Little Cowgirl Needs a Mom (10 page)

Jenny smiled. “Just today, sweetie. The shop is closed for only one day, so I'm going to help your dad and uncle Matt with the branding.”

The girl turned to her dad and asked shyly, “Can I stay home from school and help, too?”

Evan hated this part. “Sorry, honey, not this time. But if you get all your homework done after school, we all can go to the Casalis' tonight.”

Gracie's eyes lit up and she wrapped her arms around his neck. “I will, I promise. Thanks, Daddy.”

He swallowed hard. His daughter hadn't asked for much.
He'd almost weakened and told her they'd all spend the day together, then Jenny spoke up. “I'll help you.”

With a smile that couldn't get any bigger, Gracie went to her seat next to her grandfather. “Grandpa, can I have a pancake, please?”

“You sure can, little one.”

Sean went to get a glass of juice and came back with a plate for his granddaughter.

Evan's chest tightened at seeing his child so happy. He wanted to savor every moment of it. He'd missed so much, but he realized he'd let it happen. He hadn't wanted to cause a rift in the efficient home life Meg had made for them. But, in the meantime, he'd been pushed out of so much. No more. He would win his daughter's heart.

He turned to Jenny. Maybe then he could think about rebuilding his own life.

 

An hour later, Jenny found herself walking with Evan and Gracie to the end of the road where the bus would take her to school.

“You promise you'll be here when I get home?”

“I promise. I'll meet you right here at three-thirty.”

With a hug from both her dad and Jenny, Gracie stepped on the bus and they waited until it drove off and disappeared from view.

Then, suddenly, Evan turned her around and captured her mouth in a sweet and tender kiss, leaving her a little light-headed.

“That's the way I wanted to greet you this morning.” He brushed his lips over hers again and again. “But I didn't particularly want an audience.”

“And I appreciate that.” Still holding his hand, she tugged him toward the house. “We need get back and start work.”

He stopped. “Are you that eager, or is it me you're trying to avoid?”

“It's not you, Rafferty. But we need to slow things down a little.”

His boots crunched on the gravel road as they walked back. “Isn't that a speech a man usually gives a woman?”

“I'm trying to keep things in perspective. I'll be leaving in a few months. And you have a life here.”

“Is that definite?”

She nodded. She was afraid to let herself hope that something permanent would keep her here. The last thing she wanted was to be a replacement wife or mother. She wanted to be the woman that a man couldn't live without. That he'd give up everything for. She shook her head. “I have a responsibility to the kids.”

Evan didn't say any more as they passed the foreman's cottage where Matt lived, then headed to the barn where they found his brother.

“Here's the hat and gloves you wanted.”

She took the straw Stetson, pulled her hair behind her ears, stuck the hat on her head, then slipped on the gloves. “Pretty good fit.”

“I'm a good judge,” Matt teased, then sobered. He had the horses saddled and tied to the corral rail. “Okay, you ready to ride?”

“Just tell me which mount is mine.”

“Molly,” Evan said, stepping in. “She's gentle enough for Gracie, but good at her job.”

Matt swung up into the saddle. “Okay, let's get going.”

Jenny was suddenly excited. She hadn't done this in a long time. She reached for Molly's reins, put her foot in the stirrup and swung her leg over the mare's back.

Evan showed up beside her. “How's the length of the stirrup?”

“It's fine.” She looked at Matt. “You did a good job of judging.”

Matt winked. “Told you, I know my women.” With that said, he tugged on his reins and rode off.

Evan mounted his gelding, then leaned toward her. In a swift movement, he leaned forward, cupped the back of her neck and kissed her.

Desire shot through her as his mouth worked over hers. She knew he was staking his claim, but at this point she didn't care. There were times when a woman loved a man taking charge. The right man, that is. He finally released her, and she gasped for air.

“We'll discuss later whose woman you are. Come on, let's go round up some cattle.”

I
T
took nearly three hours, but they'd managed to round up the herd, separate the mamas from the calves and get them into two pens beside the corral.

