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“Come on, bro, help me with the gates.” Brady was glad he could finally manage to do something useful. He followed his brother, took one side and swung open the metal gate. It had been a while since he’d been around horses, but he knew they could be unpredictable at best. The first two ponies arrived and went into the pen, but the third and fourth decided to turn off.
Hanging on to the gate, Brady yanked off his hat, waved it around and yelled to turn the horse back. Then Chance and Cade showed up to take over. Finally the last of the ponies were in the large pen and the gate shut.
His cousins climbed off their horses and everyone went to the corral to check out their finds. Brady’s gaze was on Lindsey. She dismounted and walked toward the metal railing with the old guy, Hank.
Barrett looked the part of mentor, father and grandfather. He didn’t have to demand respect, but he got it. He wasn’t a Randell, but he’d earned the title of family patriarch.
He nodded at Brady. “Good to see you up and around.”
“It’s a start.”
“Well, if you get the doctor’s okay, you can go out with us the next time.”
Brady nodded. Chances were, if he was strong enough to chase wild mustangs, he’d be hightailing it for the cockpit of his F-16. “Thank you, sir,” Brady said. “I’d like that.”
Hank turned back to Lindsey. “I think we got ourselves a good-looking bunch this time.”
Lindsey avoided Brady’s gaze and went up to the gate. “I’m worried about the paint. See how he favors the right front leg?”
Brady looked, too, but he had to watch closely to see the slight limp.
“It could be a pebble. I’m going to have to examine him, but I have appointments this afternoon.”
Hank agreed as he checked his watch. “Tomorrow, then. We’ll separate them so they all can be examined and inoculated. How’s that with you, Doc?”
“I could come by tomorrow afternoon for a few hours.”
“Good, it will give us time to see which ponies are worth the time to saddle break.”
“Why are you saddle breaking them?” Brady asked.
“So we can sell them at auction. Since we have to thin the herd, we want to find good homes for them.”
Brady had his eye on a gray stallion that didn’t like being confined in the pen. He kept moving back and forth along the fence.
Hank waved the group on. “Everyone is welcome to come up to the house for lunch. Lindsey, I hope you can join us.”
“I’d like that.” She pulled out her phone. “I just need to check my messages.” She hung back from the group.
Hank looked at Brady. “How about you, Captain? I wouldn’t mind hearing a few F-16 stories.”
“I might have one or two that are worth repeating.” Using his cane, Brady managed to fall into step beside Hank. Although his steps were awkward, he was happy to be able to get around. What he couldn’t understand was why he was feeling drawn to this family. Not to mention one vet.
They made their way into the compound where a large ranch house stood. It was painted glossy white with dark green trim. The barn and other buildings were also white and well kept.
“Nice place, Hank,” Brady said.
“Thanks. My boys run things now. In the summer months we open it as a dude ranch of sorts, but it’s a working ranch.” He grinned. “You’d be surprised what people will pay just to do chores like a ranch hand.”
Cade joined the group. “Yeah, Chance, Travis and I had to do the work for nothing growing up.”
“It built character,” Hank told him.
Cade laughed. “Well, I sure got a lot of that, then.”
Brady listened to the teasing between the brothers and Hank. Suddenly he thought back to how much his own father had been away during his life. All the baseball games he’d missed, the birthdays and holidays. As a typical kid he did a lot to get Sam’s attention. Most of it didn’t work, until he got into ROTC in high school, then into the academy.
“You boys turned out okay,” Hank said. “You’ve settled down with pretty wives and have families.”
Brady glanced over his shoulder and caught sight of Lindsey hurrying to catch up, so he hung back.
“Do you have to run off?”
“No, I can stay for lunch. But I have a two-o’clock appointment.”
“Good, that will give me time,” he said.
She frowned. “Time for what?”
“Time to convince you I’m not a total jerk.”
“Really.” She looked skeptical. “You think I should go easy on you?”
“No, but I’m hoping my Randell charm will win out.”
She smiled. “So the average guy doesn’t have a chance over a Randell?”
“That’s right.”
They took slow, easy steps toward the back porch.
“Well, I disagree on that theory,” she said. “Jarred Trager, and Dylan and Wyatt Gentry do all right in the charm department.”
