Takin' The Reins

by Stacey Coverstone

  Cole didn’t sound mean-spirited so Jordan let it go. “You’re not having the usual today?” She remembered him ordering the usual yesterday, whatever that was.

  “I’m feeling dangerous. Think I’ll go for my second usual today.” He wiggled his forehead and flashed his toothy grin. Jordan had just closed the menu and unrolled her napkin of silverware when a person scooted in beside her and drawled,

  “Afternoon.”

  She jumped. Wyatt Brannigan’s shoulder pressed against hers as he snuggled in close.

  “Gosh, you scared me.” Her hand splayed over her heart, and she teasingly smacked his arm.

  “Sorry about that. I’ve never seen this place so full. Hope you two don’t mind me sitting with you. There’s not another seat to be had.” He grinned at Jordan. As an afterthought, he said,

  “Howdy, Cole.”

  “Hi, Wyatt. Looks like you’ve already made yourself at home.”

  “Looks that way.” He opened the menu and closed it just as quickly. “I already know what I want. I come here a lot.” His green eyes raked over Jordan in that same intense way that caused her to squirm beneath her clothes. “You look like a ray of sunshine, Jordan.”

  “Thank you, Brannigan.”

  “What have the two of you been up to this morning?” he asked.

  There was no hiding the truth. Anyway, she found herself interested in his reaction. “Cole has been giving me a tour of the town. It’s so different from where I come from. It’s a quirky and charming place. I think it’s going to grow on me.”

  “So, you’re really going to stay and revive the Lucky Seven?” he wanted to know.

  “Yeah, with a little help from my new friends.”

  He slapped his hand on the table. “Hot dog! Tag will be so happy when I tell him the news. He really likes you.” He winked, and Jordan burst out laughing. Cole interjected, obviously wanting to switch the subject.

  “What are you doing in town today, Wyatt?”

  “Oh, you know. The usual. Just hanging around.”

  Jordan’s head tilted. He made it sound like he was unemployed. She thought he was a rancher. What kind she didn’t know. Come to think of it, she hadn’t seen any cattle on his spread. As she thought that over, she realized Wyatt’s attention was only directed at her—as if Cole weren’t sitting there.

  “Say, Jordan. I called the house this morning, but you didn’t answer. I thought I’d run over and check to see how you were doing after all the ruckus last night.”

  “That was you? Cole and I were just leaving the house when I heard the phone ring. I’m sorry I missed you.”

  “It’s okay,” he smiled. “I’m here now. I much prefer seeing you in person anyway.”

  Cole cleared his throat loudly. With a half-teasing grin of his own, he said, “Don’t you ever work, Wyatt?”

  Brannigan shifted his body and stared. “What do you mean, buddy?”

  “I always see you hanging around town and every time I come to the café, you seem to be here chatting with folks. How do you manage to pay your bills when it seems you spend more time socializing than you do working?”

  Wyatt leaned back against the booth. “You don’t have to worry about me, champ. My ranch is paid off, as is my truck, and I don’t have any credit card debt. Can you say the same?”

  Cole’s face deepened. “No.”

  “Then if I were you, I wouldn’t worry about how much socializing I do.”

  He smiled, but behind the smile, Jordan sensed a proud man who would be pushed only so far. Her gaze swept between the two men. The testosterone hovered thick in the air. Thank goodness, Nicki approached the table again and interrupted the banter.

  “Have you guys made up your minds?” Her gaze swung to Wyatt. “Oh, hi, honey. I didn’t see you sneak in.” She twirled a piece of hair into a curl, like Jordan had seen her do before.

  After placing their orders, Nicki squeezed Wyatt’s shoulder and winked before leaving. The gesture was intimate. For some odd reason, Jordan was irritated by it. Maybe it was because of what Cole had said about her; intimating she was easy. Jordan normally wasn’t one to pay credence to gossip, but it got her to wondering about the kind of relationship Brannigan had with the waitress. She affixed him with a questioning stare.

  “What?” he asked, shrugging his shoulders. She shook her head and took a drink of water.

  Cole snickered.

