“Oh, Cooper. I don’t believe that. Your dad loved you no matter what. At least he lived long enough to see you become the man you are.”
“Thank you for that.” He leaned over and kissed her. “Bill is now Lucas’s step-father. He met Lucas’s mom that night and pursued her until she gave in and married him.” Cooper laughed.
“I love that part.” Kendra smiled at him. “You were a bad boy but you’re now a good man, Cooper Lang.”
He blew out a breath. “I’m really trying to be good now, darlin’, but you are killing me slowly.”
“I think it’s time to watch a movie.”
Cooper grinned and kissed her lips quickly. “All right. You win this round.”
They watched an action-packed movie, and then it was time for Kendra to leave. Cooper walked her out to her car and kissed her goodnight. He asked for her cell phone number and told her he’d call her tomorrow afternoon. After kissing him, she climbed into her car and drove off. She glanced into the rearview mirror to see him standing by the porch with his hands on his hips watching her drive away.
Chapter Seven
The next morning, Kendra and her mom went riding. She rode her horse, Aurora, alongside her mother on her horse, Crystal. The tall grass swished as the horses walked through it. Her mother glanced over to her and smiled.
“I think we can stop by the pond and have lunch there.”
“Sounds great, Mom. I can’t believe it’s almost noon. It’s such a beautiful day.” Kendra raised her face to the sun. The heat from it, warming her face. Her Stetson shaded her eyes as she scanned the horizon. The Big Horn Mountains sat majestic in the distance. Her mother wore a straw Stetson along with sunglasses. She really was a beautiful woman. They reached the pond and dismounted. Angela took a saddlebag down, and then spread a blanket for them to sit on. She pulled out cold fried chicken, potato salad, and forks and plates.
“I hope you’re hungry.”
“Starving,” Kendra said as she sat down on the blanket. The horses were left to graze beside the pond.
Her mother stood staring out across the water. “We should have brought our fishing poles.” She turned to smile at Kendra who was staring at her. “What?”
“You’re so beautiful, Mom.” Kendra watched as a blush moved high on her mother’s cheeks.
Angela sat on the blanket beside her. “As are you.” She filled a plate with food and handed it to her.
Kendra ate some potato salad and moaned. “You’ve always made the best potato salad and fried chicken.”
Angela laughed. “Thank you. I couldn’t boil water when your dad and I got married.”
“Why didn’t you and Daddy have more children?” Kendra asked. When her mother looked away, she touched her hand. “I’m sorry. If it’s something you’d rather not talk about, I understand.”
Her mother cleared her throat. “No. It’s okay. I should have told you a long time ago.” She took a deep breath. “I lost a baby when you were two and was told I couldn’t have any more.”
Kendra gasped. “Oh, Mom, I’m so sorry.”
“I was five months pregnant when I didn’t feel him moving anymore. The doctor did a sonogram and there was no heartbeat or movement.” Angela blinked back tears. “They had to induce labor and he was stillborn.”
“A boy?” Kendra asked softly.
“Yes. Your dad wanted a boy so badly after you were born. Don’t get me wrong. He was very happy having a little girl to spoil, but then he talked about a boy. I got pregnant and we were both happy about it. Everything was fine until my fifth month. After the autopsy, the doctor told us the baby’s heart hadn’t fully developed.” She frowned as if lost in thought. “Your dad was devastated. We argued constantly. I was so afraid he was going to leave me that I left him before he had the chance.”
“You left Dad?” Kendra was shocked.
“Yes. You probably don’t remember, but I took you and went to live with my parents in Florida. You’d just turned three.” Angela smiled. “We hadn’t been there two days before your dad showed up and told me he wasn’t leaving without his wife and daughter. I came home with him and we’ve been happy ever since.”
“Is...is my brother buried somewhere?”
“Yes. At Goodman’s Cemetery.”
“I can’t believe you never told me.”
“We made the decision not to. What good would it do? Your dad and I decided if you ever asked, we’d tell you.”
“What was his name?”
“Hudson. He was named after your dad.”
“I want to visit the cemetery and see the grave.”
“All right.” Angela touched her hand. “I’m sorry we didn’t tell you. I think we just wanted to let go of that sad time in our lives. It almost destroyed our marriage and I can’t imagine not having your dad in my life.”
“I can see how much you two love each other. I caught you making out in the kitchen.” Kendra laughed when her mother blushed.
“Enough of that. Tell me about your evening with Cooper.”
Kendra sighed. “It was great. He’s amazing. We had dinner and watched a movie.”
“That’s it?” Angela’s eyebrow went up.
“Yes, that’s it. He kissed me a few times but nothing else.”
“A real gentleman, huh?”
“Yes. I’m not saying he didn’t want to go to bed together but when I said no, he was fine with it.”
“I seemed to have misjudged Cooper Lang.” Her mother laughed.
Kendra laughed. “He’s a great guy. Although, I told myself I hated him for years. He broke my heart when I was fifteen. I had the biggest crush on him.”
“I know. I saw those notebooks.”
Kendra put her hands over her face in embarrassment. “I even told him about Jasper last night.”
