Little Cowgirl Needs a Mom

by Thayer, Patricia

  Of course, her stepbrother already knew where she was living when he’d called her. And she’d refused to help him. In the past, Todd had never liked it when she didn’t do what he wanted. She closed her eyes, trying to fight off the bad memories. Whenever Todd wanted something he’d found a way to get it. He’d been a bully and a troublemaker all his life. He picked on her because she had told on him many times.

  One particular incident when she’d told on him had sent him to juvenile hall. She’d stayed clear of him ever since. Once away at college, she’d heard that he’d been arrested again and this time he was sent to prison.

  She had finally felt safe. Until now. She seriously doubted he’d been reformed during his years of incarceration. She knew deep down that he’d had something to do with the break-in. And, if it had been Todd, she couldn’t stay here. She couldn’t cause her friends any more trouble. “Jenny Collins.”

  She looked up to see a nurse, stood and went to her. “Is Evan okay?”

  “The doctor will give you the information.” She led Jenny back to a curtained cubicle where Evan—minus his shirt—sat on the exam table.

  Oh, boy! Her breath caught as she tried not to stare, but she lost the battle. He had a well-developed chest and broad shoulders. His arms weren’t bad, either.

  He smiled at her. “Doc says I’m lucky he hit me on the head. So it looks like I’m going to live.”

  “I’m sure your family will be happy to hear that.”

  An older man with gray thinning hair and a ruddy complexion walked in. “Hello, I’m Charlie Michaels. Everyone calls me Doc Charlie. I’ve been looking after this guy and his brother most of their lives. By the looks of it, they still can’t stay out of trouble.”

  “I’m Jenny Collins, nice to meet you, doctor. I manage the quilt shop where Evan got injured. This was my fault.”

  “Jenny, you had nothing to do with the break-in,” Evan said. “I’m just glad you weren’t there alone.”

  “Well, you didn’t need to rush in and play hero, either,” she argued.

  The doctor smiled. “I like this one,” he said to Evan. “She can hold her own with you.”

  Evan looked irritated. “Can I go now?”

  “Sure. Just remember you have a slight concussion, so don’t take anything stronger than ibuprofen. And take tomorrow off work.”

  “Yeah, right.”

  “Do you have someone to drive you home and check you during the night?”

  “Yes, he does,” Jenny said. “Me.”

  The doctor grinned. “You are a lucky man, Evan Rafferty. And since you’re in good hands, I’ll go check on patients who really need me.” He turned and left them.

  “Let’s get out of here.” Evan stood and slipped into his shirt. It had been one hell of a night. He might have the mother of all headaches, but he was grateful that Jenny hadn’t been hurt. He didn’t want to think about what might have happened if she’d been there alone at the shop. If this guy was still around, he wasn’t letting her out of his sight. Not until he could guarantee she’d be safe.

  “Evan, I didn’t mean to say I’d be there during the night. Of course I’ll drive you back to the ranch, and your dad can check on you. I’ll just need your truck to get back to town.”

  He began tucking his shirttail into his jeans. He caught her watching him and found he liked distracting her.

  “You can’t stay in your apartment tonight. For one thing it isn’t safe, and besides the sheriff is still investigating the break-in.”

  He went to her and gripped her by the arms. “Jenny, that guy who hit me tonight wasn’t messing around. He could be some crazy druggie. You’re coming to stay at the ranch.”

  She glanced away. “I’ll go to Allison.”

  He shook his head. “I already called Dad earlier and told him what happened. He knows you’re coming home with me. In fact, he has a room ready for you. And you won’t even have to share it with six little girls.”

  He’d discovered he’d liked having her in his house. So did Gracie and his dad and brother. He had feelings for Jenny, but he still wasn’t sure if he was ready to try another relationship.

  “Come on, let’s go.”

  He didn’t give her a chance to argue as he took her by the arm and they walked out of the exam room. Evan stopped by the desk and signed all the insurance forms, then they headed toward the lobby. He was going to keep her close to him so he could protect her.

