His Rodeo Sweetheart

by Pamela Britton

  “Ethan?”

  Adam seemed oblivious. The boy was already halfway to the gate.

  “I had a phone call just before you arrived.”

  She sat up straighter in the saddle. “What kind of call?”

  He clucked his horse forward so they were side by side. “From a potential employer. In Montana.”

  Her face actually twitched as if she’d been hit. “You’re leaving?”

  “Just for a few days.” It wasn’t until that moment that he realized he wanted to go and at least check out the place. “I’ll be there and back before you know it.”

  “Come on, you guys.” They both turned to Adam, who waited by the gate. He waved them forward. “We don’t got all day.”

  Claire clucked her horse forward, and he knew she wasn’t happy, but he really couldn’t blame her. The whole scope of their relationship had changed last night and here he was less than twenty-four hours later talking about leaving.

  “It’s just a quick trip.”

  She nodded, but she wouldn’t look at him. “So you’re considering the job, then?”

  “No. Well, maybe. I don’t know.”

  “And what about your commitment to my brother and his wife?”

  He glanced at Thor to ensure the dog was still with him. He was. “That was always just a temporary thing.”

  “So you’ve never planned on sticking around?”

  “It’s not like I’m saying yes to the job.”

  “But you’re considering it.”

  He felt as if he was back on the front lines, afraid of making a wrong step and potentially blowing everything up. “I think it’s smart to keep my options open.”

  “So you are considering it?”

  Okay. This conversation was going nowhere fast. He wished he could change the subject, except he knew he’d never get away with that.

  “Claire, I can’t keep mooching off your brother.”

  She pulled her horse up. “You’re not mooching. Just the other day he was saying what a big help you are around here. Not only that, but you’ve made it clear you’re happy here, that you were considering staying.”

  He stopped, too, making sure Thor did the same. The dog instantly sat near his horse’s shoulder. “I’m a veterinarian, not a stable boy.”

  “And you’ll be doing veterinarian work once you start Misfit Farm’s breeding program.”

  “That’s just looking through a microscope and palpating mares, and dealing with a single stallion. Honestly, a vet tech could do that.”

  “And what about that offer from Mariah Johnson? She was hoping you could cover for her while she’s out on maternity leave.”

  “That’s months away. She has plenty of time to find someone else.”

  “So you really are leaving, then.”

  “I don’t know!” He hadn’t meant to say the words so loud, but a quick glance at Adam revealed the kid’s eyes were wide. He stood by the gate, watching the adults, a frown quickly replacing his smile.

  “You’ve done the long-distance relationship thing before, Claire. I didn’t think it’d be a big deal if I proposed the same idea now.”

  She glanced at Ethan, too, and he had to strain to hear her when she said, “Is that what we’re in? A relationship?”

  He didn’t like the way she said the words, nor the look on her face. It wasn’t that she was angry, it was more that she seemed hurt, so much so that he softened his own voice. “Of course it is.”

  He saw her hands tighten on the reins. She stared straight ahead and suddenly all he wanted to do was pull her into his arms, except he couldn’t.

  “I was young when I first met Marcus. Too young. I honestly think part of my attraction to him was that he could take me away from all this.” She motioned with her hand toward the farm. “But now I’m older and I like my life and I love where I live. I could never leave this ranch.”

  “I’m not asking you to.”

  “And I don’t know that I’m willing to be in a relationship with someone who lives halfway across the country. I would want more.”

  Adam must have sensed the need for the two adults to have some privacy because he left the gate open and started to ride on. Ethan was surprised Claire didn’t call him back, but maybe she didn’t notice. She stared down at her saddle and she seemed so sad all of a sudden that he shifted his weight and placed a hand on her thigh.

  “It’s just a scouting mission. I may not even like the place.”

  “And if you do? What then?”

  “We’ll talk about it.”

  She lifted her head, watched her son ride off, and Ethan could see the play of emotions on her face. She took a deep breath and he saw the sadness deepen and in that moment he wanted to pull the words back, to unsay what he’d said, to ease her pain, except he couldn’t.

  “You know, when I first met you I didn’t want to like you.” Her thumb absently toyed with her reins. “I was attracted to you right from the get-go. Getting involved with you scared the hell out of me.”

  “I know.”

  “But you want to know what scares me more?” She turned and pinned him with a stare. “The thought of you leaving.”

  “Claire—”

  “No.” She lifted a hand. “Let me finish. I care for you, Ethan. After last night, I’m no longer in denial. I’m not the type to jump into bed with someone without it meaning something afterward. And you’re right. I was a military wife once before, but I met and married Marcus while he was in the States. It happened fast.” She smiled wryly. “I’m starting to think that’s a habit of mine. I don’t fall slow and easy. I fall hard.”

  What was she saying?

  “But I’m older and wiser now. I know what I want, and a long-distance relationship isn’t it.”

  He knew what she tried to tell him then. If he stayed she would commit to him 100 percent. And if he didn’t...

  “It wouldn’t be like I was in the military,” he felt the need to point out. “I’d be able to fly back and forth on a regular basis. You’d be able to come and see me.”

