The Cowboy's Last Goodbye (Grass Valley Cowboys Book 6)

by Shanna Hatfield

  Ernie Harwell

  “If we do this, you know there is no going back,” Harper said as she and Ben drove into the parking lot at the school. He’d picked her up right on time to go the football game.

  Although she’d looked forward to it all day, the realization of what they were about to do hit with full force.

  “Ben, if we walk into that game together, if anyone sees me arrive with you, they’ll know we’re together. Are you sure that’s what you want to do?” Harper didn’t care if every single person in a three state area knew she was dating Ben. However, he’d been so secretive, she wasn’t sure he really wanted word to get out, particularly to his family.

  “I’m tired of pretending, Harper. I haven’t out-and-out lied to anyone, but it doesn’t feel much different than if I had. Besides, I’m proud of you, proud to be with you. I don’t want you to think otherwise.” Ben ran around the pickup to open the door for her. “Ready or not, we are going in there together, holding hands, and I might even steal a kiss or two.”

  “Whatever you say, Captain Morgan.” Harper winked at him as they walked across the parking lot.

  Although no one was surprised to see Ben arrive with a girl, many startled stares indicated they hadn’t expected to see him with Harper.

  Ben purchased hamburgers, fries, and sodas at the concession stand then they made their way through the crowd to the bleachers.

  “Do you want to sit with family or somewhere else?” he asked as he caught sight of Travis and Tess sitting with Lindsay and Trent.

  “I don’t mind sitting with your family.” Harper offered him a smile full of sincerity. “I really do enjoy them, Ben. After growing up with only one sibling, it’s fun to be around all your family.”

  He nodded and led the way up the steps.

  When Tess caught sight of the two of them together, she pointed a finger at Ben. “I knew it! I knew you had a thing for Harper! Ha! Right again!”

  “Just shut it, Tessie.” Ben gave her a warning scowl. “I don’t want to hear your gloating or bragging or whatever else is gonna spill out of her mouth. No more commentary or we’ll go sit with the visiting team.”

  Tess huffed and glared at him. “Fine, but before I shut up, I just want to say how happy I am that the mystery girl turned out to be Harper.” She reached a hand out to her friend. “We had so much fun the day you came over to help at the house.”

  Harper smiled at Ben’s sister. “I had a great time with you all, too.” She sat down beside Tess and Ben took a seat next to her.

  He glanced around then turned to Trent and Lindsay in the row behind them. “Where’s Emily?”

  “Lonnie and Maren asked if she could visit them this weekend. They want to get in some practice,” Lindsay said excitedly.

  Tess squealed and turned around, placing a hand on Lindsay’s knee. “They’re expecting?”

  Lindsay nodded.

  “Oh, that’s awesome,” Tess gushed. “When is the baby due?”

  “The end of March,” Lindsay said, appearing pleased by the announcement. “I’m so happy for them.”

  “Give them our congratulations,” Tess said.

  “Yeah, that’s really exciting, Lindsay.” Travis looked back at his sister-in-law with a fond smile.

  “You can tell them I said they better have a boy who loves blue to go with your Pinkie girl,” Ben teased.

  “No matter how much you tease Emily, we all know she’s got you wrapped around her little finger.” Lindsay gave Ben’s shoulder a playful shove then waved at someone in the crowd.

  Ben spied Trey, Cady, and Cass making their way toward them. Cady wore a complacent look as she hurried up the bleachers and grinned at Ben. “I knew Harper was the girl you’d been goofy for all summer.” She turned to Trey. “I was right again, boss man.”

  Tess gave her a high five while Lindsay laughed and the three Thompson brothers shook their heads.

  Cady leaned around Ben and gave Harper a warm hug. “I’m so glad it’s you. We love having you around.”

  “Thank you, Cady. I appreciate that. I enjoy spending time with all of you, too.”

  Trey and Cady took a seat next to Trent and Lindsay while Cass sat down on the other side of Ben.

  “Well, Cass-full-of-sass, what do you know today?” Ben asked, more than ready to direct the conversation away from his relationship with Harper. Why did his family and friends have to be so intently interested in his personal life? The sweet romance he had with Harper was no one’s business but his.

