The Rancher's Surprise Son (Gold Buckle Cowboys Book 4)

by Christine Wenger

  “Oh, and where do you think J.W. and my mother will be?” He was just about to answer, when she waved her hand. “My mother will be in their box with Johnny and whomever she invites to join her. My father likes to go down to the chutes and pull the rope for the cowboys who draw his bulls. I can just see you drawing a bull from the Duke Ranch and J.W. leaning over the chute, pulling your rope.”

  Laura grinned at the thought.

  “What are you trying to say? You want me to throw the ride if I draw a bull from the Duke Ranch?”

  “Don’t you dare!” She sighed. “I was just thinking that the Duke Ranch Rodeo will be very interesting this year—kind of like how our lives are going.”

  He put his arm around her and pulled her tight to him. He stared into her grass-green eyes and raised her lips to his. He kissed Laura, long and hard, then showered her with little kisses and strong hugs.

  She was in heaven.

  Laura pulled away when a group of loud cowboys distracted her.

  “Maybe your father and I should have a side bet,” he joked. “If I ride his bull, I’ll get his daughter’s hand in marriage.”

  She laughed. “He’s a betting man, as you know. Be careful, Cody.”

  “I’d never bet the Double M, but maybe he’d wager a bull or a top horse.”

  “And what do you have to offer him?”

  He thought for a while, and Laura immediately regretted asking that question.

  “I don’t have anything,” he said.

  A group of cowboys walked toward them, laughing, jeering. “Hey, jailbird! We hear you’re going to ride bulls at the Duke Rodeo.”

  “You hear right,” Cody said slowly. They laughed harder, as if it was the best joke they’d ever heard.

  “Don’t do it,” one of the taller and skinnier cowboys said.

  “Why’s that?”

  “Don’t throw a punch. We outnumber you.”

  Cody tensed, and Laura put her hand in his. She could feel every muscle in him tense. He was coiled and ready to spring.

  “Just ignore them,” Laura said.

  Another one of the group spit in the dirt at Cody’s feet. “It’s a family event, Masters. We don’t like riding with murderers.”

  “I’ve done my time,” Cody said calmly.

  “You have beans in your ears? We don’t like killers, pal. Rodeo is a family sport.”

  “What are you worried about? That I’ll win?” Cody asked. “If you’ve been watching me ride, you’ll know that I don’t have much of a shot, so don’t worry.”

  That made them laugh and suddenly they were all pals.

  After handshakes and introductions, the group walked away.

  Men! Sheesh!

  When they were out of earshot, Cody kicked at a stone with his boot. “I never thought about my record. I just never gave it a thought. All I could think of was that I’m entering as a former champ. I never thought about the reaction of the riders and probably the spectators.”

  He took his hat off and slapped it on his thigh. “Dammit, Laura! How much more can I take?”

  * * *

  “That’s it, Johnny. Keep your legs down so you won’t bounce around. And keep your feet in the stirrups. Go around the corral until I tell you to reverse. Then when it’s time for reverse, I want you to move the reins against Pirate’s neck like I showed you—move them in the direction that you want to go. Got it?”

  “Got it!”

  Cody followed the horse and rider closely, but then eventually gave Johnny more space.

  “Reverse,” Cody said, and Johnny did as he was told. Pirate obeyed. “Perfect!”

  “Am I ready for a trail ride with you and Momma?”

  “Not yet, but soon. I have more to show you.”

  “Ride ’em, cowboy!” J.W. yelled from the barn ramp that led to the corral. “Nice job!”

  “Grandpa, I’m riding really good.”

  “You sure are, buckaroo.” J.W. then turned his attention to Cody. “Cody, I’d like to see you.”

  “I’ll be with you right after Johnny’s lesson.”

  J.W. motioned for Cody to come to him. “We can talk right here. This won’t take long.”

  “Walk Pirate around the corral, Johnny. Nothing fancy.”

  Cody watched to make sure his son was doing as instructed. He sure hoped that J.W. was going to let him work at the Double M instead of here.

  “Yes?” he asked.

