The Cowboy's Family (Family Ties Book 2)

by Carolyne Aarsen

  But as his eyes caught hers, and a lazy smile crawled across his face, she was glad she had asked him to come along.

  She looked ahead, her brain tingling a small warning.

  Be careful, be careful.

  He’s hired help, she told herself. No different than Joe.

  But as she thought of Joe, mentally comparing him to Mason, she realized she was kidding herself. Mason, with his tall lanky good looks, his dark hair, deep-set eyes, and gravelly voice, held infinitely more appeal than the bearded and lackadaisical Joe ever could.

  Be careful, be careful.

  The sun was warm on her shoulders, and the gentle footfalls of the horses on the dirt path eased the warning away. She stroked her horse’s neck, speaking quietly to it as she rode.

  Mason seemed content to follow her.

  They splashed across the creek, made a tight turn, and then headed through the trees up the side of a steep hill. Her horse settled in, its legs working as it climbed the hill, breathing deeper the higher they got. Now and again its metal-shod hoof would hit a rock, stumble, then catch its footing again.

  Ginger was an agile and able mountain horse, and though it had been a long time since she had ridden, she trusted this horse, knowing it would take her where she wanted to go with no trouble.

  Slowly the trees gave way, and they were out in the open, in the alpine pastures.

  The flowers were in bloom, laying out a carpet of red, purple, and gold. Below them snaked the river, a ribbon of silver flowing through the trees, splashing over rocks, and glinting in the sun. From here they could hear its dull roar. Beyond that were hills blanketed in green rising to gray rocks and jagged peaks with snow tucked into deep crevices.

  It was a majestic and amazing sight. Tricia sucked in her breath, the beauty of it hitting her deep in her soul.

  Oh, how she had missed this.

  She stopped then turned to Mason, who had come up beside her.

  His horse blew out his breath in a deep snort, then shook his head, his bridle clanking. He shifted his feet, then pulled his head forward to munch on the grass that grew almost stirrup high.

  Mason said nothing, but she could see from his soft smile and how his eyes swept over the valley that it spoke to him as it had to her.

  She turned back to the view, pulling in another long, slow breath. “This has always been one of my favorite rides,” she said, leaning forward in her saddle. “When I was young, my mom and dad and I would ride up here and have a picnic. We did it every Sunday for years. Then we would ride further along this ridge and down into the valley, and sometimes we would go visit the Bonds, a family who lives upriver. The family we bought the horses from. Mrs. Bond would often have her grandkids come and visit. They were about our age.” Her thoughts slipped to Tanner Bond, a friend of Kane's. He was ranching with his father on the Bond ranch until his fiancée and his parents died in a tragic plane accident. Then he left. Just like she had.

  "You're looking pensive," he said, breaking in on her sorrowful meandering.

  "Just thinking about the Bond family. How grief touches everyone."

  "Including you?"

  "Yeah." She brushed the memories aside. She had enough to deal with. "But I can't complain too much. I had a good upbringing overall.

  “Sounds like it." Mason nudged his hat back on his head with a knuckle, his smile deepening as his gaze roved over the valley below them. “Did you still go riding when the boys came?”

  Tricia remembered his questions yesterday when he asked how she felt about the boys coming into the family. “No. Things got busy and complicated once Kane, Elliot, and Lucas came.” She stopped herself, realizing how whiney she sounded.

  Yesterday she had almost let herself drift into “gripe mode,” as Elliot would call it.

  Complaining about her lot in life when, compared to the deprivations and struggles her brothers had to deal with, she was so blessed.

  “How was that for you? Bringing the guys into your home? How did that feel for you?”

  She glanced sidelong at him, surprised at his question, but he was looking ahead, a faint smile playing over his well-shaped mouth.

  “You know, you’re the first person who’s ever asked me that?”

  This caught his attention and his gaze swung to her, his eyes narrowing as he held hers. “Really? No one has ever asked you the impact of bringing young boys into your home? How old were you when that happened?”

