Marriage-Minded Cowboy

by Vicki Lewis Thompson, Stephanie Bond

  “No, it was not.” He turned back and flashed Zeke a grin. “She said they were souvenirs of what a great time we had last night.”

  “Souvenirs, as in multiple ones? You were a busy boy.”

  “Just two, smartass.”

  “I know at least one was on her neck. Where was—”

  “You’ll never know.” He walked out of the barn and tugged down the brim of his hat to block the sunlight.

  The four girls stood in their usual practice area twirling their ropes. Today they looked more like a unit than they had all summer, partly because they’d finally learned to synchronize their routine.

  But Val’s solution to her dilemma had produced an unexpected consequence. Matching ropes and bandanas had transformed a random group of kids twirling ropes into a color-coordinated team.

  Val stood talking with Nell, Ed, Henri and his mother. She clutched two bandanas, Zeke’s bright pink one and a silver-gray for him.

  Clearly she’d added a shopping trip to her rounds. Good thing the tourist season wasn’t over and the shops still carried novelties like this. She’d scored a yellow one for Nell and an orange one for herself.

  She glanced in his direction and he gave her a subtle thumbs-up. She sent him a wink in return.

  Although they’d been apart less than four hours, he was hungry for the sight of her. He stood, mesmerized, until a nudge from Zeke snapped him out of it.

  “Here’s a tip, buddy,” Zeke murmured. “Don’t stare at her like a forlorn puppy. You don’t win points that way.”

  “Have you been talking to Riley?”

  “About what?”

  “Her dog.”

  “She has a dog?”

  “Yes, and—”

  “What’s her dog got to do with you making goo-goo eyes at Val?”

  “A lot. I’ll explain some other time. After I show off my nifty rope tricks. You’re welcome to watch and learn.”

  “I will, right after I fetch my pink bandana.”

  “Sorry about that.”

  “Oh, no, don’t apologize. It takes a manly man to pull off pink, especially worn as a bandana around my manly neck.”

  “I owe you one.”

  “Yes, you do. I’m torn between a drink and a saddle covered in bling. I’m leaning toward the saddle.”

  “I’d lean toward the drink if I were you. The saddle could take a while.”

  “No worries. Living with Nell has taught me to be a patient man. A manly, patient man.” He squeezed Teague’s shoulder. “Watch and learn, buddy. Watch and learn.”

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  The bandanas earned Val an unmerciful amount of subtle teasing from the adults. Teague got his share, too. All the jokes went right over the heads of those little girls, though. They adored the concept, as Val had guessed they would.

  Claire’s labeling of the lesson as a dress rehearsal had turned out to be prophetic. Like most dress rehearsals, the lesson had soldiered through glitch after glitch.

  Adding Cinnamon and Mister Rogers to the mix had caused Butch and Sundance to act up. Butch was so rambunctious that Nell had fallen off. Only her pride was hurt, fortunately.

  The girls had tangled ropes during their demonstration and they hadn’t done that since the second or third week of roping lessons. Teague had loused up one of his elaborate tricks. He never did that.

  But their three spectators had raved about the performance. Madeline fit right in with the other two aunties and she’d been an immediate hit with the kids. At the end of the lesson, when everyone gathered in front of the barn to finish off their water, Val had mentioned that Madeline was coming along for the classroom project the next day. The girls had all cheered.

  Teague’s bobbled rope trick was no surprise. He’d clearly been distracted during the event. She had been, too. It was a wonder Nell had taken a tumble and not her. She hadn’t brought her A-game to the lesson.

  Evidently she’d brought her teenage self, though. She was crushing on the guy. When he’d walked out of the barn, his cute thumbs-up gesture had made her giddy. Her sly wink might have looked cool and sophisticated, but it hadn’t matched her racing pulse.

  She’d looked for an excuse, any excuse to go talk to him. The bandana had been the obvious ploy. But Madeline had drawn her into a conversation about Raptors Rise and she hadn’t been able to find a polite way to excuse herself.

