The Rancher Read online

  “Morning, Adrian,” Dr. Green said.

  “Morning,” Adrian said back. He looked down at Faith. “Ready to go?”

  “Yes,” she mumbled.

  ****

  After Adrian and Faith stopped at the drugstore to get her prescriptions filled and for her to pick up some personal items, they headed to Adrian’s ranch.

  “The Lone Wolf Ranch is five miles away,” Adrian said. “We’ll be there in no time, and then you can get your rest.”

  Faith nodded as she looked around the small town scenery. Faith didn’t like small towns. She didn’t really like the city life either, but it’s not like there was a third option in places to live. Faith felt like she didn’t belong anywhere. That’s why she threw caution to the wind and set off cross-country.

  “It’s a cattle ranch,” Adrian said. “I think you’ll enjoy it. The guest house isn’t far from the main house. You’ll have your privacy, yet be close to people just in case you need us.”

  Faith gave him a little smile. “Thank you. I really appreciate it. I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you.”

  “You’re welcome, ma’am, but this is what people do around here. We help each other out when the other is in trouble,” Adrian said.

  “Um, your manners are appreciated, but please don’t call me ma'am,” she said. “It makes me feel old. I’m not a giddy young thing, but I’m only thirty-one. Just call me Faith.”

  “Whatever makes you comfortable,” Adrian said. “So, what do you do for a living?”

  “I used to be a hotel supervisor,” Faith said. “I…I quit my job, and a few days later I was on the road to parts unknown.”

  Adrian’s eyebrows shot up as he made a left turn onto the highway. “I take it that you didn’t like it.”

  Faith chuckled. “That’s putting it mildly. Let’s say I got tired of nasty guests and an asshole manager who didn’t think his stuff stank. After another one of our arguments, I told the manager where he could go and where to stuff the job. I worked there for five years. That was more than enough for one lifetime.”

  “And a few days later, you decided to go on vacation in Dallas?” he asked as he drove.

  “Kind of,” she said. “I had money in savings. I never had a vacation for me….for myself. I wasn’t sure where to go, so I decided to go where my savings could take me. For the last two weeks, I’ve been in New Orleans and Little Rock. Two days ago, I decided to go to Dallas to check out the lifestyle there. I did a little research on the Internet about Dallas. I was hoping to find a job there that I liked. If I do, I’ll get the rest of my things back in Miami.”

  “What about your life back in Miami?”

  “It isn’t much of a life. I couldn’t keep up with the cost of living in Florida. I had mostly acquaintances than friends. I lived with my brother and sister-in-law. I paid them once a month to stay with them. It’s a small amount, but I’m tired of living with them.”

  “I see. I hope your ordeal hasn’t soured you on the Lone Star State,” Adrian said as he glanced at her. “Texas is a decent place. We got our bad apples like anywhere else, but most folks are good and hospitable.”

  “I still have an open mind,” she said in a low tone. “I did thank you for helping me, right?”

  He smiled, showing his straight teeth. It was an “ah shucks ma’am” type of smile. Faith found it charming.

  “Yes, but you are doing me a favor as well,” he said. “My aunt hadn’t had company in a while. I think she misses having another woman around. I told Aunt Bea what happened last night and that you were coming. She’s been working all morning to get the place ready for ya. I think she’s lonely.”

  “I hope she didn’t put herself out.”

  “No. Aunt Bea didn’t do anything that she wouldn’t normally do if we had a guest comin’.”

  Adrian turned on a dirt road.

  The landscaping was lush with greenery. A large white fence went for what seemed like miles with no end in sight. The truck came upon a turn-off. A large gray iron sign was over it that read, “Lone Wolf Ranch.”

  Adrian turned to drive under iron threshold of the sign. “We’re here. I’ll drive around back so you won’t have to hobble through the house to the cabin.”

  The main house was huge. It was two stories and painted white. It looked like a ranch house you would see in the movies.

  Adrian circled around the drive to the back of the home. A small white cabin came into view. Faith smiled a little. It was cute.

  Adrian stopped the truck and put it in park.

  Faith opened her door to get out.

  “Let me help you,” Adrian said as he opened his door.

