Counting on a Cowboy

by Debra Clopton

  “I guess mundane tasks continue wherever we are,” her mom said, and the sound of her trying to do as Abby asked felt so good.

  “You know I don’t do change very well in my own life. I really didn’t mean to hurt you.”

  Abby’s heart clenched. “I know.”

  “I’m here if you need me.”

  Abby’s spirits lifted. “That means the world to me.” They spoke a little longer, like old times, and then hung up. Abby started to back out and head to the grocery store. It was probably better this way. She hadn’t seen Rand since the picnic when he’d barely spoken to her. But he was her landlord, whom she’d seen at his worst. She also knew that if she were to have any kind of influence on Rand then they had to have a relationship of some sort. But she’d decided a working relationship might be pushing it.

  She was about to put her car in reverse when the door opened and a pretty woman with long blond hair walked outside carrying Levi.

  Abby’s heart jerked and an instant smile burst to her lips at seeing the baby. She’d missed him in the five days since she’d seen him on Saturday.

  And that was Maggie carrying him. Abby recognized her from the picture on her column and the TV interview between her and Tru. Abby was out of the car in a flash.

  “Hi,” she called, and Maggie stopped on the curb.

  “Hi,” Maggie said brightly as Levi gave Abby a huge smile and leaned forward for her to take him. ‘I believe Levi knows you. Are you the Abby?”

  Abby laughed. “Yes I am. Abby Knightley. I helped take care of Levi for a couple of days. And you’re Maggie.”

  “I am. Oh, our Levi likes you.”

  “The feeling’s mutual. I adore him.” Levi grabbed her finger and grinned at her. Abby’s heart swelled with tenderness.

  Maggie laughed, too, and had to hold on tight when he lunged at her. “Oh,” Maggie gasped. “He’s strong. We are so thrilled to have him in our lives. I was actually coming to see you after I left here. I wanted to come thank you for all your help. You’ve been a huge blessing to Bo.”

  Heat crawled up Abby’s neck. This was the woman whose advice had given her hope when she’d been in dark places. This was the woman whose advice, even when it had nothing to do with anything going on in Abby’s life, inspired her nonetheless, because it was stated with such care and warmth. It was hard to believe that Maggie was in her twenties like Abby. Abby certainly couldn’t give the kind of advice this beautiful woman gave. It was, in no uncertain terms, a gift.

  Abby finally found her voice. “He would have been okay without me—”

  “Are you kidding me? He wouldn’t have made it without you. Period. He told us you were amazing. And though you had your own plans, you felt sorry for the poor baby and helped him. He said you had an extremely kind heart.”

  Abby got caught speechless for the moment. He’d actually said that about her. “I volunteered because I wanted to help. It wasn’t that I felt sorry for them.” Abby was disturbed that Maggie might think it was all because of pity.

  Hearing the unhappy tone in Abby’s voice Maggie’s expression changed slightly, concern entering her eyes. “Unfortunately, right or wrong, this is how Bo felt. You have to remember he’s a cowboy who believes he’s capable of anything. To be brought to his knees by a tiny baby—must be a little unsettling to his male ego.” Levi lunged at her again and Maggie let him transfer into Abby’s arms.

  “I understand that. It’s just he’s so touchy.” She grimaced thinking about it. Levi grabbed a fistful of her hair and grinned. She cuddled him close, inhaling his sweet scent, but her thoughts were on that moment standing beside her car with Bo.

  Maggie continued. “Capable is a cowboy’s middle name and they can do so much you don’t even expect. I was amazed at what I saw when I came here and participated in the infamous bet with Tru. For Bo to have accepted your help showed just how out of his comfort zone he was with Levi.”

  No wonder her words at the picnic had affected him so—saying she’d been at the wrong place at the wrong time ever since coming to town had hit him hard. He’d already felt bad about what he was doing and then she’d said that.

  That he’d taken advantage of her. She knew that wasn’t entirely true. She’d been the one to offer her help. He hadn’t come to her, but like he’d said when he apologized to her, he really believed she’d only offered because she was worried about Levi and maybe felt obligated . . . that’s how it sounded to Abby.

