“Or I’m the only woman in town,” Rayanne said.
Megan laughed. “Please. Have you looked around? There are gorgeous single woman everywhere. Most of the Jamieson girls, Maura Whittaker, Laney Ellis…”
“You.” Rayanne pointed at her stunning and single friend. “Laney’s seeing Cody, and I think they’re getting serious.”
Megan’s eyes grew round. “Wow, these cowboys work fast.”
“Apparently.” Rayanne reached for a piece of cheese from the snack tray she’d set out.
“I’d like to find out for myself.” Megan sighed and leaned back into the sofa cushion. “If these hot guys have any friends, keep me in mind.”
“Okay,” Rayanne agreed. “But it’s not like I’m in some kind of relationship with Luke. He’s just helping Rafe.”
“How’s he doing?” Megan grabbed a grape from the tray.
“Great. Luke and Cody are good for him. I’m hoping it sticks and he does better in school this fall.”
“His father taking off hurt him badly,” Megan said. “They used to be very close.”
“I know. If I’m ever lucky enough to get married and have kids, I hope I find someone who’s in it for the long haul, and not willing to run off at the first sign of trouble like Rafe’s dad did.”
“I got into teaching because I love kids so much,” Megan said. “I never thought I’d be thirty, single and childless with no prospects.”
“Same here.” Rayanne was exactly the same as her friend. They’d discussed their plight many times.
The friends ate a few chips in gloomy silence.
“We need to get out more. Do something exciting. Maybe go rock climbing, or sky diving.” Rayanne thought over the options their small town offered. She loved Black Mountain, but it didn't offer a lot of entertainment. “We’d have to go to Telluride. There are a lot of rich, single men there, or so I’ve been told.”
“Yeah, and it’s crawling with hot girls looking to snag one of those guys.” Megan shook her head. “No. You have a guy. You just have to realize it. And I’ll find someone when the time is right.”
Rayanne’s heart sped up. What if her friend was right and Luke was into her? The possibilities were staggering.
~*~
Luke looked over his shoulder at the boys sitting silently in the backseat. Both hung their heads, resembling whipped dogs. “Where’s Cody?”
“Feed store,” Justin mumbled.
“Why were you in the grocery store picking up girls?” Luke used his sternest tone, one his father employed when he wanted to get his point across in no uncertain terms.
“Cody sent us over to buy snacks,” Rafe said in a low voice.
“Where’s the food?” Luke looked between them. “You were too busy flirting to get it, right?”
“Yeah,” Justin muttered.
Rafe stared at his new boots.
“You decided to make plans to sneak out and drink beer with pretty girls instead of doing what Cody asked.” Luke took a deep breath. “I get it, guys. Cute girls always make a guy’s head spin. Trust me, I know.”
“It’s just beer.” Rafe looked up. “No big deal.”
Luke tightened his hands on the steering wheel. “It’s not ‘just beer’. You’re thirteen years old, which makes it an illegal substance. Not only for you, but for Cody. And me. You guys got caught, it could cost us both everything. That’s how you repay us for taking time to work with you? To try and teach you something? I’m disappointed in you guys.”
“I’m sorry, Luke,” Justin said. “We didn’t think about that.”
Rafe nodded. “Me, too.”
The kids looked sick and Luke’s heart softened. But he wasn’t ready to let them off the hook just yet. “It’s not just the beer, guys. If things got out of hand, and one of those young ladies got pregnant, it’d be such a mess. You’re both too young to be a daddy.”
Justin’s face paled as Rafe’s face turned red as a Herford bull.
Luke forged forward. “It only takes once, guys. First time, last time. Standing up, laying down. You get the picture?” They nodded, obviously embarrassed by this birds and bees talk. Hell, he wasn’t exactly comfortable. “I saw those girls, both cute as newborn calves. Easy to lose your head over. But not worth losing your future.”
The kids hung their heads. Luke knew they were self-conscious beyond belief, but neither had a dad around. Maybe he was overstepping, but if he hadn’t caught them God knew what kind of havoc could have been unleashed.
