Courage To Fall (Cowboys of Courage 3)

by Charlene Bright

  She walked toward him, holding out the present, and he took it, still shocked that she’d gone to this trouble. Quietly, he said, “You didn’t have to do this. I told you your help was enough.”

  “It’s not about expectations. It’s something I think you should have.”

  The room had gone silent, and Easton felt like an outsider again, every pair of eyes in the diner on him. He wished he was more delicate, but he tore into the paper and gazed down at the leather bound volume in front of him. He opened the cover carefully to the scrawl on the first page of parchment paper. Daisy’s Delicious Dining and Leah’s Labor of Love.

  He turned another page and saw the same handwriting, detailing a recipe for chicken pot pie. He looked up at Leah in disbelief. “You can’t do this.”

  “Why not? It’s mine to give, and if you think I don’t have all of those recipes somewhere else—and in my head—you’re wrong. But your grandmother started writing down her recipes in that nearly forty years ago, and she had me add to it for the last ten. So, you have just about everything that’s ever been cooked in that kitchen back there in front of you right now. I suggest you keep the family secrets and learn them for yourself. Maybe you’ll do better than your cook.”

  It was a huge offering, and Easton had to harden himself against his emotions to keep from embarrassing himself terribly. No one had ever given him something this sentimental, and the value of what was inside…it was probably the one thing he had that was truly priceless. “I don’t know what to say to something like this. It’s…”

  “Say thank you and Merry Christmas, you idiot!” That was Maynard again, and the laughter rose again. Easton was glad the deputy sheriff had lightened the mood.

  To Leah, he said quietly, “Thank you. I can’t even put into words how special this is.”

  She shrugged, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment as she blew it off. “You’re welcome. Take good care of it, and don’t share secrets. You’ll learn a lot about your grandmother by flipping through this.”

  He was sure he could. After all, it looked like the recipes weren’t just written with ingredients and instructions; they carried a personality with them. He was willing to bet he could learn a lot about Leah as well.

  “Tell me you’ve got something up your sleeve, too, buddy,” Sheriff Woodward hollered across the diner.

  And that made Easton feel like a heel. He started to answer, but Leah held up her hands to stop him. “No worries, guys. Easton, here, has given me two amazing gifts already. First, he’s offered me a piece from Ms. Daisy’s antique collection of my choice, so I’ll have something beautiful and sentimental to remember her by. But more importantly, he’s promised that, even though the diner is in his possession and he lives across the universe in the big city, this place is going to remain open.”

  The round of cheers that went up amazed Easton, and the line of people coming to thank him with hugs and handshakes—and in some cases, even kisses—made him feel like he was a sports star who’d invited them to an all-expense paid All Star game.

  He was beginning to understand what Leah liked about living in this small town, even if it was dull and fairly empty. The crowd didn’t sit back down, instead milling around and picking at food left on the buffet table. A lot of them flocked to the cupcakes, and Easton had a hard time getting back to Leah.

  When he finally found her, he pulled her aside. “Why did you do this? This cookbook is personal, and you and my grandmother both put a lot of effort into it.”

  She smiled at him, leaning back against the wall. “Maybe there’s a part of me that wants to think I’m still with you when you go. And it’s a piece of your grandmother that will never die. That’s important because she was the last of your family.”

  For a moment, he focused on the first half of her statement, that she wanted him to keep a part of her always. It gave him a warm sensation in his stomach, and he knew that, even if she didn’t want to admit it, Leah felt something kindling inside her that made her care about him as more than a friend.

  Then, the second half registered, and he shook his head. “She was also the last of your family, wasn’t she?”

  Leah gestured to the crowd behind him. “I have all of these people as my family. Do you have anyone at all?”

  You, he desperately wanted to tell her. But Leah wasn’t ready to accept that, just maybe, they were brought together by fate. Maybe they needed each other, and they were meant to be together. Tragedy had been the catalyst for their introduction, but it had also been a large part of both of their lives.

  Instead of answering, he brushed his knuckles over her cheek and reveled in the way she inhaled sharply at his touch. “I can never hope to repay this, Leah.”

  She gave him a beautiful, mischievous smile, her eyes twinkling. “Then pay it forward. I don’t want you to pay me back. It’s a gift, and I want you to have it.”

  Easton had every intention of paying it forward, but he also had another plot forming in his mind. It wouldn’t be easy to pull it off, but he had resources. It was just a matter of timing, and he wasn’t sure if he could work the magic as fast as he needed to. For now, he simply said, “You’ve made me a very happy Grinch, Leah, and I think my heart has grown more than three sizes today.”

  Chapter 11

  Easton headed back to the party before Leah could respond, and she couldn’t seem to catch her breath. When she’d come across the cookbook in the kitchen earlier that morning, she’d fingered the cover gently and flipped through it with care. Then, she’d closed it and stared at the drawer where it was kept.

  It was like she’d heard Ms. Daisy’s voice in her head, telling her to give it to Easton. He’s coming around, darling. You’ve chipped away at that icy exterior, and this will melt the rest. People are a product of their environment, and you’re changing his perspective all the time. You might be the one thing in this world that can save him from himself. Give him a piece of yourself to cherish, and teach him how to love it.

