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

  “Thank you.” She gave John a baby cup of milk for Betsy. “Why don’t you start her with this while I get her cereal?”

  John looked surprised. “A cup? No bottle?”

  Over her shoulder Debra replied, “She’s got to learn, John. By one, she should be off the bottle completely.”

  “That makes sense, then. Hey, look! She can drink all by herself.” Betsy had taken the handles in her hands…and proceeded to spill the milk all over her tray.

  Debra hurried over with a dry cloth. “Sometimes she misses her mouth. It’s better if you guide her a little.”

  “Ah, I see. Well, Betsy, you’ve got a lot to learn, but so do I. I guess we can learn together.”

  Just then, the cowboys began filing in. They each greeted Debra. Since it was Thursday, Darrell told her he’d left his laundry bag in the laundry room.

  Before John could say anything, Debra assured Darrell he’d have his laundry done when he got in that evening.

  “But then that’s the end of that service,” John said. “Debra is wearing herself out taking care of all of us. So I’m having a new washer and dryer delivered to the bunkhouse today, so you can do your own laundry.”

  All of the men agreed, especially when John told them he had bought them a big television, too. “That way, you can watch television while you fold your own laundry.”

  While the men all laughed, Andy padded into the room. He slipped into his seat and Debra greeted him with a kiss. Then she made him pancakes, as she’d done the others. “Andy, you need to eat a little bit of eggs, too, please.”

  “Aw, Mom,” he protested.

  “Son, you have to do as your mom says. It’s what a cowboy does,” John told him, all serious.

  Andy frowned. “Really?”

  “Ask any of them,” John said, motioning to the others at the table. To a man, they all assured Andy they obeyed their mamas.

  Debra had trouble hiding her smile. She didn’t believe it was true, but if it got her son to follow orders, she figured it was a good thing. She looked up and her gaze met John’s.

  There was an intimacy in his gaze, as if they shared secrets, like some couples who had lived together a long time. What a ridiculous thought. The longest she’d be on the ranch was six months. She hurriedly looked away.

  When the men finished and started filing out, she passed out their lunches. Again, John held back, waiting for the others to leave. When he approached her, Debra took a step back and held out his lunch at arm’s length.

  John stood there, but it was Andy who asked the question. “What’s wrong, Mommy? Don’t you want John to kiss you goodbye like yesterday? That’s what mommys and daddys do. I saw it on TV!”

  John smiled at the boy’s comment, but his eyes never left Debra’s. Neither did hers leave his. He stepped closer, took his lunch and, when she thought she’d never breathe again, kissed her goodbye.

  When she heard the door shut behind her, Debra went to her son. “You, little man,” she said, ruffling his shaggy hair, “watch too much TV.”

  “That was a nice thing you did,” Bill said as John rode up beside him.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Getting us those machines so we can do our own laundry. That’s a big load off Debra’s back. I bet she was real grateful,” Bill added with a suggestive laugh.

  “No, she wasn’t.”

  Bill frowned. “Really? Why? It can’t be because she liked doing our dirty work.”

  “She acted like I was saying she couldn’t do her job properly.” John was silent for a moment. Then he said, “She does the work of at least two women and never complains. And now she’s staying up too late at night making a quilt so she can sell it and make money. I tried to get her to tell me what she needed money for, but she wouldn’t. Do you know what’s going on?”

  “She told me she was quilting. My mother taught her. I thought she was doing it because she liked it so much.”

  “Think, Bill, after all the cooking and cleaning she does, the child care for two children, the laundry, do you really think she has time left over for a hobby? I’d like her to be able to get out some, to have some leisure time.”

  “That’d be nice,” Bill said. “But she seems all right.”

  “You don’t think she’s lost weight?”

  “Maybe a little, but she’s okay.”

  “I’m worried about her.”

  “Well, that’s your job, and I’m glad you’re doing it. You didn’t take to her right away, did you?”

