Her Hill Country Cowboy

by Myra Johnson

  “No, say it.” Letting his shoulders fall, Seth forced himself to meet her gaze. “After what I just witnessed here, you have a perfect right to tell me exactly what you think.”

  She flicked a glance toward the children, then lowered her voice. “It can wait.”

  Omi pushed up from the step. “Who wants to help me bake some oatmeal-raisin cookies?”

  “Me! Me!” the kids yelled as they darted up the steps.

  As Omi herded the children inside, she glanced back at Seth. “I’m getting low on flour and eggs. Can you run into town and pick some up?”

  “Now? I’m not finished in the barn.”

  “Yes, now,” Omi answered with a mischievous smile. “And take Christina with you. I’m sure she could use a few things from the market, too.”

  This was a setup, pure and simple. Seth braved a glance at Christina. “If you’ve got other things to do...”

  “She doesn’t,” Omi snapped. “Now both of you, get going.” The door slammed behind her.

  Christina’s heartless chuckle broke the sudden silence. “Your grandmother is a force of nature.”

  “That she is.” With a pained sigh, Seth started up the porch steps. “Gotta get my wallet and keys. Meet you at my truck in five minutes?”

  “Can we make it ten? I need to freshen up and grab my purse. Oh, and you do know I’ll be bringing Gracie, right?”

  Seth turned with a slow smile. “Sure, ten minutes is fine. And no worries. After hauling around two messy kids and a passel of smelly horse gear, I’m not about to sweat a little dog hair.”

  “Then I guess it’s a d—” Christina clamped her lips together. “I mean, see you in ten.”

  Watching Christina start down the lane, Seth paused a moment while the dreaded D-word—date—rumbled around in his brain. If Omi thought she could blast him out of bachelorhood so easily, she had another think coming.

  * * *

  Standing before the dresser mirror, Christina yanked out her ponytail holder and snatched up her hairbrush. She couldn’t believe she almost said the word date out loud—and to Seth! Even if either of them could possibly be interested, Christina had been a career woman long enough to know you didn’t date your employer. The implications were simply too problematic.

  Gracie pranced over and dropped her fuzzy ball at Christina’s feet, then looked up with mischief in her eyes. Or something else, as if the dog knew something Christina didn’t.

  “Don’t get any ideas, girl.” Christina picked up the squishy, slobbery dog toy and rolled it across the floor for Gracie to chase. She loved the playful side of her service dog. Gracie always seemed to know when to be on alert and when she could just be a dog.

  And sometimes, like now, Gracie’s playfulness turned out to be exactly what Christina needed to stay grounded.

  Leaving her hair loose about her shoulders, she applied a quick swipe of lip gloss, then grabbed her purse. Gracie followed her out the door, and they stopped at the car for Gracie’s seat belt harness.

  Seth met them at his pickup and opened the door behind the passenger seat. “Will she be okay in back?”

  “That’s fine.” Christina knelt to slip Gracie into her harness. Sensing Seth watching, she looked up with a smirk. “Yes, she wears a seat belt. I’m an overprotective parent, too.”

  Seth harrumphed. “I didn’t say a word.”

  A few minutes later, they were on the road to Juniper Bluff. Christina hadn’t exactly expected scintillating conversation from Seth, but she was hoping for more than stolen glances at his stoic profile while they drove in silence. Noticing a cache of CDs in the center console, she picked one up. “You’re a country music fan?”

  He peered briefly at the CD case then returned his attention to the road. “Guess you could say so.”

  Really? That was all she was getting out of him? She pursed her lips and tried again. “Afraid I don’t know much about country music. Almost everything on my playlist is Christian pop.”

  “Mmm.”

  Exhaling softly, Christina gazed out the side window. This was going nowhere faster than the fence posts zipping by.

  Eons later, it seemed, Seth turned onto Main Street. “Need anything besides groceries while we’re in town?”

  The sudden sound of his voice jolted her. “Can’t think of anything.”

