Second Hope Cowboy

by Rhonda Lee Carver

  Sliding out of the passenger side, she spotted the little boy, Dalton, sitting in the exact same spot she’d seen him before. He saw her too. His gaze was on her, watching and curious. She smiled and waved. He gave her a quick wave in return. She realized the boy moved her because she and Tucker would have had a son about his age…

  Swallowing her raw emotion, she started toward the step. It wouldn’t hurt to talk to him again.

  ****

  Tucker glanced across the parking lot at his empty truck. Where had Hope gone?

  He stepped to the open garage door of the shop and he spotted her by the corner, kneeling down doing something. He looked closer and past her arm, and his breath caught. He saw the little boy she’d mentioned the other day.

  Life hadn’t been fair to Hope. From the first time he’d met her he’d known she loved children, had talked about having her own, having a house full of laughter and the pitter patter of small feet. Honestly, at the time, he wasn’t even sure he wanted kids, but seeing her enthusiasm at the prospect had swayed his decision. Unfortunately, fate had different plans.

  Their relationship was forever over. She’d dropped his hopes into the trash, telling him there wasn’t a sliver of chance that they’d get back together, or even that she wanted to give it another try.

  What had he been thinking? His foolish gut had led him the wrong direction.

  Hell, he knew he hadn’t been thinking clearly when he blurted out the plan to Hope. He’d never been the smartest around her.

  “Car’s all ready, buddy.”

  Dragging his gaze away from Hope, he turned and gave Hinshaw a quick nod. “Thanks.” He reached into his pocket and grabbed the wad of cash he’d stuffed in there that morning. “Anything extra that we hadn’t already discussed?”

  “Nope.” Hinshaw scratched his oily head. “New radiator is all she needed to get back on the road. The dents and scratches won’t keep her down.”

  Yeah, the man’s words meant more than he’d ever understand.

  “By the way, Hinshaw, I want to pay off a credit in your mom’s store.”

  Hinshaw squinted. “You don’t seem to me like a man that’d have a tab.”

  “It’s not mine. But it has to stay confidential.”

  Damn, Hope always did spur him to be a better man.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Tucker unlocked the door, pushed it open wide and inhaled the scent of pine and bleach. The floors were freshly cleaned, yet he knew there was a lot more that needed done. At least it wouldn’t smell like mildew and dust when Hope walked in.

  He started to cross the threshold when his stomach twisted. He backed up, leaving the key hanging in the door.

  There was no reason to go back into the house here at Havens Ranch.

  Undeniably, he had a lot of pride, and for damn sure he was too old to change, but he hoped he had a bigger heart and knew the difference between right and wrong.

  After Hope had left him at the cabin, driven away without a backward glance, he’d bid her farewell and reality had slapped him in the face. Seeing her leave had crumbled the wall he thought had been airtight. Wrong on so many levels.

  But he wouldn’t go back—couldn’t go back.

  Yet, when he woke up the following day, he’d decided Hope should have the house. He’d never live there, not alone. Too many memories would haunt him. Just like now, even contemplating going into the two-story farmhouse felt like a dull knife being shoved up his ass. Not a good feeling.

  He’d just wait out on the porch until Hope arrived.

  Dragging one of the old white wooden rockers across the floor he situated it in the corner and took a seat, propping his booted feet on the top of the paint-chipped rail. This was his favorite spot. From here he could look out for miles and miles over green pastures and the big red barn in the far distance.

  He’d sold the two-hundred acres to his brother Cash, who now worked the land with hands. Recently, Cash had bought another forty acres on the west side along with an old house that he’d been fixing up for the last year. There, Cash lived with his daughter, Becca.

  Tucker’s phone beeped. He dug into his front pocket, took it out and read the screen. Speak of the devil.

  Hitting talk, he brought the cell to his ear. “Cash, you must have read my mind.”

  “Yeah, why’s that?” His brother’s Texas twang rippled across the speaker

  “I’m sitting here at the farmhouse.” He had vaguely mentioned to his brother that he planned to give the house to Hope.

