The Convenient Cowboy

by Ann B. Harrison

  “Get me the sheriff.” Ryan tapped his boot on the floor as the receptionist made the call.

  Sheriff Watson walked out and shook Ryan’s hand, noticed Joy in the waiting room and nodded to her. “Be with you in a minute, ma’am.”

  “I want to know why you have my sons locked up when that Hansen fellow was the one who started brawling.”

  The sheriff shook his head. “Now, I don’t know that for sure. Your sons have been mighty vocal laying the blame, but as far as I can see, two to one doesn’t seem good odds, even for a man who can hold himself like Nate.”

  “Let them out. Got work for them to do.”

  “Nope, not gonna happen until I can figure out what the cause was behind this fight and make a decision of who, if anyone, gets charged. Those boys of yours are staying exactly where they are until I say different.” He smiled at Ryan. “Now, if that’s all, I have someone else to see. Good day to you, Mr. Mitchell.”

  Nobody flicked off her father-in-law like that. Joy grinned then quickly cleared the smile from her face. The sheriff beckoned her into his office. She clutched Toby to her chest as she followed, her head held high as her father-in-law’s eyes burned into her back and he muttered curses loud enough for her to hear.

  “Don’t mind him. He’s got a temper on him, but it’s all bluff.” Rory Watson had never been anything other than kind to Joy.

  “No, it’s not. He’s a mean, nasty man who’ll do anything to get what he wants.” She bit her lip. Had she gone too far? She took the seat he indicated and kept her arms around Toby.

  Rory leaned forward and stared in her eyes, a smile softening his features. “Perhaps you can tell me what you mean by that. If that man is harassing you or causing you any problems, now might be the time to let me know about it.”

  Toby twisted around in her arms and watched the sheriff warily. He stuck his finger out. “Damn chick’ns bite.”

  Rory laughed. “Is that right? Tell me about it, young man.”

  Joy relayed how Nate was now Toby’s new best friend for saving him from the cranky chickens.

  “I’m glad to hear they get on well. Those boys had a rough time of it when they lost their mom. I’m glad Nate is doing good.”

  “Me, too, and he’s a nice guy. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have married him.” Heat flamed on her cheeks. It was too late now to feel embarrassed about her choice of matrimonial selection or the process she’d gone through.

  “Look, I’m the last one to accuse you of doing something unconventional, as you know. Gina came to me with a toddler because she was desperate for a future that didn’t include living in the back of her car. And I wasn’t in the right frame of mind to do the whole dating scenario again after my first wife passed away. I wanted a wife without all the fuss that goes with finding the right one.” He grinned and Joy relaxed. “Worked out for us. No reason why it won’t work for you.”

  “I sure hope so, but days like this I doubt the wisdom of it all. This wasn’t part of my plan.”

  “Don’t go defeatist on me now. You were in need of help and someone to lean on. I, of all people, get that, Joy. So whatever reason you had for marrying Nate won’t ruffle my feathers in the slightest. If it has anything to do with what happened today, you should tell me, don’t you think? ’Cause he isn’t talking, and that’s not going to fix anything.”

  “My father-in-law has been stealing my ranch hands. Ever since Bradley died, he’s been at me to hand over the ranch and let him take over.” It still hurt on an emotional level that she was treated like an interloper. “The last time he came over to the ranch and threatened me, Nate kicked him out. Said that he’d call you if Ryan came back, but he didn’t seem to care.”

  “And that’s what he should do, call me. But that doesn’t explain what happened today.”

  “Ryan’s come up with a new will.”

  Rory frowned. “Have you had it checked out? Made sure he isn’t bluffing?”

  “Nate and I spoke to Sadie, and she wants us to fight it.” Toby climbed down from her lap, restless at being held onto.

  Rory leaned back and folded his arms. “Damn right you should. I smell something funny here and I don’t like it.”

  She tucked a curl behind her ear and watched Toby inch his way to the desk, his little fingers twitching to touch something. “He has a reputation as a bully. All I need to do is find someone who can say he pushed his mother-in-law to change her will when she didn’t want to and we can use that in court. Otherwise, I don’t think we have any hope of keeping our home. Nate will have married me for nothing.”

