by Marin Thomas
The tears dried up. “Promise?”
“Promise.”
“I’m gonna tell Mama and Lily!” She scrambled across Matt’s body and dashed to the house.
Matt stayed behind. No sense crawling out. As soon as Amy discovered what he’d done, he’d be in the dog house anyway.
Chapter Twelve
Late Friday afternoon Amy sat in her truck outside United Savings and Loan in Pebble Creek and studied the fake fern hanging in the bank window.
Almost a week had passed since she and Matt had made love—five days and not a single kiss or accidental brushing of hands. Nothing but one-word answers and glances that pinged off Amy like hail on a tin roof.
At first she’d been embarrassed by Matt’s disinterest in her and guessed he hadn’t enjoyed the sex as much as she had. But after a lengthy analysis of their lovemaking, she’d concluded—based on groans, grunts and overall enthusiasm—that Matt had had a real good time with her between the sheets.
Next, she’d felt hurt…she was a female after all and a little reassurance—a smile, a compliment, a kind word that after giving birth to two babies and burying a husband she still appealed to the opposite sex—would have been appreciated.
Anger followed the hurt. She’d been—still was—mad at herself for assuming that making love would change things between her and Matt. She was a big girl capable of engaging in a summer fling without allowing her emotions to tangle the experience, but Matt had worked his way under her skin in such a short time that making love with him had landed a knockout punch to her heart.
Was it merely three weeks ago that she’d been convinced Matt was simply another sexy cowboy with big dreams? In no time flat he’d proved her wrong. Matt Cartwright was one of the good guys. Her heart recognized the fact and she’d fallen in love with him.
Matt was more than a successful rodeo cowboy. He was levelheaded, responsible, prideful, determined and kind-hearted—he had a soft spot for the girls and that lug of a dog he’d brought home from the animal shelter this past Monday. And his attributes didn’t stop there. He was patient and caring—what man in his right mind would play nanny to two kids, one not yet potty-trained?
For the life of her, Amy couldn’t figure out Matt’s avoidance issues and feared his sudden cold feet was the result of the stupid woman from his past who’d set her sights on his money and in the end had broken his heart. Why was Matt unable to see that she was different? More than ever Amy wished he’d never made her mortgage payments. Wished he hadn’t bought all those groceries.
Her gaze slid to the envelope resting beside her on the seat. She conceded she might have come off as a bit desperate, but that was before she’d finally dug out her father’s notebook. Agitated by the turn her relationship with Matt had taken, Amy had put her sleepless nights to good use reading her father’s get-rich-quick journal. Her father had been a schemer and a dreamer like Ben. Sadly, both men had died before either had realized their dreams.
Ben had missed out on the chance to see SOS’s stud fees solve their monetary problems, and her father had never had the opportunity to capitalize on the discovery he’d made shortly before his death—the Broken Wheel was sitting on a fortune in phosphate, a mineral used in the production of fertilizer and other chemicals. Amy suspected Payton Scott knew about the phosphate and that’s why he was pressuring her to sell—because he intended to be first in line with an offer as soon as the For Sale sign went up in her yard.
Although eager to share her discovery with Matt, Amy decided to wait for the results of a geological survey to validate her father’s claim. Once she had proof she wasn’t after Matt’s money, she’d turn her attention to wooing the cowboy for the remainder of the summer. By the time Rose started school at the end of August Matt would have more reasons to stay than to leave.
First things first. She intended to give Payton a piece of her mind and then some. “Hi, Shelly,” Amy greeted the receptionist when she entered the bank lobby. “Is Payton in?”
Shelly smacked her gum and nodded, never taking her eyes off the computer screen in front of her. Amy padded across the carpet and waltzed into Payton’s office unannounced. The girlie magazine his face was buried in flew across the desk, knocking over the pencil tin and an empty soda can. He grabbed the magazine and stuffed it into a drawer. Red-faced, he sputtered, “What do you want?”
“About the mortgage payment—”
“Let me guess. You can’t make the next one?” He leered. “Ready to sell?”
