The Cowboy's Lady

by Carolyne Aarsen

  She tore her attention away, reminding herself that he wasn’t her type. The last man she dated wore a suit, tie and black loafers. Sophisticated. Elegant. Took her to plays on Broadway and dinners at Le Bernardin.

  And bored you stiff and then dumped you.

  She forced her attention back to the song, struggling to let the words enter her soul. It had been too long since she’d spent time with God. Too long since she’d let Him into her life.

  She glanced over at Cody again, thinking of his parents. Missionaries. Good people. Christian people.

  Her father had been emotionally distant and a workaholic. Her mother never got over their sister Lucy’s death and suffered from depression.

  Vivienne dismissed the thought as unkind. Her mother had her own difficulties. Being a widowed mother to three growing children had been a struggle and losing a child had to have been devastating.

  Vivienne looked over at Cody again and, to her embarrassment, found him looking directly at her. They both looked away as Vivienne tried to suppress the flush warming her cheeks. What kind of person was she, eyeing up men in church?

  The song was over and the minister pronounced the blessing and then they were done. Murmured conversation began and then swelled as people slowly moved out of the pews and down the aisle.

  Brooke gave Vivienne a quick one-armed hug. “So, how did you like the service?”

  “It was good,” Vivienne said truthfully, returning her attention to the moment when she had felt a instant of connection to her past and her previous relationship with God. “I enjoyed it more than I thought I would.”

  Brooke gave Vivienne a bright smile. “It’s so wonderful to be together as a family again. It seems like it’s been decades since us Claytons worshipped together.” Then a shadow crossed her face as if she were thinking of the ones who were missing.

  Mei, who had suddenly stopped calling, not letting anyone know what her intentions were, was still living in San Francisco as far as anyone knew.

  Zach had been keeping them up-to-date on what was going on with Lucas, but for the past week, he had nothing to report. It was as if Lucas had been swallowed up by the Florida Everglades.

  Vivienne caught Brooke’s hand in her own. “I’m sure Mei and Lucas will show up. We have to believe that.”

  Brooke nodded, but Vivienne saw the worry in the lines around her mouth and the dull light in her eyes.

  “I’ll just have to keep praying,” Brooke said quietly.

  Vivienne was about to reply when Macy bounced up to join them, her grin as big as the oversize silk flower on her headband. “Hey there. You’re going to teach me to cook, aren’t you?”

  “Yes, I am,” Vivienne said, touching her finger to the little girl’s nose.

  Though she had only seen Macy once before, she felt a curious sense of protectiveness for the little girl. And who wouldn’t? Vivienne knew what it was like to lose a mother, but she’d had a brother and sister to help her through. Macy had no one else in her life. Thankfully, Brooke and Zach had taken her under their wing and, when her mother passed on, they planned to adopt her. Brooke had told Vivienne how shy and withdrawn Macy used to be. Obviously being around the Claytons had helped the little girl come out of her shell.

  “Mr. Jameson said we could use the cookhouse on the ranch this Saturday to do the lessons,” she told the little girl.

  Macy clapped her hands, her grin eclipsing the dimples in her cheeks. “I’m so excited.”

  Vivienne gave her a quick smile, then glanced over her shoulder.

  “Looking for someone in particular?” Brooke leaned in close, her voice taking on a teasing note.

  “Yes. My ride home,” Vivienne said, angling her sister a warning look, hoping it covered her reaction. “I’m making Sunday dinner for the hands at the ranch, and I don’t want to be late.”

  Brooke pouted. “I was hoping you could have dinner with us. Macy and Darlene are coming over and so are Zach and Kylie. We could have family time.”

  Yeah. Right. Family time with her very happy siblings and their significant others while she sat at the table obviously single. Pass.

  “Sorry, sis. Can’t be done,” Vivienne said, gathering up her purse and coat, partially thankful she had a reasonable excuse. “But we’ll see you all on Saturday at the ranch, okay?” She blew Arabella a kiss, waved at Zach, who was coming her way, then ducked out of the pew before anyone else in her family could waylay her.

