The Cowgirl’s Secret Love: The Colemans of Heart Falls, Book 2

by Vivian Arend

  “If it raises money, anything goes,” Julia quipped. “It’s okay. You’re off the hook for this year.”

  An entertaining thought struck. “I get to see Zach go up on stage, yes?”

  She snickered. “This is a best friend thing, isn’t it? Gloating over each other’s suffering?”

  “It couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.” Finn adjusted his crutches and eased himself into the chair at the very edge of the table.

  Josiah immediately shifted position to join him. “I won’t ask how you’re doing, but it’s good to see you.”

  “A little like death warmed over, and it’s good to see you as well. I expected you out at the ranch this past week,” Finn admitted.

  “Ended up with a bunch of emergencies, including a middle-of-the-night call that went for nearly twenty-four hours.” Josiah fought a yawn before giving in to it. He covered his mouth, eyes screwed tight before blinking hard. He gestured to the coffee cup in front of him. “I might last maybe two more hours before all I’ll be seeing are the inside of my eyelids.”

  They chatted as Finn waited for Karen’s arrival. Julia was on the phone, but when he caught her eye, she offered a thumbs-up, so he tried to relax and enjoy the outing.

  The potluck started. That’s when Finn realized again how much being injured sucked. He couldn’t handle his crutches and a plate.

  Tamara took pity on him. She dropped baby Tyler into his arms as an excuse. “Here. You take the babe, and I’ll grab you food.”

  “Thanks.”

  At three months old, Tyler already had more personality than he’d had a few weeks ago. Finn looked the kid in the eye and straight up told him the truth. “You got yourself a good woman there. Make sure you appreciate it.”

  A feminine giggle rose behind him, followed by another. Part of Zach’s bevy strolled by with plates in their hands, checking him out carefully.

  “Too bad you’re off the docket.” Zach settled into the chair across from Finn. “With the way the women are eyeing you right now, you’d bring in a lot of money. Babies are like magnets.”

  “I’m surprised you came up for air,” Finn said, settling Tyler more comfortably and giving the kid his finger to gnaw on.

  “It’s all for fun,” Zach said, but he grinned.

  Julia paused on her way past. She grabbed Zach’s cheek, scrubbing red lipstick marks off before offering an epic eye roll and continuing back to her spot.

  People returned with full plates, musical chairs ensued, and other than no sign of Karen, it was a perfectly straightforward meal.

  Finn kept glancing at his watch.

  The microphone clicked on, and Malachi Fields stepped to the podium. “If you’ll stack up your dishes and pass them to the end of the table, we’ll gather them and get ready for the next portion of our celebration. Nearly time, gentlemen. I need all of our brave bachelors to make their way to the side stairs and onto the stage in the next fifteen minutes.”

  Good-natured ribbing sounded around the room along with the clinking of plates and utensils.

  Somewhere nearby a phone went off, and while it should’ve been just another part of the background noise, Finn’s attention swiveled.

  Kelli Stone blinked hard as she scrolled through something on her phone screen. She leaned toward her husband and whispered in his ear before rising and heading straight for Josiah.

  She spoke softly into the veterinarian’s ear, but Finn caught mention of Karen’s name. Damn if he would stay quiet while his curiosity and worry simmered.

  He laid a hand on Josiah’s arm before he rose from the table. “Karen?”

  Josiah glanced at Kelli then tilted his head toward the exit door. “Go. See if you get her on the line.”

  Kelli took off, hitting buttons rapidly. Concern was written all over her expression.

  Only a second passed before Josiah leaned in, but long enough Finn had pictured all sorts of terrible scenarios. “Karen found one of the wild mares in labour. It was a quick message sent before she started trying to help. The fact it arrived now probably means she’s on the move. You want to come along and see what’s happening?”

  No way in hell he was doing anything less.

  Josiah led them to the emergency exit rather than trying to manoeuvre through the crowds of people.