Brady fought rising jealousy, recalling how his cousins had been flirting with her earlier. They had their own wives. “That just goes to show you a Randell wins out.”
She stopped and looked confused. “But they’re not Randells?”
He nodded. “Yes, they are. Seems Uncle Jack had three more sons.”
CHAPTER THREE
AS HARD AS LINDSEY TRIED, she couldn’t hide her shock. “Really” was all she could come up with.
Brady gave a sharp nod. “Evidently Uncle Jack was quite the lady’s man when he was out on the rodeo circuit.”
“Have Jarred, Wyatt and Dylan always lived here?”
Brady shook his head. “About half a dozen years ago, Jarred Trager showed up. He had found an old letter from Jack to his mother that talked about their affair. He came here and met Dana Shayne and her son, Evan. They married a short time later.” He shrugged. “That’s the condensed version that Luke gave me.”
Lindsey took easy breaths as they continued on toward the Barrett house. She walked slowly so Brady could keep up, and so she could try to absorb what he told her. Had Jack known about his other sons?
“You say Wyatt and Dylan are your cousins, too?” She should have seen the resemblance in the men.
He nodded. “After their mother finally told the twins who their father was, Wyatt came to San Angelo looking for Jack, too. Wyatt ended up buying Uncle Jack’s half of the Rocking R and found Maura Wells and her two kids, Jeff and Holly, living in the rundown house. A few months later his twin, Dylan, arrived after he’d been injured bull riding. He ended up marrying his physical therapist, Brenna. Who, by the way, is putting me through torture these days.”
They reached the porch and he turned to her. “You seem pretty curious about the Randell family.”
She shrugged. “The Randells are a big part of this valley. As an only child it’s interesting to hear about a large family.”
“Yeah, aren’t we just one, big happy family.”
“I’d take them,” Lindsey told him, trying to act lighthearted. It was difficult. From the beginning, Jack had warned her and her mother about his shady past. She also realized that her stepfather needed to know about his other sons. If only to make amends with them.
Suddenly the back door opened and Hank peered out. “There you are. I was wondering if you two had gotten lost.”
Brady used the railing to climb the steps. “No, I’m a little slow these days.”
Hank smiled. “I thought you were just hanging back to get some time with a pretty lady.”
“Well, that, too.”
Lindsey felt her heart accelerate, but she put on a smile. “Well, now that we’re here, how about some lunch?”
Hank ushered them into a huge old fashioned kitchen. Sunny yellow walls were lined with maple cupboards. The white-tiled counter gleamed, and a tall, older woman was busy setting the table.
She turned and smiled. “Hello, you must be the new vet, Dr. Stafford. I’m Hank’s wife, Ella.”
“And I’m Lindsey.”
Her friendly brown eyes searched Lindsey’s face. “It’s nice to meet you. Hank said you were pretty, and he’s right.”
Cade walked by her. “Hank says all the women are pretty.”
“That’s because all the women around here are pretty.” Hank hugged his wife to his side, kissing her cheek.
Ella acted as if she were pushing him away. “Be careful, Lindsey. Hank will be wanting to know if you’re a good cook, too.”
Hank tried to look indignant. “I hardly know this woman. But if she can cook up any special dishes, I wouldn’t mind sampling them, say at our next family get-together. Thanksgiving is coming up.”
Cade grinned as he took his seat at the table. “Watch what you say, Hank, or Ella will have you sleeping in the bunkhouse.”
The group hooted with laughter, and Lindsey quickly realized she’d been had. “Well, sorry to disappoint you, Hank, but I spent all my free time studying the last few years. So my culinary skills are sorely lacking.”
Hank sighed. “That’s going to make it harder for you to get a man.”
Lindsey was too stunned to speak, but Tess did it for her. “Hank Barrett, stop your teasing. We want Lindsey to stay, not run her off.” She turned to Lindsey. “Please sit down, unless you want to clobber Hank first.”
Lindsey walked around the table. “I think I’ll wait until I have some big instruments in my hand.”
The table broke into another round of laughter as she took a seat next to Tess and Luke. Brady managed to snag the seat next to hers.
He leaned toward her and murmured, “You sure know how to hold your own, Doc. I should call you when I’m being chewed out by my commanding officer.”
