Love's Enduring Choices!

By Sandi Lorraine

Twenty five year old Cassie Foster grew up knowing that someday she would inherit her grandparents fifteen hundred acre ranch, and that they expected her to carry on with its legacy. But, her staying on the ranch wasnt part of the plans that her high school sweetheart, Ethan King, had in mind for his future. So, he had left her heart broken and vowing that she would never let herself be hurt again by falling in love with someone.
But then Chad Benson, a half-blooded native American, walked into her life unexpectedly, and just happened to be on the scene the day her grandfather died. She found him easy to talk to, easy to lean on, and easy to trust, so instead of searching for a hired hand to help her, she accepted his offer to become a partner in helping her manage the ranch for a share of the profits.
The one thing Cassie hadnt planned on was the return of Ethan, with his intentions of winning her back, and doing anything that was necessary to make her give up the ranch so she would go to Colorado with him, which included creating conflict between her and her new partner.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Mar 20, 2012
• ISBN: 9781469183381

Sandi Lorraine

I grew up in the Midwest farming area, married my high school sweetheart, and moved to the big city, where our three children were born. Later we moved back to that same rural community so our children could grow up in a smaller school complex. Living in two different worlds taught me not only how to accept the different aspects of people that surround me but how necessary it is to do so. I was fortunate enough to work in a food management position for many years, giving me insight in working with all ethnic groups. After retiring, my husband and I operated a hunting and shooting preserve and had the opportunity of hosting hunting dog trials, getting to meet people from all over the world. I enjoy writing about everyday people in everyday situations. One doesn’t have to be a millionaire to experience a good romantic relationship. You just follow your heart.

Book preview

LOVE’S

ENDURING CHOICES!

SANDI LORRAINE

Copyright © 2012 by Sandi Lorraine.

Library of Congress Control Number:       2012904653

ISBN:         Hardcover                               978-1-4691-8337-4

                   Softcover                                 978-1-4691-8336-7

                   Ebook                                      978-1-4691-8338-1

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris Corporation

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

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112781

A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO:

My wonderful husband for his support and suggestions, my daughter for taking time out of her busy schedule to critique my work, my daughter-in-law for helping me through all my struggles doing my work, and the rest of my family for cheering me on.

CONTENTS

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

CHAPTER ONE

SOLD, TO NUMBER 143! THE auctioneer declared through his megaphone. Give that lady the keys!

Twenty-five-year-old Cassie Foster looked for the first time at the man who had been bidding against her for a fairly new John Deere tractor. He hadn’t been standing very far away from her while they had been in a heated game of bidding for this tractor that she wanted so desperately for her grandfather’s farm. He had been the same one that had bid against her for several other pieces of machinery, and even though he hadn’t actually purchased a lot of the things he had bid on, he had made it almost impossible for her to win the game too. She was convinced he had to be in cahoots with the auctioneer just to get the dollar up in a higher price range for everything.

Now as she looked directly at him, he flashed her a big grin and touched the brim of the Western-style Stetson he was wearing in a saluting gesture as if to say, The best man just won. His grin was contagious, and she returned a smile and nodded to let him know she agreed, even though she was doing a slow burn because she had to pay as much as she did for the tractor.

Then she followed the crowd to the next thing that she wanted to purchase since she had accomplished buying the tractor. Her main competitor wasn’t bidding against her this time, but he had stood back and watched her, as she displayed her confidence in what she was doing. When she was satisfied with all that she had acquired for the day and was done with her bidding, she searched out the trailer where the bookkeeper was taking everyone’s money so she could write him a check and now go borrow money for.

But first, she wanted to call her grandfather to let him know what she had just done. He was seventy years old and aging fast since her grandmother had suddenly passed away just a year ago. Cassie had finally talked him into carrying a cell phone, even though it had been against his better judgment, and about the only thing he did with it was answer her calls when she would call to check on him.

Cassie stood to inherit the fifteen-hundred-acre century ranch that had been in the Foster family for generations. She was the only grandchild and the first woman it had been passed on to. Ordinarily, it would have been passed onto her dad, but he had been killed in the line of duty when she was only twelve years old, and her grandparents made it plain they expected her to carry on with the legacy. From that time on, she had spent as much time with them on the farm as she possibly could, and now her granddad had pretty much turned the operation over to her. Even at that, she wasn’t sure she could handle it all by herself and dreaded the day when he passed on. Now today she had blindly purchased her first big piece of equipment by herself. The equipment that her granddad owned was getting old and outdated, and it seemed they were constantly fixing or having to repair everything they tried to work with, so she wanted to start replacing it.

