“Do me a favor,” Gabi said, “and don’t mention that to Jude. He and his brothers can go on for ages about all the reasons Cowboy Country is signaling the apocalypse for Horseback Hollow.” She placed her fork on the table and narrowed her eyes. “But you knew that already. You also knew, thanks to me, that not all of the Fortunes were opposed to the theme park.”
Cisco held up a hand. “It isn’t what you think, Gabriella.”
She raised a brow at him and he was again reminded of his mother. Luz Mendoza used to communicate volumes without saying a word.
“Okay, it started out how you think, but I care about Delaney.” He looked at his father and brother. “A lot. I would never do anything to hurt her.”
“You’d better not or Jude and her other brothers will string you up. Does she know the details of your association with Cowboy Country?”
“Not yet,” Cisco admitted. “But I’m sure I can make her understand.”
Matteo nabbed the last strip of bacon and began clearing plates off the table. “If anyone can sweet-talk his way out of girl trouble, it’s you, Cisco.” He gave Cisco a nudge as he walked to the sink. “Rachel thinks of Delaney as a friend, so the Fortune Jones brothers might have to get in line if she’s upset by you.”
“I think we’ve made our point,” Orlando said, giving Cisco’s shoulder another squeeze. “If Cisco tells us his intentions are in the right place, we can trust him. It makes me happy to think you’ve found a woman to truly care about, son.”
“Thanks, Dad.” Orlando’s thick hair was heavily streaked with silver now, but his father was still the strongest, best man Cisco had ever met. He didn’t want to disappoint Orlando. Besides, his feelings for Delaney were definitely real.
He pitched in with everyone to clean up the rest of the dishes. It was comforting and familiar to be with his family in this way and, thankfully, the conversation turned to Gabi and Matteo and what was going on in their lives. Both of his siblings were clearly satisfied with the lives they were creating in Horseback Hollow.
Cisco was happy for them and wondered again if he’d made a mistake in putting so much focus on his career. He hadn’t realized how out of balance his life had become until Delaney had become a priority to him. He was used to being focused only on getting ahead, but now that didn’t feel nearly as important as making her happy.
Chapter Eleven
“What’s wrong?”
The Horseback Hollow Grill was filled with the lunchtime crowd. Delaney had gotten lost in thought watching people at the other tables and barely registered her brother Galen’s question. While she knew many of the customers at the popular restaurant, for once in her life there were more people at the Grill who were strangers to her. She attributed that to the influx of new folks working for Cowboy Country. Curiosity always got the best of her in these kinds of situations, but today her mind was occupied with more personal musings. She blinked several times to clear her head, then met Galen’s concerned gaze.
“Are you sick?” Galen reached out one long arm to press his knuckles to her forehead. “You don’t have a fever. Want me to call Mom and drive you back to the ranch?”
“I’m not sick and nothing’s wrong.” She took a sip of her soda. “Why do you ask?”
As he lowered his hand, he grabbed several fries from her plate. “Because you’ve barely touched your grilled cheese and maybe eaten two fries the entire time we’ve been here.”
She shrugged. “I’m not that hungry.”
“Exactly my point.” He popped a fry in his mouth. “You’ve got a bigger appetite than Jude and Toby combined most of the time. Something’s wrong. I’m guessing you want to talk about it, which is why I was summoned for this lunch.”
“I invited you,” she answered, wrinkling her nose. “That’s different than a summons.” She picked up half of her sandwich with every intention of taking a bite to prove Galen wrong. The problem was that food held no appeal, so she dropped her favorite sandwich back to the plate. That wasn’t a good sign. Galen was right, so she figured she might as well cut to the chase.
“How can you tell if a guy is into you?”
Galen coughed several times. “Geez, Delaney, give me a little warning next time. I can’t believe you asked me that question.”
“Who else am I supposed to ask?” She threw up her hands. “I need the opinion of a man, someone who knows what he’s talking about.”
