The Cowboy's Christmas Courtship

by Brenda Minton

  “Thanks, Mr. Cooper, I’ll keep that in mind. The roof had been leaking last fall, but I found some shingles and climbed up there. It’s not leaking anymore.”

  “Well, if it should leak again, you let us know.”

  “We should go.” Layla hugged Gabby. The three kids were circling around her, smiling big. The little blond still had her thumb in her mouth. Layla hugged them all and then hurried out the door.

  Gage followed her to the truck. They were back on the road before she could speak.

  “Childhood shouldn’t be so tough.” She covered her eyes with her hand and he heard her sniffle. “It should be about sprinklers in the summer, building snowmen in the winter.”

  “I’m sure Gabby does her best to make sure those kids do a few of those things.” Gage kept driving, not knowing what to say, wanting to ask her the next address. He tried to peek, but she had the paper clutched in her hand.

  “I know she tries, but they see her tears, they know she worries. She barely had a childhood of her own. She was a mom by the time she was seventeen.”

  Man. He really couldn’t imagine. He was twenty-six and not sure he was ready for marriage. Kids. He’d rarely thought about having kids. But all of a sudden, the thought crossed his mind and stuck.

  “Where’s the next place?”

  “Down the road, turn right. The Morrison house.”

  “Gotcha. I’ll see if Jackson and Travis can help me get her house in shape. Mom might be able to get her some services she hasn’t realized she’s entitled to. My mom is a genius when it comes to finding resources for people.”

  “That would be good.”

  They drove about a mile. “Layla, what about your childhood?”

  She smiled at him, looking amused. “It was feast or famine, happiness and chaos. My mom tried to make everything good. My dad couldn’t stay sober. And when he drank, he wasn’t the nicest person to be around. Sober, he could do anything.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Compared to what so many people are going through, I had it easy.”

  They pulled up to the next house. The Morrisons. He knew them. The wife had something wrong with her and couldn’t work. Jeff, her husband, tried to hold down a job, but had to take time off a lot in order to take care of his wife. Good people trying hard to make it.

  He guessed that people might judge them. But Gage knew how hard they tried. Last year his dad had given Jeff a job at one of their apartment complexes. He worked part-time and was allowed time off when he needed to be at home. No more getting fired, but it wasn’t an easy life.

  As they walked up the steps to the ranch-style house, the door opened. Jeff’s daughter, almost a teenager, Gage guessed, stood in the doorway. She wore an apron and a smudge of flour on her cheek.

  “Hey, Mr. Cooper, Layla.” Patty Morrison smiled, motioning them inside. “What are you all doing?”

  “We’re delivering some Christmas boxes, and we just happen to have one for your family.” Gage followed the girl to the kitchen. The room was a wreck of dirty dishes, bowls and something boiling on the stove.

  Layla turned the stove down. “Are your folks home?”

  Patty shook her head. “No, my mom got real sick last night, and Dad took her to the doctor this morning. They’re still in Grove. I’m cooking for me and my brother.”

  “What are you cooking?” Layla looked in the saucepan.

  “Potato soup. I’m boiling the potatoes right now.” Patty looked in the pan. “I guess I almost boiled them over. Haden was throwing a fit about something and distracted me.”

  Layla carried the saucepan to the sink. “Why don’t you put away the things in that box that need to go in the fridge, or the freezer. And if you get me the milk, I’ll help you finish up here.”

  Gage looked at his watch. They had several more boxes to deliver yet. But as he watched Layla help Patty Morrison, he knew they weren’t going anywhere.

  “Where’s your brother?” He reached up to take off a hat he no longer had.

  He grinned. Sure, he was going to miss that hat. But he was more than glad his hat had a new home.

  “He’s in the tub. He went outside and got filthy dirty.”

  The tub. Gage didn’t do tubs. He must have looked a little green, because Layla laughed. “Don’t worry, we won’t make you take care of a four-year-old.”

