Faith in the Cowboy (Taming the Cowboy) (12 page)

“You ever been to Vegas before?” he asked, desperate to find something the boy would respond to. “This is only my second trip here. I hope I don’t get lost.”

He couldn’t see the boy’s face, but he was certain he heard another eye roll.

“You know, end out in the middle of the desert with nothing but cactus and buzzards.  I maybe could kill a rattlesnake for dinner.”

Taylor sent him a sidelong glance, as if trying to figure out if he was joking.

“I’d have to run over it, so it might be more like ground meat than chicken. Ever eaten rattlesnake before?”

Taylor shook his head and for a moment, West thought he’d speak, but no. They walked past security, and out the door.

“Want me to carry that?” West asked, tapping the backpack.

Taylor shook his head.

West struggled to hold back his frustration. He wanted to ask if the kid was going to say anything, but he sensed that was the wrong approach. If the kid wanted to give him the silent treatment, fine. He couldn’t last all week.

Once they got into the truck, though, Taylor pulled out a cellphone that cost more than West’s and thumbed it on. The interior of the truck filled with the sounds of a violent video game as West pulled out of the airport parking lot and stopped to pay.

“Does your mother allow you to play that?”

Taylor shrugged, and West ground his teeth. He was not equipped to fight this battle, yet.

“All right, play it now, but once we get to the restaurant, it’s not allowed at the table.” There, that sounded fatherly, didn’t it?

Taylor made a sound like a snort, and West felt his patience thinning. Add to that his frustration at not feeling like he had the authority to follow through on the threat. Who was he to make Taylor listen? He hadn’t been an active part of his life in years.

He was already feeling down when they reached the restaurant, but to his amazement, Taylor put the phone away without being told. The wait for a table wasn’t too bad—the kids in Las Vegas weren’t on spring break yet. West knew that because Teresa had gone to work today.

The dark restaurant decorated with trees and various animatronic creatures was not West’s thing—too crowded and claustrophobic. And Taylor was playing it cool so West had no idea if the kid was enjoying it or not. He wondered how long the kid would stay silent, and West felt the need to keep up a running commentary as he perused the menu.

“I am getting a burger,” he decided after running through a list of choices. “Can’t go wrong with a burger. Do you like burgers?” Something he should know about his own kid.

Taylor lifted a shoulder.

Was the kid trying to make him lose his temper? He was determined that wouldn’t happen. When the waitress came over, West wondered if the kid would talk to her, or just point.

“Hey, having a father-son day?” the cute blonde in the snug polo-style and skinny pants asked.

She gave West a lingering look and a warm smile after inspecting at his left hand. He would have returned the interest if not for Teresa, even if flirting in front of his son felt wrong.

“Yeah, we’re visiting. Never been to one of these places before.”

Just then the lights dimmed, thunder rumbled and the sound of rain on the leaves around them alarmed him. The waitress, whose name tag read “Ellie,” smiled.

“Part of the atmosphere. What do you want to drink?”

West motioned for Taylor to go first, mostly to see if he would.

“Coke,” the kid croaked.

What do you know. His first word. “Me, too,” West said, though a beer sounded a lot better. He couldn’t—wouldn’t do that to his kid.

“Do you have any questions about the menu?”

“I’m good. Taylor?” He hoped the kid had something to ask, just so he could hear his voice again.

Naturally, the kid just shook his head.

“Do you know what you want?” West prompted.

“Coconut shrimp,” Taylor said.

“I’ll have a burger,” West said, handing Ellie his menu.

“You want an appetizer?”

“Anything look good to you?” West asked Taylor.

Taylor shook his head and handed his menu back as well.

“I’ll get this right out. You enjoy your guy time.” She swayed off, clearly wanting West to look.

He didn’t. “So how’s school?” he asked, hoping a question would require a more detailed answer than a shrug.

He got a shrug anyway.

“Glad to be on vacation?”

Another shrug.

West got it. The kid didn’t know him, didn’t want to be here. West’s fault. He wouldn’t force the kid to talk. “After this, we can drive around some, see the strip. There are some amusement parks around the area. Do you like roller coasters?”

