Rachel's Cowboy (12 page)

J.D. nodded. “Don’t worry. I take good care of Madge.”

“Good. I’m going to mop the floor now, so she won’t have to do it.”

“Okay. I’m going to go through the mail. I’ve been neglecting it for a few days.”

He moved over to the computer desk, where a stack of envelopes was waiting for him.

Rachel got out the mop and began cleaning the floor. She hummed as she worked, feeling content in spite of the long day she’d had.

“You’ve got a nice voice,” J.D. said, surprising her.

“What?”

“You were humming. It sounds good.”

“I didn’t mean to interrupt your work.”

“You didn’t.” He smiled at her and turned back to his mail.

It suddenly occurred to her that she’d do almost anything for a smile like that. Not a good thought. She’d taught herself not to be so needy. Until she’d met J.D. Something about the man seemed irresistible.

The back door opened and Madge and Bluey came in. “What are you doing, Rachel?” Madge demanded.

“I thought I could save you some work by mopping up. I’m just finishing.”

“You are such a good person, child. Thank you. I was just telling Bluey I needed to get back and clean the floor.”

“That’s what she said,” Bluey agreed.

“You’d better watch that romantic talk in the moonlight, Bluey, or she’ll have you at the altar before you know it,” J.D. said, which caused both Bluey and Madge to turn beet-red.

Rachel whirled around to glare at him. “J.D. Stanley, you are the most insensitive man I know!”

“What did I do?” J.D. asked, surprised by her attack.

“Oh, honestly. Just go to bed and leave them in peace!”

He stared at her and she tried to convey her meaning with her eyes. Finally, he stood. “Uh, yeah, I’m way too tired to do anything else tonight. I’m going to bed.”

“Me, too,” Rachel said. “I’m riding out again in the morning, so I’d better get some sleep.”

She followed J.D. out into the hallway.

“Are you sure it’s safe to leave them alone?” J.D. whispered.

“Yes, I think Madge is too old to get pregnant.”

J.D. burst out laughing and Rachel shushed him. “Go to bed, J.D., before they figure out what we’re doing.”

“I’m not sure
I
know what we’re doing.”

“Just go to bed.”

To her surprise, he leaned down and kissed her cheek. “I’ll say thank-you for Madge, okay?”

Whatever it was he was trying to say was lost on her as soon as his lips touched her cheek. His kiss was featherlight, soft as a breeze, but her reaction was intense. Her heart sped up, her mouth went dry. She barely managed to choke out the words, “Okay, good night” as J.D. left her at her door.

Watching his back, she tried to get her pulse under control.
It was just a peck, Rachel,
she told herself.
What would you do if he really kissed you?

She knew. She’d enjoyed J.D.’s kisses before.

And, God help her, she craved more.

They had more cowboys riding out the next morning. So many, in fact, that Rachel had a partner riding drag. She thought that would be a good thing, but the man kept trying to impress her and do her work for her, so much that he drove her crazy.

She finally informed him that she could do her job and that he should concentrate on his.

“Aw, Rachel, I’m just trying to impress you.”

“Please don’t, Tony.” She turned and rode back to the other side of the herd.

A loud cry startled her. She turned Rocky around to see Tony on the ground, his horse’s reins hanging down. Then another sound caught her attention and she saw J.D. riding toward them, a scowl on his face.

She returned to where the cowboy lay on the ground. Swinging down from Rocky’s back, she dropped her reins, knowing Rocky would stay there. Then she bent over Tony, the flirtatious cowboy.

“Are you all right?”

“I—I think I broke my arm,” he gasped, clutching his right forearm.

J.D. knelt down beside Rachel. “What happened here?”

Tony didn’t answer, so Rachel said, “I don’t know. I was going in the other direction when I heard him cry out. He said he thinks he broke his arm.”

J.D. looked at the man’s arm and concurred with his diagnosis. “Yeah, I think you did.”

Then he looked at Rachel. “I told you not to flirt with my men. It distracts them. No way would Tony have lost his grip if he’d been concentrating on his job.” Without waiting for a response from her, he helped the cowboy to his feet. “Sorry, man, but you’re going to have to ride back to the barn.”

Then J.D. turned to Rachel once again. “Go tell Bluey he’s in charge until I get back. I’d send you to the house except we’re so shorthanded. Now go!”

Rachel went, but she wasn’t a happy camper. Not only had she not flirted with Tony, she’d warned him to pay attention to his job.

And J.D. blamed her!

She explained to Bluey what had happened as the two of them rode in together that evening. He assured her he would tell J.D. what she’d said.

“Doesn’t matter, Bluey. He won’t believe me.”

“He might. You seem to be able to persuade him to do things he’d never do on his own…like leave Madge and me alone last night.”

Rachel’s face brightened. “Did that work well for you?”

“Yeah. We’re…in love,” Bluey said self-consciously.

“Oh, Bluey, I’m so happy for you.”

“I don’t deserve her, you know. J.D. will probably talk her out of it.”

“Over my dead body,” Rachel said, gritting her teeth. “I know I shouldn’t ask, but…are you going to get married?”

