Cowboy Hank (Cooper's Hawke Landing Book 3)

by Rhonda Lee Carver

  “Oh please. I experience life just fine.”

  Hannah turned, concern etching new lines around her eyes. “Sweetie, you know I consider you a sister from another mister and that’s why I feel secure in telling you this. You used to be happy, and lately all I see is a sad old woman.”

  “Hey.” Abreilla picked up a nearby towel and tossed it at the woman’s head who dodged it. “I’m only thirty.”

  “I know, that’s the point!”

  “I have responsibilities.” That was her go-to excuse. When her friends started pointing out her voids, she always managed to come up with one reason or another why she hadn’t dated in so long she’d lost count.

  “Your mom wouldn’t want you to stop living.”

  Although it struck her right in the stomach, Abriella knew it was true because she’d made a promise to her mom that she’d continue to pursue her dreams, but how could that have been possible if she’d also promised she would keep the bakery in the family. Several times over the last year the idea of selling had been on the table, but she found herself enjoying the creating and replicating of the desserts her mother had made as well as infusing her own recipes. Maybe after DJ graduated college she could think about her future, but for now she needed to keep her footing. The tuition for her brother’s college wasn’t easy to swing every quarter, but because she loved him so much, and they relied on each other, she would pay and do anything to make sure he followed his own dreams. That’s what their mother had wanted too.

  Hannah continued, “DJ is in his last year. What then?”

  “What do you mean?” She loved her friends, loved that they cared, but she didn’t want them worrying—or lecturing.

  “You’ll have some freedom, and most importantly, you won’t have an excuse.”

  Bringing the cup to her lips, she sipped, absorbing her friend’s words. “I don’t use him as an excuse, but he is my responsibility. One that I don’t take lightly.”

  “I love your little brother and I think you’re a great sister to him. Much better than mine.” She seemed satisfied that she’d pontificated enough. “You remember that she’s getting married? Well, Ursula picked out the bridesmaid dresses. Didn’t even ask anyone’s opinion. Just like her to do that. They’re hideous. Worse than hideous. You’ll see and agree, I’m sure. I think she did it on purpose. It’s not enough that she found Mr. Perfect and compares him to all my past zeroes every chance she gets, but she must rub it in even more by sticking me in a monochrome dress with full volume on top and bottom. I’m proud of these hips, but I’ll look frumpy.”

  “I’ve never seen you look frumpy in anything, sweetie.” Finishing the dessert and coffee, she got up and washed her hands. “I need to start on the wedding cake. In the meantime,” Abriella kissed Hannah on the cheek, “I’m sure the dress will be beautiful because you’re wearing it. And thank you for worrying about me, but you know you don’t need to. I’ve got this covered.”

  “That’s what friends are for.”

  The phone rang and she picked it up. “Bluebonnet Bakery. Hello…yes, this is Abriella. Yes…sorry, my cell was…well, lost. Okay…I’ll be there soon.” She hung up. “Watch the shop for me, Han. I have to go. Mom is having a bad day and they need me there.”

  CHAPTER 3

  Baxter turned onto the narrow lane that took him to Grinning Spurs. Although he enjoyed the coffee from Bluebonnet Bakery, the truth was that he was still stinging over the run-in he’d had on the sidewalk with the tsunami—or rather, the petite brunette with an unjustified hatred for him. Usually it took a woman some time to get to know him before she decided she didn’t like him.

  What got him was being compared to Buzz. No way in hell was he anything like the man. Not even close.

  Although Baxter hadn’t given much thought about his future since Milly had broken things off with him, what he knew clear to the center of his bones was that he’d never leave his family. Not for anything.

  Sure, he’d never been married so he couldn’t judge why his mother and Buzz had divorced, but that was no excuse to divorce the kids too. Baxter sucked in a deep breath, hoping it’d ease the tension in his muscles some. He and Brennan were innocent kids. Did Buzz not love them? Shit…he went on to have three more sons and left them too. That wasn’t a choice, but rather a behavior.

  Now Baxter guessed he had no choice but to think of getting married.

  He tightened his grip on the steering wheel until his knuckles stung.

  What had Buzz been thinking? Why did it matter to him whether Baxter and his brothers, a term he used lightly, got married? It was a sick joke. Yes, Buzz was a sick man.

  Baxter wasn’t the least bit happy being stuck in Tarnation with stipulations placed on his head like strings on a puppet. How the hell would he and Brennan run Dragonfly Spurs while staying here and taking over all the responsibilities Buzz had left for them? On top of that, finding a woman who would be interested in getting hitched. He barely had time to date back home, let alone be in a committed relationship within six months.

