Redeeming the Texas Rancher

by Sands, Charlene

  “Not jealous.”

  “See what I mean?”

  “Someone’s been filling your head with gobbledygook.”

  She had to smile at that. That was a favorite word from when they were kids and now he was using it on her in an adult conversation. “Okay, so say you’re not jealous.”

  “I’m not.”

  “It still doesn’t explain why you didn’t offer to drive me here.”

  “I apologized for that. I am sorry.”

  “So you said.”

  “And you told me you knew why.”

  “I want to hear your version. I want you to say the words, so I know where we stand.”

  “Okay, fine.” He accepted the challenge, his words spoken sharply. And she waited while he stared down at the table. Chewed on his lip. Didn’t say a word for several long moments and she gave him all the time he needed to get it off his chest. To tell her why he was being such a world-class ass to her.

  “It’s because…it would feel too much like a date. If I came over to pick you up and then took you home after. It would seem too easy to…”

  “To what, Cole?” she asked in a soft whisper.

  “To forget that it wasn’t real.”

  “Because if it were real, it would be the end of the world.”

  She kept the bitterness from her tone, but inside her gut was churning. Sometimes she wished Cole hadn’t kissed her, hadn’t touched her. When she’d come home from her visit with her mother, she was set and determined to put Cole out of her mind. To stop living day after day hoping things would change between them. It had been easier before she knew what it was like having his mouth on hers, having his hands on her. And now that she knew he was attracted to her, wanted her in ways she’d only dreamt about, he was holding back.

  Just then, dinner was announced and Maddie and Trey took their seats at the table, along with Jack and Jillian Walker. Their private moment was over and Cole was rescued from having to finish their conversation.

  “Sorry we’re late, guys,” Jack said.

  “You made it in time for food,” Trey said. “The sheriff always knows.”

  Sheriff Jack Walker, Day’s good friend, was an honorary guest invited to give a speech about the children’s charity this dinner dance was helping to fund.

  “Blame it on my dad,” Jack said. “Monte was late getting over to babysit Beau.”

  “Only because he was picking up two Transformer movies to watch with his new grandson,” Jillian added. “He does love to spoil that boy.”

  “Isn’t that what grandfathers are for?” Trey said. “And Beau’s a good kid.”

  He surely is. Jack had rescued him from the same raging river waters that had claimed the lives of the boy’s parents. Shortly after, Jack petitioned to adopt five-year-old Beau and then married Jillian. In just a few short months they’d become a ready-made family.

  “Pretty soon, he’ll have a new cousin to play with,” Jillian added, smiling at her pregnant new cousin-in-law.

  Maddie put her hand on her belly and stroked automatically as if she didn’t know she was doing it. As if she’d already bonded with the child, keeping the baby warm and cozy and loved. They didn’t know the sex of the baby. They didn’t want to. They were one of those couples that wanted to be surprised at the moment of birth. There was something to be said about doing things the old-fashioned way.

  Day hadn’t thought much about having babies, but if she ever did get pregnant, maybe that would be the route she would take too. Not to know. The thrill and joy she felt when Faith was born still hummed through her system. The filly’s birth she’d shared with Cole was embedded in her mind. A safe place of peace and wonderment.

  For the first time ever, Day felt a pang of genuine envy. To have the man you love father your child and start a family surrounded by the things you both adore: 2 Hope Ranch, healthy livestock and a legacy that would endure. Wow. If Day could achieve even part of that dream, she’d be in hog heaven.

  She glanced at Cole. At least the fear she’d put on his face a minute ago had vanished or he was doing a darn good job at hiding it. He thought that was the end of their conversation. Little did he know.

  Trey and Maddie, and yes, even Jillian and Jack had had a real bumpy road to their happiness. They were living proof that miracles did happen. Okay, so she was being dramatic. Maybe it wasn’t so much a miracle that they’d gotten together, but more a willingness not to give up, even when that bumpy road was plagued with detours, roadblocks and Do Not Trespass signs.

