The Cowboy's Christmas Baby

by Cathy McDavid

  When the topic turned to politics—Tanner’s dad and brother didn’t see eye to eye—Tanner offered an excuse and headed out back. He quickly located the equipment bags in the tack room and carried them to his truck. If a moment presented itself, he’d tell his parents. If not, he’d call them tomorrow. After he’d competed tonight.

  He’d no sooner secured the equipment in the bed of his truck than he turned to find Rosalyn standing there, wearing only a light cardigan and clutching her middle. She looked thinner than she had inside and as fragile as a dried leaf.

  Surprised, Tanner said, “Hey, Rosalyn. What’s up?”

  “Do you have a minute? I need to ask you something.”

  His gut warned him this was a conversation he’d rather avoid. She hadn’t tracked him down to inquire about gift suggestions for Daniel. Leaning an elbow on the truck bed, he attempted a casualness he didn’t feel.

  “Ask away.”

  “Have you talked to Daniel lately?”

  “The other day.” He didn’t mention they’d been shopping for emerald earrings.

  “What about?”

  He had no intention of revealing they’d argued. Instead, he deflected. “Is something going on I should know about?”

  “I think Daniel’s lying to me,” she blurted out.

  Tanner fought to control his reaction. “You do?”

  “Several times recently I’ve walked in while he’s on the phone with your dad. The second he sees me, he yells at me to get out or hangs up. When I ask him about the calls, he says it’s work or nothing important. If I press, we end up fighting. Funny thing is, I don’t think he’s mad at me. I think he’s trying to distract me from the calls.”

  She was more astute than Daniel gave her credit for. “Maybe it is just work or nothing important.”

  “No.” She shook her head and hugged herself tighter. “I’ve caught enough of the conversations to tell they’re about what happened last year.”

  “We all talk about that,” Tanner answered carefully. “Mom and I just had a conversation the other day.”

  “My point exactly. Why would Daniel feel the need for secret calls with your dad and then lie to me about them?” She continued without giving him a chance to respond. “Then there’s the remark our marriage counselor made.”

  “What remark is that?”

  “We’ve each had several private sessions with her. I don’t know what Daniel’s discussed with her, but last week she brought up the scandal and him having regrets.”

  “Daniel does regret what happened. To me,” Tanner added.

  “Yeah, except that’s not how she phrased it. She specifically used the word guilt.” Rosalyn brought her folded hands to her mouth and blew on them.

  “Why don’t you go inside? It’s cold out here.”

  She ignored him. “He got really upset with her and almost walked out of the session. I had to twist his arm to return with me this week.”

  “I have no idea what’s going on,” Tanner lied. He wouldn’t be the one to tell Rosalyn that Daniel, and not he, had tried to cheat. “Sorry.”

  “We have so many problems.” Tears clogged her voice. “We don’t need another one.”

  This wasn’t another one. Not really. The problems she and Daniel faced were all tied together. Daniel’s brain cancer, his surgery and resulting aftereffects, the cheating, the potential risk to Bridwell and Associates, his marital problems. Though the family wanted only to support Daniel and help however possible, they’d been sucked down into a dark mire of his creation.

  “He’s trying his best.” Tanner felt the need to defend his brother. “Much of this isn’t his fault.”

  That didn’t absolve him in Tanner’s opinion. He could make changes moving forward, including leveling with his wife.

  “I know.” Rosalyn seemed to grow smaller. “I was just hoping he’d confided in you.”

  “’fraid not.” Tanner tried another approach. “What about the marriage counselor? Maybe she can convince Daniel to open up to you.”

  Rosalyn crumpled in on herself. “I’m just so tired of complaining to her.”

  “You aren’t complaining. You’re unloading. It’s her job to listen.”

  She wiped at her damp eyes.

  He put an arm around her shoulders and squeezed. “Don’t give up on Daniel yet. In another year, this will all be over.”

  “If I can wait that long.”

