CHAPTER TEN

 

Weston strolled across the dirt yard, the light in the windows of his house beckoning him. Since Sammie had told him about the baby, and Logan, two days ago he’d been on edge. His brothers had complained more than once that he’d been biting their heads off. He agreed. He’d been as irritated as a horse with a wasp on his ass.

He couldn’t believe he’d been so stupid as not to see there was more to the story nine years ago than Sammie simply leaving. Why had he been so stupid? Why had he overlooked the obvious? His heart ripped in two, images of her in the barn with a drunken Logan like acid to his system. Sammie was right, Weston would have wrung Logan’s neck. Hell, Lucas would have shot him. Logan had known the risk of staying in town and that was why he’d eventually taken off with a vague excuse that he’d landed a job on an oil rig. Sure, the bastard had landed a job all right, but that wasn’t the real reason he’d left the town where he’d grown up.

Weston’s hands were tied. Nothing worse than not having the control to fix something that needed fixed. But Sammie didn’t want him to fix things. She wanted things to be normal, whatever normal was these days.

He wanted to be angry with her for not telling him about the baby, even after the miscarriage. He would have been there for her, but she hadn’t wanted him around. How could he begin to understand what she must have been feeling? He had no clue.

The only thing he knew to do now was make things up to her. Help her in whatever she decided to do with Tanner Ranch.

Climbing the steps to the back porch, he strolled through the screen door and stopped. Brie was laughing from the living room. He hadn’t heard such a sweet sound in so long. Stepping over to the doorway, he peered in, finding Sammie and his daughter sitting on the floor playing a board game. Neither of them knew he was watching.

Sammie’s deep pink T-shirt fit nicely against her chest and the black running shorts had scooted high on her slender hips. Tendrils of dark hair had loosened from the long braid pulled over her shoulder. My God, how was it that she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever laid his eyes upon? Watching the scene before him, he wondered what things would have been like if she hadn’t lost the baby. What if Logan hadn’t ruined things and she’d stuck around? Would they be married now with a daughter much like Brie and living happily as husband and wife? He’d always believed that fate played a person’s hand as was fit, but what he wouldn’t give to play that hand over again.

But then there wouldn’t be Brie and that tugged at his heart.

“Daddy!” His girl jumped up from the floor and raced across the room, flailing into his arms. “You’re home!”

He picked her up and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. “Am I interrupting a fun game?”

“Yes! We’re playing Chutes and Ladders. Sammie read me a book too and we ate tacos. Why don’t we have Spanish food more often?”

“You mean Mexican? I promise we will.” He winked.

“As she’s told you, she’s eaten dinner and she’s had her bath, but I thought you wouldn’t mind if she stayed up and waited for you to get home.”

Weston brought his gaze past his daughter’s shoulder and onto the very woman who had been in his thoughts all day. “I’m sorry. I’m later than expected. What should have been a two-hour job turned into four discussing a dozen things. In the end, this Nirvana project will pay off and I can take some time off. Anyway, thank you for feeding my girl.” He expected there to be some discomfort between them, but Sammie seemed fine…more than fine, at least from his vantage point.

“We had fun, didn’t we, Brie?”

The little girl nodded dramatically. “We did each other’s hair and nails. Look, daddy! Do you like her braid? I did it!” Brie could barely contain her excitement.

“I do. It’s pretty.”

Brie giggled. “Can she come back, daddy. Can she? Can she?”

“I’m okay with her coming back as long as she’s okay with helping.” He caught Sammie’s gaze just before he lowered Brie to the floor.

“Of course. I did make a promise that we would make s’mores the next time I come,” Sammie smiled and her eyes lit up.

“Then you will see her soon. I wouldn’t want to stand in the way of s’mores making. Brie, why don’t you run upstairs and brush your teeth and I’ll be up shortly to tuck you in.”  He kissed her on the forehead.

“Will you read me Charlotte’s Web?”

“Yes, I’ll read to you, but only a few pages. It’s late.” He smiled.

She raced up the stairs and the pitter-pattering of her feet echoed all the way down the hall.

“Thank you again for staying so late.”

She shrugged. “It was my pleasure. It kept me from being at home. Daddy goes to bed early and then I’m left twiddling my thumbs.”

“I just don’t want you to feel as if I’m taking advantage of your time.” Why was he so damn nervous, and apologetic?

“Wes, stop apologizing. This is what we agreed to. She really is a wonderful child. You’ve done a wonderful job raising her.”

He shrugged. “My brothers have helped. She has managed to wrap all of us around her tiny fingers.”

“One little lady among all you men, I’m sure she did.” Her skin was glowing. She looked over at the clock on the mantel. “I should be leaving. It’s getting late and I’m sure you’ll want to get her into bed.” She slid her feet into the flip flops sitting by the couch.

He wanted to say something, anything to get her to stay a while longer, but what would he use as an excuse? He couldn’t very well ask her to stay because he craved her company. His mind was still reeling when she stopped at the front door and waved at him.

“Sammie…?”

“Yes?” She looked up at him.

They were standing so close that he could feel the warmth from her body. His hand turned clammy. “See you in the morning?”

