Lassoing The Last Dance (Double Dutch Ranch; Love At First Sight Book 4)

by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel

  Then she parked herself on the side of the tub. She removed her prosthesis to examine the padding. Surprisingly, it wasn’t bunched up or dirty. She removed the stump sock, cleaned out the gel liner, then washed her lower leg with antibacterial soap, patted it with a cotton towel, and left it to dry in the open. She used crutches to get back to her room.

  Dropping to her mattress, literally, she examined her stump, then used a special mirror on a long handle, she had received from the therapist. It looked a little red and swollen, but the rash wasn’t irritated. Tonight her foot hurt. Closing her eyes, she knew that was impossible, but she still had the pain. She shook her head and attempted to will it away. It wasn’t real.

  She pulled on her favorite pale yellow shorty pajamas and lay in bed to relax. Roxanne stared at nothing in the dark. This routine of care had become part of the norm, but how could she bring herself to do this if a man lay beside her in bed? How could she let him see what it took to be an amputee? After tomorrow night, maybe it was something she wouldn’t have to worry about. Randy might be sickened at the thought. Give him some credit. Sighing, she gave into the night.

  ***

  Randy sat up in bed in the dark. A clamor on the porch woke him. Stumbling to the backdoor half asleep and hung over from the pain medicine, he swung the door open. This has to stop. “Get up, Kim. Why are you here?” He took her arm to assist her up from the step.

  “I didn’t know I was here. I guess I can’t…can’t stay gone.”

  Her words reminded him of a country song called “Stay Gone.” Yeah, she needed to stay gone. Lifting her drunk body, he propped her up against the wall beside the door. He held her arm to keep her upright. “You stayed gone for a lot of years. This is the last place you need to be. I’m taking you home.” Unfortunately, that meant he had to bring her inside to put some clothes on.

  He wrapped his arm around her waist to help her through the door, plopped her down in the chair, and grabbed a trash can. “Wait here. Don’t throw up all over my furniture.” He shook his head while rushing into his bedroom to get dressed and pulled dirty jeans over clean Jockey’s.

  “You could stay undressed.” The doorjamb held her up, but she came inside and before he could catch her, she plopped down on the bed and covered up. “Umm, this is so warm and smells like you, Randy Drake.”

  “No way!” He tugged at her arm, but she had passed out. Randy hit the wall with the heel of his hand, which made him grumble even more. Shaking her did nothing and then she snored. He grabbed the pillow from the other side of the bed, a folded blanket from the trunk at the foot, and went back into the living room, more than pissed now. If there had been someone to call to come get her, he would’ve blown up their phone.

  She had probably been kicked out of the bar. Roxanne couldn’t find his road sober, yet Kim found it drunk out of her mind. “Roxanne!” What if she’d been here? Now, he stood and paced, visualizing that ugly scenario. Before heading to the couch to see if he could sleep a few more hours, he went in to see if she still breathed.

  She breathed all right, while reeking the smell of alcohol all over his bed. Tromping through the house, he closed the door then sat on the couch. Tomorrow was a busy day as it was, but first he’d have to get Kim home, or make sure she got home.

  Water running in the shower woke him in the morning. He got up to make coffee. Randy poured a big mugful for both of them when it finished. A few minutes later she promenaded into the kitchen with a shirt from his closet and nothing else as far as he could tell. Her wet hair had been combed straight back, the ends dripping over one shoulder.

  “Here’s some coffee. Put your clothes on and go home, Kim. Don’t come over here anymore.” She came forward and reached for him. He backed away and stood on the other side of the table. “Look, I don’t know if you’re still drunk, but you’re pissing me off thinking you can pop in anytime you want.”

  “Randy, don’t be like that.” She picked up her mug, blew into it, and sipped, but rounded the table after a couple drinks.

  He raised his palm to keep her back. “Randy nothing. I’m seeing someone—”

  “What happened to your face?”

  “It comes with the job.” He groaned. “Listen, you have to stop this. Why can’t you understand we’re finished? I’m trying to be freaking nice about this.”