Galen took a long drink of his soda. “I definitely know what I’m talking about.”
She gave him an indulgent smile. “Plus you’re single. I can’t talk to any of the other brothers. Falling in love has changed them.”
“Made them soft,” Galen agreed with a laugh.
“Don’t let them hear you say that.” Delaney took a fry, dipped it in ketchup and took a bite. “But really, Galen, what makes a guy sure that he wants a girl?”
Her brother went suddenly serious. “Maybe you should have this talk with Mom, Delaney. If you don’t understand—”
“Stop.” Delaney held her hands over her ears for a moment. “I’m not talking about wanting to bed a woman, you dumb cowboy. I mean how can I tell if a man is interested in more than that? When he gets serious about long term. Wedding, not bedding. Does that make sense?”
“I understand what you’re asking,” Galen answered, looking relieved. “I’m just not sure I have an answer. Why do you think I’m still single? Guys like to keep things simple, but when love gets involved, life gets complicated.”
“Tell me about it.” Delaney shook her head.
“Is this about Cisco Mendoza?”
Delaney felt color rush to her cheeks. “What do you know about Cisco?”
“Dad mentioned he was working at the ranch.”
“Dad talked to you about Cisco?” Delaney was shocked. Deke Jones was notoriously a man of few words.
“Not like you’re thinking. It’s Dad, after all.” Galen picked up the uneaten half of her sandwich. “But he likes Cisco and more important, he respects him. He did say he’d been mostly helping you, so it doesn’t take a genius to figure out what’s going on.” He took a bite. “Any man who spent time with you couldn’t help but fall for you, Delaney.”
“You’re only saying that because you’re my brother.”
“I’m saying that because you’re an amazing girl. What I’ll say as your brother is that if Cisco hurts you, I’ll string him up with my bare hands. He’ll wish he never stepped foot west of the Mississippi.”
“I can take care of myself, Galen.” Still, Delaney felt a rush of affection for her big, burly brother. “Do you think he likes me? For real?”
“I don’t know Cisco personally, but of course I think he likes you. That doesn’t necessarily mean he’s going to know what to do about it.”
“So I should take matters into my own hands?”
Galen choked again just as the waitress came to the table to clear their plates. Delaney watched as the young woman smiled at Galen, who was now gulping down water. The waitress was clearly interested in her older brother, who was just as clearly clueless.
When the woman walked away, Galen leaned forward across the table. “I am not telling you to take matters into your own hands.”
“I think you’re right. If Cisco has feelings for me but isn’t going to act on them, it’s up to me to show him the way. He needs to understand how I feel and then maybe it will be easier for us to move forward.”
“How do you feel, Delaney?”
For all of her worry over this, when it came down to it, Delaney was clear about her feelings. She took a deep breath and whispered, “I love him.”
Galen rolled his eyes. “So much for the last two single Fortune Jones siblings.”
“I didn’t plan it.”
“Then don’t rush into anything. T
ake it slow. You’re young and Cisco is the first guy you’ve had serious feelings for. How do you know it isn’t just a spring fling? You don’t want to take a chance and end up hurt. No one wants to see you hurt, Delaney.”
Galen’s words made a sliver of doubt pass through her. “Of course I don’t want to be hurt,” she agreed, tying the paper wrapper from her straw into a knot. “If I don’t risk it, I may never know if Cisco and I could have something great. He’s not going to be in Horseback Hollow forever.”
“That’s part of my point.”
“Maybe,” she continued as if her brother hadn’t spoken, “I haven’t given him enough incentive to stay.” An idea popped into her head at that moment. She suddenly knew what her next step had to be.
“Whatever you’re planning,” Galen said, giving her his best big brother stare, “don’t do it.”
“What makes you think—?”
“It’s that gleam in your eye. It means trouble.”
“That’s not true,” Delaney said as she slid out of the booth.