Jenny climbed down from her horse, feeling every muscle in her bottom and legs tightening up. Outside of an occasional easy ride, it had been years since she'd spent so much time in the saddle. Today was the real thing, and that included the dust that covered her from head to toe. But at least she hadn't embarrassed herself, and she'd got the job done.

She glanced toward the corral. The young bovines were lined up in a holding area, and Matt was sending them through a cattle chute to be inoculated. The line moved pretty quickly with the three of them working together. She felt the sweat running between her shoulder blades and down her back, but the physical exercise kept her mind focused away from her troubles. The break-in.

They had just finished the last of the cows when a truck pulled up next to the corral. Allison climbed out of the cab.

Jenny walked over. “Hey, what are you doing here?”

Allison handed her a tote bag. “I brought you a change of clothes.”

“Thanks. I don't know why I didn't think of it last night.”

Allison frowned and nodded toward Evan. “Maybe because you had other things on your mind.”

They turned to see Evan as he moved in a slow easy gait, as if he had all day. His coffee-colored chaps hugged long, powerful legs. He had broad shoulders covered in a fitted Western shirt tucked into a narrow waist. Matt was right beside him.

Both men looked good, but Jenny felt her mouth go dry and her stomach tighten for only one. Evan.

Allison leaned close and whispered, “And here I was worried about you.” She glanced again at the two men. “Looks like you've been in good hands.”

“I haven't been in anyone's hands.” She groaned. “I mean, I've been working.”

Allison gave her a knowing look just as the men arrived.

“Hello, Allison,” Evan greeted them.

“I thought you both were supposed to take the day off,” she said.

Evan pushed his cowboy hat back off his forehead. “I feel fine. Has the sheriff contacted you with any leads?”

Allison shook her head. “Alex called, but they're still going over the shop and apartment hoping to find some prints. If we're lucky there'll be some news by the end of the day.” She frowned. “You sure you should be working?”

Evan nodded. “You should know roundups can't wait. Besides, my brother here will be busy transporting cattle the rest of the week. So we can't delay it.” He turned to Matt. “Matt, this is Allison Casali. Allison, my brother Matt.”

“It's a pleasure, Mrs. Casali.”

“Please, call me Allison,” Allison said. “Do you need Jenny, or can I steal her away for a while?”

“I think we can handle things,” Evan said.

“Then we'll go up to the house and talk with Sean,” suggested Jenny.

“Hey, will you find out when lunch is?” Evan asked, then turned toward Allison and said, “Please, join us?”

“I'd love to.” She smiled. “I hear your dad's barbecue sandwich is the best around.”

Evan winked at Jenny. “It's pretty tasty.”

“Can't wait,” Allison said and hurried to keep up with Jenny's longer legs. “Here I've been worried and you were out with two good-looking Rafferty men.”

“I helped them with the roundup. And if you get closer and take a whiff, you'll know I'm not exactly attractive to a man right now.”

“Honey, you've already attracted them. Matt is a flirt, but Evan is serious. He hasn't taken his eyes off you.”

“I've been around a lot.” She didn't want to hope, or let the few kisses they'd shared sway her. “And I'm helping him with his daughter.”

“Like Alex helped me with Cherry.”

Jenny stopped, knowing her friend had lucked out when her hero came along and saved the day. “Look, Allison. We've discussed this, I'm leaving in a few months.”

Her friend brushed her auburn hair away from her face. “I know, and if there's any way I can talk you into staying, let me know. I mean, you're a teacher of sorts at the Blind Stitch. Who else would take on all those kids?”

“I'm an English teacher, not an expert on quilting. Sometimes I feel like a fraud, trying to fake my way through this.”

“The important thing is the kids love you. Everyone loves you. You run a profitable shop, manage classes and even find time to sit with the ladies in the Quilters' Corner.”

Yeah, she loved it all, but she wasn't with kids all day.
“I love all the women at the shop, but I also love teaching school.”

“I bet you'd change your mind if a certain man asked you to stay in Kerry Springs.”

