Rachel's Cowboy (14 page)

Madge broke the awkward silence. “You know, Rachel, I believe you make cobbler better than me. You have such a light hand with the pastry.”

Rachel laughed. “Madge, I’ll believe most of your praise, because I want to, but even I can’t believe that remark.”

“True,” Bluey said. “Madge is the queen of light pastry.”

Madge blushed. “But Rachel’s is very good,” she protested.

J.D. nodded. “No one’s arguing that, Madge. I don’t know what we would’ve done without her this past week or two.”

“I’ve enjoyed it,” Rachel said.

When the other three laughed, she said, “It’s true. I’ve learned so much here, but this week I’ve proved to myself I could really do it without Madge helping me. It’s like scoring an
A
on a final exam, when you weren’t sure you could do it.”

“I think you scored an
A-plus,
Rachel, and we’re grateful,” J.D. said quietly.

His sincerity pleased her more than his words. “Thank you.”

Their conversation turned to Madge and Bluey’s honeymoon plans.

“Have you decided where you want to go?” J.D. asked.

The two exchanged a look before Madge answered. “Well, if it’s not too much to ask, we’d like to spend the week in San Antonio in a hotel on the River Walk. That looks so romantic to me, and Bluey said he’d like it, too.”

J.D. laughed. “Madge, from the way you began your request, I thought you were going to ask for a grand tour of Europe. Of course you can go to San Antonio.”

“Europe? I’d never ask for that!”

“I thought you might have a hankering to see the Eiffel Tower or Big Ben,” J.D. teased. “Are you sure that’s what you want? You could go to the Bahamas, New York City, wherever you want.”

“We want San Antonio,” she said firmly. “We’ll feel comfortable there and can relax and enjoy ourselves.”

“Good enough. I’ll start making arrangements as soon as you set a date.”

“Well,” Bluey said in an apologetic tone, “we’d like it to be soon. We don’t have as much time left as a young couple would, and we want to spend it together.”

“And,” Madge added, “we want to have Rachel at our wedding.”

“I’ll be there whenever it is, Madge, I promise.” Rachel couldn’t imagine not being at their wedding.

Madge extended her hand across the table. “You’re
more like my daughter than a stranger, Rachel. I’m so glad you’ll come.”

“But it would be easier to have the wedding before she leaves,” Bluey said. “We don’t want nothing fancy.”

“I want to do you both proud,” J.D. protested.

“Maybe we could do both, J.D.,” Rachel said slowly. “As pretty as the weather is now, we could set up a trellis outdoors and decorate it with fresh flowers. The pastor could stand there and perform the marriage ceremony, with everyone sitting in folding chairs.

“Then, afterward, we could have a wedding cake and hors d’oeuvres and champagne if you want. And a bowl of punch. I think it would be lovely. Everyone could mix and mingle and enjoy themselves.”

“Oh, that sounds like exactly what I’d want,” Madge said, a big smile on her face.

“Me, too,” Bluey agreed.

“It would be a lot of work,” J.D. warned Rachel.

“I’d love doing it,” she assured him.

“Okay,” he stated. “You two decide on a date and we’ll put everything in motion.”

“Maybe we’d better have our discussion in private,” Madge said. “We’ll go into the den, so you two can enjoy your coffee, though, J.D., you shouldn’t drink too much of it.”

“Hey, I’m still working on my dessert.”

J.D. watched them as they left the room hand in hand. “It’s kind of sweet, isn’t it?”

“Yes. And I think your offer of a honeymoon trip is wonderful, J.D.”

“I was prepared to spend a lot more than a trip to San
Antonio will cost me.” He grinned. “Maybe I can throw in a few extras.”

“That would be nice,” she agreed. As she started to stand, J.D. caught her wrist.

“Wait a minute. I wanted to ask you something.”

“What?” she asked, her tone cautious.

“When you were telling me about Stacy coming here, it seemed to me that you didn’t tell me everything. Is there something else, something she said?”

Rachel pulled her wrist from his hold and stood, stacking dishes. “Well, there is something… Not something she said, though.”

She put the dishes in the sink and turned to face J.D. as he sipped on his coffee.

“I’m afraid I lost my temper.” She shrugged her shoulders. “I didn’t mean to cause problems, but she was being so—so difficult that when she demanded to know who I was, I—I told her I was your
other
fiancée.”

