Cowboy Kisses

by Diane Michele Crawford

  “It really needs painting,” Sarah said. “Hank and Nora can’t afford to have it done, but Greg has a great idea.”

  Greg grinned shyly. “My uncle owns a hardware store. I thought I could talk to him about giving us a break on the price, and then we could have a painting party and do the work ourselves. We could make that our anniversary present to Hank and Nora—their twentieth anniversary’s coming up soon.”

  “That is a great idea, Greg!” Kenzie exclaimed. “I bet I can get some of my friends to help out, too. It’ll be fun.”

  Steve looked at her skeptically. “You sure you’ll still be around. Kenzie?” he asked.

  “You bet I will,” she said with a toss of her head. “And by then we’ll both be a whole lot fatter from all the pizza we’ve been eating!”

  Sarah and Greg both looked puzzled by the reference to pizza. Kenzie was about to explain when Mrs. Whitman came out of the house carrying the birthday cake, followed by Sarah’s little brothers with their arms full of presents. After Sarah blew out the candles and served the cake to her guests, she began to open her gifts. When she unwrapped the package from Kenzie, Sarah’s face lit up at the sight of the cut-glass perfume bottle. “Thanks, Kenzie!” she exclaimed, spraying a fine mist onto her wrist.

  Steve sniffed the air. “Another insect attracter. Pretty expensive, too, I bet.”

  Kenzie’s pleasure at Sarah’s reaction immediately faded. “For your information,” she whispered angrily, “it’s cologne, not perfume, which is all I could afford!”

  He shrugged, looking as if he didn’t believe her. “Come off it, Kenzie. Who are you trying to kid?” he asked softly so only she could hear.

  Seething with rage, Kenzie stood up.

  “How about another piece of cake, Kenzie?” Mr. Whitman offered.

  Forcing a smile, she said, “Sorry—I’ve got to go, but thanks anyway.”

  Totally ignoring Steve, Kenzie said her goodbyes to Sarah, Greg, and Sarah’s family, and hurried around the side of the house to the car.

  “Kenzie,” Steve called, running after her. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you leave the party.”

  “You didn’t,” Kenzie snapped. “I have to be home by eight thirty.”

  Steve folded his arms across his chest. “Your usual Saturday night curfew is eight thirty?” he asked skeptically.

  “My mother needs the car. It’s the only one we have,” she told him. Obviously, he didn’t believe that either. Sighing, Kenzie said. “Forget it, Steve. You don’t understand.” She reached for the door handle. “You don’t understand anything!”

  Steve put his hand over hers. “Then why don’t you explain?” he asked gently.

  Kenzie was silent. Except for Jeanette, she’d never talked to anyone about her family’s troubles. So why should she tell Steve anything?

  Shaking her head, she said. “It’s a long story. You wouldn’t be interested.”

  “Try me.”

  “I have to be home…”

  “…By eight thirty. I know.” Steve smiled. “I could come by your house for a while.” When she hesitated, he added, “Unless you have other plans. Like a date?”

  “No,” Kenzie answered quickly. “I don’t have a date.”

  Steve looked relieved. “I’m pretty sure Greg won’t mind hanging out at Sarah’s for a while longer. What about you? Do you mind my coming by?”

  “No,” she murmured.

  “Great!” He squeezed her hand before releasing it. “Give me your address. I’ll be there as soon as I tell Greg what’s up.”

  CHAPTER TEN

  Less than twenty minutes later, Kenzie answered the front door, holding a large bowl of hot buttered popcorn. Steve stepped inside and handed her a bouquet of white daisies.

  Kenzie raised an eyebrow. “From Mrs. Whitman’s yard?”

  “Yes, as a matter of fact,” Steve said with a grin, “but there are plenty more. She’ll never miss them. I thought I ought to bring a peace offering.” Taking the bowl from Kenzie, he added, “Why don’t you put them in water and let me sample this popcorn?”

  “Good idea,” Kenzie said, leading the way to the kitchen. “Thanks for the flowers, Steve. They’re really pretty, even if they are stolen goods.”

  While she found a vase for the daisies, Steve munched on the popcorn, glancing around the room. “Nice house,” he said. “Big, too. No wonder this neighborhood is called The Estates.”

