Cowboy State of Mind (Tarnation, Texas Book 4)

by Rhonda Lee Carver

“Are you sure? Apparently he doesn’t think so.”

  “You’ve had a rough day and I can tell you’re angry. Don’t allow your jealousy to make you believe things that aren’t there.”

  “Jealousy? Of that bastard? I just can’t believe you’re defending him?”

  “No, I’m not defending him because I don’t need to. I know him, Adam. He was drunk and upset, but not violent.”

  “If Rob’s visit was out of hurt then why didn’t you mention it to me?”

  “I told you I had forgotten.” She turned her gaze onto the firefighters as they packed up.

  “You should have told me.”

  “And what? You would have hunted him down and given him a warning?” She smiled but seeing his grim expression she sighed. “That isn’t necessary. I’ve been taking care of myself for a long time and I can still manage.” How did things suddenly start to spiral downward between them? She understood he had a lot on his mind, but she didn’t think it was fair to blame someone for something he couldn’t have done.

  “CC! I came as fast as I could.”

  Cady came jogging toward them. They hugged and when Cady pulled back, she said, “Oh my gosh. What happened?”

  “They’re not sure. They need to investigate.”

  “They think someone might have started it,” Adam added.

  “What? Someone set fire to your building?” Cady’s eyes widened.

  CC gave Adam a quick glance. “We don’t know the details, but it’s suspected. Sheriff Bash said it’s possible but don’t worry.”

  “Don’t worry? I’m your sister. It’s my job to worry. You can’t stay here.”

  “Yes, I can and will. The house is fine.”

  “But it’s unsafe. Right, Adam?” Cady looked for him to support her theory.

  When Adam didn’t answer, CC groaned. “No, it’s not your job to worry, Cady. I’m a grown woman capable of taking care of myself. I’ve been doing a pretty damn good job of it, if you haven’t noticed.”

  “Relax. I’m here to help,” Cady assured her.

  Breathing in and releasing, she didn’t want to get upset. However, at some point she needed Cady to stop treating her like she was a fragile child just because she had CKD.

  “Adam, I’ll be fine. Cady is here now. You should go back to Grinning Spurs in case you get word from Ash.” She saw the hesitation in his gaze and appreciated it, but she wanted to process this all alone. “I’ll be fine.”

  Chapter 17

  AFTER LEAVING CC last night, Adam had gone home and tossed and turned most of the night. Ash still wasn’t home and something ate through Adam like acid.

  And that’s why he drove to the university where Rob taught.

  In all honesty, Adam didn’t know if the other man was behind the fire, but there was a possibility for everything.

  What it came down to it, CC was his wife and it irked Adam to think of Rob coming in and making her uncomfortable. By the time Adam left there today, he and Rob would have a valuable understanding. He’d no longer visit CC, and if Adam suspected even in the slightest that the professor had anything to do with the fire, he’d be behind bars before sunset.

  Sliding out of his truck, Adam strolled up the long walkway into the double glass doors. The young woman sitting behind the receptionist desk happily eating a slice of pepperoni pizza looked up and blushed three shades red. She dropped the pizza onto a paper plate and dragged her ear buds out of her ears. “Hi.” She smiled and clumsily swiped the back of her hand across her mouth to wipe away crumbs. “Can I help you, sir?” she asked around her mouthful.

  “Hi there. I’m looking for Professor….” He realized he had no clue what the man’s last name was. “Rob.”

  “Oh, okay. I know who you mean.” Did her cheeks flood with red? “Just a second. Let me look.” She tapped away at the computer keyboard then said, “He has a class until ten thirty.”

  “Is it okay if I wait for him?”

  “Sure, but I’d suggest you wait outside of his office. I’ll write down the office number for you.” She jotted it down and handed over the Sticky Note.