  Toby walked around the side of the desk and reached for the sheriff’s hat, but Joy stopped him. “Don’t touch, baby.”

  “It’s only a hat, Joy. Can’t come to any harm.” He placed it on the boy’s head and laughed when it covered half his face. “Bit too big for you, little cowboy.”

  “He loves Nate’s hat too.”

  Rory looked back at her. “Do you think Nate would’ve started that fight?”

  “No, I don’t, least not without good cause. Sadie told us to be careful and not do anything that could reflect on us in court. Even with the boys goading him, I doubt he’d lift a finger and ruin our case before we started unless he had good reason.”

  “Now that I know what’s going on, I can see where this came from.” He stood up, took his hat back, and popped it on his head. “Listen, you go do whatever it is you need to do for an hour or so. Get coffee or shop, call on a friend. I’m going to have a chat with Nate and the boys. See if we can work it out.”

  Joy stood up and grabbed Toby’s hand. “Thank you, Sheriff.”

  “Call me Rory. And something else, too. My father went to school with Ryan, same era. I’ll ask around and see if he knows anything. I’m not saying I can help, but there’s no way I’m letting him run my cousin and his lovely wife off of their land if I can help it.” He opened the door and let her walk out before him. “You call me if he shows up again, you hear?”

  “Thanks, Rory.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Nate looked up and squared his shoulders as the sheriff approached his cell.

  “Time you and I had an honest chat, wouldn’t you say, Nate?” Rory sat down on the bunk opposite him.

  “Nothing to say.” He looked past the sheriff to another cell and met Leroy’s pain-filled gaze. One eye had swollen shut and he had blood on his lip. He ran his tongue over his own fat lip and tasted the blood. “Done talking. Just charge me and get it over and done with.”

  “Nope. I spoke to Joy.”

  What the heck had he gone and done that for? “She doesn’t need this kind of crap.”

  “Oh, I agree, but here you sit.” Rory leaned back, lifted his foot, and rested it on his other knee. “Now, the way I see it, you two are in a bit of a pickle and you need a solution to the problem. Thing is, using your fists isn’t the best way to go about it. Seems to me you and Joy need to be clever, not stupid.”

  “Only stupid thing she did was to marry me. Would’ve been better letting her father-in-law help her out. Run the ranch for her so Toby could grow up with family around. Least that way, he might let her stay in the house.” He dropped his head in his hands. He’d thought about it, thought about what Leroy said. Maybe she was being melodramatic, thinking she had no choice but to marry him. What if the opposite was true? Had she even considered her father-in-law’s proposal, or just dug her heels in at the first hint of a takeover?

  Nate and Joy need to chat, clear the air, and make sure he had the facts. Then he’d make up his mind as to whether or not she would be better off without him.

  *

  He walked out into the sunshine and shaded his eyes with his hat.

  “Man, I’m sorry about this. Wasn’t how I planned on spending most of my day.” Leroy stood beside him, his brother a couple of paces back.

  “I need you to tell me something truthfully, Leroy. Was your father ever going to let Joy stay on the ranch, or was it alw
ays his intention to kick her off?”

  Leroy glanced back at his brother and leaned in. “I had it in my mind that he was going to let her stay, but once she got to being so damned difficult, his manner changed. He got as stubborn as all heck, and now I don’t know if things can ever go back to how they were.”

  “Not even for Toby?” How could anyone not love that little boy?

  “I’d like to think the kid could bring this family back together. Bradley’d be ashamed of us all if he could see us now. Not dead much more’n a year and we’re at each other’s throats.”

  Nate folded his arms and looked down at his scuffed boots.

  “And then along comes Nate Hansen to stir the pot.” Leroy whistled. “Yes, sir. Didn’t that put the old man’s back up. Like a red rag to a bull that was.”

  Guilt crawled up his throat. If he hadn’t been so desperate, things might not’ve come to this today. He should back down and let Joy be taken care of by her family.

