Learnin' The Ropes (22 page)

Lexi gave James a curt nod as Ty took her elbow and escorted her to the car. She shook like a leaf in a windstorm as they walked down the steps and across the sidewalk to the street.

“Are you going to be okay?” he whispered as he held the passenger door for her.

“Yes.” She bit the inside of her cheek to keep from crying.

Ty climbed behind the wheel, started the car, and pulled into traffic. When they were out of sight of the building, Lexi buried her face in her hands and gave in to her emotions.

“Lexi, don’t cry,” Ty pleaded, his heart aching at her tears. Once they drove  out of the downtown area, he pulled into the parking lot of an office supply store and stopped the car.  He reached across the seat and settled a warm hand on her back. “Lexi?”

“I’m so glad you showed up when you did.” She turned to him with tear-streaked cheeks. “I don’t know what would have happened if you hadn’t been there.”

Despite the bucket seats, Ty pulled Lexi closer and gave her a comforting hug.

“Who was that guy?” he asked, gently rubbing his hand across her back and shoulders.

“James. I… um…” Lexi took a deep breath. “I was engaged to him for a while.”

Ty leaned back so he could look in her face. He gave her a disbelieving stare along with a raised eyebrow in question of her former taste in men. “You’re kidding me.”

“Unfortunately, I’m not.” She leaned back in her seat. “He called things off when he found out about my mom’s heritage. I won’t even repeat what he said. Needless to say, I haven’t spoken to him since. He happened to catch me in the elevator on my way out and suggested that we ‘reconsider out relationship strategy,’ as he put it. He had the nerve to suggest that even though I’m not suitable wife material, I could be his mistress. That’s when I slapped his face and tried to leave.”

“I should have punched him,” Ty said. Livid that anyone would treat Lexi the way James treated her, he considered driving back to the office and planting a fist in the moron’s face.

“No, you shouldn’t have. I was very proud of you for only pushing him down when you could have easily cleaned his clock.” Now that the threat of James hurting her had past, Lexi was mad. “He’s such a stupid jerk.”

“You’ll get no argument from me.” Ty used his thumbs to wipe away the last of Lexi’s tears. “Did he always treat you so disrespectfully?”

“I guess he did, I just didn’t notice.” Embarrassed by what an idiot she’d been, gratitude filled her that  James was no longer part of her life.

“Did he hurt you?” Ty asked, looking at her with heat in his eyes.

“I’ll be fine,” Lexi said, ignoring the spots on her arms where she was sure bruises would soon show. At least with the three-quarter length sleeves on her jacket, no one would know anything happened today.

Quickly picking up her purse, she flipped down the visor mirror and touched up her makeup while Ty pulled back into traffic and drove to the restaurant.

“Are you sure you feel up to having lunch with Beth and Nate?” Ty asked as he parked the car. “They’d understand if you want to go home.”

“No. I want to meet them and I can’t wait to see the baby. Is he as adorable in person as he looks in his pictures?” Lexi asked as Ty held open the car door and escorted her into the restaurant.

“He’s even cuter.” Ty grinned as he waved at Beth and Nate, already seated at a table with Jax.

Several hours later, Lexi and Ty left behind the traffic of Portland, heading back to the ranch. Most of the conversation centered on Jax being a wonderful, sweet baby.

When they stopped in Bend for dinner, Lexi asked Ty to drive the rest of the way home. She was exhausted and the run-in with James had left her drained.

The next thing she knew, she was in Ty’s arms as he carried her out of the garage, across the yard, and up the steps to the back door. She hadn’t been picked up and carried since she was a little girl.

The feeling of being held close to Ty’s chest, gently cradled in his arms, was amazing. She didn’t want it to end too soon, so she pretended to sleep.

Carefully, Ty bent down and opened the door, carrying her inside the house. He glanced at the stairs then at the light on in the kitchen. Although he decided it was best to leave her at the door, he held her for another moment before saying good night.

“Lexi, this is the end of the ride.” Ty spoke in a husky tone, his breath warm by her ear. “Wake up, babe.”

Slowly opening her eyes, Lexi wrapped his endearment around her heart. Looking into his face, she offered him a smile that made his insides hot and his knees weak.

“Hi,” she whispered as Ty slowly set her on her feet.

