Cowboys Can’t Lie (A Lily’s House Novella)

by Rachel Branton

  “He said we were naturals!” added Brin, swirling her blond ponytail around her finger.

  “Yeah, we didn’t ride him alone because he’s so feisty, but at least we rode him!” Kate said, doing a little victory dance. “Brin took a picture of me, and I already posted about it on Facebook. I have two hundred comments already!” Kate paused before asking, “Did you ask him to give us a ride?”

  Tara smiled, feeling choked up about Crew’s actions. “No, I didn’t. Look, I’ll share it on the ranch page too. You should tag the page whenever you post about the ranch, so I can share too.”

  “That would be so cool!” Kate hugged her. “Thanks. And I think I can go back and tag it.”

  The buzzer rang and the girls insisted on making Tara taste their cookies. “So do you really have a crush on someone at the ranch?” Tara asked Kate.

  Kate nodded. “I do. He’s seventeen like me and works summers and after school. And guess what? He says he’s sure we’ll soon be hired for real, when they have openings, but I don’t care if we ever get paid because I love it there. That’s why we’re making these macaroons.”

  “We heard Mr. Ashman likes them.” Brin began dropping more dough on the cookie sheet.

  “He does love coconut,” Tara confirmed.

  Kate scooted her chair closer. “Oooh, tell us how you know that.”

  “Is he a good kisser?” Brin shot a sly glance at her. “What? Everybody at the ranch is talking about you guys dating. We even heard Isaac saying that he hasn’t seen Mr. Ashman smiling so much since his sister left.”

  The mention of Sophie popped the bubble the girls had been building around her. “What else do they say about his sister?”

  “Nothing.” Kate rose to put a cookie on a small plate. “Nobody ever says anything. We didn’t even know he had a sister until we overheard Isaac talking.” She placed the macaroon in front of Tara. “Taste it. Make sure it’s good. I hate coconut.”

  Tara took a bite, wondering if she should leave things alone with Sophie. What if life got worse for Crew after she told him? But keeping silent now was like a lie, so she would have to tell him. Eventually.

  “These are great,” she said to the girls. “I’d better take off now. I’ve got a few things to do tonight. Tell Lily I’ll call or come by later in the week.”

  In the car, she texted Crew: Thank you for letting the girls ride Iron Express. They are out of their minds crazy about it. You made their day. No, their entire year!

  There was no response, and Tara hadn’t expected an immediate one. If he was working in water or mud, he wouldn’t have his phone on him.

  After her conversation with the girls, the weight of knowing where Sophie was dragged on her guilty conscience. Tara ended up driving back to the Monkey Pants Bar & Grill to see if Sophie was still working and if seeing her might inspire Tara as to how she should break the news to Crew. Maybe she could also probe Sophie about her family to see if she’d changed her mind over the years.

  But Sophie wasn’t working, so Tara went home, having wasted an extra hour of driving and waiting. She considered texting Marti about seeing Sophie but knew her well enough to think she’d probably march right over to Crew’s house and tell him. Tara at least wanted to explain things first.

  Explain what? That she was falling in love with him and wanted him to patch things up with his sister so it wouldn’t affect their relationship? No way could she admit that. He’d probably run for the hills.

  Rylee was in the apartment, eating a salad. “Want some?”

  “Sure. I’m starving.” She drew her laptop from her bag and opened it to check on the giveaways she was managing for work as well as those she’d created for Crew.

  Rylee grabbed her a diet soda from the fridge. “How’s that handsome cowboy of yours?”

  “Working. But we have a date tomorrow night.” Tara stared at her laptop screen. “Would you look at that? I already have five hundred entries on the horseback riding giveaway. And three hundred on the beef. This is great!”

  Rylee laughed. “I hope he knows how much you’re working on his account.”

  “He has no idea.” Tara made a face. “It’s fun, though.”

  “Maybe he’ll hire you for real part time.”

  The though had crossed her mind, but now that they were dating, it seemed awkward to bring it up. And if they stopped dating . . . A pit seemed to open up in Tara’s stomach.

