Читать книгу The Cowboy's Christmas Courtship - Brenda Minton - Страница 11

Chapter Three

Gage pulled up to the Silver place the next morning. It was eight o’clock and he’d already been to the barn that morning. He’d fed horses, driven out to check on cattle grazing on the back part of the ranch and then he’d had a big breakfast. Jackson had showed up to work with some young bulls they were hoping to buck next spring.

He walked up to the square white house, just a box with wood siding, a fairly new metal roof and a front porch that could use a few new boards. The only sign of Christmas was the wreath on the front door. He guessed it was still early, barely December.

The house was silent. Gage knocked on the door twice. No one answered. He turned the doorknob. It was unlocked so he walked inside and walked from room to room. No sign of Brandon. He went back outside. Maybe the kid had actually gotten up early to feed for Layla. But Gage doubted it.

He walked out to the barn, his left leg stiff in the brace. It was going to be a long two months gimping around. The dog joined him. It wagged its tail, rolled over on its back for him to rub its belly. He obliged and then straightened to look around.

The few head of cattle were munching hay. He turned, scanning the horizon. That’s when he spotted a lone figure heading across the field in the direction of town.

“Good grief.” He shook his head and turned back to the truck. The dog followed. “Stay.”

The border collie sat, tail wagging, brushing dirt back and forth. He smiled at the dog. “Okay, you can go.”

The dog ran to his truck and jumped in the back. He doubted Layla would thank him for that. He’d call her later and let her know where the animal had gone. As he pulled down the drive he watched the figure getting smaller and smaller. Brandon had cut through the field and he was climbing the fence to get to the road. Gage hit the gas and took off, dust and gravel flying out behind his truck.

When he pulled up next to the kid, Brandon shot him a dirty look and kept walking. Gage rolled down his window.

“Get in.”

“I can’t. I told a friend I’d help him get some hay up today.”

“There isn’t anyone putting up hay at the end of November.” Gage stopped the truck. “Get in, now. If you don’t, I’ll call the police and we’ll see what they think about underage drinking.”

“Like you’ve never done it.” Brandon stopped. He stood at the side of the road, all anger and teenage rebellion.

“Right, well, I’ve done a lot I’m not proud of. But I never came home and puked on my mom’s floor.”

“She’s my sister, not my mom.” Brandon shot him a look and then looked back at the road ahead of him. “How’d you know?”

“I overheard Layla telling someone at the dinner last night. You know, she’s given up just about everything to stay home and take care of you. The least you could do is man up a little and help her out. She only got one semester of college in before she had to be a full-time mom to you. I don’t think she’s had much of a social life. She sure isn’t having a lot of fun.”

Brandon walked toward the truck. “Aren’t you the user who pretended you liked her back in high school?”

“I told you, I’ve done a lot I’m not proud of.”

“So now you get to tell me how to live? Maybe we could both get right with Jesus on Sunday.”

Gage whistled low. “You don’t really play fair.”

“No, I don’t. I just figure you aren’t really the best guy to be preaching at me.”

Gage opened his truck door fast, and Brandon jumped back, no longer grinning. “Get in the truck.”

Brandon’s hands went up in surrender, and he put distance between himself and Gage by walking around the truck to get in on the passenger side. Gage climbed back behind the wheel and shifted into gear. Neither of them talked for a while. As they were pulling up the drive of Cooper Creek Ranch, Brandon glanced in the back of the truck.

“Is that my dog?”

Gage pulled up to the barn. “Yeah, I guess it is.”

“What’s she doing here?”

“She acted like she didn’t want to be left at home alone today.”

“That’s crazy. Layla’s going to be pretty ticked if she comes home and the dog is gone.”

“I’ll call and tell her I have you and the dog.” He parked and got out of the truck. Brandon took his time joining him.

The side door of the barn opened, and Jackson walked out, his hat pulled low. He took off leather gloves and looked from Gage to Brandon before shaking his head. He shoved the gloves in his jacket pocket and waited.

