“Which Dr. Rogers?” Jody asked. There had been a long list of Rogers on the glass door they’d come through an hour ago. “I’m waiting for someone, actually.”
“Joe will join you in a few minutes,” the woman assured her, waving her through the door into an elevator.
She hated elevators, especially the ones with mirrored interiors that didn’t let you escape from yourself no matter where you looked. Thankfully, they stopped on the ninth floor, because she felt nauseous by then. Ms. Trevor led her down a short hall and knocked once on a door. Jody walked in obediently, hoping that she wouldn’t embarrass Joe by rushing to him and collapsing against him.
Joe wasn’t in the room. But an older man who looked very much like Joe stood and smiled at her.
“Good morning, Jody.” He came around the desk, hand extended. “I’m Joe’s brother Richard. Oldest of many.”
She managed to nod. He grasped her hand and didn’t let go. “Joe told us you’re the driving force behind some horses that need saving. Well done. Not that I’m a horse man, but nothing deserves to suffer like that.”
She didn’t have an answer, but he didn’t seem to notice.
“Come sit down,” he suggested, waving at the luxurious chairs by his desk. “Tell me about you and Joe.”
Jody looked around. “Where is Joe?”
The doctor laughed. “He was just as nervous when I kicked him out. But that’s what brothers are for.”
She sat down reluctantly. “Really, I don’t know what to say,” she told him. “It’s just…we made a deal to buy some horses to keep them from being slaughtered. One of them is—was—mine.”
When he didn’t say anything, she felt compelled to go on, even though she had no clue what he wanted her to tell him. “I’m sorry about Joe needing to borrow money from you.”
“Borrow money?” He laughed. “Joe didn’t borrow money. Well, technically, he’s getting an advance on investments he has through our private partnership. But it’s his money.” Richard stretched expansively. “Don’t let that worry you, if it did, Jody. I just wanted to meet you without him around being all protective. I’m just nosy. What are your plans, him and you?”
Jody’s mouth opened a little. “We just met four days ago.”
“My wife and I knew by the afternoon of day one,” he countered easily “We’ve been together for going on thirty years.” He shrugged. “Doesn’t always happen like that, of course. But don’t count Joe out.” He stood and walked over to a window, pulling a drape aside and looking out briefly. “Are you a rodeo girl?”
“Um, like a barrel racer?” Jody asked, confused. “No, I don’t have anything to do with rodeo.”
“When they brought Joe to me after that horse trampled him, Jody, it shattered me. I didn’t think anyone could help him.” He looked back at her. “I supervised a colleague, because it was a complicated procedure, but I had to leave. I couldn’t see through my tears—oh, drat. I didn’t mean to make you cry!” He handed a tissue box to Jody.
“He talks about going back,” Richard went on. “Says others have done it. You won’t encourage that, will you?”
“No.” Jody blotted her eyes.
“He might go back and draw that killer horse who attacked him,” the doctor added, and Jody drew a deep breath. She must have made some sound because Richard looked at her curiously.
“The horse that trampled him is the one that used to be mine,” she murmured. “He’s been abused and mistreated, but he’s not vicious. And he’s one of the horses we’re saving.”
“Oh,” Richard muttered, looking stunned. Then he shrugged. “All the more reason. Promise me you’ll try to keep him off broncs, Jody.”
She would have promised, but the door burst open and Joe rushed in, looking annoyed. “Why is Jody here? I left her in the lobby.”
“We’re just chatting,” Richard assured him, grinning. “You won’t lose her to me, son. I’m too old. Besides, I told her that Evie and I are still hopelessly in love.” He stood up, ignoring Joe.
“Jody, welcome to the Roberts family. We’re having you and Joe over for an early dinner. You can meet the rest of us.” He laughed at the expressions Joe and Jody exchanged. “Hey, don’t worry. There are only a couple dozen of us.” He pushed a button. “Ari, I’ll be out until tomorrow.” He came around the desk and linked arms with them. “Did you know, Jody, that Joe here is the only cowboy ever in our family?”
