The relief on her face was the final straw. He’d do this, not just for Fred’s benefit, but his own. Annie had made it clear, when she visited his ranch, that he needed help. And, for starters, he needed to make sure he didn’t lose any more sheep. So he’d learn whatever Maya could teach him. “Would Monday morning fit with your schedule?”
“Monday would be fine.” Her mouth twitched at the corner, like she was trying not to laugh. And it did feel good to be sticking it to Fred, after he’d been so rude to her. But he suspected it was more. Even if it was only for a few minutes, they were on the same side, and an echo of their old connection rippled between them. She had to feel it too.
“Oh Caleb, I’m so glad you’re taking advantage of Maya’s expertise,” Mrs. Axel exclaimed. She looked at Fred and there was steel behind her kind eyes. “Did you know Maya is one of our country’s leading experts on predator interaction? Her work has been written up in several magazines and many scholarly journals.”
“Mrs. Axel!” Maya’s face went an adorable tomato red.
“What? I can’t follow the career of one of my most beloved students? You should take advantage of her knowledge, Fred. She’ll only be in town for a few more weeks.”
Her words hit Caleb in the chest. A reminder that Maya wasn’t here to stay. Which was a good thing. They both had their own lives to lead.
But maybe if they worked together while she was here, Caleb could finally get some closure. Because Maya took up this space inside him, not in his heart exactly, but maybe in his soul, and it didn’t leave much room for anyone else.
When he’d been in the service, his lack of a romantic life hadn’t been much of a problem. But now that he was home, he figured at some point he’d want to try to meet someone. But it was hard to imagine it when Maya’s face, her smile, all that they’d had and all that he’d destroyed was always there. Like a mess he could not figure out how to clean up.
If they spent some time together, and he got to know who she was now, maybe his heart would accept that the girl he’d loved had grown up into this tough, successful scientist, who had no room for a broke rancher like him in her life. And then maybe he could finally let that girl go.
“So, what do you think, Fred?” Mrs. Axel pressed. “Are you going to work with Maya?”
Caleb glanced at Fred Corrigan, wondering how he would protest. But no one could resist Mrs. Axel. She’d taught every child in this town. Fred’s kids too, Caleb reckoned.
Sure enough, Fred fell like a tree in a windstorm. “I’ll consider it,” he told Mrs. Axel. He must have realized it was a good moment to make his escape. “Well, I’ll see you all later.” He hustled away across the field, glancing back a time or two as if he was worried about being followed.
“You’d think he was being chased off by a pack of cougars or something,” Monique drawled, and the other women started laughing. Caleb took in the group, surprised to see Trisha had joined them. She had on the same blue T-shirt as the other women.
“Aren’t you a little young to be a cougar?” he asked.
She grinned. “I think it’s more of an honorary thing.” Then her smile faded a little. “Thank you again for the other night,” she said softly. “At the bar.”
“Hey, it’s ancient history,” he assured her. “Don’t even mention it. Plus didn’t you thank me about a hundred times already?”
She flushed. “Yes, probably. But it’s the kind of thing there aren’t really enough words for.”
“Well, you’ll have to keep the rest of them to yourself, or I’m going to get a big head.”
Maya, who’d been looking at Trisha, and then him, gave a small snort. She flushed when they both glanced her way, and turned to gather up her pamphlets.
“Perhaps someone thinks your head is already large enough.” Trisha winked at Caleb and put a hand on Maya’s shoulder. “Can I help you pack up? I think your grandmother is having us all over for drinks at her house now.”
“Oh no, I’m fine. I don’t need any help,” Maya answered.
It was Caleb’s turn to make a derisive sound. It was classic Maya. Fiercely independent.
“What?” Maya looked from one of them to the other.
“I don’t know you that well, Maya,” Trisha said. “But I get the feeling that’s your standard answer to any offer of help.” She grabbed a tote bag from under Maya’s table and started loading fact sheets into it. “I’m helping. Get used to it, lady.”
