Garrett was just as careful helping her dismount when they returned to the barn as he’d been when he aided her in mounting, but the awkwardness between them had grown with each clop of the horse’s hooves on the way back.
“Thanks for the ride,” she said when she was safely on the ground with her crutches again.
He finally met her gaze. “Hope you enjoyed it.”
“I did.” Though she knew she should walk away, she didn’t want to. “You were right. I’ve been going a little nuts with nothing to do.” And with her father’s confession eating big, gaping holes in her conscience.
“Maybe you’ll heal soon and things can get back to normal.”
No doubt about it. Garrett definitely suspected something other than her injuries had come between them up on that hillside. But maybe the distance he was putting between them, both physically and emotionally, was a good thing.
With her heart heavy, she gave him a quick nod and made her way out of the barn and toward the house when part of her wanted to keep going down the driveway and flag down the first driver who came by on the road.
When she reached the back door, Wayne was there to greet her with a big smile on his weathered face. “How was your ride?”
Did he look a little too hopeful? But for what? Was he hoping she and Garrett would get together? The memory of their kiss sent warmth rushing through her body along with the desire for so much more. But it was not to be, and the first opportunity she had to get off this ranch, she was taking it.
“Um, good. But I might have overdone it. I think I’m going to turn in early.”
“But dinner’s almost ready.”
Somehow she managed to not allow her stomach to grumble at the smell of good Texas chili. “Maybe I’ll eat some later. You and Garrett go ahead without me.”
She hated herself for causing the momentary look of disappointment on Wayne’s face. He’d once been like a second father to her, sometimes more of one than her own, and she ached to hug him. Instead, she offered a small smile.
“Okay, you rest. There will be plenty left, so you just let me know when you get hungry.”
She nodded, but as shaky as she felt at the moment, she knew she wasn’t going to come out of her room that night, at least not until Garrett and his dad were sound asleep.
But once she was closed up in Chloe’s old room, she felt even more trapped. She ignored her growing hunger as she listened to the Brody men go about their evening rituals. She didn’t even turn on a light, not wanting to invite a knock on her door. Instead, she lay in the bed and listened to their muted voices, the scrape of their boots on the floor, the singing of the water pipes as someone took a shower.
She imagined it was Garrett with warm water and soap rushing over his skin, then imagined herself stepping under the flow of water with him, letting him kiss her again as he had earlier. She’d had the momentary thought that if she indulged in just one kiss, she’d be able to survive on that memory. But it wasn’t true. Now that she knew what it felt like to be held in Garrett’s arms, to feel passion rising between them, she didn’t want to let it go. But she didn’t have a choice. She couldn’t stay and not tell him the truth. But if she shared the real reason for her return to Blue Falls, she would not only hurt him but also his entire family. And what were the chances that he’d ever look at her the same way again?
She squeezed her eyes against sudden tears and wished she’d never returned to Blue Falls. Nothing good could come of it.
Chapter Ten
Natalie stared out the window the next morning as she wondered if any of the taxi services in Austin would drive out to Blue Falls to pick her up. After what had happened between her and Garrett the day before, there was no way she could stay under his roof any longer.
Someone knocked on the door. She’d already ignored one knock earlier, pretending to still be asleep. But she couldn’t keep doing that without sending up even more red flags than she was currently waving.
“Come in,” she said as she pushed herself to her feet with the aid of her crutches.
Instead of a tentative poking in of the head, however, the door flew open to reveal a woman about her own age.
“Oh, my God, it’s true! You’re really here.”
Natalie stood dumbstruck at the vision before her, a younger version of Karen Brody. “Chloe?”
“Yes!” Chloe rushed forward and wrapped Natalie in her arms. “I’m so happy to see you.”
Natalie had to press her eyes closed to keep a fresh batch of tears from flowing as a result of the twisted mess of happiness, sorrow, regret and countless other emotions inside her. It felt so good to be held by her childhood best friend again that she found herself hugging Chloe back, hanging on as if her friend was a life preserver in the midst of a wide, tumultuous sea doing its best to drown her.
Chloe stepped back but kept her hands planted on Natalie’s shoulders. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming back to Blue Falls? I just can’t believe it. I have so many questions for you.”
Natalie smiled despite the maelstrom inside her head. Chloe was just how she remembered her, full of life. At least how she remembered her before her mother had been killed. Natalie fought to keep her smile in place in the wake of that memory.
“It was sort of a spur-of-the-moment trip.”
“I didn’t think I’d ever see you again when I never heard from you.”
Natalie opened her mouth to ask what Chloe meant when her friend had been the one not to write back. But before she made the mistake of speaking, Natalie realized what must have happened. A hot surge of anger toward her parents made her stumble.
“Sorry. I shouldn’t make you stand there like that,” Chloe said. “Come into the kitchen and have some breakfast. We’ve got a lot of catching up to do.”
The distance from the bedroom to the kitchen wasn’t far, but Natalie was thankful for the time it gave her to try to calm herself, to set aside for now the anger at the realization that her parents hadn’t ever sent her letters to Chloe. And that her mother hadn’t thought to tell her that before she’d come on this disaster of a trip.
