Her Forbidden Cowboy (Cowboys After Dark Book 12)

by Carpenter, Maggie

  “That was different,” she said testily, turning around and facing him. “You were majoring in business at an excellent college. You knew how to conduct yourself. You owned your tuxedo. Your family was-“

  “I owned my tuxedo? That mattered to you? If Scott Sampson owns his tuxedo, would that help?”

  “No! I watched him.”

  “What do you mean, you watched him?” he asked warily.

  “The moment she started getting that look in her eye when she talked about him, I went to his stables.”

  “You never told me this.”

  “Of course I didn’t. I knew what you’d say.”

  “I’m about to say it now,” he said soberly. “Stay out of it.”

  “He was…not neat,” she frowned. “Not neat at all, and he was handling this thick rope with his bare hands. I can only imagine how calloused they must be. Oh, it made me shiver.”

  “Marianne, he owns and runs a boarding stable. Of course he works with ropes, and not neat? What the hell does that mean?”

  “He had on this sort of, shabby cowboy hat, and he looked scruffy. His boots, they were all scuffed up. I couldn’t look at him for more than a minute, it was so upsetting. I simply cannot imagine my precious Catherine being with someone like that. You have to move her horses out of that barn, and forbid her to see him. I mean it, David, I mean every word of it, and I told her that before she left.”

  “Stop right there. What did you tell her before she left?”

  “That she was forbidden to see that man.”

  “Oh, no,” David groaned. “She’s not a child, Marianne.”

  “Maybe not, but I told if she didn’t do as I said, you’d cut her off.”

  “You’re not serious. What were you thinking? You shouldn’t make a threat you can’t back up. She knows I’d never do that to her.”

  “But you must!” Marianne exclaimed. “It’s the only thing that will stop her.”

  “No, it won’t, it will just do terrible damage to our relationship with her, and it most certainly will not stop her. Just leave things alone. Let it develop. This thing with this cowboy is new. It could fizzle out in a month or two.”

  “We don’t have a week, let alone a month or two. Renaldo will be surrounded by the women here as quick as you like.”

  “That’s it, Marianne,” he said sternly. “No more talk like this. If Cathy and Renaldo are drawn to each other, they’ll find their way, and if they’re not, no amount of interference from you will make it happen.”

  “It’s just…I don’t want her making a terrible mistake. You must talk to her, David. Please! I don’t want her dating that scruffy cowboy.”

  “I repeat, the more you to try stop her, the more she’s going to want him, and Marianne, you’re forgetting the most important thing. Cathy’s happiness.”

  “That’s exactly what concerns me. She might be happy now, but what about down the road? She needs to be with her own sort. David, she’ll listen to you. You have a way with her, please, at least try.”

  “I don’t know what you mean by her own sort. Do you mean someone with money? How do you know Scott Sampson doesn’t have money? Think about it. He bought a large horse facility and owns his own home. He’s not exactly living on the streets.”

  “It’s different. He’s different. I want Catherine to be with some with polish. Please, won’t you talk to her? She should at least allow Renaldo to take her out while he’s here in town.”

  “Marianne, you are a snob.”

  “Everyone’s a snob, they just hide it. Will you talk to her or not?”

  “Only if you promise not to interfere any further. Look what happened when she figured out you threw away that card. I told you she’d be furious.”

  “I’m not stupid, David, I knew she would be too, but I didn’t expect her to find out.”

  “You have always underestimated our daughter, and you continue to do so at your peril. Now would you please come back to bed. You know Fridays are always hectic for me. I have a lot on my plate tomorrow.”

  “I’m going downstairs to make some hot milk and brandy. I’m all keyed up.”

  “Be my guest. You have to do something. It’s almost two o’clock.”

  “Oh, I will,” she mumbled as she pulled on her robe and started from the room, “don’t you worry about that, I will most definitely do something.”

  “I heard that!” he called after her as she walked through the door. “Stay out of it.”

