by Judy Duarte
“Yes, that’s where I heard it,” Shannon said. “But since two of your new hires ended up in jail last Saturday night and you had to bail them out, I drew my own conclusion.”
At that, Sam laughed, again reminding Blake of the man he’d always loved and respected, the man who’d once thought Blake could walk on water—or leap tall LA buildings in a single bound.
“Nate doesn’t drink anything stronger than soda pop,” Sam said. “Besides, it was a dirty old bottle that had been there for a while, so the cut could easily become infected. I wanted to take him to Urgent Care to get it cleaned out properly, but he didn’t want any part of that.”
“Where is he?” Shannon asked.
Sam nodded toward the bright red barn, which appeared to have been recently painted. “When Nate spotted you in the yard and realized I was going to ask you to check him out, he swung around to the back entrance. He’s probably washing off the blood and planning to slap a bandage over it. But that cut was pretty deep.”
“Then I’ll hurry and take a look at it before he covers it up and heads back to work.” Shannon lifted the mug she’d been holding, took a sip and then set it on top of an old tree stump near the porch. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
Before Blake could resume talking to his uncle, the screen door swung open and the older brunette returned.
“Can I get you some coffee?” she asked Sam. “You didn’t have your second cup this morning.”
“Not yet.” Sam nodded toward Blake. “I need to speak to Fancy Pants first. Then I’ll come into the kitchen and share a cup with you.” He winked at the woman. “And if you have any of that carrot cake left over from last night, I’ll have a piece of that to go with it.”
She laughed. “You got it.” Then she went into the house, the screen door shutting behind her.
When the two men were finally alone, Blake said, “Like I said, I owe you an apology.”
“Just one?” Sam let out a little snort. “And just what would that be for?”
“Not visiting you more often.”
Sam straightened his shoulders, which tugged on his red flannel shirt and made them appear to be just as strong and broad as ever. “Once you went off to law school, you put me and Nellie on the back burner.”
Why’d Sam have to mention Nellie? If Blake had felt guilty before, the reminder of his aunt and the fact that he’d been too busy to come to Texas and spend either Thanksgiving or Christmas with the couple during the last five years she’d been alive made it all the worse. And no matter what he said, what excuses he’d given himself, there was no making up for that.
Sam glanced at Blake’s suitcase. “You planning to stay here?”
“I thought it might take some time for me to prove to you just how sorry I am. So, yes, I’d like to stay with you, if that’s okay. Otherwise, I’ll find a place in town.”
That seemed to touch the heart of the rugged rancher, at least a little. And for that, Blake was grateful. His aunt and uncle had been good to him while he’d been growing up and had felt neglected by his unfailing focus on his career.
He could argue that he’d offered to move them to California, but neither of them would have been happy leaving Texas. He knew that now, even if the truth of it had escaped him before.
“Well, what are you waiting for?” Sam pointed at Blake’s luggage. “Get your stuff and come with me. I don’t have all day.”
Blake grabbed the suitcase and followed his uncle past the barn and down a short path to a small outbuilding that also appeared to be freshly painted. The exterior walls were clean and white, and the bright red door was the same color as the barn.
“This is my place,” Sam said, as he let Blake inside.
Blake scanned the cozy living room with a small stone fireplace on the outside wall and a built-in bookshelf next to it. His uncle had certainly downsized. Before Sam and Nellie sold their ranch, they’d lived in a sprawling house on more than five hundred acres of prime grazing land.
“I hope I don’t inconvenience you,” Blake said.
“You won’t bother me. For the most part, I’ve been staying with Joy in the big house.”
Blake’s gut clenched. What did Sam mean by “staying with” her?
“You’re sleeping with her?” Blake had meant to mask his surprise, but the tone of his voice let him down.
“So what if I am?” Sam snapped. “I’m an adult.”
“Yes, but...” Blake bit back his response, which would only serve to make matters worse.
“Did you think your generation invented sex?” Sam asked. “Or that I’d outgrown the need for it?”
“Neither,” Blake said, although he’d assumed that a man his uncle’s age... Well, hell. Clearly his assumption was wrong, and he was glad to know that. He’d hate to think he’d ever “outgrow” the need or desire for sex.
“And just so you know,” Sam added, “I don’t need any little blue pills, either.”
Blake had no response for that, other than to hope he’d inherited some of the Darnell strength, stamina and hormones.
“Go ahead and make yourself at home,” Sam said. “I’ve got work to do. We’ll have to talk more later.”
A nap did sound good. Blake hadn’t been able to sleep on the plane.
“Lunch is at the big house at eleven-thirty sharp,” Sam added. “I’ll see you then.”
After Sam left, Blake scanned the ten-by-ten-foot living room, with its brown leather sofa, dark oak coffee table and the colorful Navajo rug that adorned the hardwood floor. The place was cozy and clean, although it was a far cry from the high-rise condo in which Blake lived.
But Blake was prepared to stay as long as it took to bury the hatchet. He’d also do whatever he could to protect Uncle Sam’s heart and bank account while he was at it.
And if he had to buy off the gold digger and her niece, then so be it. He’d be damned if he was going to just roll over and let nature—or greed—run its course.