  He’d stood there looking at her for quite a while, as if deep in thought. Her brain had regressed to that of a sixteen-year-old. Was he thinking about their time apart? Had it seemed like forever to him, too?

  Eventually he’d come over to collect his bandana. Their fingers had brushed. They’d made brief eye contact. Too short. She’d wanted more. Then they’d both been swept up in the chaos.

  But they’d come to the end of the lesson, thank goodness. She was impatient to end the chatter and take the girls home. Maybe she and Teague would have a little alone time before they walked up to Ed’s for dinner. Yep, she’d developed an inconvenient crush. All the signs were there.

  The hours apart had revealed it. Instead of relief at being back in her own space, she’d dealt with restless energy. The house that had been her refuge held no interest for her because Teague wasn’t there.

  Okay, so she had a crush. She’d experienced those before and they always faded. Sooner or later the guy said or did something that burst the bubble and she was over him. Teague would be no different.

  Separation wasn’t the answer, though. The old saying absence makes the heart grow fonder was right on the money. She needed to get back to that twenty-four-hour connection. That was her best chance to break the spell.

  When was this gathering going to break up, for crying out loud? Guess it was up to her. “Well, girls, time to get going. I don’t want your parents to start worrying.”

  Riley, Piper and Tatum gave her matching looks of unhappy resignation. They adored being here.

  “Just remember, we’ll be back Saturday.”

  “But then it’s over.” Riley’s entire body slumped as only a limber child could slump and still remain upright. “I hate that.”

  “Why does it have to be over?” Ed glanced at Teague and Zeke. “Why couldn’t you keep this up on Saturdays, even after school starts?”

  Claire leaped on the idea. “Daddy, could we? Could we please?”

  Zeke glanced at Henri. “It’s not my decision.”

  “If it’s mine, then I say go for it.” Henri turned to Ed. “Assuming you’re going with that Cinnamon plan we discussed.”

  “I am. Claire, it’s time for Cinnamon to be stabled over here, where you can interact with him every day.”

  “Really?” Claire’s eyes grew enormous and she began to quiver. “You mean it?”

  “I never say something that important if I don’t mean it.”

  Claire whispered a soft wow and gulped. “I don’t… I can’t…” She raced to Ed, grabbed her around the waist and hugged her so tight that Ed began to gasp.

  “Sweetheart.” Zeke stepped forward and gently pried her away. “Auntie Ed can’t breathe.”

  “Sorry, Auntie Ed.” Claire glanced up, her face wet. She sniffed. “I kinda lost it.”

  “That’s okay, sweetie.” Ed didn’t sound totally steady, either. “And just so you know, I’m not giving him to you. If I did that, you and your daddy would end up paying for vet bills and shoeing and all the other stuff.”

  Zeke kept his hand on Claire’s shoulder as he faced Ed. “I would gladly do that.”

  “I know you would, but you don’t need to worry about it just yet. We’ll see how it goes.”

  “I might need to leave Mister Rogers here, too,” Riley said. “My folks are thinking of moving into town. And my mom just read that a horse is happier around other horses. They said they’d be happy to pay rent if he can stay here.”

  “He can certainly stay,” Henri said. “And your mom is right. Horses are herd animals. They get lonely.”

  �
��Riley, if your folks agree, you can ride home with Claire and me a couple times a week.”

  “That would be awesome, Miss O’Connor. That way I won’t miss him so much.”

  “Well, then.” Ed looked around, focusing on each of the participants. “Is everybody in?”

  “I have to check with my mom and dad,” Tatum said. “But I’ll bet they say yes.”

  Piper nodded. “Me, too, but they think this is great for me, so they’ll probably say yes.”

  Piper and Tatum were the only ones who couldn’t commit on the spot. The rest, including Teague, were enthusiastically for it.

  Ed turned to Val, eyebrows raised. The woman was no fool. She understood continuing the lessons would mean an ongoing connection with Teague.

  No pressure. Val cleared her throat. “I should probably think about this. I’m not sure I—”

  “Oh, Miss Jenson, you have to do it!” Claire started off the pleading.