  Having no clue how to respond, he said, “Let’s go in the house before you freeze to death.”

  “Leaving so soon?” his mom asked when they returned to the dining area. Monty had abandoned her lap and rejoined his sister in front of the TV.

  “Have to.” Tanner bent and kissed his mom on top of the head. “I’ll call you later.”

  “Wait a minute. I’ll walk you out.” His dad rose and came around the table. “There’s something I need to ask you.”

  Tanner’s radar went on high alert. “I don’t have much time, Dad.”

  “This won’t take long.”

  He said goodbye to everyone and left with a big tin of cookies and two loaves of pumpkin bread tucked under his arm.

  “I didn’t want your mother to hear,” his dad said the moment they were outside.

  Tanner braced himself. “Hear what?”

  His dad motioned to the bed of the truck as they neared. “I saw you through the window when I went to the kitchen. What are you planning on doing with those?”

  “Last time I checked, they’re mine to do with what I want. But I appreciate you storing them for me.”

  “Come on, son. What are you hiding?”

  “I’m competing tonight at the Cave Creek Rough Stock Rental Company.”

  “Why, in God’s name?”

  Obviously, his mom hadn’t mentioned their talk yesterday. Left with no other choice, Tanner did. “I told Jewel what really happened last year.”

  “Have you lost your mind? The arena owners are—”

  “I was tired of her believing I’d cheated. If we have any chance of getting back together, she had to know the truth.”

  “So, now you’re going to announce your whereabouts to everyone by competing tonight. Good grief, son, are you single-handedly trying to ruin the company?”

  “I’ll sign over my shares in the company to you.” Even as Tanner spoke, he wondered why he hadn’t thought of this before. His having no financial interest in Bridwell and Associates might solve all their problems. “Or to Daniel. Whatever you want.”

  His dad thrust his fingers through his thinning gray hair. It was only then that Tanner realized how much his dad had aged this past year. His mom, too.

  Tanner gentled his voice. “Dad, don’t take this the wrong way, please. But I’m tired of you holding the company and its demise over me like a hammer. If signing over my shares to you stops that, then hand me a pen.”

  His remark appeared to take his father aback, and his features fell. “That’ll shatter your mom. Me, too. We’ve worked hard for almost thirty years. We want nothing more than to pass Bridwell and Associates down to you and Daniel.”

  The admission, delivered with surprising sincerity, weakened Tanner’s resolve.

  “I want that, too, Dad.”

  “One more year. That’s all you have to wait. Don’t throw away everything we’ve worked so hard for.”

  “I’m just competing in an amateur event. Not taking an ad out on the front page of the newspaper. Nothing’s going to happen.”

  “You can’t be sure.”

  “I need to move forward, make a life with my daughter and hopefully Jewel.” A conviction Tanner hadn’t felt before filled him and purpose. “If I can’t do that here, I’ll move to Oklahoma with them.”

  “What about your mother? And your brother? You’d leave them when they both need you
the most?”

  “I don’t want to. And I hope you don’t put me in a position where I’m forced to choose. But I’ve sacrificed enough for Daniel.”

  His dad lost even more of his bluster. “All I’ve ever wanted was what’s best for this family.”

  “I understand.” Tanner put an arm around his dad’s shoulders, feeling a closeness he hadn’t for a long time. He couldn’t ignore the pronounced creases in his dad’s face or chronic worry in his eyes, also new this past year. They each wore the stress differently. “I really do. Becoming a father has changed my perspective on a lot of things.”

  His dad’s voice broke when he spoke. “Be careful tonight.”

  “I will.”

  “And good luck.”

  “Thanks. That means a lot.”

  Tanner was both lighter and heavier of heart when he left his parents’ house. On the one hand, he and his dad had made progress. On the other hand, he was even more worried about Daniel and Rosalyn’s rocky marriage.

