by Barbara Gee
She made herself comfortable in the hammock and for the next hour or so she rested and watched James. She was glad for a little down time, as she knew only too well that “the talk” with Maggie and James Sr. was looming. For a little while, though, she was able to put it to the back of her mind and enjoy the shady yard and fine spring Texas afternoon.
Eventually she sat up and swung her feet over the edge of the hammock, wondering whether she’d have any luck getting James to take some quiet time in their room so he wouldn’t be so tired that evening.
Chapter 6
“I think your boy and my dog have bonded.”
Kelly jumped as that voice washed over her from behind. She turned quickly and managed what she hoped was a calm looking smile as Will Connor approached. He had changed into a bright white tee shirt that emphasized his tanned skin, and he’d left his hat off, showing his tousled blonde hair and bright blue eyes.
“I think you’re right,” she agreed, “They’ve been at it for almost two hours.”
He smiled. “Dodger is usually stuck moping at the back door while I’m in the office inside. I tried sneaking him in once, and suffered the wrath of Sarah. Not something I ever want to repeat.”
Kelly suspected he was exaggerating, but she grinned nevertheless. “I’m sure glad you brought him. James was terribly disappointed when he found out the Mathersons don’t own a dog.”
“Does James have a dog at home?”
“No. He wants a very big dog, and we have a very small yard. Seeing him with Dodger makes me feel like I need to find a way, though.”
“A boy his age needs a dog,” Will agreed matter-of-factly. He watched the two playing for a while, hands on his slim hips, a half smile on his lips. When he unexpectedly turned his head, he caught Kelly watching him instead of the boy and dog. One brow arched up ever so slightly, but he didn’t comment.
She cleared her throat, her cheeks turning a little pink. “I’m afraid I’m going to have a hard time getting James back to Virginia. We’ve only been here a few hours and he already thinks he’s in heaven.”
“It’s a good place for a boy. I wouldn’t trade growing up on a ranch for the world.”
Kelly swung the hammock gently as she pondered that. “I wonder why my husband didn’t feel that way,” she said quietly. Then she wanted to bite her tongue, as she certainly hadn’t intended to speak her thoughts aloud.
Will swung around to face her, leaning a shoulder up against a tree across from the hammock. “Jamie didn’t like growing up on the Wild Rose?”
Kelly thought it over, frowning slightly. “I think he enjoyed it well enough. He had some good memories and stories he would tell me sometimes. But he made the decision to leave, which I’m sure you know cost him his relationship with all his family, and he never once said anything about wishing his own son could grow up in a place like this. Now that I’ve seen the ranch, I can’t help but wonder why. It certainly does seem like the perfect place to raise children.”
Crossing his arms across his broad chest, Will gave her his undivided attention. “It couldn’t have been easy for you to come here. I don’t know the whole story, but I know some of it, and I know what Senior was like. I’m pretty sure no one would have blamed you if you’d stayed put in Virginia and not cared whether Senior and Maggie ever met their grandson.”
Kelly met his bright blue gaze for a long moment before dropping her eyes to the grass at her feet. “Making this trip was the furthest thing from my mind when Maggie first contacted me a couple months ago,” she admitted. “But after communicating with her for a while, I felt compelled to come. I have no idea why they’ve had a change of heart, but if it gives James another set of loving grandparents, it’s worth taking the chance.”
“So you haven’t talked to them at all about why they changed their minds?”
Kelly shook her head. “They didn’t want to do it over the phone or through email, and we haven’t had a chance yet today. We got here and ate lunch right away, then James and Maggie needed to rest so James and I went to the stables, where we watched a really skilled cowboy break a huge red stallion. Then we absconded with said cowboy’s dog to play fetch. That’s been our trip so far.”
“Bummer,” Will said, his teeth flashing white as he smiled.
Kelly shook her head. “It’s actually been a perfect way to start. I know “the talk” needs to happen, but I admit I’m dreading it. I tend to avoid emotional encounters, and this one will have nine years of anger and hurt feelings to work through. To tell you the truth, I’m not quite sure how I’m going to handle it.”
They were both silent for a long moment, and dread started overwhelming Kelly once again. Before she could stop it, a single tear escaped down her cheek and she quickly swiped it away, looking up at Will apologetically.
“Wow, I’m so sorry. I don’t even know you and here I am drawing you into my mess.”
“It’s okay,” he assured her, his voice low and warm. “I already feel involved to some extent. Senior and Maggie have been a big part of my life for the last five years, so I’ve seen what they’ve gone through. Especially the last two years, once they admitted they’d made some terrible mistakes with Jamie.”
Kelly studied the tall cowboy. “So how were you lucky enough to get onto what Chad would call James Senior’s golden list?”
“You mean why does he put up with me?”
“Instead of squashing you like a bug. Again, Chad’s words.”
Will shrugged. “He needed a horse guy, and he heard I was pretty good and he could get me cheap because I was so young. I started working here when I was twenty.”
“So that was, what, last year?” Kelly teased.
He grinned. “Five years ago, actually.”
“But you two have gotten close, beyond the employer-employee relationship.”
