The Cowboys Heart 1

by Helen Evans

“Another glass of that sweet tea would be nice,” he said, pulling out the same chair he’d sat in earlier.

  “Coming right up.” I poured him another glass and set it in front of him. “I’m glad you came over today,” I said before I could filter my thoughts and stop myself.

  “I am, too. I’d heard around town that someone had taken over the property, but I had no idea it was Noreen’s granddaughter.”

  “Yeah, she left the house and all the property to me in her will. It was a shock to say the least.”

  “Why’s that?”

  “She and I didn’t exactly part on good terms. The last we spoke, we had a bit of a disagreement.” I frowned, remembering how heated that discussion had been, how mean and inconsiderate I’d been toward her.

  “I’m sorry to hear that. Families can be complicated.” His tone implied he had some firsthand knowledge of that. I wanted to pry, but that would be rude, so I just nodded in agreement.

  There was a knock on the door, and I jumped up. “That’s probably the pizza.” By the time she got the door opened, Hudson was beside her.

  “Two large pizzas? One cheese, one pepperoni,” the delivery guy said.

  “That’s me,” I said, taking the two boxes from him. I turned to set them on the nearest counter so I could grab the money I’d set there, but before I had the chance, Hudson was pulling bills out of his wallet.

  “Keep the change,” Hudson said to the delivery guy. He closed the door.

  I set the pizzas on the stove and sighed. “You didn’t have to do that you know. I invited you, it was my treat.”

  “I know, but I’m not the type of man who allows a woman to pay for a meal,” he said simply.

  I had to resist the urge to squeal like a teenage girl who was just asked out by the hottest, most popular boy in school. “Thanks. Seems like that’s all I’ve been saying to you today.”

  He smiled. “Good thing that’s my favorite word then, huh?”

  I laughed. It was so easy to be with him, to talk with him, to laugh. It was a welcomed change from being with Phillip, who was always so serious and intense. I took three plates from the cupboard and handed him one. I loaded a second one with three slices of pepperoni. “I promised Jamie he could eat in his room tonight.”

  “I take it he doesn’t like it around here too much.”

  “That’s a colossal understatement. I keep hoping he’ll eventually come around.”

  “I’m sure he will. Kids are resilient.”

  “Do you have any?” I asked.

  “No, but I have several nieces.”

  I smiled. There was nothing sexier than a man who adored children. “Okay, help yourself. I’ll be right back.” I left him in the kitchen and headed upstairs, the smile never leaving my face. I had a feeling tonight was going to be a very good night.

  Chapter Five

  I stumbled downstairs at 5:45 a.m., barely awake. After pizza last night, Hudson had hung around, and we’d spent the night talking. He hadn’t left until a little after midnight, and I was so excited, I hadn’t been able to fall asleep. I was certainly going to pay for it today. I yawned and rubbed my eyes. Richard and Hudson would be arriving in fifteen minutes, and they were expecting a breakfast I’d promised them. What I really wanted to do was go back to bed for a few hours.

  “Morning,” Jamie said as he walked into the kitchen. He was dressed for school in his usual jeans and T-shirt. His Converse sneakers were firmly laced up his feet, and his backpack was slung over one shoulder.

  “Morning.” I smiled. “Hungry? I’m making bacon and eggs.”

  “Nope.” He grabbed a donut from the half empty box and took a large bite.

  I shook my head, wishing he’d learn to eat better. Of course, greasy bacon and fried eggs weren’t all that healthy, but it was better than a chocolate topped, cream filled donut. “Are you coming straight home today?”

  He shrugged, grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl and shoved it into his backpack. “Maybe. Dean mentioned something about going to the pool hall after school.”

  “Yeah?” Hope swelled in my chest. Dean was Monica’s son – my parents’ maid – and he and Jamie had really hit it off the first time they’d met. I knew they stayed in touch via phone and internet, but until just now, Jamie hadn’t expressed any interest in hanging out with Dean. “Well, you’re welcome to go as long as you call to check in.”

  He stopped with the donut half way to his mouth. “I am?”

