Chapter 34
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
G etting Kieran on a horse for the first time was exactly the kind of activity the situation called for. Sara’s heart was slowly cracking down the middle, but introducing him to an activity he’d cherish for the rest of his life was good juju and they could both use some of that.
Even better, Lani and Rance were riding in as she and Kieran walked toward the barn. She’d call it serendipity, but Kieran might not be ready to share the news with them.
She gave them a wave as they headed to the hitching post in front of the barn. “Do you want to say something or keep it to ourselves?”
“Might as well tell ’em, since I texted it to Lucky and Desiree.”
“But did you give them permission to tell others?”
“Didn’t think to. Just said we were going to the barn and I’d fill them in on the details next time we saw each other.”
“Then Andy and Oksana will get the story, but it’ll stop there until you give the okay. I’ve been around this crowd long enough to know that.”
“Lani and Rance have stuck by us. They deserve to hear it before the others.”
“I think so, too. Hey, guys!” she called out as they approached the hitching post.
They each looked up and responded with hey but they weren’t talking to each other. Instead they concentrated on the task, flipping the stirrups up on the saddles and loosening the girths.
Lani had ridden Buttermilk, Angie’s horse. Angie was happy to loan her out, but Lani wasn’t happy right now and neither was Rance.
Sara waded into the tense atmosphere. “Did you guys have a problem out there?”
“ He’s the problem.” Lani gestured toward Rance. “He thinks he knows everything.”
“No, I don’t, Lani-Lou. I simply?—”
“Don’t call me that.”
“But it’s cute. Middle names don’t get enough respect and Louise is?—"
“Not the favorite part of my name, okay?” She turned to Sara. “See what I mean? He slaps a nickname on me to prove how clever he is. Not .”
Sara glanced back at Kieran. “Maybe this isn’t the time.”
“I think it is. Unless you need to get goin’, Rance. When is Clint givin’ you a lift?” His accent was more pronounced after talking to his granny, who had a much stronger accent. Endearing.
Rance turned, one hand on his saddle. “He’s picking me up here in another hour or so. Has something happened, buddy?”
“It has, yeah. Granny wants to switch countries.”
Rance and Lani both gasped, but Rance got in the first question. “ Countries ? Are you sure she didn’t say counties ?”
“She knows what she’s sayin, mate. She’s willin’ to come to New Jersey or Wagon Train, but?—”
“ New Jersey ?” Lani glanced at Sara. “Why would she come there?"
“Steady, sis. She’s not coming to New Jersey. Kieran and I talked it out. He and Granny will be relocating, but to Rowdy Ranch.”
“Hot damn. That’s a wonderful surprise.” Rance grinned and held out his hand to Kieran. “Welcome to the Ponderosa, buddy.” Then his gaze flicked to Sara. “Although you two don’t seem overjoyed.”
Giving a little shrug, she looked at Kieran. “We talked about the New Jersey option, but Granny would be miserable and Kieran and I aren’t willing to sacrifice her happiness so that we can be together. Not to mention Kieran really belongs here with the McLintocks.”
“There’s gotta be a tasty option for you out here, Sara.” Rance’s tone was more intense than usual. What had happened on the trail must have knocked him off kilter. “We just haven’t thought of it.”
Lani whirled toward him. “Don’t you dare suggest that she give up a career she loves, something she’s wanted for years and invested her heart and soul into, so she can?—”
“But what if there’s something better out here? An exciting opportunity that would give her even more chance to develop her talents? Maybe it’s a long shot, but isn’t it worth investigating? Why can’t she and Kieran have it all?”
“Because this is real life , Rance.” Lani’s eyes blazed. “This isn’t like one of your mom’s books where the good people win, the bad people get punished and everybody’s hunky-dory at the end. Grow up.”
“Ouch.” Rance gave her a half-hearted smile. Then he looked at Sara, clearly chastened. “Please know that I respect your choices.”
“I know you do.” She appreciated Lani’s support, but Rance wasn’t a chauvinistic jerk who thought all women should follow blindly when a man crooked his finger.
Evidently Lani had just figured that out. She took a shaky breath. “I’m sorry, Rance. That’s a hot button for me.”
“I’m aware. I shouldn’t have pushed it.” He offered his hand. “Friends?”
“Friends.” She shook it quickly and looked away. “We need to finish tending to these patient horses.”
“I know, right?” Rance’s laugh sounded hollow. “Diablo’s usually a pain in the ass. I think you intimidate him.” He looked at Kieran. “You’re here for Pie, I take it.”
“That’s the plan.”
“He’s in his stall. Buck kept him in this morning so he’d be handy. Buck would probably appreciate it if you guys would turn him out when you’re done.”
“We will.” Sara walked over to Lani and gave her a hug. “We’ll talk soon.”
“Definitely.”
Kieran didn’t speak until they were inside the barn on their way to Pie’s stall. “I think he needs to give up.”
“On Lani?”
“Yeah. She thinks he’s an eejit.”
“That’s what she tells herself because she’s afraid he could make her give up everything.”
“After what she said?”
“Especially after what she said.” Sara lowered her voice. “That was fear talking.”
“Are you afraid I’d do that?”
She stopped next to Pie’s stall. “No. You were ready to give up everything for me. That was scary.”
“But you wouldn’t let me do that , either.”
“I want you to be happy.”
“So naturally that means refusing to marry me.” His crooked smile told her he was teasing. Sort of.
“It that’s what it takes.”
“I want to kiss you.”
“And I want to kiss you, but Rance and Lani just brought the tack in.” She gestured to the reddish horse with a white patch on his forehead who was poking his nose over the stall door. “Sweetie-Pie, I’d like you to meet Kieran Haggerty. He’s from Ireland, but someday soon you’ll be seeing a lot of him.”
She said all that without a catch in her voice. She was proud of that.