Wild Mustang Man

by Carol Grace

  “Did you hear that, Martha?” his mother said proudly. “She knew he was the one.”

  “But did he know he was the one?” his sister Martha asked. “I can’t believe he said he’d do it. It’s not like Josh to want to be in the spotlight.”

  Bridget frowned, thinking back to the day at the wild horse roundup, when Josh had stormed over to where she was talking to that wrangler, grabbed her by the arm and told her he’d do it.

  “It may be the money,” she said. But she didn’t really believe it was. From what she knew of him, he wasn’t motivated by money. “Being a spokesman for a product can be lucrative.”

  “Spokesman?” Lauren said. “Is he going to speak?

  Bridget smiled. “No. Oh, no. He just has to ride a wild mustang.”

  “Then why is he so upset about it?” Lauren asked.

  Bridget’s face fell. Why was he so upset about it? Was he still embarrassed to be connected to a men’s cologne? Or was he embarrassed to be connected to her in any way?

  “You know Josh,” Martha said. “All he ever wanted was to live a simple life. Home and hearth and all that. Now he’s being dragged into the spotlight.”

  “Not really,” Bridget said. “The way I picture it, the logo has the outline of a man on a horse outlined against the western sky.” She’d never forget her first glimpse of him on that hill and how her heart pounded knowing she’d found him. On her first try. “No one will see his face. No one will know who he is.”

  “But we’ll know,” his sister said. “Everyone in Harmony will know.”

  “I guess so,” Bridget said. “I hope he doesn’t think I told everyone.”

  “Of course not. You don’t know anyone to tell. What do you think of Harmony, anyway?” Lauren asked. “I could hardly wait to leave. Isn’t it the most boring place in the world?”

  “Actually people are really friendly here. That’s what impresses me. The waitress in the diner knows my name, and two women stopped and introduced themselves to me and invited me to a party next week. And the air is so clear, you can see for miles.”

  Lauren smiled at her mother. “Looks like we’ve got a convert here. She sounds like the chamber of commerce, if there was one. Do you ride, hunt or fish?”

  “No, but Max is teaching me to shoot a slingshot,” Bridget said.

  “He would. Josh ought to teach you to ride while you’re here,” his sister suggested.

  “Those mustangs look pretty wild to me.” Wouldn’t Josh just love to give her horseback riding lessons? She could just picture the look on his face as he stopped his work to teach her to ride.

  “He has other horses,” his sister said. ‘‘Gentle horses.”

  “Besides, he seems pretty busy,” Bridget said.

  “That’s an act,” Martha confided to her. “It gives him an excuse not to do anything but work. He buries himself so can’t socialize. Ever since Molly died. Tells himself he doesn’t have time. But he does.”

  “Tell us about yourself,” Lauren said. “Are you married? Do you have a family?”

  “I’m not married. I was engaged last year, but I’m not anymore. I’ve been told I spend too much time working. Just like Josh. But I have a new business. So I need to devote myself to it if I want to succeed.”

  “And you do want to succeed.”

  “Oh, yes.” How to explain the burning desire to show people she could make a go of it. To show one person in particular—the man who dumped her and got her fired and told her she couldn’t do it. Couldn’t do anything.

  “But I envy you your big family,” Bridget said wistfully, looking around the kitchen. “I’m an only child. My mother died a few years ago and my father retired to Southern California. He’s in great shape, though, still runs every day. Makes me look like a wimp.”

  “You don’t look like a wimp to me,” Josh’s mother said with a warm smile. “In fact, Max told me you actually held his pet rat. That’s not something a wimp would do.”

  “He’s a very persuasive little boy,” she said. “I’m afraid he’ll have me doing wheelies down the driveway before I know it—even though I don’t know how to ride a bike.”

  “He needs a mother,” Martha said softly.

  “Don’t let Josh hear you say that,” her sister said. “He’s not going to replace Molly.”

  “I didn’t say he should replace Molly. Nobody can replace her. Nobody could even try. But he’s only what, thirty-two? He’s got a lot of good years left. What’s he going to do with them?” Martha asked. “Besides train horses.”

  “Who’s he supposed to marry?” Lauren asked, while Bridget sliced cucumbers and waited breathlessly for the answer. Who was he supposed to marry?

  Martha shook her head. “There’s nobody left in Harmony. They all got married out of high school or left town like we did. We’d have to import somebody.”

  “Now, girls,” their mother said. “Josh is capable of finding someone on his own. When the time is right.”

  There was a long silence. Bridget sliced faster, hoping they weren’t looking at her. Wondering if she— No, she’d made it clear she was married to her job. A job she loved. A job she was excited about. And he’d made it clear she was the last person he’d ever marry.

  “Bridget,” his mother said. “Would you mind taking the steaks out to my husband at the barbecue? It’s time we got started.”

  Bridget was relieved to get outside, to let the air cool her heated cheeks as she rounded the back of the house with the platter in her hands. The conversation was getting a little too sticky for her. They talked to her and in front of her as if she was a part of the family. As if she cared as much as they did about Josh and Max and the imaginary woman who was missing from their lives.