“I can’t imagine that ever happening, not with your sweet disposition.”
Those dark bedroom eyes bore into hers. “I’m workin’ on changing that.” He grinned. “Give me a little time, and my charm will melt you.”
Lindsey knew Brady was more dangerous than any of the Randells. Because he was the one who could get to her. And when he discovered who she was, he wouldn’t be happy. None of the Randells would be, not when they learned that Jack had hung around to play the doting father to her.
Brady hated being cooped up. That was the reason three mornings later he headed down to the barn. He needed the exercise. He’d been lifting weights to keep in shape, but hanging around the cottage was driving him up a wall.
He told himself it wasn’t the possibility of meeting up with Lindsey and Tess coming back from their ride. It was just to take a walk. He ran into the groomer washing Lady and ended up helping with some of the light chores. He found that working his muscles felt good. Just being able to complete a simple task helped his mood. By the time an hour was up, the temperature had warmed. He’d shed his jacket and was mucking out a stall when Tess and Lindsey came into the barn.
Both women were laughing, their cheeks flushed from the cool weather as they led their horses. Lindsey spotted him, and her smile dropped.
Tess spoke first. “Brady, what are you doing out here?”
“Earning my keep,” he told his sister-in-law. “It’s about time I did something around here.”
Tess glanced down at the cast on his foot. “Just so long as you don’t do any damage.”
“I’ve been careful, Mom,” he teased.
Tess fought a smile and lost. “Well, you can go out and play.” She turned to Lindsey. “I hate to run off, but I need to meet Livy’s bus. Juan can handle the horses until I get back.”
“Not a problem, I can stay and take care of my horse,” Lindsey said as she took the reins from her. “It’s the least I can do for you letting me ride. So go on, go get your daughter.”
“Thanks.” Tess smiled as she backed away.
“I can help, too,” Brady said.
“There’s no need,” Lindsey said. “I would hate to take you away from your job.”
Brady didn’t back away. “Then after I help you, you can help me. There are two more stalls to clean. Unless it’s too dirty a job for you.”
She made an unladylike snort. “I’ve probably mucked out more stalls than you’ve seen. I grew up on a horse ranch.”
He took Whiskey’s reins from her. He loved to see her get riled. It made her eyes turn a deep emerald green. “You probably have. We didn’t live very long on our ranch.”
They walked slowly to the stallion’s stall. Right next to it was Dusty’s. “Where was your ranch?” she asked.
“We had a small place in Utah not far from the base. Dad bought it with his reenlistment bonus. With the help of a foreman, he ran a small yearling operation for about four years. I was ten when he was sent overseas and had to sell the place.” He wasn’t sure why he was telling her this. He tossed the stirrup over the seat and unfastened the cinch, then pulled the saddle off the horse and took it to the stand outside the stall. After Lindsey pulled off Dusty’s, he took it. He liked moving around, being active. He found his balance was a lot better.
“Thanks.” She went to work on the rest of the tack. “It’s a shame you never got to live here.”
“Dad never told me about the Rocking R until last year when he got sick.”
“Had he been ill for long?”
Brady shrugged, remembering the hulk of a man who had slowly faded away after he retired from the air force. Even his wife, Georgia, hadn’t been enough to keep him happy and at home. She’d died alone.
“Dad ignored the doctor’s advice,” he told her. “After he retired, I don’t think he cared much if he lived or died.” He gaze met hers. “They say I’m a lot like him. All I’ve known is the military.”
Lindsey paused at her task, hearing the sadness in his voice, seeing it in his eyes. She suspected coming here and meeting the Randells had been overwhelming for him.
She suddenly thought of Jack. What was going to happen to him, when he was too stubborn to help himself? Well, she couldn’t let that happen, not without doing everything possible, at the very least to get him to see his sons.
“Are you okay?”
Hearing Brady’s voice, Lindsey pushed away the wayward thoughts. “I’m fine. Just thinking about how lucky you are to find your brother,” she said. “And to be able to come here, and be with family.”
He snorted. “Hell, I knew nothing about all these cousins. Dad never talked about them. Most of the time, it was just Mom and me.” He shrugged. “We moved around a lot. But, hey, I got to see the world before I was in high school.”
