Second Sunrise Cowboy (Second Chance Book 8) (21 page)

“You go ahead. Get your things, by all means,” Dakota said.

“Thank you, Mrs. Bailey.” He headed for the stairs.

Once he was out of sight, Dakota turned to Cash. “We can’t let him go back out on the street. Is there anything we can do? The apartment upstairs will be fit to live in soon.”

Cash glanced up the stairs. “I think I can help him, if he wants it,” he said in a lowered voice. “This’ll kill two birds with one stone.”

“Why wouldn’t he want help?”

“We’ll see. Now what did you want to speak to me about? It seemed important.”

She shrugged. “We can talk later.” This wasn’t the time, or the place, to open a can of worms. How would Cash take her asking for changes, especially changing residences?

****

Cash watched Barry inside  the pen working with one of the horses.

“Looks like our man here is working out,” Tucker said as he settled up next to Cash at the fence.

“Turns out he grew up working with horses. He’s doing pretty good so far. And he seems to like living in the hand quarters.” Cash propped his boot on the bottom rail.

“I hear Dakota’s shop is coming along. She’ll be busy with her business soon.”

Cash nodded. “She’s excited. I’m happy for her.”

“Have you made any decisions on the Rutherford farm?” Tucker climbed up on the fence and sat on the top rail.

“It hasn’t crossed my mind.” Cash rubbed his forehead. He’d actually forgotten about the whole thing.

Tucker blew out a long breath. “Good thing I went ahead and put in an offer.”

Cash squinted. “What?”

“I didn’t stutter, bro. I put in an offer and old lady Rutherford accepted it.”

Pushing off the fence, Cash jerked off his hat. “And you did this without speaking to me first?”

“I did speak to you about this. And second, I didn’t use funds from Havens Ranch. I dipped into my own savings and glad I did.”

“What the hell are you going to do with that place?”

“We’re still going to expand. It’s what’s best, Cash. Whether you want the house or not, we hit a jackpot here.”

Cash scratched his jaw. “Yeah, you’re probably right about this one.”

“When have I ever been wrong?” Tucker laughed.

“We’ll take the money from the business and drop it back into your account. This was a business deal, not a personal one.”

Tucker sighed. “What about the house?”

“I think it’d make a nice home for my family.”

“Sounds like a good plan.” Tucker thumped him on the back. “Looks like the hay delivery is finally here. I’ll take care of it.” He jumped off the fence, his boots hitting with a thud. He started for the truck that was pulling close to the barn.

Cash met Barry in the middle of the pen. He looked up and greeted Cash with a quick nod. “Things going okay?”

“Better than okay. Thank you for the opportunity.”

Cash scanned the area for prying ears. “Things are working out, but I think it’s time you spilled the truth about what happened in your life that turned it for the worse.”

Barry’s jaw tightened. “How did you know?”

“Those aren’t invisible, my friend.” Cash nodded at the marks on the inside of Barry’s elbows. “And I’m not stupid.”

“I was driving a lot. I thought I could handle it.” His shoulders slumped.

“Are you clean?”

“Six months.”

“That’s what I wanted to hear.” Cash patted his shoulder. “Man to man, you keep on the right track and you’ll have a job here as long as you need one. But keep the drugs away from this property, ya hear?” It was a conversation that needed to happen.

“I will. I promise.”

“Will you saddle Clover for me? I need to ride out to the north fence and check to see how it’s holding up. If you’d like to join me and help, saddle up two.”

Barry nodded, his smile returning. “Yes, sir.”

****

Dakota heard the whimpering coming from Becca’s room.

Racing down the hall, Dakota rushed into the child’s room where she sat up in bed, tears streaming down her face.

Kneeling beside the bed, Dakota patted her back. “What’s wrong, sweetie? Did you have a bad dream?” Becca shook her head so fast that her hair stuck to her wet cheeks. She pointed to her lap. A wet ring soaked her pajama bottoms. “Oh, honey. It’s okay.”

