A Cowboy in Her Arms

by Mary Leo

  “He was if I wanted to date someone who’s twenty years older than me.”

  “What does age have to do with true love?” Kayla asked.

  “Nothing, and if I was in my late forties, I might’ve been all over him. But I’m in my late twenties. Besides, he’s just not for me.”

  “I think you need to hear what Joel has to say. It might clear things up for you,” Kenzie said.

  Callie yawned, deciding her sister was probably right. “I asked Joel to keep his distance.”

  “In terms of the big picture, maybe you want to reconsider that idea,” Kayla said.

  “Don’t be ridiculous. Why would I want to do that?”

  Kenzie raised an eyebrow. “To get to the truth.”

  “How do I know I can trust him?”

  “You don’t, but you can at least listen to what he has to say,” Coco said.

  Their mom put her mug down on the tray a little too hard. Everyone went quiet. They knew their mom’s ways, and when she wanted the floor, she usually barged in and took it.

  “Joel Darwood hurt my Callie, and there isn’t anything that can change that...but, considering he’s now dedicated himself to being a good father for his little girl, who recently lost her mother, and considering he’s working hard on fixing up Polly’s place, and considering he wants to tell his side of the story, I say, as a family, we should give Joel Darwood the benefit of the doubt...at least until he proves himself one way or another.”

  Punky suddenly sprang to life, let out a couple barks, then turned around in a circle and plopped back down on the cushion, closed his eyes and exhaled a raspy, satisfied breath. Everyone laughed at the silly little dog but Callie.

  She could barely keep her eyes open.

  “I agree. One way or another,” she muttered under her breath, then sank down on her pillow, closed her eyes and fell into a deep sleep.

  Chapter Five

  “Damn!” Joel yelled after pounding his thumb with the hammer for the second time. He shook his hand, then sucked on his throbbing thumb for a few seconds, but the pain didn’t subside.

  For three days straight, at least three or four times a day, he’d played the YouTube video on his laptop that had depicted a couple guys making repairs to an asphalt-shingled roof, one that was much like the roof he was trying his best to restore. He thought he had the process down, but apparently pounding in a nail was proving to be more difficult than he’d anticipated. He couldn’t understand what the problem was. He’d hung his share of pictures in his life, so he knew how to pound in a darn nail...or so he’d thought until he began trying to strike several roof nails in a row.

  Evidently roof repair was much different than room decorating.

  For one thing, the constant worry of losing his balance, tumbling off and breaking several bones occupied most of his brainpower, not to mention the fact that every time he mindlessly put something down, it would slide off the roof and he’d have to make a trip up and down the ladder to retrieve it.

  The one good thing in all of this was that he’d had the foresight to warn Polly to stay inside and keep Emma with her. There was no telling what might slide off the roof next.

  He wondered how he’d survived until now. Was he so citified that even the most rudimentary tasks on this ranch would prove impossible? And why hadn’t his father ever taught him how to repair stuff? Wasn’t it a father’s duty to teach his only son how to drive a stupid nail into a board?

  Apparently, not for his father.

  In thinking about it, Joel doubted his dad knew anything about repairing anything. Never once had he seen his dad use even a glue stick. The man had been consumed with making his company work, and even now, after turning “his baby” into the premier accounting firm in all of Boise, he rarely took a vacation, and had never taken a day off except when he’d had his gallbladder removed. Even then, he was back in the office before he’d fully recovered. His mom was the same way, all work.

  When Emma was born, they’d sent flowers and even though they lived only a few miles away, they didn’t stop by to see her until she was almost a week old. After that, if Joel didn’t bring Emma to them, they’d never see her. Joel had blamed their behavior on the fact that they openly didn’t like Sarah, but he’d known in his heart that his parents simply didn’t want to make the time...just as they’d never made the time for him.

  Joel felt proud of the fact that he’d taken the steps to change that cycle, and decided right then and there that he’d make the time to teach Emma all about repairing things...just as soon as he learned.

