For the next two hours Sarah sat on her perch pondering her dilemma. When the photographer called a wrap, Sage spoke briefly with the designer and the photographer. Then he walked to the large tent and said something that made the crew laugh. Chrissie approached him, smiled, and placed a hand on his chest. While she was talking, the other models joined them, and she stepped possessively closer. Rosie, almost as tall as Sage, leaned to whisper in his ear.
Sarah sighed and looked away. When she glanced back he was walking toward the trail. He'd almost reached the top when she stood. He stopped a few feet from her. "Come on. Let's get the hell out of here."
The drive back was quiet as Sarah stared out the window. When they reached the gate at the edge of the pasture, Sage got out and opened it and then got back in the cab. Instead of putting the truck in gear, however, he just sat there. Sarah chewed her lip. He turned to face her. "I don't know what's going through your head, honey, but if you think I have anything going with those women, you're wrong. I don't fool around with multiple women. I'm monogamous. But I guess that's something you'll just have to take my word on."
Sarah was saved from having to respond when the walkie-talkie sounded. "Sage, this is Beaner. You there?"
He sighed and reached for the device. "Yo Beaner, this is Sage. What's up?"
"Sorry to bother you boss, but Ned went to town for supplies and Newt's not answering. Me and some of the guys are at the boundary of the north pasture and there's another break in the fence. We got cows crossing the main road and cars stopped."
"Shit! I'm on my way. I'll stop and get Curley. You keep radioing everyone. Tell them to get their asses over there pronto."
"Righto boss. Over and out."
Sage switched the channel on the walkie-talkie. "Curley, this is Sage, pick up quick!"
Curley's voice crackled back. "What's up?"
"I'll be at the dorm in ten minutes. Meet me out front. We got escaped cows. I need you to go with me."
"I'll be waitin'."
Driving past the gate, Sage jumped out and closed it, and then jammed the truck toward the ranch. On the way, the walkie-talkie sounded again and he spent the rest of the drive giving instructions.
When he stopped in front of the dorm and Sarah opened her door, Newt's voice came over the walkie-talkie. "Boss, pick up."
Sage said, "Hold on, Newt." Reaching across the seat, he circled her wrist. "We'll finish our conversation later."
Sarah nodded. "Don't think about that right now, you just go take care of business."
He reached to caress her cheek. "Maybe I'll see you later tonight?"
She looked down and didn't respond, and he dropped his hand. She stepped out of the truck and Curley jumped in. Newt's voice sounded again. "Ya still there, boss? I hope yer finished bein' pretty boy, 'cause we got cows thinkin' they're cars."
Sarah didn't hear Sage's response because the truck peeled out in a cloud of dust.
Inside the dorm, the dudes were gathered around the big screen TV watching John Wayne shoot-it-out with a gang of angry desperadoes. They didn't even notice her. Back in her room, she picked up her laptop and wrote the ending to Dream Kisses. At least her characters would have a happily-ever-after. For herself, she knew what she must do.
Tarah walked along the river's edge, her heart heavy and broken. After spending one last glorious night with Gage, she'd left Liberty Ranch in the middle of the night to return to her parents' humble home. Gage lived a life of wealth and prestige that she could never fit into. She would always be plain Tarah Casey, daughter of poor potato farmers barely eking a living. Gage deserved a wife of beauty and polish—someone who could make him proud.
Staring across the river, she picked up a stone and tossed it into the calm water. Suddenly, another stone skipped behind the one she'd just tossed. Tarah jerked around. Leaning against a tree, Gage watched her with such intensity she couldn't breathe. Slowly, he stepped away from the tree and walked toward her. He said…"
A tear dripped onto her keyboard when she typed the last words to Dream Kisses. She closed the laptop, put it in her briefcase, and lay back on her bed, allowing her tears to freely flow.
Chapter 22: Fling
Later that night, when Sarah saw Sage's truck parked at the side of his house, she walked over and knocked on the door. She hoped Julie was still up.
Julie opened the door. "Hi, Sarah, come on in. You know you don't have to knock. Dad just got back from chasing cows," she snickered. "He asked if you'd come over. When I told him no, he was really disappointed. He'll be glad you're here."
