Cowboy Six Pack

by Kari Lynn Dell

“Yes, ma’am.” He ran his hand over the stubble on his face. “I don’t want to make her uncomfortable. She might think we’re checking her out in case we find something unsavory about her character.”

  “We have always invited our employees to supper. That’s how they know they’re family. I don’t want her to feel as though your dad and I don’t care about her.”

  “It’s kinda weird, Mom. She’s still figuring things out. Can it wait till she’s been with us a week or two?”

  Clara sighed. “You’re impossible. The most hard-headed of my sons.”

  “I’m your only son.”

  “That’s beside the point. Fine. Invite Miss London to supper at your leisure, then.”

  “Okay, I will.” At least she was willing to compromise. “Any other orders for the day?”

  “Be good. If you can. I love you.”

  “I love you too, Mom.” His voice caught. It was unusual for her to call so early in the morning. He worried it meant she wasn’t as right as she claimed to be. If the doctors would just hurry up and do her surgery, he’d feel a little better. Unless something happened on the operating table… His chest tightened.

  “You all right, Dean? You sounded funny.”

  “Fine. Just...got some stuff on my mind.”

  “If it’s about me, then get it out of your head. Those thoughts don’t belong there. Everything will be okay in the end. Just like it ought to be.” She sounded stern. Like she did every time she mentioned her heart trouble.

  “I know. I don’t doubt you a bit.” His voice came out normal. “I’ll swing by this evening if you want.”

  “That would be sweet, but don’t make a special trip.” The loving warmth came back into her tone. “Don’t fuss.”

  “I’m not. I haven’t seen you since Sunday. It’ll be nice.”

  “You’re a dear. See you later, honey. Love you.”

  “Love you too, Mom.” He waited until the phone clicked before he set his cell phone aside. It would devastate their family if anything happened to her. He hoped she was right about the surgery turning out for the best. She might believe it would turn out the way it should—which included her dying—but he couldn’t accept that.

  * * * *

  Tuesday morning rolled by in a blur. Dean didn’t notice London’s absence, not while he helped sellers unload cattle for this week’s auction. During his breaks, he found himself reaching for a cell phone a dozen times as he waited for news from his mom. The appointment was set for morning, but the cell phone remained stubbornly silent throughout the afternoon.

  He went back to his office for a bottle of water and found Darren waiting for him, frown as big as the panhandle on his weathered face.

  Dean’s heart jumped into his throat. “Dad, what are you doing here? Where’s Mom?”

  “She’s in the cantina. She’s fine.” The frown didn’t go away. “Did you know that girl Patty told me to hire is pregnant?”

  Dean rounded the desk to drop into his chair. “Yeah, she told me last week.”

  “No one told me. I feel like I got left out of the circle somewhere.”

  Dean bit his tongue to keep from blurting out that it wasn’t really his father’s concern now. “I’m handling it. There’s not a problem.”

  “There will be when she wants to leave for six weeks. Or permanently. She’s an unwed mother, Dean. How’s that look for our business?”

  His dad was stuck in primitive times. Unwed mothers were a huge no-no. “It’s the twenty-first century, not the nineteenth. I think we’ll look like we’re doing London a solid by supporting her while she takes care of a child. I’m not opposed to giving her six weeks off to adjust to her new situation.”

  “Six weeks? I hope to god you’re talking about unpaid leave.”

  Dean swallowed the knot in his throat. “Actually, it’s paid. I went through our policies manual today and I noticed there’s nothing in there about paternity leave. I’m having our lawyer draw something up.”

  “Paternity?” Darren narrowed his eyes. “You mean if we hire a man and his wife gets knocked up, he gets to take a paid leave too?”

  “That’s what I mean, Dad.” Dean reached beneath the desk for the water. He cracked it open and took a drink.

  His father’s face reddened. “You’re joking.”

  “Afraid not. We have some flexibility here. We don’t have to bend to the laws that are in place because we have under fifty employees, but I feel like we should give new parents all the benefits they can get. We’re a family-owned business. We want to keep our employees happy and ready to come back to us. Doing something like this won’t force them to go out and find other jobs that have better benefits.”

