The Last Good Cowboy

by Kate Pearce

  The massive wooden barn was just as old as the house, and stood on the opposite side of the wide circular driveway down a slight slope. Since his last visit Ry could see where Chase had set the new welcome center between the two structures, where they would process the incoming guests to their new family dude ranch enterprise. There would also be cabins, but they weren’t going to be built until after Chase and January’s wedding.

  To his relief, the new center looked just like the original house, and even had some kind of flowering creeper growing up the side, making it look as old as the rest of the buildings. Chase hadn’t skimped on making the place look authentic, Ry would give him that.

  Ry hadn’t lived at the ranch full-time since his eighteenth birthday, when he and HW had kissed their grandma Ruth good-bye and hightailed it out of there to seek their fortune. He found himself smiling. They’d been so full of hope, and so damn cocky. Now he was back, and his brother was still wandering.

  Eight years had passed, and Ruth hadn’t changed much. But from what he could already see, the ranch was about to get the makeover of a lifetime. It was the only economical way to keep the land in their family, and make a profit. Ranching by itself was no longer financially secure. Ry was happy to go along with his brother’s plans. He’d much rather keep his home, be a cowboy, and share his love of the land with guests than sell it off to some developer.

  A tap on his passenger window made him jump and roll it down.

  “You planning on sitting there all night?” Chase, the architect of all the change, asked.

  “It depends whether Ruth’s cooking dinner.”

  His brother grinned at him. “She’s always cooking. You know what she’s like. She can’t wait to start feeding all the new guests.” He stood back so Ry could open the door and get out. “She knew you were coming today, so she’s been making all your favorites.”

  Ry’s stomach growled.

  “Good thing you’re hungry because you’re going to be eating all night.” Chase eyeballed the amount of stuff in the truck. “Do you want to bring this in now, or can it wait until morning when Blue’s back?”

  “It can wait.” Ry took his backpack off the passenger seat.

  “No HW, then?”

  “Nope.”

  Chase sighed. “Damn. I was hoping he’d find it in him to forgive me.”

  Ry hoisted his backpack. “Trust me, it’s not about him forgiving you. He’s just being an all-round ass.”

  “I’m sorry, Ry.”

  “Don’t be. Where’s BB?”

  “Out teaching his class at Yvonne’s in town. January’s down there with him.” Chase walked up the steps and held the screen door open. “Although I do have to question the idea of holding a self-defense class in a pastry chef’s café. I bet for every calorie you lose you add on a hundred more.”

  “Is Jenna there, too?” Ry asked as he kicked off his boots in the mudroom and hung his backpack on the post at the bottom of the stairs, which would definitely annoy his grandma if she noticed.

  Chase grinned. “Keeping an eye on her man while he’s dealing with all those females? You bet she is.”

  “Ry! You’re back.” Ruth came toward him and gave him a big hug. She wore her usual kid-size jeans, a soft blue fleece, and collared blouse under it. Her gray hair was tucked up in a neat bun and her spectacles perched on the end of her nose. She was so short her head barely came up to his chest. “Come and sit down next to Maria. Did you bring all your things?”

  Ry winked at Blue’s daughter and took his seat at the big table. The kitchen hadn’t changed much since he was a little kid, and brought back the best, and the worst, of memories.

  “Yeah, I think I got it all. Where’s Dad?”

  “Granddad Billy’s at an AA meeting,” Maria informed him. “He’s going to come back with January.”

  “Cool.” Ry poured himself some iced tea and drank the whole thing down in one gulp. Maria refilled his glass.

  “Thanks.” He risked a smile and she beamed back at him. “How’s school?”

  “Pretty good, although there aren’t many kids.”

  “More than when we lived here,” Chase chimed in. “But then we used to have all the grades together in one place, until the classes got too small and they started bussing us down the road to Bridgeport for high school.”

  Ruth sighed. “I suspect the middle school will be gone soon, as well. I just hope it lasts until Maria finishes eighth grade.”