Taylor shrugged, but had straightened just slightly. Ah. Some interest. West hated roller coasters, but if that was something to loosen Taylor up, he’d make the sacrifice.

Ellie returned with their drinks.

“What’s the best roller coaster in town?” West asked her.

*****

What the hell had he been thinking? West looked at the ride at the top of The Stratosphere that dangled riders over the edge of the building. He shouldn’t have eaten before coming up here. Hell, he shouldn’t have eaten for a month before coming up here. But beside him, Taylor bounced with excitement. Was that his genes? He liked the occasional adrenaline rush, but this was insane.

At least Taylor looked happy. West just wished it wasn’t inversely related to his own terror.

He’d gotten the kid to give a couple of replies during lunch, short though they might beat least. Nothing big, but every syllable felt like a victory.

It was their turn to get on and they got locked in, then spun out over the city below. Was it unmanly to cry? Holy shit. But Taylor laughed beside him, and it was completely worth the abject terror as he gripped the bar, wondering how long he’d be able to hold on if the ride broke.

They spun, not as fast as he expected, and when he pried his eyes open, he did have a good view of Las Vegas. But hell, he never really cared to see it. He looked over at Taylor.

“You okay?” he choked out.

“This is great!” Taylor shouted.

Worth it.

But the minute his feet were back on the roof of The Stratosphere, he bolted for the trash can and puked up his burger.

*****

“You can put your pack in here,” West invited, opening the RV. Taylor’s good mood had dissolved on the drive out to the ranch, and West didn’t even know how to figure out why.

“This is where you live?” Taylor asked, disdain in his voice.

“During rodeo season. I have an apartment in San Antonio most of the year.”

“This is where I’m going to stay?”

“Yeah, the couch and dinette make a bed. You might be a little tall for it. If you don’t fit, you can sleep in my bed.”

Taylor made a disgusted sound and tossed his pack hard enough to make a thump on the floor.

“I thought we could go for a ride.”

“A ride.”

“Liam has a couple of horses. You ever ridden a horse?”

“I don’t want to be a cowboy.”

Well. That stung. “You don’t have to be a cowboy to know how to ride a horse. Come on.”

Taylor looked from the bedroom to West. He blew out a disgusted breath and stomped across the trailer to the door. He followed West down the hill to the barn.

“So this isn’t your house?”

“No, it belongs to my friend Liam. I’m visiting and helping him out. We finished the barn and are almost finished with the deck on the back of the house. You can help us with that.”

Taylor scowled. “Is that why you brought me here? Free labor?”

West struggled not to sigh. Maybe it was better when the kid wasn’t talking. “Sure, kid. Couldn’t finish without those skinny arms.” He led the way into the barn, and the scent of the horses was like the aromatherapy the women had been talking about at dinner last night. Tension washed from him as he patted the horse’s nose and guided her out of the stall.

He noticed Taylor had plastered himself against the wall of the barn, eyeing the animal suspiciously.

“You like animals?” West asked.

“Sure.”

But he sounded less than sure. “Do you have any pets?”

“No. Mike doesn’t like them. Says they’re messy.”

“Sure, they’re messy. But so are you, I imagine.”

“I don’t want to clean up the poop.”

“Fair point. But there’s more to it than that. There’s a mutual understanding. Noah, Liam’s little boy, has a puppy. I bet you’ll love him.”

“How old is Noah?”

“Three.”

Taylor made a sound of disgust.

“So that’s your deal? You’re wanting someone your age to hang out with?”

Taylor shrugged. Back to that again.

“I don’t know any kids your age. But I have been looking forward to this visit. I think we’ll have a good time.”

Taylor made a noise that proved he was less convinced.

West went into the tack room and got a saddle, then called his son over and showed him how to fasten it.  Then he showed him how to put on the bridle.

“Doesn’t that hurt?” Taylor asked when West slipped the bit between the horse’s teeth.

“It’s not comfortable,” West admitted as he buckled the strap by the mare’s ear. “I imagine not that much different than wearing a retainer or something.”

Taylor considered that.

“You okay with holding her reins while I saddle the other horse?” He held the leather out to the boy, who looked wary, but clearly didn’t want West to think he was a coward.

Like West would after that ride on top of The Stratosphere.