  “I’m not finished. Your face looks god-awful.” Her bloodshot orbs peered at him, squinted a bit before widening. “I’m crazy about you.”

  “Bullshit. It takes two. Please get dressed so I can get to work. Do I have to remind you, again, why you left me?” Peering around his kitchen and the rest of the house that once wasn’t good enough for her, brought it all back. He took his cup to the sink to rinse it out.

  Without a rebuttal, she took her mug and went back into the bedroom, but stomped back out, slopping coffee over the side of her cup. She tore off a sheet of paper towel to clean it up and tossed that into the trash. “You’re seeing someone? Who?”

  He took a seat at the table to pull his work boots on. “It doesn’t matter.”

  “You’re lying.”

  Soon he’d lose it. “Why would I? You were so drunk last night, you didn’t even remember coming here. Are you trying to commit suicide by driving stinking drunk? Girl, you have to get yourself together. You’re worth more than this, Kim.” Randy strode toward her. “Now, get dressed and leave my shirt on the bed.” She walked away but he waited until she came back. He wasn’t about to be in the bedroom at the same time. After too long of a time, she strolled out wearing the same dress she wore last night.

  “Where’s my keys?” She asked again while looking around. “My purse?”

  He lifted both hands. Was she even a little embarrassed? “I found you laid out on my steps.”

  Kim looked out the window.

  Randy sighed watching her. She slipped on a pair of his good boots to go pick up her handbag where it lay between the porch and her vehicle. With the strap over her shoulder, she went to her car and pulled the keys from the ignition.

  Randy stood at the door shaking his head, but he held it open when she returned.

  She kicked his boots off and went back into the bedroom. She came out with her shoes on, and muttered, “Thank you for taking care of me last night.”

  He glared, but closed his eyes a moment before replying, “I didn’t. All I did was bring you in and put you in a chair.”

  “But I woke in your bed. Did we—”

  “Hell no! You went in there all by yourself. I didn’t put you in my bed.” Randy clenched his hands in front of him, but went to the door to hold it open. “Kim, dammit, can’t you see what you’re doing to yourself? I have to get to work.”

  She stalked out past him, but turned on the porch. “I’m sorry.”

  Randy’s voice softened. “Prove it by getting your life in order. And Kim? You have to stay away from here.”

  Nodding, she strode off the porch and drove away.

  Randy ripped everything off the bed and threw the blanket into the washer first. Then he got spray from the bathroom to spray his mattress and the room. Even if he had considered going back with Kim, which he hadn’t, he’d never be able to deal with her abuse of alcohol. He texted Jake Lawton to say he’d be over to work with the horse he’d been training.

  He finished shaving and got the sheets in the washer and the blanket in the dryer. Then he fixed breakfast. Chaos had begun his day. He counted on it not ending the same way.

  ***

  After all was done at his ranch, on a whim, he took a detour before heading to Jake’s ranch. At Roxanne’s he knocked on the front door, smiling when she opened it. She returned his smile, and a rush of desire swept over him from the groin up. “Hey, g’mornin’. I hope I’m not interrupting.” He gave her a casual hug.

  “Not at all. Come in.” She came to an abrupt stop. “My God, Randy. Your face looks awful—”

  “I don’t usually hear something like that from pretty women.
” Speaking of pretty, she was in jeans with the right leg rolled up to her calf, which looked kind of cute. His gaze lingered at her shoes.

  Roxanne tapped his arm and her smile waned. “Sorry, but, wow, your face must hurt. Have some coffee with me? What a lovely surprise. The furniture in here is all set aside as you can see, but Jase and Tristan will move it out once they get here.”

  “I’ve had enough coffee.” Randy shrugged. “If you’re busy, I can go. A job awaits me at ten.” A quick glance to the clock told him he had only a short time anyway.

  “No, no, I’m glad you stopped over. Come into the kitchen. It’s the only place to sit right now.” She swept her hand forward and continued on in front of him, yet, glanced over her shoulder and smiled again.