  “It’s all right. I got it,” Faith said as she gripped the handle over the door and pulled herself out. She hobbled on one leg as she grabbed her purse and bag.”

  “At least let me take your things,” Adrian said as he rounded the truck.

  “Okay,” she said. She handed Adrian her bags. Faith grabbed her crutches and placed them under her arms.

  “Let’s go into your new home,” Adrian said.

  Adrian was thoughtful enough to keep pace with Faith’s awkward hobbling. She had to be careful with her neck. She was wearing a soft neck brace, but it only relieved the pain a little. She hated taking prescription medications, but she had no choice. The pain in her neck was beyond uncomfortable.

  Adrian opened the door for her.

  Faith swayed in. The place was small, but nice. It was an open floor plan. The floors were wood. The furnishings were flowered pattern. The kitchen had a two-chair dining room table. There was a sink, a stove, and a refrigerator.

  “The bathroom and the bedroom are in the back,” Adrian said.

  “It's nice. Very homey like you said,” Faith said as she headed for an armchair. She plopped down. She had forgotten how difficult it was to adjust to crutches. She had sprained her ankle in high school. It took her two days to get the hang of them.

  Adrian sat her things down on the rustic coffee table. There was a vase of fresh wildflowers on it.

  A light tapping echoed off the door.

  “Come in,” Adrian said.

  The door opened. An older woman with dark hair with strands of gray walked in. She had a chunky frame. She looked to be in her late fifties. “Howdy,” she chirped.

  “Faith, this is my aunt, Bea Collins,” Adrian said.

  “Nice to meet you, Mrs. Collins,” Faith said.

  “Call me Aunt Bea, sweetie, everyone else does,” she said as she walked to Faith. “You poor dear. Are you in pain?”

  Faith smiled at the sweet old lady. “Just a little. Nothing I can’t handle.”

  “Did you eat lunch at the hospital?” Aunt Bea asked.

  “No, ma’am,” Faith said.

  “You must be hungry. I can fix you a sandwich,” Aunt Bea said.

  “I don’t want to put you out,” Faith said. “I can fix a simple sandwich.”

  “Put me out? Nonsense. I’m sure you should stay off that foot anyway,” Aunt Bea said. “Adrian, why don’t you carry out your chores while I get this girl settled?”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Adrian said with a small smile.

  Chapter 4

  Two weeks later….

  Faith had fully recovered from her accident. She had called her brother last week to check in. She didn’t tell him about the accident because she didn’t want him to worry. However, Faith did tell him that she was staying in Texas for a little while. He had told her to be careful and to have fun.

  Until today, Faith hadn’t been able to have fun or explore. The farthest she had gone in the past two weeks was the medical center for a follow-up appointment. For the past three days, she had dinner with Aunt Bea. Adrian and his brothers never joined them. They were out on the range working the cattle. They had spent the last five nights camping out on the property, which Faith found out was a thousand acres. Faith didn’t know that large spreads like the Lone Wolf Ranch still existed. She apprec
iated the ranch’s natural habitat. These days, it seemed like if there was a spot of land that was more than an acre, someone came along wanting to put a building on it.

  Faith walked through the patio doors to the kitchen in the main house. Bea had fried fish that the Matthews brothers caught in the creek on the property. She also had fried potatoes and steamed broccoli.

  “There you are,” Bea said happily. “The table is set, and the food is hot on the table in the dining room.”

  Faith felt ashen. “I could have set the table. I wish you would let me help. I’m better now.”

  “Oh, honey, I have plenty of energy,” Aunt Bea said. “Let’s go to the dining room.”

  The ladies walked into the large dining room. There were two extra place settings.

  “Are we having guests?” Faith asked.

  “More like family,” Aunt Bea said. “The boys are back. They’ll be joining us for dinner, and you’ll finally get to meet my other nephews.”

  Two tall men walked into the dining room. One had light brown hair like Adrian. The other one had thick blonde hair. They were the same height.

  “Speak of the devils,” Aunt Bea said with a grin. “Faith, these are my other nephews. The hunk with the blonde hair is Steve.”