“Too bad you never got to come here.”
He straightened. “My dad had to go where the air force sent him. That’s the way it was then, and the way it is now. You go where you’re assigned.”
Lindsey nodded. “I bet your dad was proud of you.”
He blinked, as if the question caught him off guard. “Hell, I guess so. Why so many questions?”
She had no doubt this man didn’t share much about himself. “I’m just curious.”
“Okay, here’s the lowdown. I’m a fighter pilot in the U.S. Air Force. I’m qualified to fly F-15 and F-16 and at this time stationed out of Hill AFB in Utah.” He moved closer. “Do you want my rank and serial number?” He reached inside his shirt and pulled out his dog tags. The chain dangled in his hand as if to taunt her.
“No, I think I have enough info.”
She returned to her task of removing the gelding’s bridle, a little embarrassed. She didn’t have any business questioning this man or thinking about developing any feelings for him.
“Family is important, Brady. Get to know your brother and cousins before the chance slips away.”
“I don’t seem to have a choice, for now, anyway.” He looked down at his injured leg. “There’s no guarantee that I can go back to flying.”
“Even if you can’t fly again, there are other careers in the air force.”
“Not for me.” A muscle tightened in his jaw. “It’s who I am. It’s the only thing I’ve ever wanted to do.”
“Flying can’t define you as a person, Brady. It’s what you love, yes, but not who you are. You can do something else, or go wherever. Maybe even live here.”
“I hardly see myself as a rancher. I need a little more excitement.” He relaxed as his dark-eyed gaze settled on her face. “Of course, if you’ll be around…”
She was caught off guard. “My job here is temporary.”
A slow, lazy grin appeared. No doubt a sample of the Randell killer charm. “Yeah, but you could make it permanent. Everyone wants you to stay on.” His gaze moved over her. “And I could make a point to come back here for an occasional visit.”
Lindsey refused to react to Brady’s arrogant comment. She had other worries. For one, would she be welcome after they learned her real reason for being here? “You’d be wasting your time, Captain.”
His dark eyes narrowed. “Why? Is there a man back in Fort Worth?”
She looked at him. “Yes, there is someone back home.”
Brady hated being caught off guard, and he was truly blindsided by Lindsey Stafford. The only good thing was that Tess walked into the barn before she could tell him about her man.
He grabbed his cane and headed out the door. He didn’t like the game Lindsey Stafford was playing. With women in the past, he set the rules. No attachments and no commitments. Have some fun, then walk away. So far there hadn’t been any fun, but he sure as hell was doing the walking.
He should have known she’d be trouble the second he first saw her. He climbed the porch steps, went into the cottage and didn’t stop until he got to the kitchen and pulled a can of iced tea from the refrigerator. After a long drink, he worked on calming down. He was going to erase her from his head. But he doubted anything would do the job.
What surprised him was why this even bothered him. She was leaving in a few months. So what? He was going back to his base in Utah. And besides there were other women…a lot of women.
A knock sounded on the door, but he ignored it. When the knocking continued he figured it was probably Luke or Tess. They wouldn’t give up. He finally went and pulled open the door.
Damned if Lindsey wasn’t standing there on his porch.
“Did you forget to tell me something else?”
She didn’t act sorry. “Yes. Before you took off, I was about to mention that the man in my life—”
“Believe me,” he interrupted, “I’m not interested.”
She didn’t move. “The man is my stepfather.”
His heart began to race. “Your stepfather?”
“Yes. He’s been ill recently, and I don’t want to make any long commitments away from home.”
Brady watched the sadness play on her face, and the sudden tightness in his gut caught him off guard. He reached for her and pulled her inside the house. Closing the door, he pushed her back against the wall.
“Do you know you had me crazy, thinking all sorts of things?”
She blinked as her breathing grew rapid. “You didn’t let me tell you anything else,” she whispered.
Her slim body was pressed against his, reminding him how long he’d been without a woman. “All I want to know is if you have someone special in your life, a husband, a significant other, a friend with benefits.” He raised an eyebrow, praying she’d give him the right answer.
“No, none of the above.”
Brady’s resolve disappeared as he cupped her face and lowered his head to hers. “Maybe we should work on that,” he breathed just as his mouth closed over hers.
