Читать книгу Aiming for the Cowboy - Mary Leo - Страница 9

Chapter Three

Colt pulled his red ranch truck alongside the for sale sign two miles off Highway 33, turned off the ignition and stepped out onto the packed dirt road that led onto the property. He and his brother Travis were scoping out yet another spread for the potato storage facility his family and two other local growers were planning on building before next year’s crops came in. This was the third property he’d seen so far and he still had one more to go. It had been a huge decision for the Grangers and for the two other farmers, but a necessary one. The facility they now used was outdated, and last year each family had lost a substantial part of their crops due to mold and rot from temperature fluctuation inside the facility. They expected the same would happen this year, and each family was prepared to take the hit, but they couldn’t sustain the loss much after that. They had to break ground on the new building by early spring or it wouldn’t be ready in time for next year’s crops.

On top of raising his high-spirited boys, running the Granger ranch and managing the yearly potato crop, Colt had also taken up the challenge of finding the appropriate piece of land for the new facility.

“This looks good,” Travis declared as he slammed the passenger door shut and walked over to Colt. Travis was the wild one in the family who cared more about partying with his many girlfriends rather than working the ranch. Getting him to join Colt on these property excursions was about as easy as pinning down smoke and Colt didn’t want to do or say anything that might make him drift away.

Colt needed to really look at the property close-up. He’d already scoped it out from the air in his Cessna Skyhawk and now he was looking to make sure he still liked what he saw. He had to be sure there was a good road in, easy access from the highway and several acres of flat land for the buildings.

“We can’t jump to that conclusion just yet, little brother. There are a lot of factors to consider.” This was Colt’s first real chance to take over the business from his dad, and he didn’t want to mess it up. Dodge had given over all his other duties to Colt, but the business end of the ranch still rested on Dodge’s shoulders. Colt knew it was only a matter of time before Dodge would relinquish that duty as well, and he wanted to be prepared for it.

Travis had taken over the care of the livestock and the upkeep of the buildings. He was a crackerjack carpenter who could build or rebuild almost anything. Blake would help out with the yearly potato crop, and sometimes help with wrangling up the livestock, but for the most part, the day-to-day challenge of the massive ranch and farm had fallen on Colt’s shoulders.

Not that he minded. It was the life he’d chosen. He merely needed his brothers and Dodge to trust him with his decisions, and to have his back whenever he needed them to.

Plus, he needed a good woman by his side, a woman like Helen, when she wasn’t trying to chase after that darn championship. Now that she was going to have a baby with some other dude, he had to rethink his feelings for her. He didn’t know why she agreed to dinner with him or why she wanted to talk to him, but he was sure as heck going to find out.

Helen was the kind of woman who did things on her own terms in her own time, so this baby was sure causing him a mountain of wonder.

“You’ve been struggling over this decision for two months now,” Travis countered. “Time is coming up short if we’re going to have this thing up and running for next year’s crops.”

They walked side by side across the open land. It was good and flat for a nice long stretch before it banked upward. The ground was covered in short wild grass, some rocks and stones. Nothing that couldn’t be cleared for a sizable building.

But Colt still wasn’t sure.

“It’s got to be right. I won’t spend everybody’s hard-earned money on something less than perfect. This new place has to last us a lot of years.”

They strolled along on the wild grass, Colt thinking he needed to wait and see what the surveyor he’d hired had to say about it.

Travis shook his head. “You think too much. Always have. It’s like you need to walk a mile to find a place to spit.”

“I’m cautious, is all.”

“You can’t see through a ladder.” Travis picked up a stone and flung it over the land, as if he was skipping it over water. The stone bounced a couple times before it landed. Colt never could do that, even on water.

“I’m getting the feeling you’re not talking about this piece of land.”

“Glad you caught up.”

Colt turned to his brother. “What are you trying to say?”

“I’m trying to tell you that Blake and me have been trying to find you a woman now for going on near six months. There’s been some mighty fine ladies willing to take on you and your rowdy boys, but none of them seem to pass the first date.”

“Lana Thomson wanted to send my boys to a boarding school.”

“Might do ’em some good.”

Colt picked up his speed. “Not sending my sons away. Our dad stuck by us when our mom passed, and I’m doing the same.”

