Stay With Me (Hope Valley Book 5)

by Jessica Prince

  I’d attempted to engage him in conversation during all three meals, but got nothing but grunts or snarky, monosyllabic answers as response. I’d taken Cord’s words to heart and refused to be offended. As much as I’d love to wake up one morning and automatically have Zach’s trust, I knew it wasn’t going to be that easy. I had a long road ahead of me, and I needed to brace for all the bumps along the way.

  But today was going to be different than the past two days. As much as I wanted to allow him to stay in the comforts of his new room, where he hopefully felt safe, part of my job as the adult figure in his life was to teach. And today was all about teachable moments.

  “This is my parents’ place,” I answered when their house came into view. “All this land between our house to here is part of their ranch. And there’s a whole lot more you haven’t seen yet.”

  “So, the ranch is really big?”

  My chest instantly swelled. It was the first time in two days he’d asked a question or showed interest in having a conversation with me. It was only a small step, but that didn’t mean it didn’t make me giddy, and I struggled not to let my smile swallow up my whole face.

  “Oh yeah,” I answered, careful to keep my tone casual. “My dad comes from a long line of cattle rancher’s.”

  “You mean like cows and stuff?”

  “Yep. But we’ve also got horses and chickens and a couple goats.”

  I caught the flash of excitement on his face before he quickly covered it. I came to a stop, and as I put the car into park, the screen door to the house squeaked open, and Cord and my dad stepped out onto the porch.

  “So what are we doin’ here?” Zach asked, his shoulders tensing as he stared through the windshield at the two big men watching us.

  “Zach, honey, will you look at me?” His head slowly swiveled around, his brown eyes guarded and blank as he looked at me. “There’s a whole lot to this ranch, and all of it is absolutely beautiful. I can’t wait to take you around and show you all of my favorite places, but unfortunately, today’s not gonna be about fun.” His little body grew even more rigid, and the air around us began to crackle, but I pushed on. “The other night, you threw a rock through the window of my bar, and while I understand what drove you to do it, it wasn’t right, and there are consequences to those actions.” He locked up so tight I feared if I tried to touch him, he’d shatter, so I hurried to finish. “So today as punishment, you’ll be helping Cord and my dad muck out horse stalls and check fence.”

  The shock on his face slammed into me like a wrecking ball. “I—what?”

  I turned to face him fully, leaning in close. “One thing I want you to understand right now is that I will never, ever take my hands to you. You and I won’t always get along. There are times you’ll get mad at me, and I’m sure there’ll be times where I get mad at you, but what I will never do is raise my hands to you. That’s not how I was brought up. Believe me, I pushed my parents when I was your age, and I did some things that made them screaming mad, but they never used their hands on me as punishment. I know I have a long way to go in earning your trust, but you will always be safe with me.” I paused for a moment and felt that the intensity filling my car had dissipated and Zach’s body was slowly starting to loosen before I went on. “But the fact remains, you did something you shouldn’t have, so today you’ll be stuck shoveling horse poop.”

  He pulled the corner of his lips between his teeth and bit down, but I could see his eyes sparkle and knew it was his attempt to hide his grin. I didn’t bother trying, just let mine go and smiled big and bright.

  “What’s… checkin’ fence mean?”

  “Well, it means just what it sounds like. The three of you will ride horses along the fence lines to see if there are any spots that need to be fixed.”

  Zach’s eyes bugged out. “I… I get to ride a horse?”

  God, this kid just melted my heart. “Dad’ll put you on the back of one, and if he thinks you can handle it, then yeah, you’ll ride on your own. If not, you’ll be riding with him until we can teach you to handle one by yourself.”

  I hadn’t thought it possible, but his eyes got even bigger. “You’ll teach me to ride a horse?”

  “Oh, honey,” I said in a light, teasing tone. “That’s just part of the awesomeness that is ranch life. You’ll learn to ride horses, ATVs, snowmobiles in the winter. There’s so much here you’ll get to experience. But first….”

  “Horse poop,” he finished for me.