  “Ma’am,” Steve said with a nod and a big grin. Bea wasn’t exaggerating. He was a hunk. Faith could see the muscle definition through his tight blue shirt. He had dreamy blue eyes. Faith didn’t like men with bulging muscles, but it suited Steve.

  “Nice to meet you,” Faith said.

  “The quiet one is Joey. He’s the youngest,” Aunt Bea said.

  “It’s nice to finally meet you,” Joey said with a shy smile. Joey was slim and toned.

  “And you,” Faith said. “Where’s Adrian?”

  “He likes working himself to death,” Steve answered. “He’s tending to the horses, giving them a brush down and all.”

  “Let’s sit down and say grace before the food gets cold,” Aunt Bea said.

  Ten minutes later, they were eating.

  Faith took this time to tell the Matthews family her plans. “My stay here has been wonderful, but now that I’m better I should be moving on.”

  “Oh no,” Aunt Bea said frantically as she looked up from her plate. “You can’t leave, yet. Next month is our annual BBQ here at the ranch. You have to stay for that.”

  Faith doubted she would want to stick around for a hillbilly BBQ. It wasn’t her style. She was used to cookouts in the backyard, and she enjoyed them. “I can’t intrude on you any longer. I don’t want to overstay my welcome after all,” she said as politely as she could.

  Faith knew that Aunt Bea was lonely. The old woman had friends, but they had responsibilities of their own. Aunt Bea had one daughter who lived in Houston. During the last two weeks, Faith had figured out that Bea’s daughter didn’t visit very often. She rarely called Aunt Bea. Faith really liked Aunt Bea, but she couldn’t stay here for the rest of her life.

  “Intrude?” Aunt Bea repeated with a hint of insult. “Nonsense. I’ve enjoyed having you here. Besides, have you thought about sticking around Elliot for a little while?”

  Stick around for what? There’s nothing here, but a few shops, animals, and grass, she thought.

  “No, ma’am, I hadn’t,” Faith said. “I have to make a living. I need to get to Dallas, find a hotel to stay in for a little while, and start looking for a job.”

  “I understand all that,” Aunt Bea said. “But another few weeks can’t hurt. Judging from what you’ve told me, you need a nice long break. Just stay for a few more weeks. Give Elliot a chance. Matter of fact, you’ve only left the ranch once and that was for a doctor’s appointment. You should go out tomorrow; look around, meet some of the locals. It’s a really nice area.”

  “Aunt Bea,” Steve began. “Don’t you think you’re laying it on a bit thick? Yes, Elliot is a nice place, but it isn’t for everybody.”

  “I don’t even have any clothes,” Faith said. For the past two weeks, Faith had been wearing old clothes that belonged to Aunt Bea’s sister. Her sister had passed away four years ago, but Aunt Bea kept some of her old clothes in the attack. They were a size too big for Faith, but it was better than walking around naked.

  “We got a clothing store,” Aunt Bea said. “It isn’t filled with high fashion, but they have nice things in there.”

  “You may as well give it up, Faith,” Joey said. “She’s not going to let you go anywhere with the BBQ on the horizon.”

  Faith looked around the table at the expecting faces. “When’s the BBQ?”

  “Five weeks from today,” Aunt Bea said. “You’ll love it. Everyone in town and the neighboring towns usually come for it. Good folks.”

  Faith wasn’t in a big hurry to leave, but she felt like a moocher. She was used to taking care of herself. When she did need help, she always repaid the favor. “I’ll stay for another few weeks on one condition.”

  “Which is?” Aunt Bea asked.

  “That you let me help out around here,” Faith said. “I know how to cook and clean. Starting tonight, I’m doing the dishes.”

  Aunt Bea gave her a little smile. “All right, dear.”

  Faith felt better already. “Good. Now, if I’m going to stay for another few weeks to explore the town, I’ll need a car and clothes. Can someone drive me into town tomorrow?”

  “I’ll be happy to,” Steve said.

  Faith was surprised that Steve would offer to be her chauffeur. “You don't mind taking me shopping?”

  Steve chuckled. “Well, I won’t be in the store with you. I can drop you off. I need to go into town to pick up some supplies.”