  Then there came the fact that he had three new brothers.

  No doubt he wasn’t ready to get to know them. What did they have in common outside of a bum for a father?

  Pulling in front of the house, he turned off the engine but didn’t make a move to get out just yet.

  Just as Roe had promised, the Colt house was accommodating, if not almost museum like. There were no family pictures that lined the walls or smudge marks from little fingers. Baxter wasn’t sure what he’d been expecting, but the lavish, two story modern farmhouse hadn’t been close. It was hard for him to see Buzz living in this town…this house, here on the Grinning Spurs Ranch.

  Hell, he didn’t know his father. Now he was getting a good idea.

  After doing some exploring last night, and reading the paperwork Roe had given him, Baxter realized the property was twice the size of Dragonfly Spurs and was valued at three times more. That meant three times the responsibility. How could they hire more hands here, or at Dragonfly, without having the time to train them? Or oversee the operations?

  Yet, it wasn’t just Baxter and Brennan any longer. There were five Colts.

  Damn. He actually had three more brothers.

  As many times as he rolled that thought around his head, he’d never get used to the idea.

  He wasn’t sure how to feel about any of this. At thirty-two, how was he supposed to adapt to having more siblings? On top of that, they were stuck in Tarnation together. They might be blood, but they knew nothing about each other. They had no clue about their childhood, where they grew up, what made them tick. Eventually they’d have to discuss these things, but for now the shock of the situation needed to fade some.

  They didn’t have long to decide where they’d go from here. Roe needed to know their answer, and soon.

  He scraped a palm down his jaw and laid his head back on the headrest, closing his eyes. His mind naturally sped back to the event on the sidewalk. Sure, he’d been wrapped up in his thoughts, but the woman had her nose buried in her phone, just as he had accused her. He did feel a little bad that he’d almost run her over yesterday…well, he hadn’t almost run her over, but he’d scared her. He’d also splashed her with a puddle that left her drenched. Baxter couldn’t blame her for being angry, but it had been an accident.

  Opening his eyes, he sighed. Did he tell her it was an accident and that he was sorry?

  No.

  Shit!

  A knock on his window brought his head up and he met his brother’s gaze. Rolling down the window, Baxter said, “I brought you a coffee.” He handed one of the to-go cups over.

  “Thanks, bro. Are you hiding out here?” Brennan smiled.

  “No, I’m not hiding. I’m thinking.” He rubbed his brow.

  “Have you figured a way out of this yet?”

  Blowing out a long breath, Baxter banged the heel of his hand against the steering wheel. “It’s airtight. We could fight it, but we’d
be in court for a helluva lot longer than six months and would probably lose in the long run anyway. I researched everything I could to find a hole. Found none. We’re stuck.”

  “Tarnation can’t be that bad. The house is nice. The half-brothers seem a little bitter, rightfully so. Six months will fly. Then we’ll have what is ours.”

  Looking at his brother with a narrowed eye, Baxter shook his head. “Have you forgotten the itty-bitty stipulation of marriage? That means we can stay here, prove our capabilities, and in the end, if we’re not wearing a ring, we could still lose everything. How are you going to find a woman desperate enough to marry your mug?”

  Brennan took a long drink, squinting. “Hell, it ain’t that bad.”

  “Really? I’d rather be in a wrestling match with an alligator than be here trying to find a wife. You always were the positive one.”

  “I spoke to Ma.”

  Baxter jerked his chin up. “She called you?”

  His brother nodded. “Yeah…but I didn’t mention Buzz, the ranch, or our predicament. I couldn’t bring myself to do it, not when she was excited. That rich guy, Kuhns, asked her to marry him and she said yes.”

  Just when he thought things couldn’t get any worse. “Kuhns is a dick.”

  “But she loves him.”

  “And he’s still a dick. He wouldn’t know how to saddle a horse if his life depended on it.” Baxter rolled up the window, opened the door and climbed out. He slammed the door, probably a little too hard because the window rattled. Marching up the flower-lined sidewalk with Brennan closely following, they stepped through the screen door and were called into the living room. Arc was sitting on the white overstuffed chair looking almost out of place, and the two other brothers were holding down both ends of the matching couch. All three were brawny, making the room and the furniture look small. Baxter guessed all five of them made for a sight.

  “We thought it was time we chatted,” Arc said easily.

  The oldest brother didn’t get his feathers ruffled too often from what it appeared.

  Taking off his hat, Baxter sat down on the empty chair while Brennan took the hearth of the stone fireplace since there were no more seats available. “I’ve read through all the paperwork Roe gave us. Researched every detail, even faxed over a copy of the will to my attorney, and the stipulations are impermeable. Sure, we could try and fight this, but between the legal fees and time restraint, we’d be shit out of luck in the end.”

