by Marin Thomas
“Go ahead and say it.”
“Say what?” he asked.
“I told you so.” He’d warned her that Clyde and Roger meant trouble, but she’d believed his reaction had bordered on melodrama.
“Never mind that. I hope the damage is minimal.”
There was no minimal—not when any loss of the expensive crop would reflect badly on Kat. The ride to the field took forever, Brody’s stiff posture sending off signals that he’d rather be anywhere else than in her truck. His cagey demeanor didn’t surprise her.
Brody was a restless soul. A man on the move. He lived out of his truck and spent his days traveling from rodeo to rodeo, never remaining in one place long enough to hang up his hat. Sure he’d agreed to work at the Wild Rose until the Bakers returned, but Kat wasn’t banking on him to keep that promise. Her past relationships with men had taught her to rely on herself and no one else. For now, she’d count her blessings that Brody was present to lend his support.
She slowed the truck and turned onto a dirt path, breathing a sigh of relief that the night sky wasn’t glowing orange. Up ahead, Wes’s truck lights illuminated the section of smoldering hay. The veteran ranch hand was in the process of creating a break line in the row. Kat parked her pickup next to Wes’s and left the lights on. She retrieved two rakes from the truck bed, tossing one to Brody.
They fell in alongside Wes and raked the singed hay into a pile between two rows. In no time flat the three of them had separated the smoldering grass from the rest of the crop.
“We’re lucky,” Kat said, wiping sweat from her brow. “It could have been worse.”
“Whoever did this, didn’t intend to burn the whole field,” Wes said.
Kat caught a whiff of the ranch hand’s beer breath. “How’d you discover the fire?”
“Smelled smoke in the air after I left the Ice House.”
Wes must have chugged a couple of beers on the way home from Consuelo’s Ice House and decided to take the shortcut through the ranch, which led past the hay field. Thank goodness he hadn’t finished off a twelve-pack or he might not have detected anything amiss.
“Wes, this is Brody Murphy.” Kat introduced the two men. “He mowed the field today.”
The men shook hands. “Any guesses on what was used to ignite the hay?” Brody asked.
“Gasoline. There’s an empty gas can at the edge of the field.”
“Clyde and Roger want to scare me into hiring them back,” Kat said.
Wes leaned heavily on his rake. “Then hire ‘em back.”
“So they can sit on their bums and do nothing? I don’t have time to babysit them.”
“I’ve got all I can handle moving the horses in the pastures now that we’re shorthanded.” Wes turned his attention to Brody. “Heard you’re gonna hang around for a while.”
“Looks that way.”
“Well, we’re done here.” Wes tipped his hat, then got into his truck and drove off, leaving Kat alone with Brody, who stared at her as if she’d lost her mind. “What?”
“Those low-down snakes couldn’t care less if they’re caught causing trouble.” Brody stared at her. “You know what else?”
Kat shook her head, thinking Brody looked mighty sexy all fired up.
“They know damn well you won’t go to the authorities, because your job is on the line. You’re at their mercy, don’t you see?”
She did see. But Kat refused to be bullied. She was tired of living in a trailer. Tired of setting up shop for a few days, then having to pack her things and move on to the next ranch. “I can’t live like you, Brody.”
“What are you talking about?”
“A gypsy lifestyle.” She perched her hands on her hips. “It’s been three years since Ricky and I have had a chance to call any place home. I’m not giving in without a fight.”
“Why don’t you park the trailer somewhere permanent and make people bring their horses to you?”
“It’s not that easy. The Bakers have a top-notch facility here and I have the best equipment available to me, which makes my job a lot easier and more enjoyable.”
“So this is all about you?” Brody pointed an accusing finger at Kat.
How dare he insinuate she was selfish? “Who are you to criticize? You put yourself first every day. You travel wherever you want, do whatever you want and answer to no one.”
“Precisely, Kat. I have no one to answer to anymore.”
Anymore? “What do you mean?”
“Forget it.” Brody tossed his rake into the truck bed.
Good grief. The man could at least finish an argument. They returned to the foreman’s cabin in silence and without a word Brody walked to the trailer.
