Carter's Cowboy

by McClone, Melissa

  They did.

  Heather handed Avery a plastic container. “Here are some cookies.”

  “We baked them last night,” Sophie announced proudly.

  Sean rolled his eyes with a dramatic flair.

  Avery went to the kitchen. She assumed their eggs would be in the refrigerator or mud room. “Carter loves cookies.”

  Ruff played with the kids, who laughed at the dog’s antics.

  “Especially oatmeal raisin,” Heather admitted. “It seems as if I’m learning something new about my grown-up cousins every week.”

  “Are you new to Quinn Valley?” Avery asked.

  “No, but I’ve lived in Riston for several years. I’m a librarian at the elementary school there.”

  That didn’t make sense to Avery. She placed the container of cookies on the kitchen counter. “Aren’t the two towns close enough they share a high school?”

  A shadow crossed Heather’s face. She blew out a breath. “Yes, but there was…a family issue. We kept our distance.”

  Carter had never mentioned any family problems. Given Avery’s situation, he would have told her if there was one. Which must mean… “Things are better now?”

  “Yes, thanks to my brother, Andrew, and his fiancée Rachel, we’re…working on it.”

  “That’s good.” Avery thought of her mother less as the years passed. She’d given up hoping for an apology or a birthday card, but moving on hadn’t been easy. “Sometimes you can’t do anything to fix a situation, no matter how much you wish things had turned out differently.”

  Empathy filled Heather’s expression. “Your family, too?”

  “My mom. Years ago, though.”

  “It still hurts.”

  Even if Avery wished it didn’t. She nodded. “So, eggs…”

  “Carter usually keeps them in the mud room. I can grab them.”

  Avery motioned Heather forward. “Go ahead. I’ll see what Ruff and the kids are up to.”

  In the living room, Ruff rolled on the floor.

  Sophie giggled. “He’s such a silly dog.”

  Sean nodded. “But Carter trained him well. I’ll do the same when I get a dog.”

  Sophie nodded twenty times. “Me, too.”

  Avery wasn’t used to being around kids, but they might be thirsty or hungry. “Do you want anything to drink or eat?”

  “No, thank you,” the kids said at the same time.

  So much for that. She sat on the arm of the sofa.

  Sophie peered up at her. “So when are you going to marry Carter?”

  A winter-squash-sized lump lodged in Avery’s throat. “I…we’re…”

  “It’s okay,” Sean said, seeming much older than a teenager. “We know.”

  Avery swallowed. She had to ask. “Know what?”

  “About Carter’s dimple,” Sophie said. “We all know about it.”

  Sean nodded. “Everyone.”

  “I must have missed something,” Avery admitted. “Is this a piece of Quinn family lore?”

  “Not lore, though that’s a cool word,” Sean announced. “Every male Quinn has a dimple on the left side of his face.”

  “Show her,” Sophie urged.

  Smiling, he pointed to his. “See?”

  “I do see.” Avery, however, had no idea what this had to do with marrying Carter. “Carter has one, too.”

  “Only his rarely shows up. Or, it didn’t.” Sean grinned, complete with his dimple. “Until you arrived in Quinn Valley.”

  “Great-Grandma says it’s a sign,” Sophie said in a matter-of-fact tone. “Because you’re his one.”

  Avery gulped. She wasn’t sure she wanted to know but had to ask. “His one?”

  “One true love.” Jumping to her feet, Sophie spread her arms as if to emphasize her point.

  No. This wasn’t happening. The Quinn family was as crazy as Carter said they were. A dimple didn’t mean anything. It was a physical trait, nothing more. Unless the kids had misunderstood.

  “How old are you two?” she asked them.

  Sean’s thin chest puffed out. “Fourteen.”

  “Ten.” Sophie spun around, pirouetting like a ballerina.

  They seemed intelligent. Other than the dancing, they showed no signs of living in a fantasy world, but that didn’t mean…

  “What’s going on?” Heather came in, carrying two cartons of eggs.

