Rodeo Reunion

by Shannon Taylor Vannatter

  “We stopped for lunch at Aunt Loretta’s.” Tori rolled her eyes. “She did her best to sabotage my postpregnancy diet and insisted we bring you her blueberry pie.”

  “Pfft, you don’t need a diet.” Raquel got a whiff of the pie. “Yum. Tell her thank you. How was the tour?”

  “It was the most awesome thing I’ve ever been part of.” Brant’s eyes shone.

  “I’m so glad.” She squeezed his arm. Brant had achieved his lifelong dream and she couldn’t be happier for him, but goodness, she missed him when he was gone. “I’m so glad you’re home for three months, though.”

  “Me too.”

  “I got a new baseball bat to show you.” Hunter grabbed Tori’s hand and tugged her toward the house.

  “Careful, Hunter. Don’t pull Aunt Tori. You might make her drop Lorraine.”

  Hunter eased up and followed his aunt inside.

  “So, after we eat, could you and Tori entertain Hunter for a bit while I talk with our new neighbor? You’ll never guess who lives next door.”

  “Who?”

  “Slade Walker.”

  “Slade Walker?” Brant scowled.

  Scowled? In disbelief? Brant had watched Slade play baseball right along with her and Dylan.

  “As in former Texas Rangers pitcher. How cool is that? Just when Hunter needs a new coach. That’s what I want to talk to him about.”

  “Wait a minute. I thought Hunter had a coach.”

  “He’s getting deployed, so I’m hoping Slade will agree to coach his team.”

  “That’s not a good idea.” Brant’s tone held bridled anger.

  “Why?” Raquel frowned as she perched on the porch swing. It creaked when Brant settled beside her. “How awesome would it be to have a former Texas Rangers pitcher coaching Hunter’s team? He helped Hunter with his batting and Hunter hit the ball in his first practice the other night. You should have seen his face.”

  “You can’t just go asking some guy you barely know to get involved with your son.”

  “So I barely know him.” Raquel shrugged. Brant had been a fan during Slade’s Rangers days. What was his deal? “But Dylan knew him well. They were best friends in Garland until the fifth grade, when Slade moved away. After that they saw each other a few times over the years and Slade led Dylan to the Lord. They talked on the phone often. He’s a nice guy.”

  “A lot can change in a guy between the fifth grade and late twenties, little sister.”

  “You act like you know something I don’t.” She elbowed him.

  “I do. Tori and I ran into him in Aubrey a little earlier. Lorraine was getting fussy in her car seat, so we stopped for a walk and—”

  “Hey. I hope I’m not late.” Slade strolled toward them from the path Hunter had already worn between the bushes separating their houses.

  “Perfect timing.” Raquel stood.

  “You invited him to dinner?” Brant’s whisper verged on a growl.

  “Be nice.” She elbowed him in the ribs. “We’ll talk about this later.”

  “Just proceed with caution, Rock. Do not ask him to coach Hunter until we get a chance to talk.”

  Slade stopped a few feet from the porch. Recognition dawned in his eyes and he looked as if he might turn and go back home. But then he closed the gap and climbed the steps.

  What on earth had happened between Slade and Brant?

  “It’s Brant, right?” Slade offered his hand. “You’re Raquel’s brother?”

  Brant clenched his jaw and tension roiled through the air. Raquel jabbed him with her elbow again and he clasped Slade’s hand.

  “We ran into each other earlier in town.” Slade’s gaze bounced from her to Brant. “I didn’t realize there was a connection between y’all.”

  “Yeah, me neither.” Brant’s tone held a warning.

  “Dinner’s ready.” Raquel stood. And not a moment too soon.

  * * *

  The day just kept getting better. Slade had managed to tick off Brant—his sister’s husband. And now Brant turned out to be Raquel’s brother. Great.

  Despite the tension, Raquel’s house was warm and inviting, not bare like his. Her decor had cowgirl flair, just like her. Somehow the touches of burlap and lace didn’t look too girly.

