Wishing on a Rodeo Moon (Women of Character)

by Brannigan, Grace

  "This is my place, part of my house, that is. Ben said you needed somewhere to stay." One large hand indicated the room. "It's been empty, so I told Ben you could use it."

  Not liking the feeling of being cornered, Tye wheeled away from him. "This is your place. Your house. Ben rented me a room at your house?" Tye held her breath, waiting for him to deny it. She needed to stall for time. Her thinking process felt like mush.

  "Yes. I assumed Ben had told you.

  "Guess it slipped his mind," Tye snapped. "He just told me I’d be renting a room from a friend of his. I don’t recall him mentioning that you were that friend."

  Tye didn't want to feel the tightness in her chest. She was confused, not a feeling she welcomed. No way could this man be her blue-eyed protector from that terrible night. Her memory of that time seemed skewed, as if she’d seen it through someone else’s eyes. She had thought often of that night, but it didn’t seem real.

  Her senses ultra-heightened, Tye knew he stood behind her. She could hear him breathing. She clenched her thigh, looking down at her legs, the one pant leg empty and flat. Why was she like this?

  Jake cleared his throat. "I was there that day."

  "That day?" she repeated hoarsely, turning back to him. Desperately, she searched his face.

  Jake nodded.

  "I don’t want to talk about it." Tye knew the truth and it tore at her. She had known from the moment she saw his eyes. She would never forget the look there, the compassion, the fear. Why had he been afraid? He had been her protector the night of the accident. In a hidden recess of her mind, she had clung to the memory of his strength during her hospital stay, and then later during the stressful, intense rehabilitation process.

  "It wasn’t real," she muttered. She had thought of him as a guardian angel, not a real man. Not her Jake. Damn! Tye clenched her hands. Get over it, a voice screamed inside, he’s not your Jake.

  She hadn’t asked anyone about him. She had wanted to believe it was all a figment of her imagination, a spiritual presence sent during her desperate time of need. He had kept her calm while she had been extricated from under that bull. He had been her lifeline, then when medical help arrived, she hadn't seen him again. He had left her, but knowing he had been there during the worst of it had made her feel protected and special. It was strange, but she had never felt so protected in her life, and all because of a man who now looked at her as if she meant no more than a stranger.

  Tye pulled her thoughts back. They were strangers.

  She clenched her jaw and set her shoulders. "This is too much. I cannot handle this." She had said the words out loud. Oddly, she felt as if all her dreams were being ripped away. Tye tried to stay calm, but as her gaze darted around the room, regret sliced through her.

  "This place would have been perfect," she muttered. "Now it’s all ruined." It wasn't quite clear as to why, but she knew she couldn't stay here in such close proximity to Jake. The real Jake was no guardian angel, but a man who despised her. Maybe he had a right to after what she had done that night long ago.

  "Tye."

  Without thinking about it, Tye wheeled quickly toward him, adroitly aiming the chair between the door and his legs.

  Jake quickly pulled his toes in. "Hey," he said, "I've brought all the bags in. There's nothing else out there."

  Tye threw back her shoulder-length blond hair and looked straight up at him. "As soon as you move, there'll be something out there. Me."

  He looked startled and lifted his brows. Deftly, Tye wheeled past him. She heard his footsteps follow her down the ramp. She wheeled the chair faster, faster, her arms feeling as if they’d fall off. Damn! Why had the driver left so quickly?

  Tye stopped at the edge of the driveway just in time to see the van disappear. Her shoulders slumped. She cursed under her breath as Jake moved into her line of vision.

  "What's the problem, Tye? If something needs changing, I can have it done."

  "No." Hurriedly, she shook her head, refusing to look at him. It hurt so much, the thoughts in her head. He was too handsome, too much for her to look at. Memory slammed her. Jake bending down tenderly to kiss her, helping her over some rough spots when they went hiking. She recalled how he’d surprised her with flowers when they had been dating for a month and how he’d cheered her up when she lost a rodeo event. He used to tenderly rest his arm along her shoulders at the movies. She recalled the small wooden animals he carved and how he would hide them for her to find... Every minute detail she had remembered about him was the same: the blueness of his eyes; the small crinkles alongside his straight, firm mouth: the square, clean line of his jaw.

