Her Country Heart (9 page)

“Kids, always back to the basics.” Wyatt grinned. “Okay let’s eat.” He took the stone pushed it in his jean pocket, put Bobby on his shoulders, and walked back to their picnic table.

Amy ran after them.

“We have hot dogs and rice casserole, and freshly made apple sauce.” To set a good example for Bobby, there were no chips or beer. She hoped Wyatt didn’t mind.

If it did bother him, he didn’t show it. “Hmm, good food,” Wyatt said. He rubbed his stomach and then took a bite of his bun-less hot dog. “Eat up Bobby. You have to grown big and strong.”

Bobby laughed and rubbed stomach too and took a bite. “Hmm, good food,” he said, his mouth still full of half chewed hot dog.

Amy couldn’t help laughing. “You two kids are crazy.” She bit into the food. “Hmm,” she said and rubbed her stomach and took another bite of her hot dog. “Good food.” They all roared.

After they ate, Wyatt pulled the picnic blanket out of the hot afternoon sun and put it under an oak tree, while Amy moved the food.

“I want to go swimming again.”

“You have to wait at least a half an hour after eating before you can go back into the water.”

“But Mommy—” Bobby stood with his beach towel over his shoulder.

“Honey, remember it’s your job to take good care of yourself. Now that you’re becoming a big boy you have to do what’s safe. The half hour will go fast. You’ll see.”

“Aw Mommy.”

Wyatt took Bobby’s towel and stretched it out under the tree.

She watched her son sit on the towel and read the new book Wyatt had given him, The Forty- Niners, a book written for kids, telling the story of finding gold in California in 1849. It was a relief to have his fascination with snakes and spiders replaced with mining. She smiled.

With the leftover food back in the cooler, she watched Wyatt pour water on the fire in the barbeque pit.

She’d never met a man so good with kids. It seemed to come naturally to him. Patient, gentle, and enthusiastic, his joy when he was near her son was obvious. It worried her that Bobby took to him so easily. If she admitted it, she did too. She glanced under the tree. Her son had fallen asleep on his beach towel.

“Amy, come and sit down.” Wyatt patted the picnic blanket. “You’re working too hard. It’s a day off.”

She finished folding the red checked tablecloth and sat down next to him. He gently pulled her into his arms.

In the shade of the black oak a warm breeze played across her face. “It’s so beautiful. I’m surprised we’re the only ones here.”

“The people are probably at the big swimming hole. Amy, relax.”

“I’m not good at relaxing. Not enough practice I guess.” She made a half hearted attempt at a laugh. Her hair must be a mess. She sat up and pulled at her damp hair in an effort to straighten the curls.

“Don’t.”

“It’s so curly.”

“Curls are sexy.” He took her hands from her hair and pulled her against him again.

“If I’d known that I wouldn’t have spent half my life trying to straighten it.” Nervous, she giggled.

“You have no idea how sexy you are. Do you?” He kissed her before she could answer. Slowly his tongue played with her lips until she opened them for him.

When his tongue entered, fire shot through her and the hot summer breeze seemed cool in comparison. Her breathing quickened as he caressed her and when his attention slid to her breast and he rubbed her nipple with his thumb, she moaned.

CHAPTER 14

A
shiver went down Amy’s back as Wyatt caressed the nape of her neck and then left a trail of warm kisses on her skin. His hand closed around her tightened nipple.

For the first time she realized how long it had been since she’d hungered for a man, but not just any man. Only Wyatt could send longing pulsing in her. She’d wanted him since her crush in high school. Did he know? Had he seen desire in her eyes?

With her eyes closed, she tangled her fingers in his hair and then worked down to his muscled back. She heard his intake of breath as she reached his backside.

He sent his tongue to probe her open mouth as he played with her breast, kneading and pulling until she wanted to scream with pleasure.

Carefully, he helped her lay down on the blanket. Her body tingled, her breathing jagged. Her hips arched up searching for his touch. His mouth found hers again and she opened for him.

