Her Last Chance Cowboy: A Sweet Western Romance (Prairie Valley Book 5)

by Ellen Joy

  “How’s everyone?” Jake asked, although he had already talked to his brother Josh that morning.

  “Good.” Elaine sipped her coffee. “How’s the ranch?”

  “Good, I’ve been out sowing the pastures.” He held up his crossed fingers. “Then I just have to wait and see.”

  “Can you handle working on the site and running a ranch all by yourself?” she asked. Her forehead wrinkled.

  “I only have six cows.” Another thing he hated. He worked for Ted now. He knew the job offer hadn’t been spontaneous or genuine, either. “I’ll be fine.”

  She shook her head. “I know Ted appreciates having you at the site.”

  “Sure, he does.” He laughed at how naïve his mother acted. She knew he had purposely been put on the crew and not in the office. Ted didn’t want someone like him to be the face of Ryland Construction. “All he appreciates is that he’s got another errand boy.”

  He should’ve bitten his tongue. He didn’t know why he couldn’t hold back with his mom, but Ted made irritation percolate under his skin.

  When he’d first returned home, his pride was too big to work for Ted and his little brothers. He’d felt like Thomas Hagen in the Godfather, someone who worked for his family, not with them.

  Before he graduated high school, Ted had told him he was on his own as soon as he turned eighteen. No summer fun for him, he needed to get gone. Not that he’d wanted to stay. He joined the Marines the night he graduated.

  His brother Josh, on the other hand, started in the family business right out of high school. Ted then gave James a full ride at University. His sister Julia got anything she wanted. But no matter how well Jake did in school, or on the football field, or behind enemy lines, he would never be a son to Ted.

  He couldn’t wait to be off the man’s payroll, but with the rent for the ranch, buying the cattle, seed to improve the pasture… well, it was all more than he could afford, if he wanted to continue eating. Ranching had already proved to be a bigger undertaking than his daydreams in the desert had suggested. That meant he needed Ted’s handout, galling as that was. The reality was that Jake felt like he was drowning.

  His mom smiled and placed her hand on top of his. “I want you to know, I’m really happy you came back home.”

  He nodded. He had promised to come back, for her. But now, he wondered if his presence was just stressing her out. In her view, Ted was the knight in shining armor. He’d saved them from the monster who hunted them, and even given her a castle on the hill.

  His mother moved the conversation on to his siblings and what they were doing. She nattered on about inconsequential things, not mentioning Ted again. He didn’t talk about the other reason he came home, or how he couldn’t sleep at night. He sat and drank his coffee and kept his thoughts on the pretty girl behind the counter with the deep, fascinating eyes. Hannah.

  Noon hadn’t come soon enough. Hannah untied her apron as she walked to the back of the store, making a beeline for the break room.

  Troy then popped back into her head. It was sometimes a shock to remember that she was still technically married to him. Weeks sometimes went by where she never caught a glimpse of him. He was no more of a husband than her father had been, and that man had kicked her out when she was eighteen and pregnant, without a penny to her name.

  Still, she had never been able to officially go through with pulling the plug on her marriage. She had been tempted many times, but beyond the cost of filing divorce papers, there was Emma to consider. Hannah knew what it was like to go to school every day and have to listen to the giggles and whispers. Darned if she would have Emma go through that too, if she could help it. She knew that if she divorced Troy, people would talk. So, she just kept her head down and tried to give the gossipmongers as little to talk about as possible.

  She felt a new determination well up inside her. The moment she could afford it, she’d get the papers filed. He’d walked out of their marriage long ago, and only came around for cash. Now he was jeopardizing her living as well, and that she couldn’t tolerate.

  She had been so naïve when they first got married. She’d actually thought it could work. He’d seemed so different before Emma was born. She’d thought he loved her, asking her to marry him when he found out about the baby, promising to change, to get a job.

  But then Emma came, and he just couldn’t seem to grow up. He still hadn’t, more than a decade later.

