Best of Cowboys Bundle

by Vicki Lewis Thompson, Barbara White Daille, Judy Christenberry, Christine Wenger, Shirley Rogers, Crystal Green, Nina Bruhns, Candance Schuler, Carole Mortimer

  Then she wondered what she could make to sell at the fair. Quilts were the best option. Her grandmother had taught her how to make quilts as a young girl. After her grandmother died, her mother refused to allow her to continue to quilt. She said it made too much of a mess.

  She’d need a sewing machine. She decided to check all the closets before she worried about buying one. In a hall closet, her search paid off. She found an almost new sewing machine, along with a bag of scrap material, almost as if someone had quilted in the house before. Delighted with her find, she carried the machine and the material to the kitchen.

  Her spirits lifted. A good thing, too, because they’d been pretty low.

  “What’s that, Mommy?” Andy had followed her.

  “It’s a sewing machine.”

  “What’s it do?”

  Debra couldn’t help but smile. “I make things with it. And I can repair holes in your clothes with it.”

  “Can I make it do something?”

  “Not yet. When you’re older, you can if you want. Mostly ladies do it.” Debra drew a deep breath. “I think Sesame Street is on. Do you want to watch it?”

  “Oh, yeah!”

  She fixed him a plate of cookies and a glass of milk and turned on the television. Then Betsy called from upstairs.

  Debra had hoped the baby would nap longer. She wanted some time with the sewing machine. But she’d find the time, somehow.

  By the end of the day, she’d made a plan for the quilt she was going to make. Whatever she could get done before the fair, she would sell and put the money away so she’d have something to live off of once John got his housekeeper.

  She let Betsy sleep a longer time that afternoon. Then she got her up and dressed her to have dinner with her father. Andy, who had stayed up most of the afternoon, ate his dinner early and got bathed. Then she tucked her son into his bed, read him a story from his favorite book and kissed him good-night.

  She put a barrette in Betsy’s soft curls to keep them out of the way.

  “Okay, little girl. You look very pretty for your daddy. Now I’m going to put you in your playpen while I finish up dinner.”

  Betsy held up her arms, calling, “Ma-ma.” Debra tried to ignore her, but she couldn’t. “Okay, how about I put you in your high chair for when Daddy comes in.” Immediately the baby switched to “Da-da,” her gaze fastened on the door.

  Just as Debra had dinner on the table, she heard the men come in. The men, except for John, were now showering in the bunkhouse, since they all had a supply of clean clothes to choose from. They were coming in clean to dinner, now.

  But where was John?

  As soon as her uncle Bill came into the kitchen, Debra asked, “Where’s John?”

  “Didn’t he stop by the house? He said he’d let you know that he’d be late to dinner.”

  With all three men staring at her, Debra lied. “Oh, yes, I forgot.”

  She filled a plate and covered it with plastic wrap. “Can I get you anything else?” she asked the others.

  “Aren’t you going to eat, honey?” Bill asked.

  Surprised, Debra looked up. “I’ll eat later. Right now I need to feed Betsy.”

  She fed the baby girl as she babbled at Debra. Several times she said, “Da-da,” and the men looked up.

  “Is she calling her daddy?” Jess asked.

  “I think so. I’m hoping he’ll be pleased.”

  “Are you going to mind cooking for another cow boy?” Mikey asked, a frown on his face.

  “Another cowboy?” Debra asked, surprised.

  “Yeah, the boss is hiring another cowboy.” Jess stared at her. “We can start doing our own cooking if we need to.”

  “Don’t be silly, Jess. It’s as easy to cook for five as it is four. It won’t be a problem. It’s my job.”

  They all heard the rumble of a big engine. Debra looked out the kitchen window and saw the Escalade pull in by the window. Before she could say anything, they heard a car door close and the Escalade leave.

  Debra stared at the door just as it opened and John came into the kitchen. “Sorry I’m late,” he said with a glance at her.

  She reheated his plate and put it in front of John.

  Turning to Betsy, she prompted, “Betsy, did you say hello to Daddy?”

  Betsy began waving her arms and chanting, “Da-da.”

