hanging Hearts. Especially not now, with Mandy there.

“It can’t be that bad,” he insisted. “A few new quads wouldn’t generate that big a loan. I can front them some money to cover it. It’s not a problem.” Making that offer helped Drew feel better about refusing Mandy. “Cancel and tell Ben’s clients he’ll be back next year.”

“Good idea—if they return,” Mandy scoffed. “Ben probably didn’t tell you he has a competitor. And this guy is not shy about poaching clients any way he can. Canceling Ben’s clients offers him the perfect opportunity to move in.” She sounded annoyed. “Also, once committed to this guy, I doubt the school board would switch back to Ben.”

“But Dad’s the best in the business,” Drew exclaimed. Mandy’s silence told him there was more. “What aren’t you saying?”

“So they didn’t tell you.” She was probably biting her lip, hating to be the bearer of bad news, looking for a way to soften it.

The memory filled his mind, and for a moment he was transported back… No!

“Tell me what, Mandy?” he demanded.

“They bought another quarter section. The Archers are retiring. They gave Ben and Bonnie first dibs on their property. Of course your parents had to buy it,” she said, her voice growing stronger, assured, more Mandy-like. “The Archers’ land provides access to Hanging Hearts’ entire northern section. A new neighbor might not be as agreeable about granting your parents’ permission to cross it.”

“Not to mention that the Archers’ land has Willow Creek running through it.” Drew tugged at his shirt collar as if a noose was tightening around his neck. “Ben has wanted more water access forever.”

“If you can’t help them out now, they could lose everything. Then what will Ben and Bonnie have for their retirement?” Mandy chided. “You know how emotionally and physically vested they are in this land and their animals. Can you honestly see them living in town, without horses and cattle, or the gardens, or the petting zoo?”

An inner voice forced Drew to face facts.

Walk away? Bonnie and Ben didn’t walk away when Sam, Zac and I were orphaned after the accident, or when we were stuck in the hospital, undergoing surgeries and in pain, with nowhere to go and no one to care. They were always there for us. They offered their home, supported, challenged and loved us into rebuilding our lives.

“What do you need from me, Mandy?” Drew asked with resignation.

“Help,” she said quietly. “Now. I’m stretched too thin with the ranch.”

She did sound weary, not at all like the efficient Mandy Drew remembered, certainly not like the spirited girl with whom he’d fallen in love in high school. The one who’d repeatedly assured him that his facial scar didn’t matter. The girl who insisted that no matter where he went, his search to find the place he belonged, his true home, would bring him right back to the town of Sunshine, Montana, and Hanging Hearts Ranch.

Drew had enjoyed growing up on the ranch. He’d loved Bonnie’s riding lessons and scouring the mountains and valleys with Ben, who saw God everywhere in the rocks and rivers and animals.

But home? No, the Double H had never felt like the home he’d lost.

“I know this is short notice. I know you’re consumed by work and that’s why you hardly ever come visit your parents, though they miss you like crazy.” The comment held a hint of condemnation. “Believe me,” Mandy assured him. “I wouldn’t have called if I had another option.”

Wasn’t that the truth? Almost seven years had passed with no word from her.

“The fire happened more than a week ago, Drew.”

“What?” He frowned as he thought about it. “I was overseas, speaking at an analysts convention.” Dismay filled him at the thought of Ben and Bonnie alone, in pain, waiting for him to call them.

“I figured it was something like that. Thing is, I haven’t been able to reach your brothers either. Apparently Sam’s on some overseas assignment reporting on something in the Middle East. He’s not answering his cell phone.” Mandy huffed a sigh, which immediately made Drew imagine her bangs puffing out from her forehead.

Stop thinking about her! he ordered his wayward brain.

“As usual, Zac’s unreachable at his medical mission in the Mali, Africa. Or wherever it is.” Irritation nipped at her words. “It’s probably better if you tell them about the fire anyway. Just don’t let them think they need to come rushing home. Bonnie and Ben will recover,” she insisted fiercely.

“We three group text occasionally. My brothers aren’t prompt in responding but I’ll text what you’ve told me,” he promised.

“Thanks.” A pause before Mandy asked tentatively, “So, can you come home?”

“I—” Drew couldn’t think of one valid reason to refuse. He had nothing urgent scheduled, and anyway, he did all his work on his computer. He could bring it with him and do his next stock market analysis in Montana, at least for a while.

Besides, he needed to see for himself how his adoptive parents were faring.

“This ranch is their life, Drew,” Mandy said, her tone fiercely protective. “We can’t let it fail.”

