Cowboy Creed (Cooper's Hawke Landing Book 1)

by Rhonda Lee Carver

  With hesitancy, she took it, causing the shoulder strap of her shirt to fall down her shoulder. His attention was drawn to her necklace. Taking the space between them in two strides, he lifted the familiar looking metal ring. “What’s this?”

  “It’s the makeshift ring you gave me during the tornado.”

  He jerked his chin up. His breath was stuck between his lungs and disbelief. “You had it made into a necklace?”

  She nodded. “The only time I take it off is when I’m skating.”

  Dropping the necklace, he felt his chest tighten. “Why?”

  “Do you really need to ask why?” She held his gaze.

  His stability came crashing down. He needed his space. “Five minutes is up. If you’re finished grilling me, I need to get back to work.”

  Without a word, she stepped passed him and started for the door.

  “Mindy?” He caught her at the threshold. She looked back at him. “You said I wanted Sage Ranch all along. No. That’s wrong. I wanted you,” he said quietly.

  Without a response, she left.

  He watched her through the window, the soft sway of her hips and the stubborn pride of her stiff back. He’d almost told her too much. There would have been no honor in telling her how he’d convinced Rusty to keep the house and surrounding property for her and her family. Creed knew in his heart that no matter how many miles were between her and Cooper’s Hawk a part of her remained there, and with Sage Ranch. This was her home. He saw the hurt in her eyes when he’d told her she didn’t have a place here any longer. What he hoped would happen, she would prove him wrong.

  He dropped into the chair, leaned his head back and closed his eyes. What he was realizing, the more he tried to convince himself that he no longer cared for Mindy the more he understood he’d never stopped. He’d still jump into water after her or beat the hell out a man if he hurt her or took liberties. Hell, he’d hunt down her ex and throat punch him if necessary.

  Why hadn’t Creed gone after her?

  Instead, he’d buried his feelings at the bottom of a whiskey bottle and tried forgetting Mindy by holding another woman.

  Melody had been a mistake, one that had replicated itself too many times.

  Pushing up from the chair, he strolled from the office and back into the hangar, still reeling from the rift he’d exchanged with Mindy.

  “That good, huh?” Boone joked.

  Creed gave him a disgruntled look. “Just what I need, another female busting my balls.”

  His brother’s laughter echoed off the walls. “Good to see that things haven’t changed between you two.”

  “Between Mindy and me?” He sniffed. “Everything’s changed.” Creed reached for the wrench and went back to the heli.

  “Yeah? Could have fooled me. If I got too close, I was afraid I would have been scorched from the blaze.”

  The tool slipped and hit Creed’s hand. “Shit!” He jerked back in pain.

  “I think you need a longer break, bro. Anger’s only going to slow us down. We’ve been at this for hours.” Boone had always been the most logical one.

  “I need to get it done,” Creed muttered.

  “Sure, but not at the risk of breaking something.”

  Realizing his brother was right, Creed sat down on a stack of crates and reached for his now warm water to down it in one gulp.

  Boone opened the refrigerator and grabbed an energy drink. “Why’s she mad? She’s not one to get a hair crossway without reason. So what’d you do?”

  “She just found out I bought Sage Ranch.”

  His brother paused with his bottle mid-air. “What? She’s just now finding out?”

  “The property belonged to us anyway. The house and surrounding acreage still belongs to Rusty.”

  “You mean it belongs to you, right bro?” Boone pulled over a swivel chair and dropped into the cushion.

  “I’ve told you, it belongs to all of us. I’m still waiting for you to start paying back your share,” Creed growled.

  “Should have thought about that before you signed the deed without consulting with Hank and me first.”

  “Hell, what choice did I have? I couldn’t bear the thought of the place being sold to just anyone. It’s not that I needed it—”

  “No,” Boone muttered.

  “But I wanted it. Dad wanted it returned.”

  “Did you explain that to Mindy?”