  “You always have such insights, I’m amazed. I have to tell you that I’m a big reader of your column. Your advice has helped me very much.” Abby wasn’t sure if people in Maggie’s position were bothered when fans came up to them but one way or the other Abby had to express her gratitude. A warm, wide smile spread across Maggie’s face.

  “Thank you, Abby. It means a great deal to me when I can help someone. To tell you the truth, sometimes I have to make myself say what I’m thinking and pray the Lord is leading my words. I can be pretty blunt and I worry it might hurt someone’s feelings, but sometimes the truth hurts.”

  Abby knew that was so. “Like me, sometimes people need a wake-up call. A little kick in the pants to get them thinking straight. Or to make them take courage and move forward. Your advice is always sound. I’m trying to implement it in my life . . . because I know I need to.”

  Maggie studied her, cocked her head slightly. “This is really hard for you, I can see that. If I can help in any way, I want to help.” She smiled. “You remind me of someone I love so much. My friend Jenna made hard choices too. Forced herself to make them, actually.”

  Abby sobered, knowing by the intensity of Maggie’s words that this meant a lot to her too. “And how is that working out for your friend?”

  Maggie sighed. “She’s making it, and she holds fast to the belief that she made the right choice despite how tough and heartbreaking it was for her to give her baby up for adoption. Abby, I hope I didn’t mislead you in any way. Change isn’t always easy. And it doesn’t always turn out the way you think it will or want it to.”

  “I know. Believe me, I know. And you didn’t mislead me. I came here to force myself to move forward and knowing it could be a good move or a bad move . . . but at least it’s a move and that is more than I was making sitting in my home. I wasn’t doing anyone any good there.”

  Maggie smiled. “You’re a kindred spirit, I believe. We’ll talk more, but I need to get this little fella home for his nap. Are you planning to come to dinner at the ranch tomorrow night? Bo was coming by to see you and I’m hoping you accepted his invite. We really want to have the whole family together to officially welcome you to town and to thank you for your help. We’d do it tonight, but Jarrod is tied up on the road and we want him there too.”

  “I’m coming. I told Bo I would. As long as I’m not intruding.”

  “Intruding? Are you kidding? I’m the only female out there. I would love some female company and that little fella right there obviously wants you to come.”

  “It sounds like fun, I can’t wait.”

  As Abby drove home, she knew it was true. Friday couldn’t arrive soon enough . . . she just hoped Bo didn’t read too much into the evening.

  20

  Bo snatched his hat from his head and knocked on Abby’s door. He’d half expected her to cancel but Maggie had told him she’d also invited her and Abby had agreed.

  The door opened and all he could say was, “Hey.” She was gorgeous, maybe not in a magazine-cover way, but Bo knew that wasn’t important. She was real, and her eyes sparkled with anticipation. Her thick dark hair was tucked behind her ears but that didn’t stop his fingers from itching to lose themselves in it. To feel the silky texture and draw it close so he could smell that familiar soft scent of spring that always clung to her hair and skin. He’d tried to hold down his anticipation, but he’d thought about her all the time.

  “Hey, yourself,” she said with a gentle laugh.

  He swallowed hard. Like always, her la
ughter reverberated through him like music “You look per—” He cleared his throat and started over. He was trying not to run her off. “You look like you’re ready to make one little boy extremely happy tonight. And you’ll get to see his new game.” Good, Monahan. Keep the focus off the energy that radiated between them.

  “No happier than me,” she said without hesitation. “I can’t wait to see him again. And Pops. I’ve missed them both.”

  And Bo’d missed her.

  So much that the realization of it shook him up. Had she missed him?

  She didn’t waste any time conversing on the doorstep today. Instead she hurried to his truck and he kept pace beside her, reaching to open her door.

  It was quiet as he backed out of the driveway a few seconds later and nothing was said as they drove down the tree-lined street. Rand came out of his house and got in his car as they were leaving, but Bo didn’t say a word about him. Neither did Abby. Bo was instantly reminded of their argument over Rand. He hoped he was doing well and made a note to himself to drop in and see him soon.