“Yeah. I’ll be there with bells on.”

“Boots will do just fine.”

She smiled and left.

He inhaled sharply, catching the bit of her amazing scent lingering in the air.

“Daddy? Are you coming?” Brie yelled from at the top of the stairs.

“Coming now. Hold your horses.”

 

*****

Up at dawn, with a thermos of coffee in hand, Sammie made her way down to the stables. She wasn’t sure why she was so happy this morning because nothing had really changed in her situation, but there was a new peace in her.

Just as she’d suspected he would be, Wes was already in the barn. He stood next to a beautiful black gelding, smoothing his hand down the horse’s back as he reached for something in his pocket. She realized it was a slice of apple. The horse gently took it from his open palm. She enjoyed watching how Wes was very affectionate with the horse. There was certainly a bond between man and beast.

Her skin tingled as she imagined him giving her the same treatment.

West raised his head and met her gaze. “Good morning.” He tipped his hat and grabbed the horse’s reins.

“He’s beautiful.”

“Yeah, this is Brownie.”

“Brownie?” She laughed.

“Brie named him.”

“If you say so,” she teased.

“I rode him over this morning because I’m going to have the hands ride out with me to the east pasture to check the cattle for pink eye and foot rot. I figured you’d want to go too.”

“Really?” His invitation caught her off guard.

“Of course. It’ll do you good to see how things are handled around a ranch.” He smiled and his dimples deepened. Damn, she had a hankering to kiss those beautiful, smiling lips, but she needed to control herself. He was the best sex she’d ever had, but she didn’t plan to find out if he still had the moves.

Inhaling, she forced her eyes to the horse and nuzzled his head. “I’d love to go out with you all. Give me a minute and I’ll saddle up one of the horses.”

“No worries, Sammie. I’ve already taken care of it for you,” Braise said as he stepped in. “That pretty mare you’ve had your eye on is waiting for you outside. Lucas is on the gelding.”

She had been sipping her coffee when she heard the words and she almost choked. “Daddy is out here?”

Braise nodded. “He was out here before I made it.”

“I’m shocked.”

“Well, drink up, girly, and come on. I remember the girl who never turned down a ride into the pasture.”

“Thank you, Braise.”

She followed Wes as he led his horse through the door and her gaze naturally followed his broad back in the tight fitting black T-shirt and his buns in Wranglers. She had an urge to whistle through her teeth, but that would cross a boundary and have a few people talking.

Outside, she found Louisa and ran her hand down the horse’s rump as she rounded to her left side. The horse waved her dark tail happily and shifted restlessly. “You know what the saddles for, don’t you, girl?” She petted the horse’s head, scratching her behind one ear.

“She’s as gentle as they come,” Lucas said as he climbed atop his gelding and rode to the group of hands waiting.

“Where have you been all my life, Louisa” Sammie whispered. She had missed this more than she realized. Sliding her foot into the stirrup, she pulled herself up into the soft leather saddle and took the reins in her fist. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Lucas watching her, a scowl in its usual place on his lips. When she rode toward the pack, he nodded in her direction as they took off toward the pasture.

“Your father and the hands will go out to the west pasture, and you, Braise, and I will take care of the east pasture. This way, we’ll get done quicker.”

“Is this a routine check for diseases or did they find a sick cow?” she asked once they were in the pasture.

“Braise found a cow yesterday morning with pink eye who’d been cooling off in the pond. We check often for these illnesses because they happen naturally, but because you’re shy of enough hands the routine checks don’t happen as often as they should. We want to catch any diseases or illnesses as soon as possible and hopefully before they can spread to the other cattle. I’ve known ranchers to lose a hundred cattle over one overlooked sick heifer.” Wes rode next to her and she wondered why he wasn’t leading the way. Did he feel it necessary to stay by her side?

“Where’s the sick cow you found, Braise?”

“Being taken care of and treated with antibiotics. Presley Dean will keep a close eye on her,” he answered.

“Presley is the new vet? What happened to her daddy?”

“He retired,” Wes said.

“I must say, I’m glad to see my daddy didn’t send you packing this morning,” she said as she looked into the sun slowly rising, turning the land into bright green.

“I think he doesn’t have to like me being here, but he must realize this is for the best. Seeing him out here proves a point. He’s willing to do his part.”

“I don’t think it’s you that he doesn’t want here.” She sighed.

“Give him some time. Some people need a little more time to wrap their head around how things are. By the way, Brie couldn’t stop talking about you last night. Took me almost all night to get her to fall asleep.”

“She is such an intelligent little girl.”

Braise rode ahead. He understood the need for Sammie and Wes to talk.

He moved his jaw as if he had something to say, but debated whether he should. Finally, with a sigh of determination, he shrugged. “This is a whole new layer between us and I’m not sure what’s appropriate or wrong to say, but do you think about our child? What he or she would have been like? What it would be like to be a mother? You must because you said you want another chance for a baby.”

She glanced at his profile. “There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think about what things would have been like had Logan not…” She couldn’t finish, not wanting to muddy up the conversation talking about what the coward had done. “Anyway, yes, I would like a baby.”

“I can’t help but wonder myself.” He tipped his hat back and looked toward the sky.

