“I need to bring something else in from the truck. I’ll be back in a minute to keep an eye on Clay.”
“Thanks, but you don’t have to worry about him. I’ve got this place baby-proofed. He can’t get in too much trouble around here.”
While she heated the grill and got the eggs ready to cook, Walker entered the kitchen, his arms full of Indian paintbrush.
A gasp escaped her throat. “Oh—how glorious!”
She saw a gleam of satisfaction in his eyes as he filled the jar with water. “Since you didn’t get a chance to work on your painting the other day, I thought I’d bring the meadow to you.”
“Walker…” Her feelings ran so deep, she needed another way to express them, but Clay came in the kitchen just then carrying his pony. He toddled right over to Walker, who picked him up and hugged him hard. Her son recognized him for exactly who he was and thrived under all that male attention…and affection. Emotions were threatening to drown her.
“If you want to put him in his high chair, I’ll pour you some orange juice.”
“I think I’ll keep him on my lap. Before I leave, I want to hear him say horse.”
She laughed. “Good luck. So far it’s pretty much mumbo jumbo. You’re a man after my father’s heart. He can’t wait until Clay is old enough to ride on his own horse with his grandpa.”
“Do you see your family often?”
“Probably every six weeks or so.” A moment later, she served the eggs and sat down.
Her son seemed perfectly content to stay where he was. Though he didn’t have an appetite, there was nothing wrong with Walker’s. He ate several helpings of everything while he talked to Clay with amazing patience.
“Hey, sport, maybe one day when you’re older, you’ll want to go riding with me.”
Clay looked up at him. He might not understand all Walker’s words, but the kind tone had captured his attention. Walker kissed his curls. “There’s nothing like seeing the world from the back of a horse just like this. Let’s name him. He’s got so many spots, how about Pebbles? Maybe that’ll be easier to say than horse.”
The domestic scene was heartwarming, but frightening, as well, because she was starting to care too much for a man who risked death every time he entered the arena.
She’d made the mistake of looking at a video on YouTube Kip had told her about. Someone who’d been to the Cody Roundup six years ago had posted it. To her horror, it was a clip of Troy Pearsoll’s fatal accident in the box on the Fourth of July. The video ended before death was pronounced.
Kip couldn’t have known how it would affect her. Walker Cody was one of her brother’s idols. He didn’t realize that seeing the actual footage had been a traumatic experience for her. She’d only watched it once, unable to bring herself to replay it.
Walker had been there competing that night. To see his best friend’s life snuffed out in an instant had to have come as a horrendous blow. The thought of Walk—
“Paula?” His voice broke in on her torturous thoughts. “What’s wrong? You’re so quiet.”
Pull yourself together, Paula. “I didn’t want to interrupt the fascinating conversation you two are having. You’ve won yourself an admirer, you know.”
His eyes wandered over her features as if he were searching for another answer, but couldn’t find it. “Last night he had me worried. Today he’s a different boy.”
“Children are resilient, thank heaven. He’ll be all better in a few days.”
While Walker’s eyes were still probing hers, the answering machine sounded, and Matt Spurling’s voice filled the kitchen.
“Hi, Paula. Please don’t worry. I got the message last night. This is the last time you’ll ever hear from me. I just wanted you to know I think you’re a terrific person. I envy the guy. Of course this doesn’t change anything. You’re a master landscape architect. I hope you’ll always consider me a friend.”
Paula groaned. She should have turned off her answering machine earlier, but it never occurred to her Matt would call her again.
Walker shot her an inscrutable glance as he gently placed Clay on the floor. “I’ll make this easy for you and leave so you can get back to your work.” Suddenly the chair scraped and Walker was on his feet.
Oh no you don’t.
By now Clay had pulled open the bottom kitchen drawer where she kept the rolling pin and wooden spoons he liked to play with. He put the pony inside and closed the drawer, then opened it again and pulled it out, a tedious process enjoyable only to a child.
“I’m sorry you had to hear that, Walker.”
He stared at her as if he’d never seen her before. “I know how he feels,” he whispered in a fierce tone. “Matt’s a good man.”
“That’s why I didn’t let things get started with him, because he is a good man. The problem is, I knew after we had our first business dinner together that he wanted to ask me out. From then on I discouraged him, but I couldn’t avoid our final dinner last evening.” She took a fortifying breath. “I was never interested in him and you know why.”
If that didn’t do something to clear up any questions Walker needed answers to, then nothing else would, but he didn’t say anything and that frustrated her. What was going on in his head? “Since you’ve never volunteered, maybe I should be asking you about the women in your life.”
He blinked. “You want a list? I’ve known my share and have had relationships with several.”
“I’m talking about right now,” she said quietly.
“What do you think I’m doing at your apartment?”
“Then you know from Matt’s phone call he was never on my radar.”
His features hardened. “But we both know the guy who is.”
Not that again. “Yes—we do,” she cried out in a rare display of anger. Surely he’d figured out by now that he was the guy in her new life. Brent would always belong to the old.
Clay must have picked up on the tension. He made noises for Walker to pick him up. He still had the pony clutched in his little fist. Walker reached down and pressed him against his chest. She noted inconsequently that her son went straight for the jade piece around his neck.
