Her Last Chance Cowboy: A Sweet Western Romance (Prairie Valley Book 5)

by Ellen Joy

  “Everyone goes and buys chickens,” Victor would say, holding an AR-16 as they sat watch. “But I’m buying pigs.”

  “Pigs?” Jake had never thought of owning land, much less animals. “Don’t they smell?”

  “Not if raised properly.” Victor would get lost in his dreams. “Imagine waking up on your own time, nobody telling you what to do. Living off your own hard work. Not working hard for someone else.”

  “Sounds like heaven.” Jake thought of the farms and ranches back in Prairie Valley, not ever imagining he’d someday live on one.

  But after Victor’s death, and his medical discharge from the service, he somehow found himself driving by the Wilson farm. Then he saw the sign. He drove right up to the house and took on a gentleman’s agreement lease between Mr. Wilson and himself. Of course, he’d quickly found out that the idea of waking up on your own time and making your own hours was far from reality.

  “Earth to Jake.” Allison waved her hand in front of his face. “We’re going to head to the Freight House, you coming?”

  He had opened his mouth to beg off when he saw Troy and his cronies coming in the back door. They moved up to the bar, loud and obnoxious, acting like overaged teenagers.

  “Jake?” Allison stood up. “We’re going.”

  He looked over to see that his brother and girlfriend had already paid and were leaving the table.

  “Okay.” He threw down his money, checking Troy out one last time before following.

  On Monday, when he arrived at the Gunderson ranch, Sam met him and the crew. “Morning.” Sam held out his hand and he and Jake shook. “It was nice to see you at dinner the other night,” he shouted over the noise of the excavators working on the foundation.

  “Olivia invited me when she swung through here, the other day.” He realized that this was a golden opportunity to dig for information, and he blurted out a question before he could think better of it. “I was wondering, is Hannah a part of the family, or is she a neighbor?” He felt his face grow hot, realizing how abrupt his question had been. Would Sam think he was being creepy?

  Sam took a sip of his coffee. “She was Georgie’s student, and they took her in when she had Emma.”

  “That’s really nice.” He didn’t know how to segue naturally, so he just came out and said it. “So, what’s the deal with Troy?”

  “Do you mean, are they still married?”

  Jake shrugged.

  “I think all she has to do is sign the papers, but for some reason she hasn’t. But he hasn’t been in the picture for years.”

  “Years?” Jake might be crossing a line, butting into her business, but he suspected that what happened at the grocery store wasn’t the first time in years. “I saw him at the grocery store, bugging her.”

  Sam’s face immediately turned concerned. “Recently?”

  He nodded. “He was pretty aggressive.”

  Sam slowly shook his head, processing the information. “How aggressive?”

  Jake told Sam the whole story. And for the rest of the day, he worried. Maybe he shouldn’t have gotten involved with her business. She was a grown woman, after all. But he didn’t trust what a man like Troy might do. He wasn’t going to apologize for watching out for her, but he did need to make things right. He had butted into her life, and could’ve escalated things by confronting Troy.

  The next day, Jake went down to the grocery store to talk with Tim Hooley.

  It was the last place he expected to run into Hannah, but he saw her right away when he walked in the door. She stood at the customer service desk with Tim, holding her maroon smock in white-knuckled hands.

  When he got close enough, he could hear Tim’s pompous voice. “I wish things could’ve worked out,” he said, shaking his head. “But we just can’t have these kinds of disturbances.”

  “Tim, please,” she begged. “I promise he won’t come around anymore.”

  “That’s what you said the last time.” He looked at a clipboard as if whatever he was doing was more important than her frantic pleas.

  Jake could feel his anger rising.

  “Why don’t you give her a second chance.” He made his voice as commanding as he could, using what his mother called his “soldier voice”.

  Tim’s head jerked up, momentarily rattled by this challenge to his authority.

  But Hannah swung around, eyes narrowing the moment she heard his voice. “I don’t need your help.”

  “Here’s your last check.” Tim handed over a white envelope.

  “Tim? Come on.” Her voice cracked.

