by Julie Benson
“I know, but it’s past time. Plus, I need my privacy as much as you do. Bill Connors asked me out, and I think dating sounds like fun. I might even have a love life again, and I wouldn’t want a man to run into you or Aubrey on his way out in the morning.”
He pinched the bridge of his nose and only sheer force of will kept him from blushing. “Geez, Mom. I don’t want to know about that. The sex talk you gave me when I was thirteen was bad enough.”
“It’s time the entire ranch, including the house became yours.” She placed her hand on his arm. “Ty, I’m serious about you needing more in your life. You were working too hard, before Chloe and Jack died, and now you’ve got more on your plate. I’m glad Cassie’s been helping you. I think that’ll be good for you.”
At least one of them was glad about the situation. Too bad it wasn’t him. Ignoring that part of his mother’s comments, he said, “That’s funny. You saying I work too hard is like the goat calling the mule stubborn.”
While he loved ranching, making a living was getting tougher. Letting the tourists play cowboy and giving horseback riding tours helped, but those sidelines didn’t always make ends meet when droughts sent hay and feed prices sky high. Now he’d added Cassie a salary to his and Chloe’s, or rather Ella’s, business expenses. Pair Lauren’s being behind on her loan and a guy could get a hernia carrying that much weight around.
“Did I tell you Cassie turned down the job at first? She said she didn’t need a ‘pity’ job.”
“I’m not saying you did anything wrong,” his mother said as she retrieved carrots from the fridge. “It could be she misunderstood you, but could it be you were a little blunt with her? I love you dearly, but you get a little can be a too plain speaking when it comes to business.”
“Thanks for the benefit of the doubt.” Though he wasn’t sure he deserved it when his mom was right and he’d pretty much done what Cassie accused him of, offering her a job because he felt sorry for her.
“What I’m trying to say is, I understand how Cassie feels. It’s not easy for a woman to earn enough to support a child on her own. That was my biggest worry after Jeffrey died—that I couldn’t keep a roof over my kids’ head.” His mother added the potatoes to the stew pot and handed him carrots to peel. “That was a hard pill to swallow. Women have pride, too.”
At thirteen when his stepfather died, Ty had thought he was so wise, that he’d been aware of everything his mother was going through. She’d done a good job hiding her fears. The fact made him love her all the more. “Why didn’t you tell me? I could’ve helped.”
“You were a teenager and all ready taking on too much responsibility. You were so determined to help, to make things easier for me.” Her hand brushed his cheek. “But I wanted you to have a childhood. My job was to make you feel secure. Sharing how scared I was, how I felt like a failure because we had to move in with my parents wouldn’t have done that.”
He stared at his mother, unable to believe what she’d said. His mom, the strongest woman he’d ever known, had felt like a failure? And he’d never suspected.
“What Cassie’s going through now is a lot like what I went through. In some ways she’s probably having a tougher time. I was used to being a parent. I can’t imagine how hard instant parenthood is, and had family to rely on and confide in.”
And Cassie didn’t.
His brain knew Cassie didn’t have a lot of support, but something about his mom comparing her situation and Cassie’s hammered the point home. How well would he be doing if he was in Cassie’s position? Out of the blue finding himself responsible for a child and the inn while trying to keep the career she loved going?
“With the salary, Cassie shouldn’t have to worry too much about expenses.” At least he’d done something right there.
Now as long as he floated the shortage, and the tourist business stayed solvent, they’d both be okay.
His mother pinned him with an all knowing mom stare, and he resisted the urge to squirm. “How much are you kicking in out of your pocket for her salary?”
The woman possessed an uncanny ability to sniff out a lie. Other people he could snow, but not his mom, but that didn’t stop him from trying. Keeping his voice level and devoid of emotion, he said, “I wouldn’t have offered her the job if the business couldn’t afford it.”
“I don’t believe that for one minute.” She rubbed his arm. “I can push back my retirement if that helps.”
