Stranded with the Rancher

Chapter Three

Beth was alert the moment Dan’s large hand gently touched her elbow. That worried her. She didn’t like that she looked forward to the touch of a man she’d only just met.

“Careful. That floor is slick,” he murmured.

She nodded, looking down at her stocking feet as she padded across the polished wood to the kitchen.

The closer they got, the stronger the enticing aromas grew. Yeasty warm bread and some sort of stew.

They entered the room and it was everything Beth would have imagined a farm kitchen should be. A humongous oval table with a cheery cotton tablecloth dominated the space. It was a table where a big family could gather and share meals, laughter and love.

The stove was modern, a stainless steel professional grade, and the double-door, brushed stainless steel refrigerator looked new. A braided rug in tones of burgundy and green covered the floor beneath the table and drew the colors of the room together.

Elsie pulled out a chair. “Have a seat, dear. You must be starving. It’s been a long time since breakfast.”

“GG, I want to sit next to Dr. Beth,” Amy said.

“GG?” Beth asked.

“Oh, that’s what Amy calls me. Grandma Gallagher is a mouthful, so she came up with that as soon as she learned the alphabet.”

“GG and Pumpkin,” Dan said.

Amy shot her father a tolerant glance.

“I’m saving this seat for you, Amy,” Elsie said. She turned to Beth. “Coffee or tea? Or maybe hot cocoa?”

“Coffee would be lovely. Black. What can I do to help?”

“Sit, sit,” Elsie said. “Everything is ready. You, too, Dan.”

When he grabbed a chair at the other end of the table, his mother stopped him. “I’m sitting there. Do you mind? You can sit next to your guest.”

The corners of Dan’s mouth pulled upward slightly.

“Amy, you want to set the table?” Elsie asked as she slid steaming mugs of coffee in front of Beth and Dan.

“Sure, GG.”

Elsie handed Amy burgundy quilted place mats and cloth napkins, along with silverware. Then she placed matching pottery plates and bowls in a stack on the table.

Amy concentrated on setting the table, a determined set to her little mouth.

“Nice job, Pumpkin,” Dan said when she was done. He looked at Beth and winked. “Our Amy is the best table setter in the valley.”

His daughter beamed at his praise. Dan was obviously a devoted father.

A father’s love was instrumental in forming a young girl’s sense of self-worth. Beth had learned that bit of information from a college psych class and she’d never forgotten the professor’s words. It explained a lot, since in her case all she could remember were a couple of foster fathers who’d looked right through her with disinterest.

Elsie sat and gave a nod. Amy placed her tiny hand in Beth’s left one and Dan took Beth’s right hand in his large one. They all bowed their heads and Beth followed their motions.

Beth hadn’t prayed over a meal since she’d been a senior in high school, living with Ben and his family. Yet this seemed so natural, so right. How could that be?

“Daniel, please lead us in prayer,” Elsie said.

“Dear Lord, we thank You for the safety of this home. We ask You to take care of everyone out in the weather. We are thankful for this meal and ask You to bless this food to our bodies. Amen.”

“Amen,” Beth murmured.

Elsie jumped up after the prayer and ladled out the stew. When she offered Beth the basket of bread, Beth lifted her arm to reach for it, and grimaced.

“We need to check that shoulder,” Dan said.

“It’s not a big deal,” she replied as she smoothed her napkin on her lap. “Hardly hurts at all now.”

He raised a brow.

“Really. Besides, I heal extremely fast.”

He laughed. “I bet you do. But you still need some ibuprofen and ice, Wonder Woman.”

Beth arched a brow. She’d known the man four hours and already he knew how to push her buttons.

“Is Dr. Beth really Wonder Woman?” Amy asked, eyes wide.

“Daddy is kidding,” Elsie answered, her lips twitching. “Right, Daddy?”

“Right.”

“What happened to your shoulder?” Elsie asked.

“She fell,” Dan explained.

“It’s nothing,” Beth insisted.

Dan raised his eyes from his meal to meet hers in a silent challenge.

“You really should have that checked, dear,” Elsie admonished. “I’ll get you an ice pack and some ibuprofen after we eat.”

“Did I mention that Dr. Mom trumps a medical degree?” Dan said.

Beth suppressed a laugh.

“How’s your stew?” Elsie asked.