  When in fact as much as she liked both Josh and his son, she was just a temporary diversion. For both of them. She followed the smell of charcoal to the huge homemade barbecue stand. Behind the billowing smoke Josh and an older man, who looked very much like him, stood fanning the flames.

  “Here we are,” the older man said, reaching for the platter of meat.

  Josh dropped his tongs and looked at her as if he wondered what she was doing there. He must have forgotten she’d been invited. He didn’t speak until his father jabbed him in the ribs.

  “Bridget, meet my dad. Dad, this is the lady from the ad agency.”

  “Oh,” his father said. “So this is her. You didn’t tell me she was so pretty.”

  “No, but I’m sure Max did. Max is very fond of Bridget,” Josh said. The emphasis was on the word Max. Bridget knew he didn’t want anyone to think he was the least bit fond of Bridget. He considered her a necessary evil, a nuisance and a temptation who made him feel guilty.

  “I can understand why. How do you like our little town so far?” his father asked.

  “Very much. Everyone is so friendly.” Everyone but your son, she thought

  “Bought yourself a wild mustang yet?” he asked.

  “Not yet. I’m afraid I’d have no place to keep it in my apartment in San Francisco.”

  “Real problem getting them into the elevator,” he said. “San Francisco? Wonderful town. The wife is taking me there this week for my birthday present. Supposed to be a surprise, but I found out about it. We’re leaving in the morning.”

  “I didn’t know that” Josh said. “I’ll feed your horses for you.”

  His father nodded, then cupped his ear toward the house. “Your mother’s calling me,” he said, lifting his apron off over his head and handing it to Bridget. “Do you mind taking over for me?”

  Before she could protest that she didn’t know how to barbecue steaks, and she didn’t want to be stuck alone with Josh, he was gone, jogging toward the house.

  She took his father’s place, wearing his apron and standing next to Josh. She tapped the long, two-pronged fork against the grill, not wanting to broach the subject of the film crew, not yet. Finally they both spoke at once.

  “Your family is very nice
.”

  “I understand you like rats.”

  They turned to face each other. If she didn’t know better she would have sworn he almost smiled. At her.

  “I’m terrified of rats,” she confessed.

  “That’s not what I heard.”

  “I guess I put up a pretty good front. I didn’t want to hurt his feelings.”

  “Whose? The rat’s?” Josh asked.

  “I understand they can tell if you don’t like them,” Bridget said.

  “Like kids and horses,” he said.

  “Both good judges of character,” she said

  “So they say.” He threw a steak on the grill. Then another. “Having a good time?” he asked, with a sideways glance in her direction.

  “I was.”

  “You can go back to the kitchen if you want. I can handle this by myself.”

  “It’s nice to be outside,” she said lightly.

  “Then why don’t you make yourself useful?”

  She speared a piece of meat and tossed it on her side of the grill. “Like that?”

  He didn’t answer. But she knew he was watching her out of the corner of his eye. “Do you like parties?” he asked.

  “Not usually. I’m shy and...”

  “You’re shy? You came barging into my house and bled all over my bathroom. I’d hate to see you if you weren’t shy. What would you have done, raided the refrigerator, rolled up the rugs and done a dance?”

  “I don’t dance.”

  “No? What was that you were doing on my lawn?” There was a note of amusement in his voice.

  “Me, on your lawn?”

  “Don’t deny it. I have the blade of grass to prove it. And the video.”

  “Oh, Lord.” Her face flamed. “I didn’t know you were going to watch it. That was for Max.”

  “Oh, yes, I watched it. Max insisted. I had no choice.” He chuckled. She tossed a quick glance in his direction. Yes, he was smiling. His mouth was turned up at the corners. Crinkly lines branched from the comers of his eyes The worry lines in his forehead were gone. He was even better looking than she’d first thought. And that was saying something. “It was more interesting than anything on our cable TV station,” he added.

  Now was the time, she thought To tell him when the crew was arriving. While he was in a good mood. But before she could speak, a line of guests began to form in front of the barbecue. Plates in hand, they were laughing and talking and teasing Josh.

  “Hey, Josh, what’s that I smell? Some kind of mustang cologne?” his brother-in-law asked, holding his nose.

  “You want a steak in your face, Ray?” Josh asked with a menacing growl. “See what I told you?” he said to Bridget under his breath. “I’m the laughing stock.” But he didn’t sound too upset.

  When Max came by, the boy grinned at Bridget but he didn’t take any meat. “I’m not hungry,” he told his dad.

  “He looks a little pale,” Bridget noted, watching him with a little frown.

  “Just excited,” Josh explained. “All his cousins are here today.”

  “Hmm,” she said, watching him follow two bigger boys to a picnic table under a tree, marching along, trying to keep up.

  After all the guests were served, Bridget took a steak, baked beans and potato salad and sat down at a long picnic table to eat In a few minutes Josh sat down across from her and introduced her to everyone at the table. If he’d wanted to avoid her, there were other tables, other places to sit. She sent him a grateful look across the table. He didn’t notice. He was shaking some steak sauce on his plate, acting as though introducing her to his friends and relatives was the most normal thing in the world to do. But the normal thing for him would have been to ignore her, pretend she wasn’t there.

