The Bull Rider's Secret

by Marin Thomas

  Maybe he had. Brody made a move past Fitzgerald, but the cowboy grabbed his shirtsleeve. “Aren’t you staying to see if you win?”

  “Nope. I’m going home.” Tonight Brody had finally stopped running.

  “NOT AGAIN,” Brody mumbled out loud. Kat needed to invest in an ankle-monitoring bracelet for her son.

  Brody honked, then swung his truck onto the shoulder of the road outside the Bandera town limits. Ricky kept walking. Brody honked again. The kid didn’t even bother checking over his shoulder.

  Shoving his head out the window Brody hollered, “Hey, Ricky! It’s me, Brody!”

  The teen stopped.

  “You want a lift or what?”

  Ricky’s gaze connected with Brody’s through the windshield. Slowly, one step at a time he backtracked to the truck. Brody lowered the passenger-side window. Ricky stared for the longest time then he raised his arm and wiped his eyes against his shirtsleeve.

  Brody’s gut twisted. “Hey, kid. You okay?”

  Ricky didn’t answer.

  “C’mon. Get in.”

  Keeping his gaze averted, the kid hopped into the truck. Sweat dripped down his temples. Brody closed the windows and flipped the air conditioner to high. Aside from being hot, the teen appeared unharmed.

  “I thought your mother told you not to thumb rides anymore.”

  “I wasn’t hitchhiking. I was walking back to the ranch.”

  “You weren’t looking for your dad again, were you?” A lengthy silence followed Brody’s question.

  “I was going to find you.” Ricky’s voice wavered.

  Guilt slammed into Brody and he reprimanded the kid more harshly than he meant to. “You know better than to try to track down a man who’s always on the move.”

  Finally Ricky looked him in the eye. “You left again without saying goodbye.”

  Brody considered mentioning his hurry to return to rodeo but that wasn’t the real reason he’d left on the spur of the moment. Ricky’s father had lied to the boy enough times already in his young life; Brody refused to do the same. “It was wrong of me to leave without telling you. I’m sorry.” Ricky remained mute. “How are things at the Wild Rose? Clyde and Roger haven’t given your mom any more trouble I hope.”

  “No. The Bakers are back.”

  “Did your mom get to keep her job?”

  Ricky shrugged. “I don’t know.”

  The tension in the truck was suffocating.

  “Why are you here?” Ricky asked.

  Because I’m tired of running, kid. “I need to speak to your mom.”

  “Brody?”

  “What?”

  “I know you miss Angel a lot, and you said you didn’t want another family and—” Ricky sucked in a shuddering breath “—you don’t want to be a father again, but if you stayed with me and Mom, you and I could just be friends. You wouldn’t have to be like a stepdad or anything.”

  Brody’s throat swelled and he couldn’t speak. Several swallows later, he found his voice. “I guess you’ve been giving the three of us being together a lot of thought.”

  “Mom misses you.”

  “She said that?” Brody asked.

  “No, but I can tell. She doesn’t laugh as much. And late at night she’s been sitting on the trailer steps by herself.”

  An image of Kat alone in the dark popped into Brody’s mind and he hated that his actions had hurt her. That Kat missed him gave Brody hope she’d forgive him for being a coward.

  Needing a moment to ponder how he intended to convince Kat he deserved a second chance, Brody asked, “You hungry?”

  “Starving.”

  After checking traffic in both directions, Brody swung the truck around and drove into Bandera. He stopped at the Dairy Queen then handed Ricky a twenty-dollar bill. “Grab yourself a burger.”

  After Ricky entered the fast-food restaurant, a full-blown panic attack engulfed Brody. Sweat beaded his forehead and his palms became clammy. Now that he’d decided to face the past head-on he feared Kat would reject him. What in the hell would he do if she insisted on going it alone? How could he walk away from Ricky and Kat a third time when he yearned to be part of their lives?

  Then fight for Kat.

  Fight how?

  Fight by staying. No matter where Kat went, Brody would follow. He’d sleep in his truck at night and find temporary work as a ranch hand by day. He’d show her that he was committed to her and Ricky.

  A few minutes later Ricky returned to the truck. “I got you a burger, too.”