Caleb listened to them laugh and tried to absorb this new information. Trisha and Maya were becoming friends? He’d never have expected that these two would put the past behind them and choose to spend time together.
If they could do it, then maybe he and Maya could do it too.
Annie interrupted his thoughts with a hand to his elbow. “I’ve had an idea, Caleb, and I don’t want you to say no right away. Just listen to me, and think about it for a while, okay?”
Uh-oh. Whatever it was, Annie looked like she had the bit in her teeth and was ready to run. Keeping her hand firmly on his elbow, she led him closer to her fellow Cougars for Cougars. “What do you all think about throwing Caleb a good old-fashioned barn raising?”
“That’s a great idea!” Maya’s grandmother, Lillian, clapped her hands together. “How fun! Caleb...you’ve agreed to this?”
Caleb stared. “Um...”
“It’s just the kick in the pants his ranch needs to get on its feet again,” Annie explained.
Caleb felt like she was giving him a kick in his pants. One he wasn’t at all ready for.
“Wouldn’t it be fun to get the whole community out to your ranch for a project like that?” Mrs. Axel beamed at him. “We could feed everyone, and maybe even have a barn dance afterward? We’ll make it a party.”
Caleb was about to protest when Lillian put a soft, warm hand on his arm. “I would love to help organize it, Caleb, if you’re all right with the idea.”
“I’m...” He didn’t know what he was, but whatever the feeling, he couldn’t voice it because of the lump stuck in his throat. Grandma Lillian had felt like his own grandmother growing up. He’d spent so many evenings at her house with Maya, watching old movies, eating popcorn, drinking lemonade, listening to her stories about living in Shelter Creek when she was young.
He’d lost her when he’d lost Maya. Yet here she was, despite the way he’d treated her granddaughter, offering help.
“I think he means yes.” Monique, the owner of the salon, gave him a wink.
Grandma Lillian clapped her hands together gently and gave Caleb a smile with her twinkling eyes. “Well, that’s settled then.” She turned to her friends. “Cougars? Who here is up for planning a barn raising?”
Every hand shot up, and pretty soon the group was clustered together at one end of Maya’s information table, making to-do lists on their phones.
Maya was still busy packing up. When Caleb moved a couple of bags off the table so she could remove the cloth, she gave him a small smile and tilted her head to the other women. “They’re a force of nature.” She picked up a stuffed mountain lion from the table and waved it at him. “They showed up this morning and decorated my table. They passed out fliers all afternoon. They’re all in Grandma’s book club, The Book Biddies, but now they’re also Cougars for Cougars.”
“They’re trying to help you out.”
“Well, now they’re helping us out, because you’re getting a barn raising, whether you like it or not.” She folded the tablecloth, not meeting his eyes. “I’m surprised you accepted their help.”
“It’s the second offer of help from Annie. It feels rude to keep saying no. And your grandmother was always kind to me. I couldn’t say no to her either.”
“And now you want to work with me?” She glanced at him, her brown eyes clouded with questions, like redwoods in fog. “What changed your mind?”
Emotion rose and scattered his words, but this time Caleb took a deep breath, and then another, and found them. “I was such a jerk when you came to my ranch. I was embarrassed, about my drinking, about how bad the place looks. And all that stuff you said about the accident—it was hard to hear. But you’re right. Especially about me not taking my share of the blame. I’m not making excuses for my behavior...for any of it. But I am sorry. Really sorry.”
She nodded, but stayed silent. So he plowed ahead.
“Then there was that scene with my aunt the other night, and then Fred here.” He cleared his throat, forcing himself to continue. “I don’t want to hold on to the past the way they are.”
She studied him for a moment, with a look that reminded him of the coyote he’d run into on his ranch early this morning. A long, assessing look, as if she was wondering whether to run, attack or just wait for him to go on his way. “Okay,” she finally said. “I’ll come by Monday, in the morning, like we said.”
“Thank you. I’ll be sober. And ready to listen.”
“That would be helpful.” The press of her lips might be holding back a smile. Fair enough. He deserved her derision and more. She was going to give him another chance. She was willing to help him. That’s what mattered.
