Suited to be a Cowboy (20 page)

That evening she sat in the dark
ensconced on her new swing while Aaron and his puppy raced back and forth on
the garden path, their steps guided by the solar lighting along the path. The
dog was a purebred Chow
Chow
and it had been love at
first sight on both counts. Aaron hadn’t even wanted to look at the rest of the
dogs once he’d spied Sasha. She rested her head against the seat and closed her
eyes, wondering for the hundredth time if Jimmy was all right.

“Jimmy! Come look! See what I got.”

Aaron’s voice cut through her thoughts and
she opened her eyes as the man materialized in front of her.
 
With the dim lighting behind him, he was
mostly in shadow, but she felt their gazes lock and hold for a brief moment
before he turned to Aaron.

“What a beautiful puppy. Boy or girl?”

“She’s a girl. Her name is Sasha and
she loves me already.”

“I can see that. Are you teaching her
any tricks?” Jimmy squatted down to pet the dog. Sasha jumped around, trying to
lick his face and Melissa couldn’t help laughing.

“She’s fetching sticks,” Aaron said
proudly.

“Good job.” Jimmy stood and turned
toward Melissa. “How do you like your swing?”

“I love it. Thank you.” As always, his
attention had butterflies taking flight in her stomach. “Care to join me?”

“Maybe later. I just got back and am badly
in need of a shower and a change of clothes.”

“Okay,” she said, disappointed, yet
understanding. She walked back to the house with him. “Come on, Aaron. It’s
time for your bath and then bed.”

“Can Sasha sleep with me?”

“If she wants to.” Melissa ruffled his
hair, then he was off and running up the path, Sasha hot on his heels.

“Did you catch any more Mustangs?”

“No,” he answered as they meandered
along. “Just worked with the ones Tippy has already broken to the saddle. They
are mighty fine horses.”

“I’m sure they are.”

They’d reached the courtyard and
stopped for a moment, but Jimmy didn’t once glance her way.

“I must go in, get that shower.”

“And I need to tend to Aaron. See you
later.”

“Later.”

With him bathed and ready for bed, she
sat on the floor with Aaron and played with Sasha until both puppy and boy wound
down. She tucked Aaron in bed and the pup jumped up beside him, turned a few
circles, then lay down with her head resting on his arm. Aaron’s smile was
worth every penny she’d spent that day.

“Good night, sweetheart. Pleasant
dreams.”

“
Nite
, Mom.
Thanks for Sasha.”

“You’re welcome. See you in the
morning.”

She went out, quietly closed the door,
and walked to the front room. Jimmy had arrived ahead of her, sorting through
her movie collection.
Should I confront
him about his behavior with Amy? Or let it go?

He turned as she walked in.

“What happened to your face?”

“Had a run-in with a few cowpokes at
the bar. Amy sure is a party girl.”

“You seemed to enjoy her company well
enough.”

“We’ve known each other a long time.
She had the primary care of Sherry whenever I needed a vet. Amy made house
calls.”

I’m
sure she did!
“Is Sherry the only reason she made house calls?” Melissa
wished she’d kept her mouth shut when he slanted a grin her way and raised an
eyebrow.

“Jealous?”

“Curious,” she corrected.

“Uh-huh. She sure is pretty.” One
purposeful step at a time, he closed the distance between them.

“I suppose, but she’s really not my
type.” Her laugh came out choked.

“And you think she’s mine?”

“Seemed like I didn’t exist with her
around, so yeah.”

“Amy and I are friends. That’s it.
That’s all it ever could be.”

“Why’s that?”

“She’s very social. I’m more of a
homebody…content to spend my nights in a cozy atmosphere with one special
person.”

“Oh.”

“Forgive me?” he asked.

“For what?”

“For making you jealous. For not
explaining my relationship with Amy. I knew she’d want to sample the nightlife
while she was here. That’s just the kind of person she is. So I agreed to take
her. If you hadn’t been injured, I would’ve asked you to come along. Instead, I
tucked you up in bed and left, not once thinking how it must look.”

“And the hot spring?” If he was
surprised by her question, he didn’t show it. “Did you take her there again
last night?”

“Amy flew home yesterday. Our trip to
the pool was solely to soothe my bruised body. When you drove away instead of
coming to join us, I dressed and rode straight home, but you were already gone.”

