A Cowboy, a Bride & a Wedding Vow

by Shirley Rogers

  “I’m sorry for interrupting.” She stepped farther into the room. “Matthew’s missing. Ryder’s gone outside to look for him.”

  Jake had only a moment to register Catherine’s distressed look before he bolted for the door. “Damn,” he swore, then looked at Ashley. “Did you call the men?” he asked, referring to the hands who stayed on the ranch.

  “I wanted you to know first.”

  Jake brushed past her and headed for the back door. “I’ll take care of it,” he said over his shoulder.

  “Jake, wait,” Catherine called. “I’m going with you.” She caught up with him as he was putting his arms though the sleeves of his raincoat.

  “No, you’re not,” Jake stated firmly. “You don’t know the ranch well enough to go off on your own, and I don’t have time to keep an eye on you.”

  Insulted, Catherine bristled. “I’m an adult. You don’t have to watch out for me. But I’m going out to find Matthew,” she insisted.

  “Catherine, just wait here.”

  “He’s right,” Ashley said softly, putting her hand on the other woman’s shoulder. “Matthew might come back. One of you should be here.”

  Catherine couldn’t argue with Ashley’s reasoning. “All right,” she said, relenting.

  Jake headed out the back door. “I’ll let you know as soon as we find him.”

  Pushing against the wind, Ashley closed the door. “Don’t worry,” she said. “Matthew couldn’t have gone far. They’ll find him.” She led Catherine back to the kitchen and ushered her to a chair.

  Ashley poured them both coffee. Catherine accepted a cup, then Ashley sank onto a chair across from her. “Try not to worry. I’m sure they’ll find him.”

  Catherine shook her head back and forth. “I don’t know what’s come over Matthew. He’s never acted like this before.”

  “Sometimes children, like adults, have trouble expressing their feelings. Matthew’s just mixed up right now.”

  For such a young woman, Catherine thought, Ashley was very wise. “You’d make a great counselor,” she told her.

  “Is that what you do?” Ashley asked.

  Catherine nodded. “I’m a counselor at a high school.” She brought her hand up and wiped tears from her eyes. “You’d think I’d do a better job of understanding my own child.”

  Ashley’s expression filled with sympathy. “I’m sure you’re a wonderful mother. Matthew’s a very polite young man. You should be proud of the job you’ve done.”

  Catherine managed a small smile. She wanted to think that she was a good mother, but she’d been having a lot of doubts over the past twenty-four hours.

  Seeing how Matthew responded to Jake hadn’t helped. Her son had quickly implanted himself in this home, with his father. Catherine wasn’t sure what was going to happen next, but she didn’t like the feeling of foreboding that hung over her.

  The back door opened and Catherine turned to see Matthew, Jake and Ryder enter. She was on her feet and standing, by the time they walked into the kitchen. Matthew was soaking wet, dripping on the vinyl floor.

  “Matthew, what on earth has gotten into you?” she demanded. Realizing she probably sounded hysterical, she took a deep breath and stepped back, her gaze running over him.

  Jake spoke instead of Matthew. “The good news is we found Matt. He was in the barn.” Taking off his coat and shaking the water from it, he added, “The bad news is that we just heard over the radio that the Styron bridge is impassable.” Looking directly at Catherine, he told her, “You’re stuck here.”

  Five

  Stuck, Catherine learned, meant that she and Matthew weren’t getting back to Lubbock anytime in the immediate future. She stood in the bedroom she’d been shown to and took stock of her situation. Jake told her that once it quit raining, it could be a few days before the water receded enough for them to cross the bridge.

  Catherine was glad she’d had the foresight to bring a change of clothing with her and something to sleep in.

  She supposed she would be able to wear the same two sets of clothing for a few days, until they were ready to leave. She’d rinse out her underwear and hang them in the bathroom to dry.

  Jake’s sister, Lynn, had brought Catherine to Ryder’s old bedroom so she could have an adjoining bath. Matthew had been moved to Deke’s room, since he wasn’t home.