“Delicious, thank you.” Beth took another bite. It was good, savory and filling. Real food, not from a can, as was her usual fare.

“You’re welcome. The beef is from our own ranch.” Elsie looked at her. “Are you from Colorado?”

“I was born here, and I’m licensed in Colorado, but I haven’t lived here in a very long time.”

“And you’re on your way to Gunbarrel,” Elsie mused, as she buttered her bread and placed it on her plate. “Not much in Gunbarrel.”

“It’s halfway to the airport,” Dan answered.

Elsie immediately looked up. “You’re leaving? In the middle of a blizzard?” she exclaimed. “The weatherman says it’s not going to stop snowing for another forty-eight hours. There’s a second storm system moving in after midnight. Some sort of freak meteorological conditions. Why, they’re saying we’re going to break records.”

“The weatherman has been known to be wrong,” Dan stated.

Beth swallowed past the lump in her throat.

“Oh, I sincerely doubt it in this case,” Elsie said.

Beth glanced at Dan, not missing the irony of the exchange. Hours ago he had made the same practical observation about the weather as his mother, but now he was offering Beth a tiny glimmer of hope. The gesture was kind, considering the reality she was faced with. Appetite waning, she stared unseeing at the remaining stew in the pottery bowl.

“Beth? Are you all right, dear?” Elsie probed gently.

“Yes. I’m sorry. I was supposed to start a new job Monday—that’s why I needed to make my flight.”

“Where is this job?” Elsie asked.

“A clinic in New York City.”

“Oh, my. That’s not good,” she said. “Shall we pray about it? I know the good Lord is aware of the situation and has a solution in mind for you.”

Beth had trouble meeting the older woman’s eyes. “No, but thank you.” She doubted the Lord cared about her job interview. He was busy taking care of important things, like people stranded in this blizzard.

“We’ve got a landline,” Elsie added. “Perhaps you should try to leave a message for that clinic in New York soon, in case we lose the phones in the storm.”

“That’s a good idea. Thank you,” Beth said.

“By the way, I called Ben and Sara to let them know you’re safe, and staying here with us,” Dan interjected. “But I bet they’d like to hear from you.”

Beth nodded and met his eyes. He was a thoughtful man and he was right, of course. She should have thought of calling Ben, but she wasn’t accustomed to checking in with anyone.

“You look exhausted,” Elsie observed. “I’ll wrap up your stew and we’ll save it for later. Okay?” She looked to her son. “Show Beth the guest room, won’t you, Dan?”

After stopping in the hall to grab her tote bag and coat, Dan led her to the other side of the big house. The Gallagher home was warm and friendly and it seemed to have been updated recently. The paint was fresh and the furniture new. Comfortable oak pieces filled the living room, and the burgundy-and-green color palette ran through the house. It was a no-fuss place that welcomed friends, family, children, grandchildren and very enthusiastic dogs.

“I want to apologize for my behavior this morning,” Beth said as she followed Dan down the hall.

“What behavior?” he asked, moving her tote from one hand to the other.

“Are you kidding? I was freaking out.”

“Totally normal.”

“Not for me. Not ever,” she said.

“Look, you can lose control with me anytime.”

They both stopped in their tracks.

Dan’s ears were red as he slowly turned around, and she could see the appalled expression on his face.

Beth couldn’t help herself. She burst out laughing. The humor of the situation eased the tension she’d been wearing like a heavy coat all day. For the first time in hours, she relaxed.

“You know what I mean,” he said firmly.

“I do.” She smiled. “Thank you for getting me to your house, and for trusting me to meet your family.”

He nodded, and despite his stern expression, the corners of his mouth threatened to curve into a grin and his eyes sparkled with humor.

“Dan, the CB is going off. You’ll want to see to that,” Elsie called out as she came down the hall with a medicine bottle and an ice pack. “I’ll get Beth settled in.”

“Thanks.” He turned to Beth and gave a nod. “I’ll leave you in the good hands of Dr. Mom.”

Beth continued to smile as she watched him walk away, then she hurried her steps to catch up with Elsie.

Elsie opened a door at the end of the hall. “There are three bedrooms upstairs and this is the only one downstairs. When the kids were living at home they shared. My husband always said that sharing a room builds character. My kids are characters, so I suppose he was right.” She chuckled at her own words.

