Front Range Cowboys (5 Book Box Set)

by Evie Nichole

  “You be careful,” Gloria advised. “And don’t you let that Carly woman push you around. Lord is she a rude woman! Call my friend. We’ll get you a home for your son.”

  “Thank you, Gloria,” Darren said earnestly. It was sort of odd to feel as though there were so many people pulling for him. It was—well, it was a nice change. But maybe that’s because he wasn’t running off to find the next football game and ignoring his responsibilities as he did.

  “You turn around and look at me like a man,” Joe Hernandez wheezed.

  Darren spun around and did just that as his father huffed and puffed up to the bank of elevators. Fortunately, the hallway was empty but for the two of them. Darren had a feeling that there didn’t need to be anyone around to witness this conversation.

  Joe put his finger in the center of Darren’s chest. “You don’t belong here. Not really. We tolerate you because you’re family, but the truth is that you run as soon as something comes up. You never stick around longer than it takes to find something better. You don’t hang around for the hard times. And you haven’t even managed to be a parent to your own child. So, don’t you dare tell your brother how to run his life. You have no idea what Laredo goes through when you’re not around.”

  “You’re right,” Darren said quietly. “I don’t know. But I do know plenty about dropping the ball and screwing up. So, maybe I am the one to tell my brother that he’s about to do that in a big way. Did you ever consider that?” Darren put his hand underneath Joe’s and flung his father’s finger away. “And for the record, I’m in Denver for good. So, you can just take your low expectations and shove them.”

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Darren ended his call to Gloria’s landlord friend just as he was walking in the front door of the school. He automatically turned toward the gymnasium, but at the last second, he sighed and headed for the administrative wing. Normally this would have been a good thing. He would have been headed toward Maggie’s office. He would have been planning to see her, to say hello and see her smile, and maybe even to sneak a kiss or two. But that wasn’t what Darren was going to do.

  “Hi there,” Darren offered the secretary—what was her name? Rhonda. It was on the nameplate right on her desk. She was beaming at Darren with a smile so bright he was pretty sure her lips were going to get stuck that way. “Rhonda, is Ms. Witherspoon in her office? I needed to ask her just a few more questions about the job details.”

  Rhonda’s smile went from brilliant to brittle. Getting up from her desk, she mumbled something about checking on the principal and headed down the little hallway. Was that suspicion on her face? It was on the tip of Darren’s tongue to assure Rhonda that he did not have any interest in Ms. Witherspoon beyond the job, but that would have seemed a little out of line. So, instead of defending himself, Darren sighed and waited for Rhonda to check on Ms. Witherspoon.

  After a few moments, Rhonda returned. She wasn’t even pretending to smile anymore. “You can go on in. Olivia is waiting.”

  “Thank you for letting Ms. Witherspoon know I needed to chat with her about my job,” Darren told Rhonda. He felt like a freak, but for some reason, he got the feeling that Rhonda actually understood what he was trying to say without saying it.

  “You’re welcome.” The words were so genuine that Darren couldn’t help but grin back at her.

  Of course, that was before he stepped into Olivia Witherspoon’s office. The woman was sitting behind her desk filing down her dagger-like nails. They were even blood red in color. It was sort of eerie. When she looked up, her hooded gaze made Darren feel as though he needed a few more layers of clothing on. He frequently heard women complain about how men looked at them in such a way as to make them feel objectified. Funny, but nobody really talked about when that happened to men. Right now, Darren felt like a piece of meat available for sale.

  “Well, hello, Mr. Hernandez.” Ms. Witherspoon wiggled her fingers in greeting. “I didn’t expect to see you this afternoon. How can I help you?”

  Darren took a deep breath. He needed to keep this woman amenable for the moment. He gave her a syrupy-sweet cowboy smile. “Well, Ms. Witherspoon, I was just wondering what your requirements here at the school are for full-time employment.”

