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

  “Shall I call Uncle Bill on the walkie-talkie and get him to come in?”

  John raised an eyebrow. “Why? Can’t you drive me in?”

  Debra stared at him. “We’d have two others accompanying us,” she said, looking at the two children. “Do you think that’s wise?”

  “If you can handle them while I’m getting my cast on, I think we can manage. My truck has a second row for their car seats. Plus, if you need to do any shopping afterward, I’ll be able to help with them.”

  Debra nodded. “Then I guess we can.”

  “Can you get my ripped up jeans and a shirt for me?”

  “Yes, of course. I’ll put them in the bathroom.” She opened his closet and grabbed the jeans, then she selected at blue knit shirt that would match his eyes.

  “All right,” she said after putting Betsy in the playpen. “Let’s get you to the bathroom.”

  “Are we in a rush?” he asked as he reached for her support in getting off the bed.

  “Yes. The kids will need to have lunch and then take their naps as soon as we get home.”

  “Oh, I see. I’ll hurry.”

  “Mommy, do I get to go?” Andy asked, his eyes glowing.

  “Yes, honey, but you have to be very good. I won’t be able to carry you because I’ll need to carry Betsy.”

  “I’m a big boy, Mommy. I can walk.”

  “Thank you, sweetie. I appreciate that.”

  John opened the bathroom door, frowning. “Why did you pick this shirt, Deb?”

  “I liked the color. Why? Don’t you like it?” She wondered about the funny look on his face. “I’ll get another one if—”

  “My first wife bought it for me, that’s all,” he explained. “But don’t worry, it’s fine. Come on. We need to go.”

  It only took a couple of minutes before he hopped out of the bathroom. “I’m ready.”

  “All right. Wait here till I get the kids settled.”

  Moving at a good pace, she put both car seats into John’s truck in the garage, then came back for the kids. As she was strapping a squirming Betsy into the seat, she suddenly remembered a necessity. “Andy, can you run upstairs and get the diaper bag? It’s been so long since you were a baby, I forgot I needed it.”

  Then she ran into the kitchen for a spare bottle. When she came back out to the truck, Betsy immediately grabbed for it. “Not now, Betsy,” she said gently, moving it out of sight. “This is for later.”

  Andy ran into the garage, the bag almost as big as he was. “Here it is, Mommy.”

  “Thank you, sweetie. Now get in your seat.” Andy knew the drill and snapped the belt of his car seat all by himself.

  Next, Debra headed back to the bedroom for John. This was the last time she’d have to touch him, she realized. After this, he’d have the walking cast on and be back to the self-sufficient man he was. She almost savored the experience as he reached out to rest his arm on her shoulder as he stood on one leg.

  “Ready?” she asked as she slid her arm around his waist. She held him tight until she got him settled into the truck. “When I close the door, you can lean against it and extend your leg on the seat.”

  He did as she advised and the nearness of his leg to her distracted her from her driving. That, and the fact that his eyes never left her. She could feel them running up and down her side. At the same time she wanted to tell him to stop, but relished the attention. She settled on trying harder to focus on the road, deciding in the end that his glances were worse than Andy’s usual endless litany of questions from the back seat.

  Fifteen minutes later, she pulled to a stop in front of a small doctor’s office on the outskirts of Westlake. Betsy was asleep so she’d take John in, first, then come back out for the children. She came around to the passenger side to help him but he’d already swung his legs around.

  “I’ll get myself out,” he insisted. “Then you can help me in.” But his good leg was more wobbly than he thought, and Debra reached out just in time to duck under his arm and hold him up. Together they made it to the front door.

  The nurse behind the desk came immediately to help.

  “We’re so glad you made it in today, John. The doctor will be out of town tomorrow. Let’s just go right on in to the examining room, if you don’t mind, Miss…”

  Debra was about to supply her name when John spoke up. “Ellen, this is my wife, Debra.”