Before Beth could respond, Elsie turned on the light and then handed her the ibuprofen and ice pack. “Here we go.”

An antique, wrought-iron bed occupied most of the space. A thick duvet in a peach-and-rose-colored paisley covered it.

“What a welcoming room,” Beth said.

“Yes. Nice and toasty, being on the ground floor. Though not as quiet as upstairs.” Elsie walked directly across the hall. “Private bathroom. Plenty of towels and anything else you might need in the closet. I just stocked the drawers for you with shampoo and whatnot.” She grinned. “Girlie stuff. I keep a supply of it for when my daughters come home.”

“Thank you, so much,” Beth said, truly touched by the kind gestures.

“Oh, no problem. It’s fun to have company, and especially nice to have another woman around.”

“Thank you.”

Elsie looked at Beth, her expression sympathetic. “I’m so sorry about your job. But I will be sure to add you to my prayer list during my prayer time in the morning. And I want you to remember that God has a plan for you, Beth.”

“I hope so,” she murmured.

“No hoping about God. Trust me on this. After all, you don’t raise four children and bury a husband without learning a bit about the nature of the good Lord. He loves you so much He gathers your sorrows and collects your tears. Did you know that?”

“No, I didn’t.” Beth pondered the words, finding herself intrigued by the comment.

Elsie smiled. “Absolutely true. Now, you help yourself to anything you want. The refrigerator is open 24/7. I’m working on a quilt in the sewing room, other side of the kitchen. If you need anything feel free to come and find me.”

“Okay.” She paused. “Mrs. Gallagher?”

“Yes?”

“Thanks very much.”

Elsie cocked her head. “For what, dear?”

“Welcoming me into your home,” Beth said.

“You’re very welcome. And you can call me Elsie.”

Beth nodded and slowly closed the door behind Dan’s mother. She sank into the peach Parsons chair next to the dresser and dug in her tote for her phone, punching in her cousin’s number.

“Hey, Beth. Dan called to let us know what happened. He said you’re staying at his mother’s.”

“Yes.”

“Elsie is a hoot, isn’t she?”

“She is.” Beth released a short laugh “Actually, all of the Gallaghers that I’ve met are nice. I like them.”

“They’re good folk.”

“So, is everything okay at your place?” Beth asked.

“Yeah. We lost power, but I have a couple backup generators. That snow plays havoc on the trees and then they hit those wires, so we’re used to dealing with it.”

“Could that happen here?”

“Elsie has generators, too. Everyone does up here. You’re safe.”

Beth glanced around the cozy room. Safe.

“Are you okay, Beth?” Ben asked. “You sound...off.”

“Yes. I’m fine.”

“Remember, everything is going to work out.”

“Do you think so?”

“I do. Beth, this storm is huge. It’s on all the national news channels. Storm of the year, they’re calling it. That practice in New York will realize soon enough that there was nothing you could do to get there.”

“I hope you’re right. I’ll leave a message with them and then try to reach someone through the answering service in the morning.”

“Good.” He paused. “And, Beth, Dan is a good guy. You can trust him.”

“Will I need to?”

“You have to trust someone.”

“I’ll give that some thought. Thanks, Ben. I’ll check in with you tomorrow. Tell Sara and the babies hello.”

“I will.”

Beth punched in the number of the clinic. The out-of-office voice mail message droned in her ear, advising her that the clinic was closed and offering her the number for the emergency doctor on call.

Frustrated, she put the phone down, then plugged in the charger and turned off the volume. She’d call again later. Leaning back against the soft padding of the chair, she stared out the window at the still-falling snow.

Her glance moved to the worn leather Bible on the oak bureau. She got up and put the book on the bed, flipping through the pages. What had Elsie said?

God has a plan for you.

“I certainly hope He’ll let me in on the plan soon.”

* * *

Dan looked up as one of the garage’s big doors swung open, blowing in a gust of wind and snow flurries along with his mother.

“Everything okay?” he asked.

Elsie shut the door and then pushed off her hood. “Yes. Your guest is resting.” She stomped the snow from her boots. “Amy is coloring. I gave her the walkie-talkie.”

He nodded. “Quiet is good, right?”

“Mmm-hmm,” she replied.

