Luckiest Cowboy of All--Two full books for the price of one

by Carolyn Brown

  So during the meal the adults in the room had hardly looked at one another, instead enthusiastically indulging Gracie’s spirited ideas about how adding pigs to the ranch could be super fun. Because look how much Wilbur livened things up in Charlotte’s Web. Gracie was always on a mission to bring more animals into the fold. She was a girl after her own heart.

  A lull in the conversation presented Jessa with the opportunity she’d been waiting for for at least a half hour. “Well, this has been great,” she said, her gaze skimming right over all of them. “But I should check in at the shelter. Make sure Cassidy’s holding up okay.” It wasn’t like Cassidy couldn’t handle it, but Jessa couldn’t handle this. The poor broken-hearted Jessa routine. When she’d realized what Lance was trying to get at in the kitchen, something inside of her had erupted. She was not emotionally fragile. And she sure as hell didn’t need a man—even Lance Cortez—to be her key to a happy life.

  She was done being poor nice Jessa.

  The eruption had left behind a force that built inside her, fortifying her. With this newfound courage, she popped right out of her chair. “Thanks for a lovely breakfast,” she said to no one in particular. But she did beam a real smile at Gracie. “See you soon, sweet girl.”

  The girl blew her a kiss, which Jessa returned before she spun and made a break for the door.

  “Wait.” A chair scraped the plank floors and before she could get too far, Lance slipped in front of her. She forced herself to stare back at him, working her mouth into a line of indifference. “Yes?”

  “Don’t you need help at the shelter today?” he asked, widening his eyes and glancing in his father’s direction.

  Right. She was supposed to be on babysitting duty. After everything that had transpired between them, that’s what it came down to. That’s why she was here. Lance hadn’t forgotten and she shouldn’t, either. Irritation simmered, but she didn’t want to take it out on Luis. It wasn’t his fault his son was clueless.

  “Actually I could really use some help.” Blocking out Lance, she turned to his father. “Do you have time to come today? I might have to do inventory on supplies.”

  The older man’s mustache twitched. “Sure,” he said. If he was trying to hide his amusement, he was doing a terrible job. “Gets me outta doin’ the dishes.” He planted a kiss on the top of Gracie’s head and dragged himself out of the chair.

  “Great. Thanks.” With a prim smile, she sidestepped Lance and led a hearty charge out the front door to the tune of the “Hallelujah” chorus playing in her head. Not surprisingly, Lance didn’t try to stop her.

  Outside, the day had brightened and the scents of fall permeated the air—dried grass, crisp leaves. Not that she enjoyed it. Her volcanic heart still fumed. As far as she could remember, she hadn’t said anything pathetic to Lance. Sure, she’d tried to kiss him, and yes, she’d admired him, but she wasn’t Scarlett freaking O’Hara. She hadn’t been pining after him. She hadn’t begged him to kiss her. And maybe she would enjoy a fling. She didn’t know for sure, but it was possible. Now she’d never know, since Lance had gone and made it a huge deal.

  We want different things. God. How did he know anything about what she wanted? Her feet pounded the dirt harder. He didn’t. Mostly because he hadn’t bothered to ask her.

  Luis tromped along by her side. “You want to talk about it?” he asked in his pleasant way.

  “Not especially.” There was nothing to talk about. Nothing to think about, except the work she had to do today. Swearing off men had been the right decision all along, but then Lance had come along and screwed it up by kissing her, before doing a complete one-eighty and telling her he wasn’t looking for a commitment.

  And people thought she had issues.

  After running into Luis’s house to change into some jeans and her Stay Calm and Help Animals T-shirt, she led Luis to her truck, which was parked off to the side of his garage. Driving away from the ranch felt freeing. She flicked on the radio and let the country music coax out the tension.

  Luis stared ahead, his fingers drumming on his knees to the beat. “Lance took it the hardest when his mom left,” he said, his jaw tight. “I never knew what to do. How to talk to him about it. We just tried to survive.”

  The words caught her off guard. Even though they’d spent a lot of time together, Luis had never mentioned his ex-wife before. She turned down the radio. “Sometimes that’s all you can do,” she said, her shoulders softening.