  “Good thing.”

  Haden hopped into the kitchen wearing only a towel and a big grin. “I got a bath.”

  “I see that.” Gage smiled at the boy.

  “My mom is sick.” Haden climbed on a chair and peeked in the box. “And I love cookies.”

  “Not until after dinner.” His sister grabbed them, placing them on the counter.

  “We had potato soup last night.”

  “I know.” Patty frowned at her brother. “I don’t know how to make anything else.”

  “Potato soup is fine.” Layla poured milk in the pan. “Do you have cheese? A few slices of cheese makes it really good.”

  Patty opened the door of the fridge and pulled out a package of sliced cheese. “Plenty of cheese.”

  Gage watched as Layla stood next to the teenager, telling her something about potato soup. They sprinkled some salt and garlic into the mix and stirred again. Then Layla hugged the girl.

  “Patty, you call me if your dad can’t get home tonight. I’ll come and get you and Haden,” Layla offered as they walked to the door a few minutes later.

  Gage knew her plate was full. She had Brandon, two jobs, and he knew she had bills she was struggling to pay.

  Patty cried a little as they left. She hugged Layla again and promised to call. Gage slipped an arm around Layla’s shoulder as they walked back to the truck.

  “I think you might be the nicest person I know.” He told her as he opened the truck door.

  “And it took you this long to notice?” She smiled as she hopped in, and then he saw a grimace of pain.

  “Are you okay?”

  “Fine.” She reached for the door and closed it before he could ask more questions.

  He had a lot of questions, but they had more boxes to deliver and it was getting late. Fortunately the next few houses went a little faster than the first two. Two hours after they started, they were heading to Back Street again.

  “Do you want to run to Grove and get a real dinner?” he offered as they pulled into the parking lot of the community center.

  Layla shook her head. “No, I’m beat.”

  “Are you feeling all right?”

  “Not great. It’s probably a bug. And now I’ve passed it on to everyone we’ve touched. I should have stayed home but I didn’t really feel sick this afternoon.”

  “You’re sure you’re okay?”

  “Gage, I’m fine.”

  He knew he wouldn’t get more from her, so he let it go. He watched as she got out of his truck and walked to hers. She started it and took off, leaving him to ponder a day that might possibly have changed his life.

  Because Layla Silver was surely one of the most amazing people he’d ever met.

  And he didn’t know what to do about it.

  * * *

  Four hours later, Gage’s phone rang. He had dozed off watching TV and was groggy as he answered.

  “Gage, this is Brandon. Layla is really sick. She didn’t want me to call anyone, but I’m worried about her. I’m going to put her in the truck and drive over to your house.”

  Gage woke up at that. “Wait a second. Brandon, you can’t drive. Give me a minute and I’ll be there.”

  “No, I’m bringing her to you. Your mom can help her. I can’t.”

  Gage could hear the panic in Brandon’s voice. Before he could tell him to calm down the call ended.

 
Chapter Thirteen

  Layla had tried to fight Brandon, but her brother had been impossible. He had wrapped her in a blanket and carried her to the truck that was already running. She didn’t complain because it was warm inside and she hurt so badly. Her stomach kept tightening and she just wanted to curl up on her side, the way she’d been when he found her in the bathroom.

  She drew her knees up in the seat as the truck sped down the driveway, slid sideways as it hit the road and then barreled toward Cooper Creek.

  “Slow down. It isn’t worth having an accident. And the bumps are killing me.”

  “Okay, okay.” Brandon slowed down. “Layla, you have to be okay.”

  “I’m okay.” She kept her eyes closed and prayed she wasn’t lying.

  “You don’t look okay.” Brandon’s voice was quiet, and she wondered if he was crying. He hadn’t cried since the day they’d buried their parents.

  She opened her eyes and glanced at him, seeing for the first time the man he would become. A sob sneaked up on her, tightening in her throat as she fought the tears. Somehow she’d done it; she had raised him. He wasn’t grown, but he was getting there.

