Aidan: Loyal Cowboy: Aidan: Loyal CowboyThe Family Plan

by Cathy McDavid

  “I’m going to call your sister.”

  “Sure,” Flynn muttered at her father’s retreating back.

  After several moments of staring into space, she popped off the bed, went to her desk and fired up her laptop computer, logging on to the internet.

  She decided to take the same advice she’d given Ace and promptly set about developing her own contingency plan, starting with a job search.

  * * *

  “YEAH, I SEE YOU.” ACE squinted through the windshield at a tiny white truck and trailer about a half mile up the road. “Be there in a second.”

  He hung up with Colt, wondering how long this ordeal would last and wishing like heck Flynn had come with him. Why had she said no?

  During the first half hour of his lonely drive, he decided she was angry that yet another of their dates was interrupted. During the second half of the drive, he considered the situation from her point of view.

  Had he really tried as hard as he could to get someone else to rescue the stranded truck?

  The more he thought about it, the more he realized the answer was no. Had Flynn not been with him, he would have gotten on the road immediately. Attempting to find someone else, making calls, had been strictly for her benefit.

  What he’d wanted was for her to go with him like before.

  That she hadn’t readily agreed confused him. Frustrated him. Irritated him.

  Like before.

  His own words hit home.

  Why should she be the one to always compromise?

  Regardless of what happened, he couldn’t let anything go wrong at dinner tomorrow night. Flynn was right about another thing. He needed a contingency plan. Someone he could count on in a pinch.

  As he pulled up behind the stranded truck and trailer, Colt stepped into view and greeted him with a wave.

  No reason his brother shouldn’t help him.

  Unhooking a trailer filled with horses wasn’t an easy feat. The livestock had to be unloaded in order to lighten the trailer. Vehicles slowed as they passed the orange safety cones Uncle Joshua set out, their occupants gawking at the sight of ten horses tied to the outside of a trailer.

  Ace was grateful the rig hauling the bulls hadn’t been the one to break down. Then they might have surely caused an accident.

  Once the trailer was unhooked, they were faced with the task of rolling the nonrunning truck ahead and out of the way. Between the two of them, Ace and Colt were able to push the truck while Uncle Joshua steered. They all three were sweating profusely by the time they’d hooked the trailer up to Ace’s truck and finished reloading the last horse.

  Colt slipped in behind the wheel, Uncle Joshua in the passenger seat. All things considered, it could have gone much worse.

  Ace called the service station and received an update on their estimated arrival.

  Colt rolled down his window. “How long?”

  “Two to three hours,” Ace grumbled.

  That was the problem with living in a small town and no sizable metropolis nearby. Few resources. Fortunately, he’d brought a few files along and could tackle some work while he waited.

  He stepped up to the driver’s side window. “Before you leave, I have a favor to ask.”

  “What’s up?” Colt accepted the cold soda Uncle Joshua procured from their travel ice chest. “We really need to get on the road if we’re going to make it before the rodeo starts.”

  “I’m taking Flynn into Billings for a special dinner tomorrow night. Someplace nice.”

  Colt flashed Ace his trademark jaunty grin. “If you’re looking for the name of a good restaurant—”

  “I can manage the date. What I need is for you to stick nearby and cover for me in case something comes up.”

  “Can’t. Already made plans. I’ll be out of town.”

  “You’re leaving on a Sunday afternoon?”

  “Something came up. I’ll be back Tuesday.”

  “Two days? Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “I didn’t know for sure I was going until an hour ago. I was waiting on a phone call. Can’t you change your date with Flynn?”

  “I already promised her.” And Ace refused to ask Flynn to move their dinner to Tuesday. Not for an excuse as flimsy as Colt received some phone call and was disappearing for two days.

  “Where are you going?”

  “I have business.”

  “What kind of business?”

  “Personal,” he said, his voice low and terse.

  Colt had been acting stranger and stranger in recent weeks, and Ace was getting tired of it.

  “This leaving all the time has to stop.”

  “You’re not my keeper.”

  “And you’re not just an employee. You’re a member of the family. We all depend on the livestock contracting business to support us. You can’t continue taking off whenever the mood strikes.”

  “You’re taking off tomorrow night.”

  “Sunday. Not Monday. You have an obligation, a responsibility.”

  Colt’s features shut down. “Don’t lecture me.”

  “Someone needs to.”

  “I’m not staying home just to babysit while you go on a date.”

  Ace’s anger erupted. “Why the hell not? I stay home every time you take off for some rodeo.”

  “This is important.”

  “So’s my dinner with Flynn. We’re having a baby.”

  An odd emotion flickered across Colt’s face, and he shoved the transmission into drive. “Uncle Joshua can help you.”

  Up until then, their uncle had remained out of the conversation. “Whatever you need, Ace.”

  Colt eased the truck and trailer slowly forward, effectively putting an end to the conversation.

  “We’re talking when you get home,” Ace hollered after them, doubting Colt heard.

  Where was a punching bag when you needed one?

