Free The Rancher's Daughter by Pamela Ladner Page A

hand on her back guided her to her horse and helped her mount up.  They rode back in silence.  Josey and J.W had never been much for words.  They had always been quiet when something was bothering them.  
                  He would ask her about it later.  He couldn’t let her go through life constantly sending the man she loved away.  He knew about the fight they’d had all those years ago.  He had been there in the shadows.  It had nearly destroyed him when he’d heard that she was pregnant.  He’d been furious at first, but then he saw the grief on his daughters face and he’d never brought it up.  He’d never even spoke a word about it to Hilary. 
                  He felt like a failure as a father, but now he realized it had never been about his failings as a father.  It had been two people who were in love and didn’t know how to control their urges.  He’d been that way with Hilary even though he was a grown man and a father.
      She was going to have to learn how to grit her teeth and ask for forgiveness.  Heath was gone but he wasn’t lost.  She could get him back if she tried.  It had always been hard for him to admit his faults and Josey had taken that after him. If you really loved someone, you worked at that relationship.  She had to learn that. 
     
                 

Chapter Twelve
     
                  Heath stayed the night at the only hotel in town.  He couldn’t get Josey off his mind.  It was obvious she didn’t want him but that didn’t stop him from wanting her.  He took the picture he carried out of his wallet and looked at it.  He sat on the edge of the bed and ran his hand through his hair then crumbled the picture up in his hand. 
                  He threw it across the room then for good measure he started throwing everything he could pick up.  He fell to his knees with his head in his hands and asked God why.  Why did the woman he love not want him?  Why couldn’t they just be happy together?  He punched the floor then got up and pulled a tiny bottle of whiskey out of the small refrigerator then downed it.  He wanted to get drunk and forget about her so he drank the little bottles of whiskey one by one until they were gone.  When there was no more left, he drug his self out the door to the bar across the street. 
                  Several ranch hands played pool in the corner and women with shorts up to their butts, their navels shining and wearing boots hung all over them.  He walked to the bar and plopped himself down on a stool and ordered some more whiskey.  One of the girls made her way over to him, “Hey cowboy, how about you buy me a beer?”  She said in the sexiest voice she could conjure up.  Heath was not in the mood though and  he told her to “Get lost!” 
                  He sat there drinking all night.  He had no idea how he got to the hotel room but he was there when he awoke the next morning.  He drug himself out of the bed and headed to the bathroom.  He needed a shower and some Tylenol. 
                  He propped his head against the shower wall letting the water hit him in the face.  He had no idea how long he stood there.  He got out once the water turned cold and he began to shiver.  He wrapped the towel around his waist and stood in front of the mirror.  He braced himself on the counter with his hands.  He stood there staring at himself, hating himself for not being strong enough to withstand the heartbreak.  He saw the picture behind him on the floor.  He turned from the mirror and picked it up.  He unfolded the picture and stared at it.  He would always love the woman who smiled at him in the picture.  He picked up his wallet off the nightstand, replaced the picture, and set it to the side. 
                  He quickly dried himself off and put on his clothes.  He brushed his teeth making sure to get rid of the