  Maybe he’d call his brother tomorrow and urge him to be honest with Rosalyn. Tanner had learned a very hard lesson this past year: deception will destroy even the most loving of relationships. Having finally told Jewel the truth, he’d never hide anything from her again.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  “THANKS FOR AGREEING to babysit on such short notice.” Jewel opened the door of her quarters to admit Tracee.

  “No problem.” The teenager entered and removed her hoodie. “I’m finished with school finals. And I could use the extra cash for Christmas presents.”

  “There are bottles ready to go in the fridge.” Jewel pointed as she walked to the center of the room where Ava sat on the floor in her foam baby seat. “And a jar of strained pears on the counter.”

  “Yummy!”

  “Ugh, not really. I’ve tasted them.”

  Kneeling down beside Ava, Jewel lavished her daughter with hugs and kisses. She hated leaving. When the reason was personal and not work-related, she hated it that much more. But Tanner was competing in the bull riding tonight, and she wanted to be there for him.

  She’d considered taking Ava with them but decided against it. Between the cold weather, long drive, late night and typically raucous crowd that attended bull riding events, Ava was better off at home.

  One more kiss, one more word of instruction for Tracee, and Jewel was off, coat and camera bag in hand. At the bottom of the stairs, her phone pinged with a text. Tanner, it seemed, was running a few minutes late. Rather than return to her quarters and endure another wrenching goodbye with Ava, she plopped down on the bench in front of the stables to wait.

  She’d no sooner buttoned her coat than her phone started playing “Joy to the World,” her mother’s favorite Christmas song. Jewel had changed the ringtone yesterday.

  Swiping the screen, she answered, “Hi, Mom.”

  “Hi to you, too. Is this a good time?”

  “I have a few minutes. Tanner’s on his way here.” She explained about the bull riding.

  “Wait. Hold on a second. Your dad wants to talk to you.”

  Jewel suppressed a groan as her mother put her on speakerphone.

  “Frankly, honey, we’re stunned. We had no idea Tanner was returning to rodeoing.”

  “He’s not. Not yet, anyway. Possibly, eventually, he will.” When the mess with Daniel was resolved once and for all.

  “Is he allowed?” her dad asked. “I thought he was banned.”

  “Temporarily. And, anyway, this is a non-professional event. It’s not governed by the same rules.”

  “Of course, it’s none of our business, but do you really want to go?” Her mother’s concern came across loud and clear. “After everything you went through last year, I’d think you’d avoid places where you might be recognized and...taunted.”

  Taunted. Such a gentle word for what Jewel had endured. Attacked, bullied, tormented were more like it. Was she ready for a repeat?

  “Most of the competitors are amateurs. They may not have heard about the scandal.”

  “You don’t really believe that, do you?”

  She didn’t. She was grasping at straws. “We’re going, Mom. We can’t keep hiding forever. I competed at the Poco Dinero a couple weeks ago and nothing bad happened.”

  There had been one or two dirty looks cast her way, and she was sure a few of the competitors had been gossiping about her. Nothing overt or unkind had been said to her face, however. Or Tanner’s.

  Her father harrumphed. “If he cared about you at all, he’d insist you stay home.”

  “I’m the one insisting on going.”

  “Tell me you’re not taking Ava,” her mother cut in.

  “No. Tracee’s babysitting.”

  “Thank God.”

  “It’s bull riding, Mom.” Jewel’s voice rose and her booted foot tapped in frustration. Her parents would feel differently if they knew the truth. “We’re not facing a violent mob.”

  “You could be. You’ve been treated horribly in the past. All that name-calling and insults and threats. I hate to see you suffer again and for no reason.”

  “Tanner has a reason to compete. A good one.”

  “I can’t imagine what that is.” Her mother sniffed, whether with sorrow or indignation Jewel wasn’t certain.

  “I’ve always tried to think the best of him,” her dad said. “After today, I’m wondering if I was wrong. No decent man worth his salt would put you through this.”