  Sophie stood still, but her hands kept moving. “We were telling Avery about Carter’s dimple and how she’s his one true love and they’ll be getting married soon.”

  Heather’s face flamed red. “I…”

  “That’s what everyone was saying over dinner the other night, Mom,” Sean said as if coming to Sophie’s defense. “You heard them.”

  Heather’s startled gaze bounced from her children to Avery. “Yes, but…”

  “It’s fine.” Avery didn’t want to upset Heather. She still had to drive the kids to Riston. Her son and daughter hadn’t meant to cause trouble. They didn’t know they shouldn’t have said anything. “A big family must have lots of…stories.”

  That seemed a better term to use than gossip.

  “Yes, but that discussion was only because people are thrilled for Carter,” Heather explained. “He’s never looked so happy. At least that’s what I’ve been told. But I’m sure you know how much he likes you.”

  No, Avery wasn’t sure of anything, except that hearing this scared her. Especially since she’d noticed Carter’s here-one-day, gone-the-next dimple. But that didn’t mean…

  “We should get going.” Heather motioned to the kids before glancing at Avery. “You okay?”

  “I’m good.” What else could she say? “It was nice meeting you.”

  “See you around.” Heather sounded like it was a given.

  All Avery could do was nod.

  Her job ended tomorrow. The contract they’d signed was up. All she needed to do was finalize her report and his business plan before she started packing.

  Maybe if she finished today, she could take off tonight. Saying goodbye to Carter would be difficult. Maybe impossible. But…

  Dimple or not, she couldn’t stay. Even though her heart didn’t want to leave.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  That evening, Avery listened for Carter, but he wasn’t in the house. He must be checking on the livestock or in the barn or greenhouse. Good, she didn’t want to see him. Well, she sort of did, but she shouldn’t want to.

  Stop thinking about him.

  As she continued packing, Ruff watched her. The dog had no idea what she was doing, but he seemed…sad.

  Avery gave him a pat. “Everything is happening the way it’s supposed to.”

  Maybe if she kept telling herself that, she’d start to believe it.

  She put the last pair of jeans into her suitcase and zipped it. “All done.”

  Saying that brought zero relief.

  She had finished in time to leave tonight instead of waiting until tomorrow as planned. The final report and plan were printed out and sitting on Carter’s desk. She’d also emailed him digital copies. Her work here was done, so why did her feet feel glued to the floor?

  Because you don’t want to go.

  I have to leave.

  Are you sure?

  Yes, it’s time.

  A battle raged inside her, but it wasn’t one she could win. Instead, she grabbed her bags, headed out the front door, and placed them inside the shell of her truck.

  Done.

  She trudged to Mercury’s stall. He was so happy here, but he would find another place he liked. That was what horses did.

  She attached his lead. “It’s time to get you in the trailer.”

  Avery led him out of the barn. When the horse saw her truck, he stopped.

  “Come on, boy,” she urged.

  He wouldn’t budge.

  “Mercury doesn’t want to leave.” Carter stood six feet away with a sad expression that matched his tone. “Why are you taking off?�
�

  Her heart pounded in her ears. “I finished your reports and business plan. It’s time for me to go.”

  “You could stay.”

  She shook her head. “I can’t.”

  He reached into his pocket, took something out, and held it in his hand. A stone. Something she’d never seen him with before. “You could if you wanted to, cowgirl.”

  The nickname was like a knife in her heart. “Carter—”

  “Please hear me out.”

  She nodded once.

  His fingers brushed over the rock in his hand. “I understand your consulting business is important to you. You have another job to go to and you’ve scheduled other farms over the next few months, but that doesn’t change how I feel. I’m happy to wait until you’re between clients or have free time to see you again. I just…please come back.”

  The rawness of his voice tore at her heart. A part of her wanted to say yes. That she would return as soon as she could.

  But Avery knew that wouldn’t work. He’d already acted jealous. At some point, those feelings would intensify. He would end up overreacting to her being friendly or smiling at the wrong person, the way everyone else had—by telling her to leave.