  He rolled his eyes. “We’ve been over this, Hannah.”

  She turned on her heel and marched toward the exit, her back straight.

  Tim shot a smug look at Jake. “Can I help you with something?”

  “You really are a jerk,” he said, and went after Hannah.

  He reminded himself again that he should stay out of her business, that he should keep his mouth shut, but as usual he failed to follow his own advice.

  “Hannah,” he called, catching up to her.

  “What do you want?” she said coldly, not slowing down.

  He shook his head. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said anything.”

  She stopped impatiently to let the sliding doors open, then ran out as if the place was on fire. But then she suddenly stopped, straightened her shoulders, and turned on him so quickly he almost ran into her.

  “What are you doing here?” Her hands fisted on her hips. “Are you following me?”

  “No!” Oh God, did she think he was a creeper?

  “Well, you seem to have a real problem with butting into my business.”

  “Look, I’m sorry, I just can’t stand seeing people treat a lady that way.”

  She laughed scornfully as anger flashed across her face. “Troy was right, the other day. What is your deal? You don’t even know me.”

  “I know guys like Troy.”

  “Yeah, well, I can take care of myself.” Her voice broke. “I lost my job because of you starting something with Troy.”

  She turned and walked away just before his second apology came out. “I’m really sorry,” he muttered.

  Well, he really needed to just let it go, now. She didn’t want his help, and he thought uneasily that maybe he had also crossed the line by talking to Sam.

  “I won’t bother you again.”

  Emma sat next to the tub as Mae splashed in the water. Hannah sat on the edge with her hands hovering over the baby.

  “She’s fine, Mom,” Emma rolled her eyes.

  “Have you ever heard of dry drowning?” Hannah asked her.

  “Yes, every time I went near water during my entire childhood.”

  “It’s frightening.” Hannah wasn’t ashamed of caring. She turned her focus back on the baby. “You are just the cutest, except this pretty girl over here.”

  “Mom, stop.” Emma continued with the eye rolling, and Hannah assumed this behavior would become the norm as she traveled through her teens.

  “You’ll always be my baby.”

  “Do you ever want more babies?” Emma suddenly asked, handing Mae a plastic alphabet letter. Mae splashed it hard in the water, then threw it across the tub.

  Hannah didn’t know how to answer Emma. But the truth was, she did. She had always wanted more. Not necessarily a redo, but a second chance.

  “Don’t go throwing your toys around, please,” Emma picked up another letter and put it on the edge of the tub. “B for ba-by.”

  “That’s good, to practice her letters,” Hannah said.

  “She’s more interested in eating her letters than learning them.” She pulled the plastic M out of Mae’s mouth. “M is for Ma-ma.”

  “Emma?” Hannah hesitated. “Would you mind coming straight home after school, instead of going to the club?”

  Emma studied her carefully before answering. “Sure? Why?” She knew money was tight, but never knew what tight really meant. That would have to
change, now.

  “I don’t want you to worry, but I’m looking for a new job.” The half-truth was as good as she could do right now. She didn’t want to scare Emma. “And since I’m home, you don’t need to go to the club.”

  “You’re going to be home?” Her face dropped. Emma obviously had more of an inkling of what this meant than Hannah liked. “Are we going to be okay? You can have the money from tonight.”

  Hannah shook her head, her heart hurting. “We’re going to be fine. You get the money. It’s yours.”

  “What about Dad?”

  Hannah was startled. Emma never talked about her father.

  “He doesn’t have any money.”

  “Maybe you should ask,” she said quietly.

  “I said no, Emma,” she warned. “Let’s get this one into her pajamas.”

  Hannah laid out a towel on the fluffy bathmat. Emma picked up the slippery baby and lifted her out of the soapy water.

  “Watch the head,” Hannah warned.

  “I know, Mom, gosh.” She laid the baby on her back and patted her dry. She grabbed the lotion Olivia had left out. “We should take her on a walk.”

  “That sounds nice,” Hannah said, thinking of how much she missed living on the farm.

