The Rancher's Surprise Son (Gold Buckle Cowboys Book 4)

by Christine Wenger

  Nothing could endear him to the other riders, anyway. They acted as if he carried some fatal disease.

  By the time the gold buckles were awarded on Sunday, there were barely any people in the stands to watch.

  It bothered him. He couldn’t deny that, but the checks were already deposited in his account, which had had a sickly eighty-two bucks in it before.

  “Go ahead and canter, Johnny. Remember what I told you.”

  He did a fabulous job, and Cody was so proud. Johnny was smart, kind to animals and a natural horseman.

  In a half-hour, he was going to take Johnny on a little trail ride across the desert on an easy trail that Cody knew. The trail led to a dense mesquite-and-cactus forest and then to the highway, but they wouldn’t be going that far.

  Cody brought his own horse from the Double M, Midnight Blue, since he didn’t want to be accused of using the Duke horses for pleasure.

  He’d called Laura earlier and told her what he wanted to do and got it okayed by her. That was only after he promised that Johnny wouldn’t be hurt.

  Damn. Did she think he wouldn’t take care of his son? He’d lay down his life for the boy.

  He thought about inviting her to go along—Laura was an excellent rider—but he could tell he’d interrupted some kind of meeting.

  So he rode Midnight Blue, and Johnny was at his side on Pirate. Cody opened the gate of the corral, and they were off walking.

  Johnny couldn’t wait to canter.

  “Not yet. I’ll tell you when,” Cody said.

  Johnny pointed out every bird, cactus, tree and wildflower that he encountered. He kept up a sweet chatter until Cody gave the word. “You can canter now. Go ahead of me so I can watch your form.”

  The little boy’s helmet bobbed up and down as he tried to concentrate on his riding.

  Cody grinned. He loved watching him.

  “Okay. Time to canter. Go for it.”

  “Yee-haw!” Johnny said. He liked this the best. So did Cody.

  “Yee-haw!” Cody answered back.

  When Cody saw the mesquite forest ahead, he yelled, “Okay, slow down and walk Pirate!”

  Johnny did as he was told. He had perfect control over the reins and his feet.

  “Excellent, Johnny. You’re quite the cowboy.”

  His face lit up. “Thanks!”

  Cody wished that Laura could have seen him, could have been with them.

  “You know, Johnny, we’re going to have to get your mother and go on a trail ride and have a picnic so she can see you ride. You’re doing an excellent job.”

  “Cool. Really cool,” he said. “I’d like it if my mom could come.”

  “I’ll make it happen,” Cody said.

  * * *

  Four days later, Laura had paid particular attention to her appearance for her trail ride with Cody and Johnny. She wore her comfortable old Wranglers with just the correct amount of fading and wear, along with a long-sleeved blouse in a bright shade of peach that she tucked into her jeans and jazzed up with a silver concho belt. She had Arizona peridots dangling from her ears, new black and white snakeskin boots and a white cowboy hat.

  She’d decided to pass on gloves, even though she’d just had a manicure.

  She and Clarissa had made a picnic lunch complete with cold fried chicken, thermoses of lemonade and lots of cookies. Laura had packed everything into her saddlebags.

  This was going to be fun. She hadn’t been on a trail ride in years. Matter of fact, the last time was with Cody before he was arrested. Those were great days, a lot of fun. Somehow, they always ended up in the creek, laughing and making plans for their future together.

  But they were only kidding themselves.

  She sighed. She’d alienated Cody, made him feel even more like a pariah. But what could she do? She wasn’t as strong as he was. She couldn’t stand being gawked at, pointed at, and called names or publically shunned in some shape or form.

  Even though others didn’t, she still remembered that Cody had saved her life and the lives of three hundred others.

  She wanted to talk to him about going to the Citizen of the Year ceremony. The award would go a long way in making people remember what he did, risking his own life in the process.

  He needed to attend.

  She smiled as she noticed how Johnny was concentrating on keeping his heels down.

  She couldn’t believe what progress Johnny had made under Cody’s guidance.

  “You’re doing wonderful, Johnny. Nice riding!” she said.

  “Mr. Masters said that I’m going to be a good cowboy. He’s a good cowboy right now. I want him to teach me how to ride bulls.”

  Cody winked at Johnny. “You already are on your way. You start with sheep, and then work your way up. Got it? But we could do a little practice on your grandpa’s sheep and travel to an event. That is, if it’s okay with your mother.”

  Johnny’s face was beaming. How could she say no to anything this little boy asked her for?

  “Practice on the sheep with Mr. Masters, and we’ll see.”

  “Okay, Momma! Cool!”

  Maybe the boy would forget about riding bulls. She couldn’t endure what she went through with Cody every time Johnny rode something.

  “Mr. Masters is rich now ’cause he won the bull riding,” Johnny blurted. “Are you as rich as my grandpa?”

  Cody laughed. “No, son. I’m not.”

  Johnny said, “Uh...Mr. Masters, are you my daddy?”

  Laura and Cody exchanged glances, and Laura tried to find her voice.

  “Sweetie, what makes you ask that?”

  “Sometimes, he calls me ‘son.’”