"Did they round up all the cows?"
"Yeah, he wouldn't have come back if they hadn't. Can I get you some tea or lemonade?"
"No, but thanks for asking." Sarah felt awkward.
"You wanna sit down 'til Dad gets out of the shower?"
"Yes. Um, Julie?"
Julie looked questioningly at her.
"I just want you to know…well, I think the world of you. You're a sweet girl and you have enriched my life."
Julie studied Sarah's face. "Thank you. I feel the same way about you."
Sarah stepped toward Julie and hugged her. Julie hugged her back. Not wanting to get emotional, Sarah released her and sat on the couch, trying to make small talk. "What did you do today? Did you do some trick riding for the dudes?"
"Yeah. I even tried some new moves I've been practicing with Precious Pudding."
"Really, what kind of moves?"
For the next half hour Julie happily described her latest achievements. Neither of them realized Sage was watching from the hallway until he said, "Hello Sarah."
Sarah's heart jumped into her throat. "Hello. I heard you were able to round up all the cows."
"Finally."
Julie looked from Sarah to her father. "I think I'll turn in. Dad, just as a reminder, Tooty and I are going to the movies tomorrow. Her mom's picking me up early."
"Okay, honey. Have fun." He didn't remove his eyes from Sarah's.
After Julie left, Sarah walked to stand in front of him. Silently, she lifted a hand to caress his cheek. Standing on tiptoe, she followed with her mouth skimming his five o-clock shadow.
"Do you want me to shave?" he whispered in her ear.
"No." She moved her mouth to his, teasing it with tiny nips.
Pulling her into a tight embrace, he cupped her bottom and pulled her up against him. "Let's go to bed, Sarah, my love."
For hours, Sarah loved Sage with every atom of her body and emotion of her soul. When they lay spent in each other's arms, he smoothed his hand over her hair and kissed her forehead. Softly, he said, "Thank you, Sarah."
After Sarah was sure Sage was asleep, she quickly dressed and reached into the pocket of her jeans for the note she'd written earlier. Going to his dresser, she set the envelope on top of his Stetson and turned for a last look at him. Her gaze lovingly caressed his face before she tiptoed to the kitchen to grab his truck keys off the peg. Running back to the dorm, she quietly slipped into her room and grabbed a suitcase. After hauling it to the bed of the truck, she returned for the other one. Finally, with her heart hammering, she made her last trek to the dorm to retrieve her travel case, laptop, and purse. She glanced around her dorm room and silently bid goodbye to Lazy M Ranch. Slinking through the hall and great room, she went back to the truck and prayed no one would hear the engine turn over. She slipped the truck into gear and backed away from the house, turning down the long drive. When she was out of sight of the house, she punched the gas pedal. At the Shop 'Til You Drop Truck Stop, she parked in the back and walked to the payphone to call a cab.
* * *
Sage stretched and yawned and then grinned when he remembered his night of passion. He was in love with Sarah Carter a.k.a. Mims Murphy and as soon as he was free of the disaster he'd created for himself, he was going to take her somewhere special and tell her.
He rolled over intending to suggest they shower together. Her side of the bed was empty.
Maybe she was already in the shower and he'd surprise her. He sat up and scratched his chest. When he started toward the bathroom, he noticed something on top of his hat. Walking naked to his dresser he felt a tingling of foreboding. He reached for an envelope and ripped it open. Reading Sarah's words made him want to pound his fist in the wall.
Sage,
We've had a fun fling, but now it's time to move on. Our worlds are as different as night and day. For me, the thrill of your world would soon wear thin. For you, the sameness of mine would drive you stir crazy. Reality has reared its head and it's time to accept who we are. I borrowed your truck. You'll find it at Shop 'Til You Drop Truck Stop. The key is on top of the passenger tire. Thanks for all the great research and I wish you a happy life. I'll never forget you or Julie.
—Mims
Sage crumpled the note and threw it across the room. Their relationship had only been a "fling" for her?
