The Cowboy's Christmas Baby

by Cathy McDavid

  Her parents had purchased a townhouse in Rio Verde, the closest community to Mustang Valley, that was ideal for their needs. The escrow was closing next month. They’d delayed their departure and in a few days were driving home to Oklahoma in order to pack and purchase the items and furnishings they’d need for the townhouse. They would then rent a moving truck and return to Arizona a day or two before the closing.

  Had Jewel and Tanner not argued, the Saunderses and Bridwells might have spent New Year’s Eve as one large happy family. His sadness and remorse over their split hadn’t changed his mind, however, despite the unbearable loneliness he felt whenever no one was around. At least Daniel and Rosalyn were doing better. He had that to console him.

  Most days, it wasn’t enough. He resented Daniel for the award he was receiving tonight at the Double Eights Rodeo and had chosen to boycott the event. His mom had tried repeatedly to change his mind, encountering a brick wall when she did.

  His dad had thrown Tanner for a loop when he’d expressed regret that it wasn’t Tanner receiving the award. But his dad hadn’t tried to talk Daniel out of going to the rodeo. To everyone but Tanner, his dad was supportive and proud of his oldest son.

  In fact, all talk of Daniel clearing Tanner’s name had ceased. He refused to even consider it, and Tanner didn’t press him. Why bother? Since he and Jewel were no longer together, he’d lost interest in proving himself right, fighting for what he deserved and correcting past wrongs.

  Other than Ava, and a promotion, he was right back where he’d been before Jewel had arrived in Mustang Valley. Alone, keeping to himself and miserable.

  Parking the tractor behind the horse barn, he hopped down from the seat. At that same moment, Ethan appeared from around the corner. He walked with less of a limp than a few weeks ago, having had his surgery to repair the nerve damage to his leg right after Christmas.

  “We had a good turnout today,” he commented when they met up beside the hay shed. “Better than last summer.”

  “That’s what the guys were saying.”

  Every ranch hand, along with Ethan’s wife and their part-time bookkeeper, had been recruited to work the stud sale. Most had gone home after the last truck and trailer had exited the parking area. Tanner had volunteered to remain and grade the arena, as much to distract himself as because he felt that it was his responsibility as the new head barn manager.

  “We made a decent profit.” Ethan wore a big smile.

  “Can’t knock that.”

  Tanner didn’t know the full details, only that the ranch received a small percentage on each stud service sale. The higher the price, the more money the ranch made.

  Together, they ambled toward the ranch office located in the horse barn. “You mind if I sign out now?” Tanner asked.

  “Hardly. You’ve worked your tail off today.” Ethan entered the office first. “You decide to attend Daniel’s award ceremony, after all?”

  “Naw.”

  “You must be seeing Jewel, then.”

  Tanner grabbed a pen and filled in his hours on his time sheet, then replaced it in the slot with his name. “Nope. Just getting ready for having Ava tomorrow. Mom brought over a secondhand playpen the other day and a high chair and a bunch of other baby stuff I have no idea how to use.”

  “You’ll get the hang of it.” Ethan chuckled. He was the father of two youngsters himself. “Jewel working tonight?”

  Why did his boss care? “She had a wedding this afternoon.”

  “Maybe you should call her. See if she’s free later.”

  “Ha. I doubt she has any interest in seeing me.”

  Ethan gave his head a disgusted shake. “How long has it been? A week? Two?”

  Tanner didn’t have to ask what his boss was referring to. He knew. The fight with Jewel on Christmas Day. “Two. Why?”

  “I just figured you’d have come to your senses by now.”

  “I’m not wrong. She backed me into a corner and then gave up on us the first chance she got.”

  “She did do that.”

  “Then why am I the one who needs to come to their senses?”

  “You aren’t wrong, Tanner. Jewel let you down. But that doesn’t mean you aren’t making a mistake.”

  “About what?”

  “You should go tonight to watch your brother.”