“The rest are all self-important doctors,” Joe muttered.
“True enough, Richard agreed, and laughed.
Chapter Twelve
The Roberts’ home loomed like a hotel over its beautifully landscaped grounds. Joe smiled at Jody’s reaction.
“I feel that way now and then when I’ve been away,” he admitted. “But the bottom line is—it’s just home.”
“Don’t expect to know everyone right off,” he counseled. “Just nod and smile if they’re annoying. Or nosy.”
She took his advice to heart. There were siblings, spouses, nieces, nephews and assorted other folks She had no clue who they were, but she smiled and nodded.
The twins, however, were easy to recognize. Darlene and Dora were college freshmen. They were Joe’s nieces, and his sister Angela was, she thought, their mother. The twins were so social she wasn’t sure. They greeted everyone with the same affection and unshakeable hugs.
After dinner, when conversation and wine were flowing freely, Jody glanced around. Nobody seemed to be watching, so she climbed to the third floor, which housed Joe’s room, guest rooms, and a charming alcove with padded benches, a rocking chair, throw rugs, and shelves of books clustered around a small table. Grateful for the solitude, she curled up on a corner bench that overlooked a tree-lined yard.
“Told you she’d just run away from us,” Darlene said. “Hi, Jody. We found you!”
Great. Jody straightened and smiled. “I see.”
“Don’t worry, though. We’re just here because Joe told us about the horses,” Dora explained. “You and Joe are doing something wonderful.”
Jody flushed. “Thanks. One of them is—was—my horse.”
“Joe said.” Darlene sat down beside her. “Remember how at dinner I told you I wasn’t going into medicine, I’m going into journalism?”
Jody nodded.
“Well, when I heard the story of your Cowboy, I thought of the people I met last weekend. They produce that reality show. You know, Not Their First Rodeo.” Darlene bounced back up and almost hopped in place with excitement. “You have to let them talk to you and see the horses! They’ll bring real awareness to how horses are abused. Not as many people think about horses as they do cats and dogs.”
“Joe won’t—” Jody started to protest, but Darlene stopped her.
“He told us when we mentioned it to him. That was a whole different production crew. The head producer now is a friend of mother’s. Sylvia.” She held out a napkin with a name and number. “They could really help you, Jody. This could be just a beginning!”
Jody took the paper, looked at it, and put it in her pocket. “Thank you.”
“No trouble,” the twins chorused, then hugged her and flounced off, calling “Night,” as they clattered down the stairs.
Just the beginning of what? A future she had never even considered. Rescuing not just her horses and the others in Benton’s lot, but other horses with their sadness and tragedy? She sighed and walked down the hall, peeking timidly into the room she thought was Joe’s.
His bag was flung on the bed. She hoped the Roberts’ family would forgive her lack of manners. She couldn’t go down again, even just to say goodnight. Someday, if Joe and she developed a real relationship…. The idea she could spend a major holiday here made her grin ruefully. That would never happen.
She’d bathed and burrowed into the covers on the huge bed before Joe wandered in.
“I wondered where you’d hidden,” he chided. “Everyone was looking for you.”
“But y
ou found me.”
He smiled. “One of the twins told me to get my behind up here. She said she recognized an introvert when she saw one.”
Jody blushed. “I thought I’d fooled them,” she muttered.
“No need to fool anyone,” Joe said, stripping off his shirt and tossing it aside. “They’re fine with you, Jody.” He sat on the edge of the bed, twisting around and leaning over to brush her cheek with his lips. “And so am I. Which is what matters.” He kicked off the boots and stood to remove his jeans. When he started to pull off his briefs, she protested.
“Not tonight, Joe. It would just seem so…weird.”
He shot her a startled glance, but shrugged and climbed onto the bed in his underwear. “Weird because we’re at my brother’s, or because we actually have a full-sized bed to roll around in instead of doll furniture?” he teased.