  The town square now lay on their left, and as they passed the horse-and-rider statue, Christina thought she glimpsed a subtle tightening of Seth’s jaw.

  “I’ve been wanting to ask,” she began softly, “is Jake Austin a relative of yours?”

  Seth cleared his throat as he looked toward the statue. “My dad.”

  “I read the plaque the other day. He must have been quite a man.”

  “He was.” The truck slowed. “Mind if we stop here for a minute? I haven’t paid my respects lately.”

  “Not at all.”

  Seth parked across the street from the square, then came around to help Christina and Gracie to the pavement. Together they walked over and followed the path to the statue. Hat in hand, Seth stood gazing up at the image of his father for so long that Christina wondered if he’d forgotten she was there.

  Then he sighed deeply and turned to her, his expression much more serene. “Thanks,” he said. “Spending time with Dad always helps me put things in perspective.”

  “I’m sorry you had to grow up without him.”

  “Yeah, it was tough.” Seth started walking but didn’t appear in a hurry to get back to the pickup. “I’m about two shots of caffeine short for the day. Feel like some coffee before we head over to the market?”

  “Okay.” Surprised he was voluntarily extending their time in town together, Christina hurried to catch up.

  When they’d crossed to the other side of the square, Seth followed the sidewalk to Diana’s Donuts, and the aromas emanating from the shop reminded Christina that breakfast had been hours ago.

  As they stepped inside, a couple of customers cast uneasy looks at Gracie. “It’s all right,” Seth stated. “She’s a service dog.”

  Christina slanted him a curious look. Seth Austin was just full of surprises today.

  “Seth Austin, as I live and breathe,” called a perky brunette from behind the counter. “You haven’t stopped in for ages. Where’ve you been keeping yourself?”

  “Summertime, you know. We stay busy at the ranch.” The confidence he’d exuded moments before seemed to wither under the woman’s flirtatious grin.

  “So business is good?” The brunette slid a quick glance toward Christina, a question in her eyes.

  “We’re doing all right. Can we get a couple of coffees, please?” He turned to Christina. “Want a doughnut or anything?”

  She’d been too distracted by the interplay between Seth and his admirer to check out the selections. The glass case to the left of the cash register held an array of glazed and filled doughnuts, apple fritters, éclairs, muffins and Danish pastries. “It all looks good. What do you recommend?”

  “Seth usually has a carrot muffin.” The woman looked Christina up and down. “You look like a cheese Danish girl to me. And I think it’s high time Seth introduced us.”

  He coughed into his fist. “Excuse me. Diana Matthews, meet Christina Hunter. Christina’s the new housekeeper out at the ranch.”

  “Nice to meet you, Diana.” Christina ignored the arched brow Diana shot in Gracie’s direction. “And a cheese Danish sounds great.”

  Diana slid open the door on her side of the bakery case. “Pleased to meet you, too, and welcome to Juniper Bluff. First pastry and coffee is always on the house for our newcomers.” She handed Christina a Danish on a paper plate, then reached for one of the carrot muffins.

  “Not today, Diana,” Seth interrupted. “Just coffee, thanks.”
>
  Looking disappointed, Diana carried two tall mugs to the coffee machine. When she returned, Seth handed her a couple of bills and told her to keep the change, then motioned Christina to an empty table near the front window.

  “Diana seems nice.” Christina swallowed a bite of her Danish. “Have you known her long?”

  “We went to high school together. She was homecoming queen my senior year on the football team.”

  With a sidelong glance toward the woman behind the counter, Christina nodded. “Homecoming queen. Yes, I can believe it.” Then she narrowed her eyes at Seth. “However, I can’t quite picture you playing football.”

  Seth squared his shoulders. “Why not? Don’t I look tough enough?”

  “Oh, you look plenty tough.” Heat rose in Christina’s cheeks. She’d like to blame the hot coffee but knew differently. “I just meant...um...” Now was not the time to make disparaging remarks about jocks. “I mean, you’re so involved with horses and ranching.”

