Count on a Cowboy (7 page)

After graduating high school, Trent had gone straight into the army. He’d wanted to do something worthwhile. Maybe he could help save lives to pay for the brother he couldn’t save.

A sob formed in his throat, nearly choking him. “Dammit. I’m not doing this now.”

He needed a distraction. He walked across the room, pulled out his phone and punched in Cody Marsh’s number. Surely the PI had some news for him.

Maybe it was his years of military training but he couldn’t help feeling there was something Brooke wasn’t telling. Okay, he was suspicious by nature. And he wanted to know more about Brooke Harper. Of course she looked too much like Laurel not to be her half sister, but... There were too many buts.

“Hey, Rocky, how it’s going on the ranch?”

Trent smiled at the familiar nickname that had been with him since boot camp. Since he lived in the Rocky Mountains, the men had deemed it just right for him.

“You tell me, Swamp Man.” With Cody’s last name being Marsh, and him coming from Florida, this had seemed the perfect moniker for him. “You got any news for me?”

“Some. Concerning Aldrich, there’s no police record, but he’d been married and was divorced about three years ago. Financially, he’s in debt up to his eyebrows. Some of his credit card charges show that he frequents the casinos around Denver. My guess is he took off with your money since he was being chased by the not-so-nice guys. Word is he owes money to the wrong people.”

Trent cursed. He hated to think that Laurel could have been mixed up in that mess.

“Now, for Coralee Harper. She’s been a resident of Las Vegas for thirty-two years. Over the years, she’s had numerous addresses and jobs, but hasn’t been employed since 2014. She now resides at the Carlton Caring House as an Alzheimer’s patient.”

“Did you find anything about her having daughters?” Trent asked.

“If she did, they weren’t born in Las Vegas. Coralee does have a daughter listed as a contact, Brooke Marie Harper. But I haven’t had a chance to check into Brooke’s history yet.” There was a tired sigh. “Sorry, Rocky, I’ve been working nonstop another case, and I’ll be off grid doing surveillance for the next forty-eight hours. I can hook you up with another PI, but that’s the soonest I can get back to you.”

Trent didn’t like the delay, but he doubted Rory would be back in town before then, anyway.

“No, I can wait. I’ll talk to you then. Thanks, man.” Trent disconnected the call and slipped his phone in his pocket.

He walked into the cabin’s kitchenette. It was identical to the one Brooke was staying in, and there wasn’t much. He opened the refrigerator and saw beer, milk and a carton of eggs. There wasn’t much more in the cupboards. His appetite suddenly disappeared.

He checked his phone for any messages from Rory, but he knew he wouldn’t hear from him until at least tomorrow. Hopefully by then, he’d say they were on their way home. Then he could return to the Lucky Bar L and get on with business and forget about Brooke Harper.

He walked to the window and glanced out at the unfinished cabins off in the distance. He needed to come up with a way to complete the construction. The longer they sat like this, the more money they were losing.

He checked his watch. There was about thirty minutes before the bank closed. Taking out his phone, he got the number from information and was connected to the loan department. When he ended the call, he had a three o’clock appointment with a Mr. Jason Parks to discuss another loan. A loan that might not pan out. His original investment in the hunting and fishing cabins had come from his savings. Years in the army allowed him to be able to build up quite a savings. That and the fact he’d invested in the stock market.

He shook his head. Although he’d known the time was right to retire from the military, he still wasn’t sure the ranch was home for him. But he hadn’t been looking for a home in a very long time. Could Hidden Springs be that place? Again?

* * *

B
ROOKE SAT ON
the leather sofa in the cabin, her phone to her ear, listening as the care facility director and owner, Erin Carlton, went over her mother’s bad day.

Not good.

Then her mother came on the line. “Brooke, tell me all about Laurel,” Coralee crooned into the phone, her voice raspy from years of drinking and smoking. “Is she beautiful? I know she’s pretty because even as a baby she looked like me.”

Coralee never told Brooke she was pretty. She should be used to her mother’s indifference, but the words still stung. “I haven’t had a chance to meet her yet, Mother.”

“Is Rory keeping her from you?” Her anger was evident. “I bet he’s saying bad things about me. Don’t let him, Brooke. I had to give Laurel away. She was too sick for me to handle.”

