The Texan's Surprise Son

by Cathy McDavid

  “Congratulations!” Daniel grinned broadly. “I always knew you’d change the old man’s mind.”

  “Old man?” Brock feigned indignation. “Who are you calling old?”

  Jacob ignored their levity. He needed a moment to absorb the enormity of what Brock had just presented. This was it. What he’d been working toward his entire career. There was so much to say. Questions. Ideas. Suggestions.

  He settled on a simple, “You won’t regret it.”

  “Well, it’s not exactly that easy.”

  “I realize there may be other interested parties—”

  “I’m not talking about the purchase. You have to qualify for Nationals first. I’d rather you take home a title, but I’ll settle for you going.”

  “Done.” Jacob rose.

  “Just like that? You haven’t competed particularly well lately.”

  “I told you. I’m going to Vegas. You can buy your ticket now.”

  “Good.” Brock polished off his whiskey. Setting the empty glass on the side table, he also rose, his legs wobbling slightly before he steadied himself. “Take care of that young cowboy in there. He’s a chip off the old block.”

  “Count on it.”

  Daniel came over to shake Jacob’s hand, his grip firm. “Take care of that pretty gal, too.” He winked.

  “It’s not—”

  “Don’t bother. You aren’t fooling anybody.”

  Jacob walked them outside. Daniel got in the truck while Jacob opened the passenger door.

  Brock paused before climbing in and placed an arm around Jacob’s shoulders. “Call me from Fayetteville Sunday evening. Let me know how you did.”

  It was the closest they’d come to a hug since Jacob was a teenager.

  Chapter Ten Jacob found Mariana in the kitchen, fixing herself a cup of herbal tea. It was a frequent nighttime ritual for her. She’d also changed for bed and was wearing that thick robe she liked so much.

  “Cody asleep?” he asked.

  “Out like a light.”

  “Good. I thought the excitement from Brock’s visit might keep him awake.”

  “By the way, I’m driving to Amarillo on Sunday.” She grimaced. “That almost sounds like the lyrics to a George Strait song.”

  “You listen to country music?”

  “I am from Texas.”

  “But do you like it?”

  She wagged a warning finger at him. “If you ever tell anyone, I’ll deny it and accuse you of hearsay.”

  They both laughed at that.

  “I called Simone. She can watch Cody until you return from Fayetteville.” After a pause, Mariana added, “You were right to hire her.”

  Jacob put a cupped hand to his ear. “Can you repeat that?”

  “Once was hard enough to choke out, thank you very much.”

  “I promise not to gloat.”

  She searched his face. “You’re happy.”

  It must show. “Baron Energies is purchasing Starr Solar Systems. Brock is turning it over to me to run.”

  “That’s wonderful!”

  “Well, there is a condition.”

  “Hmm. Brock. Condition. You can’t be surprised.”

  “I have to qualify for Nationals.”

  She lifted the tea bag from the cup and squeezed the last drops from it. “Can you?”

  “I told Brock to consider it a done deal.”

  Interest flickered in her eyes. “Does this mean a desk job’s in your future?”

  “Eventually. I’ll have to spend some time at Starr’s headquarters. More early on until the transition’s complete. They’re located in northeast Dallas.”

  “Oh.” Like that, the interest dimmed. “You’ll have an even longer commute.”

  “Temporarily. You don’t need to worry about Cody.”

  “Can’t help it. I always will.”

  “Between me, the nanny and you, we’ll work things out.”

  “Remember, I won’t be here that much longer.”

  Jacob moved closer to her. “You don’t have to move out.”

  “I’m not sure postponing is wise.”

  “You want to leave Cody?”

  “Of course not. But we can’t continue to live indefinitely as housemates.”

  Because their feelings for each other went well beyond platonic. She didn’t have to say it. Jacob could read it in her expression. Hear it in her voice.

  “Unless we modify the arrangement.”

  “We’ve had this conversation before. Nothing’s changed.”

  “Everything has. Brock is purchasing Starr Solar Systems.”