When Cassie finished talking to her granddad, she got in line to pay her bill, and it was then that the person ahead of her turned around and flashed her that same grin she had caught earlier. He had coal black hair that hung down the middle of his back in a fairly long ponytail and almost-black, brown eyes that seemed to snap every time he grinned, and he stood at least six feet or more. His face was slender, his torso bulged in all the right places under his Western-style fitted shirt, and his Wranglers revealed just how his long legs were all toned to match the virility of his whole being. But what really caught her eye—and she hadn’t noticed before—was his skin tone. He had to be Native American, and she guessed him to be about thirty years old or so.

As she inched closer to paying her bill, and dreading every bit of doing so, she was surprised when he turned around again and handed her a business card and stated, Usually, when people buy new equipment, it means they have something older to get rid of. Is that your case?

It took Cassie completely off guard, and she had to actually stop to think about how to answer him. I don’t know if we do or not, she stammered.

Well, if you do, just give me a call. I’m in the business of buying and selling used farming equipment. Okay? His smile was very heartwarming, and she found herself nodding her head in agreement.

On her way home, she called one of the local neighbors who owned and operated semis that could haul grain, livestock, and anything else as needed. He promised that come morning, he would have his trucks waiting for her at the auction site to transport everything home for her. And then she thought about her competitive bidder and how good-looking he was and wondered if he actually was Native American. She pulled his business card out of her shirt pocket and read the name. It was Chad Benson. Nope, he couldn’t be Native American with that name, she thought. But then, she wasn’t just sure what she expected it to be if he was.

It was dusk when she reached her granddad’s farm that lay sprawled out in northern Greene County. As she climbed out of her four-wheel-drive pickup, she couldn’t help but deeply inhale the sweet smell of alfalfa hay that she and her granddad had just cut and raked the day before. She loved the smell of it. When she entered the house, she hollered for her granddad, and he answered her with what she deemed to be a very low, depressed voice. She found him in the living room, just staring at the television without really watching what was on it.

What sounds good for supper? she asked. I haven’t had anything except a hot dog and a cold iced tea all day.

He didn’t give her any satisfaction with an answer, so she went on out to see what she could find in the refrigerator. Her grandmother had been probably one of the best cooks in the county, and Cassie knew her own cooking left a lot to be desired as far as her granddad was concerned. However, she tried to do the best she could. All the time she had spent staying with them, she had concentrated more on the ranching aspect instead of watching her grandmother cook. Now it showed. But every chance she had, Cassie would dig out her grandmother’s old recipes and try her luck at making something new for her one and only guinea pig, Gramps. He was always a good sport about it and would eat it, whether he really approved of it or not, and would always tell her that it was just darned near as good as her grandmother’s. She knew that was his way of saying it was tolerable without wanting to hurt her feelings.

When she had found something for them to eat, she fixed a plate for Gramps and then one for herself. He took it and thanked her for it, but it broke her heart as she watched him eat. He was so depressed and just not his usual bubbly self anymore. He had always been a strong figure in her life, taking the place of her dad. And she knew her dad had gotten his strength of body and mind from this man, who now seemed to be dwindling away right in front of her eyes, and she couldn’t stop it from happening. He had always been interested in everything she did and encouraged her to always try new and better things. But tonight he hadn’t even asked about the new tractor that she was so excited about purchasing.

When morning came, she slipped into a pair of her snug denim shorts and just a tank top, as it was supposed to be hot and humid all day. As usual, she pulled her long brown hair up in a ponytail to get it off her neck. Then she backed her pickup up to a long flatbed trailer so they could go back to the auction site and get her new tractor and everything else she had purchased.

At first, Gramps had declined from going with her, but she finally convinced him that getting out would do him good. During the whole trip, she did most of the talking, trying to tell her granddad all about the new #9330 John Deere tractor.

When they reached the auction site, there were several others there loading up their purchases from the day before. She tried her luck at backing the lowboy trailer up next to the feed bunks she had purchased, and for some dumb reason, she absolutely couldn’t seem to get that feat mastered. Gramps would tell her how to turn the truck steering wheel and everything; but as always, the trailer would go just opposite of where she thought it should, and then she would have to start all over again. Twice, she ended up swinging the back bumper of the pickup into the tongue of the trailer and heard Gramps shouting for her to stop. She always had the same trouble at home when it came to backing up a wagon or hayrack. And usually, she would get so flustered that Gramps would have to end up doing it. Just as she was about to get out and let Gramps do it again, she looked up; and there stood her rival bidder, watching her. Of all people, why did it have to be him?

As she climbed down out of the truck, he started walking toward them, displaying that same wide grin; and it struck her again as to how good-looking he was. When he approached them, he asked if she could use some help, and since she didn’t want to admit defeat to this man, no matter what, her answer to him was no.

Oh! His eyes sparkled. You sure could have fooled me!

Gramps looked at him, then at her, and started laughing as she bit her lip; and for some reason, Cassie didn’t see any humor in it.