  Cass wrinkled her nose at him. “I’m not full of sass,” the child said, looking back at her father. At his knowing grin, she added, “at least not most of the time.”

  “Just wait until you’re a teenager, then you will be.”

  The dubious expression on her little face clearly stated she didn’t believe him.

  Ben noticed Shiloh and Shane weren’t with their parents and glanced around to see if someone else had them. Often at community events, the little rascals would end up being doted over by some of the high school girls who occasionally babysat them.

  “Where are your brothers?” Ben asked Cass.

  Obviously, thrilled to have a twin-free evening, she excitedly bounced on her seat. “Aunt Viv and Uncle Joe have them. The boys are supposed to spend the night, so I get Mama and Daddy all to myself.”

  Ben swallowed a laugh and settled his arm around her shoulders. “And you like that, don’t you?”

  “Sometimes,” Cass said. She leaned close to his ear. “I don’t mind Shiloh and Shane most of the time, but don’t tell anyone.”

  “I won’t. It’s our secret,” Ben said with a solemn nod then he offered Cass some of his French fries.

  Just before the game started, Ben looked over at Harper. Although she spoke with Tess, she squeezed his hand, letting him know she was aware of his presence. That simple touch made him smile and plucked at his heart.

  Since he started dating Harper, he’d broken nearly every rule he’d established to keep his heart safeguarded. Even though his head told him to offer her a last goodbye and walk away, his heart wouldn’t let him. Not yet.

  Once the game began, Harper’s hand slid along his thigh until her fingers meshed with his. Content, Ben brought her hand to his lips and kissed the back of it before returning his attention to the game.

  Harper enthusiastically cheered along with the rest of them. At half time, Ben wrapped his arm around her and bent close to her ear. “Are you having a good time?”

  A light twinkled in her blue eyes as she turned to look at him. “I’m having a great time, Ben. I haven’t been to a football game since I was in high school. I’d forgotten how much fun they can be.”

  “I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself.” He drew her closer. “My family isn’t driving you batty are they?”

  Harper gave him a reprimanding look. “Just because they push your buttons, doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy being around them.”

  Ben grinned. “Most of the time, I only pretend they annoy me because it’s what they expect. That’s part of the fun.”

  Harper laughed and turned her attention back to the game as the players returned to the field. As the temperature dropped, Ben kept Harper close to his side, sharing his warmth with her. She’d forgotten to bring a jacket, but he entirely liked the idea of keeping her warm.

  By the end of the third quarter, he’d abandoned all efforts at paying attention to the game and instead watched Harper. She laughed at something his sister said, leaned back to talk to Cady, and grinned at a joke Travis told.

  Harper Hayes fit in so perfectly with his family, it scared him.

  Unwilling to explore his feelings and the reasons for them, he reached out and captured Harper’s chin in his hand, turning her to face him. The kiss he planted on her mouth caused Trent, Trey, and Travis to comment and whistle.

  Tess reached over and smacked his arm. “Good grief, Ben! Let her up for air!”

  As he raised his head with a shee
pish grin, Ben imagined he felt the heat coming from Harper’s flaming cheeks.

  Although he admittedly deserved it, he wondered if she’d slap his face.

  Instead, she gave him a soft, tender look full of love. Then, as if the kiss hadn’t happened, she said something to Tess and watched the hometown team catch a pass and race to the end zone.

  “You are in it deep, man,” Trey whispered as he leaned forward and placed a hand on Ben’s shoulder.

  Ben glanced back at him with a glare. “We’re just friends.”

  Trey snickered. “Evidently, really good, intensely passionate friends.”

  Ben stiffened when Trey laughed again. “Don’t fight the inevitable, man. The sooner you realize the truth, the sooner you’ll enjoy all the benefits that come with it.”

  Annoyed and somewhat perplexed, Ben tried to turn his focus back to the game. However, thoughts of how much he enjoyed that kiss and how many more he wanted to share with Harper left him unable to think of little else beyond the intriguing woman beside him.

