Colorado Cowboy - Includes a bonus novella

by Sara Richardson

Her long sigh wasn’t angry, just weary. “I followed the news. Heard they caught Cody. So I knew if I didn’t come back for Bodie now I’d never see him again. I thought I could grab him and disappear before anyone knew.”

  That was exactly what he’d hoped to hear her say. If she could use Bodie as motivation maybe she would be able to fight, to turn things around and focus on what she had to do to get to her son back. “I hired you a lawyer.”

  She finally raised her head. He’d seen that same narrow-eyed suspicion on Bodie’s face plenty of times. “I already have a lawyer.”

  “I’m not talking about a public defender. This lawyer is one of the best in cases like this.” He’d called around and everyone he’d talked to had recommended him. “I’ll cover all of your legal costs.”

  “Wow.” Amusement replaced the suspicion in her eyes. “You must really like my sister.”

  “I’m in love with her.” Completely, one hundred percent head over heels. “But that’s not why I’m here.” He knew this wouldn’t earn him a place in Charity’s or Bodie’s life. He still believed what Charity had said. She liked him for who he was, and he had to hold on to hope that, in time, it would be enough to bring her back to him. But he wasn’t here to discuss Charity. “I believe in giving people a second chance. Or a third chance. Or as many chances as it takes to get it right. You still have time to get it right. Even if you go to prison, you can still get another chance.”

  “There is no if,” Melody mumbled. “I’ll serve time. You know the worst part? I hated my mom for how she treated us. But I’m a worse mom than she was. Even she never went to prison. It’s probably better this way. Bodie’ll be better off with Charity. I don’t deserve him.”

  “Maybe not, but he still loves you. He still needs you.” Dev reached out and touched her shoulder so she’d hold her head up. “My mom gave me up when I was young, and it’s always felt like a piece of my life was missing. I don’t want Bodie to grow up feeling the same way.” Having a mother who was accepting responsibility for her actions in prison was better than having no mother at all.

  Tears brightened her eyes, bringing their color back. “I don’t want that either.”

  “So you take this opportunity to figure out how to be better,” Dev said. “How to be there for him, even if you can’t be with him for a while.”

  “I don’t know if he’ll ever want me to be there.” A raw fear whispered through the words. “He’ll probably forget all about me.”

  “No.” Dev knew better than anyone that wasn’t possible. “I haven’t seen my birth mom since I was little, and I still haven’t forgotten her.” He looked into Melody’s eyes, trying to offer her hope. “It’s what you do now that matters. What you do today and tomorrow and the day after that. That’s what will make the difference. He’ll see. He’ll know you’re trying, and he’ll try too.” They had a bond, and no one could take it away or even replace it with something else.

  Melody nodded, her eyes suddenly full of life again. “Do you think you could take him something for me? Can I write him a letter? I didn’t even get to talk to him. I want to explain, to tell him how sorry I am.”

  Dev glanced at the guard. “I can’t take anything out.” It was against the rules. “But I might be able to do something even better.”

  “We’re having ice cream for dinner.” Charity hauled the grocery bags onto the counter. The last two days had been such an overwhelming, emotional whirlwind that she hadn’t had any time to plan healthy meals. She’d gone to the grocery store while Bodie and her mom watched a movie and had wandered aimlessly until she made it to the frozen food section. “Rocky road and mint chocolate chip and cookie dough.” She pulled each one out of the bag and then found the whipped cream, sprinkles, chocolate sauce, and cherries.

  “Seriously?” Bodie wandered into the kitchen, his eyes wide. “Wow. Even Mom never let me have ice cream for dinner.”

  Tammi came in behind him. “That looks like a lot of sugar.”

  “It’s a lot of sugar,” Charity agreed. “A lot of chocolate, a lot of calories, a lot of fat, and we’re going to enjoy every bite.” Tomorrow she would become a responsible adult again. She would make a meal list for the week and go shopping in the health food aisle. But not today. Today they would eat away the stress of the last couple of days, and once they succumbed to the sugar coma, maybe they would have a Back to the Future movie marathon. “Bodie, please get out the bowls. Mom, find the ice cream scoop.”

