Love Lessons (8 page)

“Surprises can be good. Besides, think of all that stress you can avoid because only one of those contingencies will come true. Wait and see which one. You'll live longer.”

He chuckled. “I don't see myself changing. I'll exercise instead.”

Alexa warmed beneath Ian's gaze. She swallowed hard, the restless night before coming to mind. He was part of the reason.

Jana returned from the garage. “I've got everything. Let's go.”

As Alexa crossed the kitchen, she peered back at Ian and smiled. “See you in a little bit.”

The assessing look he sent her raised goose bumps as she left and accompanied her thoughts all the way to her car. Before she backed out of the driveway, she rubbed her hands up and down her jacket-clad arms, trying to erase his effect on her.

“You know we never talked about the next animal you want to study,” Alexa said to Jana to try to take her mind off Ian and the look and smile that had flooded his face as she strolled out of the kitchen.

“I don't know. There are so many I like.”

“How about horses?”

“Yeah, I've always wanted to learn to ride ever since I was a little girl.”

“When I was growing up, I used to save all my money from birthdays, Christmases and what I earned. I was gonna buy a pony and keep it in the backyard.”

“Did ya?”

“No, my dad informed me when I was nine and had saved three hundred dollars that I couldn't get one, even if I kept it somewhere else.”

“Why didn't he tell ya before?”

“Because he wanted me to learn the value of saving.” Alexa turned onto Main Street.

“Did ya?”

“Yeah, I guess I did.” Thinking about that time always aroused her ire, but this time she saw it just a little differently since getting to know Ian and understanding what it was like to be a father.
But he should have told me.

“Did ya ever learn to ride?”

“No. Your dad told me there's a ranch a lot of the kids in the Helping Hands Homeschooling Group use. Why
don't we check into it and see about riding lessons for both of us. It's about time I learned, don't you think?”

Jana chewed on her lower lip. “I don't know. Let me think about it.”

Alexa pulled into a parking space near the town square. “I understand the ranch has other animals, too. It would be like a large classroom for us. Think of all the possibilities.”

Jana glanced around as though she finally realized she was sitting in a car in the middle of downtown without her father. “Do ya think Dad would come?”

“We'll ask him when he arrives to help us.”

 

“How did last night go?” Alexa asked the next morning when Ian let her into his house.

“Not well. Every time the phone rang she was sure it was someone who'd found Sugar and had seen our number on a poster.” Ian sighed. “I'm running out of things to say to her to comfort her. I was so afraid of this.”

“It hasn't been that long.”

“To a child who's missing her pet, it's been too long. To the parent trying to give her hope, it's been longer than that.”

“I think the best thing we can do is try to take her mind off it. Today's a new day. I called the ranch and checked on when we could come out there to see the place. Zachary Rutgers, the owner of the Wild Bill Buffalo Ranch, said any afternoon this week would be fine with him. Do you have an afternoon you could get away for a few hours?”

Ian stepped to the side while she entered the house, then, after shutting the door, turned toward her in the foyer. Raking his fingers through his hair—and from its disheveled look not for the first time that day—he grimaced. “I can Thursday if I move a meeting. That'll be the best day for me.”

“Then I'll let Zachary know, if Jana agrees to go.”

“Now that I think about it, if I move things around, we can go this afternoon right after lunch. I'll just stay up late tonight and finish what I need to.”

That was as close to being spontaneous as Ian had been in the time she'd worked for him. She grinned. “You better watch out. Before you know it, you might not use your day planner.”

He laughed. “That will never happen. That day planner keeps me sane. You should try it. It frees me up not to have to keep everything up here.” He tapped his temple.

“Is Jana in the kitchen?”

“Nope. The den, staring out the window. At least she's not sitting on the bench outside. That broke my heart yesterday watching her watch for Sugar.”

“Well, let me see what she says about the ranch. You might not have to rearrange anything.”

“I'll fix you some tea while you talk to her.”

“Chicken.”

“Yep. You seem to get her to do things I can't, so I bow to your superior persuasive skills.” With a twinkling gleam in his eyes, he bent at the waist and swept his arm across his body.

This playful Ian was intriguing. Alexa had to shore up her defenses to keep her feelings from evolving into something that wasn't possible. She wasn't without her own plans. She wanted to travel, work in a third-world country as a teacher. Her gift for languages would assist her in her dream to help others less fortunate. That was what she and Daniel had planned back in high school. She would fulfill his dream as well as her own. She owed it to him for the years they had been together and envisioned their life as a married couple.

In the den Alexa pulled up a seat close to Jana, who sat
in front of the bay window with her elbow on the arm of her chair and her chin in her palm. The urge to wrap her arms around the child swamped her.