  Tye again looked at her legs, intense, emotional pain tightening her mouth. Why did she have to be like this? Why wasn't she normal? The regret of wasted years, what now felt like a wasted life, was too much.

  "This won't work," she said through gritted teeth. "I need complete privacy. Nothing personal, but I need to be totally alone. How could you imagine this would ever work? We haven’t seen each other in years, and then to be thrown together like this."

  "I live in another part of the house. If you don't want contact, I won't intrude. I work all day, anyhow. I thought I'd help you get settled in, is all." His voice sounded so calm and practical.

  Tye shook her head quickly. "No, it won't work. I need a phone. Can I use your phone?"

  Jake said, "Sure. Come on over to my house. Your phone should be working later tonight."

  Jake sensed any offer of help on his part would be swiftly rejected. He walked ahead of Tye, leading the way. For the hundredth time he asked himself how he could have been so stupid as to agree to let her stay in the empty apartment at his ranch.

  Because you’re a sucker, he thought as they neared his house. That wasn’t true and Jake knew it. He and Tye went back a long way, and a part of him still cared about her. She had nowhere else to go and she needed help.

  Maybe it was ten years too late, but Jake saw this as an opportunity to exorcize her ghost from his life. His box manufacturing business had reached a point of success where he could hire a manager. His wildlife wood and antler carving business thrived. Jake never would have guessed his carving hobby would turn into such a success. Come hell or high water, Jake was heading down the road to his future and he wasn’t looking back.

  Having Tye at the ranch would be a small price to pay if it meant closing doors on old wounds. Why had he left it so long? Finding a picture of Tye from some old clippings had prompted him to go to the rodeo that night, three months ago. Curiosity had taken him there. Fascination had made him stay, and now an urgent compulsion drew him further into her sphere.

  Jake hoped to God he could handle the reality of her injury. His father had lost both legs before he died, so Jake knew what was involved. He wasn’t sure he wanted to deal with it ― all over again. Jake didn’t know how he was going to handle it. The best thing to do would be stay out of each other’s way. He had promised Ben that Tye could recuperate here; there was no going back. But his personal feelings had no importance in the scheme of things. After all, surely he’d gotten over Tye years ago. The best thing to do would be stay out of each other’s way.

  This reunion scene with Tye was playing out like he had been afraid it would. She had taken one look at him and her hackles had risen full speed. Why? She had walked out on him, so why would she be afraid of him? She looked bone tired, frail, and her voice was bordering on panic. Jake had to keep her from leaving at all costs. He was afraid something would happen to her if she left in the state she was now. He needed to think fast. He had six sisters: he should know what to do, right?

  He opened the atrium door into his living room and stood aside. "The phone is over by the windows."

  He saw her look around his house ― the place he had bought after she’d left him. Jake was proud of his home, the hand-hewn beams, the natural, light colored woods. He had spent a lot of time making it comfortable. He thought he saw interest in her gaze, but then ti
redness seemed to shut down her face.

  Thinking fast, he followed behind her. "It’s too bad this won’t work out," he said softly. "I, uh, I’m kind of strapped for cash right now. I thought it would be an ideal arrangement." Jake thought she hesitated, her hands on the wheels, then she moved on into the room. The late afternoon sun spilled through the casement windows and touched her. Jake was close enough to see that her knuckles were white from the way she was clenching the wheels. She turned the chair so her back was to him, and quickly picked up the phone.

  As she began to punch in numbers, Jake knew he had nothing to lose. She was prepared to get out as fast as she could. He had scared her, maybe brought back the bad memories of that night, not that she would admit to it. Tye had never been one to admit to anything she felt was a weakness. She covered it up with bravado and brash nerve. Once she set her mind on a course, there was no persuading her otherwise. But now, Jake knew he had to persuade her to stay, for her own sake.