  “I spoke with your parole officer, and we are going to let you work two weekdays at your own ranch, but you have to continue with Johnny’s half-hour lesson every weekday here. And I’d like to offer you a position at the B barn, training Arabians for certain special clients.”

  That was a dream job. Trainers didn’t have to shovel manure.

  J.W. grunted. “This isn’t because I give a sh—”

  Just then, Pirate walked by with Johnny. He looked serious and was concentrating on not letting his legs and feet bounce.

  “Great job, Johnny. Great job!” J.W. said once the boy was past them. “This isn’t because I give a crap about you, Masters. It’s because you saved my daughter’s life and I always pay my debts. I can’t have everyone find out that I have a damn hero mucking out stalls.”

  “Hero? What?” Cody asked.

  J.W. ignored him. “I’m giving you those terms. Take them or leave them.”

  “I’ll take them,” Cody said. “If I can ride in your rodeo—the bull riding event. I’m scheduled to work this Friday, and as you know, it’s a three-day event, and—”

  “As far as I know, you haven’t ridden anything for years. Have your lost your mind?”

  “Maybe, but it would give me a lot of pleasure to take your money,” Cody said.

  He thought he saw J.W. attempt a smile.

  “I don’t like a convict riding in my rodeo, but suit yourself. It might make good publicity for the rodeo. Right next to the front-page article about you saving three hundred people from a fire.”

  J.W. pulled a rolled-up newspaper from the back pocket of his jeans and tossed it to Cody, then walked away. “Watch my grandson closely, Masters.”

  “Of course.”

  After Pirate was brushed and his tack was cleaned, Cody walked Johnny back to the ranch house. Laura was there to greet them with lemonade and cookies, only because Penny was in town and J.W. had left.

  “I probably should get back to work, Laura.”

  “Stay and have some refreshments with us. I’ll protect you.” She laughed.

  Cody grinned and asked Johnny, “Want to sit on my lap? You can reach the table better.”

  “’Kay.”

  Cody hoisted him up and they munched on sugar cookies and sipped lemonade, although Cody was sure that his jeans were wet from Johnny’s lemonade spills in certain unmentionable areas.

  They talked, laughed and joked and Cody knew just what he’d been missing all those years. This was what it felt like to have a family of his own, to sit at a table with his wife and son and really enjoy himself by just being with them.

  So much time lost.

  “Johnny, do you want to go with me to the rodeo and watch Mr. Masters ride bulls?” Laura asked.

  “Oh, yeah! How cool!” he said, nodding eagerly. “Can I have some cotton candy? And some popcorn?”

  Cody laughed and was about to say “sure,” when Laura said, “We’ll see.”

  That was the standard buzzkill from a parent. Well, he was a parent, too. “Sure you can! Sounds good.”

  When Laura glared at him, he shrugged. “It’s a rodeo.”

  “Are you gonna win, Cody? Are you?”

  “That’s Mr. Masters, sweetie,” Laura corrected.

  The boy shrugged. “That�
�s what I meant, Mom. Cody. Mr. Masters. It’s the same guy.”

  “He has a point there, Laura. I’m the same guy.”

  But how I wish he could call me Dad.

  “Laura, how much longer?” he asked, knowing that she’d know exactly what he meant.

  “I don’t know, Cody. Don’t rush me. I’ll know when the time is right.”

  “Huh?” Johnny asked.

  “Nothing, cowboy.” Reluctantly, Cody lifted him and set him on his feet. “I have to get back to work. Those stalls aren’t going to muck themselves out, and then I’m done with mucking. I’m training horses, starting tomorrow.”

  Laura grinned. He figured that she’d put a bug in her father’s ear.

  “See you tomorrow, Johnny. Tomorrow I’m going to teach you how to trot. You’ll do that for a couple of days. How’s that?”

  Cody waited for the word he knew Johnny would say: “Cool.”

  “Oh, I forgot about this.” Cody picked up the Springs Gazette that he’d put down on the table. The headline read Ex-Convict Turns Hero. Immediately, Cody didn’t want to read further.

