Courting the Cowboy

by Carolyne Aarsen

  “But surely you have your own work to do.”

  She released a harsh laugh. “For what that’s worth. Nothing has come of that lately. Maybe helping the kids will get me past my creative block.”

  “Dad said you were getting together paintings for a possible job?”

  “For a teaching position in Montreal.”

  “That sounds promising.”

  “Even more promising is the fact that the school is connected to a gallery. I was told by the head of the school if they like my new work, I’d be hired to teach and my work would be displayed and sold in the gallery.”

  He nodded, absorbing this information. Good to know, he told himself as he glanced once more over at the lovely Ella.

  Good to know that she had plans to leave. That gave him another reason to keep his distance.

  Then Boyce opened the door to the deck and stepped out. “You two coming in for supper?”

  “I won’t be joining you,” Ella said, getting up.

  “But you helped cook,” Boyce complained.

  “I should get going.”

  Boyce looked like he was about to protest, but to Cord’s relief Ella lifted her hand to stop him. “It was lovely to spend some time with you,” she said, and then without another glance his way, walked past him and down the stairs of the deck and then she was gone.

  “You should have asked her to stay,” Boyce grumbled. “She did a lot of work here today.”

  “I know. And I appreciate it. But we need to keep some boundaries.”

  “Says you,” Boyce grumbled. “Maybe she doesn’t feel the same way.”

  “I’m sure she does, otherwise she would have stayed.”

  “She might’ve had more incentive if you asked. I think she would’ve enjoyed the company. And you would’ve too.”

  “Dad, stop right there. I know what you’re up to.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “You know exactly what I’m talking about. Ella has her own life. I have mine. I’ve got the kids and the Rodeo Group. She’ll be leaving soon enough. Forget it.”

  “She’s lonely. You’re lonely.”

  “Hardly the basis for a relationship.”

  “So you think you could have one?”

  “Dad. Seriously. Stop.” He held his father’s gaze, knowing he had to stand firm. “I don’t have time for this.”

  It would be hard enough having Ella coming around all the time helping the kids. The last thing he needed was a meddling, matchmaking father.

  Chapter Four

  Ella walked slowly toward the large ranch house, the morning sun dissipating the fog that had gathered overnight. Another beautiful spring day beckoned. She should be driving around, looking for inspiration. Going for a run.

  Not taking time away from her work to help Cord’s children.

  When she woke up that morning she had wavered between looking forward to being with the children and formulating reasons she shouldn’t go to the ranch house.

  She needed to get working on her portfolio. She wasn’t here to babysit children. She didn’t want to be reminded of her loss. Plus, their father was becoming too appealing to her.

  But for every excuse she came up with, there was always a counter one.

  She wasn’t working anyway and she felt sorry for the kids. As for her pain, well, it helped that Oliver wasn’t around.

  And Cord?

  Her steps faltered as his image slipped into her mind. The glimmers of attraction she felt for him.

  You’re stronger than that, she reminded herself. He has his priorities and you have yours.

  There was no way she was going to allow a man—any man—to have control over her heart again.

  Besides, she had promised Suzy she would help and there was no way she was reneging on that promise.

  And that was what made her rap sharply on the heavy wooden door.

  A few seconds later the door swung open and Suzy stood in front of her, her hair a tangled nest. She still wore her pajamas, a faded green-and-white nightgown decorated with pictures of Disney princesses smiling back at her. The little girl looked as if she had just tumbled out of bed.

  “You came,” Suzy cried out, grabbing her hand.

  “Of course I did. I said I would.”

  “Daddy said you might change your mind.”

  The comment stung but she let it slide. “I didn’t. And here I am.”

  “You don’t need to knock next time you come,” Suzy said, opening the door and standing to one side. “You can just come in.”

  “It’s more polite to knock,” Ella said, stepping into the entrance, the floor gritty beneath her shoes. Yesterday, when she’d come inside she felt discomfort at the mess. Then, as now, she could see the vision Cord’s wife had for this area beneath the dirt and disorder. Banks of cupboards painted a milky cream color flanked one wall each with a wooden nameplate. Suzy. Paul. Cord. Lisa. Oliver’s name was missing, of course, because Lisa was still expecting him. A few cupboards also had no names on them. Perhaps for future children or company. Centered on the gray tiled floor was a compass made of smaller aqua-and blue-colored tiles, as if to keep the family centered on true north.

  A deacon’s bench, painted in a pale aqua, the same as the tiles on the floor, sat to one side. A mirror framed with the same tiles as the compass hung above the bench.

  Ella avoided glancing in it. She didn’t want to see her haggard features. Last night discordant dreams of Darren and the baby she lost came back to haunt her.

  Ella shook off the dark thoughts and focused on the little girl standing expectantly in front of her.

  As she sat down to remove her shoes, she cast another glance around the messy entrance, fighting the urge to clean up. She was here to help the kids with their art project. Nothing more.

  “Are we going to work on our poster today?” Suzy asked as Ella set her shoes neatly aside.

  “Of course. That’s why I’m here.”

