“Hello?” she said.
“Erin! Erin Walker!”
Erin smiled at the familiar voice. “Shelly Roberts! I haven’t heard from you for months.”
“I know,” Shelly answered. “I’ve been busy. But I miss racing against you.”
Settling back on the sofa, Erin laughed but felt a pang of envy. “I wasn’t that much competition before I left.”
“That wasn’t your fault,” her friend said. “Training a new horse isn’t easy. How’s that going?”
“Good,” Erin said with a smile. “I’ve finally got a handle on it, and so does he.” Thanks to Jake pointing out that it might be her problem, not MacDuff’s, her training had paid off, and her horse was ready to compete.
“Then you’re ready to come back?”
“I plan to,” Erin answered honestly. She simply hadn’t decided when and where, but it hadn’t exactly been her top priority for the past few days.
“Great! Because the Chandler Open starts Friday.”
Erin’s heart leaped at the news. To compete again had been her goal since leaving the circuit behind. And now she had the opportunity. Should she take it? It would mean leaving Jonah and Jake, at least for a short time. Only days, really. Unless...unless she could win a purse big enough for the entry fee for another.
Torn between missing them and the chance to compete again, she couldn’t decide. “That soon? I don’t know,” she answered.
“Oh, please, Erin,” Shelly said. “I know it’s short notice, but you can do it. It’s hardly an hour drive. And, yeah, it’s a smaller rodeo compared to others, but it’s the perfect place for a comeback.”
She had a point. “As long as I win or at least place,” Erin said.
“You will,” Shelly assured her. “You’re that good, no matter what horse you’re riding.”
Laughing, Erin shook her head. “Against you? That definitely means a win or place isn’t a given.”
“Well, that’s the thing,” Shelly said, with a soft laugh. “I won’t be competing.”
“What?” Erin could hardly believe what she heard. “Why not?”
“Steve put his foot down.”
“I can’t believe he’d do that,” Erin said. “Being a bronc rider, he knows what it is to have rodeo in your blood.”
“He does, but he wants me to take it easy. I’m about halfway through this pregnancy, and believe me, this second one is going to be an elephant. I’m so big already that I feel like a beached whale.”
“Pregnant? Oh, Shelly, that’s wonderful!” Erin cried. “How does Grayson feel about having a little brother or sister?”
“Excited. Most of the time,” Shelly added with a chuckle. “But he’s old enough now that he doesn’t have to be watched every second. My sister has promised to help when the baby gets here and I start riding again.”
Erin wished she could tell her friend her own news, that she, too, had a son. But her brothers deserved to know before anyone else. “How perfect for you. Steve, too. How’s he doing?”
“Good,” Shelly replied. “He’s cut back a little to spend more time with me, but he’s been doing well.” She hesitated for a moment, leaving a silence between them. “So well, in fact, that your entry is already paid. So, see, you have to go to Chandler.”
“You didn’t!” Erin said with a groan. “Shelly, you shouldn’t have done that.”
“I knew it would be the only way to get you there,” Shelly said. “Besides, we had the extra. We decided if I can’t compete right now, then you should. Can’t let those young girls get ahead of us.”
Erin felt tears coming on and took a deep breath, hoping to stop them. She and Shelly had been friends for many years. They’d competed against each other, both winning and losing, and they’d been each other’s fan club. But to pay her entry fee? Erin couldn’t imagine. And she couldn’t take it.
“Shelly, I can’t let you do that.”
“Too late. It’s a done deal.”
Erin knew there were times when entry fees could be given to someone else. “What about a trade policy?”
“Not at this rodeo.”
Quickly calculating the cost and knowing she had the travel money, Erin still didn’t have an answer. “Can I let you know?”
“Sure,” Shelly said.
Erin felt awful that she might let her friend down, but she couldn’t give her a definite answer. She only had one option. “I’ll pay you back, Shelly. I don’t know if I can make it to Chandler, but I’ll pay you back for the entry fee, no matter what.”
“You don’t have to do that, hon,” Shelly replied. “It isn’t a lot, and we want to do this for you. Steve and I both do. I know you left because money ran out. With Firewind gone and the trouble you had with your new horse, well, it happens. It could happen to me one day, too.”
“No, it won’t,” Erin told her. “You’ll stop before that happens, regroup and be back riding again. I should have stopped sooner instead of thinking it would get better. And it’s been nice to be home again.”
“I’m glad,” Shelly said, her voice sincere. “I know you avoided it, although you never said why.”
Erin smiled. “It’s nothing I can talk about yet, but someday soon I’ll tell you about it.”
“That sounds very intriguing,” Shelly teased. “When you’re ready to talk, let me know.”
“I will,” Erin promised. “And I’ll call you in a few days and let you know if I’ll be riding in Chandler.”
“Fair enough. By Thursday, if you can. We want to be there to watch you.”
“And cheer me on, I hope,” Erin replied, laughing. “Thank you, Shelly. I never expected—”
“Of course you didn’t. That’s what makes this so much fun.”