He felt a bit like a hypocrite preaching about unplanned pregnancy. If he could turn back time, he’d take any kid he could get, young father, or not. Thirteen was a bit much, though. The odds of them having sex while drinking were pretty high. He remembered being that age and all you could think about was girls and how to get in one’s panties. He hadn’t been much older than these guys when he discovered the magic formula—a quick smile and working in a line about being a bull rider. It still worked. He’d just refined it a little. When these boys figured it out, look out ladies.
“You gonna tell Cody?” Justin stared at his boots.
“No,” Luke said. “You are. And your moms, too.”
Both of their heads shot up. By the horrified look on their faces, Luke knew he had come up with the worst possible punishment. He started the truck. “Let’s go find Cody.”
Rafe looked as if he might throw up; Justin not a lot better.
Luke almost took pity on them, but knew doing the right thing was always the hardest. With a sigh, he started the truck.
They found Cody coming out of the feed store, carrying two bags of grain under each arm.
“Go help him,” Luke ordered.
The boys scrambled to obey. In short order the back of Cody’s pickup was filled with sacks of grain.
Cody looked between them. “What’s going on? Where are the snacks I sent you after?”
“The guys have something to tell you, but probably not right here,” Luke said. “Home might be a better place to talk. I’ll pick up the food and meet you there.”
~*~
Luke placed two bags of groceries in the kitchen and limped into the living room where Cody and the boys sat, none of them speaking.
Cody looked at him. “You want to tell me what’s going on?”
“Nope.” Luke pointed at the boys. “But they do.”
“So, spill.” Cody pinned a hard look on them.
Justin lifted his head. “When we went to the grocery store we saw some girls we know...”
“And?” Cody arched a brow.
“We were going to meet them later tonight,” Justin said.
Luke cleared his throat.
“At my mom’s barn,” he added.
“And?” Luke prompted.
“They were bringing beer.” Rafe rubbed the carpet with the toe of his boot. “For a party.”
“I just happened to overhear their plans and cut them off,” Luke said. “We’ve had a little chat about what can happen when underage drinking is involved. But I thought you’d better decide their punishment.”
Cody folded his hands and stared at his boots. “Okay. Go to your room, boys. I’ll talk to you later.”
Like they were headed for the gallows, they dragged their feet as they headed upstairs.
“What exactly happened? And what did you tell them?” Cody stood and walked to the windows overlooking the pasture.
“Pretty much what they said—I overheard them and two little gals making plans to have a party at Laney’s barn later. Rafe said he could get beer from his mom’s fridge. I sent the girls packing and brought the boys here. I wanted to see what you had to say, but I did tell them alcohol and bad judgment could end up with dire consequences—like an unplanned pregnancy.”
Cody ran both hands over his head and linked his fingers behind his neck. “Damn.”
“They’re doing the same things we did, just a little earlier,” Luke said.
“I know.” Cody spun a
round to face him. “Could you imagine the consequences if they had been caught drunk with young girls under my watch? I could lose everything I’ve worked for. Parents wouldn’t trust me to send their kids here…”
“I told them both exactly that.”
“My first instinct is to send them packing.” Cody sighed. “If these were paying customers, I’d send them home on the first train out of town. But they’re not regular customers. And, I’m not sure sending them home’s the right thing to do.”
“Plus, you’re dating Justin’s mom,” Luke reminded him. “That adds a whole other level to the deal.”
“Laney.” Cody looked ill. “I have to tell her. She’s going to tell me I told you so and having Justin up here wasn’t a good idea.”
“You mean to tell me he wouldn’t have pulled this stunt at home?” Luke snorted. “Bull. Those kids are acting up and out partly because they’re bored thirteen year olds without enough to do. Just like you and I were. Being in this program is going to save them both.”
“Laney will still likely pull Justin out when she finds out about this. And I have to inform her.” Cody sounded sick.