  She was surprised at the edge of anger in his voice. Surprised that this seemed to matter to him.

  “I was seven the first time Kane came. He was around for a few months, then was returned to his mother. This happened a couple of times over the next year but then, one Christmas he came to stay.” She released a hard laugh, her mind ticking back to that time. “That was difficult.”

  “How so?”

  Family loyalty made her hesitant to answer but his gentle voice, the quiet question, teased out the memories.

  “Well, you know, Christmas is always such a family time. The whole Hallmark movie thing. The trees, the Christmas carols, the church service. Presents. I loved Christmas. But that year, when Kane came, it was tense. I had bought him a present, and he tossed it aside. I told him he was ungrateful, and he yelled at me and I yelled back.” She slanted him a sheepish look. “Not exactly the poster child for gracious acceptance.”

  “Considering you were seven, you’re being hard on yourself.”

  “Well, you are the only one that thinks that. My parents sent me to my room, but I could hear Mom and Dad talking to Kane. Of course I pouted, and of course that created more tension, which made Mom and Dad even angrier with me. Just a lousy cycle. Trouble was, it seemed to define our relationship. I resented Kane, and he knew it. I would get lectured by my mom and dad, often in front of Kane, on how I had to be more grateful. Thankful for what I had.”

  She stretched her shoulders, arching her back to take some of the strain off her ribs, a moan escaping.

  “Do you want to get off the horses for a bit?” Mason asked.

  She wanted to say no. To be tough, but that was crazy. One of the reasons Faith had taken the kids was so she could have a break. Give herself time to heal. No sense throwing that all away by trying to be cool.

  “Yeah. It’s been a while since I’ve ridden.”

  “We can go over to that fallen log. Tie up for a bit.” Without waiting to see what she would do, he dismounted then led his horse to a tree and tied up.

  Tricia followed him, thankful for the change in posture.

  He sat down on the ground, leaning against the log, taking his hat off. “Good a place as any for a rest,” he said as she settled carefully beside him. “You feeling okay?”

  “Yeah, it’s good to switch things up.” She leaned back, stretching her legs in front of her, crossing her booted feet over each other.

  Her blue jeans were one of the new pairs Faith and Kane had bought her when they picked her up from the hospital, as was the shirt. She had time, this morning, to choose something nicer. Time to curl her hair and clip it up properly.

  It was for her own feeling of self-worth, she reminded herself as she applied a hint of blush and stroked mascara over her lashes.

  Had nothing to do with the man beside her who snuck into her thoughts, hanging around the periphery of her mind with his careless dark hair and smoldering eyes.

  “So did you and Kane ever get along?” he asked.

  A mountain breeze tossed a strand of hair across her face and she brushed it back, trying to think how to answer him.

  “There were times we did. Mom and Dad explained what Kane had been dealing with and I tried to understand, but I felt like I was pushed more and more into a space where I had to be thankful. I wasn’t allowed to complain, because I was the lucky one. I was the one who had an intact family. And then Elliot came, and things got even worse. Actually, not worse,” she hastily amended, still struggling not to sound like a diva. “Let’s just say, more comp
licated, and that’s when I started to really misbehave, at least according to my parents. And my brothers. I can still hear Kane calling me a spoiled brat.”

  “Were you?”

  Tricia shrugged, the word still creating an uncomfortable feeling in her. “Maybe I was. I was the only girl for seven years. The only child. Suddenly I had to share my parents with three other guys who came with their own baggage and required a lot of help and attention. There were times I felt like I got lost in the shuffle.”

  Mason crossed his arms, leaning back against the log, a frown pulling his dark brows together. “That would be difficult. Your whole life had been thrown into turmoil. You had your own trauma to deal with.”

  She turned to hold his gaze, wondering if he was teasing her.

  But his expression was serious, the eyes holding hers, solemn. “It couldn’t have been easy.”