  “Yes, you have to!” Riley piled on. “It wouldn’t be the same without you.”

  “That’s for sure.” Piper shoved her glasses back in place. “Especially since you’ll see us every day at school and if you don’t do it, you’ll be sad.”

  “And we’ll be very sad. We’ll look like this.” Tatum pulled down the corners of her mouth, her gaze comically woeful.

  Ah, those girls. It wasn’t in her best interests. She was stepping right back into the cow patty she’d lived through all summer. But four adorable munchkins had her by the heartstrings. “Okay. I’ll do it.”

  The girls whooped, hollered and ran over to hug her the way Claire had hugged Ed. Anyone would think she’d just given them a trophy.

  Surrounded by jubilant girls, she looked over their heads to find Teague watching the action with a soft smile. God, he was handsome. Her stomach fluttered with awareness. Who wouldn’t be infatuated with a man like him?

  She had three more nights to work through it. Time to get started on that program. “Hey, guys.” She eased away from their enthusiastic hugs. “Now we really need to go. You don’t want to be late for dinner when you’re planning to ask for a favor.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Piper, the most mature of the four, broke away first. “Riley, Tatum, got your ropes?”

  They both held them up.

  “Then let’s move out.”

  “I’ll walk you over there.” Claire fell into step with them.

  “I’m right behind you, ladies.” Val handed her water bottle to Nell. “’Bye, everyone.” She was several yards away when Teague hailed her.

  His long strides closed the distance quickly. “Need to tell you something.”

  “What?”

  He lowered his voice. “Mom mentioned this earlier but there was never a good time to tell you. She and Ed are joining the Babes for their monthly sleepover at Henri’s tonight.”

  “We’re not having dinner with them?”

  “Right. They’re staying here until sometime tomorrow morning.”

  “Oh.” They’d have the ranch to themselves. That would be fun.

  “I wanted you to know in case…” He dropped his voice even lower. “In case you want to go back to your house tonight, take an even longer break from me before we head into the homestretch. My mom will never know.”

  The homestretch. Interesting choice of words. “I appreciate the thought.”

  “Okay, then. If you show up around dawn to help me feed, that should be good enough. Those ladies usually sleep in after their big night, so I don’t expect Mom and Ed back before—”

  “I’d rather stay with you.”

  His eyes widened. Then his face lit up. “You would?”

  “Yes.”

  “Hot damn.”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  After Val drove away, Teague excused himself from the group gathered in front of the barn and climbed in his truck. He had things to do.

  The old Teague would have stopped in town for candles, flowers, and a sinfully rich dessert. He would have cooked a complicated meal and laid chocolates on the pillow. But that was before he’d learned a thing or two about Valerie Rose Jenson.

  Instead he bought a couple of T-bones, potatoes and a can of ranch beans. Dessert would be chocolate chip cookies from the market’s bakery.

  He assessed the weather as he drove home. A few clouds hung over the mountains. A nice sunset would be a bonus, but it wouldn’t make or break the plan.

  He’d probably have the horses rounded up and fed by the time Val got back, but if not, no matter. This wasn’t a set-the-scene kind of night. More a choose-your-own-adventure.

  Driving straight to the barn, he parked the truck, fetched lead ropes and brought Silver and Nugget in from the pasture. They’d eat first so they’d be finished by the time he needed them.

  Then he gathered the rest of the small herd, permanently down by one more. He’d miss Cinnamon, but Ed was doing the right thing. Grooming Claire to be a champion meant strengthening the bond between that girl and her barrel-racing horse. Claire and Cinnamon would be stars if Ed had anything to do with it.

  Everyone was munching away as he hopped in the truck and drove back to the house. Val was just pulling in. The sight of her little truck got his blood pumping.

  She was going to love this evening. As would he. If she ditched him on Sunday, he’d have this night to console him. Making love in the barn on a bed of straw was a nice fantasy, but it lacked range. He was going for an indelible memory.

  He parked next to her truck, grabbed the bag of groceries from the passenger seat and climbed out. “Fancy meeting you here.”

  She smiled. “I was thinking the same thing. What’s in the bag?”

