The Cowboy's Spring Romance

by Shanna Hatfield

  Shifting his attention to Trent, Trey slapped him on the back. “How’s the dog?”

  “I think he’ll recover physically just fine. I’m a little worried about his attitude though. I wish I knew his story, but I’m guessing he was abandoned and that is probably the reason he wound up here harassing our cattle,” Trent said, helping carry platters of food to the table while Travis went out to ring the triangle for the hands to come in. “We’ve got him in an empty stall in the barn. I think we should keep an eye on him and see how things go.”

  “Fine,” Trey said, setting pitchers of juice on the table. “I trust you to do what you think is best.”

  Trent nodded then found himself attacked from behind as Cass ran up to him and threw her arms around his legs.

  “Uncle Trent, you came back,” she said, looking up at him with bright eyes. “I thought you runned away for good.”

  Picking her up, Trent gave her a hug. “I didn’t run away, goofball, and I’d certainly never run away without telling you goodbye first.”

  “I’m glad.” Cass kissed his cheek, informing him he needed to shave, before he set her down in her chair next to Trey.

  After a surprisingly mellow breakfast, Travis offered to drop Cass off at school on his way to Portland and Trent took a shower followed by a much needed nap.

  Getting up, he felt refreshed and ready to get on with the day. He found Cady folding a pile of jeans in the laundry room and insisted on helping her finish.

  “Is it too early to plant flowers?” he asked her, hoping she wouldn’t ask too many questions about his sudden interest in gardening.

  “I don’t know, Trent,” Cady said, folding two pairs of jeans to Trent’s one. “I’ve never had much exposure to gardening before. Since Easter is just around the corner, I’m hoping it will be warm enough at night that flowers won’t freeze. You could ask your mom, I’m sure she’d have a better idea than I would. In fact, I might call her today and find out. Why?”

  “No reason, just curious.”

  “I see,” she said, seeing much more than Trent thought she did. “Daffodils and daisies.”

  “Pardon?” Trent asked, not sure what she meant.

  “Her favorite flowers are daffodils and daisies,” Cady said with a smug smile.

  “Am I that obvious?” Trent asked, embarrassed that Cady realized he was asking about flowers Lindsay might like.

  “Nope, but being wooed by a Thompson man myself, I have an inside track on you guys.”

  “Oh,” Trent said, deciding his sister-in-law was much more perceptive than he imagined.

  “The market in Moro has some flowers out. I saw them yesterday when I picked up a few groceries.”

  “What makes you think I’m going to drive to Moro and buy flowers today?” Trent asked, carrying a basket of his and Travis’ jeans down the hall toward their rooms.

  “That look on your face that says you’re smitten with one very pretty schoolteacher,” Cady said with a warm laugh.

  ><><

  Lindsay hurried home after school, planning to change clothes and run up to the Triple T to see how the dog was faring.

  As she got out of the car and started up the sidewalk, her feet came to a sudden standstill while a surprised smile lit her face.

  There, on each side of the porch steps were bunches of daisies planted in heart-shaped patterns. Stooping to look at them, Lindsay didn’t have to wonder where the flowers came from. She knew without a doubt Trent had planted them.

  Snapping a photo, she sent Trent a text message.

  You’re the best! I love the flowers. How did you know daisies are my favorite? Thank you so much, cowboy!

  Running inside, she raced to change, grabbed the container with the remaining raspberry bars and hurried to the ranch.

  Pulling up at the back door, she knocked briefly before stepping inside. Since she and Cady had become friends, she often came to the ranch to see her and knew she was welcome anytime.

  Cady was at the sink, washing vegetables for a green salad when Lindsay walked in the kitchen.

  “Hey, girl, I was just thinking about you,” Cady said with a warm smile. “Want something to drink?”

  “Do you have any iced tea?” Lindsay asked, taking a glass from the cupboard.

  “In the fridge,” Cady said, nodding her head that direction. “Will you pour me one while you’re at it?”

  “Sure,” Lindsay said, filling two glasses with ice and pouring in tea. Setting the glasses at the counter, she waited for Cady to dry her hands and sit beside her.

