Of The Cowboy's Own Accord (Double Dutch Ranch; Love At First Sight #3)

by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel

  Gracelyn took a seat on the chair by the sofa and pulled lipstick from her purse, choosing not to wear red tonight. “All right. A good idea.”

  “Come on, boy.” Boston moseyed inside like he wanted to be there when Dane opened the door. Dane closed and latched it. “It’s familiar to him. We’ll be back, boy,” he muttered, and took Gracelyn’s hand on the way out.

  At the car she handed him her keys. “Here, my Miata needs a real driver behind the wheel for a change.”

  With a one finger salute, he beamed. “Yes, ma’am.”

  When she got in, Gracelyn’s gaze followed him around the front of her car. Tonight his eyes smiled when he wanted to appear upset. When he got behind the wheel, she patted his shoulder. “I’m happy to see you removed the bandage from your hand.”

  “I have it handy in case it gets to be too much. Believe it or not, it’s easier to use wrapped. It keeps my fingers all together so I can use them as one.”

  “But you’ll never get used to using as-is, if you continue doing that. And…I beg to differ,” she quipped with a wink. “That must depend on what you do with your fingers.”

  “Do you have a bad girl hiding underneath that demure little face?” RPMs cranked up in that sporty little vehicle when he hit the gas. “You sound like my PT guy. Let’s see what this little baby will do.”

  Gracelyn snickered to herself. A bit of feistiness might be tucked inside somewhere. Dane drove fast. Tonight, he opted for a long-sleeve, Henley shirt with a few buttons at the top left open, and the navy made his eyes appear menacing in a way. A seductive menace. But, jeez, it’s summertime, so he looks hot that way too.

  On the other hand, she wore a blouse with buttons all the way up, conservative and loose-fitting to hide a lot of her size. Meeting his mother for the first time reminded her of her prom when she had to go to her date’s house for pictures. Her daring red dress did get a few frowns from both his parents.

  “Hey, my mom pulled in. There with the parking lights on…or off now.” At her SUV Dane lowered Gracelyn’s window.

  “Hi, sweetie, great timing,” Judy said when she exited her vehicle and slung her purse strap over her shoulder. Her eyes lit up. “Nice car.”

  “Hold up a minute and we’ll walk in with you.” When parked, he turned to Gracelyn. “At least you’re in familiar territory with your job and friends. This place is one of my mom’s favorites. I’m surprised you never saw her here.”

  “I’m rather surprised I haven’t either.” She peered down the aisle to where his mom waited in a not so packed parking lot. “Your mother is young. Her strawberry-blonde hair is pretty.” The woman at the ice cream shop that afternoon was this same woman. Now, she could proudly meet her.

  Dane dropped keys into her purse when she held it open, hopped out and hurried around to meet her when she stepped out. Taking her elbow, he waltzed them up to his mom.

  Judy smiled, immediately reaching out for Gracelyn. “Come here and let me meet you, you lovely girl.” She pulled her into a hug then stood back an arm’s length away.

  Dane introduced them and Judy hugged her again. Judy’s gaze ran over her. The woman might not stop smiling the whole night. Gracelyn’s nervousness dissipated. “So nice to meet you, Mrs. Carlson.”

  Judy took her arm and sauntered in. “Please, Gracelyn, call me Judy. Everyone else does.”

  “Sure. Call me Grace. Dane’s really the only other person who calls me by my full name.” In fact, she preferred it coming from him and had grown accustomed to him calling her that now.

  “Your full name is so lovely, and you’re every bit as gorgeous as my son said you were.” Judy peered around Gracelyn and winked at Dane on the way in. “Y’all will have such a handsome baby together.”

  Gracelyn hoped her cheeks weren’t red because they heated. Dane held the door. “Thank you…for everything,” she whispered to him. When Judy followed the hostess to their table at the far end of the room, she held him back. “You’re correct. She’s fantastic.” As they ambled to their table, she took his arm. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Tammy who wiggled her eyebrows as if to say, Ouuuu lala. Gracelyn winked. “Do you have any single brothers?”

  “Hah, don’t even go there, you know I don’t.” At the table, he leaned in to give her a kiss on the cheek. “They’ll be no matchmaking tonight, even though my mother would love to match up somebody.” He smirked at his mom.

