Page 99 of Her Boss, Her Rancher: Sunrise On The Ranch

She picked up the check and drew a deep breath when she saw the figures for a quarter of a million dollars.

“This is extremely generous, Mr. Sedgewick,” she said, looking at him. “That’s an enormous donation, and we’ll try to honor it the best way possible. This will help a lot of little girls and little boys, kids that have no families. Please tell Mr. Callahan we’ll try to find some way to thank him and honor his sons.”

“He does not want publicity for this. I’m sure you can understand. Just some simple recognition to his sons—perhaps a letter from the agency.”

“Of course,” she answered as he closed his briefcase and stood. She followed him to the front door of the agency and then turned back. Nan stood behind her, and Bert was beside Nan.

“What was all that about?” Bert asked.

“I can’t figure it out. Dirkson Callahan never acknowledged his oldest son. According to Blake, he barely was a father to the other three sons. Yet Mr. Sedgewick was Dirkson Callahan’s representative, and he gave me an envelope containing a donation to the agency in honor of his four sons. It’s a check for a quarter of a million dollars for the children’s shelter.”

“Saints above!” Bert gasped. “Sierra, what is it with you and the Callahans and all this money?”

“Are you and Blake engaged?” Nan asked.

“No, we’re not speaking. At least, I haven’t been taking his calls.”

“Maybe you better take them now,” Nan said.

“I have to agree. Think of what we can do for the children’s shelter.”

They stared at one another until Sierra passed him the check and headed for her office. “Bert, will you make a copy and get this check in the bank now?”

“Yes, I will,” he replied.

“I guess I’ll call Blake. I can’t figure this one out. How did Dirkson Callahan know about us or about the shelter? He’s never talked to Blake, and the other Callahan sons don’t know about the shelter.”

“Blake had to have told him,” Nan answered.

“That’s impossible. Blake is actively trying to destroy his dad’s hotel business. I can’t understand what just happened here.”

She heard her cell phone.

“Maybe that’s your answer. See if it’s Blake.”

“No, but I’ll take this call,” she said when she saw it was her mom.

They talked briefly. After telling her mother what had just happened, she tried to call Blake, but couldn’t get him. She stared into space. What had caused the huge donation, and when did Dirkson Callahan start acknowledging his oldest son? Where was Blake, and what was he doing? Why did she miss him so much when she was the one who’d said goodbye?

At six, Sierra closed and locked the office, then drove through traffic to her small house. As she tried to eat a bowl of soup and drink a glass of milk, a car horn sounded.

Looking out, she saw a tall man with a cowboy hat on her porch. He stood with his back to her, but she knew it was Blake.

“Just a minute,” she called. She opened the door and her heart thudded. He had on a broad-brimmed black hat, a navy shirt, jeans and boots.

She wanted to walk into his arms. Instead she asked, “What are you doing here?”

Nine

Blake took a step closer as she unfastened and opened the screen door.

“I didn’t call to tell you I was coming because you won’t take my calls,” he said as he closed the door behind him.

Her heart pounded, and she couldn’t get her breath. “Blake,” she whispered, knowing that she loved him, whatever he did. She was tired of pushing her feelings away. “I missed you.”

His eyes narrowed, and he dropped a package from his hand and wrapped his arms around her. He pulled her close, and she clung to him as he kissed her.

She held him tightly, as if she might lose him again.