  “Damn it, Bill, you know I didn’t want to marry. But Debra was everything and more that you said she was. But we both shortchanged her on the wedding. She didn’t even get flowers!”

  “Won’t be much to tell your kids about, will it?”

  “If we ever have any.”

  “I don’t see why you wouldn’t, if you want ’em.”

  “Maybe the fact that we don’t share the same bed room, much less the same bed!”

  “Still?”

  “Hell, Bill, she’s only been here a couple of weeks. Don’t you think I should let her adjust? Figure out if she even likes me? I spent so much money and time to give Elizabeth the wedding she wanted, and she threw it all away. And she didn’t do anything to deserve it, either. But Debra…”

  His eyes stared off in the distance as he considered his second wife. She was the complete opposite of his first wife, for which he gave thanks. But he was greedy and wanted more.

  He wanted to be her real husband, to care for her and their two kids. To make more children. To leave a legacy that could continue for generations.

  He wanted to feel her in the bed beside him. To snuggle up to her on cold nights…or hot nights, he thought with a grin. He wanted to share the hard times and the good times with Debra.

  “What are you thinking about, boy? Is it X-rated?”

  John’s cheeks flushed. “Why would you think that?”

  “Something on your face, I guess. Come on, we’ve got to check the herd, make sure none of the mama cows are down.” They directed the men to ride the pasture looking for any cows in distress. “If you need help, fire a shot in the air.”

  They spread out to search the pasture. John had to pay attention, to be alert, so he could lend assistance if it was needed. He noted several calves obviously born the night before. Then he found a cow down and took his chains out of the saddlebag in case he needed to pull the calf. It could mean the difference between life and death for the calf and possibly the mother.

  It was clear this birth wasn’t going easy. He managed to attach the chains to the calf’s back legs and pulled the calf out of her mother. It took the calf a moment to adjust and John cleared out its nostrils. But it started breathing and a couple of minutes later, it stood on its own, though it was still a little wobbly.

  John remounted and looked for another cow in trouble to repeat the process again.

  They rode the pasture until it was almost dark. Then they gathered and rode together back to the barn, knowing Debra would have a great meal fixed for them. When John came in the house, while the others went to shower, he could smell the delicious aromas. His stomach growled.

  Debra had left him his clean clothes on the bench where he always sat down to pull off his boots. He stripped and took his shower. Then he quickly dressed in clean clothes. He thought back to those days when he and the men would drag in after dark and have to make supper. It’s a wonder they didn’t poison each other.

  He headed for the kitchen and was greeted by Andy and Betsy. He kissed and hugged both of them. Debra had her back to him and she didn’t turn around. He walked up to her and slid his arms around her, feeling her jump in surprise. He kissed her cheek, since he couldn’t reach her lips.

  “How was your day?” he asked as he released her.

  “Fine! It was fine. How was your day?”

  “Good. We’ve got a lot of new calves.”

  “I want to see them!” Andy called out.

&
nbsp; John poured himself a cup of coffee and sat down at the table. “We’ll arrange a time when I can take you out, Andy. You won’t mind riding on my horse with me, will you?”

  “No, I want to!” Andy said excitedly.

  “He’s too young, John.”

  Both John and Andy looked at Debra in surprise. John put his hand on Andy’s shoulder to keep him quiet. “I promise my horse is safe, Debra. She’s really well trained and I wouldn’t let her run.”

  “She’s safe unless she sees a snake!”

  “Accidents happen, Debra, but I don’t think lightning strikes twice in the same place.”

  “I don’t think it’s a good idea,” Debra persisted.

  “Mommy, other boys get to ride horses!” Andy protested.

  “Not three-year-old boys, Andy.”

  “When do you turn four, Andy?” John asked.

  “I don’t know. When do I have my birthday, Mommy?”

  “In October, sweetie, and that’s a long time away.”