Travis skipped another stone. This time it only served to aggravate Colt, making him wonder why he’d brought Travis on this land run in the first place.

“What about Helen? She’d be good with them boys of yours.”

“She’s out of the picture.”

“She won’t be once she wins that buckle. I imagine it’ll settle her right down.”

Colt was thinking Travis hadn’t heard the news about Helen’s condition. “There’s something else that’s going on with Helen.”

“I know all about her being in a family way. What I heard, she’s planning on raising that baby on her own. The baby’s daddy don’t want no part of it. Might be a good time for you to step in and make your case.”

“Where’d you hear that?”

“Lana Thompson.”

Colt laughed. “I’m surprised you’d even listen to her kind of talk.”

“I’m not saying I do and I’m not saying I don’t, but there’s gotta be something to it or why else would Helen be living with her folks over in Jackson instead of married to her man?”

“Only Helen can answer that.”

“Have you asked her?”

“I was busy shoring up my boys after the fair. Timing wasn’t right.”

“It all goes back to what I said. You think too much.”

“We have a date for Friday night. I’m taking her to Champaign Taste. We’ll talk then.”

Travis slung his arm around his brother’s shoulder. “What’s your plan?”

“Plan? Dinner’s my plan. She tells me what she wants to say then I drive her back to Milo’s. Anything more than that isn’t any of your business.”

“Maybe so, but if you’re feeling a little rusty, I can give you some pointers.”

“Getting pointers from you would be like getting pointers from a pup at his mama’s tit.”

Travis laughed. “Good one, big brother.”

“I thought so.”

* * *

“IS THAT WHAT you’re wearing?” Milo asked as Helen descended the stairs. She wore dark blue jeans, her tan Justin boots and a sky-blue Western maternity shirt. Her hair curled out of a black cowgirl hat.

“It’s just dinner in town with Colt. Nothing fancy, I’m sure.”

She’d stressed over what to wear ever since Colt had asked her on this impromptu date. She’d tried on everything in her suitcase. She’d even considered a long dress, but then thought it too fancy. Nothing seemed right so she stuck with her tried-and-true jeans and a shirt. She felt comfortable in jeans and a shirt, and tonight of all nights she wanted to be comfortable.

Milo stood next to his recliner, ready to attack it with his full-size body. It was his night off from Spud Drive-In, located on the outskirts of town, where he worked the concession stand a few nights a week during the summer. It got him out of the house and forced him to talk to his neighbors, which he sometimes didn’t like doing. Milo had no interest in a nine-to-five job due to an inheritance from his grandfather on his dad’s side, which made him “comfortable,” as he liked to say. On his free nights, he usually spent them catching up on his recorded shows.

“Did he say it wouldn’t be fancy?”

“No, but why should it be?”

“A man don’t ask you to dinner then take you for fast food. It usually means a tablecloth and a server. I’m just sayin’.” He shrugged.

“Fine! I’ll rethink my outfit.”

“Have you thought about what you’re gonna say?”

“Of course I have.”

She really hadn’t, but she didn’t want to get into it with Milo. He was a man of preparedness and believed you should always practice before you attempted anything that might be awkward, and that naturally included telling Colt about his baby.

“Try it out on me. I’m a good judge of these things.”

Helen crossed her arms over her chest and let out a frustrated sigh. “Colt, I’m pregnant with your baby.”

“And...”

“And nothing. That’s all I have.”

“It stinks.”

“It’s the truth.”

“Yeah, but you can ease him into it with small talk first.”

“For instance?” She shifted her weight to one hip and tapped her foot a few times.

“I don’t know... Tell him he looks good in his new hat.”

“What new hat?”

“The one he bought yesterday at Mad Hatter’s.”

“How do you know this?”

“It’s a small town.”

“Damn, it’s smaller than I thought. This is crazy. A guy can’t even buy a new hat without everybody knowing about it.”

“And a single girl can’t waltz back into town with a baby belly and not expect everyone to speculate on the circumstances.”

She sighed, unfolded her arms and plopped down onto the sofa, feeling as if the entire town knew every detail of her life and she hadn’t even told anyone a thing about it. “I give. Just tell me what I should say and I’ll do my best to make it sound as if I came up with it on my own.”

“Before I help you out, maybe you should girl up first. What time is your date?”

