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The dog had been lying on the front porch and hopped up to pad after them, tongue lolling out of the side of his mouth.
“This is Beans?” Lily asked.
“Yep. A good cattle dog, but I haven’t had much work for him lately because we no longer have any cows.”
“Why not?” She walked beside Dad, having no difficulty keeping up with his ponderous stride. She remembered he used to walk so briskly.
“Um, I’m just too busy with the horses to take care of cows anymore.”
She didn’t believe that. Dad too busy to herd a few cows? Even if he wasn’t in the market to sell them, he always raised a couple of cows for beef. But she’d been gone for years and no longer knew anything about her father’s life.
She breathed deep of the fresh air, glad to be out of the stuffy house. This afternoon, she’d start scrubbing the rooms from stem to stern. Right now, she figured Dad had a ranch hand or horse trainer he wanted to introduce her to.
He slid open the wide double doors of the stable. Drafts of sunlight filtered over bales of hay stacked on one side near a small tractor. As Lily stepped inside, she caught the musty scent of straw and horses. A smell she found familiar and pleasing.
Dust motes sifted through the air. Several saddles rested on racks along one wall with tack and various tools hung neatly on hooks nearby. Stalls lined the other wall. She gazed at it with curiosity, liking the building immediately. She remembered how she’d spent hours in the barn, brushing horses, bottle feeding baby calves, or hiding up in the loft to avoid Dad’s temper. Strange how much she now wanted to be back here at home.
Dad gestured toward one of the stalls far away from the mares and Lily heard the low nicker of a horse. A big sorrel stallion stood inside, a white star on his forehead. The quarterhorse lifted his proud head and took a couple of steps forward, his ears perked. Lily admired his conformation, sleek lines and wavy black mane. Dad had taught her to recognize good horseflesh when she saw it and this was a fine specimen. She could understand why Dad kept the stallion isolated from the mares. Just his presence in the stable could keep the girls agitated.
“He’s beautiful,” she breathed, unable to deny a shiver of delight at seeing such a lovely animal.
Dad grunted. “His name is Peg.”
“Peg? That’s an odd name for a stallion.”
“His name’s Pegasus, but I call him Peg.”
Lily edged closer, extending her hand slowly, palm up. Many stallions were temperamental and she didn’t want to get bit. “Is he gentle?”
“Very. A child could halter and tack him up. But he’s fast. You should see him move. A winged Pegasus. Like lightning.” Dad clapped his hands together and the horse jerked his head up at the sharp sound.
Peg nickered and nudged Lily’s hand. She rubbed the velvety softness of his muzzle, delighted to have a new friend.
Dad chuckled. “He’s after his treat.”
“Treat?” Lily ran her hands over Peg’s face and neck. A thrill of excitement tingled through her as she gazed into the animal’s intelligent brown eyes. How she wished she could ride him.
Dad reached into his pants pocket and withdrew a single peppermint cube. He handed it to Lily. “It’s not good for him, so I only give him one a day. But he loves it.”
Lily stared at the peppermint resting on her open palm, stunned that Dad would surrender it to her. Peg nudged her shoulder, eager for his treat. Lily laughed and lowered her hand so the horse could nibble the candy. She wouldn’t have believed it if she hadn’t witnessed it with her own eyes, but after the horse swallowed, he waved his head in pleasure. A low nicker came from his throat and he nudged her arm, as if begging for more.
“Well, look at that. He’s taken to you already,” Dad said.
Lily blinked, unable to explain the sudden rush of emotions cascading through her. Funny how much the acceptance of a mere animal meant to her. She’d always been better with animals than with people.
Together, they patted the stallion. Sharing this special moment with her father did something to Lily. Whenever they’d worked with horses, she’d been at peace with Dad. It was their one common ground. Something they both loved and enjoyed. How she wished they could be friends in other areas of their lives, as well.
Tears fogged her vision and she turned away so Dad wouldn’t see. She never used to be a crybaby, but that had been before she’d almost ruined her life. Before she’d turned her back on her father and the Lord. It wouldn’t be easy, but she was determined to mend all her broken fences.
“Wait until you watch him work,” Dad said. “He’s quick and needs very little guidance. I trained him myself. I spent so much time with him that I almost ignored the rest of the ranch.”
Was that why the place seemed in such disrepair? That didn’t make sense. If Dad was so busy, there ought to be some ranch hands around to do the other chores.
Dad jutted his chest out in pride. A pleased smile curved his mouth and Lily couldn’t help wishing he’d look like that when he spoke about her. She’d just need to show him that she could be a person he could be proud of.
“Which event?” she asked.
“Reining.”
“Has he won anything yet?”
Dad chuckled. “Oh, yes. It’s my pleasure to introduce you to the horse that won the Limited Open Reining World Championship and the Intermediate Open Reserve World Championship two years ago.”
Her mouth dropped open. Dad never kidded about things like this. “So, he’s a world champion? Are you serious, Daddy?”