“You two ready to work?” Jackson made strong eye contact with Brandon.

“Sure, why not.” Brandon edged past Jackson into the barn.

“Nice kid.” Jackson slapped Gage on the back. “The two of you can be surly together.”

“I’m not surly.” Gage strode past his brother, not much different from what Brandon had done. He watched him walk down the aisle between stalls, looking closely at the horses in the stalls.

“Nice horses.” Brandon stopped in front of the stall that belonged to the champion quarter horse Jackson and Lucky had bought a year or so back.

“Yeah, he’s nice all right. Don’t let Jackson catch you messing around with him.”

“Yeah, guess we could actually pay off the mortgage on the farm and then some with a horse like that.”

Mortgage. Gage tried to pretend he hadn’t heard the remark, but it settled in his mind, making him wonder what mortgage they could have on a nearly decrepit farmhouse and twenty acres of rough land.

Maybe that explained the dark circles under Layla’s eyes? Not that a guy was supposed to notice those things. He’d learned that lesson from his sisters the hard way.

“Where do we start?” Brandon moved on past the stallion to the office.

Gage followed him inside and watched as the teen took a seat and kicked back, his booted feet on the desk.

“Get your feet down.” Gage knocked Brandon’s feet off the desk. “First, we have steers needing to be vaccinated. We’ll drive them into a round pen on the twenty where they’re pastured.”

“Fine. Let’s go.”

Gage motioned him toward the door. The two of them headed for an old farm truck. Jackson was stowing supplies in the metal toolbox on the back of the truck. He turned as they approached.

“Ready to go?”

“We’re ready,” Gage opened the door and motioned Brandon in. He joined Jackson at the back of the truck. “Is there anything you need me to grab?”

“Nope, I have lunch in the cooler and coffee in the thermos. We’re set to go.”

“Let’s do it then.”

“Gage, why are you doing this?”

“Doing what?”

Jackson shot a look at the cab of the truck where Brandon waited, and then back to Gage. “Don’t play stupid.”

“I’m helping Layla get control of her little brother before he lands himself in trouble.”

“Out of the goodness of your heart?”

“Yeah, why not?” Gage started to walk away but Jackson stopped him.

“When do you ever do anything just because it helps someone else?”

Anger flared but quickly evaporated because Jackson had a point. “So, I haven’t been the most charitable Cooper ever. But sometimes a guy sees the right thing to do and he does it.”

“And it has nothing to do with Layla Silver being downright pretty and available?”

“Layla’s pretty?” He scrunched his eyebrows in thought and scratched his chin. “Yeah, I guess she is.”

“She’s also the girl you treated poorly back in high school.”

“Well, maybe I’ve decided to make a few things right.” He was itching to get away from Jackson and this conversation, but Jackson didn’t appear to be letting go any more than a dog that had found a good bone.

“Making amends, are we?” Jackson headed for the driver’s side door of the truck.

“Yeah, something like that.”

“There’s a lot more to it than just doing a few good deeds to make you feel better.”

Gage whistled for Layla’s dog and pointed to the back of the truck. Once the animal was in, he walked around the truck to climb in. He wished he could get in his truck and take off, no looking back.

But he’d made a commitment, and he was going to see it through. Besides, even though he didn’t want to admit it, he didn’t feel like running.

* * *

After work that evening, Layla drove up to Cooper Creek Ranch to get her little brother. She parked her old truck in front of the two-story garage, but she didn’t get out right away. It felt too good to sit in the truck and relax. The silence felt almost as good as the sitting.

A scratching on the door of her truck caught her attention. She pushed the door open and Daisy jumped back, wagging her feathery black tail and panting ninety-to-nothing.

“Traitor,” she said. Daisy didn’t mind. Instead she licked Layla’s hand and then ran off in the direction of the barn.

Layla started walking in the direction the dog had gone, her feet dragging. The barn made her poor old wood building look miserable by comparison. Her barn had been built by her grandfather in the early 1900s. This barn was a metal building, half stable and half arena. It even had an apartment attached.