We. He liked the sound of that, though given their past, he had no business working on anything with Mandy. He’d loved her once and she’d rejected him. He wasn’t going to be so humiliated again.

“The staff here will help however they can, though you might not know most of them.”

Drew understood that she meant to remind him he hadn’t been back to the ranch since a one-day visit last Christmas, when he hadn’t seen her. Or the time before. Or the time before that. It was like she faded out of the picture whenever he arrived at the Double H.

“The townsfolk will help if we need it, too,” she reminded. “Everyone’s very loyal to the Halstons.”

“Yes, I remember how—”

“Mama?”

Drew frowned at the sound of a child’s voice.

“Just let me finish my phone call, okay, honey?” Love flowed through Mandy’s voice. “Sorry, Drew. My daughter sometimes gets a bit impatient.”

Mandy had a daughter?

In the pause that followed, he had the strangest thought that she was summoning her courage. As if Mandy had ever needed to look for that.

“Come home, Drew? Please?”

The words flew out of his mouth without any conscious decision.

“As it happens, my calendar is empty till mid-June or so.” He gulped. That wasn’t completely true, but he would make this trip, and he’d do what he could with Ben’s schedule. This was his chance to give back some of the love and care the Halstons had spent years showering on him. “I’ll be there tomorrow.”

“Are you sure?” Mandy sounded like she was afraid to believe him.

“Yes. We’ll plan next steps then,” he said, vowing to keep his distance. Their past was over. Totally.

“Thank you. I appreciate it.” She quickly said goodbye and hung up.

Questions swirled in his mind.

When had Mandy married, had a child? More to the point, why hadn’t Bonnie or Ben told him? Not that Drew had encouraged talk about Mandy. In fact, he usually cut off any and all comments about his former teen love.

So he had no business wondering about Mandy’s life now. But he did.

Drew remained in place, still holding the phone, staring out his glass balcony door at New York’s famous cityscape spread below. He’d bought this place because he thought it met his needs. It was going to be his home. He worked here undisturbed, analyzed to his heart’s content and consulted via the internet. This was supposed to be his haven.

But his spartan, ultra-neat apartment now seemed more like a prison.

How strange that Drew was actually looking forward to returning to the very ranch he’d so eagerly escaped.

And to seeing Mandy again.

Mandy hung up, worry and relief vying for supremacy.

Drew was coming home. That meant she’d have help keeping the Halstons’ livelihood going. That pleased her.

She’d also have to tell him the truth. The prospect of that was terrifying.

“I love you, Mama.” Her daughter snuggled against her side, face upturned in sweet trust that her mother would solve whatever issues cropped up in her life. Hadn’t she always?

“I love you, too, Ella.” Mandy hugged the little body close in an attempt to quell her growing trepidation, fighting to cling to her resolve to not let Drew’s arrival at the ranch change anything.

It didn’t matter what he said or did, if he reviled her or hated her. It didn’t even matter that he still held a grudge, or how much that hurt after they’d once shared such closeness. Yes, she’d loved him dearly, and it had cost all her hopes and dreams to end their relationship.

But she’d never had a choice.

That was the past. Now Mandy had made a new life for herself and Ella, thanks to Bonnie and Ben. She couldn’t afford to let her childish love for Drew revive and ruin what she’d built. Nor could she let guilt over the past affect her life now. She certainly couldn’t let herself become the least bit susceptible to Drew’s charms.

Ella was the most important part of her life now. Ella was her future.

Drew was Mandy’s past. And everything about the past was best forgotten.

Everything.

Chapter Two

The next morning, Mandy caught herself glancing in the bathroom mirror for the fifth time. As if Drew would care if her hair was a shaggy mess or her makeup nonexistent. He probably dated gorgeous, uber-smart ladies with IQs like his, who wore something much more spectacular than shabby jeans, a baggy T-shirt under a denim jacket with worn-through elbows and battered Western boots.

Anyway, it was only half past seven in the morning. Drew probably wasn’t even awake yet. And why did she care anyway? Better to focus on making sure Ella finished her breakfast so Trina, Mandy’s au pair and home helper, could take her daughter to school.

“I sended Auntie Bonnie a text, Mama, an’ I put in lots of happy faces to make her and Uncle Ben feel more better.” Perched at the kitchen island, Ella popped the last strawberry into her mouth, crunching it between a smile that, minus two front baby teeth, was no longer perfect.

“I’m sure those happy faces will make them laugh, sweetie.” How Mandy adored this child. “Did you thank Trina for making your hair look so pretty? And for those barrettes?”

