Autumn's Hope (Cowboy Seasons) (15 page)

“More
bed rest?”

She
stared at him. “You don’t have to be so happy about it.”

Jonas
tilted his head. “I know it’s not the news you hoped for, love, but I get to
keep you a while longer.”

“And
that’s a good thing?”

Jonas
laughed. “If you are fishing for compliments then yes, it is a very good thing.
Come on, let’s go eat. I know of this fine veggie place.” He held out his
strong hand and she grasped it.

“You
sure know how to turn a girl’s head. Food works every time.” His sexy grin
warmed her heart. She might not have a future with Jonas but she had now. It
would have to do.

“You
sure you don’t have any whiskey tucked away between the juices at the bar?”

“Here
we go again. I have a blend with cactus in it.”

“Whoa,
this cowboy does not drink cactus.”

He
held the door open for her and as she entered, the employees all clapped. It
was right before dinner service and the restaurant didn’t have any customers
yet. Autumn felt her face heat and she knew her smile had to be a mile wide.
What a glorious feeling.

Richard
came right to their side and kissed her on the cheek. “I’ll even let you have
the best table.”

She
winked at Jonas. “Oh, and which table would that be?”

“The
one closest to the kitchen, of course.” He led them to a table and held the
chair out for her.

She
smiled her thanks, then looked sad. “Everything looks great.”

Richard
touched her shoulder. “I know that look. We still need you back. It’s been too
much work without you. Plus this is your vision, we’re just keeping it alive
until you can join in again.”

“You
are a sweet man, Richard.”

He
cocked his head. “That’s what they all say. I’ll send some food out to you.” He
glanced at Jonas. “Sorry, still no steak or whiskey.”

Jonas
chuckled. “I figured as much. I haven’t had a steak in two weeks at least. I
guess I can manage without for a while longer.”

Autumn
sat back and enjoyed their banter. The restaurant had a nice energy to it.

Jonas
took her hand and smiled into her eyes. “I’ve heard that even the hardcore
cattlemen have been in here.”

“Thank
you for bringing me here but I hate dragging you away from your horses.”

“They
are all tucked in for the day. Dee Ann and I spent time with the new ones and
made assessments. We have a few maybes in the crowd so I’m hopeful.”

“Maybes?”

“Horses
that might make it against all odds. I take the ones that are nearing the end.
Sometimes they rally and it really does my heart good.”

“The
ones that don’t make it, doesn’t it upset you?”

“It
does, but I feel as though I’m helping them move into the next world knowing
that all humans aren’t monsters. I really can’t explain it any better than
that.”

Autumn
squeezed his hand. “You are an admirable man, Jonas Barnes, and I’m proud to be
your friend.”

“You’re
going to make me blush and ruin my reputation as a tough cowboy.”

“Too
late, you’re already blushing,” she teased.

“I’m
glad we’re friends.”

She
kept her smile on her face but inside her heart ached. He took every
opportunity to tell her that they were just friends, yet his actions spoke of
something deeper. But when the baby was born she wouldn’t have time to dwell on
Jonas. From everything she’d read, it didn’t sound like she’d have time to
sleep.

Shayna
stopped by their table her happiness radiated. “I’m so glad you guys came in.
Autumn, I wanted to thank you for this opportunity. It means a lot.”

“From
all reports I see you are doing a great job. I’m so glad you decided to come
work for us.”

“I
know it’s only temporary until you come back. I’ve learned so much from
Richard.” Her eyes twinkled when she mentioned Richard.

“I
wouldn’t count on temporary. I have a feeling that the baby will take up more
time than I had originally thought.”

“That
would be great. I’ll go and see if Richard has your food ready.”

Jonas
raised his eyebrows. “I think that love is in the air.”

“What?”

“Shayna
and Richard. Did you see the way she lit up whenever she mentioned his name?”

Autumn
nodded as her shoulders slumped. Lots of love but not for her, and telling
herself it didn’t matter didn’t work anymore. It did matter, it mattered a lot.
“I’m hungry.”

“Me
too. Here comes the food.”

Richard
placed fried zucchini in front of them. “Munch on this while I make the pumpkin
ravioli.”

“I
love pumpkin ravioli,” Autumn exclaimed.

“I
know.” Richard turned and headed back to the kitchen.

“Did
you two hit it off immediately in culinary school?”

“We
were assigned to be partners. We have a lot in common, especially an honest
work ethic. I was surprised at how far people would go to avoid taking the
blame for their mistakes. Richard and I had each other’s backs. We always
talked about opening a place together but it was more of a far off dream that
we both knew wouldn’t happen.”

“And
here you are.”

“Yes,
it’s been amazing.”

Shayna
brought out the next course and Autumn ordered two fresh juices with cactus
mixed in. Jonas gave her a mock look of outrage but smiled when he tasted it
and Autumn’s heavy heart began to lighten. Jonas was a great dinner companion
with his light conversation.

“Cowboys
drink cactus after all,” she teased.

“Well,
just don’t tell anyone. I’d hate to have to turn in my cowboy card.” Jonas
winked at her.

A
warm glow filled her and she couldn’t fight with herself anymore. “Thank you
for being there for me. I don’t know what I would have done without you.”

Jonas
glanced down at his plate. Maybe she talked out of turn. Reaching across the
table she grasped his hand. “I’m sorry, I’ve made you uncomfortable.”

Jonas’
gaze met hers. He entwined his fingers with hers and the smoldering desire in
his eyes intrigued her. Butterflies swarmed her stomach and a rush of anticipation
tingled through her. The promise in his eyes was false, but it felt amazing to
know he wanted her.

He
squeezed her hand as she let out a shaky breath. “Are you okay?”