After they ended the conversation, Erin sat on the sofa with the phone in her hand and her thoughts on what she could do. She hadn’t expected any of this. Not seeing Jake again or realizing how much she still cared for him, in spite of the way he’d left her. Or meeting Jonah, only to learn he was their son. And the night before, after the dance. How could she simply walk out?
The pain of the words he’d said to her the night before he returned to college still lingered. It didn’t take much to remember how cold and emotionless he had been after they’d made love that first night and how her heart had never completely healed from it. Even now.
She didn’t know if what she had now or might have in the future would be enough to keep her from her life’s dream. She wanted to be a winner again. She knew she could do it, but she wanted to prove to everyone else that she could.
But could love be the one thing she needed more? She’d never loved anyone except Jake. But she didn’t know for certain that he loved her the way she needed him to. If she stayed, would it last? Would he still be there if she left? She didn’t have an answer.
Chapter Ten
“Hey, boss.”
Finishing the last of his instructions to Bobby Ray, Jake turned around. “What is it, Kelly?”
Kelly didn’t speak until he was within a few feet from Jake. “Well, I found something in the barn.”
Jake glanced down to see an object in Kelly’s hand. Something dark. Something he’d seen only a few days before. Something with a tall heel. Erin’s shoe.
“There’s another one in the barn just like it,” Kelly explained, “but I thought I’d look a little funny if I carried both of them out here. You know? With all the others watching?”
Biting the inside of his cheek to keep from smiling, Jake looked around the ranch yard and saw that no one had noticed Kelly or what he had. He held out his hand. “Strange place to find a pair of ladies’ high-heeled shoes, huh?”
Kelly handed the shoe over to him. “First thing I thought was that they belonged to Miss Erin, but I don
’t think she’s the kind who’d wear something like them.”
Jake nearly choked. Kelly would be surprised to discover what Miss Erin would wear...or not wear. “Probably some high school kids, necking in the barn,” he managed to say with a straight face.
“That’s what I thought, too.” Without another word, Kelly turned and walked away, headed back to the barn.
Shoe in hand, Jake started for the house, with the hope that no one would notice what he had. He made it to the door but heard footsteps coming up the steps behind him. Looking over his shoulder, he saw Gary behind him on the porch, wearing a grin.
“I never would have guessed your feet were so small,” Gary said.
Too late to hide the shoe, Jake frowned. “Kelly found it in the barn. I guess some teenagers were having a good time in there, while I was in town.”
“Reasonable enough, I guess. However...”
“However what?”
“I would’ve thought you’d have noticed if anybody came around, but I heard you accompanied the lovely Miss Walker to some big dance on Saturday night.”
Jake tried to play it cool and squinted into the bright morning sunlight. “Did you, now?”
“I guess those teenagers took advantage of the place while you were gone,” Gary said, as polite as could be. “I’d lay odds that you had a better evening than they did. You know, with all that hay and all.”
“You’re about to step over the line, my friend,” Jake replied in warning.
Gary, his expression serious, tipped his hat back with a thumb. “I really like Erin,” he said, keeping eye contact with Jake. “We all do. What we wouldn’t like is for her to get hurt.”
“I can assure you that isn’t going to happen.”
Gary slapped him on the shoulder. “I didn’t think so but wanted you to know how we all feel about our lady wrangler. She’s a good one. Don’t screw it up.”
With no way to answer, Jake nodded and watched Gary start down the porch steps. They’d been good friends for several years. He needed to ease up on him. After all, every one of the men had taken to Erin and treated her with respect. But then she’d earned it. She worked as hard as they did and as long. Many men might have resented that. Not his crew.
“Gary,” he called out. When Gary looked over his shoulder, Jake waved him back to the porch. When Gary joined him, he kept his voice low. “Just so you know, I appreciate that you’re looking out for her. Don’t let her know you’re doing it, though. If she thinks you’re playing big brother, she’ll rip you up one side and down the other.” He smiled, having had that honor, more than once. “I can tell you from personal experience, it won’t be pleasant.”
Gary nodded and chuckled but was cut short by Jonah, who appeared with an announcement. “It’s time, Jake.”
Gary slapped Jake on the back. “Let us know how Bella does. I’ve never seen anybody so wrapped up in the birth of a foal as Erin is.”
“She’s been in that barn since just after midnight,” Jake said. “We put in a cot for her, but she hasn’t done anything but sit on it. No nap, no nothing.” He turned to Jonah. “Tell her I’ll be right there with the hot water and towels and cigars.”
Gary laughed, but Jonah studied him for a moment. “You really want me to tell her that?”
Chuckling, Jake shook his head. “No, just that I’m on my way. We have a little time.”
A few minutes later, he found Erin and Jonah in the foaling shed that had been completed only days before he’d offered her a job. Sitting on an old, three-legged milking stool in the nearly spotless stall, she didn’t seem to know anyone had entered.
“Can’t you find something more comfortable?” he asked her. “You know this could take a little time.”
She raised her face to his, worry in her eyes. “Does that mean this is a good time to take a coffee break?”
He was far more concerned about her than the mare. “If that’s what you want to do, but you know I’ll bring you anything you want.”