J.D. choked and spewed his coffee all over the table.

Madge and Bluey settled on a date two weeks away.

Rachel felt she must’ve influenced them, since she was pleased to have that much longer on the ranch. However, life suddenly became much busier as Madge returned to her duties a little at a time, and the two of them started planning the reception.

J.D. finally went back to work, which gave them more time, but Rachel had to admit she missed his presence.

She and Madge were working at the kitchen table when the phone rang a couple of afternoons later. Madge answered the phone but, focused as she was on wedding details, Rachel didn’t realize anything was wrong until something in Madge’s voice caught her attention.

“Yes. Yes, of course. I’ll find a way. No, don’t worry. Everything will be fine. I’ll let you know when I’ll get there.”

Madge hung up the phone and covered her face with her hands.

Rachel sprang up from her chair and put her arms around her. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

“My sister fell and broke her hip. She was crying on the phone. They’re doing hip replacement surgery tomorrow. She’ll be in the hospital for two or three days afterward. Then she can go home if she has someone to take care of her. I’ve got to go to Dallas.”

“Oh.” Rachel realized immediately what was wrong in addition to her sister’s accident. “The wedding!”

“Yes. I hope J.D. hasn’t made any travel arrangements yet. And, Rachel, can you stay and fill in for me?”

She’d thought she had less than a week left at the ranch. But now she’d be here much longer. Happiness and regret warred within her. “Of course I can, Madge. I know you have to go to your sister. It’s a shame about the wedding, though.”

“Yes, it certainly is. I hope Bluey will understand. Oh, dear, what if he doesn’t? What if he breaks our engagement because he doesn’t want to wait? What am I going to do?”

“Madge, you know Bluey better than that. Go start packing. Everything will work out.”

As soon as Madge left the room, Rachel grabbed the walkie-talkie. She hadn’t used it before, but she was going to give it a shot. “J.D., this is base, come in.”

“Rachel? Is something wrong?”

“Yes. Madge’s sister is in the hospital. She really needs to talk to Bluey if you can spare him. It would help her a lot.”

“We’ll be right there.”

Rachel was surprised that J.D. was coming, too, but maybe they were working close to the barn. She cleared
away the papers from the table and put on a fresh pot of coffee.

She hoped she’d done the right thing, but she didn’t want Madge to suffer more than she had to. It was bad enough that she had to leave Bluey and postpone her marriage without thinking he would understand. Rachel felt sure Madge was shedding a few tears as she packed.

The two men came hurrying into the house. Rachel sent Bluey to Madge’s bedroom and told J.D. to sit down. She put a cup of coffee and a piece of chocolate cake in from of him as she filled him in. “I was afraid you’d think I was being melodramatic, but Madge sounded so miserable.”

“No, I’m glad you called. Does she want to get there before the surgery?”

“I really don’t know, but I’d think so. That will mean driving in tonight, and I’m not sure that’s a good idea, as upset as she is.”

“No, it’s not.” He got up and walked to the kitchen door. “Madge, Bluey, can you come in here? We need to discuss the details.”

He sat back down, eating his cake, waiting. When a teary-eyed Madge came in with Bluey, J.D. stood up and hugged her. “I’m sorry about your sister. How old is she?”

“She’s sixty-six, but she doesn’t take care of herself. I’ve told her to, but she doesn’t listen.”

“Well, look, I don’t think you should drive tonight.”

“But the surgery is early in the morning, and I told her I’d see her before that,” Madge said, her tone urgent.

“You can do so. I’m going to hire a plane to fly you into Dallas Love Field tonight. You can take a taxi to your sister’s house. Do you have a house key?”

“Yes, she gave me one.”

“Can you borrow her car?”

“Oh, I hadn’t thought of that. Yes, I know where the duplicate key is. Oh, thank you, J.D. That will simplify everything. Rachel promised to take care of y’all.”

“Rachel, if you need to go back—” J.D. began.

Did he want her to leave? She couldn’t tell from his facial expression. Still, she’d made a promise to Madge. “No, no, I’m fine with it. More practice for me,” she hurriedly assured him, not wanting to be sent away.

“Great. Okay.” He looked at his watch. “Can you be ready to leave in an hour?” he asked Madge.

“Yes,” she agreed, throwing Bluey a longing look.