“Both,” Jody retorted. “I hadn’t thought about that. I’ll have to give up my place.” She swallowed. “I never thought I’d be back on the ranch, even though it was my mom’s.”
He scooted over and gathered her against him. “Don’t think tonight. Just let me hold you. Tomorrow we’ll worry.”
“Sounds good,” she agreed, pressed into the warm hardness of his body.
***
In spite of getting an early start, most of Joe’s family got up to say goodbye. Jody lost track of the hugs and kisses and demands that she come again soon, and she slumped in the passenger seat, eyes closed, as Joe threaded their way expertly back towards I-35 South and escape.
“Playing possum, are we?”
“Can I?” She snuggled deeper into the upholstered cushion. “Your family is nice, Joe. But there are just so many of you!”
“Them, Jody. There’s only one me.” He shot her a grin, then peered through the window. “Damn! Looks like there’s some kind of snarl ahead.” He slowed to a crawl. “But don’t worry. Once we get back to your place we’ll have lots of time for details. And for worrying.”
The screen on his dashboard display lit up and he hit a button. “Yeah, Chuck?”
“I think we’re set, Bud. We have at least six two-horse trailers lined up. Ram is taking a one-horse in case there are any bad actors or any in such bad shape they need solo transport, and Susan is trying to get her brother’s gooseneck. No reason we can’t move sixty-three horses in a day’s time.”
“That’s a load off. Thanks, bro. Hey, call me later when we’re back in your area. We’ll finalize details. I owe you big time.”
“Don’t sweat it. Anyway, we’re not doing it for you.”
“No?”
The voice chuckled over the speaker. “We just want to meet this Jody chick of yours.”
“Shut up!” Joe snarled and ended the call.
He glanced at Jody. Predictably, she was bright red, but a tiny smile eased his worry.
“How do they even know about me?” she asked curiously.
“The grapevine. Osmosis. I don’t know.” He thought about it. “I guess when I asked for help moving horses I must have mentioned you. We can’t really keep you a secret, Jody. You’re the one who got us into this mess.”
“It seems to be working out pretty well,” she protested. “Let’s not call it a mess.”
“This adventure,” he amended, and she nodded.
He turned back to pay attention to the line of eighteen wheelers ahead and behind them, and flinched when a livestock carrier with horses pulled around them. The truck looked old and unsafe, and he hoped that Jody hadn’t noticed its cargo. Her soft gasp told him she had.
“We’re kidding ourselves, aren’t we?” Even though she whispered, her voice shook. “That we’re making a difference.”
“Jody, I knew it wouldn’t be enough. We’re saving sixty of them. One means the world to you, and a lot to me. Let the rest go.”
He sped up, passing a number of trucks, eager to get off the interstate and away from any other grim reminders of the horse slaughtering business.
“We are saving them,” Jody said eventually. “I guess I really meant…what happens when there’s no us? We’ve known each other less than a week,” she persisted doggedly. “You said you didn’t want a relationship. I…want you. Maybe I even need you. But when the horses are safe and sorted out, and we can be who we were before…what then?”
He shot her a startled glance. He didn’t have an answer. He couldn’t pull off the packed freeway and pull her into his arms, which he wanted to do. He couldn’t even reach far enough toward her to wipe at the silent tears trickling down her face. “Let the rest go,” he said again, and to his relief, she nodded and turned to stare out the window.
Chapter Thirteen
Jody straightened up slowly, exhausted from helping repair a sagging bottom line of fencing. Her hands were blistered and she leaned against a post momentarily, looking down the line. Joe and Eric were working on another trouble spot, shirtless in the blazing sun. Men did have certain advantages, she thought wryly. Eric had looked at her tank top with disapproval and Joe with interest, but either way—they were probably cooler than she was.
Her task was finished, so for a minute or two she just admired Joe as he bent and strained, his bare skin glistening. Aware that Eric might look her way at any moment, though, she pulled her phone out to check. She had a missed text, which surprised her, as she hadn’t heard her phone. She looked at it more closely and blinked. Not Their First Rodeo would like to talk to you about horse rescue. Major! Darlene.