Unexpectedly, a vision came to her. Wyatt was telling her the real estate agents were on the farm looking it over for a sale. Was the farm already on the market?

“Stop.” She sat up. “I don’t know what came over me.”

He stared at her, an unreadable expression on his face.

“What’s wrong?”

“I–” She adjusted her swimsuit, better not to start a disagreement in front of her son. No point in ruining his day. “It’s late. We better get Bobby back to the farm.”

Wyatt frowned. “Amy I…” He glanced at her son, and shrugged. “Whatever you say.”

He picked up the sleeping boy from the blanket and put him in the cab, then quickly packed the truck.

No one spoke on the way home. Even after Bobby woke, he was quiet. Perhaps he sensed the tension and thought it was best not to speak.

She still tingled from Wyatt’s touch. Was she drawn to him because of her high school fantasy about him? She considered it. He was gorgeous. Any woman could see it, but he was an interloper, a man with plans that made it impossible for her to complete her life goal of living on her beloved farm and passing the land on to her son. Bobby needed to understand there were only two in their family, everyone else was temporary.

***

Two days had gone by and Wyatt hadn’t spoken to Amy since they left the river bank. That was for the best because he wanted her. The more he thought about it, he understood it was wrong. They had different agendas. Traveling all over the country following the rodeo circuit as he intended to do again, the last thing he needed was an entanglement with a woman and a kid. He was free and wanted it to stay that way. He had to remember that when a hunger for Amy growled in his insides.

Since she didn’t complain, each morning he rode with Bobby. It surprised him how much he looked forward to seeing the boy. Though he was small for his age, it pleased him that Bobby took to horseback so naturally, improving each time he rode.

Against his will, he found himself watching Amy when she didn’t notice, his need to protect her increasing. At the same time his desire to see any other woman decreased.
Shit
. Nothing made sense
because he didn’t want a permanent relationship with any woman. He shook his head.

He drove the four-wheel drive truck, the bed filled with lumber, to the broken down corral on the farm. The four by fours had shifted in the bed when he pulled to a stop and parked. If he calculated right there should be enough wood to rebuild the corral.

In a couple of days he could get the job done assuming his back held out. He stretched and rubbed the sight of his injury. It had nearly healed. That’s what he told himself, and there was no reason not to return to the circuit.
Not yet
.
I can’t leave Amy now.

The gas engine of the posthole maker thundered in his ears. The muscles of his arms shook as he controlled the machine. Just one more hole to go and there’d be enough. The ground was softer than he’d thought and surprisingly free of rocks, probably because Amy’s grandpa had prepared the ground for the corral years earlier. None the less, it was tough going. The sweat drenched blue jeans and t-shirt he wore clung to him. He removed his shirt and hoped for a breeze.

“Hey.”

Wyatt spun around to see who was talking. “Wes, what are you doing here?” He watched his brother come toward him from the direction of the farmhouse.

“Amy told me you were here.”

Wyatt reached out and shook his brother’s hand.

Wes grabbed him and turned him so he could see his bare back.

“That’s one hell of a wound you got. It’s almost a perfect shape of a hoof. Bro, you must have made that horse him real mad.”

“Yeah, well you should see the horse.” He grinned.

“Looks like you were the one who got messed with buddy.”

“It’s nothing. All healed.” He picked up his shirt and pulled it on to cover the injury. “So what brings you all the way out here from the state capitol?”

“Just driving by and thought I’d stop in.”

“You never were good at lying. Cause highway eighty eight is right on the road to nowhere. Find another excuse. Don’t you have anything better to do?”He tossed a hammer at Wes. “Since you’re here, pick up the hammer and join me. We’ll have this corral built in no time.”

“Kind of hot for work, don’t you think Bro?”

“Well, good seeing you Wes. If you can’t give a guy a hand, I got work to do. Why don’t you get back to Sacramento?”