  For a moment she was about to refute that. After all, that was the standard line in the Tye family. Her life had always been easy compared to Kane, who was rejected by his mother; Elliot, abused by his father; and Lucas, orphaned when his parents died. She had it all. They had so little.

  How many times was she sent to her room because she misbehaved yet, the boys always got more leeway for the same actions? She could never protest and soon, she stopped even wondering about the unfairness of it all.

  “It wasn’t. The boys got treated differently, and to a point, I understood why. But I hate to count how many times I got sent to my room for doing something that the boys would have gotten away with.” She heard a whiney tone entering her voice and caught herself. “I know I had it good. I had a home and parents and love. And in spite of how we squabbled, Kane helped me a lot with my homework. I…needed every bit of help I could get.”

  “Why?”

  She paused there, wondering if she should tell him, the old shame rising up again. But his expression was soft, understanding.

  “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.”

  She took a breath and forced the words out. “School was a daily struggle for someone like me. I’ve got dyslexia.”

  She couldn’t look at him while she said it. In spite of his caring tone, his easy manner, years of humiliation and being thought of as defective, as less than surged up.

  Silence greeted her comment.

  Tricia took a chance, glancing at him.

  Mason was frowning, looking past her, tapping his fingers on his arm.

  “Did the teachers understand your struggle?” he asked, finally turning to her.

  His question surprised her, as did his encouraging tone. His gentle smile.

  “Some did. Some didn’t. It took a while before people realized I wasn’t lazy nor was I dumb.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that.”

  “Yeah. It wasn’t easy. But even with that, growing up with the boys created another tension. I had different expectations placed on me, and it was hard. Especially when Kane settled down and became a model citizen and perfect son and I was still acting up, according to my parents.” To her dismay her throat thickened and tears threatened. No way was she crying in front of Mason.

  And yet, again, a tear slipped out, drifting down her cheek, cooled by the faint breeze teasing the grass they sat in.

  She looked away, hoping no more would spill. She wasn’t a crier. It was the one thing she prided herself on.

  “It’s okay to feel that way,” Mason said. “And it’s okay to have some resentment. You didn’t ask for your life to be turned upside down any more than your brothers did. You didn’t ask for your struggles at school.”

  A moment of quiet understanding slipped between them. A link Tricia had never felt with anyone before. She felt he not only understood, he cared. She held his words close, knitting them into her soul.

  He understood, and that meant more to her than any kiss any other man had ever given her. Any promise ever made.

  “Thanks for that,” she whispered, pulling in a shuddering breath. She kept her face averted, afraid that if she looked at him the wisps of attraction drifting at the edges of her mind would form and solidify.

  She couldn’t allow the distraction, and yet, the loneliness that had sent her into the arms of Perry rose up again.

  So when she felt his hand on her shoulder again, it seemed the most natural thing in the world to turn to him. He had moved closer and their faces, instead of feet apart, were now inches.

  She was close enough to see a small scar below his eye. To see the thick fringe of dark eyelashes and how his eyes crinkled at the corners. The faint stubble darkening his cheeks and chin, giving him a rough-edged look.

  Then his mouth drifted upward in a gentle smile. She hoped he would say something to break the mood, to bring her back to reality. But instead his hand slipped to the back of her neck, his fingers teasing her hair.

  The attraction she knew had been building up between them now rose like a live thing.

  She wasn’t sure who moved first, who leaned in first, but then their lips were touching, gentle at first, then with greater urgency.

  She leaned forward to get closer to him, and a jolt of pain pulled her back. Back from the edge of the feelings and the reactions she would’ve easily fallen into.

  She released a light gasp and retreated, her hand resting on her ribs.

  He closed his eyes, lowering his head as if he didn’t dare look at her.

  Thankfully, he didn’t apologize. Instead, he pushed himself to his feet and reached down to help her up.

  Neither of them said a word as they mounted and rode back to the ranch.

  Tricia stayed in the lead, not looking back.