Galen followed her toward the front of the restaurant. They both waved to friends as they went.
“Whatever happened to your plan to fall in love with a local boy? Cisco might be willing to help on the ranch while he’s visiting, but he’s not a cowboy at heart. Are you going to change enough to accommodate his life?”
“I love him,” Delaney repeated as she adjusted her sunglasses on her nose, happy for the small barrier from Galen’s knowing gaze. “Right now that’s what matters the most.”
“There are at least three single cowboys sitting in the Grill right now. It would be easier for you to stick with what you know.”
“That’s what I always thought, too.” They walked to the end of the block, where Delaney had parked one of the ranch’s trucks. She had supplies to pick up in town after she left Galen. “Now I understand there are more important things than the easy way out. If I don’t take a risk, I’ll always wonder if I could have done more.”
“Like I said before, love is way too complicated. I’m here if you need anything, but I’ll stick to simpler pleasures, thank you very much.”
Delaney stood on her tiptoes to give Galen a quick hug. “Be careful about tempting fate, big brother.”
* * *
The next morning Delaney shoved Stacey’s tube of lip gloss into her jeans pocket before heading down the stairs. She knew it was silly. Ranch life was dusty and dirty most of the time, and there was no need to look her best just to ride under the hot sun all day.
Since her talk with Galen, she’d been able to keep her mind on little else besides Cisco. The whole truth was he’d consumed her thoughts since that first night at her parents’ barbecue. Now she could hardly wait to tell him how she felt.
She knew she hadn’t imagined his feelings for her, especially the attraction that smoldered between them. But Delaney believed it was more than just physical desire. She and Cisco had an undeniable connection. She loved her life on the ranch, but he made her think about a future outside the one she’d planned for herself. It was terrifying and exhilarating at the same time. There was a good chance she was opening herself up for heartache, but it was worth the risk.
Cisco had gone out of his way to make himself a part of her life. She owed him the same consideration. If he knew she loved him enough to change, maybe that would open the door for him to truly admit his feelings for her.
She grabbed an apple from the kitchen counter and hurried out the door. Her mother would definitely notice that she’d put on makeup and curled her hair this morning. Delaney wasn’t ready to deal with Jeanne Marie’s good-natured scrutiny. Her phone trilled as she got to the barn. She fished it out of her back pocket and read a text from Cisco that said he was preparing for a meeting and would try to get to the ranch by lunch or he’d call her later tonight.
Delaney stomped her boot into the dirt in front of the barn door. She’d fixed herself up for nothing. Even if Cisco showed up later today, her makeup would be melted off within an hour. It was stupid that she’d made the effort in the first place. If Cisco had real feelings for her, a little bit of mascara and curl to her hair wasn’t going to make a difference. He was used to being with women who were more glamorous taking out the trash than Delaney was when she tried her hardest. A lump knotted her stomach at the thought. Was she kidding herself that her simple life could ever make him happy?
Her father and one of the ranch hands were deep in conversation near the horse stalls as she entered. The young cowboy did a double take as his mouth dropped open.
Deke glanced at her, his eyebrows raised.
“Not a word, Daddy.” She took a hair band off her wrist and quickly braided her hair down the back. “Please.”
Her father gently elbowed the ranch hand next to him. “Eyes back in your head, boy. That’s my baby you’re drooling over.”
The young man snapped shut his mouth. “Yes, sir. Sorry, Delaney,” he added, his gaze trained on the ground. “I’ll round up the other guys.”
As he walked away, emotion clogged Delaney’s throat. At least someone appreciated her efforts.
“Cisco coming today?” her dad asked.
“Maybe later. He’s getting ready for an important meeting.” She didn’t bother to hide the bitterness in her tone.
“Too bad,” Deke murmured. “We’ve got a situation out at the far end of the property. One of the calves born last week is missing. I want everyone to split up to canvass as big of an area as we can. The longer that baby is on his own—”
“I’ll head out to the north pasture. There are so many hills and valleys out there where a calf could get lost.”