  “Read it out loud, Cody,” Laura said. “I already read it, but I want to hear it again. And Johnny should hear it—some of it, not all.”

  “Nah, I don’t think so.”

  “Then give it to me,” Laura said. Taking the paper from the table, she began to read, “‘Acting without concern for himself, Cody Masters, of the Double M Ranch in Duke Springs, evacuated approximately three hundred individuals who were at a conference at the Duke Springs Hotel and Conference Center when a fire broke out in the kitchen.

  “‘In a twist of fate right out of the movies, one of the victims he saved from smoke inhalation and certain death was none other than the guest speaker, Laura Duke of Duke Ranch, whom Masters found passed out on the floor in the ladies’ room.ʼ

  “Oh, for heaven’s sake, did they have to mention ladies’ room?” Laura asked. “And it sounds like I was drinking. Passed out. Sheesh.”

  “‘Masters, who was recently released from—ʼ” Laura sniffed. “I think I’ll skip that. It’s the boring part,” she said to Johnny.

  “‘Many of the victims were in wheelchairs, and hotel staff was slow to respond. When they finally did, Masters had the situation under control.

  “‘Cody Masters is a hero who saved the day. If there is a reason for someone’s past to be forgotten, it’s the fire at the Springs Hotel. Cody Masters has proved himself to this community.

  “‘When you see Cody Masters on the street, shake his hand and thank him for saving your friends, neighbors, relatives and loved ones.ʼ

  “Cody, that’s really nice.” Laura leaned over and gave him a chaste kiss on the cheek. “You were always a hero to me.”

  “Momma, did you just kiss Cody?” Johnny asked.

  “I did, sweetie. Cody saved my life.”

  “Yeah.” Johnny held out his hand to Cody, and they shook. “Thanks for saving my mom.”

  “You’re welcome, partner.”

  Cody’s eyes were misty as he turned away.

  * * *

  Cody told Slim that he was picking Thursdays and Fridays to work at the Double M. Thursday, he’d get on as many practice bulls as he could. Friday night was the first round of the bull-riding competition.

  The competition continued on Saturday night and Sunday noon, with the short go-round on Sunday.

  Excellent money could be won all three days, and Cody was as ready as he could be. Skeeter McAvoy had let him ride every bull in his practice pen at least twice, and with Skeeter’s help, Cody had definitely improved.

  On Thursday night, he set up an empty fifty-gallon drum in his barn and strung it up on bungee cords. He practiced on the barrel until he mastered that.

  Throughout the week, he did a lot of core exercises and curls. He was in the best physical shape he could be after those years in prison. He’d never missed an opportunity to exercise.

  He was as ready as he would ever be.

  On Friday morning, as he was practicing on the barrel at the Double M, Laura and Johnny came for a visit.

  “Everyone’s gone to the fairgrounds to get things rolling and the stock settled. Mom is at a fashion show for breast cancer research, but I told her that I couldn’t come because I wanted to let Johnny go on the rides. Would you like to join us?”

  He looked at Johnny’s smiling face. “I’d love to, but first I have to give Johnny his riding lesson and do some things around here.”

  “Johnny, tell Mr. Masters what we discussed.”

  “That I don’t have to ride Pirate today. I can go on the rides instead and have popcorn and cotton candy,” he said.

  Cody snapped his fingers. “Johnny, how would you like to go mutton bustin’ at the rodeo? You ride on woolly sheep.”

  “Cool.”

  “Um... I don’t know about that,” Laura said. “I don’t want him hurt.”

  “You know that I wouldn’t do anything to put Johnny in harm’s way,” Cody said quietly, evenly. “He’s not going to get hurt. The event is controlled and watched carefully. The kids wear helmets and vests.”

  “Just like you when you ride bulls?” Johnny asked.

  “Just like me.” Matter of fact, Cody remembered that he needed to find his old vest and chaps and see if they’d fit him for the event tonight. He was old-school and rode without a helmet, but he should have found the time to buy one.

  J.W. had a pen of crazy bulls.