“You could say that, but it didn’t happen right away. At first I didn’t have a whole lot of contact with Senior. I was definitely just another employee. But after I’d been here about six months, I was asked to help out at the spring roundup. A few days in, there was some trouble with some of the men, and I kinda stepped in and handled it. Not because I knew Senior was watching, which I didn’t, but because we don’t need that crap when everyone is already exhausted and stressed out from long hard days of riding and branding.”
“So he saw you handle a tough situation and decided you were more than a horse guy?”
“Something like that, I suppose.”
“Tell me more,” Kelly requested, drawing up her knees and wrapping her arms around them. “I could use the distraction right now.”
“I’m sure we could find more interesting things to talk about than my youthful years on the Wild Rose.”
“I like that you’re humble, but I still want to hear more about it,” Kelly declared.
Will shrugged. “Okay, well after that roundup, Senior started giving me more responsibility, even though I was only working part time while taking college classes. A couple of the guys that worked here back then didn’t like having to answer to me, and they retaliated by spreading some rumors, saying I was running my mouth in town about the goings on here at Wild Rose. Now keep in mind, anyone who knows Senior knows he’s intensely private about his operation. These guys dropped a few juicy tidbits one night at the bar, and made sure they were attributed to me.”
“Like what?” Kelly asked.
“Well, like Senior reaming out a ranch hand because he caught him kissing Amy.”
“Did that really happen?”
“Yeah, but remember this was five years ago. And that hand happened to be Chad, so it all turned out okay in the end.”
“So what happened next?”
“Senior found out pretty quick that people were gossiping about him, and because the guys had it all plotted out, it appeared like I was the one spreading that stuff. But he wasn’t quite convinced, so he put me to a test.”
Kelly smiled, enjoying the story because she kne
w already that Will had passed whatever test Senior had come up with. Will explained that Senior had left a fake financial statement in his desk drawer out in the stable, which was where Will sat when ordering feed and supplies for the stables. The fake statement showed that the Wild Rose was losing money at an alarming rate, and that kind of information would have been irresistible for a person prone to spreading gossip.
Senior had used his oldest, most trusted hand to make sure only Will saw the financial statement, and then they waited to see whether the news got out in town. After waiting two weeks and still hearing not a whiff of the rumor, Senior was convinced Will was trustworthy, and his and Will’s relationship had grown steadily stronger from that point on.
“Now that I’ve taken over the office work for Senior, I spend as much time here as I do on my own family’s ranch,” Will told her. “I’ve got the best of both worlds, as far as I’m concerned.”
“What about your dad?” Kelly asked. “Does he resent you spending so much time on the Wild Rose?”
“As long as things are running smoothly and I do what needs to be done on the Triple Creek, Dad doesn’t care what I do the rest of the time. My three older brothers all work on the ranch full time, so things have been manageable so far.”
Kelly was silent for a moment, thinking over what Will had said. “I think James Senior must have needed you to be more than an employee, since he didn’t have a son on the ranch anymore.”
“He needed my help, for sure, but I’ve never really felt a fatherly vibe from him. I see that much more with Chad, which is the way it should be. But Senior has definitely taken me under his wing as far as passing on his knowledge. I think he sees educating Chad and me in the art of running a ranch as part of his legacy. And now he can add your little boy to that legacy. At least that’s what we’re all hoping.” Will smiled a little apologetically. “No pressure, though.”
Kelly chewed on her bottom lip as she mulled over what Will had told her.
“It feels weird for me to hear you and Chad singing James Senior’s praises, because all I know about him is that he disowned his son so completely he didn’t even come to his funeral.”
“I know, Kelly, and if you can’t get past that it’s certainly understandable. It’ll be disappointing, because I’m sure everyone already loves having little James around, and it would be great to have him visit regularly. But I do understand where you’re coming from, and to be honest, I would probably feel the same in your shoes.”
Kelly sighed, dropping her feet back to the ground and swinging the hammock gently. “I guess I won’t know anything more until we sit down and talk. I’m praying that I have the strength to do what’s best for James, and don’t let my pride get in the way.”
Will’s gaze was sympathetic. “It doesn’t seem quite fair that you have to face all this out here in a strange place all by yourself, whereas Senior is surrounded by his family. It’s gotta be a lonely feeling.”
“I guess I do feel kind of alone.” Kelly looked up at him and managed a wry smile. “Which is probably why I’m unloading on a guy I just met.”
“Don’t worry about it, I’ve enjoyed talking with you. And if you need someone to bounce things off of after hashing things out with Senior and Maggie, please don’t hesitate to call me. I promise I’ll listen and not judge.”
His unexpected offer meant more to her than he could know, and she truly did feel better after talking to him. But she was still feeling overly emotional, and she needed to lighten things up quick or she’d soon be crying on his shoulder.
“Studs aren’t supposed to be perceptive and sweet,” she told him, managing a hint of a smile. “You’re going to ruin your reputation.”
He shook his head ruefully. “That’s an old reputation, believe me. The nickname just refuses to die around here.”
Kelly would have liked to pursue that a little further, but decided it wasn’t appropriate to delve into that area with the very attractive but much younger and off limits cowboy.
“Well, thanks for letting me vent. I’ll be so glad when this week is over.”