Jenny already knew that with a little effort she could fall the rest of the way in love with Evan Rafferty. She wasn't sure if he was ready for another commitment, if ever.

“I can't give up everything for another man. Look what happened with Brian.”

They stepped up onto the porch. “Can you tell me you were in love with Brian?”

She shook her head. “Maybe Evan's wrong for me too. I'm just not ready to take another chance.”

Allison stopped at the door. “Then tell me one thing, could you love this guy?”

“What's not to love?” That's all she would say as she went inside. She wasn't going to continue this discussion. It was useless. She would leave before it was too late.

 

By four o'clock the branding had been completed. Evan cleaned up while Jenny and Gracie finished homework. Then, an hour later, they all piled into his truck and headed to the Casali home.

Evan found he liked being a family. He glanced in the mirror at his daughter in the back seat. Correction, part of a family. And the more time he spent with Jenny, the more he thought about how well she fit in. But was he willing to try again? To risk his heart again?

Hell, he didn't know. He knew only that he wanted her like he'd never wanted another woman. He'd never felt this way with Megan. Maybe he hadn't tried hard enough to make his marriage work. His wife hadn't exactly wanted him close, though. They might as well have been in sepa
rate beds. Over the years of marriage, they hadn't been more than occasional lovers. “Evan.”

He glanced across the cab. “What?”

“Are you all right?” Jenny asked. “I mean we don't have to go tonight if you're not feeling well.”

“No, I'm fine. I don't want to stay too late, though, since Gracie has school tomorrow.”

“I'm sure Allison will make sure of that too. But Alex probably wants to go over some things about the security at the shop.”

Evan nodded. “I wish I could tell him more about the guy.”

Jenny was silent as she stared out the window.

“Did you see anything?” he asked her, still wondering why anyone would destroy Jenny's apartment.

“Only that he was wearing black.”

Evan turned down the road to the A Bar A. The ranch was named after Alex and his brother, Angelo. He glanced at the miles of grazing land edged by white, split-rail fencing. The compound came into view. A rancher's dream. Two large barns and several out-buildings dotted the landscape. A large corral contained several purebred quarter horses.

He glanced up the rise to the huge house, snowy white with glossy black shutters framing every window. The lawn was pristine and right in the middle of it was a tricked-out swing set with a slide and a playhouse. What every kid wanted. Something he'd never gotten for Gracie.

“Oh, Daddy, look. See the playhouse? Cherry and me played in it when I stayed overnight here.”

He felt bad because he'd never realized little girls liked that sort of thing. He pulled up in the drive as the Casalis came out of the house.

Cherry ran down to greet Gracie and with a hug, they took off. Then Allison walked out with two toddlers in hand, one in a blue shirt and the other in pink, a boy and a girl.

Jenny hurried up the steps and knelt down and hugged them both as they chanted, “Enny. Enny.”

“Come here you little munchkins.” She hugged the two. Then she looked back at him. “Evan, come meet the kids. This is Will and this one is Rose.”

“Hi, guys.”

The pair continued to hang on to Jenny as they stared up at him.

“Come down here so they won't be afraid of you.”

Evan squatted down and managed a smile. He couldn't believe he was nervous over two kids' opinion of him.

“Will and Rose,” Jenny began, “This is my friend, Evan. He's Gracie's daddy.”

“Acie,” Rose said.

“Yes, Gracie. She's my little girl.”

He got a toothy grin from the toddler.

“My kids are shy around strangers,” Allison said as the two eyed him suspiciously. “Jenny has been around since their birth. They'll warm up to you soon enough.”

“I'm not good with babies.”

“You seem to have done fine with Gracie,” Allison said.

He shrugged. “Meg did most of the raising.” He didn't want to talk about this. “Did Alex make it back?”

“Yes, a few hours ago. He's on his way up from the barn.” She glanced around, then smiled. “There he is.” She started down the steps with the twins.

“Look, there's Daddy. Let's go get him. Excuse us, we'll be right back.” Allison said.

