Read Claiming the Rancher's Heart for Free Online Page B

incredible.”
    A longing so intense it took her breath away rose up inside her. She thought she’d buried that dream, but intense emotion told her embers still smoldered.
    “Based on the dinner you made the other night, I can see you being very successful.” His supportive words and the sincerity in his tone warmed her heart. “Though I imagine you’d have to live in a large city to have enough clients to make a go of it.”
    “I did a business plan several years ago.” Stacie flushed, embarrassed by the admission, yet not sure why. While she’d majored in business only because her father had insisted, she had to admit that some of what she’d learned occasionally came in handy. “The results surprised me.”
    Josh raised a brow. “What did you discover?”
    “That it wouldn’t have to be in New York or Los Angeles,” Stacie said. “Or even in a city the size of Denver. A town with a population as little as two hundred thousand would work.”
    A look Stacie couldn’t identify crossed Josh’s face. It was gone quickly and his warm blue eyes refocused on her. “In this part of the world, you’d have to add the populations of Billings, Missoula and Great Falls together to get over two hundred thousand.”
    “Wow,” Stacie said. “I guess I didn’t realize those towns were so small. It—”
    “Stacie, you’ve got to come with me.” Lauren stood beside the table, looking very much the part of the local scene in her tight-fitting Wranglers and cowboy hat.
    Lauren’s mission tonight was to mingle and to be on the dance floor as much as possible. She’d encouraged Anna and Stacie to do the same, saying it would be good advertising.
    But if Lauren had come to drag her back on the dance floor, it wasn’t going to happen. Stacie’s feet ached and she was enjoying her conversation with Josh too much to cut it short. “I’m kinda busy at the moment.”
    “I’m afraid it can’t wait. Or rather, your brother won’t wait.” Lauren’s gaze shifted from Stacie to Josh, then back to Stacie again. “He insists on speaking with you now. ”
    Stacie dug her fingers into Josh’s shirtsleeve. Paul called periodically, usually leaving a message about some job opportunity he thought she should pursue. But Saturday night was family time in his household. He’d never interrupt his time with his wife and children to call his sister. And why call Lauren and not her? Unless it was bad news and he knew she’d need her friend’s support…
    Dear God, had something happened to one of her parents? Her relationship with them might be tense at times, but she loved them dearly. She jumped to her feet. “Did he tell you what happened?”
    She sensed rather than saw Josh move to stand beside her and then felt his arm slide around her waist, holding her steady.
    “Paul isn’t on the phone,” Lauren explained. “He’s here in Sweet River. Flew into Billings and drove straight over. He’s waiting by the entrance for you.”
    The puzzle pieces that had begun to lock into place suddenly didn’t fit. “Why would he come all this way to give me bad news?”
    The confusion on Lauren’s face was quickly replaced with understanding. “I’m not sure why he’s here, but it’s definitely not for that. I asked him how the family was, he said fine.”
    Stacie exhaled the breath she’d been holding and closed her eyes. Thank you, God.
    “Why do you suppose he’s here?” Josh asked.
    “No idea.” Stacie straightened her shoulders and shifted her gaze to Lauren. “Take me to him.”
    Josh stepped forward. “I’ll come with you.”
    “No.” The word came out more sharply than she’d intended. Stacie immediately softened the response with a smile. “Thank you, but no.”
    The last thing she wanted was to subject Josh to Paul’s imperious manner or for her brother to get the wrong idea about her relationship with Josh.
    “Are you sure?” Doubt filled his eyes and a frown worried his brow.
    “Positive.” Stacie