  “As much as I thought I should. I have one hundred sixty-seven things on my plate. I don’t need another woman to appease. Livvy hates me and mom blames me. I can’t win for losing.”

  Boone chuckled and stretched his legs. “Did they mention the terrible teens in all those parenting classes you went to back in the day?”

  “I’m glad you find this a joking matter.” Creed gave a fake laugh and stood, crushing his plastic bottle.

  “What is your plan this time, bro?”

  “My plan? For what?”

  “Are you going to let Mindy slip through your fingers again?” Boone stood and yawned.

  “I didn’t let her slip through my fingers the first time. She left.”

  “Since you’re playing dumb, I’ll have to spell it out for you. Mindy didn’t leave. She went off to college just as you were leaving for the military. Remember the jackass you became when she left? She’s home now and I didn’t see a ring on her finger. Isn’t it about time you got over yourself and found out what could have been?”

  “Let’s get back to work.” Creed ignored Boone.

  Chapter Seven

  WALKING UP THE flower lined pathway and stepping up onto the porch adorned with a row of white rockers, Mindy felt like she had jetted back to the little girl with pigtails and big dreams. The last time she’d been at Hawke Farm she was sitting on the steps eating a slice of watermelon and listening to Creed go on and on about enlisting into the Navy, just like his father had done. Townsfolk had thought Creed would take a different path. He’d been offered a handful of full scholarships to play football which wasn’t too bad for a small-town boy.

  She looked at the step and could almost see her younger self and Creed sitting there together and the time he’d dared her to spit a watermelon seed as far as she could. Just as any nice girl would do when faced with a challenge, she spit that seed so far it landed in poor Cooter’s eyeball. That hound dog spent most of his days lounging, never hurting anyone. So she’d felt lousy when he had to wear a plastic shield around his neck for weeks so he wouldn’t scratch at his sore eye. Thankfully, he didn’t lose it.

  Turning back to the door, she looked at the word “Welcome” carved into the wood sign, pretty sure it didn’t include her.

  Truthfully, she realized she should turn and leave. The less she was around Creed the better. After their heated argument at Landing she couldn’t be sure what the next face to face meeting would hold.

  Yet, after a long discussion with her daddy, she realized the deed was done. Much of the Sage Ranch was gone. However, when she thought of giving up the horses and the goats she wanted to cry. Where did this change leave her? She understood her daddy’s need to retire, he wanted to live his life, but it hurt her that he didn’t think to speak to her first.

  If she planned on staying in Cooper’s Hawk she and Creed would have to come to some sort of understanding.

  Knocking lightly, she waited.

  “Come in,” came the husky rich voice of the man who had haunted her every thought over the last few days. This time she’d left her proverbial guns at home and came with a peace flag. But would he want to see her?

  Looking at the doorknob like it was a dirty bomb, she breathed in deeply, digging deep for bravery. She prayed she could control her emotions and not allow Creed to conjure up the wickedness within her. Stepping inside, she was met with a pleasant combination of vanilla, leather and masculinity. Closing the door, she couldn’t see much. The curtains were drawn on the windows and so it took her a few seconds for her eyes to adjust. She scanned the dimly lit
room and found him sitting on the sofa, his legs stretched out and hooked on the coffee table and the TV tuned to a sports channel. He didn’t even look away from the football game.

  “You were supposed to be here an hour ago,” Creed complained.

  “Sorry, am I interrupting?”

  He jumped up from the sofa and turned on the lamp. The golden light filled the space, exposing his surprised expression. “Yes…I mean, no. I thought you were Boone. He was supposed to come by.” A man like Creed wasn’t caught off guard too often. Did he think he needed to gear up for round two?

  She waved her invisible peace flag through a smile. He looked good, always did. His wavy dark hair looked like he’d just woken up from a hard night’s sleep. He’d recently shaven but he had a new layer of whiskers. His broad shoulders stretched the knit of the long-sleeved, checked button down. Creed could easily be described as dangerously masculine, sexy and brooding. All those physical characteristics were great, but his eyes…she’d always been a sucker for those denim blues.