  “I don’t mind getting the bus,” Maria said. “It’s kind of fun.”

  “As long as it turns up and doesn’t leave you hanging.” Ruth placed a plate in front of Ry. “Pot roast, mashed potatoes, and green beans from the garden.”

  “My favorite. Thanks, Ruth.”

  She patted his shoulder. “Eat up. You’re still too thin.”

  Chase snorted at that, but Ruth gave him such a look that he shut down anything else he’d intended to say.

  Eventually, Maria went off to bed, and Ruth brewed more coffee, bringing her cup to sit opposite Ry.

  “How did it go with your brother?”

  Ry shrugged. “Not too good.”

  She reached across and patted his hand. “I’m sorry, darlin’.”

  “Yeah. Me too.”

  “HW will work it out.” Chase cleared his throat. “In the meantime, are you still available to work here alongside Roy?”

  Trust his older brother to dispense with the sentimental stuff and get straight down to business. It was just what Ry needed to hear right now. What with the news about his mother, and HW’s antics, he’d had enough emotional moments recently to last him a lifetime.

  “Yeah, I’m ready to start whenever you need me.”

  “Great. I’ll wait until Blue and Billy get back, then if you’re up for it, we can discuss who’s going to be running each variable within the new organizational framework structure I’ve prepared.”

  “He means who will be doing what,” Ruth said and rolled her eyes, making Ry snort.

  “What’s so funny?” Chase sat back and looked at them both. “Isn’t that what I just said?”

  “Nerds,” Ruth muttered.

  Ry grinned at his grandma, and for the first time in a while the heaviness he’d grown accustomed to around his heart lifted. HW might not be with him, but there was plenty for him to do after all, and he was wanted. Perhaps that would be enough to get him through the hard stuff and start living a different life. A life out of his twin’s shadow.

  Chapter Three

  Avery got out of her car and stretched out the stiffness in her legs before turning to grab her bag from the rear seat. January had asked her and Yvonne if they could meet at the ranch to go over the wedding plans. It looked like she was the first one to arrive.

  A door banged, and she turned to see a cowboy coming down the steps of the house. He slowed as he approached and lifted his head, making her heart stutter as she recognized his familiar golden eyes.

  “Avery?”

  She managed a smile, which was probably more like a grimace as she fumbled around for her cane.

  “Well remembered. Now, which one are you? HW or Ry?”

  “Ry.”

  “Are you sure?” Oh, dear God, why had she said that? He’d think she was referring to—“Ha! I’m just kidding, I knew—”

  “Yeah. HW’s in Sacramento.” He gestured at her bag. “Are you coming to see January? She said she was expecting her wedding committee.”

  “Yes, I’m liaising with her on behalf of the hotel.” He picked up her bag and set off back toward the house. She followed more slowly, the effects of falling down the stairs still bugging her. “You don’t have to carry—”

  He was already way ahead of her. “Not a problem.”

  She reached the steps and slowly levered herself up onto the wraparound porch, where he was holding the screen door open for her. It took her an ice age. She was aware of his gaze and braced herself for the usual barrage of insensitive questions,
but he didn’t say a word. Not that he ever said much. He’d always been the quieter twin.

  She managed to get through the door without falling flat on her face. “Thanks.”

  “You’re working for your parents now?”

  He carried her bag through to the kitchen, where the smell of fried bacon still lingered. To her dismay there was no one else there, so she was going to have to keep talking.

  “I’m the events coordinator—you know, weddings, special dinners, dances, anniversary parties, that kind of thing.”

  “Cool.” He placed her bag on the table. “I can see why January needs you. “

  “I’m not sure she does. She seems to have everything well in hand.” Whatever she really thought, that was nice and diplomatic. Her dad would be proud.

  He leaned a hip against the counter and focused on her face. He wore an old tight-fitting green T-shirt under an open denim shirt, faded jeans, and muddy boots, which Ruth would probably kill him for wearing in the house. Paired with his white Stetson he looked like every woman’s dream cowboy.

