My Favorite Cowboy

by Donna Grant

  * * *

  Clayton stared into the growing darkness. His instincts told him that the culprits wouldn’t be returning to the auction house that night. There were too many sheriff’s deputies around for anyone to dare such a thing.

  The sound of a vehicle pulling up drew his attention from the pastures. He wasn’t surprised to find Danny there. The sheriff was out of uniform as he strolled up.

  “It’s gonna be a hot one tonight,” Danny said.

  Clayton grinned. “Couldn’t resist, could you?”

  Danny didn’t even try to hide his smile. “Nope. All the good stuff happens with you.”

  “Good stuff?” Clayton asked with a roll of his eyes. “Tell that to Abby.”

  “I’ll pass. So, anything?”

  Clayton shook his head and blew out a breath. “Nothing, but I don’t expect it.”

  “You still think this is about Audrey?”

  “It’s the only thing that makes sense. Every other angle can be forgotten because of facts or reasoning.”

  Danny pushed his cowboy hat back on his head. “I looked into the vet like you asked me to. Audrey, as well as her sister, Maddy, is clean, Clayton. Maddy has a couple of speeding tickets, but that’s the extent of their brush with the law. And I looked deeper, as well. Asked the right people the right kinds of questions. Audrey is not only well-liked but also respected.”

  Clayton squeezed the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger. “I’d hoped you’d find something so we could bring this ordeal to a close.”

  “Where is the doc?” Danny asked, looking around.

  “With Caleb, back at his house.”

  Danny’s brows shot up. “You sent her off with him? Alone?”

  “They’re adults. Consenting adults, I might add.”

  The sheriff threw up his hands. “Hey, I’m well aware of that fact. It’s just that we all know how Caleb is with women. He sleeps with them once and then forgets they exist.”

  “He took her back to the ranch.”

  “You lost me there. What is the significance?”

  Clayton met Danny’s hazel eyes. “Caleb never takes women to his place.”

  “Ah. You think he’ll keep his hands off?”

  “Not a chance in hell,” Clayton said with a laugh. But it died swiftly. “I’m hoping that if those two do come together, Caleb will see that he can find happiness just like his sister and brother.”

  “Oh, I see.” Danny nodded and looked at the ground. “I tend to forget about the past with both Abby and Brice being married.”

  “Caleb told Brice that he thinks he’ll remain single forever.”

  “That’s a mighty long time.”

  Clayton snorted. “It certainly is.”

  “Why do you think Audrey could change things?”

  “The way he acts around her. Caleb has always been generous with people. He’s got one of the kindest hearts I’ve ever seen, but he never lets women who could be romantic with him close enough to see the real him. I think if anyone has a shot, it’s Audrey.”

  Danny twisted his lips. “That’s if she wants it.”

  “I think she does. I watched them for two days. Caleb has never been more in tune with a woman before. He worried about her and cared for her because he wanted to, not because he thought it was his duty.”

  “Then this is probably not the best time to deliver the news I have.”

  Clayton’s brows furrowed as he waited for Danny to continue. Irritation filled his voice when he said, “Well? What is it?”

  “Helen is back in town.”

  Anger rose swiftly in Clayton, but as he thought about the repercussions for his wife and two brothers-in-law, that fury gave way to concern and unease. “Fuck.”

  “That’s exactly what I said.”

  “How do you know it’s her?”

  Danny swatted at a mosquito. “One of my deputies pulled her over for a busted tail light. I’ve had her name flagged from the moment I took office. I wanted to be notified if she ever returned to the area.”

  “Shit. I’ve got to get home to Abby. I have to tell her before she runs into her mother unprepared.”

  Danny stopped him. “What about Brice and Caleb?”

  Clayton looked at the stables where Brice and Naomi were. He’d tell them first. This wasn’t the kind of news you delivered over the phone. Then he was headed home to Abby. Clayton slapped Danny on the arm. “Thanks for the heads-up.”

  “Don’t worry about things here. I’ve got you covered,” his friend said.

