Randall Pride

by Judy Christenberry

  “Didn’t your mother work in the winter? I believe she’s gone out in the dark to work on dangerous animals. And Anna goes out to deliver babies at all hours of the day and night.”

  “Yeah, but Uncle Brett goes with her after dark,” Rich pointed out.

  Elizabeth glared at her helpful cousin.

  Red interrupted. “Eat your breakfasts. I hear boots on the stairway.”

  “And mind your own business,” Elizabeth muttered under her breath to Toby. She wasn’t about to let him tell her what to do when he wouldn’t even speak to her nicely.

  The rest of the meal was a fast scramble as the guys gobbled down their breakfasts and carried their plates to the sink just as the older generation entered the room.

  Elizabeth was glad Toby left the kitchen as the others took their places, only exchanging a few words with his father. He wouldn’t discuss her going to school alone with his father, she was sure.

  When Toby left the house, Jake sighed with a big grin on his face. “Man, it’s good to have him back home.” He looked at B.J. “Isn’t it, sweetheart?”

  “Of course.”

  “What did he say last night when you talked to him?” Pete asked.

  “How’d you know I talked to him?” Jake demanded.

  Pete shrugged his shoulders. “’Cause I know you. The boy’s the biggest success in rodeo in years. I think he was on track for another Cowboy of the Year. Do you think he’s running away from a broken heart?”

  Elizabeth kept her head down, but she listened intently.

  “Didn’t mention a woman. I think something’s wrong,” he admitted, patting B.J.’s hand as she let a slight gasp escape. “He seems okay with his decision, but I told him we’d understand if he changes his mind. We wouldn’t be any worse off if he leaves again.”

  They all nodded, as if in agreement, but Elizabeth had to hold back. She wanted to protest, to tell Jake he couldn’t let Toby leave again. But it wasn’t her business. And why did she think he shouldn’t go away again? She didn’t want to answer that question.

  Red brought her out of her thoughts. “I fixed you lunch, Elizabeth. Don’t forget it.”

  “I won’t, Red, but I’m going to gain weight if you don’t put less in it.”

  “You need some meat on your bones, little girl. Some of those students are bigger than you.”

  Elizabeth choked on her orange juice. “Red, I teach kindergarten!”

  “But they still have big kids at the school. Those seniors can be difficult.”

  Red’s words ended just as Drew, a senior, entered.

  Red immediately dished up food for him.

  “Maybe you shouldn’t feed Drew so much, Red. After all, he’s one of those dreaded seniors,” Elizabeth said, grinning.

  “Hey, what did I do?” Drew asked, watching Red fill his plate.

  “Nothing, dear,” Megan reassured him. “Red was concerned that some of you are bigger than Elizabeth.”

  Drew snorted in disgust. “You bet we are. We’d all be shrimps if we weren’t.”

  Everyone smiled, but Jake added, “Say, Pete, I wondered if you wanted to let Casey move out with the guys now that Toby’s back. He’d keep an eye on him.”

  Janie protested at once, but Pete threw him a grateful look. “That’s a good idea.”

  Elizabeth thought they were mistaken about Toby watching out for Casey. The old Toby would have, but the new one didn’t seem to care that much…in her opinion. But she didn’t say anything because she knew how badly Casey wanted to be counted as a grown-up.

  She’d decided for several reasons she’d better be on her way when the phone rang.

  Everyone stared at it. There weren’t many calls in the morning except for emergencies. B.J. grabbed it. She and Anna frequently received those kinds of calls.

  With a puzzled look, she said, “Yes, just a minute.” Then she turned to Elizabeth. “It’s for you.”

  Elizabeth frowned too as she took the phone.

  “Elizabeth, this is Bill Johnson. Is your fiancé there?”

  “No, he’s leaving this morning for Laramie. Did you try the motel?”

  “Yep. I guess he’s gone.”

  “Is there a problem?”

  “Well, maybe. Can I speak to you after class today?”

  “Of course. I’ll come by as soon as I’ve finished.”

  “Good. I’ll—I’ll see you then.”