“Wyatt. Wait. Okay, I did have a reason for coming up here. You’re not going to like what I have to say. But just listen before you tell me to get the hell out of here.”

CHAPTER 15

Wyatt
set his hammer down on the ground and stared at Wes. “Spit it out. Why are you here?”

“When are you coming back to the rodeo circuit? Everybody’s wondering.”

“When I’m ready.”

“Hell, you look ready now. If you can do this kind of work, you can sit a horse. What’s keeping you? Your sponsors are wondering why you’re not riding.”

“Did they send you up here?”

“They told me you haven’t answered your email or text messages. There’s talk around the circuit that you can’t cut it anymore. You’re hurt more than you admit and you’re getting too old.”

“You’re serious?”

“Damned right. Wyatt, you had a good thing going. But remember no one stays on top forever and once rumors start—the sponsors are worried. They want to see you. Know they’re getting the best.”

A chill ran through Wyatt. It had to be ninety degrees in the shade, and yet he felt cold run down his spine. “I’ve always given a hundred percent. No one’s ever paid me for something I didn’t deliver. I’ve got the championship belts to prove it. Damn it. I haven’t had a day off in almost two years.”

“Hey man.” Wes held up his hand in a defensive move. “Don’t kill the messenger. I’m just saying the sponsors are concerned. They want you back on the circuit winning— soon, or they’re going to find someone else.”

“Who? You maybe? You planning to take my spot?” Wyatt threw a four by four from the truck bed. “Why did they send you out here? Why not call me?”

“They have. You don’t answer your damned phone or return the messages they leave.”

He grabbed another four by four. Wes was right. He hadn’t even charged his phone in a couple of weeks. “If that horse had kicked me any harder I’d be in a wheelchair right now. It didn’t, but that doesn’t mean I don’t deserve time to recover.”

“Then call and tell them. Wyatt, get them off
my
back. Give them a date when you’ll return.”

Wyatt jumped from the bed of the truck, picked up a post and dumped it in one of the holes he’d dug. Then he rotated his shoulder. “I just need a little more time.”

Wes took off his cowboy hat, swatted a fly and plopped the hat back of his head. Then he exhaled loudly. “We both know what you’re thinking about and it’s not going back to work on the circuit.”

“Get it out Wes.” He let go of the four by four he was holding and glared at his brother. “Just say it.”

“Charlene tells me you don’t come around anymore. But she sees you in town with Amy and her little kid.” He swatted another fly.

“Shit Wyatt, you could have any woman you want. Is playing house with a divorcé that much fun? My God, she isn’t even that pretty. Look at her. She’s scrawny. Next to Charlene there’s no comparison. And Amy’s got someone else’s kid.”

“Wes, don’t go there.”

“Ready to give up your career and Charlene? You going for the librarian type now? Is mousy the new “turn-on” or is she just easy? Is that it? She opens her legs for you anytime, anywhere?”

Reflex action, Wyatt felt his fist hit Wes’s jaw before he knew what he was doing and could think better of it.

His brother laid spread eagle on the ground, eyes big and his lower lip swelling.

“Damn. I’m sorry Wes. But you don’t know Amy.” He offered his hand to help his younger brother up. “If you did, you wouldn’t say something like that.”

Wes stood without help. “Don’t let her ruin your career. Go back to work before she wrecks it for you. Get there while they still want you.” He brushed dirt off his jeans. “She must be an awesome piece of ass for you to act like this, but she’s still just a slut.”

A woman gasped. Wyatt turned to see Amy standing behind them, a jug of water in her hand. A shocked expression spread across her face as a tear ran down her cheek.

“I didn’t mean for you to hear that,” Wes said, sheepishly.

“Amy,” Wyatt reached for her.

She dropped the water jug, turned, and ran.

“Wait.” He watched her dash toward the farmhouse. She stumbled, almost fell, caught herself, and then continued to run without looking back.

“Damn it. Wes, you better get the hell out of here.” Wyatt growled through his clenched jaw, fury running in his veins.