  Clayton waved as he hurried toward the stables.

  Chapter 26

  When Caleb finally opened his eyes and looked out the windows, orange and red streaked across the sky. Lying against him was none other than Audrey.

  Her back was to him, and her body curled slightly away as she squished one of his pillows between her arms and used the top part to cushion her head. Her long hair was spread behind her and lay partially on his arm.

  He slowly rolled over and rose from the bed. Caleb grabbed some clothes and took them into the kitchen to dress. But he kept looking toward his room. He didn’t want to get up, but chores had to be done.

  After he’d buckled his pants, he looped his arms through the sleeves of his tee and turned toward the kitchen. His gaze landed on Brice sipping coffee as Caleb pulled his shirt over his head.

  “Morning,” his brother said.

  Caleb gave him a hard look and put his finger to his lips. “Shhh. Audrey is still sleeping.”

  Brice set down the mug as he shifted on the bar stool and rested his arms on the top of the island. “In your bed?”

  “Yeah.” Caleb didn’t mean to get defensive, but he knew where his brother was going with the questioning, and he wasn’t in the mood.

  Instead of some smart-ass retort or snort or whatever, Brice merely took another sip of coffee.

  “That’s all you have to say?” Caleb asked, concerned. It wasn’t like Brice to pass up an opportunity to give Caleb hell.

  His brother shrugged. “I just asked a simple question.”

  “I know you too well for you to pull that bullshit.”

  Brice jerked his chin to the coffee pot as he got to his feet. “Grab some java and let’s get going.”

  Caleb leaned back against the counter and crossed his arms over his chest. Brice only got four steps before he glanced over his shoulder to see that Caleb wasn’t budging.

  His brother let out a long-suffering sigh and made his way back to Caleb. “What is it?”

  “What are you doing here?”

  “I often show up at your house in the mornings. Just as you show up at mine.”

  Caleb shook his head. “What are you doing here this morning? If something had happened at the auction house, you would’ve called. Now, you waltz in here and act like it’s just another day.”

  “I never waltz.”

  “I’m going to punch you in the throat,” Caleb stated.

  Brice glanced away. “You’re right. Everything is fine with the horses and the auction house. No one made an attempt to do anything last night. Danny is going to take a few plain-clothes officers to rotate shifts for a few nights.”

  “Audrey will be pleased. But this also means our theory was right. This is about her, isn’t it?”

  “It certainly looks that way.”

  Brice had a habit of looking away from someone when he had something to tell them that he didn’t want to. The kind of thing that his brother was doing right now.

  Caleb waited until he caught Brice’s gaze before he said, “Whatever you need to say, just spit it out.”

  “Get your boots on.”

  “Tell me now.”

  “Caleb,” Brice began.

  He cocked his head and glared at his brother. “Tell. Me. Now.”

  Brice stared at him for a long time, a frown marring his brow. Then he said in a loud whisper, “You said you didn’t want to wake Audrey. Get your fucking boots on and me
et me outside.”

  After Brice had left, Caleb waited several minutes then dropped his arms and pushed away from the counter. He paused by the fridge and grabbed the orange juice for a quick drink.

  He glanced toward his room again, wishing he’d stayed in bed. But whatever was about to happen would have happened either way. It was better to deal with it now rather than later.

  Caleb walked to the mudroom and put on his work boots and cowboy hat. He softly closed the door behind him as he made his way from the house. He didn’t need to look far for Brice. His brother stood at the fence, watching the paint stallion graze.

  Brice stiffened slightly when Caleb came to stand beside him. Whatever his brother had to tell him couldn’t be good. Caleb hated bad news of any sort. Nobody liked it, but when that kind of news came to the Harpers, it was always the worst kind.

  “Is it about you and Naomi trying to have a baby?” Caleb asked. “Did the results come in?”

  Brice shook his head. “Still no news. But no, it’s not about that.”

  Caleb rested his arms on the fence and let his gaze slide to the stallion. Last night was an improvement he hadn’t counted on happening so soon. Perhaps he could get the animal trained sooner than he’d hoped.

