Cowboy Wilde (Cooper's Hawke Landing Book 2)

by Rhonda Lee Carver

  “After?” He lifted a brow, his sincere expression urged her to confess.

  She choked on the unspoken words. She couldn’t go there with him, not yet. Once she divulged the loss of her child people looked at her differently. Grace didn’t want him looking at her with pity or have him walk on eggshells around her afraid that she might have a nervous breakdown, like her ex-husband had for the six months after they buried their sweet Caroline. Parents weren’t supposed to bury their children so if she broke down she had every right to, but she didn’t want people to expect it from her. “The divorce,” she answered. She sipped more whiskey. Picking up a cucumber with her fork, she popped it into her mouth. “What are your plans for a future?”

  He looked up from his fork. “To get this place up and running.”

  “You know I meant further on.”

  “Hell if I know.”

  She leaned back in the chair, suddenly her appetite was gone. “I noticed you have a few tattoos.”

  He nodded. “You have one on your wrist. It means something, doesn’t it?”

  “It reads… ‘she will not depart you’.”

  “Want to talk about it?”

  “No.” She clasped her hands on her lap under the table. “So, you were in the Marines. You must be a tough guy,” she teased, working herself back from thoughts of the past.

  With a modest shrug, he said, “Nah. I know a lot tougher. I’ve seen more than one friend come home without a limb, or fingers, or some gave all. Those are the true heroes.”

  She propped her feet on the empty chair next to her. He got up, grabbed the whiskey bottle and brought it to the table, pouring each of them more. “Tell me more about the hands that will be working here. Give me a head’s up what their like.”

  “Harvard, Deuce, and Mick. Harvard is tall and as skinny as a pole but as strong as an ox. I once saw him lift the front of a car. Deuce and Mick are brothers and can talk your leg off but two helluva good men. Don’t let their flirting scare you. They’re both married and think the sun rises and sets on their wives. Harvard is newly married.”

  “Flirting? Now what is that again?” She twirled a tendril of her hair around her knuckle.

  “I’m sure Mug reminded you what flirting is.” A tuft of hair fell over his forehead making him look younger.

  She wondered when Mug’s name would be brought up. “No, we had dinner and nothing more.”

  “Really?” Ruger pried.

  “Although he didn’t say, I have a feeling he has a crush on someone. Anyway, he told me how respected you are in the community.”

  He leaned back into the chair and crossed his arms over his chest, flexing his biceps. He had the body of someone who worked manual labor each day. “The men at Landing Search and Rescue are more like family.”

  “I admire that. Everyone in this town is different, in a good way.” She loosened her hair from the topknot and let it flow down around her shoulders. “The location, the view here,” she slipped her gaze over him, “what this place will look like when it’s finished, you’ll have a waiting list.”

  “Let’s sure hope so.” He stretched his legs. “I’ve dropped my savings and then some on this place.”

  “It takes money to make money.” Grace picked up a piece of lettuce and munched on it.

  “You have a business mind, huh?”

  She stared at him a good three seconds before answering, “Comes natural.”

  “We have to get the land in working condition. A working ranch makes the property worth a helluva lot more. So, if the B&B side of things fail, we’ll still have a profit.”

  “How many acres belong to you?”

  “A hundred.”

  “That’s a lot.”

  “It’s considered small compared to some places out here.”

  The ranch was so beautiful, and she could see Ruger being here for the rest of his life and handing it down to his children, and to their children, and so forth. An idea came to her that could benefit them both. “I know a little about decorating and I can offer my services.”

  “Services?” The way the word rolled off his tongue made it sound like she was offering him sex.

  “Decorating.”

  “At what cost to me?” His brow raised.

  “I can make you a decent offer. I can get this entire place looking like a B&B for less than you might think.”

  “Now why in the world would I want to make a deal like that?” He lowered his elbows to the table and leaned his chin on his hands. “And why in the world would you want to?”

  “If you’ve been in the renovation business, as you have, then you know how important staging is, but the furniture will stay.”

  “Sure.”

  “Didn’t you plan on this?” She saw by his expression that he hadn’t. “To get people to come here to visit you’ll have to entice them. Give them a feeling of home away from home.”

  “How much?”

  “Cheap. A lot less than that pretty truck you have sitting in the driveway.” She wagged her brows.

  “Okay, let me get this straight. You’ll decorate for cheap?”

  She shrugged and smiled. “You have to realize that’s a deal of the century.”

  “How does this affect the duties I hired you for?”

  “I’ll still cook, but maybe you won’t want me to. In fact, what if I found someone who truly can cook to help? You did say you wanted to hire someone local to stay on.”

  “That’s like finding a needle in a haystack.”

  “I’m pretty good at finding things.”

  “You like to make a hard bargain, don’t you?” He blew out a long breath. “Who are you?”

  “Who am I?”

  “You’re like a diamond with all different facets.”

  “I think that’s the best compliment I’ve received in a long time. So, what do you think? You won’t be disappointed.” This was the most exciting challenge she’d had in a long time.

  The pause had her thinking he’d reject her offer, but then he reached a hand across the table. “I guess we should shake on it.”

