Count on a Cowboy

by Patricia Thayer

  Then she took time to write Laurel a note, giving her a phone number and her Las Vegas address so she could stay in touch. Now, for the hardest part, composing the words to say goodbye to Trent. She decided to make it brief, believing he didn’t want any more from her than what they’d shared this past week. Leaving the addressed envelopes on the counter, she looked around the cabin one last time. The pain in her chest made it difficult to breathe. She closed her eyes, praying that she had the strength to move on. She wiped the tears from her face, then walked out and got into her car.

  Sadness blanketed her as she drove under the Bucking Q Ranch sign. How did she let this place come to mean so much to her? She never meant to fall in love with Colorado. This life or this family...and Trent. But she couldn’t have any of them.

  * * *

  TRENT RETURNED TO the Bucking Q and parked at the cabin. He was excited and had been a little apprehensive about leaving Brooke to show the report to Rory. Although he couldn’t imagine his friend not accepting Brooke with open arms.

  He parked in front of the cabins, surprised to see Brooke’s car wasn’t there. He opened the door and dread struck him as he went into the bedroom and found the closet emptied of Brooke’s clothes.

  Damn, she was gone. “No, she wouldn’t leave without telling me.” He went into the kitchen and found the note on the counter.

  Trent,

  I’m sorry, something came up and I had to leave right away. I want to thank you for a wonderful time. Learning to ride Raven was incredible, and the roundup, too. Most of all it was the time I spent with you that was the best. I will never forget you. Brooke.

  Brooke was gone? What the hell happened? He rushed out of the cabin, jumped in his truck and drove to the house.

  His tires squealed as he turned into the Quinns’ driveway, then threw the gearshift into park and jumped out. He hurried through the back door, down the hall and into Rory’s office. He saw his friend seated at the desk.

  “Dammit, Rory! What did you say to make Brooke leave?”

  Rory stood and came around the desk. “I didn’t say anything. Brooke overheard Diane and me talking.” He sighed. “Diane was upset.”

  “So you threw Brooke off the property because she brought back bad memories of Coralee. That’s just great.”

  “Look, I didn’t see any choice. Laurel and Brooke can still have a relationship.”

  “You have to know that Brooke had nothing to do with Coralee’s behavior, but she’s the one being punished.” Trent threw up his arms. “Well, guess what? She’s gone. Problem solved.” He glared at Rory. “But it’s not. Not by a long shot.” He pointed to the manila envelope. “Did you even read the PI report?”

  Rory shook his head. “That’s only something Brooke brought me for our website.”

  “No, it’s a PI report from Cody. He sent it to me the other night...” The night he’d made love to Brooke. The night she’d slept in his arms. He shook away the memory. “I showed it to Brooke and she promised to bring the information to you today.”

  Rory tore open the envelope. He scanned the page. “I’m not seeing anything...” His voice died out as his eyes widened, and he glanced at Trent. “She’s the same age as Laurel. How is that possible?”

  Trent nodded. “Because they’re twins.”

  “Brooke’s my daughter,” he breathed and sank down into the chair. “Coralee kept her from me?”

  “It seems so. Brooke didn’t know about you until her mother’s Alzheimer’s had progressed and she began calling Brooke Laurel.”

  “How do you know all this?” Rory asked.

  “She told me the other night, but I wanted Brooke to be the one to tell you.”

  “Oh, God.” Tears formed in Rory’s eyes. “Why? How did this happen?” He looked at Trent. “I swear I didn’t know.”

  Trent shook his head. “Of course you didn’t. It was Coralee who wasn’t honest.”

  “You’re right. But why did Brooke make up the story about being Laurel’s half sister?”

  Trent frowned. “She told me she only wanted to get Laurel to come to Las Vegas to see Coralee. She wasn’t in the market for a father. I think her real reason was because she was afraid of getting rejected.”

  “And that’s exactly what I did.”

  Laurel walked into the room. “Hey, Dad. Could you help...” She stopped after seeing Rory’s sad expression. Was he ill? “What’s wrong?”