  “Mom is back.”

  Caleb’s thoughts ground to a screeching halt. Surely, he’d misheard Brice. Because it simply couldn’t be true. Not now. Not after the three of them had made lives for themselves.

  He felt his brother’s gaze on him, but Caleb couldn’t look at Brice yet. He was barely holding things together as it was with the news. The last thing he wanted was to talk about it.

  “I’m here if you need me,” Brice said.

  The moment Brice’s hand came to rest on him, Caleb jerked away. He spun around and stalked to the stables. As soon as he saw his saddle, he knew what he needed. Thankfully, Brice didn’t try to follow.

  Caleb saddled one of the males and led the gelding from the stables. Then he put his foot in the stirrup and looped his leg over the animal. Once seated, he clicked to the buckskin, setting the horse off at a run.

  * * *

  The sound of arguing woke Audrey. The moment she saw the view, she remembered where she was. There was a smile on her face when she rolled over to snuggle with Caleb.

  Only, he was gone.

  She glanced at the clock beside the bed and saw the time. It was well past eight in the morning. She never slept this late. She wished he would have woken her, but she understood that he had a ranch to run.

  The sound of a car door slamming made her frown. She sat up, clutching the sheet to her bare chest. Since she didn’t want anyone to find her naked, she hurriedly jumped up to get her clothes. Only to realize that she just had her sweats and shirt from the previous night. Everything else was in the other room.

  Audrey put on the clothes and peeked out of Caleb’s room. The house appeared empty as she tiptoed down the hallway into the kitchen. She looked around, and when she saw no one, she ran to the other corridor and the spare bedroom where her things were.

  She pulled out another pair of jeans and a tee shirt that she exchanged for the casual wear. Using her fingers as a comb, she pulled her hair back behind her head and twisted the length into a bun, using an elastic band to hold it.

  Just as she was about to walk out, she realized that she’d forgotten socks. Audrey rolled her eyes at herself and quickly pulled them out. She took her time walking through the house this time. The closer she came to the kitchen, the more she could hear the arguing again.

  It was Brice and a woman, but Audrey would bet a thousand bucks that it wasn’t Naomi. The woman’s voice sounded older, more gravelly. The kind a smoker had.

  Audrey paused long enough to pull on her boots before she walked out of the house. She came up short when she saw an old beige Pontiac vehicle sitting beside Caleb’s truck. A woman with very short dark hair liberally laced with gray slammed her hand on the car in irritation as she walked closer to Brice.

  She was so thin, a strong wind would probably break her in two. Her flesh was stretched tightly over her bones, but it was the paleness of the woman’s skin that told Audrey she wasn’t well.

  “Get the fuck off my land,” Brice stated angrily.

  The tone was so cold, so enraged that Audrey was taken aback. Whoever this woman was, Brice wanted no part of her—and he didn’t mind showing the world that.

  “Brice, honey, please,” the woman pled.

  He pointed a finger inches from the woman’s face. “Your mistake was coming back. There’s nothing for you here. Leave.”

  “Not until I see Caleb and Abby. I am your mother. You can’t deny me.”

  Audrey’s knees nearly buckled. No wonder Brice was so livid. She would be, as well. And where was Caleb? Had he left before his mother got here? Or was he avoiding her?

  Brice laughed, the sound mirthless and as cold as the Arctic. “You gave up those rights when you walked out on us.”

  “It was the best thing for you.”

  “Save your bullshit for someone who’ll actually listen, because it won’t be your children. I’m not going to tell you again to leave my land. If I have to, I’ll call the sheriff and have him escort you off.”

  The woman lifted her chin defiantly. “I’ll be back.”

  “The hell you will.”

  She didn’t argue. Simply turned and made her way to the car. Audrey hadn’t moved a muscle, but still, the woman’s gaze landed on her. She looked Audrey up and down until she reached her vehicle. Then the woman opened the door and stared at Brice for a long minute. Her movements were slow as she sank into the driver’s seat.