  He stepped forward, noting the soft curve of her cheek, the swing of her naturally blond hair spilling past her blue, blue eyes. She was the kind of woman a man could lose himself in and not care if he ever surfaced. Once, Jake had almost let himself get lost in her. His gaze dropped to the empty space where her right leg should be. He swallowed hard. Pain lanced through him, and he didn’t want to feel it. He didn’t want to feel connected to a woman who had thrown his love in his face.

  In his mind, Jake replayed the night of the rodeo accident. Once again he saw the bull falling on her. The bull had been old and just died. It was a scene he would never forget. He’d gone to see her once in the hospital, though she didn’t know that. He hadn’t gone back. Somehow, he didn’t think she’d want to see him and be reminded of that terrible night.

  He felt anger well in him. Her lifestyle had finally caught up with her ― the wild living, the parties. Jake read the papers. He shook his head in disgust. The bottom line was he’d wanted forever with Tye, but all she’d wanted was new excitement down the road. It seemed she had gotten what she wanted, in spades.

  Returning to the present, Jake watched Tye’s eyes, saw the overwhelming pain, the sad defeat. His gut clenched. Despite his bitterness he knew he could not let her leave. Something told him she needed this place. He had promised Ben he would help her, and dammit, he wouldn’t go back on that promise. Before long it would be dark, and it was an hour’s drive to the center, not counting how long it would take to get a driver back out here. No matter where she was going, it would take time.

  Tye held her shoulders straight, but she looked exhausted. Violet shadows emphasized her eyes and hollows lay in her cheeks. Jake figured she needed a good night's rest and then some. As his thoughts rambled on, he heard her mutter something about voice mail into the phone. Going for broke, Jake said, "I never thought I’d see the day you’d give up at the first obstacle. I guess you’ve changed over the years, Tye. But then, ten years is a long time."

  § Chapter Three §

  As if he’d touched her with a live wire, Tye’s head jerked around, her eyes narrowing and shooting fire.

  "What did you say?" she demanded. She dropped the phone back on its cradle with a loud clatter. She hoped she’d broken it, she was so mad, but she glanced at it quickly and saw it was still in one piece.

  Jake had the nerve to turn away and saunter toward the kitchen. She stared after him, for the moment speechless. Hurriedly, she jerked her eyes from his long back and legs. She wondered why he wore perfectly creased dress pants. He’d look great in tight, faded jeans. Years ago he’d worn jeans all the time. Tye made an exasperated sound, irritated with her thoughts. With a jerky movement, she propelled her chair across a short-napped grey carpet.

  "What the hell are you implying? I've never given up on anything in my life. You don't know what you're talking, about Jake Miller. I suppose this is some kind of reverse psychology?" Her entire body felt ready to snap from the tension riding her. She gripped the arms of her chair, feeling an ache shoot up into her neck. "Well, it’s not going to work. I’m not seventeen anymore. You don’t know a damn thing about me."

  Jake reached into the refrigerator and calmly took out two cans of soda. He handed one to Tye, then popped the top on his. Taking a deep gulp, he lowered the can and looked her straight in the eye. "You’re right, I don’t know a thing about you. You seemed okay with everything, the arrangements and the place, until you saw me. What we might have had is long over, so it can’t be that. So if you’re not giving up, what is it that makes you want to run like a rabbit for a hole?"

  Tye had never in her life been likened to a rabbit running for a hole in her life. The analogy caused the beginnings of a smile. She caught herself and looked away from him. She needed to stay angry so he wouldn’t catch her off guard. God knows she’d crumble into the ground if she let him get past her defenses.

  I don’t want to deal with people, anyone, the way I am now, she wanted to yell at him. I want to be selfish and alone. I don’t want to remember how I loved you.

  "I’m uncomfortable with this whole situation. I thought I was out here by myself." The truth was extremely difficult for her to admit. Tye felt as if she had no pride left. And yet, suddenly, she remembered Jake saying he needed the money.

  He shrugged his big shoulders. "Well, there's only me. Except for Sundays, there usually isn't a gang of people hanging around," he said dryly. "If you're worried about the connecting door between your side and mine, I'll hand over the keys. My mom and dad used to live here, so I have an extra set."