  “I see.”

  She met Cody’s gaze, and judging by the expression on his face, he was hoping that she’d finally tell Johnny. She’d like to, but this wasn’t a good time with all of them on horseback.

  This topic needed further discussion when they all could sit and look at each other and talk.

  The immediate problem was what she should tell Johnny.

  By the time they reached the mesquite forest, he’d forgotten about his question. Deciding to have their picnic soon, Cody suggested they let their horses get water in a little stream that he knew about, which was located just inside the forest. The stream flowed from the hot spring down to the bigger creek that was their secret meeting place.

  However, due to the severe rain that they’d had last night, the little stream was now a river. It was flowing gently right now, so Cody and Laura didn’t worry much about it.

  The horses enjoyed their water, and Cody had brought them carrots and apples as treats.

  Then the three of them settled on a red blanket that Laura had brought.

  Laura enjoyed Johnny’s excited chatter about galloping and how he might be a jockey and “race in circles.” Then he was going to be a bull rider, a firefighter and a police officer.

  After lunch, Johnny laid down on the blanket, still talking a blue streak. Suddenly, he was quiet, and sleeping.

  “Were you going to tell him about me, Laura?”

  “Not today. I’m still waiting.”

  “For hell to freeze over?”

  “For a good opportunity.”

  Cody took off his hat and raked his fingers through his jet-black hair. “Seems to me that it would have been a great opportunity to answer his question when he asked it just a little while ago.”

  “I think I want to tell my parents first.”

  “Name the time and place. I’ll be there by your side.”

  “It won’t be pretty,” she said.

  “That’s an understatement.” He put his hat back on and pushed it back with a thumb. “We keep having the same conversation over and over
again. It doesn’t seem to me that we are moving forward.”

  “I know. Just bear with me.”

  “You know I won a ton of money, Laura.”

  “I know. You ran away with the weekend.”

  “There’s enough for a double-wide and the foundation to put it on, septic, wiring and the rest. I can even fix the barn roof. I even have a nice spot picked out at the Double M for us, if you can accept the consequences of being with me.”

  “Cody, I—um... I don’t want to hurt you, but—”

  “Say no more,” he snapped. “I won’t bug you about marrying me again. I, uh... When I’ve completed my parole, I think I’ll be leaving here. Johnny won’t need my money—not when J.W. is on the scene. I think I’ll give it to my mother, and I’ll head out. All I ask is that we arrange visitation somehow so I can see Johnny, and take him with me sometimes.”

  “Where will you go?”

  “Someplace where they’ve never heard of Duke Springs and Cody Masters.”

  “Cody, just give me more time.”

  He didn’t answer her. He got up and walked toward the river.

  * * *

  The trail ride lost all of its fun. As far as Cody was concerned, he was better off at the Arabian barns, training the horses there.

  He could really get used to these well-heeled clients who didn’t know a thing about horses but wanted an animal with good bloodlines and a hefty price tag just to show off.

  He got along with them all and didn’t mind if they watched him train their horses. From what he could tell, J.W.’s fancy cottages were always filled and the gourmet chef that worked in the “cookhouse” was always busy.

  Laura was around all the time. She was courting a lot of them for the Duke Fund. She was perfect for that kind of thing—personable, beautiful, sincere, and she could easily part them from their money. He’d seen her in action many times.

  The two of them acted like strangers. Conversations were strained, personal space was protected, and whenever he walked in her direction, one of them took a detour.

  For two people who were in love, things certainly had changed.

  Cody’s heart was broken. It was his love for Laura that had kept him going for many years, through high school and prison.

  He’d like to think it was the same for her. She’d had an overbearing father and mother. He’d had a beloved father who died way too early and a stepfather who was an abuser.

  Life, huh? This couldn’t be all there was.

  But he did have Johnny.

  While he was training another Arabian, J.W. came to watch. Cody was putting the horse through his paces, and J.W. liked to monitor the progress that the beautiful animals were making.

  J.W. yelled to him to come to his office when he was finished.

  Now what?

  Dutifully, Cody walked to the B barn, knocked on J.W.’s office door and was told to come in. His parole officer was there, too.

  “Hi, Officer Charles.” Then it hit him. Because he’d been so damn busy, he hadn’t reported to Officer Charles’s office over in Phoenix.

  “Uh-oh. I’ve been a little busy. I absolutely forgot to report. I’ve been working around the clock and—”

  Officer Charles raised an eyebrow. “Riding bulls, going on trail rides, and you’ve been—”

  “He’s been saving lives.” Laura walked in. “He saved my life and three hundred others. I’m sure you’ve heard about it.”

  “Actually, I have. And although you’re supposed to report to me as part of your conditions of release, I’ve been keeping track of you through your mother and through Mr. Duke.”

  “I’m not a kid. You could have called me,” Cody said.

  “I could have, but they give me the collateral contacts I need to rack up to supervise you. State requirements, you know.

  “But anyway, from now on, you must report every other week and tell me what you’ve been doing, unless I see you here. Then I’ll excuse you.”

  “Yes, sir,” Cody said.

  “I can even forget about your failure to report on one condition.”