“Yep.” Ella beamed as she jerked her head up and down. “Both.”

“Good girl.” Mandy brushed a hand over brown ringlets framing Ella’s tanned round face and innocent brown eyes. “Soon you’ll be finished kindergarten,” she mused, marveling at how quickly her baby girl was growing.

“Uh-huh. An’ I’m gonna be six an’ have a party.” Ella’s dark eyes shone with excitement. Then she frowned. “Don’t you have to feed Magpie and Blackie this morning, Mama?” Her daughter always worried her beloved pony and dog would starve.

“I sure do. But I need a minute to admire those barrettes. So pretty. Bye, sweetheart. Be good at school.” Mandy kissed her girl’s downy-soft cheek, murmured “thank you” To Trina and then, with one last wave for Ella, left her house to begin another day on the ranch.

Hanging Hearts Ranch had always felt like home to Mandy, even when she’d lived next door. She’d grown up knowing Bonnie and Ben would welcome her no matter the hour. As she strolled to the stables, she mentally praised God for the couple and the job that had rescued her and Ella.

How could Drew stay away from this place? It was a beautiful spring morning. Birdsong filled the crisp air. The sun blazed, its rays already warming the land. In the distance, Ben’s newest calves tottered through the grass, bawling at their mothers to be fed. Seven colts frolicked together in another pasture, kicking up their back legs to show off.

She loved it here.

Mandy gave Blackie his usual bowl of dog food. He seemed less interested in it than usual which surprised her. She shrugged and continued on her rounds. A sense of satisfaction welled but was quickly diminished at the thought of Drew arriving today. She didn’t want to think about that meeting, so she focused on her job.

Someone else fed the stock, but each morning Mandy made it a point to check out the special mounts Bonnie used in her riding academy. The most valuable stayed overnight in the stables but had been released and were currently in the nearest paddock. Spying her, they edged near the fence, jockeying for position to obtain a carrot treat.

As she fed them, Mandy mentally noted the windows on the old log cabin that she and Ella shared desperately needed washing. The usual spring rains were late this year so everything on the Double H was covered in a thick layer of dust. Add another item to her to-do list.

Wait! She blinked at the elderly woman who stood on the far side of the riding circle, obviously waiting for someone to bring her the placid mare called Babycakes so she could begin her usual lesson.

How could I have forgotten it was her lesson day?

“Mandy, dear!” the woman called, waving a gloved hand. “Good morning. Hasn’t God given us a perfect day?”

“He sure has, Miss Partridge.” Mandy had hoped to spend the next hour ensuring everything would be perfect for her upcoming meeting with Drew, the first time she’d see him in almost seven years. Tamping down her impatience, she asked, “How are you, ma’am?”

“Finer than frog’s hair, dear.” The former librarian’s faded blue eyes twinkled. “I just know I’m going to ride well today.”

“Let me get saddled up and we’ll start your lesson,” Mandy promised.

It turned out the lady’s prediction was right. Once firmly mounted, Miss Partridge rode around Bonnie’s riding circuit with perfect form, moving fluidly from a walk to a trot, then to a canter and finally, into a modified gallop.

“You’re doing really well,” Mandy told her, dismounting her own horse to help the older woman slide free of her saddle, then handing off the reins to a waiting hand. “You’ll soon be ready to go on a trail ride.”

“A short one, perhaps.” Miss Partridge leaned forward as if there were hordes of people crowding the paddocks around them who might overhear. She whispered, “He’s back.”

“Who?” Mandy asked, intent on ensuring her not-always-stable client was on solid footing.

“Why, that handsome Drew Calhoun, of course.” The elderly spinster shuffled her red orthopedic boots in the dust, her voice a whisper. “Saw him going into the Eat Café in town when I passed it on my way out here for my ride.”

“Oh?” Mandy kept her face blasé. Of course that didn’t work. Pretended disinterest never stopped Miss Partridge.

“I’ve been praying for years that the two of you would meet again. It was so sad when—well, never mind. Today God has answered my prayer.” She clasped her arthritic hands together and laid them on her heart. “I just know you’ll resolve whatever went wrong. The truth will always win out.”

I hope not, Mandy thought, shrinking at the secret she’d shared with no one.

“I believe God sometimes uses adversity because it makes us stronger,” Miss Partridge continued. “Drew’s return could be the beginning of great things for you as a couple, dear.”

“We’re not a—”

“Excuse me, Miss Partridge.” Trina smiled at the elderly librarian before addressing Mandy. “May I please have a word with you when you’re free?”

