Home on the Ranch: Colorado Cowboy SEAL

by Laura Marie Altom

  “Excuse me?” The mediator furrowed her brow. “I don’t understand.”

  “In plain English, I want no further association with the younger Mrs. Pierpont. Consider us broken up.” Getting the words past his throat was akin to puking broken glass. Only just now—upon watching Robin struggle with her decision to choose him or her daughter—did he realize that as asinine as it sounded even to his own heart, he hadn’t just fallen for her and Lark, but he loved them. Because of that love, he had to let both go. Charlotte’s offer had been more than generous. No way should Robin even consider refusing—certainly not for him. “I mean, it’s been fun and everything, but I haven’t lived to my ripe old age not to realize when I’m in over my head.” Though he strove for a devil-may-care asshole’s tone, this heartless speech might literally kill him—that is, if his one look at Robin’s pained expression didn’t. He forced his hands up in the classic surrender position. “Robin, it’s been fun, but peace out. This is too much drama for me.”

  Her tearing eyes asked, What are you doing? I thought what we shared was real?

  It is—was, he longed to convey. But how could he when he was trying to be noble by making this awful decision for her? Besides, she could do so much better than getting herself tied down to a blind man who had little more to his name than a run-down homestead and a horse, a few goats and some chickens.

  He rose from his seat and, after gracing the mediator with a mocking bow, said, “Y’all enjoy the rest of your day. I need a beer and to ditch this monkey suit.”

  On his way out of the room, he heard a chair scrape back. Robin’s?

  She asked, “Is it all right if I go after him?”

  “No,” he heard her lawyer say. “There’s a more than generous offer on the table and as your counsel, I’d advise you to take the deal. There are plenty of men in the sea. Clearly, you don’t want that one.”

  On that sour-ass note, Laredo exited the room, closing the door firmly behind him—not just on the legal proceedings, but on any chance he may have had of him and Robin and Lark forming their own little family.

  * * *

  But I do want him, Robin’s heart cried.

  “For my own clarification,” Marjorie said to Charlotte, “you will be amenable to Robin eventually dating? Visiting her family in Arkansas? Eventually returning to the career she found fulfilling?”

  “Of course.” Charlotte turned to her former daughter-in-law. “Robin, more than anything, I wish you’d come to me about the abuse. When I heard about the divorce, I had my suspicions, but William urged me to stay out of you and our son’s troubles. Now, I just want the ugliness to go away.” She was once again crying. “I want us to be a family. I’ll never again have a son, but with you, I could have a daughter and granddaughter.”

  How was any of this happening? Had she fallen into the Twilight Zone?

  Laredo’s bad-boyfriend act had been stupid-easy to see through. Which meant he was falling on his sword for her.

  I need you.

  His words refused to leave her head. She didn’t want them to. She also needed him. But if she didn’t take this deal, what then? Would she be any better off than when she’d had her every move monitored by her ex?

  To the mediator Robin said, “May I please have a few moments of privacy to speak with my attorney?”

  “Certainly. There’s a conference area just through that door.” She pointed to her right.

  Marjorie rose, and Robin followed.

  With the door closed behind them, Marjorie asked, “What are you doing? You’ve told me yourself that the Pierponts’ ranch is enormous. You and Lark could spend a lifetime in their guesthouse and never even see them.”

  “But we would. All the time. What are my chances of winning this thing if I respectfully turn down Charlotte’s offer?”

  Her lawyer shrugged. “I would guess fairly good. But you never know in these kinds of cases. William’s attorney did his best to paint you in an unflattering light and he pretty much succeeded. I’m not saying your falling for Laredo was wrong, but considering your background, it was way too fast.”

  “I know. I agree. But I’m fresh out of a marriage in which I spent every waking moment trying to please a man I abhorred. To now live under his parents’ eagle eyes—I can’t do it. Whether Laredo is in the equation or not, I can’t do it. I won’t.”

  “How do you feel about visitation?”

  “I would never keep Charlotte—or even William from visiting Lark. All I want is to live my life without fear. Or judgment. But mostly, fear.”

  “I understand.”

  “Let’s make Charlotte a counteroffer. One she hopefully won’t refuse...”

  * * *

  “You owe me an explanation for that spectacle you made of both of us in court.” Hours later, Robin stood in the open door of Laredo’s motel room. From the looks of the open duffel bag on the bed, he was in the process of packing.

  “Let it go. What’s done is done, and I meant every word.”

  “Liar!” She slapped her palm hard enough against the open door to startle even herself. “What’s wrong with you? Chuck’s physical blows hurt less than the stunt you just pulled.”

  “You shouldn’t be here.” He wadded a T-shirt and pitched it into the gaping bag. “Where’s Lark?”

  “At the apartment with my grandparents. I told them I had to run out for diapers.”

  “So you won?”

  “If you call having the man I thought I loved publicly dump and humiliate me a win, then yes.”

  “You’ve got your daughter. That’s all that matters.”

  “Is it?”

  He crammed his suit coat in the bag, followed by his dress shoes.

