Lila danced around the café with the broom to Gretchen Wilson’s “Redneck Woman.” The singer asked for a big hell, yeah, from the redneck girls like her and the broom turned into a microphone. From then on, Lila lip-synced the rest of the song and then hit the replay button on her phone so she could get the message out there to the whole empty café.
The beat was still pounding in her ears as she two-stepped the broom back to the kitchen, where she kept it in one hand and loaded a tray with ice cream toppings with the other. In a few minutes, Kasey and the kids were coming for an ice cream party and she’d looked forward to the evening all week.
She carried the tray to the dining room and set it on a table that she’d covered with a red and white checkered cloth. She wanted it to be a real party for the kids and for Kasey.
It had been a crazy week. On Monday, Brody had come into the café, had a glass of lemonade, and didn’t even get to drink it before he got a call from the ranch about fencing. On Wednesday he dropped by again but didn’t even get to sit down before Jace phoned saying that they needed six more rolls of barbed wire, so he turned around and left. On Thursday a florist brought a single red rose with a pretty white ribbon around it. The note said: Welcome home. Brody. Molly was fit to be tied when she put the rose in a pint jar.
“I’m tellin’ you that you’re on the road to heartache,” Molly fussed.
“All over a single rose?” Lila asked.
“Just that much will bring Hope and Valerie out gunnin’ for you,” Molly had said.
“I’m not a kid anymore. I’ll take them on,” she’d answered.
He didn’t come around at all on Friday but Kasey had called that morning to see if she and the kids could come to the café for ice cream about six-thirty that evening. Lila had been so excited all day, just thinking about reading to the kids. She went back to the kitchen and placed five crystal boat dishes on a tray. The last time they’d been used was probably for her sixteenth birthday but they’d only needed two that night—one for her and one for her mother. She heard doors slamming and hurried back to the kitchen to bring out four flavors of ice cream. She hummed all the way back into the dining room.
The door flew open and Emma’s short little legs were a blur as she ran across the floor to meet her, but Rustin stood back close to Brody’s side. Lila stopped so fast that the cartons of ice cream started to slide and it took some fancy footwork to keep them steady. Even blinking a dozen times didn’t magically turn Brody into Kasey.
“Hey, Lila. Kasey got one of her migraines about thirty minutes ago.” He lowered his voice. “I can’t stand to see Emma disappointed. So I hope you don’t mind getting me instead?”
For the first time in many years, Lila was totally speechless. He looked like he was afraid she was going to kick him out of the café. And she wanted to set the tray on the table, hug him, and assure him that it was fine.
“Thank you for bringing them and of course it’s all right. I couldn’t disappoint that precious child either.” Her voice finally came out hollow and slightly breathless. “Emma says her favorite is strawberry. What’s yours, Rustin?”
“Chocolate.” He crawled up in a chair, pulled a napkin free of the dispenser, and tucked it into the neck of his T-shirt. “We already had our baths and Mama said not to get all messy.”
Rustin’s dark hair still had a few droplets of water hanging on it. Emma’s braids were damp and Silas’s blond curls kinked all over his head. She could never deny the kids, or herself either for that matter, the party—even if Brody was there.
“I bet Silas likes chocolate with whipped cream on top, right?” Lila reached for the baby and he didn’t even hesitate before holding out his little arms.
“He loves anything chocolate.” Brody’s arm brushed across hers in the transfer. The tension, sparks, and heat were so steamy that it was a pure miracle the ice cream didn’t melt.
“I’ll get a booster for Emma and a high chair for Silas,” Brody said.
“Bananas!” Emma peered over the top of the table.
“Whipped cream and cherries. Yummy.” Rustin rubbed his tummy. “This is the bestest party ever.”
Emma poked a finger in his shoulder. “Lila is my friend, not yours.”
“I’ll be everyone’s friend.” Lila settled Silas into the high chair that Brody brought from the far end of the café.
