The Rancher Takes a Bride by Brenda Minton Page B

ranch going while they basically raised themselves. Oregon had heard the stories. Ten years ago they’d shipped their youngest sister, Samantha, off to boarding school to keep her from forming an attachment to a ranch hand. It seemed that they had a tendency to plow forward into any situation, hoping for the best.
    And Oregon didn’t want Duke plowing his way into her life and taking control. Somehow she’d have to make that clear to him. He was in her life for one reason, because Lilly needed him. Oregon didn’t. She’d have to make the boundaries clear.
    For them both.
    * * *
    Duke drove Oregon and Lilly down to the cottage. Lunch together had made him realize something. They were a family. A broken one, he guessed, but a family nonetheless. She was a mom. He was a dad. Lilly was their daughter.
    So how did they work it out for the best? It was something they’d have to discuss. When they reached the cottage, Lilly took off for the barn and the horses that were gathered at the fence. It hadn’t taken his animals long to figure out that she would give them attention. And probably an apple or two.
    â€œShe’s a great kid, Oregon.” He started with that. It was a simple, nonthreatening statement.
    She looked up at him but kept walking, her skirt swishing around her ankles, silver hoop earrings jangling. She was tiny enough he could just scoop her up and carry her where he wanted. He grinned at the thought, because he knew if he tried any such thing, she’d fight like a wildcat.
    â€œI’m going to make coffee.” She tossed the comment back at him. It wasn’t an invitation. But at least she wasn’t telling him to take a hike.
    He followed Oregon inside. The house no longer felt like the place he’d lived for over six months. It didn’t smell like bacon and leather. Today it smelled like spring, and like Oregon. Soft, feminine, easy to hold.
    He shook his head, amazed by that thought. Half afraid of it. He glanced out the window at the girl on crutches leaning over the fence, petting the chestnut gelding he planned on giving her.
    He understood that the idea of sharing her daughter didn’t sit well with Oregon. He was a bachelor who hadn’t given a second thought to the woman he’d met years ago.
    But he was determined to make things right. Oregon filled the coffeepot with water and measured coffee into the filter basket. He studied the room, noticing the changes she’d made, the small things that were all Oregon. The scented candle on the counter, lace curtains over the window, a bouquet of flowers on the kitchen table.
    He returned his attention to Oregon. She stood at the window, shoulders hunched forward, a hand to her eyes. The gesture propelled him in her direction. He didn’t know what to say, so he stood behind her, wrapping his arms around her to pull her against his chest. At first she resisted, but then she softened in his arms. He bent to kiss the top of her head, and he watched out the window as she had.
    Lilly stood at the fence, hugging the chestnut gelding. The sun touched her dark hair, touched the red-gold of the horse. The dogs were nearby, stretched out on the grass. This kid belonged here. Belonged to him. His heart filled up with love and pride for his daughter.
    And the woman in his arms.
    He dropped a kiss on the top of Oregon’s head. “She’s going to be okay.”
    â€œI know she is.” She sobbed, and he felt a shudder go through her. “I want to know that if something should happen to me, you’ll take care of her. We need to go to a lawyer and make sure she is legally yours.”
    He’d planned to talk about his rights and the fact that he should help support them financially. Eventually. But this was a little more serious than what he’d planned on saying right now. He stood there for a minute, still holding Oregon, her strawberry-scented hair teasing his senses, and his heart