Chapter 23: Declaration
Six Months Later
Sprawled across her bed, Julie devoured the pages of the book Tooty had secreted to her the previous day. She read the last word and closed it. Smoothing her hand over the cover, she reached and set it on the bedside table before rolling onto her back and placing her hands behind her head. After a few minutes of staring at the ceiling, she grabbed the book back up. She was on a mission. Checking the barn first, she found her dad brushing Jackal.
He paused and said, "Hey, Julie, what have you been doing all day? You usually spend Saturdays riding or hanging out with Tooty."
She stopped a few feet from him with her hand behind her back. "Dad, I'm going to ask you to do something and you have to promise you'll say yes."
"How can I say yes to a request like that?"
"You can say yes because you trust me."
Her father studied her face. "Okay, since you put it like that. What do I have to do?"
She pulled her hand from behind her back and shoved the book Dream Kisses at him. "You have to read this."
He took one look at his picture on the cover and went back to brushing Jackal. "I don't want to read it. It wasn't right the way she just up and left."
"Dad, you promised. And I promise you won't be disappointed. You probably don't know this, but Sarah named her characters Tarah and Gage." She let that tidbit of information sink in. "And besides, the way you've been moping around since she left, maybe reading the story will give you closure." Julie thought about how brilliantly she'd worded her request. Now he'd have to read it. She grinned inwardly when he reluctantly accepted the paperback.
* * *
Sage watched Julie walk away and grimaced when he looked at the book. Crap. Now he was curious. Giving Jackal a final pat, he tucked the novel in the waistband of his jeans, grabbed his hat, and headed toward the house.
Dawn's light peeked through his curtains when he read the last page. He finally understood Sarah. At precisely nine o'clock, he was in town and waiting for the library to open. Heading to the bank of computers, he called up the internet and found Mims Murphy's website. He searched her site until he found her schedule.
Two weeks later, he entered the Annual Romance Writers' Convention in San Francisco. According to Mim's website she and several other authors were speaking at the gathering. He located the intricately carved double doors of the auditorium and, inhaling deeply, stepped inside. He was about to turn heads, and he knew it.
The woman at the podium stopped speaking. Behind her, another woman sitting beside Sarah, pointed, and heads in the audience turned. Sage stepped forward until he was in the aisle. A middle aged redhead in an aisle seat shouted, "Oh, my God!" The young blonde beside her gasped and covered her mouth. An elderly lady on the opposite aisle stood and squealed, "It's Gage Garrett from Dream Kisses!" By then, the entire audience had turned to look at him.
Dressed as he had been for the cover of Dream Kisses, he slowly stepped forward, purpose accentuating every footfall. Several women began fanning themselves with their program sheets. He reached the first row and stopped again. Glancing down, he winked at a lady rapidly fanning her pink face with her purple program, and she fell backward against her neighbor.
Returning his gaze to a stunned Mims Murphy alias Sarah Carter alias Tarah Casey, his silence charged the atmosphere. The only sound was the squeak of a chair. Finally, he started to speak and someone shoved a microphone in his hand. He looked at it and shrugged. Lifting it, he said in a deep timbre,
"Tarah Casey what were you thinking to leave me? I can't sleep, I can't eat, I can't live without you. I'm wasting away, day by day. I no longer possess my heart; it has been stolen by you. I, Gage Garrett, am but a shell of a man without you. I am begging you to return to Liberty Ranch…Lazy M Ranch…and make me whole."
Silence reigned when he finished his memorization of Gage's words from the last chapter of Dream Kisses, with the words, "Lazy M Ranch," added. He now said, "Sarah Carter, because I'm on the cover of your book, I once jokingly asked what I was doing in those pages. I read Dream Kisses and now I know. I was falling in love with you. Will you marry me and have my babies?"
At his words, several women swooned and the convention turned into pandemonium. Sage vaulted onto the stage and Sarah jumped from her chair, running and launching herself into his arms. Sissy Johansen grabbed a microphone and said, "Sarah, I told you he gave you that look."
The audience went wild.