  “Did you come to see the dog or his caregiver?” Cady teased, taking a long drink of the tea.

  “Both,” Lindsay said, blushing.

  “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you are completely enamored by my brother-in-law.”

  “Not completely,” Lindsay said, glancing at Cady with a grin. “Partially, maybe.”

  They laughed and chatted for a few minutes before Trent and Trey came in the back door with Cass.

  “Miss Lindsay,” Cass said, giving her teacher a hug. “Uncle Trent brought home a doggy and I can’t play with him and Uncle Travis came home with a bangled up car.”

  “Is that so? A bangled up car?” Lindsay asked, taking Cass’ hand as they all walked out the door. Travis’s errand to Portland had been to pick up a wrecked racecar.

  Cady stood looking at the car and the men admiring it, shaking her head. “What are you going to do with that thing?” she asked.

  “Fix it up and race it,” Travis said, looking like a little boy who just got everything he wanted on his Christmas list. “If I have a little help, it won’t take long to get it back on the racetrack.”

  “You’re going to cause me to get gray hair, you know,” Cady said, imagining the daredevil manner in which Travis would drive the car.

  “Not me,” Travis said, hugging his sister-in-law. “I’ll even give you the first ride, just to prove what a good driver I am.”

  Cady laughed and they all studied the car. Trent and Lindsay soon slipped away to the barn where she checked on the dog.

  Trent removed the dog’s muzzle earlier and so far, he hadn’t needed to put it back on. The dog was used to him now and, after eating two good meals was fast losing his aggression, at least with Trent.

  Sniffing at Lindsay, he eventually settled down and allowed her to lightly touch his back. She rubbed gently and the dog let out what sounded like a sigh.

  “I knew he was smart,” Trent said, grinning.

  “How’s that?” Lindsay asked, still touching the dog.

  “He enjoys you touching him almost as much as I do when you touch me.”

  “You are impossible,” Lindsay scolded in her best schoolteacher voice, although Trent’s words gave her great pleasure.

  Trent raised an eyebrow her direction and offered a devilish grin.

  “Good to know. Here I thought I might be possible and wasn’t sure there was a cure for it,” Trent teased as they stood up and closed the stall door.

  Lindsay laughed and started down the aisle. She didn’t get far before Trent grabbed her waist and swung her around off her feet.

  “What are you doing, you crazy man?” she said through her giggles.

  “Playing with you,” Trent said, turning her around and backing her against the door of an empty stall. “I think I kind of like playing with the teacher.”

  “The teacher kind of likes it to,” Lindsay whispered as her eyes focused in on Trent’s very inviting lips. “And she really liked the daisies. Thank you, cowboy.”

  Seeing the look of longing in her eyes, Trent braced his arms on either side of her head and slowly lowered his lips to hers.

  Bright bursts of heat exploded between them. If he didn’t know better, he’d say he had a full-blown case of raging spring fever and Lindsay was the only remedy for the malady. Trent moaned and pulled her into his arms, deepening the kiss.

  “Yuck, Uncle Trent! You can’t kiss my teacher like that! E
ww!” Cass yelled from the barn door. “I’m telling Mama.”

  “I guess she told you,” Lindsay said, with an amused smile when Trent lifted his head from hers.

  Releasing a sigh, Trent stepped back and laced their fingers together, walking toward the door. “Well, if anyone didn’t know I liked the teacher before, Cass will be sure and let them know now.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  There's a certain nostalgia and romance

  in a place you left.

  David Guterson

  “There’s still time to escape. You really don’t have to do this,” Lindsay said, looking intently at Trent sitting in the passenger seat of her car.

  He smiled and pried her hand from the steering wheel. Bringing it to his lips, he turned it over and kissed her palm. She felt some of her apprehension melt away.

  “How bad can this be, Princess? It’s just Easter dinner with your family,” Trent said, trying to sound calm although he was far from feeling it. He and Lindsay had officially been dating for two months and he had yet to meet her parents. As they sat parked in the driveway of the home where she grew up, Trent was plenty nervous about making a good impression on her folks. He’d already started off badly with her brother, even though Lonnie was a good guy who didn’t seem to hold Trent’s boorish behavior against him. “You’ve eaten dinner with my family plenty of times.”