  Suzy clapped her hands, then skipped ahead of Ella, her hair bouncing on her shoulders.

  Paul was already sitting by the table, his forehead furrowed in a frown, his lip tucked into the corner of his mouth as he concentrated on what he was working on. From what she could see he was still wearing his pajamas, as well. A superhero emblazoned the front.

  “Grandpa Boyce had to go to Calgary today,” Suzy informed her. “But my dad is here. He’s working in his office. Important stuff, he said.”

  Why did that give her heart just the tiniest kick?

  Remember. No distractions.

  “And Daddy cooked eggs and made toast for breakfast,” Suzy put in. “And we cleaned up. Like you showed us yesterday. Paul said we didn’t have to but Daddy made us.”

  Ella glanced at the stove she had spent so much time cleaning, but from what she could see it still gleamed. At least Cord was reasonably tidy. Or wanted to be.

  “In that case, why don’t you two get dressed and then we can begin.”

  “It’s a pajama day,” Paul said, not even looking up at her.

  “I think you might work harder if you’re wearing your clothes. Like you do when you go to school.”

  Ella wasn’t sure why she was pushing the issue. It shouldn’t matter what the kids wore. But since she could dress herself, she had her morning routine drilled into her. Get dressed, make your bed, do your hair, tidy your room. Only then could she be allowed to come downstairs to have breakfast.

  “I don’t want to,” Suzy whined.

  “Pajamas are comfy,” Paul added.

  “If Miss Langton said you would work better in your clothes, then maybe you should listen to her.”

  A deep voice from behind her made Ella spin around and speed up the tempo of her he
art.

  Cord stood, leaning in a doorway just off the kitchen. Behind him Ella could see bookshelves and a computer monitor. His office, she suspected. Where the important stuff that Suzy alluded to was taken care of. He wore a button-down shirt of some nondescript blue, worn soft from repeated use, the sleeves rolled up over his muscular forearms. His jeans were just as faded and worn. His hair was brushed smooth, but a faint stubble shaded his lean jaw. He looked comfortable.

  Welcoming.

  “Grandpa told us it was a good day for pj’s,” Paul said, a faintly hurt tone entering his voice as he continued the conversation. But he got up from his chair anyway as if unsure what would happen next.

  “It’s okay,” Ella said, feeling foolish both over her reaction to him and her insistence that the kids change. “It shouldn’t matter to me what the kids wear. I’m just here to help them with their project.”

  Cord scratched his chin with his forefinger as if still unsure of the whole situation. “You don’t have to help,” he said, lowering his voice. “I’m sure I could find someone who could do this.”

  “I said it was okay.”

  “But I know that—”

  “I promise, I don’t mind,” she said, suddenly defensive. “It’s just a few days.”

  “Of course,” Cord said, a peculiar note entering his voice. And when his sea-green eyes looked at her, she felt a faint breathlessness.

  She unconsciously took a step back.

  This couldn’t happen.

  Then he poked his thumb over his shoulder as if pointing out the work he had to do yet. “I should probably get out of your hair. And I’ve got some work to do.”

  His phone rang and he fished it out of his pocket, glancing at the call display.

  “Excuse me. I’ve got to get this.” He gave Ella an apologetic look, then turned away, closing the door.

  Ella walked over to the table and sat down beside Paul.

  “So, why don’t you tell me about this project?” she said, wishing she could dismiss the man who sat in an office only a few feet away. Wishing she could dismiss the unwelcome emotions he stirred within her.

  “It’s supposed to be about the rodeo,” Paul said, holding out a wrinkled sheet of green paper. “These are the rules.”

  Ella took the paper from him and read it through. “Okay, it says here that we can choose from five different categories. Why don’t you choose one and then we can go from there?”

  As they were going over the list, figuring out the pros and cons of each category, she heard the door of the office open and Cord entered the dining room.

  “Sorry to bother you all,” Cord said, slipping his phone into his pocket and blowing out a sigh. “But you guys have to get dressed after all.”

  “Why?” Suzy protested. “I thought this was a pajama day!”

  “I have to go to town for a meeting and you two have to come with me.”

  “Another meeting?” Suzy and Paul called out together, the dismay clear in their voices.

  Suzy looked at the papers in front of them, the crayons and markers she had gotten ready. “We were starting on our ideas.”

  “I know, honey, but I have to go and I can’t leave you alone.”

  “But Miss Ella can take care of us.” Suzy shot a pleading glance over at Ella. “Please. Can you watch us while Daddy goes away?”

  “Miss Ella is not your babysitter,” Cord said.

  “I don’t want to go again,” Paul complained, dropping his pencil on the table and crossing his arms in an angry gesture. “Those meetings always take so long and Uncle George always talks so much.”

  It sounded to Ella like the children had firsthand knowledge of the meetings Cord attended.

  “And I thought we were going to put in the garden this afternoon?” Suzy asked, her voice taking on that familiar plaintive tone.

  “Not until Friday or Saturday, punkin,” Cord said, squatting down and brushing a strand of hair out of her face.