  Zach caught his eye right before they pushed through the door and held a hand to his ear like a phone. Finn dipped his chin. Soon as they found out what was going on, he’d let his friend know.

  Kelli was hanging up the phone and scrambling in her pockets for keys. “Karen’s on her way to the ranch. She’s got the foal but says it’s not breathing very well. You mind coming out?”

  “Of course I don’t mind.” Josiah glanced at Finn before giving Kelli a brisk nod. “Go back in and spend time with your family. Finn and I have this.”

  “But—” Kelli slammed her lips together. “Yeah. You’re right. She messaged me because she didn’t want to haul you out if neither of the horses made it. But there’s not much I can do more than what Karen’s already done.”

  Josiah squeezed her arm. “It’s good to know people trust you that much. And it’s well deserved—but for now, go enjoy the event. And make sure you get all the details so we can tease Zach later.”

  “Deal.” Kelli marched off as if she were a twelve-foot-tall Amazon and not a five-foot-nothing, denim-clad whirlwind.

  Finn worked his crutches wildly to keep up as they raced across the playground soccer field to Josiah’s truck.

  “You want to try to call her?” Josiah suggested once Finn had hauled his ass up into the high truck seat.

  “Great idea.”

  Karen answered on the second ring. “Finn?”

  “Josiah and I are on our way,” he told her. “Where are you?”

  “Almost at the west boundary. It’ll take me another twenty minutes because I can’t move too fast.”

  Tears coated her voice, which was enough to make all his protective instincts flare. “You okay?”

  “I’m not hurt. It’s just been a hell of a day.”

  “Hang in there, chérie. Take trail route one, and Josiah and I will meet you as soon as we can.”

  But by the time they’d covered the distance to the ranch, Karen was nearly at the barn. Josiah swung down and grabbed his kit, moving rapidly to where Karen was getting ready to dismount.

  It took Finn too much time to get out of the truck and over to the barn, and by then Josiah had the foal on the ground and was working it over. He snapped orders at Karen, hands moving rapidly as he did something with the creature’s neck.

  Nothing to do but watch and wait.

  When the little foal finally did that instinctive jolt, legs moving as if compelled to try and rise, Finn took a deep breath.

  “Okay. Now it’s okay.” Karen staggered to her feet, wiping her hands on her jeans, her face ashen.

  Finn opened his arms. “Come here.”

  She shook her head. “I’m a mess—”

  “Karen.” He waited until she looked at him. “Come. Here.”

  Her stepping into his arms was a type of surrender. He didn’t care that she was coated with mud and smelled as if she’d helped deliver a foal. Her cheek pressed against his chest, and she wrapped her arms around his torso and held on tight, squeezing as if he was the only reason she was able to stay vertical.

  He just held her. He didn’t stroke her hair or pat her back or any of those things. Partly because he was trying his damnedest to keep his balance, but mostly because this wasn’t about reassuring her. It was about being there for her.

  Whatever she’d faced, she’d done it with her usual strength. And whatever it was she needed from him right now, he would give it.

  Just outside the small circle of two, Josiah shifted back as the foal struggled upright and took its first shaky steps. A miracle, like so many miracles that came before and would come again.

  But the real miracle was having Karen in his arms.

 
13

  Karen: I miss you

  Finn: I would give anything to be with you.

  ~Unsent messages, fall, after Whiskey Creek ranch~

  Karen was a mess, not just on the outside. She was tired, and dirty, and had a headache from hell. But the most frustrating part was not being able to dissect the tangled emotions inside enough to be able to push them off.

  Finn was there, and that part was wonderful.

  Once Karen had recovered enough to be able to stand on her own, Josiah gave her an approving nod. “Looks as if this little tyke should be okay. A bit of work in terms of feeding him, but if you want, I can take him over to Sonora’s animal shelter. They’re bottle-feeding some calves right now, so adding him shouldn’t be a big deal.”

  The supportive arm wrapped around her shoulders squeezed momentarily. “Might be a good idea,” Finn said.

