Come Home, Cowboy

by Cathy McDavid

  “Gabe wants to buy out Cole’s and my shares. I may let him.”

  “Your dad anticipated that. Which is why he included a clause in his will that all three of you must be in agreement.”

  “In case we didn’t reconcile.”

  Perhaps she’d been wrong. It wasn’t resentment she had heard in his voice earlier, but hurt. “If it makes any difference, he was very good to Raquel and Gabe. Me, too.”

  Josh opened his mouth to speak, only to snap it shut and stare ahead. They were nearing the corral, and he’d spotted her surprise.

  He turned to her, his earnest expression heart-tuggingly handsome. “You’re not messing with me, are you?”

  “I’m not. I decided to let you sponsor him. Hurry Up, too.”

  “Thank you.”

  Was it her imagination, or did he sound a little emotional? “You’re welcome.”

  Cara found herself smiling. She’d made the right decision.

  The black stood majestically in the center of the corral, head held high and tail flowing, every inch the king he was. As they approached, he broke into a slow gallop, circling the enclosure, his feet flying.

  “Look, Daddy.” Nathan pointed. “Horsey.”

  “Yeah, horsey.” He turned back to Cara. “Do you mind watching the kids for a bit?”

  “Not at all.”

  Josh crawled through the railing and attempted to acquaint himself with the black. Unfortunately, the stallion wasn’t ready. Josh patiently persisted and, eventually, he was able to approach and lay a hand on the horse’s whithers.

  “Good boy,” he cooed.

  The horse bobbed his head.

  Cara was impressed.

  To the casual observer, the four of them might have looked like a family. That thought, more than their mutual attraction, more than seeing Nathan heading for the stairs, sent a jolt of alarm racing through her.

  A mere twenty-four hours after striking a deal with Josh, and she was already in way over her head.

  Chapter Five

  Who would’ve guessed it? The black—Josh had named him Wind Walker—was not only intelligent and fearless, but gentle natured and affectionate, too. All the stallion had needed was a little guidance and a lot of encouragement to turn his rebellious nature into a hardworking mount eager to please.

  Josh could hardly believe it. One solid week working with the horse and already he had gotten the stallion to accept a halter, respond to voice commands and allow Josh to put a saddle blanket on his back. Incredible progress. Soon he would try a lightweight saddle. Perhaps a bridle.

  He couldn’t wait to ride this fellow. What a kick that would be!

  If he could just get Cara to respond to him with the same kind of enthusiasm. He might if she’d drop those damned barriers of hers long enough for him to try. Except she’d have none of it, or him. She much preferred him at arm’s length.

  Josh and Wind Walker were in the round pen practicing. Josh stood at the center, a long lunge line attached to the side of Wind Walker’s halter. The stallion trotted in circles, his gait easy and rhythmic.

  After forty minutes of steady exercise, he barely showed any signs of fatigue. The same couldn’t be said for Josh. He’d shed his jacket earlier, sweat dampening his shirt front and back despite the cold weather.

  “Atta boy,” he murmured, admiring the horse’s agility and power. The next minute, he commanded, “Whoa,” while tugging firmly on the lunge line and sounding a clicker twice with his free hand. The technique, combining voice, physical cues and clicking, was working well. He had his brother Cole to thank for teaching him.

  Wind Walker promptly slowed, then stopped. Josh walked over and patted the horse on the neck.

  “Good job. Easy does it.”

  The horse rewarded him with an inquisitive sniff to his cowboy hat.

  Thinking he should call it a day, Josh led Wind Walker around the pen, cooling them both down. It was barely noon, and he had a dozen chores waiting for him. He probably should have skipped the lunchtime training session, but the prospect of working with Wind Walker had been too tempting.

  With Gabe spending more and more time lately at their neighboring ranch, the Small Change, Cole and Josh were picking up the slack. They were all happy to help. It was Reese’s father who’d saved their hides when the newly purchased steer became sick with red nose. The highly contagious virus had created a shortage of available antibiotics. Theo McGraw had offered his supply. Without it, they’d have lost countless steer and potentially been bankrupted.