“I certainly have learned a respect for each day and the things that we’re blessed with.”

“That’s something we all should have,” the deep, rich tone of his voice sent shivers spiraling through her.

Sammie looked over at him and his smoky blue gaze was on her, nailing her with an intensity that seeped warm honey through her veins. She was both excited and angry at the onslaught of sensations in her body. She couldn’t believe how much she still wanted him.

“Watch for snakes. We’ve been seeing a lot of them lately. Must be the weather.”

She shivered. “I hate snakes.”

“I know you do.”

He rode ahead by a horse’s length as if to end any conversation with her. She followed behind relaxing in the saddle and the gentle lulling. Her gaze automatically drifted back to Wes and his broad shoulders and how skilled he was in the saddle. Ranching was in his blood.

“There they are.” He pointed.

They found the first group of cattle just over the ridge munching on grass. Wes and Braise took off at a cantor toward the cattle. She clicked her tongue and squeezed her knees and Louisa followed. The horse responded easily to her commands, which she hadn’t doubted she would. From the moment, she’d laid eyes on the mare, she’d known she was special and Sammie ached to breed her.

“There’s a straggler,” Wes said.

“She also has a limp,” Sammie added.

“I’ll grab her.” Wes turned his horse and headed in the direction of the cow who was a bit of a distance behind the herd. Sammie followed along, watching as he slid his rope from his shoulder and slipped it into a loose lasso as he prepared to wrangle the cow. His arm muscle coiled as he twirled the rope high above his head, let it go and the rope glided around the cow’s neck. She mooed and fought, but he was very gentle as he took her down. Braise was already out of his saddle, helping soothe the agitated cow.

“You got her from here, Braise?” Wes asked.

“I’ll radio and have Bernie come pick her up in the trailer. Looks like she might have the beginnings of foot rot.”

“We’ll ride ahead and check out the rest of the livestock,” Wes said, looping his rope back over his shoulder.

Alone with him now, Sammie watched him slowly round the herd, skillfully examining the cattle from his saddle. She knew he had an eye for anything out of the norm and could spot it easily. She enjoyed watching him work, how his large hands held the reins and the way his muscles coiled in his arms. Sweat beaded between her breasts that even the slight cool breeze couldn’t ease. He dismounted then and moved through the herd, inspecting them closer.

He climbed back into the saddle, circled the herd, and came back to her. “Looks like the rest are okay. I want to ride ahead a little farther to make sure we have no more stragglers and survey the land for poisonous plants. Want to come along?”

“Do you really have to ask?” She couldn’t think of anything she wanted more than to stay beside him.

“I have a friend who will buy a hundred head of livestock if you’re interested in selling some of the cattle.” He gave her a look over his shoulder.

“Didn’t you say that was for the best?”

“You’re in charge right now so the buck stops with you. Now that you have more hands temporarily, selling isn’t as necessary, at least from my point of view unless you need the money.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Have you mentioned this to daddy?”

“You’re the one who asked me to help and that’s what I’m doing. It’s between you and Lucas what you do from there. There comes a point that you two stubborn asses need to communicate.” He clicked his tongue and the gelding took off in a cantor.

She kicked her horse lightly and took off after him. “Thanks for the advice, but as you’ve seen, talking to him is like teasing a bull.”

“Hurt people hurt others.”

His point was valid.

They came upon the pond and he dismounted, tying off his reins to an old fence post. Sammie’s bottom was aching and her thighs were stinging. Although she could still ride, her body reminded her it had been years since she’d been in a saddle. Sliding out, she tied off the horse on another post.

“Let’s take a walk.” Wes placed his hand on the small of her back and they walked toward the edge of the pond. The light touch sent ripples of delight and intense awareness up and down her spine, nestling into her bottom. Holy crap! He played her body like a harp.

“I’d like to take you to dinner,” he said a few minutes later.

She smiled. “That came out of nowhere.”

“Not really.” His thumb was making circles on her back and the heat burnt her skin. He had no clue what he was doing to her. “We really haven’t sat down and caught up.”

“I think we did a lot of catching up in the stables.”

“That’s not the same.”

“Are you asking me to dinner because you feel sorry for me?” She couldn’t stand to have his pity.

He turned to face her, his gaze narrowed. “No. I’m asking because I want to take you out. No funny business.”

“Well, if there’s no funny business than what good is that?”

One brow cocked under the brim of his hat. “Just a simple dinner between old friends.”

Old friends? Her chest dropped. She wasn’t sure why it affected her that he called her “old friend” but it did. “I guess it wouldn’t hurt. We could discuss business.”

“Again, that’s not why I’m asking.”

She shrugged. “Alright, let’s have dinner. At the diner?”

He chuckled. “I know a place just outside of town that serves a damn good steak.” He must have realized his blunder just as soon as the words were out because he winced. “And they serve fish and pasta. But if you’d like something else…”

“No, I don’t mind. But what about Brie? I am supposed to watch her this evening.”

“Harley called earlier and asked if she’d like to spend the night with her and Penn, and of course, Brie jumped at the chance. I’m free tonight.”

She wasn’t sure why those words invented naughty thoughts.