Cowboys Like Us (10 page)

“Yes, but—”

“Logan, we really need to start back. If you’ll scatter the oatmeal cookies around for the birds, I’ll put on my lipstick.”

He gazed at her for a moment longer. “Yeah, it’s getting late.”

Too late,
she thought as she somehow managed to put on lipstick with a hand that shook. She’d been determined to keep an emotional distance between them, but it was too late.

A
S THEY RODE BACK TO
the ranch, Logan felt as if a hive of bees had taken up residence in his brain. In his baseball career he’d always been able to think strategically, both on the field and when planning various career moves. But ever since learning that his playing days were over, he’d lost that ability, or so it seemed.

He certainly wasn’t being sensible about Caro. She was supposed to be a diversion, a safe haven for a few nights while he tried to figure out what to do with his life. Good sex— and she certainly represented that—had always been a way for him to relax and forget his problems. Good sex had never
become
the problem.

Okay, he admitted to himself, it wasn’t the good sex that was a problem. It was the woman herself. He liked her way too much, and he wasn’t in a position to like somebody too much, especially a woman who belonged, in all senses of the word, in Wyoming.

Even if he asked her to go back to Chicago with him, she wouldn’t. Her grandmother was here, and so were her roots. She liked living in Shoshone, liked her job, liked to ride horses and spend time outdoors. He could tell that from the way she’d perked up the minute they’d headed down the trail.

So what the hell was he doing, courting her? It was an old-fashioned word, but it fit his behavior. He found himself complimenting her and kissing her for no reason. Actually, he did know the reason, and he should be worried about it.

The sad part was, he couldn’t seem to help himself, couldn’t seem to control his emotions when it came to Caro. He’d always been a very self-disciplined person with his eye on the prize. Now there was no prize to keep an eye on— except her, and she was completely out of reach.

Well, unless he wanted to go into the furniture business in Shoshone. Oh, yeah, that sounded like a barrel of fun. See what former Cubs star Logan Carswell is doing now? He’s building furniture and selling it out of a little storefront in Shoshone, Wyoming. Pitiful.

But he’d be near Caro, and that almost made him consider it. Almost. But he couldn’t imagine how a little furniture business would be enough for him. So he sold a few pieces and kept busy building more. So what? It didn’t compare to making the game-winning out against the hometown rival Chicago White Sox.

His life used to matter, and now it didn’t. Oh, sure, it mattered to his family and his friends, but not to the world in general. He used to thrill people with a good performance behind the plate. But now he didn’t know what his role was supposed to be, and that was no time to fall head over heels for a woman. He couldn’t trust his own feelings.

By the time they arrived at the barn, Emmett and the hands were busy feeding the horses. Both Caro and Logan offered to help unsaddle and brush Destiny and Cici, but Emmett seemed to think they were both needed up at the house.

“Big doings,” Emmett said. “Sarah has a visitor, a guy who plans to buy some horses. He’s also a baseball fan, so he’s eager to meet you. Sarah asked me to send you both up to the house when you arrived.”

Logan groaned inwardly. Just what he didn’t need, some rabid fan who would want to talk about the joys of baseball. He could handle the old folks at the assisted living facility, maybe because their glory days were behind them, too. Other than that, though, he had no interest in reliving old plays.

But he knew Sarah would be happy about the prospect of more sales. Alex’s PR must be paying off, and Logan would be an ungracious guest if he didn’t try to humor this man. So he’d put on his best manners and be pleasant.

“I need to at least wash up a little,” Caro said.

Emmett nodded. “Will the sink at the end of the barn do?”

“Sure.”

“I’ll come with you.” Logan walked beside her, down the aisle between stalls where horses were munching away. It was a cozy atmosphere and he wished he could stay here instead of going up to the main house to socialize with whoever this man was.

As Caro washed her hands at the sink, she glanced at Logan. “You don’t look especially happy.”

“It’s okay. You know I don’t relish talking baseball, but if Sarah needs me to because this is a good customer, I’ll do it.”

“You’re a good guy, Logan.” Caro moved away from the sink to give him room while she dried her hands on a paper towel.

“Not really.” He lowered his voice. “A good guy wouldn’t be trying to find more ways to get into your bed.”

“I didn’t say you were a saint.” She moved closer to him. “But you’re good…and good in bed.”