“I’ll take her to the airport,” Bluey immediately said. There was a small county airstrip not far away.

“Do you want to go with her, Bluey?” J.D. asked.

“I’d like to, but I’d just be in the way. It’s better that I stay here and work, since I’ll be taking a week off for our honeymoon, whenever it is.”

Madge bravely nodded in agreement.

“Okay,” J.D. stated. “I’ll go make the arrangements.” He left the kitchen, heading for the den.

“Madge, is there anything I can help you do?” Rachel asked.

“No, dear, I’m fine. I’m almost finished packing.”

“Why don’t you sit down and have a piece of cake and coffee. I think sugar is good for shock.”

She cut two pieces of cake and poured them coffee.
Then she left them alone to talk softly as they ate. She went to the den where J.D. was on the phone.

He hung it up and looked at her. “What?”

“Nothing. I thought I’d see if everything went okay with the arrangements…and give them some privacy in the kitchen as they ate their cake.”

“Hey, I didn’t get to finish mine.”

“It’s still there waiting on you. But they… This is so hard on them.”

“Yeah. They like to be together. That’s a good sign for two people about to get married, isn’t it?” he asked with a crooked grin.

“Yes, a very good sign.” Unlike them, she thought. They couldn’t spend any time together without sparking off each other, sending one of them off angry or hurt. Good thing it wasn’t them getting married, she thought.

She cleared her throat. “I hear hip replacements heal very quickly. Madge said her sister would only be in the hospital two or three days after surgery, as long as she had someone there to care for her. She was crying.”

“She knew about the wedding. But who else are you going to call but your sister?”

“I know. I’m so glad I have two sisters now.”

“Yeah, I’ll bet you are.” He gave her a grin and Rachel couldn’t help thinking how handsome he looked when he smiled. “Could you dig me up some brothers?”

She smiled back at him. Before either of them could say anything else, Madge called to them. They returned to the kitchen.

“J.D., I need to go to a cash machine or get an advance on my salary. Taxis cost a lot and then I’ll need to grocery shop and things.”

“I’ve got cash here in the safe, Madge. How much do you think you’ll need?”

“Two hundred?” Madge asked cautiously.

“I’ll get it for you.” He got up from the table and disappeared.

“I didn’t know J.D. had a safe here,” Rachel said in surprise.

“His parents had it put in. Sometimes you need cash, and his mother had some nice pieces of jewelry, things like that.”

J.D. came back into the room carrying a white envelope. “I put in a little extra in case you need something you haven’t thought of. I can wire you more if it’s not enough.”

“Can we consider it an advance on my next check?” she asked with concern in her voice.

J.D. leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Of course. I know where you live, so I’m not worried,” he said, using a tough-guy accent that drew a smile from Bluey.

Madge hardly seemed to notice. She was busy counting the money. Then she stared at J.D. in shock. “J.D., you put five hundred dollars in here!”

“If you don’t use it, Madge, you can always return it. I don’t want you worrying about money. You’ll have enough to worry about with your sister.”

Madge stood up and hugged him. “You are so good to me, J.D.”

Bluey shook his hand. “Thanks, J.D.”

“I’m almost packed. Bluey, could you come help me finish?” Madge asked, wiping tears from her eyes.

The two disappeared.

Rachel said, “That was very good of you, J.D.”

“Hell, Rachel, it’s only money. Madge has done so much for me. That’s nothing.”

“I agree. But some men value money more than the important stuff. I’m glad to see you’re not one of them.”

“Those men are crazy. Or they haven’t lost people they love.”

They looked at each other in complete understanding. She suddenly realized that this was one of those pure moments when your soul makes a connection with another. But it was J.D….

See,
said a voice inside her head,
you are right for each other, just like Madge and Bluey.

Rachel forced her gaze away, afraid J.D. could see right through her eyes.

“I’ll start dinner. Oh! I guess Madge won’t be here for it. It’ll just be the three of us.”

“Yeah. Rachel, do I need to ask Bluey to start sleeping up here again?”

She hadn’t followed his thought process. “Why would you do that?” she asked, puzzled.

“Does it bother you that it will just be the two of us at night? I can easily ask—”

“No, J.D., it doesn’t bother me. I trust you.”

He gave her a crooked smile. “Thanks, I think.” Then he left the kitchen. His chocolate cake was still unfinished.