“No. You won’t, because there’s no need. Quit worrying. I have everything under control.” Those words almost stuck in his throat. Control? He hadn’t been in control since Cassie arrived in town, but hopefully his mom wouldn’t notice.
But it wasn’t only the money issue with Cassie causing problems for him. What had his mother said earlier? I was used to being a parent. Cassie admitted she struggled with her new role. That wasn’t as easy to deal with.
“What’s really bothering you?” When he opened his mouth to deny it, his mom put her hands on her hips. “Tyler James Barnett, don’t you dare tell me nothing’s eating at you when I know good and well something is.”
He cringed at the use of his full name, and once again cursed her mom radar. No bullshitting his way out of this now. “Do you think anyone can raise a child?”
“I think it depends on the person, but I don’t think it comes natural to everyone. Is there something in particular you’re concerned about? Is it Cassie?”
“She seems like one of those women who should start with goldfish and work up to children.” He explained how Cassie lost track of Ella that night at The Horseshoe.
“Don’t you remember the one year at your school’s open house when I lost Aubrey?” Ty shook his head, and his mom continued. “You were in third grade. We were looking at your work when I turned around and Aubrey was gone. I’ve never been so scared in my life. I raced into the hall, but there were people everywhere. I didn’t know where to start looking. Then Mrs. Ferronti called my name. She’d found Aubrey and was bringing her back to your classroom.”
“What’re you trying to say?”
“The best parents make mistakes, and so will Cassie. She’s got a good heart and wants what’s best for Ella. Give her time. Not everyone got pre-parenting experience helping raise a younger sister. You know—” The harsh blare of a siren interrupted his mother. “That doesn’t sound good.”
As they peered out the window a fire truck came into view. “Oh, dear. It looks like they’re heading for the Bluebonnet Inn. Oh, Lord, no. I hope not. I don’t know how much more those two can take.”
“I don’t see any flames,” Ty said, but that didn’t mean the situation wasn’t serious. People fell in bathrooms and kitchens all the time. Or cut themselves with knives. Tripped and tumbled down the stairs. He couldn’t bring himself to think about what accidents could happen to a child.
“If it’s not a fire, what else could it be?”
With Cassie, who knew? “Let’s hope it’s not serious.” His hands shook as he dug his keys out of his pocket and headed for the back door.
“I’m coming with you.” His mother wiped her hands on the dish towel and tossed the cloth onto the counter. “Whatever’s going on, I bet they could use another woman right now.”
Five minutes later when they pulled into the driveway he spotted Cassie standing twenty feet from the house, Ella in her arms, the small girl’s legs wrapped around her aunt’s waist. Seeing them alive with all limbs intact and noting the firefighters hadn’t unrolled hoses brought Ty’s blood pressure down from the stratosphere. Considering all that, the situation couldn’t be too bad.
As he approached his gaze raked over both Cassie and Ella searching for injuries. “You two okay?”
“We’re a little rattled, but fine.” When Cassie managed a small smile, the stranglehold on his chest loosened.
“Thank goodness you’re safe,” his mother said joining them. “When we heard the sirens, my heart just stopped. Whatever happened, dear?”
“We were making breakfast cupcakes as a test run for tomorrow. They looked a little gray and lumpy, but otherwise fine when I put them in the oven. I’m not sure what went wrong, but all of sudden there was smoke, and Ella yelled fire.”
Ty stared at Cassie. She started a fire. In the oven. Making something as simple as cupcakes. The woman was a walking disaster. He rubbed the back of his neck to keep the muscles there from tensing up further. She was going to drive him to drink. Maybe he should contact Shiner and buy his beer by the truckload instead of by the six pack.
Then the rest of what she said sank in. Ella yelled fire.
His gaze locked with Cassie’s, and she nodded, tears glistening in her eyes. Not wanting to make a big deal out of the child’s breakthrough, Ty focused on the fire’s fallout. He motioned for Captain Washburn to join them. “What happened and how bad is the damage?”
“The stuff in the oven cooked over and spilled onto the coils, starting the fire,” Wash said.
Ty turned to Cassie. “You said you didn’t cook much, but setting a fire?”
