The Courage of a Cowboy

by Kristin Vayden

  “It’s like every picture of an old farmhouse I’ve ever seen.” Kessed blinked, a slow smile bringing his attention to her lips once more. “It’s perfect. This is where you grew up?”

  Jasper nodded once, pulling up in front and killing the engine. “Yup. Wind blows like a banshee out here. Nothing to block it, but it’s home.”

  Kessed met his gaze, a slight furrow in her brow. “A little wind never hurt anyone. After all, this is Ellensburg.”

  “Indeed, it is,” Jasper agreed and opened the truck door. He glanced toward the weathered barn, and sure enough, Harper was already headed in their direction. Her lips in a full grin, he tried to take it at face value but knew that the past haunted her—even if she didn’t want to admit it. She’d been through hell, and she wasn’t healed up from the burn. Pain like that took time to heal. And there just hadn’t been enough time.

  Yet.

  “Hey, Harper, let me introduce you to Kessed.” Jasper held out a hand to Kessed, his body relaxing the moment her skin touched his.

  “Hi.” Harper nodded once, her smile deepening as she glanced from him, down to his hand clasping Kessed’s, then back to his eyes.

  Damn, he hoped she kept her mouth shut. She understood too much, and her knowing expression reminded him of that fact.

  “Nice to put a face with the name.” Harper winked in Jasper’s direction.

  Shit. She was going to be irritating.

  “Same to you, I’ve heard a lot about you. And I understand that you’re the one to thank for my boots?” Kessed held out her hand and shook Harper’s.

  “I have impeccable taste in gear.” Harper hitched a shoulder, drawing attention to the way her blonde tresses faded to deep purple, then black, almost matching the Indian feather earrings she always wore. She’d always complained that being a natural blonde was boring, so she’d taken to adding vibrant color whenever the mood struck. She’d stayed with purple for a while, and Jasper couldn’t help but wonder just what that meant. Distracting himself, he met his sister’s gaze.

  “If you’re done patting yourself on the back, can you fill me in on Lady?” Jasper asked, eager to steer the conversation into safer territory where Harper wouldn’t interrogate Kessed or implicate him in some odd way. Lord only knew what she would say next. He’d always been close with his sister and hadn’t kept the secret that he was falling hard for the petite brunette beside him. But he wanted to be the one to tell the story, not have Kessed hear it from his little sister.

  Something about little sisters never changes.

  Harper spoke up. “She’s contracting, but it’s taken a while, and I haven’t seen any progress. She’s waxing up, but I can’t tell if that’s a sure sign or not.” Her eyes shuttered as she continued. “I can’t have anything happen to Lady, Jas.”

  Jasper understood all too well. Lady was more than just a barrel racer; she was the best sort of therapy for Harper, the only other constant in her life other than him.

  “I won’t let anything happen to that old nag you love.” Jasper tried to lighten the mood, ruffling his sister’s hair, messing up her smooth locks.

  “Really?” Harper shoved his hand away, using her hands to comb through the tangles he’d made.

  Kessed giggled, and Harper shot her a glare. “Just wait. I’m sure he’ll be a pain in the ass eventually, once his true colors shine through,” she replied with a joking tone.

  Jasper rose to the occasion. “Believe me, I love messing up her hair.” Jasper winked at Kessed as he tugged her hand toward the barn.

  “I really hope you don’t mean what that sounded like…” Harper whined. “I don’t want to know.”

  Kessed kicked him as they walked to the barn, and he bit back a chuckle.

  “Really?” she whispered angrily, but he could hear the underlying amusement in her manner.

  “Eh, you liked it,” Jasper grinned unrepentantly.

  Kessed bit her lip, glancing to Harper, who was catching up behind them. “That’s beside the point.”

  “Whatever you say,” he replied and released Kessed’s hand to slide the faded red barn door open.

  Lady nickered softly, shuffling her feet as she turned just enough to see who was interrupting her.

  “Hey, girl. It’s okay…” Jasper spoke softly, his trained eyes taking in all the details of the heavily pregnant mare. Her belly was swollen with foal, making her back sway deeper, which was perfectly normal. Lady whinnied once again, then stomped her feet, clearly agitated.