  “Point is, he didn’t learn anything good about relationships. Not from me,” the man went on, though he didn’t look at her. Luis didn’t have to expand. She’d heard the rumors about him after his wife left. He’d had affairs with married women, taking full advantage of his status as a renowned bull rider. For a while, he’d been quite the Casanova. But she didn’t hold that against him. She knew how it felt to have a broken heart, to search for something that would soothe away the loneliness, even if it was only temporary.

  Luis stared blankly out the windshield. “It’s one of the things I regret the most.”

  Letting silence settle, Jessa turned onto Main Street. The sidewalks were full of people strolling, pausing to window shop at the eclectic mix of boutiques and shops. It was a beautiful day, bright and vivid, yet she couldn’t help but feel that a cloud hung over them. Sure, Lance hadn’t had it easy after his mom left, but a lot of people hadn’t. And Luis had already paid a steep price for his actions. He’d lost a son. After Lucas was sent to prison, the man had cleaned up his act. From what she’d heard, he stayed home with Lance and Levi more, tried to fix things with his boys. People could change. But they had to want it.

  Stopping at the lone traffic light, she waved at Mrs. Eckles, who owned the bakery across the street. “I didn’t exactly learn about healthy relationships from my parents, either,” she reminded Luis. But that didn’t have to stop her from having a healthy relationship with someone else. “And you know what, Luis? Lance’s issues aren’t your fault.” He had a choice. He could decide what he wanted for his life. It seemed he already had, so there was no point in dwelling on the situation. “Anyway, we don’t have to talk about Lance. Like I’ve said before, there’s nothing to talk about.” They had a business arrangement and things had gotten too personal. She wouldn’t make that mistake again.

  On the south end of Main Street, she veered to the right and pulled up in front of the shelter. The building itself wasn’t attractive. Before her father had bought it, it had been an old diner, a plain square brick building with a shingled roof. Some people around town called it an eyesore, but it served its purpose. Before Buzz had passed, she’d planned to give it a facelift in hopes that would help donations. Things hadn’t exactly worked out that way. Her dad had left behind a couple of debts and after she’d paid them off, she needed what remained to keep things running month-to-month, to pay Cassidy and Xavier, her night shift guy, so she didn’t have to be there 24/7.

  She parked in the space next to Cassidy’s SUV and cut the engine. It looked like the sign above the door had lost another bolt. It was tilted like it was about to fall to the ground.

  Luis noticed her looking at it.

  “That’s nothin’. I’ll get on a ladder and get it all fixed up,” he said, unbuckling his seat belt.

  She climbed out of the truck, hauling along her bag of paperwork she had to finish up. “Thanks, Luis.” Seriously. What would she do without him? Lance might be paying her to stay with the man, but she should be doing it for free, given how much he did to help her out.

  “You deserve to be on the payroll,” she told him, leading the way inside. The bell chimed a cheerful welcome.

  “Nah. I don’t need the money,” he insisted.

  And it was obvious she did need some money. Jessa looked around the reception area at the front of the building. Buzz had unearthed the two oak desks from a trash heap in the rubble of a dilapidated building. Sturdy as a rock, he’d claimed, even though they both leaned slightly to the left. And tho
se desks weren’t the only monstrosities in the room. The stained gray carpet was pulling up around the edges. It had been snagged from the array of paws that had walked or pranced or scampered or cowered on its surface. Two overstuffed chairs he’d found at a garage sale provided the only seating in the room.

  She sighed deeply. It wasn’t the neatest place, but it was hard to keep things neat when you had a revolving door of animals coming in and out.

  “Hey there.” Cassidy walked out from the back room, where they kept the animal pens and supplies.

  “Hi,” Jessa said brightly, doing her best to cover up her earlier irritation. “How’re things going?”

  “Good…” Her friend drew out the word as though she was confused. That would be because technically Jessa wasn’t supposed to come in on Sundays. Her friends were always on her about being a workaholic and making sure she took at least one day off during the week. So much so that Cassidy had volunteered to hang out on weekends for a very reasonable wage.

