Loe raamatut: «Courting The Cowboy»

Chapter One

Ella tossed the pencil onto the kitchen counter with a clatter, glaring at the doodles on her sketch pad. She’d been working all morning trying to capture the image in her mind but all she could create was pages of dark scribbles, a grocery list and a cartoon of her dog. None of which bore any resemblance to the eerie forest she had envisioned.

It used to come easier.

Before.

She shook off the thoughts and closed her sketch pad. If you’ve got nothing, you’ve got nothing. Move, get out and get something.

The voice of her art instructor in her head wasn’t any consolation. Ella had been painting and producing for years and she’d never had...nothing. It was mostly the past two years that she felt empty and uninspired.

She thought moving to this cabin, nestled in the Porcupine Hills of Alberta, would jump-start her moribund creativity. The low price was perfect for her. Her reduced income, thanks to her inactive creative life, had narrowed her options. When her mother called her to tell her about this place she encouraged Ella to take it.

Behind her mother’s suggestion was the unsubtle hint that Ella start producing. Ella knew what was on the line. She had applied to L’école des Arts Créatifs, an art school attached to a prominent art gallery in Montreal for a position as a teacher. One of the conditions was that she come up with a series of new works for the gallery.

So Ella signed a six-month lease on the cabin, packed up her apartment in Calgary and moved here.

That was when she discovered that the owner of the ranch where the cabin was located, an elderly man named Boyce Walsh, lived in town. And that his son and three young grandkids were the ones who lived in the other house on the yard. She didn’t need the distraction but by then it was too late to back out of the lease. She had given her notice at her other apartment, and other than moving in with her mother, which wasn’t an option at all, she had no recourse but to move.

Boyce had assured her the kids would leave her alone, and they did. It wasn’t that she didn’t like kids. But lately they created a sadness she didn’t want to face.

“What do you figure, Pablo?” she said to the dog lying on the floor at her feet as she slid off the stool she was perched on. “Time for some coffee?”

Pablo lifted his large head, his brown eyes staring at her as if trying to decide what he wanted, then unexpectedly he stood and trotted to the door, his bushy tail curved over his back as he released a single bark.

Ella got up to see what he was barking at, then frowned as she saw, through the glass window in the door, a flustered-looking young woman standing on her step. She wore snug blue jeans and a tight blue T-shirt that said Awesome Ends with Me. She had one hand on the shoulder of a young boy who seemed to be about seven and was all skinny arms and legs sticking out of cargo shorts and a button-down short-sleeved shirt. The younger girl beside him looked to be about six and was chewing on one end of a loose braid, her pink sundress hanging crooked on her tiny frame.

The children from the main ranch house down the road, she assumed, her heart taking a swan dive.

She sucked in a deep breath, stilled her rapidly beating heart and put on what she hoped was a pleasant expression as she opened the door.

“Good afternoon, what can I do for you?” she asked, looking directly at the young woman, her heart rate increasing even more when she noticed the toddler clinging to the woman’s hand, wispy blond hair framing a chubby face. Ella guessed he was two years old. Almost the same age—

She cut her thoughts off as the kids dropped to their knees in front of Pablo before she could warn them to be careful.

“Oh, look at the dog.”

“She’s so pretty.”

To Ella’s surprise, Pablo, who wasn’t used to children at all, closed his eyes and leaned in as they stroked his thick fur.

“Paul. Suzy. Be careful. You don’t know what the dog will do,” the young girl warned.

“She’s really quiet.” The boy, who Ella assumed was named Paul, looked from the young woman then up to Ella, flashing her a gap-toothed smile, his dark hair slicked down. “What’s her name?”

“Actually he’s a he, he’s a Malamute and his name is Pablo.” Her voice came out strained as she struggled to get a grip on her fluctuating emotions.

“Well, miss, I need your help,” the young woman was saying, flicking her long brown hair away from her face, her mouth working at her chewing gum while she spoke. “I applied for another job and I’m supposed to start this afternoon.”

“So why are you telling me this?”

“My name is Adana by the way and I need you to watch the kids. I called Cord, the kids’ dad, and he said he would come right away but he’s not here and if I don’t go now I could lose this job. It’s a great office job and they’re hard to find in Cedar Ridge so I gotta go pronto or I’ll lose my chance.”

Ella tried to keep up with her breathless chatter but all she caught was “watch the kids.”

No. She couldn’t do this. Not a chance.

But before she could say anything Adana knelt down in front of the toddler. “Hey, Ollie, you be a good boy for—” Adana looked up at Ella who was still trying to absorb what was going on. “What’s your name again?”