  She muttered something back to him, and then was gone. Running his hands over his face, he grunted. He adored his wife, but she could be incredibly irritating.

  “I just pray you don’t find out what I did to keep Scott Sampson in his barn,” he muttered. “I’ll never hear the end of it.”

  CHAPTER NINE

  Cathy was woken by a gentle touch on her shoulder, and as she opened her eyes she saw Scott standing over her, fully dressed, holding a coffee mug.

  “Mornin’.”

  “Why are you up,” she yawned, “what time is it?”

  “It’s late, almost nine, that’s late for me.”

  “That’s late for me too,” she yawned. “Gosh, I haven’t slept like that in…come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve ever slept like that.”

  “When I got up you didn’t even move.”

  “It was a stressful evening, then you flew me to the moon.”

  “Is that right?” he grinned, placing the mug on the nightstand and settling on the edge of the bed.

  “You know it is,” she smiled, sitting up and leaning against his chest.

  “I reckon I do. I figured you’re a cream and sugar girl. Was I right?”

  “Uh-huh, I’m also a cuddle-bunny girl.”

  “I can see that,” he replied, putting his arms around her, “but I’d better not stay for too long, or I’ll end up crawlin’ back into this bed.”

  “Works for me!” she said, raising her head and winking up at him.

  “You know I owe you a spankin’.”

  “No, I didn’t, I mean, I don’t…” she stammered, wishing her butterflies would go back to sleep.

  “But that’ll come later. I just want you thinkin’ about it.”

  “You’ve succeeded.”

  “You wanna see my new digs?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “Then drink your coffee and I’ll take you up there.”

  “Really? Now? That would be great. Oh, shoot, I don’t have anything to wear.”

  “Take a shower here, I’ll run you home, you can change, and we can take off.”

  “Fantastic, but, don’t you have to be at the barn?”

  “If anyone needs me they’ve got my number. My micromanagin’ days are over.”

  “You sounded really happy when you said that.”

  “Cos I am. I probably waited too long.”

  “I think things happen when they should,” she said prophetically, then reaching for her coffee she took a tentative taste. “This is really good.”

  “I can’t cook much, but I make a mean pot of coffee and great pancakes.”

  “I could live happily on that,” she giggled.

  “Bathroom’s through that door, make yourself at home. I tidied up as best I could, but it’s not easy bein’ organized in the middle of a move. Just come on through when you’re ready, and I’ll have some pancakes on the griddle.”

  “Awesome, I can’t remember the last time I had pancakes.”

  “If you’re gonna be hangin’ around me, best get used to ‘em,” he grinned, then pausing to give her a soft, leisurely kiss, he rose to his feet and headed out.

  Waiting until he’d closed the door, she slipped from the bed, and carrying her mug with her, she picked up her bag and entered the bathroom. It was small, but clean, and had plenty of counter space, and as she laid down her purse she decided to check her voicemails. There were three messages from her mother, all asking where she was, which Cathy immediately deleted, but there was a te
xt from her father, simply saying, call me.

  “Might as well get it over with,” she muttered, hitting his name on her screen.

  “Good morning, hon.”

  “I only have a minute dad, what’s up?”

  “Could we meet up later this afternoon?”

  “You can’t tell me whatever it is over the phone? Aren’t you busy?”

  “I am, but-“

  “If this has anything to do with mom wanting me to start dating Renaldo Cavalleri, the answer is no.”

  “Sweetheart, you don’t even know him, and he doesn’t know you, so no-one is expecting you to do anything, but we would like you to at least-“

  “At least nothing,” she interrupted. “This is ridiculous. I agreed to show him around on Sunday, and have dinner with him afterwards, but now I think I’ll cancel. I don’t need all this pressure!”

  “Please don’t do that,” her father said brusquely. “He is very important to this project. Keep your promise, and who knows, you might even have a nice time, and please would you-”

  “Please would I what,” she demanded, interrupting him again, “give Renaldo a chance to charm me? It won’t happen. Renaldo’s not my type. I mean, he is, sort of, he might have been at one time, but not anymore.”

