The Cowboy's Spring Romance

by Shanna Hatfield

  Graciously,

  T. Thompson

  Lindsay laughed and Cass jumped up and down.

  “What does it say Miss Lindsay? What does it say?” Cass asked, peering at the invitation but not able to decipher the words.

  “It says that your Uncle Trent is on a redemption mission,” Lindsay said, taking Cass’ hand and walking with her to the parking lot.

  “What’s redemption?” Cass asked, but before Lindsay could answer, she spied Trent waiting next to his pickup.

  Releasing Lindsay’s hand, Cass ran to her uncle, who stooped down and picked her up, tossing her in the air before settling her into her booster seat. Turning, he watched Lindsay approach. From the unreadable expression on her face, Trent wasn’t sure if he was in deeper trouble or making progress in his efforts to woo her.

  Lindsay held the invitation between two fingers and wiggled it at Trent. “I received your message and the invitation.”

  “I see that,” Trent said, trying to keep his foot from making its way back into his mouth. “I truly am sorry, Miss Pierce, and would very much appreciate the opportunity to start over.”

  “About that… I’m not so sure it’s a good idea,” Lindsay said, enjoying making Trent squirm, just a little. His hopeful expression was quickly sliding into one of dejection. “However, I am willing to give you one more chance.”

  The look of surprise and excitement that flooded Trent’s face went straight to Lindsay’s heart, melting her reserve and making her smile.

  Trent momentarily got lost in the blue of her eyes, the light of her smile and stood unmoving, entangled in something he wasn’t sure he could even identify.

  Reaching out, he gently squeezed Lindsay’s hand. “I’m grateful, Lindsay. I hope to make a much better first impression the second time around.”

  Lindsay laughed and the sound filled Trent with warmth and joy. “I owe you an apology as well, for my comments yesterday, and possibly my past behavior.”

  “Apology accepted,” Trent said, enjoying the feel of her long, strong fingers held in his own. Her hand was cool and soft, and fit in his perfectly.

  “What time should I be ready to go Saturday?” Lindsay asked, having trouble concentrating with a jolt shooting up her arm at Trent’s touch on her hand. His fingers were callused, tough, and yet so tender.

  “Would eight-thirty be too early?”

  “Not at all. I’ll be ready,” Lindsay said, already planning what she would wear. Not that she wanted to impress Trent or anything like that. “I didn’t realize you ski.”

  “I don’t very well,” Trent admitted. “Maybe you can give me some pointers.”

  “I’d be happy to, although it has been a while since I’ve been skiing. You really don’t have to take me out to dinner as well.”

  “I want to,” Trent said, taking a step closer to her. Lindsay could feel the heat from his body and smell his outdoorsy scent. “Please? It would be my pleasure.”

  Lindsay nodded.

  “You can bring something to change into before we go to dinner if you like,” Trent said, backing up to the pickup and bumping into the door. Cass was now tapping on the glass of the back window, waiting impatiently to go.

  “Okay. I’ll see you Saturday.”

  “Great,” Trent said, climbing in the pickup and shutting the door. He gave Lindsay a shy wave before backing up and heading toward Viv’s to pick up their lunch.

  He finally had a date with Miss Lindsay Pierce. Things were looking up.

  ><><

  Friday morning found Trent and Travis both in high spirits. Trent would take Cass to school then Travis would pick her up and drive her to The Dalles to spend the weekend with their mother. They loved their niece, but they were both ready for a break from their duty as babysitters. Denni would bring Cass and join them for services Sunday at church, fix them lunch and then head back to The Dalles.

  Two whole days without the chatter of a busy little five-year-old ringing in their ears was something to celebrate.

  They both sat drinking coffee, imagining the quiet, while Cass hummed and jiggled her feet through her breakfast of muffins, milk and a bowl of fruit. Tommy, the best cook of their hired hands, showed up at the door bright and early with a basket full of steaming cinnamon muffins, hot from the oven. Trent and Travis nearly gave him a raise on the spot as they snatched the basket out of his hand and devoured one each.