The Coopers had a little of everything. Quarter horses, bucking bulls, cattle, not to mention the banks, oil and apartment complexes. They were wealthy, but they were also the kindest people she knew. They were generous and good to their neighbors. Not that they were without their own problems. Not that their children, most now grown, didn’t occasionally do something wrong. She guessed she liked the Coopers because they were genuine and sometimes they messed up.

She walked to the barn but she didn’t go in. Early evening had settled over the countryside, turning the sky dusky gray and pink. In the field cattle grazed. It was peaceful. She needed that moment of peace. It was too cold to stay outside, though, and she’d left her jacket in the truck. She shivered, reaching for the door as it opened. She jumped out of the way.

Jackson Cooper smiled as he stepped through the door. “Layla, long day?”

“Always.” Every day for nearly eight years. She managed a smile. “Is Brandon making a nuisance of himself?”

“Not at all. We worked him hard today. He asked about pay and Gage said we’re putting part of it in an account for college and giving the rest to you to decide what he gets.”

“Really? That was Gage’s plan?”

Jackson grinned. “He came home responsible or guilty. Whatever happened, he’s trying to help you out.”

“He doesn’t owe me.”

“He thinks he does.”

“I should get Brandon and go. I’m sure you all have more to do than keeping my brother out of trouble.”

“Go on in. They’re in the arena. I’m heading home.” Jackson patted her shoulder and walked away as she headed into the barn.

She could hear them in the arena. Her steps slowed as she neared the entrance that led from the stable to the arena. She listened carefully to the clank of metal, the pounding of hooves, shouts from someone other than Gage or Brandon.

Through the wide opening in the arena she saw her brother in a metal chute, settling on the back of a bull.

She yelled out, “No!” But it was too late. The gate opened and the bull came spinning out, her brother clamped down tight on its back. She walked fast around the metal enclosure, keeping a cautious eye on the bull and her brother.

The ride didn’t last long. The bull spun fast and Brandon went flying. He rolled out of the way as Travis Cooper moved between him and the animal. Gage headed her way, grinning, obviously proud of himself. Quickly, something obviously clued him in to the fact that she was as far from happy as a woman could get. His smile faded and he shot a worried glance in the direction of the arena, where her brother had gotten to his feet.

“How dare you!” She pushed past him to open the gate now that the bull had been penned up. “Brandon, let’s go. We’re going home.”

“I’m not.” Brandon said, but then he had the sense to look a little worried.

“I didn’t give you permission to ride bulls. I don’t have the money for hospital bills. And I can’t...” She couldn’t lose anyone else. She swallowed the lump that lodged in her throat and refused to look at Gage. He had a hand on her arm but she shook her head. She didn’t want to see sympathy in his eyes.

She avoided those looks from people. Had made it a habit right after her parents died. Those looks had turned her into a sobbing mess, and she’d had to be strong. She didn’t have time to fall apart. Brandon needed her to be strong.

“It was a steer,” Gage offered. “I wouldn’t let him get hurt. And I’m not going to start him out on our bulls. Come on, Layla, you know that.”

“Right.” She motioned Brandon through the gate. “We’re going home. I have chores to do and I still have to cook dinner.”

“I ate with the Coopers, and we did the chores at the house a couple hours ago.” Brandon kept his eyes down, staring at his boots.

“Thank you.” The anger seeped out, leaving her shaking and weak. “But I haven’t eaten and I’m ready to go home.”

“Layla, can we talk?” Gage maneuvered her away from Brandon and Travis. “We’ll catch up with you guys at the house.”

“Right.” Travis gave Gage a long look before nodding. “Come on, Brandon, we’ll see if there’s any leftover pie.”

Travis and her brother walked out of the arena, leaving her alone with Gage. He nodded toward the bleachers that served as seating when the Coopers held small events on the ranch. Layla didn’t want to sit and talk. She wanted to go home and put her feet up. Most of all she wanted not to think about Gage Cooper or how her life was falling apart while he played at fixing his.