He turned to go, feeling like he wanted to stay, to be the guy who packed up her fliers, took down her table and carried it all to his truck. Which was ridiculous. He’d lost the right to be that guy over a decade ago. It was just old memories, an old way of being with her showing up because they hadn’t yet figured out who they were, now that their paths had crossed again.
“Caleb?”
He turned back. She was as still as that coyote, her eyes just as unfathomable. “I’m sorry too.”
He nodded, not quite sure what she was apologizing for. But he was grateful that she was reaching out, when he’d given her so many reasons to push him away. “Thanks. See you soon.”
Caleb said a quick goodbye to the Cougars for Cougars and headed for his truck.
As he moved through the rodeo crowd, a few people stopped to congratulate him on his ride earlier today and to thank him for his service. Others waved and smiled. Caleb flexed his rusty muscles into some semblance of a return smile until his mouth hurt. But he didn’t mind the discomfort so much.
He’d been back in Shelter Creek for over two months now, but he’d spent so much of that time feeling lost. Today he felt like maybe, just maybe, he’d finally made it home.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
MAYA HANDED KATHY and Eva the cocktails Grandma was whipping up in the kitchen. “Cougaritas,” Grandma called them, in honor of their successful day at the rodeo. Really they were margaritas with some grenadine added to tint them pink.
“This looks amazing,” Eva said, taking an appreciative sip.
Trisha walked in with two more glasses and a pitcher on a tray. “Here, Annie, take this one. And Mrs. Ax—Priscilla, this is yours.”
“You girls just can’t get used to calling me anything but my teacher name, can you?” Mrs. Axel asked.
Maya glanced at Trisha and they both laughed.
“You’re right,” Maya said. “Once someone’s teacher, always their teacher, I guess. But we love you, no matter what we call you.”
Trisha sat down on Grandma’s sofa, next to Mrs. Axel, and gave her a hug. “You were the best teacher. Maybe that’s why we can’t think of you any other way.”
Mrs. Axel wiped at her eyes. “Oh that is the sweetest thing you could say to me.”
Maya realized that Trisha had no glass in her hand. “Can I get you a cougarita?”
A shadow of something—worry maybe?—flitted across Trisha’s pretty face.
“No, thanks. I’m going to stick with water. I think I got a little dehydrated out there at the rodeo today.”
“That was a great event.” Monique came in with a couple more glasses on a tray. “We must have distributed a hundred of your fliers, Maya. Most people seemed excited to have some information about mountain lions. I’ll bet your phone will be ringing off the hook with people wanting your advice.”
“I hope so.” Maya sank into one of Grandma’s big fluffy armchairs. Einstein, who’d been lying out of the way behind the sofa, came over and flopped down at her feet.
“That dog knows where his bread is buttered,” Kathy said.
“He’s lucky Maya found him.” Annie left her seat by the piano and knelt by Einstein, who raised his head and regarded Annie with his big brown eyes.
“I swear, the stories this creature would tell if he could talk.” Annie caressed the big dog’s rough coat. “Where’d you lose that leg, Einstein? How did you end up by the side of the road?”
“He’s gained weight,” Eva said. “He was skin and bones when you brought him home.”
“Grandma’s been fattening him up,” Maya said. “Slipping him extra treats all the time. He’s gotten very spoiled.”
“He deserves to be spoiled,” Trisha said. “How could someone abandon this sweet dog? Emily, the vet, thinks he’s only about five years old. His gray hair came in early because he’s had such a hard life.”
“Here.” Monique filled Maya’s half-empty glass back to the top. “You probably need this more than any of us. What a nuisance that rancher was. Fred Corrigan? I just wanted to smack that man.”
“You could have taken him out with that hat of yours.” Annie gave Einstein one last pat and returned to her seat.
“Hey, I like that hat.” Monique set the tray down on the coffee table. “It protects my complexion. I always tell my clients that blocking the sun is the number one way to prevent aging. And skin cancer.”
