The Right Cowboy

by Rebecca Winters

  “How long have you known Dean?”

  “A year, but we only started dating four months ago. He and Lyle are close.”

  “If you get married, that would be a nice arrangement. Two brothers and two sisters who love each other. I always wanted a sibling, but it didn’t happen.”

  Cole sounded so reasonable—and for a moment, so lonely—she wanted to die.

  “Thank you for the warning. I’ll be sure to talk to my father before today is out. He has no idea what you’ve uncovered and will be grateful for the heads-up.”

  “I’m the one who should be grateful to you for coming with me today. I wasn’t sure you would. Despite what you think, if you want to know the truth, I needed this time to talk to you more than you can imagine.”

  Why? Tell me—what aren’t you saying?

  But he didn’t answer that question.

  In the next breath, Cole left the apartment. After he descended the outside staircase, she watched him stride to his truck from the living room window. When he drove away, it was like déjà vu. He’d taken her heart nine years ago—and just now he’d taken it again.

  But this time he’d left her with no promise of phone calls or letters asking her to be patient until they could be together one day. It was too late for them. He knew it and she knew it.

  Tamsin had done enough of that to last a dozen lifetimes. She was so through with reliving the last nine years of waiting for a future with him that had never come that she hurried into the kitchen for her purse. Once she left the apartment and reached her car, she drove to the ranch at full speed. On her way in the house she ran into her mother who was sweeping the kitchen floor.

  “Hi, honey. How’s it going at your new apartment?”

  “I love it.” She kissed her cheek. “Is Dad around?”

  “He’s outside with the contractor.”

  “I need to talk to Sally, but when the contractor leaves, I have to talk to you and Dad for a few minutes. It’s important.”

  Her mom got that wishful look in her eyes. “Is this about Dean?”

  Sorry, Mom. “No. It’s about the fire, but I’ll explain later.” Not wanting to get into anything else, she hurried down the hall to the bedroom and knocked on the door.

  “Come in.”

  “Sally?” She found her sister lying on the bed reading a book.

  She put it down and stared at Tamsin. “Judging by the state you’re in, you’ve been with Cole.”

  “Yes.”

  “And?” she prodded.

  “It’s over. I mean it’s really over.”

  “No, it’s not. You can’t see your eyes, but I can. I have news for you. It was never over.”

  Tamsin sat in a chair near the bed. “He drove us to the mountains to talk. I finally have answers as to why he left Whitebark without taking me with him.”

  “Seriously?”

  “Their family was in a desperate financial situation. Cole was sworn to secrecy and couldn’t tell me anything. He had to go on the rodeo circuit to make money in order to save the ranch and pay the bills. His father was in bad health with a heart condition that was growing worse.”

  “Oh, Tamsin. That’s awful.”

  Tears stung her eyelids. “I’m still furious that his father forbade Cole to tell me the real reason I couldn’t go with him. All these years I’ve thought he didn’t love me.”

  Sally sat up in bed with effort. “Did he admit he’s still in love with you?”

  She took a deep breath. “No. And I can tell you right now that I haven’t been on his mind, not for years. You wouldn’t believe everything he’s done since he stopped riding the circuit.”

  “Is it bad?”

  “Not at all. Today I learned that becoming a firefighter was something he did to make money while he went to school.”

  “School—where?”

  Tamsin kneaded her hands. “If you can believe, he got his master’s degree in biology at the university in Boulder.”

  “Biology?”

  “Shocking, isn’t it? I’m still reeling.”

  “Why in Heaven’s name would he get a degree in that?”

  “I was as surprised as you are. He’s taken a job working for the State of Wyoming to control brucellosis disease among the elk in the Winds.”

  “That’s so weird, you couldn’t make it up.”

  “My thoughts precisely. Let me explain.” For the next few minutes she told her everything she could, only leaving out the personal tragedy that had afflicted Cole’s life. She followed up by telling her the reason for the arson and why their father needed to provide safeguards so it wouldn’t happen again on their ranch. “I’m going to be talking to Mom and Dad about it later today.”

  “I can’t believe what I’m hearing.”

  “You’re not the only one. But this is such a serious problem, you and Lyle have to help me convince Mom and Dad that you’re not safe until these crazy arsonists are caught.”

  “Good grief.” Sally eyed her with an anxious expression. “Okay. Now that you’ve managed to convince me you’re telling the truth, what did you learn about Patsy Janis? Don’t tell me you didn’t discuss her because I wouldn’t believe you.”

  Sally was way ahead of her. Tamsin sat forward. “I told him I’d seen an article in the paper about the two of them. Before I could ask questions, he cut me off by explaining that she wanted him to stay in Colorado and make records with her, but he told her he wanted to get home. When I asked him if she wanted to get married, he said yes.”

  “I see. Did you tell him Dean wants to marry you?”

  “Yes.”

  Her sister let out a frustrated sound. “I’m glad you told him. Being dishonest doesn’t get anyone anywhere. But the point is, we both know you could never love Dean the way you love Cole.”