  A leather-faced rancher turned to Bridget “So, what do you think of the wild mustangs?”

  Bridget took a deep breath. At least he hadn’t asked what she thought of Harmony.

  “They’re beautiful. They seem to be living symbols of the Old West. Just watching them makes me feel like I’m part of the pioneer spirit” Bridget said, borrowing a few key words from the Wild Free-Roaming Horse Act of 1971.

  “Well said.” The rancher smiled broadly. Then he turned to Josh. “How you coming with that buckskin you’ve been working with?”

  Josh hesitated a moment What could he say? That he’d been so distracted by the woman sitting across the table from him he hadn’t been able to concentrate on breaking his horse? “Coming along,” he said. “Slowly. I’ve had some distractions.” He stared at her, so she would have no doubt he meant her. When she met his gaze, her cheeks turned as red as wild poppies. She turned her attention to the food on her plate, but he kept his eyes on her. And suddenly he realized how much fun he was having at this party he’d been dreading. And part of it was due to Bridget. No, all of it was due to her.

  Her presence heightened his awareness of the warm sun, the smell of succulent meat cooking on the grill, the friendly laughter around the table. He was seeing everything through a stranger’s eyes. Her eyes. And appreciating everything he’d taken for granted. Because of her.

  After lunch his brother-in-law organized a game of horseshoes. He asked Bridget if she wanted to play. She agreed, but there were questions in her eyes. He knew what they were. What’s going on here? I thought you didn’t want me around. How come you’re being so nice?

  How come? Damned if he knew. He only knew he was intensely aware of her, of the curve of her cheek, the sunlight in her hair, the glow of her eyes, the way she blushed, the lilt of her voice, every expression that crossed her face, every word she spoke. He didn’t want her out of his sight for fear he’d miss something.

  He remembered the heated kisses they’d shared the other day, the warmth of her body and how she’d promised to keep her hands off him. He also remembered the guilt he’d felt afterward. But he didn’t feel it now. There was no reason to feel guilty. He was just being hospitable to a guest. Yeah, sure.

  “But I don’t know how to throw horseshoes,” she protested as they walked across the field.

  “Nothing to it.”

  “Is it anything like operating a slingshot?”

  “Same thing. Pull back, aim and let go. I’ll help you.”

  He found that to help her it was necessary to be on her team. To wrap his arms around her. It was essential that her silky hair brush his cheek, that she fit in his arms like she was meant to be there. Working together, with his hand holding on to hers, holding the horseshoe, they won a few points. They also won the attention of several other guests.

  “Foul play,” his sister yelled from the other end of the pit. “Two against one. I don’t have a chance.”

  Bridget tried to pull out of his arms, but he tightened his grasp around her. “She’s a sore loser,” he explained just loud enough for Martha to hear.

  When the game was over and his father took a seat in the middle of the crowd to open his presents, Josh’s sister sidled up to him where he was leaning against the cottonwood tree.

  “What’s going on?” she asked under her breath.

  “Going on?” he repeated innocently.

  She punched him in the arm. “Don’t play games with me. Do you think I’m blind? Do you think I’ve been married so long I don’t recognize out-and-out flirting when I see it?”

  “That’s all it is,” he said, suddenly serious. “I would never— You know I’d never get serious about anyone again.”

  “Why not? You’re free, you’re over twenty-one, and you’ve got a lot to offer the right woman.”

  “The right woman was Molly. And despite the fact that we had everything going for us—”

  “She died. But you didn’t die with her. You’re alive, Josh. And so is this woman you brought to the party. She’s delightful. She’s charming and if I’m not mistaken...”

  “But you are mistaken. You’re mistaken if you think I’d ever take a chance on love again. No matter how delightful and charming Bridget
is.”

  “So you admit it,” his sister said with a knowing smile.

  “She’s delightful and charming, and she’s a career woman from the city. Do you think for one minute—”

  “Yes, I do. I think if you gave her the time of day, she’d jump at the chance to give the country a try. I saw the way she looked around Mom’s kitchen. She even said she envied our family.”

  “She did?”

  “She did,” his sister said. “You take it all for granted. But to a city girl, it can look pretty idyllic. Can’t you see that?”

  He shook his head.

  “If you won’t think of yourself, think about Max, about how he needs a mother.”

  “You’re not the first person to tell me that. But I’m not going to marry someone so Max can have a mother. I’d only get married again if I fell in love. Which I’m not going to do,” he added firmly.

  “Oh, Josh,” Martha said, her eyes filling with tears. “I just want you to be happy. Ever since you were a little kid, even from the day they brought you home from the hospital, Lauren and I have watched you as you grew up, proud of what you did, envying you your skill at making friends, playing football, taming horses. It seemed like there was nothing you couldn’t do, nothing you couldn’t succeed at. I can’t stand to think of you growing old alone.”

  Touched at her concern, Josh gave her a brief hug. “I’m not going to be alone,” he teased. “I’m going to come and live with you and Ray.”