“Ella Langton,” she said automatically, her own emotions a tumble of pain and concern as she clasped her arms around her midsection struggling to articulate her protest. Pablo, however, was eating up the attention with low grunts of pleasure.

“That’s just like Elsa except for the Langton part,” the little girl called out, her smile broad and toothless. “From Frozen. Do you have a sister named Anna?”

“So, kids, Miss Langton will be watching you,” Adana said before Ella could tell Suzy that no, she didn’t have a sister. “Paul and Suzy, you listen and take care of Ollie, okay? Your dad will be here right away. And remember, no cookies.”

“Wait a minute,” Ella shouted as Adana spun around and jogged down the stairs. “You can’t just leave—”

“Tell Cord I’m sorry.” Her insincere apology floated in the breeze behind her as she hurried toward her vehicle.

Ella called out one more futile protest but Adana was already reversing out of the drive in her little red car, sending up a roiling cloud of dust as she sped toward the joint driveway leading to the road to town.

Ollie’s lower lip stuck out and his eyes welled with tears. But he didn’t make a sound, which made his sorrow even harder to deal with.

“Can we come in?” Suzy looked up at her, her cheeks pink and eyes bright with excitement. “My grandpa said we’re not allowed to come into the house but I think it’s so cute. I just love it.”

“I... I don’t...know...” she floundered, her head and heart battling with each other and an anger with Miss Adana swirling through it all.

“Adana said my dad is coming right away,” Suzy assured her as if she understood Ella’s hesitation. “We won’t make a mess and we’ll make sure Ollie is quiet.”

Ella’s gaze slid back to Ollie and the sight of him standing there, in silent misery, hooked into her wounded heart. A trembling began deep in her soul. She wanted to run. To leave.

But how could she with three small children looking up at her expectantly, one of them on the verge of tears?

“Can we come in?” Suzy pressed.

Ella looked behind her at the house that still held boxes from her move, then at the kids. “I’m not completely moved in yet.”

But Suzy seemed to assume that meant yes. She grabbed Ollie’s hand and dragged the reluctant toddler inside.

“Do you have any snacks?” Paul asked as he followed his sister, hands in his pockets, looking around the house.

“Remember, Adana said no cookies,” Suzy warned, one hand still clutching her little brother’s.

“But Adana is gone,” Paul said in a matter-of-fact voice. “And Daddy isn’t here, either.” He glanced over at Ella. “My dad won’t let us have sweets.”

“Sorry, I don’t have any candy or anything like that,” Ella said, still standing by the door, one arm clasped around her midsection, the other resting on Pablo’s head. She wished she didn’t feel uncomfortable around these little people. Ollie, especially, created an unwelcome rift in her heart.

Her dog released a gentle whine, then pulled away from her, padding toward the children.

“Grandpa Walsh lets us have snacks when my daddy isn’t around,” Paul said, stroking Pablo again, holding the dog’s massive head between his thin hands. “He says my dad is too strict.”

Then the sound of a truck snagged her attention as another vehicle roared onto her yard and stopped where Adana’s car had once been.

A tall man stepped out, slender, broad shoulders, cowboy hat, blue jeans and twill shirt rolled up over his forearms. He looked around, his head swiveling and then stopping when he noticed Ella standing in the doorway.

“Are my kids with you?” he called out.

The father, Ella guessed. Cord Walsh. She hadn’t met him, either, preferring to keep to herself.

“They’re in the house,” she said as he strode toward her.

He was taller than she had expected. Lean, his face shadowed by stubble, his eyes a piercing aqua and right now they were like lasers. His jaw was clenched, his hands balled into fists, swinging in time with his determined stride.

The children must have heard him because they came to stand beside her.

“Where is Adana?” he asked the kids, snatching Ollie up in his arms, cuddling him close. “Why did she leave you guys here?” His ice-blue eyes ticked over the kids and then landed on Ella as if it was her fault they were there.

“She said she got a real job,” Paul said in a matter-of-fact tone, seemingly unfazed by his father’s harsh voice, his narrowed eyes. “And we were going to visit with Miss Ella and she has this cool dog.”

Cord drew Ollie closer as the little boy, sensing his father’s anger, started crying in earnest, fat tears rolling down his cheeks, sobs spilling from his mouth.

“It’s okay, buddy. I’ve got you.” Cord’s voice melted immediately, turning soft and tender. He tucked the little head into his neck, pressing his cheek against the little boy’s.

The gesture and the soothing sound of his voice weaseled their way into Ella’s lonely soul. That a man could speak so gently to a child so soon after being seemingly consumed by anger surprised her.