  “Shhh, it’s okay, baby.” Harper spoke in the same soft tone as Jasper, passing him by and unlatching the stall. She stroked the white star on Lady’s forehead, murmuring softly.

  “Can I help?” Kessed asked softly from behind him.

  Jasper turned to her and shook his head. “Not yet. But probably soon.” At her nod, he turned back and walked into the large stall.

  Jasper hummed quietly as he moved around Lady’s hind end, patting her velvet fur softly so she would know not to kick.

  Her stomach tensed up, and she nickered in response. His hands slowly stroked from her belly to her rump, feeling the muscles tighten.

  “She’s in labor all right,” Jasper whispered to Harper. He lifted her tail to check her progress, and Lady swung her head back to nip at him.

  “Easy, girl.” He shot a glare to Harper. “She bites me, and I’m taking it out on you.”

  “You’d bite someone too if they were about to… do what you’re about to do.”

  Jasper smirked. “Probably. Keep her calm.” Jasper slid on a latex glove from his pocket and checked Lady’s progress between contractions.

  “Harper…” He felt around, counting silently once more just to be sure.

  “Yeah?” His sister’s voice was strained.

  “She’s not breech.” Jasper slid his hand out then stepped away, turning the glove inside out and tossing it into the corner. “But we’re still in first stage. She’s stalling.”

  “So good news that the foal’s not breech. That was my main concern.” Harper closed her eyes, leaning against her horse’s neck, and sighed softly. “You would freak me out by stalling.”

  “Stalling?” Kessed asked quietly. And Jasper turned to meet her gaze. “Mares can hold off birthing till they feel more comfortable. And I’m guessing that since Harper here has had her panties in a twist, Lady is responding to her stress and holding off on going into full labor.” He turned to his sister and raised an eyebrow.

  “I—I just need her to be all right.” Harper’s voice cracked on the last word, and Jasper turned to Kessed.

  Her warm brown eyes searched his, and he wondered if she could sense the gravity behind Harper’s words, if she could read what was really going on.

  Lady wasn’t just a horse; she was a lifeline.

  Kessed’s gaze shifted from him to Harper then back. She nodded slightly, as if piecing the story together.

  “What time is it?” Harper asked, distracting him from Kessed’s gaze.

  Jasper pulled out his phone. “Little after six.” He sighed. “Harper, might as well go inside for a while. Lady needs her space, and she’ll probably wait to deliver till tonight when everything is more settled down. Horses are notorious for delaying till after ten at night to deliver. I doubt that Lady is any different.”

  His sister stroked Lady’s nose tenderly, resting her head against the mare’s when the horse sighed deeply, her body contracting once again.

  “I’m not helping anything out here, am I?” Harper asked.

  “As a general rule, you’re not much of a help regardless, so don’t take it personally,” Jasper teased, striding over and placing a hand on his sister’s shoulder. “Come in. I’ll share what’s left of my fries.”

  “I’d share mine, but I ate them all,” Kessed added, and Jasper smirked at the unapologetic grin that
spread across her face.

  “Shocking.”

  “Don’t tease me about food,” Kessed warned, jokingly.

  “I like her.” Harper nodded to Kessed. “Girls need to eat.”

  “Amen,” Kessed agreed.

  “So, fries? What else do you have?” Harper stroked Lady’s muzzle once more then followed them out of the stall.

  “Depends on how much you annoy me,” Jasper answered.

  “If that were the case, I wouldn’t even get one fry,” Harper whined.

  He shrugged. “True. I’m just feeling sorry for you.”

  “If pity buys me fries, I won’t complain.”

  “I might like her more than I like you.” Kessed nudged Jasper’s side with her elbow, winking.

  “That’s usually the case.” Jasper sighed dramatically. “But my charm gets better with time. Hers spirals fast.”

  “Hey, right here.” Harper raised a hand. “Where’s the food?”

  “Easy. It’s in the truck. Why don’t you take Kessed inside, and I’ll grab everything?”