  It was a great idea. “I don’t have time to take care of him right now,” Karen said. “If you don’t think Sonora would mind.”

  The veterinarian packed up his tools, even as he shook his head. “She’ll probably thank you for the distraction. She’s got a lot of regular volunteers coming in now, and this will give them something to do.”

  “Thank you.” Karen paused. “Wish I’d been able to say that the mare was okay, but she was still down when I decided I’d better leave and bring him in.”

  Josiah looked a little grim at her announcement and sympathy filled his eyes as he responded, “You know we can’t save them all, not even under perfect conditions. You brought the little one in, and that’s a wonderful thing.”

  “Still wish I could’ve done more.” Inside, she ached.

  Josiah took off one way, and she and Finn headed the other to the cottage.

  He pointed her down the hallway. “Grab a shower. I’ll make you lunch.”

  She drained the entire hot water heater and still couldn’t get rid of the chill in her bones. The sensation had nothing to do with the heat of her skin and everything to do with the coyote cries that had echoed around the cottage over the past weeks.

  Karen leaned her forehead against the wall of the shower. Predators taking down an injured animal—it was part of life. Chances were the coyotes would put the mare out of her misery if anything.

  Still, the idea that she probably left the mare to die didn’t sit well.

  When she made it to the kitchen, there was a plate of food on the table. Finn was stretched out in a nearby chair with his arms folded over his chest. His eyes were closed, and his head nodded slightly. Fast asleep, sitting upright, waiting for her.

  The poor man. He was still in pain and would be for weeks. The last thing he needed was her to weep all over him, and yet that was exactly what she’d done.

  She sat down quietly and went to work on the food. Tasteless—no fault of Finn’s, she just had no appetite—yet necessary.

  All the while she watched him. The slow rise and fall of his chest. The way his lashes laid dark against his cheekbones. Head slowly shifting until his eyelids eased open and his dark gaze met hers.

  Instantly alert, he examined her face. “How’re you feeling?”

  “Annoyed that I dragged you away from time with your friends.”

  Finn leaned forward, disapproval rising. “Really?”

  “Hey, just telling the truth.” Karen pushed back her plate, struggling to find an even keel. “It wasn’t the best morning I’ve ever had, so maybe we should let it go for now. Thanks for being there. I appreciate it,” she told him sincerely.

  He examined her face, breathing out hard as if trying to blow away his own frustration, but he left it alone. Which was exactly what she wanted, even though it meant that mess of emotions was still there and out of whack.

  To hell with it. No use in trying to pick apart the ache inside when the truth was sometimes life sucked.

  She cleaned up the kitchen, then when Finn slipped out the back door, she headed into the living room to distract herself by going through the mail that had piled up over the past couple weeks. The things she’d had forwarded to her sister’s then brought over to the cottage and promptly ignored.

  She was in the middle of paying bills when her sister called.

  “Hey, Tamara.”

  “Hey, sis. Heard about the colt. Sounds like you had a hell of a day.” Noise rattled in the background behind Tamara’s voice. Children and a deeper rumble as Caleb answered one of them. “I won’t keep you but wanted to let you know Dad’s coming out tomorrow. Come for supper. Julia will be here for sure. Maybe even Lisa.”

  Since the discovery of Julia’s existence, George Coleman was now making an effort to be more involved in his daughters’ lives.

  Karen’s relationship with her dad had never been what she would call close, but the last couple months had been the nearest thing she’d felt to having a true father.

  Heck, she was here in Heart Falls because he’d insisted she take the time. He’d even written her a glowing recommendation that had contributed to her getting accepted into the training program she was headed for in the fall.

  Still, there wasn’t a lot of dancing going on at the thought of a meal with him, and wasn’t that shitty?

  He was trying, so she would too. “I’ll be there.”

  Tamara shared a few stories of what had happened at the Canada Day celebrations, including the tidbit that Zach had come close to being purchased by two women. At least until Malachi Fields had reminded everyone that, according to the rules, that wasn’t allowed. No matter that the women insisted they were willing to share—although not at the same time.