  Darren’s mouth puckered. “You’re your mother’s kid.”

  “Have some compassion.”

  “She’s not married.” The sour face remained firm.

  “I’m aware.”

  His father leaned forward in his seat. “You’re not eyeballing her, are you? That’s the last thing you want to get involved with, Dean. Not someone else’s girl, not someone else’s kid.”

  A lecture. Like he was a teenager considering doing something stupid. Wonders never ceased. “She’s not together with the father.”

  “Dean.”

  “Dad.”

  “Don’t get involved with that woman. You’ll regret it.” Darren rose. “I’m going to take your mother home.”

  He resented his father’s words. Who he saw and when he saw her was his business. But he couldn’t let his dad leave without finding out about his mom. “Wait. What did the doctor say?”

  “Go talk to her yourself if you want to know.” Darren stormed out of the office.

  Dean ran his hand down his face. “Jeez. Real nice talking to you too.” He took a few minutes to clear the conversation from his mind. His mom would know if he was angry. She didn’t need to be involved with such a ridiculous discussion while she had more important things to think about.

  A timid knock on the doorframe startled him. London looked inside the office, but hadn’t crossed the threshold. Her face was pale, her mouth pinched and her brows furrowed.

  “What’s up?” He hoped he sounded casual.

  Her chin went up a notch. “I wasn’t eavesdropping, I swear, but I heard you talking with your dad. If this is going to be a problem, then I can go, but if I go, I’m going to report your business to the Department of Labor. It’s not fair. You should have a parental leave policy in place. And you’re right, you don’t have to comply with the Family and Medical Leave Act because you’re a small company, but there should at least be a leave allowed, even if you don’t pay.”

  “London…”

  “Your father is wrong. I know this is a family business and you want to follow in his footsteps as much as possible, but not like this.” She crossed her arms. “You don’t have to take my advice, but you should do something about this.”

  “Come in and shut the door, please.” He rose when she did as he asked. “Take a seat and hear me out. I’m going to go ahead with what I told him. Paid leave, six weeks, for male or female employees. It’s the right thing to do. There’s no need for you to leave over this. He’s wrong and he knows it. Besides, there’s nothing he can do about it once I set the policy in place. This is my business now. We’ve already drawn up papers over it.”

  “I don’t want to work in a place where the old owner might resent me. He’s going to be here sometimes. Maybe he doesn’t think much of me, but I’m doing what’s right for me. I’d never give up my baby just because some old fart is stuck in the past.” Her blue eyes blazed. “So if he’s going to give me shit, I’ll leave.”

  “He won’t.” More than likely, Darren would go out of his way to avoid London on the days he came to the stockyards. “You have my word about it. I understand that you’re upset, but I wish you’d consider staying with us.”

  “I don’t think you do understand.” She folded her hands together. “I made a stupid mist
ake getting involved with Billy. I know that, but whatever happens now is my responsibility. When I found out I was going to have a baby, I was scared, but I’m happy with the decision I made to be this baby’s mother. Getting married isn’t everything. I’d like to someday, sure, but I’m not less of a woman because I’m not tied into a marriage I don’t want.”

  “I agree. Why try to force a marriage you both know will never work? But a kid? They’re messy and annoying and loud sometimes. They work anyway. I like kids. You stay on here, London, you do the work the way you’re supposed to, and when you get ready to take your six weeks, know that there will be a place here for you again. Dad has no say in that. I’m one hundred percent in control of who works here.”

  “Thank you.” She met his gaze. “I appreciate your modern attitude.”

  “We’re not all backwards here. So, how did the appointment go?”

  The crease of anger gave away to a smile. “Good. Everything is going as normal. In a few weeks, I can find out if it’s a boy or a girl.”

  “My mother could probably recite some old wives’ tales to help you figure it out. She spouted off more than I knew existed when Chrissy got pregnant. She wants to meet you. My mother, not Chrissy. Although, Chrissy would probably like to meet you too.”