  Rory shook his head, then glanced at Trent.

  “Tell her, she deserves to know,” Trent said.

  Okay, now she was panicked. “Somebody better tell me.”

  Rory looked at his daughter. “Seems that Brooke isn’t your half sister—she’s your twin sister.”

  A big smile spread across Laurel’s face. “Really? Oh, wow! I can’t believe it, I have a twin. How?” This was even better than she’d thought. She knew there was something special between them, more than the bond of half sisters. They’d shared a womb. She couldn’t lose her now.

  Rory explained everything to his daughter. She beamed and looked around. “Where is Brooke? I want to see her.”

  Trent delivered the bad news as he handed her the note that Brooke left for her. “She’s on her way back to Las Vegas.”

  Rory took over. “I had no idea she was my daughter.”

  Another squeal came from Laurel when she realized Brooke had more of a connection to this family. “Oh, that’s right, you’re her dad, too. With Coralee sick, she needs someone to help her.”

  Rory glanced away. “I’m sorry, Laurel. I messed this up badly. I sent her away.”

  Laurel knew that, but she was aware that both her parents felt threatened. She only hoped that Brooke could understand that. “Well, then, you’re just going to have to fix it because I’m not losing my sister.”

  * * *

  TRENT ARRIVED BACK at his house and slammed the door in frustration. He’d called Brooke’s cell phone, but it had gone straight to voice mail, and he didn’t leave a message. What would he say? Come back? I want a life with you?

  He cursed and was met with silence. The place was so cold and empty. He could still remember years ago when these rooms had been filled with laughter, happy Christmases and birthdays celebrated right here in this living room. It had all disappeared in one tragic day. Then about a year later, his mother had left, taking him away from everything he loved on the ranch, including his father...and any memories of Christopher. What made him think he could come back and change the past?

  He shook away his morbid thoughts and walked upstairs, stripping off his shirt before heading to the shower. In his room, he paused when he saw the bed where he’d made love to Brooke that first time. His chest tightened. The sheets probably still smelled like her.

  He walked to the window and looked out at the barn and corral. He’d worked hard to rebuild this place. For whom? Chris was gone, so was his father. His mother wouldn’t set foot on the ranch. She’d made a new life for herself outside Denver, with a new husband and new sons.

  His thoughts turned back to Brooke once again.

  Why did she have to come here, into his home, leaving him more memories to bury? Now, she was gone, too. How was he supposed to get things back to normal and to stop thinking about her?

  He walked to the dresser and pulled out clean underwear. His attention went to the stack of his father’s unread letters.

  You need to read them, Trent, Brooke had said. Your father loved you.

  He picked up the stack of mail, released the string and began to sort through to find Wade Landry’s last letter to his son. Trent checked the postmark. It was dated a week before his dad’s death. Tears formed in his eyes as he opened the folded paper and began to read.

  Dear son,

  I got some time so I thought I’d write you and give you some news from back home. We had spring roundup this past weekend. Rory and Laurel helped, along with our crew of guys to bring the herd down from the high pasture. I only managed to ride half
the day, before I wore out. I guess your old man isn’t as young as he used to be.

  My hope is one day when you retire from being a soldier, you’ll come home and take over running the Lucky Bar L. It’s a nice piece of grazing land, surrounded by the Rocky Mountains, a pretty view in any direction. There are also good neighbors on either side of the property. Rory would love to have you nearby, too.

  I know we haven’t been close for a long time, and I’m going to take the blame for most of that. After Chris died, I closed up, shutting out you and your mother. She didn’t want to leave me. I pushed her away until she had no choice but to go. I pushed you away, too. You didn’t deserve that, son. My only excuse is that I was so filled with guilt about Chris that it was hard to look you in the eye. No more.

  For years I’ve left too many things unsaid, and it’s time to let you know the truth. I know you’ve always felt guilty about not taking Chris along with you that day. I want you to stop blaming yourself. I’m the reason Chris is dead.