“Everyone’s? Does that include the ones that are too old for free ice cream?” Brody set the booster in a chair and then helped Emma into it.
“Depends on lots of things,” she answered.
“I don’t need a booster anymore,” Rustin said. “I’m a big kid and someday I’m going to stink just like Uncle Brody.”
Lila locked eyes with Brody. The toughest cowboy in the whole state of Texas was blushing.
“Sometimes Uncle Brody stinks,” Emma whispered, and her little nose twitched. “You don’t stink. You smell good, like Mama’s perfume when she’s gettin’ all pretty. Uncle Brody took a bath, so he don’t stink no more, either.”
“Man, she talks plain,” Lila said.
“Since the day she said her first word. She has to keep pace with Rustin.” Brody chuckled. “But she’s right. You do smell really good. And this cowboy refuses to let us feed him anymore.” He pulled a bib from his hip pocket and fastened it around the baby’s neck. “Can I help with anything, Miss Lila?”
“I’ll scoop and you can put on the toppings,” she answered. “Let’s start with Silas.”
The baby pointed to the container of chocolate as soon as she opened it.
“He’s gotten real definite in what he likes and doesn’t. Anything that has orange flavor isn’t his thing,” Brody said.
“Must run in the family.” She dipped out a big round scoop of ice cream and put it in one of the fancy dishes.
Their eyes met over the table.
“I still don’t,” he whispered. “Surprised that you remembered that detail.”
“Like I told you.” She tapped her forehead with a forefinger. “I remember everything.”
“Banana?” she asked.
The baby nodded several times.
“Whipped cream?”
He shook his head.
“Guess he really does know what he likes.”
“Uncle Brody don’t like whipped cream neither and he don’t eat the white stuff on chocolate pie,” Rustin said. “Mama says that Silas is just like him but I don’t think he’ll stink as bad as I will when I’m a cowboy. I get to haul hay when I’m ten and I’d like a banana and whipped cream and two cherries on top and some of that chocolate syrup.”
“And I just want plain old strawberry. And a banana to eat all by itself,” Emma said. “These dishes sure are fancy.”
“My mama used them for special times.” Lila filled the dishes and slid them across the table for Brody to do the rest.
“So tonight is special?” Brody asked.
“Anytime I can spend an hour with three kids falls into that category. What can I get for you?” she asked.
“I thought free ice cream was only for kids under twelve,” he drawled.
“Rules change when the place is officially closed.” If someone had told her a month ago that she’d be spending a Friday evening with Brody and three kids in her café, she’d have thought they were certifiably insane.
“Double dip of vanilla with caramel topping and a layer of nuts over that,” he said. “Next to pumpkin pie, this is my favorite dessert.”
She dug down deep into the container and heaped each scoop.
“What are you having?” he asked as he poured caramel on the top of his ice cream.
“One of each,” she answered as she fixed her sundae. “With whipped cream and nuts and a cherry for each flavor.”
Rustin grabbed his forehead. “Too much. Too cold.”
Lila felt the same way. Too much Brody but not too cold. Much too hot. She rushed over to the counter and filled a pitcher with tap water, and took it back to the table with a stack of unbreakable glasses.
Filling a glass half full, she handed it to the child. “Drink this and it will get better real quick.”
He tipped it up and swallowed several times before he set it down. “That’s magic water.” He grinned.
“I want magic,” Emma declared.
“She can’t let Rustin get a step ahead of her,” Brody said in a low voice.
His whisper was every bit as sexy as his deep Texas drawl. If a doctor could invent a pill to take care of that crazy infatuation called first love, he could sell it for a fortune and retire with enough money to buy a remote island.
Lila poured water into a glass and gave it to Emma. Brody reached into the diaper bag and brought out a sippy cup and handed it to her. She was careful not to touch his fingertips but that didn’t keep the electricity between them from sparking. When was that doctor going to get busy and create those pills?