  “Fine, follow me, Kessed. By the way, love the name. I’ve never heard it before….”

  Jasper grinned at his sister’s intrigue and quickly jogged to the truck. He retrieved the now-cool paper sacks and hustled to the front door.

  Kessed’s voice met him as he stepped inside the farmhouse.

  “Honestly, I don’t know why my parents named me Kessed. It’s not even our heritage. I think they were mostly impressed with the meaning. It’s Hebrew and means unmerited grace.”

  “Huh, that’s way better than mine.” Harper arched a brow. “Fries!”

  “Yeah, her name just means annoying.” Jasper held the bags up. “And impatient.”

  “Liar. My name means I play the harp.”

  “Which you don’t.”

  “I could if I wanted to,” Harper retorted, jumping and grabbing a bag and making a run for it.

  “I wouldn’t do that!” Jasper called out. “Kessed gets mean when you mess with her food.”

  “Shit.” Harper paused then tossed the bag to Kessed.

  Jasper dangled the other bag and grinned. “This is way too much fun.”

  “You’re such an ass.” Harper strode over and held out her hand toward the remaining food. “Please?”

  “Check it out. Little sister learned some big words.”

  “I know some other words I can educate you with,” Harper threatened.

  Kessed’s husky laughter called to him, and as soon as he dropped his guard, Harper was walking away with a fry in her mouth and his burger in her other hand.

  “Your fault.” He pointed to Kessed.

  “Making an honest man out of you. You did promise fries….” She arched a brow.

  “Damn it all, I’m surrounded. Why did I bring you anyway?” Jasper collapsed onto the couch, shaking his head.

  “I’m entertaining,” Kessed responded, taking a seat beside him. “And because I take pity on you, here’s my offering.” She held out a single fry.

  “It’s cold,” Jasper complained as he took it.

  “Beggars can’t be choosers.”

  “So, how did you guys meet?” Harper asked, sitting in the old armchair across from them.

  Jasper stiffened, not sure how to answer the simple question.

  Kessed’s reply saved him from navigating the semiawkward interaction of Laken and Cyler’s wedding. “He taught me how to use fence stretchers then gave me McDonald’s. Laugh if you want, but it works for me.” Kessed bit into a cold fry, her gaze sliding to his before lowering.

  “And here I thought it was my abs and personality.” Jasper nudged her elbow with his.

  “Those help.”

  “Moving right along…” Harper cleared her throat. “So, you know Laken and Cyler?”

  Kessed nodded. “Laken’s my best friend. I know Cyler through her. He’s a good guy, even if he did ask me to deal with his mess at the ranch. Hindsight, he must have been either desperate or crazy to involve me with that.”

  “Ah, I heard about that… more than once.” Harper glanced to Jasper, a grin widening her lips. “Yeah, well, you got an education in ranch life.”

  “Sure did. I’m not exactly a cowgirl.” Kessed tiled her head.

  “But it seems like you did well enough. Jasper kept saying how hard you worked.”

  Kessed turned to him, brows raised. “Did he now?”

  “Yeah.” Harper shrugged. “And I can tell you, it takes a lot to impress him.”

  “Right here,” Jasper added, using his sister’s previous line. “And I’m not that hard to impress.”

  “Liar.” Harper pointed to him, scooting to the edge of her chair and grinning. “Such a liar! Remember junior year, FFA? You were president of the club and everyone was scared shitless of you. You practically hazed the entire freshman class just to see if they were worthy of joining. It was the freaking FFA, Jasper. Not Mensa.”

  “It wasn’t that bad.” Jasper sighed.

  “It was. I heard the horror stories. You can’t stop someone from joining the FFA, especially around here,” Harper all but yelled.

  “Fine. I’m a horrible mercenary who’s impossible to please.”

  “Eh, he’s not that difficult,” Kessed argued, giving him a sidelong gaze that sent his body humming with electricity.

  “And we’re now changing the subject again.” Harper stood, walking into the kitchen.