  The crowd surged to their feet as the quarterback raced to make a touchdown in the last few seconds of the game.

  Automatically, Ben stood, but his attention wasn’t on the field. It rested on the blonde enchantress beside him. He studied the perfect fit of her jeans, the way her bobbed hair swayed enticingly around her face as she cheered and clapped, the friendly smile as she hugged Tess when the team scored and won the game.

  Harper was a wonderful, intelligent, caring, fun, lovely woman. A smart man would do everything in his power to make her his own.

  Ben wondered when he’d turned into such an idiot because he had no intention of laying claim to her beyond the moment.

  Disturbed by his thoughts, he scowled at Trey when he smacked him on the back as he stood to leave.

  “You two kids stay out of trouble,” Trey cautioned with a confident grin. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

  Ben snorted. “That narrows it down to anything at all, except a few things that are definitely illegal.”

  Cady giggled and smiled at Trey. “He’s got you there, boss man.”

  Trent joined the conversation. “He sure does, bro. Let’s leave these two lovebirds alone. I think we’ve tormented them enough for one evening.”

  Cass hugged her aunts and uncles before she followed her parents down the steps and out to the parking lot.

  Ben smiled at Harper and took her hand in his. They were ready to go when Tess offered him an imploring look. “Will you come back to the house and have some dessert? I baked a chocolate cake this morning.”

  The last thing Ben wanted to do was endure more teasing and speculation from his sister and brother-in-law, but Harper gave him a hopeful look, so he nodded his head. “That sounds nice, Tess. We’ll meet you there.”

  His sister beamed as Travis helped her to her feet. Ben stared at her protruding stomach. “Are you sure the doctor gave you the right due date?”

  Tess scowled at him. “Thanks a lot. I appreciate the implication that I look ready to burst. You don’t have to say it even if it is true.”

  “I think you look beautiful. Your skin positively glows,” Harper said, patting Tess on the back.

  Travis kissed his wife’s cheek. “I think she looks beautiful, too.”

  Tess sighed. “For a beached whale, you mean.”

  Travis kept his face expressionless as he picked up the cushion Tess had sat on during the game. “I was thinking more along the lines of a walrus, but a whale works, too.”

  Tess grabbed the cushion from his hand and hit him on the shoulder with it, making Harper and Ben both laugh.

  “See what I have to put up with, Harper?”

  “I do,” Harper said, stepping into the aisle and glancing back at Tess. “A devilishly handsome husband who dotes on you. That must be quite a challenge.”

  Tess smiled then leaned against Travis. “It’s a burden I’m willing to bear.” She waved her hand toward Ben. “You two go ahead. It’ll take me a while to waddle back to the car. We’ll meet you at the house.”

  “Do you need help getting out of here, Tess?” Ben offered his sister a concerned look. For all their teasing and goading, the Morgan siblings were close and cared deeply about one another.

  “No, Ben, we’ll make it, but thank you.” Tess made another shooing motion. “Go on. We’ll catch up to you.”

  Ben nodded and took Harper’s hand, leading her through the milling attendees and back to his pickup.

  After he helped Harper inside, he started the engine and turned on the heat, noticing she appeared chilled.

  “I figure it will take Tess about ten minutes to get out here. Not only is she moving slowly, she’ll have to talk to everyone on the way out of the bleachers.”

  “I think it’s nice she’s so friendly, and she truly is beautiful, Ben. All of you have that same color of hair and similar eyes.” Harper watched the dispensing crowd out the window.

  “Are you saying you think I’m beautiful like my sister?” Ben asked.

  Harper could hear the teasing lilt to his voice. “Not at all. It must have taken your parents a second try to get the looks of their children just right. It’s too bad you don’t share a stronger resemblance to Brice. He’s very good-looking.”

  Unsure if Harper was serious since he and Brice looked so much alike, he caught the hint of her grin. He reached across the cab, tickling her sides, making her laugh and squirm.

  “Now you have to tell me the truth, Tinker Bell. Do you think I’m as attractive as my brother?”