  “Hannah!” Troy’s voice called out from the other side of the store.

  Her heart sank as she saw Mr. Hooley stand up in his office, folding his arms against his chest.

  She kept walking toward the break room, ignoring Troy’s calls, hoping to get him away from her boss before she lost her job.

  She knew he would follow, and she hoped to lure him behind the loading docks and let the truck’s engines roar over his ranting. But Troy’s short legs carried him to her before she could push open the door. He grabbed her arm and swung her around with more force than she expected. She stumbled.

  “Why are you being such a bit–?”

  “Let go of her!”

  Jake Malloy stood at the other end of the aisle. He stormed toward them and Troy turned to face him.

  “What is your deal, man?” Troy’s face reddened. “Do you just hang out at the grocery store all day?”

  Jake got right into Troy’s face. “I don’t like you.”

  “What is this, kindergarten?” Troy huffed. “Stay out of my business.”

  Jake straightened up even more, towering over Troy. “Don’t touch her again.”

  Hannah saw Mr. Hooley making his way down the cumbersome stairs from his perch, and she knew her job really was on the line.

  “You need to go, Troy. Just go.”

  Troy clenched his fist, his attention all on Jake. “What’s your problem, man?”

  “My problem is, she asked you to leave, and you don’t know how to listen.”

  “Hannah!” Tim yelled down the aisle. “Take your break. And you know what? Why don’t you just take your stuff with you.”

  “What?” Her heart started pounding in her chest. “Please, Tim, I asked him to not come back!”

  “No, this behavior is unacceptable.”

  “Tim, think about what you’re saying,” Jake said. He pointed at Troy. “He’s harassing her. You should protect your employees.”

  “Please, Tim, I need this job,” she begged. “Please. I have Emma to take care of.”

  “I think I know how to run my own business, thank you.” Two red splotches grew on Tim’s cheeks. “Hannah, you’ve brought your trouble to work far too many times. Get your things and leave.”

  She felt nauseated but focused on holding back her tears. She would not cry in front of these men who felt the need to insert themselves in her life.

  “Fine.”

  She turned on her heels, and Troy started to follow her. She heard a commotion, then a yelp, and then she turned to see Troy on the ground.

  “What the?” Troy yelled out. She rushed over to him, and he shoved her away.

  “I can’t believe he just pushed me!” Troy pulled out his phone. “I’m calling the cops.”

  “So I can tell them you were harassing a woman?”

  “My wife!” Troy bellowed out at Jake.

  “Troy, just go.” She didn’t want the police involved. She reached her hand out to help him up. “Please.”

  He got up, slapping her reaching hand away. “You’re going to just let this guy jump me?”

  She looked over at Jake, who was glaring at Troy, his fist clenched so tight his knuckles were white.

  “I’ll sue you!” Troy shouted, as Mr. Hooley arrived.

  “Young man, you need to leave this store right now. You are not welcome here,” he boomed. “Hannah, that goes for you, too.”

  Troy shot daggers at her.

  “Mr. Hooley, it’s not Hannah’s fault,” Jake said.

  “Mr. Malloy, you’re lucky we’re not
calling the police.” Lloyd Hooley and his son walked Troy out of the store, and once again, Jake stayed behind.

  “Are you okay?”

  “Did you come back here on purpose?” she asked.

  “I figured he’d probably show up.” His hand loosened up, but he still seemed on high alert.

  “Well thanks a lot, you… you… jerk.”

  “I’m sorry, but I–”

  “I should grab my stuff.” The tears were breaking through.

  His eyebrows scrunched, showing that look of pity again, and it ground at her. Being Joel Destin’s daughter had never made her part of the popular crowd. It usually meant parents didn’t want their children hanging around her. Few said anything to her face, but they didn’t hesitate to say it behind her back. Nor did they bother to hide their expressions of pity. And there it was, on Mr. Marine’s face.

  “You shouldn’t let someone treat you like that.”