She tasted sweet and sexy at the same time. He hungered for her like no woman before. He couldn’t get enough of her as his tongue dove into her mouth. Lindsey murmured something deep in her throat and her arms slipped around his neck.
Brady slid his hands inside her coat, under her sweatshirt to her bare back, and pulled her as close to him as possible. The imprint of her breasts against his chest nearly drove him over the edge.
He still needed more. His fingers traced across her warm, soft skin to her breasts. The material was thin enough to feel her pebbled nipples through the lace. This time he groaned.
With a gasp, he broke off the kiss and sucked air into his starved lungs. He tried to slow the drumming of his heart as his gaze searched hers to find the same need and raw desire.
“You shouldn’t have done that,” she breathed.
He shook his head. “Probably not, Doc. But my common sense doesn’t seem to be working right now,” he assured her as his head lowered to hers again.
Lindsey had called herself every kind of fool by the time she made her way back to the cabin. She’d managed to escape Brady Randell’s arms, but just barely.
Once inside she leaned back against the door and shut her eyes only to relive the man’s mind-blowing kisses. The feel of his hands on her skin as his mouth expertly caressed hers turning her into a whimpering teenager. What in the world had possessed her to go after him? To soothe his ego? To poke at the lion in his den?
She could still see those dark eyes, and that sexy grin spread across his face, looking as if he’d just conquered Mt. Everest. Lindsey groaned. She didn’t need this kind of distraction to add to the already complicated situation.
She hadn’t come here to get involved with a man, especially a cocky jet pilot with an ego that needed to be stroked. Well, she wasn’t stroking anything of Brady Randell’s. He wasn’t her type. She never could handle a casual affair, no matter how good-looking and tempting the man was.
It would be wise to keep her distance. She needed to focus her attention on Brady’s cousins. Jack’s sons.
Lindsey’s thoughts turned to her stepfather and the phone conversation she’d overheard during her last visit home in September.
Ever since Jack’s first leukemia diagnosis four years ago, she and her mother had kept a close watch on his health. She’d recalled her stepfather’s year of intense chemotherapy. How they’d almost lost him. He pulled through, and had been in remission for nearly three years. Until this last checkup.
Jack didn’t want to tell her, but he finally admitted what the doctor reported, that any chemotherapy treatment wouldn’t help him. He needed a bone marrow transplant to survive. That was when Lindsey begged Jack to contact his sons. He refused adamantly, saying he’d done enough damage in their lives, he couldn’t ask anything from them.
Then Jack made Lindsey swear she wouldn’t tell her mother. He didn’t want to ruin the long Panama Canal cruise they’d planned for months. He promised to tell her before they got back.
Lindsey reluctantly agreed, hoping she could help convince him to contact his sons. Then she saw the ad for a temporary veterinarian position in San Angelo and the referral name of Travis Randell. She had to go. If only to meet one of Jack’s sons. One of the boys he’d abandoned when he was sent off to prison.
Suddenly her cell phone rang and she dug into her purse to find it. “Hello.”
“Well, I was wandering if you’d ever answer your phone.” Jack Randell’s voice came through loud and clear.
She tried to calm her panic. “Dad, you’re back?”
“Not quite, your mother and I are spending another week away. We’re in Los Angeles visiting friends.”
She sighed in relief. “That’s great, you two haven’t had a vacation in so long.”
“How about you, Lindy? How’s the job hunting going?”
“Oh, I’ve had a few interviews, but I’m still looking for just the right position.” She’d already found it, but knew that she’d never be able to stay here.
She changed the subject. “Have you had a chance to tell Mom?”
There was a long hesitation. “The right time hasn’t come up, yet.”
She closed her eyes. “Oh, Dad. I wish you’d think about what I suggested.”
“Look, Lin, your mother wants to talk to you, so I’ll say goodbye for now. I love you.”
Tears filled her eyes. “I love you, too, Dad.”
“Lindsey?” her mother said when she got on the phone. “How are you, honey?”
“Outside of missing you guys, pretty good. The job hunting is slow.” She lied again and hated it. She and her mom had gone through a lot together before Jack came into their lives. She didn’t like keeping this secret from her.