  Unable to go to her apartment because it was a crime scene, they made a quick stop by the twenty-four-hour drug store. Jenny grabbed some personal items, then they were on their way.

  Evan insisted he was okay to drive, so she called Allison and let her know where she’d be. Her friend told her that Alex was out of town, but assured her that the apartment would be cleaned up and new locks installed as soon as the sheriff okayed it. She also offered her a place to stay.

  “Thanks, Allison, but I’m acting as nurse for Evan tonight.” She couldn’t believe she’d said that. “I mean he has a concussion and needs to be watched.”

  She heard the smile in her friend’s voice. “Well, don’t let me keep you. I’ll talk to you in the morning and the shop will be closed for the day. So don’t think about work tomorrow.”

  “I need to help clean up.”

  “No, we’ll have someone take care of it,” Allison told her. “If you’re both up to it, come by for supper tomorrow night. Alex will be home and he wants to discuss more security. And bring Gracie.”

  “Thank you. I’ll see how Evan’s feeling.” Jenny wanted to get off the phone.

  “Take care of yourself and Rafferty.”

  “I will.” She said goodbye and closed her phone. “Alex and Allison are going to handle things at the shop. They asked to talk to us so we’re invited for supper tomorrow. Gracie, too.”

  He nodded. “Okay. They’re trying to make it easier for you,” Evan said, heading out of town. “None of this was your fault.”

  She wasn’t so sure. Again she thought, if this had anything to do with Todd then it was her fault.

  Twenty minutes later Evan pulled up to the back of the house. They walked up the steps to the kitchen door, went inside and were met by Sean. He examined his son with a worried gaze, then pulled him into a big bear hug.

  “Okay, Dad, you can let go now.”

  Jenny was next. “Ah, lass. Praise be, you’re safe.” He pulled her close and she reveled in the warmth of his embrace. She’d never had a father figure growing up. She liked the feeling.

  “It’s Evan you should worry about. You should also talk to your son about running off to catch bad guys.”

  Sean shook his head. “Ah, would do little good, the Raffertys are a stubborn bunch. We think we can take on the world.” He grinned. “Now, son, go take this young lady upstairs and get her settled in. I’ll be down here if anyone needs anything.” He kissed Jenny’s cheek, then disappeared into the room off the kitchen.

  “Tired?” Evan asked her.

  She nodded. “Exhausted, but I’m still keyed up.”

  “Come on, you need to try and get some sleep.”

  He took her hand and they walked up the stairs. It seemed a natural thing to do, as though they were a couple retiring for the night.

  She shook away the crazy thought. At the top of the stairs, he directed her toward a small room. It was a combination office and guest room with a sofa bed pulled out and made up.

  “If you’re not comfortable here, you can have my room since I’m not going to be sleeping much.”

  She frowned. “No! I can’t sleep in your bed. I mean, I can’t take it from you.” She motioned to the double-sized sofa bed. “You can’t fit in this.”

  Still holding her hand, he tugged her to him. “I’d definitely make the effort…if you were there.”

  His head dipped and he covered her mouth with his. She tried to resist him, but found she didn’t want to. It felt good to be here, almost too good. Jenny’s arms went around his
neck as he opened his mouth over hers. With a groan he drew her against him, and she could feel what she was doing to him.

  He finally pulled back. “You’re killing me, Jenny.”

  She continued to take soft nibbles from his lower lip, finding it more and more difficult to resist him. “You started it, Rafferty.”

  “And you’re taking advantage of an injured man.”

  She pulled back. “Oh, I forgot. Are you hurting?”

  He gave her a lopsided grin. “That all depends what part of my anatomy we’re talking about.”

  She tried not to smile but lost. “You need to be in bed.” She pointed toward the door. “Out. Go and rest in your room.”

  “Are you sure?”

  In the past, she’d always jumped into relationships too fast. And where had it gotten her? And even teasing with Evan didn’t mean that he wanted any more.

  “Yes. You need to rest. And I need something to sleep in. Do you have an extra pair of pajamas?”