  Who did this guy think he was? She could feel the rage boil up inside her. It usually scared her to get so angry so fast, like a tsunami first pulling back, then smashing into the harbor. But this was all just too much. “Nobody asked you,” she snapped.

  She turned away before she said something more, something she’d regret. He could pity her all he wanted, but he had no clue how she let people treat her. He was just like the rest of the men in her life, he only wanted to control her.

  “I was worried that he’d hurt you,” he called out as she stormed away, which made her angrier, because if she was honest, she had been worried, too. “I promise, I only wanted to help.”

  She didn’t reply. She didn’t have time to deal with him. She needed to figure out a way to get her job back.

  Chapter 2

  Hannah waited until what would have been the end of her shift to talk to her boss, hoping he might have cooled off. But Lloyd Hooley told her he just couldn’t have her there, even if Troy’s actions were not under her control.

  “I know you’re a hard worker, but that man needs to stay away, and if that means you can’t be here, then that’s how it has to be.”

  Hannah felt sick as she stepped into her apartment. What was she going to do now?

  She couldn’t afford the rent without a job. She couldn’t afford Emma’s afterschool program, or the soccer team she wanted to join, or the phone she wanted for her birthday in a few weeks.

  She held the tears in, splashing her face with cold water as she waited for Georgie, who taught at Emma’s school, to drop her off. When she heard the car pull up, she opened up the door to greet them.

  “How are you?” she said in a cheery voice, pretending her world wasn’t falling apart.

  “Olivia asked me to invite you and Emma to dinner with us,” Georgie called out from the car window.

  Hannah hesitated, but only for a moment. “We’d love to come.”

  Emma leaned over the console and hugged Georgie. “Bye, Auntie Georgie.”

  “What can we bring?” Hannah asked, although she worried Georgie might actually ask for something for the first time.

  “Just yourselves!”

  Hannah looked out at the mailbox, and could feel the panic crawling over her skin, remembering the unpaid bills on the counter. “See you soon!”

  She tapped out two quick honks as she pulled away.

  “How was your day?” Hannah asked her pre-teen, twelve-year-old daughter, leaving the mail for another day. She followed her Emma inside, picking up the trail of items she had already dropped on the floor – backpack, shoes, and sweatshirt. “Emma, put your things away.”

  “Fine, but after I eat something.” Emma opened the refrigerator door. After perusing the shelves for a moment, she complained, “We have nothing to eat, and you work in a grocery store.”

  Hannah’s stomach twisted. “Put these clothes away, and go do your homework before we have to leave. You don’t need a snack so close to dinner.”

  And she couldn’t afford the kind of expensive snacks that Emma liked to eat, anymore.

  Hannah waited until her daughter retreated to her bedroom, then decided to bite the bullet and go through the bills. If she paid everything, she would have just enough left for a bit of gas.

  What was she going to do?

  She watched the gauge with despair as her old sedan guzzled up the last of the fuel in the tank on the way to the farm. She might just make it back to the apartment on fumes.

  When she pulled up to the French Farm, they were greeted by the dogs rushing out of the barn. Emma hardly waited for Hannah to come to a full stop before jumping out.

  “I want to see the baby!” She barely slowed down to greet the dogs, then ran inside.

  Hannah looked out the windshield at the farm. The old place meant more to her than any other place in the world. So did the people in it. The Boudreau family had welcomed her in her greatest time of need, when her father turned his back on her. Eight months pregnant, she’d stayed with them until she and Troy got married, then they lived in the apartment above the barn.

  It had been both the best and worst time of her life. There she was, a new mother, surrounded by this matriarchal family who took care of one another, who loved one another. Yet, being a young mother and having no family of her own had made life very hard.

  If she could have stayed there forever she would have, but when Georgie got married to Sam and moved away and her kids left for college, she felt it was time for her to go, too. She had depended enough on this family’s generosity.