  “Don’t worry,” she whispered.

  He only nodded, his jaw clenched, his grip on the steering wheel tight.

  They drove a few more minutes. “I know I’ve been...I’ve been a real pain in the...” He cleared his throat.

  “Don’t say it. And you are a pain, but you’re my pain, and I’m not going anywhere. Could you not hit every bump in the road?”

  “I’m sorry. And I’m going to do better. I’ve been praying, and I’ll do whatever you want, just don’t...” He choked a little. “Don’t die.”

  “I’ve got food poisoning...I’m not dying. I’ll be here to stay on your case and make sure you grow up to be a doctor or something.”

  “I’m not that smart.”

  “You are. Stop arguing.” She grimaced as another wave of pain hit.

  And then they pulled up in front of the Coopers’ big house. The lights were on. Brandon had called. He’d woken them all up. Layla groaned, because this wasn’t what she did. She handled things. She didn’t go running to people....

  The door of the truck opened and Gage leaned in. He felt her forehead, touched her cheek. And then Angie Cooper stood next to him, in a heavy jacket, her face pale in the dark night.

  “Layla, can you walk to the house?”

  Layla shook her head. “I can try.”

  “No, don’t.” Angie touched her cheek. “Can you tell me what’s going on?”

  “My stomach. Vomiting. Maybe food poisoning?” Layla drew her legs up and trembled in the cold air from the open door.

  Angie Cooper moved the arm that rested on her stomach. She pushed on Layla’s side and Layla had to bite back the cry. Angie whispered that she was sorry.

  “Gage is going to take you to Grove. I’ll call Jesse. If he isn’t on duty, he can wake up and be on duty.”

  “Grove?” Layla shook her head. “I don’t think... I don’t have insurance.”

  “I think you need your appendix checked, honey. That isn’t something you can fix with a cup of tea and time. No arguing. Brandon can stay here with us.”

  “But...” She tried again but Gage’s hazel eyes were dark, his mouth firm and unsmiling.

  “We’ll take your truck. It’s already warm. You ready?”

  She shook her head. How could she be?

  He smiled a little, and she hadn’t realized how much she needed to see that smile. She reached out to touch his face, his very sweet face. She hadn’t realized how much she needed him.

  He climbed in behind the wheel and they took off again. It was a quicker trip to Grove than she would have liked. He kept glancing at her, his brow furrowed, his hair messy from having been woken up.

  “I’m okay,” she finally managed to whisper.

  “Right, of course you are. You’re always okay.” The words came out gruff and then he sighed.

  “You don’t have the right to lecture me.” She thought about telling him that he didn’t really know her. But in the past couple of weeks he had managed to know her better than most people.

  “No,” he admitted, “I don’t. But as stubborn as you are, I do care.”

  “I’m not stubborn. I’m strong.”

  He laughed at that. “And still arguing.”

  Her old truck didn’t have the best shocks in the world, and it felt as if it were hitting bumps even when there were none. The few curves they rounded felt as if they were taking them at NASCAR speeds. She held on to the door handle and somehow held on to the contents of her stomach.

  “I hate to sound like I’m five, but are we almost there?”

  “Almost.” He turned at a light and headed down the quiet road to the hospital. Instead of parking, he pulled up to the emergency room entrance.

  Before Layla could blink, there were emergency personnel rushing from the hospital. Her body started to shake and her teeth chattered. The door opened and someone reached for her.

  Where had Gage gone to? She searched for him, finally seeing him off to the side. He winked. She wanted to reach for his hand but couldn’t.

  “Layla, I’m Dr. Arnold. Dr. Cooper is on his way in, but we’re going to assess your situation and run some tests.” The doctor, tall, lean, with thinning hair and glasses, put a hand on her shoulder. “Can you answer some questions for me?”

