Cowboy Hank (Cooper's Hawke Landing Book 3)

by Rhonda Lee Carver

  “Sorry, Mommy.” Her bottom lip quivered.

  Hank slipped off the stool and held up his hands. “Maybe that’s my fault. I should have sent her back upstairs to wake you.”

  “That’s right. It’s partly your fault. I don’t know you and neither does Freya,” Helena pushed through tight lips.

  “That’s not true. I know Hank. He’s my new friend,” Freya muttered.

  Helena pressed her fingers to her aching temples. She didn’t like that Freya seemed to open up so easily to Hank. “He’s a stranger.”

  Hank watched the exchange in silence.

  Tears threatened to fall from Freya’s eyes. This had been the happiest she’d been in a long time.

  “You just gave me a scare, sweetheart.” Helena hugged Freya.

  “I made you breakfast too.” Hank scooped up eggs and bacon onto a plate and set it down in the spot where he’d been sitting. “It’s not gourmet but it’ll fill your belly.”

  With a second’s hesitation, and only a second because her stomach growled, she took the stool that was still warm. “Thank you,” she said quietly. She scooped up a forkful of eggs and they were delicious. The bacon too. Immediately, she felt better, ready to tackle the day. With the smile back on Freya’s face, it might be difficult to convince her they needed to get back on the road. Honestly, Helena cringed also at the thought of leaving the warmth and safety of Pelican and good food. There was still the problem with money…

  “Coffee?”

  “Please.” Helena said.

  “Cream and sugar are on the table.”

  “Hank said he has horses. Can I see them?” Freya asked.

  Setting her fork down and with a gentle clearing of throat, Helena said, “Honey, we won’t be able to do that.”

  “Why?” There was that look again that targeted every failure Helena ever had in her lifetime.

  “We should leave just as soon as we’re finished here.”

  “I don’t want to go. I want to stay,” she stated stubbornly.

  What could Helena say? She didn’t blame her daughter for feeling this way. “Freya, since you’re finished, why don’t you run upstairs and get dressed.”

  Puckered lip and narrowed gaze, she jumped off the stool, wrapped her tiny arms around her chest and stomped out of the room. Her heavy stomps could be heard on each step. “Sorry about that,” she said to Hank.

  “No need to apologize.” He sat down on the stool Freya had occupied. “Maybe I’m the one who should be apologizing. I mentioned the horses. She seemed excited so I mentioned that she could meet them.”

  “Did she tell you she has—rather had—horses?” She glanced at him through the steam of her coffee. A lock of hair had fallen on his forehead, making him appear youthful. His black T-shirt stretched across boulder-like shoulders, massive chest, while a grin surfaced.

  “Yeah, she did.” He braced his elbows on the table and set his chin on a fist. “She seems like a real good kid. Smart for her age too.”

  “She is. She very seldom complains and she has every reason to.”

  “She doesn’t want to leave. Just like the majority of the population of Cooper’s Hawk. They might leave but they always come back.”

  “From what I’ve seen so far I can see why.” She looked up the empty stairs then back at Hank. “You’ve been very kind to us, but we can’t stay.”

  His pensive eyes seemed to dazzle in the early morning light flowing in through the small window. “Can’t or won’t?”

  “Maybe a little of both,” she admitted.

  “Because if you stop running you might have to face the music?”

  “What do you know about my situation? What did Freya say?” she huffed, agitation crawling up her spine.

  “Freya didn’t say a word. I know a little about running myself,” he said quietly. “Anyway I don’t know much about kids and their needs, but I know it’s unsafe to not have a place to lay your head at night. I’m offering to help. What can I do?”

  Opening her mouth to reject his offer, she stopped herself. She’d rebuffed a lot of help along the way and look where she and her daughter were now. Stuck with no money, with nothing, not even food. With every step she needed to be careful. “Do you know anything about vehicles?”

  “I know a little.”

  Six

  “It’s a total loss.”

  “You mean there’s nothing we can do to fix it?”