She couldn’t keep her eyes off him or the child he held. And each created opposite emotions. Appeal and withdrawal.

She was about to look away when those eerily green eyes connected with hers. And for a moment something indefinable sparked between them.

She shook it off. Being married to Darren had taught her hard lessons about trust.

Then she stole another glimpse at the child in his arms, an even starker reminder of why she had to keep her distance. The churning in her stomach eased away any attraction he might hold. He had kids and there was no way she could travel down that road, her own grief snapping at her heels.

“Paul. Suzy. We should get back to the house,” Cord said to his children. “You have homework to do.”

“But, Dad, she has a cool dog,” Paul protested, then looked over at Ella. “Please? Can we stay and play with Pablo?” He grabbed her hand, looking up at her with pleading eyes.

Then before she could stop herself, she pulled her hand back from his. As soon as she saw the hurt look on his face she felt horrible. But her action was instinctive.

“I’m sure Miss Langton has her own work to do,” Cord said, coming unwittingly to her rescue, the narrowing of his eyes showing Ella that he had caught her retreat from his son.

She wanted to explain, but why bother? She would talk to Boyce. Ask him to please make sure the children didn’t come there again.

Cord rested a hand on Paul’s shoulder, easing him toward their house. “Thanks for watching them,” he said, his voice holding the faintest edge.

You don’t understand, she wanted to say, wishing she wasn’t so concerned about his opinion.

Instead Ella clasped her hands together and took a step back, giving him a tight nod.

Finally Cord left, holding Ollie in his arms, Paul and Suzy trailing along behind, looking back over their shoulders at Pablo.

“Let’s go, Pablo,” Ella said, holding the door open for him to come back into the house.

But he was whining softly, watching the children leave, his tail waving slowly as if telegraphing his regret.

Then before she could stop him, he bounded down the stairs after the kids.

“Pablo, come back here,” she called out, hurrying down the steps after him.

He hesitated but then Paul squealed his pleasure and ran toward the dog just as Pablo ran to meet him.

They collided and Paul went down. Pablo barked, straddling the boy, licking his face.

Cord spun around just at that moment and, from the look of horror on his face, Ella sensed what he was thinking and realized how it might look to him.

“Pablo, heel,” she called out.

Cord quickly set Ollie down and he wailed his protest as Cord hurried to where Paul and Pablo were wrestling. Paul was laughing and Suzy joined in.

“Kids. Get away from that dog,” Cord shouted as he reached out to catch Pablo’s collar.

“Don’t,” Ella yelled. “Don’t grab him.”

Cord listened just as Pablo jumped back and barked again. But he was facing Cord now and his bark held a tone of warning.

Please, Lord, let him listen, Ella prayed.

“Pablo, heel,” she called again as her dog faced down Cord. “Heel.”

Finally he heard her and returned to her side.

She grabbed him by the collar and turned his head to look at her, establishing her dominance over him. “Down. Now.”

He sat down, looking at her, awaiting further instructions.

“I can’t say I like this situation,” Cord said, his tone angry as he picked up Ollie, who was now sobbing his little heart out.

Ella knew anything she would have to say would be a waste of breath. Instead she turned back to the house, pulling Pablo along with her.

She was relieved that he behaved himself as she led him inside and closed the door, heaving out a sigh.

As first impressions went, that one was not good.

* * *

“I love that dog,” Paul said as Cord ushered his kids into his house, disappointed at how shaky he still felt. “I wish we could have a dog.”

“You need to stay away from Miss Langton’s house,” Cord said, frustrated at the harsh tone that edged his voice.

Cord’s own heart was still thundering in his chest at the memory of that huge dog straddling his son. Ollie must have sensed his fear because as soon as he picked up the little guy again, Ollie cried even louder.

Trouble was, his heart was pounding for another reason that he was loathe to acknowledge. Though he had heard about Ella from his grandfather, he had imagined someone a whole lot different. Someone artsy looking—and older.

Not a young woman with large, expressive brown eyes and auburn hair that seemed to glow.

He knew he’d been a jerk. Seeing her had created a confusing mix of emotions he knew he couldn’t indulge in. It was easier to make it sound like he was more worried about the dog than her.

He brushed aside the clothes his kids had draped over the couch and sat down. Cuddling his sobbing son, the reality of his situation drowned out any thoughts he might have of their attractive neighbor.

Adana had called at the worst possible time. Cord was hassling with the mayor, trying to get the wording of their grant application right. His uncle George was being difficult and wrangling with Helen, the group’s secretary, who was trying not to snap back at either of them. The meeting was falling apart and he could see the entire project going south.