“Certainly, Trina. I’ll be right there.” Relieved by the interruption but trying not to show it, Mandy escorted the senior lady to her vehicle. “Good riding today,” she congratulated before hastily adding, “I’m sorry, but duty calls. Please excuse me.”

“Oh, certainly, dear. You go ahead and get ready for your young man.” Miss Partridge chuckled as she drew her vivid orange-and-pink-flowered jacket around herself, then rearranged the fuzzy purple hat she wore on every ride. “I brought along a big mug of coffee so I can sit on that bench over there and talk to God about you and—” She winked. “Him.”

“Uh, well, thank you. Bye now.” Mandy fluttered a hand before hurrying toward the log house the Halstons had given her to live in when they’d offered her a job on the Double H eighteen months ago.

“Sorry if I interrupted, Mandy, but I know you’re waiting for an important call.” Trina waved off her boss’s thanks as she set down a steaming pail. “While Ella’s coloring a picture for the teacher, I thought I’d remind you about her concert this afternoon.” She worked as she talked, dipping her cloth in a bucket of water that gave off an odor of vinegar and swiping it across the dusty windows.

“How did you know I’d added window washing to my list?” Mandy gave thanks daily for this woman’s help. “And yes, I noted the concert on my phone. I’ll be there,” she promised. “Right after it, I have that meeting at the church.”

“The ladies’ salad social, right?” Trina dragged a scraper across the glass expertly, leaving nothing but a sparkle behind. “Ella and I also have plans after school. She’s going to have a milkshake with her friend while I pick up that skipping rope we discussed for the school contest next week. You could give it to her tonight so she can practice.”

“I don’t know what I’d do without you, Trina.” Mandy hugged her. “And I don’t want to find out.”

“No worries on that score,” Trina muttered glumly. “Apparently I’ll be here forever. Devin Green seems to be one of those men who can’t figure out the nose on his face, let alone love.” She rolled her eyes. “Except the kind he feels for those cows on the back forty.”

“Maybe you have to draw him a picture like Ella does,” Mandy teased before answering her phone to arrange the sale of a horse. Then she moved on to check the feed being unloaded. She’d just finished speaking with the veterinarian about a lame stallion when a sound behind her made her turn.

“Hello, Mandy.” His voice hadn’t changed a bit.

“Drew. You’re here already.” So Miss Partridge had seen him? Mandy fought to keep her voice even. Her pulse thrummed inside her head at her first close-up look in almost seven years at the tall, lean man with the dangerously dark eyes.

But this Drew was not Mandy’s teenage love. This man didn’t offer that cute lopsided smirk that revealed a hint of dry hidden humor. This man looked supremely confident, assured and truthfully, a little bored. He wore casual clothes that screamed top designer and custom-made boots in a soft calfskin leather. Mandy longed for such perfectly fitting footwear, even knowing they’d be useless in her rough-and-tumble job at Hanging Hearts Ranch.

Drew should have looked out of place on the dusty spread, yet he appeared perfectly comfortable, even cowboy-ish, despite dark brown rumpled hair that had been clipped by a professional who knew exactly how to enhance his cheekbones without drawing attention to the jagged scar on his cheek.

Experience, that’s what Drew exuded.

“How are you?” she asked politely.

“I’m fine.” His brown eyes, framed by disgustingly thick lashes, surveyed her. “You haven’t aged.”

Ha! How little he knew.

“You don’t look any older either,” she lied to cover her shaking knees while wondering what had caused that fan of tiny lines at the corners of his eyes that hadn’t been there seven years ago.

Drew stood head and shoulders above her, whipcord lean and still devastatingly handsome, but for sure this was not the boy she’d loved. Mandy couldn’t define exactly why she felt that way, but it wasn’t only that everything she saw announced successful professional.

Perhaps it was because next to him, in her shabby clothes and less-than-elegant ponytail, she felt distinctly small town.

And defensive.

But more likely it was because she’d been dreading this meeting for seven years.

God has a plan to use what you’ve gone through for good, Mandy.

Bonnie’s familiar words echoed inside her head. As usual, Mandy wondered what good could come of the awful mistakes she’d made, but she quickly choked off the negative thought and got to the point of his visit.

“About Bonnie and Ben,” she began, but Drew interrupted.

“I visited them last night. Thank you for ensuring they’re together in the same room,” he said. “They seem to be doing as well as the doctors expect. I didn’t want to tire them so I didn’t stay long, but if they need anything, I’ll gladly pay for it.” His gaze narrowed. “No expense spared for their care, Mandy. I mean it.”