  Before Cass could ask her why she’d come in, she got right down to business. “So how’s the pig?” The day before Cam had broken up with her, someone had called to report a potbellied pig that was seen wandering around the park. Jessa had found the sweet thing down by the river, and she didn’t look healthy. Too thin and very lethargic. She’d brought her in and posted signs around town, but so far no one had claimed her. Which meant she’d likely been abandoned by someone passing through town.

  “The poor baby won’t eat,” Cass said. “I tried everything you recommended, but she just kind of nibbles, then goes back to sleep.”

  “I figured that might be the case.” Which gave her the perfect excuse to come in on a Sunday. She’d already started the pig on antibiotics but might have to up the dosage. “That’s why I thought I’d better stop and check in. I’ll go take a look.” She slipped past the desk and hurried to the back room. Though she’d given the pig the largest crate they had, it had curled up in the farthest corner, snout burrowed into the soft blanket Jessa had used to make a bed. When she unlatched the crate, the pig’s head lifted, but it didn’t move.

  “Come here, sweetie.” Carefully, Jessa lifted her out and held her the same way she’d hold a baby. Based on the pig’s small size, she’d guess her to be less than a year old. “Why would anyone ever leave you behind?” she cooed, petting her soft head. “You’re so pretty, yes you are.” Downright irresistible, if you asked her, with that shiny pink snout and those black-and-white spots. “Such a pretty piggy.”

  “Think she’s gonna make it?” Luis asked from behind her.

  “She might have a touch of pneumonia, but we’ll take care of her.” Jessa scratched the pig’s ears and it lifted its snout into the air. “You like that, don’t you,” she murmured.

  The pig gave the cutest little grunt, proving that a little love can help perk up anyone.

  “Would you mind if I brought her home?” Jessa turned to Luis. I’d like to keep a closer eye on her.”

  “Fine by me.” Having brought up three boys, Luis seemed to be fazed by nothing. He’d told her plenty of tales of Lance and his brothers bringing home snakes and mice and spiders.

  “Not sure Lance’ll like the idea, though. He’s always sayin’ animals belong outside.”

  She couldn’t fight a wicked grin. Even better.

  “Got a name for her?” the man asked, scratching under the pig’s chin.

  Jessa held her up and carefully looked her over. “Ilsa,” she said, satisfied. “Because she’s fancy.” And because she loved Casablanca.

  Luis grunted out a laugh. “Never met a pig named Ilsa.”

  “You named her?” Cass asked, walking through the door. “Uh-oh. In my experience naming an animal means it’ll be part of your family forever.”

  “I’d be fine with that.” Jessa couldn’t take in every animal that came through the shelter’s doors, but Ilsa was obviously special.

  “So you could’ve called to check on the pig, you know,” her friend said as though she was hurt. “I could’ve handled it until tomorrow.”

  Guilt turned Jessa’s stomach. “Oh, I know. Of course you could.” That wasn’t it at all! “It’s just…” She paused. There was no way she’d get out of this without telling her the whole story, which she couldn’t do in front of Lance’s father. She turned to him. “Luis, do you mind getting started on inventory in the storage room?”

  “No problem,” he said, tipping his cowboy hat in Cassidy’s direction as he slipped by.

  Once he was gone, Cassidy plopped down at the desk with the aged computer, then rolled another office chair close and pointed at it. “Spill it. What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be enjoying a day off.”

  Jessa sat and settled Ilsa on her lap. She would’ve been enjoying a day off if things hadn’t gotten so awkward back at the ranch. In a hushed tone, she shared the whole story in what had to be record time.

  Cassidy’s eyes grew wider and wider. “Wow. So what’re you going to do? You going to stay there?”

  “I feel like I have to.” She’d made a deal with Lance. Besides, she needed the money. And now she wouldn’t feel bad at all taking a cut. She didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of bowing out because things had gotten a little uncomfortable.

  “I can’t believe you kissed Lance Cortez,” Cassidy blurted. Her eyes bulged and she covered her mouth. “Sorry. But that’s crazy. Was it good?”