Dan continued his task of checking supplies in the storage compartments of the snowmobile and restocking his emergency medical tackle box. It was routine to have everything ready to go for the next emergency call.

Elsie walked around the building, stopping to examine the vehicles. She lifted the tarp on Joe’s brand-new oversize pickup. The truck had been put away since the accident. Joe couldn’t handle the gearshift after he lost his right arm.

“Will Joe be able to change gears in his truck with the prosthesis?” Elsie asked.

“Sure. He’ll learn how. Remember, he’s going to have occupational therapy. Until then he can use his old automatic truck.”

“Think he’ll follow through with therapy?”

“I think Joe will do anything he has to, in order to get his life back to normal.”

“I hope you’re right.”

She wandered over to examine the on-call calendar tacked to the wall.

“Need anything in particular?” Dan asked.

“No. Just came out to chat.”

Dan’s ears perked up. He sensed trouble coming. “Chat” was code for his mother trying to ferret out information he was not interested in dispensing.

“So,” Elsie continued. “Beth certainly is a surprise, isn’t she?”

Dan froze for a moment before he raised the brim of his hat to better assess his mother. Yep. She was on a mission. “A surprise?” he slowly asked, keeping his voice void of emotion.

“I just mean she’s such a sweet girl. And so pretty. Did you notice?”

Did he notice? A mental picture of Beth’s dimples and soft blue eyes distracted him from his mother’s words for a moment. He shook his head, bringing himself back to reality. That reality was that he liked his life just the way it was.

“She’s on her way to New York,” he said flatly.

“Oh, I know.” His mother’s tone was musing and Dan shivered.

Silence stretched.

“It’s been six years and you haven’t even been on a date,” Elsie observed.

Dan sighed. Okay, well at least now they were on familiar ground. The same old story he heard week in and week out. “I have a daughter to think about.”

“Oh, pooh, Amy isn’t the issue here.”

“What is the issue here?” he returned.

“You.”

Dan said nothing for a long moment. He didn’t think he was gun-shy. Sure, he’d made a mistake six years ago, but he’d learned plenty since then. He’d like nothing more than to settle down in Paradise with someone special. That someone special just hadn’t come along yet.

His mother meant well, but he didn’t have the energy or desire for a debate. “I’m thinking that if you want to fix someone you should take care of Joe. He’s got a chip on his shoulder bigger than the valley.”

His mother paused and tilted her head, eyes narrowing. “True. One project at a time.”

Dan bent down for a final check of the supplies, and then stood and dusted off his hands.

“What’s next?” Elsie asked.

“I’ve already looked in on the cattle and brought a few pregnant heifers into the barn.”

“Problems?”

“I don’t know, but they were acting strange, so I want to keep a closer eye on them. I’ll check them again during the night.”

“What’s the feed situation?”

“I’m about to put out the hay and feed cakes.”

“I can help.”

“You’ve covered for me all morning. Take a break, Mom.”

“I merely fed the chickens and the herd dogs. Even Amy can handle that.”

“That’s one less thing for me to do.”

“I’ll help with the cattle,” she said.

Dan exhaled and faced his mother. “You don’t trust me to do Joe’s job?”

“Of course I do. All I’m saying is that ranch work is safer in pairs. Everyone knows that. Look at your brother. If he’d only waited for you...” His mother’s lips thinned, and for a brief moment her shoulders sagged with grief for her eldest son.

Dan couldn’t deny her logic there. If Joe had waited for him to help with that tractor repair he might not have lost his arm. But Dan wasn’t going there. Not today. He’d just end up feeling guilty over something that wasn’t his fault. Joe was stubborn and that wasn’t going to change anytime soon.

He moved to his mother’s side and gave her a long hug. “Look, I promise to call the house when I need help.”

“Thank you,” she whispered.

The landline began to ring and Dan reached for the receiver, grateful for the interruption.

“Hey, Ben. Okay, got the situation covered. Yeah, no problem. I’ll keep you in the loop and we’ll be praying.”

His mother raised her brows, concern on her face.

“Ben’s at the Paradise Hospital. Deke Andrews’s dad fell on the ice and broke a hip.”

“Oh, no. What’s the situation?”

“On his way into surgery. Maybe you better call the Paradise Ladies Auxiliary and tell them to start the prayer chain.”