Dakota lifted Becca into her arms, carried her down the hall and into the bathroom.

“Sorry,” Becca whispered.

“You have nothing to be sorry for. Let’s get these wet clothes off and run you a bath.” Dakota helped her from her shirt. “Can I share something with you, Becca?”

“Okay.”

“When I was your age, I use to wet my bed too. I was scared of the dark and refused to climb from my bed at night. Now we both have a shared secret.”

Some of the sadness left Becca’s features. “The light in my room don’t work anymore.”

“The nightlight? The bulb must have blown.” Dakota turned the water on to the tub. “I have an idea. How about we have a day, just the two of us? We’ll go into town, grab a few things from the hardware store, then stop for ice cream.”

A smile curved Becca’s lips. “My favorite is vanilla.”

“I know it is.” Dakota tapped her on the nose.

Later, after Dakota and Becca had done a little shopping, had lunch, they decided to grab ice cream and sit in the park. Dakota sat on a bench watching Becca finish her cone while watching the ducks. A tall, brunette approached Dakota. She recognized her immediately. “Kennedy?”

The woman nodded. “Sorry. I didn’t follow you here. I was running on the flood wall when I saw you and Becca walking toward the pond.”

Dakota glanced at Becca who was focused on feeding bits of her cone to the ducks. “I-I don’t know if this is a good idea.”

Kennedy tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “May I sit down, just for a moment?”

Thoughts flashed through Dakota’s mind, but she couldn’t find one good enough to tell the woman no. “Sure.”

“She looks so much like her mom.” Kennedy smiled. “Rebecca and I use to feed the ducks too when we were young. Becca looks happy.”

“She is.”

Kennedy shifted, turning to face Dakota. “I’m not evil. I only wanted to be a part of my niece’s childhood.”

Dakota sighed. “Cash is only being protective. It’s his way.”

“I understand. I’ve been offered a position here in town, working alongside another doctor who plans to retire next year.”

“Is this what you want?”

She hesitated. “I truly want to be near Becca. I should have been here for Rebecca when she needed me. I let her down.”

“You were hurt.”

“You know what happened?”

Dakota nodded. “I do. Cash told me everything and I saw the letter. I can only imagine the pain you must have felt.”

Shrugging, Kennedy sighed heavily. “I look back and all of the humiliation, the pain and betrayal, doesn’t mean anything when I’ve lost my sister. I came back wanting to make up for lost time only to find that it was too late. So, in a way I lost my sister twice. The only way I can correct my mistakes is to be here for Becca.”

“I understand, but it’s not me you have to convince. Cash is as stubborn as they come and he hates change.”

“Will you speak to him?”

Dakota ran her palms down her legs. “I don’t think—”

“I know you two married. I’d say that makes you a part of this.”

“I love Becca. I want the best for her.”

“Dakota, I don’t want to cause problems, but you’re his wife. I’m going to take the job here and I’m not going anywhere. I know Cash is still in shock and, of course, he’s going to defend Rebecca. I wouldn’t expect any less, but at the same time, I want this.”

“Look, Dakota. A catapeeler.” Becca rushed forward, holding up her hand to show Dakota the worm in her palm.

“It’s a caterpillar, sweetie, and yes, you caught one.” Dakota chuckled.

“That’s a beautiful one. And you’re being so gentle.” Kennedy leaned closer, eyeing the worm.

If Becca saw any resemblance in Kennedy, Becca didn’t show it in her expression.

Kennedy stood. “I should continue with my run. Thank you.”

Dakota nodded. She suddenly felt like she’d been plopped down between a rock and hard place.

“Can we go play on the swings now?” Becca asked.

“Sure, sweetie. Take the caterpillar and put it back in its home first.”

Becca ran to the tree and Dakota looked toward the path. Kennedy was already gone.

