To Court a Cowgirl (5 page)

“And I blame Derek as much as I blame Zach.”

Allie sat in the small chair on the other side of the table. She reached out and touched Liz's hand. Liz and her husband had broken up less than a year ago and their high-school-age son, Zach, had been coping fairly well until his dad moved his new girlfriend onto the family ranch a few weeks ago and told Liz that he didn't think that Zach should work for him as planned that spring.

“Now I wish I hadn't encouraged him to graduate early so that he could work for his dad...and now I know why Derek kept putting off having Zach move to the ranch.”

It was not a good situation and there wasn't one thing Allie, the problem solver, could do about it, except listen.

“At least I have the day to cool off before I deal with him.” Liz looked up at the ceiling briefly as if blinking back tears.

“I'm so sorry,” Allie said. “If I can do anything to help...let me know.” Although she couldn't think of anything she could do, except to listen, and she was happy to do that.

“Will do.” Liz got to her feet and headed for the lower elementary science section while Allie booted up her computer. A few minutes later, her friend left the library with the butterfly books and Allie let out a sigh before focusing back on her keyboard.

She knew how rough it was to get divorced, but she could only imagine what it felt like to have a failed marriage affect your child.

* * *

B
Y
THE
TIME
Allie returned from work, Jason was feeling more in control—almost to the point of being ready to go home and take a few hits. Kate had texted him earlier to say that she was leaving Max in Uncle Jimmy's capable hands and all Jason could think was that it served Jimmy right for being in cahoots with his father. Let him get a taste of the wrath of Max.

Allie went straight into the house after parking, but he figured she'd be out to inspect soon. It took her longer than he'd expected, but eventually she came out of the house dressed in jeans and a V-neck T-shirt that looked pretty damned good on her. Her long blond hair was caught in a messy knot that gave her a disheveled, just-tumbled-out-of-bed look that could spark a fantasy or two if he allowed himself. And then she spoke.

“This is taking longer than I thought it would.”

“It'd go faster if I didn't take those naps in the afternoon.”

Her head snapped around and then color rose from the neckline of her shirt as she realized he was playing her.

“If you mess with the boss, she'll dock your pay,” she said. She propped a hand on her hip, looking him up and down. “But you're here more for the workout than the paycheck, right?”

“Allie?”

“Yes?”

“Why are you being so snarky toward me?”

She frowned as her lips parted. But she didn't say anything. He held her gaze, refusing to let her off the hook. She moistened her lips. “I, uh, am perhaps taking my day out on you?”

A question. As in “Would you accept this as an explanation?” No, he would not.

“I know you explained it all in detail in Culver Ranch and Feed, but I admit, I still don't get where all the animosity is coming from. Do you hate all football players?”

“I...”

“Or all people with money?”

“Just those that try to buy my ranch when it isn't for sale.” She'd gotten an unexpected toehold.

“I don't want your ranch anymore. So maybe you can quit sniping at me.”

Another pause, then she said slowly, “All right,” sounding as if she hadn't been aware she had been sniping at him. Or maybe that was how she treated the men in her life. Maybe that was why she was divorced...but he didn't think so.

This had something to do with him personally and he wanted to know what and why, but now was not the time. “Thanks,” he said easily.

“No problem,” she replied stiffly.

Yeah, he decided as he loaded his tools a few minutes later, patience was a good thing and he was going to be patient with Ms. Allie Brody. Because as odd as it seemed, this job was one of the few bright spots in his life right now.

* * *

A
LLIE
STRODE
OFF
to the house after Jason started loading his man toys in the truck. Once inside, she pulled out the band that had held the knot in her hair and shook her head. Better.

Why
was
she being so snarky toward him?

Easy answer. Because he put her on edge. He'd been tall, good-looking and well-muscled in high school, but ten years later he'd acquired an aura of casual sensuality that was flat-out doing things to her every time they came into contract. Things she didn't want done to her. What choice did she have but to defend herself with snark?

She could keep her distance. Check his work after he left.

Yeah. That would be the safest way to handle things. Just stay away. Then she wouldn't be catching herself ogling him when she should be discussing the job.

She turned on her computer and checked to see if Dani had sent any new photos of her little niece, Clarice. Nothing. Damn. She could have used a good niece fix. She fired off touch-base emails to her mother and all three of her sisters, then shut down her computer and sat listening to the silence.

This was not what life after Kyle was supposed to be like. Living in the house where she'd been so unhappy, distracted by a man whom she had nothing in common with. A pro football player? Really?

Former pro.

All the same. When she'd finally hit her breaking point five years after being wed—four of which had been spent with her eyes wide shut as she supported her husband in endeavor after endeavor while the ranch fell down around them—her life was supposed to move forward. Yet here she was living in a house from her past, employing a man from her past. Working at the job she'd trained for, yet coming home feeling empty and unsatisfied.

