True-Blue Cowboy--Includes a bonus novella

by Sara Richardson

  Ana stared across the river. “I’m sad. I hate to think about his life ending that way.” A guilty look diverted her gaze back to him. “But when I really thought about it, I realized I didn’t know him the way you did. I guess I looked at you the way you had looked at him. As the big brother. The protector. The dad we lost.” She stared down at her hands. “I was so young when he left. And it didn’t matter to me as much because I still had you.”

  “Aw. Sis.” He nudged her shoulder, knowing she wouldn’t want him to make a big deal out of the admission. “So you’re not mad at me? For keeping it from you?”

  “Of course I’m mad at you.” Her smile softened the sentiment. “But I get why you didn’t say anything.”

  “Really?”

  “Sure.” She turned to him, her expression somber. “You and I are a lot alike, Mateo. Obviously. I haven’t talked about Andres because I don’t want to think about it. We spent our whole childhood in survival mode. It’s easier to survive when you don’t let things get to you.”

  “Yeah, well, I guess I’m starting to figure out survival mode isn’t enough.” It had been until he met Everly, until she’d made him want more.

  Ana leaned her head on his shoulder in a rare display of affection. “It gets lonely trying to survive.”

  He hadn’t thought of it that way, but that was exactly how he’d felt for years—isolated, restless, filling his life with women and parties and travels and events, but never really connecting with anything. “Are you lonely, sis?”

  “It’s gotten better since I went to school. I’ve made some really good friends up there.”

  “Then you need to go back.” He used his best dad tone.

  “I know I do. Now that Mamá knows about Andres, I will. As soon as I get her back home and settled.” Ana teased him with a smirk. “I would ask if you’re lonely, but I saw Everly’s face light up when you walked into the café earlier. I think she likes you.”

  “I like her, too.” Instead of his heart picking up like it usually did when he thought about Everly, it felt weighted. Dull.

  “Then I don’t understand. Why aren’t you two together?” his sister demanded. “She’s amazing. Such a warm person. And she makes some freaking delicious pastries.”

  “Yeah. I think she’s pretty much the best woman I’ve ever met.”

  Ana widened those sharp dark eyes and raised her hands, demanding an explanation.

  “Things got complicated because I bought the land she leases. That’s the investment I told you about. I’ve been talking to the ski resort about building some condos there.”

  “On Everly’s land?” His sister pushed off the bench and stared down at him. “What’ll happen to the farm? To her café?”

  “It’s so run-down. It would take too much to fix it up.” All of those arguments had weakened. “Her lease is up soon, and I told her I wouldn’t renew it.”

  “You’re forcing her out?”

  Mateo stood, too. “It was supposed to be an investment property. Something that would give our family long-term security.” He paced away from his sister and stared at the swirling river. “I don’t know how much longer I’ll be able to compete. I wanted to make sure we were set. All of us.”

  “You wanted to.” Ana moved in front of him. “But now you’re not so sure.”

  “No. Now I’m not so sure.” He’d been holding onto the investment idea so tightly, looking at it as a business decision instead of a personal one. But he couldn’t keep denying that it was intensely personal to Everly. “I just keep thinking about Mamá.” He slumped back to the bench. “Do you remember how she would always eat last? Sometimes there was nothing left. And she would tell us she wasn’t hungry or that she’d eaten earlier.”

  Ana sighed, nodding. “But she couldn’t have eaten earlier because there was never any food.”

  “Right.” To this day, he still wondered if that’s why she was so small. All those years of malnourishment while she tried to provide what her kids needed. “I don’t want her to have to worry about anything. Ever again. I don’t want any of us to worry.” That was why he hadn’t gone and talked to Blake yet. That was why he’d let the contract sit in his inbox.

  “Mateo…” Ana sat back down next to him. “Even though we were poor, we had a good life. We had a lot of love.” She rested her hand on his forearm. “I know I didn’t take the brunt of feeling responsible for everyone the way you did. But I think you need to let it go. I only have a few years left in school, and I’ll get a job. I’ll be successful. I can help, too.” Determination lit her eyes. “Mamá wouldn’t want you to give up a chance to pursue a life with someone who could love you. None of us want you to do that.”

