A country trio played on a bandstand.
Four elderly couples decked out in square-dance attire showed off their moves on a portable dance floor.
Balloons and streamers hung from the tent ceiling.
Alternating pots of petunias and marigolds lined each of the three long tables.
The delicious scents of barbecue brisket, roasting ears and funnel cake made her stomach growl.
“Mary, you’re welcome to come to our Halloween wedding,” Sally said after showing them both photos of her bridal gown. “It’s going to be epic. Jimmy and I invited practically the whole town.”
“Thanks,” Robin said, “but hopefully your guy has me back on the road by then.”
“Have you thought of staying around? Back at the recruitment booth, I saw the way Laredo looked at you and your adorable baby.”
“It was sweet of him to watch her, giving me this little break. But really, he and I are just friends.” You weren’t feeling that way last night when you saw him holding Lark. “I think his saving my daughter from that carjacker made for an instant connection. He’s a good guy.”
“The best guy.” Sarah sighed, punctuating it with a wistful smile. “Since he first moved here, I wished he’d look my way, but no such luck.”
“Have you two been alone?” Robin asked. “Want me to set something up?”
“That’s a great idea.” Sally leaned forward. “What if I asked him to be your date for the wedding?”
Sarah wrinkled her nose. “That would just be sad. I hate thinking of myself as being that needy.”
“How is that needy?” Sally sipped her lemonade. “I see it as doing Laredo a favor by helping him find the beauty that’s been right here in front of him all along.”
“Makes sense,” Robin said. What didn’t make sense was how she already regretted this decision to fix Laredo up with another woman. Not that she wanted him—or could even have him. But a selfish part of her didn’t want anyone else having him, either.
“I’m going to ask.” Sally took out her phone.
“Don’t!” Sarah grabbed her friend’s wrist. “I changed my mind.”
Robin fought not to noticeably exhale with relief.
“Why?” Sally put down her phone.
“Mary—” Sarah turned to her “—don’t take this the wrong way, but I’ve seen the way Laredo looks at you, and if you’re his type, then I’m obviously not.”
“I promise,” Robin confirmed, “nothing has—or will—happen between us. We’re friends. Nothing more.”
“I get what you’re saying, but please understand what I’m getting at. Laredo and I see each other at least once a month around town. If the man wanted to ask me out, he could have on a half-dozen different occasions. I’m guessing tall redheads with freckles aren’t his thing.”
“His loss.” Robin tugged on the long, strawberry blonde braid hanging over Sarah’s left shoulder. “I think you’re adorable. And crazy sweet.”
“I second that vote.” Sally patted her friend’s hand. “Don’t you worry. Jimmy has oodles of single cousins coming for the wedding. I’ll bet you take a shining to one of them and by this time next year, we’ll all be getting ready for your wedding—well, all of us except for you, Mary. But you could pop back west for a visit.”
“Yes, I could,” Robin said to be friendly. The truth soured her stomach. Once she left Dandelion Gulch, it would be for good. She would never see these nice women or Laredo again. She barely knew any of them, so why did a knot lurk at the back of her throat?
Chapter 7
“After graduation, why would I join the Navy instead of going on a rodeo circuit?” The gangly kid with too much hair and a mouth too big for his teeth fisted his hands on his hips and set his jaw like he was a tough guy. Or defensive—which was probably closer to the truth. Already considering serving his country, but not quite brave enough to take the plunge.
“Valid question.” Laredo shifted the napping baby to his other shoulder. Lord, she felt good—like a grown-up security blanket. “Honestly? If you’ve got good enough rodeo skills to go professional, I’d choose that route. But if you do a gut check and realize rodeo will never be more than a weekend hobby, you’d probably be better served working toward a real career.”
“How come you quit?”
“Excuse me?” Laredo straightened on his folding chair.
“My friend said you were a Navy SEAL but quit.”
It was on the tip of Laredo’s tongue to feed the kid his standard line about how he’d been honorably discharged. The truth—but not quite the whole truth.
Laredo forced a deep breath. “You’re right. I did quit. But not before doing a whole lot of good for my country. What I don’t tell many people is that there’s a lot more to it. I got hurt. That injury will last me a lifetime. What will also last a good long while? My work ethic. The way I learned to never give up. My love for my SEAL brothers. Truly becoming a man. Nothing about joining will be easy for you, but that’s the beauty of it—the harder you work for a goal, the more it means. Do I sometimes have mixed feelings about my time served? Hell, yeah. But I never regret it.”
The kid pressed his lips tight and nodded. “That sounds good.”
“Right on. Fill out this information card and a recruiter will set up a time to chat.”
“Give me one, too,” another kid said. His black cowboy hat looked two sizes too big but given time he’d grow into it. Took years for Laredo to fit into his.
By the time his shift ended, he felt surprisingly good about the day.
He took Lark’s diaper bag from the back of the booth and hefted it over his shoulder.
“Typical woman,” he teased the baby girl. “Always making your man lug around three times as much stuff as you’ll ever actually need.”