Brody kicked back in a booth where he could see Lila reading the second book to the kids. She was even more adorable sitting on the floor covered in kids than she’d been with that dollop of chocolate stuck to her lip a few minutes before. He’d wanted to lick it away with a kiss but—there always seemed to be a lot of buts in his roller coaster of relationships with Lila.
Rustin sat on one side, and Emma and Silas had both managed to crawl into her lap. Were all the men in the states where she’d lived total idiots?
His phone vibrated in his back pocket. His sister’s picture appeared on the screen and he hit the button to answer. “We’re on the second story, so we’ll be home soon. Are you feeling better?”
“Are the kids behaving? Better yet, are you?” Kasey asked.
“We’re all having a great time. They’ll be full of sugar and want to tell you about it as soon as we get home,” he said.
“Good. I’m going to lie right here on the sofa until you get here.”
“Need anything?”
“Not a thing,” Kasey said. “Tell Lila thank you.”
He stole long glances at Lila. Those could be their three kids in her lap if he’d done the right thing that last night like he should have.
Silas crawled out of Lila’s lap and toddled over to where Brody was sitting and raised his arms. Brody got out of the booth and took the little guy into his arms. Someday he was going to have a house full of kids just like these three. Kids who would snuggle down into his chest like this and a wife who was willing to sit on the floor and read to them like Lila did.
“I think it’s getting close to bedtime for this little guy. We should be going. Rustin and Emma?”
“Thank you.” Rustin threw his arms around Lila’s neck. “I like it that you can be my friend too. When I’m a big cowboy, I’m going to dance with you.”
“I’m going to remind you of that when you’re a big cowboy.” Lila grinned.
Brody was jealous of his nephew for putting that twinkle in her eyes. Granny Hope said that you can’t fool kids or dogs. But Brody Dawson was living proof that idiot cowboys were a different matter.
Emma yawned. “Me and you can paint fingernails and chase butterflies.”
“I’d like that.” Lila hugged her. “Maybe next time your mama will feel better and can come with y’all.”
Emma laid her head on Lila’s shoulder. “You will sit by me at the rodeo.”
“We’ve taken enough of Miss Lila’s time, kids.” Brody offered his free hand to help Lila get to her feet.
To his surprise, she didn’t shake her head but put her hand in his. “Thank you for bringing them. It’s been a lovely evening.”
Rustin craned his neck back to look up at her. “It’s not a rodeo. It’s a bull riding and Uncle Brody and Uncle Jace are going to ride in it. I’m goin’ to win the sheep ridin’.”
“I bet you will,” Lila said. “Do you have sheep out on Hope Springs?”
“No, but Uncle Brody and Uncle Jace made me a ridin’ thing that they pull the ropes and it tries to buck me off. I’ll be ready,” Rustin answered.
Brody threw the diaper bag over his shoulder and headed for the door. “Well, we have to get out of here or your mama will send all the hired hands out to look for us.”
“So you’re ridin’? When?” Lila asked.
“Tomorrow night but it’s not a big thing. Just a bunch of us local guys havin’ some fun and the admission fees all go to a family between here and Tulia who lost their home in a fire last week.”
“And you clearly don’t want me sittin’ with Emma,” she said.
“I don’t care where you sit,” he said. “If you do want to go, it’s five dollars at the gate and there will be a few vendors selling stuff.”
Lila took a step forward into his space. “Still don’t want to be seen in public with me, do you?”
“I won’t even be in the stands. I’ll either be riding or helping out with the chutes,” he argued. “And I’d say that the rose I sent would let everyone know that I didn’t care what they thought.”
“Thank you for the rose, but, Brody, this isn’t my home. I’m just passing through for a few weeks to help my mama sell this place.” She caught his gaze and refused to blink.
“You’re very welcome, and…”
“No ifs, ands, or buts. That’s the way it is,” she said.
“I see. Well, thanks for having us.” His tone turned cold.
Emma tugged the leg of Brody’s jeans. “Are you fighting with my friend?”
