“Like my cat, Oreo.”
“Ella, this is Leanne, Tabitha’s sister,” Cord said, introducing them. “And this is her little guy, Austin. Leanne, this is Ella Langton,” he said, for Leanne’s and Tabitha’s sakes. “She’s staying in the cabin on our property for a couple of months. She’s an artist.”
“Then you should be doing this,” Tabitha called out.
“Sorry, my medium is canvas rather than faces,” Ella said. But the humor that had softened her features seemed to have disappeared.
“So what kind of paintings do you do?” Leanne asked.
“Mixed media. Impressionist type. Modern art, I guess you’d call it.”
“That sounds interesting. Have I seen any of your work?”
“Maybe, but I doubt it. My mother has a studio in Calgary that features my work.”
“I’ll have to look it up on the internet, then.” Leanne gave her a smile.
Cord looked down at Austin grinning at him as he toddled around. “Hey, munchkin. You make me miss my own little guy.”
“So where is Oliver?” Leanne asked, glancing past him to Suzy and Paul.
“With my in-laws,” Cord said. “They heard I was short a nanny and said they would take care of him for Spring Break.” He glanced back at Ella, but she had her arms wrapped around her middle, her expression wary. Her sudden shift in behavior confused him. He looked in the direction of her frowning gaze and realized she was looking at Austin.
Then it dawned on him. That was the same reaction he’d seen from her the first time he’d met her.
Somehow, that little boy as well as his son Oliver made her uncomfortable.
But why?
Chapter Six
Just breathe, Ella told herself. You can do this.
She was aware of Cord glancing from her to Austin and she guessed he was drawing his own conclusions about her reaction. The same one she’d had when she first saw Oliver.
So she forced herself to look at the little boy, fighting down the anguish that crawled up her throat. There was no way she could allow it to take over.
Cord was watching her with an intensity that disturbed her. She could read the unspoken questions in his face.
Please help me, Lord.
The prayer was automatic. A visceral reaction to seeing this child. All chubby cheeks and chubby arms, bright eyes and waving hands. A real body held by real arms.
Suddenly Ella’s own arms felt empty. Just as they had when she saw Oliver for the first time.
“Ella, you okay?”
Cord’s voice broke into her thoughts just as she became aware of Leanne watching her, as well.
“Yes. Yes, I’m fine.” She forced herself to look at the toddler again, pushing aside her own sorrow as well as the very unkind flash of jealousy his presence created. “Your little boy is adorable,” she said, guessing that this is what every mother would want to hear.
“Thanks. He’s pretty precious to me.” Leanne looked down at him, tucking a wispy strand of hair back from his face.
“And to your father-in-law,” Cord put in with an exaggerated eye roll. “Every meeting George comes to it’s ‘Austin this’ and ‘Austin that’ as he flashes pictures of him around.”
“He is proud of this little guy,” Leanne agreed, but as she spoke it was as if her smile became forced and her voice held an edge of tension. “But I should go. Nice to meet you, Ella.” Then she walked over to where her sister was still working on Suzy’s face. “See you in a few days, Tabitha?”
“I’ll text you. I’m free on Tuesday afternoon.” Tabitha leaned over and dropped a kiss on Austin’s head. “Love you, muffin,” she said, then flashed a smile at her sister. “Love you too, muffin.”
“You’re too much,” Leanne said with a wry tone.
“Admit it. You love me.” They both laughed, and then Tabitha continued painting Suzy’s face, as if their interaction was the most normal thing in the world.
Lucky them, thought Ella with a wistful smile as she watched Leanne leave. As an only child she had always wanted a sister. She would even have settled for a brother. When she got married, her dream was to have a large family. A husband and five kids, a dog and a cat.
She pushed the memories aside. Part of her past. She had to move on.
But the future seemed to stretch ahead of her empty and lonely. Thank goodness she had the job in Montreal to keep her focused.
Is it enough? Is that what you want?
“You look pensive.”
Cord’s question broke into her tangled thoughts.
“Pensive? I didn’t think cowboys like you used words like that?”
“Word of the day on my phone. Been waiting all morning to use it,” he said with a crooked grin that didn’t help her equilibrium around him.
“Now your day is complete,” she teased.
“In a few ways, yeah. It is.” His eyes continued to hold hers and she sensed he was referring to something else.
“There you go. All done.” Tabitha sat back and held up a mirror for Suzy to see for herself. “What do you think?”
“I love it.” Suzy spun around, pointing to her face. “Look, Daddy. Ella. I’m a cat.”
Tabitha had painted her nose pink dotted it with black. Given her arched brows, whiskers and painted a tiny cat mouth over Suzy’s lips. Simple yet so cute.
“You look like Oreo.” Cord crouched down to have a better look. Suzy pretended to meow, then flounced in front of Ella.
“Did she do a good job?” Suzy asked.
“You look very feline.” Ella grinned at the little girl’s happiness.
“Do you think your dad knows what that means?” Tabitha asked as she washed her brushes, giving Cord a mocking smile.
“That means cat,” Suzy explained to her father.