  The waitress came over with a pitcher of water to set on the table, and she placed her hand on Gracelyn’s back. “Hi there, Grace. Would you like to choose a wine for your special guests?” She lit a candle on the table.

  The restaurant wasn’t crowded tonight, making it easier to hear the music. “Please give us a minute, but in the meantime, I’ll have a cup of coffee. I’d like you to meet Dane and his mother, Judy Carlson.” After introductions, the waitress took the other drink orders, saying she’d return for their wine choice. Gracelyn spoke to both of them. “Dane, you aren’t much of a wine drinker, but Judy I’ll choose a dinner wine for you.”

  “Dane said you were a wine professional.” Judy nodded. “That’d be lovely.”

  “Wine master, Mom.”

  A proud smile shot toward Dane. It touched her in a special way, the way he boasted about her status. She asked Judy, “Do you have a preference? White or red?”

  “When it comes to wine, I’m not fussy because I never know what to order anyway, so I usually go with what the crowd orders. I’m excited to see what you come up with for me.”

  When the waitress came over, Gracelyn ordered a glass of Barbera D’Asti for Judy. When the girl walked away, she said, “I hope you like this. It’s intense and charming at the same time with a wide range of flavors—cherry, plum, and red berries… Not as popular as Merlot. It’s one I choose for myself often.” She rubbed her hand over her abdomen. “Not now, of course.”

  They all picked up their menus, and she touched Judy’s arm. “About the matchmaking… In reality, chance was our matchmaker.” Truly, she believed it had a lot to do with the whole thing.

  Judy put her other hand over Gracelyn’s. “Now you’re really my kind of girl. I go for matchmaking and believe in chance…”

  ***

  Dinner lasted for a pleasant couple hours. For dessert, Gracelyn ordered chocolate hazelnut pie. Judy had bread pudding and Dane opted for sorbet. When finished, Dane and Gracelyn walked his mom to the car. “I won’t be home tonight, Mom. I can’t keep moving the dog around. Boston has to feel settled, especially with his disorder. Tomorrow I’ll bring him over to the ranch to see what he’s like around the horses…eventually the kids.”

  “Okay, son.” Judy hugged him then turned to Gracelyn. “I understand how difficult it must be to bombard you with so much at once, but we’d love to have you visit whenever you’re ready. Take your time, honey, but maybe you’d like to come with Dane when he brings the dog. Visit the ranch and don’t worry about rushing into anything else.”

  “She has to work tomorrow.” Dane opened her door. “Drive safe, Mom.” They told her goodnight and he and Gracelyn both waved as she pulled out. She slipped her arm around his waist on the way to the car. “Thank you for a delightful evening.” A blanket of happiness settled over her body. Their little boy would be safe and sound with the Carlson family if necessary, but tonight she’d set that worry aside.

  Again, she handed her keys to him but he refused. “You drive. I had a few beers and the gas pedal calls to me. I don’t need Sheriff Thompson after my ass,” he said. “We have a history, and he has a bead on my bike, too, but seems to find me no matter what I’m driving.”

  Dane opened the door and handed the seatbelt strap over to her when she sat. When he got in the other side, he leaned on the console. “Kiss me, baby,” and leaned in to meet her lips. “I’m glad we did this. Told you she’d love you.”

  “I’ll have dinner with your family anytime.” Gracelyn smiled. “I might as well go gung-ho. Isn’t that a phrase you
soldiers use?” she asked, teasing.

  “No. You shouldn’t have to ask, brat.” He shook his head and gave her a wink. “About dinner. I have a big family and sometimes—a lot of times, the ranch hands join us. Then there’s the kids—”

  “Hush. Don’t scare me off.” She tilted her head, ready for another kiss. “It’s all good. Now, you kiss me. Tomorrow’s another day.”

  ***

  Sand and rock dust floated in the air. Pieces of the ceiling began to crumble. “Go, get out, Boston.” The dog took off through the hole in the wall from the last RPG blast. Dane looked up, tossed his leg over Cooper’s face and covered his own face with his arm. A barking dog, feet scurrying through the sand, and the blasts from close air support in the distance were the last sounds he heard as more of the building came down. “Fuck. Hooah—”

  Shaking him awake, Gracelyn said, “Dane…honey. It’s only a dream.”