  Between Flynn, the truck breaking down and his disagreement with his brother, Ace was feeling perfectly dandy.

  Three hours sitting on the side of the road in a truck with no air-conditioning and nothing but a few work files and his own thoughts for company didn’t improve matters. Neither did the mechanic, who took almost an hour to complete a simple repair. Ace practically had steam pouring out of his ears when the man finally finished.

  Nothing sounded better than the truck’s engine roaring to life.

  “This here replacement battery will get you home but not much further,” the mechanic advised. “You’re going to need to bring the truck in for a new alternator.”

  “Appreciate the help.” Ace presented his credit card for the total of the bill.

  “Sorry it took so long. We’re short one man today.”

  Ace knew the feeling.

  His tension ebbed only slightly as he drove home, his truck eating up the miles. He checked the dash clock. Barring any unforeseen complications, he’d reach Thunder Ranch by four. He could throw on some fresh clothes, see to a few chores and be at Flynn’s by six.

  Not too late for supper and a stroll around the center of town.

  She’d told him to call first.

  He grabbed his phone off the seat, only to have it ring in his hand. A number he didn’t recognize appeared on the display.

  Ace didn’t answer. If the call was important, the person would leave a message. They didn’t.

  Good. Turns out practicing restraint wasn’t that tough.

  He changed his mind about calling Flynn, not taking a chance she’d say no, and decided instead to simply show up. Even if he only got to stay a few minutes, he’d let her know she was the one person he wanted to see most at the end of a long and arduous day.

  Anticipation had him putting pedal to the metal
.

  His mother knocked on his bedroom door as he was changing. “There’s some leftover pot roast I can heat up if you’re hungry.”

  He opened the door, tucking in his shirt. “Maybe later. I’m heading over to Flynn’s. I won’t be late.”

  “All right.”

  “You feeling okay, Mom? You look beat.” It seemed he was asking her that same question a lot lately.

  “I spent most of the day on the monthly financials. Not my strong suit, and it wore me out.” She rubbed her chest beneath her collarbone.

  “Mine, either, or I’d help you.”

  “You do enough already.”

  “So do you. How are the financials looking, by the way?”

  She shrugged. “We’re getting by.”

  “It’d be better if we had those stud fees coming in.”

  “Have you tried another hand breeding?”

  “Later this week. I’m waiting for a mare to come into heat.”

  “I’m sure it’ll go well. Midnight’s making great progress.” She stood on tiptoes and kissed Ace’s cheek. “Tell Flynn hello for me and invite her over. I’d love to see her.”

  “There was a young couple looking at her dad’s place the other day. They seemed pretty interested.”

  “Then you’d better hurry and win her over.”

  He thought of dinner tomorrow. “I’m working on it. Trust me.”

  Ace parked behind Flynn’s house and jogged to the kitchen door, knocking briskly. She must have been standing right there, for a second later she tugged the tiny curtain aside and peeked out at him.

  The door promptly swung wide. “Hey.”

  “I know I should have called first.”

  “Come on in.” She stepped back. “I’m assuming the vehicle swapping went okay.”

  “More or less. I have to drop the truck off at the shop on Monday for a new alternator.”

  He gave her a hug, noticing she wore an oversize T-shirt and leggings. Definitely lounge wear and not strolling-around-the-center-of-town wear. The faint sounds of canned laughter floated in from the family room.

  “You watching TV?”

  “Actually, I’ve been in my room on the computer. Just came out to the kitchen to start dinner when I heard you knock.” As if suddenly reminded, she went to a simmering pot on the stove and stirred the contents.

  “I wasn’t planning on staying.” Ace’s hope for an evening together were dashed when she said nothing about joining her and her father. “Just came by to say hi and make sure you were all right.” Make sure they were all right. “And to apologize for earlier.”

  “Again?” She crossed her arms over her waist, which emphasized the small mound of her belly. “This is becoming a habit.”

  She wasn’t entirely kidding, he could tell.

  Did he apologize to her that much?

  Did he screw up that much?

  “You were right, I should have tried to reach a few more people today before giving up. I have this tendency to think I’m the only one who can resolve a problem.”

  “You don’t say?”

  Her sparkling smile encouraged him. He covered the distance separating them in two strides.

  “I missed you.”

  Without giving her a chance to respond, he took her in his arms, covered her mouth with his and proceeded to show her just how big a fool he’d been.

  She returned his kiss with a burst of passion that surprised him as much as it excited him. If not for her father in the family room, Ace would have swept her into his arms and stolen her away to her bedroom.

  Instead, he released her. Reluctantly. Waited for his pounding heart to slow. “Maybe I should stay.”

  She smiled coyly, letting Ace know how much she liked unbalancing him.

  He stumbled to the kitchen table and dropped into a chair. A half-dozen papers were fanned out in front of him. The headings jumped off the pages, striking him like tiny darts.

  Employment Application.

  He picked up the closest one. It was for a hospital in Billings. His heart resumed pounding, but for a different reason. “What’s this?”

