Her Rodeo Cowboy (6 page)

“So, how's it going out at Lacy's?” he asked a few miles down the road, after the silence had stretched about as long and tight as it could go.

“Great.”

He turned onto the first dirt road of many connecting ones, then he gave her a long stare. “That's it? That's the extent of our conversation?” She looked at him and her lips lifted into a half grin that did funny things to his insides.

“I guess ignoring you isn't going to work, is it?”

“Or be very nice.”

She laughed. “No, I guess it wouldn't be that, either.”

“It does tend to take a lot of effort to be rude,” he said. She turned slightly in her seat, so that she was facing him. He kept his eyes on the road.

“This is very true. It can be exhausting when the man can't take a hint.”

It was his turn to chuckle. “I'm stubborn that way.”

“I've figured that out. But so am I. I'm just giving in because I need all my energy to compete with Murdock. Poor horse is giving me two hundred percent, so I have to try to give him at least a measly little one hundred. I have enough things stealing energy from my concentration without being rude to you, too.”

“You're honest, I'll give you that.”

“I'm
very
honest. Riding the fence hasn't ever been one of my strong points. At least not usually.”

“I have you figured to ride it when you don't have options.” He wasn't sure where this conversation had come from, but he knew they were hitting close to home on something. Her sudden thoughtfulness made him certain of it. She looked straight ahead, chewing her lip. Something was going on inside that head of hers, and for some reason he was eaten up with wanting to know what it was. He shouldn't want to, but there was no way of denying the truth. He wanted to know what made Montana Brown tick.

“You have a lot on your mind?” It was as much a statement as a question. He'd let her take it whichever way she wanted to.

She blinked and her troubled eyes cleared. “Yes. Doesn't everyone?”

“Yes, frankly. But sometimes, it helps to talk about it. Do you need an objective point of view?”

“Are you always so nosy, Mr. Holden? If so, this may be why you can't hold a date.”

“Hey, I hold a date as long as I want.”

“Yes, you keep reminding me of that unflattering fact about yourself.”

“I'm not always this nosy,” he growled, choosing to ignore her comments. There was obviously no changing her view on his personal life. They'd reached a fork in the road, with a third dirt road feeding off of one of the forks. It was the third road that he took. From here on, the road would get more rutted. Stanley really needed to get the county to come out and grade the thing. If the river was to suddenly rise, he'd be cut off. That wasn't good.

“Why me? Why do you want to poke around in my business?”

Man, the woman had a way of putting things. “I want to know why you're always this angry. I want to help. Believe it or not, I know what it's like to walk around eaten up with anger.”

“I'm not always like this. And you don't know how much I wish I wasn't. But there are just some things in this world a person can't change. Some folks are just going to disappoint us.”

“Now,
that
I know something about.” He wished he didn't. “Sometimes you just have to learn not to expect too much out of people. Sad but true.”

Anger crossed her expression, her eyes flashed as she crossed her arms and shook her head. “That's just a sorry excuse. I want people to expect a lot out of me. I want people to know that I'm who I say I am. Others should, too.”

He could feel her pain. What had caused it? Stanley's house came into view up ahead, and Luke wished he lived about ten more miles down the road. He gave
the only advice he believed in. “Then be that person, but don't expect it from others. You only control your standards.”

“Is that what you do? How you live your life?”

He pulled to a stop in Stanley's yard. “To a point. I mean, I know that here in Mule Hollow, there are plenty of folks who'd come through for me in a heartbeat. But still, let's just say, when you're raised to expect the worst from those who're supposed to care for you—there is always a part of you that expects the worst from everyone.”

Looking straight at each other, neither one of them moved. The ebb and flow of a pulsing tension connected them. He felt the connection and knew she did, too.

She finally gave a nod.

“I guess that's one reason I wanted to bring Stanley his soup.”

The tension eased. “And I guess that's one reason I wanted to come along. Like you said, it's the right thing to do.”

Some of the trouble in her eyes wasted away, replaced with a little sparkle. “You are just full of surprises.”

