Her Rodeo Man

by Cathy McDavid

  “I’m going to stay in Reckless. I haven’t given the job with my family a fair shot.” He went on to apologize for inconveniencing her and wasting her time. Ryder prided himself on following through with his commitments, and it bothered him to renege on this one.

  “I have a couple associates looking for a change,” he said. “I’ll send them your way.”

  “Sure. Whatever.”

  He was offering her scraps at best, and she didn’t hide her disappointment. Ryder decided he’d send her the money his parents refused to accept.

  In front of Tatum’s apartment, he pulled to a stop and parked along the curb. The tidy white triplex gleamed shiny in the afternoon light. Tatum’s unit was on the east side. He hadn’t noticed the painted flowerpots in the front with their white-and-yellow chrysanthemums when he’d been here the other night. Or the rooster lawn ornaments, frilly curtains visible in the front window and tire swing hanging from a tree in the front yard.

  She’d done a lot to make the apartment, such as it was, an attractive home. Imagine what she could do to a real house. Ryder had always lived in a bachelor pad, devoid of a woman’s touch. Before now, he hadn’t thought he’d missed it. Before now, he hadn’t known Tatum.

  His brisk knock at her front door went unanswered, as did an insistent ringing of the doorbell. Where was she? When was she returning?

  Ryder jogged to his truck. Odds were, she’d driven in to town. Either to pick up the boys from day care or to run errands.

  He’d found her once before. He’d do it again. And, this time, he wouldn’t let her go. Not until she’d listened to him.

  Chapter Sixteen

  “Where are we going, Mommy?”

  “I have to stop by the store and talk to Mr. Faust.”

  Tatum dreaded this meeting with Lenny. By her estimation, and after a thorough and discouraging study of her finances the previous night, she could squeak by for about a month. That would give her enough time to finish out the remaining week of her two-week notice at the arena and earn enough money for a deposit and first month’s rent on an apartment in Mesa.

  Her mother-in-law wasn’t happy. She wanted Tatum to locate closer to her. Actually, she’d wanted the kids to move back in with her. Just until Tatum was settled. So she said.

  Tatum had politely refused. Then, after Ruth had continued pressing, Tatum, for once, stood her ground. It had felt good. Exhilarating. And, this came as a shock, Ruth had backed off. For the moment, Tatum told herself. Her trials with her ex-mother-in-law were probably far from over, but she’d made progress by setting some new ground rules.

  “Can we get ice cream?” Gretchen had been asking the same question for the past few weeks, ever since Ryder had taken Tatum and the boys to Cascade’s.

  “Okay. On the way home.”

  Tatum relented not because of her daughter’s persistence but because, after a difficult meeting with Lenny, she could probably use a little comfort food herself.

  Gretchen’s smile was short-lived. “Can Lisa Anne visit me in Mesa?”

  “Of course. Once we’re settled.”

  Leaving her best school chum was probably going to be the hardest of many adjustments for her daughter. Leaving Benjie would be the worst for Drew. Fortunately, Adam was too young to understand the full implications of his mother taking a new job and moving them—for the third time in less than a year—to a new place. One with a different school, different day care facility, different neighbors.

  As she did every hour on the hour, Tatum wondered if she was making the right decision. It had seemed right at the time, now she was less sure. Ryder had called her reaction to Mercer’s reprimand knee-jerk and impulsive. Perhaps he was right.

  Just thinking his name filled her with regret. But she believed everything she’d said to him during their argument. Tatum couldn’t enter into a committed relationship until she’d put her life in order. If not, she’d be depending on him to take care of her and the kids. She had already been down that road with Monty, and it wasn’t a good one.

  But, dear Lord, she missed Ryder. The past five days had dragged on forever. They’d seen each other at the arena. That couldn’t be helped. Fortunately for her, their conversations were short and polite. Any longer, any more personal or intimate, and she’d surrender to the reconciliation he obviously wanted.

  Parking in the small lot behind the store, Tatum and Gretchen entered through the back door. Tatum still had her key, which she intended to return to Lenny, along with an apology. She was leaving him in a bind.

  They weren’t the only ones in the store. In fact, all of Reckless was a bit busier than usual, probably because school had let out early today. Tatum had debated picking up the boys from day care, then opted not to. They would only distract her, and she needed to stay focused.

  Signaling to Lenny that she would be in the art studio, Tatum hurried Gretchen along.

  “Can I paint, Mommy?”

  “Sure.” Tatum quickly busied her daughter with paper and watercolors. She’d rather speak to Lenny alone, and, this way, Gretchen would be occupied and content.

  While waiting for the store to empty, Tatum looked around the studio and located some card stock and markers. Sitting at one of the tables, she started creating a sign for the window announcing that the art studio was closing. Last evening, she’d made calls to her students’ parents, advising them that classes would be canceled as of this weekend. They all expressed their disappointment and wished her luck in her new endeavors.

  Tatum didn’t get very far on the sign. By the third word, her eyes filled with tears. She’d miss this place and her classes. Almost as much as she’d miss her friends. She consoled herself with a reminder that she’d be teaching again, if only at a preschool.