And that couldn’t happen.

After Adana’s call he had tried to get hold of his father, but Boyce wasn’t answering his cell phone. Or he had left it behind, as he was prone to do. So Cord cut the stressful meeting short and hurried home, only to end up worrying about their new neighbor’s dog and how Ella had reacted to Paul’s gesture of friendship.

And not only that, his house looked like the victim of a frustrated burglar. Adana had done nothing today.

He dropped his head on the back of the couch, shifting a still-crying Oliver, the little guy’s cries cutting through the headache that hovered all day.

Too much work and not enough time.

Tomorrow was Sunday, which meant a visit to the kids’ other grandparents. Monday he had another meeting to finish up what they didn’t get done today. He had to move his cows but tax time was looming, so Tuesday he needed to work in the office. The day after that was another meeting with the Milk River Rodeo Association to discuss Cedar Ridge’s proposal to be part of their rodeo circuit. But the Association had balked, claiming there wouldn’t be enough support, asking them to do more studies. Which meant more work for Cord and the Cedar Ridge Rodeo Group. It was work his wife was intensely involved in until her untimely death two years ago.

But it was getting more difficult to juggle his family and the workload plus ranch work. Now his nanny quit just as spring break for his kids was starting.

“I’m hungry, Daddy,” Suzy said. “Can I have a snack?”

“No, honey. It’s getting close to supper time,” Cord said, stroking Ollie’s head as the toddler’s cries finally eased off.

“But I’m hungry now.” Suzy dropped onto the floor and glared at him.

“Please get up, honey. You’ll make your dress dirty.” The floor didn’t look much better than the counter. What had Adana been doing all day?

He probably knew the answer to that one. Checking Snapchat and texting her friends.

Suzy stayed where she was. “I don’t care about my dress,” she said, pouting. “I want something to eat.”

Cord bit back the reprimand that immediately jumped to the fore. The kids were upset. Well, so was he. Adana was the fourth nanny he’d had since Ollie was born. The first one was a friend of the family who got pregnant, the other two he’d fired for incompetence. Adana had only been around a couple of months but came close to getting fired too.

He knew this wasn’t good for the kids. The past two years their lives had been full of confusion and changes. They were probably still dealing with the fallout of Lisa’s death.

He knew he sure was.

He unclenched his jaw and relaxed. “That’s no way to talk to Daddy,” he said to Suzy, keeping his voice even. “And you’re not getting a snack right now. We’ll be eating in an hour and I don’t want you to spoil your appetite.”

“It won’t. I promise.”

“And where have I heard that before,” he muttered, setting Ollie down while cringing at the cracker crumbs and bits of cereal sprinkled over the floor. Ollie fussed again and Cord guessed from the way his mouth was curving downward, things would escalate.

Cord headed to the cupboard to get a bottle started. He knew Ollie was getting too old for that but these days it was the only thing he took and it was the only way for Cord to maintain his sanity.

He opened the cupboard but there were no baby bottles.

“Suzy, do you know where Ollie’s bottles are?”

“I think in the crib,” she said, still sulking on the floor. “Adana put him in bed all morning, but he kept crying so I kept bringing him bottles.”

Cord banked another rush of anger with Adana and her laziness. Probably wasn’t the worst thing that she was gone.

But still.

He looked over at Paul, who sat quietly at the table coloring. His little people pleaser. Suzy was now lying on the floor, arms and legs spread out like a starfish, deliberately ignoring his previous request to get up.

His little boundary pusher. Just like her mom.

Ollie pushed himself to his feet, and started teetering toward Cord.

“Suzy, can you please go upstairs and get a bottle from the crib for Ollie?” he said, bending over to pick him up before he began another full-scale crying onslaught.

Suzy slumped her shoulders and flopped her arms in disgust. But, thankfully, she trudged up the stairs adjoining the kitchen.

“What’s for supper?” Paul asked, looking up from the drawing he was working on.

“I planned chicken, potatoes, broccoli and a salad.” At least that was the menu he had set out for Adana to prepare.

But a check of the refrigerator showed him no chicken was thawing and as far as he could tell no potatoes had been brought up from the cold storage off the garage. He’d have to go get them himself. And from the way Ollie was pouting, he’d have to take the little guy with him.

“Suzy, do you have the bottles yet?”

She showed up at the top of the stairs, no bottle in hand but holding another dress. “I want to change,” she announced.

He stifled a groan of frustration and dug way down, trying to think of what Lisa would say. She’d always had more patience than he did.

“Please, just bring down Ollie’s bottles,” he said, forcing a stiff smile to his face.

She rolled her eyes and flounced off.