  She nodded, then they were moving through the halls of the E.R. and Gage was gone. She closed her eyes and answered the questions. One question made her pause, nearly made her cry; Who is your contact person? Did a fifteen-year-old boy count?

  What would happen to Brandon if she didn’t make it through this okay? She should have thought of that. Should have decided who should take care of him if something happened to her. He was her responsibility, not the other way around.

  She opened her eyes and looked around the room. “I need to go.”

  “I’m sorry. I can’t let you do that.” Jesse Cooper leaned close to her, his dark hair and dark eyes strangely familiar and comforting.

  “You need to relax, Layla. I know that’s hard to do when the world is spinning, but Brandon is okay. And I listed my mom as your contact person, not your brother. Okay?”

  Tears filled her eyes. “I’m sorry.”

  He shook his head and handed her a tissue. “Don’t be. You’ve had a rough night. And unfortunately you’re going to have a rough few days. We’ll be doing some tests, and then I have a feeling you’re in for surgery.”

  “I can’t. I don’t have insurance.”

  “That’s something we’ll worry about later.”

  “But I have to worry about it now. I can barely...” She shook her head. “Never mind.”

  “We’ll get it taken care of. You don’t have a choice. If your appendix is the problem, it isn’t as if you can opt out on having it removed.”

  “You’re right.”

  He laughed a low laugh. “That’s why they made me a doctor. I know about things like this.”

  Layla managed a smile. But it quickly disappeared. Was she alone? She didn’t know if Gage had stayed. She hoped he had. She wanted to believe that he would be in the waiting room while she went to surgery.

  Loneliness really did stink. She closed her eyes, trying to block the wave of emotion that competed in the pain of her abdomen. A nurse apologized, as if she had done something. Layla mumbled that it was okay.

  After all, wasn’t she always ok? This time would be no exception. She would get through this. She didn’t have a choice.

  As she drifted on the pain medication they’d given her, she thought about the hospital bills, taking care of Brandon, Christmas and Gage.

  She dreamed about his hand on he
rs.

  * * *

  Gage sat next to the bed, watching as Layla fought something imaginary in her dreams. She kicked and moaned, whispering something he couldn’t quite make out. Her surgery had gone well, but Jesse had told him that there was some infection because she’d obviously been sick for longer than a day. Stubborn. He planned on telling her that when she woke up.

  Or maybe he wouldn’t.

  She didn’t need lectures from him. She needed support. His mom had told him that when she called to check on Layla’s condition. He’d asked his mom if Layla had family he could call. She had to have someone. Aunts? Uncles? People who could be there for her.

  No one, his mom had assured him. So he had to stay. She’d said it in a quiet voice, but the meaning had been crystal clear. He was it.

  He, Gage Cooper, the last person in the world to be there for anyone, was at Layla’s side. Didn’t anyone get it? He wasn’t good at being there for people. He wasn’t the person people confided in or turned to when the chips were down.

  He leaned forward in the chair and watched Layla sleep. Her brown hair was pulled back in a ponytail, her face was pale. He guessed he’d gotten better at being there for her. But who would take care of her when he left?

  One thing was certain. He’d make sure she had support. It was the least he could do. He’d make sure her house was fixed up, that she had plenty of hay to get through winter. He’d also make sure Travis, Jackson and his dad kept Brandon busy.

  He watched her sleep and thought about the two of them being apart. He’d keep riding bulls, wandering the country.

  She would keep working two jobs, trying to make ends meet, hoping she could keep her brother out of trouble. Maybe she’d date. Someone would take her to Grove to a nice restaurant. Or maybe to Tulsa.

  He rubbed a hand across his eyes. He had better get to sleep because he was definitely losing it. He glanced at the clock on the wall and groaned. It was almost morning.

  Soft-soled shoes came down the hall. A minute later, the partially closed door opened. Jesse walked in, not looking much better than Gage felt. His brother smiled at him, and then at Layla.