Czytaj książkę: «The Rancher's Holiday Hope»

Chapter One

Standing in the middle of the Mercy Ranch Wedding Chapel, Sierra Lawson felt almost at peace, as if God was present and this was a real chapel, not just a wedding venue. The building looked more like a stable than a church, but there was something about the sun filtering through the stained-glass windows that touched her soul.

She’d never expected this to be her healing place. One year ago she would have denied she needed healing of any kind. Now she felt as if she was one step closer to being the person she’d always wanted to be. A person who didn’t allow others to control her happiness.

She moved to the row of windows that faced east and thought about those horrible days that had changed her life forever just four years earlier. For two weeks she had waited each morning for the sliver of sunlight to appear in her cell. Each of those precious sunrises had marked one more day, one more chance to be rescued, one more day of hoping God heard her feeble prayers as she huddled in an enemy prison in Afghanistan.

Nothing had been the same for her since. It would never be the same. During her weeks of captivity she’d known fear, pain and helplessness. But she’d also known an unexplainable calm and a hope that didn’t make sense.

It was because of that experience that she had found her way to Mercy Ranch, a home for wounded veterans just outside of Hope, Oklahoma. And it was due to the ranch owner, Jack West, that she found herself in the position of wedding planner.

Wedding planner? She still couldn’t believe she’d agreed to take this on. This was the absolute worst job for a woman like Sierra. She was responsible for selling the dream of fairy-tale weddings and happily-ever-afters. Neither of which was something she believed in. She’d seen too much, been through too much, to allow herself to get caught up in those dreams.

The stillness of the November morning and her quiet reflection was shattered by the steady thump of rotors beating against the air. Sierra backed away from the window and the all too familiar vibration. She waited for the sound of metal and glass hitting hard-packed earth. She tried to convince herself that it had to be a dream. She wasn’t in Afghanistan. The helicopter couldn’t be real. She was not in danger.

It was the wind beating against something outside. It was late November in Oklahoma and the wind blew on a daily basis.

Somewhere in the building a door banged shut. Glory, her young assistant, must have arrived early to help with the latest community project. Jack West wanted to bring all of the churches in the area together in a massive Christmas event that would include music, a dinner and gifts for children in the community. It was a big project that made Sierra shudder.

Cautious, she stepped into the entry and looked around. When she saw nothing suspicious, she moved to close the doors but before she could reach them a sound behind her had her spinning to meet whoever had entered the building.

Overhead the helicopter still hovered. She caught sight of it out of the corner of her eye. And standing in front of her, a very real little girl.

The girl couldn’t have been more than eight. The dog next to her was older. The shepherd had grayed the way an old man would and the look in his expressive brown eyes said he knew he had to protect the small person at his side.

“Hello. Can I help you?” Sierra asked as her heart thudded in time with the beat of the rotors.

She sounded calm. She took some pride in that. She focused on breathing and what she knew to be reality. The helicopter wasn’t an enemy attacking. Her brain was telling her to flee, to grab the child and run. That was the wrong response. But knowing didn’t stop the panic, the urge toward fight or flight.

If she did what her brain wanted, everyone would think she had finally lost it.

She somehow managed a smile for the child who continued to stare at her, blond hair a tangled mess around a rosy-cheeked face.

“Do you have a name?” The words came out hoarse, not soft and soothing. Her friend Kylie West often used those words on frightened children but somehow Kylie always seemed to calm.

With the question, the child backed away, proving that Sierra didn’t have the touch when it came to children.

She tried again. “I’m not going to hurt you.”

The little girl didn’t seem convinced, even with a softened tone of voice.

“My name is Sierra. I work here. How did you get here?”

The child looked down at her dog.

“Did he bring you?”

No response. Sierra closed her eyes just briefly. When she opened them, the child had started to inch along the wall. Sierra squatted, putting herself at the little girl’s eye level. The helicopter had landed. She could see it in the open lawn. Her heart rate slowly returned to normal, as if catching the rhythm of the slowing rotors.