  “That’s why I’m calling, bro. I saw you pass earlier and I wanted to ask if you’re sure about this. You want to give up that old place? I know you’ve gotten comfortable over there at Brooke Creek, but I sure could use a good rancher here at Havens. You know I’ll bring you on as half owner if that’s what it takes.”

  Tucker pushed his hat back on his forehead and rubbed between his eyes. He missed his land. Missed calling a place his own, but—

  Tires on the gravel and the soft purr of an engine made his heart skip a beat. “Hey, bro, I’ve got to go. Hope is pulling in.” He hit end.

  ****

  Hope slipped out of her car and followed the crumbling stone path to the steps of the porch.

  “You’re late.”

  The thick voice made her jump. She brought a hand to her chest and lifted her chin, scanning the porch until she saw the worn boots relaxed on the corner railing. She’d know those boots anywhere.

  The sun was falling and he sat in the shadows.

  Ascending each step with purpose, hoping to get this over with soon, she heard his feet fall to the floor, making her jittery.

  She cleared her throat. “I got caught at the office. You said you wanted to see me?” And since she’d heard his voice, she’d done nothing but think about the offer he’d made her at the cabin. “And I need to talk to you too.” Although she hated to admit the truth, she’d hoped he’d call. Maybe that was what she was waiting for…

  The chair creaked followed by a rustling sound. His boots pounded the wood and she anticipated the second she would see him, without the shadows hiding his features. Her breath held. Her palms turned clammy. She nibbled her lower lip. Then he stepped into the sliver of remaining sunlight, knuckling his hat further back on his forehead, gazing at her with probing eyes. “What do you have to say?” he asked.

  She nodded and smoothed her tongue over her lower lip, hoping he didn’t see the slight tremble. Her insides quivered. “You can go first and tell me why you wanted to see me.” She was stalling, she knew, but it wouldn’t change the fact what she was about to offer him. She’d felt excitement all the way out to the house, but being here now, remembering the last time they’d sat on the porch together, holding hands and drinking sweet tea, conjured up fear too. It seemed like only yesterday, and yet seemed so long ago at the same time.

  “I’m a gentleman—ladies first.” He offered with a flash of dazzling white teeth.

  How hadn’t she expected that answer? “Okay. Do you want to go inside, sit and talk?”

  He shook his head. “No, I’m fine out here.”

  Swallowing her anxiety and straightening her spine, she gathered her thoughts and lined them up like ducks in a row. Brushing past him and crossing over to the rail, she leaned one hip against a wooden beam, catching his gaze still on her. “After leaving the cabin I did a lot of soul searching—”

  “Me too.”

  “And I really want this place.” She looked up at him through her lashes, hearing her heart beating heavy like a drum in her ears.

  He took off his hat and pressed it against his chest. “I should tell you—”

  She had to get it out fast. “I agree to live here, with you, for a month.”

  “The place is…wait…what?” The area between his brows scrunched.

  “Tucker, I’m agreeing to your terms. I will live here with you, as long as after the time is up you do as you’ve promised, sign the deed over to me.” The weight of
a ton of bricks lifted off her shoulders.

  His tan disappeared and he rolled his fingers along the collar of his plaid shirt, stretching it as if it was suddenly too small.

  “It’s what you still want, right?” she asked. “I thought that’s why you brought me here, to ask again.”

  He swept the back of his hand over his brow. Several expressions flickered across his face but night was coming on fast and they were now in the shadows. She could no longer see his eyes. Several seconds floated by and her head spun. Would he turn her away? Had he changed his mind? Her stomach fluttered and her throat tightened, and she could barely breathe.

  “You have changed your mind. I should have mentioned why I needed to see you over the phone. It would have been a lot easier.” She spun on her heel and got to the bottom step when he wrapped his fingers around her elbow, gently holding her still. She turned her cheek, peering up at him. He was close enough that she got a whiff of soap and sandalwood.