  Kenzie decided to ignore his comment. “Let’s go outside,” she suggested. “It’s awfully stuffy in here. Dad says we mustn’t use the air- conditioning because it runs up the electric bill.”

  Steve followed her into the dining room and out through a pair of French doors onto the terrace. He sat next to Kenzie on the cushioned glider, putting the bowl of popcorn on a glass-topped table in front of it. “Where’s your family?” he asked.

  “After Mom picks Dad up at a meeting, they’re going to play bridge with friends,” Kenzie said, taking a handful of popcorn. “And Adam’s showing some guy his truck. He’s trying to sell it.” She took a deep breath. “He has to sell it because my parents can’t afford the payments on it. We can’t afford a lot of things anymore, including boarding Ali at Silver Hills.”

  Once she had started, the whole story of her family’s financial problems poured out. Steve listened in silence, and when Kenzie had finished, he reached out and took her hand.

  “You were right when you said I didn’t understand,” he mumbled. “How could I until you explained? Now that I know what a rough time you’ve been having, I feel like a real clod for acting the way I did. Can you forgive me?”

  Kenzie smiled a little shakily. “I could try, if you’ll promise to stop making cracks about me being a country club snob.”

  “I promise,” Steve said. Moving closer, he put an arm around her. “You know, Kenzie, I really admire the way you’re handling this whole situation. I hope you’re proud of yourself, because you deserve to be. You’re one girl in a million, Kenzie Sullivan.”

  He kissed her then, and Kenzie wished the kiss could go on forever. But the spell was broken by the sound of the French doors opening, and Kenzie and Steve quickly broke apart just as Adam stepped out onto the terrace.

  “I didn’t recognize the car in the driveway, Kenz,” he said, “so I figured it must belong to one of your friends.”

  Kenzie introduced the two boys, glaring at her brother as he plopped down into a nearby chair. “Don’t you have anything to do, Adam?” she asked pointedly.

  “Nope. What’s in that bowl? Popcorn? Good! I’m starved.” He leaned over and scooped out a handful.

  “Adam!” Kenzie said between clenched teeth.

  “Are you trying to get rid of me?” he asked innocently.

  “Forever, if possible,” she muttered.

  Laughing, Adam stood up. “Okay, okay. I can take a hint.” Before he went back into the house, he added, “But you never know when I might need a breath of fresh air.”

  “Good night, Adam,” Kenzie called loudly as he shut the door behind him.

  Steve grinned and leaned back in the glider, pulling Kenzie with him. Snuggled in the circle of his arm, she sighed happily. “I’m not sorry it happened again,” she said.

  “What happened again?”

  “You kissing me.” Kenzie looked up at him and smiled. “When you kissed me the first time, you said it would never happen again, and now it has.”

  Steve’s breath tickled her ear when he spoke. “I didn’t think you’d want me to. I was afraid I didn’t have a chance with a girl like you.”

  “I told you before—I’m just like everyone else,” Kenzie said.

  “No, you’re not.” Steve’s mouth moved close to hers. “You’re pretty amazing, Kenzie.”

  Their lips met in another long, sweet kiss. When they parted, Steve said huskily, “It gets better every time, doesn’t it?”

  Kenzie nodded, unable to speak.

  “I wish I could stay longer, b
ut I guess it’s time I picked up Greg.” Steve took her hand and they walked slowly into the house. “He’s going to think I forgot all about him. And you know what?”

  “What?”

  He grinned at her. “I almost did.”

  Then he kissed her again, and a moment later he was gone.

  The next day at the Lucky R was absolutely perfect as far as Kenzie was concerned. Apparently Sarah thought so, too. Like Kenzie, she seemed to be walking on air. Sarah and Greg worked together as much as possible, and so did Kenzie and Steve. And when Steve invited Sarah and Greg to join him and Kenzie for pizza week from Tuesday to celebrate Kenzie's second week at the ranch, they both eagerly accepted.

  On Monday evening at supper, Adam glumly announced to the family that he’d sold his truck and had located a beat-up old sedan that he could afford. Kenzie couldn’t help feeling sorry for him—she knew how much that truck meant to her brother. Replacing it with a rattletrap must be almost as upsetting to Adam as trading Ali in for a broken-down nag would be for her.

  The car wasn’t much to look at, but at least it ran.