  He folded his arms over his chest. “Not since I was eight years old. Would a T-shirt work?”

  She nodded, realizing she was fantasizing too much on what he wore. Or didn’t wear.

  He walked out and returned with a white T-shirt and a soft denim shirt. “A nightshirt and robe. It’s the best I can do.”

  “It’s great. Thanks.” He started to leave, then he paused at the door and said, “Boxer briefs.”

  She blinked. “Excuse me.”

  “Since I have a daughter, I wear boxer briefs to sleep in.” He smiled again. “I wouldn’t want you to lie awake wondering.”

  She hated that he could read her. “Thanks, Rafferty, that’s kind of you.” She held up his T-shirt. “And now you won’t have to wonder about what I sleep in.” She shut the door chuckling at his groan.

  The next morning the sun was barely up when Jenny decided she couldn’t stay in bed any longer. She glanced at her cell phone clock and saw it was five-thirty.

  She stretched. She hadn’t slept much during the last six hours. After she’d checked on Evan at two, he’d informed her he was going to sleep and she’d better too, or he’d find another activity to fill their time.

  As much as she wanted the man, she wasn’t ready for the next step. Okay, she was ready, beyond ready for a man like Evan. But…her past failed relationships made her gun-shy. And now, she had the added complications of Todd and the break-in.

  And Evan had his vineyard and was trying to be a parent to his daughter. She had her teaching career back in San Antonio. So many cons to deal with, but she could only think how hard the father and daughter would be to walk away from.

  She got up and retrieved her hand washed underwear from the bathroom. She’d showered before bed, so she quickly dressed and went downstairs to see if she could help with breakfast.

  Halfway down the staircase she smelled bacon and knew she was too late. There were murmured voices coming from the kitchen and she wondered if she should go back to her room. She spotted Sean about the same time he saw her.

  He grinned. “Good morning, lass.” He came around the counter and greeted her with a hug.

  “Morning, Sean. I came down to help you.” She glanced around to see bacon, sausage and pancakes on the table.

  “Hello, Matt,” she said to the younger Rafferty.

  “Morning, Jenny.” He smiled. “Now, this is how to brighten the day.”

  “Stop it, bro,” Evan said as he came through the back door. “She’s wise to your flirting.”

  Evan walked up to her and she thought for a minute that he was going to kiss her. He stopped short, but his deep-blue eyes told her he was thinking about it. “How did you sleep?”

  “Good.” She glanced over him. “How do you feel?”

  “Fine. My headache’s gone.”

  “It’d better be,” Matt said, then turned to her. “He’s helping me brand and inoculate the herd today.”

  “How many head do you have to do?” she asked.

  “It’s only about sixty.”

  “Could you use another pair of hands?”

  Both Raffertys stared at her. “You’re kidding, right?” Matt said.

  “No, I had to help out on my stepfather’s ranch. It didn’t matter if you were a girl or not.” She didn’t want to think about those days. “I can’t go into work today so you might as well use me here. I’ll just need a pair of gloves and a hat.”

  Matt dropped to one knee. “Oh, Jenny, lass, say you’ll marry me,” he said in his best Irish accent.

  She laughed. “I’ll think about it.” She glanced at Evan, but he didn’t look happy.

  “Could this wait until after breakfast?” Sean called. “The food is getting cold.”

  Evan stood back as his brother found Jenny a seat at the table, as if she couldn’t find a place on her own. He even pulled out her chair. That was over the top even for Matt.

  “Stop messing around so we can get going.” Evan sat down on the other side of Jenny. Were they back in high school?

  He turned and saw his daughter standing in the doorway, rubbing her eyes.

  “Hey, what’s going on?” she said, then spotted their guest. “Jenny!” She rushed to the table. “What are you doing here?”

  “Well, I spent the night in your extra room. Seems my apartment got messed up yesterday.” She glanced at Evan as if not sure how much to tell his daughter.

  “Gracie, someone broke into the shop last night. So we didn’t want Jenny staying there, and I brought her home,” Evan said.

  The child hugged her. “I’m glad. Can you stay a long time?”