  “Probably not after your dad gets through lecturing her about my sinful ways.” London made a face. “I’m going to be the black sheep of the stockyards.”

  “He called me my mother’s son for a reason.” Dean leaned on the desk. “She’s headstrong and liable to go her own way rather than listen to him. Chrissy and I take after her something awful. Believe me, she wouldn’t say anything out of the way about your singleness. I want to introduce you to her. Maybe not today, but sometime.”

  London’s face colored a bit. “I doubt she wants to entertain me and my ways when she has her own problems to worry about. Didn’t you say something about her having a doctor’s appointment today? How did it go?”

  He shrugged. “Dad was here when I got in from outside. He left her in the cantina. I haven’t had the chance to talk to her yet.”

  She grimaced. “I’m holding you up. Sorry.”

  “You’re fine. I have an open door. You come talk to me any time you need to.” He winked. “I like finding pretty women in my office versus cranky old men too set in their ways to change.”

  “Flattery won’t get you anywhere with me.” She got up. “I should clock in now. See you later, Dean.”

  Hate to see her go, but love to watch her leave. Dean took another swig of water as she exited his office. London remained graceful and slim but for the hint of stomach showing under her blouse. She’d chosen another skirt that hit her right above the knee and gave a good look at her well-toned calves.

  Whatever his father said, Dean would jump at the chance to even take her on a friendly date that didn’t end in anything more than a peck on the cheek. If only he could get her talked into it.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  London poked her head into Dean’s office.

  He bent over a two-drawer filing cabinet, sorting sheaves of paper into a file. The jeans covering his butt and legs strained tight over his muscles. She admired him a moment before she rapped her knuckles against the doorframe.

  He looked up, then smiled. “Hey, what’s up?”

  She drummed her fingers on the doorframe nervously. “Can I ask a favor?”

  “Any time.” He straightened. “What can I do for you?”

  “I put a crib on hold at a thrift store, not thinking about how I would get it in my teeny, tiny car. I really need someone with a truck to haul it to my place. There’s gas money in it for you.” She couldn’t meet his gaze, too embarrassed by asking. What if he thought she was trying to take advantage of his kindness?

  “Sure.” He glanced at the clock behind his desk. “Give me five minutes?”

  “Oh, it doesn’t have to be today. I don’t want to interrupt any plans you have. Just whenever you have a free minute. The cashier said they could hold it a week.” She’d gotten her first paycheck today and used her lunch hour to browse the thrift store. Discovering a three-in-one convertible crib at less than half the price a new one cost on the internet was the highlight of her day. It needed a little touch-up on the paint, but seemed sturdy.

  “There’s nothing to interrupt. No plans tonight. I have some filing to finish, then I’m clocking out. Meet me at my truck.” He pulled the keys out of his desk, then tossed them to her. “Be there in a minute.”

  She nearly dropped the keys. “Want me to start it?”

  “Yeah, so the air will be ready to go when I get there. I won’t be long.”

  “The silver truck with the extended cab, right?” The keys jingled in her hand. She fiddled with a plastic keychain bearing the Trulove logo.

  “That’s the one.”

  “Okay. I’ll be outside.” She made her way down the hall. Her heart sped up a little. Getting a baby crib was almost as exciting as buying new shoes. Certainly not any pricier. Sadly, because her apartment was so small, the baby wouldn’t have a nursery, but she had plenty of space in her bedroom—one of the few luxuries of the apartment.

  Dean’s shiny silver truck stood out like a beacon in the parking lot. It seemed fairly new and hardly had a scratch on it. She unlocked the door and slid into the passenger seat. The engine turned over smoothly after she turned the keys in the ignition. The temperature inside the cab was hot enough to boil water, so she rolled the window down while she waited for the vehicle engine to warm up. A brochure for the stockyard lay on the dash. She used it to fan herself, although it didn’t provide much relief.

  Another truck turned into the lot, then rolled up beside Dean’s.