Silence stretched between them before Walker blurted, “I’ve got to go.”
Oh, really! That was rich. Now that he’d worked out the riddle for himself, he was scared to death! Walker Cody had never been roped in by a woman. So far none of the Cody men had been permanently trapped in a female’s clutches. Now that she’d pulled a fast one on him, it appeared he didn’t like the feeling.
“That’s no surprise,” she blurted. “You do that on a regular basis, but I’m used to it. Thank you for caring so much about Clay.” She fought to calm down. “He loves his gift. I love mine. Come again when you’re in the mood. Next time plan to stay longer.”
His lips went white around the edges. “It’s not what you think, Paula.”
“What do you think I’m thinking?”
“That I haven’t told you everything about me.”
“I haven’t told you everything about me, either. We hardly know each other!”
“After last night, that’s not exactly true,” he said in a husky tone. She knew what he meant of course and couldn’t deny it. “Now that I’m out of the military, I’m not the best bet for any woman.”
Her brows furrowed. What was he getting at? “For the sake of argument, why?”
“For one thing, I’m probably sterile after being exposed to a chemical agent.”
She moaned inwardly for his pain. That kind of news had to be as hard on a man as a woman. He’d been so great with Clay, she’d thought more than once what a wonderful father he’d make one day.
“For your sake I’m sorry to hear that, but the right woman will love you, warts and all. Was there anything else you think I’m thinking?”
He rubbed the side of his jaw with his palm as if her comment had frustrated him. “Just so we understand each other, now that I can see Clay is doing better,
I’ve got to get some practice in today. Tonight Boyd and I will be heading out to Moab in the trailer with the horses.”
Though he had a legitimate reason for leaving, she knew it wasn’t the whole truth. He still hadn’t come completely clean with her. But as he’d admitted to Clay, Walker needed gentling first, so she would have to be patient until he was ready to tell her about any other hidden demons.
She had one of her own. Just the thought of the rodeo caused the pit in her stomach to get bigger. “Since I’ve seen your scars, I can’t help but wonder if you’re physically up to the weekly strain of competition this soon after being released from the hospital.”
His dark head reared. “Sure I am. Each day that I ride and practice, my body gets stronger.”
There was no sure about it, but she was talking to a Cody. If they could still breathe, the rodeo went on. That’s what she’d heard J.W. say on one occasion. Elly was a case in point. Walker couldn’t have had a tougher mentor than the man who’d forced him to ride a horse when he was Clay’s age. Somehow he’d braved it through because Walker was an extraordinary male.
She rubbed her arms nervously. “I’m glad you’re feeling so fit.”
“Me, too. The doctor told me consistent exercise is the key to getting back.”
“That may be true, but there’s exercise, and then there’s the possibility of getting gored or dragged to a pulp.” She couldn’t seem to let it go. After the horror of his IED injury, she couldn’t bear the thought of him ending up in the hospital again. Troy didn’t even make it that far….
His black brows lifted. “Then it means I’ll have to make certain that doesn’t happen.” Oh, Walker. “To each his own poison, I guess.”
Walker let go with a devil-may-care laugh. He seemed to be going through a new phase she didn’t understand. She took Clay from his arms. “Excuse me for a minute while I put him down for his nap.”
Paula moved past him and headed for the nursery. He followed. “If Clay weren’t sick, I’d invite both of you to drive to Utah with us and watch the rodeo. Given a chance, you might discover you like it.”
“That’s what Kip always tells me.”
“Your brother makes sense.”
Keep things light, Paula. “I’ll make a deal with you. If you start competing here in Cody, I’ll come and watch one.”
“Now that it’s June, the rodeo is on every night. Starting next Monday I’ll be competing most nights here just for the practice. A week from Saturday there’ll be some big names coming in for substantial prize money.”
Meaning it would be a big deal. A shiver ran down her spine. “Then I’ll come on Saturday.”
“Good.”
Walker stood in the doorway while she gave Clay his medicine. Then she lowered him to the crib and handed him the bottle of Pedialyte he hadn’t finished earlier. His hand still held the pony. “Go to sleep, sweetheart. I’ll see you later.”
When she reached the hallway, Walker blocked her progress and ended up trapping her against the wall with both hands on either side of her blond head. “Since I won’t be seeing you until I’m back from Canyonlands, I just want…”
His mouth fell on hers and proceeded to devour her until the ache for him became overpowering. “Walker,” she moaned his name. She knew she shouldn’t be doing this, but she needed desperately to get closer to him. In a convulsive move, her arms slid around his neck
“You feel so good,” he whispered on a ragged breath while he molded her to his hard, lean body. At the moment when her limbs seemed to dissolve, he tore his lips from hers and put her gently but firmly away from him.
Like lightning he moved to the living room, then paused and turned around. His green eyes looked faintly glazed. “I almost forgot. Tom Whittaker told me to give you this.”
She watched him pull a blue-and-white plastic toy out of his jeans. He reached for her hand and pressed it into the palm. “When you bought my jade charm, you made a real hit with him. This is a whistle for Clay, but if he gets worse or you need help, I expect you to use it. The second I hear it, I’ll come.”