  “I met Maggie, did she tell you?” Abby said, breaking the silence.

  “Yeah, she did. She’s looking forward to seeing you again.”

  “How’s Pops doing today? She said he’d been having some good days.”

  He liked that she asked after him. “He’s doing great. You’ll see. He’ll probably even hold a conversation with you. I mean, it’s not like it used to be, but we celebrate every day that resembles the way he used to be.”

  “That’s a good way to look at it, Bo,” she ventured after a pause.

  Bo shrugged. “It is what it is. After a while you can’t be in denial about it. You have no choice about whether to accept it or not. You just have to do what you have to do.”

  Abby looked thoughtful. “I think that applies to a lot of situations.”

  “Yeah, and that’s the thing . . . everyone has something.” She nodded, and he knew she was probably thinking of her own loss. “How are you doing?”

  “I-I’m doing good,” she said, her gaze sliding away from his to stare at the passing pastures. It seemed they’d traveled this road a lot in the short time they’d known each other. He watched the road too . . . but he glanced back at her, studied her profile, and didn’t believe her.

  They didn’t say much more on the final leg of the trip. At the house, he led the way inside to Pops’s study and Abby didn’t hesitate to hug Pops and reach out to Levi the moment she saw them.

  Bo grinned watching her as she bounced his son on her hip and looked his Pops in the eye and asked him how his day was going.

  “Not bad,” Pops said, his eyes as clear as Bo had seen them in weeks. And now his eyes twinkled even more vibrantly looking at Abby. “I’ve got a great-grandson I need to teach . . .” He hesitated, his eyes unfocused momentarily and Bo’s heart dipped as he watched the man he respected more than anyone falter somewhere in the fog that was inside his own head.

  “To ride?” Abby added for him with an encouraging smile.

  “Yup. He’ll like it. I’ve got a show this weekend, feels like a good weekend to win.”

  Bo grinned and glanced over to see Tru and Jarrod grin, too, at their Pops’s favorite saying most of their lives.

  Maggie’s eyes twinkled like Pops’s. “Okay, fellas, y’all have to keep yourselves entertained for a few minutes. Abby, do you want to help me with the salad?”

  “I sure do. Pops, maybe you can teach me to ride sometime,” Abby said as she stood up.

  “Nope. Bo can teach you.”

  Abby’s mouth fell open slightly and Bo didn’t blame her. Pops might not be able to remember who any of them were in the morning, but tonight nothing was getting by him.

  “So what’s going on between you and Abby?” Tru asked Bo the moment Maggie swept her to the kitchen.

  “Nothing. What makes you ask that?” Bo was leaning against the bookshelf and all eyes turned to him.

  Jarrod gave a slow smile, obviously finding humor in the moment.

  Tru grinned. “Give us some credit, that smile on your face is not because of us.”

  “Nope,” Pops agreed, looking as if he never had a problem with his memory.

  “Okay, okay, so I think she’s great. But there is more to it than that. It’s complicated.”

  “Complicated? Sounds serious,” Tru chuckled. “Like I don’t know complicated—believe me, complicated is good. So spill.”

  “Hey, not happening. And that’s all I’m saying on the subject right now.” He knew by their expressions that he’d said plenty. One thing his brothers weren’t was dumb.

  “I have to tell you that Tru and I were shocked and overjoyed to find out Bo had a son,” Maggie confessed not long after they reached the kitchen away from the men. “We knew going into our marriage that we couldn’t have any of our own—it was a very hard thing for us to accept. There were some things to work through, but our love is strong and we’ve accepted it.” She looked thoughtful, as if thinking back to something then she smiled happily at Abby. “There are plenty of babies out there that need good homes. But to have a nephew right now has thrilled us both. I love babies. It’s just an unexpected blessing—though I’m terribly sorry for his mother.”

  Abby started chopping a tomato on the cutting board. “I feel bad for her too. But she made the right choice when she let Bo know he had a son and chose our family to love Levi after she was gone.” Even if Abby hadn’t already picked up on that in Maggie’s column, she’d have known it the moment she saw Maggie with Levi that he would be loved by his aunt.