She needed to give her life strategy some serious thought. And in the meantime, she was going to check for new calves. She'd just headed out the door when a car pulled into the driveway and once again she became aware of just how alone she was on the Lightning Creek. If trouble came, what means did she have available to deal with it?

And as the car pulled to a stop she realized that trouble had indeed just showed up in the form of her former father-in-law, Ray Largent.

She was definitely getting a dog. A big one. With lots of big teeth.

“Hi, honey,” Ray said as he got out of his car.

Honey, her ass. Ray had been the one pushing Kyle to get a part of the Lightning Creek in the divorce settlement. And when he didn't get the real estate, he settled for everything he could get on the place, even going so far as to haul off an antique tractor that had belonged to her grandfather. The tractor was back and Kyle was gone, working in another part of the state.

But Ray was here.

Allie didn't say hello. She wasn't one for playing games. She and Ray knew where they stood with one another and he could waste energy playing nice, if he wanted, but she wasn't going to.

“The ranch isn't for sale, Ray.”

“Kyle's been hurt. Earlier today.”

Allie felt the blood drain out of her face. “How?”

“Car accident while he was coming home from a job interview.” Kyle had been a deputy sheriff while they'd been married, but he'd quit over a year ago to seek out the big bucks in the oil boom on the other side of the state. Rumor had it he'd recently been fired, and now Ray had all but confirmed it.

“I'm so sorry,” she said.

“He wanted me to tell you in person.”

“How bad...?” From Ray's tone she was starting to fear permanent injury.

“Neck damage. Broken ribs and some sprains. He's in a lot of pain.”

“But he'll recover?” Allie asked, needing to hear that he would. She had issues with Kyle, but she didn't want anything to happen to him. Once upon a time she'd thought she loved him.

“With time.”

Allie swallowed and raised her chin. “Thank you for coming by, Ray. I appreciate not hearing this secondhand.”

“He'd, uh, like it if you stopped by to see him. The boy has had a lot of time to think.”

Allie felt as if she were a split second away from hyperventilation. She was sorry Kyle was hurt, but they were done. How could it possibly help him if she visited?

“I know he's been wrong in the past, but it would make him feel better.”

“I'll think about it,” Allie finally said.

“Thank you.” Ray spoke so sincerely that Allie felt like a jerk for not instantly saying she'd see him. But she needed to think. “He's at Our Lady of the Mountains Hospital. He'll be there for some time.”

Allie pressed her lips together and nodded. “Our Lady of the Mountains. Thank you.”

Ray got into his car and with a lift of his hand, drove away, leaving Allie standing in her driveway, feeling like hell.

CHAPTER FIVE

M
AX
HAD
LOST
a little of his fight after his day with Jimmy. Jason didn't know whether to be suspicious or relieved. He decided to go with relieved, although he couldn't come up with any good reason for his father's change of attitude. Maybe Jimmy had explained reality to him...

Naw.

Jimmy was more likely to come up with a new scheme. Whatever the cause, Jason enjoyed his evening, which he spent watching a Giants game with the old man.

“How's your job?” Max asked during the seventh inning.

“Slow, but it'll get done.”

“Don't know why you don't bring in the equipment.”

“She can't afford it.”

“Yet she can afford to pay you an hourly wage.”

Minimum wage, but he wasn't going to tell his dad that. Max already thought his job was beyond stupid. “When she runs out of money, I'm done until she gets more.”

Max stared at him as if he'd lost his mind. “Do you have the hots for her or something? Because there's easier ways to get women.”

Jason debated. “She's attractive...but she's not real fond of professional athletes.” And she had a chip on her shoulder the size of Kansas. He'd love to know why.

Max shook his head and focused on the game. Nothing more was said about Allie Brody or the barn. Jason sent Pat another text while watching the game, but again received no response. Finally he called and was put straight through to voice mail. He was contemplating his next move when the text came in.

I'm fine.

Good to know.

Jason's mouth tightened as he set down the phone, wishing he had his old friend back. This new Pat, he wasn't sure what to do with him, but the one thing he wouldn't do was abandon him. Too bad Pat made it so difficult to stick with him.

* * *

J
ASON
DIDN
'
T
KNOW
if Allie expected him to show up on Saturday, but he much preferred pulling nails and sorting boards to hanging around the house, so he headed off to work at the usual time. When he got to the ranch, he parked near the rubble pile and pulled the bucket of tools out of the back.

“Jason?”

Allie appeared from around the corner of the canvas building. She looked both out of breath and relieved to see him. “I need help.” She looked as if she half expected him to turn her down.

“With what?”

“A calf.”

