The Cowboy's Healing Ways (Cooper Creek)

by Minton, Brenda

  “I’m sure it will be wonderful.”

  Jesse leaned against the counter, casual, relaxed. “Dad home?”

  “No, he’s in Grove picking up another silly llama. I don’t know why he has this sudden thing for those animals. They growl.”

  “He says he’s giving one to each of his grandkids for Christmas.”

  “Craziness.” Angie picked a few basil leaves and rinsed them before crumbling them in the soup. “Did you need to talk to him?”

  Jesse looked from his mother to Laura, and Laura had to look away. His eyes were kind, considerate. This was how it felt to have wagons circled.

  “Laura’s stepbrother is making her feel a little threatened.” Jesse turned to pour a cup of coffee. He handed it to Laura and she took it, more for the warmth it offered than anything else. “He’s making her feel like her daughter might be in danger.”

  “Where is your daughter, Laura?”

  “In a foster home in Tulsa.” Laura’s voice felt weak, shaky. “I’m sure Ryan won’t hurt her.”

  “Are you?” Angie Cooper stepped close, putting a hand on Laura’s back. “Because you look like a mom who’s scared to death for her child.”

  “I’m...”

  Angie took the coffee cup from Laura’s hands and set it on the counter before enveloping her in a hug. “Don’t you worry—we’ll help you.”

  It was a strange feeling for Laura, being in this house, with these people, a family of strangers. Angie Cooper stood next to her and Jesse leaned his hip against the counter. Laura refocused on Angie.

  “I’m not sure what we can do.” Laura looked out the window, mesmerized by the glimmering waters of the pool. “The system isn’t going to change its policy for one person. And I don’t know that she’d be any safer with me. Or even that he’d hurt her.”

  “I know a thing or two about how this system works.” Angie smiled and patted her arm. “I’m very good at pulling strings and moving mountains.”

  Laura stepped back, wiping her eyes again. She reminded herself that once, a long time ago, her mother had made promises that everything would be better. She wanted to crush the old negativity, the voices telling her not to trust.

  Her stepbrother had said he would get a job and help pay the rent on her apartment in Tulsa.

  Her stepfather had promised more than once to quit drinking, to quit abusing, to get a job. He’d never done any of those things for more than a week.

  As much as she wanted to believe people were really as good as the Coopers, Laura knew she’d have to fight a lifetime of being let down in order to trust.

  She looked up to find Jesse watching her. His expression said he understood. She wondered how he could.

  He pushed away from the counter, standing tall again, making her feel small in comparison. It wasn’t so much his height as his presence. The doctor she’d met just days ago had morphed into a cowboy, the son of a rancher. His jeans were worn and his boots were scuffed. He had held her and made her feel safer than she’d felt in years.

  “I’m going to take Laura out and show her the stable.”

  His mom shot him a look, her eyes narrowing as she glanced from Jesse to Laura. And Laura felt heat slide up her cheeks. Because that look implied something that Laura wanted to openly deny. But how desperate would it be to open her mouth and tell Angie Cooper that there was nothing between Jesse and herself?

  Angie’s smile returned, easing the worried lines that had creased her brow. “Don’t saddle Willie. He’s had a tendon problem that Jackson is doctoring.”

  “Thanks.” He kissed his mom’s cheek, then nodded toward the door. “Let’s go. And, Mom, when Dad gets back, tell him we need to talk about Gran. I’m worried about her.”

  “Okay, Jesse.”

  Laura smiled back at Angie Cooper, hoping it wasn’t worry that she saw in that woman’s eyes. Because to Laura, worry equaled a woman not wanting her son to get involved with the wrong person.

  They walked out a back door into sunshine and the sound of bees buzzing around clover in the grass. Jesse walked with an easy stride, comfortable in his own skin and his place in this world.

  “If you stay tense like that, you’ll make yourself sick.” He smiled as he made the comment and Laura managed a deep breath that she let out slowly, hoping to relax.

  “I’m not tense.”

  “Enough to snap.” He touched her back only briefly and then dropped his hands to his sides.