  Hank swiped his dirty hands together feeling a bit guilty for what he was about to tell Helena. He couldn’t sugar coat the truth in this situation. “The engine blew. Looks like you might have been running the radiator dry for a few miles. Did a light come on in the dash?”

  “No…well, maybe. I thought we were low on gas.” She rubbed her forehead then crossed her arms over her chest.

  “It’s possible that was a problem too, but it’s a good thing you didn’t waste a tankful on this old girl. I wish I had better news, but to replace the engine it’d be more than what the car’s worth.”

  She glanced back at Freya who was sitting in the truck unaware of what was going on outside.

  Helena dropped her arms to her sides and her shoulders slumped as if she carried too much weight. The wall of bravery slipped and her chin trembled. She stared at the engine, glossy eyed and her lips puckered. Then the tears came, at first just one tear, then two tears…then the unwavering sobs. “I-I don’t know what I’m going to do—what we’re going to do. The car wasn’t much, but it was all we had.”

  Hank could handle a lot, but never could handle seeing a woman cry. It tweaked every protective instinct possible in him.

  Shifting from one dusty boot to the other, he debated what his next move should be. His ma always said a woman needed comforted when she was crying, but if he tried to touch her would he scare her off? Would she punch him? He had a feeling she’d fight tooth and nail if she were pushed into a corner. He respected that grit about her, although there was a time for everyone to admit defeat.

  Damn, why didn’t he have a tissue when he needed it?

  Her tears streamed down her face and the back of her hand didn’t do the job to soak up all the wetness.

  Fisting a handful of his T-shirt, he dragged the cotton off and held it out. “Here. This’ll do much better than the back of your hand.”

  She stole a red eyed glare from the offering to his face and with a submissive sigh, she accepted the shirt and wiped her tears. “I’m sorry. I’m a mess. I just…well, we can’t catch a break.”

  “A good cry can help sometimes.” He felt a bit awkward standing in the middle of the road without a shirt on but at least she put it to good use. The tears were still flowing although he saw some of the grit return.

  “You must think I’m a bad mother. Out in the bad weather last night with Freya, two dollars to my name, and now the car. I did this. I should have stopped at the gas station back on the interstate and put water in the radiator.”

  “I don’t think you’re a bad mother at all. Freya is a great kid. She seems healthy. And water would have only temporarily put off the car’s demise. It’s a good thing you ended up stranded this close to the bar and not somewhere else.” He didn’t know if he was helping but he wanted to.

  “She is healthy.” Helena hiccupped. “I mean, outside of asthma. What will I do when she runs out of medicine though? Lord, what will I do?” She paced the road. “Without insurance I have to pay for it.”

  “How about we go back into town and we can figure this situation out. I’ll call the mechanic and see if he’ll come and pick the car up. I bet he’d be willing to give you a little cash for it, maybe use it for parts.” He needed to create some sort of silver lining although he doubted that any parts of the car could be salvaged.

  Her hesitation warned him that she searched for any excuse or reason not to agree to his suggestion. Then her cheeks turned rosy. “I don’t have a choice now. You really think he’ll give me some money for it?”

  He saw t
he thread of hope in her expression and he couldn’t tell her the truth. “Sure. He should be able to give us an answer in a few hours.”

  “Okay.”

  Yesterday, he’d been in a fog. She and Freya seemed to rush into his life and bowl him over. Today he got a better sense of who Helena was. She and her daughter left a memorable impact on him that added up to more than her strawberry blonde hair, splattering of freckles, copper-colored eyes, and in need of a good meal or two. Something about her, in her expression or the way she attempted to hold it all together, touched base with him.

  Freya fell asleep soon after they pulled away from the abandoned car and when they reached Pelican Helena took Freya upstairs to lay her down while Hank stepped into the office to give Harvey the mechanic a call. Just as suspected, he was willing to pick the car up, but he couldn’t use the parts.

  Stepping out of his office, he strolled into the kitchen at the same time Helena came off the last rung of the stairs.