“You’ll have to get in line. The whole of Sunshine is determined to ensure Bonnie and Ben have everything they could want for their peace of mind and healing. Everybody loves them,” she reminded.

“Yeah.” Drew’s lips pursed for a moment. She knew that look. He was marshaling facts in his head. “You said Ben has a group booked for tomorrow?”

“Yes, though this is one group I probably could have canceled or perhaps rebooked with no issues. It’s a boys’ group from the church, and our competitor has no connection with the church.”

Focus on business, not the intensity of those dark eyes, she ordered her wayward brain.

“A church group. That’s a bonus. I guess.” Dubious didn’t begin to describe his tone.

“It is, trust me.” As if he would trust her ever again when he found out… “They’re good about changes or substitutions on the rides. The group is scheduled for a half-day trip to Kissing Rock, a campfire supper and a talk by their youth leader before they return.”

Immediately Mandy’s cheeks bloomed with heat. Did Drew remember their first embrace at Kissing Rock? Did he think she’d brought it up to remind him?

“I haven’t been on a ride that long for a while.” A frown darkened the cinnamon glint in his eyes. Cocoa eyes, she’d once called them.

“I’m sure you’ll be fine. I’ll come along this first time so no worries.” Mandy said it without thinking and immediately wished she hadn’t offered. Drew would manage and she didn’t need more proximity than was already inherent in this situation. She needed time and space to formulate a way to tell him about—she blinked.

What was Ella doing?

Racing across the yard, her daughter jerked to a halt beside Mandy and grinned at her before surveying Drew from head to toe.

“Hi. I’m Ella. Are you gonna be my daddy?”

Gobsmacked.

The word perfectly described Drew’s current state.

“Uh—” His brain was empty, devoid of any response for this expectant child.

Thankfully, Mandy seemed completely unfazed. She smiled as she wagged a finger at the child.

“Oh, Ella, honey, you’re such a tease. This is Drew. He’s Auntie Bonnie’s son. He’s going to help with Uncle Ben’s work. You can talk to him later. Right now you better get to school with Trina. Bye. Again.” Mandy swept the child into her arms.

Drew figured Mandy’s grip must have been too tight or else she held on for a fraction too long because Ella quickly wiggled free.

“Bye, Mama.”

“I’ll see you at your concert this afternoon, okay?”

“Uh-huh.” Ella giggled. “I’m gonna be the tree, ’member.”

“Got it.” Mandy smoothed her hair, then gave her a nudge toward a woman waiting beside a gray SUV. “Off you go.”

“Love you, Mama.”

“Love you, Ella,” Mandy replied, tickling the little girl’s neck.

Ella giggled again. “Love you, Drew.”

Drew knew his mouth was hanging open, but he felt completely incapable of closing it as he watched the little girl race to the vehicle and climb inside. The driver gave Mandy a thumbs-up before the two of them left.

Mandy turned, her expression a bit wistful until she noticed him watching her. Suddenly she became all business.

“So do you want to see where the fire was?”

“Uh, yeah, I’d like to take a look. But not in these clothes. I’d better change.” Still bemused, Drew bent to grasp the handle of his duffel bag.

“How did you get here?” She glanced around, obviously puzzled.

“I flew to Whitefish, then hired someone to drive me. I stopped for coffee in Sunshine, met Mac McArthur. He offered to bring me out here.” Drew shrugged. “I accepted his offer and sent the hired car back to Whitefish.”

“Oh.” She nodded. “Nice.”

“Yeah.” Drew frowned. “Mac says that once the insurance company is finished their assessments, a group of neighbors will come to clean up what’s left and get started on building a new tack barn. Is he right?”

“That’s what I’ve heard. Everyone has been amazing. It’s as if the entire town of Sunshine has been waiting for a chance to repay Bonnie and Ben for everything they’ve done for everyone else.” Mandy tilted her head to one side as if she wanted to ask him something, but Drew had his own questions.

“Why did Ella say she loves me?” he asked with a frown. “She doesn’t even know me.”

“Oh, that’s just how she is.” Mandy didn’t look at him.

“She says that to everyone?” he asked, dumbfounded.

“Mostly. And she means it.” She tugged leather work gloves from her pocket and began pulling them on. “My daughter has a very sweet heart.”

“But I’m a total stranger,” he objected.