R
ACHEL TIMED DINNER
to be ready when Bluey returned.

“I figured you two would’ve already eaten,” the cowboy said when he saw the waiting meal.

“And left you with no dinner? Madge would never forgive me.” Rachel gave him a grin.

When J.D. joined them, they sat down to eat. They had just gotten past the blessing and started passing the dishes when J.D. said, “Bluey, I need to ask you to sleep in the house while Madge is gone.”

What?
Rachel jerked her head up, staring at J.D. Just hours ago they’d decided that was unnecessary. He’d asked her opinion—which apparently he’d ignored. Her eyes, she knew, shot flares at him, but J.D. avoided her gaze.

“Well, I could, but— Oh, oh, sure, I can do that.” He nodded as J.D.’s unspoken intentions became clear.

“Good,” J.D. said. Then abruptly he grabbed the bowl in front of him. “Potatoes, Rachel?”

She took the dish he offered without comment. She didn’t know why he’d changed his mind, unless it was because he was afraid of what people would say. Or maybe he was afraid she’d seduce him. Well, he could dream!

She kept her head down the rest of the meal, contributing nothing to the conversation.

When the meal was over, both men tried to help her with the dishes. “No, thank you. I’d rather do them alone,” she insisted in cold tones.

Bluey gave her a funny look, but saying good-night, he went to the bedroom he’d been using.

“What’s wrong?” J.D. asked.

Rachel didn’t answer; she kept her back to him.

His big hands settled on her shoulders and he turned her to face him. “Rachel, don’t try to pretend there’s nothing wrong. Your body is shouting even if your voice isn’t.”

“You think you can read me so well?”

“Yeah, I think I can. What did I do to upset you?”

“Why did you change your mind and ask Bluey to stay?”

“Rachel—”

“I promise I won’t try to seduce you!”

J.D. gave a harsh laugh. “You think I’m worried about that?” he asked, staring at her. “Damn it, Rachel, I’m worried about seducing
you,
or at least trying to. Surely you realize how much I’m attracted to you?”

What did he just say? She didn’t speak, just stared at him. He’d done a hell of a job avoiding her, limiting their time together. Why, if he was as attracted to her as she was to him?

He groaned. “That’s why I can’t stay here alone with you. When you look at me like that, I’m ready to throw you over my shoulder and find the nearest bed.”

Rachel’s breathing stopped, and hope filled her heart…until J.D. spoke again.

“And that’s why we need Bluey here. Because we both know that can’t happen.”

F
OR SEVERAL DAYS
, they followed a set pattern. Rachel did the chores in the house and J.D. and Bluey did the outside jobs. Once or twice, she slipped out to the barn
to visit with Boomer, but other than that, she confined herself to the house.

J.D. surprised her by coming in for lunch on the third day.

“J.D.! I didn’t expect you. I’ll fix you a sandwich, if that’s all right.”

“That would be great, Rachel. Then I wondered if you’d like to go for a ride this afternoon.”

Rachel’s face lit up with enthusiasm. “I’d love to. It’s all right if I ride by myself?”

“No, it’s not all right. I thought I’d ride with you.”

J.D. was actually looking to spend time with her? What about his conviction to stay clear of her, lest he be overcome by his libido? But her enthusiasm outweighed her sarcasm. She missed riding and was eager to take to her horse again. “Are you sure you can take the time off?” Rachel asked anxiously.

“I’m sure. You’ve certainly taken time from your schedule for us, as Bluey reminded me today. Besides, I don’t want to overdo the work thing after being sick.”

Rachel stared at him with confused emotions. She was upset that it had taken Bluey reminding him that he might owe her something, but she was concerned that J.D. might be feeling sick again.

“Do you not feel well? Are you running a fever?” she asked.

“I feel fine, Rachel. I was just making an excuse so you wouldn’t worry about me taking time off.”

“Oh. Well, I’d love to go riding,” she said, smiling.

“Good. You do still have your boots and hat, don’t you? I haven’t seen them lately.”

“I don’t need either of them to cook and do laundry. I’ll get them.” Rachel raced to her bedroom and dragged her boots out of the back of her closet. It felt good to wear them again. She added a sweater to the short-sleeved shirt, in case it was cool out. Then she grabbed Madge’s hat and hurried back to the kitchen. “I’m ready,” she announced breathlessly.