  “You and I dating will confuse Cody.”

  “How? I’m his father, and he thinks you’re his mother. He’ll be more confused by us not dating.”

  Mariana shook her head and reestablished the distance between them. “You’re attracted to me is all.”

  “Not true.” He realized his mistake the moment the words were out. “I mean, I’m more than attracted to you. I care. A lot.”

  “Are you sure? We’re living together. Like a family. Taking care of Cody together. Sharing the chores. The arrangement’s creating an artificial closeness.”

  “There’s nothing artificial about my feelings for you.” He reached up and rubbed the back of his knuckles along the line of her jaw. He might have kissed her if she didn’t turn away.

  “Which complicates things that much more.”

  “What’s really wrong, Mariana?”

  “You may be sure about your feelings for me, but I’m not.”

  She was afraid that the connection they’d formed wasn’t real. He had to convince her differently.

  “When we kiss, those sparks, they’re real.”

  She sighed and took a sip of her tea.

  “I understand your reservations,” he said.

  “That’s good. But I also need you to respect them.”

  She gazed up at him and pain reflected in her eyes. Had she been hurt before? By someone other than her father?

  “I won’t be rodeoing after next month. I’m getting too old.”

  “Brock’s continuing to compete, and he’s seventy.”

  “He’s retired now.”

  “Only because he was injured.”

  “I’m not like him.”

  She abruptly opened the cabinet door beneath the sink and disposed of her tea bag in the trash bin. “You’re a lot more like him than you care to admit.”

  “Are you comparing me to Brock or your father? There’s a difference.”

  “Between them?” She straightened.

  “Between me and either of them. I’m committed to being a good father to Cody.”

  “And me being here with you makes that easier. You rely on me to pick up the slack.”

  Jacob’s first reaction was to be insulted. Then, he reconsidered. There was a measure of truth to her concerns.

  He took her arm and gently turned her toward him. “You like me. I know you do. More than like me.”

  “Jacob.”

  “Give me, this, us, a chance.”

  “I don’t want to be hurt. Worse, I don’t want Cody to be hurt. There’s too much at stake. What if we start seeing each other and, after a while, break up? He’ll be heartbroken.”

  Jacob wished he could say the right thing to erase her concerns. He opted to let his actions speak for him.

  Bending his head, he kissed her. Lightly at first, then with increased pressure. For her part, she held back, the hands she placed on his chest resisting rather than caressing.

  “I’m not like them,” he repeated softly against her lips.

  “Promise?”

  “Let me prove it.”

  His lips wandered her face, stopping at her temples, the center of her forehead, each cheek and the corners of her mouth. She shivered when he trailed kisses down the side of her neck, then back up to claim her mouth again.

  A soft moan emanated from low in her throat. Was it one of surrender? He hoped so. Sl
iding his palms up the sides of her rib cage, he stopped just beneath her breasts. She went still.

  Jacob went no further. This wasn’t what he wanted, her thinking his sweet talk and kisses were only a means to get her into bed. And she might well think that.

  As a result, it was him and not her who pulled back and broke off the kiss. “Good night, Mariana.”

  A brief flash of indecision clouded her features. A second later, it cleared. “Good night, Jacob. See you in the morning.”

  He didn’t go to bed. Not straightaway. He went to his home office in the third bedroom and powered up his laptop. There was no new information to be found on the sale of Starr Solar Systems. He answered a few emails and checked his bank account balances. The ringing of his cell phone interrupted him. It was Daniel.

  “You still up?” he asked.

  “Just heading to bed.”

  “I won’t take long. Jet called. He’s not going with us to Fayetteville.”

  Jacob had seen this coming, what with Jet’s priorities changing. “Guess it’ll be just you and me.”

  “Or we can stay home,” Daniel suggested.

  “Not a chance. Not me, anyway.”

  “I was kidding.”

  “What do you think of Brock’s offer?” Jacob asked.

  “He’s serious.”

  “But knowing him, there’s an ulterior motive.”