  “Sorry about your truck,” Kenzie told him sympathetically on the way to the Lucky R the next morning.

  She expected him to let loose a torrent of complaints, but to her surprise, Adam just shrugged and said, “Hey, that’s the breaks. I keep telling myself it’s only until Dad gets the business back on track again. That’s what’s really important.”

  “You’re right,” Kenzie agreed. “I just hope it happens soon. I hate to see him and Mom so worried and frazzled all the time.”

  Adam nodded. “Me. too.” He pulled to a stop by the Lucky R gate. “Well, see you after work, Kenz. And don’t make me wait, okay? I’m cooking dinner tonight, and it’s going to take a while because I’m trying out a recipe from one of Mom’s cookbooks.”

  “No kidding!” Kenzie said, impressed. “Sorry I won’t be able to taste it—I have a pizza date.”

  Raising his eyebrows, Adam asked, “Oh yeah? Who with? That guy you introduced me to Saturday night?”

  Kenzie felt herself blushing. “Yes, as a matter of fact. And no cracks, okay?”

  Grinning, Adam said, “Not a one. But you’ll be sorry when you hear the rave reviews Mom and Dad give my gourmet meal!”

  Shortly before seven that evening, Kenzie was ready to collect on her bet with Steve. Deciding that casual dress would be best, she had put on a turquoise T-shirt, denim shorts, and sandals. She let her hair hang loose and added her favorite silver earrings for the finishing touch.

  When Kenzie walked into the kitchen, she found her parents and Adam there, all grinning from ear to ear.

  “Dad has some great news!” Adam said.

  “The government is finally convinced that I had nothing to do with my partner’s financial misdoings,” Mr. Sullivan told Kenzie, putting an arm around his wife. “The company will be paying fines and interest for quite a while, but we’ll manage. Best of all, Jeff Ellis’s company accepted our bid on one of their projects.”

  “That’s fantastic, Dad!” Kenzie hugged both her parents at once.

  “This could be the beginning of the road back for Sullivan Electronics,” her mother said happily.

  Smiling at Kenzie and Adam, Mr. Sullivan added, “We want you both to know how much we appreciate the way you’ve been helping out at home, and the sacrifices you’ve made. It hasn’t been easy for any of us, but it looks as if there’s light at the end of the tunnel.”

  “And it smells as if there’s something delicious in the oven,” Mrs. Sullivan said with a wink at Adam. “Besides getting along better, you’re both turning into top-notch chefs.”

  The sound of the bell sent Kenzie hurrying to the front door, feeling happier than she had since the Sullivans’ world had been turned upside down. When she opened the door, Steve stood there smiling at her. Kenzie thought as she gazed at him that he had never looked more handsome.

  “Do I pass inspection?” Steve teased, looking himself up and down. He brushed an imaginary speck off the sleeve of the white polo shirt he was wearing with his light blue cords.

  Laughing, Kenzie let him in. “You passed my inspection with flying colors,” she told him. “Now let’s see what the rest of the family has to say.”

  After introducing Steve to her parents, Kenzie whisked him out of the house, thankful that Adam hadn’t embarrassed her by referring to the kiss he’d witnessed the other night. They got into Steve’s pickup, and he popped a cassette into the tape deck before he pulled away from the curb.

  Sorting through the collection of tapes on the front seat, Kenzie asked, “You like rock, country, and classical music?”

  “Surprised?”

  “Kind of,” Kenzie admitted. “Which just goes to show how little I know about you. What other things do you like?”

  “Well, let’s see.” After a pause for thought, Steve said. “I like working outdoors, horses, anchovies in my pizza, and pretty blond girls named Kenzie.” He grinned at her. “Your turn.”

  Blushing at the compliment, Kenzie said, “I like my job at the Lucky R, pizza without anchovies, and”—she glanced at him shyly—“tall, good-looking cowboys named Steve.”

  “Looks like we have a few things in common,” Steve commented with a grin. “I promise I’ll order my anchovies on the side.”

  He turned the pickup into the parking lot of Pasquale’s Pizzeria, one of the most popular teen hangouts in town. They got out and headed for the entrance, hand in hand.

  “Hey, Kenzie!” a voice called.

