Once a Cowboy

by Linda Warren

  “That’s two entirely different things. And it’s blackmail.”

  “I learned from a pro.”

  Buck just stared into his cup.

  “Forgive her so you can move on. It’s time.”

  “I’ll try.”

  She threw her arms around his neck again.

  “Now let’s don’t start doing a lot of that,” he grumbled.

  A chuckle left her throat. “Get used to it.” She walked to the door.

  “Where you going?”

  “I have a mother to see.”

  “Oh. I’m…you know.”

  “Sorry.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Got it.” She ran to her Jeep, feeling the world opening up like it never had before. All she needed was for one hurt cowboy to come home.

  Brodie, where are you?

  Chapter Eighteen

  Alex spent over an hour with Gwen. She didn’t seem to want to know every detail of Alex’s life, but asked if Alex was happy. She could honestly say she’d always been a happy person. With Naddy for a grandmother she had a built-in sense of humor.

  Looking back she saw that the tension between Naddy and Buck made her stronger. It had taught her how to deal with people, to be diplomatic. It wasn’t the Cleaver household, but it was her life.

  Gwen wanted to know if she was married and she found herself talking about Brodie. She couldn’t believe how natural it was to talk to her. But in the end they were strangers. They didn’t have the time to build any kind of relationship. Again, Alex felt a sense of loss.

  Gwen’s husband had gone to the coffee shop to give them time alone and it was nice talking to the woman who had given her life.

  As Gwen grew tired, Alex stood. “There’s nothing for me to forgive. I’m sure you did the best you could at the time.”

  “Yes. I was young and scared, but there wasn’t a day that I didn’t think about you. When you’re young, you think you can put it out of your mind. It’s not that easy, though. I knew for me to die in peace I had to see you. I know that’s selfish, but I…”

  “It’s okay,” Alex told her.

  “I sense that you’re a very strong person.”

  “I’m very soft-hearted, though.”

  Gwen’s pallid face cracked into a semblance of a smile. “Me, too. I get so involved in other people’s problems.”

  “I guess I got that from you, then.”

  “Probably, but you’re much stronger than I ever was. You get your strength from Buck.”

  “I have to be strong to put up with him.”

  “You have a wonderful sense of humor and you’re an absolute delight. Thank you for being so understanding.”

  “After Brodie’s turmoil, I could do no less.”

  “I wish I could meet him.”

  There was an awkward pause.

  Gwen picked up a folder from the bed. “I wanted to give you this.”

  “What is it?”

  “It’s my medical history. There’s also information about my parents and what I know of my grandparents.”

  “Oh.”

  “As a nurse, I know this will be important to you in the years ahead. You should know what’s in your background.”

  “Thank you.”

  They hugged and said goodbye—the final goodbye. For Alex knew she would never see her mother again. At least not alive. Tears burned her eyes as she drove away.

  She couldn’t go home—the apartment was too empty. So she headed for the Cowboy Up Ranch. Stopping at a convenience store, she bought some food just in case the dogs were hungry.

  Everything was in darkness except for the spotlights around the barns. She grabbed the bag and got out. The dogs loped toward her and she reached into the bag for a hot dog. The store didn’t have a wide selection of dog food and she wasn’t sure what the dogs would eat, so she bought a dozen wieners.

  The dogs gobbled them up and she wondered how often they were being fed. Replete, the dogs lay at her feet. She leaned back, breathed in the fresh air and enjoyed the peace and quiet of the ranch she was beginning to love.

  Most people with any common sense wouldn’t sit in the sweltering heat in the darkness by themselves. But her family wasn’t strong on common sense.

  Crickets chirped and a coyote howled in the distance. The wind ruffled the tree branches with an eerie sound. She decided common sense had been left out of her gene pool completely.

  She stared through the darkness toward the road. Alex didn’t know how long she sat there waiting, dreaming and hoping.

  One of the dogs whined.

  “I miss him, too.”

  B RODIE SAT OUTSIDE Alex’s apartment waiting. Where was she? It was getting late. He tried her cell, but she didn’t answer. He didn’t leave a message because he wanted to see and talk to her in person. At midnight he gave up and went home. Evidently Alex was working a case or out of town.

  He’d check with her father in the morning. Going home wasn’t easy, but come hell or high water, he was seeing her tomorrow.

  A LEX FELL ASLEEP . When she woke up, it was almost twelve. Damn. She had to get home. They were finishing up the Davis case and she wanted to be in early. She hurried to her apartment to catch a few more hours of sleep.

  A S B RODIE CROSSED his cattle guard, he knew he was home. This was his land, his cattle and his house. Brodie Hayes lived here. All the doubts and confusion had disappeared.

  George and Helen hadn’t asked him to change his name and for that he was glad. He’d have to talk to them about what they expected from him, then he’d tell them what he could live with. Simple.

  It should have been from the start, but his emotions had been running high and his thought process hadn’t been too clear. The Braxtons were good people and he was now ready to form a relationship with them. Not a forced one, but a real one.