“You’re making a big deal out of nothing. It was more smoke than anything. There were hardly any flames.”
“There shouldn’t have been any flames.”
When four sets of eyes focused on him, he realized he’d said the comment out loud. Damn. He’d meant to keep that to himself.
“For the record, the only reason I called the fire department was because, like I told Ella,” Cassie said emphasizing her niece’s name, “I was being uber cautious. We weren’t in any real danger.”
Well, hell. Her reprimand slapped him upside the head leaving his ears ringing. How had he forgotten about Ella? When the child buried her head between her arm and her aunt’s neck, he felt like a giant cow pie for adding to her fears.
“She’s right, Ty. There wasn’t any real danger,” Wash said. “By the time we arrived the fire had burned itself out. Oven fires are pretty harmless as long as people don’t open the oven door, which Cassie didn’t. She did exactly what we want people to do. She got everyone out and called us.”
“So there,” Cassie taunted, and she then she stuck out her tongue, which brought on a round of laughter from everyone, including Ella.
Stuck out her tongue? The woman had spunk and loved to jerk his chain. He couldn’t help, but laugh, too.
He thought about Lauren and what she would’ve done in this situation. She’d probably be in tears, begging him to take care of everything. But not Cassie. She’d taken him to task for his behavior, and damned if she wasn’t right. He deserved every word she’d lobbed at his head. Now that was something he wasn’t used to—being wrong.
“I guess she told me, didn’t she Ella?” he said, to further ease the tension.
The child nodded, giggled, and then held her tummy. “I’m hungry.”
He resisted the urge to let out an Aggie “whoop” at those words. Not only had Ella talked to Cassie, but she was willing to talk to him with his mom and the fire captain around. Major breakthrough. Forcing himself to remain calm, he turned to his mother and held out his truck keys. “How about you take Ella to the ranch and get her something to eat while Cassie and I finish up here?”
His mom nodded. “I think that’s a fine idea. Ella can have a snack and help me finish dinner, while you help Cassie. When you’re done, you two can join us at the house.”
He swallowed the yes ma’am perched on his tongue at his mother’s barely veiled reprimand and the I’m-disappointed-in-your-manners look flaring in her eyes.
After his mother and Ella were out of earshot, Ty asked Wash if there was any damage to the kitchen.
“The oven needs to be replaced, but that’s it.” When another firefighter called out they were ready to leave, both Ty and Cassie thanked Wash. As the captain joined his crew on the truck, Ty’s thought about replacing the oven. Should the cost come out of Ella’s funds since it had to do with the inn? That didn’t sound right considering Cassie had ruined it, but she didn’t have the funds. What about insurance? Would it cover replacement? He turned to Cassie to discuss the situation, and paused. She stood beside him, hands on her hips, her cheeks a rosy pink, irritation flaring in her emerald eyes. Ty didn’t need to be a rocket scientist to know she was about to blast him with both barrels.
“Before we deal with the stove, I want to apologize. I was an ass earlier. I never should’ve said anything about the fire in front of Ella.”
She stared at him, her eyes wide with shock, and if she didn’t close her mouth, she’d start catching flies. He winced. Did she really think he was an ogre? That he wasn’t a big enough man to admit he was wrong?
Why wouldn’t she? He’d been patient and compassionate with Ella, but how much of those emotions had he shown Cassie?
“Thank you for that.” She glanced at her watch. “Is any place where I can buy a new oven still open tonight?”
The woman could make a man fall down dizzy from her mood swings. “Crandall’s is open until seven on Thursdays.”
“Great. What’re the chances I can get an oven delivered tomorrow? The Johnson’s are checking in after three, and if I don’t have a stove, I can’t make breakfast Saturday morning.”
“Hold on there. Even if they can deliver the oven tomorrow there’s no way I’m letting you near it until I’ve given you cooking lessons.”
She stared at him as if he’d said he’d fly her to Mars for lunch with some little green men. “You’ll give me cooking lessons? You can cook?”
“I sure can.”
