The Cowboy Meets His Match (Fatherhood) Read online

  “Thursday.”

  “Good, good. I paid a pretty penny for him, let me tell you.”

  “Erin gave him her seal of approval.”

  Jake grunted. That sounded just like her. And she probably thought he would be pleased that she’d given it. Without meaning to, he smiled. “You think that’s a problem?”

  “No,” Jonah said, raising his eyes to Jake. “The problem is that you didn’t tell her you were leaving.”

  “I did, too.”

  Jonah’s gaze didn’t waver. “She left early that day before the hayrack ride, when you told the rest of us. I guess we never thought to mention it to her. I figured you’d told her yourself.”

  “Damn.” He really had screwed up.

  “The sale supposedly closed on Tuesday, so when you weren’t back by Wednesday evening, she asked if I knew why you were late.” Jonah rubbed his forehead with his thumb. “I told her you were going to Arizona to see a friend and you’d be back yesterday or today. That’s what you told us.”

  Jake nodded. He should have made sure she knew, but it had been crazy that week before the hayrack ride. He’d had arrangements to make for a place to stay in Wichita Falls and phone calls to make to line up transportation for anything he bought there. At the last minute, he’d decided to drive to Flagstaff to see an old friend.

  And then along came the hayrack ride, and he’d been so wrapped up in her after that kiss and the ones that followed, that he forgot to mention the trip. All he could think about as he drove those long hours had been Erin and how one small step had become a big one. The one he would now admit that he’d been hoping for since the day he’d heard his uncle had died and he would be going back to Desperation, although he hadn’t expected to see her.

  “I’ll talk to her when she gets here on Monday,” he told Jonah.

  “You’ll be lucky if she listens,” Jonah replied, and took a drink of the orange juice. “She’s one mad woman right now. I can’t say that I blame her.”

  Jake took the words to heart and wondered just how bad he’d blown it. “I suppose she has the right to be,” he conceded.

  “You really want to hook up with her, don’t you?”

  Stunned by the question, all Jake could do was look at the boy. Just how much should he admit? “Since I was fifteen.”

  Jonah’s mouth dropped open. “That long?”

  Jake lifted a shoulder. “We’ve known each other since we were kids. Every summer, since I was eight and she was six, I stayed with my uncle, until I went off to college.”

  “And you still couldn’t hook up with her?”

  Jake’s mind flashed back to those last two or three summers. “We did. Sort of.”

  Sort of? That put it a bit mildly. That last summer, they’d endured daily teasing from her brothers. And then in the fall, at Thanksgiving time, he’d returned, still in love with her but knowing it wouldn’t work out for them. And he hadn’t known how to tell her. When he did—

  He shook the memory from his head. “It’s almost like starting over again,” he said, not realizing he said it aloud.

  “You know, Jake, it wouldn’t be as hard as you think to pick up where you left off.”

  Jake’s focus zeroed in on Jonah. “Do you know something I don’t?”

  Sighing, Jonah shook his head. “But I know she’s into you. Everybody can see that.”

  Jake’s interest shot up. “Yeah?”

  Jonah nodded with a smile. “The other guys and I were talking about it the other day.” Jake groaned, but Jonah continued. “I saw it that first day,” he added with a smug smile. “To tell the truth, if I were you, I’d feel the same way. She’s something else.”

  Jake couldn’t deny it. “Yeah, she is, but she’s a little old for you,” he said with a chuckle. “But that doesn’t solve the problem.” Moving away from the counter, he tried to clear his tired mind. He could wait until Monday, but if she was as mad as Jonah said, he might want to talk to her sooner.

  “You go on to bed,” he told Jonah, “and I’ll sleep on it. I’ll check on her tomorrow and see if I can smooth things over.”

  Lord, he hoped he could.

  The next morning, he and Jonah finished the few chores that needed to be done in record time, and he set off for the Walker ranch.

