The Rancher's Rules by Dina Chapel Page B

picked up the reins with his free hand. Turning to Tom and Rafe, he tipped his hat. “Much obliged to you both for your help.” With that, Will clicked his heels for the horse to move and they were on their way.
    Annie turned to look back, tears running down her face. She watched as Tom and Rafe mounted their horses and headed off in the opposite direction. She couldn’t make herself stop watching Rafe until she couldn’t see him anymore.
    Rafe didn’t look back once.
    * * * * *
    It had been a little more than two weeks since Rafe had last seen Annie and he wasn’t feeling one tiny bit better about things. He had thought maybe if he focused on his ranch and worked hard from sun up to sundown, he could forget about Annie Walters. He really hadn’t known her for very long and she had given him plenty of trouble in that short time.
    Rafe remembered how apprehensive he had been to even be responsible for her while Tom and Jenny honeymooned. She had seemed like nothin’ but an unwanted burden then. He told himself he should be glad to be rid of her. But he wasn’t. He couldn’t stop thinking about her. He couldn’t stop himself from thinking about the way she sat a horse in them britches, lookin’ all tough and fearless. He couldn’t stop thinking about how she looked in the mercantile that day, the first time he saw her in a dress, with her hair done up, and how he thought she was the prettiest thing he had ever seen. How she had made all the meals when they were shut in at his cabin from the snow and how, even if they weren’t talking, she was good company.
    Rafe couldn’t stop himself from thinking about that kiss, right after the strapping he gave her – it was the sweetest kiss he could ever recall in his life.
    And he couldn’t stop thinking about the look on Annie’s face when she realized that she would have to go with Will Jameson. Rafe had wanted nothing more than to grab her, jump on his horse, take her home and never let her go.
    But he had let her go. And now he didn’t know how to keep going.
    He was leaning on the counter at the tack shop, waiting for the clerk to fetch something from the back storeroom. Rafe hadn’t been in town since that day he and Tom had chased down Annie. He needed supplies, but hoped he wouldn’t run into anyone who’d want to ask him about Annie, like Claire, for instance. He was avoiding the mercantile.
    Another customer came in and approached the counter just as the clerk returned. The clerk wasn’t looking up and just started talking. “I believe this is what you’re looking for, Mr. Stanton,” he started, “but, if not, we can—”
    “Stanton?” The new customer interrupted. “You wouldn’t be Rafe Stanton by any chance, would you?”
    Rafe turned toward the man, feeling a little annoyed at the interruption. He really just wanted to get his supplies and be on his way. “Yes. I’m Rafe Stanton.”
    “Name’s Ben Wilkes, Mr. Stanton.” Ben stuck out his hand and Rafe felt obliged to shake it. “My boss sent me here to deliver two things to you. One of them is this here letter.” Ben reached into the chest pocket of his jacket, pulled out a folded paper and handed it to Rafe. “He said you’re to read the letter first and it’ll explain everything.”
    Rafe eyed the man suspiciously. “Your boss sent you. Who’s your boss?”
    “Mr. Will Jameson is his name.” Ben smiled then. Rafe didn’t know what to think as he unfolded the letter and began to read.
     
    Mr. Rafe Stanton,
    Good day to you. The man delivering this letter to you is my most trusted hired hand, Ben Wilkes. I regret that I could not come myself, but sparing Ben is almost more than I can manage right now. I’m sure you understand, being a ranch owner yourself.
    The day we caught up to the stagecoach and I took Annie with me, you stated that you could never take what belongs to another man. I appreciated your sense of honor as I share it with you. I have never taken anything that