“No, darlin’.” Lila stooped down to her level. “We are havin’ a big-people discussion, not a fight. You enjoy the rodeo and maybe in a couple of years you’ll be in the mutton ride.”
Emma puffed out her chest. “I will ride a bull.”
“And I bet you’ll be really good at it, Emma.” Lila stood up. “Y’all sleep tight and have sweet dreams.”
“Thanks for the ice cream.” Brody hurried the kids out to the van and got them situated.
“I love Lila,” Emma said.
“Me too. I’m goin’ to dance with her,” Rustin said. “You won’t care, will you, Uncle Brody?”
“Why would you ask that?”
“Because Uncle Jace says you got to ask a cowboy for his okay before you dance with his woman,” Rustin answered.
Brody looked back over the seat. “What makes you think that she’s my woman?”
“If she ain’t, then what’s wrong with you?” Rustin threw up his hands in exasperation. “We love her and Mama says she’s a good person.”
“You’re five years old, boy, not fifteen,” Brody chuckled.
Rustin crossed his arms over his chest. “Well, do I have to ask if I can dance with her or not?”
“When you get to be a big cowboy, we’ll talk about it then,” Brody told him.
“Shhh, Silas is sleepin’.” Emma shushed them.
He was about to start the engine when he heard a tap on the window. Turning, he saw that Lila was standing there in the shadows, looking like an angel. He hit the button to roll down the window.
“I wanted to thank you for that beautiful rose. I didn’t thank you properly. I would have called but I don’t have your number,” she said.
“Are red roses still your favorite?” He removed an ink pen from the visor and reached for her hand.
Without a moment’s hesitation, she stuck it out and he wrote his number down on her palm. “Call me anytime, night or day.”
“Yes, red roses are my favorite. Probably always will be. Well, I’d better get back inside. I enjoyed the kids this evening. Thanks for bringing them.” She turned around and went back to the café.
“I’ll buy her roses,” Rustin said.
“Me too,” Emma said. “I’ll buy more than you will.”
“Will not!”
“Will too.”
“That’s enough or you’ll both wake Silas.” He started the engine and Vince Gill’s voice came on the radio singing “Feels Like Love.” Brody could relate to every single word, especially when the lyrics said that it felt like love wanted a second chance.
Kasey met them at the door when they got home. Her eyes were still bleary and her face said that the pain wasn’t completely gone but she had a smile on her face. “Did y’all have a good time?”
“Lila is goin’ to be my girlfriend when I grow up,” Rustin said.
“She’s my friend and you can’t have her,” Emma declared.
“And you?” Kasey asked, glancing at her brother.
“It was good ice cream but I like your pumpkin pie better,” he said. “How’s the headache now?”
“Functional now that I had a couple of hours to lie down with an ice pack. Thanks for taking them. Would you please put Silas in his crib for me?”
Brody carried Silas to the bedroom and gently laid him in the crib. He removed the boy’s sandals and handed them to Kasey.
“I bet he doesn’t even wake up when I change his diaper and clothing,” Kasey said.
“I’ll do that while you get the other kids into bed.”
“She rattles you, don’t she?” Kasey whispered.
“Little bit,” Brody said.
“Lila is going to sit with me at the rodeo,” Emma said from the doorway.
“Well, that sounds like fun. Let’s get you into bed and you can tell me which two books Lila read to you.” Kasey took her hand and led her across the hallway.
Rustin had toothpaste on his lips when he came from the bathroom. He peeled out of his clothes and tossed them on a chair. “Mama says I have to wear a T-shirt to sleep but Uncle Jace sleeps naked. Do you have to wear a shirt, too, or do you get to sleep without no clothes?”
Brody chuckled. “We’ll talk about that later on too.”
Rustin sighed. “I got a lot of growin’ to do.”
“Yes, you do.” Brody finished with Silas and tucked Rustin into bed. “But don’t get in too big of a hurry, son. Once you’re a big man, you can’t go back and be a little one again.”