  But her passage out of the church was held up a few more times by people who remembered her and a few old classmates who had managed to stay around Clayton and find work.

  She was about to slip out of the building when she heard her name being called.

  She turned to see Reverend West walking toward her, waving his hand to catch her attention. Reverend West was a tall, bulky man in his forties with the build of a football player, but he easily caught up to her.

  “Vivienne Clayton?” he asked, extending his hand, his brown eyes holding a welcome warmth. “I’m Reverend West, but you know that, of course. I thought I would introduce myself. Say hello.”

  “Nice to meet you,” Vivienne said, shaking his hand. “Thanks for the sermon. I really appreciated what you said about forgiveness. Gave me a lot to think about.”

  Reverend West beamed. “Glad to know someone was listening. Sometimes I wonder.” He shook his head, then pulled his attention back to her. “Anyhow, like I said, I just wanted to say hello. Welcome you back to Clayton. I also want to say I know what brings you back home.”

  A flush warmed her cheeks. It was money, pure and simple, and standing in front of this godly man made her feel somewhat tawdry.

  “I know what your grandfather was like,” he continued. “But I also know that he changed in the last few months of his life. And his will was a way of making amends to all his relatives by bringing a scattered and broken family back together.” He released a light sigh. “I know he wasn’t always the best person, but I need to tell you that he felt terrible for not helping your mother financially after your father died. For virtually ignoring her. He made his peace with God, and I hope you can learn to make your peace with your grandfather. Even though it might seem his last actions were manipulative, he did truly care about you all.”

  Reverend West’s words kindled a curious warmth. “Thank you for that. I know he asked us to think kindly of him, to find one good memory. I know I have a few.”

  Reverend West nodded. “Then think on those. And if you ever want to talk, stop in at the church. I’m in my study most days, when I’m not visiting parishioners or doing something with the Church Care Committee.” He brightened. “If you are at loose ends and have time to volunteer, we’d love to have you on board the Committee, as well.”

  “I’ll see,” was all Vivienne could say. “It might be difficult, given that I’m working full-time at the Circle C. But I’ll keep it in mind.” She gave him a quick smile, then turned and left the church, his words giving her much to think about.

  Cody and Bonnie were waiting in the truck when she got there. Thankfully this time, Bonnie scooted over, giving her the seat by the window.

  On the way up here, once again she had ended up sitting beside Cody, and this time it was even more awkward than the first. She wished she could dismiss the feelings he evoked in her, so being able to sit by the window this time was a blessing.

  Cody started up the truck, reversed out of the parking lot and headed down Eagle Street past the park.

  “So what did you think of the service?” Cody asked as he made the last turn to the outskirts of town.

  “I enjoyed it,” Vivienne said quietly, clutching the handles of her purse. “Gave me lots to think about.”

  “We’re lucky to have a minister as good as Reverend West in a town the size of Clayton.”

  “He seems like a godly man. And a very caring one,” Vivienne replied.

  Silence followed that observation and the only sound in the cab was the ticking of gra
vel against the truck’s body and the faint strains of country music coming from the radio.

  “I noticed a few of the hands in church.” Vivienne spoke up after a while, trying to fill the awkward quiet.

  “My uncle, of course. Grady and Delores always come. And Cade.”

  “He and his half brother, Jack, are the only children or grandchildren of great uncle Samuel that bother showing up.” Vivienne had a hard time keeping the harsh note out of her voice. Thinking kindly of her grandfather was difficult enough, but trying to find any good in the cousins on the Samuel Clayton side of the family was a real stretch. Especially after hearing some of the things Brooke, Zach and Arabella went through with their cousins in the past few months.

  “He’s good people,” Cody said, his voice holding a stern note.

  “I hope so. He’s engaged to my cousin’s ward, Jasmine. Arabella thinks the world of her,” Vivienne said quietly.

  “So what’s the deal with you Claytons anyway?” Bonnie asked. “I thought you were all related, yet I sure don’t think you all get along.”