“Does everyone think I’m an idiot?” Cord complained with mock seriousness.
“Define idiot,” Tabitha chimed in. But at the same time, while her tone was joking, her look at Cord held a curious edge. Ella wondered why. But then Tabitha returned to her work and a few moments later Tabitha had transformed Paul into a dog. He’d said he wanted to look like Pablo and it was Ella’s job to explain to Tabitha who Pablo was. That ensured her another curious glance that she chose to ignore.
“Now we need ice cream,” Paul announced.
“You two are quite the dictators today,” Cord complained when Paul grabbed his hand and dragged him over to a table in the shade of the white gazebo where an older couple were handing out ice cream sandwiches. “That means bossy,” he said to Ella with a wink.
“Thanks for the explanation.”
Suzy grabbed Ella’s hand, then Paul’s, and suddenly they were all connected. “We’re like a family again,” Suzy sang out, swinging Paul’s hand.
Ella caught Cord’s shocked look and felt she should let go of Suzy’s hand. But then his eyes caught hers and for a lingering moment they were connected.
Look away, Ella told herself. Don’t get pulled into this. This is dangerous. Neither he nor you can afford to indulge in this silly fantasy.
But their gazes lingered on each other a moment longer, and slowly settled into her lonely soul.
Then Cord broke the connection by looking away and releasing Paul’s hand, pulling his phone out of his pocket to check the time. Ella followed suit, letting go of Suzy.
“So, kids, when can I get my tractor parts?” Cord asked as he dropped the phone back into his shirt pocket. “I do need to get some work done today.”
“Relax, mister. I picked them up.” The gruff voice behind them made everyone turn around.
Boyce stood with his hands resting on his hips, looking from Cord to Ella. It wasn’t hard to see the gleam in his eye. Though he had never come
right out and said it, Ella got the distinct impression that Boyce was trying to match them up.
Ella wanted to protest but figured the best thing would be not to draw any attention to the situation at all.
She still wasn’t sure what to make of all the changing emotions she was experiencing around these kids. And even more important, around Cord.
“I put the parts in your truck,” Boyce continued.
“Okay, kids, let’s get your ice cream,” Cord said.
Surprisingly neither Paul nor Suzy complained but stayed by their father, clinging to his hand while they waited in line. Ella stood back, feeling awkward.
“The kids look happy, don’t they?” Boyce said, his arms folded over his chest.
“They enjoy being with their father.”
“I think they like being with you too.” Boyce shot her a sideways glance. “I know you said you wanted not to be disturbed by the kids but I think you’re good for them.”
Ella easily heard the subtext of what Boyce was saying. Subtlety was not his strong suit.
“They’re good kids,” was all she said. “I think they need to have their father around more often, so today is good for them all.”
“And how is your painting coming?”
Ella just shrugged away the expectation in his voice. He was simply making conversation but it was hard not to feel pressured.
“I looked you up on the internet,” he continued, his eyes on Cord and his grandchildren. “Some interesting stuff you’ve been doing. Can’t say I would have pegged you for such dark pictures. I don’t think I like them much.”
“It’s art. People get out of it what they bring to the work.” Ella rattled off the automatic comments.
“Well, then, anyone who buys your stuff must be bringing some dark, lonely parts of themselves. Every time I look at those pictures, I think whoever painted them wasn’t in a happy place.”
Words of protest sprang up but she squelched them. What he said struck too close to her own buried pain. Criticism didn’t faze her as much as it once did but his blunt assessment bothered her.
“It’s my signature style,” she said, struggling to keep her tone offhand. “I’ve been painting like that for many years.”
Boyce turned to face her, one hand resting gently on her shoulder. “Then I think you’ve been in some dark, unhappy places for many years.”
She blinked back an unwelcome rush of sorrow. But his eyes were kindly and his tone was gentle.
“Life is not all butterflies and sunshine,” she said.
“Anyone who has stood by a grave knows that.” Boyce patted her shoulder as if he sensed her grief. “But it’s okay to celebrate the fact that there are, at times, butterflies and sunshine. I think that right now you’ve brought some happiness into my grandkids’ lives,” Boyce continued.
She shrugged, not trusting herself to speak. No one had spoken to her like Boyce just did. Ever. Her mother kept her distance and Darren...well, he was the cause of most of her sorrow, heartache and darkness.
“Cord also told me that you said he shouldn’t be gone so much.”
This Ella couldn’t let slip by.
“I don’t think I did,” she protested. All she had done was remind him of the blessing his children were.
“Well, he seems to think so and I’m not going to lie, I’m glad you reminded him of the kids. Time he realizes that all the running around he’s doing is not going to bring his wife back.”
Ella looked over at Paul and Suzy receiving their ice cream sandwiches. They said a polite thank-you to the couple serving them and then each grabbed Cord’s hand as they walked back. The sight tugged at her heart.
“Is that what you think he’s doing?” Ella asked, her heart fluttering at the thought of such deep devotion.
“I’m not sure. But somehow he’s told me that he feels he needs to keep Lisa’s legacy going. So I’m thinking, yes.”