  Brody’s queasy stomach rebelled but he appreciated Ricky’s thoughtfulness. “Thanks, buddy.”

  Hoping conversation would take his mind off his worry whether or not Kat would allow him back into her and Ricky’s life, Brody asked, “How are things between you and Stevie?”

  “Good, I guess.”

  “I guess?”

  Mouth full, Ricky said, “She wants to take it slow now, too.”

  Too?

  “I asked her if she knew a lot about birth control and she kind of flipped out on me. So I said we didn’t have to do anything and that maybe it was better if we didn’t.” Ricky shrugged. “Because what if we both liked someone different next year, you know? She agreed that we should just stay friends.”

  “Sounds like a smart plan.”

  “She said if I really wanted to kiss her I could sometimes.”

  Friends with benefits. “Kissing is okay, but it can lead to—”

  “Yeah, I know. I told her I really wanted to stay friends because I liked fishing with her. And she said she wanted more riding lessons from Mom so we kind of struck up a bargain.”

  “Congratulations, Ricky.” Brody grinned.

  “For what?”

  “For successfully negotiating the breakup of your first romance.”

  “Yeah, I guess you’re right. We did break up.”

  “There will be lots of other girls but Stevie will always hold a special place in your heart when you think back on these years.”

  “I know. She was my first kiss and—” Ricky abruptly clamped his mouth shut.

  “And what?”

  Blushing, Ricky stared out the windshield. “She let me get to second base with her.”

  Brody pressed a napkin to his mouth to cover his smile.

  “You know what?” Ricky asked.

  “What?”

  “Second base wasn’t all that great.”

  “No?”

  Ricky shook his head. “Stevie wears a padded bra and I didn’t really get to feel her boob.”

  Brody busted up laughing. “Don’t be in a hurry to grow up, kid.”

  “That’s what Mom says.” Ricky’s expression grew thoughtful. “Mom had to grow up real fast because she got pregnant with me. I don’t want to get some girl pregnant and cut out on her like my dad did to my mom.”

  “Anyone ever tell you that you’re a decent young man, Ricky?” The kid grinned. Brody started the truck. “Let’s get back to the ranch before your mother sends the sheriff after you.”

  “She won’t. Mom thinks I went fishing with Stevie.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Where are you Brody?

  What are you doing?

  Do you miss me?

  Thoughts of Brody were with Kat Monday afternoon as she changed the wrap on Tiger’s hoof. Very little infection remained and she hoped this would be the gelding’s final treatment. The Bakers had phoned the previous evening to inform Kat that they’d arrived at the ranch, but were too exhausted to meet with her. They planned to stop by the foreman’s cabin today.

  Kat wasn’t looking forward to their chat, but she’d come to terms with her situation the past few days. She didn’t deserve a permanent position at the Wild Rose. No matter that Clyde and Roger had caused a stink, a capable foreman would have been able to settle the dispute with the disgruntled employees and ensure the protection of the ranch and its livestock. Kat had failed to do that.

  This morning s
he’d considered asking Ricky to pack his personal belongings but had chickened out when he’d begged to go fishing with Stevie. Kat hadn’t had the heart to say no. She wanted her son to enjoy his last day at the Wild Rose.

  Kat gave Tiger a final brushing, then murmured, “Be good for the Bakers, you hear?” Tiger whinnied. “If you don’t screw things up the way I did, you’ll have a nice home at the Wild Rose for the rest of your years.”

  The Bakers spared no expense in caring for their horses and Kat would miss working here. Better equipment made Kat’s job easier and allowed her to keep more of her paycheck in her pocket. When she shoed horses on her own, she often used her money to purchase supplies that should have been provided by the owners. Sadly, some folks could barely feed their horses let alone pay for specialty items like soaking boots and the preemie diapers used to wrap hooves.

  Kat led Tiger outside to the corral where a fresh bucket of oats awaited him. She spent the next hour cleaning the supply room and making a list of items the Bakers would need to stock up on soon.