  Jenny smiled. “Just today, sweetie. The shop is closed for only one day, so I’m going to help your dad and uncle Matt with the branding.”

  The girl turned to her dad and asked shyly, “Can I stay home from school and help, too?”

  Evan hated this part. “Sorry, honey, not this time. But if you get all your homework done after school, we all can go to the Casalis’ tonight.”

  Gracie’s eyes lit up and she wrapped her arms around his neck. “I will, I promise. Thanks, Daddy.”

  He swallowed hard. His daughter hadn’t asked for much. He’d almost weakened and told her they’d all spend the day together, then Jenny spoke up. “I’ll help you.”

  With a smile that couldn’t get any bigger, Gracie went to her seat next to her grandfather. “Grandpa, can I have a pancake, please?”

  “You sure can, little one.”

  Sean went to get a glass of juice and came back with a plate for his granddaughter.

  Evan’s chest tightened at seeing his child so happy. He wanted to savor every moment of it. He’d missed so much, but he realized he’d let it happen. He hadn’t wanted to cause a rift in the efficient home life Meg had made for them. But, in the meantime, he’d been pushed out of so much. No more. He would win his daughter’s heart.

  He turned to Jenny. Maybe then he could think about rebuilding his own life.

  An hour later, Jenny found herself walking with Evan and Gracie to the end of the road where the bus would take her to school.

  “You promise you’ll be here when I get home?”

  “I promise. I’ll meet you right here at three-thirty.”

  With a hug from both her dad and Jenny, Gracie stepped on the bus and they waited until it drove off and disappeared from view.

  Then, suddenly, Evan turned her around and captured her mouth in a sweet and tender kiss, leaving her a little light-headed.

  “That’s the way I wanted to greet you this morning.” He brushed his lips over hers again and again. “But I didn’t particularly want an audience.”

  “And I appreciate that.” Still holding his hand, she tugged him toward the house. “We need get back and start work.”

  He stopped. “Are you that eager, or is it me you’re trying to avoid?”

  “It’s not you, Rafferty. But we need to slow things down a little.”

  His boots crunched on the gravel road as they walked
back. “Isn’t that a speech a man usually gives a woman?”

  “I’m trying to keep things in perspective. I’ll be leaving in a few months. And you have a life here.”

  “Is that definite?”

  She nodded. She was afraid to let herself hope that something permanent would keep her here. The last thing she wanted was to be a replacement wife or mother. She wanted to be the woman that a man couldn’t live without. That he’d give up everything for. She shook her head. “I have a responsibility to the kids.”

  Evan didn’t say any more as they passed the foreman’s cottage where Matt lived, then headed to the barn where they found his brother.

  “Here’s the hat and gloves you wanted.”

  She took the straw Stetson, pulled her hair behind her ears, stuck the hat on her head, then slipped on the gloves. “Pretty good fit.”

  “I’m a good judge,” Matt teased, then sobered. He had the horses saddled and tied to the corral rail. “Okay, you ready to ride?”

  “Just tell me which mount is mine.”

  “Molly,” Evan said, stepping in. “She’s gentle enough for Gracie, but good at her job.”

  Matt swung up into the saddle. “Okay, let’s get going.”

  Jenny was suddenly excited. She hadn’t done this in a long time. She reached for Molly’s reins, put her foot in the stirrup and swung her leg over the mare’s back.

  Evan showed up beside her. “How’s the length of the stirrup?”

  “It’s fine.” She looked at Matt. “You did a good job of judging.”

  Matt winked. “Told you, I know my women.” With that said, he tugged on his reins and rode off.

  Evan mounted his gelding, then leaned toward her. In a swift movement, he leaned forward, cupped the back of her neck and kissed her.

  Desire shot through her as his mouth worked over hers. She knew he was staking his claim, but at this point she didn’t care. There were times when a woman loved a man taking charge. The right man, that is. He finally released her, and she gasped for air.

  “We’ll discuss later whose woman you are. Come on, let’s go round up some cattle.”

  CHAPTER TEN