  So Day made up her mind. Then and there.

  Cole wasn’t getting off the hook so easily.

  *

  Dinner was served and dishes of filet mignon, scalloped potatoes and grilled vegetables were placed on the table. Wine flowed easily and happy chatter filled the big ballroom. Day took dainty bites of food, sipped wine liberally and enjoyed polite conversation. Even though Cole hadn’t driven her here, she still felt like his date. Or his plus one, or whatever it was called these days. She sat beside him and listened to him talk to Trey and Jack about cattle news, the bad November weather due soon and who’s going to win the Super Bowl. All subjects Day liked speaking about too, so she chimed in and soon all of them, Jillian and Maddie too, spouted their opposing opinions about the Dallas Cowboys and their chances at making the playoffs this year.

  The waiter filled a second glass of wine for her and she picked it up readily, enjoying the subtle fruity oak taste slide down her throat. It was a fun night, despite Cole’s stiff presence beside her. She was glad she’d come and once the dishes were cleared, a five-piece band picked up their instruments and began to play cover songs from Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan and Trace Atkins. Both the male and female artists were pretty good and many couples rose from their seats and jaunted over to the dance floor.

  It was too much to hope Cole would ask her to dance, so she excused herself from the table, garnering a quizzical look from him, and crossed the floor to greet Arnold Jasper again. “Hi, Arnold. I’m back.”

  “Hey, girlie. What’re you doin’ here? Don’t you have some young man’s heart to break?”

  She laughed at the absurd question. “Hardly.”

  “I bet you do. That Brett guy is nice. Don’t tell him I said so. And what about your boss, over there? Cole hasn’t stopped eyeballing you since you walked into the room.”

  “Cole?”

  “I may be an old crank, but my eyesight is the one thing that’s still in workin’ order. He’s staring at you right now.”

  She swiveled her head and the second she met his gaze, he turned away. Typical.

  She focused her attention to Arnold. “Well, I’m not here to talk about my boss. I came to claim my dance with you.”

  “Did you now?”

  “I sure did.”

  “You see my cane?” His voice filled with regret. “I’m not spry on my feet anymore.”

  “You’ll do fine, Arnold. Don’t pretend you can’t dance. I’ve been by your place when you’re chasing those mangy cats off your property.”

  “Pesky animals.”

  “I know you feed them.”

  “So what if I do? I don’t like them hangin’ around all the time, freeloading.”

  “The point is: you don’t need that cane to dance with me. We’ll support each other.”

  He smiled then, a big wide grin that crinkled his skin and showed his age lines, but even so, he looked twenty years younger.

  “Okay, girlie. I’m gettin’ up.”

  He rose and straightened out his bent form. Without his asking, she took his hand and carefully led him to the closest edge of the dance floor. With parquet wood beneath their feet, they connected hands and he began to shuffle his feet back and forth. It was easy to follow his lead.

  “Pretty good, Mr. J.”

  “For an old geezer,” he said, but light entered his pale blue eyes and she noticed his feet shuffling a little faster.

  “You’re doing fine.”


  They weren’t stepping in time to the music, but it didn’t matter. Day was enjoying the dance and the music and Arnold Jasper. He was an old coot, with a soft side that she found endearing. Halfway through the dance, someone tapped Arnold on the shoulder.

  “May I cut in?”

  It was Trevor Martin, the foreman on a neighboring ranch.

  Arnold gave her a look and she smiled. It was up to him to agree or not. “’Bout time someone cut in. I think I’m ready for a heart attack with all this activity,” he told the younger man. “You be nice to this gal, would you, Martin? She’s a special one.”

  “Of course.”

  Can I help you back to the table?” she asked.

  “Hell no, girlie. Just have a good time.”

  Both of them laughed as Arnold headed back to the table.

  “Dakota Jennings? Who knew?” Trevor said, taking her hands in his and placing them on his shoulders. Normally Day would feel awkward touching Trevor, a man she hardly knew outside of business, but her new self was enjoying the attention.

