Free The Rancher and the Runaway Bride Part 1 by Susan Mallery

older.”
    “Rio.” The postcard showed a stunning aerial view of the city from the top of Corcovado Mountain. The shadow cast by the famous Christ the Redeemer statue was in the foreground.
    “You can read what they wrote. Like I said, my folks are a little odd, but nice people.”
    She turned over the postcard and held it up to the light.
    * * *
    We love Rio. Wonderful food, friendly people. Lots of stray cats, which makes us think Princess would enjoy it, too. I wanted to send you a postcard of the topless girls on the beaches, but your father got embarrassed at the gift shop so I couldn’t buy it. We are having a wonderful time, and we miss you and love you very much.
    “They sound terrific,” she said. “Are you disappointed about the postcard?”
    He chuckled. “Knowing Mom, she’ll find a way to buy one without my dad finding out. At least the mail carrier is an old friend and I won’t have to do any explaining.”
    She handed him the postcard and wished her mother had been half as affectionate. While her father had obviously loved and cared for his children, he’d been gone a lot. Her mother had been the one at home, and the one to find fault all the time.
    “I envy you them,” she said lightly, hoping he didn’t hear the loneliness in her voice. It wasn’t that she missed what she had, but instead she felt a sense of loss for the potential of what should have been.

    “Does your family know where you are?” he asked.
    She stared at him.
    Brady shrugged and tucked the postcard into his shirt pocket. “That first night you mentioned a brother, so you must have some family.”
    She thought about changing the subject, then figured she owed Brady better than that. “Noah knows that I’m safe. I called him. But no, he doesn’t have any specific information on my whereabouts. I’m sure he passed the information along to my mother. She’s not someone I’m anxious to have a conversation with right now.” There was an understatement. When Randi thought about the spoiled wedding, the scuttled plans for the reception, the wasted food, she cringed.
    “I’m not ready to be in contact with them,” she continued. “I have a few things to work out.”
    “The ranch is a good place to do that,” he told her. “When I need to think things through, I get on one of the horses and ride. Speaking of which, if you want to explore the ranch, go ahead. I saw you on Casper and you know what you’re doing. Any of the horses that aren’t being worked need the exercise, anyway, so help yourself.”
    “Thanks. I might do that.” She paused, wondering if he was judging her. “It’s not as bad you think,” she added, even as she told herself it was too late, not to mention futile, to try to tip the scales in her favor. “My being on my own. I just—”
    “Rita, you don’t have to explain,” he interrupted gently. “People get into different situations, and sometimes they need to take a break from that. My only assumptions about you are based on the job you’re doing right here, the same as the rest of the guys. Everyone has secrets. As long as yours don’t get in the way of the work getting done, you’re welcome to them.”
    He was right about everyone having secrets. What were his?
    She reminded herself she didn’t have the right to ask. Besides, there was no way his were as bad as hers.
    In the distance night creatures called to one another. “I’ve seen the topographic maps in the barn,” she said. “The ranch goes on for miles. You ever get lost out there?”
    “Not since I was a kid. I used to camp out in the summer. Eventually I would find my way home, or one of the cowboys would come after me. I like it out here.”
    “It’s different from anything I’m used to,” she said. “The landscape’s forbidding.”
    He leaned against the railing and angled toward her. “ Barren is the word you’re looking for. West Texas isn’t exactly the breadbasket of the world. It was the last part of