  Maggie turned to look fully at her. “I still can’t believe you moved here because of my column.”

  “Does that make me weird?”

  Maggie laughed as she pulled enchiladas from the oven. “No. I knew there was a possibility someone would move here. Wishing Springs is wonderful and there are all these cowboys, but you’re the first one.”

  Abby finished chopping the tomatoes for the salad and tried to calm the nerves that had been steadily rising from the moment Bo picked her up. “I have to admit that all of my friends thought I’d lost my mind.”

  “Nope. Not at all. I’m glad you’re here. And, I hope that it’s as good for you as it’s been for me.” Maggie smiled warmly and Abby topped the salad off with the cheese. “There—the masterpiece is finished.”

  “It looks good enough to eat,” Abby said, a smile in her voice.

  While Maggie set the tea on the table, Abby went to let everyone know dinner was ready. As she entered the den she grew still, overwhelmed by the array of trophies and various awards that Pops had won through the years.

  “Dinner’s ready,” she announced. Levi threw his stuffed giraffe out of the playpen and giggled. Pops instantly went to pick it up.

  Bo came to stand beside her. “I’ll round Pops and Levi up,” he said as Jarrod and Tru rose.

  “Sounds good,” Tru said, grinning. “Good luck breaking up that party.”

  Levi giggled again and Abby saw Jarrod smile on his way out of the room.

  “Looks like they’re having fun.”

  Bo crossed his arms and smiled. “Levi and Pops’s new game. The baby throws his toys out of the playpen and Pops retrieves them. They love it.”

  Abby’s heart swelled with emotion watching the two and their new game. “Levi is good for him.” She glanced at Bo and her heart thudded with awareness. “I would have thought Solomon might be a little jealous,” she added quickly. “But he seems to enjoy lounging under the table and watching.”

  “I know. I hate to say it, but that is the strangest dog.”

  She agreed. “He’s like a stealth bomber or something. You never know from where he’s going to appear and he’s silent as a whisper until he gets his tail in an uproar and then he’ll scare the daylights out of you with that wail he does.”

  “Levi likes him,” Bo said, sounding distracted as he held her gaze.

  “Yes. He does,” Abby ag
reed, enjoying the conversation. She found herself leaning toward Bo and her pulse raced when he leaned toward her, his deep eyes drawing her. He was going to kiss her. And she . . . Abby jerked back. “Dinner. Dinner is ready. I’ll get Levi.”

  She practically ran across the room, not feeling steady until she’d lifted Levi into her arms and held him close. Without looking at Bo again, she carried Levi into the kitchen. What had she been thinking?

  That kissing Bo sounded . . . perfect.

  The minute dinner was over Bo asked Maggie if she’d watch Levi and then he asked Abby if she’d take a walk with him.

  “Just a walk,” he assured her after Jarrod had headed home and Tru and Pops had headed back into the den to watch tapes from Tru’s latest competition. Something Pops loved to do and even with his Alzheimer’s he was still able to point out some small thing that could have improved the ride.

  “Okay, sure.” Abby didn’t sound completely sure she wanted to be alone with him and he deserved that, after that near kiss before dinner that sent her running.

  The sun had lowered in the sky as they started down the lane toward the barns, and though he found himself wanting to reach for her hand he kept his hands to himself. They didn’t say anything for a few yards, just listened to the crickets and frogs. When they got within hearing distance of the stable, the soft neighs and whickers could be heard.

  “You have a great family, Bo.”

  “Yeah, I think so.”

  “And this ranch, what I’ve seen of it, is amazing. I can only imagine how lucky you were to have this beauty around you growing up. Levi is going to love it. It’s so peaceful,” Abby said.

  “Yeah, I love it. After my parents died in the plane crash, we were faced with the strong possibility that we would lose the place. It nearly tore me up.” He tucked his fingers in his jeans pockets and gave her a sidelong look. “But then, you’re no stranger to loss, to grief.”

  “No. But I’m sorry that happened to you. I had no idea you almost lost the ranch.”