  “Is that right?” Olivia Witherspoon cocked her head to one side and set her nail file on her desktop. “Well, I suppose if you’re interested in the full-time gym teacher job, I could put a good word in for you. Of course, there are some educational requirements.”

  “Such as?” Darren had never before been so glad that he had managed to finish his degree while playing a few extra years of football for the University of Colorado.

  “Well, most teachers have a degree in education of some kind.” Her smile was almost condescending enough to give Laredo a run for his money.

  “No problem.” Darren made his shrug deliberately careless. “I have a bachelor’s in elementary education. I realize that I will have to get my certificate from the state, but I’m willing to take steps to do that.”

  Olivia Witherspoon looked quite taken aback. “You have a degree?”

  “You thought I was just a pretty face?” Darren could not resist the jab.

  Olivia’s gaze narrowed. “You’re a football player.”

  “Yes. I played semi-pro and professional football.” Darren ground his teeth together in irritation. He did not like feeling as though he had to drop names or show off just to get something. He wanted to get this position based on merit. “I have a Denver Broncos Super Bowl ring. I’ve got years of experience in athletics.”

  “Hmm.” Olivia Witherspoon stood up. “I have to admit that the board of directors will love to be able to boast that sort of resume for a teacher here at the school. It will really bring in the parent donations for athletics.”

  Darren was starting to get a pretty big idea about what this was all about. It was all about the money and people feeling that their kids were really special for no reason in particular. How typical. Well, Darren could play that game just as well as anyone else who had spent time in the athletic industry.

  “I’m sure if our school had some athletic teams, it would really bring in the booster dollars,” Darren suggested. “You know, we could have a football team, a soccer team, maybe some basketball in the winter. If we played in a local league with other private schools, that would really get us on the map.”

  Olivia Witherspoon’s eyes lit up like Christmas. Apparently, Darren had just made her heart start racing. It was becoming very apparent that even though Olivia Witherspoon was interested in him as a man, in her own way, of course, she was far more interested in him as a potential selling point.

  “You certainly know how to drive a bargain,” Ms. Witherspoon murmured. The corner of her mouth was twisted into a smile. Then, suddenly, she pressed her lips together to stifle any expression. “Although I am a little concerned about your relationship with Ms. Brown. You realize that you report to me and not to her.”

  Tricky, tricky, tricky. Darren took a deep breath and forced himself not to outwardly react. This was not the time. “I am perfectly aware of how the school’s hierarchy works in regards to who is in charge of what. There is no question in my mind. I know from speaking to Ms. Brown that she is equally cognizant of the way things work. We’ve spoken of it several times.”

  “That’s good, then.” A very superior smile stretched across Olivia Witherspoon’s features.

  What the hell? Darren had a feeling he had either said or done something that had intentionally given the principal an ego boost she most definitely did not need. Darren cleared his throat. He needed to get out of here before he bungled up something else.

  “So, then, you’re a free agent not ready to settle down at all just yet. I can absolutely understand that sort of thing since I’m a single gal myself.” Ms. Witherspoon’s smile could have pulled the horns off a steer. There was no doubt in Darren’s mind that Olivia Witherspoon was enjoying this little interview. “Of cou
rse, I’ll be telling the board of directors that you are a single gentleman, which won’t look so good when it comes down to reliability.”

  What was she driving at here? Darren struggled with the right way to react. He didn’t want to alienate the woman, but she was making him really uncomfortable.

  “On the other hand, since we’re both single, we could perhaps establish you some credibility if we were—you know—dating.” Ms. Witherspoon got up from her desk and sashayed toward Darren. “I would love to take you to dinner in order to talk more about it.”

  Darren was speechless. It took a full minute before he could find any words, and he still couldn’t be sure they were the right or wrong ones to be said. Wait. Were there any right ones to be said here? This was wrong on so many levels that Darren was pretty sure he’d heard her wrong. Yes. He must have misunderstood.