Dream on. “I came to inform you that I landed a job with Vista Insurance.”
Payton’s blubbery lips parted, but no words escaped his mouth.
In case he thought she was yanking his pant leg, she pulled the company brochure from her purse and tossed it his way. “My data-entry class ends next Friday and the following Monday I’ll begin working from home for Vista.” The company promised to deliver and install a computer in her house, enabling her to input insurance claims using the company software program. The job came with health insurance for her and the girls, as well as paid sick leave and vacation time after six months. Her professor had heard about the job opening and considered Amy a good candidate for the position, so he’d arranged an interview for her this past Wednesday after class.
“Part-time work, Amy?” Payton snickered.
She wanted to slam his head against the desk. “Full-time.” She was allowed to work as many hours a week as she wished, but the company didn’t offer overtime pay.
“What are they giving you an hour?”
“Ten dollars.”
His sleet-colored eyes widened. “You’ll never make it on sixteen hundred dollars a month, and that’s before taxes and social security are taken out of your paycheck.”
“Don’t forget, Payton, I’ll be boarding horses on the side, as well.”
He snorted. “Heard about Cartwright’s kick in the ass from that renegade stallion in your barn.”
“He got kicked in the thigh.” She didn’t owe the banker any explanation, but hoped to spread the word that SOS wasn’t to blame for Ben’s death. “Matt discovered what sets SOS off—rats.”
“Ben died because of a rat?”
Amy harbored a small measure of guilt for her husband’s senseless death. Who knew what might have happened if she’d allowed Rose to have a puppy.
Payton chuckled, the sound reminiscent of a cackling witch. “Good luck finding a buyer who has a rat-free barn.”
She’d have her work cut out locating someone willing to take on the stud’s phobia. But keeping the stallion wasn’t an option. Once her debts were paid off, the salary from her job with Vista Insurance plus the income from boarding horses—providing her customers returned—would cover the mortgage payment and monthly bills. She wouldn’t be living high off the hog, but she’d keep her farm. Worst-case scenario—she’d sell a portion of the land’s mineral rights and pay off the mortgage in full.
Time to drop the bomb and wipe that spit-slick grin off Payton’s face. “Why did you allow Ben and me to take out a second mortgage on the farm if you knew Ben was a bad risk?” People across two counties were aware of her husband’s gambling addiction.
“That was always part of the plan, Amy.” He crossed his arms behind his head, the movement lifting his pudgy paunch higher.
“By plan, I presume you mean this.” She held up the document from the land surveyor her father had hired.
Payton shot forward in the chair. “What’s that?”
“A letter confirming the presence of the mineral phosphate on the farm. I suspect you know this already and that’s why you’re after my land.” The surveyor suggested an in-depth geological study be conducted to confirm the amount and value, but her father had died and hadn’t been able to pursue the next step.
Beads of sweat bubbled across Payton’s forehead. “Where did you get that? Your father kept all his personal papers in a bank deposit box.”
“Yeah, funny how this letter was missing when I collected
his things after he died. Lucky for me he’d kept the original at home.” In his black notebook.
“If you don’t pay your July mortgage on time, I’ll foreclose on you so fast your head will spin,” Payton growled.
“As long as I have breath in me, you’ll never get your hands on my farm.” Enough said. She stormed out of the bank.
Amy hopped into her truck and clenched the steering wheel until her knuckles ached. Payton Scott was no better than a playground bully. Granted discovering the presence of phosphate on the farm would, she hoped, provide long-term security for her and the girls, but it did nothing to help her current dilemma. Where was she going to come up with sixteen hundred dollars by July?
Matt.
If she asked him to bail her out again, he’d believe she was no better than that hussy Kayla. Amy’s back was to the wall. She didn’t dare tell Matt about the phosphate discovery until the geologist from the Idaho Geological Survey had a chance to conduct a series of soil tests. If the results confirmed what her father had believed all along, then she’d have proof she possessed the means to pay Matt back.
