Cowboy in the Extreme

by Rita Herron

  Kim’s gaze met his. She wanted to lash out again, but instead she told him the truth. “I told her that her father was a great guy, but he couldn’t be with us.” Because he had another family.

  “Well, I am here,” Brandon said in a gruff voice. “And now that I finally know about her, I am going to be a part of her life whether you like it or not.” He remained rigid, his breathing labored in the ensuing silence. “Either you tell her who I am in the morning or I will.”

  Kim froze. “Brandon, be reasonable. Let her get to know you—”

  “I won’t push her,” Brandon said sharply. “But it’s time she knows the truth.”

  The breath stalled in Kim’s chest, her anxiety mounting as she twisted away from his hold. “Fine. I’ll tell her. But Lucy is innocent in all this, Brandon. And if you bad-mouth me in front of her or frighten her, I will take her and leave.”

  She didn’t wait for a reply. She turned and ran up the steps. Her chest was heaving for air as she shut the bedroom door and pulled on a sleep shirt.

  Brandon owned one of the largest ranches in Texas and knew people everywhere. He had money and power, and he was angry.

  What if he decided to strike back at her and demand to have Lucy on a permanent basis?

  If it came down to a custody battle, she would fight him. Lucy was her life. She couldn’t go on without her....

  BRANDON POURED himself another Scotch, then walked over to the window and looked outside. God, what kind of person did Kim think he was? Did she really think he’d frighten Lucy or disparage her in front of their child?

  You left her. You said horrible things the night you found out about Carter. And you frightened Lucy tonight when you yelled at Kim.

  He choked down the drink.

  Dammit, he’d made a mess of things. He had hurt Kim and ruined his own life by marrying Marty.

  Sure, he’d earned his wealth and owned a spread to be proud of, a place that would make the kids who’d laughed and bullied him when he was younger envious as hell. Although both had come too late for Joanie.

  And now…

  Johnny. If only Johnny had told him the truth he would have done things differently. He didn’t care what time it was. He picked up the phone and punched in his number. Johnny answered on the second ring.

  “Brandon, is everything all right?” Fear roughened Johnny’s voice. “Are Kim and Lucy okay?”

  “They’re fine.”

  “Where are you?”

  “My place,” Brandon said. “Although someone tried to run us off the road on the way here.”

  “What?” Johnny muttered. “Did you see the driver?”

  “No. He hit us and raced on.” Brandon paused. “It could have been a drunk driver or a teenager, but I have a bad feeling it was intentional.”

  “You mean Carter?” A noise sounded and Brandon realized Johnny was probably getting out of bed. “I can’t believe he’d try to kill you, especially with Lucy in the car.”

  Brandon sucked air through his teeth. “Speaking of Lucy, why didn’t you tell me about her, Johnny?”

  A hiss sounded over the line. “It was Kim’s secret to tell.”

  Emotions thickened Brandon’s throat, betrayal at its worst. “But you were my friend, like family…” His voice cracked. “You knew about Joanie, that I would have loved Lucy.”

  He bowed his head into his hands, raw anguish seeping through him.

  “Look, Brandon, you can be pissed off at me. And I guess you have a right to be mad at Kim. But you played a big part in this situation, so don’t blame her without taking a good hard look at yourself.”

  “Dammit, Johnny—”

  “And another thing,” Johnny said, on a roll. “You may have missed out on the past four years, but you have no idea how difficult life has been for Kim. Watching you marry that other woman damn near killed her. She loved you and you crushed her and left her alone and pregnant.”

  Brandon cleared his throat. “But you know—”

  “Yeah, yeah, you had your reasons. Dammit, Brandon, it doesn’t matter.” Johnny’s sigh was steeped in anger. “What matters is that you have a second chance. A chance to make it up to Kim. And a chance to be the father Lucy deserves. So don’t screw it up this time by harping on blame and bitterness. It will eat you up, just like it has Carter the past few years.”

  Brandon cursed. The last thing he expected from Johnny was a holier-than-thou lecture.

  “It’s late, and I’m going back to bed with Rachel. Kenny will be up early,” Johnny said. “Call me if you hear from Carter or if he shows up. Meanwhile, keep my sister and niece safe or you’ll answer to me.”