He wanted to press for more, but the teasing banter was a good thing. He liked it. “It's about time I got a little love.”

She laughed and opened her door. “Oh, don't get a big head now. I wouldn't go that far. Not by a long shot.”

P
oor Stanley! When he opened the door, his plump face was pale, his cheeks extra pink and his nose was a bright, rosy red. “I hate to say it, but you look terrible, Stanley.”

That got Montana a smile despite his ill looks. “I feel tur-rable, too,” he said. “What are y'all doin' here?”

She held up the bag of soup. “Didn't you hear? Sam has hired us out as his new delivery crew. You're our first client. Between you and me, this character they have drivin' me is a bit shady. I think I was hired on to keep him from scaring old ladies.”

Stanley coughed, long and hard, but grinned and nodded as he put a tissue up to his red nose. “He sure looks like a character, all right,” he managed.

“Cut it out, you two or I'm about to get insulted. I drove all the way out here to rescue you with soup, Stanley.
And
to keep
you
from getting lost in the boonies and causing half of the county to come out
and search for you, Montana. The phrase is ‘thank you very much.'”

His drawl was cute, Montana thought as she rolled her eyes and looked at Stanley in the doorway. He was leaning against the door, looking weak. “He's a big baby, if you didn't already know that. Just what I don't like about a man. Always whining.” She was enjoying this, and Luke was being so nice playing along, helping to lift Stanley's spirits.

Stanley battled another fit of coughing. “Need ta watch out fer the likes of him. I'd invite y'all in, but you might catch whatever I've got that's kicking my rump.” He frowned, held on to the door frame and wheezed, “And that wouldn't be good.” He held his hand out for the soup.

Montana held tightly on to the bag. “Nope, not leaving,” she said breezily, and scooted past him into the house. “I'm going to sit you down somewhere comfortable before you fall down. Then I'm going to warm this up for you.”

Luke followed her in, despite the look of dismay on Stanley's lovable face. Set on getting her way on this, she saw the edge of the counter through a doorway and headed that way.

“But you might get sick,” Stanley protested, padding along behind her in his stocking feet.

“And we might not.” She stopped in her tracks at the kitchen door—oh, what a mess! The poor man probably hadn't washed a dish since he started feeling bad. It was apparent. He'd probably barely felt like figuring out
what
to eat. Turning around, she pointed at Luke.

“Could you take him into the den and help him get comfortable? I'll have this heated up in a jiffy. Then I'm going to clean this kitchen while you keep him company as he eats. A little conversation might make you feel better, Stanley.”

“Aw, y'all don't have ta go ta all that trouble.”

“Are you kidding?” Montana grimaced. “I had to play checkers with App this morning. It was horrible. You've got to get better so you can go back in there and defend me. He tore me up.”

“No way,” Stanley grunted.

“Oh, it's true,” Luke joined in. “I witnessed it. Montana can ride a horse like greased lightning, but at checkers, believe me, she stinks.”

“That's turr-able.”
Cough.
“Jest turr-able.”

“Not as terrible as it's going to be when you play him again and whup him in my defense. Soup and a clean kitchen in trade for a little good ol'-fashioned payback. How's that sound?”

“I kin do that,” Stanley agreed, already walking into the den. She could see his recliner and quilt waiting for him. “Sounds like I get the easy end of this deal.” He paused to cough, his shoulders shaking before he trudged forward and made it to the chair.

Setting the package of soup on the counter, Montana went in search of a clean bowl. This had certainly not been the morning she'd envisioned when she'd headed into town for feed for Murdock. As she waited for the soup to heat in the microwave, she began scrubbing dishes to go in the dishwasher. It was a really good
feeling, to know she was doing something good. If she did get sick, it was going to be well worth it.

She thought of Luke's teasing and the smile he'd given her just now. Getting sick could definitely have its positives if he brought
her
some soup. One thing she was realizing about Luke was that he was a giving person. He had work to do, but he'd taken time out and come along with her. It was sweet.

He
was sweet. She paused scrubbing the dish in her hands—Luke had his good side, it was a fact. She sighed…whupped, on that count.