  Lynn looked a lot like her brother Ryder. Her blond hair was cropped short, and she had the same beautiful blue eyes. She was pretty and petite and very outgoing and friendly.

  Nothing at all like Jake, who gave Catherine cold stares and frustrated looks most of the time. He thought she was at fault for the current crisis in his life, and from what she could gather, Jake wasn’t used to being the center of attention. Neither was he used to not having everything under control.

  Well, Jake was going to learn he couldn’t control her. As soon as the weather allowed, she and Matthew were leaving—if she had to steal a car to drive to the airport!

  Catherine glanced at her watch and realized she should be getting ready for dinner. Lynn had refused her offer of help, insisting that she and Ashley were used to working together in the kitchen, but Catherine was welcome to come in and talk with them.

  She headed for the bathroom to wash up, then she would accept Lynn’s offer. Though part of her wanted to, she couldn’t just hide here in the bedroom until the weather let up and she could go home.

  Catherine reached for the handle of the bathroom door and swung it open, then caught her breath at the sight of Jake standing at the sink, naked to his waist. His jeans rested low on his hips, exposing his navel. Lather partially covered his face, and he held a razor in his hand.

  “Oh!” she exclaimed, her gaze taking in his hard-muscled shoulders and chest. For a man in his thirties, he was in excellent condition. Catherine glanced at the open door behind him, then back at Jake. Apparently the bathroom serviced both bedrooms. “I didn’t know…um…”

  Jake raised an eyebrow. “That we were sharing a bath?” he furnished, his voice a bit husky. His dark gaze slipped over her as he set down the razor and grabbed a towel off the rack on the wall. He looked at her as he cleaned off what remained of the lather from his face.

  “It’s just as much my fault. I’m not used to anyone being in that room, and I don’t usually check the door,” he admitted gruffly.

  “I’ll just wait,” Catherine said, her breathing constricted. She started to close the door.

  “No, that’s all right,” Jake said, stalling her movements. “I’m about finished.” He dried his hands on the towel and tossed it on the counter. “There are fresh linens in here,” he said, opening a small closet door and removing a clean towel and washcloth. His shirt was hanging on the doorknob to his room, and he picked it up and shrugged into it.

  Catherine watched his muscles ripple as he moved, her heartbeat speeding. Jake was nothing at all like Douglas: his body was hard and tanned; his chest lightly covered with soft brown hair that about disappeared across his flat belly.

  What would it feel like to touch him there? she wondered, remembering the days when she could freely do so. As he buttoned his shirt, Catherine looked away, her gaze resting on the mirror. His reflection shared the details as he slipped each button through its matching hole. His gaze connected with hers as she watched him, and Catherine could have died at that moment. She blushed furiously.

  “I think we need to finish our conversation,” he said, leaning against the small counter.

  “Um, yes, of course,” Catherine said, agreeing. There was so much more she wanted to say to him. But the tight, intimate confines of the bathroom was definitely not the place.

  He reached around her for a small bottle, bringing his body in close contact with hers. He smelled of soap and shaving cream, amazingly male, and to Catherine it was an awesome mix. She watched him dump a small amount of cologne in his hands, then pat his face.

  “Maybe after dinner?” she suggested. “I was just going to go d
own and see if I could help.”

  Jake nodded, watching her a moment longer before turning away. “Fine.” He stood and walked out of the bathroom, then closed the connecting door.

  Behind it, he heard Catherine moving about. He ignored the sound of running water, but a vision of her filled his mind. He wished he could ignore how his body responded when he was around her. He’d thought that all he would have to do was keep her at arm’s length.

  Their brief contact upon their arrival had told Jake to be leery of Catherine. In the flash of a few moments her body had pressed close to his and he’d wanted to pull her tighter against him. He’d had to steel himself not to.

  Now he was sharing a bathroom with her. Close quarters for someone who wanted to keep his distance. He reminded himself that she wasn’t the vulnerable, innocent young woman he’d made love to years ago. But somehow, his body wasn’t accepting his explanation.