Chapter Ten
‡
Later that night, after dinner, Cassie stood in the Bar 7 kitchen. The stainless steel appliances and granite countertops when paired with warm cherry cabinets, a rough hewn western table, and family photos scattered around gave the room a homey feel. Her gaze zeroed in on one of a teenage Ty leading a young Aubrey around on a horse. Cassie smiled. Even then Ty exhibited strength in his gangly frame and displayed pride in the tilt of his chin.
She still couldn’t believe he could cook.
She peeked at him out of the corner of her eye. The man looked as at ease in the kitchen as he did in the barn. Any other woman would be overjoyed to find such a rarity, but for her it was one more way he showed her up.
What had happened to her since she’d come to Wishing? In New York she’d been a confident, up and coming artist. A woman who provided for herself, knew where she was going, and had a plan to get there. Now she felt like she’d fall on her ass if she tried to walk and chew gum at the same time.
“This is some kitchen.”
“Mom remodeled it with some of the money my grandparents left her.” Beside her Ty flipped through her sister’s recipe binder. The stubble on his strong jaw added to his ruggedness and she smiled at the way his brows knit together studying a particular page. What would it feel like if he focused on her with that intensity? He’d make a woman feel as if they were the only one in the world.
Oh, no. Her pulse rate shot up. Her palms grew damp and she wiped them on her skirt. When he suggested cooking lessons, she should’ve told him she’d take classes from someone else because this clearly wasn’t a good idea.
His long lean fingers, flipped the page, and no matter how hard she tried not to, the image of him peeling the clothes from her body filled her vision. She stared at the recipe noting he’d come to the blasted Cinnamon swirl sour cream, maple cream cheese, strawberry and bacon breakfast cupcakes. “That’s what I tried to make.”
After scanning the directions, Ty’s shook his head. “First of all, who gives something a name like that? If the guests ask you what you’d made for breakfast, it would take five minutes to answer.”
“I know. If I were a guy I’d use up an entire hour’s worth of words just saying the name.”
He chuckled, and the warm, husky sound rippled down her spine, sending tingles racing through her to the tips of her toes. This was so bad.
“We’re not making this.” He
shoved the binder aside. “It’s got too many steps and is too complicated. It would give Bobby Flay nightmares.”
“Who?”
“Iron Chef Bobby Flay. Food Network? Don’t tell me you’ve never seen Iron Chef America?”
“A cowboy who has an MBA, cooks, and watches cooking shows? What an enigma.”
“The cooking comes from my mom. She didn’t marry Aubrey’s father until I was almost six. Before that it was the two of us. On the weekends I’d sit on the floor playing with my Legos while she watched Iron Chef. When I helped her cook I’d pick ‘the secret ingredient’ and pretend I was whipping up a dish just like Bobby Flay did on the show.”
“What happened to your dad?”
When Ty tensed beside her, she regretted her question, realizing she’d hit a nerve. How did she keep doing this with him? “He left before I was a year old. Mom said one day he didn’t come home from work.”
“You never saw him again?”
Ty shook his head. While his dark gaze was unreadable, she noticed his right eye twitched.
Maybe she and Ty had more in common than she’d realized.
She knew how hard it was when her father died, but he’d been a part of her life. How did a child cope with a father who bailed on his family? With never knowing what happened to one of the people who should love him unconditionally? How could a parent be so self-centered?
Parents shaped their children in so many ways without even realizing. “My dad died two weeks before my sixteenth birthday, and before that, he was gone a lot.” He’d been busy making a difference in the world. In many ways he’d been as selfish as Ty’s father. The realization bolted through Cassie. “It was hard when he died, but at least we knew what happened to him. I can’t imagine never knowing what became of him. Did you ever try to find him?”
“Nope. I figured if he walked out on me and Mom then to hell with him.”
Betrayal threaded through Ty’s voice mixed with a strong dose of anger. The lines around his eyes and the tight set of his jaw emphasized his pain. People said time healed all wounds, but the scars never disappeared. Some people just hid them better. Like Ty.