“Trust doesn’t come easy for me, Jimmy.”

“I can understand that. Do you believe
me?”

She studied his eyes, his facial
expression, and saw the sincerity registered there. “Yes, I do.”

“Then can we forgo a movie and take up
where we left off last night?”

Am
I being too submissive, allowing you to talk your way back into my bed? To heck
with it. That is exactly where I want you.
“Mister, you’ve got yourself a
deal.”

* * * *

Sheila had breakfast ready when he entered the
kitchen…sausage, scrambled eggs, and toast. He’d hit it lucky. No one else was
there yet. He’d risen and crossed to his own room during the night, not wanting
a repeat of the morning after reject. “Good morning, love. Okay if I take a
plate and cup to go? I’m way behind on the office work.”

“No wonder. Seems like you had other things occupying your
time. Give me a sec and I’ll have a plate ready for you. What happened to your
face?”

“Yeah. There sure were a lot of sick horses. Amy wanted to
go out so I went with her. Some cowboys took exception when I was ready to
leave and she wasn’t. I’m glad she was here to help with the horses, but I was
equally happy to see her board that plane home.” While she dished up his plate,
he poured coffee into the largest mug he could find.

Sheila passed him a tray loaded with food, condiments, and
silverware. “Is that so? Seems like you two were mighty friendly.”

“Thanks, Sheila.” Although he didn’t owe the cook any
explanations, he felt he was getting to the root of her cool attitude. “Amy and
I are friends. We’ve known each other a long time. She attended to Sherry when
I lived in the city.”

“Oh, that’s all right, then.” She smiled at him. “I’ll
bring you a refill on the coffee as soon as the masses are fed.”

“That would be super. Appreciate it.” Jimmy walked toward
the office, hoping he wouldn’t pass anyone in the hall. It would be difficult
to explain why he’d chosen to eat his morning meal at his desk. He loved the
way everyone treated him as family, but today he needed to be by himself—to
think and to plan.

After last night, he wasn’t sure he could continue to work
for Melissa. He wanted her too much, and it wasn’t just the sex. He loved being
with her, but she didn’t even trust him. Love needed trust to last.
Love?
Yes, he loved her. But what good
would it do?

He shrugged thoughts of Melissa aside and set to work. The
men were a day late getting paid, but it couldn’t be helped. On a ranch, the
stock came first. After all, that was their reason for being there. They had
all been busy tending the horses yesterday and Jimmy hoped he’d finish the
payroll by the time Sheila arrived with his coffee.

She knocked once and walked in. “Here’s your refill, and
Melissa said to tell you the vet is here and could you accompany him.”

He rose and stretched out a few kinks, glancing down at
the paperwork still needing to be input. “She wants me to?”

“I guess so. I’ve been nagging her to rest.”

“Okay, I’ll have my coffee and ride out to the herd. Can
you take the payroll checks to Melissa to sign? I’ll deliver them to Brian when
I go out to saddle Sherry.”

“Sure thing.” She picked up the breakfast tray.

Jimmy passed her the bundle of checks and she headed off
to do his bidding. He sat and pulled the coffee tray closer. Not surprised to
see that Sheila had added some treats, he bit into a homemade donut and sighed
with delight, devouring every last bite of the sweets with his coffee. Replete
and refreshed, he picked up the tray and headed to the kitchen. Melissa and
John sat at the table.

“Morning, John. When did you get here?”

“A little while ago. What happened to your face?”

Jimmy snorted a laugh. “A run-in with some local cowboys.”

“Tommy and Aaron are becoming good friends. You going to
join us for coffee?”

“No, I just stopped in to pick up the checks for the
wranglers.”

“They’re right here,” Melissa said.

She appeared to be searching his expression, for what, he
didn’t know, but he was afraid to see what was in hers. He picked up the stack
and avoided her gaze the best he could. Not an easy task when he wanted to
drink in the sight of her.

“I’m heading out to see what Roger has to say. Have you
talked to Brian this morning?”

“I did,” said John. “He said a couple of the horses are
still listless, but they survived the past couple of nights and that has to be
a good sign.”

Jimmy nodded. “All right then. I’ll see you later.”