  Brandon gritted his teeth as the phone clicked into silence. Dammit, Johnny had hung up on him.

  But his words echoed in Brandon’s ears as he flipped off the light and headed into his bedroom. A gigantic suite that he slept in alone.

  Brandon cursed again as he stripped off his jeans and shirt and fell into bed. He’d blown his chance with Kim long ago.

  But Johnny was right about one thing. He had Lucy now. She would be up early in the morning, too, probably along with the sun.

  He couldn’t turn back time and rectify his mistakes.

  But he could be the father Lucy hadn’t had for the past four years.

  KIM TOSSED AND TURNED, her thoughts ping-ponging back and forth between relief that her secret was finally out, dread over telling Lucy the truth, and anxiety over losing her daughter to Brandon.

  It was too late for them to be a family

  But she was so exhausted she finally fell into a deep and fitful sleep. She jerked awake twice, her heart pounding, and rushed to check on Lucy, but both times her daughter was snuggled deep in the plush covers of the four-poster bed, sleeping like an angel.

  She had no idea that her world was about to change.

  For a moment, Kim simply watched Lucy sleep, wishing she could freeze time and keep her innocent and young forever. Then her gaze skimmed over the room.

  The feminine décor made her wonder if it had been designed for a little girl. Had Brandon and Marty decorated the room for a child they planned to have?

  Hurt stabbed her at the thought, but she was too tired to dwell on it, so she stumbled back to bed. Finally exhaustion claimed her and she dozed to sleep.

  The next time she awakened, sunlight streamed through the window, bright and warm. When she glanced at the clock, she was surprised it was almost eight o’clock.

  She raced through the bathroom to the adjoining room and froze at the sight of the empty bed.

  Where was her daughter? Had Brandon already spilled the truth?

  Her pulse clamored as she threw off her nightshirt, dragged on a pair of jeans and T-shirt, then socks and boots. She tossed some cold water on her face, swiped a brush through her hair, then pulled it into a ponytail and hurried down the steps.

  The scent of coffee and cinnamon wafted toward her, and she followed the smell to the kitchen. But Brandon and Lucy weren’t inside.

  A tray of cinnamon toast sat on the stove, two empty plates stacked in the sink. Brandon and Lucy had obviously shared breakfast together—without her. Her heart wrenched. Was that the way it would be? Brandon would slowly ease his way into Lucy’s life, then convince her to come and live with him?

  No, she wouldn’t allow it.

  Where were they now?

  She grabbed a hand-painted Native American mug from the stand on the counter, poured herself a cup of coffee, then glanced out the window to see if she spotted them. Horses galloped in the pasture across the path and cows grazed in the fields, the sun shimmering off of golden blades of freshly cut spring grass. She glanced around the kitchen and noted the blue and white tiles and old-fashioned whitewashed pie safe, a memory tickling her consciousness.

  The kitchen in the photo she’d shown Brandon had been blue and white. And she’d told him she wanted a pie safe because her grandmother used to have one. She’d bake apples and sit them on it to coo
l in the afternoon, filling the house with the wonderful, homey smell.

  It was one of the few good childhood memories she had. Other than playing with Johnny and Brandon and Carter.

  Yet once again, she realized he’d built this house, the one of her dreams, for his wife.

  A noise outside jerked her from her reverie and to the present, and panic stabbed at her again.

  She clutched the coffee in one hand, then walked outside the kitchen door. A creaking sound caught her attention, and she turned toward it.

  Her heart fluttered when she spotted Lucy and Brandon sitting in the porch swing. Brandon had his arm draped casually along the back of the swing, pushing it back and forth with one leg while Lucy chattered away.

  “When can we see the horses?” Lucy asked. “You said I could pick one to wide.”

  So like Lucy. She never forgot a promise.

  “Soon,” Brandon said with a smile in his tone. “We’d better wait on your mom. She might worry if she woke up and we were gone.”

  Kim sipped her coffee, relieved at his comment.

  “Here she comes now,” Brandon said, the lightness fading from his voice as he met her gaze.