“I know, Mother. And you had your career.”

“It was my chance to audition for the Golden Palace show with Jessica Bright. I know I was only one of the backup singers, but I could have got discovered.” Her voice was teary. “Now, I need to see Laurel. I have to tell her why I gave her away. Please help me, Brooke. If you love me you’ll find her.”

A knife pierced Brooke’s heart. She should be used to her mother’s selfishness, but it never ceased to hurt.

“I’m doing the best I can.”

Coralee began to cry. “Please, I need to see her.”

Brooke closed her eyes and heard a soothing voice talking with her mother, then Erin came back on the line. “Sorry about that, Brooke. Carol is putting Coralee to bed.”

“Erin, should I drive back?”

“No, your mother is doing fine, and although she’s been restless most of the day, she’s been lucid.” There was a pause, then Erin went on to remind her, “We’ve discussed this, Brooke. Coralee’s confusion and her frustration and anger are all part of the disease. And add in the possibility of seeing the daughter she gave away... It’s a lot to handle.”

Even before the Alzheimer’s took over, her mother could be difficult. “I wish I had some news for her, but Rory and Laurel are out of town. They won’t be back until tomorrow, or maybe the day after that.”

“Then Coralee will have to deal with that,” Erin told her.

Erin was only a few years older than Brooke, and they had quickly become friends over the past six months. Erin was a nurse working in a hospital until her military husband, Jarred, returned from deployment permanently disabled. Unable to leave him, she’d turned their home into a care facility. At the house Erin had also cared for her wheelchair-bound husband until his death a few months ago. Brooke felt blessed that she’d found a place for Coralee there.

“Do you have a place to stay?”

“Yes, I’m actually staying at the ranch in one of the fishing cabins, so I’m saving some money.”

“But you haven’t talked with Rory?”

“No, their neighbor Trent Landry is Rory’s partner.” She went on to tell her about the hunting and fishing business and a little bit about Laurel’s quarter-horse training.

“Sounds like a nice guy.”

And good-looking
. Brooke thought about the man who’d taken her horseback riding today. She also couldn’t forget the sadness in his voice when he’d talked about his brother. “He’s retired army, Special Forces master sergeant.”

Erin chuckled. “So a real hard-ass, huh.”

“I wouldn’t call him that. He’s been nice to let me stay here.”

“Oh, sounds like you’ve taken notice of the man. I bet he’s good-looking, in a military and cowboy sort of way. Lucky you.”

Before Brooke could deny anything to her friend, a knock sounded. “I’ve got to go, Erin, there’s someone at the door.”

“Hey, make sure you ask who it is.”

“Yes, ma’am, I will. Tell Coralee I’ll talk to her soon. Good night.”

Brooke walked to the door and pulled it partway open to find Trent standing on her porch. He was dressed in a black collared shirt and fresh jeans stacked on shiny black boots, and the familiar cowboy hat on his head. Her heart raced, but knew this was the last man she needed to be attracted to. “Trent. Is something wrong?”

“Yeah, I’m hungry and was wondering if you’d like to go into town with me to get something to eat.”

Okay, that was the last thing she expected to come out of his mouth. She started to deny she was hungry when her stomach chose that moment to give a very unladylike growl.

He cocked an eyebrow at her, and her heart did another happy dance. “I take it that’s a yes.”

Chapter Six

Brooke felt the heat rise to her cheeks. So embarrassing. “Sorry. I guess I forgot all about the time. I was planning on fixing a sandwich and going to bed early.”

Trent gave cocked an eyebrow at her. “Are you sore from the ride?”

“Not too bad. I took aspirin earlier and I’m feeling a lot better now.”

She stepped back and allowed him inside. It was the polite thing to do. She couldn’t help noticing him, especially since he smelled so good. Not with a heavy cologne, but with the clean fragrance of soap and what was becoming familiar to her as Trent’s scent. He had on a clean pair of jeans and a Western shirt tucked into that narrow waist.

He was what women called the total package, but cowboy-style. She noticed his wide belt with a buckle that showed off some kind of lettering. She looked up to see him watching her.

“It’s the Lucky Bar L brand.” He pointed to his buckle. “See the horseshoe, with the bar and the L? It was my dad’s favorite.”

He smiled at her and her heart tripped. She hated that she kept reacting to this man. “Impressive.”

