“I’m picking up the clinic’s supplies,” she said, trying to clear up his misunderstanding.
“Oh, yeah. I’ve got it ready.” He strode to the side and picked up a large box that had some galvanized metal feed buckets and spray bottles piled inside. Setting it on the counter, he grinned. “It’s kinda heavy.” He winked. “But Colt can carry it for you.”
“That won’t be necessary. I can carry it myself.”
Pete gave Colt an amused grin. “Have you lost your touch?”
Colt chuckled. “Looks that way.”
He didn’t seem like a guy loaded down with survivor’s guilt or a load of worry. He seemed like any other cowboy teasing about flirting with a girl. But he wasn’t any other cowboy—he was Colt Holden, father of her nephew, and he was teasing about flirting with her.
“Do you want to look at those gloves now?” she asked, hearing the irritation in her tone. “I need to get back to work.”
“Oh, are you buying Leo some leather gloves for mutton bustin’?” Pete asked.
Did everyone in the county know about Leo and his mutton riding?
“Yup,” Colt supplied. “He’s an excited little rascal. And he’s going to enter the roping, too. He’s got promise.”
Pete crossed his arms over his thick stomach. “Did his daddy like to do this sort of thing?”
The innocent question caught Annie off guard. “Yes, as a matter of fact, he did. Can you show us the gloves, Pete? I really have to go.”
“Sure, but Colt knows where they are.”
To her relief, Colt led the way to the back wall that was hidden by tall shelves. Spending time with Colt had not been in her plan. Standing in the corner with him certainly hadn’t been. She was far too aware of him as a man, and that made not thinking about the kiss impossible in close quarters. She hadn’t wanted to admit that it had been a fantastic kiss. She’d been trying and trying to avoid that word. But gloomily she admitted that it was a true and uncolored description of the event.
Colt picked a pair of tiny gloves off the rack and held them out to her. “Hold this one,” he said, and looked amused when she made sure their fingers didn’t touch when she took them from him.
While she fingered the soft leather glove, he pulled another one from the rack and fingered it, then put it back without offering it to her. At last he found another pair he seemed to like and handed them to her. When she went to take them, he held on and tugged gently, teasing her. She gave him a cool-eyed look. He tugged again and the corners of his mouth quivered. She fought the attraction and tugged harder, glaring at him. He let go and chuckled.
“You aren’t in a very good mood today.”
“Aren’t you a master of observation.”
He studied her for a long moment, dust motes floating on a sunbeam from a corner window peeking above the shelves.
“You sure do look pretty today, Annie.”
Her eyes narrowed. “You don’t need to be noticing how I look,” she shot back indignantly.
“Maybe not, but it’s true. If you’d get that chip off your shoulder, it’d be better.”
“If you’d tell your son the truth, it would be better.”
“Not going to happen,” he said, glancing around to make sure no one else had entered the store. “It’s best for everyone if we keep things just like they are.”
Annie knew he was right. “True, and it would help if you didn’t grab me up and kiss me like you did the other day.”
Annie fingered the gloves and tried not to want the cowboy to kiss her. She tried not to want to help him overcome his past. But deep down she wished she was woman enough to do it. But that would mean letting her defenses down. That would mean getting closer to him...risking opening her heart up to him. Could she risk that? Her past held her back. Opening her heart meant trusting Colt with it, and no, she just couldn’t do it...could she?
* * *
“Kissing. Did she say he kissed her?”
“Hush, Esther Mae,” Norma Sue grunted, elbowing her sassy friend in the ribs. “She said that and if you hadn’t been yakking you’d a heard him say he was Leo’s daddy.”
Esther Mae’s mouth fell open. “We were right!”
Standing in the back room of the feed store, the two ladies were gathering up feed bags to use to decorate a display at Gabi’s wedding. They just happened to be standing beside the vent when Annie and Colt’s conversation rode through the drafty vent where the old pipe stove used to connect the two rooms years and years ago. The conversation wafted clear as a bell through the vents to the unsuspecting twosome, and they froze in their tracks.