  “You used the wrong tense.” She got up from the chair. “I’m not in love with Cole anymore. In fact, I could never love a man who fights fires for a living. You never know if he’ll come home from another fire. When I remember what happened to Mandy Epperson’s father, I can’t imagine how awful that would be. It’s no way to live. I refuse to do it.”

  “Tell that to your heart. Tamsin, do yourself a favor and find out for sure. The next time he wants to be with you, don’t hold back no matter how much you hate what he does for a living.”

  “What do you mean, next time?”

  Sally rolled her eyes. “There’ll be one. But this time, be open and honest with him about Dean, the way you wished he’d been with you nine years ago about his real reason for leaving. If the two of you are meant to be together forever, then you need to find your way back to each other. Honesty is the first step.”

  “Cole had the chance to be honest. He said he’d wanted to tell me about his family crisis and admitted he’d needed the chance to explain. Well—he explained, but he said nothing about his personal feelings.”

  “Did he try to kiss you?”

  “Are you kidding? Even when he came into my apartment, he didn’t try to make any moves.”

  “Did you give him the chance to get closer?”

  “It wasn’t like that.” Tamsin averted her eyes. “He didn’t look at me like he used to. I told Dean I needed to talk to Cole. But now that I have, there’s nothing more to learn.”

  “So where does that leave you with Dean?”

  “I don’t know.” She half moaned the answer. “I told him that if we get married, it will be because I love him with all my heart and soul.”

  “Oh, Tamsin. You’re in a very bad place.”

  “You’re right. I’m a mess. Maybe I’m not destined to be married. If I continue to be confused, then I need to set Dean free so he can find someone to love who will adore him. I’m thinking I won’t ever get married, but that’s okay.”

  “What do you mea
n by that?”

  “On my way over here I decided I’m going to go after more accounts. If I devoted my spare time to picking up some new clients in Lander and Riverton, I could double my income so I can finally branch out on my own. My goal is to own my own business one day and I’m going to make it happen. The sooner the better.”

  * * *

  ON LATE THURSDAY afternoon of the following week, Cole came back down from the mountains. After stalling his horse, he phoned Chief Powell to let him know he was back for the next four days. Then he walked in the kitchen to find Louise fixing dinner for her and Sam.

  “Good to have you back, Cole. While you were gone, you had a visitor.”

  His heart thudded unexpectedly. Tamsin? She’d been on his mind day and night since he’d left her apartment last Sunday. He hadn’t begun to tell her all the things in his heart. If she was in love with Dean, then she wouldn’t want to hear any of it.

  He walked over to the fridge and pulled out a cola. “Who was it?”

  “Patsy Janis.”

  Frustration caused his hand to squeeze the can so tightly, he was surprised it didn’t pop open.

  “She’s staying at the Whitebark Hotel and said she wouldn’t be leaving until she’d heard from you.”

  The top hotel in the town. Patsy never quit. When he’d ignored her message, she hadn’t let that stop her. He took a swig. “How long has she been here?”

  “She came to the door the day before yesterday in a rental car.”

  With some women you could say goodbye and they would get the message. But not Patsy. She’d come to Whitebark knowing he was a firefighter and had asked enough questions to find out his ranch address.

  She’d been gutsy from the time she was a talented teenager with a desire to be the best country singer in the business. If she wanted something, she went after it and was determined enough not to tip him off with a phone call.

  She might want Cole. He knew part of her did, but she had an agenda, one he wanted nothing to do with because he didn’t love her. Her plan that they would be a husband and wife team, singing around the country making records, had been a dream of hers alone.

  “Thanks for telling me, Louise. I’m going to take a shower, and then I’ll head into town and let her know I got the message.”

  “Is she someone important to you?”

  Louise rarely pried, but if anyone had the right to know things, it was the faithful woman who’d given his father loving care all those years.

  “Patsy’s a friend in the music world, nothing more. As you know, there’s only been one woman for me all these years. I’m working on doing something about that.”

  A smile broke out on her face, indicating she liked his answer, before he left the kitchen for his bedroom and drained the rest of the can.

  She and Sam had known how much he’d loved Tamsin. He knew they’d always liked her, too, back when he used to bring her around. But that had been at another time of life, a time that had come to a painful end and was long since over.

  The sophisticated Tamsin of today had emerged a gorgeous, savvy businesswoman who was going to marry Dean Witcom. This was the price he had to pay for those years of silence he was forced to keep because of a promise to his father.

  What did you expect, Hawkins? That she’d come running into your arms?

  He’d imagined it in his dreams. But he was awake now. Dreams be damned!

  After he’d shaved and cleaned up in jeans and a shirt, he took off for town. If he couldn’t find Patsy at the hotel, he’d wait for her—unless or until he got a call on his beeper and had to take off.

  He parked along the street and walked inside to talk to the man at the front desk. “Would you please ring Ms. Patsy Janis’s room? My name is Cole Hawkins.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  After a short wait the clerk said, “She’s not answering.”

  “In that case will you leave her a message that she can find me in the bar unless I have to respond to a fire?”

  “What’s your name again?”

  “Cole Hawkins.”

  The man wrote it down and put it in one of the boxes. Cole headed for the bar and grill to order a meal. He hadn’t eaten since coming down the mountain earlier. Now he was hungry and needed food in case he was called out on a fire.