She forced herself to take a couple of slow breaths during which she reminded herself that her mom’s mind had probably been far away from those letters in recent days.
Chloe pulled out a chair for Natalie and nodded to it as she went to scoop up some pancakes. She warmed them up in the microwave for a few seconds then did the same with some maple syrup, before setting it all in front of Natalie with a fresh cup of coffee. It was so like something her mother would have done that it carved out another piece of Natalie’s heart.
As she looked across the table to where her friend sat with her own cup of coffee, Natalie realized that here was another opportunity to finally tell the truth. But Chloe absolutely glowed with happiness. So Natalie shoved the past down deeper and allowed herself to be carried on the waves of conversation that came so naturally it was wonderful and painful at the same time. They talked about Chloe’s new husband, Owen’s new wife, their careers, how Natalie had helped Penelope after her injury, basically anything and everything that didn’t have to do with the night Natalie’s father ended Chloe’s mother’s life.
When the morning gave way to afternoon, Chloe made them grilled ham and cheese sandwiches and they kept talking.
“Shouldn’t you be at work or with your new husband?” Natalie finally asked.
Chloe waved away Natalie’s concern. “I don’t go back to work until tomorrow, and I’ve been with Wyatt nonstop for a week.”
Natalie laughed. “Already tired of him?”
Color rose in Chloe’s cheeks. “Not at all. I can’t imagine ever getting tired of Wyatt.”
The obvious love in Chloe’s words transported Natalie back to those moments in Garrett’s arms, to how much she wished it
could have gone on forever.
“What about you?” Chloe asked, jerking Natalie back to the present. “Anyone special in your life?”
“Um, no.”
“Well, that didn’t sound convincing.”
“There’s no one.”
“Well, stick around here long enough and we’ll cure that.”
Natalie’s gaze shot to Chloe’s. “What?”
Chloe laughed and reached across the table to squeeze Natalie’s hand. “Don’t look so scared. It’s just common knowledge that if you slow down too long in Blue Falls, Verona Charles will match you up with someone. She’s our very own Cupid.”
“Oh, I’ve heard about her, but I won’t be here that long. In fact, as soon as I can, I need to get back home and return to work.” Though giving vaccinations to cattle and helping birth foals was going to be interesting in her current condition.
“Well, until then I plan to enjoy every minute I can with you.”
Part of Natalie loved that idea, but another very nervous part didn’t know how long she could handle it.
“In fact, you’re coming with us to the local rodeo tonight.”
“Probably not the best idea with me knocking around on crutches.”
“Nonsense. I hear you’ve been making your way around the ranch, even went on a ride yesterday. Did you get two words out of Garrett? He’s still the quietest of the three of us.”
“A few.” And one kiss that scorched her all the way down to the tips of her toes. “Really, though, I’ll be fine here by myself. You all go on and have fun.”
“You do realize you won’t win an argument with me, right? Besides, the proceeds go to the local animal shelter, and I know you won’t be able to say no to that.”
Natalie relented, mainly so that she didn’t seem too determined not to go. And despite her job, she hadn’t been to a rodeo in a long time. Might be fun if she could manage to push aside all the guilt gnawing at her.
Thankfully, Natalie was able to ride to the rodeo with Chloe and Wyatt, who greeted Natalie with a big ole kiss on the cheek as if he’d known her all her life.
“Careful or you’ll make me jealous,” Chloe said with a playful punch to Wyatt’s shoulder.
Natalie leaned her crutches out a little and nodded toward her cast. “Yes, because I’m such a catch.”
“I’ve only got eyes for you,” Wyatt said and then leaned Chloe back and laid the kind of kiss on her that women dreamed about.
A kiss that had Natalie averting her gaze, which landed on Garrett. He was looking straight at her, at least until she made eye contact.
“Um, sorry about that,” Chloe said when Wyatt righted her. “My husband seems to think we’re still on our honeymoon.”
Natalie shifted her gaze away from where Garrett was getting into his truck with his dad. “No need to apologize. You technically still are on your honeymoon.”
“See?” Wyatt said. “Natalie understands.”
Natalie couldn’t help but laugh, happy that her friend had found someone so wonderful. Even so, she felt like a third wheel as they rode into Blue Falls. She knew they weren’t trying to exclude her, but she supposed you couldn’t help it when you were in love. Her thoughts drifted to Garrett again, and she wondered if they could get to that point if things were different.
When they reached the rodeo grounds, she said she wanted to stretch her legs and that she’d meet them at the grandstand before the rodeo got under way. She wandered through the rows of vendors and ended up where the local animal shelter had set up an area filled with animals available for adoption. Her heart went out to each of the animals, and it wasn’t the first time she wished she could adopt them all.
A friendly yip drew her attention to a little sheltie looking up at her with the friendliest expression she’d ever seen on a pup’s face. “Aw, hey there, sweetie.” She made her way over to where he stood wagging his tail. “Aren’t you a handsome little guy?”
She started to lean over to pet him, but a sharp pain traveled the length of her leg, causing her to curse under her breath.