  Darren climbed out, his eyes wide as he took her in. “Miss Bingham.”

  Oh, great. She swallowed the lump in her throat. “Hi, Mr. Trulove.”

  “Going somewhere?” He leaned on the door, then pulled back. “Ouch. Hot.”

  “Um…sorry. It’s warm today.” Sweat dampened her hairline. “Dean’s going to help me move some furniture. He asked me to start the truck so the air would be cool when he got outside.”

  “Uh-huh.” He narrowed his eyes. “That’s Dean. Always volunteering to be part of a moving crew. Falling over himself for a pretty girl.”

  Where is this going? “You have a polite and helpful son.”

  “He gets bored pretty quick. With the girls, I mean. They come and go lickety-split. Dean’s not much for sticking with one for long.”

  “I guess it’s a good thing your daughter got married and gave you grandchildren then.” She twisted her purse strap in her hand. “I’m sure Dean will settle down someday.”

  “Wouldn’t do to form an attachment to him outside of work.”

  She shrank back against the seat. “I’m not trying to, if that’s what you’re implying, Mr. Trulove. I just needed to borrow a truck for a little bit. I even offered him money to pay for the gas.”

  “Good girl. I can’t abide someone who’ll take advantage of a man’s goodness.” He nodded at her. “Gotta get inside and talk to Ryan before he skedaddles. You behave, Miss Bingham.”

  There wasn’t a single hint of friendliness in Darren’s words.

  London rolled the window up, then pressed her fingers to her forehead. Hot tears threatened to escape her eyes. Ridiculous old fart. Who cares what he thinks?

  The truck door opposite her opened. “London?”

  She sniffed and wiped her eyes. “Done already?”

  “You all right?”

  Dean might favor his father in looks, but his demeanor was far different. The concern on his face made her guilt triple.

  “I shouldn’t have bugged you. I’m sorry. I’ll find another way to get the crib home. Just forget it.” She grabbed for the door handle and missed.

  “What? Wait. I don’t understand.” He came around the truck.

  She managed to get the door open and nearly hit him in the face with it
as she struggled to get out of his truck. She got one foot out the door, but her left shoe caught on the floor mat. London stumbled straight into Dean’s arms.

  “Whoa there.” He gripped her waist. “What the heck is going on?”

  “Besides the fact that I’m taking advantage of you? Nothing. Let me go. I can get the damn crib myself.” She pulled away from him. “Tell your dad he can kiss my lily-white butt.”

  His expression darkened. “You saw him?”

  “Just a minute ago. He wanted to know what I was doing in your truck. Well, I don’t need your truck. It was stupid of me to ask for help. I can manage just fine. Goodbye.”

  “Hey now. There’s no reason to be mad at me. I’m trying to help. It’s my truck. I don’t care if he likes who’s sitting in it. It’s been a long time since Daddy got to pick my friends. Get back in there, because we’re going to get that crib.” He blocked her path. “Go on. I don’t want to hear any excuses.”

  “No.” She crossed her arms. “Move.”

  “No.” He stepped closer. “Get in the truck.”

  “Not if I was dying. Not in a million years. Never.”

  His scowl turned into a smile. “Damn, you’re stubborn. Fine. I’ll get that crib by myself.”

  “It won’t do you a lick of good. You don’t know where I live.”

  “I filed your W-4. I have your address. So there.”

  Oh. Some of her anger fled. “Well…”

  “I got you now.” A smug smile took over Dean’s face. “You gonna get in the truck?”

  Defeat sucked. She dropped her arms and her shoulders slumped. “You really don’t have to do this. I can manage.”

  “Too bad, ‘cause I want to do it.” He rounded his truck, then got into the driver’s seat. “You can stay or go. Whatever.”

  She groaned. “Your dad hates me.”

  “He can be a hard ass. Don’t let it get you down. It’s nothing personal.” He gestured for her to get in. “C’mon.”

  She slid into the cab. “It feels personal. He doesn’t want you hanging around me outside of work. Probably not at work either. He wishes he could fire me.”