A Cowboy's Homecoming

by Leigh Riker

  At the stall, Noah lifted Teddie so he could see inside. “Well, what do you think?”

  “He’s...so...cute,” Teddie all but whispered, an arm around Noah’s neck. “Can I touch him myself?”

  “If your mom says okay.”

  Kate peeked into the stall. The mare was standing in the corner, as she had last night, the foal on the opposite side, as if he knew better than to approach her. “I’m worried she hasn’t taken to him yet. They should have bonded, or at least be bonding by now.”

  “I think she’s feeling worse than last night,” Noah said. “I couldn’t have done that milking without you.”

  “You’d have figured it out. The WB will make a cowboy of you yet.”

  “It can try,” he said, setting Teddie down. “Come on, short stuff. Let’s see how you like this boy up close.”

  Teddie could barely contain himself until Noah opened the stall door. Noah talked softly to him about the colt and Teddie threw in another fact or two, their heads close together.

  Kate’s throat tightened. Although she couldn’t fault his being good to Teddie, she couldn’t overlook the fact that Noah had been there in New York when Rob died but hadn’t saved him. She couldn’t forget her own renewed promise to avoid him. Why encourage this fledgling friendship with her son? If only she hadn’t mentioned the foal to Teddie...

  “Mommy, he likes me! I wish he could be mine.”

  Noah’s eyes met hers. “I can’t give him to you, Teddie. I would if I could, but the colt belongs to the WB. How about this instead? Since Zach’s not here, I don’t see any reason why you can’t name this colt.”

  “I can?” He turned to Kate.

  “You certainly may.” She had to blink. For another few minutes, she stood outside the stall while her son ran through a dozen choices with Noah. They didn’t reach a conclusion, but she hadn’t seen Teddie this happy since he’d been given Spencer for his birthday.

  At last, Teddie burst out of the stall. “I’ll think some more, N—Mr. Bodine. Is it okay if I name him tomorrow? I want to pick exactly the right one.”

  “No problem.” Noah touched Kate’s shoulder. “This boy of yours has the absolute best ideas. I’ve never heard such good choices for a colt.” Like Twinkle Star and then Thumper, after the rabbit in his book about Bambi. Noah grinned at Teddie. “It’ll be hard to narrow them all down.”

  “Leave it to me,” Teddie said, adjusting his glasses.

  Then, being the active child that he was, he skipped out to the barnyard, talking to himself. Kate heard more names being bandied about and couldn’t help laughing.

  Noah did too. “You’re going to have a very talkative afternoon.”

  “I know. Thank you, Noah, for being so kind. That meant the world to Teddie.”

  “He sure knows a lot about foals.”

  “About everything,” she said, admitting, “I hope I’m up to the challenge of homeschooling him.”

  Noah stepped back. “You’re not sending Teddie to public school?”

  “He can already read—as you may have guessed. In fact, he can pass standardized tests through fourth grade. I didn’t want him to feel ‘different,’ to be in classes with kids much older than Teddie.”

  “True. But what about a gifted program like the one my parents found for me? In Farrier?”

  “Barren doesn’t have one, and taking him to Farrier every day—I looked online—just isn’t feasible. We’re not eligible for the school bus route there either.”

  “Then all I have to say is, good luck. Being a teacher, along with running your ranch, won’t be easy.”

  “Meg has promised to help.”

  Noah walked her to the truck. “Let me know if there’s anything I can do.”

  Kate had one hand on the door handle, an eye on Teddie, who was chasing one of the ranch dogs around the yard. “That would be...helpful, if you were staying.” Which she didn’t want him to do.

  “Guess this word hasn’t gotten around yet.” Noah took a breath. “Zach texted me—after you left. My sister and her new husband have extended their honeymoon. I was told to ‘stay put.’”

  Kate’s spirits sank. Despite their necessary proximity in this very barn the night before, she didn’t want Noah here. How could she let Teddie get close to another man when he’d taken Rob’s death so hard? And, most of the time, still did? Keeping Teddie away from Noah, however, wouldn’t be possible either. For now, he was staying at the WB. Way too near to Sweetheart Ranch. And also, her.

