The Cowboy's Return

by Susan Crosby

  She stared after him. Mitch hadn’t been in her situation, but he understood how hard it must be.

  “Maybe while I’m here he could do a little less,” he said.

  “And when you leave it’ll be that much harder for him to readjust to his chores again. He and I have discussed this a lot. I wish he didn’t have to work so hard, but we don’t have any choice. I thought he understood.”

  “Of course he does. He’s got a good head on his shoulders, but play is also a kid’s work, you know? They learn a lot through the games and sports they play. We touched on this before.”

  “Yes, although from what you said, you spent most of your time working.”

  “Which is why I identify with Austin. One of the reasons I started to play football was to have a reason to get out of some of the chores, then I fell in love with the game. After I could drive, I had more freedom to do things in the evening. But I still had to be up at five to do morning chores.”

  “What he’s asking for involves me, though,” she said. “He can’t just walk across the street and ask a kid to come play. He needs to be driven to town, or have someone driven here.”

  “What he’s asking for today is to go swimming. That’s all you’re dealing with. There aren’t a whole lot of days left to do that,” he said idly. “I could take him, and you could have a little alone time. Bet you don’t get much of that.”

  She compressed her lips for a moment. “Almost none.”

  Mitch said nothing. He understood why she worked Austin as hard as she did. He just didn’t believe Austin needed to at the moment.

  “You really would take him swimming?”

  “Your son is good company, Annie.”

  She sat back, looking bemused. “Alone time. I’m not sure what I would do.”

  “Well, I figured you’d be planting your lettuce, like you told Austin.”

  Her cheeks flushed a little.

  He patted her hand. “It’s all right. I won’t tell a soul that you want some playtime, too.”

  “You have lightened the load around here.”

  “Then don’t be gettin’ after yourself for taking a couple of hours just for you. We can all plant the lettuce in a few hours. There’s time for both.”

  Austin’s bedroom door opened. He scuffed his feet as he came down the hall and into the dining room. “I’m sorry, Mom. I didn’t mean to be selfish.”

  “It’s all right, honey. I’ve thought it over, and decided we really do have a little extra time these days because of Mitch. So, yes, you can go swimming. Mitch said he’d take you.”

  He grinned. “Thanks!”

  “Got a fishing pole?” Mitch asked.

  “Do we, Mom?”

  “Not that I’m aware of. And no licenses,” Annie added pointedly.

  “He doesn’t need one, not until he’s sixteen. I’ll see if I can borrow some equipment and show him how to use it another day. That swimming hole used to have plenty of trout.”

  A few minutes later they loaded towels, a thermos of ice water and snacks into the truck and took off. Annie watched until they were out of sight, holding Bo’s collar so he wouldn’t chase after them. Bo howled a couple of times, feeling left out, then he went after a chicken and forgot his boy was gone, at least for the moment.

  “What should I do?” Annie asked Bo when he returned to her side. She got a cocked-head, ears-pricked answer in return. It wasn’t as if she’d never been alone at the farm. During the school year she was alone all day.

  What were her options? Work in the greenhouse. Make a blueberry pie. Take a bubble bath...which seemed way too indulgent on a Sunday afternoon, but was the most tempting of her choices. That and reading a good book at the same time. Heaven.

  Before she could decide, she heard a vehicle coming up her driveway. She hoped it wasn’t one of the Ryder or Morgan men. She wanted to enjoy her time alone.

  But it was Marissa Mazur. Alone.

  Chapter Ten

  “I’m so sorry for not calling first,” Marissa said as she got out of her car. “I just took a chance you’d be home.”

  As usual her hair and makeup were perfect. She wore jeans and a long blouse, but Annie noted the small bump formed by the lives growing inside her. “How’re you feeling?”

  “Morning sickness every day. Ugh. It should end soon, though. I’ve just started my second trimester. Your place is looking really good.”

  “Thanks. I hired some help to get it to a point I can keep up. It’s been a huge relief.” Annie was torn about inviting her inside. She didn’t really want to develop a friendship with the ex-wife of the man Annie desired. “Would you like some iced tea?” she asked, not wanting to seem antisocial. Marissa had been kind to Austin.

  “I would love some, thanks. I’ve been running errands for hours. Or maybe just one hour. But it seems like six.” She smiled so engagingly that Annie could picture Mitch being drawn to her.

  “Why don’t you take a seat on the porch. I’ll be right back.”

  Annie added a couple of blueberry muffins to the tray she carried out and set on the low table in front of the glider. Marissa sat in the rocker, but wasn’t rocking it.

  “Motion sickness, too,” she said, a hand over her abdomen as she accepted the glass of tea and muffin. “I can’t believe I’m thirty-five years old and still having babies. There was a time I never wanted any. Ever. Now I’ll have five. Sure shows you how time can change things. Or the right man,” she added thoughtfully.

  Annie felt stuck. It would be natural to ask questions about her comments, but did she want the answers? And if Marissa discovered Mitch was working for her, and living with her, would she feel deceived?

  “I guess we all kiss a few frogs before our prince comes along,” Annie said. “So, what brings you here today?” she asked, changing the subject.

