The Reluctant Rancher~Badlands (Contemporary Western Romantic Suspense) by J.D. Faver Page A
Authors: J.D. Faver
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looked in the refrigerator and then closed the door. Eventually, he made his way to the front of the house and spied his leather jacket; the one which he had lent to Jenna. A smile spread across his face whenever he thought of her. He put on the jacket and her soft floral scent enveloped him, gentle as a whisper, warm as an embrace.
He went out to the stables to check on the horses. At least these were animals he could understand. All they needed was to be fed and watered, given some exercise and a little love.
When he gazed into the eyes of these gentle giants, he could see why his dad enjoyed living on the ranch. He knew that part of Eldon’s drive to possess this land, was rooted in his desire to leave his son something of value; something tangible as his legacy.
“Well, you sure did that,” he muttered. But instead of feeling entitled, he felt encumbered. The sprawling ranch and surrounding land holdings felt more l ike a burden than a birthright.
In Dallas, there was a large home…a beautiful home where his mother had lived while Eldon was running the roads in the panhandle and west Texas. His mother had raised him with her gracious style, and with very little input from Eldon. His father had been proud of his grades, but rolled his eyes over the sports in which E.J. excelled.
“What the hell is dressage anyway? Isn’t he just riding horses? And why is he playing soccer instead of football?” Eldon would shake his head, muttering that tennis was a sissy game.
The one passion he and his father had shared was their love of horses. When Eldon had gone riding with him, he had been careful to ride western style. “Don’t let me see daylight between your ass and that saddle, son.”
His memories of Eldon involved some resentment that his father had not been there for him as a teen, and he had not been available for his mother especially during her illness. He also felt resentful for the general feeling that he had disappointed his father.
And yet, other people always told him that Eldon was very proud of him. He wished his father had found a way to show him.
He rubbed the nose of the handsome black stallion, Stryker, his father’s favorite horse. Tomorrow he would have to broach Cami again and try to convince her to visit his old man in prison, although he could see no reason why she would agree to it.
He secured the stables, and strolled back toward the house. Glancing up at the overcast sky, he noted the clouds scudding by, shrouding the moon. Dark night . He went into the house to try and get some sleep.
~*~
CHAPTER FIVE
Sara Beth sat in her darkened house, the doors and windows locked. She rocked her daughter Cami Lynn, although the infant had fallen asleep some time ago. Sara Beth’s stomach was tied up in a knot. She was frightened and it was dark outside with no moon showing. She kept hearing noises, but when she crept to the windows to peer out in the darkness, she could see nothing moving except the wind blowing the tree branches.
But , the feeling persisted that she was being observed.
She steeled herself against her fears and laid her daughter in the crib. She snuggled a soft blanket around the baby and stretched to relieve the tightness in her back. Nothing to worry about. It’s all my imagination.
Sara Beth pulled the door almost closed and stepped into the hallway. I just wish Nick would come home...or at least call me.
She made her way into the kitchen without turning on the lights. She picked up the cordless phone to hear the last message Nick left, but the phone was dead. She clicked the on button several times, but there was no dial tone. A whisper of fear touched her skin, igniting a blanket of goose flesh. Being alone in the country with a young baby and no communication was dangerous. She turned on the pendant lamp suspended over the small table and fumbled in her purse for her cell.
A barrage of gunfire exploded around her, shattering windows and smashing the
He went out to the stables to check on the horses. At least these were animals he could understand. All they needed was to be fed and watered, given some exercise and a little love.
When he gazed into the eyes of these gentle giants, he could see why his dad enjoyed living on the ranch. He knew that part of Eldon’s drive to possess this land, was rooted in his desire to leave his son something of value; something tangible as his legacy.
“Well, you sure did that,” he muttered. But instead of feeling entitled, he felt encumbered. The sprawling ranch and surrounding land holdings felt more l ike a burden than a birthright.
In Dallas, there was a large home…a beautiful home where his mother had lived while Eldon was running the roads in the panhandle and west Texas. His mother had raised him with her gracious style, and with very little input from Eldon. His father had been proud of his grades, but rolled his eyes over the sports in which E.J. excelled.
“What the hell is dressage anyway? Isn’t he just riding horses? And why is he playing soccer instead of football?” Eldon would shake his head, muttering that tennis was a sissy game.
The one passion he and his father had shared was their love of horses. When Eldon had gone riding with him, he had been careful to ride western style. “Don’t let me see daylight between your ass and that saddle, son.”
His memories of Eldon involved some resentment that his father had not been there for him as a teen, and he had not been available for his mother especially during her illness. He also felt resentful for the general feeling that he had disappointed his father.
And yet, other people always told him that Eldon was very proud of him. He wished his father had found a way to show him.
He rubbed the nose of the handsome black stallion, Stryker, his father’s favorite horse. Tomorrow he would have to broach Cami again and try to convince her to visit his old man in prison, although he could see no reason why she would agree to it.
He secured the stables, and strolled back toward the house. Glancing up at the overcast sky, he noted the clouds scudding by, shrouding the moon. Dark night . He went into the house to try and get some sleep.
~*~
CHAPTER FIVE
Sara Beth sat in her darkened house, the doors and windows locked. She rocked her daughter Cami Lynn, although the infant had fallen asleep some time ago. Sara Beth’s stomach was tied up in a knot. She was frightened and it was dark outside with no moon showing. She kept hearing noises, but when she crept to the windows to peer out in the darkness, she could see nothing moving except the wind blowing the tree branches.
But , the feeling persisted that she was being observed.
She steeled herself against her fears and laid her daughter in the crib. She snuggled a soft blanket around the baby and stretched to relieve the tightness in her back. Nothing to worry about. It’s all my imagination.
Sara Beth pulled the door almost closed and stepped into the hallway. I just wish Nick would come home...or at least call me.
She made her way into the kitchen without turning on the lights. She picked up the cordless phone to hear the last message Nick left, but the phone was dead. She clicked the on button several times, but there was no dial tone. A whisper of fear touched her skin, igniting a blanket of goose flesh. Being alone in the country with a young baby and no communication was dangerous. She turned on the pendant lamp suspended over the small table and fumbled in her purse for her cell.
A barrage of gunfire exploded around her, shattering windows and smashing the
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