He chuckled. “You’re not so bad yourself, Miss Davis.”

One of the hands walked by, so they didn’t say anything more until they were on their way up to the house. Sure enough, a shiny black king cab sat in the drive behind Caro’s old pickup.

“Still planning to talk with Josie?” Logan asked.

“Yes.”

“Then I guess you might want to mention that I’m following you home tonight.”

She looked over at him. “You are?”

“Of course I am. Once you’ve said something to Josie, you won’t be able to get rid of me. I’ll spend the night with you and then we’ll drive into Jackson together in the morning. Besides seeing your grandmother, we’ll stop at a drugstore so I don’t have to manhandle the condom machine at the Spirits and Spurs anymore.”

She smiled at him. “I see you have it all worked out.”

“I have the next twenty-four hours worked out. Beyond that, I’m still struggling.”

“I didn’t provide you with a plan B like I promised, did I? I was thinking about that while we rode home. How do you feel about becoming a sportscaster?”

He sighed.

“That sigh says it all. You don’t want to.”

He paused at the bottom of the steps and turned to her. “It’s just that so many ex-players go into broadcasting. I don’t know if I have the personality for it, either. Alex does, but he’s not an athlete. Some combination of Alex’s talent behind a microphone and my sports knowledge would be terrific, but we happen to be two different people.”

“I think you’d be good at it. You obviously know the game and the players. And you’d look great on camera.”

“Why, thank you, ma’am. You’re probably biased, but I’ll take that vote of confidence that I’m photogenic.”

“It’s not bias. I saw your picture dozens of times on the internet. The camera loves you.”

“Yes, but would I love it back?” He shook his head. “It’s a thought, and I shouldn’t dismiss it. I know my agent is exploring that possibility. He wants me to capitalize on whatever fame I’ve achieved.”

“And you should. You’ve worked hard for it.”

He wondered if he’d ever met somebody so unselfish. Some women who had a wealthy man paying attention to them would be trying to convince him to settle down with them and make their lives easier. Logan was virtually certain that his money made no difference whatsoever to Caro. She just sincerely wanted him to be happy.

“I promise to think about the TV angle more seriously,” he said. “It makes sense. I just have to get used to the idea.”

“You’d be terrific. If you end up doing that, I might have to start watching sports on television.”

Now there was a depressing thought—him stuck in a broadcast booth somewhere and Caro in Shoshone watching him on TV. It was a realistic scenario, but that didn’t mean he had to like it. “Come on, gorgeous. Let’s go inside and make nice with the man who’s buying Last Chance ponies. Then we’ll reward ourselves with some quality time under your homemade quilt.”

“That sounds wonderful, but I just thought of something. If you’re going to spend all that time with me, when are you going to work on Josie and Jack’s cradle?”

“While you’re tending bar, I’ll come back here and work. It shouldn’t take me that long, anyway. Besides, the longer I spend on the cradle, the longer I can stay at the ranch.”

“Nice.”

“Yeah, I agree.” But he was no fool. He knew the longer he stayed at the ranch the deeper he’d get into this relationship. He should probably set a limit on his time here by booking a flight out. A smart man would do that.

Lately, though, he hadn’t been acting very smart.

C
ARO FELT A LITTLE MUSSED
and underdressed to be a dinner guest at the Last Chance, especially with a horse buyer in at
tendance. But she told herself that nobody would be paying attention to her, anyway. Logan would be the man of the hour.

She knew he would rise to the occasion. She’d seen him in action behind the bar, juggling martini shakers. He might not think he was a showman, but he had the makings of one.

He could be anything he wanted, really. He had the intelligence and coordination to master whatever he set out to do. She just hoped that whatever it was, he loved doing it. He deserved to be happy in his work.

As they walked into the living room of the ranch house, she admired the casual elegance of the place. Large Navajo rugs hung on the walls, and a wooden staircase spiraled up to the second floor. The furniture was large and leather, befitting a ranch. It was grouped in front of an immense rock fireplace, although no fire burned there on this warm August afternoon.

Sarah sat in one of the brown leather armchairs, and a tall, gray-haired man wearing a white cowboy shirt and obviously new jeans sat in a chair across the round coffee table from her. She held a glass of red wine, and he was drinking what looked like Scotch on the rocks.

