The Cowboy's Spring Romance

by Shanna Hatfield

  If I picked you up at 8 a.m. Saturday, fed you breakfast and planned a fun day in The Dalles, would that work for you? You can dress casual.

  Yes! Can’t wait!

  Smiling, Trent sent her a reply confirming he’d be at her door at eight then returned to laundry duty.

  By the time Tommy came in to get dinner going, Trent was folding the third load of laundry. After dinner, while Travis did the dishes and kept an eye on Cass, Trent put the last load of jeans in the washer, keeping his fingers crossed that the extra attention he gave to the manure-caked legs would help them come clean.

  He suddenly felt sorry for Cady and all the smelly, nasty laundry she did every week without a word of complaint. It must be doubly awful for her since she grew up as a city girl and never even smelled manure until they hired her back in September.

  A new appreciation for his sister-in-law filled Trent. He’d be sure and thank her when she and Trey got back tomorrow.

  Trent could hardly believe they had survived Trey and Cady being gone almost two weeks without any disaster. Other than the spilled juice incident, Cass hadn’t even really cried or been upset.

  Picking up a basket of clean shirts, he came out of the laundry room to hear Cass screaming like her life was about to end. Trent ran to the kitchen in time to see Travis set Cass down on the counter, run a cloth in cold water, and stick it in her mouth. He could see blood trickling down her chin.

  Cass continued screaming and crying the entire time. Travis tried to pick her up again, but she struggled against him and turned to Trent with tears pouring from her big blue eyes.

  “I want Trent,” she sobbed, holding her arms out to him. “Uncle Trent!”

  Dropping the basket, he picked her up and held her close to his chest. Travis looked crestfallen but didn’t say anything as Trent sat down at the counter and rubbed Cass’ back. She finally quit screaming and her sobs eventually subsided.

  “Honey, what’s the matter?” Trent asked, trying to push her back so he could see in her mouth.

  “She was eating some of those hard candy hearts and bit down on one. I think it knocked out the front tooth that was loose before it was ready,” Travis said, leaning against the counter, wanting to help but not sure what to do.

  “Let’s take a look, Cass,” Trent said, trying to push down her arms and get a look. She shook her head and started to whimper.

  “Come on, Cass, you know we won’t hurt you. Let Uncle Travis and I take a look.”

  She finally quit struggling and Trent held her while Travis examined the spot. It quit bleeding and everything looked fine.

  Running the washcloth under cold water, Travis rinsed it out and put it in her mouth again, telling her to suck on it. She did, leaning into Trent’s chest.

  “Where’s the tooth?” Trent asked. Cass sat up and looked alarmed, but Travis laid it on the counter for her to admire. She picked it up in her hand and examined it then held it up to Trent.

  He gave it a good look and smiled. “You know what this means, don’t you?”

  Cass shrugged.

  “The tooth fairy will come get your tooth and leave something under your pillow,” Trent said.

  “She will?” Cass said, pulling the washrag out of her mouth. “Like what?”

  “That will be a surprise only the tooth fairy will know. You have to be asleep when she gets here or she won’t leave you the treat,” Trent said, looking to Travis for agreement.

  “Yeah, it’s pretty cool. She takes this old tooth that you don’t need anymore and leaves you something good in return. I usually got money.”

  “You did?” Cass asked.

  “Yep,” Travis said, nodding his head. He was trying to fight back a little jealousy that Cass preferred his brother to him. Travis knew Cass spent more time with Trent and knew him better, since he just arrived home about six weeks ago, but it still hurt to watch her scream for Trent when she really needing comforting.

  “Let’s get you ready for bed, goofball, so the fairy can come,” Trent said, picking her up and carrying her to her room.

  Travis took the discarded laundry basket and put the clothes away. Making himself a cup of hot chocolate, he sat in the great room reading the paper and trying not to be upset that he wasn’t the favorite uncle.

  When Trent came back, he sat down and looked at Travis, knowing he was not happy about what happened with Cass.