  Chapter Three

  Elizabeth wondered what Bill Johnson had to say to her, but she didn’t have a lot of time to think about it. Her morning class consisted of seventeen five-year-olds. If she took her gaze off them even for a minute, they got into trouble. But she loved their energy.

  When she did think of something else, her mind seemed naturally to flow to Toby, wondering about his first day working on the ranch. And why he’d come back. Not many people turned down fame and fortune.

  She also wondered why he’d changed so much. She missed the Toby of her childhood, her teenage years…until she’d reached the age of sixteen. When she’d cried the last time he’d come home from college, her mother had explained that Toby probably had a girlfriend at school and his mind was on her.

  “Miss Randall? Isn’t it time to go?” Davey, one of her brightest pupils, asked, staring at the big clock on the wall.

  “Oh, yes, it is. Okay, let’s line up.” Times had changed. The kindergarteners were never released until someone came for them. A number of them rode a small bus to a childcare center nearby. The rest of them were claimed by their parents. Once Elizabeth had delivered each child to a guardian, she had an hour to eat lunch and prepare for the afternoon group. It was smaller because the morning was the preferred time. Most of the children scheduled for the afternoon were the oldest and soon to turn six.

  Elizabeth headed for the teachers’ lounge and the refrigerator where she’d left her lunch. Then she settled at the round table. The lounge was filled with cast-off furniture, but it was actually a pleasant room. Just as she sat down, one of the first-grade teachers, also a native of the area, joined her.

  “I heard Toby’s back home! Is he going to stay a while?” Abby Gaylord asked, her eyes sparkling.

  “News travels fast around here. He just came back last night.”

  “I know, but he’s famous. And rich. And the last I heard he was still single.”

  “That’s the last I’ve heard, too,” Elizabeth admitted reluctantly. “But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have a lady. He’s not acting like himself.”

  “Ooh! I bet he has a broken heart! I’ll be glad to console him.” Abby’s gaze was intent on Elizabeth.

  “Did you want me to tell him that?”

  “No! Don’t be silly. He wouldn’t look at me. Not with you hanging around,” Abby said with a wry smile.

  Elizabeth concentrated on her sandwich. “He’s my cousin.”

  “Honey, there’s no blood kinship. Everyone knows that.”

  Elizabeth’s heartbeat sped up. She’d never admitted to anyone in the family that she’d finally figured that out when she was sixteen. Toby was considered a Randall in every way. For almost a year Elizabeth had held that information close to her heart. Then Toby’s behavior had told her it didn’t matter.

  “Do you think he’ll come to the big Halloween party?”

  Elizabeth stared at the other woman. “That’s two months away.”

  “I know, but we could get him to sign autographs for a dollar and make a lot of money for the teachers’ fund.”

  “I can ask him. I’m not sure he’ll be here by then, but I’ll check with him.”

  “Thanks, Elizabeth. Or he could have a kissing booth for five dollars a kiss. Then we’d really make a killing.”

  Elizabeth ended that idea. “No. Toby wouldn’t like that.” She wouldn’t like it, whether he did or not.

  “Okay. Just a thought. But ask him about doing autographs. That would be great. Oh, I’ve got a better idea. We could have a raffle and the winner gets a
date with Toby. Yeah, he could do that and the autographs. It wouldn’t kill him to spend one evening with a local lady, Elizabeth. Please ask him.”

  Elizabeth didn’t like that idea either. But it was more reasonable than him kissing a hundred women. With a sigh she promised she would.

  “Is he still as good-looking as ever?”

  Elizabeth was fast developing a headache. “Yes.”

  “Come on. Aren’t you going to give me some details?” Abby asked, practically salivating as she waited.

  “No. Abby, you’ve known him all your life. He looks the same.”

  Abby sighed and lapsed into silence, staring into space.

  Elizabeth knew what her friend was seeing in her mind. A tall man, muscular, but rangy, with a singular grace, light brown, almost golden eyes, dark hair, strong features…and a beautiful smile that varied between cocky and sympathetic. The desire to be the center of his universe, to have that smile all to herself, had long been her secret wish.

  “How’s your class today?” Elizabeth asked, desperate to change the subject.