Ten minutes later, two complaining kids in tow and lugging a content Ollie who was noisily sucking on a bottle, Cord headed out the door to the root cellar just off the garage.

The sun was sinking toward the horizon and a cool breeze sifted around the buildings, remnants of the winter chill that had finally given way to a reluctant spring season.

In a month Ollie would be two. In a month he and the kids would be visiting Lisa’s grave again.

His heart clenched as it always did when he thought of his wife.

And the little boy now perched on his hip. He remembered too well that day of the car accident that took Lisa’s life. The sight of his wife, so cold and still in her hospital bed after he made the heartbreaking call to deliver Oliver prematurely and then, even harder, to stop all medical intervention.

A week later he took Oliver back to the ranch and he began his life as a widower and father of three.

A bark sounded behind him and he turned to see Ella and her dog heading toward the road.

“Pablo,” his kids shouted, spinning around and running toward them.

“Suzy. Paul. Come back here,” Cord called out, dropping his pail and trying to intercept them.

Pablo barked, jumping up against the leash that Ella had him on. His tail wagged as he jumped again.

“Down,” Ella commanded her voice firm, and to Cord’s surprise the huge dog settled on his haunches whining, his tail flicking back and forth like a plume in the dust.

Paul and Suzy had slowed their steps as Cord caught up to them.

“Don’t run away from me like that.” His eyes ticked from the dog to his children and, against his will, to Ella.

She had her hair pulled back now, anchored by a ball cap. But that only seemed to enhance her large, expressive eyes.

“I’ve got the dog on a leash,” she said, the tone of her voice holding an edge as she looked from the kids to him. “He didn’t go running to the kids.”

“I understand,” he said, realizing where part of her prickliness came from. “And I appreciate your diligence.”

Ella wound her dog’s leash around her hand once more as if to show him that she had her dog under control. “He’s a good dog.”

He’s a big dog, he wanted to say.

“I hate to put you on the spot,” he said, feeling that he needed to lay some ground rules with their new tenant, “but I have some concerns with my children being around him, so I would have to ask if you could tie him up if he’s outside.”

Ella lifted her chin in a defensive gesture. “Boyce assured me that the children wouldn’t come—” She stopped there, biting her lip as she looked down at Suzy and Paul who were still stroking her dog’s head.

He guessed that his dad told her the kids wouldn’t get in her way and he figured from her reaction to Paul, Suzy and Ollie that she didn’t like kids.

Which was probably a good thing. She was far too attractive and, of late, he’d been getting lonely. His friend Owen had been pushing him to date. Put himself out there. But he had his children to think of and he wasn’t doing anything to jeopardize their well-being.

“I understand what you’re saying,” he said, a cool note entering his voice.

Though in spite of that he glanced her way again, flustered to see her doing the same.

He shook off his reaction and called out to the kids just as an old, rusty pickup came down the drive.

“It’s Grandpa,” Suzy and Paul called out, their gnat-like attention spans turning to his father. They ran to the truck as he got out, holding a bag.

“What did you get for us, Grandpa?” they asked, grabbing his hands and dancing alongside him as he limped toward Cord.

“What do you think I got, Suzy Q?” he asked, tweaking Suzy’s nose and tapping Paul on the cowlick that Cord could never get under control.

“Candy. Candy,” they both chanted.

Boyce glanced over at Cord with an apologetic shrug, then walked over to Ella, holding out one gnarled hand.

“Good to see you again, Miss Langton,” he said in his best aw-shucks manner.

In his heyday Boyce Walsh was a rodeo bull rider who still bore the scars and limp of a bad wreck that ended his career. Boyce and his brother, George, inherited the ranch from their father who, along with his brothers, had in turn inherited it from their father. Both Boyce and George had expanded their ranches, as had their cousins. Walshes had lived in Cedar Ridge even before the town was officially established.

Cord’s brother, Morgan, and sister, Amber, had both moved away, but Cord had stayed to help his father work the ranch, living the life he’d always wanted, carrying on the Walsh family tradition.

“Hope you’re getting settled in?” his father asked Ella, still holding her hand.

“A few things to unpack but otherwise it’s coming.” She gave his father a wide smile that lit up her face and Cord could see that Ella had, like so many others, been taken in by his father’s effortless charm.

And to his own disappointment, the change in her voice and manner created an unwelcome quiver of attraction in him.

“Kids not bothering you too much, I hope?” he asked, glancing down at Suzy and Paul. “I warned them to leave you alone.”

“No. It’s fine,” Ella said, her voice reverting to the cool tone he had heard before that told him it wasn’t.