  “Are you even listening to what I’m saying? I. Love. You.” The hot afternoon sun felt as if it was burning a hole through her back. But there. She’d admitted the depth of her feelings for him. At least if he kept up this ridiculous story of never having felt anything for her, then she knew she’d done all she could to make things right between them. “I’m guessing your courthouse stunt was nothing more than a tool to force my decision, but that was something I never asked you to do.”

  He fished under the bed for his other dress shoe. “Glad it worked out for you.”

  “Could you at least do me the courtesy of looking at me?”

  Standing upright, staring at the ceiling, he sighed. “I said everything I needed to in court.”

  “Really? That’s really how you want to end this?”

  “Yup.” The stupid cowboy turned his back on her to head toward the bathroom, emerging with his toothbrush and toothpaste.

  His phone chimed.

  At the same time, a car pulled up outside his room.

  “That’s probably my Uber driver. To save time, I already turned in my rental car at a place around the corner.”

  Anger, frustration and inconceivable pain welled inside her. “This is about your night vision, isn’t it? You think Lark and I could do better than hitching ourselves to a broken guy like you?”

  After cramming the two halves of his bag together, he zipped it tight.

  “You’re not only an ass, but a coward. All you have to do for us to have a happy ending is admit that show back at the courthouse was for Charlotte’s benefit, then open yourself up enough to let me in. I know you have feelings for me. I know what we shared wasn’t all an act.”

  The driver honked the still-running car outside the room.

  “Gotta go,” he said.

  Squeezing her hands into fists, swallowing the knot in her throat, she stepped aside to let him pass.

  All of the beauty that had grown between them was now dead.

  She wished she could say the same for her feelings.

  * * *

  At LAX, Laredo caught a flight to Denver, then a commuter flight back
over the Rockies to land in Grand Junction. Once there, he called Jimmy for another huge favor in picking him up.

  Twenty-eight hours later, he was home.

  Robin must’ve called at least that many times. He’d let every call go to voice mail. Finally, the calls stopped.

  His pain did not.

  If he tried hard enough, he could pretend his whole adventure with Robin had never happened. Except for the fact that his bathroom smelled of her clean shampoo and floral lotion. Her bedroom still smelled of lemon oil and fresh linens and reminded him just how pleasant a tidy house could be.

  Even worse was the goat pen.

  Everywhere he looked he saw little Lark, giggling and laughing at the rowdy four-legged creatures. The concrete foundation had hardened. Lark’s tiny handprint and perfectly penned name proved they’d existed. That for a brief few days, he’d been genuinely happy.

  Now, he merely existed.

  Felt numb.

  Funny how this place used to be enough, trail rides with Chestnut used to make him feel whole, but now that he’d tasted the ambrosia of sharing his life with a woman who’d genuinely cared, he wanted more.

  Putting on that show in front of the mediator and Robin’s lawyer had damned near been the death of him.

  Robin had known the score. He knew the moment Charlotte made her offer that the single mom would be forced to choose. In no way did he fault her decision.

  Her daughter had to come first—always and forever.

  The fact made him sad, but resolute in the rightness of his spur-of-the-moment act. His leaving had been noble. It had once again made him a hero—if only to himself.

  Now, he sat on the porch swing nursing a beer, watching the sunset, readying himself to turn on every light in the house.

  What he couldn’t do was dwell on what might have been. He couldn’t see Lark as a toddler, rescuing her from trouble as fast as she found it. He couldn’t envision Robin standing at his stove, cooking them a delicious meal. He sure couldn’t dream her into his bed, where the only thing she’d be wearing was the wedding ring he’d place on her finger.

  * * *

  “Hey, my little chicken. We’re supposed to be getting the mail—not chasing butterflies.”

  Lark bucked in Robin’s arms, pinching her chubby fingers in a valiant attempt to catch the graceful creature.

  Robin tried helping by jogging her around the apartment complex’s lush yard, but eventually the butterfly flew on his or her merry way.

  “All gone,” she said to her baby.

  With the custody issue two months behind her, Robin should have been content. With Marjorie’s help, she and Charlotte had worked out an open agreement, meaning she was welcome to visit Lark as often as she’d like. She loved taking her granddaughter on outings to the zoo and museums and lunch with her bridge club ladies. William had been slow to thaw but was gradually coming around. A big part of their improved relationship was the apology he’d made for looking the other way when he’d feared his son was following in his abusive footsteps yet had failed to get him help.

  As part of her own healing, Robin was trying to forgive the father. All she’d ever feel was contempt for his son.

  “Whew,” she said to her chubby baby who was enjoying more and more solid foods. “We made it all the way to the mailbox.” She slipped the key into her unit’s box, then withdrew the day’s delivery.

  Electric bill.

  Junk mail.

  Junk mail.

  Chinese delivery coupon.

  Invitation? The black envelope sported Robin’s name and an intricate silver calligraphy address on the front. On the back was an embossed silver return address. The name above it read: Miss Sally DeHaven.

  Hands trembling, she rested Lark on her hip to open the surprise piece of mail. Inside was a Halloween-themed wedding invitation complete with candy-corn-shaped confetti. There was also a handwritten note.

  Hey girl!