  “Then it’s true. There’s a rumor going around that you got married again, but I’d heard you swear that would never happen, so I wasn’t sure.” Ellen stopped as they reached the examining table. “Can you use your good leg and sit down up there, John?” She turned to Debra. “My, you’re a good assistant. John is lucky to have you.”

  “Thank you,” Debra said with a faint smile. “I need to go get the kids out of the truck now, if that’s all right.”

  “Kids? There’s more than Betsy? I guess you have children, too?”

  “A three-year-old son.”

  “That’s wonderful. Now you have both a boy and a girl.”

  “Yes. If you’ll excuse me—”

  “Of course.”

  Debra went to get the children, Betsy fussing from having been woken from her nap. As soon as she got in the waiting room and took her bottle, she settled down immediately. Like a little soldier, Andy sat quietly in the adjacent chair. He watched Ellen’s every move when the nurse came out from the back to answer the ringing phone.

  “Isn’t she supposed to be taking care of John?” he asked.

  “I’m sure the doctor is with him, now,” Debra whispered.

  The nurse hung up the phone and looked at them. “My, Betsy has certainly grown. Is she doing all right?” She rose and came over from her desk.

  Debra took the bottle out of Betsy’s mouth and helped her sit up. The baby frowned and reached for the bottle. “Ba-ba-ba-ba.”

  “Oh, listen to her talk! My, she’s growing fast, isn’t she?”

  “Yes, I guess so.”

  “And this must be your son.”

  “His name is Andy.”

  “Well, hello, Andy. I’m Ellen. Welcome to Westlake. Do you like it here?”

  Debra held her breath as her son decided how to answer that question.

  “I think so,” he said with a grin.

  “We haven’t been here but about a week,” Debra explained.

  “Of course, I should’ve known that. You know, it’s strange but I didn’t hear about John’s engagement, then he turns up married.” Not skipping a beat, she turned back to Andy. “Don’t worry, Andy, you’ll like it just fine after you’ve been here a while.”

  Debra wasn’t sure they’d be here long enough for Andy to find out if he really liked it. But she was beginning to realize they would be here long enough for Andy’s heart to be broken when he had to leave John. Just like hers.

  Discussing Betsy’s care with Ellen helped pass the time as they waited for John. After a half hour, the doctor emerged from the back. He was tall, with a well-groomed dark beard and a lab coat over cords and a plaid shirt. “I wanted to meet the new Mrs. Richey. How do you do, ma’am? I’m Dr. Harms. Welcome to Westlake.”

  “Thank you, Doctor. How’s our patient?”

  “He’ll be out shortly. Just thought I’d come out and meet the woman John’s been talking about.”

  So, Debra thought, John was talking about her? She’d give a fortune to find out what he’d said.

  The middle-aged doctor leaned down and smiled at Betsy. “She looks good. Whatever you’re doing is fine, Debra. I hope you don’t mind me calling you that.”

  “Of course not, Doctor.”

  “Well, feel free to call me Tom. Everyone does. We’re a small community, here. I answer questions over the phone all the time and they’re not always about medical things, either.”

  Debra laughed with the doctor. “I’ll remember that, Tom.”

  “Since you’re here, Betsy needs a couple of shots. Can we do that now?”

&
nbsp; “I guess so, if it’s all right with John.”

  “He agreed. Would you bring Betsy back to my office?”

  “Of course. Andy—”

  “He can come along and I’ll let him visit with John, who is bored to tears. Is that okay, Andy?”

  “Yes. I like to visit with John,” Andy said.

  The shots only took a couple of minutes, but Betsy cried a lot. Debra thanked the doctor even as she soothed Betsy.

  “We’re lucky that Betsy has remained healthy,” Tom said. “I think it’s because she never sees other babies.”

  “I think you’re right, Tom. But now she’ll be more protected. When shall I bring her in again?”

  “When she’s a year old.” He opened his office door. “Now, I’d better go check on your husband. He should be ready to go in a few minutes. And I’ll congratulate him. His upgrade in the wife department is quite superior.”

  “Thank you,” Debra said, her cheeks flushing even as she willed them not to. Tom noticed, unfortunately, because he laughed as he walked across the hall.