  * * *

  NOAH HADN’T EXPECTED the news to thrill Kate. She didn’t want him to stay for even another day. Yet here he was, in the ranch office again, thanks to Zach—and Willow. He would try to contact his sister, which hadn’t seemed critical when she was on the ship, but now he needed to clarify her schedule—not get the word second hand from Zach. He couldn’t blame his sister for wanting more of a honeymoon, but for how much longer? He couldn’t stay forever.

  His mother rapped at the open door, her brow furrowed. “Were you planning to eat dinner tonight—or roll right through at that desk to breakfast? Noah, you work too hard.”

  “That’s what Margot says.”

  Jean’s lips pressed tight. “Perhaps one thing on which we can agree.”

  No news there. Jean Bodine was fiercely protective of her brood. She thought Margot was “uppity” and not right for him and had some hidden agenda that would end up hurting Noah. “Mom, I do neglect her, and with the new London office in the works, how can I not?” Which didn’t help his need to discuss their relationship. “Trying now to run the company from here, see to the WB, deal with that new foal—”

  “I just checked on him. That mare still doesn’t seem like the best mother.”

  “No, that title’s reserved. For you.” Noah tried a smile that he wasn’t sure reached his eyes. He felt dog-tired after a night without sleep, the hours he’d spent today with the colt and his latest conversation with Kate. Plus, he had a ton of New York business waiting before he even thought of bed tonight. Then there was Margot. How could he tell the woman he’d dated for nearly two years that he had doubts? “I mean that, Mom. Thanks for putting up with me.”

  “I know you don’t really want to be here.” She studied her hands. “I’ve also heard that you and Wilkins don’t get along.”

  “As a kid, I saw Dad lock horns plenty of times with various foremen. Why think I’d be any different? I spend more energy trying to steer clear of Wilkins than I do actually getting anything done.”

  “You’ve done very well with that foal.”

  “Kate brought some milk for him today, which helps, but I’m still worried.”

  Jean smiled. “You’re taking an interest. That’s a good thing—from my viewpoint.”

  “As long as you remember this is only a visit.”

  “I know that too.”

  “And that still hurts you.” Noah toyed with a stack of papers on the desk. “I’m sorry, Mom. But you’ve seen for yourself that I don’t fit in here. I mean, what kind of rancher falls off his horse the first day? We may still lose that foal, and in case you’ve forgotten, Kate doesn’t want me around.”

  But Jean disagreed. “She came last night, brought the colt a bottle this morning, didn’t she?”

  “Not for my sake. She’s a compassionate person, and she’s loved animals since she was that annoying kid who followed Zach and me around years ago.”

  “She never had a brother of her own.” Jean paused and he sensed what was coming. “How irritating is she now? She’s a lovely girl.” Better for him than Margot, but she hadn’t said that.

  “Here we go again,” he muttered.

  “I’m just saying.”

  “Yeah, and then what happened? Did you miss this part? She married Rob.” That still hurt Noah too. “Now I’m the convenient scapegoat for her lo
ss.”

  “You’re using that as an excuse. I suggest you talk to her. You’re both young, with your lives ahead of you. That boy of hers could use a strong male influence in his life.” She grinned. “Not to mention, Teddie reminds me of you. Smart as a whip—”

  “Kate plans to homeschool him.” That had been troubling him since this morning.

  “Yes, I’ve heard that. I assume you think that’s a mistake. So do I.”

  “Remember how I drove you and Dad crazy? None of us would have been satisfied with a homeschool experience. It’s not the right choice, either for Teddie or her, even with Meg’s help.”

  “Maybe you could convince her to try another solution?”

  “I suggested the program I went to. I doubt I could convince her of anything.” Not just about Teddie, and certainly not about Noah’s part in Rob’s death. He’d tried that once during the blizzard.

  “If you don’t still have feelings for her—”

  “Mom. What kind of relationship could we have with me in New York and her glued to Sweetheart Ranch? Besides, I’m with Margot.” For the time being.