“Want me to heat up a second plate of leftovers for you?” Kat called after him. The trailer door slammed shut on her question.
Moody cowboy. Determined to forget Brody’s rudeness, she checked on Spot in the barn. The old dog was fast asleep on his bed near the supply room. She freshened his water bowl before leaving the barn. Halfway to the cabin she saw headlights on the ranch road. A visitor this late at night meant one thing—trouble.
The loud rumble of a busted muffler echoed through the air as the pickup squealed to a stop in the yard. The driver stepped from the cab.
Aw, shit. “What are you doing here, Dwayne?”
“That ain’t a very polite greeting.” Ricky’s father sneered. The years had been kind to Dwayne—because he’d spent most of them sitting on his ass. Tall, broad-shouldered with dark hair, he looked ten years younger than his thirty-five. Too bad his pretty face camouflaged a rotten inside.
“I stopped by to visit Ricky.”
“The festival in Bandera was yesterday.”
“Something came up.”
A woman most likely.
“Didn’t think Ricky would care if he missed the thing.”
He cares, you dope. “Where’d you get the wheels?” The last time Dwayne had shown up he’d hitched a ride.
“A friend.”
“Why don’t you hightail it back to your friend’s.” The squeak of the trailer door caught Kat’s attention, but she kept her eyes on Dwayne. He crowded her space, and Kat retreated a step. Dwayne had never abused her—she simply didn’t like craning her neck to speak to him. “It’s late and Ricky’s not feeling well.”
“What’s wrong with him?”
“He’s got a mild concussion.”
“How’d that happen?”
As if you care. “He lost his balance in the tractor and hit his head against the windshield.”
Dwayne chuckled. “Got his big feet all tangled up, did he?”
Kat bit the inside of her cheek to keep from cursing. When would her son realize he was better off without this man in his life? It amazed her that Ricky couldn’t see his father for who he really was—a schmuck.
“Guess I’ll bunk down in the trailer.” Dwayne made a move to pass Kat, but she held up a hand.
“You can’t sleep in the trailer.”
“Why not? You and Ricky are using the cabin, aren’t you?” Dwayne had visited the Wild Rose shortly after she and Ricky had settled into the small home. She’d been lucky he’d only stayed a couple of days before he’d gotten bored and moved on.
“A guest is using the trailer.”
“You got a new lover, Kat?”
“That’s enough, Dwayne. He’s a hired hand.”
“The hell you say. Fire him and hire me. I could use the money.”
Dwayne could always use the money. Much to her shame, the only way she could coax him to vamoose when he overstayed his welcome was to bribe him with money. “If you’re determined to hang around, then sleep in the barn.”
“I’m Ricky’s father. I deserve better than the barn.”
Brody appeared out of nowhere. A good four inches shorter than Dwayne, Brody had to tilt his head to make eye contact. “Is there a problem, Kat?”
“No. I was telling Dwayne where he could sleep tonigh
t.”
“Who the hell are you?” Dwayne asked.
“The hired help.”
“Good. Grab my gear from the truck bed and put it in the trailer, then take your stuff to the barn,” Dwayne said.
“Sorry, no can do.” Brody clenched his hands into fists. “If you want to settle this another way…”
Dwayne’s mouth sagged and Kat pressed her fingers to her lips to keep from laughing. In order to preserve his handsome face, Dwayne avoided brawls. Obviously Brody had no qualms about marring his good looks.
“Never mind.” Dwayne faced Kat. “Count me in for breakfast.” He grabbed his bedroll from the pickup then disappeared inside the equipment barn.
“You okay?” Brody asked.
“Sure.”
“So he’s Ricky’s father?”
“In the flesh.”
“He won’t try anything stupid tonight, will he?”
“No.”
“I’ll cover for Ricky tomorrow and muck out the stalls before breakfast.”
Dwayne would never do that for his son. “Thanks, Brody.” If Dwayne stuck around long enough the hired hand might teach him a few things about work ethic.
Then again maybe not. Some men just couldn’t be counted on for anything.
