Page 11 of The Rancher's Fake Fiancée

“I’m not sure that was exactly fair but you two can celebrate this one. There will be a rematch one of these days,” Cole countered with a grin. “Pick first, Emmie.”

“The winner gets to choose which peach they want first. They’re really good and juicy,” Emmie explained to Jessie as she surveyed the ripe fruit for her choice. She chose a larger fruit on one of the branches above her head and her dad stepped up to retrieve it and handed it over to her.

“Thanks, Dad. Now, Jessie, it’s your turn. Which one do you want?”

Jessie spied one but it was a bit higher than the others. She was about to choose one on a lower branch, but Cole had evidently been watching. He stepped up behind her, his hands closing on her waist and before she knew it, her feet left the ground, and he hoisted her upward.

“Don’t settle for less than what you want,” he instructed her. “Grab what you want.”

She didn’t hesitate and did just that. Her feet met the ground again. She looked up at the cowboy, an amused set to his mouth. He had surprised her. Not too many things or people managed to do that.

“Thank you.”

“It’s okay if you want to give him a kiss. I promise to not look if you want. That’s what people do when they’re going to get married, right?” Emmie had them there.

Cole looked at his daughter and that certain gleam in her eye. He needed to do the right thing, but he was beaten to it.

Jessie surprised him this time and she stepped forward and landed a kiss at the side of his mouth, laughing as she stepped back after a swift few seconds. That made Emmie laugh.

“Geez Dad…you need to work on the romance thing.”

“I’ll take that under advisement…in private. Eat your peach young lady.”

Jessie turned and walked a little distance from the pair. What possessed her to do the spur of the moment kiss, she had no idea. But what was done, was done. Her gaze took in the valley displayed below them and the winding blue ribbon of a river was glistening as it coursed its way through the heart of the tree-covered hillsides and green pastures along its banks.

“This is the best view on the ranch.” Cole had moved to join her. Emmie was intent on reclining on a fallen tree trunk and enjoying the juicy fruit alongside her horse.

“It is very beautiful up here,” Jessie nodded her agreement. “You’re blessed to have such a wonderful home and family history to be a part of. Several generations have stood on this spot I can imagine and felt the pride you have today for this land. And Emmie will carry that on and so forth and so on. And just like your ancestors, you are doing what needs to be done to protect what you love. It’s a fight worth fighting.”

“It’s a fight worth winning and there isn’t any other option. You have done a lot of homework it seems. That includes horsemanship… who taught you to handle horses the way you do? Were you born on a ranch?”

She slowly shook her head, her gaze returning to the view beyond them. “No, there wasn’t a ranch in my background. I often wished for one…maybe not as grand as this place, but a little place with room for my own horse…a few other animals.” She smiled with a rueful remembrance. “No…I learned about horses from a very good horseman who was born on a ranch. He took his time and taught me about them and let me spend time riding when I could between assignments. But this is the first time that I get to spend some extra time in the saddle and I’m glad of that.”

“You were raised in the city?”

“So to speak.” Her brief response didn’t end his line of questioning.

“Interesting answer.”

Jessie turned her full attention to the man beside her. “I and my three siblings were raised in the foster care system. We were shuffled a little less than so many others, and we managed to remain together for most of the time. But it wasn’t on a ranch, just a plain older home in a suburb of a large city. Each of us aged out and went into the world to find where we belonged. I believe we turned out pretty good. And here is another surprise for you…every Christmas and birthday, I always secretly hoped there would be a miracle and I would find my own horse under that tree or waiting outside in the driveway.” She managed a slight laugh at the thought. “A silly dream in an unlikely place but it gave me a goal.”

“Your goal was a horse? Are you saying that you have one of those tucked away in your private world you go to whenever a case is done?”

“I did…for a while. But things change and silly girl dreams change with them.”

“Well, while you’re here, you can certainly catch up on some riding whenever you want. Cinco and you get along well.”

Something darkened in those blue eyes. He caught just a fleeting glimpse of something.

“Well, I came here to catch a bad guy and keep your daughter and others safe in the process. Distractions are not advised, and a horse would certainly be that unless it’s in the line of duty. But thanks for that offer.” She had changed back to business in a flash and Cole couldn’t explain why that was almost a disappointment. But it was also a reminder of what was at stake for them all. He watched her move back to his daughter and strike up a lighthearted conversation. He could only hope that Madeleine would show sooner rather than later. Then things could get back to normal. Only in that momentnormaldidn’t feel as it once did…before a blue-eyed mystery woman crossed their paths.

Chapter Six

“Ileave youalone for two weeks and come home and find you went and got yourself a fiancée? And someone not even from here, but some blueblood from the east…not even a Texas gal.” The elder man shook his head in continued disbelief. He was standing next to Cole, watching the ranch hands brand some new yearlings.

The heat and dust were both ratcheting upwards, and Cole was feeling the mounting tension that the passage of time was imparting on his brain. Every moment that the time passed seemed longer than normal. A boulder was waiting above their heads to drop, and that boulder was named Madeleine. Once again, his ex had placed them all in an untenable situation. Especially bringing the threat of danger around their daughter. And here was his uncle now questioning what was going on with his pretend fiancée.Make it believable.

“You always said I had a good eye for horseflesh and Jessica McCord comes with a pedigree to match the horses found in their stables. That bloodline is the cream of the crop. So is she. Why wouldn’t I choose her over those you and half the county and beyond have been trying to get my attention with at countless social events? Did you think I wouldn’t see through your efforts? When I was ready, I found the one for me on my own. And the one right for Emmie, too.”

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