  For the remaining minutes before Abby’s next class, they discussed work. But when Abby left, the next arrivals wanted to talk about Toby, too. One of the teachers had taught him years ago and always thought of him as that same little boy. At least that was a better image than Toby in a kissing booth.

  When she was ready to go home, she checked her calendar for the next day and saw the note she’d written about Bill Johnson. Otherwise, she would’ve gone straight home, her mind focused on Toby.

  She drove the short distance to Bill Johnson’s office on the main street of Rawhide. He never used a receptionist or secretary, so she knocked on the open door of his office and he looked up from his desk.

  “Oh, Elizabeth, thanks for coming by,” he said, rising to shake her hand. “Sit down, please.”

  Elizabeth did so and waited for him to speak.

  “Uh, Mr. O’Banyon came in yesterday afternoon, you know. We’d corresponded, of course, and he has excellent skills.” He paused and stared at her.

  “And?”

  “Elizabeth, I’ve been friends with your family for a long time. I’d do anything I could to help them, but—” He broke off again.

  Elizabeth smiled. She realized his dilemma. “You don’t think you can work with Cleve?”

  Relief filled his face. “Not just me. My customers—they wouldn’t come back. He, uh, sneers at the way people dress here. He actually made fun of Mr. Holliwell when he came in while O’Banyon was here.”

  “Oh, I’m so sorry, Bill. But deciding not to hire him won’t affect your friendship with my family. Have you spoken with Cleve?”

  Bill nodded. “Yeah. He didn’t take it well.”

  “I’m not surprised. He thinks he would be an asset to any company.”

  Bill looked at her sharply, and she knew she hadn’t hidden her disgust well.

  “Uh, well, I appreciate your understanding.”

  “Do you still need help?”

  He stared at her warily. “Yeah, but—”

  “I was going to suggest you talk to my cousin, Russ.”

  “Russ is looking for a job as an accountant?” Bill asked, surprise in his voice.

  “Not exactly. But he majored in accounting, and I think he’d like to work in town part-time.”

  “I had no idea. That’s a great idea! I’ll call him this evening.”

  “Mmm, could you wait until next week?”

  “Why?”

  “I need to talk to my family after I’ve talked to Cleve, and I won’t be able to manage all that until the weekend.” She really felt she should tell Cleve first that she’d changed her mind.

  “Okay, as long as you don’t think anyone else would snap him up. He’ll be perfect.”

  “How do you know? He might not know enough accounting,” she pointed out.

  “Randalls breed true, Elizabeth. There hasn’t been a bad one yet.” His grin was wide and warm.

  Elizabeth smiled back. But she realized she might’ve broken that chain if she’d married Cleve and had his children. Why hadn’t she realized that earlier? She stood. “Thanks for your cooperation, Bill. We’ll have everything settled very soon.”

  “I appreciate that, Elizabeth.”

  DARK WAS STARTING to come earlier, and Toby was glad. His first day back in the saddle took a lot of stamina. He was strong and skilled, but he was tired.

  “Good job today, Toby,” his Uncle Pete said, pulling up beside him. “I figure we got a lot more done today with your roping skills.”

  “You’re no slouch yourself, Uncle Pete.” His uncle was the only one of the Randalls before Toby who had rodeo experience.

  “I wanted to tell you I appreciate you not encouraging the boys to head out for the rodeo, too. Rich has mentioned going several times, but Russ always reminds him about what you said.”

  Toby grinned. “I didn’t want them making that their life. It’s too hard, and it can lead them down the wrong path.”

  “True. So why did you stay so long?”

  Toby stiffened. He hadn’t been prepared for that question. “I wanted to earn enough to pay for my own place.”

  “Oh. Have you talked to your dad about land around here? I’m sure he’d be glad to help you.”

  “I’m in no hurry.” He’d already decided if Elizabeth and Cleve settled down in Rawhide, he wouldn’t be doing the same. He told himself she’d be married then, but it didn’t seem to affect his hormones.

  “Your dad—”

  Toby interrupted. “I’d appreciate your not mentioning this to Dad just yet. I want to enjoy being home with the family for a while.”

  “Sure thing, boy. Jake loves having you home.”

