by Ciana Stone
Cody looked over her shoulder at the little girl. Bless her. Bernice was a chubby little girl with chestnut brown hair braided into two pigtails that hung half-way down her back. Her clothes were dirty and not of the best quality and her warm brown, long lashed eyes were magnified by horn-rimmed glasses.
She smiled at Cody and Cody’s heart melted. What a sweet smile and what an adorable little girl. How could Belinda’s parents not help?
“Like I said, I’ll put you up. The folks moved into town so it’s just me at the ranch now and I have plenty of room. And if you want a job, I’ll help you find one.”
“Couldn’t I work here?” Belinda asked.
“Who’d watch Bernice?”
“Maybe she could just sleep in the office while I’m working or something.”
Cody almost snapped at Belinda. Why would any mother suggest such a thing? “No, that won’t do so until you can arrange for childcare, you’ll need to find something else. I’ll ask around town and see who’s hiring.”
“Fine.” Belinda’s bark had Cody turning toward her. Belinda hurriedly apologized. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I don’t mean to sound ungrateful. I just… It’s just been real hard.”
“I’m sorry Belinda. I really am and I’m happy to help, but you have to think about your little girl first. By the way, how old is she?”
“She’ll be four the day after Christmas.”
Cody looked over at Bernice who was sitting quietly, watching. “Are you hungry, Bernice?” Cody asked as she popped the sandwiches into the oven to warm.
“Me is really hungry.”
Cody grinned and spooned potato salad onto a paper plate. She put it on the table in front of Bernice. “Why don’t you start with this, honey bun? Your sandwich will be ready in just a few minutes.”
“Tank you.” Bernice smiled and accepted the spoon Cody offered.
As soon as she started shoveling potato salad into her mouth, Cody turned to Belinda. “After you’ve eaten, I’ll take you over to the ranch.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Cody started cleaning up. “You want to get her a glass of milk or some juice?”
“She’s fine. How long until those sandwiches are ready? We haven’t eaten since the day before yesterday and I’m about to starve.”
Cody was once more taken aback. Was Belinda that unconcerned with her daughter’s welfare, or was Cody being too sensitive? She stole a look at the child. Bernice had already cleaned her plate and was using her finger to wipe up the remains of the potato salad.
Abandoning the task of straightening up, Cody dug out a container of macaroni and cheese, filled a bowl and popped it into the microwave. Twenty seconds later, she removed the bowl and set it in front of Bernice. “You like macaroni and cheese?”
“Me really likes macci and cheese.” Bernice grinned and dug in. After a moment she stopped and looked at Cody. “You want some? Me share.”
“No sweetheart, you eat all you want.” Cody gave the child a smile before turning to get back to the task of cleaning up. That was when she saw Belinda eating out of the potato salad container.
To say it grossed Cody out was an understatement. Only part of what Belinda shoveled in actually stayed in her mouth. The other part fell back into the container.
Cody bit her lip and put everything else away. She’d throw away whatever Belinda didn’t eat.
She told herself that she might have manners that were just as bad if she hadn’t eaten for two days. Belinda was just a woman down on her luck with no one to turn to. Once she had a full belly, was clean and had a good night's sleep, she would be a different person.
Chapter Three
Bryson Weathers turned at the tap on his shoulder. Hannah Sweet stood behind him with a clipboard clutched to her chest and an expression that spelled one thing in his mind. More changes.
He turned away from the sight of men hard at work and walked with her toward the back of the church. “What can I do for you, Hannah?”
“We need to make some changes.”
That didn’t come as a surprise. Ever since they started on the job of building an ornamental Koi pond, bridge across the water, gazebo and garden in the backyard of the church, there’d been one change after another. Like he’d told his brother, Jayce, it wasn’t like they weren’t getting paid for all the changes, but at some point they were going to have to stick with the plan or they’d never finish and there wouldn’t be a wedding.
Which wouldn’t hurt his feelings at all. That thought actually wiped away some of his annoyance.
