by Leslie North
“I’m Henry.” He came forward with his outstretched hand to mimic the adult men’s behavior.
Thank god for children and their innocence, Amy thought. She was proud of him, too, for jumping in and easing the tension.
“Henry, thanks for having me over,” Cal said as he shook the boy’s hand.
“Mom did that part.” Henry glanced up at her before re-focusing on Cal. “Mr. Pierce, do you ride bulls or broncs?”
“Broncs,” Cal said. “And you can call me Cal.”
“Thanks. Do you ride bareback or saddle?” Henry questioned.
“I’ve done both, but I mostly stick to saddle.” Cal kept his attention on the child.
“Do you think cowboys need to know math?” Henry’s little face was so anxious.
Amy almost laughed since she hadn’t been expecting that one, and she waited to see how Cal would handle it.
“Absolutely,” Cal said. “How would I compare my times or count my winnings without math?”
“Never thought of that,” Henry said, seeming a little disappointed to realize the man had made an argument he couldn’t refute. “Guess I’ll have to learn that stuff after all.”
“You will,” Cal said in a serious tone, “because real cowboys do math.”
Amy could have kissed Cal and Henry at that moment. Henry had defused a fraught situation by just being a kid, and Cal hadn’t missed a beat before encouraging her son to pay attention in school. She was pleased with both of them, even though she could take no credit for the man Cal was.
“Should we eat?” Laura suggested and moved toward the dining room. “Everything’s ready.”
Henry grabbed Cal’s hand and towed him to a place at the table next to his own. “Sit here,” Henry said as the rest of them filed into the room. The place Henry offered used to be Luke’s seat. Henry probably didn’t remember that, but Amy glanced toward Jake and Brian. Jake merely scowled, but it was Brian, the more emotionally intuitive twin, who shot her a look she could read. I’ll make him move if you want me to. She shook her head and took a seat across from Cal and Henry. Laura and Jake took the ends of the table and Brian settled in next to Amy.
Cal must have picked up on the tension because he gave her a questioning look. Amy mouthed “You’re fine” to him. He gave his chin a little dip in acknowledgment and returned his attention to Henry. The funny thing was that she realized it was fine. Her husband had been gone four years, and their love for each other gone longer than that. She’d loved Luke as best she could, but that “in love” fascination had been ephemeral for them.
Besides, since her conversation with Cal in the diner, she’d made an effort to see him as his own man, not just a lookalike for her husband. Their personalities, at least what she’d seen, were different. Cal cared about himself less than he cared about others. He’d come to her rescue during the radio interview and put her at ease at their lunch. There was definitely kindness and empathy in him.
While Laura passed the serving dishes, Cal initiated conversations with his brothers that Luke wouldn’t have thought to do. Luke had always viewed the twins as mere kids, but they’d been men in their own right when he’d died.
“I understand you’re sheriff in these parts,” Cal said to Brian. “What’s that like around here?”
“Quiet, most of the time,” Brian responded. “We get the occasional drunk and disorderly, some petty theft. Mostly that sort of thing. We did have an attempted bank robbery last year.”
““How did that all go down?” Cal asked as he spooned mashed potatoes onto his plate and Henry’s.
Brian laughed. “The getaway car broke down in the middle of Main Street.”
“Tell him how often you’ve fired your gun in the line of duty,” Jake said with a sly grin.
“I’ve put down animals with rabies and scared off coyotes sometimes,” Brian said, not taking offense at his brother’s teasing. “It’s mostly a peaceful place.”
“The rodeo might cause you some excitement,” Cal said.
“I expect it already has.” Brian’s response was clear. The fact that Darby Crossing was hosting the rodeo had changed their family in ways none of them expected. Amy looked at Brian, but she could see he meant no criticism.
She imagined the twins were discovering, just as she had, that it was tough to be angry with Cal when he approached you with such openness and courtesy. Cal was paying Brian and Jake respect, and she could see it was having an impact.