  Chapter 12

  Bolting upright, he tried to catch his breath and swallowed hard. His heart beat out of his chest so fast, he might have to pick it up off the floor. A quick glance to his abdomen, then his arms. Dane took in breath after breath until his mouth was as dry as the Sonoran Desert outside the window. Lifting his arm, he peered at his trembling hand. Reality. The same nightmare came back to haunt him again. His fingers were gone. His weapons—gone.

  Dane’s jaw clenched in hatred. He tipped his head back to look upward. Of all my body parts that could have been injured and still let me be a soldier, you take my trigger finger? Unable to speak, he lowered his feet to the floor and covered his face with both hands—needing to be mad at something.

  Gracelyn put her hand on his back, and whispered his name. “Dane?”

  “Yeah, what’s wrong?” He dropped back against the bed to focus—get his bearings. His breathing was still ragged, deep. Heavy. Forcing it out, he asked with a tightened throat, “Do you need me?”

  Her words came out in a subdued voice, “Are you okay?”

  “Give me a minute…” He sat up again, his gaze darting to the corner. The German Shepherd watched him, cowering on his bed with his ears back. “It’s okay, boy, come over here.” Dane patted the side of the bed. The dog came over and sat on his haunches beside him, and rested his head on Dane’s thigh. He gave the dog a hug, whispering, “Did I yell out again?” The dog must’ve had nightmares, too, or he figured he did. He buried his face into his fur. “We’ll take care of you, Boston.” Dane ran his hand along the coarse hair of the dogs back. “Who the hell named you? You need a name like Bravery or Hero.”

  The dog looked at him with his head cocked, ears perked up, as if to say, “So do you, man.” Bullshit. I’m no hero. He peered over his shoulder at Gracelyn who rolled to her side, her warm hand still against him. Dane eased his hand over the dog’s fur again, knowing he’d forever be indebted to this animal who led the others in the unit to their whereabouts, and they dug him and Hanson out of the rubble.

  He peered at her concerned face in the room lit by a dim parking lot light sneaking in through the gossamer curtains over the closed blinds. Boston jumped to the foot of the bed. Her eyes opened, concern etched on her face when she studied him. He laid his hand over her abdomen. “Go back to sleep, I’m okay.” He gave her a kiss. She’s what I need.

  Was he okay? It wore on him that he couldn’t even defend himself as a soldier anymore. Or a man? Hand to hand was impossible, so said the higher-ups, due to his arm pinned together… I can still fight the bastards. Maybe not today, but… Rangers lead the way. They don’t give up. Who knew what he’d do in the future. Rescind my medical discharge and re-up in a different capacity? Civilian work for the military?

  Master Sergeant Dane Carlson, Purple Heart holder. Combat medals. Expert Infantryman’s Badge. Combat Infantryman’s Badge. Put me on a desk? He’d like to see who fired the rounds that took out part of the building, in his crosshairs. Whose cause of destruction put the shrapnel in his gut? Why did that still matter? Ninety-seven percent of him was satisfied to be home.

  Sometimes the choices are made for us… He repeated it to himself. Made for us. Bullshit. Gracelyn and his son were the beginning to the rest of his life…and the dog for a while. A new horse and truck, too. At times he found it hard to believe she planned on putting up with him and a dog that needed a bath. Dane whispered as he eased his knuckle over her cheek, “I love you.”

  ***

  At the ranch, Dane kept a leash on Boston when they took a slow walk through the first barn to let him sniff out the horses. His nose trailed the ground as if still on the job. Tristan stood at the other end of the barn. Dane grinned. “Come on, I’ll put him in the cross ties. Give him a bath.”

  “He’s not a damn horse,” Tristan jibed, followed by a hardy laugh.

  “Hell, another night of having him in the bedroom, Gracelyn might kick us both out.” The dog scent had filled the room, which was something he never paid mind to in the desert. Half the guys smelled worse out on a job for a few days. After she went to work this morning, he had thrown all the covers into the washer.

  “Does that mean you plan on moving in with her?” Tristan asked. “This is your home.”

  “Come on.” Dane motioned for him to follow to the wash station where he hooked a tie to the dog’s collar, turned the water on and sprayed. Boston smelled bad earlier, but a rank, wet dog reeked about as bad as a skunk. He rubbed shampoo into his thick fur. “I’m not moving over there. Her lease is almost up.”

