The Bachelor Cowboy

by Jessica Clare

  But Layla felt compelled to visit Cora. Like it was something she had to do. Maybe it was because her relationship with her own mother had taken a dive. Janet had sent a flurry of angry texts for a day or two, and then nothing since. It wasn’t like Janet to be utterly silent, and Layla suspected that it meant Janet’s hurt ran a lot deeper than she’d thought.

  Which made Layla feel awful, but it was one of those things where there was no cure but time. So she’d visit Cora, because if she couldn’t fix her relationship with her own family, she could at least make that old lady’s day brighter.

  The attendant smiled the moment Layla entered with Oscar in her arms. “Is that Cora’s dog? She’s been talking about him nonstop.”

  “This is him,” Layla said cheerfully, bouncing Oscar in her arms. She’d crocheted the dachshund a bright yellow and pink turtleneck sweater and put it on him, hoping that Cora would enjoy the sight of it. “How is Cora today?”

  “About as well as to be expected,” the woman said. “But I imagine having visitors will perk her right up. Come this way.”

  That answer was a little worrying, and Layla shot Jack a concerned look. He just put a supportive hand at the small of her back and led her forward.

  Cora did seem more fragile when they entered her room. She sat near the window, an afghan on her lap, and her face seemed hollow. Her hair was freshly dyed, though, and she wore a heavy amount of eye makeup as if she knew she was going to get visitors. She brightened the moment Jack and Layla stepped through the doorway, however. “You came for my birthday!”

  Oh wow, was it her birthday? Layla’d had no idea. Jack shot her a look and then moved to Cora’s side. “You know we did. How are you feeling, my gorgeous flower?”

  Cora tittered and waved a hand at Jack. “You flirt. I’m good. I love company, and seeing you two makes this a wonderful day. Can I see my dog?” She held her arms out.

  “Just for a minute,” Jack told her. “He needs to go outside for a quick walk, but then we’ll be back.” He took the dog from Layla’s arms and held him out to Cora, and the woman kissed Oscar’s ear and then let Jack have him back.

  Jack moved to Layla’s side and kissed her cheek. “I’m gonna run down to the bakery for a cake,” he murmured. “Stall.”

  She nodded and sat down across from Cora in the empty seat near the window. “How are things, Cora?”

  The older woman shrugged, watching Jack leave with Oscar. “Looking up. You’re still seeing that handsome man?” She gave Layla a sly look. “Guess that money at the auction really paid off.”

  Layla blushed. “It did, yes.”

  “You look happy.” Cora gave her an exaggerated wink.

  “I am.” This conversation was quickly growing awkward, though, so Layla decided to steer it in a safer direction. “So how old are you turning today, Cora? Or am I not allowed to ask?”

  “Oh, it’s not really my birthday. I just wanted some cake. That’s where your boyfriend went, right? To get cake? If he texts you, tell him I like buttercream frosting.” Cora beamed. “And sprinkles. I love sprinkles.”

  Layla’s jaw dropped. Then she laughed. “I can text him.”

  “That would be lovely, dear. Be sure to tell him about the sprinkles.” As Layla texted, Cora just chuckled, as if pleased with herself. “I know you’re thinking I’m sneaky, but when you get to be my age, you do what you can to get results. And I really wanted some cake today.” Her expression grew wistful. “And sprinkles.”

  Layla made sure to text Jack an emphasis on sprinkles. She smiled at her phone when the answer pinged. “He says he’s going to ask for the sprinkliest cake ever.”

  “That’s a good man. Handsome, too.” Cora smiled at Layla. “I’m glad everything’s working out for you. Does that mean you’re not going to keep coming by?”

  The words sounded so sad that Layla wanted to hug her. “No, of course not. If you like the company, I’m more than happy to keep coming by. Why would we stop?”

  Cora sighed. “Because everyone does. This place is depressing, you know. Some of these people cry all day long. No one comes to visit. My daughter brought me here two years ago and has visited once the entire time.” She shook her head. “We’re parked here because now we can be someone else’s problem.”