“I’m not going to hurt you or let anyone else hurt you.” Sierra hoped the promise made sense.

The little girl ran to her, wrapping thin arms around her neck as the doors to the chapel opened. A less than clean face snuggled against Sierra’s shoulder. The child smelled of the outdoors, as if the wind, soil and dog had invaded every pore. Why did children have to smell so bad?

Another wrong thought. The child needed protection. From the man walking through the door? He was tall, dark and not smiling. Handsome. Mind-bogglingly handsome. He had lean features with dark eyes that set her nerves on edge. Definitely not her type. It was more comfortable to think of him as the angry stranger. And his anger seemed to be directed at the child. The dog at her side growled.

The man stopped, removed his cowboy hat and proceeded forward with a calm demeanor. Calm on the surface but with power radiating beneath that outward facade. Sierra didn’t know who he was but she found herself wishing she’d taken the child and hidden from him.

“Linnie, we’ve been looking for you.” He spoke with a quiet voice, one that he probably thought would calm the child.

The child—Linnie—shook her head and didn’t look up. Her face stayed buried in Sierra’s shoulder.

“Your mom is worried sick,” he continued.

Sierra felt little arms tighten around her neck. She tried to extricate herself from the vise grip but Linnie wouldn’t let go.

“Linnie, your mom called for us to help find you.”

The child’s body went limp and she curled against Sierra. “Mommy,” she whimpered.

“Maybe I should ask who you are?” Sierra said, lifting the child as she stood up. The dog stayed close, his growl keeping the cowboy with the chocolate-brown curls at a distance.

Sierra fought the urge to fall apart. He was too dark, too imposing, and the helicopter had already started unraveling her emotions. She backed toward her office door.

“You’re not going to take that child,” he warned. His voice was low, authoritative. He wasn’t used to being questioned.

“I’m not taking her. I’m keeping her safe.”

“From me?” He laughed. “I’m the person searching for her. We spotted her from the air as she headed this way.”

“And I’m her new best friend.”

“The police are helping us search.” His voice remained quiet, soothing, but she heard the edge of impatience. “I’ll call the sheriff and he can explain the situation to you.”

“You go ahead. I’m not giving her up until I know she’s safe.”

“Suit yourself. But if you have a blanket, she’s probably cold. And hungry. She wandered off yesterday evening. She’d been playing in her backyard with the dog and must have decided to go exploring. Her name is Linnie.”

Sierra glanced down at the child in her arms. “I’ll take her to my office.”

“Do I look like someone who would kidnap a child? Whisk her away in my helicopter?” the stranger said.

“It’s a crazy world,” Sierra responded as she moved away with Linnie clinging to her neck.

“Yes, it is.” He followed her into her office.

Sierra held the little girl in one arm while she poured hot water into a cup that she’d prepared with her favorite herbal tea. The aroma filled the air, fruity and light.

“This will warm you up. And I have donuts.” She handed one to the girl clinging to her for all she was worth. A dirty hand released its hold on Sierra’s neck and grabbed the powdered-sugar-covered donut.

Sierra heard the crunch of tires on gravel and moved to the window as Linnie made short work of her breakfast. A county deputy had pulled up out front. She ignored the man still standing at the door to her office, watching her.

The officer got out of his car, spoke into his radio and then headed for the front door of the building. Sierra made quick eye contact with the cowboy who’d invaded her space. He gave her an “I told you so” look before stepping into the entryway to greet the deputy.

“We’ve found her. If you could convince the woman inside to hand her over to us,” he said as he led the officer through the door of her office.

“Sierra, looks like you found our missing child.” Deputy Coleson smiled first at Sierra and then at the child in her arms. “Linnie, your momma is worried sick.”

Silent tears began to slide down Linnie’s cheeks.

“Do you want me to take you to her?” Deputy Coleson offered. “She’s waiting at the police station in Hope.”

Linnie nodded but she gave a quick look at Sierra, as if asking permission.