“And you run the ranch?” Cal turned to Jake. “It looks to be a big operation. How many men do you have working for you?”
Jake talked about the acreage, number of cattle and horses, and the men he managed. Despite himself, Jake was drawn out by the questions and Cal’s understanding of what running the ranch entailed. Henry piped up periodically with information about the ranch and various animals, which kept the conversation lively.
While Laura was passing around slices of pineapple upside down cake for dessert, Amy studied her mother-in-law. She’d said little during the meal, only adding a comment here and there, but she seemed pleased at what she was seeing. In time, Amy hoped that Laura would find it in her heart to talk to Cal about his adoption and maybe even who his real father was, but it was enough now that Amy had brought the family together. At least, Amy hoped it was enough.
“Can I take Cal to the barn and show him King, mom?” Henry asked when they’d finished the cake.
“If Cal doesn’t mind,” Amy replied.
Henry hopped up immediately and took off for the door. “Come on, Cal. You gotta see my horse.”
“If you’ll excuse us,” Cal said with a nod around the table before going after the boy.
No one spoke until they heard the front door slam seconds later.
“Amy, we should thank you for bringing him here,” Brian said into the silence. His tone was gruff, but that was Brian’s way. The thank-you told her that Cal had been accepted.
“Oh, yes,” Laura added. “I never thought to see him in person. I wasn’t sure I wanted to, but now that I have…thank you, Amy.”
“Seems like a decent man.” Jake gave his assessment which was the most Amy expected to get out of him, but it was enough to know that she’d made the right call by inviting Cal to the ranch.
5
Henry put his hand in Cal’s as they headed for the largest of the barns on the ranch. It felt odd walking with a child like this, but Cal was glad to be out of the house. Meeting his family had been good in a way, but he hadn’t been able to decode the looks and subtext that seemed to fly around the table between his twin brothers and Amy.
He'd done his best to be a good guest by engaging with Jake and Brian. Once again, he was thankful for the social skills his parents had instilled in him and the years of making conversation with strangers on the rodeo circuit. Brunch had gone…okay, but he was glad to be in the open air with his young companion. He figured his outing with Henry reduced the stress for everyone.
“That’s the corral where I get to ride sometimes.” Henry pointed to a fenced area. “And behind those trees is a stream I like to wade in.”
“Any fish in that stream?” Cal asked.
“Uncle Brian says there is, but I’ve never caught any because I’m not pa…pa…”
“Patient?” Cal suggested, remembering what it was like to be a boy who never sat still for long enough to let a fish get the worm on his hook.
“Yeah, that’s the word mom uses.” Henry gave a yank on Cal’s arm. “Through here.”
They ducked into the shade of the barn. Cal breathed in the familiar scent of horses, manure, and feed that gave him a contented, warm feeling. Cal had been in any number of barns just like this one over the years, but he noted the Thorne Ranch barn was organized and tidy. Cal guessed that was Jake’s work. For the first time since his arrival at the ranch, the tension left his shoulders. Only time would tell if the Thornes would ever really come to feel like family, but this felt like home.
&nb
sp; “Here, let’s get some treats.” Henry took the lid off a wooden bin and handed Cal several pellets made from alfalfa and molasses. “The horses expect it.”
They worked their way down the stalls, giving treats and nose rubs to various horses. Good stock, Cal thought, and well cared for. “Where’s your pony?”
“King’s at the end of the row. Uncle Jake says I should pet all the horses, so none of ’em get jealous.”
“Your uncle is wise. Horses have feelings.” That was a lesson Cal had learned as a kid, too.
When they reached the dapple-gray pony, Henry fed him the last of the treats, and like every good horseman, the boy checked the animal over, running his hand down King’s legs. Cal wasn’t sure that Henry understood exactly what he was looking for, but he’d been well trained.
“Can I ride him? Mom says I have to have a big person around and you know about horses.” Henry turned pleading eyes on Cal.