  “Flowers. I know you’ve been selling them at the farmer’s market, and I can’t get there tomorrow night. I was hoping to buy some from you today.”

  “Of course. We picked this morning. You can have your choice.”

  “Thanks.” Marissa was quiet for a moment then sighed. “That’s not the whole truth, Annie. I’m lonely. I grew up here, but I moved away years ago. We just came back last year. It’s been hard finding girlfriends. A lot of people carry a grudge for the way I treated my ex-husband. I liked you the minute I met you. I think we have a lot in common.”

  If you only knew. Annie was hungry for girlfriends, too, and under other circumstances would’ve made the return effort. Now she was stuck.

  “You’re not saying anything,” Marissa said quietly. She set her tea glass on the small table next to the rocker then stood. “Maybe my reputation preceded me. I apologize for taking your time.”

  Annie couldn’t let her go thinking the worst. “Please don’t leave. Honestly, I hadn’t heard anything about you, good or bad, since we met. I just have such limited time available. I hope that will change.”

  After a few seconds, Marissa sat. “I’m supersensitive these days. Hormones, you know.”

  Annie laughed. “I remember. PMS on steroids.”

  “Exactly!”

  Annie led the discussion into neutral territory—their children. They passed the better part of a half hour comparing notes about kids, sharing recipes and life in the Red Valley. Then Marissa chose a mixed bouquet and left. By then, enough time had passed that Annie decided not to loll in a bubble bath. Instead she started on the lettuce planting. She’d tilled in compost a week ago in preparation. Growing it in the high tunnel would be a different experience from the in-the-ground crops she’d grown previously, but their short growth life would give her answers about success or failure quickly, as well as the different varieties she was trying. She would plant garlic between the rows to help control aphids, and then
seed new rows every couple of weeks, rotating her crop.

  Annie found herself humming as she worked, anticipating Mitch and Austin coming home, thoroughly enjoying planting. The task soothed her, but she decided she was also feeling more confident about her future success than a week ago. What she needed was an online presence. A website where local restaurants could find her specialty products. She wondered how expensive it would be to have a site created.

  She heard her truck coming up the driveway and walked over to greet Mitch and Austin. Bo was running alongside and barking. Austin hopped out of the truck and raced to Annie, hugging her hard.

  “My Popsicle boy,” she said, wrapping him tight. “Did you have fun?”

  “Yes!” He wriggled free. “I know. I know. Take a hot shower.” He grinned then ran off, taking the stairs in almost one leap.

  “He’s fearless,” Mitch said, coming up more slowly.

  “Is that a good thing?”

  “It can be.”

  The vague answer made her smile and shake her head. “Are you a Popsicle, too?”

  “I could use a warm-up hug.”

  She didn’t know what to say. She wouldn’t mind it herself, especially since skin to skin was the best way to deal with a cold body.

  “I’m kidding,” he said, cupping her arm for just a moment. “Sort of.”

  She just stared at him, wishing for the same thing, knowing it was impossible.

  “Did you enjoy your free time? Looks like you were working.”

  “Not the whole time, just the past half hour or so. Before that I had company.”

  They walked up the porch steps. She indicated he should sit on the glider, because the sun was hitting it.

  “Marissa dropped by. It was pretty uncomfortable.”

  “What did she want?”

  “A bouquet. She said she couldn’t make it to the market tomorrow night.”

  “And?”

  “She’s looking to be friends.”

  “Is that something you would like?”

  “Frankly, yes. I like her.”

  “I’m sorry I’ve complicated your life.” Mitch leaned forward, his arms on his thighs. “I can leave now, Annie, and you could be friends with her. She wouldn’t know I’d ever been here.”

  “Austin knows. Your name is bound to come up at some point.”

  “I’m sorry,” he said again, meaning it. He’d lived in the same place most of his life and had lifelong friends, plus his siblings, who were close. She’d moved around a lot and wanted very much to establish a community for herself.

  “I didn’t learn anything new about you,” Annie said, “except that she was the villain in your divorce.”

  “It wasn’t pretty.” Mitch looked away. He didn’t want to go there. “You worked on the lettuce.”

  She rocked slowly, looking serene. “I found it soothing. Even Bo just curled up and slept most of the time. I do love digging in my dirt, and I especially like seeing little green shoots come up. I’ve come to realize that I made a mistake early on by trying to grow too many different kinds of produce. Specializing is the way to go. Fewer chances of messing up.”

  “So that means what?”

  “Flowers, berries, specialty potatoes and lettuces, which can be year-round. I’ll grow enough tomatoes for my own use, pumpkins for the Halloween traffic, but that’s it. It finally makes sense to me.”

  It made sense to Mitch, too, even without knowing her business. In his line of work, specializing also made sense, although when his father had branched out into the biomedical supply field, it had increased their cash flow enormously. But now that part of the business had apparently flattened out. They needed to come up with other ways to bring in income.

  Mitch had ideas, especially regarding solar power. He’d had plenty of time to think while he was gone. Now to convince his father to implement them.

  Austin came bounding out of the house and plopped down next to Mitch on the glider. “We saw tons of trout, Mom. We’re gonna catch dinner the next time we go.”