Jenny watched as the babies toddled across the grass, calling, “Daddy, Daddy.” Alex knelt down and caught
the two as they ran into his arms. He picked them up and swung them around and they squealed in delight.

She felt her heart tighten. She wanted a family like this, too. She glanced at Evan and saw the longing in his eyes, as well. “Alex waited a long time to find a family. When I first met him he was brooding about everything. He might have been wealthy, but he had no one to share it with. It was Cherry who helped change him. You and Gracie can have that, too.”

“He's a lucky guy. Sometimes I feel I do everything wrong,” he said honestly.

She frowned. “I'd say you're doing a lot right. Just look at Gracie. She's thriving in the quilting class that you bring her to every week. You participate in her life. Don't be so hard on yourself.”

Alex, Allison and the twins made their way to the porch. “Hello, Jenny, Evan.” The men shook hands. “Welcome to the Casali family dining experience.”

“Hello, Alex.”

They started up the back steps and into the kitchen. There was a tall gray-haired woman at the stove. She turned and smiled. “You must be Gracie's daddy. I'm Tilda.”

“Hello, Tilda, I'm Evan Rafferty.”

“Well, welcome. Now let's get the children settled and eat supper.” Alex put the kids in their high chairs as Cherry and Gracie walked in.

Once everyone was settled at the kitchen table, and the blessing said, they began to eat the pot-roast dinner Tilda had prepared. Over the next thirty minutes there was chaos and food everywhere.

It was a great time.

 

An hour later, Gracie was upstairs in Cherry's bedroom watching a video. Allison and Jenny were giving the twins their baths.

Alex led Evan into his office. “As soon as the sheriff finished today, I got a locksmith to change all the shop's locks, including a separate deadbolt that has been installed on the door leading upstairs to Jenny's apartment.” He shook his head. “I should have checked the security before she moved in. If I have to, I'll keep a twenty-four-hour guard at the door until we find this guy.”

Evan found he wanted to be that guard. Her protector. But would she allow that? “So there are no leads?”

Alex shook his head. “No fingerprints other than Jenny's. And forget downstairs, there have been too many people in and out of the shop. We have to hope this is a onetime thing.”

“Has anyone else in the area been robbed?”

“The sheriff said this was the first. And I hope it's the last.”

Allison walked into the room. “I'm exhausted,” she said, sitting down in one of the overstuffed chairs. “You have no idea what your kids put me through.”

Alex tilted back in his seat. “Now they're mine.”

“Okay, I'll make a deal with you. You bath them the next time and you can call them my kids.”

Evan enjoyed the easy banter between husband and wife. There was no doubt these two loved each other. He shook his head. “One child is hard enough, but two. It seems impossible.”

Allison nodded. “And I'm getting older by the minute.”

“I'll do their bath tomorrow night,” Alex promised.

“Oh, no, you don't. Last time the three of you caused water damage. It's not worth the cleanup.”

Evan stood. “Well, I'll go find the girls and head out.”
They didn't even notice his leaving. He had started to go hunt for Gracie, when he spotted Jenny standing at the back door talking to someone. He walked closer and discovered it was Brian Perkins.

Great. He walked over. “Jenny, I wondered where you'd gone to.” He smiled at her, then forced one for the man. “Hello, Perkins.”

“Rafferty. How are you?”

“Not too bad.” He slipped an arm over Jenny's shoulders. “Not bad at all.”

Brian looked at her, too. “I just came to see if Jenny was okay. If there's anything I can do, let me know.”

“Not to worry, I've got it under control.”

Brian held his gaze. “Then I'll leave her in your hands. Bye, Jenny.”

“Bye, Brian.”

They watched him walk away and Jenny turned around and glared at him. “Don't you dare treat me like that again.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Don't play innocent with me, Evan Rafferty. You wanted Brian to think something was going on between us.”

“So what if I did? What if I want something between us?”

Her brown eyes widened. “It would be nice if you let me know your feelings first.” She turned and headed out the door. He had started after her when he saw Gracie standing on the stairs. He could tell by the look on her face that she'd heard everything. Great, that was all he needed.