But Taylor took the reins cautiously.

“Pat her neck, talk to her. She likes that,” West advised as he brought the other mare out of the paddock.

“What’s her name?”

“Betsy. She’s a good girl, sweet and smart. I’ve ridden her about every day since I’ve been here.”

“She’s not your horse either?”

“No, I don’t have a horse. Hard to keep one in the city.”

“Do you have anything?”

Ouch. “I don’t need much.” He tugged the strap tight. “Ready to go?”

“No.” Taylor said the word with a half-laugh.

“Come on, kid. You rode that thing on top of the building, you like to skateboard, you can’t be scared of a little horse.”

Apparently that was all the encouragement Taylor needed. He stepped up beside the horse and swung into the saddle. West made sure he was secure in the saddle before he mounted his own horse and led the way out of the barn, showing Taylor how to use the reins to guide the horse, how to use his knees. He took his son along the same path he’d taken Teresa, through the woods. They didn’t talk, but he felt the boy relax in the saddle. West kept a close eye, ready to grab the reins if the horse shied or the kid got nervous.

When they got back to the barn, he dismounted and looped the reins of his horse so he could help Taylor take the saddle and bridle from Betsy. He handed the boy a curry comb and showed him how to groom the horse before he removed the saddle from his own mount.

“Hey.”

Teresa appeared in the doorway and West felt the tension of the day wash away. He wanted more than anything to touch her, but checked himself in front of the kid. Instead he only smiled.

“Hey.”

Beside him, Taylor tensed again, apparently picking up on the vibes between them.

“Long day?”

“Always is right before a holiday.” She turned to Taylor with a warm smile. “You must be Taylor. I’m Teresa.”

“Are you sleeping with him?” Taylor demanded.

Teresa snapped straight, her outstretched hand pulling back, and West pivoted on his son.

“You don’t talk to her like that.”

Taylor narrowed his eyes, looking older than his years. “Mom said it was a woman, the reason you wanted me here. She said you wanted to impress a woman.” He tossed down the curry comb, making Betsy shy before he stormed off.

West soothed the horse, then turned to touch Teresa’s arm, making sure she was okay before he went after his son.

He didn’t have far to go. Taylor was standing on the hill above Liam’s house, arms wrapped around himself.

“Hey. Buddy. What was that?” He considered putting his hand on the boy’s shoulder but thought the action would send the boy running again.

“Is she the reason you brought me here?”

“Yes.”

Taylor snapped his head around at West’s honesty. “I knew it. I knew it wasn’t me.”

Wow, the pain there caught West off-guard, and a moment passed before he could explain. “Teresa has a daughter that she doesn’t get to see except once a week. Hearing her talk about her daughter made me miss you. So yeah, she’s the reason you’re here.”

“Is she your girlfriend?”

West considered a moment, not sure what words to use, what he could tell Taylor when he hadn’t said the words to Teresa. “She’s—she’s important to me. She’s a good lady, a strong lady. She doesn’t deserve to be talked to that way.”

Taylor set his jaw, then nodded.

“Now, come on. You need to finish up taking care of your horse and tack. We can’t borrow Liam’s things and not show them respect, all right?”

He thought the kid would argue with him, but no, he walked into the barn and picked up the curry comb. Teresa stood by the wall, and Taylor turned to her.

“I’m sorry,” he said, his head bowed. “I shouldn’t have talked to you like that.”

“Apology accepted,” she said solemnly.

West stepped up beside her and leaned against the wall, blowing out a soft breath. She looked up at him, and he saw sympathy in her eyes. Great, so his problems with his son were obvious. She touched his hand and he hooked his fingers through hers for a moment before pushing away to tend to his own horse.

*****

West’s stomach was tight as he sat beside Taylor at Grace’s table an hour later. The boy had slouched back into sullen mode after his apology to Teresa, and though the kid had proved he had manners, well, West didn’t know what to expect.

Kennedy and Luke hadn’t come back to Las Vegas after the rodeo, which left room at the table.

Noah was entranced by the younger boy and asked his mother if he could sit next to him. Taylor gave the boy no more than a glance, but Noah copied every move the older boy made, even spearing his macaroni noodles in stacks like Taylor did.