“You did?”
“Yes. Even about the notebooks. He couldn’t understand why Jasper acted the way he did. I don’t think anyone could understand that.”
“It was so hard hearing about him locking you in the bedroom. I wanted to skin him alive and your dad wanted to take his shotgun with him when he went to get you in Spokane.”
Kendra burst out laughing. “I don’t think he would’ve gotten by airport security.”
They laughed together then finished eating and cleaned up. After mounting the horses, they headed back toward the ranch. Riding into the barn, Kendra’s dad met them and helped Angela down from the horse. He kissed her forehead, and then smiled up at his daughter.
“Did my two favorite girls have fun?”
“Yes, we had a wonderful time, Hudson.” Angela smiled, and then blushed when Hudson winked at her.
Kendra loved it. She wanted what her parents had. A love seen and felt by anyone around them. She envied them so. They were still very much in love after thirty-one years. She hugged them and walked to the house. When she glanced over her shoulder, she smiled when she saw her dad lean down to kiss her mother. Her cell phone rang and she glanced at it.
“Hello?”
“Is your ride over?”
“Yes. How was your Sunday, Cooper?”
“Lonely.”
Kendra laughed. “Aww, poor baby.”
His chuckle came over the phone. “Not only are you the most obstinate woman I’ve ever met, you’re also the most heartless.”
“You think I’m obstinate and heartless?”
“Obstinate because you refused my help the day you had the flat tire, and heartless, because you knee me and don’t feel any pity that I spent today alone.”
“You know why I was being hardheaded the day you stopped to help me.”
Cooper laughed. “I didn’t call to bring that up. I called to ask you if you would like a job.”
Kendra stopped in her tracks. “Are you serious?”
“I wouldn’t ask if I wasn’t serious. I need a good bookkeeper for the shop, and the ranch. I’ll pay you a good salary.” He named an amount and she silently broke into a happy
dance. “Kendra?”
“Uh, yeah.” She cleared her throat. “I’d love the job.”
“Great. I’ll see you tomorrow morning. The shop opens at eight and of the course, the ranch starts at sunup.”
“Will I be working in the shop?”
“No. It’s way too loud in there. I’ll put you in the office in the house. So whatever hours you want to work is up to you. Seven to three, eight to four, and so on.”
“I’ll see you at seven. Thank you, Cooper.”
“You’re welcome, but thank you. You might not be so happy once you see the books.” He hung up.
The next morning, Kendra slapped at the alarm clock and wondered what possessed her to say she’d be there at seven. Yawning, she climbed out of bed and headed to the bathroom to shower. What was she supposed to wear? Reaching into the shower stall, she turned the water on and stripped off her pajamas. She put a shower cap over her head and stepped in. The water felt so good. Her muscles were a little sore from both the bike and horse rides. She quickly washed and stepped out. Going to her closet, she chose another sundress with a pair of white T-strap sandals. The pink dress complimented her fair skin. After applying a minimal amount of makeup, she walked through the house and entered the kitchen. No one was around, but two coffee cups sat in the sink. Her parents must be out on their morning ride. They had both seemed happy about her getting the job with Cooper. She poured herself a cup of coffee.
After rinsing her coffee cup out, she headed outside and almost lost her breath. The heat was staggering. She quickly hopped into her car and turned on the air conditioning. It took a few minutes but once the cooler air started circulating, she sighed with relief and drove to Cooper’s ranch. She pulled up by the back door and got out of her car. If it was this hot at six-thirty in the morning, she hated to see what the afternoon would bring. She walked up the steps and knocked on the door. It opened almost immediately. Cooper stood there staring at her. She felt the heat in her cheeks and it wasn’t from the weather.
“Hi,” she said.
“Hi yourself. Come on in. Get out of the heat.” He opened the door wider. When he closed it, she spun around to look at him. He was still staring at her.
“Um, I didn’t know what to wear,” she stammered.
“You look beautiful. You can wear whatever you want. I, uh...need to get to work. I’d kiss you, but then I’d never leave.” He winked at her making her blush. She watched him put a Stetson on and she almost groaned. Just as he’d said, he may own a motorcycle shop but he was definitely, still a cowboy and she’d always had a weakness for them. “You okay?” he asked.
“Yes. Don’t you think you should show me where I’ll be working?” She laughed when he swore.
“Follow me.” He left the kitchen and headed down the hallway. Kendra followed him with her eyes on his tight butt.
They entered a huge office. Bookcases lined one entire wall. Another was a row of windows that faced the Big Horn Mountains. The walls were an eggshell white and the floor was dark oak hardwood with a huge braided rug in the center. The big oak desk sat in front of a wall with pictures covering it. Kendra walked toward them. They were in black and white.
“These are gorgeous.”
“My great-great-grandfather took them. It’s the ranch, when it was first started.”
“They’re amazing,” Kendra said in awe.
“I’m sure you know what to do. The password to get into the books is C-L-D-M-L-S, all caps. If you need anything, just call the barn. The number’s on the speed dial.”
“Let me write down the password...” she started to say.