  When your brother got up that morning, he was hurt that you left him behind. I told him if he wanted to go along, then go after you. Chris was an experienced rider, and I had no doubt that he could find you. I was wrong, dead wrong. It cost me my son, and you your brother. I’m so sorry.

  Now, I’m asking your forgiveness for all the years I wasn’t the father you needed. Please, don’t stay away from the ranch because of me. I won’t be around much longer. I’ve reconciled with the Lord, and your mother. I need to tell you that I loved Chris and you more than life.

  I’m so proud of you, Trent. I just hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me. But mostly, I don’t want you to have any regrets. Chris wouldn’t want you to spend any more time grieving him. He loved you and would want you to live your life to the fullest. That’s what I want for you, too. Come home to the Lucky Bar L, and make a good life.

  Goodbye, son.

  Love,

  Your father

  Trent put down the letter as a rush of tears filled his eyes until the dam burst. He cried for the brother he’d lost, for the dad who had to carry this burden all these years, and for himself because he missed them all.

  He didn’t know how much time had passed, but he finally realized his dad was right. He needed to bury this for once and for all. He needed a new beginning.

  What he needed was Brooke.

  Chapter Seventeen

  “Mother, you need to calm down, or you’ll have to go back to your room,” Brooke said as she sat on the sofa in the living room at the care facility.

  Coralee Loretta Harper had a look of defiance across her once flawless face. Now her skin was lined by years of drinking and hard living. Although her beauty had faded, she was still slender and graceful.

  Her mother turned her blue gaze toward her daughter. “You can’t make me.”

  Brooke folded her arms. Her mother was lucid today, but very agitated, and demanding to get her way. Some things never changed. “Try me.”

  Coralee glared, but finally sat down on the sofa. “You promised me, Brooke. You were going to bring Laurel here for me.”

  Only back from Colorado two days, Brooke had to go to work at the casino right away. It seemed that she’d have her dealer’s job for a while. The manager’s position at Dream Chaser Hotel that she’d been offered was for their Reno, Nevada, location. She had to turn it down. So she wasn’t in the best mood today.

  “I told you already, not everyone can stop their lives to do what you want.”

  But Brooke always had. She was at the top of that list for enabling her mother, or she would have never gone to Colorado. She felt a rush of happiness, knowing she was glad she had gone to Hidden Springs. She met her sister, her father and her first lover, even if their time together had been so short.

  She’d tried not to think about Trent, but gave up. She’d relived their week together over and over again during her drive back. Even though he couldn’t offer her a future, she had no regrets about loving the man.

  Her mother’s voice broke through her reverie. “Did Laurel at least say when she was coming to see me?”

  It had surprised Brooke that she hadn’t heard from Laurel. Maybe her sister was upset because she hadn’t told her the entire truth. And what about Rory? Wouldn’t he at least acknowledge that Brooke was his daughter, or had Diane prevented him from contacting her?

  “Well, I want you to call her, and tell her to come,” her mother demanded.

  The pretty redheaded director, Erin, walked into the public room that was shared by the four residents at Carlton Care Facility. Up until three months ago, that had included Erin’s disabled husband, Jarred. The ex-marine had been severely wounded in Afghanistan. He’d died due to complications from his injuries. Brooke had only met Jarred once while she’d worked here some weekends. She wondered how Erin had dealt with the loss.

  “Maybe she’ll come visit you tomorrow, Coralee,” Erin said. “Now, it’s time for you to go to bed.”

  Coralee pouted. “It’s still early.”

  Erin was persistent. She had to be, dealing with Alzheimer’s patients. “Once you get bathed and into your gown, it will be bedtime.”

  Coralee finally relented. She stood and walked away with Carol, the second shift nurse.

  “Put on the blue gown,” Brooke called to her. “The color makes your eyes shine.”

  That got her a smile from her mother. “It’s my favorite, too.” Coralee’s whole mood changed as she left the room.