  While Brant fed Lorraine, Slade snatched glimpses of his sister and his niece. That and the roast and vegetables drowning in succulent gravy made the tension worth it. It would take more than Brant’s glare to scare Slade’s appetite away.

  Tori seemed nice, gentle, kind. And she was a great mom—attentive to Lorraine’s every sound and move. Not the kind of person to be upset at learning she had a brother. Under different circumstances, Brant would probably be all right, too. He seemed to be a hands-on dad and a caring brother and uncle.

  He’d still gotten Tori pregnant before he married her. But once Brant learned who Slade was and that he wasn’t making moves on Tori, maybe they could build a relationship.

  “This roast is awesome.” Slade stuffed another bite in his mouth.

  “Thanks.” Raquel glanced from Brant to Slade, clearly wondering what was up.

  “I need to stop. I’m stuffed to the gills, but this stuff is just too good to leave on my plate.”

  “Raquel loves to cook and she’s great at it.” Tori shrugged. “Maybe between her and my aunt, they can teach me a thing or two now that we’re home.”

  “Where were y’all for the last three months?”

  Brant glowered at him.

  “Brant is touring with Garrett Steele.” Raquel cleared her throat.

  “The Garrett Steele?”

  “Uh-huh.” Hunter giggled. “They’ve been friends for years.”

  “Do you have an album out?” Slade risked directing the question to Brant.

  “Recording one,” Brant growled.

  “Brant has wanted to be a Christian country singer for as long as I can remember.” Raquel filled empty tea glasses. “And he’s finally living his dream since Garrett Steele blazed the trail with the new genre.”

  “How often do you tour?”

  “Three months on, three months off.” Raquel filled the silence, the perfect hostess.

  “All that travel can’t be easy with a baby.”

  Tori seemed as uncomfortable with him as Brant did when he asked specifically about their family.

  “Lorraine’s the best baby I’ve ever seen. I’ve never even heard her whimper.” Raquel scooped up her niece and held her up in the air. “Isn’t that right, sweetie? I’ve been wanting to get my hands on you all night. I thought your poky daddy would never finish feeding you.”

  Lorraine gurgled and Raquel pressed her nose against the baby’s smaller one, then tucked the squirming bundle into her shoulder and rhythmically patted the tiny back.

  And she was good with babies. Perfect wife material. Why did the only woman he’d met who drew him like a moth to a flame have to be his friend’s widow? On top of that, her brother hated him, and his calling was up in the air.

  Definitely not a good time to pursue Raquel. Why couldn’t she just stop being so friendly, so strong, so appealing, so perfect, so beautiful?

  “First my wife, now my sister. What are you, some kind of stalker?” Brant’s glare could have pierced steel.

  Tori smacked him in the shoulder. “Hush.”

  Busted. Slade hadn’t even realized he’d been staring at Raquel.

  “Not at all.” He pushed his chair back. He should have left as soon as he saw Brant on Raquel’s porch. “But I think it’s time for me to go.”

  Hunter looked wide eyed from one man to the other.

  “Hunter, if you’re finished with your pie, go study for your spelling test.”

  “Aw, Mom.”

  “Go.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” The boy reluctantly scurried from the room.

  “Slade, you haven’t even had your pie yet.” Raquel turned a sharp look on her brother. “Stop being a jerk and be nice to my guest. Maybe you and Tori could
go help Hunter with his studying.”

  “I’m not leaving you alone with this guy.”

  Raquel held Lorraine up between them like a shield and the baby squealed and kicked her feet. “Lorraine will chaperone. Now go, before I kick you out of my house for bad manners.”

  Though Tori tugged on Brant’s arm, he clearly wasn’t ready to back down. The phone rang.

  Saved by the bell.

  “I’ll get it,” Hunter called from the front of the house.

  “I really need to go.” Slade headed toward the back door.

  “Oh, all right, but at least let me send you a piece of pie home. And I need to talk to you about something soon.”

  “Sure. Anytime.” He could feel Brant’s glare burning a hole through him.

  Raquel sliced the pie, set it on a disposable plate and wrapped it in foil.

  “Mom!” Hunter blasted into the room. “Max said Grady said Fletcher said Coach James is quitting us. And when Max asked Coach Quinn, he said it’s true.”