  “Yeah,” I said on a little giggle. “Horse poop.”

  With that done, we climbed from the car. As I rounded the hood, I noticed the calm that had slid over Zach just moments ago was gone, and as he looked up at my dad, the stiffness returned. I wanted to go to him, to loop my arms over his shoulders and hold him close to me, but I didn’t think he’d appreciate that.

  As if sensing his discomfort, my dad smoothed his features and hooked one corner of his mouth up in a friendly grin. “You eaten, son?”

  “Uh… yeah,” Zach answered hesitantly. “Rory made blueberry pancakes.”

  “That’s good,” Dad said. “My girl’s pancakes are the best you’ll ever have. Only ones better are her mama’s, and that’s ’cause she’s the one who taught my girl her way around the kitchen.” Man, I loved my dad. “So, you ready to get to work?”

  Zach’s shoulder came up in a bored shrug as he gave my dad what I was coming to learn was his standard reply. “Whatever.”

  Dad moved down the steps and waved Zach to him, and as I watched the two of them head off toward the big red barn, I felt Cord’s consuming presence grow closer.

  I turned back to him as he headed my way, taking him in for the first time that morning. The beautiful russet streaks in his dark hair shined in the sunlight and made the deep green of his eyes sparkle. His tanned skin looked almost golden against the dark navy blue of his tee, and as I looked up at his sexy grin, a surge of arousal built low in my belly. God, this man was gorgeous.

  “Hey,” I greeted when he finally reached my side, my voice coming out low and breathy.

  “Dollface,” he returned in that rich, husky cadence of his that did indescribable things to my body. “How’s he doin’?”

  “He’s… adjusting,” I answered tentatively. “Spends most of his time in his room, and I’m leaving him to it. I don’t want to push him too hard too soon.”

  “You’ll break through, Rory. If anyone can, it’s you,” he said, his unwavering belief in me rocking me to my core.

  “Thank you so much for being here this morning,” I said softly, remembering how my chest had warmed when I called him earlier to ask for his help. He hadn’t given my request a moment’s thought before agreeing.

  “Don’t even mention it, baby,” he returned, the new and more frequent use of the word baby making my skin tingle. I knew I shouldn’t, but man, I loved hearing it. “I told you, we’re in this together.”

  “I know, and I appreciate that more than you know. After you shared your story with him the other night, I think he’s comfortable around you.”

  He looked to the barn where my dad and Zach had just disappeared, a shadow working across his face as he murmured, “I hope so.”

  Moving closer, I reached up and placed a hand on his arm, drawing his attention back down to me. “You okay? I know this can’t be easy for you.”

  The smile he gave me held a hint of sadness as he replied, “I’m good, honey.”

  I could tell it was a lie, one I was willing to give him at that moment. I squeezed his arm and stepped even closer. “Hey, you know I’m here for you, right? If you ever need to talk about anything, I’m here.”

  His head began to lower, and the air expelled from my lungs as his gaze grew heavy and intense. For a second I thought he was about to kiss me, and my body screamed for it as I leaned into him and tipped my head farther back. But at the last second, he changed course and pressed his lips to my forehead. And as much as I tried to fight it, I couldn’t stop
from feeling disappointed.

  “I know,” he said gently, his lips brushing across my skin with those two words. Then he stood tall and took a step back, and I felt the loss of his touch like a physical thing. “I should get in there and help out.”

  “Yeah,” I mumbled, trying not to let my discontent show. “Okay. See you later for lunch?”

  “Wouldn’t miss it, baby.”

  And with that, he headed off into the barn, leaving me confused by the warring emotions inside me and achy with want.

  “Ow, shit!”

  I’d been so stuck in my own head, I wasn’t paying proper attention to a single thing around me as I helped my mom prepare lunch, and the knife I’d been using to slice tomatoes slipped and cut my index finger right open.

  “Rory Christine Hightower,” my mom scolded as she rushed over to me. “Told you time and again, girl, your head can’t be in the clouds when you’re wieldin’ a knife.”