  Brooke collapsed on the sofa and Erin joined her. “I didn’t realize there would be such a change in her in just a week.”

  “She actually did very well while you were gone.” Erin looked her in the eyes. “She just knows how to push your buttons.”

  Brooke knew that was true. “I’ve let her have her way for so long, I don’t know how to stop.”

  “At this stage of her disease, it would be impossible for Coralee to change.” Erin reached across and covered Brooke’s hand. “Let’s talk about you now. Tell me about your sister and your father.”

  Brooke forced a smile. “Laurel is wonderful, but I’m not sure she’ll come to see Coralee. We talked about it some, but then I had to leave suddenly.”

  Over the years growing up, Brooke hadn’t had many friends. That had changed when she met Erin. Over the past six months they’d shared a lot. She’d told Erin about all the wonderful things she got to do while in Colorado, then how it all fell apart.

  “None of them have called me,” Brooke said. “Not that I blame them. I wasn’t exactly truthful when I first arrived.” She was hoping Trent would contact her. “Trent never made me any promises, either.”

  “That doesn’t mean he shouldn’t have called you,” Erin said, shaking her head. “At least to see if you made it home.”

  “I turned off my phone. I can’t expect them to drop everything. Trent even told me from the beginning that he didn’t do commitments.”

  Erin gripped Brooke’s hand. “That seems to be a typical guy’s line.”

  She put on a smile. “It still was the best week of my life. I met my sister and father.” She hated how much she hurt leaving them. Aching to be a part of a family. Guess that wasn’t in the picture for her. She stood. “I’d better go and say good-night to Coralee, then I need to head home and get some sleep.”

  Erin stood and hugged her. “If you need me, I’m here for you.”

  At the sound of the doorbell, they broke apart. “Who could that be this late?” Erin and Brooke went to the door and checked the security camera. On the porch were Laurel and Rory.

  Brooke gasped. “Oh, no. It’s my sister, Laurel, and Rory.”

  Erin smiled. “Should I send them away?”

  “No! I just don’t know what to say to them.”

  “Try hello,” Erin said, then released the lock on the door and opened it. “Welcome to Carlton Care Facility, I’m Erin Carlton.”

  Laurel spoke first. “Nice to meet you, Mrs. Carlton. I’m
Laurel Quinn, Brooke Harper’s sister.”

  Rory stepped in behind her, holding his cowboy hat in his hand. With a nod, he said, “Mrs. Carlton. I’m Rory Quinn, Brooke’s father. We were wondering if we could speak with her.”

  Erin motioned with her hand. “Yes, she is here.”

  At the mention of her name, Brooke released a breath, trying to relax. Stay calm, she told herself, then stepped into the entry. “Hello, Rory and Laurel.”

  Laurel smiled. “Hi, Brooke.”

  Erin spoke up. “Why don’t we all go into the other room and get more comfortable, and you can talk with her?”

  Brooke led the way and they followed her into the living room, but no one sat down. She had no idea what to say to them, but since they were here, she felt hopeful.

  Laurel spoke first. “I should start, Brooke. I’m sorry you felt you had to leave. It’s not what I wanted at all.” She glanced at her father. “I probably didn’t tell you how happy I was that you’re my sister, but now knowing that you’re my twin—” she shook her head “—I feel even closer to you.”

  Brooke nodded. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you right away. I’d planned to, but you had gone to Denver...” She stole a quick glance at Rory. “I couldn’t just blurt it out.”

  Rory stepped forward. “And I didn’t help matters by blaming you for everything your mother had done.”

  She shook her head. “No, it’s okay. You have to protect your family. I understand that.”

  Rory nervously toyed with his cowboy hat. “But you are my family, Brooke. Just as much as Laurel is mine.”

  Her heart skipped a couple of beats. A flood of emotion filled her and spilled out in tears. “I’m still a stranger to you.”

  “I don’t want us to be strangers, Brooke. I know you’re an adult, but if there’s any space in your life for me, I’d like to get to know you.”