  “You two discuss it. Maybe discuss it with J.W. I think he’d love to see Johnny do some mutton bustin’.”

  Laura turned to Johnny. “Honey, let’s go back home and you can put on your new cowboy boots and your new hat. You have to look like a cowboy when you go mutton bustin’.”

  “Yes! Yee-haw!” Johnny yelled, then ran like crazy back to their truck.

  “Since when do you care what J.W. thinks?” Laura asked when Johnny was out of earshot.

  “I don’t care what he thinks.” Cody shrugged. “And I honestly don’t know why I said that.”

  Laura pointed to his makeshift bull and laughed. “Your brains are rattled.”

  “Yeah, maybe. But maybe someone needs to hold out the olive branch in peace—so we can be a family.”

  For the first time in a long time, Laura was speechless, then said, “I’ve never known a time when the Masters and Dukes haven’t fought. It’s all over a strip of land.”

  They stood in silence, thinking.

  “No, Laura, my fight with J.W. is over you.”

  “True.” Laura sighed. “And my mother and yours have a bad history. It’s about time they buried that, too. I don’t think my mother has been very happy throughout the years, and certainly yours wasn’t happy with Lindy.”

  “We have to remove ourselves from their mess and make a family of our own,” Cody said. “I’ve never been so determined to win money riding bulls. This means more to me than when I won the world championship.”

  “Come to think of it, where is all that money you won, Cody? You won thousands and thousands of dollars.”

  “I put it back into the ranch. We bought some stock, fixed up some things. Bought a shiny red pickup that’s now that pink wreck that we drive. Put in a new septic system and got water to the barn. And then it was gone. It didn’t last long.”

  Laura checked her watch. “You go ahead and do what you have to. I’ll meet you at the kids’ rides. Johnny will have cotton candy all over his face, and I’ll be the one sticky from holding his hand. Then later, we’ll enter the mutton bustin’.”

  “And then cheer for me, Laura. Cheer for us. We have our whole lives resting on my riding. If I win enough, we can get that brand-new double-wide and put it on the Double M property.”

  Laura sm
iled, and gave Cody a hug and a big kiss. “I’ll be cheering for you, Cody. You know I will. See you later. And in case I forget to tell you, we’ll be sitting in the box seats to the left of the chutes in the arena.”

  Even though Laura was saying the right things, her kiss was cold, and Cody wondered what was wrong now.

  Chapter Twelve

  “I want to go on the caterpillar,” Johnny said.

  Laura peeled off a ticket and handed it to the kid running the ride—a tame, roller coaster shaped like a caterpillar’s body.

  “Go for it,” she said as he ran to the back of the line.

  “He needs some kids his own age to play with,” Cody said as they sat on a bench by the ride. “How come he doesn’t have any friends?”

  “He’s not in school yet. He goes in two months—in September. Kindergarten.”

  “Oh yeah.”

  “He does have playdates with some kids from church, but I don’t see them here yet.”

  “Okay.”

  They sat looking at Johnny standing in line, talking to a little girl behind him. He had on his cowboy hat, a long-sleeved shirt, jeans and boots, and he looked darn cute, waiting for his turn.

  “He’s a good kid, Laura. You did a fine job.”

  “So did my parents, Cody. I know you don’t want to hear that, but they’re great with him. Your mother adores him, too, and Cindy, of course.”

  “Thanks for bringing him to the Double M, and letting him know my mom and sis. I can’t wait until we tell Johnny that my mother is his grandmother and Cindy is his aunt.”

  Laura shifted on the bench, looking uncomfortable, but Cody didn’t want to broach a touchy subject. This was a day for fun.

  “Laura, after this ride and maybe another, we need to get going to the arena and register Johnny for the mutton bustin’.”

  “He’s been so excited. He thinks he’s a bull rider, like you.”

  “Better that he should pass out money, like you.”

  “Laura Duke! For heaven’s sake, I’ve been trying to contact you.” A statuesque woman with designer jeans and a cherry-red sequined jacket that sparkled in the afternoon sun stood in front of them. Cody would bet that she was a former Miss Arizona Rodeo.