  Kenzie saw Paul getting out of his shiny blue sports car. Letting go of Steve’s hand, she waved as Paul came over to them.

  “You missed a good time Saturday night,” he said, opening the pizza parlor door. “How was Si—”

  “Sarah’s birthday party was fun, too,” Kenzie cut in before he could use Sarah’s nickname. “Paul, I don’t know if you remember Steve Calvert. Steve works at the Lucky R—you met him the day we took Ali out there.”

  “Oh, right,” Paul said as the two boys shook hands. “I remember you now. I didn’t recognize you at first without the cowboy hat. How are I you, Steve?”

  “Fine, thanks.” Steve regarded Paul coolly, “I remember you, too.”

  Just then Paul’s name was announced over the loudspeaker. “Pizza to go,” he explained. “Nice meeting you again, Steve. See you, Kenzie.”

  Yes, she’d be seeing him tomorrow night, Kenzie reminded herself. She wished she’d never agreed to go to the movies with Paul. She wasn’t looking forward to telling him that she didn't want to date him anymore. Kenzie was genuinely fond of Paul and didn’t want to hurt his feelings, but it wouldn’t be fair not to tell him the truth. She only hoped they could remain friends. As for Steve, Kenzie knew that her feelings for him ran much deeper than friendship.

  After Steve placed their order and picked up a couple of sodas, he led the way to a booth. They sat across from each other, and he held up his glass, smiling at Kenzie. “Here’s to your first week on the job, Blondie.”

  She touched her glass to his. “Here’s to a lot more pizzas, cowboy.”

  “And a lot more ranch-hand days,” Steve pointed out.

  “That’s fine with me,” Kenzie said promptly. “I’d do double duty if it meant keeping Ali and helping the people from the center. I really love working with them. I think maybe I’d like to be a physical therapist someday.”

  “I bet you’d be good at it, Kenzie. Hank said you can take Dennis’s place instructing next month on his days off,” Steve told her.

  Kenzie’s eyes sparkled. “Really?”

  Steve grinned. “Really.”

  The waitress placed their pizza on the table, along with a small side dish of anchovies. Kenzie made a face when Steve decorated his half of the pizza with the salty morsels.

  “Did Greg tell you about the deal his uncle’s giving us on the paint for Hank’s barn?” Steve asked after they had each finished their first slice.
Kenzie shook her head. “Besides giving us a terrific price, he’s letting us pay for it on the installment plan.”

  “That’s great,” Kenzie said. “Sarah told me she and Greg are going to phone some of the boarders to find out if they’d like to join our painting party. When is it going to be, anyway?”

  “I think it’ll have to be this Saturday, July Fourth, because we’ll all have the day off.” Steve grinned. “I can’t wait to see Hank and Nora’s faces when we show up armed with paintbrushes on a holiday.”

  Kenzie stopped chewing. The Silver Hills Country Club held a big party on the Fourth of July, and she had told Jeanette she’d go as her guest.

  Noticing the expression on Kenzie’s face, Steve asked, “Something wrong?”

  “Not exactly,” Kenzie said. “It’s just that I was going to ask my friends to help with the painting, but now I’m not sure they’ll be able to make it.”

  Steve looked at her sharply. “Big doings at the club?” he asked, frowning.

  Kenzie shrugged, trying to make light of it. “Just the usual barbecue and fireworks.”

  “Are you going?”

  Kenzie looked at Steve levelly. “I’m part of the Lucky R crew, Steve,” she said. “I’ll be there with a paintbrush just like the rest of you. My friends will have to get along without me. I’m sure they’ll understand.”

  Handing her the last anchovy-less slice of pizza, Steve smiled at Kenzie. “I’m glad I won’t have to get along without you,” he said softly. Then he glanced at his watch. “It’s still pretty early. Unless you have another eight thirty curfew, want to do something else, go somewhere when we’re done here?”

  Kenzie laughed. “No early curfew tonight. But how about coming to my house for a while? Adam has some computer games I think you’d like, and if I ask him very nicely, he just might let us play them.”

  Steve agreed that sounded like fun, and when they had finished their meal, they drove to Kenzie’s house. She was about to get out of the pickup when Steve took her hand. Pulling her close, he murmured, “I’m not taking any chances on your brother sabotaging our goodnight kiss when I leave.”