“Hey, kiddo. How's it going?” Alexa placed her hand on the girl's shoulder.

“I'm worried. How's Sugar gonna get food to eat?”

“When she gets hungry enough, she'll find her way home.” Alexa massaged the tension in the child's shoulders. “In the meantime she wouldn't want you to mope around waiting for her. We're gonna get our schoolwork done this morning because right after lunch you, your dad and I are gonna go to the ranch I told you about. Zachary said he'd give you your first riding lesson this afternoon if you're interested.”

“Zachary?”

“He owns the Wild Bill Buffalo Ranch. Did you know he keeps real buffalo on his place?”

“Buffalo? Really?” Jana perked up and straightened in the chair.

“Yep, he has a small herd of them, and we can go see them. Are ya game?”

“Dad's coming?”

“He's clearing his calendar just so he can. Before we go, you can look up quarter horses and buffalo. I know that Zachary has other animals, too. After we return from the ranch, we can list them and do research on them the rest of the week. So are you ready to get to work?”

“Yes!” Jana jumped up from the chair. “I'll get the laptop and we can start right away.”

Alexa rose and found Ian in the doorway from the kitchen with two mugs in his hand. He strode across the family room and gave her the one filled with tea. Their hands touched and a tingling zapped up her arm. She nearly dropped her drink and quickly clasped it between both palms.

With a lopsided grin, he said, “I'd better go clear that calendar.”

Alexa watched him walk away, his moves economical, not a wasted motion. Like the man. He planned and made everything he did efficient, whereas she often spun her wheels, so to speak, arriving late to some events and early to others. Ian used a day planner and referred to it often. Maybe a day planner wasn't such a bad idea.

The very thought for a few seconds chilled her, as though her father had invaded her life again, demanding she do everything on a schedule. Another remnant of her conversation with her mother Sunday evening—when they had talked about her father.

“I
guess it didn't hurt that Ashley lives at the ranch.” Ian leaned against the railing of the paddock.

“Yeah, I did happen to mention that to Jana as we were putting up posters yesterday.” Alexa threw him a glance before returning her attention to his daughter riding her first horse while Zachary gave her some pointers. “I found out from Ashley that she and her family live in one house while Zachary lives in another on the property. Her mother is Zachary's older sister.”

“You are quite sneaky and devious.”

“I have my moments. It pays to get to know the children.” Jana's giggles mingling with Ashley's floated to Alexa. “Now,
that's
a wonderful sound. If anyone can get your daughter to laugh it will be her friend.”

“Oh, I don't know. I've heard more laughter in my house over the past month than in a long time. I think you've helped there.”

Alexa swerved her full attention to Ian and got caught in the snare of his gaze. His compliment crammed her throat with emotions. He was a man who told people when
he felt they were doing a good job. He often let his daughter know how well she was doing. For a moment the ranch faded from her consciousness, and all she could see was him, his face relaxed in a smile, his eyes fastened on her as though Alexa was special—important to him. “Don't you know laughter is the best medicine?”

His grin hitched up another notch. “I heard that somewhere but didn't realize until I met you how true it was.”

Why hadn't her father ever told her she was doing a good job? That he loved her? It would have made all the difference in the world. That was why she knew Jana would be all right in time. Ian would make sure of that.

“Dad, look at me,” Jana shouted across the paddock. She rode her horse around the ring, and stopped near Ashley sitting on her mount. Then Jana had her mare turn in a full circle. “She does what I say.”

“Now, if only I could get my daughter to do that,” he whispered to Alexa right before he said to Jana, “You're doing great, and you've only had one lesson. Wait until you have more.”

“Ashley wants me to ride with her out in the pasture. Can I?”

“I don't…” Ian blinked then looked at Zachary in the middle of the corral for some help answering his daughter.

“It'll be okay. I'll ride with them. In fact, you two can come along.” Zachary, dressed in jeans, a flannel shirt and boots, tipped back his cowboy hat.

“Great.” Ian pushed off the railing. “I haven't ridden in years.”

Alexa gulped. “I haven't ridden at all. I'd probably better stay put.”

“Where's the adventurous side I'm getting to know so well?”

“I think I left that at home today.”

He grabbed her hand and tugged her gently closer to the barn's entrance. “Oh, no. Not allowed. If I'm going to get sore then so are you.”

“Ian Ferguson, I can't believe you said that.” Although her voice sounded stern, she couldn't keep the smile off her face.

The two young girls remained in the corral while Zachary brought two large horses out of the barn. “I have some more kids coming this afternoon, so we'll only be able to ride for half an hour, but that should be enough to hook Jana on riding.”