  Jimmy and I would love you even more if you’d drive over for the wedding. Sarah says she’ll put you up in a complimentary room.

  Let me know! xoxo

  Robin’s mood turned melancholy.

  Lark reached for the glittery invitation with its purple ghosts and jack-o’-lanterns.

  “Pretty, huh?”

  She let the baby have the thick card. Of course, Lark delivered it straight to her mouth.

  Thinking about that brief turbulent time in her life produced a myriad of emotions. Robin still hadn’t quite processed all of it, but she’d be forced to soon.

  Some things were better said in person. Maybe going to the wedding would be the perfect time? She wasn’t ready to face Laredo on his own. The fear his cruel words at that mediation session could have been the truth was all too real. Reinforced by his failure to answer any of her calls.

  She’d thought she knew him so well.

  Better than she’d known any man—especially, her ex-husband.

  But what if she’d been wrong? What if her and Laredo’s brief, happy time had all been an act on his part? What if his show of vulnerability had been an act?

  He couldn’t fake his night blindness.

  Ha! Hadn’t her time with Chuck proven anyone could fake anything?

  She refused to believe Laredo could be anyone other than the hero she’d fallen for so hard and so fast. Regardless, he had his life and she had hers—twelve hours apart.

  As soon as Lark entered preschool, Robin planned on returning to her work with special needs children. Maybe she’d even start on earning her teaching degree. Trudging up the stairs to her apartment, fighting a rush of nausea, she asked Lark, “Wanna take a nap with Mommy?”

  * * *

  The last place on earth Laredo wanted to be was at Jimmy and Sally’s Halloween wedding, but since one of his groomsmen had come down with chicken pox, Laredo had been roped into standing in.

  As a general rule, ever since his own marriage ended in disaster, he’d hated weddings. Having lost Robin, his hatred had grown tenfold.

  But he’d made a promise and Jimmy was a good friend, so here he stood at the altar, witnessing vows between two people who would most likely be divorced in under five years.

  Knock it off, his conscience scolded.

  Once he got home he could be as gloomy as the cloudy day. Until then, he needed to suck it up and help the bride and groom enjoy their big event. Who knew? Maybe they’d buck the odds and be one of the lucky few who did live happily-ever-after.

  While Jimmy stammered through his vows, and Sally and all of her bridesmaids cried through hers, he had to admit that they’d given the VFW hall one helluva spit-shine. The place had been decorated from top to bottom in black and orange balloons and streamers. Guests had been encouraged to come in costume. Jimmy campaigned hard for his groomsmen to dress as zombies, but Sally had shot down the idea on the grounds that she didn’t want their future children to be too scared to look at their parents’ wedding pictures.

  Cue eye roll.

  Good thing the VFW was within walking distance of The Lonely Cactus, so when he’d fulfilled his duties he could walk straight to bed—even if it was past dark.

  The vows went on and on with singing and praying and more singing and then finally Pastor Paul—the same guy who’d reffed the chicken races Laredo watched with Robin—announced to the crowd, “It is a privilege to introduce our town’s newest couple, Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Schmidt.”

  The country band they’d hired for the afternoon and night broke into a twangy version of “Monster Mash.”

  When it came time for Laredo to join the procession, he took his assigned bridesmaid’s arm, hooking it with his as instructed by the wedding planner.

  The buxom brunette couldn’t have been much over eighteen, but whispered, “I’m staying at the motel if you want to stop by later for beer. Room Fourt
een.”

  “Thanks, but I’m busy.”

  “Your loss,” she said at the end of the aisle.

  He was forced to take group photos, rearrange chairs from wedding-mode rows to reception tables, then finally sidled up to the bar. The only good part of the brunette’s offer had been the beer, but he’d rather put his latest on Jimmy’s tab.

  “Here you go,” said the bartender—another of Jimmy’s cousins.

  “Thanks, man.” Knowing it would be a long night, Laredo downed half the bottle in a few swigs.

  A few too many Halloween songs later, he still stood at the bar when he caught a faint familiar floral scent.

  “Where’s your costume?” asked an instantly recognizable voice from behind him. No way...

  He turned only to choke on his latest sip of beer.

  Standing before him, wearing an adorable Little Bo Peep costume with Lark settled on her hip, dressed as a sheep, was Robin. She offered a shy smile. “Hey...”

  “Hey, yourself. Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”

  “Maybe I didn’t know myself? Besides, it’s not like you would have answered your phone.”

  Ouch. “How have you been?”

  “Good. You?”

  He shrugged before downing more brew. “I’ve been better. Been worse. Can’t really complain. How are you liking life at the Pierponts’?”

  “I’m not. Marjorie negotiated a better deal.”

  “Oh?” The news should have made him happy. Instead, it made him feel as if he’d given her up for nothing.

  “I’m free to live my own life. My ex-in-laws are free to visit Lark as much as they like. I saw it as a win-win.”

  “Good. I’m glad you’re happy.”

  She bowed her head. “I should be, right? Only...I’m not.”

  “Why?” His pulse raced and his breathing slowed, as he dared to hope the reason for her lackluster life involved missing him as much as he missed her.

  Lark held out her arms to him, pinching her fingers.