“If we can get J.D. on our side.”

“But he shouldn’t matter!” Rachel protested.

“He’s the only family Madge has, except for her sister. She thinks of him as her son. I can’t take her away from that.”

“I understand,” Rachel said, thinking about how hard life was. Madge had lost her husband and been alone for years. Now she’d fallen in love again, but it might cost her the one relationship she’d had for the last ten years.

Rachel was determined to help Madge out. Then she was going to pack her bags and head home. J.D. had convinced her, again, that there was no place in his life for her. The hopes that had been raised last night were once again dashed.

When she and Bluey reached the house, they found J.D. already sitting at the table.

He looked at Bluey as they came in. “Everything go okay?”

“Sure. Fine.”

J.D. nodded to Rachel and then turned around.

Rachel walked straight through to her room. She grabbed a quick shower, not caring if she was late for dinner. But when she returned to the kitchen, Madge
was still at the stove and the two men were talking. Frowning, Rachel walked to the housekeeper’s side.

“Madge, is there anything—”

The woman fell to the floor.

Rachel knelt down beside her at once and realized she was running a high fever. Bluey and J.D. reached them before Rachel could say anything. Then she asked them to carry Madge to her room.

“What’s wrong with her?” Bluey demanded anxiously.

Rachel put a reassuring hand on his arm. “She’ll be okay in a couple of days. It’s the flu. I’ll get some Tylenol and Gatorade and be right there.” She went to the storeroom but found only one small bottle of Gatorade. She called down to the bunkhouse, but they were about out, too, and they still had sick ones.

When Rachel got to the bedroom, she found Madge stretched out on the bed and the two men standing there, feeling useless.

“I’m going to put Madge to bed. But I need more Gatorade for her. And the men in the bunkhouse need some, too. Could you two go to Prairie View and get some for us?”

Relieved to have something to do, they rushed from the house.

Rachel tended to Madge, and the housekeeper was asleep by the time the men returned. They rushed in to find Rachel dishing up dinner. At the anxious look on Bluey’s face, she announced, “You can go in and see how she’s doing, Bluey. Dinner won’t be on the table for about five more minutes.”

The older cowboy sought J.D.’s approval. “Is that okay, J.D.?”

“Sure, it’s fine.”

Rachel turned her back on J.D., not wanting him to see the anger in her eyes. Bluey shouldn’t have to beg J.D.’s permission to see Madge.

“Can I help you dish up dinner?” J.D. asked.

At the sound of his voice, she jumped. She hadn’t heard him move, but he stood right behind her. “No, I’ll manage.”

He sat down at the table. “Bluey told me what happened today when Tony fell.”

Rachel didn’t respond. She had nothing to say.

“I guess I was a little hard on you. I’m sorry.”

Those words made her turn around. “You guess?”

“Okay, Rachel, you didn’t flirt with him. But you were a distraction. The men have been watching you ever since you got here. You don’t look any less attractive on a horse, I can assure you.”

“Oh, thanks,” she said, her voice heavy with sarcasm.

He stared at her, but said nothing.

Rachel stepped around him and put a bowl of mashed potatoes on the table. “Did Bluey talk to you about him and Madge?”

“Yes, he did.”

“Well?”

“Well, what?”

“Did you give them your blessing?”

“For what?”

“For them to marry!” Rachel glared at him.

J.D. frowned. “Bluey didn’t say anything about that. Do they want to marry?”

“Yes, we do,” Bluey said from the doorway. “I was trying to find a way to tell you this evening, but I was afraid you’d be upset with Madge.”

“Damn it, Bluey, you’ve known me all my life. I’m not that unreasonable. I’m happy for you. You’re not planning on taking her away, though, are you?” he asked, even as he stood to shake Bluey’s hand.

Bluey grinned. “I couldn’t take her away if I tried. She thinks of you like a son.”

“I’m grateful. As Rachel said the other night, Madge is my family. But I’m glad to welcome you into it.”

Rachel offered her congratulations and hugged Bluey, who still seemed uncomfortable. Then she put the rest of the meal on the table and they all sat down.

“I can’t wait to tell Madge,” Bluey said as he filled his plate.

“I’m sure she’ll be excited,” J.D. agreed.

Rachel passed around the food and said nothing. Though she was happy for the older couple, she couldn’t help but think how her relationship with J.D. was such a mess.

J.D. looked at her. “Aren’t you happy for Bluey and Madge?”

“Of course I am.” She said nothing else, eating her meal as if she were dining alone.

J.D. frowned. Then he looked at Bluey, who shrugged his shoulders and shook his head.

After a quiet dinner, Bluey went back to check on
Madge. Rachel reminded him to wear a mask. She began clearing the dishes, and J.D. got up to help her.

“It’s all right. I can manage.” Her voice wasn’t warm or friendly.

“What did I do to upset you?”

She didn’t want to talk to him, but she was a reasonable woman.

“You still blame me for Tony’s broken arm, even though you say you believe Bluey that I wasn’t flirting with him.”

“If he’d been working with another man, he would’ve been concentrating on his job.”

“But doesn’t that make it Tony’s fault?”