  John, who had just picked up a fork, stopped in midaction and stared at his baby. “She—she’s saying Daddy?”

  “Yes, I believe so,” Debra said in an offhand manner.

  All the men began talking to Betsy, praising her and prompting her to say more, and she suddenly stopped talking, staring at each of them.

  Debra consoled the baby. “I think your enthusiasm has frightened Betsy,” she told the men.

  They fell silent. “Betsy, did you say hi to Daddy?” Debra repeated and watched the child start babbling again.

  Debra pulled out a chair next to Betsy. “I’ll feed her while you eat, if you don’t mind.” She wasn’t sure about John’s reaction.

  “Aren’t you going to eat?” John asked.

  “I’ve already eaten,” she lied, and began feeding Betsy the rest of her dinner.

  “Where’s Andy?” John asked suddenly.

  Surprised, Debra said, “He’s in bed.”

  “We haven’t seen him since you first got here.” Jess looked puzzled.

  “It’s not good for him to wait this late to eat.”

  “So you’re cooking two dinners each day?” Bill asked.

  Debra avoided anyone’s prying eyes. “It’s no big deal.”

  “Shouldn’t Andy be eating with us?” John asked.

  “No, I don’t think so.” She wasn’t going to let her son fall in love with the home she’d found for them when she knew now it was only temporary. That would lead to heartbreak.

  “I think I should get to know Andy.” She heard the stubbornness in John’s voice.

  “We’ll discuss it later, John.”

  “Hey, guys, pillow talk!” Mikey proclaimed with enthusiasm.

  “Would you like more gravy and potatoes, Mikey?” Debra asked, knowing food would distract the young man.

  “Oh, yeah, if you’ve got some more. I’m really hungry this evening.”

  Jess slapped his friend on the back. “You’re always hungry, Mikey.”

  “Hey, I’m still a growing boy!”

  “You eat any more and John will have to add a surcharge for food,” Jess teased.

  Debra breathed a sigh of relief that she had escaped the questions. Until she caught John’s stare. His blue eyes bore into her. Though she shivered, she continued to ignore him. It wasn’t easy. He seemed to dominate a room every time he entered.

  How was she going to distract him?

  “Did you hire another cowboy?” she tried.

  John stiffened. “How do you know that?”

  “The others mentioned it.” She returned his stare. “Were you going to wait and let him just show up one morning to surprise me?”

  “No, I wasn’t. I was going to discuss the changes in the household when we were alone.”

  “I think I’ve already worked things out except for the date. When will he be here?”

  “He’s moving into the bunkhouse tonight. He’ll be here for breakfast in the morning.”

  “Fine. I’ll increase what I cook.”

  “I don’t really think you need to, Debra,” Jess said. “We could all use a little less breakfast now that we’re getting lunches, too.” Jess gave her a rueful smile,

  “Hey!” Mikey protested. “Speak for yourself.”

  “This is not up for discussion!” John shouted.

  Debra didn’t even flinch, but the men were surprised. “Yes, boss,” Jess said. “Uh, thanks for the dinner, Debra.” He left the table followed quickly by his pal, Mikey.

  “John, why are you yelling at everyone?” Bill asked.

  “I’m trying to have a conversation with my wife,
but everyone seems to think he has the right to interfere.” John glared at Bill.

  “Are you talking about me?” Bill asked in outrage. “I’m the ranch manager. I’m supposed to know what’s going on.”

  John blew out the hot air that seemed to be building in him. “I didn’t mean—I thought I should tell Debra in private since I sold the truck she was supposed to have at her disposal.”

  “Hell, man, it was her idea!” Bill said. Debra saw when the realization hit Bill and he knew he’d blown his promise.

  She continued to feed Betsy, ignoring the two men, pretending she hadn’t heard Bill’s statement

  “What do you mean it was her idea?” John asked.

  “I lied to you, because she asked me to. She didn’t think you’d accept such a good idea from her. But I think she should get the credit for it.”

  John stared at her. “This was your idea?”

  Debra stiffened her back. “Yes.”

  “Why?”