  “That’s different,” Lindsay said, picking up a basket of spring flowers she brought for her mother.

  “How so?” Trent asked as he took her elbow and they started up the front walk.

  “You’re family is fun, not crazy. I’d be there anyway because Cady is one of my dearest friends and besides, there is always an extra body or two sitting around the table,” Lindsay said, tugging at the skirt of her dress, trying to adjust that which was already perfect.

  In fact, Trent thought Lindsay looked perfect. Every single hair was in place, her makeup was perfect, her fashionable dress and jacket perfectly pressed. He had the sudden urge to reach out and muss her hair in an effort to lighten her mood.

  “You look beautiful,” he said, leaning close and whispering in her ear just seconds before the door opened and Lindsay’s father greeted them.

  “Daddy!” Lindsay said, throwing an arm around her father’s neck.

  “Happy Easter, honey,” her father said, giving Lindsay a big hug and a kiss on her cheek, as he pulled her into the house.

  Roger Pierce was tall and lean with a head of thinning blond hair and the same sky-blue eyes that his two children bore. It wasn’t hard to see whom Lindsay took after when her dad stuck out a hand and smiled at Trent in welcome.

  “It’s nice to finally meet you, son,” Roger said in a friendly tone that made Trent feel welcome.

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir,” Trent said, returning the handshake Roger offered and removing his hat.

  “Well, come on in. Lonnie should be here any minute and then we can eat,” Roger said, motioning Trent and Lindsay to go back to the kitchen, while he hung up their jackets and Trent’s hat.

  A diminutive woman with dark brown hair and hazel eyes looked up as they entered the room. Wiping her hands on a frilly apron, she hurried to Lindsay and gave her a hug.

  “Oh, my darling girl, I haven’t seen you for ages,” Christine Pierce gushed. Trent watched Lindsay stiffen just slightly as her mother hugged her waist. It was almost comical to see them together. While Lindsay stood at more than six-feet with her heels on, her mother couldn’t have been more than an inch or two over five-feet tall. Everything about Christine Pierce spoke of perfection, from her perfectly styled hair and makeup to her perfectly polished shoes and perfect size for her petite frame.

  Trent decided maybe he should have accepted Lindsay’s offer of escape as her mother turned her attention to him.

  “Well, you must be Trent Thompson, the remarkable cowhand extraordinaire I’ve heard so little about,” Christine said snidely, placing her hands on her hips and cocking her head, as though she was studying him to see if he was acceptable company for her daughter.

  “I don’t know about that, but I am a pretty good ranch hand,” Trent said with a smile that wasn’t at all sincere. “I appreciate the invitation to join you for Easter dinner and the opportunity to meet you both.”

  Trent couldn’t force himself to lie. Although he was pleased to meet Lindsay’s father, he was pretty certain before they left he wouldn’t be able to say the same thing for her mother.

  “Yes, well, I’m sure it will be educational to have you here with us today,” Christine said.

  Trent decided he obviously did not pass Christine’s inspection as she rudely turned back to her meal preparations. Lindsay rolled her eyes and plunked the basket of flowers on the counter.

  “Lindsay, you know better than to set something like that there. Take it out back,” her mother said, not even looking at the flowers.

  “Yes, Mother,” Lindsay said, snatching up the basket and walking out the back door. Trent followed close behind.

  Lindsay placed the basket on a small patio table and stood looking around the backyard. It was perfect, like everything else in Christine’s perfectly ordered world. Trips home to visit her parents often made Lindsay feel like she was trapped in a 1950s time warp. If the bright colors of everyday life had morphed into black and white, she wouldn’t have been surprised.

  “Princess? You okay?” Trent asked, stepping behind her and putting a warm, comforting hand on her shoulder.

  “I’m fine. I just forget how… challenging mother can be when I’m not around her all the time. It will be better when Lonnie arrives. He is her golden-haired child,” Lindsay said quietly, hugging her arms around herself.