Shoving aside her money woes, Amy headed home. For the first time in a long while hope blossomed in her. Tonight she wished to celebrate—maybe go out for pizza in Rockton. Later, after she tucked the girls into bed, she’d gather her courage and ask Matt for another loan.
The big question was…before or after she set out to seduce him?
MATT STOOD OUTSIDE SOS’S STALL and watched Nathan examine the stallion. Not long ago he’d witnessed the stud wooing Cinnamon in the pasture and had asked Nathan to stop by to see if the mare had become pregnant—she hadn’t. Mother Nature refused to be rushed, but it would be better for everyone—mainly him and Amy—if the process didn’t take the entire summer.
Making love to Amy had been more than great sex. The way her eyes had softened as he slid inside her had captured his heart and made him yearn to tuck her against his side and protect her forever. But what rattled him most about Amy was the knowledge that she loved him. No, she hadn’t said the words out loud, but her love shone in each smile, each look she gave him.
That softness in her eyes was the reason Matt had to leave.
He couldn’t live with himself if Amy found out the truth about the poker game in Pocatello. Any love she held for Matt would die an instant death when she discovered he’d lured Ben into a card game for Matt’s own personal gain.
Hoping to spare his heart a death blow, he’d decided the best course of action was to keep his pants zipped and steer clear of Amy. Avoiding the woman had been a bigger challenge than roping a recalcitrant rodeo calf. Each time their eyes connected the smoky message in her gaze whispered make love to me.
“Am I jumping the gun?” Matt asked the vet, forcing his brain to focus on the business at hand.
“Maybe. Maybe not.” The tall, lanky veterinarian with bushy red hair drew blood from the stallion’s neck. SOS gave no indication he was agitated or nervous. The horse understood Sophia was no longer a threat. To be on the safe side, Matt had set out a handful of traps, daring any rodent to enter the barn.
Nathan stowed the blood sample in his medical bag, then palpated the stallion’s testes. “How recent was his last sire?”
“A year ago this past spring.” Matt had come across information on SOS when he’d researched studs for his mares. The animal’s list of offspring had been impressive.
“When did Ben purchase him?”
“Not sure. Late November or early December of last year.”
“Were vet records included in the stallion’s paperwork?”
“Not that I know of.” Nathan’s mouth twisted and Matt’s gut clenched. “What is it?”
“One of his testicles is smaller than the other.” Nathan stepped from the stall, latched the door.
“Which means…?” Matt prompted.
“He might have suffered a kick from a mare while trying to mount, or contracted a viral infection that settled in one of the testes.”
“I haven’t noticed any swelling—”
“The injury would have occurred months ago—before Ben purchased the horse.”
“Will a smaller testicle prevent SOS from impregnating a mare?”
“Before we jump to conclusions, we’ll send off his sperm for analysis.”
“Can you collect a sample today?”
“If you’d like. Is there a phantom mare around?”
“In the tack room.” Matt had come across the man-made mount when he’d cleaned the barn. A phantom mare was used for a variety of reasons—to give young, inexperienced stallions practice in mounting techniques so they wouldn’t hurt the mares. To increase a stallion’s sperm count by allowing the horse to mount regularly. And to enable breeders to collect sperm samples.
“I’ll set up the mount in the barn.” With luck he and Nathan would finish with SOS before Amy left Rockton. He hoped to spare her any worry—as if she didn’t already have enough to fret over.
Part of Matt hoped the stallion proved healthy, which would enable Amy to sell the animal and pay off her debts. The other part of him hoped SOS was shooting blanks.
Then Matt would have no reason to stay.
AS AMY DROVE UP TO THE HOUSE she spotted the local vet’s rig. All three mares were in the corral. Matt must have called Nathan about SOS. She hoped it was nothing serious. She wanted Matt in a good mood tonight when she seduced him—that is, if she figured out how. Her previous attempts had netted little success.
She parked the truck, then headed for the barn, but stopped at the sound of a loud woof. Moose, as he’d been affectionately called at the animal shelter, loped across the yard, his sagging jowls swaying side-to-side like a Hawaiian honey in a hula skirt.