“I told the kids they had to tell their mother themselves,” Luke said.
“Yeah, good idea.” Cody reached for his hat. “I guess I’ll go now. Will you talk to Rafe’s mom since you’ve met her?”
“Yeah.” Luke dreaded the task. But he’d cowboy up and do it. Who he really dreaded telling was Rayanne. She’d been so excited about Rafe getting to ride bulls. This was going to disappoint her deeply. “What message do you want me to convey?”
Cody looked tired. “That this is the one and only chance he’s getting. No more. If there’s another slip, he’s out. No questions asked.”
Luke placed his hat on his head and reached for his crutches. “Got it, boss.”
“How’s the leg?” Cody nodded at his cast-free leg. “I see you got the cast off.”
“Healed, but not ready to ride yet. The doc said if I re-injured it, the result would likely be permanent lameness.” Saying the words out loud sent fear coursing through him. He was a bull rider. He didn’t know how to be anything else. He’d already lost a lot. Any more was too much.
Just like Justin and Rafe, he’d been a kid at loose ends. Raised on a cattle ranch, he’d resented the endless chores, the body-numbing work. He’d acted out much like these two boys—drinking stolen alcohol, smoking cigarettes and chasing girls.
The summer of his thirteenth birthday, a friend had challenged him to ride a bull in a junior rodeo. He’d been thrown hard, but he was hooked. From that day forward Luke knew what he wanted to be—a world champion bull rider.
He’d won every major show but the big one—the National Finals. This was supposed to be his year. He’d come close so many times. If he had to limp around on crutches a while longer, he’d suck it up and do so if it meant he could ride again.
“I’ll call you and let you know what Rafe’s mom says,” he told Cody.
“Okay.” Cody cupped his mouth and shouted, “Justin. Rafe. Get down here.”
They trotted down the stairs with expressions guarded, but hopeful.
“We’re going to see your mom,” Cody told Justin. “Rafe, you’re with Luke.”
“She’s going to kill me,” Justin muttered.
“I guess you should’ve thought of that before you decided to party,” Cody told him and Justin hung his head.
Rafe shrugged a thin shoulder. “My mom won’t give a crap.”
“Well, I do.” Luke hid the anger in his voice. What kind of mother didn’t have concern for her own kid? His mom was a long-suffering saint, putting up with him no matter what he did.
In a lot of ways, Justin and Rafe reminded Luke of him and Cody at their age. They had totally opposite upbringings, but had bonded the first time they met as adversaries at a rodeo. Almost two decades later they were still tight.
He hoped Justin and Rafe had a friendship like that. Whatever had happened between them seemed to be resolved.
“Let’s go,” he said. “I have a date tonight.” Ignoring Cody’s raised eyebrows, he ushered Rafe toward the door. The sooner this unpleasantness was done, the better.
Although he dreaded telling Rayanne what had happened, he looked forward to seeing her. He couldn’t remember the last time he felt that way about a woman. Maybe never. Getting lucky had always been his priority. Conversation hadn’t been the first thing on his mind, and he hated pillow talk.
With Rayanne, he couldn’t wait to share with her. The thought stopped him in his boots. He couldn’t be falling in love with her. To do so would only hurt them both.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Bonita Cantera put her hands on her hips and glared at her son. “What were you thinking? Maybe going to jail would get your dad to pay attention? Well, I have news for you. It won’t make any difference.” She threw up her hands. “I know you miss him, son. But he’s gone and not coming back.” Her tone softened. “We both have to face it, as much as it stinks.”
Rafe hung his head and scuffed at a worn spot in the carpet with a toe of his new boot. “I know.”
His mom glanced at Luke. “Is he thrown out of the school?”
“Not as long as he doesn’t mess up again.”
“Please, Mom. Let me go back. I won’t do anything bad again. I promise.” His dark eyes pleaded with her.
Luke stayed silent. This was between them. Rafe had been wrong about one thing, though—his mom loved him a lot. Concern for him radiated from her small stature.