There was simply no way to deny it.

Even if she wanted to!

 

By the expression on her face, Montana gauged Norma Sue's mood to be jolly. More like ecstatic. Her smile was practically stretched from ear to ear as she strode into the arena the day after Montana and Luke had gone to see Stanley. Word was out just like she knew it would be.

People were talking. The matchmakers, that is, and Montana had set herself up for it like a crazy fool. Trailing behind the grinning cattlewoman was Esther Mae. She was beaming brighter than her red hair, and her eyes were twinkling so brightly, with the sheer pleasure of the hunt, that Montana knew she was in trouble. Behind both of them trailed Adela, looking for all the world like a woman who knew a secret.

She might have messed up. Really. She'd gotten so caught up in trying not to let Luke bother her, she'd taken up the challenge and let Luke drive her out to
Stanley's place. Now she was going to have to pay the consequences.

Even if there was no truth to what they thought was a blossoming romance, the seed was planted. “Romance, ha!” she muttered to Murdock as she leaned down to pat his neck. “Me and that man would drive each other crazy.”
But you didn't yesterday. You enjoyed helping Stanley with him.

“What are y'all ladies doing out here?” she asked, ignoring the voice in her head as she loped Murdock over to the fence.

Esther Mae fanned herself with her hand. “We've come to make sure the concession stand is in order for the crowds in two weeks.”

“We wouldn't want everyone to get here and not be able to buy a soda and some popcorn.” Norma Sue stuck her hand through the fence and scratched Murdock's chin.

“How are you today, dear?” Adela asked, her smile warming Montana, despite knowing she was about to get the third degree.

“I'm great. We're coming along better every day. Murdock's not quite so upset with me lately.”

“Well, that's wonderful,” Esther Mae gushed. She wore a pair of bright pink pants and a white shirt with a huge, sparkly pink rose on it. She looked as cheerful and happy as any woman Montana had ever met. “That was such a nice thing you did yesterday, taking soup out to poor Stanley. And Luke was such a gentleman to drive you. That Stanley, he lives too far out in the sticks for a young woman like you to travel there
all by herself. I'm glad the fellas were smart enough to send along Luke.”

“I thought Adela suggested Luke drive me?” Montana watched Adela's blue eyes widen in surprise.

“Me?” Adela placed a delicate hand to her cheek. “Well, um, those men must have thought you might listen to my advice. I'll have to say something to Sam about that.”

“It's fine.” Montana chuckled. “He said you'd called—”

“I did call. And he did tell me what you were doing. I did say that it would be nice if Luke drove you, but that was after Sam said he was going to get Luke to take you.”

“I didn't mind,” Montana said. “And Stanley's place was way out in the boondocks. Oh, my word—if I'd have taken a wrong turn, there's no telling where I'd be right now.”

“Ain't that the truth,” Norma Sue grunted.

“What about that Luke?” Esther Mae beamed, stepping closer, her eyes wide with enthusiasm. “Y'all had a good time didn't y'all? He's such a cutie-patootie!”

Montana almost choked. “Does he know you call him that?”

“Why don't you call him up and tell him? I don't mind. You could call him a few names yourself while you're on the phone…sugar pie, honeybunches, sweetheart.”

“That's okay, we'll let it slide this time.”

“You could go out with the poor ol' cowboy—”

“Norma Sue, I am
not
interested. Honestly, how
many women has he been out with this year?” Did they not get that the man took nothing serious about a relationship? A relationship—when she did decide to have one—would be a very serious commitment. A man had to take it seriously, too, and be loyal—obviously something her dad knew nothing about.

“He's been out with a few,” Norma Sue said apologetically. “He just needs the right one to come along and make him want to get to know you a little better.”

“But I don't
want
to get to know him better.”

Esther Mae frowned. “You are young and pretty, and need to be doing more than holing up with a horse and a baby. I love baby Tate with all my heart, but Lacy and Clint don't want you spending all your time babysitting. Everyone needs a night out. And I know you've got dreams and goals and all, but this horse is not going to keep you warm at night, and hold your hand when you get old and gray like us. Not that I'm gray-headed like Norma Sue here, but you know what I'm talking about.”