  Great. Just what she needed. A steaming brother and an upset child. “It is true, sweetie. But he has a good reason. Coach James is a soldier and he has to go back to work.”

  “But what about the team?”

  “Don’t worry—we’ll find another coach.”

  “Hey, what about Slade? Will you be our coach?”

  “Hunter! Calm down and don’t put Slade on the spot like that. Please go back in the living room and study. The team will be just fine.”

  The little boy’s shoulders slumped. “Okay.”

  “Come on, sweetie.” Tori patted his arm. “I’m sure your team will find another coach.”

  Hunter and Tori trailed toward the living room, but Brant stayed long enough to shoot Slade one more evil eye. “I’ll be watching you.”

  “Brant!” Raquel snapped. “Out.”

  “I don’t trust him, Rock. When we ran into him earlier, he made a move on my wife and he’s gone back and forth staring at her, then you all night. Just watch him.” With reluctance obvious in every step, Brant left them alone.

  “I’m so sorry.” Raquel covered her face with her hands. “This evening has been a disaster from the moment you arrived. You’ll have to overlook Brant—a man tried to hurt Tori last year and Brant has been in overprotective overdrive ever since.”

  “Hurt her?” Slade’s heart pounded.

  “It’s over now.”

  “I’m glad.” Slade forced a grin to get things back on a light note before she got suspicious of him, too. “Rock fits you.”

  And got a laugh out of her. “He’s called me that since we were kids. He says I’m strong and stubborn.”

  “I can see that.” He rolled his shoulders. The tension of the evening had taken its toll. “Listen, Brant and I got off to a bad start. He recognized me on the street in Aubrey and Tori introduced herself. We shook hands and she…” He winced. “Let’s just say she reminds me of someone. I may have held her hand a little too long, but I didn’t mean anything by it. I don’t go after married women.”

  “So that’s what happened.” Raquel shrugged. “He’s always been overprotective and territorial—he’s just worse now. I’ll explain things to him and he should be fine. In the meantime, I apologize for his extreme rudeness. He has a bit of a temper.”

  “It’s fine. So, is the coaching thing what you wanted to talk to me about?”

  “Yes. But I wanted to do it privately so you wouldn’t feel coerced by a pitiful, sad child.” She sat on a stool at the breakfast bar. “I can’t believe Fletcher’s parents broke the news. Why upset the team when we could have just quietly found a replacement? Why do some parents seem to thrive on drama and angst?”

  “Not a clue.” Slade stood across from her. A safe distance with a bar between them. “Look, I’d love to help out, but I don’t think I can.”

  “Please don’t say no.”

  Slade’s heart stalled. He didn’t want to say no to her. About anything. Ever. He’d happily be her yes-man.

  But that wouldn’t be the best way to avoid Raquel. Or Hunter. Coaching Hunter would weave Slade more tightly into their lives. And then the time would come to give them up. And he wasn’t sure he’d be able to. Better to keep his distance.

  “If we can’t find a new coach, all they’ll have is an assistant who’s never coached before.”

  “I’d love to help you, but—”

  “It’s only for three months. We practice on Tuesdays and Fridays during March. Then the games are on Mondays and Thursdays beginning in April and last through May. But if other days would be better for you for practice, that would be fine, too. And we could practice less once the season starts if you want.”

  “I only leased the house for three months.”

  “That’s perfect.” Raquel’s eyes lit up, making him want to do whatever it took to keep her happy. “Your lease goes through May and the season goes through May.”

  His heart clunked back in place in his chest. If he coached Hunter, he’d automatically spend more time with Raquel. They’d grow closer. But he couldn’t let the attraction grow.

  She was still tender from losing her husband. And she had a son to think about. With his calling up in the air, nothing could happen between him and Raquel. Not if he wasn’t staying put.

  Besides, there was his sister to consider. He still didn’t know what to do about Tori.

  On top of all that, coaching Little League baseball wasn’t part of his doctor’s prescribed treatment. He shouldn’t even have pitched for Hunter at all; forget taking on a coaching position.