“Ella has some learning disabilities. She hasn’t yet grasped that some folks aren’t trustworthy, and to tell you the truth…” Now Mandy looked directly at him, her green eyes intense, her tone edgy. “I’m not all that eager to disillusion her just yet.” As if that ended the discussion, she nodded toward the main house. “I’m sure you’ll find Bonnie’s kept your room the same as always. I’ll be in the petting zoo.”

“Okay.” Drew watched her stride away while the questions in his head multiplied. He couldn’t just let her go without answering at least one of them. “Hey, Mandy?” When she turned to face him, he said, “I never heard that you’d married. Congratulations.”

“You never heard because I didn’t. Excuse me.” She answered her phone, checked her watch and agreed to something. Then she conferred with a couple of cowboys who wanted to know where to unload two boarding horses that had just been trucked in.

Drew noted how easily she moved from one task to the next. Nothing seemed to faze her and the staff readily accepted her authority, including several men much older than her. Bonnie and Ben had told him as much, but he hadn’t quite believed it.

Seeing Mandy at work proved she knew exactly what she was doing. But then, hadn’t she always?

“Oh, you’re still here. Sorry,” she apologized as she tucked her phone into her pocket after sending a text. “It’s always crazy here first thing. Listen, Drew. A couple of issues have come up. Why don’t you take it easy this morning? Have some coffee or lunch. Go check your computer. I know you want to.” She grinned at his blink of surprise.

He raised his eyebrows in an unasked question.

“I may live in the sticks, but I keep up with your work in the financial world. Sort of.” She checked her chiming phone again, then said absently, “I’ll see you after lunch. We can talk then.”

“Sure.” Drew walked away bewildered by all of it, but mostly that Mandy had a daughter who apparently did not have a father, which was completely unlike Mandy who ran her life in accordance with her Biblical beliefs. Stranger yet, his foster parents—her bosses—had never said one word to him about Ella’s existence.

Who was the kid’s father? What kind of man left a woman to raise a child on her own?

None of your business.

Maybe not, but Drew tamped down his antipathy for this invisible guy while he walked toward the house where he and his brothers had lived after their parents died. He took the stairs two at a time and twisted the doorknob, which gave way immediately. Inside, a rush of memories assailed him.

That fragrance, lavender. It was Bonnie’s favorite. A new cabinet had been affixed to the wall and was filled with trophies of all sizes. He studied each. The majority were Ben’s, but there were also a number with Drew’s name on them, most for first place in calf-roping. Drew had always been good at that, though he was never quite sure why.

There were several scholastic trophies he and his brothers had won. They’d all loved math and science, but Drew had thrived on the complexities of statistics. Calculating odds and figuring out percentages for achieving goals had made up his world even back then, though he’d never discovered a formula for one hundred percent roping success.

Once he’d asked Ben why.

“A little puff of wind, the horse’s misstep, leaning a degree the wrong way. Human failure.” Ben had gazed across the ranch’s acres to the white-capped mountains for a long time before smiling at him. “Everything He created for us meshes together so perfectly. I don’t know, Drew. Maybe God just likes a little unpredictability sometimes.”

Ben and God. Couldn’t have one without the other.

How it had hurt to see the older man lying virtually helpless in that hospital bed, bound in bandages, wincing with every move, yet absolutely confident that God would get both him and Bonnie through the long period of healing that lay ahead of them.

Drew had never cultivated that same trust in God despite the fact that he’d grown up here with Ben’s constant example of steadfast trust. Neither of his brothers seemed to have the same issues that he did; neither seemed to doubt that God was in charge of their lives. In fact, Zac was a medical missionary in a dangerous area of Africa and Sam traveled to the world’s most hazardous hot spots to report, which told Drew that they neither felt out of step in their world, not like he had—still did.

Fed up with fighting the same questions about God that had plagued him since the car accident that had scarred him when he was nine, Drew climbed the stairs. His room looked exactly as it had before he’d left for college, when life had seemed simple and his future brimmed with plans—and with Mandy.

Back then, he thought he’d covered every detail, calculated and considered every obstacle he would encounter on the way to his future. He and Mandy would finish college. Then he’d find a job somewhere and she’d work as a vet technician. They’d get married and in their free time, they’d travel.

He’d never calculated that three months into the dream, Mandy would end their relationship.

Determined to stop thinking about the past, Drew set his bag on the desk chair and unpacked. It took three minutes to hang his clothes in the tiny closet and fifteen minutes to set up his computer and printer.

Ben and Bonnie had internet access, of course, but it was slower than a turtle. Drew mentally repeated Bonnie’s oft-cited words about patience being a virtue while he waited for the Asian markets to load. He spent a few hours checking reports. His projections had been off by a tiny fraction of a percentage. A smug feeling bubbled inside. Not bad.