  “Nate!” He looked up and brightened at the relief on Joy’s face.

  He was such a dog for considering his need for a job over what might be best for Joy and Toby. She ran across the road with Toby in her arms, her bright spring dress flapping around her legs.

  She wrapped her arm around his shoulders and Toby launched into his arms. “Thank goodness.” She hung onto him for a moment before moving back and turning her gaze on her brothers-in-law. “I’m ashamed of you two. How could you?”

  “Now, look here, Joy. Don’t go blaming us for everything. Nate was pretty quick with his fists, too, ya know.” Leroy took a step back, held up his hands.

  “And why would that be, do you think? Wouldn’t be because you’re here doing your father’s dirty work, would it?” She sneered. “And to think I thought you two were on my side. Should’ve known better.”

  Leroy looked ashamed. “Yeah, we should know better. But he’s our pa.”

  “No, me. I should’ve known better than to trust you two. Bradley thought so much of his brothers, and you’ve let him down by doing this.”

  Nash, the younger brother piped up, “Hey, give us a fair crack here. If’n you hadn’t gone and married Nate, Pa would’ve let you stay in the house. You know that. He just wants to do what’s best for everyone. You included.”

  Joy snorted. “Sure. By running me off the place. Stop and think for yourself, Nash, and stop parroting your father’s words. He’s being a stubborn pig, and that’s all I’m going to say right now. I want to get my husband home.” She hooked an arm through Nate’s. “I’ll give you a lift over to the stock feed merchant and you can collect your truck.”

  “What about us?” Nash glanced at her hopefully.

  “Walk. It’ll give you time to think about your actions.” She dragged Nate across the street to her car without a backward glance.

  *

  “You’re wrong, Nate. He had no intention of letting me stay in the house. Much as told me so to my face the first time I accused him of stealing my ranch hands.”

  “The boys seem to think he will. They’re on your side, believe it or not. Damn stupid fools are under his thumb though.” He held a cold cloth on his swollen eye.

  “Told you he was a bully, didn’t I?” She spooned gravy over the steaming biscuits and pushed his plate toward him, then dealt with Toby’s meal.

  “And for what it’s worth, I don’t trust them either.”

  Nate put the cloth down and breathed in the aroma, his mouth watering, but his mind warred with his stomach. His thoughts won out.

  “I’ve had time to think, Joy.”

  She sank into her seat. “Don’t look at me like that, Nate, please.”

  He leaned his elbows on the table and took her hand. “Look, Leroy told me that since you married me, Ryan has upped his game to get you out. He reckons that if I weren’t involved, things would go better for you.”

  She laughed and waved a hand over her face. “Whew. You had me going there for a moment.” Joy cackled so much Toby clapped his hands and joined in.

  How could the woman be so jovial when he wanted to discuss dissolving their marriage and setting her up for a better life? He’d never understand how a woman’s mind worked. “Seriously, stop it. This isn’t funny. Because I’m married to you, he’s going to fight you tooth and nail. You’d be better off without me complicating things. Don’t you think?”

  Joy wiped a finger under her eye, erasing the tears of laughter. “They’re sucking you in, Nate. No way on God’s earth is Ryan going to let me stay here, no matter what I offer him. I know that man better than you do. And the boys are feeding you a line of horseshit too. They were on my side when we were in high school, but Daddy holds the purse strings and they do what he says. You mark my words. If you walk away, he’ll push harder, thinking I’m easier game without you around.” She composed herself and cut into her steak. “Nope. We go ahead as planned and fight it out in court. No more of what happened today, you hear me? Walk away in future; let them stew. I don’t want you getting suckered into their lies.”

  “You sure this is the right thing, Joy? I don’t want to make things worse for you than they already are.” Nate couldn’t dislodge the knot that filled his gut.

  The last thing he wanted to do was turn his back on either Joy or Toby. He’d become very fond of both of them, and he already loved the ranch like it was his own. But fair was fair. If leaving her would save her future, Nate was prepared to walk away.

