Wandering Heart (5 page)

"Partner?"

"The Border
Collie that greeted you and took such an instant liking to you,"
she said with a light chuckle, watching the dog from the backdoor
as he whined to come in. "He knows better."

"Nice looking
animal."

"Yes, and he's
a great help at rounding up the cattle. Uncle Henry bought him just
before he died, and taught me how to train him."

Cooper nodded
and cast Partner a quick smile. "You're right about the farm. It
can be a big expense and a big chore. But from now on those
so called chores will be done by me." Cooper finished cutting
into his waffle with a vengeance. It wasn't what he said or even
how he said it. It was the way he had cut into that waffle that had
Angela taking notes.

"But," she
looked at him squarely, not backing down at his authoritative
voice, and the way he acted as though the subject were closed. "We
haven't even discussed salary, yet. Or your hours."

Cooper
swallowed and nodded. "Not much need. I don't need much if room and
board is included. By the way, this waffle is great."

"Thank you,
they're sort of a specialty I make. Sour dough. But you might
not want the job when I tell you that part of it includes watching
after Josh. I mean I'm tied up a lot, late nights. I need to be
able to depend on someone being here most of the time. Would that
be a problem?"

Cooper's head
flew up, and he eyed her with a curious intent. "No problem. But
say, where is Josh, anyway?"

"I…I worked
late last night so he spent the night at a friend's. He's over
there a lot. I've imposed on the Masterson's so much lately I'm
embarrassed. Tim Masterson is Josh's best friend, and if Josh isn't
home, he's there."

"That wouldn't
be George Masterson's boy, would it?" Cooper asked, until heavily
engrossed in his breakfast.

"Yes, of
course, you know George."

"Know him? He
used to be the biggest nerd in the whole school. Nice guy, though.
I was just jealous because he got all A's, and I had to knock
myself out for one. I thought he was a traveling salesman now.
What's he doing on a farm?"

Angela laid her
cup towel down and sat at the table, eyeing Cooper with renewed
interest. She liked the fact that she could talk to someone who
knew everyone. "He is. His dad left the farm to him, and he moved
his family from town out here. His wife, Pat, is a doll, but she is
so afraid of being alone. Everything out here scares her. Storms,
noises she can't explain. She actually enjoys company, especially
Josh. I hate to impose on her so much, but she's usually grateful.
I don't know what I'd do without her and George."

"That would be
Pat Higgins?"

"You know her?
But of course you do, we all went to the same school."

"Sure. Pat was
the only girl George ever dated. It was inevitable that they get
married. Good old George. I'd like to see him again."

"Well, if you
stay long, I'm sure you'll have the opportunity. He's the one who
helps me so much."

"I will stay on
one condition," Cooper said rocking back on the two hind chair
legs. It was a trick she had never allowed Josh to get away with,
but somehow she couldn't imagine telling Cooper not to do
anything.

"What
condition?" Angela's brow rose.

"I've got to
have full control, of the farm at least." He winked. "If I'm going
to run this place, then I want no countermands. If I need your
help, I'll ask, otherwise, you will be a lady of leisure when you
are at home. Deal?"

"Well…" She
faltered for a second, and then looked him straight in the eyes. A
dangerous thing to do because those eyes were gorgeous. But he was
taking over. "I don't know. I mean I'm used to getting up and
caring for the stock, and helping with the harvest."

"I'm sure you
are, and when your help is needed I'll be the first to let you
know. But you already have a job in town. The running of this place
would be mine. Besides, Josh is old enough to help with most
things, wouldn't you say?"

"I suppose so,"
she drawled, realizing the decision had been made and she was no
longer in control. "And Josh?"

"No problem
there. I'll teach him the things he needs to know, if you want me
to. And, I'll keep my eye on him. A boy that age doesn't need much
baby sitting. And if he knew we called it that he'd probably
have a fit, don't you think?"

"You're right
about that. But you wouldn't mind? I mean do you even like
kids?"

