A Cowgirl's Homecoming
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Julia Ruth
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Chapter One
The ranch is in trouble.
Jenn Spencer couldn’t get the text from her sister out of her head. For the past few months she’d been on the verge of coming home, but that terrifying statement gave her all the boost she needed. She hadn’t spoken to her family in years, but now it was time to put the past behind them.
Jenn glanced around the old building she’d be renting during her time back home—both the salon on the ground level and the apartment above. Her new landlord was late, but that gave her a chance to check out her new space thanks to the back door code she’d been given in the rental agreement.
The place certainly needed a fresh start...maybe that was why she’d felt so drawn to this old building when she’d seen the listing online. There were cobwebs and dirty corners that needed cleaning up in her own life as well.
And that revelation was yet another reason she found herself back in Rosewood Valley. Northern California had always held a special place in her heart, but three years ago tragedy forced her out of town. Thoughts that couldn’t plague her now...not if she wanted to move forward. While her late husband was always in her heart and on her mind, Cole would want her to mend those tattered relationships and live her life to the fullest.
She needed to meet with her landlord before she could venture to the farm and take that monumental first step. She honestly had no clue how she’d be received, but she needed to know how she could help save the place and restore broken bonds.
One baby step at a time.
Pushing aside the past and vowing to look toward a positive future, Jenn propped the back door open and made a few trips bringing in storage totes. She figured she had to begin somewhere if she was going to get her new life started...no matter how temporary. If things didn’t work out, she’d have to face the consequences of her actions and possibly move from her hometown for good.
The nice spring breeze and the warm sunshine drifted in from the back alley, already boosting her mood. After about five trips, Jenn checked the time on her cell and wondered what was keeping her landlord.
Just as she lifted a stack of shampoo capes from the tote, a soft clicking sound echoed from the back door. Jenn turned her attention to the little brown pup that cautiously pranced through, with his little toe nails clacking on the chipped tile flooring and his nose to the ground as if following a scent.
“Oh, buddy. You can’t be in here.”
She took one step toward the light brown pup with his unkempt curly hair hanging down in his eyes. The poor thing cowered at her voice and scurried beneath the shampoo bowl against the back wall. Before she could figure out what to do with this unexpected visitor, the front door opened with the most annoying jingle. That bell would have to go.
Jenn straightened and shifted her attention toward the entrance as a tall, broad man stepped over the threshold. Like any true gentleman, he removed his cowboy hat upon entering. That simple gesture only revealed the handsome face beneath the shield of the brim. With his free hand he held on to an adorable little girl wearing a cute purple dress and matching cowgirl boots.
But the girl’s hair had a serious wad of gum on one side. Jenn cringed as a memory of her childhood with her three sisters flashed through her mind. Another time, another mess of gum, more reminiscing she couldn’t have prepared for.
“Good morning,” she greeted, realizing this was her first interaction since she’d been back in town. “I’m not open yet, but give me a few days.”
More like a month, but she had to get started so she could build back her savings. She’d just have to work with the dated decor for now and prioritize her needs and wants. Needs would be utilities and groceries. Wants...well, there were too many to list. Paint and flooring would be a good place to start. Maybe some air fresheners and a vase with some cheery spring flowers.
“I’m Luke. Your landlord,” the man said. “Sorry I’m late, but we have a hair emergency.”
She hadn’t expected her landlord to be so...attractive. Someone older, retired maybe, with thinning gray hair and a thick midsection had come to mind. Certainly not a thirty-something man that seemed to fit the mold of a proverbial Western cowboy.
“She said she wasn’t open, Toot,” the little girl whispered, staring up at her father.
Jenn chewed the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing. What did this little cutie just call her dad?
The man glanced at the girl, sighed, then turned his attention back to Jenn. “We have an emergency,” he repeated. “She’s getting birthday pictures taken later today and somehow there’s gum stuck in her hair.”