  But she hadn’t come to admire his good looks.

  She’d come to find resolution. To find even ground.

  “Let me turn this off.” After clicking off the TV, he replaced the remote in the basket on the table. “I didn’t expect you. Are you angry with me again?”

  “No, that’s not why I came.” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I came to apologize.” She laughed at his surprised expression.

  “You? Apologize? What’s the catch?”

  Oh, there was certainly a catch, not that she knew what that looked like. She needed to prepare herself, and him. “Don’t make this harder than it has to be.”

  He reshaped his expression into indifference. “Fine. I accept it.”

  “Can I have a seat?”

  “Sure.”

  She took a seat on a worn, flowered chair, crossed her legs, as he sat back down on the sofa. Her every intention had been to stay professional, keep this on a business level, but the way his perceptive gaze seemed to search her soul sent professionalism out the window. They had too much history between them to forget.

  “You were angry. I get it.”

  “I was. It was a shock to learn what Daddy had done.” She plucked at a loose thread on her best sundress. “But that doesn’t excuse my behavior for storming into your work and venting. I reacted impulsively.” Her throat constricted.

  “Does that hurt?”

  “What?”

  “To admit you’re wrong. You look like it hurts.”

  “Maybe I was wrong that you and I could have a talk.” She stood.

  “Come on. Sit back down. I’ll keep my pestering to a limit. I promise.”

  Sitting back down, she clasped her hands in her lap. “I’d appreciate that.” He had the upper hand in this and she didn’t like it.

  “Did you finally have a heart to heart with Rusty?”

  “I don’t think heart to heart would surmise the conversation, but yes, we did have a discussion.” She felt a surge of impatience. “I can’t, and won’t, say that I understand why he didn’t speak to me first, but crying over spilled milk won’t do any of us any good. I’d like to speak to you about a proposition.”

  “I’m not selling the land back to you,” he blurted.

  “That’s not what I’m wanting.”

  “Then what?”

  The next part was hard to say. “Whether you realize it or not I love Sage Ranch. It has always been my home. Truthfully, I don’t want to run Sage Ranch. I only want to buy back a portion of the land.”

  “That’s not possible.”

  “Why not? I’m only wanting to be able to ride horses along the west ridge, where the old barn is. You know that’s my favorite place on the property.”

  “Mindy, you’re welcome to ride anywhere on the ranch.” He scooted to the edge of the cushion.

  “It’s not the same. It will no longer belong to the Sage family. What if I wanted to build a house along the ridge?”

  “Do you?”

  “Maybe.”

  “Save your breath. I’m not selling.”

  “You’re being ridiculous.”

  “Your sweet facade is slipping.”

  “And you said you’d keep the pestering to a limit. You are refusing to consider my offer.”

  “That’s right. I am.”

  She laid her hands on the arms of the chair, squeezing. “What will you do with all the land? You have this farm and now most of Sage Ranch. I’m only asking for twenty acres. You’ll barely miss it.”

  “Twenty acres? You talk as if that’s nothing.”

  “Okay. I’ll compromise. Ten.”

  “Forget it.”

  “Won’t you think about it?”

  “To sell to you so you can build a house? I thought you were going back to California?”

  “I never said that would happen.”

  “I’m not interested in selling prime land to someone who never showed interest in it for over nineteen years.”

  “You’re really being unfair.”

  “Call it what you like. Just so you know, I want to build a place on that plot of land, and now that it’s mine, I can.”

  “You’re only saying that to bother me.” She couldn’t believe her ears.

  “Dad! Where’s grandma?”

  Mindy jumped at the voice. A beautiful teen stepped into the room from the hallway. Her dark curly hair bounced around her heart shaped face. The teen lost her confidence in the surprise at finding Mindy sitting in the living room.

  Blue, curious eyes settled on her.