  “Hey, don’t be so quick to walk away. I didn’t say I’ve changed my mind. I just needed a minute to digest what you’re saying.” His soft voice dug into her reserve.

  “I-I guess I am a bit anxious.”

  “Are you sure about this?”

  “If I wasn’t I wouldn’t be here.” Her confidence was shattering inside. She wasn’t sure about anything anymore—especially when it came to Tucker. What she was confident in was the idea of getting the house. Her heart ached for home. And this was her only home.

  When the four weeks were over, she’d have a place to call hers again. She never realized how important that was until all was lost.

  “But this would take effort. I couldn’t have you here, miserable and moping—” His sentence broke off with great meaning.

  She felt salt in old wounds, became vulnerable. “You mean like before.”

  “That’s not what I said.”

  “You didn’t have to.” Hope shook her head. “Look, Tucker, I’m agreeing to your request. I can’t guarantee how I’ll feel—especially after I walk in.” Sweeping a glance toward the open door, she cringed and her knees wobbled. She leaned against the porch rail for support but it did little good for the weakness within her.

  “Let me make this clear without you reading anything into it. I don’t want this to feel like a prison sentence or revenge on my part.” He shifted his booted feet and stepped back away from her. Cooler air swept across her exposed skin and she shivered.

  “Then why do this? You believe all of your troubles of the past will melt away and life will be fantastic?”

  He shrugged and she swore she heard seams break. “I’m not five, Hope. I realize we have a lot of hurtful moments in the past that won’t just go away. Those things aren’t fixed overnight…or even in years. And despite what you might believe, I’m not doing this because I’m hell bent on a future with you. I can take things slow…figure things out. Hell, I might figure out that we’ve grown too far apart.” He twisted his hat.

  Staring closely, she searched his expression for any signs that he was skirting his true emotions. But all she saw was sincerity. She wasn’t sure how to accept his words. What if, by some slender way, her feelings changed and then he made a choice that he no longer wanted her?

  The thought swept through her like a raging forest fire, burning away her confidence of believing she could walk when the time came.

  “I need to know, what does your fiancé have to say about this?”

  The air grew chillier. “Blaise and I are not engaged at the moment, remember?” Would he leave it at that?

  “You should know, when we were at the cabin and you were at the bottom of the hill mud diving, he sent you a message. Maybe I shouldn’t have, but I read it.”

  He studied her in a way that made her stomach topsy-turvy. She wrapped her brain around his words, attempting to remember the message he’d read. She cleared her throat. “The one where he’d apologized and asked for me to come back?”

  He gave her a slow nod. “Does he have something to do with encouraging you to get this house?”

  She shook her head, tendrils of hair brushed her cheeks. “No, Tucker. And no you shouldn’t have read my private messages.”

  “Oh hell, sweetheart. You would have done the same thing.”

  And she couldn’t deny it. She exhaled a breath through the corner of her mouth. “Don’t turn this away from your guilt. But yes, he does want me to come back. I make the choices that are best for me.”

  “And if you get the house, what’ll that mean for the two of you? Will he be happy living out here in the middle of nowhere? Commuting back and forth into the city?” She blinked. “Oh, you haven’t thought that far ahead, have you? If you’re planning to sell this place just as soon as you have it in your hands, the deal’s off before it even gets started.”

  “I hope you know me better than that.”

  He smiled. “Once upon a time I thought I knew everything about you, but the day you walked away, I realized how wrong I was.”

  His harsh tone burrowed into her conscience. “If I agree to this, you can’t torture me with those reminders,” she snapped.

  “Sweetheart, you’ve already agreed to this. And I can’t promise they won’t pop up now and again. That’s what finding peace is all about. Letting go. Maybe we both need a good dose of closure and honesty.”

  “Sure.” She tried to compose herself as she grasped the wooden beam. Could he see straight through her? “When do we start this arrangement?”

  “No sense in dragging our feet. Tomorrow soon enough for you?” One thick brow curved.

