A Family for the Rugged Rancher

But he shook his head, his hair flopping. “I’ll stay here. I don’t wanna go upstairs. Hurry back, Mommy.”

Emily darted from room to room, shutting windows against the angry raindrops beginning to fall. Upstairs in Luke’s room, the window stuck. She pushed down on the slider, making progress, but only in half-inch increments. The wind blew back the curtains, twisting them in her face as she struggled with the swollen window frame.

Just as it slid into the groove a fork of lightning jutted out of the sky, lighting up the whole house—followed by an astounding, foundation-shaking blast of thunder. The burst was so violent her heart seemed to leap and shudder before settling again into a quick, shocked rhythm.

She heard Sam scream and raced out of Luke’s room to the stairs. She skidded into the dining room—no Sam. Emily pushed a hand through her hair, forcing her breath to calm. The bang had frightened her, too. “Sam?” she called, as another lightning strike and clap of thunder reverberated through the house.

“In here.”

Luke’s gravelly voice answered her from the living room.

She found them huddled together in a great walnut rocking chair. Luke’s feet were planted square on the floor, and a terrified Sam was cradled in his arms, his bare feet resting on Luke’s thigh as he curled up in Luke’s lap. The strong arms she couldn’t forget being around her now circled her son securely and the chair rocked ever so slightly.

The sight did something to her heart. It confirmed what she’d sensed at the beginning—Luke was a good, caring man hidden by a crusty exterior. He wasn’t telling Sam that being afraid was silly or making him buck up, that it was only a little storm. He was simply holding him, comforting him. Rain started coming down in torrents now, hammering on the roof and windows so loudly it made a vibrating hum. Luke’s gaze met hers, calm and accepting. Whether or not it made sense, Emily knew in that moment that this was where they were meant to be. This was where they would both put themselves back together before moving on.

“Sam,” she s

aid gently, “Mommy’s here now. It’s okay.”

The storm raged around them, echoing through the house. Sam shook his head and only burrowed deeper into Luke’s shirt.

“It’s okay, Emily. He’s fine where he is.”

Had she really accused Luke of not liking children? The way he held Sam was strong and caring and sent a slice through her heart as sharp as a fork of lightning. Had Sam been missing the presence of a man in his life? At first she had thought it was just Rob he missed. But she could tell he missed having a man to look up to.

She knew after a year of struggling that she could do this on her own. But there was something about having Luke in her life right now that somehow divided the burden.

A terrific crash sounded, not thunder but sharper and harder, and Emily sank into a nearby chair, her hands shaking. Lightning had hit something and she didn’t have the courage to peer out the window and see what. She heard Luke murmur something reassuring to Sam as his toe kept the chair in motion, rocking and soothing. Her son whom she loved more than life itself. And the man who was proving that the shell she’d built around her heart wasn’t as tough as she thought.

At the same time, the house went strangely quiet as the power went out. The fridge stopped its constant hum and the clock on the DVD player went dark.

“Looks like we’ll be grilling tonight,” Luke said easily.

After several minutes the storm made its way east. Emily looked over at Sam. His head had drooped and Luke smiled. “He fell asleep about five minutes ago,” Luke said.

“I can move him…”

“Leave him. He’s comfortable.”

He had to stop being so nice. It only made things more impossible. “Luke…surely you can see the problem. He already trusts you…”

“If he does, why can’t you?”

“It’s not that simple.” She kept her voice a low murmur, needing Sam to stay asleep. “What happens in August when we have to leave, Luke? When he has to say goodbye to you? And this ranch? If he gets too attached, how can I pull him away? How can I do that to him again?”

“He’s a smart kid. He knows this is temporary…”

“He’s only five.” She dug her fingers into the arm of the chair.

“He already loves being here,” Luke argued. “So whether you go now or in a few months, you may have that to deal with anyway.” He gave her a knowing look. “Or are we not talking about Sam here? I think it’s you. You don’t want to get attached to this place. Because you like it here.”

“Of course I do…”

“And saying goodbye will be…”

She imagined driving away and watching Luke get smaller in her rearview mirror. After only a few days, she knew she’d miss him.

“I’m a big girl. I know how the world works.”