  “I can’t.”

  “You can’t?” The light dimmed in her eyes.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Oh. Um… Okay.” She stood, stepped over to the stove and ladled roast into a plastic bowl. “Take some leftovers with you. I guess I need to get back to my other company anyway.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  She waved a hand through the air as if it didn’t matter. But her eyes said it did. “It’s no problem. I shouldn’t have asked.”

  “I’d help if I could.” He sighed. “I can still get together with him for batting practice.”

  “It may not be necessary if he ends up without a team.”

  “I’m sure the assistant will be fine.”

  “Probably. I just want Hunter to have a good year.” She sealed the bowl and pushed it to him across the granite counter. “The move was tough on him. He had to leave all his friends and his baseball team. And in Garland, he happened to end up on a really good team and they won their league championship. I’m worried if his new team doesn’t do well, he’ll miss Garland even more.”

  “I’m sorry.” No matter how many times he said it, he could never show her how sorry he was.

  “It’s okay. I understand.” She hurried to the back door and placed her hand on the knob. Ready to open it for him. Ready to be rid of him.

  And the disappointment in her eyes would haunt him. For days. Maybe even for months.

  Could he go against every instinct he had and sign up to coach Hunter’s team? He’d help Hunter and make Raquel happy, but he’d surely lose his heart in the process. And what if at the end of May, God still wanted him back on the road?

  Maybe he could keep his feelings in check, keep Raquel at a safe physical distance and take on the coaching position. Just to help Hunter. That way he’d have to worry only about his shoulder. A much easier task. Besides, they probably used a pitching machine.

  “I’ll do it.” He made no move for the door.

  “You will?” Her eyes lit up. “Hunter will be so excited. We can change the schedule up however you need to. Whatever is convenient for you.”

  “I think the current one will work.”

  “You have no idea what this will mean to Hunter. He’ll be big guy on the field. The kid who got a former Ranger to coach. This will do wonders for his friend-making issues.” She spoke faster and faster and did a little bounce, then launched herself in
to his arms. “Thank you.”

  Slade’s heart rocketed in his chest.

  Yes, her hair was that silky. Yes, she fit perfectly in his arms. Yes, he really wanted to kiss her.

  Chapter 4

  Slade’s arms around Raquel warmed her from head to toe. What had she been thinking—throwing herself at him? She hadn’t thought past how excited Hunter would be about his new coach.

  Why was she still in his arms?

  “Sorry.” She pushed away from him, but her brain was mush from the feel of him. Resting her hands against his rock-solid chest, she risked looking up at him. “I get a little excited sometimes.”

  “Not a problem.” His gaze latched on her lips.

  “Ahem.” Brant cleared his throat.

  Raquel sprang away from Slade.

  Her brother leaned against the kitchen door frame, glowering.

  “Slade agreed to coach Hunter’s team. I was just thanking him.” She patted his shoulder.

  Wow, he was solid. Shouldn’t have touched him again. No touching. Definitely no touching Slade.

  More space between them was in order. She took another step back. Lots of space between them.

  “It was only a friendly hug.” Slade held his hands up in surrender. “But in case you haven’t noticed, Raquel’s a grown woman. I think she can hug whoever she wants.”

  The space she’d made between them cleared her brain. “You go on, Slade. I’ll handle this.”

  “I’m not sure I should leave until your brother calms down.”

  “His bark is worse than his bite.” She waved her hand as if to wave away his concerns. “And I’m pretty sure he got his rabies shot this year. We’ll be fine. I’ve been defusing Brant since we were kids.”

  Slade grinned. “I guess I’ll see you at the ball field Tuesday night?”

  Brant’s scowl grew deeper.

  “Yes. And thank you so much. You have no idea what this will mean to the kids. I’ll call Hunter’s coach and he’ll probably bring a form for you to fill out. You can meet us at the ball field.”

  “Where is it?”

  “I’m terrible with directions. Why don’t you just ride with us? We’ll leave about a quarter till six.”

  “It’s a date.” Slade’s mouth tightened. “I mean…see ya then.”