  “How’s it going up there?” Wade Porter called up with that dubious tone of his. Joel wanted no part of Wade’s brand of help. He felt certain Wade wouldn’t merely help, he’d take over while Joel watched from the sidelines, hoping to one day grow up and be just like Wade Porter, a true cowboy. Just because the guy was born with his spurs on and a hammer in his hand was no excuse for him to be so darn helpful all the time. Joel was determined not to be the guy he’d always been: letting someone else do his dirty work. Fixing things on the ranch was Joel’s job and, in time, he would learn how to fix anything he put his mind to. At the moment, his mind was taxed with repairing the roof.

  “Fine. It’s going just fine. Like I said, you don’t have to stick around,” Joel yelled back as he grabbed another set of asphalt tiles and held them in place over the tar paper he’d covered with heavy-duty roof cement. He picked up his trusty hammer, lined up another nail he’d pulled out from between his lips, and got ready to pound it into submission. “I’ve got this.”

  For his entire life he’d done a rotten job of taking on any kind of responsibility, and had allowed his dad to bail him out whenever he got into trouble. It was a wonder he ever made it through college.

  Well, not anymore. This was the new Joel Darwood: dependable, loyal, a hard worker, a cowboy who could fix anything...including one dang leaky roof.

  He whacked at the nail with all his might and caught the tip of his index finger. This time he stifled the rush of cusswords that waited on the tip of his tongue to explode from his mouth. He grimaced and tightened his lips as throbbing pain shot through him. He immediately dropped the hammer with a loud thud, then watched as it slid toward the edge. He barely caught it as he sprawled out flat against the roof so he wouldn’t topple off in the process.

  “Not a problem. I’m here to help if you need anything. Just give me a holler.” Wade shouted over what had to be a thunderous clatter coming from up on the roof. Joel was grateful Wade couldn’t see him as he lay there, spread out across the roof like some bug that had landed with a splat. The rough tiles scratched his face and hands as he held on to a loose set that he’d pulled up earlier with his trusty new flat bar. He knew the tiles wouldn’t hold him for long, but moving seemed perilous.

  “I’m here to help...just give me a holler,” Joel mimicked under his breath, scraping his hands as he cautiously crawled back to his safe spot higher up on the roof.

  “Will do!” Joel yelled back down with absolutely no intention of ever asking Wade Porter for help.

  He’d rather eat dirt.

  Everything slowed down in that instant as he felt himself lose all control, and he began a slow descent down the side of the roof. It was then that he heard the roar of Wade’s muscle truck as Joel tried his best to grab hold of the loose and rusty gutters that surrounded the roof.

  The sound of metal weakening then separating from its anchor sent a chill up Joel’s spine as he desperately tried to hold on. Then in the next heartbeat, he was free-falling right onto the flat bed of Wade Porter’s pickup.

  Fortunately, Wade’s truck bed was loaded down with bales of soft, pliable hay. Joel landed safely, rolled over a couple times with the momentum, then he tumbled out of the back of the truck and landed on the hard ground right on his butt.


  Joel jumped up as if on a spring. “I’m good. No need to worry. All good. Perfect, even.”

  “You sure?” Wade said from inside his cab, one foot on the ground, ready to assist in any way he could.

  Joel dusted himself off and pulled the stick of hay out of his mouth along with the one tickling his ear. “Perfect! Going in the house for a spell. Have me some grub. I’ll call you if I need anything.”

  “Suit yourself.” Wade lifted an eyebrow, grinned, then slipped back into his truck, slammed the door and drove off, giving Joel a backhanded wave out the driver’s window.

  When Wade was out of sight, Joel crossed his legs and sat with an inflexible thud on the ground, completely shaken from his ordeal. His shoulder hurt, his hands were scraped and bleeding, his thumb and index finger had begun to swell, his right butt cheek ached and his ego was massively bruised.