  “Thank you. You’ve been a big help.” Dipping his hat, he swore he heard the girl giggle as he followed the hallway, then took the stairs two at a time. Checking the numbers to the rooms, he strolled down another hall that led him to the office door at the end of the corridor. Two chairs were situated outside of the closed door, and he took one, dragging his phone out and scrolling through to see if he had any missed messages. Unfortunately, he hadn’t heard from CC yet. He had a feeling she was angry with him for his behavior last night. The second he saw her, he would apologize for his anger, but she might be spurred again once she found out he paid her ex a visit. Not only did Adam realize and respect that CC was an independent woman, there was a time and place when a man, a husband, needed to step up and protect the people he cared for. Rob was a piece of shit who needed to stay far away from CC. Adam didn’t want to break Rob’s jaw, but there needed to be clarification that if he ever laid a hand on CC again, Adam couldn’t make any promises

  He didn’t want to make CC upset, but he also couldn’t move on without making sure her ex understood how a man was supposed to treat a woman.

  He typed a message to Arc

  “Any word about Ash?”

  “When will you be home?” Arc answered.

  Adam texted, “I had to take care of something. I’ll be home before long.”

  Dropping his phone back into his pocket, he checked his watch. Ten minutes.

  Closing his eyes, minutes later he heard a man and woman’s from down the hall. Rob and the woman came into view, but neither had noticed that they weren’t alone.

  “I think we might need to take care of this in my office.” Rob threaded his fingers in the blonde’s hair. “I think your theory is fascinating.”

  “You do?” The girl couldn’t be a day over twenty. “I really want that A. I’m willing to do anything I can to bring my grade up. You’re such an amazing professor.”

  “I’m sure we can think of something.” Rob motioned for her to follow him down the hall.

  The young lady noticed Adam first. She squeaked in surprise and touched Rob’s arm to let him know they weren’t alone.

  “Shit!” Rob blurted, laughed, then it fizzled when he realized who was sitting in the chair. He ran a hand over his thinning blonde locks.

  Adam stood. “Rob. Imagine seeing you again.”

  “What are you doing here?”

  “We need to talk,” Adam growled.

  “This is outside of office hours,” Rob said. “They don’t start for another hour.”

  “I guess if I was wearing a skirt the door would always be open.” Adam made no effort to hide his dislike for the man.

  The girl’s face flushed and she averted her gaze.

  Rob’s tan faded some. “Excuse me?”

  Adam didn’t have the time for games. He turned his attention to the girl who leaned unsteadily against the wall as if she didn’t know whether to run or pass out. “Listen, if I were you, I’d go find a guy your own age because what Rob wants isn’t worth the A, not even a B.”

  The girl looked at Rob then back at Adam, her eyes wide and her mouth wider. She took several steps backward. “I-I should go. I just remembered I have something to do.” She retraced her steps, faster this time.

  Rob’s mouth thinned. “Look, I don’t know who you think you are, but I had a meeting with that student. You can’t barge in here like this.”

  “I’m sure you did have a meeting, but right now, you have an unscheduled meeting with me.”

  “You need to schedule an appointment with the office.” He brushed passed Adam, unlocked the door, but he stayed behind him. Rob narrowed his gaze. “What did I tell you?”

  “I thought I heard you say you’d make an exception this one time.”

  With an agitated sigh, Rob dropped his briefcase on the floor, removed a stack of books from a chair for Adam then
sat down behind his desk. “Make it quick. I’m working.”

  Adam didn’t bother sitting. He leaned over the desk, his hands planted against the wood. “CC’s clinic burnt down last night.”

  Several expressions flickered across his face. “My God. Is she okay?” His thick, unkempt brows scrunched together.

  “Yes.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that, I am, but what does this have to do with me?” He shuffled some papers.

  “Where were you?”

  He blinked. “Where was I?” He offered a shaky laugh. “Why does it matter?”

  “Just curious.”

  “Are you suggesting that I had something to do with the fire?”

  Adam shrugged. “Well, you did show up drunk and angry not too long ago.”

  Three heartbeats later and Rob finally showed some panic. “Yeah, I was drunk and not on my best behavior, but I wasn’t violent. Never have been.”

  “You grabbed her arm—”

  He blew out a breath and rubbed his sweaty forehead. “I didn’t hurt her. I was caught up in emotions and—”

  “You thought you’d lay your hand on her. Make her feel uncomfortable?”