  As soon as he arrived, he noticed her RV, parked near the line of trees that separated the two properties. As he started to walk around it, he heard a female voice in the distance, coming from the vicinity of the barn. The whinny of a horse followed, answered by a shout of “No! This way.” Smiling, he stayed back, watching from the side of a newer outbuilding next to the barn. From there, he had a prime spot to watch her and hear what she said to her horse. And she had plenty to say.

  “Look, Duff, it’s easy,” she said from her saddle. Turning the horse back to the start of the barrels that were set up in the corral, she kept talking. “It’s right, left, then left again to the homestretch. What’s so hard about that?”

  He heard the frustration in her voice and wished he could help, but although he’d watched barrel racing, he didn’t know enough to give her any tips—if she would even listen to him, and he doubted she would.

  Seated in the saddle like the pro she was, she backed MacDuff to what must have been the starting line. She leaned forward, giving him a double kick, and off they went, dust swirling around the ground beneath them.

  The first barrel seemed to go well, as she and MacDuff rounded it to head for barrel two. Jake watched as the horse hesitated but kept going. At the third barrel, the horse started to go right. Erin tried to urge him left, but the horse wouldn’t stand for it. She allowed him to go his way, and then pulled up as soon as the turn had been made.

  “Stupid horse!” she shouted, swinging her leg over the saddle and sliding to the ground. “Don’t you know your right from your left?”

  Jake had never heard her talk to an animal that way. Erin had always kept her emotions in check during training or practice.

  Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Dylan walking across the ranch yard, shaking his head. “Patience, Erin,” he said when he came close enough to be heard. “Isn’t that what you always told us?”

  Even from a distance, Jake could see the killer look she gave her brother. “I’m all out of patience with this mule-headed animal. He’s worthless.”

  Dylan stopped at the fence and propped his folded arms on the top rail. “Stop expecting him to be like Firewind.”

  Walking toward her brother, the horse left behind, she pulled off her hat and slammed it against her thigh. “I don’t. But if I did, he wouldn’t measure up. He’s not even close to what Firewind was, and he never will be.”

  “It’s all in your head,” Dylan said. “Firewind was just as green as MacDuff is when you got him. Be patient.”

  “I don’t have time.”

  Detecting a hoarseness in her voice, Jake felt a pain in his chest. That particular sound was a sure sign tears were about to spill. And then it hit him that she seemed to have some kind of deadline. Did she plan to go back to the circuit?

  “Hey, Jake!” Dylan shouted, waving.

  Wishing he hadn’t been seen until he could make sense of what he’d heard, Jake halfheartedly lifted a hand in greeting. The deep frown on Erin’s face, as she looked in his direction and slammed her hat back on her head, told him all he needed to know. She didn’t like that he’d been watching her. Add that to her anger that he hadn’t told her about the longer trip, and he was in over his head.

  Moving from his spot, he soon joined them but turned his attention to Dylan. “I came by to see you about some ranching business, but when I saw Erin, I stayed back. No sense spooking her or MacDuff.” It sounded legitimate to him, but the soft snort from Erin said she didn’t believe it.

  “Come on up to
the house,” Dylan said, backing away from the fence. “You know how Erin doesn’t like an audience while she’s practicing.”

  “Practicing?” Erin asked, the word dripping with sarcasm. “Trying to teach a dumb animal is more like it.”

  Jake looked her in the eye. “Patience isn’t one of your virtues today, is it?”

  Eyes narrowing, her chest rose with a deep breath, but instead of answering, she spun on her heel and walked away, her back ramrod straight.

  “Not exactly the best thing to say to her right now,” Dylan said, keeping his voice low.

  “You know as well as I do that sometimes she needs to get mad to get her moving in the right direction and do what needs doing.”

  Dylan turned to look at him. “Yeah, but there’s something different this time.”

  That got his attention. “What kind of something?”

  “I’m not sure,” Dylan said, shaking his head. “I saw her come home early from your place on Friday, after the hayrack ride and— Say, you didn’t miss that, did you?”

