Forever My Cowboy

by June Faver

  Jenn’s chest felt tight. This was where Jason had lived with his family. She had only visited once but hadn’t really considered the house because she had been focused on the people who lived there. She stood in the middle of the living room and looked around, unable to speak. The walls were painted a soft gray, and all the woodwork was glossy white. It gave the impression of being clean and calming.

  There was a fireplace with family pictures on the mantel.

  Jenn gazed at the happy faces staring back at her. Jason looked so alive, a grin on his tanned face, his arm around his wife. In one, Leo was sitting on Jason’s broad shoulders, while Lissy was in his arms. He looked every bit the proud father. And he’d entrusted those precious children to his sister.

  I can do this, Jason. She swallowed hard. I will do it.

  Breck cleared his throat. “Do you want to see the rest of the house?”

  She turned back to him, nodding. “Yes, so much to take in.” She followed him through a formal dining room that looked as though it wasn’t used much to a cheery kitchen with a plastic-and-chrome dining set, a high chair, and a raised seat for the children. Very cozy. Jenn could envision her brother’s family gathered there.

  The appliances were new, and everything was gleaming. There was a laundry room off the kitchen, and she glimpsed a fenced yard with a swing set. Everything was quite cozy.

  Breck opened the door past the laundry room that led out to a garage. There were two vehicles parked inside. “The Jeep was your brother’s, and the sedan was your sister-in-law’s. They belong to you now. You just need to change the registrations and get them insured in your name.”

  Jenn couldn’t believe her good fortune. She could sell her sometimes-unreliable sedan and not have to worry about transportation.

  The knot in her stomach was loosening… Things were working out. Somehow, out of tragedy and despair, she could see a glimmer of hope. Was this the way her life was supposed to turn?

  Breck held out two sets of keys. “These are the car and house keys, as well as a set of keys to the business. I’ll be meeting with Cade shortly, to introduce him to the business. Why don’t you pack up your things and pay your bill at the Langston Inn, then get settled in here?”

  “Okay, I can do that.”

  “Then when you feel comfortable, Cade can bring the children home, and you can take over as guardian.” Breck looked at her for confirmation, and she nodded.

  “I’ll do that right away and be ready for the children tomorrow.” She had her doubts as to her ability to perform well as a parent, but she was damned if she would let Breck know that.

  She locked up the house and returned to the inn, where she told Ollie about her meeting with Breck.

  “That’s fantastic. I’m so glad you’re going to stay here in Langston.” Ollie appeared to be delighted. “You go ahead and get your things packed up and I’ll make us some lunch.” She gave a wide grin. “Be sure to bring your little food notebook. We’ll give Dr. Ryan some good, nutritious food to read about.”

  * * *

  It took very little time for Jenn to repack her belongings and load them into the car. She knew the day was getting away from her and she wanted to follow Breck’s instructions and get settled in the house.

  Ollie rode with her, which was good because she was holding Minnie. The dog was not a good car traveler and stood in Ollie’s lap while gazing out the window. Her long fur was blowing in the wind, and her big eyes were taking in the passing scenery.

  Jenn was a little anxious to be moving into her brother’s house. “I’m glad you’re with me. I was feeling weird going into Jason’s place, like I’m trespassing.”

  “You’ll get over that. It’s your house now.” Ollie turned to look at Jenn. “Didn’t you visit Jason and Sara?”

  Jenn shook her head. “Just a couple of times. We Skyped or FaceTimed. For so long, I was working on my education. I mean, I was constantly in class or working on papers and projects. Then Mom and Dad went downhill and everything just went to hell.” She heaved a huge sigh. “Jason and Sara brought Leo to visit Mom and Dad a couple of times. They were so delighted to be grandparents.”

  “Well, that was then and this is now.” Ollie’s voice sounded chipper. “You’re living here. You have a house and two beautiful children. Things change. We just have to adapt.”

  “And cars. There are two cars in the garage. Breck said those belong to me too.”