  “And who would take care of my place?”

  He glanced at the house to their left. “Your brother.”

  She shook her head. “I’ve had enough of that. My brother probably has, too. No, Ethan. A long-distance relationship won’t work for me. Not anymore. I’m too old for that. Too set in my ways. It’s me or...”

  Nothing.

  She didn’t need to say the word. He understood. But he wasn’t going to argue. It might all be a moot point. He just wanted to go look. To meet a man who was a legend in the military dog world. And if something happened and he ended up wanting to take the job, he would have to change her mind.

  He just wasn’t certain he could.

  Chapter Seventeen

  He left two days later. Ethan didn’t know it, but she watched him drive away. She’d taken Thor out, had walked the dog far away so that he couldn’t see them standing there, watching from the line of trees.

  “He’ll be back,” she told Thor, who whined. He knew his master was leaving. She didn’t know how he knew. It wasn’t as if he could hear the sound of Ethan’s car. Or that he even knew what car Ethan drove since he walked over most of the time. Yet somehow the dog knew his favorite human had left.

  She walked back the long way around. And even though it was a weekday, Misfit Farms was a hive of activity. Natalie had an assistant trainer working for her now, a former student who’d gone on to success in the hunter/jumper world, and Laney waved hello when she spotted her walking past.

  “Hey, Claire,” she called, pulling up the horse she schooled next to the rail in the covered arena. “You’re up early.”

  She waved back. “Needed some fresh air.”

  “C
laire,” someone called to her right. She turned to see Natalie standing at the entrance to the barn. Colt was there, too, the couple waving her over. “We were just talking about you,” Natalie added.

  Uh-oh. That boded ill. Colt had a sixth sense when it came to her emotions. There’d been so many times when they’d been growing up when their dad had been cruel to her in some small way and Colt had come home just knowing.

  “Do you have a second?” Colt asked.

  “Sure,” she said with a glance down at Thor. The dog’s big ears were aimed at Natalie, as if he tried to hear her words, and when he couldn’t he glanced up at her. “Come,” she mouthed, motioning with her hand for him to heel.

  Her brother and Natalie had an office overlooking the covered arena. She entered the Western-themed room and marveled at how much had changed in the space of a year. They had pictures of Laney, the teen with a passion for horses, on the wall. She’d grown six inches since Natalie had started working with her, making her the perfect big equitation rider, which Natalie claimed was a gift from the gods. There was win photo after win photo on the wall, all mixed in with pictures of Colt and Natalie riding.

  “Sit down.”

  The feeling that something serious was about to be said only intensified. She took a seat on the leather couch that hugged the same wall as the one the door was set into. They leaned against the edge of the oak desk that took up the other wall.

  “Will I need a stiff drink?” she asked.

  Natalie and Colt exchanged glances. Those gazes held for a moment and she watched as the look on Natalie’s face softened in a way she’d never seen before. And even though they were both in profile, she clearly saw the gleam of excitement in their eyes. It was Natalie who turned toward her and said softly, gently, “We’re pregnant.”

  And Claire just sat there, dumbfounded, the word repeating over and over in her head. “Pregnant?” she repeated.

  Natalie nodded.

  “Oh, my goodness, are you serious?”

  Colt nodded this time, and Claire couldn’t breathe. No. That wasn’t true. She could breathe. It was just her throat was thick with tears. Happy tears, she told herself, and she was happy. Thrilled.

  “That’s great, you guys.” She wiped at her eyes. “I’m so happy for you.”

  Natalie and Colt exchanged glances.

  “We wanted to wait to catch you alone,” Natalie said. “So you could tell Adam in your own way. We weren’t sure how he would take the news.”

  “Are you kidding? He’ll be thrilled.” And the tears kept coming. In fact, she had to work to regulate her breathing because all of a sudden, she felt like sobbing. “That’s amazing news.”

  “Then why are you crying?” Colt asked.

  She thought about playing dumb, but she’d never been anything but honest with her brother and sister-in-law. “I don’t know.”

  And then she did bawl. She bawled like a baby, which was horrible because they’d just shared some fantastic news and she felt as if she’d just lost her best friend and she had no idea why.

  “Claire,” her brother said gently. She hadn’t even noticed when he’d moved to stand in front of her. “What is it, sis? Is it Adam? Did a blood test reveal some bad news?”

  She shook her head, so blinded by her tears she had to keep wiping at her eyes. “No.” And the word had come out sounding like a wail and she was mortified because she had never, not once in all the years, sounded so pitiful. Not when Marcus had come back from the Middle East sick. Not when she’d realized he was going to die. Not even when Adam had been diagnosed with cancer.

  What was wrong with her?

  “Maybe you two should have a moment alone.”

  “No, stay,” she said, grabbing Natalie’s hand as she tried to pass. Her sister-in-law’s face was a mask of concern and it was humiliating, because this wasn’t about Claire. This should be about her brother and his wife.