His brother started to speak, stopped, and then walked away.

***

The farmhouse was quiet when Wyatt entered. Bobby was still at daycare. Amy sat at the kitchen table a bowl of apples and a paring knife in front her. Her eyes were red, her skin pale.

“My brother didn’t mean what he said. He’s just a stupid kid.”

“Wyatt, I remember him from high school. He’s a year older than I am.”

“Really? He’s seems younger.”

“It’s not only what he said. It’s that now I understand how it looks to people, you being here. People must think that we are—uh, you know. They think what your brother said is true.”

She picked up an apple, and stared at it. “They wouldn’t say it to my face. Until your brother said it, I guess I never thought how things must look to the town’s people. Maybe I lived in a big city too long. People are pretty anonymous there.”

“Sometimes Wes is an idiot. Don’t take what he said seriously. You know we’ve never done anything to be ashamed of.”

“I have to. Bobby and I have to live in this town. I’m his mother and I need a good reputation for him and for the farm. I can’t be the slut who runs the organic apple farm.”

He recoiled from her words.

She tossed the apple back in the bowl. “You’ve done enough to keep your promise to Granny. No one could ask more of you.”

She pushed her eye glasses out of the way and rubbed her eyes. “Wyatt, I’ve been selfish, because I wanted your help. Bobby needed you, but we’re okay now. It never occurred to me that helping on the farm could hurt your job. I didn’t realize until now that while you’re here your career is at a standstill and your income has stopped. I definitely don’t want that. I—you can leave.”

“Amy…”

She left the room.

***

Early the next day, Wyatt spent a couple of hours tuning Granny’s old Volvo. He fired it up and the old work horse purred. He’d made an appointment at the service station to get new tires, realignment and balancing and have new brakes installed.

When he left the farm he’d have the peace of mind knowing, in case of another emergency, Amy and Bobby would have a safe car to drive. His heart thundered at the thought of either of them needing medical care again.

Last night he finally checked his messages and found his brother was right. Both his boss and his agent sounded damn pissed that he hadn’t bothered to return their calls. He’d better get in-touch with them or he could be looking for a new livelihood.

His only excuse for not calling sooner was that after his accident he wasn’t sure he wanted to go back on the circuit. Lying in bed in pain, he wondered what would make a relatively smart man, with a college degree in business, take the kind of risks he took just to entertain an audience who really didn’t give a damn if he was hurt as long as they got a thrill.

At some point the money wasn’t a good enough motive. Fame sure didn’t mean anything. In fact it was an annoyance. So why did he do it?

It might be time to do something with his degree. Was he ready to settle-down and sit behind a desk? Could he picture himself pushing paper all day and be happy to do it or would he be bored out of his mind?

He slammed the hood of the Volvo down harder than he meant to. He didn’t know what he wanted to do. And the confused emotions he had for Amy weren’t making things any easier.

His body hardened at the thought of her. He wanted her. If that was all he needed, he could take her and move on like he’d done with so many other women. But for the first time he didn’t just want that. He needed more.

She was constantly on his mind, getting in the way of his usual thoughts. Until recently worry had been a stranger to him, but now it was a constant companion. Gut churning concern for Amy and Bobby pulsed in him. The sooner he left and got back to his old ways, the sooner his life would return to normal. He’d go back to the party circuit as well as the rodeo circuit. Yeah, that was the answer. Get out of town ASAP.

***

The weather changed as September neared its end, the days not nearly as hot and the nights cooled. October’s crisp weather would be here soon. Amy noticed the leaves were starting to change color. Her favorite season of year, but this time it was difficult to enjoy it. The stress of making ends meet and the need to be sure the farm succeeded was pulling at her.

Hard to believe it had only been a few weeks since Wyatt left to go back on the rodeo circuit. Without him the days went by slowly. And even the fall colors seemed grayer, duller. It was her own fault because against the advice of her friends and her own good judgment, she’d fallen in love with him.