By then, Chad Benson was standing right beside her, letting his eyes glide over her five-foot eight-inch, 125-pound Barbie doll figure in an ardent sort of way. I’m sorry for laughing, he apologized. It just brought back memories of when I had to learn. He looked at Gramps, extended his hand for a shake, and then introduced himself. When he did so, he told Gramps that he was a dealer in new and used farming equipment but mainly dealt in cattle. Cassie caught a whiff of his aftershave, which was sending out tantalizing signals to her; and at the same time, she knew he definitely had to have Native American blood.

This is the gentleman that kept bidding against me yesterday, she explained to Gramps as he accepted the handshake.

Ohh, I see! Gramps smiled and then told Chad his name. I’m assuming you already know my granddaughter?

Well, no, we haven’t been officially introduced, Chad answered, as once again, he cast an admiring eye over Cassie, making her feel extremely uncomfortable.

Trying to ignore him and the feeling, Cassie looked at Gramps and stated, I think we had better get these bunks loaded! It’s time for the semis to get here.

Once again, Chad volunteered, and Gramps agreed to it. So reluctantly, she moved out of the way. She watched as Chad made only one hitch at backing the trailer up to the bunks, making it look so easy; and for some reason, it frustrated her. To make it worse, by then, the two eighteen-wheelers were arriving to load up the equipment she had purchased, and it was up to her to get the tractor to where they were parking along the road.

When she climbed up in the cab of the humongous machine, she felt like a complete imbecile. It had so many gadgets and gauges; she didn’t know where to even begin with it. As she sat down in the seat, she wished that she had done a better job of looking at it before purchasing it. She thought it had been just what she wanted, but now she was halfway scared of it, fearing it would take off with her like some freakish movie scene the instant she tried to start it. Why did Chad have to be standing there, watching her?

While she sat there scoping everything that surrounded her, Chad climbed up and opened the cab door and stepped in with her. It’s quite a machine, isn’t it? he stated as he sat down on the lid of the big toolbox inside the cab. When she nodded, he asked, Do you need some instructions?

You know how to operate this thing? She shot a quizzing glance at him.

He just smiled and replied, I’ve been in one a couple of times.

I don’t see a manual with it, she uttered with disgust. I thought they said it would be in it.

He stood up and muffled a grin. I believe it’s right in here. He opened the lid to the toolbox he had been sitting on and reached in and pulled out such a big thick manual that Cassie gasped. Yep! Right here it is! He grinned as he handed it to her and sat back down.

It would take her all day to go through it, and right now, she just needed to know how to start this darned thing to get it up on the semi. What had she been thinking?

He sat there waiting for her to do something; and when she didn’t, he began pointing things out to her, working his way around the inside of the cab, until he reached where to put the key.

So are you ready? he asked when he was done explaining things.

She gave him a tortuous smile and then started the enormous machine up, feeling so overpowered by it all. Slowly, she put it in gear and inched it forward to the semitrailer and very carefully lined the duel tires up with the tracking ramp, then drove it up on the flatbed.

All the anxiety she was feeling came out in one big sigh of relief when she shut the gigantic machine off. Chad just grinned and gave her a high five, and then he climbed down and offered his hands to help her down the small steps to the ground. She gladly accepted as she wasn’t sure her rubbery legs were going to hold her like they should.

Thanks. She cast a sheepish smile up at him as he let go of her.

I’m just glad I happened to be here to help, he quietly replied. Then he asked, Do you still have my card? When she nodded, he looked at Gramps and stated, I told her that if you had any old machinery you wanted to get rid of, I would like to take a look at it and make an offer.

Gramps thought a minute and then said, I’m sure we have a few things. Why don’t you give him your name and phone number or address so when he’s in our part of the country, he can stop in and look at what we have, he told Cassie.

But I didn’t think we wanted to get rid of anything right now. She frowned.

Maybe I’ve changed my mind. Gramps grinned.

So puzzled with Gramps’s response, she wrote her name, phone number, and address on the back of a business card that Chad handed her. Then he left to go finish loading his own things while she and Gramps watched the two truckers tie the big machine down with heavy chains and get the rest of her purchases loaded.

As they traveled toward home, Cassie kept thinking about Chad and the way he had helped her, the way he looked at her, and the warm steady grip of his hands as he held hers. Finally, she asked Gramps, Why were you so eager for me to give him our name and address?

Oh. Gramps just smiled. I figured he might want to use it someday. Then he got a smug look on his face and commented, He was a good-looking young buck. Don’t you think?

Cassie really frowned. I hadn’t noticed!

Gramps started chuckling. Don’t try to fool your old granddad, young lady. I saw the way you two looked at each other. I know a spark of love when I see it. I haven’t forgotten what it was like when I laid eyes on your grandmother the first time.

Cassie sputtered, You have got to be the silliest man I know!

You just mark my word. He will be calling on you before the week is up, Gramps replied.

Okay, the bet’s on. She grinned. How much do you want to bet on it?