“What are you two up to?” Adela asked, coming around the corner from where she’d been going through a box of supplies that Pete had ordered for them.
Esther Mae waved Adela to silence.
Norma Sue looked worriedly at Adela. “Maybe we should get out of here for a little while.”
Adela looked curiously at her just as she heard the voices.
“Annie, come on. I know you’re mad at me because I won’t tell Leo I’m his daddy. I can’t do it, and I...I can’t explain it.”
“It has to do with the wreck, doesn’t it?”
“Yes. It does. Looking at Leo fills me with joy. Hope. Kissing you, Annie, that was like the Fourth of July. I don’t know about you, but it blew me out of the stirrups. I don’t deserve to feel feelings like that. And you’re just the opposite—by the look on your face, you don’t want a repeat performance.”
Adela’s blue eyes were shocked. “We need to go, girls. This is a private conversation.”
“I don’t want the kiss,” Annie said forcibly. “But Leo needs to know you are his daddy. Jennifer was wrong to keep it from you. I don’t know if I can sit back and keep up this lie. Not when I think you need Leo as much as he needs you.”
“Shoo, girls, now.” Adela pushed her frozen-to-the-floor posse members, who were gaping at the vent as if it were a wide-screen television.
“Yeah, you’re right,” Norma Sue whispered, starting to walk away. She turned back, grabbed Esther Mae by the arm and yanked. “Come on, Miss Snoop!”
Esther Mae stumbled along, stuttering. “Hey, wait—
I was, I was just making sure we heard right.”
“Oh, we heard right,” Norma Sue snapped, now that they were out back on the loading dock where there were two rooms between them and the tell-all vent pipe.
Adela was a little pale. “I am really distressed.”
“Well, sure we are,” Esther Mae gushed. “Why, that poor little boy not knowing his hero is his daddy.”
“No,” Adela said, her soft voice quivering with shame. “That was a private conversation. It was never meant for us to hear.”
“Humph,” Norma Sue snorted. “Everything happens for a reason. And you can’t tell me that wasn’t one of those times. We weren’t standing in that spot by accident.”
Esther Mae turned pink with delight. “We certainly weren’t. Why, if we hadn’t stopped by Lacy’s to say hello, we would have been in the front of the feed store when those two came in. And if we hadn’t suddenly gotten the inspiration to use feed sacks, we wouldn’t have been anywhere near that vent.”
“That’s right,” Norma Sue assured them. “Five minutes and none of that would have come together. Adela, you were the one with the feed sack inspiration. Admit it. You said it was as if the Lord placed the idea in your head it was so perfect.”
Adela sighed. “Yes, I said that. However, I’m not an eavesdropper and I don’t like it.... Those poor dears. What a dilemma. And that sweet little Leo.”
Norma Sue and Esther Mae raised eyebrows at each other over their sweet friend’s soft white hair.
“That boy needs a family.” Esther Mae wagged her red head. “And Colt needs a reason to keep on goin
g.”
Norma Sue’s smile was pure mischief. “And they were sure sounding tore up over that kiss. What do you think, Adela? I mean, we can’t turn back the clock and undo that we heard it.”
Adela batted her brilliant blue eyes. Her friends knew and respected her wisdom in times like these.
“I believe if the Lord truly did put us in that spot by divine appointment, He’ll set up the opportunity for us to see His way.”
“That’s true.” Norma Sue thoughtfully considered all that had happened. “We’ll know.”
Esther Mae let out a long, exaggerated sigh. “But that poor little boy needs—”
Adela touched her friend’s arm. “Esther Mae, trust the Lord. Has He ever let you down? Or us?”
“Well, no. But, you know I’m impatient.”
Norma Sue stuffed her hands in her coverall pockets and rocked back on her boots. “Hang on for God’s time, Esther Mae. You know good and well that’s the best time there is.”
“Okay,” Esther Mae huffed, “I’ll tap my toe and wait. You two just remember that I don’t like it, not one little bit.”