Norma Sue was looking at Esther Mae like she'd lost her marbles. “You know good and well that beneath that red dye your natural red has disappeared. For all you know, you might be as white-headed as Adela!”

“No offense, Adela, but I am not that white-headed. Thank you very much,” she huffed and fussily patted her flaming red hair.

Montana enjoyed the three ladies' teasing for a few more moments. She wondered if they would leave without checking the concession stand, which had been their ruse for coming to hound her about Luke. It would be
funny if they did. Oddly, as much as she didn't want to be set up by the posse, it was fun to see them in action.

“I love babysitting Tate,” she said in the baby's defense. “As a matter of fact, I'm watching him tonight so Lacy and Clint can go to the movies and out to eat in Ranger. This is the anniversary of the day she first came to town and met him.”

“Oh, what a day that was!” Esther Mae exclaimed.

“It was a true blessing,” Adela added.

Norma Sue pulled her hand away from Murdock and stuffed it into her overalls pocket. “And they are a perfect match. We did good, helping out with that, if I may say so myself.”

Lacy and Clint were perfect for each other and Montana was so happy for them both. But she was content to not join the married mix. If only the ladies could understand that. She didn't let herself consider that she might be unfair to Luke. The niggling thought hovered at the edge of her conscience, though.

She was relieved a good while later when the posse left. After they had, in fact, made a trip inside the concession stand. She wasn't sure if they got what they were after, but she was relieved to see them go.

The rest of the afternoon as she and Murdock practiced, men tramped in and out of the arena area, working on various areas of the building. She wondered if Luke might show up, and found herself watching for him. After all, it was his animals going into the pens that were being worked on.

She spent the rest of the afternoon looking toward the entrance more times than she wanted to count.

Luke did not show up.

When she finally took Murdock to his stall and brushed him down before turning him out to relax in the outside lot, she berated herself for letting her thoughts dwell on Luke the entire time. True, she wasn't interested in the man. But still, she felt a hum of expectation when he was around. In addition to a
very
loud hum of irritation.

She watched Murdock nibble grass and lazily enjoy his freedom.

For the first time in her life, she, too, was experiencing her freedom. Freedom from her father's and mother's expectations. Freedom from worrying about pleasing them. And freedom from the guilt they'd made her feel when she wanted to do things her way. When did a girl become a woman who could make her own choices? When was a woman able to go her own way and decide her life on her own terms?

These had been the questions plaguing her while growing up and longing to hone her talent and see if she could make it as a professional barrel racer. She'd felt she'd had the talent to make it into the money, to gain sponsorships and to provide for herself with a lifestyle she'd dreamed of. But she'd honored her father's and mother's wishes. She'd set her dreams aside and become an accountant, then entered the family firm. There was nothing wrong with being an accountant—but she hadn't chosen it for herself. Her father had said it was a respectable, well-paying career for a woman. And so she'd become one. She'd put on her business suit and stowed her boots and jeans, along with her dreams.
As she'd picked up her calculator she left Murdock to while away in a pasture, his unbelievable talent wasted.

Freedom. She had it now, but oddly, it came at a high price. Her father's betrayal and her mother's betrayal by living the lie and not telling Montana what was going on had done the thing she'd longed for all her life. It had given her the freedom to feel no guilt over choosing her own way. And here she was, living life on her terms and loving it.

Despite the heartache that brought her here, she did love it. The idea struck Montana as gently as the breeze that whispered across her skin.

She loved her life right now.

And if there was a niggling feeling of guilt over not being able to forgive her dad for lying to her. For betraying her mother. And being such a hypocrite about being so respectable, when in fact, he was so
not
respectable in his behavior. If there was any guilt at all over any of that, then she was learning to live with it.

Turning to head to the house and her date with a darling boy named Tate, she breathed deeply of the fresh, pine-laced air and let the joy of her freedom take hold. She was happy.