  I laughed and playfully swatted at him with the dish towel. “Yes. In fact, I think it would do you some good to get out of this house and socialize. Dean’s a good kid.”

  “You’re only saying that because you know his mom.”

  I rolled my eyes and reached for my purse. “Here.” I handed him a twenty dollar bill. “Make sure you get yourself something to eat. I’m not sure what the plans are for dinner yet.” Part of me hoped it would be a repeat of last night, but chances were good I’d have to cash in the raincheck I took with my parents last night.

  “Thanks, Mom.” He kissed me on the cheek. “I’ll call after school.” Then he was out the door and down the driveway.

  I watched him for a moment, lingering long enough to see him safely board the bus. It was a habit I’d never been able to break, watching him get on the bus. When we’d lived in the city, he had to walk a block to the bus stop, so I was deprived of watching him, so it was nice to be able to do that again. As soon as the bus pulled away, I began to prepare breakfast.

  “Morning, Miss Heather.” Richard entered and tipped his head in greeting.

  “Hi, Richard.” I tossed a smile at him over my shoulder and turned back to the frying bacon. “Breakfast is almost ready. Have a seat.”

  “Smells delicious,” Hudson said, stepping out from behind Richard.

  I momentarily froze, the sound of his voice paralyzing me, warming me from the inside out. “Hello,” I said, my voice giving out slightly. “Uh, I’m almost finished with breakfast. So, have a seat.” It was hard to concentrate on not burning the eggs when I knew Hudson was watching me. His gaze was like a warm, loving caress on my back.

  “Oh,” I said suddenly, turning to face them. “I’m sorry. Richard, this is Hudson Lyle. Hudson, this is my new ranch supervisor, Richard.”

  The two men exchanged handshakes and pleasantries as I put the finishing touches on breakfast. I brought each of them a plate, and made myself a smaller one. “There’s some orange juice in the fridge, or I have freshly brewed coffee.”

  “Coffee,” they both said simultaneously. I laughed and poured three mugs of coffee. Then I sat and dug into my food.

  “So, did you two ever meet before?” I asked looking back and forth between them. Hudson gave me an odd look, so I added, “I mean, with Richard having worked on the ranch for so long and with Hudson having done business with my grandmother before…”

  “No, I didn’t really come over here all that much,” Hudson said, chewing on a piece of bacon. “Most of my interactions with Noreen were in town when we’d meet in passing.”

  “Oh. Well, Richard… Hudson here as graciously offered to help me learn the ropes a little better and get the ranch back in a smooth working order. I figured the three of us could work together this morning on all the lists and duties.”

  “Whatever you like, Miss Heather.”

  I sighed. Richard was an older gentleman, nice, but the constant “Miss Heather” was getting on my nerves. I knew it was a sign of respect, but it drove me nuts. “Okay then.” I gathered up the dirty dishes and placed them in the sink then returned to the table with a notebook and a pen.

  “The best place to start is probably with a list of repairs that need to be made,” Hudson said. “During my ride over here yesterday, I noticed a few things. That whole in the fence for starters.” He winked at me, and I quickly looked away, afraid Richard would see how smitten I was with Hudson. Not that I had anything to be embarrassed about, but I didn’t need my ranch hands thinking I was
a sap or something. “That barn door.”

  Richard nodded in agreement. “The horse stable needs a new roof. It’s holding up for now, but the first bad storm we get and it’ll be torn off like a wet Band-Aid.”

  I sighed and wrote the items on the pad of paper. “Any idea who can fix these issues and how much it will cost?” There wasn’t much money left in the ranch’s maintenance account, and I’d spent all of my personal savings on travel expenses for the funeral and then the move here.

  “I can fix them,” Hudson said, tapping his fingers on the table.

  I stared at him. “You can?”

  He nodded. “Yes. I’ll start with the fence so you don’t lose anymore animals.” He chuckled, giving me a playful smile. “I believe I’ve got some spare fencing back at my place I don’t need. And the barn door just needs some new hinges. The stable roof will need a bit more, but I think between my guys and your ranch hands, we should be able to get it done this weekend.” Hudson looked to Richard, who was smiling and nodding.

