Rodeo Ashes

by Vannatter, Shannon Taylor;

  “I won’t shirk my responsibilities around here. And it takes several laser treatments, so it’s not a one-time thing.”

  “Let’s light into that chili, and then you’re taking the rest of the day off.”

  “But—”

  “No arguing with the boss, boy.”

  Trent’s mouth clamped shut. “Yes, sir.”

  “I’m thinking of heading to San Antonio this week for Thanksgiving. Visit my folks. Want to ride with me?”

  “That’s right nice of you, sir. But I don’t want to intrude on a family thing.”

  “You’re welcome to join us. My folks would love it.” He couldn’t leave Trent alone on a holiday, and maybe if he brought a guest, Dad wouldn’t get the chance to ask if he’d told Lacie the truth.

  “I’ve never been to San Antonio. Reckon I don’t have any other plans.”

  “Good. We’ll head out tomorrow.” Quinn stole one more glance at the arena.

  And caught her. She was looking at him, too.

  He grinned.

  Her gaze darted away.

  ❧

  Lacie giggled. Black balloons decorated Stetson and Kendra’s house. The cake was done in black roses with thirty candles strategically placed. But Kendra was a good sport about all the teasing.

  “Blow ’em out before the whole house goes up in flames.” Stetson goosed his wife in the ribs.

  “You won’t believe what just happened.” Star clasped Lacie’s hands. Her sister’s blue eyes danced.

  “What?”

  “Wyatt and I went out to the barn to pick a kitten for him to take home. He asked me to marry him.”

  “What? You barely know each other.”

  “I knew you’d say that.” Some of Star’s inner light died. “We’ve been dating almost three months.”

  A mere matter of ninety days. She thought the world of Wyatt. But she didn’t want to see her sister get hurt again. “You have to admit, that’s not very long.”

  “Yes, but I’ve been married before, and Wyatt was no saint. It’s hard for us to just date.”

  “So, you wanna get married so you can have sex?” Lacie whispered.

  “Of course not.” Insulted hurt echoed in Star’s tone. “But we want to do things right. I dated Michael for two years, and I’m more sure about Wyatt than I was him. Except—”

  “What?”

  “We’re both Christians, and we’re crazy about each other.” Star’s smile lit the room. “I love Hannah as if she were my own, and we want to have a couple more, too. But Wyatt’s been with a lot of women. Do you think I’ll be enough to last him the rest of his life?”

  “Have you ever looked in the mirror? You’re gorgeous.” How could Star be so beautiful, so sweet, and lack confidence in herself? “Don’t you know when you walk into a room, men stare?”

  “You were the beauty queen.” Star’s shoulders sagged. “Not me.”

  “I never wanted any of that. I wanted to race barrels. And you didn’t. Trust me, that’s the only reason you didn’t end up on the beauty queen circuit. Besides, what’s really important is inside.” She clasped her hand to her heart. “Your insides are beautiful. You’re the most giving, caring woman I know. If Wyatt really loves you, you’ll be enough. Just make sure he really loves you.”

  Star nodded. “He treats me like a queen and wants to spend all his free time with me. How else can I know?”

  “Give it time.” Lacie squeezed her hand. “And pray about it.”

  “I’ve been praying about it, and if we give it time, we’ll have to go on double dates. You and Quinn want to make a foursome with us?”

  “Quinn and I—” Her gaze snagged on his across the room. “We’re not dating.”

  “Well, you should be. You two are nuts about each other. And he’s a great guy, Lacie. God’s giving you a second chance at love by placing a second stand-up kind of guy in your life. You really shouldn’t pass up a gift like that.” She lowered her voice. “Don’t tell anyone about the proposal. Especially not Mama and Daddy.”

  Lacie did a zipper motion across her lips like they had done when they were kids. She glanced in Quinn’s direction, and her gaze darted away. Why wouldn’t he stop staring at her? She sped down the hall, grabbed her coat, and snuck out the back door.

  The barn drew her with its hulking promise of peace. A charcoal-gray mama cat meowed at her. Six babies fought for milk, and the mama looked like she needed a vacation.