  She was able to bring out many emotions that he’d managed to keep to himself for most of his life. Since she’d arrived, he’d wanted to both comfort her, kiss her and strangle her within a single conversation.

  They still needed to come to some kind of agreement where his son was concerned. Whether the lady knew it or not, Jake had already decided exactly what was best for all of them. At the very least, Matthew was going to spend his summer here at the ranch.

  Catherine didn’t have to like it. She just had to agree to it. The weather had given him an advantage. Keeping Catherine and Matthew here for a day or so was exactly what he needed. A little time and he’d be able to convince her that it was in Matt’s best interest to let him stay.

  Jake wasn’t beyond demanding that his son live with him permanently. First, he had to get Matt settled here on the ranch. Then he’d have more leverage.

  Having Catherine here for a few days could prove a test to his patience, though, and his libido. He’d fallen for her so easily when he’d first met her. He wasn’t going to make the same mistake again.

  So what if he still felt an attraction toward her. It had been quite a while since he’d been with a woman. That his body was suddenly responding sexually to an attractive woman wasn’t unusual. It could have been any woman and he’d have had the same reaction, he told himself.

  Catherine looked as if she spent time keeping herself in shape, no doubt for this man she was planning to marry. Jake just had to keep reminding himself that he could be around Catherine, even be attracted to her, and it wouldn’t have to lead anywhere.

  By keeping Matthew a secret she’d hurt Jake, and he couldn’t forget or forgive that. Just as he couldn’t forget his father’s indiscretion. Every time he looked at his siblings, he knew how hurt they’d be if they found out. Jake couldn’t share what he knew with them.

  Catherine went in search of Matthew and found him in the den watching a sports event on television. She talked with him about what he’d done and how dangerous it was for him to travel on his own. There were so many things that could have happened to him. Matthew listened, and it was apparent that he was sorry for his actions and that he’d worried her so much.

  He asked her again to let him stay at the ranch. Catherine tried to reason with him, to make him understand that his life was in Lubbock, not here on this ranch. Matthew was having none of it. By the time she left him alone, he’d become sullen and withdrawn. She was right back where she’d started.

  Catherine walked into the kitchen after her talk with Matthew, and a smile crossed her features. Earlier, she hadn’t noticed the playpen cluttered with toys. At the moment, two little dark-headed babies shared what room was left. Ashley and Lynn were moving about the room.

  Both little faces looked in her direction as she walked over to the playpen, their angelic smiles welcoming the stranger entering their world.

  “Oh my, they’re adorable,” Catherine exclaimed, her gaze running over them. Each one was standing and holding on to the side of the pen.

  Ashley smiled. “That they are,” she agreed. “They’re also quite a handful. They look perfectly innocent,” she went on, “but don’t believe it.”

  Lynn grinned and said, “They’re angels with minds of their own.”

  “Just like every true McCall,” Ashley commented.

  “Can’t disagree with that,” Lynn answered.

  Catherine ran her hand over each baby’s head and was rewarded with smiles and gurgles from them. “What are their names?” she asked.

  Ashley pointed at one of them. “That’s Michelle with her hand in Melissa’s hair.”

  Catherine helped free Melissa’s hair from the baby’s grasp. “Can I hold one of them?” she asked. It had been a long time since she’d held a baby. Ashley grinned and nodded, and Catherine picked up Melissa. She hugged the baby to her, and Melissa rested her head on Catherine’s shoulder.

  Jake picked that moment to walk into the room. He took stock of everyone, his gaze finally coming to rest on Catherine. His heart thudded. He wasn’t prepared for the sight of her holding one of the babies.

  She was cradling Melissa in her arms, and he had a sudden image of her holding his son as a baby. Jake walked over and scooped Michelle up in his arms. Giving her a quick kiss, he patted her back. Michelle giggled and drew a smile from him.

  Catherine watched the byplay between Jake and the baby and was sorry about how much of Matthew’s life Jake had missed. Of course, she reminded herself, it was his own fault. Still, she felt a sadness for him. Those years were gone now, never to be regained.