  Shaking his hand, and anxious at the new trajectory, she could already envision the changes she could make to the house. “Just remember, the decorating is at my indiscretion. No arguing with me.”

  “Argue? Me? Never.”

  Her joy bubbled up. “Can you tell how excited I am?”

  “And just so we’re clear, if you decide to pick up and leave Cooper’s Hawk before the house is completed you have no stake in anything and I owe you nothing.”

  “That won’t happen, but if you’re uncomfortable, draw up a new contract.” She tilted her chin.

  “Just keep in mind, we’re in a time crunch.”

  “Trust me. You won’t have to remind me.”

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  “HOW LONG HAS it been since he went missing?” Ruger asked Creed who was standing with Boone, Hank, and Mug.

  “For almost an hour,” Creed answered as he finished saddling up his horse.

  Sheriff Conley stepped up to the circle of cowboys at the entrance of Trip Ease Mountain. Conley was a tall, broad shouldered man who showed his tension in his rugged expression. The creases around his eyes deepened as he pressed his hat back on. He took his job seriously, especially when it involved kids, just as all the Landing S&R members did. “His mom is Priscilla Rider. Her boyfriend is a familiar name. Gam Hill. Remember him?”

  “Wasn’t he serving a five-year sentence for drug trafficking?” Ruger asked.

  “Released six months ago. He’s living with the kid and Priscilla at a campground a couple of miles from here. Mom said she turned her back for a second and Sam disappeared. Witnesses say they saw a stranger walking around the campground early yesterday, but no one knows who he was or what business he had around this area. No one can give me a solid identity. A few campers said the boy is always wandering alone on the trails.”

  “So, it’s possible he’s just out exploring?” Mug a
sked.

  “This mountain is tricky with a lot of places where a curious kid could hide or get lost,” Creed said. “The dive team is at the lake skimming the water. We’ll split up here on the mountain and cover more ground. After the thunderstorms yesterday we’re looking at landslides so watch your step. Ruger, you mind taking the north ridge? I know you can handle it alone.”

  “No problem.”

  “You boys aren’t trying to have some fun without me, are you?”

  All eyes turned on Jady Pierce who sashayed her way up to the men and cocked one hip. Ruger swore he heard Hank and Mug both growl under their breath. Both cowboys were set in their stubborn ways so Ruger could see how the woman, with her assertive confidence and new ideas could ruffle some old feathers. Or maybe they’d been bitten by cupid?

  “Of course not,” Creed welcomed her. “Mug and Jady, take the East ridge.”

  “Wouldn’t she be better hanging with Ruger?” Mug suggested.

  “She’s with you, my friend.” Hank chuckled.

  “We’re wasting time,” Creed said with some noticeable agitation.

  With a nod, Ruger stepped over to his horse and re-checked his equipment and supplies. He had everything he needed.

  “Find him, men,” Conley muttered.

  When the Hawke Landing Team went into action, they stayed on task until they found the missing person, alive or dead. If that meant they’d be out on the mountain, or searching the fields and flat lands of the area, for days, weeks, or even months then that’s what they would do, freeing up law enforcement to work the streets and investigate.

  Climbing into the saddle, he clicked his tongue and the mare followed the trail they’d ridden at least a hundred times. The team separated once they reached the branch in the path and quiet overtook Ruger. He patted Gigi’s neck. “Let’s do this, girl.” The horses were as much a part of the S&R team as the men. They’d been trained and could sniff out danger or a clue like no one’s business.

  As the silence of the mountain surrounded him, Ruger concentrated on the narrow path ahead, looking for any sign that the five-year-old had been there. The campgrounds where they camped were in the opposite direction and logic told him if the boy had walked away, willingly, from camp he would have come on one of the trails. There were too many witnesses in the campground that would have noticed an altercation if he left against his will, yet foul play couldn’t be ruled out just yet.

  Child abduction had been a major issue in the area at one time, but Conley had cracked down on prosecuting illegal activity. The cases of missing children who had wandered off into the mountain were three times more likely. Although it seemed like a young kid couldn’t make it far on foot, from past missions they’d found children, some as young as Sam, as much as fifteen miles from where they were last seen. The younger kids tended to keep walking aimlessly instead of hunkering down and waiting to be found.

  Ruger didn’t know the dynamics of the family, and didn’t want to assume, but he knew Gam Hill and he was bad news. Always had been. Serving time for drug trafficking, that wasn’t his only act of illegal activity but the only thing the prosecutor could nail him with. He’d also been suspected of human trafficking. Ruger wondered if Sam’s mom knew Gam’s background. His brushes with the law came as early as a teen, but his first conviction came after he abused his wife and she ended up in the hospital. That tore through Ruger like a jackhammer.

  Each mission became personal to him.

  He wasn’t a father, but when a child went missing, he became a father. He imagined his own child, if he had one, lost and relying on others to find him or her. That motivated him to stay on track, even if that meant days on the trail without going home. He’d search the entire side of the mountain and if he found nothing, he’d turn around and retrace his steps in case he missed something the first time. The mountain was complex and it would be easy for a child to be missed if a person weren’t trained in tracking.