  “No, I didn’t miss it. Nice night,” Jake answered. Not that he would give any details, or even the fact that he’d shared the ride with Erin. “But there’s been a little misunderstanding where your sister is concerned. You remember how those were.”

  Chuckling, Dylan slapped his back. “How could I forget them? You two were always at each other about something or other. I’d kind of hoped that had ended when she took the job at your ranch.”

  “It’s gotten better,” Jake admitted. “I get the feeling that she likes the job. I give her as much free rein as I can, and she’s doing a great job. But once in a while... Let’s just say we disagree.”

  “That’s a good way to put it.”

  Relieved that he’d gotten away without revealing anything, they spent the next twenty minutes talking about ranching. When they were done, with a promise from Dylan to return the visit in the near future and permission to swim in the pond at any time, Jake started for home. Seeing that Erin had returned to the training, he was tempted to avoid the corral. But he owed her an apology for leaving her out of the loop about the trip. Whether she accepted it or not, he still needed to explain.

  And he still felt a little shaken about her comment that she didn’t have time. Her dark mood could mean many things, and he hoped it wasn’t about a plan to return to barrel racing. He wanted her to stay. He wanted to make up for what had happened between them, but he wondered if it would ever be possible.

  “Is it going any better?” he asked.

  “Not much,” she answered, on her horse again.

  “Do you have a minute?”

  “That’s about all I have,” she said, but didn’t move.

  He had no choice but to jump right in and say what needed to be said. “I didn’t realize you weren’t aware that I planned to go to Flagstaff. I didn’t decide until Friday afternoon, after you’d left to help out with the hayrack ride and—”

  “You had plenty of time to tell me that night.”

  He couldn’t deny it. “I guess I was busy with something more important,” he said. He saw her face flush, and he hid his smile. “I’m sorry I forgot to tell you.”

  “All right.”

  “Does that mean I’m forgiven?”

  “Yes, I guess it does.”

  “I won’t forget again.”

  With a nod and a brief smile, she gave MacDuff a nudge, and they rode away. At least, he thought, she understood. And he sure as hell wouldn’t repeat the mistake.

  * * *

  ERIN STEPPED OUT of her motor home to find Sollie waiting by her steps. “Did Jake send you to get me?” she asked, scratching the spot between the dog’s ears. “He doesn’t need to, you know. I don’t have a choice. It’s either work and earn the money I need, or be at my brothers’ mercy. I’d rather work, even if it means seeing your master every day.”

  Sollie’s answer was the rapid shake of his tail, complete with lolling tongue. Laughing, Erin snapped her fingers at him, and they started on their way to the ranch. “Monday and the start of my fourth week. He’s a pretty good boss. Imagine that.”

  When they reached the ranch, Sollie ran off and she saw Jonah coming out of the bunkhouse.

  “Hey, Erin,” he greeted her. “You’re here early.”

  “Trying to impress the boss,” she joked. “Are you up for some real work today?”

  He looked at her as if he hadn’t heard right. “Yeah.”

  Nodding, she smiled at him. “Jake mentioned that there are some cattle in the west pasture that need to be put with the rest of the herd, and he thought you might like to help me bring them up.”

  “When do we start?”

  “As soon as he gives us the okay, and hopefully before it gets too hot.” Shading her eyes, she looked toward the house and saw Jake coming down the back steps, a cup in his hand. “Here he comes. Now, don’t act too excited. Sometimes he can be a real killjoy.”

  “Good morning, you two,” Jake hailed them, raising his cup high. “There’s coffee and some of Ada Sterling’s cinnamon rolls on the porch, if you want some.”

  As soon as Erin realized what he’d said, she sprinted over to him and grabbed his arm, causing him to slosh coffee over the side of his cup. “I’m sorry,” she said, but forgot about it immediately. “Ada’s cinnamon rolls? Jake, they’re heavenly!”

  “They sure are,” he said with a wide grin.

  “That’s who you need to hire to cook,” she blurted.

  “Is that so?”