  “Wow. Thanks.” I was a bit overwhelmed by the amount of help and generosity Hudson was giving me. I was a stranger to him, yet he was going out of his way to help me, help keep this ranch functional. “Okay, so, let me know what you’ll need for the stable roof and I’ll call around on supply prices today.”

  “Good. I would also suggest we take a full tour of the ranch, inspect things to make sure nothing else needs repairs.” Hudson cleared his throat. “You do know how to ride, don’t you?”

  If I wasn’t mistaken, I thought I heard a bit of contempt in his voice. Just because I’d moved here from the city didn’t mean I didn’t know how to ride a horse. I had been born and raised here for crying out loud. “Yes, I know how to ride,” I said, giving him a dirty look.

  He laughed, and so did Richard. I rolled my eyes, trying to be mad, but I smiled nonetheless. “You’re a jerk,” I mumbled, and Hudson only laughed harder.

  “Aw, we’re just teasing, Miss Heather. You’re so easy to get going. Just like Noreen.”

  I smiled fondly. I loved to hear how much people around here adored my grandmother. If only I hadn’t been so stubborn, if only I’d spent more of my adulthood here. I sighed. There wasn’t a thing I could do to change the past, but I could – and would – work my ass off on this ranch to make her proud.

  “All right, back to work.” I tried to make my voice stern and authoritative, but the mood was too light, too easygoing, and that was fine. It was better than working with people who were grumpy and unreceptive. “So, we’ve got a plan for the repairs. What’s next?”

  “Daily chores,” Richard said. “Every day, the animals need to be fed, cleaned, and watered. The cows and horses need to be let out to pasture, and then put back in at night.”

  “Okay.” I took a deep breath. That seemed easy enough. “Who is currently doing that?”

  “Frank, Larry, and I feed and water the cows while Hank, Chris, and Jeremy feed and groom the horses. Then we let them out to pasture and work on cleaning the barn and stable. After that, Noreen usually gave us other tasks to do.”

  Now it all made sense why Richard and the other guys were lost and needing direction from me. Too bad I had no idea what to have them do. “Okay,” I said slowly, “well, what did Noreen normally have you do?”

  “All sorts of things. She usually sent me into town once or twice a week for supplies. Hank would generally travel to the next town over to get hay. If one of the animals were sick, she’d have us contact the vet. And then whatever other things she needed done.”

  I nodded and set the pen down, stretching my arms over my head. Who knew there was so much to running a ranch? “So, you’re okay with still doing those things?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Good.” I stood and refilled my coffee mug, offering both of them more, too. “Then we’ll stay on this schedule for the time being. When the morning chores are done, you guys can help Hudson with the repairs. And I’d like a complete list of supplies we need. So as you’re going about your day, keep an eye on things that need to be fixed and supply’s we may need..etc.

  “Sure thing,” Richard said.

  “Thank you both for your help.”

  I sipped my coffee and wracked my brain for anything I might be missing, but nothing jumped out at me. “All right, let’s get to work then.”

  Richard stood and smiled. “Thanks, Miss Heather. And if you need anything, just give a shout. One of us is always around to lend a hand.”

  “Thanks, Richard.” When he left, I turned to Hudson, who was still seated at the table. “I really can’t thank you enough for all of your help. I know you have your own ranch to worry about, so if you can’t help around here, I’ll understand.”

  “I have a great team of men at my ranch. They can handle things around there for a few days while I help around here, and if they need me, they know how to reach me. In fact,” Hudson retrieved a business card from his wallet and handed it to me, “there’s my personal cell phone number on there. Call me any time…. for anything.”

  I took his card and clutched it in my hand. “Thank you.” I wondered if his invitation to call any time for anything included personal reasons. Forcing the thought from my mind, I refocused on the tasks at hand. Daydreaming about a real date with Hudson was silly. If he liked me in that way, he would’ve asked me out last night. Lord knows I’d given him plenty of opportunities, and he hadn’t picked up on a single one of them. Or maybe he had and had chosen to ignore them, which only confirmed my fears that he wasn’t interested in me romantically.