  “Sorry, Mama,” I said sheepishly as she pulled me to the sink, flipped on the tap, and held my injured finger beneath the steady flow of water.

  She pulled my hand from beneath the spray and gently dabbed at the cut with a paper towel. A few beads of blood formed, but the worst of the bleeding had already stopped. “It’s not so bad,” Mom muttered, her tone shifting back to normal. “A little Neosporin and a Band-Aid and you’ll be good as new.”

  I held the paper towel to the cut as she rummaged around in one of the cabinets and came back with a first aid kit. I stood there while she doctored me up just like she had when I was a kid.

  “How’s that sweet boy doin’?” she asked once my finger was bandaged securely.

  Blowing out a breath, I looked back out the window to the fields beyond. “He’s… okay, I guess. Or at least I hope.” I turned back to face her as I explained, “Honestly, Mama, I don’t know what I’m doing. I’m in way over my head with him, and all I can hope is I don’t do more damage than good.”

  Her face went soft with affection, and she gave my hand a gentle squeeze. “Honey bunch, all your life, you’ve led with your heart. Every decision you’ve ever made has come from in here.” She placed her palm on my chest. “For some people—hell, for most of them—that isn’t a good thing, but my girl, along with having a big heart, also has good instincts. You saw an injustice bein’ done, and you stepped in to make it right. You gave that boy a chance at a good life, a chance he’s never had before.”

  “Yeah, Mom, but you know what they say. The road to Hell is paved with good intentions. I jumped right into the deep end. I don’t have the first clue what I’m doing. What if I screw this up and make things worse for him?”

  Her face broke into a smile that was just as beautiful today as it had been when she was younger. I knew that since I’d seen countless pictures of her from childhood to adulthood, and she was the most beautiful woman I’d ever laid eyes on. “My sweet girl,” she said on a light giggle. “I’ll fill you in on something. No parent has any idea what they’re doin’ when they first start out. The best we can do is wing it and hope for the best. That’s the position you’re in now, honey, and all you can do is keep followin’ that heart of yours. And if you ever feel that isn’t working, you pick up the phone and give your mama a call, and she’ll talk you down.”

  At that, she gave me a wink, but the melancholy was still holding me too tight to smile. “I hope you’re right,” I murmured, looking back to the window.

  “I am,” she declared. “I’m always right.” She paused long enough that I forced my head back around to her, and when I did, I saw her studying me intently. “But somethin’ tells me those clouds in your eyes aren’t just because of that boy.”

  Damn. Damn, damn, damn, double damn. My mom knew me too freaking well. I didn’t say a word, but of course, that didn’t stop her from reading the situation with startling clarity.

  “Cord looks at you like you hold the power to make the sun rise just by waking up, Rory. You were so busy railing at that man and woman from Child Welfare Services—rightfully so, I might add—that you couldn’t see the way he was watchin’ you while you did it.”

  I fought against the pull, but it was too strong. “How was he looking at me?” I asked on a whisper.

  Her hand came back to mine and she pulled it toward her, clasping it close in both of hers. “Like you were the sun and moon and stars all rolled into one beautiful package that he wanted for his own.”

  “Mama—”

  But she was determined. “Only seen that look on one other person in all my life, but I know it well because it’s what I see every morning when I wake up and turn to your father and find him watchin’ me like I just brought up the sun.”

  Oh god.

  I loved that. God, I loved that they had that, but I couldn’t hear this. “I’m happy for you, Mama. I’m so glad you and Dad have that. But that’s not me and Cord.”

  “Rory—”

  “It’s not. And I know this because, as you said, I lead with my heart. And even though you think that’s a good thing, let me tell you, sometimes it’s not. Leading with my heart got me seriously hurt. I can’t go through that again.” To my utter surprise, Mom’s head fell back on a bright, tinkling laugh. My forehead pulled into a tight frown, and I pulled my hand from hers as I muttered, “I’m not sure why you find that so damn funny.”