  Lacie picked up the fattest of the kittens and pushed the runt in its place. The fat kitten meowed its annoyance. She sat on a hay bale and cuddled it against her shoulder, scratching its cheek. The kitten changed its tune with a steady rumbling purr.

  “You okay?” Kendra leaned in the doorway.

  “Just getting some air. Why are barns always so peaceful?”

  “The smell of manure, I guess.”

  “Tell me about Wyatt.”

  Kendra frowned. “I thought you were interested in Quinn.”

  “I’m not interested in anyone, but my sister is seeing Wyatt, and they’re getting pretty serious.”

  “Well, he used to be worthless.” Kendra settled beside her on the hay bale. “We had an unhealthy, downright lewd relationship before we found the Lord.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring up a painful subject.”

  “It’s in the past.” Kendra waved her hand through the air. “After I got saved and began seeing Stetson, Wyatt tormented us with my past. But then Stetson rescued him from a bull, and he started changing. A few months later, God got a hold of him, and he’s a different person. I often have a hard time reconciling the guy I used to know with who he is now. He probably thinks the same of me.”

  “What about Natalie?”

  “He hasn’t heard from her since she signed the papers and handed Hannah over to him.”

  “Did he love her?”

  “He thought he did.” Kendra shook her head. “But I think he just wanted to. He’d been convicted about how badly he’d been living and wanted to make things right. Natalie was pregnant, he wasn’t even sure if the baby was his, and he wanted to clean things up. I’ve never heard him mention missing her.”

  “So he doesn’t even know if Hannah is his?”

  “He does now. They did a paternity test. But he was willing to take her, even if she wasn’t, rather than see her aborted.”

  The mama cat stood, obviously tired of the feeding frenzy. Kittens fell off as she walked, meowing their discontent.

  “Poor overworked mama.” Kendra scooped her up.

  Lacie set the fat kitten down and ran her fingers through the mama’s silken fur. “I’ve definitely seen changes in Wyatt. You haven’t seen any false steps or backsliding?”

  “No. I mean he’s not perfect. But talking Natalie out of aborting Hannah and raising her himself, that gives him major points in my book. He’s focused on doing right by his little girl.”

  “Speaking of little girls, are you feeling better about Lynn coming back?”

  “Her folks came for a visit this week. They held Danielle and played with her. It was nerve-wracking. But they left without her.” Kendra hugged herself. “I think one of these days, God’s going to remember who I used to be, everything I did, and take Danielle away from me as my punishment.”

  Had He taken Mel to punish her for lying to him?

  Lacie shivered, put her arm around Kendra, and gave her an encouraging squeeze. “Thank goodness, He doesn’t work that way.”

  “Ahem.” The setting sun traced Quinn’s silhouette in the doorway. “Stetson’s looking for his birthday girl.”

  Kendra set the mama cat down, jumped up, and brushed off the seat of her jeans. “You both know I’m only twenty-seven, don’t you?”

  “If you say so.” Lacie laughed as Kendra left them alone.

  Alone with Quinn.

  The kittens closed in on the mama cat. She squatted, scanned the gate of a stall, and leapt up on top of it.

  “Not
a very nurturing little mama, is she?” Lacie stood, eager to escape.

  “There’s just nothing like a barn.” Quinn closed the gap between them. “Especially an old one, like this.”

  “A good place to think.”

  He tipped her chin up with gentle fingers. “And romance.”

  thirteen

  Lacie’s breath caught. Step back. Run for the house. Her eyes closed.

  Quinn’s lips touched hers. A whisper of a kiss. His arms came around her, pulling her close.

  Her palms rested on his chest. His heart beat steady under her fingertips. Her hands moved up his shoulders and curved around his neck.

  The kiss deepened. His lips tasted hers, soft, tender, yielding. His breathing ragged.

  He pulled away, stiffened, and set her away from him. “I’m sorry—I shouldn’t have done that. But I’ve wanted to for almost ten years. I’m sorry.”