  He crawled into bed dead tired. Alex, where are you? was his last thought.

  W HEN HE AWOKE , it was almost noon. Dammit. He leaped from the bed and quickly showered and dressed. The last couple of weeks he hadn’t slept well at all and it had caught up with him. In fifteen minutes, he was charging out the back door.

  Two trucks pulled into his driveway. Colter and Tripp. For the first time he wasn’t glad to see them. He wanted to get to Alex.

  Tripp spotted him first. “Hey, you’re home.”

  “I got back late last night.”

  They embraced.

  “You’re looking a hell of a lot better,” Colter said.

  “I am better. I know who I am.”

  Colter and Tripp glanced at each other. “Brodie Hayes,” they shouted in unison.

  “Yeah. I discovered that I’m a cowboy and a bull rider and it doesn’t really matter what my name is. I know who the man is inside, but I’m comfortable in Brodie’s skin. I still have to talk to George and Helen.”

  “It’ll work out,” Tripp told him.

  “I know that now.” He squinted at the noonday sun. “What are you guys doing here?”

  “We baled that coastal in your lower bottom a couple of days ago,” Colter said.

  “And we decided to get the hay off the field today.” Tripp slapped him on the back. “Now you can help.”

  “Ah…thanks, but could we do this another day?”

  “Why?” Tripp asked. “We’re here. Let’s get it done.”

  “Not today.”

  Tripp and Colter glanced at each other again. “Oh.” Tripp nodded.

  Colter tipped
his hat back. “I think he’s found a way to put the broken cowboy back together.”

  “You bet.” Brodie grinned. “Thanks. I’ll get the hay off the field later.”

  “Nah,” Tripp said. “We started it, we’ll finish it.”

  “Thanks, guys. Gotta run.”

  “Tell Alex hi for us,” Colter shouted.

  Brodie jumped into his truck and smiled all the way to the cattle guard.

  Driving into Dallas, he felt the anticipation building in him and he couldn’t wait to see her. He wanted their meeting to be special and he wanted them to be alone. Stopping not far from her office, he thought about a plan. His hand hit the steering wheel. Oh yeah, he knew what he was going to do.

  A LEX HEARD Buck shouting from her office and she hurried to see what was happening.

  “Danny Davis’s lawyer just called—he got a new trial for him. Hot damn, you did great work on this case.”

  “So did you.”

  “We make a damn good team.”

  “We’re father and daughter.”

  “Yeah.” Buck closed a file. “I’m proud of the way you handled the Gwen thing. You’ve really grown up.”

  She blinked, wondering if she’d heard him correctly. But she knew she had. It was just an old reflex reaction. Her father was now seeing her as adult.

  “Thank you. I was there with Brodie when he went through the pain and disillusionment. Helping him helped me to deal with my mother’s sudden appearance. Gwen and I had a good talk yesterday and I’m fine with the whole situation.”

  “You sure about that?”

  “Yeah. Gwen and her husband are leaving for Lubbock this morning. I feel a bit sad that I’ll never get to know her. But she’s very ill and I know she doesn’t want me to remember her like that, so we said goodbye.”

  “I’m sorry,” he said.

  Her eyes opened wide. “You said that without any prompting.”

  “Mmm. I must be changing, too.”

  “Yeah.” And it was a very good thing.

  “You still seeing the cowboy?”

  She sank into a chair and told her father about her feelings for Brodie. She ended by saying, “I don’t think he’s ever coming back.”

  “He will.”

  She wasn’t so sure, but it was an incredible feeling talking to her father about something personal. Pushing to her feet, she said, “I better get back to work.”

  “Mrs. Davis is coming in this afternoon with a big check. After I deposit it, Connie and I are heading to the coast for a week.”

  She lifted an eyebrow. “So I’m old enough to know that you have a lady friend?”

  He looked up. “Yep.”

  “Have you told Naddy you’re leaving?”

  “Not yet.”

  “But you will?”

  Buck leaned back, the chair squeaking from the pressure. “Yep. I’ll tell her and she can even have Ethel stay with her while I’m gone. How’s that?”

  She made a circle with her thumb and forefinger. “Perfect.”

  As she walked out, she heard his chuckle.

  She cleared off her desk and wondered what she was going to do for the next week. Her room at Buck’s needed cleaning, so she could finish that chore while checking on Naddy. She plopped into her chair. She felt at loose ends without knowing how Brodie was doing. Or if he was coming back.

  A man walked into her office. “Alex Donovan?”

  “Yes.”

  He handed her an envelope and walked out.

  Ripping it open, she quickly scanned the sheet of paper. One line was written on it: If you want to drive my big old truck, you know where to find me.

  Brodie .

  She ran to her Jeep. He was back. He was back. She should go home and change and do her hair and…Through all the thoughts, the Jeep kept steadily going toward Mesquite and the Cowboy Up Ranch.

  Removing her clip, she ran her fingers through her hair and shook it out. She dug in her purse for lipstick and the car honked behind her. Damn! She had to keep the Jeep in her lane.