  With an apologetic, shy smile the girl shifted her gaze onto Creed. A flush crawled over her cheeks. “I didn’t know you weren’t alone.”

  Mindy slid to the edge of the chair, feeling a heavy pounding of realization in her chest. She stared at the pretty girl as thickness lodged in her throat. She’d know Creed’s child anywhere and she should because the child looked so much like Jane.

  “Livvy, I’d like for you to meet an old friend of mine. This is Mindy Sage,” Creed offered. “She’s Rusty’s daughter.”

  “Hi,” Livvy gave a bashful wave.

  Mindy stood shakily. She could feel Creed’s curious gaze on her as she absorbed meeting his daughter—his other daughter. “Hi. Livvy is such a pretty name.”

  “Thank you,” Livvy answered. “It’s short for Olivia.”

  “You look like your father.”

  The teen looked from Creed and back to Mindy several swipes. “I guess.” She shifted in her flip flops. “Where’s grandma, Dad?”

  “She’s running errands. Do you need something?” Creed stood, hooking his thumbs in his front pockets.

  “I just need to ask her something.” The teen glanced down at the floor for a quick second.

  “Can I help?” Creed asked.

  “You don’t know how to make cookies.”

  “I know how to make cookies. Maybe I can help?” Mindy offered. The girl looked so much like Jane that Mindy wanted to hug her. She blinked back moisture in her eyes, feeling caught in a swirl of emotion. The weight of guilt grew like a boulder in her chest.

  Livvy blinked, hesitating. “I don’t have a recipe.”

  “That’s okay. We don’t need one.”

  “Well, if you want…”

  “I love baking. It’s one of my favorite things to do, besides figure skating, of course.”

  “You ice skate?” Appreciation spread over Livvy’s face.

  “I started when I was younger than you. Are you thirteen? Fourteen?”

  She gave a shaky nod. “Fourteen.”

  “I’ll understand if you want to wait for your grandma—”

  “No. Well, I’d like your help. Unless you don’t want to.”

  “I won’t ever turn down a chance to bake cookies. What’s your favorite?” Mindy rounded the coffee table and she and Livvy started for the kitchen.

  “Chocolate chip.”

  “Do you want to make cho
colate chip? Or were you wanting to try peanut butter or oatmeal? We can even try snickerdoodle.”

  “You can make all those?”

  Mindy laughed. “Yes. My daughter and I would spend hours in the kitchen baking.”

  “What’s her name?”

  “Jane. She’s eighteen and she started her freshman year in college.”

  After an awkward hesitation, the teen shrugged. “Grandma usually makes everything.”

  “I have a recipe for a special chocolate cookie if you’d like to try. They’re my daughter’s favorites.”

  “What do we need to make them?” Livvy slipped off the rubber band she had around her wrist and pulled her thick hair into a high messy bun. The action made Mindy stare for a long moment. Remembering how her daughter did the same before she’d bake. “Are you okay?”

  “Yes, yes. I’m fine.” She listed the ingredients they’d need while Livvy went into the pantry to retrieve them.

  She came back carrying an armload of ingredients and set them on the cutting board island.

  “Looks like we have everything we need.” Mindy looked over the items. “Would you happen to have an extra rubber band for my hair?”

  “Sure. I’ll grab you one.” The teen raced up the back stairs.

  Mindy preheated the oven then grabbed milk and butter from the refrigerator. Hanging from a turtle magnet was a picture of a Creed holding Livvy when she was a baby. Mindy’s heart pounded against her ribcage. She could barely breathe and tears filled her eyes.

  “Can I help with anything?”

  Alarmed by the voice behind her, she swiveled and met the curious gaze of Creed who was standing in the doorway. She forced air into her lungs, hoping he didn’t see straight through her. “The picture…you look very happy. I didn’t know you had a child…a daughter.”

  “You haven’t been to Cooper’s Hawk in a long time,” he answered softly.