  Lacie spun away from him and ran. Darkness had fallen like a curtain. Blindly, frantically, she managed to find her SUV in the glow of the porch light. As she tore out of the drive, she risked a glance at the barn. She could barely make out Quinn’s dark shape in the doorway. A living, breathing man who possessed the power to steal her heart from Mel. The only man she’d ever pledged it to—until death did they part.

  ❧

  Lacie hurried down the hall from the nursery, intent on making it to the sanctuary on time. Another new nursery worker had thrown Max for a loop, and he’d been clingy, but the woman won him over after a few minutes, and he let Lacie leave. Maybe she should volunteer for the nursery and avoid Quinn.

  Especially after that kiss. Her fingers went to her lips. Her heart went into overdrive just thinking about it. Oh Mel. How could she enjoy kissing another man so much while she still wore Mel’s rings?

  She turned the corner.

  Kendra stood facing the wall, bumping her forehead against it.

  “Kendra?”

  Her friend whirled around. “Hey.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Lynn’s here today.” Kendra closed her eyes. “They’re going to come clean with the church about Lynn’s pregnancy.”

  Lacie’s hand flew to her chest. “And who Danielle is?”

  “They say they won’t reveal that part, and Lynn swears she knows she’s too young to be a mom. Says we’re Danielle’s parents and she’s planning to go off to college.”

  “That’s great.”

  “Yeah, sounds like it.” Kendra drew in a shaky breath. “But deep down inside, I just want to grab Danielle out of the nursery, find Stetson, and run as far as we can. Just in case.”

  Lacie put her hand on Kendra’s shoulder. “Understandable. But I don’t think it’s necessary.”

  “I hope not.”

  ❧

  Even though Quinn itched to be near Lacie, he didn’t sit by her. Tension rolled off her.

  He shouldn’t have kissed her, but he was only human. A man at that. And she’d stood there and closed her eyes like she wanted him to. Ten years was asking a lot of anyone.

  Stetson sat beside him. Seemed antsy this morning. Him and Kendra both.

  Despite the strain roiling around him, Quinn managed to concentrate on the sermon.

  After the altar call closed, Brother Timothy stood. “We have some special friends here today. Brother Luke Watson, his wife, Maggie, and their daughter, Lynn. They moved away and are relocating near Austin. Brother Luke would like to address the congregation.”

  The man stepped up to the microphone. Stetson stiffened.

  “A few years back, I relocated my family to Denver for a job transfer. The truth is, I orchestrated that job transfer.”

  “To cover up”—his daughter spoke into the microphone—“my pregnancy.”

  Silence echoed through the congregation. The girl blushed.

  Quinn’s heart ached for her. This was Trent’s ex-girlfriend. So young, so fragile. Danielle’s mother. No wonder Stetson and Kendra were so tense.

  Her father took the microphone. “What Lynn says is true. I was angry at Lynn and at myself. I felt like I’d failed her as a father. I was a deacon of this church, and I should have been honest.

  “Instead, I insisted Lynn’s pregnancy be kept a secret. We moved and homeschooled our daughter. No one in Denver even knew she was pregnant. When the baby was born, Lynn signed papers to put our grandchild up for adoption.”

  “Today, I want to say I’m very proud of my daughter.” Luke’s gaze riveted on something at the back of the church. He cleared his throat.

  “She made a mistake, but the baby wasn’t a mistake. Our grandchild deserved a good life with Christian adoptive parents, and we were able to do that. We decided to move back home and come clean. Lynn will be starting college next semester. I hope you’ll all keep our family in your prayers.”

  A smattering of applause moved through the congregation and shouts of “Welcome home.” A deacon dismissed the service. Stetson cut around Quinn and left the pew.

  Stetson made it to Trent’s side as Luke Watson headed in that direction. Quinn hurried to his young tenant.

  Luke Watson glared at Trent. “You stay away from my daughter.” The words came through clenched teeth.

  “Now, Luke, settle down.” Stetson’s calm tone cajoled. “Trent found the Lord after y’all left.”

  “He’s a good boy, Mr. Watson.” Quinn offered his hand.

  Luke frowned. “And you are?”

  “Quinn Remington. Trent lives on my ranch and works for me. He’s turning his life around.”

  “I know I hurt Lynn.” Trent swallowed hard. “And I’m sorry. If I could take it all back, I would.”