  “What if she doesn’t stay?” What if she decided he wasn’t worth sticking around for? He might be on the road to forgiving his brother, but those questions had been part of his life for so long, driving the way he lived, the way he approached every possible relationship. “What if she leaves me and I gave up everything for her?”

  “That can’t matter.” Ana smiled at him as though willing him to be brave. “If you really care about her, you have to do what’s best for her, even if it hurts you. Even if it means you give up everything.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  If there was one thing her friends knew how to do, it was throw a party. Everly snuck away from the dance floor that had been set up underneath a large white canopy tent on her driveway.

  For the last hour, she’d been dancing a lively two-step, switching between dancing with Gus and Charlie. They might both have arthritis but they were still surprisingly agile on the dance floor. Gus had even dipped her twice, wearing a sly grin directed at Charlie.

  But, wow, her legs ached from the dancing, the mingling, the walking between the animal pens—where all of the kids had gathered—and the food tent—where all of the men seemed to be hanging out—and the gardens, where enthusiasts oohhed and ahhed over her meticulously arranged plots.

  And don’t get her started on the good old-fashioned kissing booth Charity had set up that was currently being manned by Ty. The line of women wanting to kiss a rodeo star wound all the way around the food tent.

  It seemed like the whole town had shown up and then some. People had come from as far away as Glenwood Springs, thanks to Darla’s entrepreneur network. In the last three hours, Everly had been surrounded and uplifted and inspired by everyone she loved the most…well, almost everyone.

  Making her way back to the chicken yard, she scanned the many groups of people talking and laughing and enjoying some of Darla’s finest wines. Everly waved and smiled the way she had all afternoon, but after a full scan of the property her hope deflated. Mateo hadn’t come. Even after she’d asked him to. It was true that her friends hadn’t been overly welcoming to him at the café the other day, but still. He’d said he would be there.

  “What a great party.” Kenna met Everly at the fence. She looked adorable in a long knit dress and jean jacket, but the best part about her ensemble was her smile. It seemed bigger and brighter than it had when Everly had dropped by her house.

  “This is the best party!” Jake launched himself into Everly’s waist and gave her a squeeze. “Mom said maybe we can have chickens someday,” he announced, glancing at his mom for assurance.

  Kenna’s wide eyes seemed a little spooked, if you asked Everly.

  “Maybe someday,” the woman said noncommittally. “Like in twenty years when you have your own house,” she muttered so only Everly could hear.

  Everly laughed. “Chickens are a lot more work than you think, buddy, but I’ll tell you what. I’ll talk to my friends Jessa and Lance about letting you go out to visit the chickens at their place once we move them.” Thankfully her friends had offered to let Everly board the animals at the ranch. She’d have to build an enclosure, but at least she wouldn’t have to give them up. As ridiculous as it sounded, she loved her animals like they were her children.

  “Why are you moving the
chickens?” Benny asked, hiding behind his mom’s leg.

  “We talked about this, sweetie,” Kenna said gently. “Miss Everly is moving to a new house soon.”

  “It’s not gonna be as cool as the farm,” Jake grumbled.

  “Jake!” Obvious embarrassment flooded Kenna’s fair cheeks.

  “It’s okay.” Everly gave her arm a squeeze. “That’s true. There aren’t many houses as cool as the farm. I’m going to miss it, too.”

  “Then why are you moving?” the boy asked, clearly confused.

  “Why don’t you go play with the chickens again?” Kenna prodded Jake and Benny toward the gate. “We have to go in a few minutes so make sure you get all of your wiggles out.”

  “Okay! Get out, wiggles!” The boys took off, flapping their arms as if they were wings.

  “I’m sorry about that.” Kenna shook her head. “I do try to teach them polite manners. I swear.”