  While they took care of their jobs, she lined up the ingredients on the counter, taking off lids and getting everything organized.

  “I love mint chocolate chip.” Bodie scooped himself out a generous portion.

  “Don’t forget the chocolate sauce and whipped cream.” Charity handed them over. “The more calories the better.”

  Bodie grinned at her—a real grin. The first one she’d seen in two days. He snatched the can of whipped cream and started fidgeting with the lid, but the cap popped off and the stuff shot out everywhere—all over Charity’s face.

  She dropped her own bowl and staggered back, the white froth temporarily blinding her.

  “Oh dear!” her mother squealed somewhere nearby. “I’ll get a towel.”

  Charity couldn’t see Bodie but she could hear him laughing hysterically, and it was music—the happiest music she’d ever heard. “You think that’s funny?” She swiped the whipped cream out of her eyes—still seeing it stick in her eyelashes—and found the other bottle on the counter.

  Before Bodie could dodge away, Charity had the lid off and she sprayed him everywhere she could manage.

  “Hey!” He came after her with his can again, and they were both standing in the middle of the kitchen shooting each other with whipped cream, laughing like fools, while her mom screeched and scolded.

  “Stop that! Look at the mess you’re making!”

  That only made them laugh harder.

  “Where’s the chocolate sauce?” Charity slipped and stumbled her way over to the counter and snatched the bottle.

  “No!” Her mother took it away from her. “Have you lost your ever-loving mind?”

  “Yes.” Charity spun to face her and shot her mom with whipped cream right in the face.

  Bodie howled with laughter.

  Tammi’s mouth formed a big O, which made her white face even funnier. Charity’s upper body collapsed over the counter, her shoulders shaking with giggles.

  “That’s it!” Tammi popped the lid off the chocolate sauce, and dumped it over Charity’s head.

  Bodie sank to the floor, gasping and snorting. “She showed you!”

  “Oh yeah?” Charity stole the syrup from her mom and sloshed through the mess on the floor ready to show him, but her phone buzzed in her back pocket.

  Umm…She swiped her hand down her jeans to clean off the stickiness and pulled it out to check the screen.

  Topaz County Detention Center.

  That was all it took to suck the laughter clean out of her. She looked at Bodie and brought her phone to her ear. “Hello?”

  “Char? It’s me.” Her sister sounded so far away. Or maybe that was because of the sudden buzzing in her ears.

  “Melody?” She said her sister’s name the same way she used to when she was small and afraid. “It’s really you? They told me we couldn’t call you. Not until you were back in Oklahoma.” She’d tried more than once…

  “Yes, it’s me. I don’t have much time. Is Bodie there? Can you put him on the phone?”

  “He’s here.” Charity looked at her nephew, but he shook his head and backed away.

  Tammi went and put her arm around him. “Don’t walk away,” she murmured. “She’s still your mom.”

  “Please, Char,” Melody sniffled. “I know he might not want to talk to me right now, but this is my only chance.”

  “Okay.” She pulled the phone away from her ear and put it on speaker. “You can talk to him.” But Charity couldn’t guarantee he’d talk back.

&
nbsp; No one seemed to know what to say first, so Charity broke the silence. “How did you find a way to call us?” They’d been so adamant that inmates were to have no contact with family…

  “It was Dev,” Melody said. “He came to see me. He got them to let me call you.”

  Dev. Hearing his name brought tears to her eyes. “He came to see you?” Of course he had. Because he knew she and Bodie couldn’t. He knew they were probably worried sick.

  “Yes, he was here this morning. He came to tell me he hired a lawyer. A good one. And he’s paying all the bills.”

  “No.” She couldn’t let him. He was not going to pay her sister’s legal fees. “I can pay,” Charity said, the tears breaking free. “Tell the lawyer I’ll pay all the fees.”

  “I think it’s too late. Dev already has everything settled with him.” There was a pause. “Listen, I only have a few minutes before I have to hang up. Bodie? Are you there?”