  “I don’t think she’s doing that great, Avery. She looks worn-out.”

  It was downright disconcerting, like he could read her mind or something. But then they had grown up together, so maybe he saw more than she realized, and he’d always been a good judge of character when he bothered to pipe up—much better than the rest of his brothers, and refreshingly direct.

  Ry continued talking. “She’s stressed out—what with the wedding, her studies, and trying to get the ranch prepared for guests.”

  “Well, I’ll certainly do my best to help her as much as I can.”

  “Thanks.” He tipped his Stetson to her. “I’ve gotta go. Cows to herd.”

  “Nice to see you again, Ry.”

  “Right back at you.” He turned and walked out, the clink of spurs hitting the wooden floor as he finally left.

  Avery sat down with a rush, and pressed a hand to her heated cheek. Darn it. He was supposed to have left for good! What was he doing herding cows and helping women with their bags?

  January came in, her face lighting up when she spotted Avery. She wore her usual uniform of jeans and a cute T-shirt, her fair hair caught up in a ponytail on the top of her head. There were dark circles under her eyes and her smile looked a little strained.

  “Hey!” She came around the table to give Avery a hug. “Want some coffee? I’m practically mainlining the stuff at the moment.”

  “Sure.” Avery cleared her throat. “I saw Ry. I thought he’d gone back to Sacramento.”

  January came back with the coffee, sugar, and creamer and dumped them all on the table. Avery helped herself and stirred in some sugar. A lot of sugar. It always made her feel better.

  “He did, but he came back. He’s living here now.”

  “Living here, as in permanently?”

  “Yes, he’s done with the rodeo. He’s going to work with Roy. Chase is superpleased because he was worried about Roy coping with all the changes. Ry coming back right now was perfect timing.”

  “Perfect,” Avery echoed, her fingers gripping the spoon so hard they hurt. “What about HW?”

  January sighed. “He’s still caught up with the rodeo. Ry says he has a chance to go to the finals in Vegas this year, so he can’t get away.”

  “Wow, he’s doing really well if that’s in the cards.”

  “So I gathered, although you’d know all about that, wouldn’t you, being a barrel riding champion?”

  “I never got to the national finals,” Avery admitted. “But I’ve been there as a spectator. It’s amazing. I wonder if HW will settle down here eventually?”

  “It’s possible. Look at the rest of them. Blue’s busy building a house for himself, Maria, and Jenna, and Ry’s come home.” January hesitated. “You knew both of them, didn’t you?”

  “Ry and HW? We went to the same school and competed in the same rodeos, so yes, I know them.”

  “Are they really identical?”

  “To look at? Pretty much. It’s hard to tell them apart. They used to drive the teachers crazy. But Ry was always . . . sweeter, friendlier, you know? HW was always too busy being charming and getting noticed.”

  “You didn’t like him?”

  Avery sipped her coffee. “Sometimes he made it hard to like him, but he’s grown up now. I bet he’s changed.”

  She damn well hoped so, or she might have a few words to say to him on a few sore subjects. Not that he would remember her or what he’d done.

  The kitchen door opened and Yvonne appeared, dressed in her working clothes—a black dress with a white collar, like some sexy parlor maid from a different era. She was tall, elegant, and made cakes and pastries that flew off the shelves of her local coffee shop and bakery. She also had a faint French accent and an air of mystery that Avery totally envied.

  “Sorry I’m late. I had to go over everything with Elizabeth again before I could leave the shop.” She groaned as she sat down and pushed a pink box over to January. “Éclairs. Put them in the refrigerator for later.”

  January peered inside the box. “Or we could just eat them now?”

  Yvonne waved her hand in an airy gesture. “Up to you. You’re the bride who’s got to fit into that fancy wedding dress you just bought, in eight weeks’ time.”

  January pouted as she closed the lid. “I hate it when you bring facts into an argument about chocolate. I’ll put them away—for now.”

  Yvonne winked at Avery. “Like she won’t fit in her dress. Every bride I’ve ever known loses weight before the big day.”