“It’s okay by me,” Cal said, “if you’re sure your mom won’t mind.”
“Nah,” the boy assured him. “I ride all the time.”
Cal helped Henry saddle the pony before leading the animal out of the barn. Two barrels were already in place in the corral. Spotting them, Cal realized it would be easy to take the boy through some basic barrel racing exercises. Teaching Henry would give the boy something to remember him by when his time in this town came to an end.
“Let me give you a boost.” Cal helped Henry into the saddle, making sure to check the girth strap and length of the stirrups before letting Henry ride on his own. “Have you done any barrel racing?”
“I tried it just once,” Henry said. “Will you show me?”
“Sure thing, kid.” Cal thought back to when he learned the techniques used for the rodeo event. He’d been Henry’s age and his parents had let him take riding lessons. He’d begged for the privilege and reasoned with them that every kid in Texas knew how to ride. His mother, a native Texan, understood, though his dad, born in England, didn’t quite get the fascination with western style riding. But he had wanted his son to be happy, so riding lessons became a staple of their lives. Cal remembered his excitement at riding independently and caring for his horse.
“Okay, let’s walk around the barrels in the pattern you’d use in the event.” Cal took it slow, leading Henry’s horse first around one barrel and then crossing to the second and back to the starting point. “You see how that works?” Cal asked as pony and boy went through a second time.
“Yep. I’ve got it,” Henry announced as he tightened the reins in his hands.
“I’m staying with you, and we’re going slow,” Cal cautioned, but he felt a sense of pride when Henry completed one perfect circuit. It wasn’t fast, but the technique had to be learned first.
Teaching him was more fun than Cal had expected. Henry was quick and already knew plenty about horses, which made it easy, but Cal found that he intuitively knew how to direct him—when he needed to put his hand on the horse’s withers and when to let Henry keep control. The idea Cal had long harbored about opening his own training facility resurfaced. Hell, that was twice in the past few days that he’d thought about what had once been his dream.
How possible was it to make it a reality? But the nagging voice in his head reminded him that he’d have to own property and horses, manage a business, and stay in one place. Cal wasn’t sure he was cut out for any of those things.
Cal took his focus off Henry for just a second and the boy spurred King forward too quickly and cut close to a barrel, nearly unseating himself. Sprinting alongside, Cal grabbed Henry’s shoulder, his touch keeping the boy in the saddle.
“You’re all right, buddy. Take it a mite easier,” Cal said while making sure the boy had his horse back under control before he let go.
“What are you doing?” Amy’s voice cut across the space between the ranch house and the corral. Both Cal and Henry swung their heads in her direction.
“Uh oh,” Henry whispered and bit his lip.
Judging by Amy’s expression, the situation called for a hell of a lot more than uh oh. Her stride and expression shouted that Cal had screwed up. But how? Ranch kids rode horses, and Henry had a good seat. What was the big deal?
“What in the world do you think you’re doing, young man?” Amy stormed into the corral, making King sidestep. Cal grabbed the halter to keep the horse from bolting as Amy yanked Henry from the saddle. “Did you have permission to ride that horse?” Amy bent over and was eye-to-eye with her son. Henry shook his head before dropping it against his chest. “You take King into the barn to Uncle Jake. He’ll help you care for King, and then you go straight to your room and take some time to think about what you did. You understand me?”
“Yes, mom.” Henry’s voice was a whisper, but he took King’s reins and led him toward the barn.
Amy stood with her hands on her hips until her son disappeared into the barn. When she whirled around to face Cal, he felt like an errant schoolboy. So he went for his most soothing, reasonable voice.
“He was doing just fine, Amy. Don’t overreact.” Cal said. “He had a little slip, but he wasn’t in any danger. I was right there with him.” He still wasn’t quite seeing what the big deal was.