He cupped her face in his hands and gave her one more hungry kiss before disappearing out the front door.
When she’d recovered enough to move, she looked out the window, but he was already gone. Slowly she staggered to the kitchen to clean up. The sight of the brilliant paintbrush brought a bittersweet pain to her heart. She clung to the edge of the counter as a sob rose in her throat.
Paula squeezed the whistle tighter. If only it were a magic whistle she could blow and he’d turn back from certain danger.
Maybe her reaction was over-the-top, but steer wrestling was perilous. By returning to the rodeo circuit, Walker willingly embraced it. Every time his horse exploded from the box, he took his life in his hands. That’s what the Cody family did, night after night, round after round.
Work! Paula had a ton to do. Housework. Landscaping designs. Her art project. If she immersed herself, she might make it through until the next time she saw Walker again. If she saw him again.
ON HIS WAY TO THE CABIN to get packed for his trip, Walker parked in front of the ranch office and went inside carrying a folder he’d brought in the truck with him. The receptionist lifted her head. “Walker? It’s good to see you, you handsome devil!”
“Hi, Doris. It’s good to see you, too. You haven’t changed a bit. How do you stay so young?”
“You can tell a white lie better than anyone I know, but it’s still nice to hear. Were you looking for Jesse?”
“Not right now. Is my father in?”
“Yes, and there’s no one with him. Go on back.”
Walker walked down the hall and tapped on the door before going in. Once inside, the surprise on his father’s face revealed how little communication there’d been between them on a one-on-one basis since his teens. Though they’d been together at the past two rodeos and the house, this was the first time he’d stepped foot inside J.W.’s inner sanctum here at the ranch office.
His father started to get to his feet, but Walker told him to stay put. The less he had to put pressure on his bad leg, the better. “If you’re expecting someone, I’ll come back another time.”
His father emoted a strange combination of trepidation and pleasure. “Every day I’ve been hoping you’d walk in here. Sit down, son. You make me nervous standing there like you’re walking on hot coals.”
Maybe that was because their fiery exchanges always ended with no resolution, but he refrained from saying anything this time and sat in one of the deep leather chairs opposite the desk.
“The twins told me you were leaving for Canyonlands today.”
“Boyd and I will be heading out with the horses tonight.”
His dad gave him a rare smile. “Do you have any idea how proud I am of you for getting back to bulldogging? Your speed is clocking faster with every competition. I must confess I didn’t think the talk we had at the barbecue a few weeks ago did any good.”
It was just like his father to take credit for something he had nothing to do with, but instead of reacting as he’d done in the past by walking out on him, Walker took a deep breath and tried to view his father dispassionately. He had to admit it was the hardest thing he’d ever had to do, to sit there and take it. Still, his conscience, unearthed by Dr. Bader, had reminded him that no man was perfect.
“Have you given more thought to running the Corriente bulls operation? No one has a better eye for them than you. Dex said a couple of draggers had slipped in with the last bunch. If you were in charge, that wouldn’t happen.”
Walker stretched and crossed his boot-clad feet at the ankles. “I appreciate your confidence in me, Dad, but that’s not why I came in. There’s something else I want to talk to you about. It’s not along any of the lines you’ve been thinking.”
The comment caused his father to press his fingertips together. He always did that when he was trying to hold his tongue. “Go on.”
“The idea came
to me while I was in college, but for obvious reasons I haven’t been able to do anything about it until now.” The real reason was seated in front of him, of course, but Walker needed to put the enmity of the past behind him or his life would be a desert.
“If you’re thinking of opening up one of the old mines, I had this conversation with you boys years ago. You know my feelings on it. Too risky, too expensive, too much trouble. We don’t need that headache.”
No, because when J.W. didn’t like an idea, he refused to discuss it and that was it. Walker sat forward. “I’ve brought something with me I want you to read. It won’t take too long.” He handed him a copy of the senior paper he’d turned in to his college professor over six years ago.
His father eyed him shrewdly before settling back in his leather chair to peruse it.
Five minutes turned into fifteen before he lifted his head. It was a miracle in itself that he’d stayed with it that long. Walker heard him clear his throat, but no words came out.
He decided to take the proverbial bull by the horns.
“Because of the alarming findings about the existing natural-gas field, if you’re willing, I’d like your permission to drill for natural gas on another part of the property.”
The quiet was all consuming while his father took in what Walker had just proposed. Besides the rodeo, J.W. had always been so focused on the running of the ranch, the horses, the cattle… The idea of exploring for more gas came as the second astonishing surprise of the day for his parent, Walker’s presence in his office being the first.
J.W. sat forward. “You honestly think there might be another field?”
Incredible. It seemed Walker had managed to grab his attention. “Why not? The wells in activity are located on the rangeland, away from the mountains because of the uplift. We’ve got rangeland to spare. Why wouldn’t there be more?”
His father let out a laughing cry. “By damn, why not!”
Encouraged, Walker said, “Here’s what I can see happening. If we strike a new field like the one found years ago, then I’d like to start up the J. W. Cody Natural Gas Company.”
Walker: The Rodeo Legend Page 14