  “Guess you wouldn’t know that some of the top pro football players started out as farm kids.”

  “Actually, I wouldn’t know much about football at all.” She cast him a sheepish glance. “So you were good?”

  “Not particularly. Always a second-stringer.” A chuckle rumbled in Seth’s throat. “I was too involved with horses and ranching.”

  As they shared a smile, Diana sauntered over with a coffeepot. “Refills, anyone?”

  Christina declined, but Seth held out his mug. “Thanks, Di.”

  “My pleasure. How are those kiddos doing?”

  “Fine. Growing like weeds.”

  “You should bring them by sometime.” Diana shot a concerned look toward Gracie, lying beside Christina’s chair. “Wow. Poor little Eva. She must be scared to death having a big dog on the place. How are you managing?”

  Seth winked at Christina. “You’d be surprised. I think Eva’s got a new best friend.”

  Ignoring Diana’s confused stare, Christina chose instead to bask in Seth’s newfound approval. She liked this more agreeable side of him. Maybe, in time, they might even become friends.

  * * *

  Seth really wished Diana would go bake some more doughnuts or something. Instead, she seemed intent on hovering with her coffeepot and making small talk.

  He also didn’t appreciate the way she kept eyeing Christina and the dog like she had to protect Seth and his kids somehow.

  Or else she was jealous.

  The idea struck him as suddenly humorous, and he had to choke back a laugh. Sputtering into his napkin, he looked across the table at Christina. She had her hand on Gracie’s head, not with the same tension he’d observed at other times, but calmly, assertively, as she explained to Diana how she’d been helping Eva make friends with the dog.

  “Wow,” Diana murmured. “I’m impressed.”

  “You should be, because I sure am.” Seth eased back his chair. “Christina, we should get those groceries and head back to the ranch.”

  She crumpled her napkin onto her empty plate. “Ready whenever you are.”

  On their way to the exit, Diana called Seth’s name. “Will you be at the church chili cook-off next Sunday? You know how you love my dad’s chili.”

  “Probably, if our weekend guests have checked out by then.” He set a hand lightly against Christina’s waist. “We’ll all try to come.”

  His gesture had the intended effect—on Diana, at any rate. With a smile that held more consternation than cordiality, she replied, “Great. I’ll watch for you.”

  The effect on Christina was more subtle. On the sidewalk out front, she quickened her steps, which instantly put distance between his hand and her back. “I haven’t made it to church here yet. Where do you attend?”

  “Shepherd of the Hills. It’s a little church a few blocks north of the square.” Seth checked for traffic before stepping off the curb. “I don’t make it as often as I should. It’s hard to get away when we have ranch guests on Sunday mornings, so I usually stay home to keep an eye on things.”

  “I can see how that would be a problem.” The judgmental edge had slipped into her tone again.

  He tried to bridle his defensiveness. “My grandparents try to get the kids to Sunday school, though. Usually at least one of them can get away.”

  They were crossing the square now, and Seth’s steps slowed as he neared the statue. He could almost feel his dad’s eyes on him, could sense the disappointment from a man who put the Lord above all else. What would his dad say, knowing how Seth had all but shut God out of his life after Georgia left him?

  After she tried to take away his kids and then got sick and died?

  Christina paused several steps ahead. “I thought you were in a hurry to get the shopping done.”

  “Yeah, right.” They crossed to the pickup, and he helped Christina get Gracie into the back seat.

  An hour later they arrived at the ranch. Seth dropped Christina at her cabin, then parked in front of the garage and carried the groceries in to Omi.

  She glanced up from helping Joseph and Eva spoon mounds of cookie dough onto a baking sheet. “Took you long enough.”

  “We stopped for coffee at Diana’s.” Seth dipped a finger into the mixing bowl, then dodged his grandmother’s hand slap.

  “Good. I’d like for Christina to get to know some folks in town.” Omi nudged one of Eva’s messy clumps of dough into line with the others. “A little smaller, honey, or they’ll all run together.”