  Ash and Adam grumbled under their breath and Arc leaned forward, bracing his elbows on his knees and clasping his hands until his knuckles could be seen under tanned skin. “I had a feeling this would be the news,” he said in a low, agitated tone.

  Baxter shrugged. “Gotta give the man credit. He had a sense of humor.”

  “So, we have to stay here, in Tarnation, for six months?” Ash seemed the cockiest of the bunch. His long unruly hair, arm tattoos, and goatee matched his personality.

  “It appears so,” Baxter said. “Here’s a question, are any of you already or close to being hitched? I don’t see any rings.”

  All three gave their heads jerky shakes. “How about you two?” Arc asked.

  “Not even close,” Brennan replied.

  “If it isn’t bad enough that we’re stuck here, we now have to find brides too. Ash here can’t even find a date so how is he supposed to find a woman who’d actually want to marry him,” Adam joked.

  The cowboys laughed while Ash wrapped an arm around his brother’s shoulders and gave him a playful noogie.

  Baxter was glad to see that they were starting to relax some. Maybe eventually down the line they’d become friends.

  “If we’re gifted with the Colt DNA, finding a potential wife and getting married won’t be the problem. Running away will be.”

  The mood turned somber again. Baxter regretted that he had to point out the obvious, but it had to be said.

  “Were Buzz and your mom married?” Adam asked. He seemed level-headed and patient. His appearance was clean-cut and his clothes neat.

  “Yeah, for a few years. When they divorced, he disappeared,” Baxter said openly.

  “Not sure if this is for the better or worse, but he wasn’t married to our mom. Never even asked.” Arc sat back in the chair, lines appearing around his eyes.

  “What happened?” Brennan chimed in.

  Ash gave a slow shrug of one broad shoulder. “The old man’s MO. He left. Mom died a few years later and our grandparents moved in with us at Stillwater Spurs. We were told that Buzz sent money every month and that’s about all.”

  Baxter’s chest tightened. Their father had left a trail of heartbreak and disappointments. It was only natural that he’d want to have one last hoorah with their emotions after his death.

  The room became silent for several minutes until Baxter stood and went to stand by the fireplace. “I have an idea.” He investigated the row of framed pictures of horses before turning and scanning the faces of each of the Colt brothers. “I need to know, right now, if any of you are willing to give up your land?”

  With four repudiations, Baxter sighed. “If we decide to do this, we have to be in it for the long haul. It only takes just one of us to pull out for all of us to lose. It could get ugly around here. We’d still need to stick it out.”

  “We’re in this for the long haul,” Arc assured him. “We’re willing to listen. What do you have in mind?”

  “From what I gathered in the paperwork, Buzz had his hand in a bit of everything, from rental properties, a couple of restaurants including the diner and this ranch that is worth a pretty penny. He must have worked twenty-four seven to keep up.” He went to sit back down. “I’m guessing that each of us has a skill that we can use here. We can divide up the responsibilities of the rental properties, businesses, and ranch chores. Each brother will take on the same amount of responsibility and manage accordingly. This’ll ensure that we still have enough time to manage our own homesteads from afar. Do any of you have any experience in managing rental properties? The ins and outs of restaurants? I’m guessing we all can manage things here at Grinning Spurs.” When no one answered, or volunteered, he sighed. “Brennan and I don’t have experience in restaurants, but after looking at the financial statements, most of the properties and businesses are doing well. A few aren’t making big bucks, but they’re not in the red.”

  “We can divide things up, as you suggest,” Arc said. “I can handle all the books here on the ranch too. Ash, Adam, and Brennan can take a leadership role here, but we agree that any decisions or issues need to be discussed among us as a team.”

  Although Baxter didn’t like taking on more responsibility, he also didn’t see a way around it. If they could continue looking at things as a team, this might just work out. “That sounds like a plan. Take a look at the list and pick which ones you’d like, or have interest in, except for the Bluebonnet Bakery. I want to take that one myself.”

  “I know you said you liked the coffee there, but I didn’t think that much.” Brennan chuckled.

  “I suddenly have a sweet tooth.” He reached for his hat and smashed it onto his head. “Now about the stipulation of marriage, you’re all on your own.”

  “What about the nurse…the Alaska Kellington woman?”

  All eyes turned to Arc.

  Baxter shrugged. “What about her?”

  “She’ll be in town soon. Should one of us meet her? Maybe even ask some questions?”

  “I think you should, bro,” Ash said, then stood. “Keep us informed of what you find out.”

 

 

 
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