  “I’m sorry, Ms. Witherspoon.” Darren was careful to keep his drawl pleasant and his address as formal as possible. “I must be confused. It seems as though you just suggested that the two of us should go out on a date in order to make me a more desirable candidate for the teaching position here at this school.” Darren had a thought. “You seem to be under the impression that I have no roots here in Denver.”

  “Well, your brothers and such, of course, but that’s never stopped you from leaving town for football opportunities.” Was she actually batting her eyes? Yes. Yes, she was.

  “My football career is over.” Funny, but it didn’t hurt Darren’s pride at all to say that. Once upon a time, it would have stung like hell. “And I have a son here in Denver. I’m in the process of applying for joint custody.” He was in the very beginning of the process, but whatever. “I’m establishing a household and planning to stay here permanently in order to raise my son. I’m not some drifter just looking to hang out for a year.” Darren headed for Witherspoon’s office door. “So, if you can please tell the school board that I respectfully request that they consider me for this position, I would be much obliged.” Darren ground his teeth together. He could not just give Olivia Witherspoon the brush-off as much as he might want to. He’d already delivered quite a blow, if her pissed-off expression was anything to go by. “And I don’t believe that you should have to take me to dinner in order to establish my credibility. I appreciate the offer, but I want to get this job based on my own merits and not because the principal pulled some extra strings for me.”

  There. That sounded sufficiently humble or something. Right? Oh. Nope. It was pretty obvious from the thin lips and puce-colored face that Olivia Witherspoon was taking this very personally.

  “Thank you for your time, ma’am.” Darren stepped out of her office and felt as though the temperature had just gone down about a hundred degrees. Damn, that woman could be angry with a vengeance! He could only hope that she didn’t hold a grudge.

  “Um, Mr. Hernandez?” Rhonda was waving at him when he made it back out to the main office area by the secretary’s desk.

  “Yes, ma’am. Sorry.” Darren nodded to her. “Can I help you with something?”

  Rhonda pointed to the hallway. “Your class is waiting in the gym. We’ve had some complaints that it’s a bit loud in there.”

  “What grade am I teaching this afternoon?” Darren was a little flustered since nobody had given him a schedule or any notice. Had the teacher just dumped the kids in there without supervision?

  “Fifth grade,” Rhonda said cheerfully. She did a little fist pump. “Yay!”

  Darren shook his head and could not help but smile at her. “All right, then. Fifth graders it is.” Then he paused before leaving the office. “And Rhonda?”

  Rhonda looked up once again from her computer screen. “Yes, Mr. Hernandez?”

  “Tell Ms. Brown that I am especially sorry that I didn’t have a chance to see her this afternoon before my classes started.” Darren had a feeling that Rhonda and Maggie were on better than speaking terms. Rhonda could be an important ally that way. “Tell Maggie—Ms. Brown—that I’ll meet her after school.”

  “I sure will do!”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Maggie tapped her pencil against her desktop and tried to think of the best thing she could do to help Darren. The man wanted at least partial custody of his son. He should have it. There was no doubt in her mind that the guy was a wonderful man who would make a terrific father. In fact, lately he had been a more reliable father figure than his brother, no matter what Laredo thought about it.

  “Psst, Maggie!” Rhonda knocked on the doorframe of Maggie’s office and pushed her way inside. “What are you doing?”

  “What am I doing?” Maggie picked up her cup of coffee. The email on the computer screen wasn’t exactly work related. She was calling in a major favor from an old school friend who was now working for the department of family services. Maggie decided there was no need to tell Rhonda about this situation right now. “I’m just puzzling my way through some emails. Why? What’s up?”

  Rhonda’s eyes were gleaming with the kind of excitement that only came from the spreading of really good gossip. “I think our over-friendly principal just got the shaft from Darren Hernandez!”

  The shaft? What did that even mean? And why was Maggie’s heart pounding as she tried to prevent herself from leaping out of her chair and running to find Darren and demand to know what had happened? It wasn’t like that. No. She wasn’t like that. That would mean that she was acting crazy, and she didn’t have any interest in being like that.