  The five ranch hands they employed, who usually ate breakfast and dinner with the family, were on their own for breakfast that meant they were making Tommy serve as cook until Cady got back. Trent suspected they weren’t going to starve by any means.

  “These are good muffins, aren’t they Uncle Trent?” Cass said, adding too much butter to her second muffin. Trent looked down and took the knife from her hand, removing a good portion of the butter blob.

  “Go easy on the grease, there, goofball.” Trent handed her back the muffin. Rex had already come by and combed Cass’ hair or Trent would have ruffled his hand on top of her head.

  “Why do you call me goofball? Ashley said that isn’t a very good name for a girl.”

  “What does Ashley’s uncle call her?” Trent asked, already knowing the answer. Ashley’s uncle ran the gas station and Trent had heard the unflattering moniker he had given his niece yelled across the parking lot on more than one occasion.

  “Pigpen,” Cass said with a giggle. “I don’t think that is a good name.”

  “Me either,” Trent said, tweaking her nose. “I call you goofball because that’s what you are - a silly, funny, little ball of fire that makes us all happy.”

  Cass looked up at her uncle and smiled then held her arms up to him. He picked her up and she gave him one of her stranglehold hugs. He felt muffin crumbs go down the back of his shirt collar, but right now, he didn’t mind too much.

  “I love you, Uncle Trent.”

  “Love you, too, goofball. Now, hurry up or you are going to be late and you know Miss Lindsay doesn’t like late.”

  “I’m hurrying,” Cass said, gulping down the last of her milk and stuffing in her last bite of muffin. Her cheeks were bulging as she wiped her mouth on a napkin, jumped off the stool and ran back to her room to brush her teeth and wash her face.

  “Just think, bro, a few more minutes and it is beautiful, peaceful quiet for two entire days.” Travis leaned back in the stool with a look of blissful contentment on his face.

  “Don’t forget, you are taking her to Mom’s after school. If I’m going to be gone all day tomorrow, I’ve got plenty I need to take care of today,” Trent said, placing the breakfast dishes in the dishwasher and wiping down the counter.

  “I won’t forget,” Travis said, sitting forward and leaning his arms on the counter. “I can’t believe you got Lindsay to agree to a date so quickly. I thought we’d have to work a little harder at it. Are you sure you want to go out with her?”

  Trent glared at him.

  “I mean, she isn’t exactly showing great judgment or even good taste by being so obviously attracted to you,” Travis teased. Trent threw the wet dishtowel at him, catching him in the face. Travis laughed and threw it back.

  “Thanks again for helping make the invitation for her,” Trent said, glad Travis had a few creative design skills he was willing to share.

  “No problem, bro. Just a few clicks on the computer are all.” Looking at the clock, Travis sighed. “I’ll go start the pickup. You got her stuff together?”

  “Yep,” Trent said, gathering mittens, hat, scarf, backpack and coat, waiting for hurricane Cass to come running through the kitchen. “Cass, time to go. Come on!”

  “Coming,” he heard her yell as her feet pattered down the hall. She came zipping into the kitchen and hurried to put on her coat.

  As he walked with her to the pickup, she swung on his hand, jumping and sliding in the packed snow. “Tell Uncle Travis to remember my suitcase and my present for Grammy.”

  “Yes, boss,” Trent teased, helpin
g her into her booster seat and shutting the door.

  “You call Daddy boss. You can’t call me boss,” Cass informed him.

  “Yes, goofball,” Trent said, making a silly face in the rearview mirror that made her laugh.

  “You’re silly, Uncle Trent,” Cass said. “How come Uncle Travis isn’t silly like you?”

  “That’s just the way he is,” Trent said, wondering how to explain to Cass that Travis had seen and experienced things in Iraq that had taken away a lot of his silliness. “But Uncle Travis is a lot of fun, isn’t he?”

  “Yeah, he helps me play farmer with his old toys and tells me stories.”

  “What kind of stories?” Trent asked.

  “Good stories. Like the one about the stars. He said if I look at the stars up in the sky for a long time, the ones that shine extra bright are really my first mommy and daddy winking at me.”

  “That is a great story, Cass,” Trent said, surprised that Travis would share something that deep and comforting with the child.