“Then bring me a little filly, safe and sound and healthy.”
Checking to make sure no one other than Jonah had come into the barn, he hunkered down next to her and put his arm around her. “Bella’s healthy, and her foal will be, too.”
Nodding, she turned her attention back to the mare. “I know, but I worry all the same.”
“Well, don’t. And don’t get mad if it isn’t a filly.”
She turned to him with a smile. “I won’t. I promise.”
“How long?” Jonah asked.
“Could be a few minutes,” Jake answered.
“Could be an hour,” Erin said at the same time. When she laughed, Jake felt better.
Fifteen minutes passed as Bella lay on the floor of the stall. “It won’t be long now,” Erin said, on her knees next to the mare’s head, stroking her neck.
Looking a little pale, Jonah asked, “What’s that?”
Erin moved to see. “The hoof! We’re almost there.”
“That’s good,” Jonah replied.
Jake reached for the wooden stool. “Sit down, Jonah, and enjoy the miracle.”
Nodding, Jonah lowered himself to the stool but didn’t take his eyes off the horse.
“Second hoof, and there’s the nose,” Erin announced.
“It can’t breathe,” Jonah cried out. “Do something.”
“No need,” Erin said, her voice calm. “The foal doesn’t breathe until the shoulders are through. Now comes the hard part.”
“Huh?” Jonah asked, white-faced and round-eyed.
“Watch or you’ll miss it.”
The mare bore down, and the foal’s shoulders passed out, followed by the rest of it. “Wow,” Jonah whispered.
Relieved of her baby, Bella stood on all four legs, and Jake turned to Jonah. “If you can tear yourself away, would you go tell Kelly that we’re ready?”
Jonah stood, his legs obviously a little weak. “Why Kelly?”
“Beth, our veterinarian, has been schooling him on the next steps to be taken,” Erin explained. “I think he’s hoping Jake will start raising his own horses.”
When Jonah had gone, Jake turned to Erin, who stood watching the colt struggle to stand. “Are you disappointed?”
She shook her head and laughed softly, her eyes sparkling. “Not at all. He’s a beauty. Who could ask for more?”
“You have a name for him, I’m sure.”
“As a matter of fact, I do.”
“And?”
“Well, Bella is the name of a character in a book, and I thought about that, so I’ve decided on Twilight.”
“You decided?” Jake asked, reaching out to pull her closer.
She nodded, grinning. “Unless, of course, you have something better?”
“Nope,” he said. “It sounds perfect to me.” Even knowing they could be interrupted at any moment, he kissed her, keeping it as brief as he could. No sense giving the help more reason to gossip.
When he released her, she stepped away. “If you’ll keep an eye on them, I’ll go call Beth with the news. She wanted us to let her know.”
“I’ll keep an eye out for Kelly,” Jake said. As she started to step around him, he stopped her. “I’m glad you’re happy.”
She tipped her face up to his. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
“No reason,” he answered. But he saw something in her eyes that bothered him. She was obviously tired. He was, too, but happy. Since the day he’d discovered her lying in the grass at the pond, he’d been happier than he ever remembered being.
The sound of the heavy door being opened had them jumping apart, and she greeted Kelly and Jonah on her way out.
“Beautiful,” Kelly said, stepping into the stall.
“Yeah,” Jake answered
, but he was thinking of Erin.
* * *
“HAVE YOU SEEN JAKE?” Erin asked Jonah.
Headed in the direction of the bunkhouse, he stopped. “Is something wrong?”
“No, nothing,” she answered. Feeling a bit paranoid that somehow her conversation with Shelly had become known, she asked, “Why would you think that?”
“I don’t know,” he said with a shrug. “Just...I don’t know. Try the barn. He may be in there.”
“Thanks,” she said, and turned around to go back that way. But she worried that Jonah had sensed something wasn’t right. If he did, Jake might have, too, and she didn’t want that to happen. She still hadn’t made a decision and didn’t see any reason why he should know about it until she knew what she wanted to do and felt ready to tell him.
She reached the barn and stepped inside but didn’t see Jake, so she called his name.
“Back here, Erin. In the tack room,” he answered from the far end of the barn.
Her boot heels tapped on the wooden walkway. The lonely sound didn’t make her feel any more confident about what she would soon be doing. The scent of hay and horses enveloped her, reminding her that both were solid staples of her life, in many ways.
When she reached the end, she stepped inside the small room, where she saw piles of leather on the floor. “What in the world are you doing?” she asked.
Seated on a wooden bench, he tossed an old and very worn halter onto one of the piles. “I’m sorting all this to make more room. I thought Kelly had done it, but he’d only straightened up the place. There are things in here that are practically useless, and there’s no reason to keep them around. If we need more, I’ll buy more.”
She noticed his use of we and wondered if he meant the ranch or the two of them. But she didn’t ask. Instead, she said, “Spoken like a successful rancher.”
“That sounds good,” he said with a grin, then returned to the jumble of leather in front of him. “Want to help?”
Hesitating at the thought of what she had to say, she forced herself to answer. “I would, but...”
The Cowboy Meets His Match (Fatherhood) Page 16