“Sure.” He could chase a calf or hold a calf or whatever she needed doing. She gestured for him to follow her to the pasture where the cattle grazed, stopping at the gate to pick up a bucket she'd left there. She opened the gate and held it while he passed through, a quizzical frown on his face. The stuff in the bucket looked medical—medieval medical, because there were chains in there.

“I appreciate you doing this. This way I won't have to get the jack.”

He didn't have to pretend to understand what she was talking about because she was already on her way across the field to where a cow lay on her side. As they got closer, he could see that she was straining, in the process of giving birth.

Allie set the bucket near the business end of the cow and pulled on a pair of surgical gloves. She didn't hand him a pair, so he figured he was good. He was also a touch apprehensive about his role. He'd seen puppies born once and that movie in sex ed, but birthing wasn't a common occurrence in his world. Judging from the cool way in which Allie was pouring disinfectant over the rear end of the cow and what he could only think of as the feet, it was a common occurrence in hers. She looked up at him, her blond ponytail sliding over her shoulder.

“Hand me the chains, okay?”

Jason reached in the bucket and pulled out what looked like a long choke chain for a dog.

“Have you done this before?” she asked, taking the chains from him.

He shook his head, but she wasn't looking at him as she expertly looped the ends around one small ankle, so he said, “Uh, no.”

“It's easy. I just hope we're in time. This is one big baby and I don't know how long she's been down. She was pretty exhausted when I found her this morning.”

“I see.”

She attached the chain to the other ankle, having to reach inside the cow a little to get the job done. Jason realized that he was grimacing as he watched and forced his face to relax. No worse than a compound fracture and he'd seen a couple of those.

“Now you take hold of the middle, right here—” she handed him the chain “—and when I say to pull, you apply a steady pressure. We are not jerking the calf out of the cow, we're just helping her along. Understand?”

“Yeah.” A wave of sweat broke over his forehead.

“When I say release, just keep the baby from sliding back in.”

Allie started massaging the area where the feet were sticking out, then she said, “Pull. Gently.”

Jason pulled and a bit more leg showed, and then a nose, maybe.

“Let up.”

He let up, but kept enough pressure to keep the baby where it was. It truly did want to slide back inside.

“Pull,” Allie said, reaching in the cow a little to put her hand over the calf's head. “Let up.” She tore open the slimy bag that covered the calf's nose and a long bluish tongue lolled out. Jason was grimacing again and he didn't try to stop. “Pull.”

Jason pulled. Once the head had emerged, the rest of the body slipped out in a rush of fluid and flopped onto the grass.

Allie's shoulders sank in relief. “It's alive.” She unhooked the chains, then stood up as the mom looked over her shoulder at her new baby.

“Best stand back.” Allie shot a look at him and then the corners of her mouth twitched. “First birth?” she asked dryly.

Jason shrugged, feeling distinctly out of his element. “I saw puppies born once. I was six.”

She laughed as she dropped the chains in the bucket. It wasn't a full-on share-the-mirth laugh, but it was a start.

“Were all of these—” he gestured at the two older calves lying side by side in the grass near their grazing mothers “—born like this?”

“No. They came out the usual way. This mom's a heifer—first birth. They have trouble sometimes.”

Well, the cow seemed to be getting into motherhood now, licking her calf all over as the little guy started squirming. “What would have happened if I wasn't here?” he asked.

“I would have gotten the jack.”

“I don't want to know.”

She laughed again as she peeled off the gloves and dropped them into the bucket on top of the chains, but when she raised her gaze back up to his, her expression grew serious. “Thank you for the help.”

“Not a problem.”

“After our discussion yesterday, I kind of thought—”

“Let's straighten a few things out, Allie.”

“What things?” She looked both wary and curious.

“I don't hold grudges. It's a waste of energy.” He held her gaze to make his point, noting that Allie's lips were pressed together, as if she were afraid of something slipping out. “I'm not the enemy, Allie. Never have been. Never will be.”

“I never thought of you as an enemy.”

“Or treated me like a friend.”

She gave a slow nod, pressing her lips even more tightly together as she glanced down at the gravel between them. When she looked back up at him he was struck by the shift in her expression, as if she'd just made a momentous decision. She drew in a breath and said, “Would you like to come to the house for a cup of coffee?”

A half smile lifted one corner of his mouth. “Thank you, Allie. I'd like that.”

* * *

J
ASON
FOLLOWED
A
LLIE
into the house and sat down at the table after washing up. She poured him a cup of coffee from the stainless steel carafe she'd filled before going out to check on the cows that morning, her mind racing as she tried to get a handle on this situation. The one she'd taken pains not to think too much about, despite their previous conversation on the matter. As in how much her less-than-friendly attitude had to do with her preconceived notions about Jason, and how much it had to do with the fact that she found him ridiculously attractive.