  Ask him a year or so ago if he’d be quite so willing to sacrifice his living to improve someone else’s chances of success, the answer would’ve been a resounding no.

  “Stop worrying and leave it to Sadie. I think she’s going to get things sorted out.” She put down her steak knife and helped Toby to scoop up the small pieces of vegetables in gravy with his spoon. “You don’t know that family like I do. Any show of compassion on his part is just a lie.”

  “If you’re sure. I don’t want to go messing up any chance you and Toby have of staying in your home. I’m sure Bradley wouldn’t have wanted that.”

  Her eyes misted and she gave him a wobbly smile. “You’re nothing like your reputation, Nate Hansen. That man would never have given a damn about a widow and her child, no matter what was on offer.”

  Pride bloomed in his chest. The man he used to be embarrassed him now that he looked back. “You’re not a widow anymore, Joy. You’re my wife, and I’m responsible for the two of you.”

  “And I appreciate that, Nate. It’s nice knowing someone has my back when I need them.”

  Would she think the same thing if she knew he’d wanted to reconnect with her sister before Joy had offered him a better deal? Crease was right. Nate did look like a gold digger.

  Toby banged on his high chair with his spoon and giggled.

  “Yes, little man, I love you too.” It was true. Little Toby had wiggled his way into Nate’s heart without even trying, and he’d miss him terribly if things went wrong. “Eat your dinner and I’ll give you a bath while your mom has five minutes to herself.”

  “How about I tidy up and make coffee? We can sit out on the front porch and look for shooting stars while Toby plays with his toys before bed. The sky’s still enough to see clear across America tonight. I haven’t had the heart to go looking for a dream until now.”

  Surely she didn’t mean he’d made her see life was worth living again? Nobody had ever given him this much ownership on a relationship before. Most of that being his own fault because he didn’t want to risk his heart and end up like his mom, alone and wounded. Being with Joy felt different than anything he’d ever experienced before.

  “When my brothers and I went camping down by the river, we used to watch for stars. We’d line up our sleeping bags, hunker down, and see who could stay awake the longest. I never did manage to find a shooting star of my own. Jethro always seemed to be the lucky one. I used to think I was cursed. Least, that’s what he’d tell me the following morning when I woke up, annoyed with my
self for falling asleep again and missing it.”

  “I think your luck is about to change, Nate.”

  It already had, more than he could’ve imagined. Nate had to protect what Bradley left behind. The urge to make Bradley proud of him was mixed in with very real emotions about stepping into the dead man’s shoes.

  Either way, Nate had a job to do and he wasn’t prepared to give it any less than his best shot. Even when walking away still might be the best thing.

  A short time later, Nate kissed Toby good night. The toddler’s thick lashes rested on his chubby cheeks, and held in his tight little fists was the straggly rabbit he’d taken to carrying around at bedtime.

  “That was easy.” Joy turned off the bedside lamp and followed Nate out of the bedroom toward the front porch.

  “He was tired before his head hit the pillow. I didn’t think he’d be awake past the first couple of pages of his bedtime story.”

  “You’re so patient with him, Nate. It’s wonderful to see. Thank you for being so kind to my little boy.”

  He put a hand on her shoulder and she leaned into him. “Who wouldn’t be kind to him? He’s super cute and such a character. I like Toby a lot.” And he wanted him to have better memories of growing up than he had.

  Her smile faltered for a moment and then she grabbed his hand. “Come with me. I’ve set us up on the front lawn.” Joy pulled him down the steps and out to where she’d laid blankets and pillows. She dropped to her knees and tugged on his hand. “Come on, get comfortable. The sky is full of stars tonight just waiting to put on a show for us.”

  Anticipation rolled in his gut, and Nate dropped down to the blanket and lay on his back, his head cushioned by the pillows Joy had pulled from their bed. He put his hands behind his head, marveling at the milky waves brightening the dark night sky. “Something about a starry night. Makes you feel like the tiniest speck of light in a huge ocean. It used to scare me when I was little. I was terrified of getting sucked up into a void of stars. I didn’t understand how the universe worked. Probably why I didn’t mind falling asleep early.”