From the desk in the den she glanced out the window to the backyard and the cottage and saw the sign Bobby and Wyatt made together. Her son missed him too. Daily he asked when Wyatt was coming back. She was becoming good at avoiding answering the question. After all, she couldn’t tell him what she didn’t know.

There’d been no word from Wyatt. She hadn’t expected one, but she’d hoped that he might send a text or an email for Bobby.

He talked about horses and said he was going to be a cowboy just like Wyatt when he grew up. Thankfully, kindergarten had started and he was now busy making new friends. Soon he’d forget about Wyatt and move on. Wouldn’t he?

With the horses gone, the only thing that gave her a belief Wyatt might return was the costly exercise equipment that sat gathering dust in the corner of the barn. Or maybe he’s send a moving company to pick it up.

Too much pondering and no answers, she turned her interest back to the computer screen. Granny’s Organic Apple Farm website was finally up and running. She’d been pleased that the local women had proudly shared their family apple recipes and allowed her to put them on the website with their names and photos proudly displayed next to each recipe. Her favorite was the apple butter recipe.

Each day she learned information that could help with the running of the farm. Articles on the internet talked about the care of organic apples and how to nurture the organic soil. She learned about diseases and bugs that could attack apple trees. More than she ever imagined existed and she tried not to be repulsed by the information on creepy crawly critters, after all, she was a farmer now.

Manny Gordon, the man who’s crew harvested her apples, ordered new trees for the north orchard to be planted next spring. And he offered to lend a hand to get the soil ready for the new plants. Though he cut her a good deal, she still had to make sure she had the money to pay him when the time came.

Soon the pumpkins would be ready to pick. She and Bobby had nurtured a special pumpkin they hoped would win the “Biggest in the County Contest” at 4H. Every day he watered that pumpkin and checked to see if it had grown any bigger. Amy smiled. With the rains coming, soon he wouldn’t have to work so hard.

Today she was setting up a Facebook page to talk about the farm’s maze and pumpkin patch for Halloween and Thanksgiving and had taken to tweeting every day. If she could entice families from Sacramento to come to visit the farm during the holidays, she was convinced it would pay off. And some of them might return for a Christmas tree in December.

Of course none of that was going to happen if she couldn’t get the bales of hay out of the driveway and into the field and formed into a maze.

Jonathan Hansen, the old man whose farm bordered hers, had brought the bales to her and they littered the driveway. But moving them into the field and forming them into a maze, proved to be harder than she’d thought. So now they sat waiting for her.

If Wyatt was here he’d know what to do to get them in shape. Stop.
G
row up and learn to depend on your own ingenuity.

She’d proclaimed to Wyatt she could run the farm. Well, it was time to do it, the moment to prove she could manage and set an example of success for Bobby.

She rushed out the back door and almost ran into the cord of wood piled near the bales of hay in the driveway. She’d forgotten she ordered the wood to prepare for winter. The oak logs waited to be stacked in the wood box on the porch and it needed to be done before the rains came and soaked the wood.

No matter how tired she was, later tonight she’d have to work on the wood pile. She glanced at her hands. Her nails were broken and her callused hands.

A decision about repairs on the chicken coop had to be made too. If she wanted to raise free range chickens and sell the eggs it would have to be fixed soon. The chickens needed a warm place to roost when the cooler weather returned.

Why had she thought she could manage this farm on her own? She needed a handyman. No what she needed was Wyatt, but he wasn’t here, never would be. And even if he returned for awhile, he wouldn’t stay. To him a wife and family was a burden to be avoided.

A warm breeze raked over her as she wandered up a dusty road to her neighbor Jonathan Hansen’s farm. With her sneaker clad foot, she kicked a clump of dirt out of her way. Could she keep her nerve and ask Mr. Hansen a question? A simple request for assistance had always been difficult for her. Even as a child she didn’t like to ask for help. Her desire to do it by herself was always foremost in her mind.