  The military had taught him skills he used on missing persons missions. He’d learned to see details that most people missed. A broken branch. A crumb. Or even a crushed leaf.

  Ruger liked working alone—hell, he worked better alone.

  His mind wandered while his eyes stayed glued ahead.

  Usually, his thoughts were about the ranch, or flipping a house, but today his brain was focused on Grace. It seemed these days he couldn’t think of much else and making a deal to let her decorate the house could just be what did him in. Now she’d stay and he still hadn’t managed to get any closer to the truth of why she lied.

  Ruger really didn’t care about decorations and furniture but would have needed to think about it eventually. When she’d started talking about it, she’d had a twinkle to her eyes, and he couldn’t form the word “no” on his lips.

  She had a way about her that snared his interest. He knew full well that she’d lied about her name, but he didn’t see her as a liar. Not that he condoned dishonesty, but sometimes people were put in predicaments that couldn’t be helped. Was she running from something…or someone? An ex? No, she’d talked about her ex and they seemed on good terms.

  Maybe she was running from pain?

  Whatever the reason, he’d overstepped a boundary when he’d kissed her. He’d fallen victim to those amazing soft lips.

  Victim?

  He laughed out loud which made Gigi’s ears perk.

  Who was he kidding? He’d wanted to sample those sweet lips from the second he saw her smile.

  So then what?

  He didn’t want messy. He liked keeping his focus on work and keeping everything else outside of that perimeter. Yet, he was starting to get the idea that parts of him didn’t get the memo.

  Maybe Hank was right. Ruger had allowed Bren to hold him prisoner long enough. That had been so long ago so why was he still in the same place, emotionally, that he was the day they separated?

  It wasn’t like he still loved, or even cared for his ex. Looking back he wasn’t sure he ever did really love her, not with his whole heart. Not the love that his ma and pa shared. If given the chance to love someone, and be loved like his parents had loved each other, he might be willing to jump back in the arena, but he’d have to take a risk.

  He liked Grace. He looked forward to seeing her every day. Enjoyed listening to her talk, watching her smile. Appreciated when she told him a little about her past, although she was very vague too at times. That didn’t deter him but made him want to dig deeper, but without pressure.

  Yet, could he see himself with her long term?

  Resituating his hat, he felt a bit disoriented at the train of his thoughts. This opened a whole new can of worms that he wasn’t quite ready to face. A woman like Grace would want marriage, and kids. She certainly wasn’t wanting a fling like he’d had with his past relationships. Ruger saw some of his friends settling down, finding a second chance and it didn’t scare him so bad. For instance, Creed, a man Ruger admired, found love again with Mindy and they had a happy life.

  No doubt, Ruger understood the responsibility of family. What kind of father would he be? He had an amazing role model in his father, but that meant Ruger had big shoes to fill.

  Thinking about marriage and children could be jumping the gun and skipping some stages. Sure, he and Grace had something between them. Kismet possibly. Yet, there were many things about her he didn’t know.

  A clear image of her developed inside his head.

  He guessed it was normal for a man his age to start wondering about his future and where it would lead him. Marriage wasn’t easy and if a man chose the wrong one it only made things triple hard.

  The wind kicked up and rattled the leaves above his head. Through the brush he saw something move and shifted in the saddle to look closer. A deer was grazing in the foliage, not paying Ruger any mind. The last time he was up here he spotted a bear. That could be a scary thought with the wildlife and a small boy who couldn’t defend himself.

  Veering right off the p
ath which took him between the rock wall and ravine, it was places like this the team had to search most. Looking over the edge of the cliff, he saw nothing but the peaceful flow of the water.

  Nothing in the area appeared to be out of place.

  Leading GiGi on, they encountered some slick, muddy spots but the horse handled the change of land easily. He rode for a while longer, humming a tune inside his head when he saw something ahead. Sliding from the saddle, he bent down and picked up the toy car laying on top of a pile of leaves. It was still shiny. If it had been here during the storms it would be dirty. It had to belong to Sam.

  Ruger stood and listened while surveying the area closely. Birds chirped in a nearby tree. A squirrel climbed a branch.

  The boy didn’t climb the rock and he didn’t go down into the ravine. There would be a sign.

  Ruger rolled the tires of the toy car over his palm. “Where are you, kid?” Then he remembered that less than a half mile ahead was an abandoned cabin. The last time Ruger saw it there wasn’t much left of the place. At one time teenagers would come up and party.

  It was worth a look.

  Getting back on his horse, Ruger led her through the thick brush, moving slower than he liked, but he wanted to keep both him and the horse safe. Finally he saw the clearing ahead where the cabin sat a few hundred feet from the woods. The place looked unsafe.

  Ruger left Gigi tied to a tree while he pushed his way through weeds and brush to get closer. Two walls had caved in, and the other two were leaning precariously. A swift wind could send them falling.

  Investigating the outside, although difficult through the unkempt area, he looked for anything out of the ordinary. Squatting, he bent low enough to look inside the dark space. A small child could easily crawl through to get inside. Standing, Ruger swiped the dirt off his hands and made his way to the back of the cabin.