  “He did talk to me about my future on the ride over.”

  “Was that why he coerced you into driving him?”

  “Probably.” Daniel chuckled. “Or he wanted a reliable witness when he talked to you.”

  “See you in the morning, brother.”

  It was only after he hung up that it occurred to Jacob he did sound a lot like Brock and, possibly, Mariana’s father, Zeb Snow. No wonder she had her doubts about him and his intentions. In her shoes, he’d feel the same way.

  *

  JACOB STRADDLED THE bucking chute and settled himself in place, ready to spot his brother. Beside him, Daniel climbed the chute. It was his turn to compete, and he’d drawn the toughest bull at the All Pro Rodeo. Living up to his reputation, Rocket Man swung his massive head side to side, banging his horns into the metal sides.

  “You got this, bro,” Jacob assured Daniel. “You’ve ridden him before.”

  Daniel had. Last year. And taken home third place. He would, he’d boasted earlier, do better today.

  Sunday afternoon, the final round of bull riding, the last event of the rodeo. Both Jacob and Daniel would be taking home buckles. Jacob had finished second in saddle bronc riding, and Daniel third. Daniel had also taken third in steer wrestling. If he did well riding Rocket Man, he’d beat out Jacob who, at this moment, held first place.

  Only one competitor remained left after Daniel, and he wasn’t a threat. Regardless of how Daniel performed, Jacob was in the money and one step closer to qualifying for Nationals.

  He’d been right to tell Brock to buy his plane ticket for Vegas. Jacob was going; he could feel it in his bones. He’d been in the zone all weekend. Sure, he’d thought of Cody and Mariana. But he was able to put thoughts of them aside when his number was called.

  A smile tugged at his mouth. He was getting the hang of this delicate balancing act. When he went to Nationals in a few weeks, he’d go confident he could win. Though he’d have earned the real prize before stepping on that plane. Starr Solar Systems.

  And as promised, he’d retire from rodeoing after Nationals. Mariana would see that he was serious, about being a good father to Cody and about her.

  “Easy does it.” Jacob kept a close watch as Daniel slowly lowered himself onto the bull’s back and took hold of the flat braided rope.

  Rocket Man humped his back in anticipation, already attempting to unseat Daniel before the chute door was even open. For a harrowing few seconds, Daniel’s knee remained pinned between the bull’s side and the chute wall. Just as suddenly, the bull eased up.

  Daniel groaned.

  Jacob laid a steadying hand on his brother’s back. “You okay?”

  “Right as rain.”

  It would take a lot more than a pinned knee to deter Daniel. He was just as intent on winning as Jacob had been.

  Another test of the rope’s tightness, one last tug on the brim of his hat, and Daniel was ready. “Go,” he said and nodded.

  The chute door flew open. Rocket Man was instantly in motion, hell-bent on getting this nuisance off his back. Daniel hung on, effortlessly riding the bull’s twists, turns and relentless bucking. No sooner did he raise his legs to spur the bull’s shoulders than Rocket Man launched himself in the opposite direction.

  Jacob risked a glance at the clock: 6.8 seconds. Almost there.

  “Come on, Danny boy. You got this.”

  Jacob wanted the gold. He’d settle for silver if it meant losing to his brother.

  All at once, Rocket Man jumped, high enough that all four hooves were off the ground, and flung his huge body sideways. Daniel managed to tuck his body into a semi-ball before hitting the ground like a ton of bricks at the exact moment the buzzer sounded. The crowd groaned in unison.

  Jacob waited. He wasn’t worried. Not at first. Falling, being thrown, was part and parcel of bull riding. He’d certainly taken his share of knocks and lived to tell about it.

  Only Daniel didn’t rise, and the seconds ticked by. Five of them.

  Jacob leaped off the chute wall. The bullfighters were frantically distracting Rocket Man, attempting to keep him away from Daniel and headed down the arena toward the exit gate. Bulls could and would go after a fallen cowboy.

  Reaching the arena fence, Jacob started to scale it. He didn’t get far.