  Her insides trembled, but she kept her head high when all she wanted to do was try to hide. “I…can’t.”

  “Can’t or won’t?”

  His tone was harsh. Not that she blamed him.

  “Let’s keep things professional.” She ignored his question because he wouldn’t like the answer and she wasn’t about to lie. “We’ve done good work together. Become friends. I don’t want to spoil all we’ve accomplished in the past two weeks.”

  “That’s a bogus excuse, and you know it.” Carter’s nostrils flared. “You leaving has nothing to do with professionalism. Your contract is ending. Tell me the real reason.”

  “I…”

  “Please, Avery. I need to know the truth.”

  “Because you might want me to stay now, but as soon as your jealousy flares again, because I was talking to a farm worker too much or bumped into one of your cousins or did something that makes you question my integrity, you’ll tell me to leave. I can’t let that happen again.”

  “It won’t.”

  “It’s happened before, and I wasn’t romantically involved then. That would add another complication, a bigger one.”

  A worse one.

  His eyes implored her. “I promise you.”

  “You can’t promise me it won’t happen. Because it will. It always happens.”

  As she led Mercury into the horse trailer, her chest hurt. She couldn’t look at Carter, even though she knew he was watching her every move. Could almost hear him starting to speak before he stopped himself.

  Leaving was the best thing to do, but knowing that didn’t stop the pain.

  The heartache.

  But what else could she do?

  If she became more attached to Carter, to this farm, she wouldn’t be able to survive when he told her to leave. That was why she had to go now.

  * * *

  Watching Avery load Mercury into the trailer was the hardest thing Carter had done next to burying the three people he’d loved so much. He wanted her to stay, but he couldn’t force her to do that.

  As she went to get into the truck, she waved.

  He lifted his arm in a half-hearted gesture before shoving both hands into his jacket pockets and staring at the ground. By the time he raised his head, she was driving away.

  A bone-deep pain ripped through him.

  So much for the clarity crystal. He’d acted more like a lovesick fool than a man with a clear head.

  But in either case, he knew what he wanted.

  For Avery to stay.

  The trailer’s taillights grew smaller and smaller.

  Carter’s cell phone rang. He pulled it out. Riley.

  “Do you think Ambrosia will give me a refund?” His heart hurt too much for him to laugh. “Whatever clarity I got, it didn’t help. Avery just left.”

  Riley screeched. “Don’t give up.”

  “Avery doesn’t want to stay. There’s nothing else I can do.”

  “Go after her,” Riley implored. “Show Avery how much you care.”

  “I…” He thought for a moment. That was actually a good idea. “I could do that.”

  “I’m going to call Ivy and rally the troops. There’s enough of us that we can slow Avery down until you catch up to her.”

  His aching heart swelled with affection for his cousin. “Thank you, Riley.”

  “That’s what family is for. Grab your keys and go track down your woman.”

  His cowgirl.

  He whistled. Ruff ran to him. “Come on, boy. We need to hurry.”

  As he grabbed his keys from the house, a text notification buzzed. It was Ivy.

  Ivy: Just talked to Riley. We’ve got this covered. All you have to do is show up, bro, and let Avery see how much you care about her.

  Me: Love you, sis.

  Ivy: Now get in your truck and drive. Fast.

  Carter did. He had no idea whether this crazy plan of Riley’s would work, but he’d already lost his heart. There wasn’t much else to lose.

  * * *

  Avery was full of doubts about whether she should leave Quinn Valley or not. But what choice did she have? Staying would only lead to more emotions and heartbreak when she would eventually be forced to go.

  She wiped tears away. Crying and driving was too dangerous. She had to hold herself together. Once she stopped for the night, then she could fall apart.

  Headlights approached from a country road. Fast.

  “This isn’t a race.” But that didn’t slow the car.

  They weren’t going to stop.