Alexa had explained Jana's situation so he would know what was going on, and she was thankful she had. Zachary Rutgers had done everything to make Jana feel at home in the saddle, even to the point of having his niece there to help.

When the ranch owner led a huge chestnut toward Alexa, she began to have her doubts about learning to ride. The mare was taller than her, which wasn't that big a deal since she was only five feet two inches. But still, it was a long way to the ground if she fell off. “Do you have a smaller one? Maybe a big pony?”

Zachary chuckled. “Nope. She'll be the best for you. Besides the one Jana is on, this little mare is the gentlest one I have. You'll do fine.”

“I bet you say that to all the newbies. Did I mention I've never ridden before?”

“I'm used to teaching greenhorns.” He winked and set his black cowboy hat lower on his forehead, shadowing his eyes, before leading the horse out of the barn to a mounting block. “This'll help.”

Alexa stepped up on the small wooden platform and searched for Ian. Mounted on an equally large horse, he
waited for her by the corral gate, amusement making his eyes sparkle.
Okay, I can do this.

“Grip the horn, put your left foot in the stirrup and swing your right leg over.” Zachary held the reins and the horse still.

Alexa followed his instructions, and a few seconds later sat on top of the mare, staring at how far down the ground really was. Worse than she'd thought.

“Here, take these.” Zachary gave her the reins and showed her how to hold them loosely but evenly. “You're in control. Just tell Belle where to go and she will—” he climbed onto his horse and demonstrated for Alexa “—like this.”

She could picture herself careening across the field hanging on for dear life. “How do I stop her?”

“This way.” He pulled back on the reins. “But not too tight. Their mouths are tender. We'll go slow. This is yours and Jana's first time, so no galloping.”

“Thanks. I appreciate that,” she squeaked out as he turned his horse and started for the corral where the girls were.

Leaving her behind to figure out how to get Belle to start moving.

Zachary turned in the saddle and said, “Just say go and tap her sides with the heels of your shoes.”

He went on outside while Ian waited for her. Belle plodded forward at a sedate pace—thankfully. Alexa's jaw gritted so tightly together, pain streaked down her neck. The squeak of her saddle as she shifted filled her ears.

“You can relax, Alexa,” Ian said. “This is supposed to be fun.”

“Let me know when the fun starts.”

Ian's chuckles peppered the air. “If anyone knows that, it's you. I'll stay right next to you the whole way. Zachary is going to watch over the girls. Ready?”

“Yep,” she said, and took a deep breath, then urged Belle forward.

The scent of well-oiled leather and horse wafted to her. After Alexa eased the grip on the reins and started going with the flow of her mare, she scanned the meadow they were crossing to a grove of trees. “This will be beautiful in another month or so.”

“Yeah, maybe we'll be doing this again next month.” Ian stared at his daughter a few yards ahead of him.

“We all will or at least I will with Jana. Look at that grin on her face. See how she's chatting with Ashley? I read somewhere that riding can make a person feel free, with the wind blowing through their hair, the sun beating down on them. Those are the reasons. Besides, your daughter loves animals. That will bring her back now that she's seen what she's missing.”

“Now if only Sugar would come back.”

“If for some reason she doesn't, I have confidence you'll find a way to deal with it.”

He slowed his horse and looked at her. “I'm glad you do. I wake up some mornings and wonder about what in the world I'm doing. Raising a child, trying to help her through the loss of her mother. Trying to hold my business together but be there for Jana, too.”

“You're doing a great job.”

He quirked a grin. “Even with all my schedules. I know how you feel about them.”

“Because I grew up having to follow one down to the littlest detail.”

“Schedules aren't the villain in this.”

“No, I'm beginning to see that.”

“Ah, so I am rubbing off on you.”

Was he? Alexa stared at the gleam in his eyes. She'd
actually stopped by a jewelry counter at the store the other day and considered buying a watch. And just recently, she was thinking of getting a day planner. Oh, my. He was.

 

As Jana rode toward a grove of trees with Ashley, she glanced over her shoulder at her dad and Alexa. Alexa stared at Jana's father, then laughed at something he said. The expression of joy on his face delighted Jana. She liked Alexa a lot, and she thought her dad did, too.

“Are they dating?” Ashley asked as she peered back in the direction Jana was looking.

“Dating? You mean Alexa and my dad?”

“Yeah.”

“No, why do you ask that?”

“They act like they are. You know, like in the movies.”

“I think my dad is clueless.”

Ashley giggled. “Sounds like my uncle Zachary. At least that's what my mom says. She's thinking of tricking him into dating.”