  “Not all of them.” Avery sipped her coffee. “I’ve seen a couple who indulged in a lot of comfort eating and had to be shoehorned into their dresses.”

  “You’ve probably dealt with a lot more brides than I have,” Yvonne conceded. “I’m really glad you’re helping us out here. It’s nice to have someone who knows what they are doing.”

  “I know what I’m doing.” January sat back down and refilled their coffees. “I’m getting married to the most wonderful man in the world.”

  “While trying to finish your thesis and transform this ranch into a dude ranch.” Yvonne shook her head. “That’s why I’m glad we’ve got Avery on board.”

  “I’m enjoying it,” Avery said and realized how much she meant it. “I can practically organize an event at the hotel in my sleep now, so this was a great opportunity to branch out.”

  “You could always take your skill set and move to a bigger place,” Yvonne suggested. “I know a lot of hotels and restaurants in the Bay Area that would snap you up.”

  “I’m not sure I’m quite ready for that yet.” Avery smiled at her friends. “But you never know. One day, if my parents decide to ditch the hotel, I might have no choice but to move on.”

  “They’re thinking about leaving?”

  “I think my dad would like to retire somewhere, but my mom? She’s such a dynamo, I don’t think she’ll ever slow down.”

  Yvonne started sorting through her huge bag, laying piles of makeup and perfume and even a spare pair of flip-flops on the table. “I suppose Tucker could take over if he wanted to.”

  “He’d definitely do a great job.”

  Avery stared at Yvonne’s fancy makeup brands. She barely managed mascara and sunblock every morning, while Yvonne always looked glamorous. Maybe if you lived in France for a while, like Yvonne had, you picked up that effortlessly chic vibe without realizing it.

  Yvonne located her notebook and shoveled everything else back into her bag.

  “So you wanted to discuss where to set everything up, right?” She flipped open her pad. “We have several different things going on at different times of the day, so we need to make sure that the waitstaff and the caterers can get everywhere without the food getting cold, or spoiling, or any other of the ten million things that can go wrong.”

  Avery nodded. “I was thinking about that last night, and I drew up a brief plan of how I thought it might wo
rk. Do you want to see it?”

  January and Yvonne came to stand behind her chair as she located her sketch. “Here you go. What do you think?”

  * * *

  Ry saddled Dolittle and made his way down to Roy’s place. He took his time checking where the cattle were, and automatically inspected the fence line as he rode. The air had a nice sharp bite to it, and the sky was clear. This far out of town there was almost no noise apart from the natural wildlife and the occasional tractor or four-wheel-drive vehicle.

  Roy, the ranch foreman who’d lived on the Morgan ranch since dinosaurs roamed, didn’t like the all-terrain vehicles, but even he admitted that sometimes they were vital to get to an inaccessible section of the ranch fast. Secretly, Ry agreed with him. He’d much rather ride horses. It was much better for the environment and his peace of mind.

  It had been cool to see Avery again—although she hadn’t seemed that excited to see him—which was a shame because he’d always liked her at school. She’d been different from the rest of the Hayes siblings, more outgoing, more fiery, something he’d secretly admired as he desperately tried to differentiate himself from his twin.

  As he approached the small square house nestled against the hill, he spotted Roy in his usual position, leaning over the wall of the sty talking to his pigs. Man, he loved those suckers. No one quite knew why, but as Ry loved bacon more than life, he was quite willing to put up with Roy’s current obsession.

  He slowed his horse and dismounted, tying Dolittle up in the shade, where he promptly went to sleep.

  “Morning, Roy. Reporting for duty.”

  Roy turned toward him, squinting into the sun. His face was tanned the same color as saddle leather and he seemed to shrink further into his boots every year. “Ry. Didn’t you just get back? I wasn’t expecting you down here for another couple of days.”

  “I’ve got nothing else to do, so I might as well get started.” Ry took a quick look at the pigs and stepped back from the god-awful stench. “What’s the plan?”