  “We are related,” Vivienne said, watching out the window as fields gave way to spruce trees. “But there’s bad blood between the descendants of Samuel Clayton and his brother, George Clayton Senior, my grandfather.”

  “I heard that your grandfather wasn’t such a good man. A friend of mine called him a shyster lawyer.”

  “Bonnie,” Cody said, shooting his sister a frown. “You shouldn’t speak ill of the man. He’s not here to defend himself.”

  Vivienne had to smile at the old-fashioned courtesy Cody extended a man of her grandfather’s questionable reputation.

  “Grandpa George had his good points,” Vivienne said quietly, thinking back to what Reverend West had said and the video shown after her grandfather’s funeral. How Grandpa George had pleaded with each of his grandchildren to find one good memory of him. “I know he was the one who encouraged me to go to cooking school. Sometimes he would come over to my mother’s place after my father died, and he always had something encouraging to say about my cooking.”

  Vivienne had to smile as she allowed the good memory to seep back into her mind.

  “I guess that’s good, then,” Bonnie said. “I’m just glad that all us Jamesons get along.”

  The rest of the trip was made in silence, as if each of the people in the cab were caught up in their own thoughts. But though Vivienne was sitting on the other side of the truck from Cody, she couldn’t help but wonder about his family. About his relationship with his parents.

  Of how he frowned as he drove. And how he tapped the steering wheel whenever he had to wait.

  She pushed her fickle thoughts back to what Reverend West preached about this morning. But even as she tried, her gaze kept slipping over to the man behind the wheel of the truck.

  A while later when Cody parked his truck at the ranch, Vivienne couldn’t get out of the truck fast enough.

  “Thanks for the ride,” Vivienne said before she left for the cookhouse. But before she could escape she had to ask another question. “Will you be joining the hands for dinner?”

  “Can we?” Bonnie asked, grabbing her brother’s arm. “I don’t want to sit in the house by ourselves again.”

  Cody frowned, tapping his fingers on the steering wheel. “I suppose we could.”

  “Great.” Bonnie shot a quick grin at Vivienne. “Then we’ll see you later. I’m looking forward to pot roast.”

  Vivienne smiled at the girl’s enthusiasm over the meal. “Okay,” she said with a grin.

  Bonnie hopped out of the truck and fairly danced toward the house.

  But as Vivienne glanced at Cody, she caught him watching Bonnie with a glower. Then his gaze slid toward Vivienne and his frown deepened.

  He got out of the truck and without a backward glance strode toward his house, as well.

  Vivienne watched him leave, wondering what was wrong with him. Which, in turn, made her wonder why she cared. He was just her boss. Nothing more.

  She would do well to remember that.

  Chapter Seven

  “That’s the third time she’s been out for a walk this week.” Grady angled his chin toward the slim figure in the bright yellow jacket making her way across the yard. “She went out Sunday, then Monday, now today.”

  Cody, standing outside the corrals, shot another glance Vivienne’s way. She wore a skirt again today and a pair of tall boots with ridiculously high heels. Totally unsuitable for trekking around the ranch.

  She probably would fit in on any street in New York. Here, she kind of stuck out.

  “City girl,” he said, projecting a note of disdain in his voice. It was the only way he could think of to stifle the lift that the “city girl’s” appearance gave him. “I wish she’d stay away from the corrals, though. Every time she goes over, she spooks the horses with that bright coat of hers.”

  “Yeah. She certainly don’t fit into ranch life,” Grady said, pounding another nail into the corral fence he and Cody were fixing up. They were getting ready for the fall gather and the strength of the corral boards would get tested over the next couple of weeks. “Though she sure can cook. That French toast she made this morning…” Grady’s voice trailed off as if remembering. “Maybe Delores can get the recipe.”

  “Why couldn’t she just make porridge?” Cody grumbled.

  Grady nudged Cody with his elbow. “Yeah, right. Like you’d eat porridge.”