When she glanced up the fence line again, Joe was fishing for his phone. She grinned. Either Darlene or Dora, undoubtedly. His look of frustration and headshake verified her hunch as Joe and she walked toward each other. As she drew closer, she bit her lip. If she thought he looked good from behind…but Eric had noticed them. She fought back the urge to kiss his chest. Or stomach.
“Mine was from Darlene,” she announced. “Yours?”
“The other. I thought we made it clear we weren’t interested?”
“Darlene’s convinced they’re legit, and someone named Sheila is your sister’s friend.” She fished her bandana out of her pocket and handed it to him since his was dripping wet. “Joe, maybe we should just listen.”
“We don’t have time,” Joe protested. “We need to run in to town to buy halters and leads. The guys can’t have sixty-three of them, and even if we turn some of the horses out, we need to be able to deal with emergencies.”
He glanced over his shoulder to where Eric was draining a jug of water, leaned forward, and kissed her quickly. “Besides, everything’s falling into place. We might be done by early Saturday without even breaking a sweat.”
“And then what?” Jody leaned forward and brushed a kiss on his chest. He shivered and salt burned her lips. Behind them, Eric was choking on water. Or anger.
“Maybe we shouldn’t tempt the fates,” Joe murmured, his eyes dancing. “But we can celebrate ahead of time, if you want.”
Jody smiled in answer and headed toward his truck. One more run to the feed store, a quick stop for some notes she’d left at the house, and tomorrow or Saturday, Cowboy would be home. When she turned to find Joe, he was still where she’d left him, talking to someone on the phone.
He came over shaking his head. “Talk about being on you like ticks! Apparently we’ll have company when we pick up the stuff at the feed store.”
“Company?” Jody gasped. “Who? Why?”
“I took a call from Darlene. Only she’d loaned her phone to Sylvia from the rodeo show.”
“And you agreed we’d meet them?”
“Not exactly, no.” Joe headed down the drive. “I told them we’d been fencing and weren’t presentable. They said ‘we do reality. Come as you are.’ I’m stopping for a shirt.”
“Shucks,” Jody retorted. “Guess I’ll put something on, too, then.”
“We’ll bore them to pieces,” Joe said. “But that’s a good thing, right? No more helpful family members saddling us with nosy strangers.”
“Exactly,” Jody agreed with feeling.
***
Hours later, Jody closed her bedroom door and locked it, blushing, but determined to be comfortable with what she had told Eric: “We’re together.” Joe had bathed and changed in his room, because, he told her, that would optimize time for everything else.
“So what’s this everything else?” she demanded, scooting across the bed and kissing his neck. He chuckled and pulled her close. She relished in the sensations that flooded her when he held her. She felt wanted. Cherished, too, yet brazenly sensual. Awareness made her blush, or maybe it was just the need she had for the man trailing kisses down her throat, making her skin burn.
His hands slid over her, cupping her ass to bring her fully against him. She let him roll with her, straddling him as he moved her over him, and for a second, she wanted to hide.
Then he gave her a lazy smile and began moving, his hands caressing and holding her, and she forgot everything but the need she had for him.
***
“We’ve done a lot in less than a week,” Joe said quietly, then lifted himself on an elbow and peered at her.
“Yes, I’m still awake,” she muttered. “But you sure pick odd times to talk.”
“Well, that’s all that’s left until tomorrow morning. Let’s just be sure we have a plan.”
Jody rummaged under the linens for her phone. “Morning as in two hours?”
“Saturday when the last horse is unloaded and fed, we’ll sleep.”
“We were going to feed all your buddies to thank them. And the two vets.” Jody swung her legs over the edge of the bed and slipped out of his grasp as he tried to catch her.
“Where are you going?” he asked, and yawned.
“To worry. It’s what I do best.” She jerked the rumpled bedspread up to his waist. “Go back to sleep. You’ll be busier than me later today.”
“How do you figure that?” he demanded.
Saving Cowboy Page 6