  “I love being here,” Toby returned as they reached the barn, and he caught sight of Elizabeth’s car. She was home. He started trying to stifle the desire that rose up in him. Damn, he only had to know she was there, without even seeing her, to start yearning for her.

  After taking care of his horse, he headed for the Pad with Russ and Rich, telling his father he was going to clean up.

  “Okay. Red will ring when dinner is ready,” Jake assured him.

  With a wave, he walked with the cousins.

  “Hey, we didn’t have a chance to ask last night,” Rich began. “You haven’t told us about any of the women.”

  “What women?” Toby asked, his mind on Elizabeth.

  “The women that chase all the rodeo guys,” Russ explained.

  Toby shrugged his shoulders. “There’s not much to tell.”

  “Come on, Toby!” Rich protested. “Don’t tell me you’ve lived like a monk all these years.”

  Toby knew his cousins would be shocked if he told them how seldom he’d indulged in feminine company…and how dissatisfying those few encounters had been. “Guys, those women are like the ones who hang out in a bar hoping to pick up a man for the night.”

  Russ frowned, considering his words. Rich grinned. “Some of them aren’t so bad.”

  “Yeah, but do you want one of them as mother to your children?”

  Rich frowned then. “Of course not! But one night doesn’t make a marriage.”

  “Depends on whether or not you’re lucky, friend,” Toby pointed out. “If you play with fire, you can get burned.”

  “You sound like Dad,” Rich protested.

  “Uncle Pete is a pretty smart man. Besides, there are some great ladies around here.”

  “I haven’t seen you courting anyone,” Rich said. “I think you’re just saving all those models for yourself.”

  “Models aren’t interested in settling down.”

  “That’s the good part,” Rich explained. “Neither am I.”

  Toby chuckled and shook his head. He’d try to knock some sense into Rich’s head later.

  “Toby?”

  The feminine voice brought him to an immediate stop. He’d recognize Elizabeth’s tones anywhere. Turning slowly, he said, �
��Yes, Elizabeth?”

  “Could I talk to you a minute?”

  “How about after I clean up?”

  “It won’t take long.”

  She had an anxious look on her face, and he couldn’t reject her. So much for being strong. “Yeah, sure. I’ll be in in a minute, guys.”

  There was a bench on the porch of the Pad. Without any urging on his part, Elizabeth sat down. She was still wearing the blue-jean jumper and pale blue blouse she’d worn to school that morning. Her blue eyes looked huge.

  He put a booted foot on the bench but didn’t sit down. He didn’t trust himself to get that close. “What is it?”

  “Uh, I’m supposed to— You’re really staying?”

  Toby drew a deep breath, taking in her sweet scent. His hands tingled with the desire to touch her, to press her against him and tell her he’d stay forever if she wanted him to.

  But ever since he’d realized, the summer she turned sixteen, that his feelings for Elizabeth weren’t cousinly, he’d fought them. Elizabeth was his cousin, even if not by blood. His father would be horrified if he admitted the truth. And the one thing in life he wanted to accomplish was to make Jake proud. Not shame him.

  “Why do you want to know?”

  She gave him a funny stare. “But you said—”

  “Okay, I’m staying, at least for a while. What do you want?”

  “Abby—you remember Abby Gaylord, don’t you?”

  “Yeah.” He was getting impatient. It was draining to resist Elizabeth and he was already tired. Who cared about Abby Gaylord?

  “She wanted me to ask you— We have the Halloween festival for the area, remember, at school?”

  “Yeah!” he snapped, wondering where this was going.

  Elizabeth stood and crossed her arms over her chest. “You don’t have to growl at me. I’m asking you because Abby asked me to.”

  “What? What are you asking me?” he persisted, trying to sound like a reasonable man when she was driving him crazy.

  “She wondered if you’d sign autographs for a dollar and give the money to the teachers’ fund.”

  The teachers’ fund? That hadn’t been what Toby expected. “What’s the teachers’ fund?”

  “We try to make money each year and give a scholarship to a deserving student. And the rest is used to buy cards, or goodbye gifts, or flowers for funerals, things like that.”