  “Uh-uh. Not happening.”

  He’d told Ethan the entire story and Ethan had agreed that Tanner was in a tough spot with no good option. That his boss would now take a different stand irritated Tanner.

  “Daniel knows why I’m staying home,” he answered flatly.

  “He’s not the reason you should go. Jewel and Ava are.”

  “What does me seeing Daniel receive his award have to do with them?”

  Ethan thumped the side of Tanner’s cowboy hat. “Man, if you don’t recognize the connection, you’re not as smart as I thought you were.”

  Tanner wasn’t one for riddles. “Speak plainly, pal.”

  “First off.” Ethan perched on the corner of an old battered desk. “Daniel needs to see you there. You ignoring him makes it easy for him to pretend he did nothing wrong.”

  Jewel had previously said something similar. At the time, Tanner hadn’t been ready to listen. He was now.

  “You need to make this hard on him,” his boss continued. “Rub his face in it. Dare him to look you in the eyes.”

  Could Tanner do that? He wanted to. Every waking moment.

  “And second,” Ethan went on, “for the life of me, I can’t understand why you’re not fighting for Jewel. You love her, don’t you? And your kid?”

  Tanner nodded, his throat closing.

  “Then let her know by telling Daniel to his face, at the rodeo tonight if possible, he has no right to that award.”

  “I wouldn’t confront him at the restaurant. I sure won’t do it in front of a crowd. Enough people enjoyed seeing my dirty laundry the last time. I’m not ready for a repeat.”

  “There’s always beforehand or afterward. But you need to confront Daniel and your dad. They’ve taken everything from you. Twice.”

  “Not their fault. I’m the one who went along.”

  “Because you’re a good, decent man, Tanner. But there’s a limit to how much you’re required to sacrifice for Daniel’s sake.”

  “He wasn’t responsible for what he did.”

  “Neither are you. Yet you’re the one paying the price.” Ethan shifted. “As I see it, the problem is that you can’t separate Daniel’s illness from the cheating incident. And you need to. It’s the only way you can fix this mess.”

  “Easy for you to say.”

  Ethan squeezed his shoulder. “You did everything you could for him when he needed you the most. Now, it’s his turn to do right by you.”

  “I can’t force him to come clean.”

  “You can try. And that’s all Jewel wants from you. An honest effort.”

  Tanner hesitated. Why did fighting for Jewel have to pit him against his sick brother?

  “The Tanner I’ve known all these years isn’t a quitter.”

  Ethan’s dig had the desired effect. Something snapped inside Tanner. He wasn’t a quitter and didn’t like being called one. Quitters didn’t outperform the competition and become contenders for a world championship. They didn’t leave the women they loved even when they were shown the door.

  The good news was that Jewel hadn’t left Mustang Valley. They still had a chance. One he shouldn’t throw away.

  A glance at the office clock confirmed he had plenty of time to change clothes and drive to the Double Eights Rodeo in Apache Junction.

  “What are you waiting for?” Ethan asked.

  Tanner blew through the office door, tossing a, “See you tomorrow,” over his shoulder to Ethan.

  Once in h
is truck, Tanner drove straight for the freeway. If traffic cooperated, he’d reach the rodeo arena before the ceremony. He didn’t call Daniel or his dad to let them know he was coming—he preferred the element of surprise.

  The rodeo was in full swing when he arrived. Finding a space in the crammed parking lot, he jogged to the sales windows. There were only a few stragglers like him in line. He purchased a general admission ticket and hurried toward the entrance gate. Handing the attendant his ticket, he entered the bustling front area and fished out his phone.

  “Where are you?” he asked in response to Daniel’s hello.

  “We’re in the VIP section down front.”

  Tanner wouldn’t be allowed there, not without a similar pass.

  “When’s the award ceremony?” Over the tops of heads, he spotted a sign pointing to the VIP section and started walking that way. He bumped shoulders with and navigated between people coming and going to the concession stands and restrooms.