  Everly waved it off. “They are polite. God, they’re such sweet boys. It’s refreshing, actually. How honest kids are sometimes.” Her smile faded as she glanced at her cozy little farmhouse behind them. “It’s funny. When I was a kid I used to dream about living in a huge castle and having servants and fancy dinners and pretty dresses.”

  “Me too,” Kenna said with a humorless laugh. “It was all those fairy tales we read. The ones that tricked us into thinking Prince Charming really existed.”

  “Exactly.” Oh, how quickly she’d learned Prince Charming was a myth. The whole thing was a myth, actually. That money and princes and pretty things brought happiness and fulfillment. “Who needs Prince Charming anyway?” Everly gazed over at her little house. “I’d rather have something real.” Like a damaged but well-meaning lover who made her laugh and dance. And a tiny house surrounded by stunning mountains. “I never thought my dream home would turn into an old two-bedroom farmhouse with peeling paint and flickering lights and toilets that run.”

  “I’m sorry, Everly.” Her friend uttered a helpless sigh. “After everything you do for others, it seems so wrong that this is happening.”

  “It’s okay.” For the first time, those words felt true. She watched little Jake and Benny giggle, and the sheer joy on their faces brought a smile. “Over the last few weeks, I’ve realized it’s not necessarily the place that matters. It’s the people. And they’re not going anywhere.” Her book club friends. Charlie and Gus and Hector. Kenna and the boys. And Mateo. Even Mateo. Especially Mateo. She searched for him again, still hoping.

  “I wanted to thank you again for bringing those dinners,” Kenna said, emotion thick in her voice. “And for letting me fall apart in front of you. I try to hold it together, but you caught me in a weak moment.”

  “Anytime.” She turned fully to her friend, wondering again if she had enough people in her life who mattered, who could get her through. “I know you want to be strong for your boys, but you need a place where it’s okay to fall apart, too.” She needed a community that could hold her up and help her put the pieces back together. And Everly knew just the people. “In fact, I was talking to some of my book club friends, and we’d all love it if you could join us sometime.”

  “Really?” Her friend’s eyes misted.

  “Definitely. I can’t tell you how much being a part of it has helped me heal.”

  “It gives me hope to hear you say that,” Kenna murmured. “That you’ve healed.”

  “I have.” She hadn’t realized it until she’d seen Mateo at the café when his mom and sister had come the other morning. But she’d healed enough to love again. At some point it had happened: her heart had chosen him. Maybe at first because he was fun and different and so charismatic, but her feelings had grown deeper when she saw how he took care of the people he loved. How loyal he was to them. That morning, she hadn’t been able to fight it anymore. When he’d followed her back to the kitchen, longing had overtaken her. All she’d wanted him to do was pull her against his body and kiss her again. At first it seemed like he’d wanted to, but something had held him back.

  “Book club sounds great,” Kenna said, watching the boys play. “I could definitely use some adult time. Don’t get me wrong, I love my kids—and my students at school—but they can’t exactly understand what I’m going through.”

  “Then it’s settled.” Shoving aside thoughts of Mateo, Everly put her arm around Kenna’s shoulders and directed her toward the food tent, where she knew Darla would welcome her with open arms. “Let me introduce you to a few people while the boys play.”

  They ambled over to where the air smelled like delicious, tangy barbecue. Darla had hired the food truck from Denver she’d used at a few of her events at the Chocolate Therapist.

  “There you are!” Darla flew over to them, as animated as usual. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you. There’s a head chef from a Vail restaurant here. He said he would be very interested in investing in another locally grown food source, like a sustainable farm, perhaps.”

  Panic fizzled up Everly’s throat. “I’m not sure I’m ready for an investor.” She loved the simplicity of her farm, of being her own boss, of growing what she wanted when she wanted and deciding what to put on her own menu. “I don’t think I would ever go commercial.”

  “Just talk to him,” Darla insisted. “He’s sitting right over there with the managers of his restaurant.” She pointed to a table where a good-looking man sat with two older women. “I told him I’d send you over. You don’t have to sign a contract or anything. But this could be huge if you wanted to start up a business somewhere else.”