  A spray to the dog made Boston shake it off. “Dammit, boy, you have to shake now?” A quick wipe of his face against his shoulder, and he caught Tristan cracking up off to the side at a safe distance. “Smartass.” He aimed the hose at Tristan while squeezing the nozzle handle.

  Tristan held his arm to block the water, then he removed his hat and wiped his face. “What do you think he’ll be like around the kids? They’ll want to play as soon as they see him.”

  “He plays like a baby when he has the opportunity. Hanson’s uncle would send tennis balls overseas. Later, I’ll have him go through some of his training in the desert—to keep him fit.” But as far as how Boston would be with kids, Dane had no clue. “Boston was fine around kids in the villages we went through, but he was held back on a leash. He didn’t try to bite anybody.”

  “So what’s up with this Hanson you keep talking about?” Tristan removed his long-sleeved shirt now that it was wet and used it to wipe his face again.

  “You mean other than him saving my life? I would have bled out if it wasn’t for him packing QuikClot into my belly.” Going back to that memory wasn’t somewhere he wanted to visit, especially after the nightmare last night. “He’s Boston’s handler—Cooper, or Coop. Later Boston could no longer do his job.”

  “Man, that’s weird.” Tristan picked up the hose and did a light spray on the dog as Dane lathered him up again.

  “Not so weird. Why wouldn’t it affect them too? Their job is as hard as ours. Hell, his rank is higher than Hanson’s. Hanson’s a corporal.” He scratched behind the dog’s ears. “Boston here is a sergeant.”

  “Let’s get him soaked up. He deserves a treat after this.”

  Dane laughed at Tristan. “Boston knows that word.” He’d be feeding him molasses cookies made for the horses before long if he didn’t lay down some rules. When Tristan finished rinsing him off, Dane grabbed the water scraper from the bucket of supplies to remove excess water from the dog’s coat as if he were a horse. “Go for a ride with me later, Tristan.”

  “You go, I don’t have time right now.” Nodding toward the dog, he said, “I’m glad you still remember how to bathe a…er, a dog.” Tristan burst out laughing. “Better do a couple horses to stay up with it. I’ll line them up for ya.”

  “Being away from ranching didn’t take it out of my blood, but I didn’t know I’d want it again.” Dane exhaled as his gaze shot upward. “Things change.” Like teaching my own kid to ride.

  “Absolutely. Speaking of being a
rancher, I better get back to work.” Tristan shook his head and kind of snickered. “I’ll never get used to ya being a dad, let alone being with someone. I won’t believe it until I see it. Nobody’s seen you with a girlfriend since high school.” Tristan wiped sweat from his face with his shirt. “Don’t forget, we need to let this dog get used to the kids if he’ll be around here.” He pivoted toward his first barn.

  “Got it under control.” Dane removed his hat and glanced up to the sun beating down while he contemplated Tristan’s words. “Just because you didn’t see me with a girlfriend doesn’t mean there wasn’t one.” Or five…or whatever. Not that he wanted to talk about the girls he had met and tried to have a relationship with. Even the ones he had dated in the military who knew what that entailed. Why was Gracelyn different?

  Dane called after Tristan again as he stood at the barn door with Randy Drake, a ranch hand who helped to break their horses. “Let me take Sammy George out to the ring to let the dog interact. Maybe put Sammy on a lunge line.” He said hello to Randy.

  “Sammy might not be the best choice. Start with Betsy,” Tristan said, walking back toward him. “She’s easy with about anyone or anything.”

  “Exactly. That’s why I want to give Sammy a try. They both have spunk.” Dane sneered, the side of his lip quirking a little.

  Tristan removed his hat and shoved his fingers into his hair. “Well, alrighty. Don’t let anything happen to my horse.”

  “No problem. Your horse better not let anything happen to my dog.” Dane figured that’d shut him up. “Hey, Trist, take a ride with me later out toward that mountain. You can take a damn hour.”

  “Touché, smartass.” Tristan chuckled as he walked to the stall to give his horse a pat. “Sure, Roark never minds when I put a saddle on him. After lunch?”

  Dane observed the barn area as he stood outside. “Roger that. Also, I’ll need a horse. I have to spend some of this money I’ve been saving—even though a lot of it will go for my new barn.” He spoke to Randy. “You can help me break the new horse. I might be out of practice in that area.”