  “Seems to me your folks have two golden-haired children,” Trent teased, turning Lindsay around and running a gentle hand over her hair.

  “Thank you,” Lindsay whispered, leaning against his chest, gaining strength and warmth from him.

  A loud tapping on the window glass forced Lindsay to look up. Her mother shot her a warning glare and shook her head.

  Lindsay felt like she was fifteen, caught trying to sneak a boy into her room instead of a grown woman who brought her very serious boyfriend home to meet her parents.

  “This should be great fun,” Lindsay said sarcastically, exhaling a sigh as they stepped back inside. She was saved from further suffering as Lonnie came in with his girlfriend Maren.

  Christine nearly burst with excitement when Lonnie swept her up in a hug, and she couldn’t stop talking about how beautiful Maren looked, looping her arm through the girl’s and tugging her into the kitchen.

  “I guess we’re quite clear on who the favorite is today,” Lindsay whispered to Trent. Lonnie overhead and threw an arm around Lindsay’s shoulders.

  “Why do you let her get to you, Linnie? Just enjoy the day,” Lonnie said. Leaning toward Trent, he smiled conspiratorially, “If you play along, we can have some fun with this.”

  Trent grinned. Maybe the day wouldn’t be a waste after all.

  Getting up early that morning, Lindsay joined Trent and the rest of his family for the church’s sunrise Easter service. Trent was glad they went, since the reason for the holiday didn’t seem to be celebrated in the Pierce home. There were Easter decorations placed around the house, but Lindsay’s mother certainly didn’t seem to project any particularly warm feelings of Christian love or charity.

  “Just behave,” Lindsay whispered as they wandered toward the kitchen. “I want to get through the day with as few battle wounds as possible.”

  “I didn’t realize you were dragging me to a war zone,” Trent whispered as they stepped into the kitchen. Roger was carving a ham while Christine babbled about some exclusive boutique she found in Portland where Maren had to go shopping. Maren shot Lonnie a helpless look and he quickly tried to come to her rescue.

  “Maren doesn’t need to buy your designer clothes, Mom,” Lonnie said, taking Maren’s hand in his. “She
makes anything she wears look like high fashion.”

  Trent smiled as Maren mouthed “Thank you,” to Lonnie and leaned back against him as he stood behind her with his hands resting on her shoulders. Maren was of average height with short, dark curls and wide hazel eyes. Comparing her to Christine, Trent thought they looked much more like mother and daughter than Lindsay ever would.

  “That wasn’t what I meant,” Christine snapped as she finished mashing the potatoes. Lindsay would have offered to help, but her mother always found fault with everything she did, so she’d learned long ago to watch from the sidelines.

  “Doesn’t Lindsay look nice today, mom?” Lonnie prompted, hoping to shift the attention from Maren to someone else in the room, but not willing to put Trent under fire.

  “For a girl her size, she looks presentable,” Christine said, looking at Lindsay critically. “I’m not sure I care for that style or color combination.”

  “Oh, I think she looks lovely,” Maren chimed in, smiling warmly at Lindsay.

  Trent, Lindsay, Lonnie and Maren had met a few times to have dinner and go to the movies in the past month. They all got along well and enjoyed one another’s company. Maren, who was a fashionista in her own right, thought Lindsay’s choice of a black dress with an icy blue vertical pattern around the skirt and neckline was quite striking. “I think that dress was made just for her.”

  “You children can start putting the food on the table,” Christine directed, ignoring Maren’s comments.

  When they were seated around the table, Trent sat waiting for someone to ask the blessing. Lonnie and Lindsay shifted uncomfortably in their seats and finally Roger asked Lonnie to say grace. Lonnie offered a short but heartfelt prayer.

  “Ridiculous ritual,” Christine muttered. “My perfect meal will be ruined if you don’t hurry it up.”

  Trent raised an eyebrow, but said nothing, passing along the food as it came to him. Christine wasn’t the most gracious host he’d ever met, but she was a fine cook.

  After dinner, Christine insisted the “kids” hunt Easter eggs in the backyard.