  “Bro, you can’t take it so personally,” Trent said. If he didn’t know Travis as well as he did, he wouldn’t know anything was bothering him. Despite his younger brother’s efforts at hiding his feelings, Trent could tell he was miffed.

  “I’m not.” Travis didn’t bother to look up from the paper, continuing to pretend to read it.

  “Right,” Trent said, sitting quietly for a moment, before jerking the paper away from Travis.

  The scowl Travis gave his brother would have sent lesser men scattering, but Trent didn’t even flinch.

  “If it will make you feel better to punch me, go right ahead. It wasn’t about you, Travis, or anything you did or didn’t do. She just knows me better. You forget we spent a couple months taking her places, doing things with her before her mom died. She knew Trey, Cady and I pretty well before her custody ever became an issue. That’s all it was. If Trey and Cady had been here, she would have wanted Cady instead of any of the rest of us. Not because she loves us less, she’s just most comfortable around Cady.”

  “I know,” Travis said, letting out a sigh. “It still kind of hurts, though.”

  “I’m sorry, man,” Trent said, slapping his brother’s leg. “But just think, after tomorrow, we go back to being doting uncles and occasional playmates instead of primary care givers.”

  “Well, there is that to look forward to,” Travis said with a hint of a smile.

  “Say, what should we put under her pillow? It’s been way too long for me to remember what the tooth fairy does.”

  “I don’t know,” Travis said, looking thoughtful. “Do we need to factor in inflation? It seems like I always got fifty cents. Do kids these days get a five dollar bill?”

  “Surely not,” Trent said, wondering exactly what parents did give kids these days.

  “I know,” Travis said, leaning forward and giving Trent a shove. “Call your girlfriend and ask her. I bet she’d have some ideas.”

  “She isn’t my girlfriend,” Trent ground out, not adding that technically until they kissed, he was still classifying them as friends.

  “Just call her,” Travis said, picking up the paper and resuming his perusal of the sports page.

  “Fine,” Trent said and stalked off toward the office. Calling Lindsay’s cell phone, she picked up on the third ring.

  “Lindsay, its Trent. I hope this isn’t too late to call.”

  “Not at all. What’s up?” she said, a little out of breath. Trent wondered what she had been doing.

  “Cass lost a tooth tonight and we aren’t sure what the tooth fairy should give her.”

  He could hear Lindsay slam a door and footsteps running, then another door close. “I’d give her fifty cents to a dollar, in change.”

  “Okay. Anything else?” Trent asked, wondering what Lindsay was doing.

  “Make sure you keep the tooth. Cady will want to save it.”

  “I guessed that much,” Trent said. “Are you sure I’m not interrupting something?”

  “No,” Lindsay laughed. “I was just teaching my punching bag not to mess with me. I think it is fully beat into submission.”

  Trent smiled, picturing her pummeling a heavy bag. “Remind me not to get on your bad side.”

  “I will,” Lindsay teased. “If you want to make this really special for Cass, Cady keeps some glitter in the storage closet in the room you guys call the parlor. You could sprinkle some from her bed to the window so it looks like the fairy flew in and out, leaving some magic dust behind.”

  “You’re a genius,” Trent said, imagining the look on Cass’ face when sh
e woke up to find the fairy dust. “Thanks, Lindsay. I owe you one.”

  “More than one, but I’ll collect one of these days,” Lindsay said, feeling a little flirty.

  “I’ll hold you to that,” Trent lowered his voice in a way that made Lindsay’s toes tingle.

  “See you at school tomorrow?” she asked.

  “Yep, at least for a minute,” he said. “Night and thanks again.”

  “Anytime, cowboy.”

  Trent hung up and went to the storage closet in the parlor. The room was filled with his family’s antiques, including an upright piano, and the only people who really enjoyed the room where his mother, Cady and their women friends. The furniture was delicate and Trent was afraid every time he came in here, something might break, so they mostly kept the door closed. Cady used it when she first arrived as a craft room of sorts. She set up a sewing machine beneath the window and made Cass some things for Christmas.

