The Rancher's First Love by Brenda Minton Read Free Book Online Page A

Dr. Jackson moved in to share a few words. And then they called Remington forward.
    â€œWill you pray?” Dr. Jackson asked. “I’d like to send you all home with the best support system available.”
    Rem agreed. They could all use a guiding hand in this situation. “Of course I’ll pray.”
    His gaze strayed in Samantha’s direction. She looked away. But he saw the flicker of doubt, the anger. He hadn’t expected that.
    He bowed his head and prayed. For strength, for healing, for peace. He prayed for a special blessing on the staff that gave such great care to these children.
    After he ended the prayer, he glanced her way again. Sam’s blue eyes were on him, full of questions. He had answers, but he doubted she really wanted to hear them. Not yet anyway.
    He met her clear blue gaze. She raised her chin a notch and walked away, back to the hospital. He told himself not to take it too personally, but he did. He’d never expected this reaction to his decision to go into ministry. He’d dated a woman who didn’t like that she sometimes had to share him with others. He’d dated another woman who had finally admitted she just couldn’t be the wife of a pastor.
    â€œTime to go,” he said to no one in particular.
    â€œTime to go,” Parker echoed as Remington got behind the wheel.
    Remington glanced in the rearview mirror and made eye contact with the little boy. He saw a flash of nervousness before Parker smiled, pretending everything was okay. Going home was a big deal. After months in the hospital, he was headed for a new life, new obstacles. Parker would make it, but no one could blame him for being lost and more than a little apprehensive.
    It took twenty minutes to reach the Rocking J. The ranch had a long rutted dirt driveway. On each side of that driveway the ranch spilled out as far as the eye could see. It was Texas Hill Country, so the terrain was rugged and a good portion of the thousand-acre ranch was hilly with clear creeks and plenty of trees. It was about the prettiest place Remington knew.
    â€œThis is a ranch!” Parker exclaimed from the backseat. “I’m going to live on a real ranch.”
    â€œYes, sir, you are,” Gus answered. “We’ll make sure you have a few cows of your own so you can start your own herd. Rem started his own herd that way. He has one here and one on his folks’ place.”
    â€œI’ll have my own cows?” Parker whistled. “And a horse?”
    â€œOne thing at a time, Parker.” His grandmother brought him back down to earth. “Let’s focus on you getting better.”
    â€œI’m better, Granny. I am. I can feel my toes sometimes and Dr. Jackson said someday I might be able to use crutches. He said not real good. But maybe a little.”
    Remington glanced in the rearview mirror and caught the look on his aunt’s face. She was nervous. She wanted the best for Parker. She also didn’t want him to get his hopes up. His spinal injury had been in the lower portion of his back.
    â€œHere we are.” He pulled up to the two-story farmhouse with a newly built ramp.
    â€œWow, is this house really old?” Parker had the door open and was peering out at the land around him.
    â€œIt’s not that old,” Gus responded. “The original house got hit by a tornado thirty years ago and we rebuilt.”
    Remington left them to discuss the ranch. He retrieved Parker’s wheelchair from the trunk and had it out and ready when Gus picked up the boy and settled him in the seat. Parker was still talking.
    â€œDo you think Nurse Sam lives on a ranch like this?” he asked.
    Gus shot Remington a look, a grin hidden behind his bushy mustache.
    â€œYeah, but bigger,” Remington responded. He pushed the wheelchair toward the ramp but Parker took over, his hands on the wheels pushing hard. Remington let him go.
    â€œYou’ve seen where she