  “Whoo-ee! Let’s get rid of this money-sucking old automobile. You can put an ad in the local paper, and someone will snap it right up.”

  “That’s wonderful. I’ll be so relieved to sell this car.” Jenn laughed. “I love the way you look at everything through those rose-colored shades, girl. You’re cheering me up.”

  Ollie laughed. “Up. It’s the only way to be.”

  Chapter 7

  Cade decided to deal with stress the way he usually dealt with it: on horseback. He saddled his favorite gelding and rode around his property. Something about surveying his domain from the back of a horse put everything in perspective.

  He had thought he would be taking young Leo riding with him and, later, both children.

  The bachelor rancher had embraced the idea of raising children and taking on the role of father. He hadn’t realized how thoroughly he had taken to the idea of fatherhood, but now he felt as though the children were being wrenched from his arms.

  He had no idea why Jason’s city-living baby sister was willing to take on the role of substitute mother. She definitely didn’t seem to be the type. Jennifer—or Jenn as she called herself—sure didn’t look like any of the local mothers.

  She was always way too well put-together, for sure. Doesn’t the danged woman have a pair of denims or some sneakers?

  He couldn’t imagine her lifting and hauling the kids around like he did. When Lissy put her little arms around his neck, his surly old heart melted. And when Leo cried out in his sleep, Cade leapt out of bed to comfort the child.

  He couldn’t conceive of Her Highness interrupting her beauty sleep to ease the suffering of a toddler.

  Cade blew out a breath and tried to focus on the beautiful countryside. A small herd of Hereford beef cattle was grazing in the easternmost pasture. He had always thought this breed was particularly attractive, with their large brown eyes and long white lashes. The red-and-white patterns were somehow especially pleasing to him. He couldn’t help but smile when he counted the number of calves born in the past spring.

  Cade also owned a much larger herd of Black Angus cattle that grazed in another pasture.

  He gave his horse a gentle nudge and clucked his tongue to increase the pace. He wanted to feel the air brushing his face as he raced headlong into the future without his precious niece and nephew safe under his watchful eye.

  Today, Cade needed more speed to outrun his demons.

  * * *

  “Are you sure you want to stay in the guest room?” Ollie asked. “I mean, it’s your house now, and the master bedroom is lovely.”

  “Yes. I couldn’t sleep in the same room where Jason and Sara slept.” Jenn felt a shiver snaking around her spine. She swallowed hard. “It would just be too creepy.”

  “Aww, I understand.” Ollie shrugged and spread her arms. “Well, this is a nice room too. A little masculine, maybe.”

  Jenn nodded. “Maybe the burgundy and hunter green is a bit dated.”

  “Y’think?” Ollie crossed her arms over her chest. “If you decide to redo this room, I guess I can help you. We could paint and maybe change out the drapes and bedspread.”

  “It looks okay to me right now. Breck wanted me to get settled before he brought the children over, so I guess I need to check things out.”

  “Let’s nose around,” Ollie said. She grabbed Jenn’s hand and pulled her from the room. “So, the master bedroom is the one Jason an
d Sara occupied when they were alive, and the kids’ room is next to it.” She opened the latter, and both women leaned in to check it out.

  “Cheery,” Jenn commented. Indeed, the room was painted a light yellow with a row of white, lacy curtains flanking the windows. A crib and a low twin bed were arranged on opposite walls. The chest of drawers and closet were filled with clean kid clothes.

  “Okay, that should make it easy. Both kids in one room.”

  “I’ll find out.” Jenn hoped that Ollie’s enthusiasm would prove true. She had no idea why having the children together would be easy. What if one got sick?

  The doorbell sounded, shattering the silence. The tone felt like a hammer blow.

  Jenn and Ollie went to the door together. A tall, gaunt man with a very red face stood on the porch. He held his Western hat in his hand, baring his almost-bald head, except for a thin-strand comb-over of once red hair.

  “Miz LaChance?” The man glanced from one woman to the other.

  “That’s me,” Jenn said.