  Amusement broke through the shell wrapped around Karen. “That would’ve been entertaining to see. How on earth did Malachi explain that in a child-friendly manner?”

  “Very, very carefully,” Tamara said with a snicker. “Don’t bother bringing anything tomorrow but come over early if you can. The girls are off school for summer, and they’re eager for time with their Auntie Karen.”

  “I love spending time with them too.” Karen’s gaze drifted to the thick yellow envelope that was next in her pile.

  Department of Education. Equine Therapy.

  Tamara said goodbye, and Karen mindlessly hung up, pulling the envelope toward her. It was a hefty package, a good half inch thick— Probably not the thing she should dig into in her current mood. She pushed it aside and finished the rest of her tasks.

  Finn returned from whatever he’d been doing out back, motioning her toward him. “Come on.”

  He’d started a fire in the circular pit at the base of the deck. Finn lowered himself gingerly into an Adirondack chair. He stretched out his legs and leaned back with a sigh of relief.

  Karen grabbed them both drinks then joined him. The arrangement provided a great view of both the fire pit and the mountains in the distance.

  “It’s too early to see the flames properly, but sitting by a fire is always relaxing.” His all-too-knowing gaze drifted over her. “We both need a little relaxing.”

  It was exactly what she needed. To sit, in silence, staring at the dancing flames as small white clouds drifted across the sky. The quiet passage of time didn’t answer any questions or solve any problems, but it was soothing and low demand because Finn made it that way.

  Zach showed up with supper just when the rumbling in her stomach had been about to force her to deal with dinner.

  “I’ve got takeout. Neither of you answered your phone, so you’re stuck with what I selected from the East Indian menu.” Zach rested his elbows on the railing as he examined them. “If you haven’t grown roots over there, come to the table.”

  Karen got to her feet, stepping over to extend a hand to Finn and help him wrangle his way out of the chair.

  His strong grasp wrapped around her wrist, and one sharp tug later he was vertical, smiling down with that unreadable expression. They stared at each other for a moment, the quiet that had surrounded them for the past couple of hours a nearly tangible thing.

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nbsp; She reached up to push away the lock of hair that had fallen across his forehead. “Thanks. Again.”

  “No problem.” He caught her fingers and gently pressed them against his lips.

  Her stomach tumbled.

  They made their way inside where for the next hour Zach Sorenson provided comic relief by replaying every moment of the bachelor auction with dramatic voices and everything.

  Even with the lighthearted entertainment, Karen was ready to call it a night when Zach laid a hand on her arm. “You’ve had a rough day. I’ll help Finn with anything he needs to hit the sack.”

  “You just want to gloat more about these two women who were fighting over you,” Finn grumbled, but he looked Karen in the eye. “I’ll be fine. Go get some shut-eye.”

  Her eyes may have closed, but her sleep was anything but restful. Still, she got out of bed at the regular time to discover someone had woken before her.

  There was a new wildflower in a glass on the counter.

  The tight knot inside her belly was still there, but a whisper of something sweet drifted in as well. Enough to let her shoulders loosen slightly before she grabbed a cup of coffee and got on with her day.

  She put in a solid morning’s work before tracking down Finn to let him know she would be out for the evening.

  He nodded, frowning distractedly at the receipts he had spread all over her kitchen table. “Zach promised he’d bring food over again, so don’t worry about me.” He glanced up, focus suddenly intent. “Have a good time with your family. Say hello to your dad from me.”

  Of all the stupid things… “Shoot. I should’ve told Tamara you’d come with me. I know Dad would love to see you again.”

  This time, though, Finn shook his head. “Not yet. Right now you girls are still getting reacquainted with him, and I’m not about to interrupt that. But if you find out when he plans to come down again, we can take him out to dinner.”

  “I can do that.” Karen stood awkwardly in the doorway, uncertain whether she should kiss him goodbye or just leave.