  “Just stay away from her.” Luke stalked away.

  Kendra and Lacie joined them.

  “Everything okay?” Kendra’s voice shook.

  Stetson nodded. “Let’s go get our daughter and go home.”

  “Trent, you okay?” Lacie’s soft tone, like a soothing balm.

  “Fine.”

  “Why don’t you come to lunch with Max, Quinn, and me?”

  “Can I see you for a second?” Quinn whispered.

  “You’re looking at me.” She grinned.

  He took her elbow and pulled her out of Trent’s earshot. “I thought you were avoiding me. Especially after. . . But now you’re including me in lunch.”

  “I just want to make Trent feel better.”

  “So this isn’t about us?”

  “I don’t know.”

  He shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “You don’t know?”

  “All I know is—you confuse the life right out of me.”

  “Right back at you.” He grinned.

  “But right now, we have a hurting boy on our hands. Let’s focus on him.” She walked back to where Trent stood waiting.

  “So are we on for lunch?” Her gentle hand patted Trent’s shoulder.

  Trent winced.

  “What’s wrong?” She jerked her hand away.

  “Trent had his tattoos removed.”

  “Oh honey, I’ve heard that’s even more painful and expensive than getting them.”

  “It didn’t cost me either way.” Trent shrugged. “My dad’s a tattoo artist, so he put them on. After I got saved, I didn’t want them anymore. My uncle’s a doctor, so he took them off.”

  “Except pain.” Lacie patted his hand. “Both times. What a brave young man you are.”

  “Tell me about this uncle.” Quinn shrugged into his coat. “Not that I don’t enjoy having you at the ranch, but why didn’t he take you in when your dad kicked you out?”

  “He always treats me nice, but he has a reputation to uphold. Nice car, fancy house, uptown wife.” Trent’s shoulders slumped. “Guess I don’t fit in, but he sends me money sometimes.”

  “Well, I think you’re a special boy, Trent.” Lacie touched his cheek. “I’m proud of you. Just in the short time I’ve been at this church, I see a change in you.”

  “Thanks, Mis
s Lacie.” Red splotches stained Trent’s cheeks, and he vaulted ahead of them, toward Quinn’s truck.

  Lacie stopped at her SUV. “And you are, too, Quinn.”

  “What’s that?”

  “You’re a special man for taking Trent in. I’m impressed with you.”

  She’d definitely made an impression on him. Especially on his heart. He could stand here all day, just looking at her. With his mouth hanging open.

  He clamped it shut, cleared his throat, and forced his feet into motion. “Better get him home. I hope there’s a rain check on that lunch. When Trent’s feeling better.”

  “We’ll see.” She smiled.

  And her smile was enough to keep him going for another week. If only he could spend Christmas with her. Maybe next year.

  Maybe never.

  ❧

  A knock sounded at Lacie’s door. Max didn’t usually wake from his nap, but she hurried to answer just in case, and swung the door open.

  Quinn. Her heart stopped then vaulted into double time.

  “Do you have a tree yet?”

  “No, I haven’t gotten around to it.”

  He stepped aside.

  Trent stood behind him, holding a perfectly cone-shaped tree.

  She clapped her hands. “It’s perfect.”

  “We were repairing a fence over at my place and saw it. I already have mine up, but I thought of you.”

  “I’m glad you did. My fake one’s in Clay and Rayna’s attic, and I didn’t want to bother them with it.”

  “I’ll let Trent set it up for you.”

  “I don’t have a stand.”

  “Got one of those, too.”

  “You can come in. Max is napping.” She pressed her finger to her lips and stepped aside.

  Quinn and Trent wrestled the tree through the doorway.

  Lacie’s heart swelled. Max would love it.

  A few quiet minutes later, the tree stood in its stand with fresh water.

  “Thanks, Trent.” Quinn opened the door. “You can go on down to the truck. I’ll be there in a minute.”

  “Yes, sir. Merry Christmas, Miss Lacie.”

  “Merry Christmas, Trent. And thank you.”

  The boy descended the stairs.

  Quinn sat down on the landing.