“Tricking him? How?”

“Invite a girl to dinner and him, too. Not make it seem like it's a date but it really is. Throw them together until he gets the picture.”

Throw them together? Maybe she could do that. “Alexa is at my house all the time.”

“It should be easy then.” Ashley snapped her fingers. “I've got a great plan. The HHH Valentine's Day party is next Saturday here at the ranch. Get Alexa to come with you and your dad. You can hang with me and my friends and leave them by themselves.”

Maybe if Alexa and her dad started dating, he would be happy all the time. She enjoyed having Alexa around. She could talk to Alexa. Better than she ever did with her mom.
For a few seconds that thought bothered her as though she was a traitor to her own mother, but then she remembered how Alexa was there for her. She made her feel special. Her dad should get to feel that way, too.

 

Later that afternoon, Alexa finished up helping Jana write a story about her first riding lesson. “Show that to your dad tonight. He'll enjoy it.”

“He always enjoys what I write. He's special, don't ya think?”

Alexa started to rise from the kitchen table, but sank back down. Jana's question threw her off balance. “Well, yes, he is.”

“He has a good job. He's not bad to look at. He stays in shape, not like some fathers I've seen. He's—”

“What are you doing, Jana?” Finally, Alexa pushed to her feet, looking down at the child, who grinned.

She wiped the smile from her face and shrugged. “Just talking about what a great guy he is.” Her mouth formed a pout. “But I think he's lonely. He stays home a lot. He doesn't get to meet nice women like you. He needs to start dating.”

“Jana, don't you think you should let your dad make that decision when he's ready?” The thought of Ian dating some other woman didn't sit well with her.

Jana placed her elbow on the table and tapped her finger against her chin. “You know, Ashley said something about the Valentine's party for the families in Helping Hands Homeschooling. I think we should go. What do ya think about doing that?”

“I think that's a great suggestion for you and your dad,” Alexa said, all the while thinking:
Jana's trying to fix her dad up with other women.
Her stomach roiled as though she'd eaten something that didn't agree with her.

“Great. It's next Saturday night. Put it on your calendar. We're gonna have fun.”

“But I didn't mean me. It's a family affair.”

“You've got to come. I won't know too many people there.” Jana's pout strengthened. “Maybe I shouldn't go.”

Alexa put her hand on her waist. “Jana Ferguson, you're manipulating me.”

“Is it working? Will ya go?”

“Fine, I'll be there on Saturday night.” Alexa shoved in her chair, started to turn toward the kitchen to refill her mug, when she stopped. “Where is the Valentine's Day party?” She wasn't agreeing because of Ian but because of Jana. The more the child got out of the house, the better it would be for Jana.

Yeah, right, Alexa.

Okay, Ian needs someone to save him from getting involved with the wrong woman.

Oh, that's a good one.

“The party's at the ranch in the barn. Won't that be different? Ashley told me there would be square dancing. Her uncle learned to call it while they were doing a unit on the Old West.”

“Square dancing? I've never done it.”

Jana rose and leaned close to Alexa. “Tell ya a secret, neither has Dad. In fact, I don't think Dad has ever danced. He said something about having two left feet once when he came in while I was watching a show about dancing on TV. You ought to get him out on the dance floor. You two should be a riot.”

The flush of embarrassment heated Alexa's cheeks. “I don't think I want to be the object of amusement for anyone. And I'm sure your dad doesn't either.”

“I'm just kidding. Zachary is gonna teach some of the
steps so people can do it. I hope you can get Dad to dance. He needs to have some fun again.”

“You'd have a better chance than me.” Alexa covered the distance to the kitchen and picked up the kettle from the stove to pour some hot water for her tea. “Don't you have a birthday coming up soon?” she asked, hoping to take Jana off the topic of her father.

“Yeah, March 8
^th
.”

“What are you gonna do for it?”

Jana lifted her shoulders, her arms out wide. “Any suggestions?”

“A party. Invite your friends.”

“Other than Ashley I've lost track of most of them this past year.”

“Well, you've got the kids that come to class on Wednesdays and Fridays. Then there are Kelly and Aaron next door. Think about it. Maybe it would be a good time to see how your old friends are doing. Or you could have a slumber party with a few girls. Watch movies, eat lots of popcorn and stay up all night.”

Jana's eyes grew round as Alexa ticked off activities the kids could do. “I like that!”

“Like what, pumpkin?” Ian asked from the doorway, his hair a bit tousled, the long sleeves on his white shirt rolled up.

Alexa paused in stirring the sugar into her tea.
He looks good.
The thought stopped her movements and sent her heart beating double time.