  Layla’s heart squeezed. No wonder Cora dressed flashy and said outrageous things to get her way. She wanted attention, just like Layla had when she was a child and Janet had spent a lot of time ignoring her and her father had disappeared. She knew what it was like to be unwanted.

  Maybe this was exactly the reminder Layla needed—that just because you had family, it didn’t mean that they had your best interests at heart. Maybe the family you made for yourself could be just as good, if not better, than the one genetics gave to you. “I’m not going anywhere,” Layla promised her. “In fact, while we’re waiting for Jack, I was hoping you could show me the crochet stitch you used on that blanket. I brought my yarn and my hook.”

  Cora’s eyes lit up. “What size hook are you using? That’s important. Here, come slide your chair closer and I’ll show you.”

  EPILOGUE

  Three Months Later

  Though there was nothing officially on the schedule, Tuesday afternoons were Cora afternoons. Jack finished his chores at the ranch, checking in on a sick heifer and bottle-feeding a baby that refused to eat solid food just yet. After that, his afternoon was free, but Jack had plans. So many plans.

  First, he had to get his girlfriend, though.

  He drove into town and headed for Pine Grove, where Layla would be most likely crocheting and gossiping with Cora in her room, Oscar perched on the elderly woman’s lap. It had become a regular thing, the Cora visits, even though neither of them were related to her. She was as good as family at this point, he figured, because she texted both of them when she needed something, and they visited her regularly. Cora was a bit of a tough nut even if she pretended otherwise, and Jack loved how sly she was and how easily she manipulated everyone around them. She didn’t do it out of a malicious nature. She was lonely, and did what she could to ensure people would visit.

  Well, and bring cake. Jack had learned that he needed to show up with either Oscar or cake—preferably both.

  CORA: R U coming?

  She spammed the message with a half dozen emojis, and he doubted she knew what half of them meant. Or she did, and she was just doing it to be a troll. You could never tell with Cora.

  JACK: OMW

  He was, really. There were just a few things he needed to take care of first. He picked up a half dozen fresh cupcakes at the bakery (along with a “pupcake” for Oscar) and then swung by the florist and picked up a dozen roses. A quick glance in the rearview mirror as he got back into the car showed he was sweating. Shit. He ran a nervous hand over his face. There was nothing to be nervous over. Nothing at all.

  It wasn’t Jack’s thing to be nervous. Layla was the high-strung one, the one always obsessed with making everyone happy. Jack was the laid-back one . . . except today, he felt tense. On edge.

  Cora sending him an emoji of fire, a ring, and then an eggplant didn’t help things. He wasn’t exactly sure what she was trying to tell him there. Taking a deep breath, Jack drove over to the senior center, hid the flowers in the back of his truck, and went inside with the cupcakes.

  The scene in Cora’s room was one he’d grown accustomed to seeing regularly. Cora sat by the window in the sunlight, Oscar dozing in her arms. Across from her in her regular chair was Layla, her head bent over a cross-stitch project as she chatted with Cora. He knew that this particular cross-stitch project was daisies but with curse words delicately embroidered into the center of each flower. Both his girlfriend and Cora had hooted with laughter over that one and Layla had insisted on making it for her friend.

  Layla looked up at him, her glasses sliding down her nose, and bea
med.

  His heart clenched with pure love.

  Even after months of dating and more or less living together, the sight of her still made his heart skip a beat. She was adorable, his Layla, her hair messily piled atop her head and fixed with a pencil as usual, her glasses dominating her face, and that beaming smile he loved aimed in his direction. She was the sexiest thing ever, and he thought to himself how lucky he was to have her as he moved to her side and gave her a kiss.

  “Are those cupcakes for me?” Cora asked, like she always did. There was a twinkle in her eye as she looked up at him.

  He went over and kissed her cheek, setting the cupcakes down next to her. “Extra sprinkles, just like you asked.”

  “Good man. I just might keep you.” Cora winked.

  Layla chuckled. “You’ll have to fight me for him.”