  “I was going to say, if you are getting involved with someone, please would you think beyond today. You’re a smart girl, Cathy, you need to consider your future, where you’ll be in ten years, not ten minutes.”

  “Actually, you’re wrong. The next ten minutes is exactly what I need to be thinking about, and I’m running late so I have to go.”

  “Will you come by the office?”

  “I’ll see how my day turns out,” she replied, Now as I said, I have to go.”

  “Goodbye, Cathy.”

  Ending the call she dropped her phone into her purse, ticked off that she’d made the call, and stepping into the shower stall she turned on the faucets, quickly soaped and rinsed off.

  “Scott will be wondering what took me so long,” she mumbled as she toweled off. “Dammit, I wish they’d both just leave me alone and let me live my life.”

  Running her brush through her hair, amazed that it cooperated, she moved into the bedroom. Finding her clothes still crumpled on the bed, she swiftly dressed and moved briskly from the room and down the hallway, following a delicious smell into the kitchen.

  “I was beginnin’ to think you’d drowned,” Scott remarked, pouring some batter on to the griddle.

  “I’m so sorry,” she apologized. “I made the mistake of calling my dad. He’d texted me.”

  “You do look a bit frazzled. What happened to that calm, sweet cuddle-bunny that was in my bed?”

  “My parents, mostly my mother,” she sighed. “Dad’s only doing what she wants.”

  “Which is?”

  “Uh, just…stuff,” she mumbled. Stuff I can’t tell you about.

  “Do you still want to see my new place?”

  “Yes, absolutely,” she nodded earnestly, “and I’m starving. I can’t wait to taste those pancakes. Where did you learn to make them?”

  “I was workin’ for this crotchety old cowboy who had a spread near where I grew up. He used to make ‘em for lunch whenever I was there. It was like a ritual, then one day he just said, time for you to learn this boy, so I did.”

  “I want to know about you. Where you grew up, your family, all that stuff.”

  “We’ve got plenty of time, I’m not goin’, anywhere,” he smiled, flipping the pancakes. “We’ll learn about each, don’t you worry.”

  His reassuring words helped to settle her nerves, and as he poured her a fresh mug of coffee and set it in front of her, she smiled up at him gratefully.

  “I’m very happy to be here.”

  “And I’m just as happy that you are,” he replied. “Drink your coffee, and get ready. You’ve never had pancakes like these.”

  At Coleman Construction headquarters, in the middle of the city center, David was at his desk doing his best to focus on the documents in front of him, but the conversation he’d had with his daughter was bothering him. Things had suddenly become complicated.

  When he’d heard that Scott Sampson was looking for a trainer to lease his barn, rather than sell it, David had seized the opportunity. After a troubled adolescence and dropping out of college, Cathy’s life finally seemed to be on track, and David wanted to keep it that way. Moving barns always threw her into a tailspin, so he’d set about making sure that didn’t happen.

  He’d had little difficulty finding a local trainer eager to set up business in a first class facility, but who needed financial backing. David had worked out generous terms, and had signed the trainer to a confidentiality agreement, but suddenly things were not developing the way David had anticipated. Scott was turning the entire operation over to Matt Montgomery, the trainer in question, and was selling his house. Was he leaving the area, and keeping the barn as an income stream? Did Cathy know that Scott had put his house on the market? The sound of her daughter’s voice on the phone suggested otherwise. He did not want a heartbroken daughter on his hands, and her words were echoing through his head.

  Renaldo’s not my type. I mean, he is, sort of, he might have been at one time, but not anymore.

  Renaldo was exactly her type. Sophisticated, a show jumper of great repute, wealthy and worldly. Not anymore, meant only one thing. She had her eagle-eye focused on someone else, and based on what was written in the card that Marianne had intercepted, that someone else was Scott Sampson. David understood his wife’s concerns, but he only cared that Cathy was with someone with whom she would find happiness, but was Scott now picking-up-sticks and leaving, and if he wasn’t, how would Marianne cope?