  Flynn glanced over from the stove, let out a small sigh. “I was going to tell you tomorrow at dinner.”

  “You’re applying for jobs? In Billings?”

  “Dad got an offer from the same cattle company leasing your land. If he takes it, and he thinks he will, we’re going to be moving in a couple weeks.”

  Not thirty to sixty days.

  The paper in Ace’s hand dropped to the table. “You can’t.”

  “Can’t move?”

  “I thought…you and I—”

  “Nothing’s changed.”

  “It has.” They’d made love at Thunder Creek.

  “Yes, all right. We’re getting along. Which is what we wanted. We’ll still get along when I live in Billings.”

  “I want to marry you.”

  “Do you love me?”

  The question stunned him. “Of course,” he stuttered.

  Pain flared in her eyes.

  He tried again, more convincingly. “I love you, Flynn. I do.”

  She nodded, compressed her lips together. “Didn’t mean to drag it out of you.”

  “Dammit, I’m trying.”

  “You are. But loving someone, well, it shouldn’t be something you have to struggle at. I know. I’ve been in love with you for a long time.”

  She had? She had!

  “Then marry me and stay here.”

  “You’re asking me to give up a lot.”

  “For us. For the baby.”

  “What are you going to give up? What sacrifice are you going to make?”

  “Once the breeding business takes off, it’ll be different. I’ll have more time.”

  “In two or three years. You said so yourself.”

  He didn’t respond, his previous joy deflating.

  “As you can see, I have employment applications to complete,” she said dismissively. “I’m sure you’re tired after all the driving you did today.”

  Once again, Ace had handled the situation badly.

  He got up. One look at her stoic features told him this was a discussion better left for another day.

  “I’ll see you tomorrow. For dinner.”

  “We don’t have to go.”

  Yes, they did.

  “I promised you. Uncle Joshua will be back from the rodeo and will cover for me. We won’t have any interruptions.”

  “Fine.”

  She didn’t need to tell him this was his last shot. Her tone said it all.

  Chapter Fifteen

  A uniformed young man stepped out from behind a podium as Ace pulled up alongside the curb.

  “Valet parking?” Flynn asked, mildly amused.

  “We have a car tonight, I figured, why not.”

  They did indeed have a car. A Mustang. Convertible. It belonged to Harlan, one of the Harts’ ranch hands. Ace had borrowed it. She didn’t think she’d ever seen him drive anything but a truck or a tractor or that Polaris of his.

  He looked good behind the wheel—and in the charcoal-gray suit he’d worn. No cowboy hat and no boots, either. Another first.

  She’d give credit where it was due. Ace had gone all out tonight to make the evening special for her. Car, clothes, swanky restaurant.

  The one and only downside to the evening was her slinky maroon cocktail dress. It pinched uncomfortably in the middle.

  Ace didn’t appear to notice. He’d whistled appreciatively when he first saw her, his eyes eating her up like that key lime pie he favored.

  She caught their reflection in the restaurant’s glass entry doors and thought they made a
striking couple, her poofy tummy aside.

  Ace gave the hostess his name and after a short wait, during which they exchanged small talk with a couple celebrating a recent promotion, they were escorted to a booth by a window overlooking a lighted garden.

  In the center of the table was a vase with a trio of red roses, around which had been tied a large silver bow. At first, Flynn assumed the arrangement was part of the restaurant’s decor. Then she noticed the small envelope with her name on it.

  “Are these from you?” she asked, already removing the card.

  Ace didn’t answer

  “Three down, ninety-seven more to go,” she read out loud, and smiled at the reference to the hundred-phone-call bet they’d made, flattered and touched. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  “People are looking at us.” She lifted the vase and brought the roses to her nose, inhaling their heady scent.

  “They’re looking at you, trying to figure out how a lug like me scored a date with such a beautiful lady.”

  She set the roses down. If anything, people were looking at Ace, an appealing combination of rugged handsomeness and polished sophistication. She wouldn’t mind seeing him in a suit more often.

  He might have better luck getting her to stay in Roundup and accept his proposal.

  As yet, they hadn’t discussed her seeking a job, nursing school, the lease for her father’s land or her admission that she’d been in love with him for years. They would, eventually.

  For the moment, Flynn enjoyed the roses and their easy conversation and the lovely view of the garden.

  A waiter appeared. She and Ace placed their drink orders, a virgin margarita for her, and asked for more time to peruse the menu.

  “Did you wind up watching the NASCAR races this afternoon?” she asked.

  “For about an hour.”

  “Good.” At least he’d gotten a little break from work.

  “What about you?”

  Flynn set her menu aside. Their reprieve from difficult conversation was apparently at an end. “I filled out employment applications, paper and online.”

  “How did that go?”

  She could tell he strove to keep his voice neutral. “There really aren’t a whole lot of opportunities out there. Not ones any better than what I have now, either paywise or interestingwise. I’d still rather go to school.”