BRODY ENTERED THE FOREMAN’S cabin at 7:00 a.m. Monday morning, expecting to find Ricky’s father seated at the kitchen table eating breakfast. The room was empty.
“Hey, Brody,” Ricky greeted from the hallway.
The teen appeared healthy, but head injuries were tricky. “Shouldn’t you be resting in bed?”
“I’m fine. Mom says I can do most everything but ride my dirt bike and horses.” His shoulders sagged. “And visit Stevie.”
“Who’s Stevie?” Brody asked.
“A friend. Stevie’s coming next Sunday and Mom’s gonna—”
“Give Stevie a riding lesson.” Kat waltzed into the kitchen, her dark hair secured in a ponytail that swished across her shoulders. She wore jeans and a long-sleeved blouse. Taken as a whole the outfit was nothing special, but Brody studied each article of clothing separately and found plenty to admire.
The jeans Kat wore hugged her fanny like a second skin, the denim worn white along the seams. Kat had tucked her pink shirt into the jeans and a brown leather belt with a giant-size silver buckle emphasized her small waist. She’d rolled the shirtsleeves up to her elbows, showing off her creamy, tanned skin. When she reached into the cupboard above the stove, the shirt tightened across her generous breasts. Kat was one sexy lady and Brody felt a sudden urge to find out if she was as good a kisser as she’d been in his dreams the previous night.
“Hungry?” Kat asked.
The one-word question triggered a flashback of Brody’s midnight fantasy. He and Kat had put out the fire in the hay field then had celebrated with a kiss. One moment they were making out on the ground, the next they were soaping each other in the shower.
“Brody, are you all right?” Kat’s brow furrowed.
“I’m not much of a talker until I drink my first cup of coffee.”
“Ricky, fetch Brody his coffee while I put breakfast on the table.”
“Need any help?” Brody asked.
“No, thanks. Pancakes and sausage are already warming in the oven.” After delivering the food to the table and pouring the orange juice Kat sat down and nudged Ricky’s elbow off the tabletop. “Your father arrived last night.”
Ricky’s eyes lit up. “He’s here?”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
“He bunked down in the barn.”
If Ricky thought it odd that his father had to sleep in the barn he didn’t comment. “What’s Dad want to do today?” Ricky popped a sausage link into his mouth.
“I don’t know, but remember Dr. Helman said nothing strenuous.”
“Maybe Dad’ll play video games with me.” Ricky turned to Brody. “The Bakers hooked up an Xbox to the TV in my room.”
“That was nice of them,” Brody said.
“I’m gonna play ‘Call of Duty’ until Dad wakes up.” Ricky inhaled his food then carried his plate to the sink before disappearing into his bedroom.
“What’s the matter?” Brody asked when he caught Kat playing with the food on her plate.
“Nothing. Why?”
“You seem upset. Did Ricky’s father bother you last night?”
“No. I just hate that Dwayne shows up out of the blue.” Kat set her fork aside. “Ricky expects to have an exciting time with his dad then nothing goes as planned. In the end I’m left with a heartbroken teenager who blames me for forcing his father to hit the road.”
“Do you?” Brody asked.
“Do I what?”
“Force your ex to leave?”
“Dwayne’s not my ex. We never married. And yes, when I reach my breaking point, I kick him out.”
Brody poured himself a second cup of coffee, then topped off Kat’s mug. “How long does he usually hang around?”
“Only a day or two, but this time he’ll stay longer.”
“Why’s that?”
“Not why…who.” She sighed. “Dwayne won’t leave, because you’re here.”
Mind your own business. Eventually Brody would move on and never see Kat or Ricky again.
“Dwayne doesn’t want me, but he doesn’t want anyone else to have me, either.”
Whoa. Hang on here. “I don’t have you.”
Kat raised her hands in the air. “I know that, but Dwayne doesn’t.”
“And you want him to assume there’s something going on between us?”
“He’ll do that all on his own.” Kat narrowed her gaze on Brody. “Would it bother you if Dwayne thought we were a couple?”
