Chapter 2
The Stanger family ranch was a cozy place. It was the kind of home that looked like the ones in the Christmas catalogs that made you remember what it meant to be a family. Mr. and Mrs. Stanger had been together for decades and reminded Kate of her own parents.
It was nice to see that Bruce came from such a loving home. Kate was sure he would model his own home after all of the love and affection it seemed that he grew up with.
Mrs. Stanger was the consummate hostess as she always served wonderful food and drinks whenever Bruce brought Kate to the ranch. It was also wonderful to see Bruce’s face light up when he was around his parents. He was completely in his element when he was there with them. Seeing him on the ranch, Kate was able to view Bruce in a different way. His laugh was more hearty and he was way more relaxed. It was as if when he was at the ranch, he gave in to the side of him that liked to take things slow.
In the city, he was accomplished, a strong businessman who knew the boardroom and how to work a client. At the ranch, he was a family man who worked the land. Seeing him with his boots and his jeans as he cleaned the pens and groomed horses helped Kate to learn more about who Bruce really was as a man.
She loved both sides of him. After all, no one was one dimensional. It was rare that one got the opportunity to learn everything about the person he or she loved. And here was Kate, able to see Bruce for who he truly was. A simple man that loved nature and loved his family.
Kate made a mental note to call her own parents and plan a time when she and Bruce could go and visit. They knew that she was dating someone seriously, but she had not yet brought him around to meet her parents, she wanted to make sure that when she introduced Bruce to her parents, that everything was right in her relationship with Bruce and they were committed.
That time would definitely be now.
Bruce had brought her to the ranch several times. He was completely comfortable with her being around his family and she wanted him to experience the same.
She barely knocked at the door before Mrs. Stanger swung the door open.
“Kate, darling, there you are. We were just talking about you.” Mrs. Stanger met Kate with a warm embrace. The woman smelled like freshly baked cookies.
“All good I hope,” Kate replied.
“Most definitely,” Mr. Stanger commented as he approached the foyer. “We were just saying that we wondered how Bruce lucked out and found such a wonderful woman like you.”
Mrs. Stanger gave her husband a light pat on his arm. “He’s just joking,” she said in reference to her other half.
“Come on in, Kate. Dinner is ready.”
Whatever was for dinner smelled divine and just that moment, Kate’s stomach began growling.
Mr. Stanger led her in to the living room. “Bruce is outside at the stables. I should go and get him.”
“Maybe I could go and get him.”
Bruce’s parents looked confused about Kate’s offer.
“Well now, you can’t go out there in those shoes.” Mrs. Stanger pointed to Kate’s designer pumps.
Kate had not thought about that when she offered to go and get Bruce from the stables for dinner.
“I have a little something you can wear outside. You look to be about a size seven like myself.” Mrs. Stanger smiled.
“Actually I am. Thank you.”
Bruce’s mother disappeared down the hallway and came back shortly with a pair of what looked like rain boots.
“These are what you need to walk out to the stables.”
“Thank you. I will remember to bring some out here the next time.”
Mrs. Stanger smiled. “Let him know that dinner is ready and we will be ready to eat within the next thirty minutes.”
She pointed Kate in the direction of the stables. The hike down hill made her appreciate the fact that Mrs. Stanger gave her the boots to wear. The soft soil under her feet would not have been the place for her to wear six inch heels.
In the distance, she could see Bruce walking one of the horses around the corral.
“What a great surprise.” He tipped his hat to her as she approached.
Kate tried to walk on her tip toes to make sure she was treading lightly to her destination.
“I thought that I would not let you corner the market on surprises. This city girl can get down and dirty with the best of them.”
Kate watched as Bruce ran the large bristled brush over the horse’s coat. He was so gentle with the animal, such a beautiful sight to see.
“If you say so, love. Why don’t you come on over here? Have you ever ridden a horse before?”
She shook her head. “No. I can’t say that I have.”
Bruce beckoned for her. “You can come closer.”
“I’m not sure about that.” Kate nodded in the direction of the horse.
“Paddington is a calm soul.”
“Paddington? You mean like the bear?”
“Yes, like the bear. Now come on over here. I promise I won’t let him hurt you.”
Kate inched closer to where Bruce stood. She moved slowly, not wanting to make any sudden movements that would scare the horse.
She took Bruce by the hand and stepped closer to the horse. Bruce took her hand and helped her come even closer to the animal. He instructed her to hold her hand out slowly. When she did, she began to feel more comfortable being in such close proximity to the animal.
She eventually touched his soft hair, running her hands through the horse’s mane.
“This is not bad.”
“Not at all. One day, I will get you to ride.”
“I would love that.”
“Let’s get Paddington back to the stables. I’m sure that Mother has dinner ready.”
“As a matter of fact, she does. That’s why I came out here.”
Bruce chuckled. “So you did not come out here for my winning smile and my stellar attitude?”