  “Who knew what?”

  “How pretty you are without those dusty chaps and braids.”

  “I think there’s a compliment in there somewhere,” she said to the cowboy. Although, she never minded her chaps or her braids.

  “Sure is. You’re a beautiful sight, Dakota.”

  “Thank you.”

  A new song began to play, a slow ballad that oozed sensuality—something about a man staking his claim. Trevor drew her very close and their bodies brushed intimately. His nose in her hair, his arms laced around waist, she felt the heat pouring from his body as they moved along the floor. He brushed his hips up against her over and over and her eyes peeled wide open from the very first graze, his ardor below the waist blatantly apparent. It was way too much. More than she could deal with. She stopped and shook her head, backing up a step, trying not to make a scene.

  “Too fast?” he asked, completely oblivious to how crude he’d actually been.

  “How about not fast enough, Martin.” Cole’s angry voice rasped deadly, right before he gave Trevor a hard shove, pushing him away from her. Trevor was so surprised, he nearly landed on his butt.

  “Hey!”

  Cole had murder in his eyes. “Hey yourself, asshole. You don’t treat a lady like that. Where in hell are your manners?”

  “Shit, Cole. I was just about to apologize to her.”

  “Stay the hell away from her.”

  “Cole!”

  “Don’t, Dakota May,” he ground out through tight lips. “Don’t tell me how well you can take care of yourself.”

  “Well, I can.” She sounded juvenile. All she needed was to pout and fold her arms over her middle to complete the image, but something told her to hold back. Cole was in a foul mood and there was no sense igniting flames. Later tonight, she would die of mortification.

  “Sorry, Dakota,” Trevor said, standing at full attention now. “Didn’t mean you harm or anything. Cole, I had no idea she was your woman.”

  “Pipe it, Martin,” Cole lashed out.

  Day fumed. Bashing both their heads together wouldn’t be good enough. She was ready to walk away, but her feet rooted to the spot as she noted everyone around them had stopped dancing to gape at the scene.

  Jack walked up and asked in his sheriff’s voice, “Do I need to intervene here?”

  Oh God. Now, she really wanted to dive into a sinkhole, never to be found again.

  “No,” Trevor Martin said, putting his head down. He’d had a few drunk and disorderly charges lodged against him in the past. She didn’t think he’d want any more trouble, although Cole was the one who’d started it.

  Defending her honor.

  Good Lord.

  “It’s just a misunderstanding,” Trevor said.

  Jack sharpened his gaze on Cole. “You simmered down yet?”

  “Yep.” He brushed by Jack and took her arm. “Day, just come with me and don’t you dare argue,” he said under his breath.

  His intense stare brought her up short. She wanted to leave, needed to get out of here, so she moved when he moved, grateful to be rid of the dinner dance and all that went along with it. “Where are we going?”

  “Getting the fuck out of this place.”

  Chapter Five

  Cole was red hot. He was also aware that this was going to come down on him hard and fast. But seeing that oaf put his hands and other body parts on Day had done him in. Here he was set to be cool and aloof at this dinner and he’d gone off half-cocked. He’d made a big spectacle on the dance floor, but damn it, he’d do it all over again if he had to. And none of Day’s rants about her being a big girl, able to handle herself, were going to change his mind.

  No man was going to manhandle her.

  No man was going to touch her.

  No man, but him.

  God, he shouldn’t be thinking that way. But it was raw inside him now, and he couldn’t banish his fury and his godforsaken frustration. He held Day’s arm lightly, not an easy task, when what he wanted to do was drag her away from this place. Both held their heads up high as they walked out of the room, Day’s grim expression not lost on him.

  “Cole.” It was Jack. Using his friend voice now.

  “Not now, Walker.”

  “Now.”

  Cole stopped dead in his tracks and turned around. “What?”

  “I need a word. Will you excuse us, Day?” Jack said, smiling broadly, charming her. Day and Jack were good friends too and she listened to Jack, better than she’d ever listened to him.