  * * *

  A FULL WEEK had gone by since Callie’s tumble at the rodeo, and she was almost back to her old self. Her left hip still ached, and she couldn’t quite lift her left arm overhead without wincing, but other than that, and the occasional ribbing she had to endure from her family, she was healing just fine, thank you very much.

  She had looked forward to this moment for months, her very first day of teaching, and relished the fact that this class was a bit smaller than usual. It would give her more time to focus on each student individually. For the next nine months, give or take a few weeks off for holidays and breaks, Callie would be consumed with teaching thirteen kindergarten students the basics.

  She knew most of the children coming into class from seeing them in town, or from growing up with their parents. There were only a few children who were strangers to her, but she was sure she would find a way to make them all feel welcome. She’d fine-tuned her curriculum and felt it now encompassed all the essentials: language arts, science, mathematics and social studies. Each category was filled with fun things to learn, and Callie couldn’t wait to get started.

  When she’d heard that Miss Sargent would be retiring, she jumped at the chance to take her place. Callie loved kids—and they seemed to love her—and teaching kindergarten felt like a dream come true. If she couldn’t have a whole houseful of kids of her own, at least not yet, having a classroom-full seemed like the best alternative.

  She’d arrived early that morning, wanting to make sure her classroom looked inviting to the students, knowing perfectly well that for some children this would be the first time they’d be away from their parents and siblings. It could be a traumatic experience for them, so she’d decided to follow in Miss Sargent’s footsteps and adopt a few live pets. She’d brought in two goldfish, Erma and Fred; two turtles, James and Nathan; and two Holland lop-eared bunnies, Wheezy and Squeezy, whom she’d first met in the parade on the 4-H float before her...well...misfortune while riding Apple Sammy.

  Callie bought the bunnies precisely because they had been taught to hop over hurdles. She decided her class could enter them in the annual Bunny Hop Contest during the Hearts, Hops and Chocolate festival in February. Plus, the weekly training exercises for the bunnies would teach her students how to reach long-term goals.

  Briggs Elementary School only catered to kindergarten through third grade, and if Callie knew children at all, she knew that five-to nine-year-olds, for the most part, were sweet and gentle with animals, at least that was her hope.

  “I’m Becky Arlington,” the tall five-year-old said. She’d arrived a full twenty minutes before class began, and stood almost hidden behind her mom, Jane, a subdued woman Callie had known since they were in first grade together. Jane had always been quiet, and her daughter matched her temperament.

  “Sorry we’re so early, but Becky was a little apprehensive of what the classroom would be like.”

  “We’re going to have so much fun.” Callie reached out her hand for Becky. “I’m sure you’re going to like it here, Becky. Come with me, and I’ll show you our turtles and our goldfish, and we even have two rabbits.”

  As soon as Becky heard about the rabbit, she took Callie’s hand. The child wore a bright green dress and dark blue sneakers. Her thick brown hair was made up in two braids that ran the length of her dress, exactly the same hairdo Jane had had at her age.

  Callie wondered what her own child would be like on her first day of school...if she ever had one.

  The rabbit were kept outside in the bunny hutch she’d bought at From the Ground Up the day she’d met Joel there. The hutch, which was wired for heat, sat right outside the back door, which led to the school yard and was sheltered from wind and rain by the overhang on the roof.

  Once Becky held a bunny, her shyness seemed to dissipate and by the time the rest of the students arrived, everyone seemed to be making friends, even little Frankie Carlton, whose voice was as deep as a bullfrog’s. He chuckled with the rest of his classmates when the bunnies did something silly.

  The bell was still five minutes from ringing as Callie prepared to shore up the group on a large, round, deep blue rug with stars and moons that she’d brought from home. She intended to usher her peeps in a half circle in front of her so everyone sat together on the rug and could get to know one another better.

  As she began to lead some of her students to the rug, another student entered the room holding on to her father’s hand.