  “Your mom is great.” Laura let her gaze travel over the ranch, the rolling hills, the white fences, cattle grazing in the distance and horses in a nearby field.

  Ahead of them lay the stable, a huge building with several paddocks or corrals attached. A truck and a SUV were parked out front.

  “Mom is great. She’s the glue that holds this family together.”

  “I can imagine.” Laura slowed her pace as they neared the stable. “I don’t have boots. And I’m seriously scared to death.”

  “There are boots in the tack room, and the fear will be gone as soon as you settle into the saddle.”

  “You think?”

  He grinned at her. “I know.”

  He opened the stable door and motioned her inside. She walked into a world she’d never experienced but immediately loved. The stable was wide with stalls on either side of the center aisle. There were several doors midway down on the left. She assumed it was the tack room and whatever else could be housed in a building such as this one. To the right was an opening that led to the rest of the building. She slowed to get a look at the arena.

  “They’re bucking out a few bulls that Jackson recently bought,” Jesse explained as he led her past the opening to the arena.

  “Bucking out?”

  He smiled and turned her down the aisle and to the edge of the arena. On the opposite side were risers for spectators to sit on. To the left were chutes, and behind them were a few pens. Bulls bellowed and loud voices could be heard over the sound of the animals.

  “Bucking out.” Jesse pointed to the chutes and she saw a bull being run in. “Basically a practice session. My brother Gage rides, or gets tossed, depending on the week. We have a couple of neighbor kids who are learning. They’ll ride the bulls—it gives them and the bulls some training.”

  “I see.” She leaned to watch. The chute opened and a gray bull spun from the opening. The rider on his back moved with the spins and bucks, holding tight with one hand, the other in the air. The men clinging to the gate near the chute yelled at the rider as a man in the arena stayed close to the bull. The arena filled with the sounds of hooves pounding, men shouting and then the buzzer.

  “Do you ride bulls?” she asked as she watched the commotion.

  “Nope. I guess Blake and I are the only two Coopers who haven’t.”

  The rider jumped and fell and the bull turned on him. The man in the arena threw his hat at the bull, distracting him for a second but not long enough. The bull went back for the rider, gave him a good shove and began to stomp with hooves that looked deadly as far as Laura was concerned. A couple of guys jumped over the gate and into the arena as the bull continued his rampage and the rider crawled fast to get clear of the animal.

  Jesse opened the gate and hurried into the arena as the bull ran from the enclosure and back to his pen. Laura followed Jesse to the rider, who had made it to the fence but remained on his hands and knees, head down.

  * * *

  Jesse squatted next to his brother. “Gage, you with us?”

  Gage took off his hat and brushed a hand through shaggy blond hair as he turned and sat. “Yeah, I think. Help me up.”

  Jesse ran a hand down his brother’s neck. “Neck and head okay?”

  “Yeah, he didn’t get my head. He went for my legs.” Gage reached for the fence behind him, straightened his left leg and pulled himself to a standing position with Jesse holding his arm. “Why do I keep doing this?”

  “That’s always been my question.” Jesse slipped an arm around
Gage, and Gage leaned on him. Laura stood nearby, unsure, eyes watering, mouth opened. He doubted she’d ever be a fan of bull riding after this.

  “Who’s the woman?” Gage leaned in close and whispered so loud people in the next county heard.

  “Laura works for me.” He smiled past Gage, connecting his gaze with Laura’s and winking in hopes she’d relax and not go all female on him.

  “She’s a nurse?”

  “Housekeeper,” Laura answered as she moved in close. “But I’m a good shoulder to lean on if you need more help.”

  Gage winked and Jesse felt a strange urge to slug his brother.

  “I’d love to lean on you but not because of a bum knee.” Gage shot Jesse a smirky grin. “But I wouldn’t want to make Jesse mad. He acts all cool, but I’ve seen him knock a guy to the ground before.”

  “Whatever.” Jesse walked a little faster and Gage had to hop to keep up.

  “Hey, slow down. I’m serious about the knee.”

  “The faster we walk, the sooner I can take a look.”