“Hi,” he whispered, placing a hand on her cheek. “Thanks for taking me along today. It meant more than you can know to see Jax.”

“I’m glad we both got to see him and I appreciated meeting Beth and Nate. They’re great, Ty. I can see why you care so much about them.” Lexi squeezed his hand. “Thank you for rescuing me today. You really are my hero.”

Shyly, Ty grinned, but looked pleased. It wasn’t every day he got to rescue a fair maiden. It made him feel needed and strong. “I’m glad I was there. You let me know if he bothers you and I’ll take care of it.”

His voice held a steely edge Lexi hadn’t heard before. His concern made her feel cherished and safe.

“Thanks, Ty, for everything. I hope you didn’t strain your back carrying me in from the car. You could have just given me a shake to wake me when you pulled into the garage.”  Despite her protests, she was unbelievably glad he had carried her inside.

“I know, but I kind of liked the idea of holding you close.” His eyes glinted with mischief while the smile riding his full lips made him nearly irresistible. “Besides, if you were really worried about it, you would have spoken up before I started across the yard, when you first realized you were getting a free ride to the door.”

“You knew I was awake and carried me anyway?” Lexi showed surprise and guilt at being caught in her little deception.

He moved closer to her. “Yes, ma’am. I think my efforts need some sort of reward.” Ty pulled her against him, not wanting to say good night. Not yet.

“What kind of reward?” she asked, leaning into him, absorbing his warmth and strength.

“A kiss would be a good start.” He leaned down and touched her lips with his as electricity jolted through him. He would have continued exploring the possibilities of a suitable reward except Baby hit him in the legs from behind, knocking them both off balance. Ty grasped Lexi to him with one arm while throwing the other out and catching the stair post to keep from toppling to the floor.

“Baby! That is so not okay. Naughty, naughty girl,” Lexi scolded, as she and Ty caught their balance and looked at the dog.

Baby was so excited to see Ty, she leaned against his leg and whined, keeping herself between him and Lexi. She appeared to be smiling as she looked up at Ty with big, bright eyes.

“Guess this is good night then.” He tipped his hat to Lexi and walked outside, taking the dog with him.

As he strolled to the bunkhouse, he reprimanded the dog.

“Baby, I’m not sure how you could have any worse timing. Are you trying to keep me away from Lexi? Don’t you want me to get to know her better?” Ty asked, scratching the dog on her back as he stood on the bunkhouse porch. At this late hour, it looked like everyone was already in bed. Quietly opening the door, he blocked Baby from following him inside. “Scoot, Baby. See if you can behave the rest of the night.”

In his room, the sweet scent of Lexi clung to his clothes and he inhaled deeply, knowing she would invade his dreams all night.

Lesson Ten

Go with the Flow

“If ya ever feel like a fish out ‘a water,

jes watch what everyone else is doin’

and follow their lead.”

“Are ya ready for this?” Swede asked Ty as they watched pickups pulling horse trailers flood into the ranch yard bright and early that morning.

Ty grinned. “Ready or not, here they come.” Although Swede had tried to give him an idea of what would happen during branding, Ty would be on a big learning curve the next three days.

The cattle had been gathered and sorted into three herds of five hundred each. The plan was to work through one herd a day. Swede explained to Ty that although they could do the branding and work the cattle with less help if they used a calf table and a working chute, it wouldn’t necessarily speed up the process. That was why they liked to do things the old-fashioned way, with a bunch of ropers and a lot of fun.

Neighbors and friends would help them brand and then they would spend the next few weeks traveling to neighboring ranches to return the favor.

While a few of the women would join the men out with the cattle, the rest would put together a big lunch as well as morning and afternoon snacks and a light dinner. Lexi would have hired a caterer, but the women working together to make the food was as much a part of the tradition as the men swapping stories while they burned brands.

Lexi rushed out the door of the main house and was soon visiting, sharing hugs with the women and smiles with the men. Some she hadn’t seen since her father’s funeral and it was nice to reconnect with people she’d known all her life.

Busy getting ready for branding and finishing the spring farm work, Ty and Lexi had hardly seen each other. Today was the first time he’d indulged in watching her since the day they went to Portland. She appeared to be a favorite with young and old alike, accepted with warmth by all those gathered in the ranch yard. He couldn’t blame anyone for having good taste.