“Let me.” The rumble of Garrett’s voice registered as he leaned past her to pick up the puppy.
As soon as Garrett turned to face her with the dog held in his arms, the puppy wiggled in excitement and licked her chin.
Garrett laughed. “I think he likes you.”
Trying to ignore the fact that Garrett was so close she could smell his woodsy male scent, she brought her face down level with the puppy’s. He wriggled his way out of Garrett’s arms into hers. When she teetered a bit, Garrett moved quickly to steady her with his warm hand at the small of her back. She looked up into his eyes, and her breath caught.
“Maybe you should take him.”
That’s exactly what she wanted to do as visions of making love to Garrett filled her head. Wait, no, that wasn’t what he meant. She broke eye contact and leaned her cheek against the soft fur atop the pup’s head.
“I’d be sorely tempted if I were home,” she said. For some reason, she felt an instant attachment to the animal, much the same as she had with Garrett. Neither made any sense.
“You can bring him out to the ranch. It’d actually do Roscoe and Cletus some good to have a younger pup around for a while.”
“I don’t know.”
As if the pup could understand, he whimpered and licked her cheek with a renewed burst of enthusiasm.
“See, he loves you already.”
Just hearing the word love on Garrett’s lips made her insides flutter.
“He’s such a lovable little guy,” one of the volunteers manning the adoption area said, drawing Natalie’s attention. “He’s come close to being adopted a few times, but it’s always fallen through.”
Natalie imagined his little puppy heart getting his hopes for a home up only to be shattered repeatedly. And she couldn’t do it to him again. She met Garrett’s gaze.
“Are you sure it’s okay for me to—”
“Yes,” he said before she even had a chance to finish.
A few minutes later, she was the happy owner of a new little sheltie that seemed thrilled to be out of the pen and on a leash.
“I don’t know what I was thinking,” she said as she watched the puppy jump around Garrett’s feet as if he’d just been sprung from prison. “I can barely take care of myself.”
“You seem to be doing pretty well to me.”
Oh, how wrong he was, but she kept that thought to herself.
As they reached the grandstand, she found that the Brody clan had staked out their claim to the first several spots on the first two rows so she wouldn’t have to climb the stairs.
“Hey there,” a handsome young guy who had to be Owen said as he got to his feet. “Long time, no see.”
“Yeah.” She glanced from him to the lovely redhead who must be Linnea. “Congrats on your wedding.”
After introductions, Chloe noticed the pup in Garrett’s arms. “You seem to have picked up a passenger.”
Natalie caught the too-curious look her friend gave her then Garrett. Oh no, she couldn’t let Chloe or anyone else get any ideas about her and Garrett. Despite their kiss, that was a dead-end street.
“I seem to have lost my mind and just adopted a puppy,” she said then shifted her eyes to Wayne. “I hope you don’t mind. We’ll both be out of your hair soon.”
“Heck no. Will do those old hounds some good to have this little guy to harass them.”
She laughed a little. “That’s what Garrett said.” She glanced over her shoulder before she thought about what she was doing, and her heart sank at the way Garrett’s expression had dimmed for some reason.
Though he sat beside her during the rodeo and seemed to have a good time, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something
was bothering him.
Chloe leaned close to her. “Something wrong?”
“No. Well, nothing other than the fact that my leg is itching under this cast.”
Even though it was true, at least partially, Natalie wasn’t sure Chloe believed her.
“Don’t stick anything under the cast to scratch the skin,” Chloe said, shifting into doctor mode. “You could irritate the skin and get it infected. Use a hair dryer on its low, cool setting, and blow air down between the cast and your leg.”
“Wouldn’t have thought of that. Thanks.”
“Is she showing off her fancy medical degree again?” Owen asked from behind Chloe.
“I seem to remember that fancy medical degree keeping you from being sick on a certain ship recently.”
“Oh, fine, throw that in my face.”
Everyone laughed, and the pup wiggled in Natalie’s lap.
“So what are you going to call this little guy?” Owen asked.
“I don’t know.” She glanced at Garrett, trying to act casual. “What do you think? You’re the one who convinced me to adopt him.”
“Bruiser?”
The pup sneezed and shook his head, causing several chuckles.
“I think your suggestion just got vetoed,” Wyatt said.
As Natalie looked into the puppy’s eyes, a name drifted into her mind seemingly from out of nowhere. “Milo.” It fit so perfectly, as if the dog had been born to it.
Garrett scratched the pup between his ears. “Milo, it is.”
As Natalie watched the bull-riding event, gasping each time a rider got thrown, Garrett shifted next to her. The moment his thigh touched hers, she stiffened. Trying to distract herself, she turned to say something, anything, to Chloe. But her friend was speaking to Linnea and a couple of their friends who’d come over from a different part of the grandstand. Something about the way they all had their heads bent together clanged the suspicion bell in Natalie’s head, but she didn’t feel comfortable enough to ask what they were talking about. So she was stuck with trying to focus on the rest of the bull riding instead of the warmth seeping from Garrett’s leg into hers.
The Heart of a Cowboy Page 12