  “I’m stuck in the middle, and Cathy is just like her mother. Stubborn and determined. Will I even survive all this drama, and which is worse? Marianne having a complete melt-down and alienating her only child, or Cathy sobbing on my shoulder. That’s a tough call.”

  A knock broke him from his thoughts, and lifting his head he saw it was Clark Bateman, one of his younger executives, walking through the door.

  “Bad news,” Clark said with a heavy frown.

  “Not the first words I like to hear,” David quipped. “What’s wrong.”

  “It’s about that land for the parking lot.”

  “We took care of the zoning,” David frowned. “You should already have closed escrow. Is there another delay?”

  “I sent you an email that the old guy selling it was sick, remember? He was in the hospital?”

  “Oh, right, so, where are we?”

  “I’m not sure how to tell you this,” Clark grimaced, walking forward.

  “Just spit it out.”

  “I’m afraid, he, uh, he passed away.”

  “He passed away?”

  “Uh-huh,” Clark muttered uncomfortably.

  “Before he signed the paperwork to close the escrow?”

  “Uh-huh. I called his daughter and son a few times, but they kept telling me their father wasn’t up to dealing with it, and to wait until he was out of the hospital. Every time I talked to them they said he’d be released in a few days, and I just found out…”

  “It’s okay, Clark. We have plenty of time. One or both of them will inherit the land, and we’ll just-“

  “Excuse me for interrupting, but that’s the problem.”

  “What’s the problem?”

  “They don’t want to sell. They’ve decided they’re going to hold on to it.”

  “Is this about money? Are they holding our feet to the fire for more money?”

  “I don’t think so. They claim they want to keep it in the family and build a vacation home.”

  “Oh, for crap’s sake,” David grumbled. “Up the offer by twenty-percent.”

  “I knew you’d tell me to do that, so I did, and they flatly refused. I’m sure that’s why they kept putting me off. They had this in their minds all along.”

>   “Okay, well, if it’s no longer available, it’s no longer available,” David said resignedly. “It wasn’t on the market when we found it, so sing the song again. Go to the neighboring properties and find someone with enough road frontage to make this work. There’s empty land all over the place out there. You’ll find something else.”

  “Right. Okay, David, sorry.”

  “It’s not your fault. Situations like this happen all the time. If I had ten bucks for every deal that feel through because someone changed their mind, or situations dictated a different course, I’d have a yacht in Monte Carlo. Learn from this, Clark. If something changes and you can’t fix it, accept it and move on.”

  “If something changes and you can’t fix it, accept it and move on,” Clark repeated. “Right, thanks,” he nodded with a sigh.

  As David watched the bright young man leave his office, he wondered if he could persuade Marianne to do just that with Cathy, but he knew his wife wasn’t ready to give up on Renaldo and Cathy becoming an item, not by a long shot. The problem was, he didn’t know what she’d do next, and that worried him more than anything.

  CHAPTER TEN

  As Scott’s SUV turned off Route Six and drove down a narrow road, Cathy stared out the window, shocked that she’d been completely unaware that such a stunning landscape existed so close to her home. The gently rolling hills had picturesque thickets of trees, and when he swung on to a gravel road and headed up a slow slope, ahead of her she saw huge oaks spreading their overhead branches to form a natural canopy.

  “My gosh, this is gorgeous.”

  “Except when there are high winds, then I have to spend an hour clearin’ away all the debris, but it’s worth it.”

  Following a bend in the road, the land leveled out to a large flat plateau, and she saw the house smack in the middle of it with several outbuildings nearby.

  “It looks like a mountain chalet out of Switzerland,” she exclaimed, “and it so much bigger than I thought it would be. You said it was a cabin, but that’s no cabin. Wow. I see what you mean about no fencing. There’s nothing.”