  Busy as he was, Josh was more than happy to cover for Gabe whenever he was at their neighbors’ place, though frankly, he should probably have spent more time on his parenting skills.

  One week into single fatherhood, he was no more adept at it than when he’d started. Not that Cara failed as a teacher. Exactly the opposite. She excelled. Patient, resourceful and a wealth of information. Josh, for his part, fumbled and bumbled and stumbled through the simplest tasks, overwhelmed by all there was to learn.

  He should have paid better attention during his marriage to Trista. Should have stayed home more. Maybe then she wouldn’t have become an addict. Or he could have interceded while there was still time.

  Then again, two small children needing her hadn’t made a difference or stopped her from using long after the pain from her accident diminished.

  Okay, he didn’t understand addiction and wasn’t very tolerant of it. Perhaps because Trista hadn’t displayed the slightest desire to battle hers, not until Josh went after full custody. The only reason she’d consented to rehab was the chance to see the children if she stayed sober. The same children she’d sorely neglected while high.

  Josh briefly considered going by the house when he was done with Wind Walker. Raquel had been a godsend this past week, and the kids really liked her but he felt guilty for imposing. Unfortunately, Mustang Valley wasn’t a large community and had limited day care options.

  He’d already scoured the bulletin boards at the community center, library and market, as well as visited the three churches and the grade school. All to no avail. A local woman had space for one child, but not two. The play camp at the community center didn’t accept children under three years of age.

  The peculiarity of his late father’s longtime companion babysitting his kids wasn’t lost on Josh. If his mother ever found out, she’d throw a fit. She’d been pestering him to bring the kids home for a visit. He doubted she’d come to Mustang Valley, but stranger things had happened. The fact that he was living at Dos Estrellas was proof of that.

  He was nearly done with Wind Walker when he spotted three people approaching: Cara, another woman and a boy Josh guessed to be seven or eight. He thought he remembered seeing the woman before.

  As they drew nearer, her face brightened. Not Cara’s. But then, she always seemed to be battling for control around him. Josh liked to think the sparks that flared between them whenever they were together were the reason.

  “What a handsome fellow,” the woman gushed the moment they were within range. She smiled at Josh. “You’ve worked wonders with him.”

  Her praise implied she’d seen Wind Walker before. At the sanctuary, perhaps? “He’s coming along.”

  Cara made the introductions. “Josh, this is my friend Summer Goodwyn and her son, Teddy.”

  Josh stopped in front of them and reached a hand through the railing to shake Summer’s. As he did, a memory surfaced. “We met at my father’s funeral.”

  “I’m very sorry for your loss.” She was an attractive woman about the same age as Cara with an engaging smile that somehow didn’t affect him. Not like Cara’s did.

  “Thank you.” It seemed strange to Josh, accepting condolences for a man he’d hardly known and hadn’t liked most of his life.

  It
must seem strange to Cara, too, for she sent him an arch look.

  “I hope you don’t mind the intrusion,” Summer said. “My son loves animals, especially horses. He wanted to come over.”

  Teddy stared avidly at Wind Walker while making low, guttural noises.

  Josh thought the behavior a little strange, but didn’t comment. “Would he like to pet Wind Walker?”

  “Is that his name? I love it.” Summer’s smile widened. “And we would both like to pet him, if that’s okay.”

  “Come on in.” He started for the gate, gathering the lunge line and winding it into a coil as he walked.

  “I’m not sure that’s a good idea.” Cara trailed after her friend.

  Josh reached the gate first. “He’s pretty gentle.”

  “You’ve had him barely a week,” she insisted. “He’s not even broke to ride yet.”