Epilogue
Sage entered the kitchen with a four year old twin under each arm. "I think the two of you need to tell Mommy what you've done."
Sarah glanced at her husband who was trying, but failing, to maintain a stern look. A grin threatened to expose his disciplinary action as being totally faked. She looked from Preston's apprehensive expression to Toby's wide smile.
Sage continued, "Seems our boys were watching Ann decorate the dorm for Julie and Jacob's wedding reception tomorrow and wanted to recreate the crepe paper look in our bedroom…with toilet paper."
"Yeah, Mommy, it's beautiful. We covered everything," Toby said proudly.
"We'll clean it up," Preston offered.
Sarah's mouth gaped.
"What should we do with them, Sarah?"
Sarah glanced at their sons and then back at Sage. "Um, I think Daddy should demonstrate the art of cleaning up toilet paper." Unable to keep a straight face, she covered her smile with her hand.
Sage set the boys on the floor and pointed in the direction of the bedroom. "You boys start cleaning up the mess while Daddy discusses something important with Mommy."
Grateful for their reprieve the boys ran off. Sarah heard Toby say, "I told you she wouldn't be mad." Preston pushed Toby and Toby pushed back. She looked at Sage and waited to hear what was so important.
He leaned in, "I was thinking that after the wedding we could steal away for a few days and pretend we're on our honeymoon again."
Sarah leaned back. "Oh, so you have to pretend you're on a honeymoon with me? What happened to the real thing?"
Sage didn't miss a beat. "How about we pretend first, and then follow through with the real deal? That way we get to do it twice." He grinned and walked to the door, but turned to look back. "In fact, as soon as our bedroom is free of toilet paper, I'm putting the boys down for a nap. I think it would be a good time to test the waters of pretending versus reality. See which one we like best."
Sarah's heart hammered. "I'll help with the clean up."
Author's Note
Thank you for reading Book One in the Romance on the Ranch Series. After introducing Ann Hackstetter in Dream Kisses, I knew she and Jackson Martinez had to have their own book, Honey Kisses. I adore Jackson, and come to find out, he adores Mrs. Hackstetter. How they come to their happily-ever-after is fraught with heartache, mystery, deception, misunderstandings, and a secret thrown into the mix.
In Baby Kisses, Tooty Townsend is grown up and has her hands full as a single mom trying to make a living and raise her four year old son, Harris. Reclusive author, M
iles Brightman, pen name Maxwell Henry, is looking to hire a personal assistant while in Colorado finishing up his latest suspense thriller. Tooty's friend, Sarah Tanner, recommended Tooty for the job and she's swallowing her pride to apply. Her mischievous little boy met Mr. Brightman at her best friend's wedding and asked him if he would become his daddy.
For readers who enjoy the Romance on the Ranch series, I have another series titled Oasis that is also contemporary romance in a western setting. The location for this series is a tiny town in Arizona named Oasis that is inhabited by charming and quirky characters, a little short of "normal."
I have included an excerpt from the first book, Stranded in Oasis. The romantic stars are Maximilian Rutherford III and Pilar Armstrong—utterly mismatched—but destined to fall in love. Stripped of his CEO position and banished to the desert by his grandfather, Max is about to meet his match in feisty Pilar.
The second book, Branded in Oasis, is the romance between Skylar Rutherford (Max's sister) and motorcycle mechanic, Kade Blackwell. If Skylar has her way, she'll turn Kade into the next supermodel. He only goes along with her craziness because he needs money for something very important.
Website: https://www.vernaclay.com/
Email:
[email protected] Novels and Novellas by Verna Clay
WESTERN ROMANCE
Contemporary
Romance on the Ranch Series
Dream Kisses
Honey Kisses
Baby Kisses
Candy Kisses
Christmas Kisses
Rock Star Kisses
Forever Kisses
Oasis Series
Stranded in Oasis
Branded in Oasis
Crashed in Oasis
Historic
Unconventional Series
*Abby: Mail Order Bride
Broken Angel
Ryder's Salvation
Joy's Return
*2014 Gold Medal Winner Readers' Favorite Int'l Book Contest/Historical Romance