  “Got room for one more?” Joel asked, looking almost as surprised as Callie felt. Being so preoccupied with her prep work and setting up the classroom, it hadn’t occurred to Callie that Emma might be in her class. If she’d taken a moment to pause and count the years since Sarah and Joel left her in their blissful marital dust, she would’ve known Emma had to be the perfect age for kindergarten...her kindergarten.

  Callie sucked up her swirling emotions and said, “Always room for one more.”

  She quickly walked over to her desk and picked up the roster with her left hand, momentarily forgetting about the pain it would cause. She cringed, pulled her arm back and reached for it again with her right hand, thinking perhaps she’d missed Emma’s name. “Are you registered? I don’t see Emma’s name, and if she’s not on the roster...”

  “Sorry, there was so much to do on the ranch that just yesterday I came up for air and realized I hadn’t enrolled Emma in kindergarten. Polly reminded me weeks ago, but I kept putting it off.” He handed her the official document that made Emma’s presence legal, then he whispered, “She’s a little apprehensive about being here.”

  Emma hid behind her dad, not wanting to let go of his hand.

  “Aren’t we all?” Callie teased, getting a smile out of Joel. She took in a deep breath and slowly let it out, trying to calm her nerves that were already frayed over it being her own first day. She couldn’t imagine how this situation could get much worse.

  She looked over at Emma, wanting to help her to relax. “It’s so nice to see you again, Emma. Want to know a secret?”

  Emma stared up at Callie, her big blue eyes moist with fear. Still, she managed a little nod.

  “Everybody is a little scared to be here today, even me. First days at school are always a bit frightening.”

  Emma looked around the room. Most of the children were already sitting on the rug, waiting for Callie to start the class. “Nobody else looks scared.”

  “That’s because they’ve already met some of the other children, and they’ve met our new group of critters, as well.”

  “What kind of critters?” Emma came out from behind her father’s legs.

  “We have a couple goldfish, two turtles and two bunnies that all need our care. Would you like to meet them?”

  Emma nodded.

  “Then you’ll have to come with me, and say goodbye to your daddy. But he’ll be back to pick you up when the class is over.” She glanced up at Joel for approval. He nodded. Callie held out her hand for Emma, who wore a sma
ll, bright yellow backpack over her gray tee with the pink ruffle around the collar, matching knit leggings and well-worn brown cowgirl boots.

  “You can put your backpack in one of the empty cubbies against the wall,” Callie told her, pointing to the white wooden bookcase on the far wall. Emma spotted it, but didn’t seem to be in a hurry to drop off her backpack. Callie knew that it took a while for some children to let go of anything they brought from home. It meant they were staying, and at the moment Emma still looked unconvinced.

  Joel squatted to Emma’s level. “I’ll be waiting for you, kitten, right outside that door as soon as the class is over. I promise. You listen to Miss Callie, okay?”

  Emma nodded, but gave him a skeptical look. Then she took Callie’s hand. “Can I meet the bunnies first?”

  “You sure can.”

  But before Callie could lead Emma outside, little Frankie Carlton appeared. “Holy moly, Miss Callie. I’ll show her.” He turned to Emma. “C’mon with me.”

  Emma glanced back at her dad for approval, which he gave, then she followed Frankie out the back door of the classroom.

  “She loves bunnies,” Joel said. “Once I get the Double S Ranch up and running again, I’ll build her a hutch and buy a couple.”

  Now that Callie had calmed down from the initial shock of seeing Joel in her classroom, she took a minute to really look at him. His left cheek was bruised and scratched; his hands looked even worse than they had at the bar. Deep scrapes on every knuckle and his thumbnail had to be fifty shades of hurt. And if she wasn’t mistaken, she’d noticed a slight limp when he walked in.

  “Your hands look worse and is that limp from something new?” She couldn’t help the smirk that stretched across her lips.

  “Tried to stop a fall off the roof of the ranch house.”

  “Were you successful?”

  “Nope. Landed right on my ego.”

  “Seems as though that’s going around these days. Glad to see there’s nothing broken.”