  He grunted out a sullen, “Yeah.”

  “I’m so sorry, Bodes.” Melody’s voice broke. “I messed up. I just wanted to get away and start over, but I made a mistake. Dev told me it’s not too late, that I can still fix things, and I’m hoping he’s right.”

  “Why’d you do it?” An angry expression hid beneath the remnants of whipped cream on his face. “Why’d you have to mess everything up?”

  “I was scared. We were out of money. But it wasn’t right.” Her sister’s voice gained strength. “I know that. And things are going to change. I’m going to change. I’ll prove it to you. I’m going to do everything I can to make it up to you. Okay?” She didn’t give him a chance to respond. “I know I won’t be able to be with you for a while, but I still want to be part of your life, if you’ll let me. You don’t have to decide right now. I know it’ll take time, but I’m asking you to forgive me.”

  A silence stretched on while Bodie seemed to think. His eyes were downcast, his mouth strained. “I’m really mad at you right now,” he finally said. “But I don’t think I’ll always be.”

  Oh, that kid. Charity moved in to hug him. For a quick second, he let his head rest against her shoulder.

  “Thank you,” Melody said softly. “I won’t give you any more reasons to be mad at me. I swear.” There was noise in the background, someone’s voice. “I have to go. I’m so sorry. Char—take care of him for me. I know he’ll be happy staying with you. I’ll write as soon as I can. I love you both. And you too, Mom.”

  “We love you, baby,” Tammi sobbed.

  “We really do,” Charity added, her tears carving a path through the dried cream on her face. “We won’t give up on you, Mellie. We’ll always be here for you.” Because they were a family.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Whenever Dev told his mom he was coming for dinner, she went all out. He sat across from his parents in front of a spread that could’ve easily served his entire patrol division at work. She must’ve spent all day cooking. Between the roast, garlic mashed potatoes, creamed spinach, roasted brussels sprouts, and fresh-made rolls, they’d all be eating leftovers for a week. Especially because he wasn’t exactly hungry at the moment. Nerves already filled his stomach, leaving little room for Friday dinner.

  “Dig in, son.” His mom passed him the platter of meat, watching like she wanted to make sure he took a generous portion.

  Too bad he didn’t have a dog under the table like they used to. He’d slipped their old border collie a heck of a lot of food back in the day.

  “Have you heard from Charity?” his dad asked, slopping a pile of mashed potatoes onto his plate.

  “No.” Dev took a small helping of each side dish. But he did keep hearing her words. You being here will only make things worse. Please, Dev. Just go.

  “Well, don’t worry,” his mother said. “I’m sure she’ll come around once things are a bit more settled. They’ve all been through such a lot.”

  That was putting it mildly. Every time he closed his eyes to go to sleep, he saw Bodie’s face, his horrified expression frozen in shock. That would haunt him for a good long while. “I’m hoping I’ll have a chance to talk to Bodie sometime soon, but I don’t want to rush it.” He wanted to apologize to the boy, even though saying he was sorry wouldn’t be enough.

  “You were doing your job, son.” His father slathered butter onto a roll. “As hard as it is, you have an obligation. You can’t go easy on a criminal. When you’re the county sheriff, you’ll set the tone for the rest of the department.”

  Yeah, about that. It was the opening he needed, but he still hadn’t figured out how to tell them he planned to withdraw from the election.

  “I don’t care what anyone says.” His mom set down her fork and pointed at him. “You were wonderful at that question-and-answer session. So personable and honest. People want someone real in those positions, someone they can relate to.”

  He wasn’t so sure he’d agree with that statement. He hadn’t exactly been honest. With them or anyone else. People wanted a face for the department, and he wasn’t right for the job. That was the bottom line. “Actually, I wanted to talk to you about the election.”

  “You’re still ahead in the polls,” his dad said, handing over the folded local newspaper he’d probably memorized during breakfast that morning.

  “The polls?” Dev glanced at the article it was open to. “You mean the informal questionnaire Hank sent out?”