“It’s easy to remember. Cooper, Lucas, Dakota, Mont, Linc, Storm.”
Kendra laughed. “That’s a good one. I never would have thought of that one and there are too many variations if someone did try it.”
Cooper grinned at her. “If you try four times and get it wrong, it shuts down the program.”
“I’ll remember it. You go to work and I’ll get settled in.”
Cooper stared at her for a few seconds, and then spun on his boot heel and walked out. Kendra stared at the doorway through which he left. Shrugging, she sat behind the desk, booted up the computer, and opened the program.
****
Cooper strode out the back door and down toward the barn. What in the hell had he’d been thinking when he offered her a job? Now, he’d see her every day. Shit! Thinking with your dick instead of your brain, is what you were thinking, Lang. Damn. He entered the barn to see his ranch hands saddling up.
“Good morning, boss,” one of the men, said to him.
“Men. Let’s check the east and west pastures today. I know there’s a few heifers ready to give birth so I want them checked on.” Cooper glanced around. “Where’s Snuffy?”
“Ain’t seen him this morning. We thought he was with you.”
Cooper frowned. “I’ll go check on him. You guys split up and get started.” The men mounted up. “Oh.” Cooper put his hand up to stop them. “There’s a new woman here doing the books. You will respect her or you’re gone. Got it?”
They all nodded at him and headed out. Cooper walked through the barn and headed out the back toward Snuffy’s little house. Snuffy Milton was the manager of the ranch. He’d worked there since Cooper’s dad ran the ranch and it was very much a surprise, he wasn’t already in the barn.
Cooper walked up onto the porch of the little house and knocked. There was no answer. He walked to the end of the porch and saw that Snuffy’s truck sat beside the house. He walked back and knocked again. When there was still no answer, he tried the knob finding it unlocked.
“Snuff?” he called out as he entered the house. He walked down the hallway stopping in front of what he knew to be Snuffy’s bedroom door. Taking a deep breath, he knocked and waited. He was about to reach for the doorknob when the door opened. Snuffy stared up at him.
“Sorry, Coop. I’m not feeling well. I didn’t realize it was so late. I was gonna call you to let you know I’d be out once I started feeling better.” Snuffy sneezed.
Cooper stepped back. “No. You stay in. I can see you aren’t feeling well. Take a few days off. I’ll see you then.”
“But...” Snuffy started.
Cooper narrowed his eyes. “I’m the boss. Take a few days off. That’s an order.”
“Yes, sir,” Snuffy muttered.
Cooper bit back a grin. The man was almost seventy and Cooper couldn’t remember him ever missing a day since he’d been a kid. Cooper’s dad always said he never knew what he’d do if Snuffy ever left. He loved the ranch as if it were his own. Cooper put his hand on Snuffy’s shoulder.
“Seriously, get better. If you need me, call me but get some rest. It’s the best thing for you. I’ll check on you later.”
Snuffy gave him a nod and walked back to his bed. Cooper closed the door and left the house. As he walked back to the barn to saddle his horse, his gaze shifted to the house. No. There was no way he was going back in there just to see how Kendra was doing. If she needed him, she knew to call him. He sighed. What were you thinking?
He tossed the blanket onto Zeus’s back, and then the saddle. After putting the reins on, he mounted the horse, nudged him to run out of the barn at full speed, and headed for the pastures. Zeus loved to run and Cooper let him go. He slowed Zeus down when he came upon some of the cattle. They stared at him with black eyes and continued to chew the grass. It was going to be a damn hot day. Cooper’s back was already wet with sweat. He halted Zeus and removed his Stetson, pulled a kerchief out of his back pocket, and wiped his forehead, then resettled the hat. The morning sun was already beating down, warming his bare forearms. He glanced around the pasture to find the pregnant cows and spotted two of them. Dismounting, he walked toward them. They both stared at him.
“Hey girls. How are you feeling today?” He grinned, not expecting an answer. He stood beside one of them and ran his hands over her protruding stomach. “It won’t be long for you no
w. It’s been almost nine months already.”
A cow’s pregnancy usually lasted anywhere from two hundred and seventy-nine to two hundred and eighty-seven days, with the average being two hundred and eighty-three days. A cow was different from a horse, in that a horse usually came into season between April and September, but a cow would come in season every seventeen to twenty-eight days. Unlike a horse, a cow does not need to be tricked into coming into heat during any other time of the year.
“You feel like you’re about to drop this calf out,” Cooper murmured. The cow bawled. Cooper chuckled. “I’d say I know how you feel, but I don’t. Won’t be long now, though. I’ll check you tomorrow.”
He mounted Zeus and rode slowly through the tall grass. He’d have to have some hay cut soon. The hay barn was getting low and with a harsh winter predicted, he needed to get the barn full. Cows usually ate grass and grains consisting of corn, barley, and oats. But in winter months, with snow-covered grounds, the cattle ate hay. Cooper kept the hay barn as full as possible but he knew a bad winter could make the hay disappear quickly. He reached for the walkie-talkie. All of the men carried one.
Cooper Bad Boys of Dry River, Wyoming Book 3 Page 8