  “It’s not cool to flirt with one woman when you’re sitting with another, my friend.”

  “I wasn’t flirting,” Wyatt defended. “Nicki’s always touching people. You know how she is. She’s a touchy-feely kind of person.”

  Cole laughed.

  “Did you visit Lydia’s grave while you were out and about this morning?” Wyatt asked Jordan, obviously trying to change the topic.

  She shot him a surprised look. “Are you a mind reader or a stalker?”

  “Neither. Not last time I checked, anyway.”

  “Well, as a matter of fact, we did go to the cemetery. The marble stone is very nice. Did she choose that ahead of time?”

  “I’m not sure.” His answer seemed vague.

  “Someone recently left a pretty flower wreath, too. Cole thinks it was the church ladies.”

  “How nice of them.” Wyatt glanced around. “Nicki didn’t bring me a glass of water. I’m a might thirsty.” His vagueness caused Jordan suspicion.

  “It was you,” she said, eyeballing him. “You left the wreath, didn’t you? And you probably purchased the headstone as well. I’m right, aren’t I?”

  He smiled again, and she placed her hand over his.

  “That was very kind. I suppose you were her closest friend.” He cast an ornery glance at Cole and then back to Jordan. His tone was soft with her.

  “Despite what rumors you might hear about me, I do have a heart.” He touched his fingers to his shirt where his heart beat. “Lydia was my neighbor for many years. She was worthy of a beautiful stone, and she deserves flowers on her grave.”

  Jordan felt her eyes mist. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  “Tell me, do you know if anyone was with her when she died?”

  He nodded. “I was.”

  “What happened? How did it happen?”

  “I found her on the ground outside the barn with a bridle in her hand. I called 911, but she couldn’t hold on. The paramedics said it was a heart attack. I’d known she hadn’t felt good for some time. She’d been complaining of indigestion and heartburn. I was worried, but she was as stubborn as a mule and wouldn’t go to the doctor. One day she told me she’d be ready when her time came. She said she’d made things right and wasn’t afraid of going home.”

  Jordan considered that a moment. What had Lydia meant that she’d made things right? The lawyer had told her Lydia had made her will a few weeks before she passed. Was ensuring Jordan received the ranch what Lydia had meant by the words she’d spoken to Wyatt?

  “Was she able to speak at the end?”Jordan asked him. “Did she say anything to you?”

  “No, but I believe she was at peace. I held her hand, and she opened her eyes once and looked off into the sun. She smiled right before she passed.”

  The table fell silent. After another moment, Jordan said, “I’m glad she wasn’t alone at the end. I’m glad you were with her.” She suddenly felt melancholy. Perhaps all the changes were making her feel nostalgic and sad. She was sorry for never having met Lydia, and sad that, for some reason, Lydia had been kicked out of the family and forced to live life on her own. Jordan had worries about her own future as well. Could she learn how to run a ranch alone? Did she have what it would take? Would there be more trouble with Addison Stillwell? Could she forget her past and the pain Drew had caused? Would she ever be able to open her heart up again?

  “Here we go.” Nicki swooped in and set three hot plates in front of them. “Club sandwich, hot turkey and gravy, and cheeseburger and fries. Is there anything else I can get
you three?”

  “Looks good. I believe we’re set,” Wyatt said, apparently forgetting how thirsty he’d been moments earlier. Nicki blew kisses to both men before dashing off to another table. Jordan rolled her eyes.

  Conversation lagged as they ate. The café’s noise level continued to rise, making it difficult to talk. When they were finished and the checks were brought at the end of the meal, the men became like two bulls, with Jordan feeling like the heifer. Wyatt scooped both checks up into his big palm.

  “I’ll get Jordan’s and mine,” Cole assured, grabbing for them.

  Wyatt was not going to have it. “It’s the least I can do since I barged in on the two of you.” He slipped a pair of glasses out of his pocket, put them on, and reviewed the two checks. “Mmmm. Prices are going up.” He dug into his pocket to pull out some dollar bills and dropped them on the table to leave as a tip.