  “Or kill me.” Gage stopped. “Seriously, Jesse, you took some kind of ‘do no harm’ oath, so give me a break.”

  Jesse dragged out a sigh for Gage’s benefit and eased him to the gate and then out to the nearby bench. “Sit down and let me take a look.”

  He glanced back at Laura. “There are crutches and elastic bandages in the tack room. Do you think you could find them?”

  “Prepared for accidents, are we?” She smiled an easy smile that took him by surprise.

  “With this crew, always.”

  He watched her walk away and then he turned his attention back to Gage, pushing his jeans up to the knee to get a look at the injured leg. Travis and Jackson had taken care of the bulls and sent the neighbor kids home. The brothers were next to him now and both whistled when they saw Gage’s knee.

  “Gage, this didn’t just happen today.” Jesse touched his brother’s normally knobby knee that was now red and swollen. “Have you had this checked?”

  “Yeah, right now, by you.” Gage leaned back, his eyes closed and his mouth tight with pain.

  “You need to get yourself to the hospital. You know you can’t keep riding like this.”

  “I don’t have time for surgery, Jesse.”

  “Do you have time to blow out your knee?”

  Laura reappeared, handing him the elastic bandage that wouldn’t do much good. She leaned the crutches against the wall. Jesse smiled his thanks and quickly wrapped his brother’s knee.

  “Go to the doctor, Gage.” Jesse knew the warning would be ignored until it was too late.

  Gage reached for the crutches. “I’m outta here.”

  With an angry glare over his shoulder, Gage left the arena, faster than any of them could have managed. He was an old pro on crutches. Jackson shook his head and went after him, probably to pound some sense into their little brother.

  Jesse turned to Travis. “What’s up with him?”

  “He’s been like that for months. No one knows why.”

  “Someone better find out or he’s going to end up in worse shape than this.”

  Travis swiped an arm across his brow. “We’ve all tried. Dad had a long talk with him the last time he was in town. The problem is, he takes off when we confront him. He won’t even talk to Reese.”

  Gage and their brother Reese had always been close.

  “Have you all noticed that this started about the time Reese got hurt?” Jesse asked.

  “Yeah, why?” Travis pushed his hat down on his head and picked up the Kevlar vest Gage had yanked off and left on the ground.

  “Just something to think about.” Jesse turned, looking for Laura.

  Travis nodded in the direction of the door leading out of the arena. “She headed that way when we started talking. She’s the housekeeper, huh?”

  “I’m not sure what you all are implying with that tone.”

  Travis laughed, flashing white teeth and dimples. “I’m not implying, and I think you know you’re done for.”

  “I’m not done for anything. I’ve hired a housekeeper because my place is a mess and I need someone living there if I go to South America.”

  “Still going through with that?”

  “I think so. I have to give Isaac an answer in the next couple of months.” Jesse took off his hat and brushed a hand through his hair. “I’m going to teach Laura to ride. What horse should I use?”

  “What’s wrong with those fancy Arabs of yours?”

  “Well, we’re here for supper and I didn’t want to drive out to the house.”

  “And you don’t have one that’s broke well enough for a beginner.”

  “Nope.” He followed Travis back into the main part of the stable. “So, what horse do you recommend?”

  He spotted Laura in front of a stall. She reached to pet the buckskin inside, and the horse inched his dusty yellow head close to hers. She rubbed the animal’s face and neck.

  “Looks like she’s picked her own horse.” Travis indicated with a nod. “Jackson’s old gelding is as gentle as any. I’d let her ride him.”

  “You’re sure?”

  “Not a better horse on the place. Jackson would probably let you take Buck on up to your place if she likes him and can ride him okay.”

  The door at the end of the building opened. Jackson walked back in, looking pretty agitated and talking to himself as he headed their way.

  “Any luck?” Travis asked as he opened the stall door and led Buck out, holding tight to the halter he’d slipped over the animal’s head. Laura had moved back, close to the wall, as though she thought the horse might run her over or worse.

  “None.” Jackson eyed his old horse. “What’s up?”

  “Laura’s going to learn to ride.” Travis snapped a lead rope on the horse’s halter. “I told Jesse that Buck is the best for a beginner.”