Definitely a mash-up of the two, but she was still trying to put her life back on track and it wasn't fair that he should suddenly appear and introduce unwelcome thoughts and sensations.

It also wasn't fair for her to take her frustrations out on him...even if he did cause them.

Jason took the cup she handed him and then waited until she'd sat down before taking a slow sip. Allie did the same, acutely aware that she was horrible at making small talk because she had no patience for small talk. But something needed to be said. The elephant in the room was growing larger.

“Kind of reminds me of our chess matches,” he finally said.

Allie choked a little and set her cup down. “You intimidated me.”

“Right back at you.”

“Bull.”

He shrugged his big shoulders and settled back in his chair. “I'm not going to lie to you, Allie. Birthing that calf was gross.”

“Birth is not gross.” And wasn't she thankful for the sudden shift in topic?

“Did you somehow miss that blue tongue? Or all the gunk that came out?” He spoke seriously, frowning a little for emphasis, but warmth lit his eyes and Allie found herself wanting to smile.

Do not be charmed. Stop now.
“All I saw was an addition to my herd instead of a loss.”

“Do you have many losses?”

“We used to have more until we started calving later in the season.”

“It seems to me that you'd want to have them later. When it's warm.”

Allie smiled a little. “Not if you're selling them. You want them to have as much growing time as possible before they go to market, which is why most ranchers calve in February. March at the latest. We're missing out in some ways by calving in April and May, but making up for it in others.”

Jason frowned at her. “It's got to be nerve-racking, going to work and wondering if your cows might need a midwife.”

“That's just how it is for a part-time rancher.”

“Do you think you'll ever become a full-time rancher?”

“No. As soon as one of my sisters comes home, I'll move elsewhere.”

“Out of the Eagle Valley?”

“Maybe. But definitely off the ranch.”

“You don't like it here?”

“I didn't say that.”

“No,” he agreed. “You didn't.”

But her tone and her body language had. After reminding herself that she didn't need to protect herself from Jason, that he wasn't the enemy, she said, “The ranch and I... We have our differences.”

Jason took another slow sip of coffee and when Allie didn't expand on her answer, he said, “My dad and I have our differences. I guess it happens to everyone.”

Allie smiled in acknowledgment, glad for the shift of subject. She was the only Brody sister who had issues with the ranch, but she was also the only sister to suffer tragedy there twice. One quick and devastating and the other slow and torturous.

“That's life. So...how has the Eagle Valley changed since you left?”

“I have been back a time or two.” He smiled ruefully. “But not that many. Mostly I was training or playing.” He stopped, as if analyzing his past, then his clear aqua gaze met hers. “A lot has changed. For one thing I miss the old movie theater. That new thing at the edge of town is ugly.”

“Yes. I guess it was going to take too much money to bring the old theater up to code, so they shut it down.” Allie had also loved the historic brick theater with the balcony and classic early-twentieth-century woodwork. “You're right. The new one isn't the same.”

They finished their coffee while discussing the safe topic of local changes, and Allie told herself more than once that since she wasn't all that fascinated by hands, she could stop studying Jason's—but it was better than looking at his face as they spoke and finding herself thinking that he was simply too damned good-looking for words.

Finally Allie pushed back her chair and started tidying up the table, carrying the coffee cups to the counter. “I need to get going,” she said on an apologetic note. “I have to visit someone in the hospital.”

“And I need to get to work.” He started for the door, then stopped. “Do you have many more pregnant cows?”

“Fourteen.”

“You know that you can call me anytime you need help.”

“Thank you.” She smiled politely at him. What else could she do?

After Jason had gone, Allie finished wiping the table, then rinsed the cups. She did everything she could to keep from slowing down long enough to acknowledge that being around him shook her. She wasn't supposed to be thinking about guys. She was recovering from a guy. She needed to be thinking about making a future and not letting the ranch disintegrate while she was in command, as it tended to do.

After the kitchen was back in order, she grabbed her purse and went out to her car. She was going to see Kyle—and not because she felt guilty not doing it.

As she drove to the hospital, she told herself that this was a good thing to do. A way to prove to herself that she was done with that chapter of her life. Because she really had to move on past this bitterness. It was going on two years and she still felt anger toward the man—both for the promises he hadn't kept and for the crappy things he'd done after the divorce.

Kyle, as it turned out, looked terrible. Two black eyes, a swollen lip, but no stitches that she could see. His other injuries, whatever they might be—bruised and broken ribs and sprains, according to Ray—were hidden by the sheet covering him.

Allie took a few steps into the room, hating the smell, hating the circumstances that had her there. Hating that she'd come. And what did she say now that he'd focused on her? “How're you feeling?” wasn't appropriate.