  Jack straightened and put a hand over his heart. “Ladies, ladies, there’s more than enough of me to go around.”

  Layla rolled her eyes. “On second thought, Cora, you can have him.”

  Cora just tittered, unwrapping the pupcake for the dog and feeding him bites. Jack settled in, leaning against the window, and listened to them talk about nothing in particular. Cora was very into a show called The Bachelor and so Layla had started watching it, too, much to Jack’s chagrin. It wasn’t his favorite, but he watched it with her because she usually watched baseball with him. As they talked, Cora kept giving him sly looks.

  He nodded at her when Layla wasn’t looking. Today was the day.

  Cora winked again and then yawned hugely.

  Layla didn’t notice their deviousness. “Did you not sleep well, Cora?”

  “Not really. That new pillow’s too hard.” For a moment, she looked old and frail and fragile. “I’ll probably lie down and take a nap soon.”

  “Do you need a new pillow? I can drop one off tomorrow if you like,” Layla offered, a worried look on her face.

  “Oh no, it’s just a new pillow. I’ll break it in soon enough.” Cora waved a hand.

  Jack cleared his throat. “We should probably get going soon anyhow. Remember, we’re going to go look at that land, baby.”

  Layla tapped her needle on the magnetic needle minder on her project, putting her things away. “Right. I told Cora all about it. How this one might be the one.”

  “Fingers crossed,” Cora offered. “Take pictures and send them to me.”

  “Oh, of course.” Layla got to her feet, and Jack went to get the dog from Cora. “Before I go, do you need anything for Maxwell?”

  “He needs a castle,” Cora said, glancing up at the betta fish in the tank atop Cora’s dresser. He’d been a present to Cora last month, because Layla wanted Cora to have a “buddy” when Oscar couldn’t visit.

  “A castle. I’ll see what I can find online.” Layla grinned over at him, all sweet pleasure.

  Jack couldn’t help but notice that she picked up a folder of paperwork as she got her things together, and he arched an eyebrow at her.

  Layla flushed. “Um, just some paperwork for one of the other residents here. He got a notice from the IRS because his kids filed a tax return for him and didn’t need to and so he tried to fix it and made it worse, and it’s a long story and I’m doing it for him and you can’t stop me.”

  “Baby,” Jack began warningly.

  “It’s just a simple amendment. It looks scarier than it is, and Clarence can’t afford a CPA right now.” She lifted her chin, a defensive expression on her face.

  Jack just shook his head. Count on Layla to volunteer to do work for strangers. She had the most generous heart. He supposed it was just another reason why he loved her, even if it encouraged people to take advantage of her. At least she had him to keep things in check.

  “Bye, you two,” Cora called, pulling the box of cupcakes into her lap and waving from her seat by the door. “Remember, take pictures.”

  “See you next week,” Layla called. “And I promise I’ll catch up on The Bachelor!”

  “You do that. You have to see what that fool Blake did to Shelby.”

  “Nothing good, I’m sure,” Layla murmured as they left. Jack kept Oscar tucked under one arm, his other hand at the small of Layla’s back as he steered her out of the building. “And I know you’re irked with me, Jack, but it’s just a tiny bit of paperwork, and Clarence can barely remember who he is, much less fill out a 1040-X. It’s really not a big deal.”

  “I know. I just need to make sure no one’s hogging all your time but me.”

  She chuckled, gazing up at him as they exited the building and moved toward his car. “You are absolutely my first priority. You know that.”

  He did. He worried about her sometimes, though. The last couple of months had been a wild ride. He’d been buried in calving season, with tons of births happening on a daily basis and the three Watson brothers spending nearly every waking moment in the barn or in the pastures checking up on their charges, giving shots, tagging, and when mothers wouldn’t feed the calves, bottle-feeding the babies. He was used to it, though, and had expected to be busy. What he hadn’t expected was just how busy Layla got during tax season. She’d worked so many long nights that she’d had dark circles under her eyes for weeks, and she’d fallen asleep through one of their date nights (a fact he loved to tease her about). He was used to working hard, but he felt protective of Layla, and he wanted her to relax, just a little, now that things were slowing down.

