Returned to Ruby's Ranch
by Rhonda Frankhouser
Genre: Contemporary Western, Romance
Ruby Lattrell spends her days caring
for her ailing father and younger brother. When they no longer need her, her
life lacks purpose. Then she inherits Ruby’s Ranch – the only real home she
ever knew – the place where her mother mysteriously vanished. The smell
of fresh cut hay and the most handsome cowboy she’s ever seen, Billy
McCallister, greet Ruby when she arrives at the ranch.
Billy always dreamed Ruby would return home. When he finally sees her standing
on Granny’s porch, now a mix of that sassy young girl he once knew and the
reassured, sensual woman she is today, he knows his heart hasn’t misled
him. Before she can fall into the timeless love that Billy offers, they
must solve the mysteries that haunt Ruby’s Ranch. Will digging up the past hurt
more people than it helps? Will the truth they discover tear Ruby and Billy
apart?
The
old, beat-up Chevy pickup came to an abrupt stop about a foot from the back of
Ruby’s prized Jeep. She scowled with disapproval as the driver shoved open the
door and dropped to his booted feet before the engine even had a chance to shut
off.
"Help you, miss?" he asked,
with a slow, deep twang, wiping the dirt from his hands with a handkerchief
he’d pulled from his back pocket.
She squinted against the
midday sun a little harder now as his voice rang a touch familiar. She watched
him for an over-long moment, the mother cat twisting her lithe body around his
legs in greeting. Sweat glistened on his tanned, muscular arms as he bent to
pick up the kittens that came out to join their mother.
She smiled. There had to be something
special about a man who elicited the love of animals. He was at least six foot
two, and built like he could lift a hundred pounds straight over his head with
no problem at all. A smudge of dried mud followed the line of his strong,
stubbled jaw. He could be the most handsome man Ruby had ever seen. Not a
sophisticated, city kind of handsome. More a Russell Crowe, gladiator,
kind of handsome.
The irritated scowl returned to his
face after he put the tiny, tabby kittens down, almost like he’d just
remembered he wasn’t pleased about being pulled away from something important.
This made him all the more interesting. Part of Ruby was glad she'd been such a
bother. The day just became more intriguing.
“They’re adorable. And they seem to
like you.” She tried to break the awkward silence.
Curious, soulful green eyes peered
out from under his dusty Stetson hat. He gazed first at her well-worn Justin
cowboy boots, then slowly up her long legs to the khaki shorts, pausing
momentarily at the denim shirt she had tied loosely around her waist, showing
just a hint of pale skin. His gaze stopped momentarily at the mess of
red-blonde hair she’d pulled away from her face, before he finally met her eyes.
Ruby held her giggle as he finished
his perusal, not wanting to make him self-conscious since she’d recognized him.
Billy MacCallister. Had to be. My, how he’d grown from the runny-nosed brat who
used to follow her around so many years before. He’d been the pain-in-the-butt,
kid brother of her best friend.
But, this grown up Billy MacCallister
was a whole different creature. Mercy, he’s definitely a full grown
man now. Ranch life looks good on him.
"So," Ruby avoided his eyes
to keep him at a disadvantage for just a bit longer. She reached down to pet
the dogs again, calming them. "How's your sister these days, Billy?"
He stopped wiping the dirt from his
jeans and searched to get a better look at her face.
"What's the matter, Billy? Think
you're seeing a ghost?" A smile crossed her lips.
"Ruby?" he asked, quietly
at first then louder. "Ruby?" This time with unashamed excitement. Billy
took two long-legged strides toward her, tilting his hat to get a better look.
"Well, look at that, it is you."
Before Ruby had a chance to respond,
he lifted her off the step and twirled her around, not caring at all that she
now wore half the dirt he once had all over him.
The enticing scent of musk shampoo,
salty sweat, and horses swirled around her, drawing her in. How
could a man smell that good after working in the mud? It took all her
strength to keep from leaning in and making a fool of herself. He smelled like
home to her and she had to admit, it felt good to be held.
"Billy, good grief, put me
down." She tugged at her shirt to keep it down, embarrassed. The pups
jumped up, anxious now to play, as Ruby tried to gain composure. Not an easy
task when being twirled around by a handsome cowboy.
"Ruby Lattrell, it’s so good to
see you. How the hell are you?” The honest joy in seeing her poured from him.
“Oh my God, you look fantastic!" He set her down and brushed the hair away
from her face, looking her over now with those same hungry eyes he'd had as a
love-struck kid.
She glanced away, self-conscious.
When she finally mustered the courage to gaze up at him, she couldn't help but
return his infectious smile. There was no worry there, or pretense. The tiny
lines around his joy-filled eyes showed only that he knew how to smile. How to
laugh. Something she’d forgotten how to do a long time ago.
"Well, that’s certainly more of
a welcome than I expected." She stepped back to get some space and a
better look at him. He had to be coming up on thirty now. Strapping. Still
driving his mom crazy with that unruly chestnut hair tucked behind his ears, no
doubt. Same innocent, broad smile that held secrets.
He continued talking and following
her every move, anxious to know everything all at once. Where had she been? How
had she stayed so perfect? Finally, he realized she hadn’t said a word. He
stopped then, smiled that secret smile again, his eyes slowly filling with
concern. "Ruby, I'm sorry I'm just going on. How are you? Are you all
right? Oh Lord, I'm so sorry about your grandmother."
Ruby flushed when he caught her
staring. "Oh, I ah, I'm fine. Thank you, though. I can’t believe she is
gone. This place will be really weird without Granny Rube here." She took
a step back toward the door, gathering herself, hoping she'd find the key in
the usual hiding place so she could make a graceful exit.