Norma Sue shook her head. “Do you think me and Adela will have one moment’s peace with you reminding us every day over and over again just how much you are not happy with the situation, that we will have a chance of not rememberin’ that you don’t like waiting? I can only wish!”
“Ladies,” Adela interrupted. “Your exuberance for the plan the Lord has set up for us is commendable. I do believe this calls for a cup of coffee and some of my Sam’s coconut pie.”
“And I do believe you are right. Don’t you agree, Esther Mae?”
Esther Mae started walking fast down the sidewalk, her hips swinging double time. “Let’s go, girls,” she called over her shoulder. “I’ve been dieting far too long. It’s time for a reward. Look out, Sam, here we come.” Walking even faster, she added, “And maybe we can talk up a plan. It never hurts to be prepared. We’re the posse, after all.”
Norma Sue hooted and Adela chuckled.
* * *
Annie sat in the patio chair that Colt had borrowed from Montana and Luke. He’d said if she was going to be spending her evenings having to watch him and Leo toss a rope that she needed to be comfortable. It was a nice gesture, and she’d been very comfortable all week long as she sat and watched Leo and Colt work tirelessly on the barrel riding and the steer dummy roping.
Annie prayed more and more that God would work out the situation between Leo and Colt. Her and Colt’s situation, however, she continued to hold off. But it was a lie to think that there wasn’t a connection radiating between them. It scared her. And she thought it scared him, too. Or he didn’t think he deserved to feel a connection like that. She’d begun to suspect that more and more every day. Sitting in the chair, observing them, gave a person some time to think. She was certain Colt loved and adored Leo.
Gabi had arranged it so that Colt was going to bring them to the wedding. She’d said that even if Colt wasn’t going to admit to the public that Leo was his, he was going to bring him to the wedding, and the photographer was going to get plenty of shots of them together. She’d been told the story of how Leo adored Colt, and Gabi wanted to document the fact.
Annie had no way of saying no to that, and so she would be escorted to Gabi and Jess’s wedding by Colt. It was a nerve-racking thought.
The plan had been revealed to her today and her stomach was still rolling.
“Aunt Annie,” Leo called, shocking Annie by putting the aunt first...but then it really wasn’t a shock. Leo was growing up. She’d seen something else in him change since they’d been hanging around with Colt. He seemed more secure. More confident. The Annie Aunt tag was her special nickname, but Annie knew with maturity things would change. It was a normal, good thing.
“What, kiddo?”
“I’m working my spurs,” he called, and as Colt pulled the rope, Leo pulled his knees up, then let his heels come down on the sides of the barrel as if he were riding a bull. To her dismay, he had great form.
“Pull me faster, Colt!” he called, doing well as the barrel went back and forth.
Smiling, Colt yanked a little harder. “Ride ’em, cowboy,” he called, and gave it another gentle yank.
“Yee-haw!” Leo yelled just before he lost his balance and fell into the soft dirt. He yelled in pain the moment he hit the dirt—Colt and Annie reacted instantly.
Colt was closer and was kneeling beside him first.
“What’s wrong, son?” he asked, worry etching his face.
Leo was writhing and holding his shoulder. Colt cringed.
“My arm,” Leo whimpered.
“Looks like we need to make a trip to the Ranger emergency room.”
“Ohhh,” Annie groaned. “He could have a break.”
Gathering him up, Colt used his healthy arm to carry Leo to the car. Annie followed him as he strode to his truck. “Do you want to drive and me to hold him, or do you want to hold him and me to drive?”
“My hands are shaking. Do you think you could drive?”
“Hop in. Let’s roll.” After she climbed into the seat and got strapped in, he gently placed Leo in her arms.
“It’s going to be okay,” he said, then hurried around and slid behind the wheel.
Within minutes they were on the road and heading to Ranger. It was an hour drive to Ranger. Leo groaned as they hit a bump.
The look of alarm on Colt’s face as he looked in their direction made Annie’s heart jerk even harder. The love mixed with terror for his son was unmistakable. Annie held Leo loosely so she wouldn’t hurt him more and prayed that God would get them safely to the emergency room.