  Emma pushed Mae in the stroller as Hannah walked behind, looking out at the prairie sunset. Golds and oranges, even magentas covered the horizon, reflecting off the clouds for miles and miles.

  She thought about the lie she’d told Emma. She had promised never to lie to her, but here she was, telling her a full-on fib. She had no job prospects. Hannah had called around town looking for anything, anyone who was hiring. The diner, the bar, the corner store. Nothing.

  What was she going to do?

  She had been so embarrassed, having to go back to Tim and beg for her job. And when she saw Jake walking through the doors, her annoyance had reached its peak. He was just like all the others in town who couldn’t stay out of her business. Worse, he talked to her like she was a stupid kid.

  She was done being treated that way.

  Snapping at him had felt good at the time, but she regretted it later. Maybe he was one of the good ones. Maybe he really was just trying to be a nice guy. Troy had grabbed her. Wouldn’t it be worse if he had just turned a blind eye?

  Mae loved the walk almost as much as she loved dropping her sunglasses on the ground. Emma pushed her down the rocky, dusty road, and before she knew it, they were right in front of the old Wilson farm. She looked down the long driveway leading to the white farmhouse. A big red barn sat away from the house, and a pig came trotting toward them… with a stick in her mouth?

  “Millie! Come, girl!” a man’s voice yelled out.

  Hannah’s stomach dropped like an elevator.

  Emma laughed. “Is that a pig?”

  “Millie! Come!” And there he was. Jake Malloy, running from the other side of the property.

  “Does she have a stick in her mouth?” Emma giggled as the pig jiggled down the drive. She started squealing as she sensed Jake catching up. “Grab her collar!”

  Hannah looked at Emma, who shot back a look of concern as the pig barreled toward them. “I have the baby.”

  She pushed the stroller behind her cautiously as the pig approached. As the animal scooted up to them, Emma grabbed the collar, garnished with a pink bowtie. The pig sat right in front of her and dropped the stick at her feet.

  “Aww, it’s like a real Miss Piggie.”

  Jake came running up with a leash dangling from his hand. “I’m so sorry!” He was out of breath by the time he hooked the lead on. “She loves new people, and around here there are never new people.”

  Emma pointed to the animal. “Look Mae, it’s a pig.”

  Mae was in love. She leaned on the tray, hands extended out to the snout, letting the pig lick her fingers.

  “Mae, yuck, you just took a bath!” Hannah said, pulling the baby’s hands away from the portly pink-and-grey creature.

  “I’m so sorry.” He pulled the pig back, and she happily sat down next to him, snorting.

  He held his hand up to shield his eyes from the low rays of the evening sun, his tattooed, toned, forearm front and center.

  “What brings you out this way?” he asked.

  Mae dropped her sunglasses on the ground, and Hannah reached down to grab them before she spoke. “We’re babysitting Mae for the night.”

  “It’s nice to see you again.” He glanced at Emma.

  “Emma,” Hannah said, “this is Mr. Malloy, who had dinner with us at the farm the other night.”

  “Hi.” She waved, but her attention went back on the pig. “Is she your pet?”

  He looked down at the pig, and the pig looked up at him, and Hannah couldn’t help but giggle, even though she couldn’t keep her eyes off his perfect muscles.

  “She is, though she thinks it’s the other way around.” He shook his head. “Don’t you, Millie?”

  “I thought you had cows?” Hannah had listened to every word he said at the dinner at the farm. He had talked about his six cows, what his plans were, even volunteering to help at Broken Eagle Ranch to gain more experience.

  “I do, but I thought I’d raise some pigs, too. Millie had other plans than becoming bacon, though.”

  “Oh, that’s so sweet.” Emma got down on one knee and rubbed the pig.

  “She likes her chin scratched,” he said, showing her where. The pig closed her eyes and her hind leg started to kick.

  “She’s adorable. I want a pig!”

  “We can’t even have a guinea pig in the apartment. Come on, Emma. We should finish our walk and leave Mr. Malloy and Millie to get on with their night.”