He gave her a
strange twisted sort of glance, as though the question was
ridiculous. "Actually, I get along well with kids. And mind?"
Cooper's expression seemed incredulous. "This is his home, Angel.
As far as I see it, he belongs here. And he needs to know how to
take it over when the time comes, if it comes. He's growing up. He
needs to know about the farm in every detail, if this is where he
is going to live. And if it isn't, he'll until learn something.
Either way he doesn't lose. He probably already knows the stock and
lay of the land. He'll be a big help to me. He might even teach me
a few things."

Angela poured
him a second cup of coffee. For a man who didn't have children,
Cooper seemed to have a strong understanding of them. But time
would only tell if Josh and Cooper could get along. Josh certainly
hadn't taken to Greg.

"So, where do I
bunk down?" he asked out of the blue.

She put the pot
back on the stove, and then joined him at the table. "Ordinarily
down at the bungalow by the creek, but I haven't had much time to
clean or fix the place up. We've a spare bedroom until I can get it
ready."

Cooper's
expression changed to puzzlement, he folded his hands over his
chest and gave her a rather sardonic glance.

"You know there
is one thing I'm a little curious about."

"Oh, what?"

"This
boyfriend, this secret arrangement you have. What kind of guy is
he?"

Angela got up
and put his empty plate in the sink. She expected him to ask, but
she wasn't sure how to answer. She felt uneasy talking about Greg.
"What do you mean?"

"I mean," he
said standing up once more, and moving closer, "why isn't he out
here helping you run this place if he really cares about you? He's
bound to know how much you need him. Doesn't he care?"

Angela pinked.
"Well, of course he cares, but he knows absolutely nothing about
farming. He'd be a hindrance. I don't want him out here."

"I knew it,"
Cooper said and chuckled aloud.

"Knew what?"
She whirled about to look at him.

"He's a
nerd!"

"He is
not!"

"Oh, yes, he
is." He moved in on her, his eyes catching and holding hers
momentarily. "He's a pencil pusher!"

"A what?"

"A pencil
pusher. You know the kind who works behind a desk all day, and
knows nothing about getting his hands dirty. Probably gets them
manicured, and has his hair styled, too."

He hit the nail
on the head. That was Greg. It was the way his eyes sharpened on
her that had her groping for the counter.

"I'll have you
know he's running for Congress."

Cooper's
laughter died a short life. The sparkle went out of his eyes. "A
Congressman? Wow, you really have stepped up. And that would
account for this secret relationship you have with him. Gossips in
a small town could be murder to a Congressman."

"Exactly."

"Must be rough
on the love life." Cooper whistled through his teeth.

What love life?
Angela wanted to scream but held her tongue. If he were laughing
now, he'd really get a blast if he knew she had no love life,
except for a few amorous kisses, and a lot of promises. "Yes, it
is. But we have our moments."

"Are a few
moments enough?"

"If they're
full of quality, yes."

"And are they?"
His voice softened, his eyes sparkled with mischief again.

"Now, listen,"
she began, trying to keep her temper at bay long enough to make a
few things clear. She didn't want to make him mad, she needed him,
but he had no right asking such things. "I'm offering you a job
here. A business proposition. My private life is none of your
business."

He nodded his
smile until sardonic. "That can go both ways, you know."

"Naturally. I
don't have a problem with that unless you are married, and in that
case, she is very welcome here, of course."

"Married?" His
head quirked in an odd fashion. "Not hardly. And I don't have a
harem of women either."

"Well, or
course you don't but—"

"For the
record, there are no women. There haven't been for a long time.
That flew out the window with my so-called career and ambition. And
as for sex, I'm very particular these days about my partners. So,
there won't be any women around your son, unless you bring
them."

"Oh, well, I
didn't mean you had to lead the life of a monk," she said knowing
she had turned pinker. "But at least we understand each other?"

"Angel," he
said as he came even closer. Close enough to feel the warmth of his
breath. Close enough he could have touched her, but he didn't.
"Relax; I'm not the devil in disguise. Even though I have a feeling
you think I am. I've never forced myself on a woman, and I'm not
about to start now."