  Jasper chuckled then reached over and grasped Kessed’s hand. Her dark eyes met his as he wound his fingers around hers. He reveled in the simple contact and the intimacy it created.

  “This is miserable. I hate waiting, and I’m already impatient,” Harper complained from the kitchen. Her purple tips swung forward as she ducked her head inside the refrigerator.

  “Don’t eat your feelings,” Jasper called out, teasing.

  Kessed arched a brow.

  “Kessed says eat your feelings,” he amended.

  “You’re impossible.” Kessed shook her head and stood up. “Why don’t you show me around? It will kill some time, and I’m curious to see where you grew up.”

  Jasper rose from the couch. “There isn’t much to see, except a lot of outdated wallpaper and a laundry list of things I need to repair. But it’s home.”

  Kessed nodded. “And that’s what matters.”

  “It’s not so bad.” Harper shrugged, shutting the refrigerator door, causing a picture to slide from the front and land on the ground.

  Kessed eyed it.

  “I’ve done worse.” Harper picked it up and reset the magnet that held it to the fridge.

  “As you can see, this is our kitchen.” Jasper pointed to the open area. Mismatched appliances created an odd rainbow of color that ranged from the avocado-green oven to the almond-white fridge with wooden accents.

  “It’s warm, homey.”

  “You’re stretching it a bit, but the warm part is right. About the only thing this oven does right is heat up the house,” Jasper answered.

  “It’s not like you’d know how to use it if it did work,” Harper chimed in.

  Jasper turned to her. “As if you’re better.”

  “I never said I was.” Harper raised her hands in defense.

  Jasper turned to Kessed. “The range works, and that’s usually how we cook.”

  “When we cook, which isn’t often.”

  “Are you giving the tour, or am I?” Jasper speared his sister with a glare.

  “I’m adding detail,” Harper asserted.

  Jasper watched as Kessed brushed her fingers along the island’s butcherblock. Its surface was cut to hell, but it was original to the house and well over a hundred years old. He glanced around at the floral tile, the faded curtains that framed the window over the sta
inless-steel sink, and the overly distressed wood floor and saw everything that needed to be fixed, updated, refinished. Yet, as he turned back to Kessed, her expression was soft, and he wondered if she saw the house differently.

  Damn, he hoped so.

  “Come outside. It’s the best part.” Harper headed to the Dutch door that opened onto the back patio, the floor creaking with each step she took.

  Kessed followed behind.

  Jasper pulled up the rear of the group and leaned against the door as the two girls walked out into the backyard. Wild grapevines climbed over the archway that led to the old and neglected garden area. The grass was shaggy but lush and green like a soft carpet. Just as he expected, Harper led Kessed over to the large oak tree and sat down in the bench swing that had hung there as long as he could remember.

  “Isn’t this fantastic? I love coming out here with my coffee and watching the sunset.” Harper waited till Kessed took a seat then slowly pushed from the ground with her toes and set them to swinging back and forth.

  “The wood is so soft.” Kessed smoothed her fingers along the armrest.

  Harper did the same. “Yeah, it’s been here forever, but it’s acacia, so it doesn’t get weathered like other wood.”

  “I’ll get you ladies something to drink while you relax!” Jasper called out, giving them both a smile before ducking back into the kitchen. He filled two glasses with water then pulled the well-used ice-cube tray from the freezer and plopped several into the glasses. The immediate cracking sound reminded him of summer, and he carried the refreshment outside.

  “Here.”

  “Service with a smile,” Kessed flirted.

  Jasper saw Harper roll her eyes in response, and he was half-tempted to dump the ice-cold water over her head, just to get even. He restrained himself and handed it over instead.

  “I know you were thinking about it.” Harper eyed him suspiciously.

  “Never,” he answered, earning a glare from his sister.

  The crickets sang, and the gentle breeze rustled the sycamore leaves as Jasper closed his eyes and simply listened as the wooden bench creaked with the girls’ swinging.

  It was evenings like these that made the best memories, the most peaceful ones. He opened his eyes and glanced to Kessed, a slow smile creeping across his face as he noted that she was doing the same thing, just listening, relaxing.