  During her short cry, the store emptied. “I’ll be right back, sweetie pie,” she told Gretchen. “You stay here while I talk to Mr. Faust.”

  Completely absorbed in her painting, Gretchen hardly noticed. Tatum had to smile. She’d been like that once, too, when she was young. Completely and utterly focused on her art.

  Lenny offered her a big smile when she walked through the adjoining door. “It’s not Saturday. What brings you by?”

  “You have a minute?”

  “Sounds serious.” Lenny’s smile didn’t waver. He never assumed the worst and was always in good spirits.

  Tatum went to the counter and stood across from him. Best to get right to the point. “I’m taking that job in Mesa. I’ll be moving sooner than expected.”

  “How soon?”

  “Next week.” She could commute to the new job from Reckless, but only for a short time—and only if Cassidy agreed to pick up Gretchen and the boys every day after school. It really was a lot to ask, even of a best friend. Better to find a place quickly. “I’m sorry for having to break my lease early. I promise to have the space cleaned up before I leave, so you can look for a new tenant.”

  “No problem.” Lenny shrugged one shoulder. “Truth is, I may have found another use for it.”

  “Really?” Interesting, since his rent was going up January first.

  “Been talking to the manager at the bank. Interest rates on small business loans are low. Now’s as good a time as any for me to borrow money and expand the store.”

  Tatum was bit flummoxed. He hadn’t ever mentioned expanding the store before. “Is the shipping business that good?”

  “It’s steady. But I was actually thinking of adding a small office supply store. The pharmacy sells a few things. Envelopes and pens and such. If anyone wants a printer cartridge or masking tape or even paper clips, they have to drive into Globe.”

  How often had Tatum and her fellow teachers lamented the same thing?

  “Might even sell some of that craft stuff you were always needing back when you were teac
hing.”

  A craft store. Tatum’s silly dream that Ryder had said wasn’t silly at all. Did she ever discuss her idea with Lenny? She couldn’t remember. She must have. Or, Ryder did.

  “Maggie Phillips was in here the other day complaining about needing poster board and markers,” he said. “She was hoping to borrow some from you, but you weren’t in the studio.”

  Tatum recalled running into Maggie outside the hardware store in Globe. She’d been on a supply run then, too.

  She felt a pang deep in her heart. “I’m jealous of you, Lenny.”

  “Why?”

  “The store. I’ve wanted to do something like that myself for years now.”

  Lenny’s smile widened. “Come work for me.”

  “I didn’t mean to,” she sputtered.

  “Can’t do it all myself. I’d have to hire someone. Why not you? Unless you’re set on that job in Mesa.”

  Tatum started to tell him yes, she was. The words, however, struck in her throat and refused to budge. She didn’t want to move to Mesa. She didn’t want to take a temporary position. She wanted to stay in Reckless. Her home.

  “How much would the job pay?”

  She had to be a realist and not get ahead of herself. Especially after all her talk about needing to grow up and make it on her own.

  “Can’t afford much to start.” Lenny named an hourly wage. “I can see about a raise in a few months.”

  She could manage on that amount. If she watched her pennies very, very closely.

  “Can I continue my art classes?” she asked, already thinking of adding evening classes to the schedule.

  “Wouldn’t have it any other way.”

  “Then I accept.” She thrust her hand forward, and Lenny shook it gladly.

  “Welcome aboard.”

  The decision felt right, much better than the temporary position at the preschool.

  She’d have to call the agency right away. And tell Sunny and Cassidy. They would be glad for her and understand why she wasn’t returning to the arena. Running a small office supply and craft store, continuing with her art lessons, was a much better fit for Tatum than working at the Easy Money.

  And the kids! They’d be overjoyed. Tatum couldn’t wait to tell them. That bigger house wasn’t in their immediate plans. It might be if she worked hard and helped Lenny grow the business.

  Ryder would be happy for her, too, she was certain. He’d be glad she was staying in Reckless.

  Tatum felt another pang in her heart. The new job with Lenny put her one step closer to her goal of better managing her life on her own. But she still wasn’t ready for a commitment. Maybe. One day. By then, Ryder would probably have met someone else. He was much too good-looking to go for long without attracting the attention of a woman. And he’d be at a new company, making new contacts on a daily basis.

  “I’m meeting with a general contractor on Tuesday,” Lenny said.

  Tatum cleared her mind of Ryder and what couldn’t be and concentrated on Lenny.

  “I need a construction estimate to take to the bank before they’ll start the loan paperwork. I don’t think there needs to be a lot done to the space. Paint and flooring. Some shelves. The ceiling tile is shot. Stocking the merchandise is what’ll cost the most.”

  “Have you ever considered selling teaching supplies? If not selling them, then having catalogues on hand that the teachers can order from? It would be easy enough to have the items shipped to the store.”

  “I like it.” Lenny nodded thoughtfully.

  They talked for several more minutes, hammering out details and brainstorming. Tatum forgot about the time.

  “Mommy, how much longer?” Gretchen had come into the store.

  Tatum went to her, picked her up and swung her in a circle. “Guess what, sweetie pie? We’re not moving to Mesa! We’re staying here, and Mommy’s going to work for Mr. Faust.”