  Oh, my. She hadn’t thought about meeting the residents of Westlake. They all liked John, it seemed, and welcomed her warmly. If only they knew what kind of marriage she and John had. It was going to be awkward when John dumped her in the fall. But that would be his problem, not hers, she reminded herself.

  As if thoughts of the man conjured up the real thing, John appeared through the open doorway of the office across the hall. He walked out on a huge white walking cast from his toes to his thigh.

  Debra couldn’t measure her relief. No more pressing up against him to help him walk. He could manage on his own, now.

  He stopped in front of her. “What do you think? Pretty spiffy, isn’t it?”

  “Very spiffy. I hope you thanked Tom properly. He’s certainly made my life easier.”

  John’s eyebrows soared. “You make it sound like I was difficult to deal with!”

  Debra grinned. “You outweigh me by a hundred pounds and I had to support you for you to get out of bed. You think that was easy?”

  John put his hands on her face and bent down and kissed her, shocking her into silence.

  “Probably not, but you never complained. Ready to go?”

  She was ready, all right. Ready to jump him. He looked so incredibly handsome, his smile making his eyes crinkle just the way she loved.

  “Uh, yes. I’m ready.”

  “Me, too,” Andy said, coming out from behind John. “And I’m starving!”

  “So am I, Andy. Let’s go to the café for lunch,” John suggested.

  Debra stared at John. Who was this man grinning at her? Inviting her to lunch in a public place? He seemed light-years away from the surly, brooding boor she’d married. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea, John,” she whispered.

  “Why not?”

  “Let’s discuss it in the truck.” She leaned around John. “Thank you again, Tom.”

  “Call anytime you need me.”

  “Thank you, I will.”

  On the way out she reached out a hand for Andy but John stopped her.

  “Andy’s going to take my hand. He’ll help keep me balanced,” John said, smiling at her son.

  Once they were in the truck, John pressed her for an answer. “So, tell me why we can’t go to the café.”

  She looked at him. “I’m not sure meeting more residents of Westlake right now is a good idea.”

  “There won’t be many there in the middle of the day. Now, on Saturday night, I could understand your reluctance, but we’ll probably be the only ones there for lunch.”

  “Then why do they stay open?”

  “They do a big breakfast and dinner business.” As if he hadn’t heard her refusal, he said to Andy, “They have great hamburgers and fries. Does that sound good?”

  Andy’s eyes grew big. “Like McDonald’s?”

  “Just as good, I swear!”

  “Oh, please, Mommy!”

  Debra surrendered. “Fine, but you have to pay,” she told John. “I don’t have any money.”

  “Of course I’ll pay. I’m the dad, right, Andy?”

  “Yeah!”

  She wished Betsy were old enough to vote. But maybe not. The little girl was already showing a tendency toward her father and his wishes. Just like Andy.

  Pulling the truck across the street, she parked it and got out, coming around to get Betsy.

  “I’ve got her. Get Andy out over there,” John called.

  Debra hurried Andy out of the truck. She still wasn’t sure John had his balance in control. It would be terrible if he fell holding Betsy.

  When she reached the other side of the truck, John was laughing at her. “You didn’t think I could do it, did you? Come on, Debra, confess.”

  “You’re right. I didn’t think—that is, I thought you might have some trouble. I didn’t want Betsy to get hurt.”

  “Me, neither,” John said. He shifted Betsy to his other hand and slipped his arm around Debra’s shoulders. “Andy, are you there?”

  “Yes, John,” the boy said.

  They entered the restaurant like that, looking like a happy family of four.

  “Do we wait to be seated?” Debra asked in a whisper.

  John laughed. “If we did, we’d be here all day. Pick a table.”

  Debra chose one by the window set for four. She found a high chair and John put Betsy in it.

  Then, when Debra thought he would sit down, he walked to the counter and rang a cowbell a couple of times. “Hello! You’ve got some business out here.”

  A robust man with a full head of thick white curls ambled out of a side door. “John? What are you doing in town in the middle of the day?”