He gave her a side-eye, silently expressing his frustration at their current predicament. The muscle beneath his bearded jaw ticked.
“Oh, is that your puppy?”
The little girl broke free and started toward the back of the salon. A furry animal clearly trumped a gum fiasco.
“Honey, you can’t just go after every animal you see,” he stated. “You need to ask if you can pet her dog.”
“That’s not my dog,” Jenn explained, shaking her head. “He wandered in right before you did.”
Jenn had no clue how her morning had gone from wondering how to finally approach her family, meet her landlord and unload her boxes, to dealing with a stray dog and a wad of matted hair...not to mention the unexpected attraction to this stranger.
The girl poked her purple glasses up with her index finger then turned to Jenn.
“Can you get the gum out?” She picked up a thick chunk of hair beside her face and held it out for Jenn to see. “Toot bought me the cutest ribbon with purple flowers that matches my new cowgirl boots and I really want to be able to wear it for my pictures.”
Clearly this sweet girl had a favorite color. Jenn’s heart clenched as another memory flooded her mind. Her own matching bows and boots, the excitement of breaking in a new pair as she helped her father on the ranch. But the love for boots had faded these past three years and Jenn hadn’t touched hers since she left Rosewood Valley.
They were forgotten...just like her dreams.
“Paisley, she’s not open yet. We can find someone else.” The guy came to stand next to his daughter as he offered Jenn a warm smile. “I will come back to make sure you’re all settled once I get her hair taken care of. She has an appointment with a photographer in an hour. I’m not normally this scattered but...kids.”
He took Paisley’s hand once again and started to turn, but those bright blue eyes gripped at Jenn’s heart and she couldn’t let them walk away. Maybe she couldn’t solve her own problems with a simple haircut, but she could brighten this little girl’s day.
“I’ll meet you at that chair up there.” Jenn pointed toward the front of the salon. “Let me find where my sheers and booster seat are and we’ll get you picture-perfect in no time.”
Luke Bennett always counted his blessings when he could, and right now, the great gum debacle was getting fixed and he nearly wept with gratitude.
He knew nothing about raising a little girl, let alone a hair crisis. But his late brother had entrusted Luke enough to put him on the will. When Luke had agreed to be Paisley’s guardian, he’d done so never imagining he’d actually have to step into that position.
As Jenn bustled around looking in one tote then another, Luke crossed to her and lowered his voice.
“If you don’t have the time, I completely understand.”
Her delicate hand stilled on one of the lids as her vibrant green eyes met his. The tips of her silky blond hair brushed against one shoulder and the pang of attraction startled him. She had a subtle, yet striking beauty. No makeup, her hair pulled up in a high ponytail...she looked just like her sisters. Yet there was something about this woman that intrigued him. Perhaps the underlying hint of pain he saw staring back at him or maybe the mystery involving her return, he wasn’t sure. And no matter if he found her attractive or not, he didn’t have the mental capacity to take on anything else in his life...not to mention he refused to risk his heart again.
Luke hadn’t realized when he rented the building online that his new tenant would be Jenn Spencer—one of the girls the Four Sisters Ranch was named after. The very ranch he had his sights set on. He’d proposed something risky to Jenn’s parents about acquiring their land, but he’d yet to get a reply. He wasn’t backing down...not when he had too much on the line. Time was certainly of the essence for so many reasons.
“I remember being a little girl and getting excited for bows and boots,” Jenn said.
A wide but sad smile flirted around her mouth, pulling him from his thoughts. Something haunted her. He could see the raw emotion in her eyes but couldn’t get caught up in her troubles...not when he had a whole host of his own to combat.
“It’s no problem as long as you all don’t mind I’m not set up at all and this isn’t normally how I work.” She laughed. “I’ve only been here a half hour.”
“Mind?” Luke shook his head. “You’re saving the day if you can fix this. I have no clue what to do with a seven-year-old’s hair, let alone one with a tangled mess.”