  Josh waited for Summer to object. She didn’t, and he released the latch. He’d come to accept Cara’s caution where kids were concerned. Nathan opening the apartment door and almost escaping outside hadn’t been the only incident. The other day she’d panicked because Josh had turned his back on Kimberly for a mere minute and then lashed out at him for letting Nathan jump on the couch as if it was a trampoline.

  Okay, that last stunt had been a little daring, but Nathan wasn’t hurt. Boys would be boys, right? His son certainly took after Josh and Cole when it came to roughhousing.

  He swung the gate open.

  “Come on, Teddy.” Summer entered the pen first. She didn’t take her son’s hand, though she did glance back to make sure he followed.

  Josh found that interesting, as well.

  When they were all four inside the pen, Summer reached out a hand to Wind Walker. The stallion didn’t make a liar of Josh and reveled in the attention, standing calmly while she stroked his nose.

  “You try, Teddy.”

  The boy mimicked his mother, touching oddly curled fingers to Wind Walker. “Hahs, hahs, hahs.” The garbled words were accompanied by a crooked smile and guttural sound that might have been a laugh.

  “That’s right. Horse.” Summer radiated joy.

  Josh found himself caught up in the unusual interaction. When he glanced at Cara, she, too, was watching, a mixture of happiness and sorrow on her face.

  “Teddy always responds better to animals than people,” Summer said.

  Josh reluctantly tore his attention away from Cara. “Like a lot of folks I know.”

  “He’s autistic,” Summer explained without a trace of apology.

  Josh was the first to admit he didn’t know a lot about special-needs individuals. “Tough break.”

  Hearing his casual tone, he worried Summer might take offense. Fortunately, she didn’t.

  “Yes, it is.”

  “We all have our challenges.”

  “We do.” She nodded agreeably, her hand hovering an inch above Teddy.

  For several more minutes, the adults watched as Teddy delighted in Wind Walker. While the boy didn’t speak, he communicated clearly through gestures and facial expressions. Josh couldn’t have been more pleased with the horse’s performance.

  “Can you believe the difference?” Summer asked Cara. “He’s so much better with Wind Walker than that other little horse.”

  “Hurry Up?” Josh hadn’t known they were acquainted with his kids’ horse.

  “Teddy wouldn’t go near that poor fellow. I don’t understand why. The horse was a perfect lamb. Teddy gets that way sometimes.”

  Cara cut in. “I introduced Teddy to Hurry Up before I agreed to let you sponsor him.”

  “Ah.” Josh nodded.

  He wasn’t angry. If anything, it showed what a good friend Cara was to Summer and gave him more qualities about her to like and admire.

  “It’s nice of you to let us pet the horse.” Summer leaned in close to Teddy. “Tell Mr. Dempsey thank you.”

  He shied away from her and inched closer to Wind Walker.

  “Come on, sweetie. Mr. Dempsey has to get back to work.”

  Teddy hid his face in the horse’s neck.

  “Wind Walker’s hungry. He has to eat.” When Summer placed a light hand on Teddy’s shoulder, he flinched and cried out as if burned.

  “I’m sorry,” she said to Josh.

  “No worries. Take your time.”

  He glanced at Cara and was taken aback when she mouthed, “Thank you.” She’d never looked at him with such warmth before.

  An echoing warmth built inside him. He smiled in return, and she quickly averted her gaze, bringing their moment to an end much too soon.

  Eventually, after much coaxing on Summer’s part and a promise of returning in the near future, Teddy was persuaded to leave.

  “See you soon,” Josh called after the boy.

  Teddy stared at Josh for several seconds before grunting and walking away. He traveled a few feet before stopping to wait for his mother.

  Josh shook Summer’s hand again. “I’m serious. Please come back.”

  “Teddy will behave like an angel the rest of the day thanks to you.”

  “My pleasure.”

  “You’re very nice. I can see why a certain someone likes you.” She added the last part in a whisper behind the shield of her hand.

  A certain someone? Was she referring to Cara?

  “Truthfully, I have my doubts.”