  “All right. Thanks,” Faith said.

  Several hours later, Faith was lying awake in bed in the cabin. She looked over at the clock. It was 9:30. She wasn’t used to going to bed so early. Apparently, that was the thing in Elliot. Aunt Bea told her that people stayed up late during the weekends if the local bar was having what Aunt Bea called a shindig.

  Faith decided to get up and get a drink of water. She padded to the fridge and pulled out a bottled water. As she was drinking the water, she heard rustling outside. Faith walked to the living room window and lifted one slit of the white blinds with her finger.

  It was Adrian. He was pulling his T-shirt over his head. Faith’s eyebrows rose as she stared at Adrian’s chest. He had some muscle definition. Straight brown hair sprinkled his chest and abs. Faith licked her lips as Adrian sat down on a cement bench in the courtyard. He pulled his boots and socks off.

  Before Faith could wonder what he was doing, Adrian’s actions told her. He walked to the outdoor shower to the right and turned on the water.

  Faith was surprised. She thought the shower in the little courtyard was for looks. She didn’t know it actually worked. The wall on the shower blocked the view of it towards the main house, but it was open for anyone in the cabin to see.

  Faith held her breath as she watched Adrian unbuckle his belt. She knew she should turn away, but she couldn’t. For some reason, she wanted to see. She didn’t know why. It’s not like she hadn’t seen a man naked before.

  Adrian pushed his jeans down to his ankles. He was tan all over; including his member which was impressive in the moonlight. Faith’s lips parted at the sight of it. It was perfect; not too little and not too long. It was partially hard.

  Adrian grabbed something from the cement bench. It was a bar of soap. Faith sucked in a breath as Adrian stepped under the sprinkles of water. He stood there, letting the water wet his hair and body. He turned. He had a sexy ass. The dimples in his butt cheeks squeezed as he stretched. Then, he turned back around, wetting the soap as he did. He dragged the bar across his chest and shoulders, washing away the dust from the range.

  Faith placed her hand on the front of her left thigh as Adrian dragged the bar of soap to his shaft. She licked her lips again as she watched Adrian soap his member that was now hard and bobbing under the water.
r />   She wiggled her hips as her womanhood became moist with want. Damn, he was a good-looking man.

  Chapter 5

  Adrian cut the shower off and stepped out of the small area. He grabbed the white towel that Aunt Bea left out for him. She knew Adrian and his brothers liked washing up before they came into the house. It was a habit that their mother had instilled in them when they were kids. It was the perfect night for a warm shower. It was muggy out, but a good warm night nonetheless.

  He dried off and grabbed the pair of blue sweatpants that Aunt Bea set out for him. He was pulling them on as the patio door to the kitchen opened. It was Steve. He was shirtless. He had on a pair of jeans. “Finally decided to come in I see,” Steve said.

  “Yep,” Adrian replied as he ran his fingers through his wet hair.

  “You missed a good dinner,” Steve said as he propped his foot up on the bench. “Aunt Bea talked Faith into staying for another five weeks. She sure does like that girl.”

  “Seems like,” Adrian said.

  “I like her, too,” Steve said. “She seems nice and willing to pull her weight. Faith said she wanted to help Bea around the house in exchange for room and board.”

  “Steve, no,” Adrian said. He knew what his brother was thinking. Steve has bedded most of the women in Wichita County that were above eighteen and below fifty. “She’s a lady.”

  “I know that. I love ladies,” Steve said with a grin.

  “You love them too much. Faith doesn’t strike me as the one-night stand type,” Adrian said.

  “Oh, I get it,” Steve said. “You want her for yourself. I guess I can move over once for you. When was the last time you got your dick wet anyway?”

  Adrian was about to tell his brother to go to hell when they heard a crash. The noise came from the cabin. Steve and Adrian jogged towards the door.

  Steve banged on the door. “Hey, are you okay in there?” Steve didn’t wait to be invited in. He turned the knob and opened the door.

  The men rushed in to see Faith standing next to a small table on its side on the floor. The large ugly vase that used to sit on it was in pieces. The moonlight coming from the kitchen window illuminated Faith’s horrified expression.