  The man extended a hand to clasp hers and pump it several times. “I’m Edgar Wayne Pell. I’d been talkin’ to your brother about buyin’ the airstrip…afore his untimely demise.”

  Jenn stared at Mr. Pell. “I—I don’t know anything about that.”

  His wrinkled face split into a frightening semblance of a grin that brought to mind a leering skull. “Yer brother and I was just about to reach an agreement. He was agreeable to my last offer. We were just working out some of the details.”

  The idea of getting out from under the responsibility of taking care of Jason’s business sounded like a reprieve to her.

  “You wanna come in and sit down?” Ollie offered, holding the screen open wider.

  “Sure thing,” he said, appearing to be eager. He pushed through the space between the two women, who both stepped back abruptly. He turned, still grinning.

  “I jus’ wanted yew ta know ’bout the deal we was workin’ on, and I’m ready to complete tha transaction, Miss LaChance.”

  Jenn heaved a sigh. “That sounds good, Mr. Pell. I would be happy to work with you, but the airstrip was willed to me and Cade Garrett equally. Maybe you should talk to him because I’m totally ignorant about business matters.” She watched his grin erode into a grimace. “Or maybe you should talk to the lawyer, Breckenridge Ryan. He’s the one handling the inheritance.”

  Pell abruptly jammed his hat on his head and stepped toward the door. “Thanks.” With that, he strode out the door, letting the screen slam behind him.

  “Well!” Ollie stared after him, looking somewhat astonished. “That was odd, to say the least.”

  “It sure was. But it would be wonderful to sell the business. I certainly have no idea how to run an airstrip, and I’m sure this Cade fellow would rather spend his time out on his ranch, rather than trying to run Jason’s business.”

  If Mr. Pell bought the airstrip, surely the money would be split between her and the big cowboy. Her first thought was that she would have funds to live on until she got a job…or perhaps she should pay for a more practical education…

  The thought of returning to the world of academia quickly faded. That was her past.

  Now she was settling in at a house in Langston. Thanks to Jason and Sara, she was the owner of her brother’s home and a surrogate mother. Her future would be devoted to caring for those two children.

  She swallowed hard. Her immediate future would be focused on learning how to care for the children. She turned to Ollie. “I don’t suppose you would be willing to teach me how to cook, would you?”

  Ollie’s brows rose almost to her hairline. “You really don’t know how to cook?”

  Jenn chuckled. “I have an advanced degree in microwave and ordering in. My dad’s favorite food was oatmeal with brown sugar and a little cinnamon. My mom loved cornbread from a mix. I think the kids need more from me.”

  * * *

  Breckenridge T. Ryan was a man who knew how to hide his feelings. He could be the cool and controlled attorney in courtrooms and in his office, and even when presented with his clients’ tears. But the one person who could read him like a large-print book was his wife, Dr. Camryn Ryan.

  At the moment, she was gazing at him, her wide-set blue eyes giving him the third degree. “Well?”

  He blew out his pent-up breath. “Okay, you’re right. I’ve got to go to Cade Garrett’s house and remove the children. He’s going to blow like a volcano.” He shook his head. “I just dread it. Cade is quite attached, and he’s convinced that Jennifer LaChance is not competent to take care of kids.”

  Cami’s mouth twisted into a wry grin. “And I suppose that Cade thinks he’s the perfect parental choice? In my unbiased opinion, Jenn is a perfectly lovely young woman. She has some health issues, but not anything to rule her out as a stand-in parent.”

  Breck leaned closer. “Health issues?”

  “You know I can’t talk about a patient’s information. She’s going to be fine. Don’t you breathe a word to anyone.” The lovely blue eyes narrowed.

  Breck’s curiosity was enormously piqued. Now, he wondered if there was a physical reason that Cade might be the better parent.

  “Just do what you need to do,” Cami said. “Pick up the children and deliver them to the woman Sara and Jason chose to entrust them to. I’m sure Jenn will do a good job of caring for them.”

  Breck nodded and reached for his Stetson. Thanks to his beautiful wife, Breck was stoked and ready to carry out his difficult duties. He knew if his wife trusted the woman, the kids would be okay.