Drew then changed into work clothes. He made a pot of coffee that tasted horrible and heated a small casserole from the freezer that tasted delicious. Mac and cheese, his favorite and Bonnie’s specialty.

He’d just finished washing his dishes when a movement outside caught his attention. Mandy, her dark blond hair bundled on top of her head, knelt in the garden, pulling weeds in Bonnie’s fertile plot, maintaining the perfect rows his Ma always insisted on. For a moment Drew felt sad. If Bonnie couldn’t come home by fall, who would harvest that garden, feed the abundant lettuce leaves to the animals in the petting zoo and clean the carrots grown specially for the horses?

Mandy.

Yes, of course. And she would ensure everything was done perfectly, because whatever Mandy took on, she did with excellence. That’s who she was.

Which reminded Drew of Ella. How would Mandy achieve perfection for a daughter with special needs?

None of his business. Drew didn’t do kids. Ever.

Pushing aside his questions, he hurried outside.

“Want me to help you weed?” he offered, mentally shuddering at the prospect.

“No, thanks.” Mandy straightened and tossed him a grin. “Bonnie would have my neck in a sling if I let you and you know it.”

“That was eons ago.”

“She never allowed you in her garden after that first time, Drew. She said you didn’t have enough patience to select only the weeds and ended up pulling half her carrots.” Mandy chuckled at his disgust. “You know how Bonnie is about her carrots.”

“Freakishly obsessed?” Drew suggested with a scowl. “I doubt it matters to the animals if they get organic carrots or not, or whether said carrots are small or large. That they get them at all should be enough.”

“You don’t think those gorgeous animals are worth extra effort?” Mandy demanded, pointing to six well-groomed horses placidly munching the grass while they enjoyed the warm sunshine. She dropped the bantering tone and fixed him with a serious stare. “Everything matters, Drew.”

“Because?” He’d heard the argument a hundred times before. But he wanted to hear it again, from her, not only because he’d always liked the sound of her firm yet melodic voice as she relayed her deeply held beliefs, but mostly because he wanted to know if those beliefs had changed after all this time.

“If you want to get the best, you give the best,” she said, shading her eyes so she could peer at him against the bright sunlight. “Treat others as—”

“You would like to be treated,” he finished and chuckled. “Does the golden rule apply even to horses?”

“To everyone. Yes.” She inspected him from his head to his feet. “You need a hat. You’re not used to this strong sun. Your skin will burn if you’re not careful.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Drew pulled an old cap out of his pocket and put it on. “I’ll look around for my Stetson later,” he promised. “Where’s yours?”

Mandy touched her head and blinked in confusion. “I thought—”

“You still lose your hat,” he said, oddly relieved to know some things about her hadn’t changed, daughter or no daughter. “Good thing you have thick hair.”

Tendrils of it had escaped her topknot and now curled against her prominent cheekbones. It had never mattered how disheveled Mandy was, she’d always looked beautiful to Drew. He choked off that thought and kicked at the dirt.

Being back on the ranch wasn’t going to be easy.

“Come on,” she said. “I’ll show you the damage. Then maybe you’d better go for a ride, see what you’ve forgotten.”

“Nothing,” Drew shot back, double meaning intended.

Mandy ignored that and left the garden. He matched her energetic pace to the site of the tack barn. Was she hurrying because she wanted to get this over with? He intended to ask but was too shocked by the smattering of ashes and bits of blackened timber that lay on the ground.

“It’s gone,” he whispered, gaping at the remains. “All the old family saddles, all Ben’s grandfather’s antique tack, everything—gone.”

“Tack and buildings can be replaced, Drew,” Mandy said quietly. “People can’t.”

“I know but—” He shook his head, not quite able to process it yet. “I had no idea—there’s nothing left?” He glanced at her, frowned at her negative response. “It must have been intense.”

“Hot and very fast,” Mandy agreed. “There wasn’t even time to get a hose going. The wood was really old, remember. I guess it burned like tinder.”

Shocked by the thought that his loved ones could so easily have died in this inferno, Drew was suddenly reminded of the accident that had left him and his brothers orphaned and injured.

“Why would God allow this?” he demanded angrily, only realizing after he’d said it that he’d spoken aloud. “Ben and Bonnie are good people.”

“I don’t know why.” Mandy exhaled. “All I know is that He has our best at heart. Somehow He will work this out for good.”

“Still the same old blind faith,” he grumbled, not even bothering to hide his irritation.