  “I thought you could use the extra help for the calving season.”

  “I don’t need you to take pity on me!”

  “So now you’re going to cut off your nose to spite your face?” she asked unemotionally.

  “No, damn you, I’m not. The new cowboy will be here tomorrow for breakfast. Be prepared!” He got up to stride out of the room, but Betsy stopped him. “Da-da!”

  Debra watched as Betsy caused her daddy to melt all over himself, moving to the high chair to lift her out of it. “Sorry, baby, Daddy forgot.” He cuddled her against him.

  “I think I should take—” Debra began, having recognized a pattern in Betsy’s behavior after a big meal.

  “No! She’s my child. I can take care of her.”

  “Of course,” she said. But she watched out of the corner of her eye as Betsy performed as expected. John wrinkled his nose as a distinct odor rose from Betsy’s diaper.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  DEBRA looked at John, but she didn’t say anything.

  “I’ll take care of her,” he repeated and carried his baby daughter out of the kitchen, heading for the stairs and Betsy’s bedroom.

  Debra’s husband had died before Andy was born, but she’d heard the waitresses at Joe’s Diner complaining about their husbands refusing to deal with dirty diapers. John certainly wasn’t like them. She admired that about him.

  She cleaned the kitchen, as she usually did, not wanting to start the day behind. Especially in the morning with another mouth to feed. Thinking about the laundry, she decided she should organize the men, having one of them bring his dirty laundry each day, so she could control the amount of clothes she had to wash. Since she was going to begin the quilt the next day, she needed to organize her time.

  The men, minus John, of course, were in the family room watching television. She waited for a commercial to explain her plan, assigning each of them a laundry day.

  Once that was done, she turned around to find John staring at her, clearly irritated by something. That wasn’t a big surprise. He seemed to always be upset about something. “Is there a problem, John? Did Betsy—”

  “Betsy did just fine!” When Bill turned to look at him, John gestured to the kitchen.

  Whatever was bothering him couldn’t be discussed in earshot of the men, she figured. Reluctantly she preceded him into the kitchen, then turned around and said, “Well?”

  “You cleaned my bedroom!”

  “So?”

  “I thought I told you not to go in there!”

  “You can be sure I won’t when you’re in there, if that’s what you’re afraid of.”

  “I’m not afraid! I just want my privacy!”

  “I’m the housekeeper. I’m not going to have my reputation ruined because you like to live in filth. Your bathroom hadn’t been cleaned in months!”

  “I don’t think your reputation as a housekeeper will suffer. And you have enough to do with the two kids and the laundry and cooking.”

  “Fine!”

  “Fine!” He left the kitchen.

  Debra got out the sewing machine and began work on the quilt, taking her frustration out in a positive way. Eventually she calmed down to think rationally. As long as she continued to clean his room, he wouldn’t notice the change anymore. Well, he might if she made his bed. She’d made his bed with clean sheets today and she thought he’d sleep better. But, of course, he’d never admit it.

  Bill came in to tell her good-night. When he found her sewing, he wanted to know what she was doing.

  “I’m quilting, Uncle Bill. I used to do this with Grandma.”

  “Hey, you’re right. I have a quilt my mom sent to me. I’d forgotten where I’d gotten it. Who is this one for?”

  “The Westlake Auxiliary’s fair. This way I can make some money for the future.”

  “Honey, John will give you money. You’re working hard enough for it.”

  “No, I don’t want his money. I’ll make my own. Good night, Uncle Bill.”

  She’d thought about asking Uncle Bill to promise not to tell John about her plan, but his promising hadn’t worked out so well last time. So she decided not to emphasize her secret. She’d just let it go and with any luck her uncle would forget it.

  When John returned to the kitchen a few minutes later, Debra sighed. The children were less of a problem than the adults.

  “What are you doing?”

  “I’m quilting.”

  “We don’t need any quilts.”

  “John, I’ve done the cooking and the laundry, the house is clean and the children are asleep. If there’s anything you need me to do, I’ll do it. Otherwise, I’ll do what I like to do, which is quilting. Okay?” Her tone was harsh but she had to stand up for herself.