  He opened the truck door for her and handed her Oscar.

  Layla settled into her seat and immediately frowned up at him. “Do you smell flowers?”

  “Someone had on some strong perfume at the bakery,” he lied. And Jack began to sweat again.

  If Layla noticed his nervousness, she didn’t say anything, though. She seemed happy and unconcerned as he pulled out of the parking lot and got onto the highway. “My mother called,” she offered.

  He tensed, like he always did when she brought up Janet. “Oh?”

  “Just to say hello and to ask if she could borrow some of my heels. I told her no. She told me I was selfish and I told her I had to go.” She shook her head. “So the same old, same old.”

  He grunted. Jack was not a fan of Janet, but he knew Layla loved her despite all her (many, many) flaws. Janet was a user, but if she was in Layla’s life, he was going to have to learn to tolerate her, because he loved his girlfriend. Their relationship was still strained after the bad contract, but Janet had returned the money and donated the land, just like Layla had insisted. They had fallen out of contact for about a month, and then Janet had begun trying to slowly weasel her way back into Layla’s good graces, and he was proud of Layla for standing up to her. He knew Layla had been incredibly hurt by her mother’s selfishness, but she was pouring some of that generous heart toward Cora, which he supported. Cora was a sneaky woman, but she loved his Layla as much as he did.

  “So where’s this land again?” Layla asked, glancing over at him. “This looks like the road back to the Swinging C.”

  He began to sweat again. “It’s near.”

  “Oh. Really? That’ll be interesting. I can’t believe there’s a plot of land close by that someone wants to sell to you.”

  “I lucked into it,” he said gruffly, hoping she wouldn’t pepper him with too many more questions or he’d break.

  “What are we doing after we see the land?” she asked, and put her hand on his thigh. “Going back to your cabin to celebrate?”

  Now he was sweating and aroused. Layla’s not-so-innocent hand crept close to his cock, and he groaned. “You are the worst tease.”

  “I thought I was the best tease,” she said with a giggle. “That’s what you told me last night.”

  “You can be both.” God, he loved her. He loved how her initial shyness had turned into sheer enthusiasm in the bedroom. Not that the shyness was bad�
��but an excited Layla always willing to try new things and touch him at a moment’s notice? He was living the dream. She was the perfect woman, and he really was a lucky man . . .

  . . . and, yeah, he was sweating like crazy now.

  Her hand remained high on his leg, just enough to distract him as he pulled up to the Swinging C parking lot.

  Layla looked over at him with a slight frown on her face. “Pit stop?”

  “Yeah, the guy’s meeting us in the barn,” he lied. “Something about wanting to buy one of Uncle Ennis’s horses.”

  “Oh. Okay. You want me to go drop Oscar off at your cabin and meet you there?”

  Perfect. He’d been wondering how to get the flowers into the barn without her noticing them. “That’d be great, actually. You sure you don’t mind?”

  “Not at all.” She leaned over and kissed him, and her hand brushed over his cock. “You can thank me later.”

  He groaned, because his mind went to very dirty places. “You know I will. As many times as you want.”

  Layla gave him a positively lascivious look. “I’m going to hold you to that. Be right back.” She got out and headed off with the dog.

  The moment she disappeared from sight, Jack uncovered the flowers hidden under a blanket in the back seat of his truck and raced for the barn. Waiting inside were his brothers, Uncle Ennis, and Becca and Amy. A table had been set up in the center of the barn, full of framed pictures of the two of them together and decorated with heart balloons. A heart-shaped cake was in the center of the table, and a red carpet had been rolled out over the straw.

  His older brother Hank snorted at the sight of him. “You’re as white as a ghost, Jack.”

  “Sweaty, too,” Jack agreed, running a sleeve over his face.

  “Does she have any idea?” Becca clasped her hands in front of her with excitement.

  “She thinks we’re seeing land today.”

  Amy pulled out her phone, prepping the camera. “I’m so excited for you two!”