  Harper stopped wiggling and turned to face Ben. In no hurry, she bracketed his face in her hands and smiled alluringly at him. “I think you’re more handsome than any man I’ve met, Ben Morgan, and that’s the truth.” She kissed his cheek then pulled back and touched her finger to the small indentation above his lip. “You know this little spot here?”

  “What about it?” His husky reply enthralled Harper.

  Her eyes glowed as she gazed at him. “Someone once told me those are dimples made by an angel’s kiss when you’re a newborn.”

  Ben drew her across the seat and into his arms. “I don’t know about an angel’s kiss when I was born, but I’d sure like to kiss an angel right now.”

  “Ben…” Harper whispered as his lips connected with hers in a gentle, affectionate blending that made her heart flutter in her chest. If this was the type of fairy tale love she’d read about as a child, no wonder it’s what every little girl wanted to grow up to experience.

  Of their own volition, her arms wrapped around Ben’s neck and she moved closer to him as the kiss deepened.

  The fervent exchange scattered her thoughts as everything else in the world ceased to exist beyond Ben and her love for him.

  A tap on the window behind her made her gasp while Ben glared at Travis’ knowing grin. He pushed a button and rolled down the window.

  “What?” he barked.

  Travis continued grinning. “Just thought you might want to know Tess is in the car and we’re heading home. See you there.”

  Ben scowled at Travis then rolled up the window. Harper slid back into her seat and fastened her seat belt, embarrassed Travis caught them in the midst of such an ardent kiss. The realization they were in the middle of the school parking lot made Harper question at what point she’d lost all her common sense.

  As though he sensed her concerns, Ben took her hand in his. “Hey, Tink, don’t worry about it. It’s not the first time someone has been caught kissing in the parking lot and it sure won’t be the last.”

  Harper smiled, acknowledging the truth in Ben’s words. It was the high school parking lot after all. She was certain kisses exchanged in vehicles happened with regularity.

  “Thank you for agreeing to spend some time with Tess and Travis,” Harper said, studying Ben across the cab. Although he was obviously devoted to his sister, he’d hesitated to accept her invitation.

  “I should be the one thanking yo
u. Tess is a good cook, and I enjoy visiting with her and Trav. I just didn’t want you to be overwhelmed with my family after we sat with them at the game.”

  “Honestly, Ben, I really enjoy them. I like to be around them. Besides, I’m not quite ready for this little adventure to end and if we hadn’t agreed to go to your sister’s house, it would have been time for you to take me home.”

  “True, but we could have at least parked part-way down your driveway and engaged in some serious kissing.”

  Harper smiled, liking the idea of more kisses with Ben. “And that is going to get us into trouble, Captain Morgan, if we aren’t careful.”

  “I already told you I’m not afraid of your uncle.”

  A sigh slipped between Harper’s lips. “It’s not him I’m talking about and you know it. I’m referring to your unique talent of knocking every bit of sense out of my head when you press those incredible lips to mine.”

  Ben waggled an eyebrow. “So now I have incredible lips?”

  At Harper’s red cheeks, he chuckled. “How about my ears? Are they magnificent? Does my nose earn a superb rating?”

  Thankful for Ben’s lighthearted teasing, she laughed. “No, it does not, you crazy man.”

  The light mood continued as they spent the next two hours with Travis and Tess before Ben decided he really should take Harper home.

  Again, he walked her to the door. They both smiled when they heard General bark and Uncle Cletus shush him from his spot near the window.

  “Are you busy tomorrow?” Ben asked as he caressed her cheek with the palm of his hand.

  “Not really. Why?”

  “Dad asked me to run into Madras to pick up an order at the feed store and a few parts for the tractor. Would you like to come along? We could eat lunch and be back by early afternoon.”

  Thrilled at the prospect of spending a portion of the day with Ben, she nodded her head. “I’d love that. What time do you want to leave?”

  “Is eight too early?” Ben wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into a hug, savoring the feel of her in his arms.

  “Eight is doable,” she said. “Why don’t I meet you at Hart’s station or at the ranch so you don’t have to go out of your way to pick me up?”