* * *
If there was one thing Shannon had learned during her first few days on the job at the Rocking C, it was to be prepared for the unexpected. There seemed to always be one minor crisis or another occurring that would keep her busy from morning until night.
And today had been no different. From the traffic jam at the bridge to Blake Darnell’s surprise arrival, nothing had been routine. Even dealing with Nate’s injury hadn’t been easy. She’d had to override his objections and insist upon cleaning and dressing the wound properly.
After the cowboy had gone back to work, she’d called Doc Nelson, who’d be coming by this evening for the weekly poker game, and asked him to arrive early so he could take a look at it. In the meantime, the doctor had prescribed an antibiotic, as well as a tetanus shot. So she then had to get into the all-terrain vehicle and drive the injections out to the south pasture, bushwhacking the young cowboy, who’d rolled his eyes but let her do her job.
Once that was out of the way, the rest of her morning went as usual. It was just after noon when she prepared the midday medications. As she passed them out, she took time to visit with each of the elderly men, all of whom she’d grown to care about.
The last one on her med list was Rex Mayberry, one of her favorite old cowboys. She often found him outside, seated in one of the rockers on the porch, so that’s where she started her search.
She’d barely reached the screen door when she heard him blurt out a curse. Sure enough, she’d found him. She adjusted the small tray she carried with disposable cups of water and medications labeled with residents’ names, then went outside.
As she opened the screen door, the hinges squeaked. Rex, who’d been watching the younger cowboys try to gentle a yearling in the corral, turned and watched her approach. The scowl he’d been wearing morphed into a wry grin. “Well, if it ain’t my personal Florence Nightingale. I was beginning to think you’d abandoned me.”
“My favorite resident? No way would I ever forget you.” She’d only
been working at the Rocking C for three months, but everyone here had managed to touch her heart, especially Rex, who could be a real hoot when he wasn’t complaining. And even then she got a big kick out of him.
She handed Rex his pill in a tiny paper cup and waited until he’d taken it and chased it down with water. Turning to go back into the house, she spotted Blake Darnell approaching and stopped in her tracks.
He’d changed out of the khaki slacks he’d been wearing earlier and into a pair of jeans. He might be trying to fit in around here, but he was much too polished around the edges. Even the denim didn’t make him look like a rancher, let alone a cowboy. And in spite of the fact that both he and his uncle were attractive men, considering their respective ages, they didn’t seem anything alike, especially in temperament.
So when Blake tossed a smile at her and again apologized for being rude earlier, it took her by surprise—a rather pleasant one at that.
“I didn’t get any sleep last night,” he added, “and then I got stuck in some backed-up traffic about two miles from here. Someone lost a load of hay, although it was pretty much picked up by the time I drove through. So that’s why I was a little snappish with you earlier.”
As much as Shannon wanted to stay angry at him, she’d never been one to hold a grudge. And the fact that he’d been delayed by the same teenage driver who’d spilled hay all over the road made her smile. “I was probably a few cars in front of you when you crossed the bridge, so I can relate to your frustration.”
“Can we start over?” He reached out his hand for a proper greeting, and she took it.
The warmth and strength of his grip sent an electrifying tingle zapping along every one of her nerve endings, a physical reaction to his touch that she hadn’t expected and didn’t appreciate.
Blake Darnell was a charmer, and she wasn’t about to allow herself to be roped in by him. But she’d have to agree with her initial assessment. He was drop-dead gorgeous when he smiled.
He was also the kind of man who was too busy to spend time with his aunt and uncle, something she found bothersome. Family was important, especially when you didn’t have many relatives left.
What she wouldn’t give to have one more opportunity to talk to her father.
“Dang it,” Rex hollered out. “Would you look at that?” He pointed a gnarled finger toward the younger man in the corral with a bay gelding. “Oh, for cripe’s sake. That guy Sam hired doesn’t know squat about horses. Will you go down there and give him a few pointers?”
“Me?” Darnell asked the sweet but crotchety old cowboy.
Rex shot him a frown. “No, not you. I was talking to Shannon. Who the hell are you, anyway?”
“I’m Blake Darnell, Sam’s nephew from California.”
“Oh.” Rex sat back in his chair, eyeing the attorney. “I heard about you.”
Actually, there weren’t many people living or working on the Rocking C who hadn’t. Sam might be a sweetheart most of the time, but he didn’t hold back when he blew a fuse.
Shannon couldn’t hide a smile. She loved these old cowboys who had no problem telling it like it was.
“So,” Rex said, returning his attention to Shannon. “Are you going to go out there and give that boy a lesson on the right way to handle a horse? I’d do it myself, but I left my cane inside.”
“I’m afraid that’s not in my job description,” Shannon said. “But just so you know, Sam told me he’s been working closely with those new hires and expects them all to make good cowboys someday.”
Rex swore under his breath. “Maybe those youngsters are still learning the ropes, but they’re doing it while they’re on the Rocking C’s time clock. Why, even a pretty little nurse like you knows way more about roping and riding than those fool kids.”
That might be true, but Shannon’s days of riding herd were behind her. She had a new career now, one she liked a whole lot better.