  Parking at the school, Trent helped Cass from the pickup and made sure she had her backpack. Crouching down, he gave her a hug and patted her back, sending her off to play.

  “Aren’t you going to walk me to class?” she asked, partway across the schoolyard.

  “Not today, goofball,” Trent said, opening his pickup door. He didn’t want to accidentally say anything to get off on the wrong foot with Lindsay. “Have fun at Grammy’s and I’ll see you Sunday at church.”

  He was backing up to leave when he realized he didn’t know where Lindsay lived. Odd, in the three years she’d been living in their community, he never once thought about her housing situation. Pulling back into the parking space, he turned off the ignition and hurried into the school. Going to her room, he was disappointed to see she wasn’t there. Turning to go, he nearly plowed over her.

  “Lindsay, sorry,” he said, grabbing her arms to steady her. The sweater beneath his hands felt soft and rich. The icy blue color was a perfect complement to her blue eyes and blond hair. This close, he admired the way her nose tilted up slightly on the end and her lips looked as soft as velvet.

  “What brings you in this morning?” she asked, trying to remember how to breathe normally with Trent this close. His hands on her arms felt like he was slowly incinerating holes through her sweater right down to her bones. The sight of his strong jaw and warm smile were about to make her knees tremble.

  “I forgot to ask directions to your house,” he said, letting her go and taking a step back. The strong muscles his hands held, while his palms got all clammy, amazed him. He suddenly felt every single crumb Cass had unknowingly dribbled down his neck.

  “Oh, I didn’t even think about that,” Lindsay said and gave him directions to her house. She was, in fact, just past the turn off to the Triple T Ranch, but not many people knew which house she rented. Most just knew it was south of town.

  “Great. I’ll see you in the morning then,” Trent said, tipping his hat and backing toward the door. He nearly tripped over one of the small desks, but managed to keep moving without falling.

  “I’m looking forward to it,” Lindsay said with a smile that made him momentarily lose the ability to swallow.

  He nodded and disappeared out into the hall.

  Lindsay sank down in her chair and held her head in her hands. The bell rang but didn’t penetrate her mental focus that was obsessing over the extremely handsome cowboy she’d be spending the entire day with tomorrow. She now regretted agreeing to the date. She was certain she would be a basket case of nerves before Trent ever arrived.

  Chapter Six

  Tradition wears a snowy beard,

  romance is always young.

  John Greenleaf Whittier

  Glancing at the clock for the fourth time in five minutes, Lindsay gave herself a stern lecture about appearing too eager and needing to act casual.

  Trent wasn’t due to arrive for another ten minutes and Lindsay was certain the knot in her stomach would make her violently ill before then.

  Before she could worry herself into an anxiety attack, she heard a vehicle pull up and saw Trent walking toward the door, his long legs quickly eating up the distance.

  She didn’t wait for him to ring the bell as she opened the door with a bright smile she was unable to subdue.

  Looking at her through the screen, he smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkling and his lips curving upward.

  “Hi! You must be Lindsay. I’m Trent,” he said, hoping to start their date off in a fun way, although his heart was pounding and he felt lightheaded.

  “Nice to meet you,” Lindsay said, playing along as she pushed open the screen door.

  Trent stepped into the small living room, completely surprised by Lindsay’s choice of furnishings. He would have pictured her with something sleek and modern, not the comfortable looking couch with the floral upholstered chairs. The room was cheery and inviting despite the feminine décor.

  “Nice place,” he said, looking around. He could see part of a kitchen behind the living room and a hallway that probably led to the bathroom and bedroom. Turning his attention back to Lindsay, he watched her gather up a huge duffle he assumed contained her ski equipment. He noticed her skis and poles on the porch outside when he came in. She also picked up a black garment bag and her purse.

  Trent took the duffle from her and held the door. Giving her what he hoped was his most charming smile, Lindsay tripped on the threshold and would have fallen down the porch steps if he hadn’t shot out his hand and caught her arm.

  Blushing, she ducked her head. “Thanks. I guess I better pay more attention to where I’m walking.”