  As she drove over the cattle guard and down the road, she saw his truck. He was definitely back. She braked to a stop and jumped out, her heart knocking against her ribs.

  Brodie stepped out of the door and walked toward her. He looked the same as the first day she’d seen him in boots, tight jeans and a cowboy hat. He was one handsome cowboy, but there was something different about him. There was a spring in his step and his eyes…the bluest eyes in Texas were free of pain.

  “Hi there, cowboy.”

  “Hi.” He grinned, showing off that gorgeous dimple.

  “You going to let me drive your truck?”

  “Anytime, anywhere. You can do whatever you want with it.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes. Just like my heart, my body and my soul. They’re yours.”

  She threw herself at him then and he caught her, swinging her around. Their lips met in an explosive kiss that went on and on. She knocked off his hat, caressing his hair, his face, his neck and his shoulders.

  “I missed you,” she breathed between to-die-for kisses.

  “I missed you, too.” He swung her into his arms and strolled into the house. The dogs barked behind them.

  In the kitchen, he set her on her feet and she stood with her mouth open. Red roses were on the table, the cabinet and the coffee table. Lit candles were everywhere, burning warmly. An ice bucket with a bottle of champagne nestled in it caught her eye.

  Brodie poured two glasses of champagne and handed her one. He cleared his throat and stared into her eyes. “Alex Donovan, I love you. Will you marry me?”

  “Yes,” she breathed, her voice shaky. Suddenly she was back in his arms being thoroughly kissed. She leaned her forehead against his. “You better hold me tight because I’m about to melt into a puddle on your floor.”

  “Then let’s continue this elsewhere.” He took her glass and she didn’t realize she was still holding it. Together they walked into the bedroom.

  There were more flowers and more candles. “I never knew you were so romantic.”

  “There’s a lot you don’t know about me.”

  She rubbed her finger along his lower lip, removing some of her lipstick. “I know what’s important.”

  “Mmm.” He slowly removed her blouse and lavished her breasts with sweet, warm kisses. She gave herself up to this man who she was going to love forever.

  A LONG TIME LATER she lay cradled in his arms. He pushed up against the headboard and she sat beside him. He told her what had happened since he’d left.

  “So you know who you are?”

  “Yeah. I called George and Helen and told them. They just want me to be happy.”

  “And are you?”

  “Finally, yes.” He smiled and she leaned over to kiss his dimple.

  “I’ve been thinking about having Braxton added to my name. It doesn’t matter to me, but it would please George and Helen.”

  “You really have dealt with all this.”

  “Yes. I respond to Brodie Hayes, so I’ve decided to change my name to Brodie Braxton Hayes. What do you think?”

  “I love it.” She stroked his leg.

  “And I really respond to that.”

  She giggled as he pulled her into his arms and kissed her deeply. “Wait. I have to tell you something.”

  He stopped his perusal of her mouth to look into her eyes. “What?”

  She told him about her mother.

  “Oh my God! And I wasn’t here when you neede
d me.”

  “But you were with me in spirit. After trying to help you cope, I knew anger and bitterness would only cause more pain. I was actually very calm and in control. That is after I cried my eyes out.”

  “Oh, honey. I’m so sorry.” He kissed the side of her face. “Strange though. After meeting Buck, it would seem more likely that you weren’t his daughter.”

  “It’s not about biology sometimes. It’s about family—a family is usually what you make it.”

  “You’re right. I thought my problems with Tom and Claudia grew out of us being so different, but they didn’t. My problems grew out of my anger. I see that now. I don’t want you to feel that kind of anger.” He caressed her arm.

  “I don’t, believe me, and if you keep stroking me like that I’m going to start humming.”

  “I love you, and from this day forward I will be here for you forever.”

  “You better, cowboy.”

  He nuzzled her neck. “Where would you like to live after we get married?”

  She drew back. “The Cowboy Up Ranch, of course.”

  “That was easy.”

  “I love it out here. I came last night and fed the dogs.”

  He frowned. “You’re kidding.”

  “No. Why?”

  “I was at your apartment waiting for you until midnight.”

  She burst out laughing. “We’re two of a kind.”

  “Soul mates.” He kissed her shoulder. “Never knew what the words meant until now.”

  She swung her feet off the bed and grabbed her jeans.

  He sat up. “What are you doing?”

  “I’m going to drive your big old truck.”

  “Alex.”

  She ran down the hallway laughing, feeling young, happy and so much in love. Happily ever after was loving a cowboy with the bluest eyes in Texas.

  Epilogue

  One year later

  Brodie Braxton Hayes had turned forty-one and the party at the Cowboy Up Ranch was in full swing. Family and friends spilled from the wood deck to the yard, laughing, talking, waiting for the barbecue simmering on a pit.

  Brodie stood with Tripp and Colter talking about horses, cattle and ranching. Morris, the Danielses’ butler, and Tulley, the man who raised Colter, tended to the barbecue.