  Suzy looked down, pouting. “I don’t like it that you have so many meetings, Daddy.”

  Cord sighed and Ella could see the conflict in his expression. “I know, honey. But I have to do this. It’s for Mom.”

  Then he shot a quick glance at Ella as if he had said too much.

  Which only raised more questions for her.

  “Now please get ready,” he said, getting to his feet.

  Ella watched the children as they trudged up the stairs. Too vividly she remembered how often she herself had sat in uncomfortable chairs with her sketch pad, drawing endless iterations of horses and flowers and butterflies while her mother was busy with her own meetings and obligations. She knew exactly how hard that could be for Paul and Suzy.

  Probably even harder because they’d known different. At one time they’d had two parents whereas all her life she’d only had her mother.

  So she waited until they were out of earshot, then spoke to Cord, who was already scrolling through some numbers on his cell phone.

  “I can watch them until your father comes back from Calgary or you’re done with your meeting,” she said.

  Cord looked up, shooting her a puzzled frown. “I don’t know if that’s such a good idea.”

  “Why?”

  “I have no idea how long this meeting will drag on or when my dad will be home. I can’t ask this of you.”

  Ella knew exactly how things had played out the past few days but at the same time it was easier being around Suzy and Paul with their little brother, Oliver, gone. Also, when she woke up that morning, for the first time in a long time it had been with a sense of anticipation.

  “I had said I would help and I don’t want to go back on that promise.”

  Cord blew out a sigh, shoving his hand through his hair. “I know you’re only here because Suzy roped you into it.”

  Ella knew she had come across as reluctant around the children, but his resistance to her watching the kids stung.

  “I make my own choices,” she said, struggling to keep the annoyance out of her voice as she held his gaze.

  Cord returned her look for look. “I’m sorry. You’re right. It’s just—”

  She lifted her hand to stop yet another protest coming from him.

  “Look, I know I didn’t come across all warm and fuzzy the first time I saw your kids, but I... I have my reasons.”

  As the words slipped out of her, she caught his frown.

  “What reasons?”

  She had already said too much and she wasn’t about to divulge more.

  “They don’t matter as much as they did.” She wanted to look away but she felt a need to show him that she liked his children. “Suffice it to say I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t want to. Suzy and Paul are really sweet.”

  Then, to her surprise she saw a smile slip over his mouth. “So you weren’t manipulated by my darling daughter?”

  Ella returned his smile. “Maybe a little. She can be very convincing when she wants to be.”

  “I didn’t get a chance to apologize for her little act the other day. She does like to play the motherless-child card from time to time.”

  Ella wanted to brush his comment off with a laugh but at the same time that did make her feel sorry for his kids. “I’m sure they miss her, though.”

  “Yeah. They do.”

  She wanted to say more but sensed they were treading on the edges of a conversation that would lead them to places neither of them wanted to go.

  “Anyhow, I should let the kids know they’ll be staying here,” Ella said. “And you should probably go to your meeting.”

  “I’ll tell them. I should say goodbye, anyhow.”

  But he didn’t need to, because Suzy and Paul were already coming downstairs, their steps dragging on the flo
or as they joined them.

  “You kids don’t have to come with me, after all,” he announced. “Miss Ella said she would stay with you.”

  Suzy and Paul cheered. Cord just shook his head.

  “Wow. You really don’t want to spend time with your dad, do you?” he said, teasing.

  “We love you, Daddy,” Suzy said, hugging him. “But your meeting are always so boooring.”

  “Got it.” He gave her a kiss, then rubbed Paul’s head. “I should go.”

  “Can’t you tell them you can’t come?” Suzy asked.

  “Sorry, sweetie. I can’t.”

  Suzy pouted as she folded her arms over her chest.

  Cord seemed to hesitate, then his phone rang. “Again. Apologies,” he said to Ella, holding up his phone. Then he took the call as he walked away.

  On to the next job, Ella thought.

  She looked over at the kids. Though she knew they were happy they could stay home, she sensed a deeper sadness fall over them as they watched their father leave.

  “Okay, you two, let’s get working,” she said, deciding they needed a distraction. “So have you decided which category you want to work on?”

  Paul pulled his gaze from his father to her. “Family.”

  “Okay. Then we need to decide how we can make a poster that shows family and the rodeo. Why don’t you write down some ideas and we can talk about them.”

  “A family riding horses?” Paul suggested.

  “A family at the rodeo,” Suzy added.

  While they tossed around ideas, Ella heard the outside door close.

  Through the bay windows of the dining room she saw Cord stride toward his truck. But before he got in, he looked over at the house, and even from this distance Ella saw the reluctance and the pain in his face.

  She knew she shouldn’t care. It shouldn’t matter to her what was going on in his home.

  Then Suzy looked over at Ella, a glimmer of sorrow in her eyes. “I didn’t want to go to the meeting but I’m sad Daddy is gone so much.”

  “I’m sure he misses you guys too,” Ella said, giving the girl a one-armed hug, dumbfounded at the tender feelings the little girl created in her. “But I’m also sure that his work is very important.”