  “I can get the tip,” Cole said, obviously annoyed. He pushed Wyatt’s money back toward him. He then retrieved his wallet and laid some folded greenbacks down. Wyatt chuckled and collected his cash as he stood.

  “Okay, sport. You can pay the tip. Goodbye, Jordan. It was wonderful to see you.” He tipped his head, which today was covered with a baseball cap, not a cowboy hat. “Have a marvelous afternoon. I’ll call you later, since I know the phone is working at the house.” He took two steps and turned sharply. “Do you have a cell phone? I could call you on that if you prefer.”

  Jordan looked at Cole. She hadn’t given him her cell number. It wouldn’t be polite to give it to Wyatt.

  “The house phone will be fine,” she said.

  “Okay. That was one of the best lunches I’ve ever had.” He winked and patted his stomach.

  “Goodbye, Brannigan,” Jordan said, watching him quickly disappear into the throng of customers. He stopped at the register and slapped the male cashier on the back after paying his tab. Before he could get out the door, several people stopped him to chat. He laughed and then turned suddenly and looked directly back at her. Even from a distance, those green eyes penetrated her. When he waved, she smiled and waved back.

  Cole stood up. “Ready to go?”

  “Yes.” She scooted out of the booth.

  “Why’s he calling you later?”

  Her answer was an honest one. “I don’t know.” The pair snaked their way out of the crowded café with people stopping Cole and speaking to him in the same friendly way they had spoken to Wyatt. These two must know every soul in town, she thought. They finally stepped through the door.

  “It’s nice to get out of there. It was too noisy,” she said, inhaling a fresh breath of air. As they turned the corner to walk to where Cole’s truck was parked, they nearly ran into Joe Campbell and Cimarron Cruz. The two men halted their steps and glared.

  “What are you looking at?” Cole boldly asked. Joe’s eyes narrowed into slits. Cimarron sucked his teeth.

  “Were you talking to me, Roberts?” Joe’s tone was menacing.

  Jordan grabbed Cole’s hand. “Please, let’s keep walking. Don’t start anything.”

  Cimarron whistled and made a rude gesture toward her.

  “Why, you son of a…” Cole lunged with his fist raised, but Jordan caught his arm and tugged, pulling him down the sidewalk. He spun around and strutted backwards, keeping his eye on the two men. They stood at the corner baiting him with jeers and gestures. When they reached his the truck, Cole said, “I was just going to tell them to stay off your ranch and leave you alone.”

  “I know, but I don’t want them causing you any trouble. This is my battle. Hopefully Stillwell got my message today and that’ll be the end of it.”

  He flung open the passenger door. “I’m afraid you’re being naïve, Jordan. You let me know if either of those jerks bothers you again.”

  ~ * ~

  Back at the Lucky Seven, the two of them stood on her front stoop.

  “Thank you for lunch and for the grand tour around Tulie. It was fun.” She was already calling the town Tulie, the way the locals did, and it felt good.

  “It was my pleasure. I really enjoyed spending the day with you. I hope this is the first of many days we spend together.” He took a step forward, and his longing gaze delved into her.

  Her pulse started to race. “It will be,” she joked, “once you get started on my renovations.”

  “Right.” He nodded and stepped back, evidently realizing he was moving too fast. “I’ll go to my office and get that estimate worked up. I’ll call you with it as soon as I can. If you like the figures, I can get going right away.”

  “Really? That’s terrific, but I don’t expect you to drop your other jobs for me.”

  “Things are a bit slow. I need the work. You do have the money to pay, right?”

  She liked the way he teased. “Yes, I have the money.”

  “Okay then.” He held out his hand and they shook. His grip was firm and warm. “I’ll call soon.”

  “Goodbye, Cole. And thanks again.” When he walked away, she sniffed the air, aware of how delicious his scent was, and then scolded herself for being so physically drawn to him. Even if she was ready to date again—and she wasn’t—she didn’t see him as the settling down type. It wasn’t wise to fool around with fire. She was afraid there weren’t enough firemen in Tularosa to put out the kind of blaze Cole was liable to start when he set out to woo a woman.