  “Are you going for a walk?” he asked. “I was just headed out with Millie, down to the train trestle. It’s really nice out that way.”

  She shook her head. “I’ve never really gone further than this.”

  “Why don’t you join us?”

  “Um…” She wasn’t sure if she should. She hadn’t told anyone at the farm where they were going. Wasn’t this exactly the kind of situation she told Emma to avoid?

  “We’d love to!” Emma answered for her.

  Hannah nearly squirmed with discomfort. What would they talk about? Would Mae even tolerate such a long walk? Would he bring up how she’d lost her job? Or worse, try to apologize again for what happened with Troy?

  But when Jake smiled at her, she had to look away as her tummy did a teeny somersault. He gestured toward the dirt road, and they all walked side by side, with the pig leading the way.

  Mae threw her glasses down on the road again.

  “Maggie Georgiana, you stop throwing those glasses.” Hannah reached down at the same time Jake did, and they bumped into each other. “Oh!”

  He laughed, then said, “Sorry, I should have been watching what I was doing.”

  He handed Mae the glasses, kneeling next to her. The baby leaned out to touch the pig.

  “Do you like piggies?” He looked up at Hannah. “Do you mind if Millie says hello without licking, maybe just a snort?”

  “Oh no, not at all. She lives on a farm, after all!” She warned Mae in a stern tone, “Be nice to Millie.”

  Emma knelt next to the stroller, helping her to greet Millie, instead of grabbing at the pig like she wanted to. When the pig snorted, Mae squealed in delight, which made the pig snort some more. Mae shook with laughter.

  “You know, Millie can do tricks just like a dog. She can even play dead.”

  “She’s a really good pig,” Hannah said, although she was the first pet pig she’d ever met.

  “I promised a buddy that if I ever had a ranch, I’d get some pigs.” He rubbed Millie’s chin again. “So now, I have an eighty-pound pig living in my house.”

  Mae picked up one of her toys and pressed the button, which started playing a nursery song. When Jake started singing along, Hannah couldn’t help but stare at the Marine. He must’ve read her thoughts, because he shrugg
ed. “I had younger siblings.”

  She smiled at the thought of Jake taking care of his little brothers or sisters. She thought about the kids she went to high school with, but couldn’t remember a Malloy. “Would I know any of them?”

  He shook his head. “Probably not my brothers, but you might know my sister, Julia?”

  Hannah did know the woman who’d dated Jesse for a split-second, just long enough to sour friendships for good.

  “Julia Ryland?”

  “Yes, she’s my half-sister. That’s how I know the Boudreaus.”

  The pieces came together.

  “Tim Hooley said you two were friends.”

  “Did he?” He chuckled, then added, “We lived in the same neighborhood, growing up.”

  She nodded, things suddenly making much more sense. “Didn’t you live in that big house on Pine Street?”

  He nodded. “Yeah, my family still does.”

  He didn’t elaborate, and Hannah didn’t know what else to ask. Maybe he really had been thinking of going on a walk and didn’t want a gab session. She walked in silence as Emma pushed the stroller.

  “So, what grade are you in, Emma?” he asked.

  Hannah wanted to stay mad at him, but as he walked his pig, asking her daughter about her teachers, she couldn’t help but soften… at least a little.

  “What’s your favorite subject?” he asked, as if he really wanted to know the answer. He seemed relaxed, even with his hands folded behind his back, the leash loose between him and Millie.

  As the road sloped down, he pointed in the other direction. “Do you see the river, over the hill?”

  She looked where he was pointing. Through the trees she could see the river bluffs, and a metal trestle crossing the water. Keep out – Private Property signs were posted along both sides of the road.

  “This is the Gundersons’ property, up here.” He continued to walk, not concerned by the signs. “Ryan’s place is beyond that hill, over there.”

  Hannah could just see the rooftop. For a moment, she wished things hadn’t changed. Once Rosie had her wedding, things were never the same. Soon Olivia had gone off to college, then Charlie, and then Georgie and Sam got married. Moving into town had been a sad day for her and Emma both.