The Reluctant Rancher by Patricia Mason, Joann Baker

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    “ Okay, ” Mary smiled.   “ But I can handle the Johnsons of the world.   By the way, I made an appointment for your grandfather with the doctor in the morning. ”
    Luke nodded. “ Fine, I’ll take you to town myself.   What time? ”
    “ Ten o’clock . ”
    “ Good, I don’t like the looks of this weather. ”   Dark storm clouds gathered in the east, a sure sign of rain.   “ The forecasters are calling for the temperature to drop and, if we get any precipitation, I’m afraid it’ll turn to freezing rain or even snow.   That should give us time to see what’s going to happen. ”
    “ Surely it doesn’t snow in May? ”
    “ Hell honey, I’ve seen it flurry in July.   Believe me, I’m ready for spring too. ”   The long, harsh days of winter were filled with the tedious task of feeding cattle which left a man’s mind free to think of ways to pass the equally long, lonely nights.   And since Mary had come to live at the Circle T, Luke’s mind had gone into overdrive, thinking of ways the two of them coul d spend the hours from dusk til l dawn in the sweet, warm comfort of his bed.
    “ Well, I guess I’d better going. ”
    He heard the hesitation in her words and it knocked at the fortress surrounding his own lonely heart.   This was the first conversation they’d had in days.   He’d avoided her ever since the day in his bedroom when she’d fixed his cuts , grunting his way through supper and earning himself silent reprimands from his grandfather.
    Luke settled his hat further down on his head, but didn’t move away either.   All at once he felt a deep, driving need to ease a little of both their pain.   What would it hurt to spend some time wi th Mary?
    “ What were you doing at the bunkhouse?   Giving away more of my chocolate chip cookies? ”   Since discovering his sweet tooth, Mary made sure something was always around .   He didn’t want to think about how she could satisfy his other carvings.
    She threw him a look that reminded him of his grandmother when she’d caught him raiding the cookie jar as a youngster. “ Yes I did, but there’s a batch cooling in the kitchen just for you, Mr. Tanner. ”
    “ Just wanted to make sure you knew who signed your paycheck. ”   When her expression lost some of its shining luster, he cursed the slip of his tongue.   The last thing he wanted was to remind her of their arrangemen t and why she was really here .   “ The boys appreciate your efforts, Mary.   And so do I.   Did your mother teach you how to cook? ”
    “No. ” Mary turned to face him. “ My mother wouldn’t know a chocolate chip from a peanut. ”
    “ So where did you learn? ”
    “H ere and there.   Every time dad got a new assignment, we got a new cook and housekeeper.   One of the privileges of the rank and file. Most weren’t adverse to teaching a pesky girl how to cook. ”
    “ So your dad’s in the military? ”
    “ Not anymore.   He retired a couple of years ago and moved Mom to Florida . ”
    “ I bet you miss them. ”   Luke studied her from beneath the brim of his hat.
    “ I do miss them.   But not the moving. ”
    “ I guess you’re not the traveling kind. ”
    “ No, I’m not.” She watch ed as two cowboys led the horses out of the barn and into the corral.   “ All I’ve ever wanted was a small piece of land and a big view.   It’s hard not having a room of your own or even a swing set in the backyard.   The way Daddy went from station to station, we didn’t know from one year to the next where we would be or what kind of house we would have.   I’m glad I didn’t say no when Jennifer asked me to visit after she moved here.   I love this place.   She’s an army brat too, you know.   That’s how we met. ”
    “ Yeah, Mark mentioned that a time or two. If I recall, it took some convincing on his part before she agreed to move to Fiddler Creek. ”   Luke refused to let the wistfulness of her tone get to him.