  “Dinner.”

  “Take-out?”

  “No, ma’am. We’re cooking.”

  “As I recall, that got complicated on Tuesday night.” She started up the porch steps.

  “This won’t. We’re taking the horses and going for a cowboy cookout.”

  She spun around to face him. “Teague, I love that idea!”

  He grinned. “Knew you would.”

  “What can I do?”

  “Not much. After I pick up a few things in the house, you can help me carry everything down to the barn and pack it into saddlebags.”

  “I’m so excited.” She hurried across the porch and went inside. “We’re building a campfire and everything?”

  He laughed as he followed her in. “You didn’t get to go camping as a kid, did you?”

  “No! My parents were phobic about the great outdoors. I was dying to go into the woods, build a fire and cook food. It wasn’t in the cards.”

  “Now it is.”

  “What are we taking?”

  The light in her eyes made him smile. “Most of it’s in the kitchen. In the bottom left cupboard there’s a kit that has all the utensils and cookware we’ll need.”

  “I’m on it.” She darn near skipped into the kitchen. “This?” She pulled out the kit. “It’s not very big.”

  “It’s compact on purpose.” He set the groceries on the counter and took a canvas bag out of a drawer. “You’ll see it has everything when we unpack it.”

  “All right. What else?”

  “Aluminum foil. Just tear off enough to wrap two potatoes. The oven mitts. Tongs.” He quickly transferred the food to the canvas bag. “We need to get a move on so we’re at the meadow before dark. It’s easier to gather firewood when it’s still light.”

  “Firewood? We’re not using briquettes?”

  “Briquettes are for amateurs.”

  “Ah, Teague, you sure know the way to a woman’s heart.”

  He didn’t, not for sure, but he was giving it his best shot.

  Ten minutes later, they walked down to the barn carrying their supplies. He’d tucked a rolled quilt under one arm. The hatchet and his rope were in the tack room.

  “I don’t have to ask you what the quilt is for.”

  “Sitting on.”

  “Uh-huh. Did y
ou bring—”

  “I did. In my pocket. But just to be clear, we’re cooking and eating first. If you fool around and neglect to collect firewood and build a fire before it gets dark, all you’ll have is a romp in a very dark wooded area. That’s not a cowboy cookout.”

  “I want the whole shebang.”

  “I figured. That’s why I brought my harmonica.”

  “You play the harmonica? How did I miss that?”

  “I don’t take it out for just anybody.”

  “Ha, ha. Are you any good?”

  “Which instrument are we talking about?”

  “Your harmonica. I’ve experienced your skill with the other one.”

  “I’m slightly better with the harmonica.”

  “Whoa. Then you belong on the stage in Nashville.”

  “Golly gosh. Thank you, ma’am.” That earned him a grin. What an idiot he’d been. She’d come right out and said she’d chosen Montana because it was full of cowboys. He’d had that ace in the hole all this time and hadn’t played it.

  “Do you want me to tack up the horses or pack the saddle bags?”

  “Tack up Nugget, please, while I pack the bags. Then you can hang around and admire my bulging muscles while I tack up Silver, who’s a slow eater.”

  She sighed. “I’ve created an egocentric monster. Note to self. Eliminate all complimentary references to Teague’s muscles. Ditto his package.”

  “Ever hear of closing the barn door after the horse escapes?”

  “Are you saying your swelled head is a permanent condition?”

  “Could be. When I’m around you, everything swells.”

  “Hey, cut it out. You said we had to make the campfire first thing.”

  “We do. To quote a dear friend of mine, I’m just priming the pump.”

  “Sounds vaguely familiar.”

  “Great phrase. Stuck with me.” He waited for her to go through the open door and then followed. Her priming-the-pump comment this morning hadn’t meshed with her raincheck move a few hours later. Now she was trading sexy banter again.

  Why was she blowing hot and cold? Was Zeke right? Could she be falling for him and had no clue how to handle it? Maybe so. Given her fear of getting trapped in a terrible marriage, falling in love would be the last thing she’d want.