  “All right. Fine.” She could at least hear the man out. But first… “Darla, do you know Kenna?”

  “We haven’t been formally introduced, but you’re joining our book club, right?”

  Kenna smiled bravely. “I’m thinking about it.”

  “You totally should. We’d love to have you. We have the best snacks. And wine, of course,” Darla said proudly. “While Everly goes and talks to the chef, I’ll introduce you to the rest of our friends.” The two of them walked away.

  Everly would’ve much rather gone with them, but instead she made her way over to the table Darla had pointed out. If she had to start over again, she might as well open herself to any and all possibilities.

  Mateo had to talk to Blake Wilder.

  Originally, he’d planned to wait until Monday, until Mom and Ana were on their way to the airport, but after what he’d seen, he couldn’t wait anymore.

  It had only been a half hour since he’d struggled to find a parking place near the café. He’d finally ended up all the way down the street. From there, he’d kept to the outskirts of Everly’s event, watching all of these people come together to rally for her. He’d never seen anything like it, and as he stood there on the outside looking in, he realized this wasn’t where he wanted to be. On the outside. He wanted to be right there. Standing with her. But he hadn’t earned the right.

  From his hidden spot behind the food tent, he’d watched Everly walk over to a table and sit down across from some polished-looking man and two other women who didn’t seem to be nearly as interested. The guy, though? He clearly checked Everly out as they shook hands.

  Mateo fought the urge to go over there and interrupt. He couldn’t talk to her. Not until he’d made everything official. Not until he told Blake their deal was off. He had to do it now. Before he lost his chance with her for good.

  Mateo tore away from the tent and jogged along the driveway. Blake likely wouldn’t be working on a Saturday evening, but he’d described where he’d built his house near the lodge. It shouldn’t be too hard to find. He’d look for the biggest and most pretentious palace on the street.

  When he reached the sidewalk, he went to turn but stopped cold. Dev and Charity stood talking near Dev’s cruiser, which just happened to be parked in front of Mateo’s truck. Perfect. He’d never get out of here now. Not without an interrogation from Charity, at least. “Hey,” he said, casually walking past.r />
  As expected, Charity glared at him. “What’re you doing here, Mateo?”

  “Actually, I was just on my way out.” He didn’t look at her.

  “Already?” Dev sauntered over, a paper bowl full of barbecued meat in his hands. “Didn’t you just get here? Thought I saw your truck pull up right before I did.”

  “Uh, yeah.” He dug the key remote out of his pocket and unlocked the doors. “I haven’t been here long, but I have to go.” As in, he had no time for small talk.

  “Have you tried the barbecue yet?” Dev shoveled in a bite. “It’s pretty good. Darla had it brought in all the way from Denver.”

  “I don’t have time to try it.” He tried to slip past, but Charity blocked his path.

  “What’s the matter? You afraid to face everyone now that they all know about your condo resort?”

  Yeah, maybe he could stick around a few minutes to defend himself. “No, I’m not afraid to face everyone. I’m going to tell Blake Wilder our deal is off. Okay?”

  Charity sized him up as though deciding if she believed him. “Really?”

  “Really. I can’t do it. I can’t take this away from her.” Didn’t matter if Everly gave him another chance or not. He couldn’t take something she loved so much.

  Charity still eyed him with suspicion. “So you’re going to build the resort but keep the farm, too?”

  “I can’t. Blake made it pretty clear he wouldn’t move forward unless I agreed to demolish the farm.” Besides that, Everly had wanted to expand. There wouldn’t be room for both. “So no condo resort.”

  “Oh my God, Mateo!” Charity hugged him. “I knew you weren’t a complete jackass.”

  “Thanks?” He awkwardly patted her back.

  She pulled away. “Well, what’re you waiting for? Go tell Blake.”

  Mateo looked back to where Everly sat, still talking to the suit. “Do you think I should tell her first?”