  “Oh, my sweet girl,” she said on a sigh, struggling to contain her hilarity as she brushed a mirthful tear from beneath her eye. “It’s funny because you said it like you have any choice.”

  My back shot straight, my eyes going wide. “What?”

  She shook her head and grinned. “Honey bunch, you don’t have a choice,” she repeated. “Hate to break it to you, but the heart doesn’t give the first flip what your brain says. It wants what it wants, and there’s not one thing you can do about it. And what yours wants is that tall, strapping man out there.”

  “But—”

  “You have two choices, child. You can either keep him at arm’s length in a senseless attempt to protect your heart, or you can actually take a chance on somethin’, knowing there are no guarantees in life. The first option comes with guaranteed heartache, because whether you’re with him or not, you won’t stop wanting him. The second option comes with the possibility of heartache, but it also comes with the chance of happiness unlike anything you’ve ever known.”

  My heart started beating against my ribcage so hard it was a wonder my mom didn’t hear it.

  Her shoulders lifted in a careless shrug, like she hadn’t just hit me with a wisdom bomb that left me breathless. “Now, I myself would go with option number two, because the chance of potential happiness over guaranteed pain is a no-brainer to me. But you’re your own person, so you’ll have to make that decision on your own.”

  “I—”

  Instead of letting me say anything else, she gave my hand a pat and went back to the task of preparing lunch, shifting the conversation to a different—though no less intense—topic. “There’s also somethin’ we need to discuss before the men get here.”

  “And that is?” I asked dubiously. After all, she’d already hit me with more than my brain could process.

  “We’re comin’ outta retirement to work the bar.”

  I knew exactly why she just said that, and while it warmed my heart that my folks were stepping in for me, I couldn’t let them do that. They’d been working toward retirement for so long. “Mama, you guys don’t have to do that. I know my situation’s changed now that I have Zach to care for, but I can make it work.”

  “It’s not about that. Well, not completely, anyway. Your dad and I gave this retirement gig a shot, and it’s not for us. The ranch hands have been with us for years, and they keep this place runnin’ like a well-oiled machine, so there’s not much for your daddy to get himself up to, and there’s only so much fishin’ he can do. That means most of the time he’s pacin’ around the house, drivin’ me up the damn walls. You have a child you need to look after
now, so we figured you could work days during the week while Zach’s at school, but between me and your dad, and the rest of the staff at the bar, we’ll have nights and weekends covered. And when you have to do those classes to get yourself certified, you just let us know and we’ll work something out.”

  I felt a burn in the back of my eyes that came from the knowledge that I had the best parents on the planet. I’d been stressing about what I’d do with The Tap Room now that I couldn’t be there any time, day or night. I had to prove to Child Welfare Services that I was fit to be a foster parent. That meant working nights and weekends, leaving Zach in the care of others, was out of the question.

  My folks had worked most of their adult lives to get themselves to the point they were at now, and at the first sign I needed help, they threw all that to the wind so they could step in and have my back.

  “Mama,” I whispered, moving close and wrapping her in a tight hug. “Thank you.”

  “Anything for you, honey bunch,” she returned just as quietly, hugging me just as tight. After a few seconds, her arms fell and she took a step back, sniffing away her tears and pinning her adorable stubbornness back into place. “Now enough with this lollygaggin’. Those boys’ll be back any minute now, and no doubt they’ll be hungry. Lunch won’t finish making itself, so get back to work.”

  Damn, I loved my parents.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Rory

  The back door opened and I whipped around to watch as my dad pushed through, followed by Zach, then Cord. In the time since I last saw them, my father had obviously given Zach and Cord ball caps to protect their faces from the sun.

  And damn, could Cord Paulson rock the hell out of a ball cap. The sight of him in a baseball cap, his boots covered in dust, his tee damp with sweat and clinging to his defined shoulders and chest, sent a surge of heat from my nipples to the center of my thighs. The man was sexy all the time, but like this, having spent the morning working my parents’ ranch in the hot sun, he was just yummy. There was no other word for it.