  He kissed Cami goodbye and drove his pickup to the ranch where Cade lived. Cade had inherited the house, and his many acres of ranchland were pastures for his enormous herd of beef cattle and for growing grain crops to feed that herd.

  When Breck knocked on the door, it was opened immediately, as though Cade had been waiting on the other side.

  He looked ragged, as if his tension were strangling him. “Breck.” He swung the door open wider. “I—I haven’t told the kids. I just couldn’t find the words to explain all this.”

  “It’s okay, man. Let’s just get this done and maybe you can come to my office for a little liquid therapy.”

  “This is killing me,” Cade groaned.

  Breck felt pity for the big fellow. Cade was a man who was always in charge, yet in one week’s time, he had lost his beloved baby sister and now her children were being taken from him. “It’s happening. You need to rip off the Band-Aid. Miss LaChance is ready for the children.”

  Cade huffed out a sigh. “We mustn’t keep Her Highness waiting. I’ll take the kids in my truck. Their car seats are already set up.”

  Breck watched as Cade gathered the children and arranged them in their safety seats before he climbed into his truck.

  Breck followed in his own vehicle, drawing up behind him at the home Jenn had inherited.

  Cade sat in his truck, but Breck was ready to make the transfer of custody happen. Prolonging the misery was not going to help anyone. He walked to Cade’s vehicle and knocked on the window.

  Cade climbed out and opened the door behind him. He lifted Lissy out of her seat, but Breck held out his hands.

  “I’ll take this little cutie.” The young girl settled against his shoulder, drooling a bit.

  Cade rounded the truck and released Leo from his restraints. He swung the boy up into his arms and carried him up onto the porch.

  The front door was flung open, and they were greeted by Jenn with a wide grin on her face. “Oh, come right in. I’ve been waiting for you.” She gestured for them to enter.

  The house looked exceptionally neat, and Jenn was a trifle overdressed. She was wearing a slim dress that emphasized her figure, but her feet were bare. Her hands were clasped together, giving Breck a hint that she was very nervous.

 
Cade stared at her, frowning. “We brought the children.”

  “Yes, I see.” Her voice sounded breathless. She reached out to touch Leo on the arm. “Hi, Leo. Remember me? I’m your Auntie Jenn.”

  Leo stared at her, his very distinctive Garrett-blue eyes assessing her warily.

  “I made some cookies… Well, they came from a mix, but they’re pretty tasty. Would you like to try one?”

  Leo nodded and struggled to get down.

  Cade looked as though he had been slapped but set the boy on his feet.

  She held out her hand. “Want to come to the kitchen? I’ll pour you a glass of milk.”

  After a moment of hesitation, Leo took her hand and started walking to the kitchen.

  “Come on, gentlemen. I made enough cookies for you too.” She let Leo pull her toward the back of the house.

  Cade turned to Breck. “I don’t understand,” he whispered.

  “She’s trying. Give her a chance.” Breck looked at Lissy, who was gnawing on her finger and drooling. “How about a cookie?”

  * * *

  Cade’s insides were roiling. He didn’t know whether to be angry or sad.

  For his part, Breck seemed to be satisfied with the situation. He followed Jenn into the kitchen, holding Lissy high on his shoulder.

  Cade lagged behind, but when he got to the kitchen, he felt another blow when he saw Jenn looking right at home in Sara’s kitchen.

  She was sitting at the table with Leo kneeling on a chair beside her. He was stuffing a big, puffy-looking cookie into his mouth. Breck arranged Lissy in her high chair and rolled it over to Jenn’s other side.

  “Hello, Lissy. Would you like a cookie too?” Jenn broke one of the cookies in half, and Lissy immediately picked it up and started munching. “I poured some milk in your sippy cup.” She placed the two-handled cup with the lid on the high chair tray.

  Cade couldn’t believe this was the same woman. If she weren’t the person Breck had greeted, he wouldn’t have recognized her.