Yes. No. Maybe.
Although he’d sworn off relationships since his divorce, Brody admired Kat for her strength and independence. She didn’t need or want a man to take care of her and Ricky. No matter how tempting, becoming involved with Kat was out of the question. Brody had been alone for so long he’d forgotten what it felt like to be part of a couple or even a family.
Been there. Done that. Failed miserably.
Dodging Kat’s question, he asked, “Ricky’s dad should be paying child support. Have you taken him to court?”
“In all the years I’ve known Dwayne, he’s only held down one job that brought in a steady paycheck—a forklift operator at a home-improvement store. He’d worked there less than a year before he quit.”
“How does he support himself?”
“He works odd jobs or lives off friends.”
Brody had never lived off friends but he did hire himself out for odd jobs to earn money for his entry fees. He wasn’t much of an improvement over deadbeat Dwayne. “Mind if I ask why you two never married?”
“After I became pregnant my grandfather confronted Dwayne and insisted he marry me, but Dwayne refused.” She thrust her chin in the air. “I was an embarrassment to my grandparents, but they didn’t turn me out. In hindsight I’m glad Dwayne and I didn’t marry. He’s a worthless father and provider.”
When Brody and Kelly had divorced, she’d filed the paperwork and her parents had paid for the lawyer and court costs. Kelly had asked for nothing from Brody except that he never try to get in touch with her. She’d considered him worthless, too.
Kat dumped her remaining coffee down the drain. “The hay needs to be raked and baled before rain moves in on Friday.”
“Want me to start today?” Brody asked.
“No, the piles need to dry out. Wednesday you can rake the hay and Thursday you can bale it.” She nodded to the telephone. “The Montgomerys called this morning and asked if I’d run out to their ranch and fix a shoe that’s bothering one of their horses. They’re good friends with the Bakers so I agreed to help.”
“Besides mucking stalls is there anything else that needs to be done?”
“I’d appreciate you keeping an eye on Ricky. I don’t want him leaving the ranch with
Dwayne.”
Brody hadn’t signed on to be Ricky’s protector. His offer to help with ranch chores was becoming more complicated by the minute. “Thanks for breakfast.” He left the cabin before Kat begged another favor from him. Brody threw himself into mucking stalls, hoping the strenuous labor would block out the voice in his head warning him to quit asking questions and to butt out of Kat’s and Ricky’s personal lives. His plan succeeded until Ricky entered the barn midmorning.
“Hey, Brody. Do you think my dad’s gonna wake up soon?” The kid had waited all morning for his father to roll out of bed.
The last thing Brody wanted to do was confront good ol’ Dwayne, but Ricky deserved better even if his father couldn’t be bothered about spending time with him. “Wait here.” Anger spurred Brody’s steps across the ranch yard.
Dwayne’s snoring greeted Brody when he entered the equipment barn. A six-pack of empty beer cans were strewn about the ground. Lazy-ass drunk.
Quiet as a mouse, Brody climbed into the tractor and cranked the engine. Dwayne flew out of his makeshift bed on top of the hay bales and stood in a daze.
Brody cut the engine and climbed down from the tractor cab. “Morin’.”
“What the hell did you do that for?”
“Checking to see if the tractor starts.”
Dwayne glared. “I was sleeping.”
“Ricky’s been waiting all morning for you to wake up.”
“So what.” Dwayne shoved his fingers through his hair.
The man was an idiot. “Your son wants to spend time with you.”
“Boy’s a pain in the backside. He ought to be able to entertain himself.”
“He wants to show you his new Xbox game.” Brody clenched his hands into fists and resisted the urge to slug the man.
“You sure are gettin’ cozy with my son. You just as cozy with his mom?”
“That’s none of your business.”
A bark of laughter erupted from Dwayne’s mouth. “Having a kid together gives me certain rights.”
Arrogant bastard. “That’s not how Kat sees things.”
“So it’s that way between you and her, huh?”
Brody opened his mouth to deny any relationship with Kat but decided not to waste his breath. Dwayne would see things how Dwayne wanted to.