  Finished in the barn, Kat headed to the cabin for a quick shower. Aside from her and Ricky’s clothes and a few personal items in the bedrooms and bathroom, most of the furnishings would remain in the cabin after they departed. A half hour later, dressed in clean clothes, she sat on the bed and held a photograph of Ricky. He looked more like Dwayne than her. One day soon Ricky would grow out of his awkward adolescent stage and be as handsome as his father.

  Kat wandered into Ricky’s bedroom and studied the movie posters on the walls. She remembered the day she’d taken him to the Wal-Mart in San Antonio to purchase the posters. He’d been so excited to have his own room and not have to sleep on the pullout bed in the trailer.

  And now, because you couldn’t handle Clyde and Roger, your son is going to lose all this.

  Fighting tears, she spent the next hour cleaning out the fridge. By late afternoon she’d transferred most of their belongings to the trailer, which felt claustrophobic after living in a two-bedroom home. Needing a break before she resumed packing, Kat stretched out on the bed to rest her eyes for a few minutes.

  Big mistake. The scent of Brody’s body still clung to the sheets. The tears she’d refused to cry all day escaped her eyes and dripped onto the pillow case. As much as she wished to hold on to her job at the Wild Rose, it wouldn’t mean anything without Brody by her side.

  Stop feeling sorry for yourself. Somewhere out there is the perfect man for you.

  Therein lay the crux of the problem. Kat didn’t want a perfect man. She wanted Brody.

  Fearing all she’d do is sob if she remained on the bed, Kat washed her face, then sorted through the items from the cabin. She dropped her keepsake box, the contents spilling onto the floor by the recliner. On hands and knees, she picked up the pieces—her grandmother’s wedding ring. Her grandfather’s watch. Her and Ricky’s birth certificates. A pink rabbit’s foot she’d won at the fair on her fifth birthday. A plastic heart bracelet Ricky had given her for Christmas several years ago. She patted the carpet beneath the chair, and her fingers bumped the edge of a paper—a photograph.

  Angel. Poor Brody. He’d be a wreck when he discovered his daughter’s photo was missing.

  A beautiful little girl in a red cowboy hat sat perched on the top rung of a pasture fence. Her smile lit up her entire face as she hugged Brody’s neck. Long blond curls blowing in the breeze, Angel looked like a feminine version of her father. Brody appeared happy, as if he hadn’t a care in the world.

  Kat considered Brody a handsome man, but he was drop-dead gorgeous in the photo. He looked ten years younger than he did now. Angel’s death had taken not only an emotional toll on him but also a physical one.

  The photo made everything real—Brody’s pain, his suffering, his struggle to survive each day.

  What do I do, Angel? I love your father, but he can’t forgive himself for what happened to you.

  Instead of the deceased child answering, Kat heard the sound of tires on gravel. She looked out the trailer window. The Bakers were here. Time to face the music. Kat left the trailer and met the couple in the middle of the ranch yard. She opened her mouth to greet them, but Melissa spoke first.

  “Kat, I apologize for all the trouble Clyde and Roger gave you.” The older woman shoved a hand through her gray, short-cropped hair. “I never expected the men to become jealous when Mark put you in charge.”

  “Before we left,” Mark said, “I should have laid down the law with those two ignoramuses.”

  Kat didn’t deserve the Baker’s empathy. “You put me in charge and I failed to handle the situation.” Kat stared at the ground then forced herself to meet Mark’s gaze. “I selfishly wanted to make a good impression so you’d consider hiring me full-time. Because of that I refused to notify the sheriff when the trouble first began. If I’d reported the problem right away its possible Clyde and Roger wouldn’t have taken their pranks as far as they did.”

  “I’m not sure I would have handled things differently in your shoes, Kat.”

  She appreciated Mark’s understanding, but a few kind words didn’t change the fact that she’d done a poor job keeping the ranch and the horses safe.

  “I’m relieved you brought in Sheriff Conrad after Wes discovered the blockage in the stream,” Mark said. “Melissa and I drove out to the pasture this morning to view the damage. We’re going to press charges if the sheriff can prove Clyde and Roger were responsible for putting all those tree limbs in the water.”

  “I never thought the men would take things as far as they did just because I asked them to mow the hay. With rain in the forecast, I had to make sure the crop was safe in the barn.”