  She smoothed her sweaty palms down the legs of her jeans. “I’ll be here around noon.”

  “You don’t want to check out the place now?”

  She was already in the driveway. “No. Tomorrow is soon enough. By the way, is this the reason you wished to speak to me?”

  “Yeah, I was hoping you’d see the place and change your mind.”

  She heard the hesitation in his voice, but she didn’t pry any further. She’d had all she could take for one night.

  Giving him one last look, she climbed into her car. As she was backing out, the car’s front lights feathered across his frame. His arms were crossed and a grim expression marred his face.

  He made her so nervous that she almost backed into his truck. Slamming on the brakes, she didn’t dare look toward him again, not that she’d be able to see him now that it was completely dark outside. But she didn’t want to even imagine the stern frown she knew must be marring his good looks.

  He should be happy. He got his way. A stubborn man like Tucker always seemed to get his way.

  But this time, he might be a little surprised and see how independent she’d become.

  It felt like only yesterday when she met him and he knocked the polish right off her toenails with his charming smile. He’d only looked at her and winked and she’d agreed to go out on a date with him. She’d fallen in love with him on date one, and by date two, she’d told her dad that she’d found Mr. Right.

  But now they had a history, scattered with pain and miscommunication.

  Heading down the narrow gravel drive, she saw the porch light fade in the rearview mirror. She stopped at the end of the lane but didn’t pull out onto the main road. Instead, she stayed put, thrumming her fingers on the steering wheel.

  Her father had warned her that a man like Tucker would only hurt her.

  Tucker had hurt her all right. He’d made her experience every emotion in the book, from love to sadness, pleasure to exhilaration. Together they’d experienced sweet happiness to pain, joy to depression.

  When she’d left Havens Ranch and gone back home, her father had basked in his glory. He’d assumed he’d nailed the truth—Tucker had screwed up and she’d given up.

  Fact was, and what no one else knew, she’d screwed up.

  Secrets never worked in a marriage.

  Pulling onto the road, she flipped on her bright lights and headed
south toward home, smiling. Her dad was about to flip a lid.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  “What’s that?” Cash supported his booted foot on the bottom rail of the fence. He looked at Tucker as if he’d grown a pair of horns.

  “You heard me. I want to work here at the ranch for a while.” Tucker dared not laugh at his brother’s incredulous stare. “Better shut your mouth, bro, or you’re going to swallow a fly.” He took a long sip from his already cold coffee. Wincing, he hated cold coffee. He tossed out the contents.

  “Yeah, I heard the part about you working the land, but I think there’s a miscommunication about the other. You were supposed to sign over the deed to Hope. Somehow that turned into you and her deciding to give your marriage another try? Woo-wee, brother, you never cease to startle the piss out of me.” Cash climbed over the top rail and jumped onto the other side.

  “I’m not asking for your approval. If you don’t want me working here, I’ll stay at Brooke Creek.” Tucker practically snarled the words.

  Cash squinted and shook his head, irritation turning the hard lines of his face harder. He worried too much and it showed in the new marks of wrinkles around his eyes. “Settle your haunches, Tuck. I didn’t say I don’t approve. You know I think the world of Hope, but I’m just thinking about this from a big brother’s standpoint. She left you, and that shouldn’t have been a big surprise. Things had gone downhill—or rather down the mountain—between the two of you after—”

  Tucker scratched the back of his neck. “Everybody goes down the hard road on occasion.”

  Cash scrubbed his jaw. “Hell, I’ll be the first one to agree with that. You know Rebecca and I had our difficulties. We didn’t marry because we got along all of the time. The first few years after we got hitched were hell. Good thing our arguments always ended in bed.” He winked.

  “But you two had a great marriage.” Tucker looked out over the field where the horses roamed. Cash had expanded the count and Tucker itched to jump into the corral and hop on the back of one of the paints. This was the first time he’d been out on the land for a long while, and he wanted to start back today.