"You don't act fine." He
caught up with her, supporting her elbow like a real southern gentleman.
"Let's get you inside."
Ruby didn't protest. She kind of
liked the fuss he made. This was someone she'd known for nearly all her life.
It felt good to know he'd missed her.
"Just wait till Claudie finds
out you're home. She's going to just die." He reached behind the rusted
iron pot for the key and turned it in the lock. "She's not living out here
anymore. She's got a place in town. Married a nice city guy who moved here from
Arizona, Mike Calloway. They bought old Fike's Market and fixed it up real
nice. Doing real well with it. She likes living in town so much better than out
here." He kept talking as he closed the door behind them.
The familiar smells of the house hit
Ruby first, distracting her from what Billy was saying. Gingerbread cookies, Pledge
furniture polish giving off an ever-present hint of lemon.
Ruby stopped in the entry, closed her
eyes, and visualized her mother and Granny Rube laughing in the kitchen,
handmade aprons tied around their waists, shoving cookies in that old Wedgewood
oven, sharing private giggles.
Ruby stood for a long while as she
replayed the memories over in her mind, only vaguely aware Billy had gone
silent and held a supportive hand at the small of her back.
"Welcome home, Ruby," he
whispered, his sweet eyes searching hers.
She didn't know why, but just then
she couldn't keep herself from turning and wiping the dust from his cheek,
feeling more true compassion from this one understanding look than she'd ever
felt before.
"Thanks, Billy." She
realized suddenly her eyes filled with tears. "Thanks for making me feel
so welcome. I'm glad to be home."
She felt as if she’d stepped back in
time. She was just a teenager when she left home almost two decades ago. Nearly
everything in the house remained in the same place. The fireplace room still
held the same worn velvet couches and mahogany side tables. The faded ivy
wallpaper she'd helped Granny hang curled at the corners where moisture and age
had gotten to the glue. The heirloom rug passed from her grandfather's family,
now worn and fraying around the edges.
The same photos capturing a more
innocent time continued to be displayed on the dusty river-rock mantle.
Yellowed images of Granny Rube's parents looked too small and frail to have
endured such a rough pioneer life. Next to that picture, Ruby saw the photo of
her Grandpa Mac, taken only days before he was trampled to death by his prized
bull, Heathen.
Ruby picked up the tarnished frame
and held it close, realizing only now how handsome a man her grandfather had
been, tall and lanky, his deep set eyes full of the devil. Reminded her of her
mother.
"Granny used to say it
served him right to get taken by the one beast on the ranch that was ornerier
than him." Ruby wiped the dust from the frame and replaced it back on the
mantle in the exact place it was before. "Momma told me Granny put Heathen
down herself with a twelve-gauge shotgun the night he killed Grandpa Mac, but I
still don't know if that's true. She had such a flair for the dramatic, it was
hard to tell fact from fantasy."
"Your granny was a good woman,
Ruby," Billy finally offered, a measure of respect in his voice.
"Always remember that. She helped me out more times than I can count."
"I'm just sad I missed so many years with her. All I have are old memories of how things used to be. Silly stuff like, I remember when she calmed Jake and me during those hell-raising thunderstorms, and chased us into the pond when we were driving everyone nuts because we were so bored." Ruby turned away from the photos and took in the room once again. "She always had time for us. I can't believe I let her die alone."
Rhonda discovered she
had a knack for storytelling after she was diagnosed with cancer at a young
age. To avoid dwelling on her own mortality, she sat down with pen and paper
and got out of the way of her subconscious mind. Words and characters
poured out of her from some hidden place inside her soul. She discovered
that writing was not only cathartic and healing but a necessary function for
her future sanity.
Her first novel, MY LAST DAY, gained the
representation of agent Ben Camardi, at Harold Matson Company in New York. This
is a heart wrenching tale of a young woman seeking love and closure on her last
day of life. Her second and third novels, SHADOWING SOULS and RUBY’S
RANCH, were quick to follow. Each story has a contemporary romantic
flavor, a solid family dynamic and a paranormal twist. RUBY’S RANCH will soon be available from SoulMatePublishing.com, Amazon and Barnes and
Noble.
Rhonda lives in central California with her Kisa,
(Knight in Shining Armor), their beautiful and talented daughters, and two
mischievous pug puppies, Geddy and Ruby. When she is not writing, she is
supporting hospice patients as a volunteer coordinator, playing golf with her
husband, or reading the latest masterpiece from one of her favorite authors.
She is a member of the RWA – PAN community and the local chapter, Yosemite Romance
Writers.
A Word from Rhonda
I'm excited to be hosted by the fabulous Soulmate author, Tracey A. Wood. I appreciate her eagerness to share other authors and their work with her readership. My debut novel, Return to Ruby's Ranch, which was released on Amazon from SoulMate Publishing on November 16, 2016, is book one of a contemporary western romance series that tells the story of the strong line of matriarchs of Ruby's Ranch. I'm currently working on book two in the series - Escape from Ruby's Ranch. I recently signed a new contract with SoulMatePublishing.com for a contemporary romance called Health Nut Café, which is due out in 2017. This is the booklove of my life - so far :) Neither book are the norm for romance - rather they have lots of twists and turns, murder and mayhem, but alas, the love stories are rich and real. Thanks so much, Tracey, for hosting me. Please visit my website at www.rhondafrankhouserbooks.com and leave me a note. I would love to hear from you. Rj
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