“Yes. Yes. I’ll do that.” She frowned. “So does that mean you’re on call again?”

“Deke was covering for me. Now call duty is mine again. You can add the ranch to your prayer list, as well, because if those cows start calving early and I get called out on a medical emergency you might find yourself helping out with more than you signed on for.”

Elsie merely grinned, excited as a kid. “Just like the old days. I used to help your father when calving season began.”

“I’m glad you’re happy, because I keep thinking about all the potentials for disaster. Every cow counts, as Joe always says, and he’s not going to understand if I leave the ranch to tend to a mere human when his precious cows are calving.”

“You can only do your best.”

“I hope my best is good enough. Joe’s been through enough. I don’t want to let him down now.”

“I’m proud of you, Dan, and I know Joe will be, as well. Just remember you aren’t in this alone. The Lord is on your side, and so am I.”

Dan shook his head as his mother’s words sank in. “You’re right, Mom. I’m not alone.” He smiled. “How’d you get to be so smart?”

Elsie merely grinned.

Chapter Four

The house was quiet as Dan tucked his flannel shirt into his jeans and crossed the living room toward the kitchen. Barely 6:00 a.m. The sun wouldn’t rise for another hour, but there was way too much to do and he was restless.

He started the coffee, and as the brewer gurgled and then hissed, he pulled two muffins out of the fridge and began a mental list of the day’s chores. His gaze drifted to the big picture window. Snow continued to fall; now forming drifts that hugged the barn and the garage. The moonlight illuminated the sky, and he could make out the dark humps that were actually cattle huddled together in the feeding pen.

“Coffee.” The whispered word was as earnest as a prayer.

Dan turned to see Beth in the doorway. She barely acknowledged him as she sank into a kitchen chair.

“Addiction problem?” he murmured.

“Yes. My only vice.”

“Only one vice?”

The corner of her mouth quirked, but her eyelids remained at half-mast. “That I will readily admit to.”

“Ah.” He nodded. “Don’t like it fancy, I hope.”

“No. Just strong.”

“That I can do.” Dan pulled two stoneware mugs from the cupboard and set them on the counter.

“What about you?” she asked.

He raised his brows.

“No vices?”

“Salted caramels.”

Her eyes opened and her brows rose in surprise before she released a short laugh.

“Those soft, melt-in-your-mouth ones that are sprinkled with sea salt,” Dan explained.

“I would have never guessed.”

“Now you know my secret. I hope I can count on your discretion.”

Beth crossed her heart with a finger and nodded.

Dan smiled and couldn’t help appraising the city girl. Today her hair was swept back, away from her face in a no-fuss ponytail, low on her neck. He didn’t know much about makeup, but her face didn’t look to be made up.

She wore plain, ordinary jeans, not even the skinny kind, and a bulky forest-green sweater that fell to her hips and concealed her figure. Obviously, she was more comfort-focused than fashion conscious.

Points for her.

“How’s your shoulder?” he asked.

“The patient is much improved.”

“Hmm” was his muttered response.

She pinned him with her gaze. “Do I sense doubt at my qualified medical opinion?”

“Full range of motion?” he countered, ignoring her comment.

“Partial, and the pain is significantly diminished.”

Dan nodded and poured the coffee. “Black, right?”

“Yes. Thanks.”

“Did you get a call through to New York?” he asked as he slid into a chair across from her.

“Interesting segue,” she said as she took a sip of coffee.

Dan smiled and wrapped his hands around his mug, waiting.

“I did get in touch with the on-call physician after a few tries, and he was very understanding. I’ve rescheduled my flight for Thursday afternoon. That will give me some time to relax before the Friday morning interview.”

“That’s positive thinking.”

She blinked. “You don’t think I can get to New York by Thursday night?”

“The truth?”

“Always.”

“Could be, but you might have saved yourself some stress by making it for the following Monday.”

“No. They’d have replaced me for certain if I couldn’t get there before then.”

“Do you honestly want an employer who values you so little they’ll hold the weather against you?”

Beth didn’t answer. She stared down at her coffee, finally lifting the mug and taking another sip.

“You said you wanted the truth,” he murmured.

“And you’re very good at that,” Beth returned with a tight smile.

“Muffin?” Dan offered. He slid a plate with a plump, golden muffin across the table, along with a napkin.