“That’s how long you’re staying? Only a week?”
Nodding, Kelly gave the hammock another push. “It’s spring break. I’m a teacher, so I have to be back.”
“What do you teach?”
“High school biology and chemistry.”
“Seriously?” He grinned down at her. “I didn’t have science teachers who looked like you. Which is probably a good thing since I’m easily distracted.”
Kelly recognized the compliment, but chose to ignore it. “Oh trust me, you would have learned a lot in my classes. I work hard to make my subjects interesting.”
“You enjoy teaching?”
“I do, but that’s not to say I don’t also enjoy my time off. Teaching can definitely be exhausting.”
“But instead of using your spring break to rest and relax, you’re out here for the dreaded emotional encounter. Now I’m even more surprised you came.”
Kelly shrugged. “James is my priority, simple as that.”
Will moved to stand in front of her, and pointed at the phone lying beside her on the hammock. “Let me see that for a second.”
Kelly handed it to him. He pushed the button to illuminate the screen, then turned it around for her to enter her passcode, which she did without hesitation. He swiped the screen a few times and began typing. His own phone rang, and he pulled it from his pocket and shut it off without answering.
“Now you’ve got my number, and I’ve got yours. Just in case.” He handed her phone back, looking pleased with himself.
Looking at the screen, Kelly saw he had entered his number with the name Will C.
“I meant what I said, Kelly. Call me if you need to talk.”
Kelly couldn’t suppress a mischievous grin. “We’ll see.” She turned the phone around so the screen was facing him. “Get it? Will C? We’ll see?”
He gave a short laugh. “I get it. And while I’d love to stay and enjoy more of your very witty company, I’d better be getting on home.”
“Thanks for the talk. And for sharing your dog.”
“Any time. I’ll be back tomorrow at some point. Maybe I’ll see you then.”
“Maybe,” Kelly said noncommittally. She would actually like nothing better, but her reaction to the handsome cowboy was embarrassing, and the more time she spent with him, the bigger the chance he would notice she was acting like a teenager with a crush. It reeked of desperate, lonely widow syndrome, and Kelly refused to go there.
Will whistled for his dog, and both animal and boy came running.
“Did you wear him out yet?” Will asked James.
“Nah, I think Dodger could chase a ball all day. He’s a real good dog.”
“He’s sure taken a liking to you,” Will said, ruffling James’ dark hair. “Thanks for keeping him occupied while I was working.”
“Can he come over again tomorrow?”
“We’ll be here. I’ll need to take Wild Red for another go. It’ll be easier next time though. He won’t fight me near as long.”
“Can we watch again, Mom?” James asked eagerly.
“I don’t see why not. Maybe I can take a video this time so you can show Bryan.”
“Cool, Mom. Can we, Will?”
“As long as you promise to delete it if I get bucked off.”
Kelly laughed. “We’ll see,” she said, unable to resist.
He got it a second later and shook his head, his parting grin sending a warm shiver down Kelly’s spine.
“See ya’ll tomorrow. Come on, Dodger. Time to get home.”
Kelly watched him go, enjoying the view way too much. It was a good thing they were only going to be in Texas for a week, because she realized it would be all too easy to develop an honest to goodness infatuation with that cowboy. It was beyond her how she had gotten more worked up about Will Connor in a few hours than she had any other man in the last four years. She decided to
chalk it up to the confusing and overly emotional circumstances of her visit to the Wild Rose, and a subconscious need for a distraction to get her through.
Chapter 7
Will opened his truck door and waited for Dodger to jump in, and then he headed out toward the Connor family’s ranch. He was keyed up, way keyed up, and he knew exactly why. Meeting Kelly Matherson had not gone as he’d expected. In fact, Kelly herself was not what he’d expected.
To put it bluntly, he’d expected her to be bitchy. In spite of James and Maggie having accepted total blame for the loss of their relationship with their son, Will had still felt they probably had reason to hold Kelly partially responsible. As a result, he had developed a certain image of Kelly in his mind prior to meeting her, and it wasn’t exactly flattering.
When Will had found out that she was bringing her boy, James, for a visit, he’d been prepared for a tumultuous week, with Kelly spouting off all kinds of demands that would have to be met in order for James and Maggie to spend any time at all with their grandson. Will had even been afraid that James Sr.’s health would suffer a setback from the stress of having his demanding daughter-in-law around.
Instead of the high maintenance diva he’d expected, however, Will had walked out the stable doors this afternoon and laid eyes on the most beautiful woman to ever step foot on the Wild Rose. For the first time in his life, Will had come face to face with a woman who literally took his breath away.
Kelly Matherson was tiny compared to his own six foot four frame, slender but oh so nicely curved in all the right places. She had a gorgeous mass of silky, almost black hair falling down past her shoulders to the middle of her back, and her big light green eyes sparkled with life and humor. Her smile was warm and enchanting, and just a bit vulnerable and shy. It made Will feel instantly protective of her.
And if he’d had any question about whether her physical beauty hid an inner bitch, it was answered when she had looked at her son with so much love and pride it was almost tangible. Anyone who loved their child like that couldn’t be all bad.