  “But I like them big,” Eva said. “Can we take some to Miss Christina when they’re all cooked?”

  “Sure. After lunch and before your nap.” Turning to check the batch in the oven, Omi frowned at Seth. “I hope you’re planning on going to the chili cook-off with us.”

  “If I can get away.”

  Omi’s eye roll told him what she thought of his reply.

  He scoffed. “Somebody’s got to make sure our guests get out of here okay.”

  “They should be gone long before then. The Abbots have a six-hour drive back to Brownsville, and the other families both have early-afternoon flights out of San Antonio.” Taking the cookie sheet from the oven, Omi set it on a rack to cool. “Anyway, I bet Christina would love to go. Make sure you invite her.”

  “Make sure I invite her? Why don’t you?”

  “Oh, you’ll probably see her first.” Omi winked. “When you and the kids take her a plate of cookies later.”

  Seth chewed the inside of his lip while he watched his grandmother slide the next batch of cookies into the oven. Her matchmaking efforts were way too obvious. Didn’t matter he’d purposely insinuated to Diana earlier that he had something going with Christina. His sole purpose had been to fend off Diana’s never-ending hints for a date. He liked her well enough as a friend, but that was as far as it would ever go.

  He was growing to like Christina, too. Just not in the way his grandmother might hope. He didn’t know if he’d ever be ready for love again. Between his children and his own battered heart, too much was at stake.

  “I need to finish up in the barn,” Seth said, sliding off the barstool. He circled to his grandmother’s side of the counter and leaned in close. “But later, I think you and I need to have a talk—in private.”

  Chapter Six

  The weekend kept Christina busy freshening cabins for the three families who had checked in on Friday. Seth led a trail ride on Saturday morning, and that evening the Petersons hosted another festive barbecue down by the lake, complete with campfire, s’mores, and sing-alongs. Bryan Peterson proved to be quite the guitar player, and when Marie and Seth harmonized to country songs both old and new, Christina hummed along as she offered refills of sweet tea or root beer.

  On Sunday morning, she’d just started restocking the maid’s
cart when a middle-aged couple stepped onto the porch after breakfast. As Bryan walked out with them, the husband said, “You’ve got a great place here. Next time, we’re bringing our grandkids. They’d have a blast.”

  “Glad you enjoyed yourselves,” Bryan replied. “We do aim to please.”

  “Can’t believe you weren’t full up, though.” The man chuckled. “This must be the best-kept secret in Texas.”

  Standing out of sight in the workroom doorway, Christina caught Bryan’s grimace. It bothered her, too, that the ranch didn’t have more business. Serenity Hills was an ideal getaway for families with children.

  Although she hated to imagine how much harder she’d be working if the place were booked to capacity.

  Bryan offered to help the couple load up their luggage, and while he accompanied them to their cabin, Christina returned to her task. Since all the guests expected to check out by ten, there was little more she needed to do until they vacated their cabins. She sighed. Seth was right—running a guest ranch wasn’t exactly conducive to attending Sunday morning worship services, and Christina really missed church.

  Footsteps sounded behind her, then Marie spoke. “Leave all that for now, honey. Thought you might want to go to church with me and the kiddos.”

  “I would love it, more than you’ll ever know.” Christina almost wept with gratitude. “But I’m in my work clothes. Do I have time to change?”

  Marie’s gaze swept Christina’s pink polo shirt, khaki shorts and sneakers. “You look just fine, sweetie. This is a country church, not the big city.”

  It helped that Marie was dressed in jeans and a flowered camp shirt. “Okay. Let me just run to grab my purse and Gracie’s harness.”

  A few minutes later, with Gracie buckled between Joseph and Eva in the back seat of the Petersons’ SUV, Christina climbed into the passenger seat. Behind the wheel, Marie swiveled to look over her shoulder and clucked her tongue. “If that don’t beat all.”

  Christina followed her gaze to where Eva sat in her booster seat, one hand calmly stroking Gracie’s back. A shivery smile stole across Christina’s lips. “I have the best dog in the world.”