  Digging through the closet, he found a small plastic tub with art supplies including some fine iridescent glitter he thought would work well. Taking the small jar with him, he knew someone would have to clean up the glitter tomorrow, but he’d worry about that later. For now, he and Travis were going to spin a little magic for Cass.

  Going back to the great room, he told Travis what Lindsay said and between the two of them, they came up with a dollar in shiny quarters. Sneaking into Cass’ room, they could tell from her deep breathing that she was sound asleep. Quietly slipping the quarters beneath her pillow and pocketing the tooth, they lightly sprinkled dust from her bed to the window. Travis took a Barbie doll and made a few footprints on the windowsill in the glitter, then carefully wiped off the doll’s feet, so no incriminating evidence could later be discovered.

  Tiptoeing out Cass’ bedroom door, they put the tooth in a small envelope and Trent placed it on the dresser in Trey and Cady’s room.

  Their work as Tooth Fairy was complete.

  Chapter Nine

  French is the language that turns dirt into romance.

  Stephen King

  Lindsay had mixed feelings about Trey and Cady returning home. On one hand, she would be excited to have her friend back. They had a lot to catch up on in the almost two weeks Cady had been gone. On the other hand, she realized Cady would resume transporting Cass to and from school and she would no longer have the opportunity to see Trent twice a day, even if it was surrounded by kids and parents.

  When Trent called the night before asking about tooth fairy tactics, she thought he was about the most adorable male on the planet. The things he had done to make Cass feel special and keep her from missing her parents were quite noteworthy. She couldn’t think of another guy who would have gone to the trouble he had in his role as uncle.

  She could hardly wait for their date tomorrow. If it were anything like last Saturday, she would be thoroughly romanced before the day was done.

  Lindsay just hoped Trent would get around to giving her a kiss. It was somewhat romantic to ponder when it would actually happen, since he obviously wasn’t one to give out kisses randomly. Evidently, a kiss from Trent Thompson had to be earned and she was more than willing to try.

  Getting up early Saturday morning, Lindsay knew Trent said to dress casual, but she stood in front of her closet frantically trying to decide what to wear. Did casual to him mean jeans and a sweater or dress slacks and a nice blouse?

  Knowing she was running short of time, she finally pulled out a pair of dark blue denim jeans, a cute top and a trendy jacket along with a pair of boots that were comfortable, but also fashionable.

  Adding a scarf to her ensemble, she hurried to twist some curls into her stick-straight hair with a hot curling iron and plenty of hairspray, put on some eyeliner and mascara, and spritzed on perfume.

  Picking up her purse and a coat, she left them by the door then went back to her bedroom to give herself another critical look in the mirror. Satisfied that she looked acceptable, she snapped on her watch, put her cell phone in her purse and took a deep breath just as Trent pulled up.

  Peeking around the curtain, she watched his long legs saunter down her walk. He looked excessively handsome, especially for this early on a Saturday morning. She admired him from the top of his Stetson to the tips of his polished boots. He was one fine-looking cowboy and she was excited at the prospect of having him all to herself for the day.

  Waiting for him to knock, she quickly opened the door, picked up her coat and purse and let him take her hand as they went down the walk.

  “You look quite fetching today, Miss Pierce,” Trent said, holding open her door and breathing deeply of her scent. Truthfully, she looked much more than just fetching. Her trendy outfit and finger-tempting hair looked like she stepped right out of a department store advertisement. The dark blue jeans made her legs look like they went on forever.

  “Fetching?” Lindsay said on a laugh. “I don’t think I’ve heard anyone use that word for ages.”

  “Oh,” Trent said, looking a little deflated as he slid behind the steering wheel.

  She quickly leaned across the seat and squeezed his hand. “I meant that in a good way. I like it. As a teacher, I appreciate it when people stretch their vocabulary, especially to include good old words no one uses anymore. Like fetching. So you, Mr. Thompson, look quite dapper yourself.”

  “Thank you.” Trent gave her a smile that warmed her insides. Although he had a little trouble shifting one-handed, he didn’t let go of her hand as he drove to the highway. Lindsay decided that was a great start to the day.