“Well, we’ll see what we’re dealing with. Don’t give me those accolades just yet.” She dug farther into the tote and pulled out a black pouch. “Here we go. Now we’re all set.”
Jenn’s focus shifted to the dog still hunkered under the sink. “Any idea who he belongs to? There’s no collar and he just walked in from the back as I was bringing some things in.”
Luke tapped his thigh with his hat and looked to the pup who stared back with cautious eyes. He inched closer, not wanting to scare the poor thing. And a quick glance had him smiling.
“Your he is a she,” Luke confirmed, then shrugged. “If you care.”
Jenn laughed. “I hadn’t even thought to look. I’ve always had male dogs growing up, so I just assumed.”
“I’ve never seen her before. She looks like some type of a Spaniel mix. I can call a few people while you’re fixing Paisley’s hair.”
She nodded. “I can’t thank you enough,” he added, relieved this nightmare might be fixed and they wouldn’t have to cancel birthday pics.
Who knew being a single parent could be so difficult? Each day brought on a new adventure. Of course those “adventures” could be called disasters, but he preferred to try to stay somewhat positive. He still had a garbage disposal to work on because a doll head had gotten stuck in there. He didn’t even want to know how that happened.
“No worries,” she said. “And forgive me for asking, but what did Paisley call you?”
Luke laughed and shook his head. “Toot. It’s a long story. I’m so used to it, I don’t think about what other people wonder when they hear it.”
“Sounds like a special relationship.”
Jenn smiled once again before crossing the salon toward Paisley. Special friendship was a very mild way of putting things, considering he’d gone from long-distance uncle to permanent guardian in the proverbial blink of an eye.
Moving from Oregon to California and trying to start a new life, a new business, and put all of Paisley’s needs first while dealing with the grief of losing his brother and sister-in-law had been the hardest time of his life. Not to mention the rental agreement on his brother’s home was up in two months. They’d been preparing to build so they’d just been renting a small cottage, which was where he and Paisley lived.
He honestly didn’t know how people got through such tragic events without their faith. He’d gotten on his knees in prayer so many times, begging God to give him the guidance to take on the role of father and make the best decisions for this new life he and Paisley shared.
Luke pulled out his cell and sent out several messages, trying to shift his focus from his own problems and worries to the misplaced pup. Hopefully he’d hear something soon. He highly doubted Jenn had the time or the space to keep a dog considering she was new to town.
“You know, I got gum in my sister’s hair when I was little?” Jenn said.
Luke turned his attention toward the pair. Paisley sat perfectly still in the salon chair with a black cape around her shoulders as Jenn seemed to be examining the damage.
“You did?” Paisley asked, her eyes wide with curiosity. “Was she mad?”
“She was at first until our mom took her to get a new haircut and she loved the new style so much, she thanked me for the accident. Now, my mom—that’s a different story. I had to do dishes every night for a month.”
Paisley smiled and a warmth spread over Luke’s heart. Smiles had been few and far between as of late, and no matter how short the happiness, he’d take it. That’s all he wanted for his niece. Yet a sliver of guilt hit him as he listened to Jenn speak of her family. The way her father had insisted on keeping the potential sale of the family ranch a secret had Luke convinced that there had to be underlying friction with the homestead. He wasn’t trying to rip the family apart, he just wanted a piece of their farm. He couldn’t feel guilty for trying to provide the best life for Paisley.
A piece of land with a barn would be so ideal. He could renovate the large building for the livestock he tended to and he could build a nice, modest home for him and Paisley to start their lives. There was no secret in town that the Four Sisters Ranch had hit hardship. Wasn’t this the best solution for everyone involved?
“I think if we cut just a little and make some layers around your face, we’ll be good to go.”
“Can I still wear my bow?” his niece asked, her eyes wide with worry.
“Absolutely.” Jenn turned the chair away from the mirror. “I don’t want you to see until I’m all done.”
“Like a surprise?”