  “In about an hour,” Daniel said. “Right after the calf roping and before the bull riding.”

  “Can you meet me outside of...” He peered around. “Section one-sixteen?” That was the closest he could get to the VIP section without going in.

  “You’re here?”

  “I am.”

  “You’re kidding! That’s great.”

  Tanner heard the smile in his brother’s voice. He must think all was forgiven. Too bad he was in for a rude awakening.

  “Come meet me,” Tanner said.

  “We’ll be right there.”

  “No. Alone.”

  “What’s going on?” Daniel had obviously become suspicious.

  “Just meet me, okay? It’s important.”

  “Fine. Be there in a few.”

  By the time Daniel emerged from the throng of people, Tanner was jittery with anticipation.

  “What’s going on, bro?”

  “Let’s find somewhere to talk.”

  Not wanting a repeat of their public argument at the mall, he led Daniel to a relatively empty corner next to a vendor booth. While not private, they were removed from the path of rodeo patrons.

  He didn’t beat around the bush. “You can’t accept this award, Daniel.”

  “The heck I can’t.”

  “You’re my brother, and I love you. But you didn’t earn it, and you have no right to it.”

  “I did earn it. I’ve had a great career, and I won a world championship.”

  “If I’d told the truth about the judge, you’d have been disqualified. Not me.”

  “This is the first good thing to happen to me since my diagnosis.” His anger faded and desperation took its place.

  “I’m not asking you to confess. Just to turn down the award. You owe me that much.”

  “I know you sacrificed a lot for me, and I’m grateful. Someday, somehow, I promise I’ll repay you. But I need this one award. My marriage depends on it.”

  When was it going to stop? Tanner wondered. “I lost Jewel. She’s done with me. And I only get to see my daughter a few times a week. You see your kids every day.”

  Daniel’s anger reappeared as quickly as it had vanished. “Yeah, well you get to hold down a job. My paycheck comes in the form of a disability payment from the government.”

  “For once, put me ahead of you.”

  “You’re just jealous.”

  “What I am, brother, is good and angry. I’ve also had my fill of letting you take advantage of me.”

  “Right. What are you going to do?”

  “For starters,” Tanner said, “tell the truth about what really happened that night in the bar with the judge.”

  Daniel’s expression darkened. “Dad won’t like this.”

  “You’re thirty-four years old. Time you stopped running to Dad every time you don’t get your way.”

  “I have cancer.”

  “And that just sucks. It doesn’t, however, give you a free pass to take advantage of others. You made a mistake. Granted, you weren’t thinking clearly. There’s no one who won’t understand that, including Rosalyn and, probably, the arena owners.”

  “You wasted your time coming here tonight.” Daniel squeezed the handle on his cane and turned on shaky legs. “What’s done is done. We need to move on, and you need to stop living in the past.”

  Tanner grabbed his brother’s arm before he could escape. “I’d have traded places with you in a heartbeat if I could. Been the one with cancer. I love you that much.”

  “Then why won’t you let this go?” Daniel’s eyes glistened.

  “Because I finally realized being the kind of man Jewel wants for a husband, the kind of father Ava deserves, is more important to me than covering for you. And in order for you to be the kind of man Rosalyn and your kids deserve, you need to come clean.”

  Daniel stared at Tanner, and for a brief moment, he thought his brother might relent. He was wrong.

  “Sorry you came all this way for nothing.” Daniel ripped his arm away and progressed unsteadily toward the VIP section.

  Tanner stood there, watching until his brother disappeared into the crowd. Had he done enough? Would Jewel take him back?

  He removed the general admission ticket from his jacket pocket and studied it, the printed words and numbers swimming before his eyes. Staying for the awards ceremony would serve no purpose. If he had any sense, he’d leave.