Dressed in jeans, boots, and a long-sleeved cotton work shirt with a hat on her head, Lexi blended in with the rest of the cowboys and cowgirls. Her raven hair fell in a thick braid down her back. Ty noticed the roses in her cheeks and the pink of her lips as she worked through the crowd.

She was nearly to the bunkhouse when a rig stopped nearby and a woman barreled out of the passenger door of the pickup, sweeping Lexi up in a tight hug.

“Oh, my sweet girl, I haven’t seen you forever!” The woman looked like an older version of Lexi.

“Aunt Bertie! I didn’t think you guys could come,” Lexi said, beaming as she hugged her aunt.

Bertie let go of Lexi, only to pass her off to a slim, lean man that appeared to Ty to top him by at least three inches.

“Uncle Linc!” Lexi laughed as he swung her off her feet and spun her around. “It’s so good to see you. Thank you for coming.”

“Well, you didn’t think we’d miss out on branding, did you?” Linc asked, leaving his arm around Lexi as they walked to the bunkhouse.

Linc shook hands with Swede while Bertie gave him a hug.

“Aunt Bertie, I want you to meet my new mechanic and good friend, Ty Lewis.” Lexi took Ty’s hand and pulled him toward her aunt and uncle.

Ty tipped his hat, as Swede had taught him, and shook her aunt’s hand before extending a hand to her uncle. Bertie looked so much like Lexi, he would have pegged her as a relative if they’d met on the street in downtown Portland.

“Ma’am, it’s a pleasure to meet you,” Ty said, drawing on his best manners. “I thought for a minute Lexi had a sister she forgot to mention.”

“Oh, go on with you.” Bertie slapped his arm, clearly pleased with his comment. “Her mama was my older sister and this little gal has been my baby since she was born.”

Hearing her name, the dog skittered around the corner and plowed into Ty. He braced himself for the impact and took a couple of side steps to maintain his balance.

 “Looks like you won over the dog,” Linc said with interest. “The only man she cottoned to was Lex.”

“So I’ve heard.” Ty patted Baby  on her back while she happily wagged her tail at the attention. “For whatever reason, she has adopted me.”

Linc and Bertie exchanged a glance with Swede as he imperceptibly nodded his head. The three of them had known each other since before Lexi was born and they all watched out for her best interest. The dog had run off more people than they could count. To see Baby completely taken with Lexi’s new mechanic made him more than a little noteworthy.

“Shall we get this show on the road?” Linc asked as the last of the trailers pulled into the yard and cowboys unloaded their horses.

“Yep,” Lexi said, linking her arm through her aunt’s as they walked back toward the house. Lexi had been trying to figure out how to be in two places at once. She wanted to be out with the cattle but felt obligated to stay in the house and help the women prepare lunch. With Bertie there, she could work with the men and not worry about what was happening in the kitchen. Her step lightened as she kissed her aunt on the cheek and hurried to the barn to saddle Rowdy.

Those on horseback rode out to the pen where they’d work the first bunch of cattle. As a handful of riders sorted the cows from the calves, Ty mentally went through the process as Swede had explained it to him. It seemed simple enough.

Branding irons grew hot using portable propane tanks while three women filled syringes with vaccine. At Lexi’s signal, a group of ropers went into the calves and roped the first five. As the horses drew the ropes taut, they pulled the calves back to where the brands heated. The wrestlers took over, throwing the calves on their sides and removing the rope. The rest of the ground crew converged, branding, vaccinating, tagging, dehorning, and castrating the calves. As he watched the first bull calf go under the knife, Ty inwardly shuddered and prepared himself for a long day.

Once the crew finished with the first group, Ty stepped up to do his part as one of the wrestlers.

Mid-morning, women arrived with a multitude of doughnuts, hot coffee, and coolers of beverages. After a quick break, the women returned to the house to finish lunch preparations while the rest of them went back to branding.

At the noon break, Ty stretched his muscles, knowing he’d be sore before the day was out. The crew returned to the big ranch yard for lunch where makeshift tables were piled high with food. Ty wasn’t sure he had ever seen that much food in one place before in his life and took a moment to look it all over.