“Let me get one of the guys to go with you.”
“I’ll be fine on my own.”
“Delaney—”
“Come on, Daddy. If Jude or Toby rode out alone, you wouldn’t have a problem with it. I can cover just as much ground by myself, so it’s a waste to bring someone with me.”
He looked as if he wanted to argue, so she added, “Please, Dad. I need to clear my head.”
Deke sighed heavily. “It’s hard for me to believe, but you’re not a little girl anymore.”
“I haven’t been for a long time.”
When her father nodded, Delaney stepped forward to place a quick kiss on his tanned cheek. It was huge for her dad to trust her this way. Deke shooed her away but one side of his mouth quirked. Deke Jones could appear remote at times, but he loved his children, and as the baby of the family, Delaney had a closer relationship with him than some of her siblings.
“Take care,” he called as she headed quickly to Flapjack’s stall.
“I learned from the best.” She didn’t waste time saddling up her horse and heading out.
Even though she rode Flapjack hard for miles, it took Delaney a fair bit of time to reach the edge of the property. There were places where the typically flat terrain turned hilly, with dry creek beds carved out of the land. She slowed her horse to a walk, pausing every few minutes to scan the horizon and listen for any sounds. The calf should still have been following its mother, and Delaney knew if they didn’t find it soon, the animal would be an easy target for a predator in the area.
As she rode, she tried to keep her mind focused totally on the lost baby and not on her heart, which she feared might also be forever lost. Although it didn’t make sense, somehow the idea of finding the calf was tied inexorably in Delaney’s mind to her own fate. As if by keeping the animal safe, she could somehow ensure her own future happiness.
She’d spent a good portion of her childhood in these sorts of musings, but as she began working the land with her siblings, her father had made it clear there was no room for flights of fancy on the ranch. Shaking her head to bring herself back to her senses, Delaney heard a faint noise over the next rise.
As she got closer, Flapjack picking his way carefully over rivets and through underbrush, the sound became a distinct bleating. The calf stood to one side of a distant clump of trees, standing still except for bobbing its neck forward with the despairing cry.
Not wanting to spook the animal, Delaney dismounted about ten feet away and began moving slowly forward. She held a rope in one hand and spoke in her most soothing tone, promising the calf a reunion with his mother and all the milk he could drink. As she got closer, the calf’s cries got louder and he went to move away, only to stumble. She held her breath as he righted himself. Then she glanced back at Flapjack. She’d brought along a satellite walkie-talkie to radio back to her father but left it in her saddlebag in her excitement to reach the lost calf. She decided she’d secure the calf, then take care of the communication.
The baby tensed as she got closer but seemed to relax when he realized she didn’t mean him any harm. Caressing the downy fur behind his ear, she looped the rope over his head and knelt beside him. There seemed to be no real injuries as she ran her hands along his legs, flank and belly. Delaney breathed a sigh of relief and took off her hat, then rested her forehead on the animal’s fur. His heart rate raced, then calmed as her breathing steadied.
Another sound captured her attention. She glanced over her shoulder and her breath caught again. Tucked under one of the nearby cypress trees was a nest made from sticks and branches. Peeking out were four tiny snouts. A nest of wild hogs. Maybe the calf had wandered close to the other little ones for companionship, but Delaney had to get them both away before the mama returned. Feral hogs were a problem all across Texas. They did their best on the ranch to keep the property clear of the destructive animals, but it was difficult to monitor every inch of the land, especially this far out from the main pastures.
She straightened and tugged on the rope just as Flapjack gave a distressed whinny. She turned to see an enormous wild boar charge out of the underbrush toward her horse. Flapjack reared up but the mother hog kept running at him. Delaney screamed, drawing the sow’s attention, then watched as her horse galloped away.
The Taming of Delaney Fortune (The Fortunes of Texas: Cowboy Country) Page 11