  “We’ll try to persuade your mommy before your birthday, but if we can’t, then on your birthday, you’ll get to go riding for sure!”

  “Yeah!” Andy cheered. Something about his mother made him ask, “Right, Mommy?”

  “Right, sweetie…if we’re still here.”

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  “WHAT are you talking about, Debra?” John demanded, standing to gain her attention.

  The back door opened just then and John knew he’d lost his chance to ask her anything unless he wanted to do so in front of his men. He’d have to wait until after dinner.

  “Hey, Debra, I swear we could smell your cooking all the way from the bunkhouse,” Mikey said as he sat down, ignoring the tension in the room.

  “I hope it was appetizing, Mikey,” Debra said with a smile.

  John glowered at her. She didn’t offer him those warm smiles.

  “Of course it was,” Jess said, beaming at Debra, who also returned his smile.

  Damn! Did she like everyone better than him?

  “Debra, what are we having tonight?” he asked, watching her closely.

  She rattled off the menu without ever looking at him. John sought for another question, but it was Bill who asked, “What’s for dessert, honey?”

  Again, she smiled at Bill as she answered. John was apparently the only one whom she disliked.

  John sat through dinner, frustration almost over ruling his appetite. Almost. But he also remembered he wanted to see how much Debra ate. She served, she fed Betsy, she supervised Andy. But she never took a bite herself. After dinner, there was the cleanup and she had to get the kids to bed.

  “I’ll give Betsy her bottle tonight,” John offered. “I can do that just as well with a cast as I can with two good legs.”

  Debra looked surprised. “I can do it.”

  “No, I’ll feed Betsy and you bathe Andy. That will get them in bed sooner.”

  “I’ll just go change her diaper—”

  “I can do that, Debra. You can’t take everything on your shoulders.”

  “Fine!” She angrily went up the stairs with Andy.

  With a wry grin, he carried his daughter upstairs to her room and changed her diaper. Then they came back down, and he warmed up her bottle and settled on one of the leather sofas in front of the big television. He remembered the nights when he’d tried to feed Betsy before he ate his dinner, miserable and exhausted.

  Tonight, he’d been well-fed and was wearing clean clothes, holding his little girl against him. Life was good.

  But he still needed to discover what Debra had meant about not being there next October.

  He tried discussing it with Betsy, but she had nothing to say on the subject. She just fluttered her eyelashes at him, and he was satisfied. In a soft voice, he told his little girl about his day, describing the baby calves, telling her how they wobbled when they tried to walk. Her gaze remained fixed on his lips as she took her bottle.

  Debra came down the stairs before Betsy finished. “Shall I take over for you?” she asked.

  “No, thanks. It won’t take much longer.”

  She walked into the kitchen and he could hear her moving around, cleaning up after supper. He’d intended to talk to her about eating before she put everything away. Maybe she was eating now, but he’d never know unless Betsy hurried up. Only a couple of minutes later, the milk was gone and Betsy was falling asleep.

  He put his daughter to bed, then he hurried back down, as much as his cast would allow him, to reach the kitchen. Debra was closing the dishwasher and starting it.

  “Debra, did you eat?”

  She turned around and glowered at him. “Yes.”

  “What did you eat?”

  “Different things. I nibbled and tasted as I prepared dinner.”

  “That’s not sitting down and eating a meal. You’re losing weight. Didn’t Tom’s words do anything for you?”

  “I’m strong enough to do my job, John. Tell me if you think I’m slacking off somewhere and I’ll take care of it!”

  “It’s not that you’re not doing everything and more than I ask, Debra. I’m concerned with your health.”

  “I don’t need you to guard my health. I’m an adult. I can take care of myself.”

  “Okay. I’ll change subjects. What did you mean when you said, ‘If we’re here in October.’ Why wouldn’t you be here? How can you say something that will upset Andy, make him not feel settled?”

  “Andy will be okay. He knows I’ll take care of him.”