  Summer had brought the tourists to the Winds. While Cole ate his meal, he looked around the crowded bar in case he spotted Patsy, but no such luck. She’d been in several magazines lately, touted to be an up-and-coming country star by the media.

  She was blonde, sexy and talented—she turned heads, that was for sure. But not his. Tamsin had his heart, pure and simple.

  The minute he finished a second cup of coffee, his beeper went off, ending his opportunity to tell Patsy she’d wasted her time coming to Whitebark. Since he presumed she’d flown all this way, he would rather have told her as much in person, though he had zero desire to see her. But now he would have to say it over the phone the next chance he got.

  He put some bills on the table and charged out of the hotel to his truck. Within a minute he reached the fire station parking lot and ran through to the locker room to pull on the set of hurry-ups he kept here.

  Wyatt had already climbed on the back of the ladder truck when Cole jumped on and the truck took off with the siren blaring. It wasn’t long before they arrived on the scene at Kyle Drive. Captain Durrant told them that an evergreen tree had caught fire and ignited the eaves of the house. The fire got into the attic and did significant damage to the roof.

  Between the four of them, they doused the flames. Whoever lived there had been out of the house at the time. But the captain found it suspicious that a green, healthy tree had caught fire. It sounded like shades of arson but couldn’t be proved until the arson commander investigated further.

  While they were outside cleaning up, Cole saw a man drive up in front and get out of a truck with a WDOA logo. He’d seen that truck before in front of the Rayburn ranch house and assumed it belonged to Sally’s husband. But of course there were other people employed by the oil company.

  Cole and the others did the rest of the cleanup and returned to the station to reload and change their equipment.

  “Hey, Hawkins?”

  He turned to Steve Perry, one of the other firefighters. “Chief Powell wants to see you in his office.”

  “Be right there.”

  On his way, he grabbed some bottled water and had drained half of it by the time he entered the room. But the chief wasn’t alone. A man he hadn’t seen before sat near his desk. Commander Rich, the captain and the other guys from the ladder truck were also gathered.

  “Thanks for coming, Cole. Sit down.” He found a seat. “Mr. Hawkins? Everyone else has been introduced. This is Mr. Witcom, production manager at Witcom-Dennison Oil. The captain said that you and the crew put out the fire in the attic at his house. At this point we’re certain it was arson and wonder why he might have been targeted.”

  Cole was dumbfounded. That fire had been started at Tamsin’s boyfriend’s house? His thoughts flew ahead. If she married Dean, they’d likely be living there. Cole was stunned by the coincidence and got a pit in his stomach that wouldn’t go away. First her father’s ranch. Now her lover’s?

  He studied the man who’d held Tamsin in his arms the night of the fire. Cole had to admit the guy would appeal to most women. Judging by the size of his house, he made a substantial income. Cole had never known jealousy before. This was new to him.

  “I thought he should hear from all of you about the arson being committed here in the county since April. There might not be a link, but every suspicious fire is worth investigating.”

  Witcom’s blue eyes narrowed as he stared at Cole. With that look, Cole knew in his gut Tamsin had told him about their history. How much of it, he didn’t know. No doubt Witcom didn’t like
the idea that Cole had shown up back in Whitebark after all these years.

  Once again everyone gave an opinion of what they thought and saw. Then it came to Cole’s turn. “The only observation I could add might not have any relevance.”

  “Go on,” the chief urged.

  “The Rayburn ranch was targeted a couple of weeks ago. Mr. Witcom was there at the scene because he and Ms. Rayburn are a couple.”

  Everyone looked at the man in surprise. Cole hated to be the one to reveal that private kind of news, but this was an official investigation. No doubt Witcom was close to despising him now.

  “Maybe they decided to target him in order to send another message. We know these arsonists hope to frighten ranchers like Howard Rayburn to close off their ranches to elk hunters come fall.”

  The chief nodded. “It could be a possibility. We’ll look into it. Thanks, everyone. You’re excused.”

  Cole avoided looking at Witcom and walked through the station with the other guys to change out of his gear. Once he’d put on his jeans and shirt, he walked out the back door and headed for his truck, totally gutted to have laid eyes on the man Tamsin was seeing.

  Chapter Five

  “Hey, cowboy!”

  Cole’s head lifted. He knew that sultry female voice. “Patsy?” It shouldn’t have surprised him to discover her standing next to his Ford. After what had happened tonight, this was all he needed.

  She’d pulled her rental car up next to him. A smile broke out on her face. “I figured I might not see you for some time if I didn’t drive over here.” She went where angels feared to tread, but she’d made a mistake this time.

  “You’re probably not aware this is a private parking area.”

  “Well, it’s good to see you, too.” She started toward him, but he put his hands on her shoulders and kept her at a distance.

  “I don’t know why you’re here, but this isn’t the place for a conversation. I’ll drive back to the hotel and wait for you in the bar.”

  After letting go of her, he got in his truck and backed around. Unfortunately, a couple of the guys reporting for duty had seen them, but there wasn’t anything he could do about it and drove out to the street. She wasn’t far behind.