  Gretchen promptly broke into sobs, hiding her face in Tatum’s tummy.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “I can stay in school?”

  Tatum stroked her daughter’s hair. “Yes, and with all your friends.”

  Lenny offered them both tissues. It was only then that Tatum realized she, too, was crying. She dabbed Gretchen’s cheeks and then her own.

  “Let’s get your painting,” she told Gretchen, “and clean up. I have to pick up your brothers in an hour.”

  “Can I call Lisa Anne? Please.”

  Her classmate from school. How could Tatum say no? She handed Gretchen her cell phone. When Lisa Anne’s mother offered to take Gretchen with them to the library, Tatum accepted, glad for a chance to continue working uninterrupted.

  She and Lenny agreed to meet the following day for coffee and continue their discussion. She’d also attend the meeting he had scheduled with the general contractor.

  After Gretchen left with her friend, Tatum made quick work of restoring order to the art studio. With a flourish, she tore up the partially completed sign and threw the bits into the wastebasket. Tomorrow, she’d make new signs. One advertising art classes and the other announcing the store’s expansion.

  She was just about to leave the studio when the bell above the front door jangled. Expecting to see a parent inquiring about the canceled lessons, or even Maggie needing classroom supplies, Tatum affixed a happy smile on her face and pivoted, ready to spread the good news.

  Instead, Ryder walked toward her, his stride long and his expression that of a man with purpose.

  * * *

  “I WAS JUST LEAVING.”

  Ryder wasn’t about to let Tatum off the hook that easily. “I won’t keep you long.” Just in case she attempted a quick escape, he edged closer.

  She studied him up and down. “Are you blocking my way?”

  “No.” He didn’t budge.

  “Doesn’t matter. I parked in the back.”

  Damn. He should have realized that when he didn’t see her car out front.

  “What do you want, Ryder?”

  At first, he assumed she was still mad at him. All right, to be expected. He’d said some pretty stupid things to her last week. On second thought, that could be longing in her eyes. Or remorse. Or even uncertainty. Whichever, the fact she didn’t demand he leave that instant gave him hope.

  “This isn’t a good time. Gretchen will be back any second, and I have to pick up the boys.”

  “Can I come by your apartment later?” he asked.

  “We have plans.”

  Tatum had wavered for an instant before answering, giving Ryder even more hope.

  Encouraged, he surged ahead. “I spoke to Lynda Spencer on the way into town. She committed to using Easy Money bucking stock for her next six rodeos. At the terms we originally agreed on.”

  Tatum’s jaw went momentarily slack. “That’s wonderful,” she said when she recovered.

  “We’ll make good money. In the end.”

  “You have no idea how happy I am to hear that.”

  “No more than me.” He paused. “You don’t have to quit now.”

  “I do.”

  “This isn’t me taking care of you, Tatum. The mistake was mine to fix.”

  “Actually, I agree.” She reached for her purse. “But that changes nothing.”

  She was leaving. Ryder didn’t have much time.

  “I turned down the job at Velocity Concepts.”

  “You did?” She blinked in disbelief.

  “I’m staying.”

  “You are?”

  “I’d like to say I had an epiphany. What I had was a serious butt kicking from my dad. Seems he’s a lot smarter than I gave him credit for. But don’t tell him I said that.”

  “Your secret’s safe with me.” A hint of amu
sement lit her eyes.

  For a second, she was the old Tatum. The one before their argument.

  “Don’t go,” he blurted. “Stay in Reckless.”

  “Oh, Ryder.” She was slipping away from him. He could feel it.

  “I should have come home years ago,” he said.

  “Or, maybe you came home at just the right time. You’ve reconciled with your mother and joined the family business.”

  “I found you, too.” This time, he didn’t hold back his words. “And I shouldn’t have let you go. I was wrong. I was stupid. I want a second chance.”

  “We can’t just start over.”

  “Why not? Mesa isn’t far.”

  “I’m not moving to Mesa.”

  “Not moving,” he echoed dumbly.

  “There’s been a...a change,” Tatum said.

  “You’re staying?”

  Her glance went to the open door dividing the Ship-With-Ease Store from the art studio. Lenny stood behind the counter, assisting a customer. When she returned her gaze to Ryder, a smile pulled at the corners of her mouth.

  “Lenny’s expanding the store. To include office and craft supplies and even teaching supplies.”

  “Like you talked about.”

  Her smile widened, light and lovely. “He needs help and offered me a job assisting him. I’m still going to teach art, and—”

  She didn’t finish. She couldn’t. Ryder left her speechless when he scooped her up in his arms.

  “Ryder! Put me down.” Her objection was weak at best, so he ignored it.

  “Go out with me. Tonight. We’ll celebrate. Dinner at the nicest restaurant in Globe.”

  “I already told you, I’m busy.”

  “Break your plans.”

  “Are you crazy?”

  “I’ve been accused of worse.”

  “Really, Ryder. I’m serious.”

  He didn’t believe her because she was laughing. The sound worked like a magic spell, enabling him to see the future clearly. It included his and Tatum’s families joined together for always.

  “Put me down.” She pushed on his chest with the palms of her hands.