  “You shouldn’t.” Summer winked at him. “I don’t.”

  * * *

  CARA ASSUMED SHE would leave with Summer and Teddy, but when she fell into step beside her friend, Summer stopped her with a gesture in Josh’s direction.

  “We’ll be fine. You stay. I insist,” she added when Cara opened her mouth to protest. “If only to gaze at that big, handsome fellow one more time.”

  “Wind Walker is pretty special.”

  “I wasn’t talking about the horse, and you know it.”

  Cara did. “He’s making my life difficult.”

  “And exciting. I’ve never seen you off your game like this. It’s a nice change.”

  “What I am is pulling my hair out by the roots.”

  Summer bumped shoulders with Cara. “Which you wouldn’t do unless you cared.”

  Did she? Care about Josh? No! The thought was preposterous.

  All at once, Teddy ran ahead of them, his legs churning awkwardly.

  “Not so fast, sweetie.” Summer chased him clear to the car.

  Cara should have gone, too. To say goodbye if nothing else. She didn’t, however. Josh had intercepted her, leading Wind Walker.

  “I like your friend,” he said.

  Cara briefly met his gaze. Sometimes—like now, for instance—it was too intense and she too vulnerable. “Summer’s a good person. She’s had a rough go of it.”

  “I can imagine. Well, actually, I can’t.” Josh absently scratched the horse between the ears.

  Cara was impressed with how far he’d come with Wind Walker in such a short period of time. She didn’t tell him, though. He might let it go to his head. “I need to run. See you later.”

  “Wait. Come with me while I take him back to his stall.”

  She stopped short. “Why?”

  “I thought we could discuss the farrier I have coming out to look at the mustangs.”

  “A farrier?” she repeated. “We can’t possibly shoe two hundred horses.”

  “Even I’m not that stupid, Cara.”

  She blushed, acutely embarrassed and feeling every bit as off her game as Summer had pointed out. “I didn’t intend—”

  “I noticed some of the mustangs’ hooves need attention. Overgrown or cracked and chipped.”

  Because she refused to let him think he affected her
, she continued walking with him.

  “A farrier is expensive,” she pointed out. “The sanctuary doesn’t have that kind of money.”

  “He’s a friend of mine. He owes me.”

  “That has to be some kind of favor you did him,” Cara said.

  “His son and I used to compete together. Once, in Salt Lake City, I pulled him out from under a bull.”

  “Was he hurt badly?”

  “Bad enough he retired. But he lived.”

  “You took a chance. Jumping in with a bucking bull.”

  “Which is why his dad owes me.”

  Cara studied him from the corner of her eye. “Are you always that risky with your life?”

  “I am when what’s at stake is worth it.”

  If there was a double meaning to what he said, she refused to acknowledge it.

  They reached the stable and entered the aisle. In the shade, the temperature abruptly dropped. On the plus side, they were out of the wind.

  She hugged herself and caught Josh watching her.

  “Cold?” he asked.

  “A little.”

  What would it be like to have him drape an arm around her waist and pull her close, sharing his body heat? She tried to banish the image. Her mind stubbornly refused.

  Wind Walker’s head shot up at the sight and sound of the other horses, and he began to prance, eagerly dragging them toward his stall. Always the show-off.

  Kind of like his owner.

  Owner? How quickly she’d come to accept that the horse belonged to Josh. Much as she hated admitting it, the two were well suited. She should forget the sponsorship and let him have the stallion. Hurry Up, too.

  “I might have told my friend you’d be willing to part with a horse or two. Besides being a farrier, he also has a horse rental business on the side and can always use a couple of reliable mounts.”

  Cara stopped in the center of the aisle, hands firmly planted on her hips. “You expect me to trade horses for farrier services?”

  Josh leaned close, well over the line dividing their personal spaces. She licked her suddenly dry lips, unable to help herself. His gaze went straight to her mouth, where it stayed. Her heart rate quickened.