  Leah had rushed to get it wrapped, and that was the only reason breakfast hadn’t been ready before he’d walked in the door. Now, she peeked around the corner and saw him conversing casually with Garrett. Taking the opportunity, she rushed over to Shakota and pulled her aside.

  Before she could say anything, Shakota gave her a knowing grin. “It looks like you and the city boy have called a truce. Or maybe more?”

  Exasperated at her friend’s inference, Leah sighed. “We’ve…found common ground,” she hedged. But Shakota narrowed her eyes at her. and “He’s taking me to dinner when all the obligations are taken care of,” Leah confessed. “I guess he’s not such a bad guy. I mean, he’s all business most of the time, but when he relaxes, he’s nice to talk to.”

  Shakota didn’t say anything for a moment. When she did, her voice was softer, quieter. “I’m glad. It’s good for you.” Leah gave her a quizzical look. What did she mean by that? “You’re on everyone’s list of favorite people around here. You know that. But at the end of the day, most of us go home in pairs or groups and talk to each other. When you go home, you’ve got a cat, and I don’t see anything wrong with talking to animals, but it’s good to have someone who responds once in a while.”

  “We didn’t spend the night together,” Leah said. She had a feeling Shakota was misinterpreting the circumstances. “But I was there late, and we had breakfast together. He actually helped me set up the café for the party today.”

  She didn’t expect the concern on Shakota’s face. “What are you going to do when he goes home?” she asked.

  Leah’s heart sank. She’d told herself it would be fine, but the more she thought about it, the harder it was to accept. She didn’t want to have any sort of emotional involvement with Easton. But it was too late. She had already crossed that line, and that was the reason she’d wanted to send the cookbook with him.

  For Shakota, she put on a stoic expression and shrugged like it didn’t matter. “I’ll go back to the daily grind
as usual. Maybe I can talk him into expanding the café and taking over the real estate next door so we have more room. And I’ll use the inheritance from Ms. Daisy to start up my cupcake business.”

  “You don’t think you can rope him into sticking around?”

  Leah blinked at her friend. For all that she thought she was hiding her regret, apparently Shakota saw right through the façade. Sighing, she shook her head. “He’ll probably come visit and check on the diner. He doesn’t seem to hate it here. But he likes that urban jungle of his. Besides, he’s all wrong for me. I’m better off alone.”

  Shakota instantly disagreed. “The chemistry between you two crackles in the air. Just…think about asking him. It can’t hurt to ask, can it?”

  It very well could, since there was a large possibility that he would say no. And that would feel like rejection. But she shored up and said, “I guess you’re right. I’ll think about it, okay?” That seemed to satisfy Shakota. The question was, could she really follow through?

  * * *

  That evening, both Leah and Easton were too exhausted to go through any more of Ms. Daisy’s things. Instead, Leah went home to take a long, hot bath and some time away from the man who was slowly working his way into her heart. She needed to step away and let her mind work instead so she could truly be reasonable about things.

  But she ended up falling asleep and barely woke up in time to get ready for the funeral. She quickly dressed and put on a face of makeup, knowing the mascara and eyeliner were going to run when she cried, and headed out.

  She barely spoke to Easton or anyone else, the mood somber and the gathered mourners were overwrought with emotion throughout the services and burial. Even the social aspect afterward, with food and comfort, was subdued, and Leah was fine with that. She didn’t feel like talking, and she didn’t want to face any big decisions. The fact that Easton was mostly surrounded by people offering condolences kept the distance she needed all day.

  It wasn’t until the crowd began to disperse and she was chatting with Janet Gorman, one of her somewhat reclusive neighbors, that she realized she wouldn’t be able to avoid him completely, even if she wasn’t ready to have the talk Shakota seemed to think was appropriate. Besides, today was a terrible day for something that deep, especially with the lines drawn on his face.

  Janet followed her gaze and scoffed, wiping her tears. “You know, I barely have a right to cry, as little as I knew Ms. Daisy. That man has no business mourning a woman he didn’t even know. I don’t care if it’s his grandmother, his daughter, or his sister. He doesn’t count as family.”

  Something inside Leah snapped, and she glared at her neighbor, incensed. “I don’t think you have any business calling him out for that, considering you never bother to get to know anyone anymore. When was the last time you were even at the diner? Better yet, when was the last time you left your trailer, Janet?”

  Janet shrunk away, looking sheepish. “Why are you defending him?” she snarled bitterly. “The city boy outsider is taking away the restaurant that should have been yours. He doesn’t belong here.”

  “I disagree, and from what I saw today, there are several people who welcome him to Courage. Just go home, Janet. There’s no room for hateful backbiting when we’re here to pay respects to Ms. Daisy and her family.” Leah pointed toward the dwindling line of cars, and this time, Janet turned and hurried away.

  “Is everything alright?” The timbre of Easton’s voice made Leah’s toes curl in a very delicious way, and she turned to face him, the rage still pouring through her veins.

  Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she still spoke in a clipped tone. “I’m usually good with people, but when they’re disrespectful, it pisses me off.”