  The Boudreaus didn’t forget about her, though. They always included her, making her a regular part of holidays and Sunday dinners. Now Olivia and Jesse lived at the farm, and they were always doing something with Emma. They took her on long horseback rides, even got her into 4H, with a darned chicken of all things. They even took her to the State Fair when Hannah had to work.

  “Hey, ladies!” Olivia bounced baby Mae on her hip.

  “Oh my gosh, those cheeks!” Hannah swept Mae out of Olivia’s arms and into her own. Emma stood on her toes to get closer to the baby.

  “You’re just so cute!” she squealed.

  Mae reached for Emma’s nose. “You got my nose?”

  Mae giggled, and a tug in Hannah’s belly made her wish she had enjoyed more of this stage. She had been so young, scared, and confused about life in general when Emma was this little.

  “How was school?” Olivia asked Emma, handing over a pacifier to Mae.

  “Good, we’re learning about glaciers, and why we have such fertile soil on the prairies.” Emma took baby Mae’s hand and kissed it. “Can I play with her?”

  “Sure, I have all her toys on the blanket in the living room.” Olivia grabbed a burpee towel and handed it to Emma.

  Emma’s afterschool program included a babysitting course, and Emma was obsessed. She’d read the whole Babysitter’s Club series, watched the television version, and created a Pinterest account filled with fun children’s activities. It had taught Emma to be responsible and confident. A confidence Hannah had never possessed.

  Mae reached out her arms and went happily into Emma’s. Olivia grabbed paper plates and napkins and put them on a tray. “I’m so glad you could make it for dinner. It’s just so nice out today, we thought we’d invite people over.”

  “I’m glad you did.” Then she thought about being grateful that it was a free meal, and wished she could just one time return the favor.

  “I went to the grocery store today, I must’ve just missed you,” Olivia said as she opened the refrigerator.

  “I must’ve been on break,” Hannah lied. She knew if she told Olivia about what had happened, she’d parade over there and cause a stink, which definitely wouldn’t get her job back. Then she’d tell the rest of the family, and they’d just start worrying.

  She’d talk to Lloyd again, maybe swing by Judy’s station. She’d worked there as long as Hannah, and knew how loyal she had been over the years. Always working overtime, never questioning the extra hours, late nights, e
xtra duties tagged on with only very minimal raises.

  “I was going to ask Timmy Hooley where you were, but I didn’t want to get stuck talking to him.” She made a face and started setting the table.

  Hannah laughed, glad to have Olivia back in Prairie Valley. Even though they were complete opposites, the two had become as close as sisters when she’d lived at the farm as a new mother.

  Olivia lived a life most would only dream about. She was beautiful, and even now, with a baby, she looked like she had just stepped off a private jet from Washington. She could rope a two-ton bull wearing a suit and heels. She rubbed elbows with some of the most important people in the world, had a daddy who had been a well-respected Governor of their home state of Minnesota, and married one of the most down-to-earth cowboys. But that’s what she loved about Olivia. She lived life to the fullest.

  Hannah just tried to survive.

  “Hey, I was wondering if you guys would do us a favor?” Olivia asked.

  Hannah grabbed the silverware from the drawer, curious. Maybe she could help after all. “What do you need?”

  “A babysitter.” She thumped a big bowl of salad onto the table. “Jesse and I need to get out, and Maggie helps a lot, but I don’t want to always bother her and my mom.”

  “Of course! Any time.”

  “Would Fridays be okay? I’ll pay Emma whatever the going rate is for babysitters nowadays.”

  “I could babysit?” Hannah smiled, hoping it hid her feelings, but Olivia’s eyes were puzzled. “I miss that baby stage, and you wouldn’t have to pay me.”

  “No, that’s silly. I’ll pay you and Emma for your time.” Olivia smiled, wiping her hands on a dishtowel. “I can’t believe she’s already turning thirteen.”

  “You’re sure you don’t mind having her party here?” She calculated the price of pizza and cake in her head, now without her employee discount.