“You go with him and he’ll take you to your mommy.”

The child sniffled and held her hand out. Sierra gave her two more donuts and then escorted her to the officer’s side.

“I’m sorry, Jeff, I just didn’t know what to do.” Sierra didn’t know how to explain. “Better cautious now than regretful later.”

“You’re fine, Sierra. I doubt there’s a woman alive who would turn her over without asking questions first. Linnie’s mom will be thankful that you found her and kept her safe.”

“Who is her mom?” Sierra asked as they headed for the front doors of the chapel.

“Patsy Jay. She lives at the Cardinal Roost mobile home park, just down the road. Unfortunately the place is in the middle of a field with no fences and just a short distance from a heavily wooded area. Her mom was outside with Linnie but she stepped inside to turn off the stove. Didn’t take Linnie but a few minutes to disappear into the woods.”

Sierra nodded. “Thank you. I’d like to check on her later, to make sure she’s okay.”

“I’m sure she’d like that.” Jeff carried the child to his car.

The other man had left, also. She watched as his long-legged stride ate up the ground. He walked with confidence. He owned his world. He didn’t suffer from fear as he stepped up into the helicopter.

Before she could turn away, his gaze caught and held hers. She shivered and backed away from the door. She didn’t want to be standing there when the helicopter lifted from the ground. She didn’t want to hear the rotors beating the air.

She retreated to her office to wait out the fear and the memories.

“Ready, boss?” Hank, Max’s pilot of three years, asked as Max climbed aboard the Airbus.

Max shook his head as he reached for the headset. He sat there for a full minute contemplating the stable that he knew to be a wedding venue. He couldn’t walk away. As much as she had irritated him with her unwillingness to hand over the child, he couldn’t leave.

He’d known when he returned to Hope, Oklahoma, that there would be people questioning his motives each and every time he tried to do something for the people and the town he cared about. But this woman at the wedding venue had given him a whole different vibe. She feared him for a completely different reason and, if he had to guess, he would say he looked too much like his Assyrian grandparents.

He’d seen the look before. The one of suspicion. But there had been more in her expression. Terror, carefully held in check, contained.

“I’ll be right back,” he said as he climbed down from the helicopter.

“Need me?” Hank asked.

“No, I’ve got this.” He ducked slightly as he hurried away from the helicopter.

When he reached the building he hesitated, unsure if he had a right to go inside. He could call Isaac West and let him handle this. He could walk away and pretend he hadn’t noticed anything off. He could avoid getting involved because that only led to problems. When a man cared too much, women tended to think long term and not a helping hand.

He stepped through the door into the large entry with its vaulted ceilings. No noises greeted him. The woman—Sierra—had disappeared.

He glanced in her office. Empty.

Next he tried the hallway off the main entry. He heard a noise from a room on the end. As he approached he saw that it was a kitchen. He entered the brightly lit room. It appeared empty. He turned and started to leave. Then he saw her. She was sitting next to a worktable, knees drawn to her chest. There was a stark look of terror in her eyes. Her hands covered her ears and she stared as if not seeing him.

He approached cautiously. When he reached her, he crouched to the floor and waited to see if she would notice him. Eventually her head turned slowly, her gaze locking with his.

“Go,” she said.

“I’m afraid I can’t.” The last thing he wanted was to get involved here. But he knew this feral look. It’s what happened to a person when they’d seen too much, been exposed to too much. But he also knew she saw an enemy as she perused his features, his dark hair. Maybe an hour from now that look wouldn’t be there. But, at this moment, her mind was telling her he was someone to fear.

“Look at me,” he said. “You know where you’re at.”

Her fists curled as if she meant to strike out. But then she curled her arms around her knees, hugging them tight as she shook her head. “Go away. Please.”

“I can’t. I have to make sure you’re okay.”

“Why wouldn’t I be okay?” she said with a surprising bit of bravado that could have convinced someone else she was just fine.