  ~ * ~

  After a simple dinner, Jordan walked around the house holding paint samples up to the walls. She wanted her rooms to be the colors of the desert, the sky and the sun. When the phone rang she dashed to it, expecting it to be Cole with the estimate. He’d said he’d call soon. She grabbed the phone on the second ring.

  “Hello.”

  “How are ya?” The familiar voice was deep, soft and sexy. She smiled.

  “I’m fine. How are you?” She hopped onto a bar stool.

  “Just marvelous. What are you doing right now?”

  “Choosing paint colors for my walls. What are you doing, Brannigan?”

  He sighed. “Sitting here wishing I was visiting with a pretty lady such as yourself.”

  Jordan’s heart fluttered. A picture formed in her mind. Wyatt reclining in a comfortable leather chair with his long legs stretched onto a hassock, cradling the phone in the crook of his neck as he petted his dog.

  “I’ve been thinking about you,” he drawled.

  “Is that so?” She tried to keep her voice from trembling, but something about him sparked her. Her chest began to rise and fall.

  “It is.” There was a moment of silence. If it was his plan to keep her guessing, it was working.

  “And?”

  “I was wondering if you’ve made plans for tomorrow.”

  “No,” she replied, a bit too quickly.

  “Good. I was thinking I’d come over early in the morning and we could get started mucking out those stalls. The sooner we get that done, the sooner I can bring over your horses.”

  He was calling about the horses? Frowning with disappointment, she mumbled, “Okay. Sure. Tomorrow morning will be fine. But let’s get one thing straight.”

  “What’s that?”

  “I insist on paying you for your help.”

  “Please. Don’t insult me, lady.” His voice still carried the same amiable quality.

  “Don’t argue, Brannigan. Of course I’m going to pay. I’m not a charity case.”

  He laughed. “I know that. I’m volunteering. That’s why they call it help, Jordan. I don’t know how things were handled in Denver, but that’s what neighbors do around here.”

  She hemmed and hawed. “You must have other things—more important things to do with your time than to help a virtual stranger muck out stalls.”

  “You’re not a stranger,” he said. “I feel like I’ve known you all my life.”

  The admission floored her. Tingles coursed through her veins and flowed straight to her swollen heart. She found her tongue tied, unable to utter
a word for a moment. “I… I… don’t know the first thing about horses or ranching,” she finally stammered.

  “That’s exactly why I’ll be over early. Be ready to work and learn. See you around eight.” With that, the phone clicked and went dead.

  A couple of hours later, after locking the door, checking the windows and flicking off the lights, Jordan slipped into her tee shirt and crawled into the squeaky bed. She lay there for thirty minutes or more, unable to get to sleep again. Her thoughts kept bouncing back and forth between Wyatt and Cole. Both were good men. She sensed that about them already. Both were outgoing, confident, and handsome. One was older. How much older? She wondered. The other was somewhat of a loose cannon. Physically, they were as different as night and day, but there was one thing the two had in common. If her radar wasn’t off, both seemed to be interested in her. What a change that was. She laughed out loud and pounded her pillow into shape with her fist. Oh, boy. It was going to be a long night.

  Chapter Seven

  The next morning, Wyatt parked his truck and trailer next to Jordan’s barn at eight on the dot. There she was, standing at the barn door looking fine in her tight Wranglers and a snug tee shirt that accentuated her shapely curves. There was a blue bandana tied around her neck and cowboy boots on her feet. The boots looked brand new, but he had to give her points for looking the part. His heart thundered at the sight of her. They’d only known each other two days, but the woman fired his blood—there was no two ways around it. Her mouth opened and closed, probably wondering what was in the horse trailer. He waved and she waved back. While stepping out of the truck, he eased on some leather gloves and jerked his head toward the trailer.

  “I brought a few bales of hay to tide you over. Where’d you get those fancy mud kickers?” he teased.

  She glanced down at her boots. “I’m from Colorado, remember?”

  “Yes, I recall.”

  “Don’t you think city girls wear boots? It’s the in thing to wear cowboy boots right now. Some women even wear them with dresses to work.”