  “Tara, what’s wrong?”

  Her attention refocused on Rylee. “Nothing, I think I’m just tired, and I still have an ad to mock up for a new account my boss assigned me today.”

  Rylee grabbed her. “No way. You can do that at work tomorrow. We’re going to make popcorn, put on a sappy movie, and paint our toenails or something else equally girly. I know you been busy with your cowboy, but I’ve missed you.”

  Tara let herself be dragged away from the counter and her laptop. She did need a break from everything. “You’re on, girl!”

  On Wednesday, Tara worked through lunch so she could leave at four. She was supposed to drive out to Crew’s ranch at six, so this way she’d have plenty of time to get ready. At her apartment, she dressed carefully in a summer dress with strappy sandals, piling her hair loosely onto her head in a way that looked casual, but was definitely dramatic. She felt ridiculously happy just thinking about being with Crew again. How quickly she’d become accustomed to seeing him each day.

  When she was ready, she easily had plenty of time to drive to the Monkey Pants Bar & Grill in Tempe if she decided to give talking to Sophie another try. She resisted for all of about two minutes before flying out to her car.

  “Is Sophie working today?” she asked a bartender when she arrived.

  “Supposed to, but she’s not here yet. What can I get you?”

  Tara ordered a drink, but twenty minutes later, Sophie still hadn’t shown. Time to go if she wanted to make her date with Crew. Maybe she could come back tomorrow or later in the week.

  Or she could tell Crew about Sophie tonight. If there was an opening.

  She slid off the stool, smiling at the bartender who gave her a little wave as she left. But once outside the bar, tense voices drew her attention. Several yards from the door, a slender young woman wearing black pants and a white blouse was arguing with a big, bearded man—a cowboy from his hat to his boots. From the tenseness of their voices, Tara felt nervous for the woman, who looked like a child compared to his height. His face leaned toward hers, hands slipping around her waist.

  The woman spoke and he reacted, pushing her roughly against the building. “You’re nothing but a tease.”

  “Stop. You’re hurting me!” The woman pushed back at him, though he was so big, he didn’t move an inch. “Go away now, or I’ll call the police.”

  It was that moment Tara realized the woman was Sophie. Fear made Tara’s voice tense as she called out loud enough for the couple to hear, “Sophie, is that you?”

  The man glanced over at Tara before growling at Sophie. “I got you in. You owe me. This isn’t over.” He turned and stalked toward Tara, glaring at her as he passed.

  Sophie watched him leave, her hands clenched at her side. When she met Tara’s gaze, her face was flushed and filled not with the anger Tara expected but with sadness.

  Sophie came toward her, stopping several feet away. “How do you know my name—oh, I remember you. The woman with the foal screensaver. You must have a good memory for names.” Her hand grazed the nametag on her shirt. “Thanks for coming out here when you did. I’m really grateful. In fact, can I get you a drink? It’ll be on the house.”

  If it had been anyone but Sophie, Tara would decline and be on her way, but what else could she do except follow her inside? This might be the opening she’d been hoping for.

  “That guy looks mean,” Tara said.

  “I can handle him. He’s more bluff than anything. He’ll cool down.”

  “Your boyfriend?”

  Sophie cracked a smile.
“Not a chance. He’s got twenty years on me, and like you said, he’s mean. He just can’t accept the word no. But it was my fault for asking him for a favor. He read too much into it.”

  Tara wanted to ask what favor, and what he’d meant when he said he’d gotten her in, but Sophie was already going behind the bar. “What will you have?”

  Tara shrugged. She didn’t really want a drink, but it would give her more time with Sophie. “A soda maybe? I’ve got a bit of a drive ahead of me, so no alcohol.”

  Sophie gave her a smile that reminded Tara of Crew. “I can do better than that. Be right back.” On her way to get the drink, she stopped and chatted briefly with one of the other bartenders.

  Tara pulled out her phone and texted Crew: Running a little late. She’d just finished the text when Sophie returned with a drink that looked suspiciously great.