  “So tell me what you mean.”

  “Nothing. Life changes. I don’t know what it will hold.”

  “Debra, you’re not telling me something.” He was learning to read her body language even more than he understood her words. And he sensed that there was a reason for those words.

  “You know everything I know, and neither of us can read the future. Now I have work to do, if you’ll excuse me.”

  “You’re going to quilt again?”

  “Yes, unless you have something you need me to do.”

  “How about I need you to keep me company and watch a movie with me?”

  “No, thank you. I prefer quilting.”

  John limped out of the kitchen, depressed and upset. Something was wrong, and she wasn’t willing to talk to him about it. Maybe he could press Bill and get him to talk to her. But Bill didn’t seem much in tune with his niece.

  Another thought struck him. If she knew she could sell her quilts whenever she made one and didn’t have to have them ready for the fair, some of the pressure might disappear. He’d have to call Charlie in the morning and ask him if he needed anything like that to sell in the store.

  He’d have to come up with a reason for staying in in the morning until Charlie opened the store. He could fake soreness. She’d easily believe that. She’d been warning him about it ever since he got his cast on.

  With a plan in mind, he relaxed and watched television…and fell asleep.

  When he woke up, it was after midnight and Debra was still in the kitchen running that blasted sewing machine. He pushed up off the couch and limped to the kitchen door. “Debra, don’t you think you need to go to bed?”

  She jumped. “What time is it?”

  “Almost one o’clock,” he said, wondering if she’d pay attention. She seemed rather out of it.

  “Oh, I didn’t know. I’ll put everything away and go up to bed.” Then she looked up. “What are you doing up this late?”

  He grinned. “I fell asleep on the sofa around eight-thirty. I just woke up.”

  “Oh.”

  He stepped forward. “Let me put the sewing machine away for you,” he said, putting his hand on the handle of the case as she slid the machine in it.

  “I can do that.”

  “I know you can, but let me help just this once.”

  She looked at him warily, but she finally agreed.

  “Why don’t you sleep in in the morning and I’ll cook breakfas
t for the others?” he suggested.

  “Absolutely not! That’s my job,” she said firmly.

  “It’s not like you’re going to get fired if you take a day off, Debra.”

  “I’ll be up at my regular time.” Then she marched up the stairs as if she were climbing Mount Everest.

  John stood at the bottom of the stairs, wishing she’d gone straight into his room and he could spoil her and make her relax and feel better, stronger. Why hadn’t he found Debra first and not Elizabeth? She was exactly what he’d wanted in a wife, but years ago she wasn’t around when he’d just gotten over his father’s death and was looking for a connection with someone. He’d made that connection—or at least he thought he did—at a rodeo in Cheyenne where he’d met Elizabeth. The beautiful woman hadn’t realized that watching cowboys was a far cry from living among them.

  Debra, though, was the woman any man in his right mind would choose. But he had first dibs, and he intended to let her know that. She wouldn’t be going anywhere before next October unless it was on a honeymoon with him.

  Again John got up early the next morning. Debra wasn’t surprised. She knew he didn’t trust her to do her job. She was determined to prove him wrong. She’d catch up on her sleep this afternoon, while the kids were in bed.

  She filled a mug of coffee for him and put it on the table in front of his usual seat.

  “I could’ve gotten that.”

  “No need,” she assured him. She even added a smile, though it was an effort this morning. She must be coming down with something. But it wouldn’t be the first time she’d worked through a case of the flu.

  By the time the men arrived, she had everything on the table except the second batch of biscuits. She liked to put it in the oven as the men arrived. Then, halfway through breakfast, they’d have hot biscuits to replace the others that were usually eaten by then.

  She was feeding Betsy, proud of herself for managing everything as if she’d had eight hours of sleep instead of four. She knew she hadn’t been getting enough sleep, but there was so little time. She’d almost finished the second quilt. If she hurried, she might finish four before the fair.