  “She still asleep?” he asked.

  “Out like a light. Poor girl. Yesterday exhausted her.”

  He didn’t want to say it, but Helena appeared tired too. Dark circles had taken up residence under her eyes. “Would you like a cup of coffee?”

  “I’d love one.” She yawned, proving his point.

  “Won’t you be opening soon?”

  “In two hours.”

  He prepared the coffee maker and took down two cups, poured them full and set them on the table with a bowl of sugar and packets of creamer. She was sitting in the sunlight, her skin looked pale.

  “Earth to Helena.” He waved his hand in front of her face. “You okay?”

  She blinked twice, her beautiful eyes finally settling on his face. “Yes. No. Lord, what have I gotten Freya and I into?” When he saw the glistening in her eyes, he thought she might cry again, but she instead ripped off the paper top of packets of sugar and poured it in.

  “What exactly have you gotten you and Freya into? You tell me.”

  She brought her chin up, landing him with a narrowed eye. “Have you heard from the mechanic?” Of course she’d changed the subject.

  “I just got off the phone with him.” He scratched his temple with his thumbnail.

  “Please tell me you have good news. I don’t think I can take any more negative.”

  Damn, he wobbled between telling her exactly what his buddy had said and what Hank wanted to say. “He’s willing to tow the car and he’s offering you two hundred for it.”

  Her eyes widened. “Two hundred? You must be kidding me. Are you sure?”

  “Yeah, very sure. I can pick the money up later today.” He would have paid any price to see the twinkle that developed in her eyes. “I wanted to speak to you about something.”

  “If this is about us staying here, we’re leaving. You’ve been exceedingly kind already.”

  “It is regarding you staying, but not here.” He needed to tread carefully. He could see the concern return to her features and the chances of her running were high. “I’m looking for some help here at Pelican. I’m swamped and the waitress, Jeannie, isn’t working out. You could probably do better money-wise, but I wanted to offer the job to you.”

  One brow popped up over curious eyes. “Hank, I—”

  “Wait. Before you respond, hear me out.” He took a log swallow of coffee. “I don’t know what’s going on with you and Freya and it isn’t my business unless you make it my business. You’re safe here. I’ll pay you in cash if that’s what you want. What I know is, and forgive me if I’m crossing a line, but without a car where will you go?”

  Several expressions fell over her features. “I don’t know. You’re right, I could use a job, but I can’t have Freya sitting at the bar.”

  “I’m sure if I ask around there’s a babysitter in town.” Seeing that wall come up again, he quickly added, “How about she hangs out here in the office? I’m here during operating hours and can watch her too. I’ll even hook up a TV, buy her some toys, to give her something to do. She seems to really like coloring.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “I wouldn’t have offered if I weren’t completely sure. The patrons are fairly good tippers.”

  There was a long hesitation before she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and nodded. “Thank you for this. Truly. This will help get us back on our feet. Long enough to find a used car. When do I start?”

  “Hey, you didn’t even ask how much,” he said.

  “Oh…I guess an employee isn’t supposed to appear so desperate. Yet, in my case, you already know how desperate I am.” She lowered her gaze and when she brought her chin back up the wall came up.

  “There are perks to being the boss. I can offer you an advance.”

  “Hank, I can’t—”

  “Yes, you can. Just accept it.” He pulled some money out of his pocket and slid it across the table. She stared a good three seconds before she picked it up. He knew she didn’t like handouts so he knew he needed to make it clear. “It’s only an advance. I expect you will stay long enough to work it off, right?” After the words were out, he wondered if his offering was completely foolish. Did this guarantee that she and Freya would remain in Cooper’s Hawk a few more weeks? He didn’t know, but he considered himself to be a good judge of character and he saw honesty in her, although he also sensed she kept some dark secrets too. At least he was doing his civil duty and once she got on her feet, he’d make sure they had everything she and Freya would need to leave Cooper’s Hawk and be okay.

  “Freya and I can’t stay here though. We can’t take your bed and your home considering we’ve already crashed your business. Is there some place I could rent?”