  Tye gripped the ice-cold can in her hand, feeling the aluminum indent under the pressure. Jerkily, she placed the can on the table beside her and pushed it toward him.

  "You shared the house with your parents?"

  "Yes. My mom needed help with my dad. It was easier this way."

  Tye felt an unexpected ache deep down. Easier for whom? Everyone but Jake. She pushed that thought aside.

  "What happens on Sundays?" A faint curiosity stirred inside her.

  "A bunch of friends come and play football. It shouldn't bother you. We play in the pasture away from your side of the house."

  "Football?" Something clicked in Tye's mind. "Ben plays football on Sundays since he moved back from New York. He hardly ever misses it."

  Jake shifted his feet. "Yeah, well, Ben's one of the guys."

  Things began to sharpen into focus. If she hadn't felt so wrapped up in herself, she might have figured it out earlier. When had she gotten so self-absorbed? "I’ve been so stuck in my own thoughts, I haven’t paid attention to what Ben’s been telling me." Tye put a weary hand to the back of her head, then flipped her hair away from her face. "God! Ben must have told me."

  Jake’s expression turned wary. "He told you about this place, that I owned it?"

  "Maybe." Something on the wall beyond Jake’s shoulder caught Tye’s attention. She had been staring at it fixedly, but her brain finally assimilated that it was a large antler, the end of which was carved into the head of a bear. The work was so breathtakingly beautiful and delicate that Tye lost her train of thought. She moved her chair toward it, then slowly reached out to run her fingertips delicately over the face of the animal.

  "Jake, I’ve never seen anything so stunning." She lifted her gaze to his in wonder. "The detail is so exquisite and fine. This carving is a work of art."

  "Thank you," Jake said simply.

  "Where did you get it?"

  "It’s an elk antler. It was given to me by a friend last year. He finds antlers in the woods when they’re shed by elk or moose ―"

  "No, the carving ― who did the carving?" Memories snapped into place. Tye let her gaze touch his, her eyes wide with amazement. "Jake, did you do this? I remember." She recalled so clearly the small wooden animals Jake used to carve. Tye had about a dozen of them in her room at Mama’s ranch.

  "You did this, Jake. You carved this antler. I had no idea you were into it so seriously."

  "There’s p
robably a lot we don’t know about each other," Jake said slowly. "It’s been a long time."

  Confused, exhausted, Tye felt suddenly overwhelmed by the pressures of the day. She was tired beyond belief. She needed to lie down. Coming to a snap decision, she tore her eyes away from the carved antler and wheeled herself to the door. "Maybe I'll stay the night and call a taxi in the morning." She couldn't help the stiffness of her voice or the determined tilt of her chin.

  Tye paused in the doorway and waited for Jake to say something. When he didn't, she looked back at him.

  "You can stay as long as you need to," he said.

  She splayed her fingers and rubbed her forehead. "Why are you doing this, Jake?" she asked, looking up at him. "Why would you offer this place to me at the low rent Ben quoted me?" She knew her voice was too high, and made an attempt to lower it. "Why me, of all people?"

  "The apartment's been empty. You needed a place to stay for a while and the solution seemed right."

  I’m kind of strapped for cash. Tye looked at him. He wouldn’t beg her to stay, and she wouldn’t want him to. Was this a small way for her to repay him for what she had done years ago? The small amount she paid him in rent might help him out now.

  Tye had another split-second flashback to the night of the accident. Once more she saw him at her side, his face filled with determination and concern, the drizzle of rain blurring his features. They should have been strangers after ten years apart, yet he had helped her that night, had stayed with her, and she felt an unwanted connection to him. Darn him! Why had he come back into her life now? How could she deal with this?

  "Why, Jake? Why were you there that night?"

  She eyed him across the room, noting a certain hardness in his expression. Tye knew he wasn’t going to answer. Why?

  The thoughts ran too fast for her to catch them. At the moment, she couldn’t think properly. She had to lie down. "I've got to get some sleep," she said. "What time do you leave for work? Will I see you in the morning?"

  "I'll be around," he promised.