  “I wasn’t criticizing you, Debra.”

  “Good.” She started the sewing machine again.

  He stood there looking at her, and she could feel his eyes boring into her as she sewed. When he finally left the kitchen, without saying anything else, she breathed a sigh of relief.

  The next morning after breakfast and the introduction of the new cowboy, Darrell, Bill and John rode out together.

  “Good breakfast this morning. I sure do love pan cakes,” Bill said.

  “Yeah, but didn’t you think Debra looked pale?” John asked.

  Bill looked at his boss cautiously. “Are you complaining about breakfast?”

  “Hell no! It was great. But Debra didn’t seem as—as vibrant as she usually does.”

  “Maybe she stayed up too late last night working on that quilt.”

  “Yeah, maybe so,” John agreed. After a moment, he said, “I noticed you brought a big bag of laundry in this morning. You trying to make her work extra hard?”

  “No, didn’t you hear? Oh, I guess you were upstairs with Betsy. Debra assigned each of us a day to bring in all our laundry. It saves her sorting everything and it keeps her laundry load kind of even. I thought it was pretty smart of her.”

  “Yeah, I guess so. When is my day?”

  “John, you’re her husband and the boss. You can have something washed whenever you want it.”

  “She cleaned my room yesterday,” John abruptly said.

  “Good.”

  “I told her not to do it again.”

  “Are you crazy, man? She’s supposed to clean your room! It’s one of the perks of being married!”

  “I can take care of it myself.”

  “Oh, so you don’t do enough in the saddle all day?”

  “Yeah, but—”

  “You’re cutting off your nose to spite your face!” Bill shouted.

  “That’s what Debra said, too.”

  “So? She’s right. That’s an expression my mother used to use a lot. And she was right, too. You’re not giving Debra a chance. She’s doing everything you asked her to do and you’re still complaining.”

  John hung his head. Bill was right. He had to admit that. Debra had far exceeded his expectations. She worked hard and cooked well. S
he was great with Betsy. She hadn’t asked for anything. Elizabeth had demanded so much he’d almost gone bankrupt.

  So why was he complaining?

  Because he was afraid to get close to another woman, to make himself vulnerable.

  He didn’t like admitting that. He’d always believed he could face down anyone or anything. But he couldn’t.

  Not a woman.

  After only four days in her new life, Debra had a set routine. It made everything much easier. And having an entire day to do her work was wonderful. She would admit to herself that her life was much better here in Wyoming than it had been in Kansas.

  When John hired a housekeeper and didn’t want her anymore, she might look for a housekeeper position somewhere in Wyoming. Maybe even close enough to come visit Betsy.

  It would be difficult to leave Betsy. And John? She had to admit an attraction she hadn’t wanted to feel. Sure, he was a good-looking man, tall, with solid muscles and handsome features, but more than all that, she liked the way his eyes crinkled when he smiled. If they could start over, have a normal marriage, she thought she might be happier than she’d ever been before.

  That thought brought a warm blush to her cheeks. Thinking about being in John’s arms, feeling his touch, was something she shouldn’t be thinking about. It didn’t seem to be part of their marriage agreement.

  And it shouldn’t be since he was going to get rid of her in the fall. So she only had about six months of married life left.

  She took some time that afternoon to play with Betsy and Andy on the rug in the den. Andy was teaching the baby to crawl. Betsy was a fast learner.

  “Very good, Betsy,” Debra praised. She picked up the baby and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “You’re a very good crawler.”

  Betsy squealed and said, “Ma-ma!”

  “Yes, sweetheart, but I don’t think your daddy will like that word.”

  “Why not, Mommy?” Andy asked. “You said Betsy was my sister. That makes you her mommy.”

  “I know, honey, but John doesn’t quite believe that.”

  “Didn’t you get married?”

  Debra didn’t want to answer that question, but, unfortunately for her, her son was a little too smart for her own good. “Yes, we did, but…well, it takes time to adjust to the change, honey.” Trying to change the subject, she pointed at Betsy. “Oh, look, she’s pulling herself up. Pretty soon she’ll be walking.”