“Like what?”
“Well, like the pond. I know we originally had it a gentle kidney shape, but now I’m thinking it should be more exaggerated so that when it comes time to plant—”
“Hannah the pond is already cemented.” Bryson interrupted. There were changes, and then there were unreasonable changes. “And I don’t think you want us to have to bust it out.”
She frowned and consulted her clipboard. Bryson watched. Hannah was the Sweet girl everyone was certain would hightail it out of town the moment she was old enough to be on her own.
He’d had a crush on her in high school, but had never acted on it. When she returned home after college, he’d thought about asking her out. He changed his mind when he overheard her talking to Cody about a girl she’d graduated high school with who’d married a local boy.
“No way I’m getting stuck in Cotton Creek for the rest of my life,” she’d said. “You can have every rancher, builder, store owner, farmer, mechanic, roustabout, ranch hand and truck driver in the county. I want a man with class.”
Bryson figured that pretty much cut him out of the running, so he had never asked her out. No, Hannah Sweet wasn’t interested in anything Cotton Creek had to offer. She’d never made it a secret that she longed for big cities and bright lights, for fancy restaurants, art museums and the lifestyle of the rich. He’d always figured that eventually she’d snag a rich man, and as of late, she’d done that very thing.
Cooper Quinlan wasn’t a bad guy as far as Bryson knew. Bryson’s family was in business with Cooper in the oil venture and Bryson’s brothers, Jasper and Bronson, worked closely with him. They thought highly of him and Bryson valued their opinions, so he supposed Cooper was okay.
What was probably more important at the moment was that Cooper was loaded and could afford to pay for having the pond torn out and redone if that was what Hannah wanted. Personally, he thought they were going to a lot of fuss and bother.
Hannah’s vision for the wedding was to create a winter wonderland of sorts in the garden his crew was attempting to build. She and her father would emerge from the back door of the church and walk a path of white pebbles to a small arched bridge that spanned the pond.
Once across the bridge, they’d ascend the steps of the gazebo where Cooper, his best man and groomsmen, her bridesmaids and the minister waited. There, she and Cooper would be married.
He supposed it was a romantic thing, or at least Hannah saw it that way. Cooper didn’t seem to care all that much the few times Bryson had spoken to him, but had said to give Hannah whatever she wanted.
Bryson was trying, but dang if it wasn’t getting difficult.
“I do.” Her voice interrupted his reverie.
“Pardon?”
“I do. Want it torn out, I mean. How long will it take?”
He bit back a surge of irritation. “Two weeks, start to finish.”
“Oh, that’s not bad. We have plenty of time. That’s why I wanted to get started so soon. It gives us time to get it right. Just send the bill to Cooper.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Yes, ma’am?” Hannah actually focused on him for the first time since she’d arrived. “You did not just call me ma’am.”
Bryson grinned. “Well, hey there, Hannah, how you doing?”
She looked surprised and then laughed. “Okay, I guess I am wound a little tight.”
“You
think?”
“I know, I know. Cody pretty much hates me at this point, Daddy stays out of sight whenever I’m around and I think even Mama’s rope is starting to fray.”
“Well, you could always just elope.”
“Not a chance, buster. This wedding is happening and it’s going to be exactly like I’ve always dreamed.”
“And to hell with the collateral damage,” he teased.
For a moment he thought she was going to get mad, but then she smiled. “Point taken—I’m Bridezilla.”
“Just a bit, yeah.”
“Sorry. I’ll try and scale it back.”
“Thanks. Now, about the pond. Are you sure?”
“Yes.” She looked at the concreted hole. “No. Oh, I don’t know. What do you think?”
“I think it’s plenty big, will look good once the landscaping is done, and doesn’t take up too much of the backyard of the church.”
She nodded. “I was lucky they accepted Cooper’s donation to allow us to do this.”
“Not to mention the fact that Cooper threw in weekly maintenance—in perpetuity.”