  “No.” Yes it was. Her heart sighed. Sooooo good.

  “I can tell when you’re lying, you know.”

  Jessa simply petted Ilsa’s coarse hair and planted a kiss on the pig’s head. “I wonder why someone didn’t want her,” she said, trying to get Cassidy to focus on something besides Lance.

  Luis came back, lugging along her father’s old metal toolbox. “We’re almost out of dog bones,” he informed her. “But from what I can tell, everything else looks fine.”

  Of course it was fine, because she’d done the inventory three days ago. Jessa fanned her face. “Okay,” she sang. “Thanks, Luis. I’ll add dog bones to the list.”

  He secured the toolbox under one arm and hooked the other around the ladder they kept behind the counter. “I’m gonna head out and get that sign fixed.”

  After he’d moseyed through the door, Cassidy looked at Jessa with shiny eyes, a grin brimming. But before the woman could ask more questions, she glanced at the call log on the desk. “Has anything else come in today?”

  Cassie snorted. “No. But Hank Green called. Twice in the past half hour, even though I told him you’re not in today. I offered to help him out, but it’s not me he wants.” She wiggled her eyebrows.

  Damn it. Not exactly the kind of call she’d hoped for. Give her a fawn tangled in a fence any day over Hank Green. The retired grocery store manager had had a thing for her ever since she’d worked there the summer she’d turned eighteen. He made passes at her every time he saw her.

  She sighed. “What’s the problem?”

  “His cat is stuck in a tree. Again.” Cassidy laughed. “He probably put him up there so he could call you.”

  “Oy.” Hank did have some delusions about the two of them driving off into the sunset together. Despite the fact that he was a good forty years older than her and she’d tried to tell him repeatedly he wasn’t her type.

  Cassidy patted her hand sympathetically. “I told him he’d have to check in with you Monday if he wanted to talk with you.”

  Except that would mean she had nothing to do here today. No reason to keep Luis here, which meant they would have to go back to the ranch. And she dreaded that even more than she dreaded Hank’s awkward passes. “Actually, I think I’ll go over there.” She rose from the chair and started to collect everything she’d need for Ilsa—the crate, the antibiotics, a special bottle so she could help her put on some weight. She could easily drop the pig off at the ranch before heading over to Hank’s place.

  When she turned around, Cass was gaping at her. “That’ll
only encourage him, you know.”

  “The poor cat. It’s not his fault his owner is nuts.” She crossed to the other desk and pulled out her medical kit from the drawer, just in case Butch the wonder cat was injured during the rescue.

  “I’m sure he’ll get him down if you don’t come,” Cassidy muttered.

  “I wish I had your faith.” But Hank could be quite persistent. She’d been witness to that. “Anyway, this is exactly what I need today. A distraction.” A reason to avoid the ranch. Okay, a reason to avoid Lance. “I’ll bring Luis with me.”

  “Oh, that’ll help.” Her friend rolled her eyes. Hank had always had it out for the Cortez boys—called them hoodlums and troublemakers—and now the rivalry between Hank Green and Luis Cortez was legendary. “You might want to bring some rope in case there’s a brawl and you have to hog-tie the two of them.”

  “Everything’ll be fine,” she insisted. Even if it wasn’t, it would be a hell of a lot easier than facing Lance again today.

  Chapter Eleven

  Though she couldn’t say much for the man himself, Jessa had always loved Hank Green’s house. Located only a few blocks off Main Street, it had that old, small-town curb appeal, with rounded Victorian bay windows and pointed eaves. Pale bricks set off the blue shutters and an intricate white front porch wrapped the length of the house in a charming elegance.

  “Hank Green needs your help about as much as Lance needs mine,” Luis mumbled as she pulled up to the curb.

  “I feel bad for him,” Jessa said through a sigh. “He’s lonely.” So he called her over to help with his animals occasionally. What was the harm in that? Though he was in his late sixties, the man had never been married, never had any family, so she could understand why he’d want some company. “Besides,” she continued, withdrawing the keys and unclipping her seat belt, “I can’t ignore an animal in distress.” The poor cat was probably terrified.