Free The Rancher's Family Wish by Lois Richer

Milk. That was an okay choice, surely? He chose two gallon jugs, then added a couple of pounds of butter. Everyone used butter, didn’t they?
    Tanner made several trips around the produce section before he came to a decision. Fruit was good for kids. He grabbed a big watermelon, two bags of grapes and three packs of strawberries. He thought only a moment before adding a pail of ice cream. Maybe Sophie would use it for one of her yummy desserts.
    Stuff for a salad seemed a healthy idea, so Tanner added fresh vegetables. Sliced salami beckoned and he paired it with a package of sliced ham, just in case she didn’t have enough meat to put on the pizza. He selected the largest onion he could find just to tease Davy, then added his crowning achievement—three pounds of freshly ground coffee.
    Please, Lord, let her make that fantastic coffee again , Tanner prayed silently. He had to go back to get some cream, stomach growling at the thought of homemade pizza and Sophie’s delicious coffee laced with cream. It was going to be a good evening.
    Unable to think of anything else, he walked to the checkout.
    “Stocking up, huh?” The clerk raised her eyebrows as she checked him out. “No doughnuts today?”
    “Nope.” Tanner almost burst out laughing at her surprise. “But I will take this.” This was a pack of candy bars, Davy’s favorites. The boy had enthused over them for twenty minutes yesterday. “These mints.” For Beth. “And this.”
    There wasn’t anything wrong with taking some flowers to his hostess, was there?
    Tanner loaded the bags in his truck while noting the presence of the homeless man in the same place he’d seen him last time. He thought for a moment, returned to the store and purchased a container of soup from the snack bar, a thick ham sandwich and a bottle of icy lemonade. He tucked another ten-dollar bill into the sandwich bag before carrying them outside.
    “Hi. I just bought my dinner but it seems I’ve been invited out and won’t need it. Interested?” He held out the items and waited until the man stood. “I’m Tanner Johns.”
    “The doughnut guy.” The man nodded. “I’m Tom. Tom Parker.” He peeked in the bag. “I’m not a street person.”
    “Doesn’t matter to me, man. It’s just—I used to live on the streets and old habits die hard.”
    “Yes, but—”
    “Wasting a fresh meal seems silly if someone else can enjoy it.” Tanner somehow felt it was best not to push for answers just yet. “Still got my card?” When Tom nodded, he said, “Call me if you want. The job offer still stands.”
    “I can’t work—” Tom paused. The pain in his eyes made Tanner want to offer a way for him to avoid explaining. “Not yet anyway.”
    “I’m sorry, Tom. Listen, I want to talk to you but I can’t stick around now or I’ll be late, and trust me, there’s no way I want to make this lady wait.” How could he keep this connection going? “Maybe next time you and I meet we could go for coffee at that ice-cream place? I need an excuse to visit there.”
    After some hesitation Tom nodded. “Sure. Okay. If we meet again.”
    “We will.” The two words slipped out.
    “How do you know that?” Tom asked curiously.
    “Because I believe in God and He works all things together.” Tanner grinned. “Be seeing you, Tom.” He swung into his truck and headed for Sophie’s. “What do You want me to do about him?” he prayed aloud, but for the moment God wasn’t explaining. That was okay. Tanner was learning to wait for God’s direction, just like Burt had tried to teach him.
    It was only as Tanner pulled into the Armstrong driveway that he started wondering if he’d bought too many things. Sophie certainly seemed to think so when he handed her the flowers, then asked Davy and Beth to help him carry the rest inside.
    “Thank you but—what is all of this?” Sophie’s dark eyes stretched wide as they plunked bag after bag on the counter. She looked really pretty in a