He glanced at her, his stern mouth barely twitching with a smile. “I certainly am.”
Awe seeped through every pore in her body. Her father had a world champion reining horse living in his stable. Amazing!
“Are you boarding him? Who’s his owner?”
Dad coughed again, covering his mouth with one hand. “I am, darlin’. He belongs to me.”
Darlin’. He’d called her that name when she’d been young. During the few times when he’d shown her affection.
“A horse like this would also make a good cutting horse. He needs cows to chase,” she said.
“You’re right. Now you’re here, we’ll get some cows as soon as we can.” He took several deep inhales, as if he couldn’t catch his breath.
“Dad, are you all right?”
He lifted a hand, brushing her concerns aside. “Of course. I’m fine.”
She shook her head, trying to make sense of this. “I don’t understand. Where did you get Peg?”
“I bought him just after you left. His previous owner was lazy and didn’t realize Peg’s potential. I worked with Peg and took him to a lot of competitions. We lived on the road for almost a year, driving from event to event. Peg’s a great traveler. I sold most of my livestock and hired a hand to take care of the ranch while I was gone. Peg won almost every event I entered him in, but the ranch didn’t do quite so well. Remember when you called several years ago, I told you I had a sweet horse I wanted you to meet?”
No, she didn’t remember, but she’d been selfish and wrapped up in herself back then.
“Well, here he is. Pegasus. The best horse I’ve ever seen or had the pleasure to own.”
She whistled low beneath her breath, proud of her father’s accomplishment. And a lot of regret that she hadn’t been here to share it with him. No wonder the ranch looked run-down. Dad had been on the road with his horse. But why hadn’t he fixed the ranch up since he’d returned? “To be the world champion in reining, Peg must be worth a pretty penny.”
“He is. About two hundred thousand dollars worth. I’ve got a number of colts and fillies sired by him that I’ve been working with and several quality mares expecting his foals in a few months. And he’s yours now.”
“Mine?” Confusion filled her mind.
“If you’ve got the gumption to stay this time, I’ll give him to you, Lily. I figure we can turn Peg to stud. Now you’re here, we can build Emerald Ranch up again like it used to be when your mother was alive.”
She froze, her mind racing. In spite of everything, Dad wanted her to stay. To help run the ranch. And from the looks of things, he needed her help. Badly.
His request touched her like nothing else could. And yet, she knew it was futile to think of staying. Maybe Dad loved her in his own way but he didn’t like her much. They just didn’t get along. They never had. She couldn’t stand to spend the rest of her life arguing with him. “But you can do that, Dad, can’t you?”
He shook his head. “If you’re not here, I have no reason to work the ranch anymore.”
His words shocked her. He loved Emerald Ranch, just as she did. “But Emerald Ranch is your whole life.”
“No, Lily.” He looked at her, his hazel eyes piercing her to her soul. “The ranch isn’t my life. You are. And now that baby you’re carrying.”
She’d never expected to hear such words from her father. He hadn’t said he loved her, but he couldn’t put his feelings more bluntly. Her heart gave a powerful squeeze.
“I’ve been a bit under the weather lately,” he said. “I’m getting old and my body’s wearing out. I just can’t do it alone anymore.”
Something was wrong here. Something she didn’t understand. Was Daddy ailing? She’d speak with Dr. Kenner when she went in for her next prenatal appointment. He’d been the family’s doctor since she was born. Hopefully he knew something about Dad’s hacking cough and why he didn’t seem to have as much energy anymore. And in that moment, she felt so selfish. Dad had always been here, waiting. Bigger than life. Too tough to ever die.
Or was he?
He stared at her, not quite smiling, his eyes aglow with expectancy. “Well? What do you think, darlin’? It’ll take a lot of work, but once you have the baby, you can start training horses again. We can make a go of this together. Mom would be so happy if she were here.”
He talked as if he expected her to stay. As if he expected her to keep the baby. “Dad, I think we should talk about this a little more. I’m not sure I can—”
“Hello?”
Lily turned and found Nathan Coates standing behind them. His broad shoulders filled the doorway, blocking the sunlight, his warm eyes cast in shadow. The moment Lily saw him, her pulse sped up into triple time.
“Nate! I didn’t expect to see you again so soon.” Dad walked toward the forest ranger, his hand extended.
Lily remained where she was. Why was Nate here? If she didn’t know better, she’d think the forest ranger had taken a special interest in her. Not surprising considering he’d saved her life several days ago. But she wanted to be left alone. To have time to heal her relationship with Dad and the Lord.
Obviously her father liked the man. He had a lot in common with the ranger. But Lily didn’t want Nate hanging around all the time. Enough was enough.
Now, she just had to find a way to convince Nate.
Chapter Five
“Didn’t mean to intrude.” Nate shook Hank’s hand and smiled, trying to appear casual when he felt anything but. Lily eyed him with a perturbed frown and he felt like an interloper. He shouldn’t have come out here so soon, yet he felt compelled. Like an inner force was pushing him to watch out for this woman and her child.