  As they approached the freeway, Trent filled her in on how excited Cass was to wake up to money from the tooth fairy and find her glittery footprints on the windowsill.

  “I can’t believe you and Travis actually went to that much bother for her. That is awesome,” Lindsay said, thoroughly impressed with the two Thompson brothers.

  “Cady wasn’t quite as excited about the glitter all over Cass’ room, but that little goofball wanted her folks to see the footprints and wouldn’t let me clean it up,” Trent said. “I’m not sure who was most excited to have Trey and Cady home – me, Travis, them or Cass.”

  Lindsay laughed. “Probably them. It’s always nice to get away, but even better to come home.”

  “True,” Trent agreed.

  By the time they pulled into the restaurant in The Dalles an hour later, Lindsay and Trent were playing a game, trying to come up with words no one used anymore in regular conversation. So far, Lindsay was winning.

  “Ludicrous,” she said, as Trent turned off the ignition and opened her door.

  “It is ludicrous to continue this conversation when we are clearly famished,” he said, throwing in one more word for good measure.

  Lindsay laughed and slipped her arm through Trent’s as they walked through the door of a quaint French bakery and bistro. Although she lived in Grass Valley for three years, Lindsay had not taken time to explore much of The Dalles. If she had time off, she usually went to Prineville where her parents lived, or to Portland to visit her brother. If she wanted to shop, she drove to either Bend or Portland. The few times she had been to The Dalles, it was mostly a run to the grocery store and once to the doctor for a sinus infection that wouldn’t clear up.

  Seated at a table for two, they looked over their menus and couldn’t decide what delectable selection to try. Everything sounded so good.

  When their waitress arrived, speaking with a French accent, Lindsay couldn’t stop smiling. Everything in the restaurant was so romantic, from the cozy little bistro tables to the beautiful décor.

  “Bonjour! I’m Simone. What would mademoiselle like?” the waitress asked.

  “Your pastry sampler, please,” Lindsay said, liking the idea of a plate full of assorted sweet breads.

  “Very good. And you will drink Paris tea?” the waitress asked.

  “I will? What is Paris tea?” Lindsay asked, finding their waitress charming and fun.

  “It is vanilla and berga
mot black. A perfect complement to the pastries,” the waitress said, turning to Trent.

  “And for you, monsieur?”

  “I’d like to try your omelet.”

  “Excellent,” the waitress said. “And you will drink Americano coffee. Oui?”

  “Yes, please.”

  When the waitress left, Lindsay was still smiling as Trent took her hand, rubbing slow circles into her palm. That small gentle caress sent her world into a sensory tailspin. She wondered if he had any idea of the havoc he caused with such a simple, yet intimate touch.

  Looking into his face, she forgot they were in a restaurant, that she was nearly starving, that there was anything else in the world except Trent and those warm blue eyes of his. When he winked at her, she realized she’d been staring.

  “Are you checking me out?” he asked with a devilish grin, raising an eyebrow at her suggestively.

  “Certainly not,” Lindsay said, flustered. “I was just… um…”

  She was saved from trying to come up with a response when the waitress arrived with their beverages. She gave Trent his plain coffee and set a fragrant cup of tea, laced with cream and sugar, in front of Lindsay.

  “Take a taste, mademoiselle,” she encouraged.

  Lindsay took a sip and her eyes lit in pleasure at the delicious flavor.

  “This is really good.”

  “Would Simone tell a story to you? Non,” the waitress said then disappeared. When she returned, she placed a platter covered by a huge omelet in front of Trent and a plate with warm pastries in front of Lindsay.

  “Let me know if there is anything else you need. Oui?”

  “This looks wonderful. Thank you,” Lindsay said, anxious to try the pastries. There were buttery croissants, Pain au Chocolat, and several other delicate treats and sweet breads. She snitched a bite or two of Trent’s omelet and she shared her pastries with him.

  “You like?” the waitress asked.

  “It’s absolutely delicious,” Lindsay said while Trent nodded.

  “Wonderful,” the waitress said, leaving them to finish their meal.