  “Eaten enough of it. It’s just food.” Cody shrugged, glancing Vivienne’s way again. This time, instead of heading toward the road, she was coming their way.

  He tried not to watch, but as she came closer she tugged her ponytail loose. She pulled off her hat, then tucked it in her pocket. She ran her hands through her hair, letting it flow over her shoulder. Then, to Cody’s disappointment, she pulled it back again and tied it up.

  “Hey, boss. What should we do now?”

  Bryce and Cade popped into his vision, cutting off his view of Vivienne.

  “Um. Yeah.” He straightened and dropped his hammer into the metal hanger on his carpenter belt, yanking his attention back to the work at hand. “You two can go help Ted in the machine shed. He’s fixing the Massey. The clutch has been slipping. And bring him the John Deere, too. He said he wanted to look it over, as well.” Cody shifted his hat on his head and tried to ignore Grady’s smirk. His hired hand obviously caught him staring at Vivienne.

  “So when do we head up to the hills?” Bryce was asking.

  “I want to work with the horses and make sure the tractors are ready. We have to move some feeders and haul more hay before we get them.” Cody planned as he spoke, thinking of the work ahead of him. “So in a couple of days. End of the week for sure.”

  Bryce nodded, then glanced back as Vivienne came closer. He grinned as he tipped his hat. “Afternoon, Ms. Vivienne,” he said. “Surprised to see you out and about.”

  Cody caught sarcasm in the boy’s voice that didn’t sit right with him. Then he looked over to Vivienne now standing on the other side of the corral fence, her pony tail resting on one shoulder, her blue eyes shining, and he figured maybe the boy was just uncomfortable around her.

  And why wouldn’t Bryce be? Cody sure was.

  “I go out every day,” she said, her smile deepening the dimple in her cheek. Reminding him too much of the girl he’d been so stupid crazy about all those years ago.

  He yanked a handful of nails out of his pouch, dropping a couple in the process.

  As he bent over, he cursed his own clumsiness. This was ridiculous. He was a widower. He had tasted life with a girl like Vivienne, and look at the world of hurt that caused.

  Stay on target, he reminded himself. You’ve got responsibilities that you can’t afford to get distracted from. She’ll be here a year, and then she’s gone.

  He straightened and ended up looking directly at Vivienne.

  “What can I do for you?” he asked brusquely.

  Her
smile faded, and for a moment he regretted his defensive tone.

  “I was just out for a walk and was wondering what you were doing.”

  “Just fixin’ the corral.” He fitted a nail into a board and started pounding it in, hoping he didn’t hit his finger at the same time. “Some of the boards are loose, and before we get all the cows in here, I want to make sure they can’t get out. Just have a real rodeo on our hands then.”

  And stop the babbling, or she’ll think you’re a bigger idiot than you are.

  “Miss Vivienne, I heard that you’re giving cooking classes on Saturday,” Cade said as Cody drove the nail home.

  “Yes, I am. My sister, Darlene and Macy are coming up,” she said in that singsongy voice of hers.

  “My girl Jasmine heard about the classes from Arabella, who heard from Brooke. You know the Clayton telegraph,” he said with an apologetic note. “But she was hoping she could come, too.”

  Grady straightened. “Cooking classes? You’re teaching cooking classes? Can my wife come?”

  “I suppose…” Vivienne’s voice trailed off, and as Cody worked he caught her glancing at him. “If it’s okay with Cody.”

  He shrugged, then glanced away. “Fine by me.” It wasn’t really fine. He wasn’t too crazy about having a bunch of women taking over the ranch. Traipsing around and causing problems.

  “What about us men?” Grady asked. “What if we want to take cooking?”

  “Maybe another time,” Vivienne said. “After all, according to Bonnie, there’s not lots going on during the wintertime. I could do a few gourmet cooking classes for the guys.”

  “If it’s boredom that’s a problem, I’m sure Ted and I can come up with a bunch of things to keep you boys busy,” Cody said, glaring as he straightened again. This girl and her city ways were obviously more of an inconvenience than he’d thought.