She blew him an adorable raspberry.
“I see how it is. You’re flirting me into carrying even more, aren’t you?” When he tickled her tummy, she giggled.
“How was it?” Kyle asked. He’d stopped by to refill brochure holders and make sure the guy working the afternoon shift showed up. He had and already occupied Laredo’s former seat.
“You know, not half bad. Don’t tell anyone, but I actually enjoyed myself.”
“I figured you would. Doesn’t hurt that you had this little charmer to keep you company. Where’s her mom?”
Avoiding you. “Mary’s around here somewhere. I figured she might enjoy a little time to herself.”
“You’re a good man.” His friend slapped his back. “You’d better stop being such a charmer or this gal’s going to declare you caught.”
“It’s not like that.” Laredo adjusted the baby’s pink sun hat. Mary dressed her in a frilly pink plaid sunsuit with matching tiny sandals. “We’re friends. Nothing more.”
“Do you want to be?” Kyle had a special skill for asking painfully awkward direct questions. A good thing for criminal types, but why did he also do it with friends?
“No. And I appreciate you saving your interrogation skills for your office.”
“Touchy...” He grinned. “Yep, you want to be more, but feel like you shouldn’t. Am I right?”
“On that note...” Laredo exited the booth’s canvas shelter with a backhanded wave.
“Hey,” Kyle shouted. “Don’t leave mad. It’s not my fault you wear your heart on your sleeve.”
“Keep walking,” Laredo mumbled to himself under his breath. What would Kyle know about his heart? Or anyone’s for that matter? Had he conveniently forgotten that he was also single?
Laredo passed booth after booth, fighting to not just regain control, but figure out why he’d lost it. His flash of anger made no sense. Mary was his friend. End of story.
Then he looked up to find her strolling toward him through the crowd. She’d worn her dark hair down and it pl
ayed hide-and-seek with her brown eyes. Her floral maxi dress clung to her few curves in all the right ways and her smile—her smile revved his pulse and stole his next breath. He’d always thought her to be pretty, but damn.
“Sorry I’m late.” She slung her small purse over her neck to wear it on her hip, then held out her arms to Lark, who already bucked and grinned to see her mama. “I’ve been sharing lemonades with Sarah and Sally. We got started on wedding talk and I lost track of time.”
“No worries.” He fought the urge to hug her, pull her close to brush his lips to the top of her head, and breathe in the clean, floral scent of her hair. He passed her the baby. “We’ve been taking in the sights. Hungry?”
“Very. I’ve been teased for hours by the scents drifting from food row.”
“What should we try first?”
“Barbecue—and one of those roasting ears. And funnel cake for dessert.”
“You got it.”
They ate beneath the shade of the big striped tent, enjoying their meal while watching couples square dance to old-school country songs. With the baby fed from bottled breastmilk Mary must have pumped that morning when he’d been tending the animals, Laredo cradled Lark in the crook of his right arm. If pressed, he wasn’t sure of the last time he’d felt more at peace.
Mary consulted the day’s activity schedule. “If we hurry, we can just make the last chicken race—assuming you know how to find Larkspur Park?”
“I do, and it’s only about a five-minute walk.”
“Good. Because as full as I am, if it were any farther, you’d have to roll me.”
“Likewise.” He winked before shifting Lark to his shoulders, securing her foot with one hand while gathering their plates with his other.
“Let me get that.” Mary nudged him aside.
“I can do it.”
“Forgive me for doubting your superhero powers, but with my baby six feet off the ground, I’m happy to handle the basics. You focus on safety.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
They exchanged grins.
What would it be like for days like this to be his new normal? This wasn’t his usual scene, but with Mary and Lark, it felt good. Almost normal save for the fact that she would soon be gone.
“You okay?” Mary asked after taking their trash to the bin.
“Sure. Why?”
“All of the sudden you look...ferocious.”
“I’m good. Great.” He forced a smile, then did what felt natural by holding out his hand.
At first, she seemed taken aback by his gesture. Looking down and then away, but then lightly pressing her palm to his. The sensation was all at once electrifying yet calming. Thrilling yet soothing. He didn’t know how, but without even trying, she and Lark calmed the beast roaring in his head. The one still angry about Carrie and losing his night vision and forever being alone.
With her, for now, he was once again part of something bigger than himself and it didn’t just feel good, but sublime.
But that was every bit as much of an illusion as her smile.
What he needed to remember was that she had secrets. Secrets possibly more explosive than any bomb he’d detonated while on active duty.
* * *
Holding Laredo’s hand tightened Robin’s throat. Sharing this sun-drenched afternoon, watching him with Lark in his arms produced a keen longing that was nearly too much to bear.
This was the way her life was supposed to have turned out.
Instead, she’d been beaten and humiliated and forced to do something she’d never dreamed possible. Because of that, her life had now spun in an entirely new direction. All she had was today and tomorrow before her car would be repaired and she would resume the forward momentum necessary to carry Lark to safety.
Freedom.
But until then...