  “I’m thrilled for you,” she said. “I really am. I can’t wait to be an aunt.” She hoped they saw how sincerely she meant the words, because she knew there was a time when Colt didn’t even want children. The fact that he was expecting his first child, and that he clearly brimmed with pride over the whole thing, was a sign of how much he loved his wife and what a beautiful marriage they had.

  “We know you’re happy for us,” Natalie said gently.

  Claire scrubbed at her eyes again. “It’s just been one of those days.”

  “Is it because Ethan left?” Colt asked. “Is that why you’re crying?”

  “No,” she said quickly, emphatically. “This has nothing to do with that.”

  “Did you fall in love with him?” Natalie asked.

  “No. Of course not.” How could she fall in love with a man in a matter of weeks? “It’s not like that.”

  Her brother and his wife exchanged glances again, and it was Colt who said, “Are you sure?”

  “Well, I mean I’m sad that he’s gone. But he’ll be back.”

  But she knew how much he wanted to train dogs. It was a big deal that he’d been invited east to meet Lance Kittrick. Even she knew who the man was. She wouldn’t blame him if he did want to leave and take a job with him. She was just sad, was all, sad that he’d be moving on.

  Because you’ve fallen for him.

  No, she firmly told herself. She cared for him deeply, but love? No.

  “What will you do if he wants the job?” Natalie asked.

  “What do you mean what will I do?” She had better control of herself now. The tears had faded, thank God. “Nothing. He needs to make his own choices.”

  Choices that wouldn’t involve her. That was what made her sad. She’d thought they were headed someplace with their relationship, but then the very first time he’d been offered an opportunity to leave, he’d jumped at it. It hurt, damn it. She wouldn’t lie to herself.

  “Congratulations,” she said, getting up and hugging Natalie. Hard. “Really. I can’t wait to hold my new niece or nephew.” She hugged her brother next, only he didn’t let her go.

  “I love you, sis,” she heard him say.

  She got weepy again. “I know.”

  “I’m here if you need me.”

  “I know. Thanks.” But she didn’t need any man. She’d just forgotten that, but she remembered it now. It was something she would not forget, not ever again.

  * * *

  HE DROVE HOME SLOWLY.

  Home.

  Funny how that was what he called Misfit Farms in his head. Was it home? He couldn’t deny that as he pulled into the main drive he felt his heart accelerate. He wanted to see Claire, to share with her the details of his trip, to tell her how much of a thrill it’d been to meet Lance Kittrick and to tour his state-of-the-art ranch.

  He drove straight to her place. She wasn’t home, though, her van missing from the driveway. Thor was glad to see him. He could hear the dog’s cries from Claire’s front yard and their reunion a few seconds later solidified in Ethan’s head that he wanted to adopt the dog. He’d been meaning to talk to Claire about it for a few weeks now, had meant to tell her about it on the day of that disastrous trail ride. But she’d clammed up on him after he’d broken the news about his potential job offer and the timing hadn’t felt right. He would rectify that situation the moment he saw her, he vowed, bending down and scratching Thor’s thick, black head. He’d missed the dog. Missed this place.

  Missed Claire.

  He wasn’t going to take the job. He wanted to. Lord, how he wanted to, but his absence from the ranch had made him realize just how much he loved the place.

  “What do you think, boy? You think I should stick around?”

  Thor tried to lick his face. He smiled and scratched his head. He hung out for a little while longer; put Thor through his paces. He half hoped
Claire would show up, and when she didn’t, he reluctantly put Thor away. He thought maybe she might be over at her brother’s, but she wasn’t there, either.

  “She went to go pick up another dog,” Colt explained the next morning when Ethan arrived to help him feed. “She won’t be back until tomorrow.”

  Was it his imagination, or was the look on Colt’s face one of disappointment? It’d dawned a chilly morning thanks to coastal fog that had reached its smudgy gray fingers inland, but the cold in the barn aisle was echoed in Colt’s eyes.

  “Really?” he asked curiously. “I’m surprised she didn’t mention it to me.”

  “Why would she, when she wasn’t even sure you were coming back?”

  Ethan almost flinched at the sharpness of Colt’s words. “Is that what she said?”

  “No,” Colt admitted.

  Clearly, that was what everyone thought. “I’m not going to move to Montana.”

  Some of the animosity faded. “You’re not.”

  “I thought about it, but in the end California has something Montana doesn’t.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Your sister.”

  Colt’s face went completely still, but then he smiled a bit, a wry kind of smile but also one tinged by approval. “I’m glad to hear that.”

  “I care too much for your sister to leave.”

  “Good, because I’m pretty sure she’s halfway in love with you.”

  Ethan tipped his head because he couldn’t have heard him right. “What?”

  “She won’t admit it. Cried like a baby right there in the office that day you left.”

  “She did?”

  Colt nodded. “Told us she was ‘just emotional,’ which I know she was.” And then Colt’s smile took on the intensity of headlights. “My wife is pregnant.”

  Ethan didn’t even hesitate. He moved forward, held out his hand. “Wow, man. That’s awesome.”

  “Yes, it is.” Colt’s swiped a hand through his dark hair. “We weren’t really trying, either, so it’s a little surreal.”

  “You’re going to be a great dad.”