  He laughed. “I can see that. Come on, I think it’s time to go. I’ll walk you to your car.”

  Leah didn’t argue, and when they reached her driver’s side door, he put a hand on it to stop her from getting in. She turned to look at him, leaning against the car, and he was so close a deep breath would have had their chests touching. She swallowed hard, the look in his eyes registering a hunger she hadn’t seen before but recognized instantly.

  “I’ve missed you,” he said simply. “I’d ask you if you want a bite to eat, but we’ve probably both already eaten our fill. Would you care to keep me company at my grandmother’s house for a while? I can brew some decent coffee.”

  Leah hesitated. She was tired, and she could tell he was, too. “I don’t think I’m up for logging antiques today,” she said.

  But he shook his head. “That’s not what I asked you. I just want the pleasure of your company.”

  And she wanted his. But she didn’t like not knowing where it would lead, and she worried she might say the wrong thing. But she couldn’t say no. This might be her last chance to discover what he really wanted, and if she was ever going to push for him to stay in Courage, even for a little longer, this would be a perfect opportunity. She was running out of time.

  “I’d like that,” she said finally. She expected him to head to his car, and she would meet him there, but he didn’t move. Actually, he might have moved, since he seemed to be even closer. His face was near hers, his breath warm on her face. His lips were full, and hers parted slightly. Her heart sped and her breathing became labored in expectation. The warmth in her lower stomach spread felt like molten lava as she gazed up at him.

  Yes, he was closing in, his head dipping toward hers so slowly she couldn’t even see the movement and wouldn’t have known what was happening if their noses weren’t about to touch. She was hypnotized, and he seemed to be as well, his movements automatic and smooth, and she waited to taste his lips.

  “Oh, this is perfect. I found you together.” Bertram’s call yanked Leah out of her daze, and Easton straightened immediately. She wanted to cry, and she had a sudden desire to bash Bertram’s head straight through her car window. A sidelong glance at Easton was enough to see his irritation, his eyes hot with anger and the muscle in his jaw twitching.

  The smiling lawyer hurried toward them carrying two manila folders, clueless of what he’d just interrupted and oblivious to the reaction. “I’ve drawn up all the papers for you both, and I have brief summaries for each of you, as well as a copy of the detailed paperwork. I’ll need you both in the office in the next day or so to sign everything, but I wanted you to read over the documents first.”

  He turned to face Leah. “The exact amount you’ll be receiving is inside, and all the legalities of acceptance and restrictions on use are also in there. Daisy didn’t set a lot of limits. It looks like she mostly wanted to make sure you wouldn’t spend it all on everyone else. She specifically stated that this money was for you and you alone.”

  Leah blushed as she took the folder from him, seeing the smirk on Easton’s face from the corner of her eye. Of course she’d intended to use it to help others, but apparently, she wasn’t going to be allowed to do so. She wasn’t sure if she should be angry or thrilled with the forced selfishness.

  But she didn’t have time to think about it as Bertram addressed Easton. “Yours is obviously more complex. There’s information on the exact value of the diner, with a bill of sale because that’s how your grandmother set it up at the time. It’s like you’re buying the restaurant for nothing. There’s also stipulations on how you can deal with the belongings and assets, including what can and can’t be sold or given away.

  “I’ve also drawn up the papers you asked about regarding the changes to the diner and advertising proposals. I’ll tell you, I think it’s mighty lofty of you to think you can turn it into a chain with gluten free and vegan menu offerings, but that’s the trend now. Maybe it’ll bring some profit into this town and help us all out a little.”

  Chapter 12

  Leah was flabbergasted, and she stared at Easton with her mouth gaping. “Are you serious? Is that what you planned for the diner?”

  His eyes were wide, and it was obvious he hadn’t intended to drop th
at news on her until he was back in New York, far from her wrath. Mortified, Bertram realized his mistake. He and Easton started to speak at the same time, but Leah didn’t want to hear anything from either of them. How could Easton praise her cooking over and over, talk about how he’d actually come to like Courage, and then speak out the other side of his mouth to the lawyer about creating a tourist attraction that would change the entire atmosphere of the town?

  And negate every recipe in the cookbook Leah had so lovingly handed him for Christmas?

  She held up her hands to stop them both, livid. “Just get away from me, both of you. I’m going home, and I don’t want to talk to anyone.” She glared at Easton, seething. “Consider this my resignation. I quit, and dinner is cancelled. You can finish cataloging everything yourself.” Before he could sputter out his reply, she was in the car and turning over the engine.

  The tires squealed as she drove away, and she didn’t slow down until she was home. She slammed into the house, and Zipper yowled at her. She lifted the cat into her arms and hugged him, petting him absently until he purred. It wasn’t until she felt how wet his fur was that she realized she was crying, large tears that rolled down and dropped onto the poor animal.

  She fell into a chair and sobbed. How could she have trusted Easton, when he’d been using her all along? She was a stupid woman, and she recognized just how desperate she was for attention to not see through the lies. He was slick and charismatic, but she usually read people much better than this. She had wanted someone to care about her, to think she was special, so badly that she’d been blind and deluded herself into believing he was sincere. She disgusted herself.