Jenn nodded. “This is definitely a surprise.”
Luke kept his eye on the dog, who seemed to be perfectly content tucked in the corner. He’d been a veterinarian for five years now. While he specialized in larger farm animals, he’d learned early on that all God’s creatures were essentially the same. They had true feelings, fears and instinct. This dog probably knew she was safe in here, but the pup still kept a watchful eye on them, just in case.
The girls chatted about hair and boots, and Luke realized how much Paisley needed female conversation. He made a mental note to add pampering into a monthly routine for Sweet P. Coming to a salon and having someone do her hair, plus girl talk, was exactly what Paisley needed in her life right now. Would this make up for all she’d lost? Absolutely not, but Luke planned on integrating positive moments every chance he could get.
Moving any female into his life on any level would be difficult. The scar left behind by his runaway fiancée still seemed too fresh, but he had to put that hurt in the very back of his mind because that chapter in his life paled in comparison to this current chapter.
He glanced back to the dog, who had finally fallen asleep. Likely someone in town was missing their family pet and hopefully they’d put a collar on her once she returned home.
“What do we think?”
Luke looked back just as Jenn spun the chair around for Paisley to see her reflection in the mirror. Jenn fluffed the blond hair around Paisley’s shoulders and his niece’s smile widened. His heart swelled with a happiness he’d been missing over the past few months.
“Do you like it?” Jenn asked.
“I look older.” Paisley beamed. “I love it.”
Jenn caught his eyes in the mirror. “Sorry about that,” she said, cringing. “I wasn’t going for older. I was going for gum-free.”
Luke shook his head. “Gum-free was the goal,” he agreed. “I think she looks beautiful.”
“You have to say that,” Paisley argued.
“Who says?” he countered.
Paisley pursed her little lips, thinking of a reply, when his cell vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out and glanced at Jenn. Her striking eyes still held his and his heart beat a bit quicker. Good thing he had a call to pull his attention away from the beauty threatening to steal his focus.
“Hopefully this is someone about the dog,” he explained before he turned to take the call from a number he didn’t recognize.
“This is Luke.”
“Mr. Bennett, this is Helen Myers from Beacon Law Firm. Is this a good time?”
He glanced to the girls, who had eyes on him, wondering if he had news about the pup. He shook his head and covered the cell.
“I need to take this,” he whispered as he moved to the back of the salon.
He had no idea why a law firm would be calling him, and this wasn’t even the firm that had handled his brother’s will.
“I’m sorry, what did you say this was about?” Luke asked as he got to the open back door.
“I didn’t, but my client Carol Stephens is seeking guardianship for Paisley Bennett and I need to set up a time to meet with you and your attorney. She would like to make this as seamless as possible for the child.”
A pleasant breeze blew in from the open back door, random noises from the alley out back seemed to echo off the buildings, and Paisley and Jenn had started chatting once again. But all he heard was that someone wanted guardianship of his niece. His niece.
“I don’t even know who this Carol is,” he stated, then rattled off his lawyer’s name. “You can call her if you need any further information, but the will was clear on who Paisley would be with. The name Carol wasn’t even in the documents so I doubt she has a strong connection to my brother.”
“She didn’t think her name would be in the will, but that’s a long story and one of the many reasons we need a meeting. Carol was Talia’s best friend and cousin. She’s the only family member Talia has left, but she’s been overseas in the military. She’s home now and is seeking custody.”
Luke’s hat dropped from his hand. He leaned against the doorjamb and attempted to calm his breathing. Getting worried or worked up wouldn’t help things and he had no idea if this call was even legit.
But he did know that he was the only family member left on this side and Talia apparently was the only family member left on the other. Was that what this would all come down to? A ball of dread settled hard in his stomach.
“I’m not saying another word,” he informed the woman. “If you need anything, you can call my lawyer, but Paisley is going nowhere.”
With that sickening weight in his gut, he disconnected the call. Nobody could take his niece from him...could they?
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