  “Looking for lunch, Baldy. We’ve been to the doctor’s office to get my cast on. Now I’ve brought my family over here for lunch.”

  “Your family? All those belong to you?” Before John could answer, the man stuck his head back in the door. “Hey, Lucy, Aggie, come out here and meet John’s family.”

  Now Debra knew for sure they’d made a mistake in coming here.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  JOHN introduced his new family to his old friends. It amazed him how pleased he was to do so. Of course, the threesome had seen Betsy before, but they hadn’t expected to meet Debra and Andy so soon.

  Debra was charming, blushing whenever they complimented her. He thought back to the one time he’d brought Elizabeth to the café. She’d sneered at his friends and embarrassed him. He’d never made that mistake again.

  With Debra, everything seemed so much easier. She did all the work he asked of her and more. When he’d needed help, she hadn’t hesitated to come to his aid, even when he was grumpy. And she treated his daughter as if she really was her child.

  Elizabeth had been beautiful on the outside, but that beauty had dimmed as he’d learned her true nature. Debra hadn’t impressed him when he’d seen her at their bare-bones wedding. But she was growing more beautiful every day, because her beauty came from the inside.

  After chatting with the threesome, they placed their orders.

  “We can make some creamed peas, too, if you want,” Aggie suggested. “They’re our specialty.”

  “That would be lovely, if you don’t mind,” Debra told the woman. Aggie was slim, fit and nearing seventy, but she appeared to have the energy of a teenager.

  “I’ll take some, too, Aggie,” John said. “And don’t forget those French fries for me and Andy.”

  “Not a chance,” Baldy said, grinning. “They’re the best part.”

  Lucy, instead of following the other two to the kitchen, stayed put, her arm on the back of John’s chair. “So, how did the two of you meet?”

  Debra turned a bright red.

  Before she could answer, John spoke up. “We met through the mail. We’ve been exchanging letters for a while.”

  “Letters? My goodness, you sure took a chance, John. But I think you got lucky,” she added, winking a
t Debra.

  “Come on, Lucy, you could say she got lucky to end up with an upstanding man like me,” John mock-protested.

  “Yeah, I could.” Lucy’s laughter hung in the air as she left the table to go to the kitchen.

  “We wrote letters?” Debra asked, her cheeks still red. She looked cautiously at her son, but he was playing with Betsy.

  John shrugged. “I had to think fast. That was the best I could come up with on short notice. Besides, it’s almost the truth. I wrote Bill’s letters to your mother.”

  “Which I never saw.”

  “Honey, if I’d told the truth, it would’ve really embarrassed you.”

  “I think it might’ve embarrassed you, too.”

  “Maybe so,” he agreed with a grin.

  But he didn’t feel embarrassed now. In fact, pride filled his chest as he surveyed his family. Yeah, he was coming to realize he was a lucky man.

  Once he would’ve said he had the worst luck in the world. The only good thing in his life had been Betsy. Come to think of it, Betsy had brought Debra and Andy into his life.

  “What are you thinking about?” Debra asked, surprising him.

  “About how lucky I am.”

  She looked at him, but she said nothing. She didn’t talk a lot. That was another difference between her and Elizabeth. Elizabeth had talked a lot, constantly. But it was always about her and her desires. She’d never asked about anyone else and was bored if the conversation wasn’t centered on her. He’d been so enamored of her that he’d assumed she’d change. He was wrong.

  She wasn’t even that good in bed. He’d been sure making love with Elizabeth would’ve been the best. But she’d turned out to be a selfish lover and not all that interested in it much. She’d teased him until they were married. Then she’d felt she’d done her duty on their wedding night and that should have been enough.

  As Debra sipped her drink, John gazed at her. He hadn’t thought he’d be interested in sleeping with his second wife. That was another mistake he’d made. And one he was thinking a lot about the past several days.

  What did she think about it?

  She was eyeing him suspiciously right now. Not a good sign. He needed to let her know how much he appreciated her. His earlier idea about taking some of the work off her slender shoulders was a good one.