Hannah laughed. “Yes, that might have been what cinched the deal. It is going to be beautiful, isn’t it?”
Bryson looked over the site, seeing it not for what it was, but for what it would become and he smiled. “It surely is.”
“Okay, so I’m going to get out of your hair and let you get back to it. Thanks for putting up with me, Bryson.”
“You bet. Have a good day, Hannah.”
“You too.”
Bryson watched her walk away and the thought crossed his mind. Would Hannah be as in love with Cooper Quinlan if Cooper wasn’t a multi-millionaire? He then mentally scolded himself and turned back to the job. Despite what he’d said to Jayce and even thought to himself, Hannah wasn’t the kind of woman who’d fall for a man just because of his money.
Was she?
*****
Liz gave him the look, that expression one twin gives another that says quite clearly you’re so full of shit.
Cooper picked up his coffee cup and sipped the strong brew before continuing, “Liz, can’t you just give him a chance?”
“Why should I? Seriously, Coop. Dad hasn’t changed. He’s still the same man he’s always been. He may be trying to convince you he’s changed, but you know you can’t trust it. He’ll—”
“I think you’re wrong. I mean, it. I know all the shit he’s done and I know people don’t change unless they want to, but I think he does. I think he’s genuinely sorry that we’re all estranged and just wants his family back.”
“And I think you’re a fool to trust him, but it’s your life, brother, so you do what’s right for you. Me? I’m happy the way things are. He’s not part of my life and not interfering with it and that’s how I want it to stay. So, again, do what you want, but leave me out of it.”
She looked behind him and her eyes narrowed. Liz tossed her napkin on her unfinished breakfast plate and stood. “I have to go. Talk to you later.”
“Liz, wait!” Cooper stood as she hurried off. That was when he saw his father, Lucas, headed toward him.
Lucas smiled and spoke to Liz, but as far as Cooper could tell, she didn’t return the salutation and she sure didn’t break her stride as she headed for the door.
Lucas walked over to Cooper’s table. “Mind if I join?”
“Please.” Cooper gestured to an empty seat.
Lucas took a seat and almost immediately one of the servers, Ginny, hurried over.
“Your usual, Mr. Quinlan?”
“Yes, thank you.”
“I’ll get your coffee right away.”
Cooper cut his father a look as Ginny hurried away. “How’re things going, Dad?”
“We’re making progress. Herbert mentioned that Wes is starting to warm to the idea of us combining forces in this venture.”
“Did he? Interesting. Wes hasn’t said anything to me about it. And it’s not just me and Wes. The Weathers have as big as a stake in the company as we, not to mention Liz. She’s the majority stockholder, you know.”
“Ah yes, your sister. I’ve tried talking to her on numerous occasions to no avail.”
“She doesn’t trust you, Dad. You know that. And you’ve given her no reason to.”
“Cooper, I don’t know how else to say it or what I must do to demonstrate my sincerity. I have changed. I regret certain actions of the past and most notably those that drove you and your sister from me. I am trying to rectify my mistakes, make recompense and start anew, but I cannot do it alone. Your sister is—”
“Here’s your coffee, Mr. Quinlan.” Ginny returned to the table. “And I’ve put in your breakfast order.”
“Thank you.” Lucas said politely.
“My pleasure.” She looked at Cooper. “Can I get you anything else?”
“No, thank you.” He waited until she left before returning his attention to Lucas. “Okay, so Liz is stubborn. That’s a trait that seems to run in this family. Look, Dad. If Liz is ever going to change her mind about you, it’s going to be in her own time and because your actions—not your words—have convinced her that she can trust you again. Until then, there’s nothing I can do.”
“You and Wes could convince the Weathers of the benefits of a partnership with me.”
“You mean you and Herbert Pursell?”
“Yes, of course.”
Cooper took a drink of his coffee. “It wouldn’t matter. I told you Liz is the majority stockholder, and by that, I mean she owns fifty-one percent.”