“I’m not sure, maybe the look in your eyes when I walked through the door a bit ago. Or maybe the fact that you’re sitting here practically in fetal position.”

“Maybe I was praying.”

“Were you?”

She shook her head, one tear finally slipping free. She swiped at it with a finger.

“I never cry,” she said quietly, as if to herself.

“Ah, I see. Would you like me to make you a cup of tea?”

“No, I’m fine.”

He moved so that his back was against the wall, putting him next to her rather than facing her. He knew from experience that it was best if she didn’t feel cornered. Not his own, but the experience of a good friend. His business partner.

Sometimes a person just needed space to pull themselves together.

She breathed deeply and continued to wipe at tears, whether she admitted to crying or not. He got up and made himself at home, finding a cup, tea and sugar. He considered telling her about Roger. Roger had battled PTSD silently, as if it were something to hide, to be ashamed of. Max guessed that to those battling the past, it felt like something to hide.

It shouldn’t be hidden. A person with any other disease would seek the comfort and help of family, friends, physicians. He had finally convinced Roger of that.

He made the tea and handed it to her. She studied the cup, studied him. He held his free hand out to her and she shrank back from him. He considered telling her his background. That his grandfather had been an Assyrian Christian minister who’d migrated to America, where they could be free from persecution. Where they could worship without fear of repercussion. Where his wife and daughter would be safe. His daughter, Max’s mother, Doreena.

Max’s father was a mixed bag of European heritage, like most Americans. He could trace his father’s ancestry to the early colonists.

But he didn’t owe this woman explanations. She didn’t owe him any, either.

He was just as American as she was. His grandfather had given them the American dream. He didn’t ever take that for granted.

He continued to hold his hand out to her, not even considering why he cared. She wasn’t his problem.

But he knew that if he did leave, the helicopter would start back up and he had little doubt that the sound would push her over the edge.

She took his hand. Her fingers wrapped around his, firm and strong. He pulled her to her feet and still he held her hand. He found it strangely frail as he clasped it tight, holding on to her as she surveyed her surroundings. She didn’t let go.

“You’re okay,” he assured her.

“Am I?” she said softly, taking the tea from him. “Even with all evidence to the contrary?”

“We all have bad moments.”

She sipped the tea and walked away from him. “Really? Has anyone ever found you cowering in a corner?”

“Once,” he admitted.

She took a seat at the island that ran the length of the kitchen.

“Really?”

He sat next to her, saw her stiffen at his nearness. “Yes. Really. Once, when I was about eight. A tornado hit the outskirts of Hope.”

“You’re from Hope?”

“That’s what you’re taking from my story? I just opened up to you. I exposed my deep-seated fear of storms.”

She laughed, the sound soft. “Right. I’m sorry that you’re afraid of storms. Do you still struggle with thunder and lightning?”

“Sometimes,” he admitted. “Tornadoes are my real fear. You can’t control them.”

“You’re a control freak, so your fear is born out of the need for control and not the storm itself.”

“Yes, I guess that must be it. Or the damage they do.”

He wanted to ask her what caused her fear, but he knew that it must be personal. She hid it from prying eyes. She covered her tears with jokes.

“Thank you for coming back...?” She gave him a meaningful look.

“Max St. James,” he offered.

She gave him a thoughtful look. “St. James. Melody’s brother?”

“Yes.” He glanced at his watch. “I have to go now. Will you be okay?”

She lifted her tea but didn’t take a drink. “Of course. Embarrassed but okay. And if you could do a girl a solid and not tell everyone that you found me cowering in a corner...”

“Your secret is safe with me.”

He left her to her tea and her memories. He knew that he would most definitely see her again. The two of them were on a committee together. She just wasn’t aware yet. As he left the wedding chapel, he wasn’t sure how to feel about spending more time with her. The last thing he wanted to do was make more connections in Hope.

His plan had been to buy back his family ranch and make a quick exit to Dallas. But it seemed like God had other plans for him. He hoped God understood that the last thing he needed were complications.