“‘Girl up’? Have you been hanging around with Amanda Fittswater again? You know that girl will be the death of you. She’s still wet behind the ears.”

“She’s just a friend.”

“She’s not even twenty-one yet.”

“Turned twenty-two three weeks ago, and we’re not talking about me. We’re talking about you and Colt.”

She crossed her arms again. “There is no ‘me and Colt.’ There’s only his baby that needs to be discussed.”

“You make it sound as if you’re somehow not attached to that there young’un.”

“Believe me, I’m attached, just not to Colt.”

“You look mighty attached to Colt Granger from where I’m standing.”

“Well, stand someplace else ’cause we aren’t a couple, never have been a couple and probably never will be a couple.”

“You used the word probably.”

“Yeah? So?”

“That means—”

The doorbell rang and the sound startled Helen. “He’s fifteen minutes early.”

Milo peeked out of the side window. “It’s not Colt. You still have time to change.”

Helen headed for the door, but Milo beat her to it, whisking past her faster than she’d ever seen his cumbersome body move. She stood to the side of the door, not able to see who stood on the other side when Milo opened it. Immediately his face lit up as if he were a kid staring at a Christmas tree. Amanda Fittswater’s distinctive voice echoed through the living room. “Hey, cuddles. Are you ready?”

“Cuddles?” Helen whispered when Milo glanced her way.

He blushed.

“Hey, Amanda. Yeah, I’m ready. Let’s go.”

Helen came around to the front of the door. “Aren’t you going to invite her in?”

“Hey, Helen,” Amanda said when their eyes met. She still looked like a kid with a fresh scrubbed face, a lean body, mahogany hair streaked with pink highlights cut extra short, bright pink lipstick, red minishorts, a black long-sleeved sweater and tan cowboy boots. “Like, I can’t. The movie starts in less than ten minutes. But we’ll catch up next time. Come on over to Holy Rollers and I’ll give you a free muffin.”

She’d worked at Holy Rollers, the local doughnut and pastry shop, ever since it opened. Her aunt owned the place and everyone knew she was grooming Amanda to one day take it over when she retired, that is if she could keep Amanda interested.

She grabbed Milo’s hand and the two of them walked out the door and down the street in the direction of Galaxy Theater, while Helen stood there and watched. Amanda jumped and skipped around him like a puppy vying for attention.

Oh, yeah, they were just friends all right.

That’s when she spotted Colt’s white SUV turning onto the street. She left the front door wide open for him, and raced up the stairs to change clothes and practice how she would tell him about their baby.

“Hi, Colt, I love your new hat. Colt, is that a new hat? Wow, that new hat looks great on you. By the way, did I happen to mention you’re the daddy to the baby I’m carrying?” She stomped up the last three stairs knowing that telling Colt about their baby was the single most difficult thing she’d ever had to do.

* * *

COLT PULLED HIS SUV over to the curb a block away from Milo’s place in order to give his boys one more talk before he picked up Helen for their date. He hadn’t planned on bringing his boys, but Dodge had a “previous engagement” that he neglected to tell Colt about until a couple hours ago. Mrs. Abernathy, the older, semi-retired nurse who Colt could always depend on as his backup babysitter, was also busy that night, and both his brothers along with Maggie and Scout had tickets to a truck and tractor pull over in Idaho Falls, so he was stuck having to bring his boys.

If he’d had more time to tell Helen about the change in circumstances, he would have called her and broken the date. Unfortunately, he’d assumed his dad, who rarely went anywhere but the barn in the evening, would be available to look after his boys. He never would have guessed in a million years the old man wouldn’t be available. No way would he call Helen an hour before their date and cancel. Instead, he brought his boys and if she didn’t want to go—and who could blame her—he would merely take the boys down to Sammy’s Smoke House for burgers and milkshakes and call it a night.

He was dog-tired anyway.

“Why are we stopping, Dad? Milo lives up yonder,” Buddy told him.

“Yeah, Papa. I want to see Helen. Aren’t we going to see Helen?” Joey wanted to know.

“I like Helen, Daddy,” Gavin said. “I promise to be good.”

His three boys all sat strapped in the backseat with Joey in the middle. They were dressed in their best jeans, tucked-in pressed shirts and clean sneakers, except for Buddy, who only wore boots. Their hair was combed, their faces scrubbed and their nails were clipped smooth. They were duded up better than he was.