  “I am an excellent judge of character, Noah. Consider this—you’ve been ‘with Margot’ for some time, yet I haven’t seen a diamond ring. Doesn’t that tell you something?”

  “Not everyone jumps right into marriage.” Like Kate had with Rob.

  Noah squirmed in his seat. He’d brought his doubts about the future Margot had planned for them with him, but he wasn’t about to share that with his mother. Margot deserved to know first. “I realize I can be too focused on details at times, but...”

  “You’ll what? Propose eventually to a woman you don’t seem desperate to marry? You should have been here when Cody was trying to win Willow over. Now that was determination. I only want you to be as happy as they are, darling.”

  He scowled at the paper mess in front of him on the desk. If the London launch—and J&B’s acquisition of a small start-up company they were looking at—ever happened, it would be a miracle.

  “Mom. Cut me some slack. Juggling two full-time jobs—one physical, the other mental—isn’t easy, and they couldn’t be more different.”

  “I’m sure you’ll manage.” Jean stepped back from the doorway. “If you aren’t in bed by ten o’clock, I’ll be back.” She would too.

  Shaking his head, Noah went back to his paperwork. His normally rightful place.

  Too bad he couldn’t seem to get a handle—temporarily—on the ranch. Those accounts were waiting for him too. Another all-nighter maybe when he couldn’t forget that morning visit from Teddie. And Kate.

  Or, no matter what he’d told his mother, the talk he needed to have with Margot.

  * * *

  “I MEAN IT, KATE. Don’t answer that.”

  Still focused on her earlier visit to the WB, Kate had nearly forgotten her promise not to pick up Mac McClaren’s next call, and obviously Meg felt she needed a reminder. Another shrill ring seemed to split the night and threatened to wake Teddie. Kate handed her aunt the phone. “Do it.”

  Meg’s eyes held Kate’s as if to say whatever happens, this will be your fault. She jabbed a button on the landline’s handset. “Yes, Mac?” she said, her voice cool.

  His voice filled the room. “Finally. I was getting tired of talking to your niece.”

  “I suppose you also got frustrated calling my cell, leaving those messages I never intended to respond to. By the way, I’ve put you on speaker. Kate’s right here.”

  “Ah,” he said, “the Sweetheart Ranch version of ‘this conversation may be recorded.’”

  “Did you not get the papers from my lawyer? We’re divorced. My half of our assets—or the portion that has been liquidated—is in my account at the Barren Cattlemen’s Bank. I fail to understand what other business we might need to conduct. Or is this about selling the house? You have two minutes.”

  “I should have followed my first instinct—to get in the car and come see you.”

  Her voice hardened. “Don’t you dare.”

  “This isn’t about the house.” Mac was still living there, dragging his feet about a sale. He laughed a little. “Funny, I just pictured you standing on the front porch there with a rifle in hand.”

  “Shotgun,” she corrected him. “The image is correct. If you show up here, I won’t be responsible for my actions.”

  Kate kept sending her hand signals to tone it down.

  “Megan, all I want is to talk. Why do you keep throwing up roadblocks?” He paused, then softened his tone. “Hey, Kate. How’s everything? I bet Teddie’s half-grown by now.”

  She had to smile. “He is. Growing too fast. Nice talking to you, Mac.”

  She arched an eyebrow at Meg, then started to leave the room. Meg snagged her arm. Stay here.

  Kate glared at her. I refuse to eavesdrop on your private conversation.

  Meg made a praying-hands motion. Please.

  Kate stopped walking. She couldn’t ignore her aunt’s plea. Meg had been invaluable after Rob died, and her generous offer to move in and help with Teddie was a debt Kate could never repay. In addition, they were friends, the best Kate had. Meg needed her support. What else could she do then but nod? She sank down on the sofa, crossed her arms and tried not to listen to the call. Their divorce had made her sad.

  “You still there, Meg?” Mac asked.

  “Yes. But your two minutes are up.”

  “Don’t,” he said, probably knowing her finger was poised above the end-call button.

  “Quickly, then. Say what you need to say.”