  “It’s a coconut smoothie,” Sophie said, setting the tall glass on a napkin.

  “Thanks.” Tara took a sip and sighed. “Oh, that’s really good.”

  “So how’s your little foal?”

  “Good. Growing. But he’s not actually my foal,” Tara said. “You see, a week ago I went to this ranch to ask if they’d let two foster girls I work with volunteer there, and when the owner was showing me around, I snapped the pictures.” She turned back on the phone so Sophie could see the foal. Then she added something she’d learned from Marti. “Apparently, the owner bred this little guy for his sister.” She felt daring as the words left her mouth. Would Sophie make the connection?

  “How nice.” Sophie drew her eyes away from the foal, her smile fading. “Did the owner let the girls come?”

  “Actually, yeah. And they’re loving it. He’s been really kind to them.” Tara gulped more of her drink, giving herself a brain freeze. She rubbed her temples regretfully.

  Sophie laughed at her expression. “They’re best enjoyed slowly.”

  “I can see that.”

  “Well, let me know if you need anything.”

  Tara nodded, still sipping her drink as quickly as she dared. Was Sophie’s choice of smoothie related to Crew’s love of coconut? Finally, after drinking most of Sophie’s concoction, she stood to go. She would only be ten minutes late. Maybe fifteen.

  On her way out, she purposefully walked through the bar in a way that would take her closest to where Sophie was wiping down tables. Tara wanted to thank her for the drink, but she couldn’t catch her attention.

  She was almost to the door when Sophie called out. “Hey!”

  Tara turned to see Sophie approaching her. “Thanks again for the rescue.”

  “I’m glad I was there. And thank you for the drink. You’ll watch out for that guy, right?”

  “Yeah, I will.”

  Tara nodded and was about to turn back to the door when Sophie added, “That ranch you’re talking about. What was the name? Was it the Silver A?”

  The question made Tara realize she’d gone too far. She shouldn’t be here. She should have given Crew the information about Sophie right from the beginning, not played amateur detective. What if Sophie ran again before Crew had a chance to see her?

  Tara nodded. “Yeah, that’s it. Nice people.” She wanted to add, “I’m falling in love with your brother so please forgive him and don’t run away again.”

  Sophie was already walking toward the bar. “Have a nice evening,” she called over her shoulder.

  Tara waited long enough to make sure Sophie was going to help more customers and not run for some back door.

  Once in her car, she laid her head against the steering wheel for a full minute before starting the engine. On the way out of the parking lot, she saw a tan truck, and sitting behind the wheel was the man who’d accosted Sophie earlier. Was he waiting until she got off work?

  Well, whatever he was planning, Tara knew what she had to do.

  Chapter 11

  Crew heard Tara’s step on the back deck before she knocked, and he opened the door in a dramatic sweep. “Hello,” he said. Her hair was loosely up and her sleeveless patterned dress gently caressed her figure and made her tan skin glow. Her eyes were large enough to be mesmerizing. “You look fabulous.” He stepped forward, taking her into his arms.

  She gave a low, sexy laugh and lifted her lips to his kiss. She smelled of flowers and tasted even better. “Hmm, coconut,” he whispered.

  She laughed again. “Yes.”

  He pulled her tighter, exploring her mouth. Just holding her felt right, as if he couldn’t remember how his life used to be a week ago before he met her. “You could have parked out front.”

  She shrugged. “I guess the parking lot’s a habit now. Besides, I like giving your employees something to talk about. According to the girls, everyone is gossiping about us.”

  “Good,” he said. “Let’s give them something to talk about.” And he kissed her again for a long while in the open doorway before reluctantly pulling away. “There, that ought to do it. Come on in. Let’s get cooking.”

  “I feel pretty heated already,” she murmured.

  So did he. He led her inside to where he already had the ingredients to their meal on the counter. Yesterday at dinner, Julie had given him tips on how to prepare the meal, while Isaac and Marti had teased him incessantly. It had been worth enduring their comments to impress Tara.