  Jackson ran a hand down the horse’s neck. “He’s as good as they come. If it works out, take Buck on over to your place. Better for her than an Arab.”

  Jesse blew out a breath. “I wish you guys would lay off.”

  Both brothers laughed.

  “Not on your life.” Jackson headed for the tack room. “Does she need boots?”

  “Yeah.” Jesse smiled at Laura. “And she can talk. Let’s go see what we can find.”

  Laura gave the horse a last look. “He’s bigger out here.”

  Jesse laughed at that. “Yeah, he’s pretty big. You’ll be fine, though.”

  They found boots and she slipped them on, her jeans staying tucked inside. When she stood, he gave her the once-over and nodded.

  “Do I pass?” she asked with a soft smile.

  Jackson left the room. Jesse pulled a hat off the shelf behind her and settled it on her head. “You pass.”

  Maybe he really was done for, the way his brothers said. He wished it was that easy. He wished a woman could walk into his life and make him feel settled and ready to stop searching for a past he couldn’t grab hold of and a future he couldn’t stop second-guessing.

  He looked up and Laura was watching him, questions in her gray eyes that looked as if they might match the questions he couldn’t find answers for.

  Chapter Eight

  “Where are we going?” Laura held tightly to the leather reins Jesse had handed her after she first mounted.

  The horse walked with a steady, plodding gait. From time to time Buck shook his head, rattling the bit. When he did that, she grabbed the saddle horn and waited for the inevitable, meaning her on the ground, broken and bruised.

  Jesse shifted in his saddle to look at her. “You can relax.”

  “Can I?” She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. She shook her head. “Nope, sorry, I can’t.”

  He laughed, the sound husky, raspy and a whole lot sexy. He looked good on a horse.

  “You will relax. Just trust the horse.”

  He said it so confidently. Of course he was confident—he’d gro
wn up this way. She’d watched him saddle his horse, then swing a leg over to land easily in the saddle as the horse sidestepped and shook his powerful head.

  “Okay, I will relax. I will enjoy this.” She said it with a conviction she didn’t feel.

  He moved his horse a little closer to hers. “You will. I promise.”

  He promised. She swallowed the lump that lodged in her throat and thought about promises so easily spoken, so easily given and, in her life, so easily broken.

  They continued to ride along the creek and eventually up a slight rise onto a paved country road. Ahead of them she could see buildings and what looked like a church.

  “Is that the community church you attend?”

  He shook his head. “No. That’s the community center. My brother Jeremy Hightree bought it a couple of years ago. He’d planned on tearing it down, but I guess God and Beth had other plans.”

  “Beth?”

  “His wife. She talked him out of bulldozing it down and instead they turned it into a community center.”

  They rode a little farther before she asked, “Why is his last name Hightree, not Cooper?”

  Jesse glanced her way, smiling a little. “You ask a lot of questions.”

  “I’m sorry—that’s probably personal.”

  “It is, a little, but everyone knows the story. He’s a Cooper, but he isn’t Angie’s son.”

  “Oh.” Laura didn’t have all of the pieces but she got it. All families had stories.

  The horses picked up the pace, breaking into a bone-jarring trot. Jesse pulled back on his reins and rode next to her.

  “Ease him back a little and try to get in rhythm with the gait. He’ll smooth out a little when you get him settled into the right pace.”

  “Promise?” She managed a smile through clenched teeth and eased back on the reins the way Jesse had taught her when they first took off. And he was right.

  “See?” Jesse grinned and pushed back his hat a little. She had pushed hers down tight to keep it on her curls and to keep it from flying off in the breezy weather.

  “You love being right, don’t you?”

  “I do.” He eased the horse back to a walk. “But I can admit when I’m wrong.”

  Her heart tugged her in his direction but she pushed back, unwilling to let herself take a chance on being hurt. She worked for Jesse Alvarez Cooper, she reminded her heart. She couldn’t possibly fall in love with him. And she wouldn’t let his kindness fool her into thinking she meant more to him than someone he wanted to help.