****

Cash looked across the field as Dakota strolled toward him. She was heaven to his lonely eyes. Her blonde hair had grown and now hung to her shoulders. It glistened in the sun and when she looked across the space meeting his gaze, a smile spread her beautiful lips. “What’s a man done to deserve getting a visit from his beautiful wife in the middle of the day?” He met and kissed her on the cheek. He dipped his gaze to the scoop neck of her shirt and his mouth salivated. They’d made love every night and instead of feeling satiated, he wanted more and more.

“I thought I’d surprise you.” She stood on the tips of her boots and kissed him on the lips, walking her fingers down the buttons of his shirt.

“I’m sweaty after working on the fence.” He wiped a hand across his forehead.

“I don’t mind.” She slipped a finger down his jaw.

“Where’s Becca?”

“She’s visiting Dalton. I needed to speak to you.”

He blinked. “What’s wrong? Something about the shop?”

“No. Repairs are coming along nicely.” She took a step back, moistening her lips. He got a gut feeling he wouldn’t like what was coming. “Becca and I went into town earlier. Grabbed her favorite ice cream.”

“She talked you into two scoops?” He chuckled.

“Three.”

“She really knows how to work you.” He grabbed his hat from a tree branch and pulled it on. “I have a feeling you didn’t find me to talk about ice cream.”

“While we were at the park we had company.” She wrapped her arms around her waist.

“Company? I’m not following.”

“Kennedy.”

His chest tightened. “She followed you there?”

Dakota shook her head. “No. She was running on the flood wall.”

He scrubbed his jaw. “What happened exactly?”

“We spoke. Becca didn’t recognize her.” Dakota hooked her thumbs in the front pockets of her jeans.

“Kennedy is going too far. She wants me to rush and make things easy on her.” Seeing the narrowing of her gaze, Cash sighed. “What, Dakota?”

She shrugged and one shoulder of the shirt fell down. “I think she has a natural request, Cash. She feels terrible that things were left bad with Rebecca. She wants to make things right with Becca.”

He flexed his fingers. “She can’t use Becca as some leverage to make herself feel better. She chose to run away and stay gone for years. That’s no one’s fault but her own.”

“I don’t know why you are against this?”

“And I can’t believe she talked you into being her go-between,” he said through tight lips.

“She didn’t ask me to be anything, Cash. If I didn’t feel like this was a good idea, I wouldn’t mention it to you, but I’m lost on what’s really going on here. Are you afraid that you’ll learn that Rebecca wasn’t the sweet and innocent woman you thought she was?”

Her words hit him like a ton of bricks. “Who are you to say anything, sweetheart? You didn’t know Rebecca.”

“Who am I to say something?” One corner of her lips dipped. “I’m your wife. I’m Becca’s step-mother.”

“But that doesn’t give you the right to go behind my back.” Irritation burned through his veins.

She chuckled, but it quickly fizzled. “You’re wanting to hold Becca back from moving forward too, just like you’re wanting to live in the past.”

He grabbed his hat and threw it off. “This has nothing to do with not wanting to move on. You know I have a responsibility to Rebecca.”

Something snapped in Dakota. He saw the fire light her expression. She dragged her hands from her pockets, her shoulders square, and her hip tilting. “I can’t do this anymore, Cash.” She started to turn.

“Wait. What do you mean you can’t do this anymore?” He took the two steps to reach her, facing her.

She met his gaze. “I’m saying, I can no longer do this. You’re right. You have a responsibility to Rebecca.”

She started to walk past and he caught her by the hand. “I didn’t mean that she’s the only one I have a responsibility to.”

“Yes, you did. I’ve been more than understanding in all of this. I moved into a home where every single day, I’m reminded that I’m the second wife. Her pictures are hung on every wall, even the one sitting on your nightstand in the master suite where you keep sacred. I could get past all of that because I know this is for Becca, too. But what I can no longer overlook is the fact that you’ll share my bed, you’ll even put a ring on my finger, but you don’t truly see me as your wife. I’m your sex partner and Becca’s caretaker.”