  “Okay.” Maggie forced herself to be calm. “What exactly happened? And don’t embellish! That doesn’t help anything.”

  “All I know is that Darren came in and asked if Olivia was available.” Rhonda was practically salivating with excitement. “So, I went in her office to see if she was, and of course, she was thrilled that he would ask.” Two lines appeared between Rhonda’s eyebrows. “I’m not really sure why he would want to talk to her, but he said it was something about the job.”

  A very small nugget of possibility began to grow in Maggie’s mind. Would Darren have considered making this a permanent situation? It would certainly help his custody case if he had permanent employment with a prestigious private school as a teacher. She gripped the edge of her desk tightly to keep herself from interrupting Rhonda. She needed the whole story, and she had a feeling it was nowhere near done yet.

  “And?” Maggie prompted.

  “Right.” Rhonda shrugged. “So, he went in there, and I swear they must have talked for thirty minutes.”

  Maggie pursed her lips. She did not believe for a second that Rhonda had just gone back to her desk to work. “What did you hear?”

  “Me?” Rhonda put her hand on her chest. “You must be joking! I don’t eavesdrop.”

  “But you lie like a rug, girl. Spit it out.” Maggie folded her arms over her chest and pegged Rhonda with a look of expectation.

  “Okay, so I might have heard a little bit.” Rhonda rolled her eyes. “It got pretty loud for a minute there. I heard them say something about the school board. There was a bit about a permanent position maybe. And then I swear to you Olivia asked him out!” Rhonda was practically vibrating with excitement. “Can you believe that?”

  “Unfortunately, I can.” Maggie slumped back into her seat. “That’s horrible. It’s like a nightmare! How can he refuse? She’ll make it so he can’t make the transition to a permanent teacher. It isn’t fair.”

  “I don’t think he accepted.” Rhonda perched on the edge of Maggie’s desk and started making expansive gestures with her hands. “Oh. My. God! After Darren left to go to the gym and teach his classes, Olivia came storming out of her office and started bitching at me up one side and down the other. She told me to submit Mr. Hernandez’s application for a permanent position to the school board but to make sure they knew her recommendation was not to hire him!”

  “We have to overturn that.” Maggie’s brain was spinning as she tried to figure out exactly how she was going to undo what O
livia Witherspoon was trying to do. “It can’t be impossible. It’s not like the board of directors is completely oblivious to what Olivia is doing around here.”

  “You mean nothing?” Rhonda snorted and folded her arms over her chest. “I have to do most of her job.”

  Maggie suddenly felt everything inside her head stop. All of her thoughts settled abruptly, and she realized that this could be an opportunity to fix more than one wrong all at the same time.

  “Don’t look at me that way.” Rhonda pointed to Maggie and jumped up off the corner of the desk. “I’m not interested in that job.”

  “But you’re qualified!” Maggie moaned. “Don’t you get it? That’s why Olivia can pretty much drop the entire administrative part of the job right in your lap. You were a school principal for years in Longmont! I know the town was little, but you have the experience. You have the education. And you know we would all help out! In fact, I bet we can get the other teachers to sign a petition in favor of firing Olivia and naming you her replacement!” Maggie clapped her hands with glee. This was the perfect solution!

  “All except the part where Olivia has an employment contract that isn’t up for another year. You’d have to get her to leave.”

  “What’s the cost of breaking her contract?” Maggie wondered. She wasn’t well versed in such things. Staffing wasn’t really part of her job. So, other than her own contract, which didn’t have some kind of term attached since it renewed every year, Maggie knew nothing about what it took to hire and fire.

  Rhonda made a face. “I suppose I can look at it.” Then Rhonda waved her finger in Maggie’s face. “But do not think I’m going to take that job. I don’t want it!”

  “You’d be so good at it though!” Maggie insisted.

  “I’ll look into what Olivia might have done to merit firing, but that’s it.” Rhonda started to walk away but then turned around at the last second. “And what’s going on with you and Darren? If you want my help, that’s fine. But I want something in return.”