Then he touched
her, just a finger, which slightly caressed her burning cheek. A
touch so slight, yet so terribly unnerving her body quivered, but
she held herself until. Her stomach churned like a silly
schoolgirl, and her breath held in her lungs so long it became
painful to hold. In a tiny voice she expelled her breath only
slightly and said "Then we do understand one another?"

His eyes
crinkled and his mouth widened with a boyish grin. "Understanding
takes time. We haven't had enough of that yet, Angel. But it's a
start in the right direction."

He paused, as
if waiting for his words to sink in, then moved to the doorway as
though nothing had transpired between them, his voice all business.
"I'll put my bike in the barn, and then we can get started with the
lay of the land."

As he walked
out of the kitchen Angela slowly let out her breath. She stood
staring after him. Why was everything about Cooper Johnson so
panoramic? His walk, which was slow and lazy, yet confident, his
voice, which was soft and hard at the same time and those all
seeing eyes.

She had to stop
this. She knew Cooper exuded a certain amount of charm, but she had
never been on the receiving end of it. He was only a man, after
all, and she was a mature woman, capable of dealing with him on any
terms, she hoped.

CHAPTER
FOUR

That night as
she lay listening to the storm raging against her window, her mind
wandered to the past, the first time she'd let that happen in a
long time. She didn't like looking back. But Cooper Johnson being
here forced her to.

She remembered
the first summer she met Raif Sullivan. She had seen him in school
but he was several years older and they never really encountered
each other until she got her first car. It was an older car badly
in need of repairs. Raif had gone to work part-time at a parts
house. They talked, and eventually he asked her out.

It didn't take
long to realize Raif was a little different than anyone she knew.
He was a carpenter and very good with his hands, despite his
father's attitude that he could do better elsewhere. His father had
suffered a financial setback and lost the mill. Times were bad.

When Angela's
father found out they were dating, he forbid the romance to go any
further. He was until bitter over Old Man Sullivan firing him two
years previously, and his wife having to take in borders to help
feed them through the winter.

"But, Dad," she
had argued, "it isn't Raif's fault. He's a nice boy. He goes to
school, and works afternoons. He's ambitious. Why take it out on
him?" She had stretched the truth some, but what girl wouldn't?

"Angie," her
father said, hammering his finger in front of her nose, "you will
not date this boy."

"Oh, yes, I
will."

"Then I'll tell
you like my father told me. If you make your bed hard, you'll have
to lie in it!"

Angela sighed
heavily now, feeling the hurt that the conversation had evoked.
Nevertheless, she had dated Raif. She fell hopelessly in love with
him and they got married, against even his parents' wishes.

They were only
married three months before his death occurred. Just long enough;
she was pregnant. Sadly there was nothing left to do but move back
in with her parents.

Angela covered
her eyes; she didn't want to think about Raif, or the hard bed she
had lived in. It was over. She had survived. And she was a better
person for doing so.

Her eyes
finally closed and, while the storm continued to rage, she
slept.

But it wasn't a
peaceful sleep. For months now she had been encountering a strange
dream. Not unpleasant, but disturbing all the same. It was always
the same hauntingly beautiful dream.

Having no real
lover in her life, Angela had conveniently invented one in her
sleep. No matter how much she scolded herself in the morning, the
dream would return a few nights later.

It was a man,
lying with her, warming her, filling her, yet not touching her.
Angela had only been dreaming a few minutes when the phone rang by
her bed. Shrugging away the dream, she grabbed the phone quickly so
it wouldn't wake Cooper on the other side of the house.

"Mom?" Josh's
voice came through the receiver, soothing her raw nerves.

"Hi, darling.
Is everything all right?"

"Sure. But this
is a pretty bad storm. I thought I'd check on you."

"Thanks, honey,
but I'm fine," she said with a smile. She grabbed a robe with one
hand and held the cordless phone with the other. "Did you and Tim
watch a movie?"