At first, she’d been angry at Matt for overstepping his bounds with Rose, but Amy’s guilt had gotten the best of her—if she’d allowed her daughter to have a dog months ago Ben might be alive today. In the end she’d agreed to a dog on one condition—that it wasn’t a snippy little yapping house mutt. She wanted an outside dog and one that didn’t act up around the horses.
Well, she’d gotten her wish, but she hadn’t been expecting a mastiff. Moose was one hundred and ten pounds of drooling affection. His dark face and jowls stood out against his wheat-colored body. At first Amy had feared the dog would play too rough with the girls, but after watching the trio romp around the yard, it was obvious Moose was a gentle giant. Lily pulled, pinched and prodded, but the dog took it all in stride as if they were love pats.
The shelter had told Matt that Moose had been dropped off when his master, a soldier in the Army Reserve, had been called up to duty and was unable to find a home for the animal before he shipped out.
Even though the dog was good with the girls, Amy wasn’t sold on Moose until she’d watched Matt introduce him to the horses. Moose showed little interest in the mares or SOS and didn’t bark once at the horses—probably because it took too much energy. The dog was the laziest animal she’d ever seen. All he did was lounge in the sun on the porch, then move to the shade beneath the tree in the yard as the day grew warmer. And when she and the girls were inside, Moose sat by the door, his drooling jowls smashed against the screen, watching them eat.
Rose took over the duty of feeding the dog three small meals a day—to avoid bloat according to the shelter employees. Amy imagined the stink from a dog that size when it let one rip. His first night on the farm Amy had allowed Moose in the house because she hadn’t been able to shut the door on the animal’s pathetic droopy-eyed face. Moose had followed the girls upstairs and had stretched out in the hallway outside their door. All was well until the dog began to snore and wheeze, keeping Amy up all night. These days Moose slept on an old couch cushion on the porch.
“Hi, Amy!” Nicole walked out of the house with Lily on her hip, Rose trailing behind. Today had been her eldest daughter’s last day of first grade.
Amy called for Moose to follow and she hurried to greet the girls
. After hugs and kisses she spoke to the sitter. “How’d everything go?”
“Fine.” Nicole glanced at her watch. “You’re home early.”
“The exam didn’t take long.” Amy dug inside her purse for a twenty-dollar bill. “Thank you so much for watching the girls.”
“Rose and Lily are no trouble at all. But Moose is a big baby.”
Lily pointed to the dog. “Me, Moo.”
Nicole set Lily on her feet and Amy’s daughter launched herself at the dog, squeezing his neck and burying her face against his slobbery jowls. Not only had Moose’s smell permeated Amy’s house, but now her girls reeked like dog, too.
“See you again Monday.” Nicole headed to her car.
“Bye, Nicole!” Rose shouted as the babysitter drove off.
“What’s wrong with SOS?” Amy asked her daughter.
“I don’t know.” Rose patted her leg. “Come, Moose. Supper.” The dog trotted after his little masters.
Amy cast a longing glance toward the barn before following the trio inside.
HE CAN’T AVOID YOU FOREVER.
Amy fidgeted in the kitchen, shoring up the nerve to seek Matt out in the barn. How many times a day did she find herself gazing through the glass panes hoping for a glimpse of the cowboy?
Nathan had driven away late that afternoon. Suppertime had come and gone. She’d rung the bell on the porch to signal dinner was on the table, but Matt had skipped joining them. No surprise. He hadn’t eaten with her and the girls all week. An hour ago she’d tucked the girls into bed, then grabbed a quick shower and changed into a cotton sundress.
A sudden burning sensation in her eyes caught her off guard and she mumbled an unladylike curse. She was supposed to be celebrating, not simpering like a fool. As soon as her eyes stopped watering she’d confront Matt and demand an explanation for his aloofness. If Matt had learned anything about her the past month, then he’d know she wasn’t a quitter. She wasn’t giving him—them—up without a fight.