  “You was a lazy bones, Mommy,” Lucy said with a giggle. “We already had bweakfast! Mr. Bwandon made cinmon toast.”

  Kim smiled. “I know. I smelled it all the way up the stairs.”

  Lucy kicked her legs back and forth rocking the swing. “Mr. Bwandon said we had to wait on you to look at the horsies. I wants to go now.”

  Kim sank into one of the rocking chairs. The sight of Brandon and Lucy swinging together was so sweet that it nearly brought tears to her eyes. “Hang on a second, and he can show us around the ranch together.”

  “No, now,” Lucy said, crossing her arms in a pout.

  “Let your mother finish her coffee first.” Brandon leaned forward with his elbows on his knees. “Besides, we have something to tell you.”

  Lucy squinted up at him, her eyes huge. “What? Is it about that bad man last night?” Lucy twisted her stuffed lamb’s ear. “Is he comin’ here?”

  “No, baby,” Kim said, hoping she was right. That the hit-and-run had been a drunk driver or some wild kids, not the intruder from the Bucking Bronc.

  “It’s about you and your mommy,” Brandon said. “And me.”

  A frown puckered Lucy’s dark red brows.

  Kim glanced at Brandon, hoping for a reprieve, but determination flared in his eyes. A warning look. If she didn’t tell Lucy, he would.

  “Remember when you asked me about your daddy?” Kim asked softly.

  Lucy toyed with the lamb’s ear, then gave a small wary nod. “You said he couldn’t be with us cause of his other famiwy.”

  “Yes, that’s right,” Kim said softly. “But now…well, now he’s here, and he wants to see you and spend time with you.”

  Confusion marred Lucy’s face, and she whirled around in the swing as if looking for her father. “Where is he?”

  Kim patted Lucy’s hand. “Sweetie, he’s right beside you. Mr. Brandon…he’s your father, honey.”

  Lucy crinkled her nose. “You’re my daddy?”

  Brandon swallowed, a dozen emotions brimming in his eyes. “Yes, Lucy. I’m your father.”

  A heartbeat of silence passed. Then Lucy’s chin wobbled and a tear trickled down her cheek.

  Kim reached out and wiped away the tear. “Lucy, honey, what is it? What’s wrong?”

  Lucy pinned Brandon with an accusatory look. “You wiked your other famiwy more than us.” She jutted up her chin in that defiant stubborn tilt. “So why do you wants to see us now?”

  BRANDON’S CHEST CLENCHED. Johnny had given him a tongue-lashing, but he hadn’t expected one from his young daughter.

  What did you expect? That she’d jump into your arms and say she loved you? She doesn’t even know you.

  Which was Kim’s fault.

  And maybe…maybe a little bit yours…

  He forced himself to keep his voice low. “I want to see you because I love you.”

  Lucy’s eyes narrowed, and he realized she was a perceptive, smart little girl. She reminded him so much of Kim when she was little. The very reason he’d fallen in love with her.

  “But you wiked your other famiwy the bestest?”

  He froze, for the first time in his life at a loss for words. The truth was far too complicated for a four-year-old to understand. Hell, he didn’t completely understand how he could have made the choices he’d made.

  Except he’d given up the best thing in his life.

  The best two things, he silently corrected himself. Only he hadn’t been aware of the second.

  Kim traced a finger around the edge of the coffee mug. He wanted her to help him out, but he’d dug this hole and he’d have to dig his way out.

  “It’s not like that,” Brandon said quietly. “Your mom and I, we just made mistakes.”

  Another tear slipped down her cheek. “Like me? I did somfin wong?”

  “No, honey, no.” God, he was making a mess of this. He glanced at Kim and saw tears in her eyes, too. He had let them both down so badly.

  How could he ever win Kim’s trust again?

  And his daughter—would he be able to win her love?

  Chapter Six

  Kim’s heart ached at Lucy’s words. Her gaze locked with Brandon’s, and she saw him struggling as well. He hadn’t meant to make Lucy feel that she was a mistake, but a four-year-old’s mind pieced things together in its own mysterious way. And Lucy was intuitive. No telling what she’d heard from other kids at preschool or at the Bucking Bronc.