  She tapped the brakes to slow down, allowing the vehicle—what now appeared to be a smaller-sized SUV driven by an older woman—to pull in front of her.

  “Must be in a hurry to get somewhere.”

  Except the other car suddenly slowed. Five miles, ten miles, twenty miles per hour below the posted speed limit.

  Avery stared out the windshield. She didn’t want to tailgate so she slowed the truck, waiting for the vehicle to accelerate.

  That didn’t happen.

  If anything, the car went even slower—snail-paced slow.

  “What is going on?” She didn’t dare pass them on the two-lane road, not while towing a horse trailer. But at this rate, the drive to town would take twice as long.

  That meant not stopping for dinner. Avery would have to grab food at the gas station market. She hadn’t driven much while she was here, but topping off her gas tank would give her a few extra miles before she had to stop again.

  Finally, after way too long a drive, the sign for the gas station appeared up ahead. She could be rid of the car in front of her.

  Avery flicked on her turn signal. The place was crowded for a weeknight. She pulled in behind a beat-up pickup truck that had seen better days.

  As she waited, a man slid out of the cab, followed by a beautiful golden retriever that made her think of Ruff. Her bruised heart hurt that much more. She already missed that dog.

  And his owner.

  She blew out a breath.

  The man approached her truck. Maybe she had a headlight out.

  As Avery rolled down her window, a car pulled behind her. Ivy was driving.

  Avery raised an eyebrow at the man. He had a dimple on the left side of his mouth. “Let me guess. You’re a Quinn.”

  “Joel, one of Harold and Irene’s kids.” He motioned to the dog. “This is Stanley. He goes everywhere with me and is the mascot at the vet clinic I run.”

  With a wagging tail, the dog panted.

  “Did you need something?” Avery asked.

  Joel glanced around as if he didn’t have a care in the world. “Just stopped for some gas.”

  “The nozzle is still at the pump,” she said.

  “I’m in no rush. Are you?”

&nb
sp; “Hey, Joel. Hi, Avery.” Ivy stood next to her cousin. “What’s going on?”

  As Joel struck a casual pose, Stanley stared up at him. “Not much. How about you?”

  Ivy shrugged. “I don’t have to work at Quinn’s tonight, so I was just out for a drive.”

  “It’s a good night for that,” Joel agreed.

  Avery had no idea what was going on between the two cousins, but she got out of the truck. “Since neither of you seem to be on a tight schedule, do you think I could fill up my gas tank? I’d rather not be driving all night.”

  “Uh, sure.” Ivy glanced at Joel. “You don’t mind, do you?”

  Joel shook his head. “Not at all.”

  As he walked away, his keys dropped to the asphalt. His next step kicked them under his truck. He knelt. “Not going to be able to reach them. I’m going to need a broom or stick.”

  “They probably have one inside,” Ivy said.

  He nodded. “I’ll go ask.”

  As Joel headed into the mini-mart, Avery stared at Ivy. “What are you doing here?”

  Three more cars pulled into the gas station. In one, she spotted Ciran from the taco truck and his wife, Roxane, from the hotel and spa. Both had sheepish expressions on their faces.

  Another woman exited a car. She smiled at Avery. “Hi, I’m Riley. One of Carter’s cousins.”

  A redhead emerged from the other vehicle. She waved. “You must be Avery. I’m Betsy Quinn. Nice to meet you.”

  Avery didn’t know what to say. She glanced around. “What’s going on? This place didn’t just turn into Grand Quinn Station.”

  Panic flashed in Ivy’s eyes. “We’re waiting for…”

  A familiar pickup truck tore into the parking lot. Avery’s breath caught. “Carter.”

  He pulled alongside her truck, stopping so the driver’s side window was next to her. Ruff sat on the seat next to him. Lowering the glass, Carter leaned out. “We need to talk.”

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Carter had never moved so fast in his life. He shut off the engine, jumped out of the truck with Ruff, and approached Avery with deliberate steps. She hadn’t left Quinn Valley. He still had a chance, and he needed to make the most of it.