  Excited at the thought of having Ada cook for them, she could hardly stand still, then noticed she hadn’t let go of Jake’s arm. Releasing him, she stepped back. “Yes, it is. You can’t go wrong with Ada. She’s one of the best in the county. Probably the whole state.”

  Jake glanced down, then up again, wearing a frown. “Maybe you should be the one to talk to her.”

  “I suppose I could, but—” She saw a flash of something in his eyes and couldn’t contain her excitement. “She’s here, isn’t she?”

  His frown disappeared and he nodded, obviously trying to hide a smile. “Go on inside and see her,” he said. “She’s been asking for you.”

  Without thinking, she jumped up and threw her arms around his neck. “Oh, thank you, Jake.”

  “Um, Erin?” he whispered.

  Realizing that the other hands were arriving, she let go and hurried to the house. “I won’t be long,” she called back to him. “I only want to say hello.”

  She hadn’t seen Ada since she’d left for the rodeo, but she’d never forgotten her. Ada had helped her through the death of her parents, giving her advice about everything from cooking to how to get through the sorrow of losing them. It had been Ada who had finally told her to hit the road and bring back a silver buckle.

  Opening the door to what she hoped was the kitchen, Erin called out to her. “Ada? It’s Erin Walker. Are you too busy for an old friend?”

  From around the corner, Ada appeared, all smiles and a big white apron. “There’s my girl,” she cried, and hurried to wrap her arms around Erin. “Lawsy, girl, I haven’t seen you for forever.”

  Tears pooled in Erin’s eyes. “It’s been so long,” she said around the huge lump in her throat. Ada’s soothing pats calmed her quickly, and she looked up into the dark face and eyes she remembered from her childhood. “I can’t believe you’re here.”

  “Mr. Canfield called me up last night,” Ada said, stepping back to rub her hands up and down Erin’s arms, calming her. “I remembered that you and he were friends from way back and asked about you. When he told me you were home and workin’ for him, I couldn’t refuse his offer.”

  “You don’t know how happy I am that you’re here,” Erin said, drying her tears with her hands.

 
“I guess it hasn’t been easy for you workin’ for the man who broke your heart.”

  Erin pressed her lips together. Ada had been the first person she’d told about the baby and had helped her and her parents to make the right decision. “At first,” she admitted. “But—”

  Ada nodded. “The years can make it easier. I’m glad the two of you are on good terms.”

  Good? Erin didn’t know for sure if she’d call it good. Strange, yes. Sometimes even wonderful. “We get along,” she answered. “But, Ada, he doesn’t know.”

  Eyes wide, Ada looked at her. “About— You’ve got to tell him, honey.”

  “Maybe,” Erin answered.

  “Soon,” Ada said, watching her.

  “I know,” she said, “and I will.” She took a big breath and smiled. “But right now, I’ve got a young cowboy that needs some lessons in rounding up cattle.”

  “You go on, then, Miz Erin. I’ll be around whenever you have a spare minute or two.”

  “I’ll give you more than a minute or two,” Erin promised.

  She left the house, feeling both better and afraid. But with Ada by her side, she could weather just about anything.

  “Are you planning to bring up the cattle from the west pasture?” Jake asked, standing with Jonah.

  “Can Jonah lend me a hand?” she asked, knowing Jake had already okayed it. She wanted Jonah to hear it for himself.

  Jake put his hand on Jonah’s shoulder. “I think that’s a great idea. Nothing like on-the-job training, right, Jonah?”

  “Sure. I’m ready when Erin is. And thanks for the opportunity.”

  “Go ahead and saddle up the horse you had the other day.” Jake patted his shoulder. “Let me know how it goes.”

  Fifteen minutes later, Erin turned to Jonah as they entered the pasture. “You’re handling that horse well.”

  Riding next to her, Jonah gave her a sheepish grin. “I wasn’t supposed to say anything, but Jake let me practice yesterday.”

  Surprised and pleased, she grinned and didn’t bother to hide it. “Did he, now?”

  Jonah nodded. “Don’t tell him I told you, though.”