  She clasped Lucy’s hand. “No, Lucy, you didn’t do anything wrong, honey. That’s not what B— Your father meant.”

  Brandon gently brushed Lucy’s hair from her cheek. “As a matter of fact, you are the most perfect little girl in the world. And I’m very proud to be your daddy.”

  Lucy wrinkled her nose. “But you wiked the other mommy bestest.” She scooted away from him and clung to Kim’s hand.

  Brandon’s expression turned pained. Kim didn’t want to hear the answer. She already knew it.

  “Lucy, honey—”

  “Lucy, listen to me,” Brandon said firmly. “Your mommy is the best mother in the whole world.”

  Lucy studied him warily for a long minute, then nodded and relaxed slightly.

  His gaze cut to Kim’s, condemning. “I’m sorry I wasn’t around before.” Regret underscored his voice. “But we’re here together now.” Brandon stroked her cheek with the pad of his thumb. “I’m going to be your daddy forever.”

  Lucy glanced at Kim for confirmation and Kim gave her a reassuring smile.

  Then Lucy threw her arms around Brandon and squeezed his neck. “’Kay, Daddy. Now can we pwease, pwease, pwease go see the horsies?”

  Brandon chuckled, but his face looked strained, and tears pricked Kim’s eyes. She wanted Lucy to have a father, and she wanted Brandon to love their daughter.

  She only wished that things between them hadn’t gone so terribly wrong. That he could love her and they could be a family. But that could never happen. Too much heartache lay between them.

  She would have to settle for watching him love Lucy. And somehow they would learn to work together so Lucy wouldn’t be hurt when they left the Woodstock Wagoneer and returned to the Bucking Bronc Lodge.

  “Why don’t you run inside and potty and I’ll grab a piece of toast?” Kim suggested. “Then Brandon can show us around and let you pick out that horse?”

  “Yippee!” Lucy tumbled down from the swing, her red curls bobbing, then ran inside.

  Brandon exhaled noisily and stood.

  Kim cleared her throat. “Brandon, I know we’ve had our differences, but we can’t put Lucy between us. We have to work together for her.”

  He clenched his jaw. “For once we agree.”

  Kim sighed, hoping they could actually bury their hostility, then hurried inside. Brandon followed and poure
d some coffee into a thermos.

  Inside the kitchen, she grabbed a piece of toast and bit into it. The small TV was on, and a news flash beeped, drawing her attention.

  “Yesterday three prisoners escaped from the state penitentiary, wounding a guard in their escape.” Brandon walked up behind her, and they both watched as the reporter detailed the story.

  “Joey Faradino, incarcerated for grand theft robbery, was originally from El Paso and may be headed back to that area. Robert Dugan was on death row for the brutal slaying of three women in west Texas, and is considered the most dangerous of the three felons.” The reporter paused while photographs flashed on the screen.

  “The third escapee was Carter Flagstone, who has been serving a life sentence for murder. An anonymous tip has come in saying Flagstone was seen on the outskirts of San Antonio late yesterday, and that he is considered armed and dangerous.”

  Kim shuddered at the photo of Carter that appeared. Even before prison, he’d looked worn down, hardened, his eyes defeated and cold. How would prison have changed him?

  Brandon placed a hand at the small of her back. “He’s close by, Kim.”

  A chill skated up her spine. “What if he followed us here?”

  “It’s possible.” Brandon frowned. “In fact, he could already be hiding out on the ranch for all we know.”

  Kim clutched his arm, terrified. He was right. Carter could be hiding out on the property just waiting to get one of them alone. And if he’d tried to kill them last night, he might finish the job. “We have to watch Lucy,” Kim whispered. “We can’t let her out of our sight.”

  Brandon’s mouth thinned into a straight line. “Don’t worry, Kim. If he wants Lucy, he’ll have to kill me to get to her.”

  BRANDON UNDERSTOOD the fear in Kim’s eyes.

  Carter hated him. And if he believed Lucy was his daughter, and that Brandon was trying to move in on Kim or his child, he’d probably want revenge.

  But Lucy bounced in, and a silent agreement passed between him and Kim. They wouldn’t discuss Carter in front of Lucy. She had already been through enough the past two days.