  “Hold on, partner.” A cowboy grabbed him by the right arm.

  A second one latched on to his left. “Wait till the coast is clear.”

  Daniel still hadn’t moved. Jacob’s heart punched repeatedly into his sternum with relentless thrusts. A roar filled his ears. “That’s my brother in there.”

  “Let the bullfighters do their job.”

  A few seconds later—God, it felt like hours—Rocket Man was trotting through the exit gate and Jacob was hurdling over the arena fence. The heavy dirt pulled at his boots as he ran, slowing him down.

  Two of the bullfighters were already at Daniel’s side when Jacob finally got there. Other cowboys also came. Jacob didn’t count how many. He saw only Daniel.

  “You okay?” someone asked.

  Daniel stirred. That was a good sign, right? He groaned—also a good sign. Jacob knelt by his brother’s side. “Don’t move.”

  “What hurts?” someone else asked.

  Daniel grunted through clenched teeth. “My entire left side.”

  The EMTs on duty arrived. “Clear the way,” the taller of the two ordered, and the cowboys surrounding Daniel melted away to give the young men room.

  Except for Jacob. “He’s my brother,” he said and stayed put.

  The EMTs took less than thirty seconds to examine Daniel and assess the extent of his injuries. “You’re going for a ride, my friend.”

  The ambulance drove right into the arena. It seemed as if the entire crowd fidgeted nervously while the EMTs stabilized Daniel for transport and took his medical history, then loaded him onto the gurney.

  He reached an arm out to Jacob. “Come with me.”

  Jacob didn’t hesitate. He knew his brother’s aversion to hospitals. It was something he’d developed after their mother’s unexpected death. The staph infection that took her life could only have been contracted in the hospital. Jacob wasn’t sure if Daniel’s aversion was a fear of dying or simply that hospitals reminded him of their tragic loss.

  The ride went quickly, much of it a blur to Jacob. He sat across from Daniel and watched him like a hawk as the EMTs monitored him and communicated via radio with the hospital, informing them of Daniel’s condition.

  Once there, he was whisked away by a medical team. Jacob was instructed to cool his heels in
a family waiting area. He didn’t “cool” very well. He expended his nervous energy by pacing and making phone calls to the family. They were upset. Offered to come. Jacob convinced them to wait until he had more news. While Daniel’s condition was serious, it didn’t appear to be life-threatening.

  Wasn’t that what the doctors had said about their mother, right up until she caught that infection?

  Mariana was last on his call list. She was still in Amarillo, meeting with her client.

  “Are you doing all right?” The concern in her voice came through clearly despite their poor connection.

  “I’m fine. Not sure when I’ll be home.”

  “You need anything?”

  It was nice of her to ask. “Just get home and take care of our son. Simone’s had a long day.”

  “Our son?”

  “He does call you Mama.”

  “See you soon.”

  He swore he could hear her smiling.

  Eventually, the doctor appeared to consult with Jacob. The news was good and bad.

  “Your brother’s a lucky man,” the doctor said. “No internal injuries.”

  The tension Jacob had been holding inside since watching his brother fall left him in a rush.

  “The contusions, sprains and soft tissue damage will heal without a problem. He has four fractured ribs and he’s torn the ligaments in his right shoulder.” The doctor used his hands to show Jacob where on Daniel’s body the injuries were located.

  “Are you going to operate?”

  “No. We’ll tape the ribs and shoulder and put him in a sling. He needs to see an orthopedic specialist when he gets home. Right away,” the doctor emphasized, then went on to explain the course of treatment.

  “When can he leave?”

  “We’d like to keep him overnight for observation.”

  “Can I see him?”

  “Of course. He’s being moved now to a room. Don’t expect much conversation. He’s been given a healthy dose of pain medication and will likely sleep through the night.”

  “I won’t stay too long.”

  While he waited for the nurse to inform him of Daniel’s room number, he called the family and updated them on the latest. Brock was already making arrangements for Jet to fly him to Elk City in the morning and retrieve Daniel.