  “You made the right call about the hay.” Mark’s eyes shone with admiration. “And saved me thousands of dollars.”

  “Clyde and Roger insisted they were cowboys not farmers. I threatened to fire them and they walked off the job.”

  “I admit I’m stumped by their behavior. They’ve been with us several years and have never done anything this reprehensible.” Mark swept his hands in front of him. “I’m impressed that you were able to bring in the hay and keep up with the horses.”

  Kat cleared her throat. “I didn’t exactly bring in the hay.”

  Melissa quirked an eyebrow. “You hired another hand while we were gone?”

  “Yes. Ricky ran into a rodeo cowboy at the festival in Bandera this past March. His name is Brody Murphy. Clyde and Roger had just quit, so I offered Brody the trailer and a weekly paycheck in exchange for harvesting the hay and mucking horse stalls.”

  “Where is this Brody Murphy? I’d like to meet the man,” Mark said.

  “He left after he cleaned up the stream. He wanted to get back to rodeoing.”

  “I wish things had gone differently while we were away,” Mark said.

  Kat winced but held her head high. She’d done the best she could under the circumstances. “I understand. I’ve got most of our things packed already. As soon as Ricky returns from fishing with a friend we’ll clear out.”

  Melissa gasped. “You’re leaving?”

  Confused, Kat said, “After all that’s happened, I assumed you wouldn’t be offering me a permanent position.”

  “None of this was your fault, Kat,” Mark said.

  “We want you stay at the Wild Rose.” Melissa glanced at her husband. “Shall I tell her?”

  “Go ahead.”

  “We’re expanding our horse operation to include Andalusians,” Melissa said. “We purchased two mares and a stud while in Spain and the horses will arrive next month.”

  Kat had heard of the pure Spanish horse but had never seen one in the flesh. Through the ages, Andalusians were recognized for their prowess as a war horse and their popularity with nobility. They were also known for their intelligence, sensitivity and docile manner. Today the breed was used in classical dressage events.

  “The horses are extremely valuable, and we want only the best taking care of t
hem,” Mark said.

  “Please say you’ll take the job. You and Ricky can make the foreman’s cabin your permanent home at the Wild Rose.”

  “I don’t deserve the job,” Kat felt compelled to say.

  “Everyone deserves a second chance,” Melissa said.

  Kat waited for the euphoria to kick in. She and Ricky had a real home—a place to set down roots. Her son could attend school in the fall and participate in sports and clubs, while Kat earned a steady paycheck each month. Her dream had finally come true, but without Brody to share it, she couldn’t muster any excitement. She shoved her hand in her back pocket and her fingers bumped the edge of Angel’s photograph. She removed the picture.

  “What do you have there?” Melissa held out her hand and Kat gave her the photo. “What a beautiful child. And such a handsome man.”

  “That’s Brody. And his daughter, Angel. She died two years ago from pneumonia.” “I can see why you asked him to stay on, Kat.” Melissa’s eyes twinkled.

  “Brody used to be a ranch hand in Montana before his daughter died. He and his wife divorced after Angel’s death, then he joined the rodeo circuit and has been on the move ever since.”

  “Do you think Brody might consider becoming a permanent hand at the Wild Rose?” Mark asked.

  Tears burned Kat’s eyes and she bit her lower lip. If only a job stood in the way of her and Brody’s happiness. “I don’t know.”

  “Why don’t you track Brody down and see if he’d like to work for us,” Melissa said.

  Why bother? Brody would snub the job. He wouldn’t settle anywhere until he shook the demons riding his back. She hated to get the Baker’s hopes up…hated to get her hopes up. “I’m not sure he’s ready to quit rodeo.” Kat ignored Melissa’s sympathetic look. Had the older woman guessed that Brody had already broken Kat’s heart?

  “Tell you what,” Mark said. “You find Brody and ask him to work at the Wild Rose for a while. If he likes taking orders from you and me, he’s got the job for however long he wants. Otherwise he’s free to move on, no hard feelings.”

  For the first time since Brody left, Kat felt a glimmer of hope. Brody was far from the ideal mate, but she and Ricky had their faults, too. Still, the three of them together were perfect. One way or another she’d find Brody and convince him to return to the ranch.