She swallowed hard, brushing tears from her eyes before Laredo saw. Until then, she would allow this dream to play out in glorious Technicolor.
On their way to the races, they passed a small carnival midway with whirling rides blasting rock music and screaming teens. There were barkers calling out for folks to try their games. Teasing whiffs of cotton candy and popcorn made her hungry all over again.
Often Laredo ran into friends.
Each time, he’d introduce her and Lark, explaining that she was the woman who’d been carjacked. News must have spread fast as everyone greeted her effusively, apologizing before assuring her nothing like that had ever happened in their small town.
Through it all, Robin held tight to Laredo’s hand. She wanted to believe herself strong, but when she thought she’d caught sight of Kyle, her pounding heart told her she wasn’t at all strong, but a coward who had no business dragging Laredo into her mess.
When they reached the grassy park where the races were being held, Laredo led her to the top row on a set of small bleachers facing the historic blond brick courthouse, shaded by majestic cottonwoods.
A ten-foot-wide course had been established using chicken wire draped in red, white and blue bunting. At one end of the twenty-yard course stood six antsy owners and their hens.
“How does this work?” she asked Laredo.
“It doesn’t. Bedlam is the best way to describe it. The owners will get out in front of their hens, jogging backward to try coaxing them toward the finish. I’ve seen some folks have luck using worms. Sometimes the chickens just wander and the race takes an hour or more. Other times, a hen gets spooked and charges straight for the finish line.”
“Ever think of entering one of your hens?”
He laughed. “My crew are too fat and lazy.”
“Aw, that’s not nice.”
“But true.” He smiled again before lowering Lark to his lap. “They’re about to start. Care to place a friendly wager?”
“I would, but—” her smile faded “—I don’t have cash to spare.”
“Let’s make it more interesting by raising the stakes. I’m talking way higher than mere money. If you win, I’ll cook dinner and do dishes. I win, you get the honors.”
“Hmm...” Head cocked, she considered her odds. “Since you’re the only one of us who’s ever even heard of a chicken race, how is that fair? How do I pick a winner?”
“I’ll never tell.” Stealing her breath with a slow and easy grin, he teased, “Of course, if you’re too chicken to place a simple bet, then we can just watch.”
“Oh—them’s fighting words.”
“Ladies first—choose who you think will dominate.”
Robin took a moment to ponder her choices. “I’m going for the teen with pigtails and overalls. She looks young enough to be especially spry. Plus, see the way she holds her hen? They seem connected on a deeper level than some of her competition.”
“Fair enough,” he said. “I respect your opinion, but I’m thinking the clear choice is the grandfatherly sort who’s been whispering to his hen while feeding her dandelions. Ned says they’re like chicken tranquilizers. Nice and calming.”
“Yeah, but isn’t the point for the hens to be speedy?”
Dawning was slow to come, but when it did, he slapped his knee and cursed under his breath. “You make a valid point.”
Grinning, she asked, “Care to change your bet?”
“Absolutely. I’m going with the guy in the sleeveless Metallica T-shirt with all the tattoos and a mullet.”
“Final answer? They’re about to start...”
He nodded. “I’m sure he’s the winner.” Glancing at the baby, he added, “Lark agrees.”
“I’ll bet she does.” As all six hens and their handlers approached the starting line, Robin couldn’t quit smiling. When was the last time she’d had this much fun? Far too long ago.
Sadly, once she left, she might not feel this carefree for many more years to come. Fighting to pu
t that reality aside in favor of savoring the here and now, she leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees.
A referee dressed in black and white stepped up to a microphone. “Let’s keep this a clean, family-fun race. No elbowing fellow handlers or shouting obscenities. If you wouldn’t do it in church, don’t do it here. Everyone understand?”
Laredo leaned close. “He refs the high school football and basketball games during the week, then preaches on Sunday. In his spare time, he also handles weddings and funerals.”
“Impressive,” Robin said with a smile.
“On your marks... Get set... Go!”
Bluegrass played over a loudspeaker while all six chickens wandered the course—none in too big of a hurry to complete the race.
The crowd went wild, shouting for their favorites as most hens seemed content to forage for worms and bugs rather than listen to their handlers.
“Come on, Pigtail Girl!” Like everyone around her, Robin stood.
Laredo followed her lead. “Run, Metallica Man! Run!”
After at least ten minutes of coaxing and cajoling, the grandfather reached into one of his baggy overalls pockets and pulled out a couple of marigold blossoms.
His hen caught sight of them and perked right up.
“Is that fair?” Robin asked.
“Unfortunately, yes.”
The older gentleman backward shuffled all the way to the finish line, where he gave his hen her prize.
“We have a winner!” The announcer gifted the winning hen with a tiny sash that read: WING-DING CHAMPION!
“We both lost,” Laredo said.
“What do we do for dinner now?” Robin asked.
“Share the workload?”
“Deal.”
The crowd pressed them together, with Lark giggling and cooing between them.
Home on the Ranch: Colorado Cowboy SEAL Page 7