  “Will you eat it? If not, you need to catch and release.”

  “Do you like trout, Mitch?” Austin asked.

  “Love it, especially cooked in foil on the barbecue.”

  “Then I will, too.”

  Mitch saw a frown settle on Annie’s face. Because Austin was too obviously attached? That worried Mitch more than Marissa finding out he was living at Annie’s place. The boy had been hurt enough by his father. Mitch didn’t want to add to it.

  “Mitch,” Annie said, “if you can give me a list of what you would need for the roof repair on the barn, I could go into town early tomorrow and pick up the supplies before the farmer’s market starts.”

  He’d blocked it from his mind. Every day he’d looked at the to-do list he’d created the first morning, checking off items as he went, ignoring the roof. “I’m not even sure. You might just go to the building supply store and tell them the problem and let them show you what you need. Is there more than the one big leak in the corner?”

  “There are a couple others,” she said apologetically. “Nothing major, just drips.”

  “Then you should probably get some product that seals small holes, too.” Great. Not only would he have to climb the ladder but he’d have to get on the roof itself and inspect it for other leaks. He really wished she could afford to hire a roofer.

  “What do you say? Shall we get some work done?” he asked, standing. He’d enjoyed the day of fun, but he knew Annie felt a need to keep working.

  “I got all the lettuce planted,” Annie said. “At least for now. Every couple of weeks I’ll plant more so there’s a fresh supply. It’s going to be great using the bedding boxes. No more bending over.” She stood. “How about we have a new tradition for as long as you’re here—no work on Sunday. Well, except to pick and prep the flowers. Can’t escape that.”

  “Yay!” Austin jumped up. “Does that mean I can play video games?”

  “You can do whatever you want.”

  “Cool!” Off he went, the screen door slamming behind him.

  “What are your plans?” Mitch asked.

  “I’m going to bake a blueberry pie. How about you?”

  His first choice would be to take her bed for the rest of the afternoon. “If you don’t mind loaning me your truck, I’d like to go do something. The parts should arrive for my truck tomorrow, and I won’t have to ask again.”

  “Sure. Will you be home for dinner?”

  “Six o’clock?”

  “Okay. Have fun.”

  He hadn’t returned her keys yet, so he dug them out of his pocket. He wanted to kiss her goodbye something fierce. He continued to stare at her.

  She cocked her head. “What?”

  Austin was close enough to hear their conversation if he was paying attention, so Mitch came up close to Annie, watching her stiffen the nearer he got. “You’re a helluva woman, Annie Barnard.”

  Her eyebrows arched. “I am?”

  “You’re proving to be a lot more adaptable than I expected. You’ve lightened up considerably.”

  “I haven’t been under the same degree of stress. Because of you.”

  It must have cost her a lot to tell him that, to show some vulnerability, because she was one of the proudest women he’d ever met. “I’m glad I could help.”

  He ran a hand down her arm to her hand and squeezed it, then he jogged to the truck and took himself off to Ryder Ranch. It was easier coming home this time. His gut clenched a little, but not like before. There was usually a family barbecue on Sunday afternoons, but maybe not, now that all of his siblings were adults with lives of their own. All he wanted was to take a ride. If he could avoid his parents this time around, that was fine with him.

 
But it wasn’t meant to be. Various four-wheelers and trucks were parked near the house. His brothers Adam and Brody were out front tossing a football. Ranch hands and their families were milling about, children chasing children, and dogs barking, playing along.

  Adam spotted him and waved. Mitch stopped but didn’t turn off the engine. Brody came, too, as Adam approached the truck. The Ryder family connection was strong among the four brothers, their coloring and physique similar, but their personalities far different from each other.

  “Welcome home.” Brody, the youngest of the brothers at twenty-six, hopped up on the running board, grinning. Adam, twenty-nine, pounded Mitch’s back. “You come for dinner? Mom was hopin’.”

  “I came to take Buckshot for a ride.” And himself. “I wanted to talk to you both, though. I take it Mom and Dad clued you in about where I’ve been living lately.”

  “Yep,” Adam said. “I’ve seen the lady myself at the farmer’s market. I’d hang around her place, too, if I could.”

  “Knock it off.”

  “Touchy, touchy. So. Are you kicking Adam and me out of your house?”

  “Not yet, but I need a favor. I figure you’ve been living rent-free for three years, you owe me a few.”

  “Like hell we have,” Brody said. “We’ve been paying rent all along. Dad didn’t send it to you?”

  Mitch shook his head.

  “Anyway, we’re brothers. We do favors for each other. What do you need?” Adam asked.

  “You know I have a little problem with heights.”

  “A little problem? Hell. That’s like saying Winkle was sweet and gentle.”

  Mitch laughed. That big old bull had hated everyone, but especially their granddad. The two had legendary staring contests.

  “Um, Annie’s barn’s got a little hole in the roof. How about you come out a week from tomorrow during the farmer’s market when she’ll be gone? We’ll get it fixed for her.”

  “Isn’t that the place that Dad says is gonna go under before the year’s up?”

  Mitch clenched his teeth. “I’m asking a favor. Yes or no?”