Now he felt like a dunce.
“What do you want?” Lily asked, her dainty forehead crinkled with disapproval.
“Lily! Don’t be rude,” Hank said.
Nope, Nate shouldn’t have come. He couldn’t explain why Lily had become so important to him, or the sensations swarming his chest every time he looked into her expressive brown eyes. A man like him ought to have more control over his emotions. Some invisible force pulled him to her in spite of his resolve to stay away. He was acting like a young, lovestruck kid. And he wasn’t in love. He’d know it if he were. He didn’t believe in love at first sight. It took years of deep friendship and growing trust to love a woman.
Didn’t it?
“I…I came to see Peg.” Nate stepped farther into the stable and gazed at the stallion standing in the farthest stall.
Okay, nice recovery, if Lily bought it. Nate loved working with horses and he was good at it, too. He didn’t come out to Emerald Ranch often, but when he did, he always stopped in to see the stallion.
As he reached a hand out to run his palm over the horse’s left cheek, he peered at Hank. “Have you given him his candy today?”
Hank jutted his chin toward Lily. “She just gave it to him and he gobbled it down.”
Nate chuckled as the horse nudged his shoulder. On occasion, Hank let him give the horse his treat. The two men had a rodeo bond. They both loved this horse and it seemed they both cared for Lily, too. “No, boy, you’ve had enough for today. We don’t want you to get the colic.”
A deep sigh of impatience whispered past Lily’s lips and Nate looked at her. Her eyes narrowed on him, her expression completely hostile.
Nope, he definitely shouldn’t be here.
“Well, I best be on my way. I have a few streambeds I want to check throughout the valley, to see what the flooding level is doing today. I’m planning to go up the mountain in a helicopter tomorrow afternoon.” Nate stepped back, prepared to leave.
“Why a helicopter?” Lily asked.
He turned to face her, liking the way her beautiful brown eyes crinkled with curiosity. “With three bridges out in Ruby Valley, I called the regional Forest Service office in Ogden, Utah, for help. Because of our serious flood situation, we’re the only ones in the region they’ve allowed to use a helicopter. I plan to fly across the East Humboldt area and the Ruby Mountains. We’ll look for any debris dams that are building up in front of a potential flood. It’s the best way to be aware so we can prepare for danger down below.”
Her brow furrowed. “What kind of danger?”
“Debris torrents. They move fast, usually strike without warning, and destroy property and kill anything in their path.”
Hank scratched his chin. “You mean like a mudslide?”
Nate shook his head. “No, a debris torrent is caused by boulders, tree limbs and rootwads that dam up in places like narrow canyons and ravines. The melt-off from heavy snows or rains builds up behind it. When it breaks loose, the destructive force is astounding. It can come down the mountain at speeds above thirty-five miles per hour. It obliterates anything in its path, including a ranch house. I’ve seen the devastation it leaves behind afterward, and it’s serious. I want to take a look and see if we’ve got any of our ranches in danger.”
“Ah, I’ve lived in this valley all my life and never seen anything like that here,” Hank said.
“It could still happen,” Nate said. “The snowpack we’ve had this past winter beats anything on record to date. We’ve probably had a one-hundred-and-fifty-year winter.”
Lily rested a hand atop her round stomach. “What do you mean by that?”
“The snows we had this winter probably come only once every one hundred and fifty years. It’s just not normal. I don’t want to be an alarmist, but I want us to take precautions if the excess melt-off might cause a debris torrent to come down on one of our ranchers.”
“Bah! We’ll be just fine.” Hank waved a hand in the air, brushing Nate off.
Lily didn’t look so convinced. Her tiny nose crinkled with her frown. “Do you think Emerald Ranch is in danger?”
At first glance, she looked relaxed, her voice casual, but Nate knew better. He heard the slight catch in her voice and knew his admonition worried her. And he didn’t want this woman to fret about anything except having a healthy baby. “Not yet, but I’ll be flying up tomorrow and then again in a couple of weeks, just to make sure.”
“I’d like to go with you, if that’s possible.”
Nate coughed, surprised by her request. But then he realized she was motivated to protect Emerald Ranch, not be near him. He glanced at her stomach, then up to the butterfly bandage covering the small gash on her forehead. A feeling of warmth and protectiveness blanketed him. If he did anything to cause her to lose her baby, he’d never forgive himself. “You can come along, but only if your doctor says it’s okay.”
“I can call Dr. Kenner’s office today, but I should be okay to fly for a couple more months. I feel fine. And the baby moves all the time.”
Nate would love to feel the baby’s movements. How he wished he had a right to press his palm against her stomach and feel the little kicks there. The thought of spending the afternoon with her appealed to Nate, no denying it. “Good. I’ll swing by to pick you up around noon tomorrow.”
“Okay.” She turned and walked toward the house, her long hair bouncing with her brisk stride.