“But bein’ a big one looks like so much more fun.” Rustin yawned.
“Not all the time.” Brody kissed him on the forehead. “Good night, little cowboy.”
“Night, Uncle Brody.”
Back in the kitchen, he found Kasey with a cup of coffee in her hands.
“You sure you’re all right? You don’t usually drink caffeine this late.”
“It helps with the headache. I don’t get them often anymore but today is the anniversary of the first time that Adam kissed me. I guess I thought too much about losing him.”
He opened his arms. “I’m so sorry that you have to go through this, sis.”
She set the cup on the cabinet and walked into his embrace. “It helps to be here at home with y’all. The kids have grandparents and relatives. It’s just that letting go is so hard. Now, what’s this about Lila sitting with us at the bull riding?”
He raked both hands through his hair. “I sent her a rose this week, but she made it clear she’s not sticking around Happy for the long haul. Why start something that will just cause both of us to get hurt again?”
“Do you have any idea what I’d give to have Adam sitting beside me at that bull riding? I’d use every bit of my strength to talk him into getting out of the army and staying in Happy and going into the ranchin’ business with his dad. I’d do anything to keep him with me, even live in a tent under a pecan tree with no indoor plumbing. You’ve got an opportunity here, brother, that might not come your way again.” She laid her head on his shoulder and sobbed.
His heart broke for her and at the same time for Lila. He couldn’t bear to see her hurt again, and if she went to sit with Emma...well, it could be a damn disaster. Little Emma was already going to be sad when Lila left. Getting even closer to the woman would make it tougher.
Who are you preachin’ at? Emma or yourself? that aggravating voice in his head asked.
Kasey took a few steps back and carried her coffee to the table. “The whole time I was growing up, Lila was my idol because she was such a daredevil. I didn’t want to be like her. I wanted to be her. And for your information, that crap about her burning down the old grocery store is just that—a load of crap. The fire department said someone probably threw a cigarette out because they could see a trail from the road to the building.”
“I didn’t think that she burned down anything. I’m going out for a ride to clear my mind.”
“Get over her, Brody, or man up and do something about the way you feel.” Kasey swiped a kitchen towel across her eyes.
His brow furrowed so tight that a pain shot through his head. “I got over Lila Harris years ago.”
“Yeah, right,” Kasey said. “Like I got over losing Adam.”
“I’m not having this conversation with you, sis.” He snapped his mouth shut and left her in the kitchen with a cup of coffee and a headache.
Brody peeled the T-shirt over his head and grabbed his last clean pearl-snapped one from the closet. In no time he was back in his truck, heading north to the Silver Spur and hoping that it was jumping with noise and excitement—anything to take his mind off the picture in his mind of Lila sitting on the floor reading to three little kids.
Two miles out of town he took his foot off the gas and tapped the brakes. He pulled off to the side of the road and sat there for several minutes before he turned around and went back home. He drove straight to the corral where Sundance was kept and sat down on the ground, bracing his back against a fence post. The bull eyed him from across the corral but stayed his distance.
“I’ve messed up again, old boy,” Brody said. “It was all goin’ good until the kids mentioned the bull riding. I’ve been going by every day so that she can see I’m keeping my word when I tell her that I’ll see her tomorrow. Lila is so different from other women that I think fate or God or destiny is hitting me in the head with a two-by-four and yet I keep thinking about my responsibility for this ranch. I have to make it grow. I have to leave it bigger than it was when it was put in my hands. Lila doesn’t need a man who is already married to a ranch. I work most days from daylight to past dark. She deserves someone better than that.”
Sundance bawled once at the moon and stuck his head into the water trough.
“That all you got to say? Well, this ranch pays for your comforts, so you can listen to me,” Brody said. “I don’t like this feeling, so I’m going home. Thanks for the therapy session.”
The bull snorted and turned his back on Brody.