  “I have just the place. It’s available and in need of some tender loving care.”

  “Can you call the landlord and give a good word for us?”

  “No reason to call. You’re looking at the landlord.”

  “Wait. The place is yours?”

  “I only recently bought the place and have been doing some work on it. I can’t promise it’ll meet your standards but it’s a roof over your head and a warm place to stay.”

  “Meets our standards?” She laughed. “We’ve been sleeping in the car.” Once the words were out and she realized what she’d divulged, her cheeks pinkened. She hurried to change the conversation. “So how long has it been up for rent?”

  “I just got the refrigerator in yesterday and I was waiting for that before making it available. You came just in time.”

  “I don’t know what to say.”

  “You don’t need to say anything. Have you ever waited tables?”

  “Many,” she said.

  “Then it’s me who is gaining in this.”

  Seven

  Cooper’s Hawk reminded her of many small towns she’d visited, except for one thing…there wasn’t a Hank Hawke in every town they’d landed in. If Helena believed in miracles, she’d have to believe that meeting him was one. She didn’t accept favors and liked owing no one, but she’d learned that pride didn’t belong with need.

  With Freya’s medicine getting low, Helena needed to get more, and because Hank had given her an advance in salary, she could take her daughter to the local doctor.

  They were in Hank’s truck as he ran some errands and promised to take them to the house he would rent to them. Helena watched through the window as they passed a brick library with a bronze statue of a stack of books in front, next a steepled church with a welcoming message on a sign, and quaint shops decorated with window boxes bursting with flowers. They turned right down a street of houses that were similar in design. A local school on the corner had a large playground and Freya pointed it out. Children were laughing and playing there.

  Something akin to envy developed in Helena’s chest. One day maybe she and Freya could have something comparable. A home. Peace.

  Soon the scenery changed from hollyhocks and peonies to lush green pastures with grazing livestock. White fences
bordered fields where horses roamed. A beautiful white stallion with a thick mane and swishing tail, craned its head over the top rail, watching them pass.

  “Mommy reads me stories about horses,” Freya said, still smiling after they passed the ranch.

  “Now that you’re staying longer, maybe you’d like to visit some. What do you think?” Hank said. “You can even ride if your mom is okay with that.”

  Helena snapped her chin around and her gaze met his. Her throat ached and she cleared her throat. She didn’t want Hank to make promises, or for Freya to come to rely on anyone. Relying on anyone came with dangers.

  “I want to. Can I, Mommy? Can I?” Her eyes twinkled.

  Helena wrapped her arms around her waist. “We’ll see. Maybe if we have time. Where is the cabin?” she directed the question to Hank.

  “TripEase mountain, surrounded by nature, trees and a lake full of blue gill and trout.”

  “Is there public transportation? I guess I didn’t think far enough ahead about how we’ll get back and forth to Pelican.” Disappointment soured the positivity.

  “Let’s not worry about that hurdle for now.”

  Helena cleared her throat. “The cabin seems like a long way out from Cooper’s Hawk. I know you said not to worry about transportation, but this would be too far to walk.”

  “It wouldn’t be safe to walk on this road anyway. The place isn’t too far from Cooper’s Hawke Landing, the search and rescue office. I’m over there a lot and I’ll make sure you have a ride to the bar.”

  “Hank, I appreciate the thought, but we can’t depend upon you. That’s unfair.”

  “Keep an open mind. We’re getting close,” he said.

  As they reached the mouth of the mountain the road became narrower and steeper, and curvier. The scenery though was without question the most amazing she’d seen.

  Freya’s constant chatter kept Hank busy the rest of the drive, while Helena focused on the beauty through the window, but withdrew into her thoughts. She’d been dreaming of a new start, wishing she could find a place safe enough for her and Freya to settle down. She was growing tired of running, looking for jobs, and barely scraping by. She had no desire for living in the lap of luxury again and would suffice with a simple life, but even she couldn’t provide the simplest existence for her and her daughter.