J.D. sighed. “Yeah, but it doesn’t change the fact that you being there caused it.”

She grabbed the bowl he had in his hand. “Just get out of my kitchen and leave me alone,” Rachel ordered, turning her back to him.

“Okay, fine. That’s the reality of it, Rachel, whether you want to believe it or not.”

He grabbed a couple of containers of Gatorade and stormed off for the bunkhouse.

Rachel hurried through the dishes. She didn’t want to be there when J.D. came back. As soon as she had the kitchen cleaned up, she went to Madge’s room to check on her patient.

“Hi, Madge. I didn’t know you were awake. How are you feeling?”

The woman shook her head. “Not so good, I’m afraid.”

“Well, there’s some news that’ll cheer you up. Did Bluey tell you that J.D. is happy about your marriage?”

Madge nodded and managed a smile.

Rachel turned to Bluey. “I think Madge needs to get to sleep now. Tomorrow’s Sunday. I’ll fix breakfast and you can take it in and enjoy it with her.”

“Thanks, Rachel,” Bluey said. “I’ll just tell her good-night before I leave.”

“Right. I’ll see you both in the morning. Madge, if you need me during the night, just call.”

As she left Madge’s room, Rachel heard J.D. coming in the back. She hurried to her room and closed the door.

J.D.
SAW
R
ACHEL SCURRY
away from him. She was obviously still angry with him. He sighed. He’d been honest with her. Clearly, he should’ve lied.

Bluey came out of Madge’s room, saying good-night.

“Bluey, is Madge awake?”

“Sort of. You want to say good-night?”

“Yeah.” He went to Madge’s room. “Is there anything I can do for you?”

“No, Rachel took care of me. But you could put more boiling water in my hot-water bottle,” Madge said, pulling it out from under the covers. “It really helps me fight off the chills.”

“Sure. I’ll be back in a couple of minutes.”

Bluey came out with him. “I could do that, J.D., if you want to go on to bed.”

“No way. I’m pleased to have something to do for her. Miss Perfect apparently did everything else.”

“Are you talking about Rachel?”

“Yeah. I know, I know. I should be grateful for what she’s done. And I am. But life was simpler before Rachel arrived on the scene.”

“Are you talking about the first time or the second time?” Bluey asked calmly.

J.D. glared at him as he filled a kettle with water. “Take your pick. She causes turmoil wherever she goes.”

“You’re not being fair,” the cowboy said.

“I know, but I’m just trying to survive.”

“You might as well give in, J.D. I did, and it’s much better.”

“If I were guaranteed a happy ending, Bluey, I might give in, too. But Rachel’s pretty mad at me right now.”

“Yeah, she is.”

When the water boiled, J.D. poured it into the rubber bottle. “I would never have thought of this.”

“Me, neither. The cowboys didn’t get this perk,” Bluey said with a laugh.

“They have to be tougher, don’t they?”

“Don’t believe it, J.D. Women are a lot tougher than us. We have more muscles, but they do harder things.”

J.D. looked at Bluey. When had this hardened cowboy turned into a sage? He clapped the older man on the back. “You may be right, Bluey.”

R
ACHEL SET HER ALARM
for 2:00 a.m. to check on Madge. When it went off, she slid out of bed and put on her robe, hoping the noise hadn’t disturbed anyone. She hurried to Madge’s room, finding her sleeping but feverish.

Rachel turned on the light in the kitchen to fetch the Tylenol. J.D. came stumbling into the kitchen, rubbing his eyes, much as he might have as a little boy. “Is something wrong?” he asked.

“I’m just getting some medication for Madge. There’s nothing you can do. Go back to bed.”

“Yeah, okay,” he said, and turned away. He stumbled and Rachel thought he was going to fall. She reached out to him and discovered he, too, was burning up with fever. Suddenly he grabbed his mouth and turned, running for the bathroom.

“I’m sorry,” he muttered a few moments later when he emerged. “Don’t know what happened.”

“I do,” Rachel said wearily. “Come on. I’ll help you back to bed. Then I’ll bring you some medicine, too.”

“You mean I’ve got the flu?”

He sounded so surprised, Rachel couldn’t help but hug him. “Yes, J.D., you’ve got the flu. Come on back to bed.” She led him to his big bed and tucked him in. He was shivering all over.

“I’ll be right back. Try to stay awake, okay?”

First she took care of Madge, then went to J.D.’s room.

“J.D., are you still awake?”

He was shivering under the covers, but he nodded. She raised the blankets and slipped a hot-water bottle in against his stomach. Gradually the shivers subsided.

“J.D., don’t go to sleep yet. I need you to swallow some Tylenol. Come on. Raise up on your elbow. Here we go,” she said softly, helping him get the pills down.

“Thank you,” he muttered, his eyes still closed.

Looking at him like this, she felt her anger subside. Not only was J.D. an incredibly handsome man, he could be gentle and sweet and boyishly charming and—

She stopped herself before she jumped into bed with him. Instead, she leaned over and kissed his forehead before she tucked him in again. “Sleep tight, J.D., I’ll see you in the morning.”