“Well, don’t that beat all,” Ricky said. “She’s a right pretty woman, if a man can say that about his own granddaughter. Smart, too.” Then he looked Ty up and down. “I know I’m supposed to ask a man about his intentions toward my granddaughter, but I reckon I’ve known you long enough to know you’d do right by her. So what are you telling me for?”
Something about Ricky’s words made Ty feel foolish for even bringing it up. “I guess, after what just happened in the barn, it occurred to me that it might be considered a conflict of interest to be involved with the boss’s granddaughter. I wouldn’t want to cause any trouble for you.”
Ricky snorted. “We both know that what happened in the barn wasn’t about falling in love. It was about a young man sowing his wild oats in the wrong field. It would make me the happiest man on earth to see you settled down with a good woman. For Rachel to have a man like you, that just doubles my happiness. When’s the wedding?”
Maybe Ty had been a little too hasty in saying anything to Ricky. He should have known that would have been the older man’s first question.
“Rachel and I both agreed that her health must come first.”
Ricky nodded. “Is there any progress on finding her a donor?”
Though Ty hadn’t wanted to get Rachel’s hopes up, he knew that Ricky expected him to tell him everything. It seemed weird, keeping the information from her, but Ricky expected him to do everything in his power to make sure Rachel got a kidney.
“I’m going to get tested,” Ty said.
He wasn’t sure what kind of reaction he would get from Ricky, but a cackle wasn’t one of them.
“You do love her,” Ricky said. “I know how scared of needles you are. You turn white every time I mention you donating. Don’t think I haven’t forgotten the time we had that blood drive in town, and you took one look at the needle and fainted.”
Ricky would bring up that moment of humiliation. But at least now he knew the older man understood what a big deal this was. He’d thought Ricky had been disappointed in him for not wanting to donate, but maybe it was just Ty being disappointed in himself.
“Rachel has a doctor’s appointment tomorrow,” Ricky said. “Wanda said she was feeling poorly earlier, so you could offer to drive Rachel into Denver, and while she’s at her appointment, you could talk to the donor people about being tested.”
It seemed like a simple solution, especially because it would give him the perfect excuse for being at the hospital without arousing Rachel’s suspicion.
“Good idea,” Ty said. As they rounded the bend, he caught a glimpse of the ranch house, or more specifically, Rachel’s window. The light was out, which meant she was probably asleep.
“Just don’t say anything to her. I don’t want to get her hopes up. We’ve had too many potential donors not work out.”
At breakfast the next morning, Rachel was surprised to find Ty in the kitchen. He was usually off checking on ranch business by the time she got up.
But the smile he gave her when she walked in the kitchen made her realize he’d stayed behind purposely to see her.
Was this giddy feeling in her stomach what it meant to be really, truly falling for somebody?
She’d thought that what she’d felt for Chris had been love, but she’d never felt so happy to see his face as she was to see Ty standing in the kitchen, a cup of coffee in his hand, a smile lighting his eyes.
Closing her eyes briefly, she sent a silent prayer heavenward that there would be many more mornings just like this.
“Good morning,” Ty said, giving her a brief hug. “I was thinking I’d drive you to Denver for your appointment today.”
That momentary touch reminded her that the previous evening on the swing hadn’t been a dream.
It was real.
“I hate to take you from your work,” Rachel said, wishing she didn’t sound so needy. Truth be told, she would like him to take her to her appointment. If only to have more precious moments with him.
He pulled her in close and kissed the side of her head. “I have business in town. Besides, I’d like to have some time alone with you.”
Wow.
For the first time she could sense deep within that she wasn’t a burden. All her life she’d wanted someone who didn’t see her as an obligation, someone who truly wanted her.
Surely, if God could answer such big prayers for things she’d desired her whole life but been afraid to express, He would find a way to let her live.
“I’d like that, too,” Rachel said, snuggling into him and breathing in his warm scent.
They talked the entire drive, and while none of their conversation seemed significant, what was significant was how Rachel’s feeling of being fully accepted by Ty had grown. When they arrived in town, they still had an hour and a half before her appointment.
“Since we have time, could we stop by my office?” Rachel asked. “I don’t have any pressing business, but it would be nice to say hi to everyone.”
“Sure,” Ty said. “I was going to suggest having a late breakfast or early lunch, but I’m not that hungry.”
She wasn’t hungry, either. The joy that filled her heart was better than any meal.
He turned off the highway and onto the road leading to her office.
“How did you know where to turn?” she asked. “I don’t remember you coming down here before.”
He shrugged. “I know the address.”
It felt like he was hiding something from her. But that was probably a remnant of her past speaking, and the old fear of not being loved.
When they entered the building, Ty gestured at the coffee shop on the main floor. “I’ll just be in there while you get your business done. Don’t rush on my account. As long as we get to your appointment in