“Mind if I tag along?”

“Not at all. Let’s get a move on.”

“Right behind you.”

*
* * *

“That man sure has his eye on you,” Sheila said after the
men left.

Melissa almost hadn’t heard, lost in thought as she was. “What
man? Jimmy?”

“Don’t play dumb with me. I’ve been around the bend a time
or two. There’s been so much tension surrounding the two of you I feel like
chopping it away with my butcher knife. What happened to set you at odds with
each other?”

“Nothing, not that it’s any of your business.”

Sheila turned, hands on hips, and fixed her in place with
a fierce stare. “Tell another one.”

If for no other reason than to get Sheila off her back, she’d
answer the question. “I slept with him. It changed things, and not in a good
way, I’m thinking.”

“Well, glory child. If you hadn’t I’d think there was
something seriously wrong with you. That man is one supreme hunk of handsome,
and he’s nice too. Look at the way he ran to your rescue and has tended to you
ever since. Even Aaron has blossomed under the man’s praise. So what is your
problem?”

“What makes you think it’s me who has the problem?”
Melissa asked. Immediately on the defensive, she sat back and crossed her arms
in front of her chest.

“Because you’re your Grandpa’s offspring. Suspicion runs
in your veins. What happened to make you so wary?”

“You know he wants to own his own ranch, right?”

“Sure I do. He hasn’t made it a secret. You’re not
thinking he’s some kind of gold-digger, are you?”

“What? No, not really. I never intended to get involved
with him because of his dream. I don’t want to interfere with his plans.”

Sheila relaxed her stance and sat beside her at the table,
placing a comforting hand over hers. “Credit the man with some sense. If he
hasn’t realized it yet, he will. His dream is right here on this spread.”

“No, it isn’t, Sheila. We agreed to a no-strings affair.”

“But you’ve fallen for him.” Sheila spoke gently, her
statement also a question.

Determined to get it out in the open, she swiped the tears
from her cheek. “Yes, I have. And once we forgot to use protection. I never
realized until I woke up and I don’t think he even thought of it.”

“A baby! How sweet!”

“Don’t jump the gun on me, Sheila, and don’t you dare say
a word. If I am pregnant, I’ll manage. What I won’t do is tie him down with a
child when it’s not what he wants.”

“How will you know what he wants if you don’t tell him?”

“No strings, Sheila. He insisted on it.”

“Oh! That doesn’t sound like our Jimmy. I wonder why?”

“I know why, but I can’t talk about it.”

“I won’t say a word, but if you’re smart, you won’t give
up on that man, and I’m going to tell you something…something I think you need
to hear.”

A sad expression crossed the woman’s face and Melissa
reached out to her, held her hand as she told her tale.

“I fell in love with a man years ago. A very grumpy man,
but I loved him, warts and all.” Sheila paused to wipe her eyes with the corner
of her apron. “It was a hopeless love from the get-go. You see, he was
married.” Her eagle eyes sought Melissa’s. “Now don’t you judge me, girl. We
can’t help who we fall in love with.”

“I know. Please continue.”

“Day after day, I watched them together, and I wanted what
they had. Yearned for it even. When his wife died years later, I never did
anything about it and I’ve regretted it ever since. Now, it’s too late.”

A light flicked on in Melissa’s brain and she spoke
softly. “Are you talking about Grandpa?”

“Yes, child. Bill was a dear man. I showed him how I felt
in every way I could, but he never stopped missing your grandmother.
Nevertheless, I stayed on and cared for him the best I could. There wasn’t any
place I’d rather be than right here. I just wish I’d been brave enough to grab
what I wanted while there was still time.”

Sheila cried openly for a few minutes, then straightened
up and dried her tears.

“You understand why I told you this?”

“Yes, I do. Thank you for sharing it with me. I know
Gramps thought the world of you. And you made his life better by being here. Of
that I am certain.”

“Thank you, child. Now don’t you go giving up on your man.
We need some happiness in this house again.”

Melissa smiled at her fondly. “I’m a Dehavilland, stubborn
as they come. I can’t see me giving up.”

“Good!” Sheila resumed her duties, but not before Melissa
witnessed the satisfied smirk on the woman’s face.
Who knew she’d be such a romantic at heart?