  “Dinner will be ready shortly,” Ashley announced. She looked at Jake and Catherine. “Would you mind putting them in their cribs for me? If we’re lucky, they’ll settle down right about the time we eat.”

  Jake nodded. Dinners, which used to be around six, had been moved to seven and sometimes later to accommodate the babies’ schedules. Most of the time they went to sleep about the time the adults ate and remained quiet for the night. The trade-off was that they were early risers. Ashley and Ryder usually went to bed early also, anticipating the morning when they’d be busy with the babies.

  Jake motioned Catherine to follow him, and led her to a bedroom filled with baby items. There were two of everything, as if items could only be purchased that way.

  “How many bedrooms does this house have?” she asked, surprised that this was another one she hadn’t seen.

  “Not enough if Ryder doesn’t stop reproducing,” Jake said, cracking a quick smile. It was gone after only a moment. “When the new baby arrives, it’ll stay in Ryder and Ashley’s bedroom for a while. We may have to put an addition on.”

  They put the babies in their cribs. Jake kissed each one, then walked toward the door. Michelle fretted, wanting to be picked up, but Melissa lay quietly in the middle of the crib looking at them with big, expressive eyes.

  “Give your mom a break and go to sleep,” Jake gently ordered the two little ones. He walked out of the room, then waited for Catherine.

  By the time they arrived back in the kitchen, Ryder was helping Ashley and Lynn set the dining room table. Even Matthew was lending a hand. He barely looked at his mother, and Catherine felt hurt surge through her.

  Dinner conversation went smoothly enough, considering the fact that Catherine avoided eye contact with Jake. Though he answered questions when spoken to, Matthew was quiet and noncommunicative. After they finished eating, everyone carried their dishes into the kitchen. Lynn shooed everyone out, insisting that it didn’t take all of them to stack the dishwasher. Ryder and Matthew went to the den to watch television. Ashley confessed she’d been looking forward to a long, hot bath.

  That left Jake and Catherine alone to finish their conversation from earlier in the day. Once again Catherine followed him to the ranch office. He closed the door for privacy.

  Jake sat on the sofa, then waited for Catherine to take a seat. She joined him, surprising him by sitting on the other end instead of one of the chairs. She folded her hands together tightly, looking as tense as a person being
robbed at gunpoint.

  “Sit back,” Jake said, leaning forward and closer to her. “I’m not going to eat you.”

  She didn’t seem amused by his words. He was trying to put her at ease. He figured they’d get along better if she didn’t think she was under attack.

  “I don’t want to rehash what we went through this afternoon,” Catherine stated, starting the conversation. “Obviously we both have different views of what happened between us years ago.”

  Her words conjured up images in Jake’s mind of making love to her. It wasn’t hard for Jake to recall how good they’d been together. His body reacted in kind, and he shifted a little in his seat. He couldn’t afford to let his mind wander so easily.

  “Obviously,” he agreed. He still had trouble with her story.

  “And it has little bearing on the current problem we’re facing with Matthew,” Catherine reasoned.

  “I agree.” Jake wasn’t ready to let the past go. He still blamed Catie for keeping his son from him. But the most important thing for them to talk about now was what was best for Matthew.

  Catherine sighed heavily, and her gaze met Jake’s. “Please don’t fight me on this, Jake,” she pleaded. “I think the best thing for Matthew is for us to go home and pick up where we left off.”

  “I don’t think so,” Jake stated, then rested his arm along the back of the sofa. “That’s what’s best for you. You’re not even thinking about what’s best for Matthew or me.”

  Catherine licked her lips, and Jake’s gaze followed the movement of her tongue. He remembered kissing her, touching her skin, and had a sudden urge to see if she still tasted the way he remembered.

  “I’m not saying that you can’t see him,” she told him. “But I don’t want Matthew to get the idea that he can call this ranch his home.”

  “This is his home. Matthew’s my son. That makes him part of this family. Someday he’ll own his share of the ranch.” He sat forward, leaning closer to her. “What’s more important, I have a son that I’ve never had the opportunity to know. We need time together to bond, time to enjoy each other. Are you going to deny us that?”