  Reminding herself repeatedly what a mistake this was. She had five more weeks with this guy, and she had to stick it out without letting herself get distracted. She had to learn everything she could from him so she could carry on with her own life.

  But that kiss could never happen again. She did not have the space in her life to recuperate from it.

  Her children were her priority, and she had no right to let her heart rule her head.

  That had been a mistake.

  Mason followed Tricia, trying not to keep his eyes on her. He didn’t know what had come over him when he’d kissed her.

  He forced himself to remember why he was here. His purpose. It wasn’t fair to her to let his emotions snarl, and confuse the relationship.

  The rest of the ride was quiet, and when they got to the ranch, he made quick work of unsaddling the horses and letting them go. Tricia went to the house, and Mason stayed behind, knowing he had to keep his distance.

  He didn’t stay for supper but went to town to eat instead. It was early, only five o’clock, but the cafe was already crowded.

  He found a table off in a corner to eat. But as he was sitting down, he heard his name being called. Frowning, he looked up. He knew no one in this town.

  Joe waved at him and stepped up to the counter. He ordered a latte, cracking a joke with the cute, petite woman behind it. She laughed, but even from here Mason could tell she was just being polite. As she made Joe’s latte he kept chatting her up. When he took the cup from her, he saluted and sauntered over to where Mason sat.

  “She’s adorable, isn’t she?” Joe asked as he dropped into the chair across from Mason, not even asking if he could join him. “I think I’m wearing her down with my charm.”

  Mason glanced over at Carmen, who was now serving a tall young man who wore blue jeans, a twill shirt, and a broad grin.

  And Carmen’s smile for him was nothing like the one she had given Joe.

  “I’m sure you are,” Mason said.

  “So, you not eating at the ranch?” Joe continued, not seeing the exchange between Carmen and the good-looking young man who was now leaning closer, clearly flirting with her.

  “Obviously not,” Mason said, pulling his attention back to Joe.

  “Can’t blame you. Ever since Tricia came back, it’s been kinda tense.”

&n
bsp; Mason wasn’t sure what to say to that so he just nodded as he took a drink of his water.

  The door of the cafe opened again and a man of medium height entered, glancing around the cafe. He didn’t look remarkable. Suit and tie. Styled hair. Mason would have pegged him as a lawyer or bank employee even with the beard. But it was his narrowed eyes and clenched jaw that caught Mason’s attention. That and the fact that he walked past the line-up of people, inserted himself beside the young man still flirting with Carmen, and leaned forward, his voice pitched low.

  Mason couldn’t hear what he was saying, but then Carmen pointed to their table.

  The man glanced over his shoulder and straightened. He adjusted his suit as he walked over, tugging on his shirt sleeves as if in preparation for a showdown.

  He gave them a forced smile as he stopped by their table. “Which one of you is Joe?”

  “That’d be me. Why?” Joe pushed his ball cap up and leaned back in his chair, frowning at the stranger.

  The smile grew more pronounced, and for a moment Mason thought the guy was going to sell Joe life insurance.

  “I’m trying to find the Tye ranch. The lady at the counter told me you would know how to get there.”

  Joe’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. “Why do you want to know? And who are you?”

  “Sorry.” The man held his hand out. “Name’s Perry Markham. I’m looking for Tricia Bouche. Or Tye. Not sure which one she goes by now.”

  Perry. Tricia’s old boyfriend. The one she didn’t want to talk to. The one whose name Mason had given to Roger as soon as he could.

  Mason kicked Joe under the table to catch his attention before he spoke but Joe was one step ahead of him.

  “Sorry. Mind’s not working the way it used to,” Joe said, spinning his index finger at his temple as if to show how crazy he was. “Bucked off a horse too many times.”

  “But the woman told me you worked there.”

  Joe looked at Mason, his expression neutral, but Mason caught the warning flash in his eyes.

  “I just got fired,” he said, his voice toneless. “So I’d thank you not to bring up that painful memory anymore.” He hunched over his coffee cup, showing that this interview was done.