He’d been so concerned about how his boys looked that he hadn’t had time to polish himself. Everything he wore was clean and he’d taken a shower, but his clothes weren’t his best and his boots had seen better days. Still, he’d had the presence of mind to grab his new straw cream-colored cattleman hat, which at least made him feel as if he was somewhat dressed for the occasion.

Colt turned in his seat. “I’m stopping to make sure you boys know the rules. Can you repeat them for me?”

“No loud talking. No screaming,” Gavin said. “Always say please and thank you.”

“No going off without asking your permission first,” Buddy chimed in. “And no talking when the adults are talking. Even if we have a question?”

“Yes. Wait until there’s a break in the conversation.”

Buddy nodded.

Colt looked at Joey, who hadn’t said anything. “What else?”

Joey shrugged.

“What’s the matter?”

“I don’t feel so good.”

Colt cringed. Joey had been sluggish all day, but Colt assumed Joey was simply tired. “I need specifics, remember?”

“My head hurts.”

Colt reached over and touched Joey’s face and, sure enough, he felt hot. “You have a fever, son. Probably getting a cold. I’m sorry, but we need to take care of this.”

Tears instantly streamed down Joey’s cheeks. “But I don’t want to go home, Papa. I want to see Helen. I want a milkshake.”

“I know, but you need to rest to get that fever down.”

“I don’t want to go to bed. It’s too early. It’s still daytime.” The sun had just slipped behind the mountains.

“We’ll figure it out. I promise.”

But Joey couldn’t stop crying.

The first thing Colt had to do was cancel the date with Helen, and he didn’t want to do it on the phone. Seeing as how he was only a block away, he decided to drive to her house and tell her in person. It seemed as if he and Helen would never get the time they needed to talk.

“I’m sorry, son,” Colt said as he drove the block to Helen’s house, parked the SUV and got out. “I’ll only be a minute, but I promise we’ll stop and get you that milkshake, Joey. We’ll see Helen another time.”

Joey nodded, and wiped his tears from his face. His cheeks were turning a bright red. Colt knew he needed to make his excuses and get his son back home quickly.

When he walked closer to the front door he noticed it was open, which meant she was inside doing something. He’d known Helen for quite some time, and whenever he stopped by to an open door it meant that he should make himself at home while he waited for her, only this time he couldn’t wait.

He stepped inside. “Helen, are you here? My boy’s sick and I have to...”

But he stopped dead silent when he saw Helen descending the stairs wearing a long floral dress, heels and a deep pink shawl over her shoulders. She didn’t say a word, but from the way she was dressed—combined with the warm smile on her face—he knew whatever she wanted to tell him about had to be serious. They had a connection, he and Helen, and he had no intention of ignoring it, despite the fact that she was carrying someone else’s child.

He’d only seen Helen in a dress maybe a handful of times, and two of those times were at funerals. She looked positively glowing. He’d sometimes forget what a true knockout she was and the vision of her descending those steps left him muddleheaded and confused.

“I hope I didn’t keep you waiting too long,” she said as she glided toward him.

Colt couldn’t move or speak. He felt about as useless as a four-card flush until Buddy’s voice brought him back to reality.

“Dad, Joey just puked all over the backseat.”

* * *

AN HOUR LATER, Joey was cleaned up and dosed with the children’s medication that Colt had picked up at Angie’s Pharmacy after he’d called the doctor to describe Joey’s symptoms. The doctor would stop by Colt’s house in the morning to check on Joey, but until then the medication brought down his fever and settled his stomach. He was now resting in Milo’s recliner. He looked so tiny and innocent in the massive chair all snuggled up with a thick blanket, head nestled on a pillow and his blond curly hair tousled around his sweet face. Anybody looking at him would never know what a handful he could be.

The cheese pizza Helen ordered for her and the boys, along with a pizza with everything on it for Colt, had arrived and she arranged the fast-food blitz along with plates, milk and napkins on the double-wide coffee table in the living room. She’d also mixed up a batch of hot cocoa with tiny marshmallows, the cup rimmed in chocolate syrup she figured the boys would love. At first they’d all wanted milkshakes, but when she described her hot cocoa, there was no contest.