  Brice remained there, watching until his mother started the engine and drove away. Then his head swung to Audrey.

  “I’m so sorry,” she said. “I had no idea, or I never would have come outside.”

  Brice looked down as if to compose himself. Then he yanked off his hat long enough to rake a hand through his dark hair. “Caleb rode off. I don’t know how long he’ll be gone. Or what kind of mood he’ll be in when he returns.”

  Audrey nodded. “I understand.”

  Brice drew in a deep breath and released it. “You should know that he was smiling when I saw him this morning. Before … well, before I told him she was back.”

  “Thank you.” She walked to the edge of the porch and leaned a hand on one of the thick pillars holding up the roof. “Is there anything I can do for you?”

  “No. Thank you.” Brice cleared his throat. “You should also know that no one came to the auction house last night. Danny and some of his men will stay on guard for the next few nights to see if anyone comes back.”

  Audrey scanned the horizon, wondering which way Caleb had gone. “That’s good news.”

  “Stay here as long as you want. The ranch might be big, but we have a powerful security system. You’ll be safe here. If you follow the drive east, it’ll bring you to my house. Naomi is there developing some pictures if you want company.”

  Audrey smiled at him. “Thanks.”

  With a tip of his hat, he was gone. Audrey didn’t have her own vehicle, and even if she did, she wouldn’t have left. Especially not with what she’d just seen with Caleb’s mother.

  Audrey reached around and felt in her back pockets for her cell phone. That’s when she remembered that it was still inside. She retrieved it and scrolled through the texts. There was a couple from Maddy, letting her know that all was good at the East Ranch. As well as one that urged Audrey to “get it on” with the “hot cowboy.”

  Audrey laughed out loud at that, then sent a response so her sister would know that she was fine. Audrey also made sure to note how often she’d eaten. No sooner had that text gone through than her sister sent back a gif with a girl clapping and nodding emphatically.

  That left Audrey with only one other thing to do—call the ranches she worked for. She pressed dial on the first number and brought the phone up to her ear.

  “
Hey, Ted,” she said. “I’m sorry, but my family emergency still isn’t resolved. I’m going to need another couple of days.”

  Chapter 27

  The ground was a blur, and no amount of wind brushing against his cheek could temper the rising temperatures as the sun rose.

  But no matter how far he rode the horse, Caleb couldn’t outrun or escape his past. It would always be there, waiting like a dark cloud ready to blot out the brightest of days.

  Just like this morning.

  Caleb straightened and drew up on the reins. “Whoa,” he said. The gelding slowed to a stop.

  Caleb dismounted, dropping the reins so the horse could graze. Caleb walked to the thick branches of an old oak. Last night had been the best one of his life—hands down.

  Why did his mother have to ruin it? It once more reminded him why he’d kept his heart safely guarded against any woman who could hurt him. Caleb fisted his hands wanting—needing—something to hit to relieve some of the anger within him. Instead, he paced.

  Part of him wanted to never see the woman who’d given birth to him again. Another side wanted to confront her, to demand that she tell him why she’d left them so long ago. But he knew no matter what answer she gave, it wouldn’t be what he wanted to hear.

  Because there was no excuse for her actions.

  Caleb was certain that Abby would talk to their mother simply because that was his sister’s way. She didn’t hold grudges. Besides, she’d say it was a learning experience for the kids.

  But if she were smart, she’d never let her offspring anywhere near Helen Harper.

  As for Brice, Caleb wasn’t sure what his brother would do if he came face-to-face with their mother. Brice might welcome her, or he might look right through her. For many years, the hatred Brice had for her nearly surpassed Caleb’s. A few years ago, however, Brice had said that it might be a good idea to forgive her so they could all move on.

  “I’ve moved on,” Caleb said. He looked around, fury swelling in his chest. “I’ve fucking moved on!”

  Even as the words echoed around him, he knew them for the lie they were. If he had gotten past it, then he wouldn’t have any problems opening himself up to women. Instead, he continued to push them away, keeping himself closed off to anyone but family and friends.