“Of
course, I’m just excited to be here.” She glanced around. “It really is amazing
isn’t it?”

“You’ve
done a fine job, love.”

Jonas’
cell rang, e viewed the caller ID and grimaced. “I need to take this.” He
answered and walked outside. He returned a minute later. “Something’s wrong
with one of the mares we brought in. Damn, I thought she’d make it.
 
It’s hard to tell sometimes.”

“Let’s
go home.” She stood and Jonas took her hand. They said their goodbyes and left.

Jonas
didn’t say a word the whole trip home. He drove up to the house and glanced at
her.

“Just
help me down and you can go on to the barn.”

He
jumped out of the truck and opened her door for her, lifting her down and
sliding her body against his. He groaned and let her go. “I’ll check on you in
a few.”

Dazed,
she nodded and walked to the house. It was such a crisp, cool day that she sat
on the porch to enjoy the weather. Fall was full of great scents and food. She'd
have Jonas pick up some fresh apples, apple cider, and butternut squash. In a
week, pumpkins should be ripe. She had some great recipes.

She
frowned. Who was she kidding? She wouldn’t be allowed to make anything.

She
couldn’t wait for the baby to be born. In less than two months she’d be a
mother. It was hard to imagine. Her love would be unconditional; she’d never
put her child out of her home.

Being
in a new town was freeing. The constraints of “what will the neighbors think”
had ruled her life for so long and now she really didn’t care, as much. She
could still hear her mother’s voice from time to time asking her what others
would think of her. It’s a hard thing to overcome but she was doing a pretty
good job.

Mel
came toward the porch, his gray hair blowing in the wind. “You warm enough?
Jonas sent me to put the coffee on. He’s going to spend the night with one of
the horses. He hates for them to die alone.”

“Is
Dee Ann there too?”

“Yes
she is. What a great vet. I’ll put on the coffee and get you a quilt.” He
walked into the house.

A
pang of envy hit her. She wanted to be the one to stay with Jonas and the
horse. It was a bit irrational but she couldn’t help it. Mel came out, closing
the door behind him. He took the quilt and tucked it in around her.

“Thank
you.”

His
smile was kind. “I’ll be back for the coffee in a bit. I swear he has the
slowest coffee maker I’ve ever seen.”

“It
does trickle. He needs a new one.”

“Maybe
for Christmas. I’ll be back in a bit. You take it easy.”

“I
will.” It was easy to smile around Mel. He was genuine. As he walked away, she
noticed that he too limped and she wondered if it was recent or if she just
hadn’t noticed before.

The
quilt enclosed her in a dreamy coziness. She closed her eyes, listening to the
birds calling to each other. Hearing boot steps she opened her eyes expecting
to see Mel, but Bob came up to the porch instead with his usual sneer.

“Hey,
beautiful.”

Even
with the quilt on she felt as though he was picturing her naked. “Hi, Bob, can
I help you with something?”

His
chuckle was low. “Now that you’ve finally asked, there are many things you can
help me with. How about going out to dinner with me?”

She
cocked her head to the side, staring at him. “I’m pregnant.”

“That’s
the best part I don’t have to worry about knocking you up.”

“Listen,
Bob, I don’t sleep around.”

“Only
Jonas eh?”

“No,
not even with Jonas and this conversation is so wrong on many levels. Get what
you came for and leave.” Her heart pounded harder as he continued to stare at
her.

“Jonas
must be doing Dee Ann then. He’s sure been whistling a lot lately. Yep, it must
be that vet. She sure is attractive.”

“Bob,
why are you here?”

“I
came to bring the coffee out to the barn.”

“It’s
in the kitchen.”

His
eyes narrowed. “I know where it is. I’m not stupid you know.”

The
stark coldness in his voice scared her. “Of course you know.”

Bob
nodded and and drew his gaze from her He went inside and come back out with the
coffee pot and mugs. “I’m supposed to make sure you’re fine.”

“Yes,
tell Jonas yes.”

“Okay
then.” He walked down the steps and made his way to the barn.

Autumn
shivered. What was his problem anyway? He thought she was giving it away for
free to anyone that asked. He was harmless. He must be, even Mel liked him.

Restless,
she got up and headed inside and went into her room. She rummaged through a box
until she found what she was seeking: yarn, a crochet hook and a book on how to
do make a blanket. A blanket for the baby was a dream she hoped to achieve but
how one made a baby blanket with a hook was beyond her.

She
lay everything on the coffee table, got settled and picked up the book. The
pictures of the finished products encouraged her. She opened the book, skipping
the brief history of crocheting and found the page where the blanket she wanted
to make was. First she needed to make a chain. Glancing from the colorful yarn
to the hook, her brow furrowed. It instructed her to
yo
.
What the heck was a
yo
and how did one do it?

Her
shoulders slumped but she refused to admit defeat. Going back to the beginning
of the book, she started with the history of crochet.

Chapter Nine

Jonas
ran his hand over his face, he was in bad need of a shave. He winced as he got
out of the truck and put his weight on his leg. That damn leg. He left Dee Ann
at the O’Malley’s and it hurt his pride having to leave like that. Hell, he
could still be helping.

He
limped toward the house and it soothed him that Autumn was inside. His little
spitfire, man she was something. He’d left in the middle of the night and here
it was after dark again. Colt O’Malley’s place had been hit. There’d been a lot
of fence damage and his horses had run far and wide. Two were dead, beaten to
death and the rest were scared.

Between
rounding up the horses and tending the hurt ones, he and Colt tried to come up
with a few names of people who’d want to do the rescues harm. Before they knew
it, they had a big list of people who were not happy to have their horses taken
from them. Holden and Colt were not too keen on calling Sheriff Brown but Dee
Ann went behind their backs and called.