  “What’s that?”

  “That you go to that dinner and accept your Citizen of the Year award.”

  “Aw...hell.”

  Parole Officer Charles grinned. “The sheriff called me and they really want your butt there. It’s the least you can do.”

  Laura stepped forward. “I’ll accompany him and make sure he goes, Officer Charles.”

  “No way.” J.W. shifted his cigar. “That’s not necessary, Laura.”

  “Sure it is, Dad. It’s the least I can do for the sheriff.”

  “There’ll be a lot of important people there. You don’t want to be seen with Cody.” J.W. bit down on his unlit cigar so hard that he had to spit a chunk of it into a wastebasket.

  “I certainly wouldn’t mind being seen with a hero, Dad. And Cody’s a real hero. Besides, I’m sure that Georgianna and Cindy will be there, too. We can all sit together.”

  “What? Sit with whom? Laura, what are you saying?”

  “I’m saying that I’m friends with Georgianna and Cindy, and we’ll all sit together.” Laura stood straight and stared J.W. right in the eyes. Now, that was his Laura!

  Cody felt as if he needed to sit. He was saved by Officer Charles, and Laura just announced that she wouldn’t mind being seen with him and that she was friends with his mother and sister.

  What a difference a day makes. Cody wondered what had suddenly gotten into Laura for her to defend him so staunchly.

  Parole Officer Charles stood. “I’d better get going. I have other stops to make.”

  Cody held out his hand. “Thanks so much. And I won’t forget to report from now on.”

  “Good. See that you don’t. And by the way, I already told the sheriff that you’d be at the awards. Seven this Friday night, and you might want to wear a suit.” On that note, he left the room.

  “I’ll get the suit cleaned that I wore to jail,” Cody said, thinking out loud.

  “You will not, Cody. We’re going shopping,” Laura stated.

  “Laura!” J.W. yelled. “I won’t allow it.”

  “Dad, I didn’t ask your permission. And I really feel that it would be appropriate if you and Mom also attended the event. After all, Cody is your employee. You should support him.”

  On that note, they both left J.W. stammering and sputtering.

  * * *

  Laura felt as if she were flying. She’d stood up for Cody, and for herself, and it felt good. She didn’t know where she had gotten the guts suddenly, but she was happy that she still had them. They’d been dormant for way too long.

  When she attended the awards night with Cody, she was going to look fabulous. Red. She was going to wear a red gown shimmering with Swarovski crystal beads. She’d wear her hair up and Cody wouldn’t know what hit him.

  But, yes. He needed to get a new suit.

  She checked her watch. In a couple of hours, she was going to meet Cody at their spot. Just she and Cody. She was going to put Johnny to bed early at her parents’ house. He’d had a long day and was overtired and cranky.

  “I don’t wanna go to bed,” he snipped.

  “You need to go to bed. You’re tired.”

  “I want to stay up and watch bull riding on TV. Grandpa’s watching it. I want to have popcorn and watch it with him.”

  “Grandpa can record it and you can watch it in the morning. Now, let’s go, Johnny.”

  “No!”

  Laura took him by the hand and walked him to his room. “Put your pajamas on. You’re a big boy and have been putting on your own pajamas for a long time now, so don’t make me do it.”

  “I’ll do it myself!”

  Her norm
ally sweet child had turned into a monster. “Then do it.”

  He went to a dresser drawer and put on one of his superhero pajamas. “Those are nice,” she said, trying to lighten the mood.

  “I don’t like them. I want another superhero.”

  “Then find a pair, Johnny.”

  “They’re in the laundry.”

  “Then wear the first pair for now! For heaven’s sake, Johnny, you’re being impossible!”

  “Am not!”

  She bit back an “Are, too!”

  He was slower to get ready for bed than drying cement. All she could think of was that she was missing precious time with Cody. “Do you want me to help you?”

  “No!”

  “Then move it.”

  She sat down on his bed and tried not to overreact. That wouldn’t do either of them much good.

  “I want Cody to be my father,” he said.

  “Mr. Masters.”

  “I want Mr. Masters to be my father.”

  “Johnny, not now. Please. Get some sleep and we’ll talk about lots of things in the morning. Okay?”

  “No! I wanna talk now.” He yawned, but he wouldn’t give up and lie down.

  “Get into bed, please.”

  “Don’t wanna.”

  She took him by the hand, threw the covers back on his double bed and led him to the side of it. Finally, he climbed in.

  She tucked him in and pushed the hair back from his face.

  “Get some sleep, kiddo. You are totally overtired.”

  He didn’t answer her.

  “Do you want to say some prayers together?” she asked.

  He nodded. “You go first.”

  “God bless Grandma and Grandpa and Cindy and Georgianna.”

  “And Pirate,” he added.

  “Yes. Who else?”

  “And Momma and Cody... I mean, Mr. Masters. And my turtle named Tommy.”

  “Yes, Tommy the Turtle. Bless him.”

  “And tell God that I really want Mr. Masters to be my father.”

  “Johnny....”

  “Tell him.”

  “Dear God, Johnny really wants Cody Masters to be his father. Amen.”