“So was my dad.” He glanced away, then changed the subject. “So how about some supper?”

She released a breath. “I can’t keep taking up your time, Trent. Surely you have better things to do than babysit me, especially when I don’t need it. Really, I’m fine here by myself.”

“If you’re worried about me having other things to do, I can tell you right now, I don’t. I mean, there’s roundup next week, but that’s not tonight. I was going into town anyway to eat at this barbecue place that has the best ribs anywhere. I just thought you might like to go. If not, I guess I can go alone.”

When he started for the door, Brooke stopped him. “You’re really going into town?”

He turned and nodded. “You bet. Their secret family sauce is definitely worth the fifteen-mile trip. I’ve been around the world, and Joe’s barbecue sauce is the best I’ve tasted. Mouthwatering with beef or pork.”

She started laughing and held up her hands. “Okay, okay. You’ve sold me. I’ll go.”

“You sure? I don’t want to pressure you.” She could see he was fighting a grin.

“No pressure at all.” She went to get her purse off the coffee table. “But I’m paying my way.”

“We’ll see about that.”

She stopped suddenly, turned around to agree and ran into the solid wall of Trent’s chest. She gasped as he gripped her by the arms to steady her, just as her palms pressed against his muscular body. She raised her head and caught a gleam in his chocolate eyes.

She quickly removed her hands. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to run you down.”

He didn’t let go of her right way. “Darlin’, you’d have to pack on another hundred pounds to do any damage.”

He was the type of man who could easily distract her from the reason she was here. She never had time to flirt with men, or much desire, after seeing her mother in action. “I’ll remember that.”

He winked. “Just letting you know that you didn’t hurt me.”

She quickly stepped back and headed toward the door. “Come, let’s get some of that barbecue you’ve been boasting about.” She grabbed her jacket, and Trent opened the door and they went out to the porch.

“Joe’s lives up to the hype. As soon as we get there, I can prove my point.”

Once at his truck, he opened the door, then proceeded to lift her into the high seat. “I didn’t ask, because you’d probably argue about my helping you.” He grumbled something about independent women before he closed the door.

Brooke smiled to herself. It was nice to have a man take charge for a change and do something for her. Yet, she’d learned the hard way that she was better off being independent and self-sufficient.

The handsome cowboy opened the driver’s-side door and climbed in. No matter how handsome, she had to stop reacting to him. She had no idea how things here would turn out when the Quinns came home. She could get thrown off the property, or would they open their arms to her?

She looked across the cab to Trent. He didn’t know the entire truth about her, and right now, she didn’t know him well enough to reveal the complicated story. She wasn’t even sure if she could tell Rory. Right now her concern was to bring Laurel back to Las Vegas to see Coralee.

* * *

T
WENTY MINUTES LATER
, Trent arrived with Brooke at Joe’s Barbecue Smoke House. The spicy aroma greeted him first, then the noise as they stepped through the double doors. The large restaurant was always packed on a Sunday. A lot of families filled the large picnic-style tables and high-back booths. In a separate room, there was a long wooden bar lined with patrons, watching the several televisions playing the football game. You could also hear in the background the familiar voice of George Strait singing “Ace in the Hole.”

Then another group of people came in the door, pushing Trent forward into Brooke. His body brushed against hers, immediately making him aware of her nice curves.

He leaned down toward her ear and whispered, “Sorry. I forgot how crowded this place gets on the weekend.”

She shivered and he stood close enough to see the goose bumps rise along her slender neck. How would she taste if he pressed his lips there? He blinked and pulled back. Damn. This was only dinner, and she wasn’t on the menu.

She turned to him. “It’s okay. I have a feeling, with the wonderful aroma, the food is worth it.”

Right, think about the barbecue ribs.

Suddenly Trent heard his name. He glanced up to see Joe McClain rushing through the crowded room. The tall man dressed in a chef’s apron had a big grin on his face. “Hey, long time no see, buddy.”

They hugged. “Sorry, I’ve been busy.”

“So, how are the cabins coming?” Joe asked.

Trent shook his head. “Pretty slow right now.” He didn’t want to get into the details. He put his hand against Brooke’s back. “Joe, this is Brooke Harper. She’s visiting for a few days. I thought I’d bring her into town for some good food.”