She glanced at Sam’s nephew, saw him watching her intently. A rush of heat washed over her, warming her cheeks and setting a flutter in her stomach.
“Can I talk to you?” he asked.
As his eyes locked on hers, the tingle in her belly grew stronger. If she had any sense, she’d tell him she had work to do. Instead, she said, “Sure.”
He nodded toward the barn. “Can you take a walk?”
The question, the requested private conversation, sent her thoughts scrambling.
What did he have to say to her? Maybe he only wanted to sway her opinion of him and to ask her to intercede with Sam.
“Okay,” she said. “I just need to stay within hearing distance of the house.”
Blake held out an open palm, indicating an “After you.”
She set the tray with the now-empty paper cups on the table next to Rex, then started down the steps, with Blake and his woodsy cologne and musky male scent following close behind.
“So what did you want to talk about?” she asked.
“For starters, I’d like to know more about the Rocking C and my uncle’s position here.”
“All right. I’ll give you the short version. Chloe Martinez inherited this ranch with the idea of turning it into a retirement home for cowboys. She used to work at an assisted living facility in town, the same one where Sam lived.”
“So she offered him a job?”
“Actually, she didn’t know much about ranching, so she would visit with Sam and ask him questions. As you probably know, he’s got a wealth of experience. So he gave her advice about things—like when a cattle broker was trying to cheat her. He’s been a godsend to her and to the old men at the ranch.”
“My uncle was one sharp rancher.”
“He still is. As for the Rocking C, it’s not just a retirement home. It’s a working ranch, which provides our residents with a familiar living environment. That’s something Chloe realized was lacking at the place in town, especially when it came to men like Rex.”
“Are all the residents as cantankerous as that guy?” Blake asked.
“Rex is actually pretty lovable, when you get to know him.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, it is.” Obviously, Blake had his doubts. But Shannon adored everything about Rex.
“You said you were in charge,” Blake said. “Where’s Chloe, the owner?”
“She and her husband are taking classes in graduate programs at the University of Texas, and I’m covering for her while she’s gone.”
Blake’s arm brushed her shoulder, setting off those tingles again. “And you like it here?”
“Yes, of course. But I’d prefer to have a position at the hospital in town. This job is only temporary. Once Chloe and Joe return, they’ll take over again.”
There had been one benefit she’d received by working here. She’d managed to find a place for her aunt to feel needed again.
Who would have guessed that a romance would spark between Joy and Sam? How sweet was that?
Shannon nearly mentioned that to Blake, but decided it wasn’t her place to let him know how happy her aunt and his uncle were. Just thinking about the May-December romance made her smile, especially when she remembered Sam’s words when she’d asked if he was happy. “You bet I am,” he’d said. “Thanks to your aunt, I’m downright Joy-ful these days.”
As Shannon and Blake walked along the side of the barn, he continued to quiz her about life on the Rocking C. “Are all the retired cowboys as critical of the new hands as Rex is?”
“No, not usually. But that doesn’t mean they don’t enjoy sharing their knowledge about cattle and horses every chance they get to corner one of the younger guys.”
“And letting them know when they’re doing something wrong?”
“That certainly happens.”
As they circled the barn, the crisp breeze blew a strand of hair across her eyes. She tucked it behind her ear, wishing she’d had time to weave it into a single braid before leaving her house.
“Still,” she said, “even though Re
x was complaining, those new men are working out just fine.”
“Did my uncle tell you that?” Blake turned to her, his arm brushing hers again. His gaze zeroed in on her, and her steps slowed.
“Yes, he did, and I believe him. I grew up on a small spread myself, and while I’m no expert, I think some of Rex’s complaints are over the top.”
“I’m surprised that Sam didn’t hire more experienced hands,” Blake said.
“That’s because Chloe couldn’t afford to pay the higher salaries those men required, although we’re all hopeful things will start looking up soon.” In fact, Sam had refused to take a paycheck for himself, probably for that reason. He understood profit-and-loss statements. So did the owners. That’s also why Joe Martinez, Chloe’s husband, was getting an MBA. He hoped to learn more ways to generate funds, including donations.
But Shannon had probably said too much already to Sam’s nephew, the attorney. So she held her tongue. No need to see him get riled up about that. He seemed to have enough bothering him already.
There was another reason she kept quiet. One she didn’t like pondering.
Blake had finally ditched his scowl, and Shannon liked seeing him smile. Especially with that gleam in his blue eyes, the change in expression made him just as good-looking as she’d thought it would.
And if what she’d heard about him was true, he was the worst possible man in the entire world for her to find attractive. To make matters even worse, he might soon be considered family. And she would bet her last dollar he wouldn’t be the least bit thrilled to hear that news.
Chapter Three
The brunette wearing the yellow apron turned out to be the ranch cook—and she was an excellent one, at that.
After serving Blake and the residents in the dining room, she returned to the kitchen, where Sam was eating with the hired hands. When she’d first asked Blake to sit at the table with the oldsters, he’d gotten the feeling that his uncle might have come up with the seating arrangement in order to avoid him. But then he’d wondered whether Sam might have wanted to separate the working men from the residents for one reason or another.