  “He’s not putting me through anything.” Clearly, they weren’t listening to her.

  “You’re confused, honey. Having him back in your life has—”

  “He’s innocent, Mom,” Jewel blurted and then gasped when she realized she’d spoken out loud.

  “How can you say that after what he did?”

  Jewel realized she could fix this, tell her mother that she’d misunderstood or heard incorrectly.

  Except, she couldn’t. She desperately wanted her parents to know they’d been right to think the best of Tanner. Even when she’d cut the last thread of her belief in him, they’d clung to one.

  “It’s true. He is innocent. He didn’t try to bribe that judge.”

  “He confessed,” her dad insisted.

  “Daniel’s the one who tried to cheat. Tanner took the blame for him.”

  The pause that followed lasted several seconds. “He told you that?”

  “Yes. He did.”

  “And you’re sure he wasn’t lying?”

  “Dad!”

  “I just find it hard to believe he’d give up his shot at a championship title, throw away his entire career and leave behind the woman he was about to marry in a few days for his brother.”

  “Daniel was having dangerous brain surgery the next week.” Jewel’s voice rose. “Tanner wasn’t sure he’d see Daniel alive again. Helping him out makes Tanner a pretty decent guy in my book.”

  Another long pause ensued before her dad said, “He could be trying to manipulate you, Jewel. Get you on his side so that you won’t move back home and take Ava.”

  “That’s not what he’s doing.” She recounted the story, including how Tanner’s dad was behind the cover up. She ended with Tanner’s intention of coming clean.

  “When?” her dad asked.

  “Soon. After the holidays.” Hopefully, though, that was more her wish and less Tanner’s.

  Her mom released a long pitiful sigh. “What a mess.”

  “It is that.”

  “Tanner must love his brother very much.”

  “He really does.”

  “Assuming I buy all this,” her dad interrupted, “and I’m not saying I do. That doesn’t change the fact that tonight could be very difficult for the two of you.”

  “It could also be a good test for us.”

 
; “Are you two back together?”

  “We’re taking things slow,” Jewel hedged, convinced her parents saw right through her. “Very slow.”

  At that moment, Tanner’s truck bumped onto the long driveway leading to the ranch. From her higher vantage point, she tracked its progress, the late afternoon sun glinting off the chrome fender and bumper.

  “I need to go. Tanner’s here.”

  Her dad wasn’t finished speaking his piece. “We’ll talk more about this when we see you in a few days.”

  “You can’t say anything to Tanner. To anyone. Especially his parents. I’m serious.”

  “We won’t.”

  Jewel imagined her dad and mom exchanging looks. “It’s important.”

  “You have our word.”

  She prayed it would be stronger than her word to Tanner, which she’d just broken.

  Dropping her phone into her coat pocket, she plastered a smile on her face. Guilt ate a hole in her stomach. She’d been wrong to tell her parents about Tanner’s innocence, even if her intentions were good.

  The second his truck came to a stop, she climbed in the passenger side. She’d no sooner buckled her seat belt than he leaned across the center console and gave her a quick hard kiss. The gesture was so much like when they’d been together, for a brief moment she forgot about her huge mistake and the potential repercussions.

  “There,” he said as if he’d been waiting hours to kiss her.

  Had he?

  “There’s something I need to tell you.”

  He sent her a curious stare. “Should I be worried?”

  “I accidentally told my parents that it was Daniel and not you who tried to bribe the judge.”

  “Accidentally?”

  “It slipped out.” She couldn’t bring herself to look at him. This was hardly the first time she’d reacted emotionally and failed to think first. For instance, in Vegas when she’d sent Tanner packing. “We were talking about the bull riding tonight, and they were...were...”

  “Giving you grief?”

  “Something like that.”

  He turned onto the main road. “And you felt the need to defend me.”

  “I’m really sorry.”

  He said nothing for the next couple of miles, silently mulling over her admission.