  Tara was still smiling, but her face was clouded, and he knew from experience that meant something was bothering her. Like when she hadn’t really wanted to eat the calamari he’d ordered as an appetizer or when Marti had been talking about bungee jumping.

  “What’s wrong?” he said.

  She looked up at him, her teeth biting her lip in a way that made him want to kiss her again, to lose himself in her embrace. “It’s not exactly wrong. In fact, I think it’s a good thing.”

  The way her eyes didn’t quite meet his made him wary. “What is it? You can tell me anything.”

  “You really mean that?” She sounded relieved.

  “Of course.” But a knot formed in his gut, and his chest felt tight with dread. What secrets made her so reluctant?

  Tara sat on a stool, laying her bag on the counter. “Well, the other night, Marti told me about what happened with your sister. How she left.”

  His heart started thudding in his chest. “Okay, I’m sure Marti had her reasons, but how does that affect us?” Even to his ears, he sounded stiff and unyielding.

  “I got to thinking that maybe enough time had passed . . . Forget it. I’m just going to say it right out. I found her. I found Sophie.”

  “You what?” Had he heard her correctly?

  Now her eyes dug directly into him. “Marti gave me a picture of Sophie riding Jump Start, and I did an image lookup and found her on Facebook. She works at the Monkey Pants Bar & Grill in Tempe. That’s why I was late today. I went there.”

  “You talked to my sister?” Disbelief waved through him, followed closely by anger, the emotions backed by the months of wondering where Sophie was, of how he’d failed her. How could Tara have gone behind his back about this? It felt like a betrayal.

  All at once, Tara’s face grew shuttered and immobile. She slowly stood, her chin lifting in challenge. “Yeah, I talked to her. In fact, I interrupted a man who was pushing her around, and she made me a coconut shake as a thank you. But I didn’t tell her I was trying to find her, if that’s what you’re asking. She has no idea I know you.”

  “I don’t want to find her!” His hands clenched into fists as he gritted the words.

  “Yes, you do!” she retorted. “I see it in your face every time anyone mentions her.”

  “You had no right to interfere.”

  “Marti thought it was time. Anyway, Sophie seems like a sweet girl and she’s your family. Family!” A hint of passion escaped the mask Tara had pulled over her normally expressive face. “Do you know what I’d give to have any family?”

  Her words tugged on him, and he felt the urge to envelop her in his arms again and tell he
r it was okay, that he didn’t mind what she’d done. But he did mind. “The police told me she didn’t want to see me.”

  “That was three years ago!” She raised her hands. “Look, never mind. You’re right. I don’t have any rights here, and you are free to walk away whenever you want. I’m not holding you back.” She turned and swept up her bag. “But just so you know, that guy’s waiting for Sophie in the parking lot. On my way out here, I called the bar to let her know he was there, but I’m still scared for her, and if her brother won’t do anything about it, I will.” She turned in a flutter of her dress and started toward the door.

  Everything in Crew wanted to call out to her, to apologize and ask her to stay. But he also remembered the last time Sophie had walked out that same door after saying she hated him, and all the times their mother had gone without a farewell. No amount of tears or begging had worked then.

  Tara didn’t slam the door behind her as Sophie had done that last day, but let it shut quietly.

  Crew’s heart hurt but relief wound its way through the hurt almost as quickly like a soothing balm. Sophie is alive. She was living her life without him, but she was alive. Thanks to Tara, he wouldn’t have to wonder anymore.

  Then why was he letting Tara walk away? He raced to the door and flung it opened, but she must have run down the walk because she was already at her car. “Wait!” he called out, but either his voice didn’t reach the parking lot or she ignored him. He watched helplessly as she shut the door and drove away.

  He sat down at the table on the deck. He’d planned for them to eat out here together and watch the sunset. He’d wanted to tell her he was falling for her, even though it was far too soon. Because he knew she was the one.

  Now everything had changed. Would she even talk to him again? A hole that seemed barely patched in his heart had been torn open again.