“Still doubting God knows what He’s doing.” Mandy shot back. “For my whole life I’ve believed God is good, all the time. I’m not going to stop trusting in His wisdom because something bad happened to people I care about.” Her green eyes held his. Her tone held reproach. “You must remember at least that much about me.”

“I wonder if I ever really knew you at all.” Drew couldn’t have stopped himself from saying the words if he’d wanted to. And he didn’t. It was time, way past time, to air his grievances from their past.

“Why do you say that?” Far from challenging his comment, Mandy looked hurt by it. “We shared childhood, riding and holidays on this ranch. You once proposed to me. How could you not know me, Drew?”

“The girl I knew back then was, I thought, open and honest.” Why didn’t he shut up? Instead, the words seemed to explode out of him. “That girl wouldn’t have just ended everything without giving me some kind of explanation.”

“I, uh—”

“I haven’t seen or spoken to you in almost seven years, Mandy. You work for my parents, you live on their ranch, yet every time I come back, you’re conveniently away. You’ve been avoiding me. Why?”

His temper rose when she kept her blank mask in place, and though he waited for a response, Mandy said nothing. Drew doggedly continued anyway.

“My parents obviously know about your daughter, but it took them having an accident for me to find out. I’m sure it was your idea to keep Ella a secret from me, yet I have no clue why.” He saw her gaze narrow. “Come to think of it, that’s probably why you never wanted to explain why you ended it. You didn’t want to tell me you had a child with some other guy.”

Aghast that he’d actually voiced that betraying thought, Drew finally clamped his mouth closed.

“Actually, I didn’t.”

He wasn’t sure he’d heard her correctly, but Mandy wasn’t sticking around to explain.

“I have to go to Ella’s concert,” she said, her tone icy. “Believe what you want about me. I don’t care. All I care about is my daughter and keeping this ranch running profitably until Ben and Bonnie can take over.” Her emerald eyes hardened as they met his. “Then I will leave. For good.” Her voice oozed scorn. “I wouldn’t want you to feel like I was pushing in on your inheritance.”

“I don’t want…” He was talking to air.

Mandy had jumped onto a quad Drew hadn’t even realized was there and was now speeding away, leaving him standing here. Alone.

With her departure, his anger and irritation dissipated to nothing. He began walking toward the house. He’d work some more. He could always lose himself in his work.

But then he paused, remembering Ben had planned an outing for some kids tomorrow. Drew needed to do a trial ride, see if he remembered the old paths.

“Never saw Mandy so riled before,” a disapproving voice said from behind him. “That woman gets along with everyone, even the orneriest old bull. What did you do?”

“I didn’t do anything,” Drew sputtered indignantly. He exhaled, ordered calm into his brain before turning to study a man, a slightly older ranch hand, standing in front of him. “I’m Ben’s eldest son. I’m taking over for him. I haven’t ridden since Christmas so I’d like to get reacquainted—”

“Mandy told me this morning. That’s why I’m here. She said I’m to go with you. Name’s Oliver Kent, but everyone calls me Ollie. You’re Drew.” He thrust out a work-roughened hand and they shook.

“Nice to meet you, Ollie. But I don’t need a babysitter. Just a horse and a saddle. I’ve ridden that route a hundred—what?” he demanded irritably when Ollie shook his head.

“Ben recently changed up all the routes,” Ollie explained. “Everything works in a set pattern now. The best vista stops, most advantageous picnic spots, sites where open campfires don’t pose a danger to the environment.” He tilted his head just the slightest to eye Drew from under the brim of his well-worn Stetson. “Mandy told me to show you.”

It was clear to Drew that what Mandy ordered happened. No point in involving Ollie in their differences.

“Okay. Let’s go saddle up,” he said with a shrug.

“You got any boots?” Ollie’s wrinkled nose expressed exactly what he thought of Drew’s fancy footwear.

“I’ll check in the house. Maybe I can find my old ones.” He stepped forward, then halted. “Which horse am I riding?”

“Raven.” Ollie raised one eyebrow when Drew issued a snort of disgust.

“Raven’s a hundred years old,” he protested.

“Mandy said.”

“Right.” Drew strode toward the house, fuming at the indignity. If he had a vehicle handy, he’d have left.

Which would solve nothing because clearly Mandy’s word was law, despite the fact that he had just as much experience on this ranch as she did.

Not true and not recently, Drew, his reasonable brain reminded. And you’re not here for Mandy. You’re here for Bonnie and Ben.

But that didn’t mean he and Mandy weren’t going to have another heart-to-heart. Soon.

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