  For reasons beyond his comprehension, he spun on his heel and went in the opposite direction to the closest general admission seating section.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  JEWEL CLEARED THE tiny kitchen unit counter, washing and drying the few remaining dirty dishes. Her parents had arrived a short while ago, their faces bright and their moods elated. They’d met with a contractor at the townhouse. Before moving in, they were having the entire inside repainted, new carpeting laid, custom interior doors hung and shelving installed in the closets and garage.

  “Who’s hungry?” her dad asked. He sat in the recliner, bouncing Ava on his knee. “We could go to the café for dinner. The food’s good.”

  “And it’s a family place,” her mom added. She sat across from him on one of the dining chairs, participating in playtime with a very active Ava. “No one will mind a baby.”

  Her dad had to repeat the question. “Jewel? You listening?”

  “Yeah. The café sounds good. Let me finish with the dishes.”

  “You okay, honey?” her mom asked.

  “Fine.”

  A bald-faced lie. She was far from fine. Tonight, Tanner’s brother was being honored at the Double Eights Rodeo—in roughly one hour, according to the schedule posted online. She’d looked. Several times.

  Anger at Daniel and Huck Bridwell, at what they’d put Tanner and her through, gnawed at her relentlessly. She failed to understand how Tanner could let his brother get away with it. Yes, he was boycotting the event, but big deal. Thousands of people were going to watch Daniel and believe him worthy of all the accolades.

  Poor Tanner. At the thought of him, her anger, vivid and consuming a moment ago, diminished. How she wished she was with him, wherever he might be. Except they were hardly talking. Which, to be honest, was her fault.

  “I have to say, that’s the longest dishwashing in history.”

  Hearing her mom’s voice, Jewel turned, embarrassed at being caught daydreaming. “I’m almost done. Give me another second.”

  “We don’t have to go to the café. We can send your dad out for pizza.”

  The mention of pizza reminded Jewel of that night not long ago when she and Tanner had shared a pizza and kissed.

  “Or,” her mom continued, “we can leave and eat by ourselves if you’re not feeling up to it.”

  “No. I’ll go.”

  She did need to eat. She’d skipped lunch to
day, her breakfast sitting like a lead ball in her stomach. Emily had noticed her preoccupation during the wedding and become concerned. After that, Jewel had forced herself to concentrate.

  “Is it the rodeo tonight that has you distracted?” her mom asked.

  “Among other things.”

  “Feel like talking?”

  Jewel released a heavy sigh. “I had a conversation with my attorney yesterday. I’m thinking of renegotiating the custody agreement.”

  Her mom blinked and then frowned. “Really?”

  “With Tanner and I being at such odds, I’m not sure I’m ready for him to have Ava two whole days.”

  “What brought this on?”

  “I hate the idea of being separated from her overnight. I’d hate it less if you and Dad were babysitting, but you won’t be here.”

  “Attending the Tucson rodeo was your idea.”

  “I know.” She placed the last two spoons in the dish rack. “I can’t imagine what I was thinking when I accepted the assignment.”

  She’d been given two choices, Tucson or the Double Eights Rodeo. Apache Junction was an hour away, no staying overnight. But no way could she bear watching Daniel receive this award.

  “Take Ava with you,” her mom suggested.

  “It’s Tanner’s weekend with her. I doubt he’ll let me.”

  “What about switching with him?” her mom suggested. “Or he could go with you. Wasn’t traveling together an option when you were still considering returning to rodeo?”

  “Mmm...no. Not a good idea.”

  Her mom pursed her mouth. “Can I say something without you getting mad?”

  “When you put it like that, no promises.”

  “Don’t punish Tanner because you two broke up.”

  It was Jewel’s turn to blink and frown. “I’m not punishing him!”

  “Then what’s the real reason for this sudden need to renegotiate the custody agreement?”

  “I’m not the vindictive type, Mom.”

  “Not intentionally.” Her mom lifted one shoulder. “But you’re angry and hurt.”