Trusting the Cowboy (19 page)

As Tanner explained to the kids about a Native American man who lived at the ranch, Sophie could no longer resist his offer. She lifted her cell phone from her pocket and dialed the pastor’s number. Once she’d laid out the situation, Pastor Jeff gave his wholehearted reassurance.

“Tanner’s a great guy, Sophie. He’s going to turn Burt’s ranch into a kind of outreach camp. I’m hoping our church can partner with him.” His effusive praise for the rancher went on and on. When she didn’t immediately respond, Jeff said, “If you’re still worried, know that I’ll be there to make sure nothing happens to Beth and Davy.”

“I appreciate that, Jeff.” She ended the call, closed the phone, then looked at Tanner. “Thank you, I’d like to accept your offer.”

He nodded and turned away, probably to hide the embarrassed flush rising up his neck. Sophie regretted causing that but she had to be sure the kids would be safe. She drew Davy aside and stared him straight in the eye.

“Same rules as at home, buddy. You don’t go anywhere on the ranch if Tanner isn’t there. You obey him and Moses without question. If I hear one word—”

“You won’t.” Davy eagerly grabbed his jacket and held out his sister’s. “Come on, Bethy. We’re going to a real ranch.”

Davy’s use of the old pet name for his sister made Sophie smile. His good mood probably wouldn’t last, but while it did she’d enjoy it.

It took only minutes to store the now-covered pies in the side boxes of Tanner’s truck, minutes more to kiss her babies and promise to pick them up as soon as she was finished working. Sophie searched her brain, worried she’d missed something, forgotten something important.

“Go do your job, Sophie.” Tanner’s quiet reassurance brought back the reality of time. “I promise I’ll keep Beth and Davy safe for you.”

“Thank you,” she said sincerely. A moment later, with her kids safely belted into their seats, Tanner drove away and Sophie left home with her meal, clinging to her wobbly faith that this time God would be there for her.

She’d almost forgotten the Sunday she’d been on cleanup duty after a potluck at the church and overheard Burt speaking to someone about Tanner.

“He had a rough childhood and his teen years weren’t much better. His past dogs him. But there isn’t a man I trust more than Tanner Johns. His integrity, honesty and uprightness are part of what makes him tick.”

The old man must have truly trusted Tanner to bequeath his beloved Wranglers Ranch to him. Burt’s latest dream for the place was something the whole congregation had learned about from a presentation he’d made a few weeks before his death. The reason Sophie remembered that specific conversation, though, was because of Burt’s last words.

“As I keep telling Tanner, we must fan into flame the gift of God inside us.”

So, Sophie wondered, what was Tanner’s gift? Knight in shining armor?

The mental image of him riding a white steed, or in this case his white truck, to her rescue made Sophie blush. She got back to work forcing away that image and the memory of the way her senses had reacted to the big cowboy, especially to that slow, easy smile of his. She’d been this route before with Marty, and life had been a painful teacher.

Her husband Marty’s greatest attraction had been his charm. He’d been as big a kid as his own children, fun-loving, living for the moment, never giving a thought to tomorrow, often to the detriment of his family. In the two years since his death Sophie had finally put her life back together and regained control. Sure, every day was a struggle to make ends meet, but it was
her
struggle,
her
bank account to hide away for real emergencies.
She
was the person she depended on. No way was she giving up her independence or security now.

Sophie wasn’t ever going to be dependent on any man again, even if he was a big strong cowboy with a smile that made a zillion butterflies skip in her stomach.

Copyright © 2016 by Lois M. Richer

ISBN-13: 9781488007323

Trusting the Cowboy

Copyright © 2016 by Carolyne Aarsen

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