  “It’s as good as anything else,” his father assured him.

  “Right.” He’d learned better than to argue about the local newspaper. His dad was their biggest supporter. “Well, the thing is, it doesn’t matter anyway. The polls, the numbers. Because I’m planning to officially withdraw from the election on Monday.” Once the words were out, he braced himself.

  “Withdraw?” His mom’s fork froze halfway to her mouth. Her smile went slack. “Dev…why?”

  “It’s not what I want.” That was the only way to say it. “I guess I thought it was because everyone else wants it so much, but I realized I don’t want to give up being out on patrol for management.” And meetings and press conferences and personnel issues—things he had no interest in dealing with.

  Both of his parents gaped at him, setting down their silverware as they exchanged a look of utter surprise.

  “If it’s not what you want, why’d you run in the first place?” his dad finally asked.

  It would’ve been easy to blame it on a whim, but it was time to stop hiding from his issues. He figured he’d get past them only if he owned them. “I knew how important it was to you,” he forced himself to say. “How important it seemed to be to everyone in town. And I don’t want to disappoint anyone.” That had always been one of his biggest fears, because disappointing someone led to rejection. At least that’s the lie he’d always believed. “But I also can’t keep making decisions based on how they’ll affect everyone else.” Especially now, when he thought about pursuing a future with Charity.

  “Oh, honey.” His mom had tears in her eyes. “How could you think we’d be disappointed in you? You’re everything to us. We only want you to be happy.”

  He knew that’s what they’d say, and yet the words brought a surprising amount of relief anyway. “I know. I’ve always felt loved and accepted by you both, but it’s still there. The knowledge that my birth mom didn’t want me.” Like he’d told Charity, he lived with something missing, but it didn’t have to define him. It didn’t have to drive all of his decisions.

  “She might’ve given you up, but we wanted you.” His mother held his dad’s hand on the table. “We wanted you so much. You were our dream come true. You still are.”

  “I’ve always known that.” Man, looking at his parents so concerned on the other side of the table got him a little misty-eyed too. “I couldn’t have ended up in a better family. I’m so lucky to have you two as my parents.” They’d given him everything and made him into the man he was.

  “We’re already proud of you, son,” his dad said with a tremble in h
is voice. “We couldn’t be more proud. You’re a good man, and that’s all that we’ve ever cared about.”

  “You pull out of that election on Monday, and don’t worry about what anyone says.” His mom had always been great at giving pep talks. “Find what makes you happy and go after that.”

  He’d already found it, but things with Charity happened to be complicated at the moment. “I’d like to go after it. Trust me. But it might have to wait for—”

  His cell rang. Normally he wouldn’t have it on at the dinner table, but he’d been waiting—hoping—for a call. He pulled it out of his pocket, and as soon as he saw the screen he popped up from the table. “Sorry, I have to take this.” Hope had galloped into his heart by the time he made it into the kitchen. As he brought the phone to his ear, he stared at that spot right in front of the sink. That’s where he’d held Charity in his arms, where he’d kissed her before Bodie and Gracie had wandered off…

  “Hello? Dev?”

  It seemed he’d forgotten to answer.

  “Hey. I’m glad you called.” The relief of hearing her voice allowed him to breathe—really breathe…deeper than he had since he’d left her house. “I’ve been worried about you two.”

  “I don’t want you to worry,” she murmured. “We’ll be okay.”

  Damn, he wanted to have this conversation in person, so he could see her face and be sure.

  “How’s Bodie?” There was that image again—the pain on the kid’s face. It gouged into Dev every time he remembered it. “He has every right to hate me. I think that might be the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Arresting a mother in front of her child.” He still went over it in his mind every day—what he should’ve done differently.

  “We understand,” Charity told him firmly. “You had to do your job. It’s over now. We’ll move past it. And what you did for Melody…hiring that lawyer.” Her voice turned weepy. “Well, um, it’s beautiful. There’s no other way to say it. I don’t think anyone has ever bothered to see the good in her, the potential. No one has ever given her a break like that.”