As they came nearer Cord looked at her, frowning as if he knew what they were discussing.
“Is my dad telling you lies about me?” he said, his grin looking forced.
“How do you know we’re talking about you?” Boyce returned.
“Because I seem to be your favorite topic of conversation lately.”
“Tell him what we were talking about, Ella,” Boyce said.
But Ella wasn’t taking the bait. Instead she bent down and, taking a tissue out of her pocket, wiped a dribble of ice cream from Suzy’s mouth.
“Does it taste good?” she asked.
“Awesome,” she said, her eyes gleaming as she looked up at her father. “This is the best day ever. I’m so glad we came to the fair and that we got to be all together.”
“It has been fun,” Cord agreed. “But now we really need to go home. I need to get the tractor fixed so I can finish feeding the cows.”
“We still need to get garden seeds,” Suzy whined.
Cord smacked his head. “Right. I forgot.”
“Now that you don’t have to stop for tractor parts, you can take care of that today,” Boyce said.
“Okay. One more stop and then it’s home.” He looked over at Ella. “If that’s okay with you?”
“Absolutely,” Ella said. The thought of picking out garden seeds was a novelty.
“Yay. Let’s go.” Suzy finished her ice cream and wiped her hand on her dress. Then she grabbed Ella’s hand. “Going to get some garden seeds, going to get some garden seeds,” she chanted with a happy lilt. Paul grabbed Ella’s other hand and then Cord’s. Once again they were all connected.
Ella looked down at Suzy, then over at Cord just as his eyes met hers. She realized how this looked. Like a family outing.
And for the tiniest moment she allowed herself the dream.
* * *
Cord stretched his arms over his head, then turned in his chair when he heard the murmur of his kids’ voices.
He’d been working on the ranch’s books since 5:00 a.m. hoping to get done before noon. He had received another email from George Walsh this morning calling a short meeting about the arena before the MRA people came again Monday. He wanted to skip it but George Walsh had been talking about starting all over on the arena. Trouble was a few members of the committee agreed with him. Members that didn’t have money sunk into the first one like his father did.
He shoved his hand through his hair. One thing at a time, he told himself.
He looked back at the accounting program on the computer screen in front of him, the numbers blurring together.
Time for a break.
He opened the door and leaned against the doorjamb, watching Ella, Paul and Suzy bent over the large piece of paper spread out on the dining room table.
Tubes of paint were scattered over the table and brushes flashed in the kids’ hands as they painted the horses and people they had drawn yesterday when they came back from the fair.
He smiled at the memory even though the time in town meant he had to work on the tractor until well after supper time. By the time he was done feeding the cows, the kids were in bed and Ella was gone. The kitchen was tidy and supper was waiting for him on a plastic-covered plate.
Usually he hated eating in front of the television, but the day had been a good one and supper, even reheated, was delicious. His dad was content to watch the baseball game and say nothing about Ella.
That morning after she had come over, Boyce had headed to town on some makeshift mission. Cord had a full morning of work in the office and he suspected his father knew full well about that and was making himself scarce.
His matchmaking was growing more blatant but somehow Cord found himself minding less and less the more he and Ella were thrown together.
The past week he felt as if his chaotic life had found a small modi
cum of peace and quiet in a place he hadn’t felt in a long time. His home.
And his eyes sought out the person who was the cause of it all.
Ella’s hair hung in a wavy ponytail down her back. A smudge of blue paint decorated her cheek and the front of her once-white T-shirt. Her eyes were crinkled up as she chuckled at something Suzy was doing.
“Daddy, come and see what we made,” Paul called out when he saw Cord.
He pushed himself away from the office doorway and sauntered over, trying to look casual even though his own foolish heart was beating harder when Ella glanced over her shoulder, then straightened when she saw him.
“So. What was the final consensus?” he asked, making himself look down at the poster.
“Mine is about a family who goes to the rodeo,” Suzy said, still spreading some paint on what looked like the boundary of an arena. “They are spending family time together, like we did yesterday at the fair.”
She flashed him a grin and he smiled back. “That was fun, wasn’t it?” he asked.
“Yeah. And today we’re going to plant the garden, right?”
“Oh, honey. I have to go to another meeting at lunchtime.”
Suzy’s face dropped and he sensed disappointment in Ella too. He wasn’t sure whose reaction bothered him more.
“You promised,” Paul said, dropping his paintbrush in a jar of dirty water. “You said we were going to do it today.”
“I know, son—” He stopped there, knowing that any excuse he made would sound feeble.
“Maybe I can help you,” Ella said to the kids. “Of course I don’t know the first thing about planting seeds. You kids will have to let me know if I’m putting in the seed upside down or right side up.”
Suzy chuckled but Ella’s offer made Cord feel guilty. He should be the one helping them. He and Lisa had always done the job together. They hadn’t done it last year because he’d been too busy doing the same thing he was doing this year. Running a ranch, juggling child care and Rodeo Association work. And the job reminded him too much of Lisa.
“No. We can do it when I come back.”
Suzy looked down at her paintbrush and sighed. “But your meetings always take so long.”
Courting the Cowboy Page 9