Chapter Thirteen
“Thanks, Doctor,” Colt said, shaking the doctor’s hand.
Annie hugged Leo and shook the young doctor’s hand, too. “We appreciate all you’ve done.”
The doctor grinned. “It’s what I do. Take care, Leo. And better luck on the next rodeo.”
Leo looked a little forlorn. “I sure wanted to ride in that rodeo.” He held his arm up with its brand-new, bright blue cast. “But I got this now.”
“And all your friends can sign it,” Annie reminded him.
“Oh, yeah.” He grinned up at Colt. “Can you give me your autograph?”
Colt looked torn, confusing Annie yet again. He’d probably signed many, many autographs. Was he conflicted because Leo was his son? That didn’t strike her as the reason he was acting weird.
“You know, Leo, maybe you should just have your friends sign your cast.”
Leo frowned. “But I want you. You’re my hero.”
Colt pulled a pen out of his pocket. “I’ll sign, but I’m just a cowboy, Leo. I happen to be good at riding bulls. Heroes are people who make a difference in people’s lives. I want you to know that. I’m signing this because you’re my...my friend. Okay?”
Leo grinned. “I like being your friend. But you are a hero. You just don’t know it.”
Annie’s heart warmed at Leo’s words. He was encouraging Colt. Colt was inspiring kids to achieve success and he was doing it by being a good role model. In that, he was a hero.
She’d been so worried about Leo, it had been a relief to have Colt with them.
As it was. He helped Leo off the examining table and, with a grin her way, they all walked out the door and down the hall. Nurses who had helped them waved and called goodbye. A few recognized Colt, and she could tell they had gotten special attention from a couple of them that had nothing to do with the fact that Leo was a darling little boy with a broken arm. Colt hadn’t flirted back when they’d flirted and, in fact, he’d looked uncomfortable even.
“Tell the nice ladies goodbye, Leo. And thank them for fixing you up real nice,” Colt said, placing
a possessive hand on Leo’s shoulder.
“Yes, sir,” Leo said. “Y’all did real good,” he called. “Thanks.”
“Watch out for the barrels and the ground next time,” one of the younger nurse’s aides said as she came around the desk and smiled at Leo. Annie didn’t miss that she touched Colt’s arm and slid a folded paper into his hand. Annie almost gasped out loud, she was so shocked by the woman’s actions. But it was the jealousy that curled in the pit of her stomach that shocked her the most. They weren’t a couple, but this nurse didn’t know that, yet she was stuffing her phone number into his palm.
As they exited the building, she was feeling really low. She faced the fact that she’d been thrilled and relieved that Colt was with her during the emergency. He’d taken control and made her feel that everything was going to be okay. His support had...it had touched her. That feeling had dissipated the instant he’d accepted the note.
As they were passing a trash can beside the exit door, she was startled once more when he quietly dropped the note inside. Annie’s heart soon strummed with happiness. Colt caught her looking and winked.
A warm smile spread across her face and there was absolutely no way she could stop it from happening.
Leo fell asleep in the truck almost before they’d left the parking lot. Annie glanced into the backseat where he’d leaned his head against the armrest. “He’s out,” she said as she faced back toward the road. “This wore him down.”
“It’s made for a late night. Did you realize it’s almost midnight?”
Annie propped her elbow on the door and rubbed her forehead with her fingertips. “No wonder Leo’s passed out.”
“He was a little trouper, wasn’t he?” Colt looked proud and it did something to her insides. Almost everything he did or said, every look he gave her, caused her to feel something.
“Thank you for being there,” she said, sitting up straight and facing him as best she could. She couldn’t chance saying he was his daddy, not even with Leo sleeping. What if he overheard her? No, she didn’t want to take that risk.
“Hey, I’m glad I was. I feel bad.” He briefly met her eyes in the dim light of the dashboard. “You can say I told you so if you want.”
Her Homecoming Cowboy Page 13