  Her limp was barely noticeable this morning, but her foot kind of kicked out. A look he’d seen before. Something wasn’t right. He followed her past the living room and through the dining room. The kitchen was small, but the “L” shaped countertop with a large, single sink in front of a side window seemed to work in the layout. A long row of cupboards took up a whole wall on one side. Newly painted, shorter cupboards and a narrow counter acting as a snack bar separated the rooms.

  The pink and white tiles on the wall around the sink didn’t look like something Roxanne would consider. Before sitting, he took her arm. Their gazes met, and he wanted to kiss her. She faced him, their eyes still locked on each other’s. They both took a step in. Had she wanted to be kissed?

  Roxanne made the first move by bringing her arms over his shoulders. She smiled again, but it turned to a frown when she peered at his injury. He wrapped his hand around the back of her neck, and gave her a tender yet quick kiss. Their gazes still held and his body responded to the invitation in her eyes.

  Roxanne swept her hand toward the chair.

  His stomach tightened and hardened. He blew out a breath trying to relax. He wanted her. Randy sat at the round table, and she took the high-back chair to the left of him. “This place isn’t too bad inside. How was your night?” He laid his palm near her hand on the table, but he wanted to clasp it. He didn’t want to go slow.

  She closed up her tablet case, then picked up the cup of coffee, and she peered at him. Her gaze flicking from his eyes to his wound and back made him uneasy.

  “My night was creepy! I heard all the creaks, and I don’t even want to know what else. A mouse or two might live here. The bed frame had been taken down and the mattress was on the floor, so I imagined all kinds of creepy crawlers, crawling over me all night. With Brett here the other night, I never noticed sounds, but the bed frame was together then. Maybe I need to drink more wine at night.”

  “Nah, I’ll take care of the mice and creepy crawlers for you and bring over a couple traps later and bug spray.”

  “Sure, but will you get live traps for the mice?”

  Randy sat sideways and squeezed her hand after all. “All right. Not worried about the bug spray, huh? Don’t mind killing the bugs?”

  She lowered her eyes, and her gaze went to their hands. “I guess not. Spider bites can be bad.”

  Randy chuckled, enjoying the familiar feel of her hand in his, but he released it to tiptoe his fingers up her arm, which sent chills over his own body at a simple touch of her skin. A make-out session with her about now wouldn’t hurt him a damn bit. “Still coming over tonight?”

  Roxanne sipped her coffee while staring straight ahead, but she shivered, probably from him crawling his fingers up her arm, and she brushed his hand away. “You’re tickling.”

  He grinned at tickling her. She looked good this morning in a light blue t-shirt, the faded jeans, and white and blue sneakers. His insides smiled—big time! It was nice dropping by like this. He sat straighter and pulled his shoulders back. “What time are the guys coming over this morning?”

  Able to see the driveway through the picture window in the front of the house from where they sat, she nodded to a vehicle pulling in, and it drove up to the back by the garage. “Now!”

  Randy stood, peering through the kitchen window. This would shock them to find him here, but it wasn’t the guys he meant—not Tristan and Jase. “Okay, I should go since y’all will be busy.”

  “Stay for a minute more. Help me move this table? I thought Jase and Tristan would be here before the floor installers. My glass table will look so good in this bright room.”

  “Sure, step back, I’ll get it. Where’s it going?”

  Directing him in different directions with both hands, she muttered while glancing back and forth. “Um, the table can go to the back porch, I guess, and over to the side out of the way. Chairs can go into my bedroom for now until we get the living room junk moved.”

  As soon as he stacked two chairs, the installers knocked on the back door, and Roxanne went to let them in. Jase and Tristan came in the front door. “Damn, Randy,” said Jase, confronting him. “Get in a fight with a horse again?”

  “Yup.”

  Jase shook his head, but immediately tipped the table to roll through the doorway, and Tristan took the other two chairs. “Thanks, guys. Good timing.” Randy carried two of the chairs into the bedroom, where Tristan had followed. In there, he nudged Randy’s shoulder while glancing at the mattress on the floor, the covers thrown back and unmade.

  “Ah, hell no, Tristan. I came by a few minutes ago.” Lowering his voice, he bragged, “In my dreams, though.”