  “If you’re ready, we can head out on that ride around the ranch. Anything you see that you want repaired, point it out, and I can notice things you might not.”

  “Sounds good.” I finished my coffee and put the mug in the sink. “I should warn you, it’s been years since I’ve ridden, but it’s like riding a bike, right?” I laughed.

  He grinned. “Yeah, something like that.” Hudson held the front door open for me, and I stepped out into the bright, rising sun. I shielded my gaze against the shine and considered going back inside to get my sunglasses.

  “How well do you know the horses in the stable?” he asked as we walked toward the barn.

  “Uh, not well. I know Biscuit is gentle. One of the last times I was here, Grandma let me ride her, so I’ll more than likely take her out today. I’m sure one of the ranchers can direct you to a horse that’ll suit you.”

  “Fair enough.”

  We walked in silence to the horse barn. When we entered, Hank smiled. “Miss Heather.”

  I smiled to hide my annoyance. I should really send a memo or something to let the men know they don’t have to constantly call me Miss Heather; that just plain ‘ole Heather is sufficient. “Morning, Hank. My friend here needs a horse. Do you have any suggestions?”

  “Nico is a good, strong horse. He’s well trained and easy to handle.”

  “Perfect,” Hudson said.

  “And I’ll be riding Biscuit,” I said.

  “Yes, ma’am. I’ll get her saddled up for you. Nico is all the way down at the end. Saddles are on the far wall.” Hank pointed toward the opposite end of the barn.

  Hudson moved down there and busied himself with getting Nico ready to ride. I hung by Hank, watching how he saddled Biscuit. I used to know how to do all of that, but it had been so long. Made me wonder if riding a horse was anything like riding a bike – would I really remember once I was up on her back? I took a deep breath. The last thing I wanted was to prove Hudson’s teasing to be true. I wanted to show him I could ride alongside him without too many problems.

  Several moments later, I mounted Biscuit and met Hudson outside. He was atop Nico, a calm, serene look upon his face. Being on horseback was home to him, and it looked damn good on him, too. He was so sexy and confident and totally not interested in me. I frowned. “Let’s go,” I said, wanting to get this over with so I wouldn’t have to force him to spend a moment longer with me w
hen he clearly wanted to be somewhere else.

  Hudson nudged Nico and the horse began a lazy walk. I maneuvered Biscuit the same way and was soon right next to Hudson. We started at the house and rode along the perimeter of the fence.

  “I don’t know when the last time this fence was repaired, but if you’ve got one hole, chances are good you’ve got more, so we’ll check this out first then make our way around the rest of the property,” he said.

  “Okay.” I gripped Biscuits’ reins a little tighter and studied the fence as we moved past it. So far, things looked good. Maybe I’d get lucky and there would only be the one hole.

  “That fence post there might need replacing.” Hudson came to a stop and hopped off Nico. “It’s loose, see?” He put his palm on the top of the post and it moved much more than it should. “It’s a cheap, easy fix. I’ll grab a new post when I go to get the fencing.” In one swift movement, he was back on Nico, and we were walking again.

  “I miss riding,” I said after a length of silence. “I’ll have to do this more often.”

  Hudson glanced over and smiled. “If you ever want a riding partner, let me know. I love to saddle up and spend the day in the wild.”

  I grinned like an idiot. “How about tomorrow? I could pack a picnic. We could head out after morning chores.” I couldn’t believe I’d just asked him out. Even though it was masked as something else, in my mind, it was a date.

  “I actually have a meeting tomorrow afternoon with a horse buyer. How about the day after?”

  “Yes,” I blurted out, excited he’d agreed. Then I laughed. “Sorry. Guess I’m just a little excited about getting out of the house and exploring nature.”

  “Don’t apologize,” he said seriously, his gaze locked on me. “You’ve got a great laugh, Heather, and I admire your enthusiasm. It’s refreshing.”

  His compliment made my face turn a hundred different shades of red. “Thank you.”

  He gave a single nod, then guided Nico forward again. I followed just behind, enjoying the view of him, letting my mind wander with the possibilities of what our day date would hold. Obviously I’d been wrong about his interest in me.