Bonita nibbled her bottom lip. “I shouldn’t allow it.”
Wisely, Rafe kept his opinion to himself.
She finally sighed. “I’m going to say no, son. You’re grounded for a month.”
“Mom.” Tears welled in his dark eyes. “Please.”
“No, son. You messed up and there are consequences.”
Luke’s heart broke for the boy, but he could see his mom’s mind was made up. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Cantera. This is my responsibility.”
She eyed him. “It’s not your fault, Mr. Greer. My son knows better, and so does Justin Ellis.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Luke settled his Stetson on his head. “I’m sorry, Rafe. I’ll bring your clothes over when I have time.”
“Thanks.” His chin trembled.
“Thank you, Mrs. Cantera.” Luke stepped toward the door.
“I’m the one who should thank you.” She hesitated. “My son is so angry over his father. This was good for him.”
“I thought so.”
“I know so.” She smiled sadly. “Thank you for the opportunity. I’m sorry my son didn’t take advantage of it.”
Luke lightly punched the kid on the shoulder. “I’ll see you around, Rafe.”
“Bye, Luke.” He sounded as if his heart were breaking.
~*~
Rayanne hummed along with a Kenny Chesney song playing on the radio. She opened the oven door and the scent of roasting beef, baby potatoes and carrots wafted out. She inhaled appreciatively. Homemade rolls, and peach cobbler for dessert would complete the meal.
Cooking was one of her joys, but unless Megan dropped by, having someone to cook for was rare. She hoped Luke had a big appetite. She guessed she’d find out soon enough.
When the doorbell rang, she smoothed her hands on a dishtowel and hurried to the door. Luke held a bouquet of bright yellow tulips. “For you.”
She took the beautiful blooms and inhaled their sweet scent. “Thank you. Come in.”
As he entered, her breath caught. Wearing a dark blue western shirt, snug Wranglers and a big trophy belt buckle, he looked exactly like what he was—a world champion bull rider. By contrast, she felt like the plainest of Janes. She’d chosen one of her work outfits, a white eyelet top, denim skirt and ballet flats. Her makeup was minimal, and as usual, her hair curled wildly around her face.
“Smells good in here,” Luke said.
“Thank you. Would you like a bee
r?”
“Sounds great.”
She indicated the sofa. “Please sit down and I’ll get it.”
Carrying two mugs of beer and a snack tray back into the living room, she found Luke on the sofa, his Stetson on her coffee table. He took the drink with a smile. “Thanks, darlin’.” He patted the floral cushion next to him. “Sit by me?”
She sank onto the couch, close enough that their knees touched. “How was your day?”
He took a long draw on the beer. “I’ve had better.”
“What happened?” She set her own drink on the coffee table with a shaking hand. His grim expression scared her.
He told her, concluding with Laney had allowed Justin to continue, but had been unhappy about it.
“It’s not your fault, Luke.”
“I’m responsible for those kids. Me and Cody.” He drank again. “And the consequences could have been dire.”
“But they weren’t.” She placed a hand on his forearm. “You caught them in time.”
“By accident.”
“Who were the girls? Do you have any idea?”
“I think the boys said Amber and McKenzie,” he said. “Why?”
Rayanne’s stomach lurched. “Amber Lyn and McKenna. Not good. Amber’s parents own the Wagon Wheel and McKenna’s father is a judge. Neither set are snobbish, but I don’t think they’d be terribly happy to know their daughter was partying with boys and beer.”
“I read the boys the riot act,” Luke said. “I told them what could happen if things got out of hand and one of those girls ended up in trouble. I said all hell would break loose.”
“That’s putting it mildly. With the connections the judge has he could probably lock them away for a good long time.” Rayanne shuddered. “Stupid kids.”
“They’re not stupid,” Luke said. “Just young and full of beans.” He flashed a smile at her. “Horny, too.”
“I could wring Rafe’s neck,” Rayanne said, ignoring that comment even though her cheeks pinkened. “Justin’s, too.”
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