  Tristan snickered.

  The installers had their tools spread out and had started stripping the floor in the kitchen. “Well, I hate to run out, but I’m needed elsewhere.”

  Watching them lifting the furniture in the living room, he went over to help. It’d be hard to walk out on them when they could use another hand, but Dane pulled in the driveway in time to help. When that job had been taken care of, Randy sought out Roxanne on the porch. “Hey, gorgeous, I’m taking off.”

  Roxanne came to him at the steps, slipped her arms around his waist, and peered up into his eyes. “I’ll see you later?”

  So far, neither of them was going very slowly. “I’ll bring those traps and spray over as soon as I can.” Randy winked at her—couldn’t help his damn self, but he wanted to do more than a stupid wink. “You’ll sleep better tonight. See you.” The way she took his arm and stared into his eyes—the nonchalant tilt to her head, he would’ve sworn she had come close to kissing him farewell. He didn’t push anything, for it wouldn’t take much encouragement. Maybe that make-out session came with a rain check. He could still taste the coffee on her lips from the earlier peck on her mouth.

  Nora pulled in, and he dropped a step back. Giving Roxanne a farewell kiss, he hurried on his way and said hello to Nora on the way to his truck. She pointed to his face and he shrugged. Before getting inside, he bid them good-bye. “Take it easy, ladies.” After they went inside, he pulled his phone out to snap a couple pictures of her house from different angles. It’d look good as a sketch. Later, he’d get the back of the house with the Superstitions in the distance.

  ***

  At the JL Ranch, he pulled up to the smallest of the barns. Wade Emory stepped outside. “How’s it going this morning, Wade?”

  Wade sauntered up to him. “Busy as usual. Everybody has to pick up hay orders at the same time. The boss is busy in the supply barn and has the horse you need down there. Damn, who ran into your face?”

  Randy adjusted his hat to keep the sun from his eyes as he peered at Wade. “Yeah, talk to your best friend about it. Let’s say Dane’s new horse is rather moody.”

  Wade chuckled. “Figures. He buys the worst of the worst—the poor souls needing rescued.”

  “I’ll drive on down to the ring. Maybe I’ll see you before I leave.” Randy drove toward the large barn where ranchers in the vicinity bought their ranching supplies. He got out, donned chaps, a vest, and hauled out his ropes and training equipment. Jake had brought the mustang out by time Randy got to the ring.

  “Howdy, Randy.” Jake took a
step back and his eyes widened. “What the hell happened to your face?”

  “Dane Carlson’s new rescue bites.” His job was to train horses. Sometimes it didn’t come easy. What didn’t everyone understand?

  Jake smoothed his hand over his horse’s back before releasing the beast to the ring. “Damn lucky it missed your eye. Is it too early to know if this one here will work out for a safety horse?”

  He put on his gloves, took a once-over of the mustang, and eyed his stature and sleek back. “It’s a good chance. The last couple times of working with him showed steady improvement. Got any broncs around here to ride? We’ll test him out this afternoon.”

  “Nah, none now.”

  Randy adjusted his hat again and peered at the ground, and he contemplated Jake’s question. “Well, I’ll know more by the time I leave.” He opened the gate and waited for the horse to come get his treat, which he did after a stare-down. Randy gave him a treat from his pocket, talked softly, and hooked a lunge line to his lunge caveson. “Walk.”

  Starting at a slow walk around the corral, he let out more line and used his stick to show and guide the horse where he wanted him to go until the spunky little mustang picked up his pace with little coaxing. He seemed comfortable with the process at this point.

  A short time later, Jake came up to the gate on his horse, Atlas. “Dude, he’s doing real good. He used to try to cut across me to the other side. How about seeing how he does with another horse in the ring?”

  Randy blocked the sun from his eyes when he looked up at Jake. “Alrighty, come on in the ring.”

  Fifteen minutes later, Randy watched in awe as Jake rode Atlas beside the upcoming safety horse. They both picked up their speed. “Ho,” said Randy when he went to the center of the ring with a saddle.