  “It’s not how you’re making it out to be. I screwed up by going there to see her, but I wouldn’t hurt her, ever, and I most certainly wouldn’t damage her property,” he stammered.

  “How about you tell me where you were then.” Adam leaned closer.

  With a sigh, he turned to the laptop sitting on his desk, tapped a few keys then moved it for Adam to see. “My schedule. I was in class until ten and then I had a dinner meeting.”

  After reading the schedule several times, Adam eased back some.

  “I think you owe me an apology.” Rob dropped back into his chair, some of the arrogance returned.

  “I don’t owe you shit. However, I’ll give you a bit of free advice. Stay away from my wife.”

  “Y-your wife?” He looked like he could have melted into the leather of the chair.

  “That’s right. My wife. We’re married now.”

  “I-I didn’t know.” Rob removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes. “Whatever you might think about me, I do care for her. A part of me will always care about her wellbeing.”

  Although Adam didn’t feel a bit of remorse for the man, he did believe him. “Listen, one day your luck is going to run out and your days of fucking around with your students will come to an end. From one man to another, or rather one man to a coward, try and find someone your own age. You might actually enjoy it.”

  Adam turned and stormed out of the office. He still didn’t like the man.

  In the parking lot, he climbed into his truck and checked his phone. He’d missed a text from CC. Dialing her number, she answered on the first ring.

  “Where are you?” she asked.

  “I’m leaving the University.” He wouldn’t lie.

  “Exactly. Why?”

  “I needed to speak face to face with him. Don’t worry, I didn’t mess up his pretty face.”

  Her exasperated sigh vibrated the phone. “He called me less than two minutes ago. He told me you threatened him.”

  Adam squeezed the phone until he heard the plastic crack. “I didn’t threaten him, not exactly. I told him to stay away from you.”

  “I didn’t need you to do that. I already told you that he didn’t start the fire. Did you even hear what I said?” The accusatory tone of her voice broke through him. She wasn’t defending Rob. She just wanted to be heard as she deserved to be.

  “He’s an asshole. Any man his age who’d use young girls is a dickwad. I won’t apologize for that.”

  “I don’t need you to fight my battles with him. We’ve been over for a long time.”

  “I’m not fighting your battles. I’m being protective,” he corrected.

  “That’s interesting. You want to be protective then maybe you should have come here to see me instead of driving all the way to speak to Rob. If you would have come, then you’d know that Rob definitely didn’t start the fire. One of the cameras caught a shot of a man on my property. They were able to identify him. He was picked up and had confessed this morning. He needed money and thought he’d find some in the building. He cut his hand on glass and because he was afraid he left behind fingerprints he started the fire.”

  “Okay, Rob’s innocent of the fire.”

  “Here’s a question for you. When do you plan on telling your brothers that we’re married?”

  “We agreed to wait—”

  “We did, but you’ve had time since.” There was a long silence. “Look, I don’t want to nag you about this. I guess I’m just tired. We’ll talk later. For now, I’m at the Sheriff’s office writing a report.”

  She clicked off and Adam dropped his phone in the console.

  He was still dumbfounded an hour later when he walked into the house and found Baxter and Brennan sitting at the table in the kitchen. “Please tell me you’ve heard something.”

  “Arc went to get him. Time is running out.”

  Pulling out a chair, Adam dropped into the wood. “Where is he?”

  Baxter’s expression turned bleak. “Apparently, Ash had hired a PI to find Corbin’s mom, something about having her sign papers. That’s been forty-eight hours ago. None of us had a clue that he was gone.”

  Brennan pressed his palms on the table. “There’s a lot more. You’re going to want a drink for this. At least, I know I could use one.”

  Chapter 18

  ADAM TOSSED BACK the whiskey, in disbelief at what he was hearing.

  “Corbin isn’t our nephew? He’s our brother?” he repeated the words as if they were a foreign language.

  “Yeah, that’s what Ash told Arc.” Baxter poured himself another shot glass of the amber liquid. “Corbin’s mother was a horse trainer here at the ranch. I don’t know all the details but at some point she and Buzz had a relationship. When she got sick, she needed to figure out Corbin’s future. That’s where Ash comes into the picture.”

  “But why Ash?”