  Kate stuck both index fingers in her ears and silently intoned the Pledge of Allegiance to turn off her thoughts. Part of her understood Meg’s reluctance to give Mac any further place in her life. Because of Rob, the rest of her didn’t.

  She was still reciting the pledge when Meg hung up.

  Kate rose to hug her. “How bad was it? You look like you’re about to cry.”

  Meg’s mouth quivered. “He hasn’t sold the house because he thinks our divorce was a mistake. Can you believe that?”

  “Yes,” Kate murmured.

  Meg looked away. “After all he put me through? I don’t want to ‘try again.’ You may not remember, but when we were going through that—when I was—Mac was flying to Shanghai, Paris, somewhere... While I was trying to recover from losing my baby, grieving, Mac had to sign the final decree from our lawyers via some online app. He just tried to tell me he thought that might not be legal.”

  “Is it?”

  “I don’t know! Why wouldn’t it be?” Meg threw up her hands. “Now he’s obviously looked around—and finally noticed I wasn’t there to make his life easier. That’s all.”

  “Is it?” Kate repeated.

  Meg ignored her. “I had enough drama then to last the rest of my life. Maybe someday I’ll meet a guy who actually puts me first.”

  Kate couldn’t keep the sorrowful note from her voice. “I thought Rob did, but then he chose New York over me and Teddie.” And I lost him. “Come on,” she said, “let’s see if Teddie’s really asleep or hiding my iPad under the covers to read a book of names for that horse.”

  “Which reminds me. You never said how today went at the WB?”

  “Teddie hasn’t stopped talking about that foal since we hit our front door.” She trailed Meg up the stairs.

  “I meant Noah.” Oh, no.

  “Hush,” was all Kate said.

  CHAPTER NINE

  THAT WEEK, MEG’S great-nephew was into horses all the way. The following morning, in the snow that had again covered the yard, she took Teddie down to the barn. Meg hoped to clear her head after the phone call Kate had forced her to take from her ex last night. Just hearing Mac’s voice had brought back too many memories—not all of them bad. To Meg, that seemed worse than being able to blame M
ac for their divorce. She’d looked into the process for changing her name but hadn’t done so yet and silently ordered herself to get moving.

  “Morning,” said a male voice from the nearby tack room. Gabe Morgan.

  She should have known he’d be here; the barn was his workspace. She tried to hold on to Teddie’s hand, but he wrenched free and raced down the aisle to his pony’s stall.

  “Don’t open that door,” she told him.

  Holding a worn bridle, Gabe came into the aisle. “Teddie and I have an agreement. He asked my permission to see that pony—and I watch over him. I knew he was coming. He’s okay.”

  “Well, I’m here now.” Meg focused on a split board in a stall across the way. “You can get back to whatever you were doing.”

  Instead, Gabe leaned against a post. “I’m doing just fine, thanks. And I run this barn. Meaning I make such decisions.”

  “I know what you meant.” She didn’t have to like it. Meg started down the aisle, then glanced back over her shoulder. “Kate said to remind you, the farrier’s coming today.”

  “On my calendar already.” He didn’t quite smile. “Don’t open that door,” he repeated in a drawl.

  Mocking her? Meg bristled. “I should tell you that I have a low tolerance for bossy men.”

  “You’re pretty bossy yourself.”

  His lazy tone irritated Meg. She turned back. “Oh, mister. You have no idea.”

  He studied his boots. “I’m curious. What’s your ex’s name?”

  “Jon McClaren.” Once upon a time, she’d written his name on notepads like a schoolgirl, adding her own, of course. Megan McClaren. Meg and Jonathan McClaren. “Why?”

  She feared she knew what was coming, just as she should have known her relationship with Mac wouldn’t work out. As for Gabe Morgan...

  “No reason...except I kind of feel sorry for the guy. He really missed out—that bossiness aside,” he added.

  What did that mean? Was Gabe coming on to her? Kate thought he was attracted to Meg. Farther down the aisle, Teddie was talking to Spencer, telling him the names he’d come up with for the new foal at the WB. His sweet voice reminded her she wasn’t here to spar with Gabe. Or to fend off any advances. “Really. Don’t you have work to do?”