Both she and the man stood when Caro and Logan walked in. “There you are!” Sarah put down her glass and came forward. “Caro Davis and Logan Carswell, let me introduce Peter Beckett.” She gestured to the man behind her.

He set down his drink and walked toward them. “Miss Davis, Mr. Carswell, it’s a pleasure.” He shook Caro’s hand first, and then Logan’s.

Caro appreciated that, considering how the guy’s eyes lit up when he saw Logan. Next to him, she could fade into the background easily, so at least Peter Beckett had manners. He was nice looking, too, with kind blue eyes and a wonderful smile.

She’d guess he was probably in his sixties, and obviously very prosperous. His boots appeared to be custom made and his watch looked as if he could use it to contact James Bond if necessary. She hoped he’d bought a lot of horses and given the ranch a hunk of his money in return.

“What can I get each of you to drink?” Sarah hurried over to the liquor cabinet. “I have wine, beer, bourbon, Scotch, brandy…”

“Whatever wine you’re having is fine with me,” Caro said. She hoped wine wouldn’t make her too loopy considering how little sleep and food she’d had today. She thought of the cookies she and Logan had scattered for the birds, and wished she’d eaten more of them.

“I’ll take a beer, whatever kind you have,” Logan said.

Sarah opened a door in the cabinet to reveal a small refrigerator. “Bud, then.” “That works.”

“Go ahead and sit down. Have some chips and salsa.”

Caro took her cue and positioned herself on the leather sofa near the chips. So long as she ate those, she shouldn’t embarrass herself with one glass of wine.

Logan sat next to her, but not so close that anyone would think they were a couple. He turned toward Sarah’s guest, who’d remained standing. “So, Mr. Beckett, do you live nearby?”

“Not too far away. About thirty miles. I have a place outside of Jackson. And call me Peter.”

“Peter came to the open house we had in June,” Sarah said as she brought over Caro’s wine and Logan’s beer, along with a couple cocktail napkins. “He didn’t buy anything then, but I think he’s ready to now.”

“Absolutely.” The man waited until Sarah was seated before levering his tall frame into the chair opposite her. “But that’s not the only reason I’m here.”

“Oh?” Logan took a sip of his beer.

Caro felt him tense and knew he was afraid that he was the other draw.

Peter swirled the ice cubes in his glass. “I’m trying to talk Sarah into going along with a new venture of mine.”

“And I’m still thinking about it,” Sarah said. “Peter’s involved with a program to help troubled teens, boys mostly, and now that I have so much empty space in this big house, he’s asked if I’d take some in and help provide a work experience for them.”

“Of course, I’d pay for the privilege,” Peter said. “My investments have worked out well and I can afford to underwrite this program. I thought about creating a ranch from scratch on the land I own, but here’s one ready-made.”

Logan gazed at Sarah. He’d been here only a few days, but he could see what a big change this would be. “So what do you think, Sarah?”

“Well, Archie and Nelsie named this place the Last Chance because it was their last chance to make a go of things during the Depression. That’s been sort of a mantra around here ever since. This would be in keeping with that idea. I have to consult the boys, of course. I’ll talk to Jack and Josie tonight when they come to dinner.”

“But this place is so beautiful,” Caro said. “I’d worry that the kids might—”

“They’d sign a contract before they ever set foot on the property,” Peter said. “Coming here would be an incredible privilege, and one step out of line would mean the end of their stay. I’ve seen it work in other places.”

“And I raised three active boys here.” Sarah sipped her wine. “There’s nothing delicate about this house. And we had a runaway teen girl here for a few years. Roni’s married and off on the NASCAR circuit now, but she was trying to
hot-wire one of the trucks when we asked her to stay. It’s not like we don’t have a precedent for this.”

“It could be really great.” Peter leaned forward, his glass held loosely between his big hands. “On top of that, when I heard you were here for a visit, Logan, I had another brainstorm.”

Logan put down his beer. “What’s that?”

“I know you’re not playing anymore.”

“No—no, I’m not.”

Caro hoped she was the only one who heard the emotional undertones in that answer, emotion that Logan tried so desperately to conceal. She held her breath, not sure what was coming next.

“I’m sure you have plans, lots of irons in the fire.”

“A few.”

Caro wanted desperately to touch Logan, to give him support as he braved this through. “I’m certain the TV networks will want him,” she said. “He’d make a great sportscaster.”