  “Hell if I know.” Baxter emptied his glass.

  “Wow.” Adam propped his elbows on his knees, trying to absorb the bit of news. “Why isn’t he home?”

  “Corbin’s mother passed away an hour ago.” Brennan eased his chair onto two legs. “Ash said he wouldn’t leave her alone.”

  Baxter swiped his hand across his mouth and passed the bottle to his right to Brennan, who didn’t drink but set it on the table. “What are we going to tell Robins?”

  “Nothing at the moment,” Adam said.

  “So Buzz had no clue about Corbin? If he had he wouldn’t have left him out of the will.” Adam stared into his empty glass.

  “Apparently not. Ol’ Robins will be shocked too. This’ll certainly turn things upside down.”

  Adam looked at Baxter. “If Robins knows Ash isn’t here, we’ll all be fucked.”

  “Wouldn’t he understand under the circumstances?” Brennan asked.

  “We might have to trust him. Corbin is a brother. He deserves a part of what we’re all getting,” Adam muttered. “It’s a risk, but I don’t know how much longer we can cover up Ash’s absence. Robins will want word by evening.”

  “I vote we come clean with Robins. After all, it ain’t our fault Buzz had a lover who got pregnant and then left her kid on our doorstep. And it certainly ain’t Corbin’s fault.”

  After hearing Brennan’s suggestion, Adam stood. “Where’s Corbin?”

  “Upstairs with Abriella.”

  “I’m going to go check on him,” Adam took the stairs two at a time. In the bedroom, Abriella was asleep in a chair and Corbin was in the crib they’d set up for the boy. Staring down at the baby, Adam smiled. Never in his wildest dreams would he have believed he’d have a baby brother.

  “Hi, Adam.” Abriella stretched in the chair. “He’s been asleep for a while. Some news that you have a baby brother, huh?”

  “After coming to Tarnation, I’m re
alizing anything’s possible.”

  Abriella got up and patted his back. “With a brother that darn cute, who can complain? I’m going downstairs.” As if on cue, Corbin’s eyes fluttered open and he cooed. “Well, I thought I was.”

  “I’ll stay with him,” Adam volunteered.

  “Sure. That’d be great. I’ll go make his bottle.”

  “Abriella, I have no idea what to do.”

  “Don’t worry. He’s a baby, not a cyborg. If you get too overwhelmed call me. I’ll come running.”

  Once she was gone, he looked down at the fellow. He looked so at ease, so at peace. Adam’s heart sunk. Not only would the child be without a father, but now his mother was gone too.

  Every child deserved a family.

  Just as a child born to CC and Adam deserved the best life had to offer.

  A mother and father who loved each other.

  “I’ve been stupid, Corbin.”

  The baby’s eyes widened as if he knew what Adam was saying.

  “I love her. With all my heart. I was stupid to sign an agreement when I want to spend my life with her.”

  Corbin whimpered.

  “Come here, little man.” He picked the baby up and carried him to the rocker.

  Adam had to wonder if Buzz would have been a better father to Corbin. Adam wanted to believe so. He wanted to believe with all his heart that with age his father had realized responsibility.

  “Don’t be like me, buddy. When you fall for a girl tell her. Don’t let a moment pass without revealing your heart, even if there’s a chance she won’t feel the same.” Adam would waste no more time. The second he saw CC, he would tell her everything that was in his heart.

  “I’m going to have to spend more time with you, buddy. Well I don’t have to. I want too. There’s a lot you don’t know about us Colts. We stick together.” As if Corbin understood he made a sound in his throat. “I didn’t know Buzz either. I was young when he left, and any memory I had long faded. But the good news is, you have me. You have four other brothers who’ll make sure you have everything you need.”

  He held Corbin in his arms, feeling a little more confident. “Consider yourself lucky that you aren’t forced into getting married like the rest of us. I got hitched. It was the right thing to do.” Adam had no clue why CC still hadn’t told him about her having CKD. Did she not trust him? He would be with her no matter what the future held. “Sure, I made the decision to agree to having a baby because of her disease.” But he didn’t plan on falling in love with her. Now he couldn’t let her go.