“And that makes everything okay, does it?” Her tone challenged him. “Did you know he fell from a horse a couple months ago and broke his leg? He just got the cast off a week ago. I didn’t plan to let him get back on King yet.”
“I didn’t know,” Cal admitted, “but it wouldn’t have changed anything if I had. It’s dumb to keep a kid off his horse. How else is he supposed to learn to get back up there and try again? Kids and adults fall off horses all the time. You have to know that living on a ranch. The trick is to get back on.”
“And you’re an expert raising children, I suppose?” She crossed her arms over her chest and took a step closer to him.
“No, ma’am. I’ve just got lots of experience of being tossed off and putting my butt back in the saddle.” He’d done that on days he was so sore he’d barely been able to swing his leg over the horse, but he’d known in his gut that it had to be done.
“So you think that qualifies you to make a decision for my son. You’re not his parent. Hell, you’re just barely a member of this family.” She’d been shouting at him, but now she abruptly dropped her voice. “You should go. Now.”
He nodded and started walking toward the house, trying to shrug off his anger and reminding himself that he didn’t need this kind of crap in his life. He’d say his goodbyes and get off the ranch as Amy requested. He had one family that he loved, and he didn’t need another one, especially one that seemed to be full of land mines.
Laura and Brian were stepping out onto the porch when he approached. He had to assume they’d heard the commotion at the corral.
“I wanted to thank you for your hospitality, Laura,” Cal said and shook hands with Brian. He was going to leave it at that, but Laura caught his arm.
“I’d like you to come for dinner a night this week if you can,” she said.
Cal was speechless for a minute. He should say a polite no thank you and walk away, but Laura had her heart in her eyes, and, dammit, he couldn’t do it. He didn’t want to hurt her any more than he already had, just by looking like the son she’d lost—the one she’d actually wanted.
“That’s mighty nice of you. I’ll be here,” he said, knowing he was going to regret accepting the invitation.
“Good. We’ll see you then,” Laura said with a slight smile. “Take care of yourself.”
With another nod, he headed toward his truck, surprised to find Amy walking alongside him. Anger still came off her in waves, and he was sorry for that.
“You can find someplace else to be that night, so you don’t have to see me,” he said quietly since he was damn sure she wanted nothing to do with him again.
“That’s exactly what I was planning to do,” she snapped.
“Probably for the best.” Even as he sai
d it, he knew it wasn’t true. The best choice would be to steer clear of the Thorne ranch altogether. It was only going to cause him trouble. Amy would, too.
“Goodbye, Cal.” Her tone was barely civil. He looked at her face for just a second. It was still bright red with her anger and her blue eyes were sharp.
“See ya, Amy.” He got in his truck and started driving away, feeling relieved to be away from the ranch. He’d go back and have dinner as promised, but he wasn’t planning on forming a lasting relationship with Laura, his brothers, or Amy.
He hadn’t gone twenty feet when he glanced in the rearview mirror at Amy. Her hands covered her face as her red hair whipped around her in the breeze. Shit, she was crying. Her shoulders sagged, and it was obvious that all the fight had gone out of her.
Any anger he still carried went, too. It suddenly hit home that her son was all she had left of her husband—the husband who had died way too young in an accident. If that meant she got a little overprotective sometimes, who could blame her? He wanted to turn the truck around and go back to her. He could apologize, give her a hug, something. Damn, he hated to see a woman cry. But he was probably the last person she wanted to comfort her. He kept his eyes focused forward as he drove off the ranch and headed for the road into town.
6
“And that’s the end,” Amy said closing the book on Henry’s bedtime story.
“Come on, mom. One more,” Henry pleaded.
“No, sir. You’ll have to wait until tomorrow to see what Flat Stanley’s next adventure is.” Amy put the book on the nightstand and turned on the nightlight. The window was open a crack letting a cool breeze blow in, so she tucked the blankets more tightly around Henry and leaned over to kiss his forehead.
“Mom,” his voice was small. “Did our family get bigger today?”