He could see the look of annoyance that crossed his father’s face. What surprised him was that Lucas didn’t let the irritation lock in. “Well, as the saying goes, it is what it is. We all stand to make a fortune here. So, let’s talk of other things. How are the wedding plans shaping up?”
Cooper felt like groaning at the thought. He was crazy about Hannah. She made him feel he could do anything and was the most special man who ever walked. She was smart and classy and could fit into any social setting. Not to mention the sex. It was incredible. But this whole wedding deal had become a nightmare. She was turning into a real Bridezilla.
“Sometimes I’d like to just elope.”
“Why don’t you? I’ll give you use of the Gulfstream. Fly her to Paris or Rome.”
Cooper considered it. Nothing could be more romantic than being married in a place like Paris. He could take her on an around-the-world honeymoon and it would be just the two of them. Yes, he liked the idea.
“Are you sure?” he asked.
“Absolutely. I merely need a few day’s notice to have it ready and a flight plan filed.”
“Thanks. I’m going to speak with Hannah about it.”
“Excellent.” Lucas smiled and then looked up at Ginny as she delivered his breakfast. “Thank you, miss.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll be right back to freshen your coffee.”
“How is the investigation into the rig accident progressing?” Lucas asked once Ginny left.
“We’re supposed to hear something this week.”
“I hear Riggs fared well considering.”
Cooper nodded. “Considering Cody Sweet climbed in there after him. I tell you, Dad, I don’t know many men who would’ve had the balls to do that.”
“From what I hear, she’s something of a fireball, so to speak.”
“A force of nature is more like it. But had she not gone in after him, he might not have been so lucky.”
“Then he owes her a rather large debt of gratitude. Do you yet know what caused the accident?”
“No clue. That rig passed every inspection.”
“Something had to have been overlooked for such a catastrophic event to have occurred.”
“Or it was sabotaged.”
“What makes you say that?”
Cooper pursed his lips and considered it. “It’s the only thing that makes sense.”
“Who would do such a thing?”
“There are a lot of competitors on this playing field, son, which means a lot of suspects.”
“Yeah, I guess so. By the way, in case I haven’t made it clear, we all feel we’re in your debt. Had you not had those cranes brought in the way you did—“
“It was the least I could do.”
“Still, I owe you.”
“Not at all.”
“Yes, I do, Dad. And I want to repay you for helping me.”
“Just invite me to your wedding.”
“You mean go to Paris with us?”
“I could, but I suspect you’ll face insurmountable obstacles convincing your bride-to-be to change her plans. I’d be honored to receive an invitation.”
Cooper was surprised by those words, but also relieved. Despite all of the bad blood, Lucas was his father and Cooper wanted things to be good between them. “I was hoping you’d be my best man. If I can’t talk her into eloping, that is.”
“Surely you have a friend you’d rather see fill that role?”
“No, I’d like for it to be you, Dad. I’d like for our family to heal and learn to be a family and maybe this is a way to start. So, what do you say?”
“I say I’d be honored, son.” Lucas extended his hand.
With a smile, Cooper took it. Maybe everyone was wrong. Maybe there was a chance for his family to heal.
*****
“We’re going to have to start turning people away,” Hannah announced as she came around behind the bar where Cody was changing out a keg. “Daddy’s working the door and he said if we let ten people in, we’ll be at capacity.”
Cody glanced up from what she was doing. “Have Rudy and Eddie get those folding chairs out of the storage building and set them up at the picnic tables. We’ll build a fire and serve people out there.”
“Cody, we can’t.” Hannah knelt beside Cody. “We don’t have the staff.”
Cody finished connecting the keg and stood. “Fine, then tell Daddy to turn them away.”
“You know he’s going to have trouble doing that.”
“Then you do it.”
“Me? Why me?” Hannah put her hands on her hips.
“Because I can’t run the door and the bar and help serve all at the same time, Hannah Jean.”