  “I’ll…use the restroom,” Day said.

  Both of them watched Day walk into the lobby of the hotel. “Just hope she doesn’t ditch me,” Cole muttered, his shoulders going limp.

  “She should.”

  Jack was the no-holds barred kind of friend. Right now he’d rather face an enemy and he glared at Jack, letting him know it.

  “Listen to me, Cole. You’re acting like a jackass and a fool.”

  “Tell me what you really think.” He kept his eyes peeled on the ladies room door Day had just walked in to.

  “I’m here as your friend. So cut the wisecracks, okay? You just might be blowing the best thing you’ve ever had going, Cole. Dakota is an amazing girl. She’s smart and pretty and sweet and, man, you both love the same things. Do you know how rare that is? But you’re killing yourself here. Pissing her off isn’t the way to her heart.”

  “I don’t want to get to her heart.”

  “Says the guy who wouldn’t hesitate to knock the stuffing out of any man who dared to touch her, aside from old Arnold. And don’t give me that ‘we’re friends’ crap, buddy. You have it bad for Dakota and I’m pretty sure, she’s willing. Or at least she was willing, until you did your caveman act. You have STUPID written all over you, man. How long do you think Dakota is going to wait around? Every single man inside this shindig was eyeballing her. I can tell you: you don’t know what you have until you lose it. I almost made that mistake with Jillian. Just be smart about your next move.”

  “Maybe staying away is the smart move.”

  “And maybe pigs fly.”

  “A twister can lift a hog right outta his pen and send him into orbit.”

  Jack sighed. “Yeah, and then he crash-lands. That’s hardly flying. Don’t be stubborn, Cole. I don’t want to see you burn. That’s all I’m saying. I gotta get back to give my speech. Just remember what I said. As your friend.”

  Jack walked off and Cole mulled his words over for a few seconds. Then Day came out of the ladies’ room, her body snuggled tight in that pretty jade dress, her raven hair catching the overhead lights and shining so bright he had to blink his eyes.

  It wasn’t the best damn scenario. Day was not happy. He got that message loud and clear as she breezed by him and exited the lobby doors. Cole caught up to her in three long strides as she stopped by the valet desk. Cole handed the guy his ticket and off he went to retrieve his SUV.


  They stood silent as stone.

  No one offered anything. Now was not the time. Day was probably fuming, yet she hadn’t given him an argument about leaving the dinner. Probably because he’d ruined her night. Cole palmed the back of his neck and waited. The valet came back with his car and Cole opened the door for her before the hotel employee had a chance to do it. She didn’t bother acknowledging him as she slipped into the front seat and pulled the car seat belt out with a vengeance. Yeah, not good.

  He tipped the valet and climbed into the driver’s seat. His nerves wrecked, he started the engine and pulled away from the Marquis Hotel. He was still irritated at Martin, at Day and at himself. Jack’s words had cut deep. He was blowing it with Dakota. The last thing he wanted was to ruin his relationship with her.

  He drove along in silence for a while, heading toward Day’s home, his mind muddying up, knowing he couldn’t leave things off this way. Knowing he needed to calm them both down, before they parted ways tonight.

  He did a complete one-eighty on the quiet highway, changing direction. Day snapped her head around, eyeing him. “This isn’t the way home.”

  “I know.”

  “You’re supposed to be taking me home, Cole.”

  He winced. “Yeah, that is what I said.”

  Day sighed deep, the exasperated sound filling his ears. “No.”

  “You don’t even know where we’re going.”

  “Wherever it is, I don’t want to go there with you.”

  “You hate me that much?” he asked.

  “I, uh, yes. Tonight I do.”

  Ouch. Why had he expected a denial from her? “Listen, we both need to calm down a little bit.”

  “I was having a good time, until you…never mind. Please take me home.”

  “I will, I promise. Once we get there, if you still want to go home, I’ll take you. No questions.”

  Day pursed her lips tight, grudgingly indulging him.