  Trent let go of her arm then picked up her skis and poles, following her down the sidewalk. Laying the ski stuff in the back of his pickup, she hung the garment bag in the back seat. Before she could open her door and climb in, Trent was beside her, opening the door and helping her inside. She didn’t really need help, but she thought his nice manners were a great start to their day. It was also nice to see his playful side as he obviously tried to lighten the mood and make it clear he wanted a fresh start to their relationship.

  Connecting the word relationship with Trent made Lindsay feel overheated. Unzipping her coat, she stuffed her gloves in her pocket.

  “Is the pickup too warm for you?” Trent asked, reaching to fiddle with the temp controls.

  “No, it’s fine. I just have on too many layers,” Lindsay said. Trent was looking fine in a pair of jeans, a bright blue turtleneck and his canvas coat. He wore snow packs instead of his usual cowboy boots and had on a ball cap instead of a Stetson. His freshly shaved cheeks and outdoorsy scent captured her attention and held her focus. Today, she thought he looked younger and very carefree. Chastising herself for her silly romantic thoughts, she tried to pull her gaze from Trent but found the task more than she could handle at the moment.

  Trent noticed her stare and absently rubbed at his cheek, hoping he didn’t have something stuck on his face. Trying to look in the rearview mirror without being obvious, he couldn’t see anything, so he instead made an attempt at studying Lindsay while keeping one eye on the road.

  He hadn’t realized she was renting old man Drexel’s empty house. The Drexel property line touched the Triple T line on their southwest corner. From there, he could hit a baseball and have it roll into Lindsay’s yard. He liked knowing she was that close to home.

  Seeing her this morning, he couldn’t take his eyes from her pink cheeks, peachy lips or silken hair. She was so beautiful. He was having trouble wrapping his head around the notion that she willingly agreed to spend the entire day with him. He planned to make the most of this opportunity and give her the best first date she’d ever had.

  Judging from her front room, she might just be one of those girls who were all tangled up in romance. If that was true, Trent was really going to have to pull out all the stops to grab her attention and keep it. What was it his mother was always saying?
Something about romance was for the young at heart. Well, he was feeling pretty young and chipper today. That was a fact.

  “Judging from your skis and bag of equipment, I’m guessing you’ve been skiing more than once or twice,” Trent said, his blue eyes twinkling.

  “Um… yeah, I have,” Lindsay said, trying to concentrate on what he was saying. Conversation was good. She needed something to distract her from the thoughts flitting around her head that were taunting her to slide closer to Trent and lean her head on his shoulder. Or touch her lips to that taut cheek.

  Forcing herself to look out the windshield at the road in front of them, she sat up a little straighter, trying to get her thoughts in check. “I skied quite a bit growing up, and on breaks home from college. I haven’t gone much since I moved to Grass Valley, although I have been to Hoodoo a few times.”

  “Did you usually ski at Mt. Bachelor?”

  “Most of the time,” Lindsay said, watching the scenery as they headed south. “Sometimes in college we went to Mt. Hood or Willamette Pass. I’ve skied all but one of Oregon’s twelve ski areas.”

  “Which one haven’t you been to?” Trent asked, genuinely interested.

  “Spout Springs, in Northeast Oregon,” Lindsay said, thinking about all the ski trips she had taken over the years. “My Dad and brother like to ski so we made adventures out of going to the different ski areas. Mom was well acquainted with the lodges. We just never made it to Spout Springs, but I’ll ski it someday.”

  “I’m sure you will,” Trent said. “So your mom wasn’t into skiing. Did she like your other outdoor adventures?”

  Lindsay laughed. “No. My mother is one of those females who prefer not to sweat, get dirty or get too much sunshine. She is petite and lovely and could easily be one of those mothers from the old 1950s television shows. I guess I take after my dad. Lonnie and I both do.”

  “Lonnie is your brother?”

  “Yes. There’s just the two of us and we are only a year apart. We’ve always gotten along really well. He lives in Portland and works for a brokerage firm, so I don’t see him as often as I’d like. Once in a while we plan some sort of get together, usually something outdoorsy.”