She sat down on the second row of seating, shivering as the cool metal bench seeped into her bones, chilling her. Gage didn’t sit down. He shrugged out of his canvas jacket and placed it around her shoulders.

“Thank you.” She looked up at him, wishing he could always be this person. But this Gage was the dangerous Gage. He was the person a girl could lose her heart to. Even when she knew better.

“Let me teach him to ride bulls.”

Gage gave her an easy smile. Life was a big adventure for him. He traveled. He rode bulls. He lived for himself. She closed her eyes because she knew she wasn’t being fair.

When she opened her eyes, he was watching her. Intent. Curious. Handsome in a way that made a girl’s heart melt. It was his eyes, she thought, and shook her head.

“I do not want him to ride bulls, Gage. I want him to grow up, go to college, get married and have kids. I want...”

She couldn’t say that she wanted him to be grown-up so she could stop worrying. That wasn’t fair. She’d known when their parents died that her life had to be put on hold to raise her brother. She had worked hard to keep the authorities from placing him with strangers.

She’d put aside her dreams of college, a career, marriage and children. That wasn’t Brandon’s fault.

“I’ll keep him on steers until I know he can handle bulls. I think if you’ll listen to me, you’ll understand why this is important.”

She looked up, meeting those sincere hazel eyes of his. He’d been in the Southwest, so his skin was still golden-brown from the sun. “Tell me.”

“He needs something to keep him busy and people who will keep him busy. He’s in with a bad crowd right now, Layla. You can’t be with him all of the time. So if he’s here when he isn’t at school, we can keep him out of trouble. I can help you with that.”

“Right, so this is about you?”

He grinned again, white teeth flashing. “Could you stop being so mean?”

Layla closed her eyes and nodded. “I’m sorry. I’m not a mean person. I’m just tired.”

The bleachers moved and creaked as he sat down next to her. His shoulder bumped hers, and she inhaled the scent of the outdoors. How could he smell that good when he’d been working all day?

“I know you’re not mean.” His voice was soft. “I was teasing.”

Her heart tried to open up. She couldn’t let it. “You hurt me.”

“I know and I’m sorry.”

She nodded, not looking at him because she couldn’t look into his eyes right then, not when her emotions were worn thin and she needed someone to lean on. It couldn’t be him.

“What is it you’re doing, Gage? Are you trying to earn my forgiveness?”

“I don’t know.” He leaned back against the bleacher seat behind them and stretched his leg in front of him. “Maybe I’m trying to find my way back.”

“God doesn’t require you to make amends to be forgiven.”

He didn’t respond for a minute. She wondered if she’d hit the nail on the head. She looked up at him. He was staring at the arena, his strong jaw clenched. She focused, for whatever reason, on the pulse at the base of his throat.

Finally he sighed. “I have to do this.”

“I forgave you a long time ago. When we’re young everything feels like forever. I was a typical teenage girl who thought if you smiled at me, we’d probably get married. I know better now.”

“Girls really think that?” He smiled at her.

“Maybe not that drastically. But when the teenage girl is already...” She didn’t want to have this conversation, but it was too late. “When the girl isn’t feeling loved, she is probably looking for someone to love her.”

“I’m sorry that I wasn’t the person to love you.”

So was she. “Well, you did me a favor. You taught me to be more careful. We’ve all hurt people, Gage. It’s part of life, part of growing up.”

“I know. But somehow I’ve skated through life with almost no repercussions and other people have suffered....”

He had more to say, but she didn’t want to hear it. They weren’t friends. They didn’t share secrets. She stood up and moved away from him, away from his story and his emotions.

“I should go.”

He grinned and stood up. “Too much?”

“Yeah. I think if you need to confess, I’m not the person. But I’ll take the help with my brother.”

“Thank you.”

She took off his coat and handed it back to him. His fingers brushed hers. Layla pulled back, surprised by the contact, by the way his eyes sought hers when they touched.

“Good night, Gage.” She hurried away, leaving him standing in the arena alone.