Annie ran a hand over her own weather-beaten cheeks. “Oh well. Guess I’m a little late for that.”
“It’s never too late,” Monique assured her. “You should come by the salon this week. I’ve got some great products to even out your skin tone. And you know, if we put some dark lowlights in that gorgeous gray hair of yours, it would be even more dramatic.”
Annie eyed Monique thoughtfully. “You know, I might just do that.”
“Annie!” Kathy stared at her friend in shock. “I’ve never, in our whole lives, known you to go to a salon.”
“Well, maybe there’s a first time for everything.” The pink of Annie’s drink matched the pink of her cheeks.
“Oh Annie, does this mean you are finally going to go out with Juan Alvaro?” Everyone turned to stare at Grandma Lillian, who was bustling in with another pitcher. “Oh come on,” Grandma said. “Didn’t you all know? That rancher has been sweet on Annie for years.”
“You come by my salon, date or no date,” Monique told Annie. “I’ll fix you up.”
“Speaking of being sweet on someone,” Trisha said, “Caleb Dunne certainly came to your rescue today, Maya. I couldn’t believe it when he showed up at your rodeo table to stop old Fred from going on one of his tirades. I was way over by the arena, and I saw Fred start in. Just when I was trying to decide if I was brave enough to come to your rescue myself, there was Caleb, striding over. So I figured you’d be okay.”
“I was pretty shocked too,” Maya said. “He’s the last person I thought would help.”
“He seems to have a thing for damsels in distress,” Trisha said. “He rescued me a couple of weeks ago. I’d finally worked up the courage to try online dating and I met this guy at Dex’s. He slipped something in my drink while I was at the bathroom.”
“What?” Maya put her drink down in shock.
“That is horrible.” Grandma’s face was pale. “Trisha, I’m so sorry.”
“It’s scary to think about,” Trisha said. “But nothing happened to me, thanks to Caleb. He saw it happen and went ballistic. He threw the guy out of the bar. People had to restrain him from ripping him to shreds in the parking lot.”
“So th
at’s what the fight in the bar was about.” Monique regarded Trisha thoughtfully over the rim of her glass. “I heard about it, but I had no idea it was all in your defense.”
“I came back from the bathroom and my date was already getting arrested. I’d missed the entire thing. I thanked Caleb when he came back in, but he just kind of grunted and went to play pool with Jace.”
“Well, Caleb has always had a bit of a temper,” Grandma Lillian said. “But maybe it was put to good use that night.”
Maya was staring from one to the other, trying to take in all that was being said. “What happened to the guy?” she asked Trisha.
“I pressed charges,” Trisha said. “They had the whole thing on Dex’s security footage, and the bartender saved my glass, so there’s evidence against him. I don’t want him trying that on anyone else.”
“What a creep,” Eva said. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”
Trisha shuddered. “Me too. I’m telling you, it is brutal out in the dating world. Every time I try to date anyone, it’s a disaster. And now I don’t think I’ll have the nerve to go out with anyone for a long time.” She looked at Annie and smiled. “Maybe when I’m your age, Annie. And I’ve been friends with the guy for decades. Juan sounds perfect.”
Annie grimaced. “I sure hope so. It’s a different universe from when we were young. Right, ladies?”
All of The Biddies nodded sagely.
“I’m glad I put those days behind me,” Kathy said. “Annie, you’re brave, thinking about having a man in your life again.”
“Well, not just any man. But Juan and I...well, we have a lot to talk about. I don’t even know if it’s a date, but he did suggest that we get dinner next week.”
“Whoo-hoo!” Mrs. Axel raised her glass. “Annie has a date!”
It was amazing how girlish The Biddies seemed, giggling into their pink drinks. Maya raised her glass to Annie, along with the rest of them, and sipped her cougarita. It was so refreshing after the long, stressful day.
“But,” Trisha said brightly, “let’s change the subject back to Maya and Caleb. Because I saw you two talking even after we got Fred out of there. And now he wants your help on his ranch. Is it possible that an old flame is rekindling?”
Reunited with the Cowboy Page 12