Read Home Is Where Hank Is (Cowboys To The Rescue 1) Online
Authors: Martha Shields
Tags: #Contemporary, #Romance, #Fiction, #Forever Love, #Adult, #Bachelor, #Single Woman, #Sensual, #Hearts Desire, #Harlequin Treasury, #Series, #Cowboys, #Rescue, #Family Life, #Western, #Rancher, #Rodeo, #Teenage Sister, #Caretaker, #Household, #Manage, #Persuade, #Reconcile, #Relationships, #Marriage Minded, #General Romance, #Silhouette, #1990's
Home Is Where Hank Is (Cowboys To The Rescue 1) (12 page)
BOOK: Home Is Where Hank Is (Cowboys To The Rescue 1)
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Travis shrugged. “I told him I needed to get your okay. You trained her.”
“I remember Rudy being a damn good cowboy. Has he changed?”
“No, I wouldn’t worry about selling her to him. I just wanted to clear it with you. We’re partners in this, after all.”
Hank leaned back in his seat and rubbed his jaw. He’d never thought of Travis as his partner, but what else could you call it? Hank trained roping horses and Travis took them on the road until someone bought them. It hadn’t started out that way. Hank had given Travis a couple of roping horses when he’d left for the national circuit. Travis sold one nine months into the first season, gave Hank two-thirds of the money, and took another horse Hank had trained. The same thing happened again, then again, then again. They’d sold fifteen horses during the past five years. Nine of them went to the national finals with the cowboys that bought them. Four won championships.
“It’s fine by me. Sell it to him.”
Travis nodded. “I’ll call him later. I think he’s going to be in Phoenix.”
Hank considered Travis’s words. Partner. Could he work with a partner? He was used to taking charge, making decisions that affected the lives of those around him with precious little input from them. But, hell, this was his brother. Travis owned one-third of the Garden, though he showed very little interest in anything on it except the roping horses Hank trained.
Hank cleared his throat. “From now on, you make the decision whether to sell. I trust your judgment. Let’s get the money when they’re willing to part with it.”
Travis stared at him for a long moment, then nodded again. “I will.”
A comfortable moment of silence stretched between them as they both sipped their coffee. Travis kicked out the chair next to him, reared back his own, and settled his boots on the seat. Fashioned from bright blue leather, the boots had yellow eagles and red flames dancing up the sides. Travis had always been the flashy Eden.
“Spindel having team roping this weekend?” Hank asked into the silence.
Travis shrugged. “He always does.”
Hank leaned back and drummed his fingers on the table. “You want to enter with me?”
Travis’s chair fell with a thud. He stared at Hank, openmouthed. “You mean it?”
Hank gave him a hard look. “I always mean what I say.”
“Sure, Hank. I know that.” He frowned. “It’s a PRCA rodeo, you know.”
Hank knew what his brother was asking. Only card-carrying members of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association could enter sanctioned rodeos. He took out his wallet, drew out a card and tossed it down the table.
Travis picked it up, then looked at him in amazement. “You never let your membership lapse. Why? You haven’t entered a rodeo since Dad and Momma died.”
Hank shrugged and reached for his card. “Just never did.”
“Hell, Spindel’s gonna shoot into orbit when I tell him. The legendary Hank Eden making a comeback at his rodeo. Mind if I ask another why? Like—why now?” .
Hank couldn’t keep his gaze from wandering toward the stairs, where Alex and Claire had gone up half an hour ago. “I’ve been thinking about getting back in it.”
Travis looked between him and the stairs. “Does this have something to do with the lovely Miss Alex?”
“Hell, no!” Hank cleared his throat to dull the sharpness. In a slightly more reasonable tone, he asked, “Why do you say that?”
“The men looked mighty shiny tonight—right down to their boots. Somehow, I don’t think they cleaned up for my benefit. From that and from the way you’ve been acting, I’d say Miss Alex is more than just the new cook.”
Hank swallowed the last of his coffee and furrowed his brows at his brother. “What do you mean?”
“Come on, big brother. You’ve done everything but put a brand on her.”
Hank rubbed the back of his neck. He’d never talked about any relationship with his brother. Hell, he’d never discussed
anything
with his brother. Like Alex pointed out, he’d handed down edicts and expected them to be obeyed. But for the first time in his life he needed someone to discuss these crazy feelings with. Maybe if he talked them through, he’d see how stupid he was being and get over them. He sure couldn’t discuss Alex with the hands. But Travis? Could be stop thinking of Travis as his baby brother and accept him as a friend and partner?
anything
with his brother. Like Alex pointed out, he’d handed down edicts and expected them to be obeyed. But for the first time in his life he needed someone to discuss these crazy feelings with. Maybe if he talked them through, he’d see how stupid he was being and get over them. He sure couldn’t discuss Alex with the hands. But Travis? Could be stop thinking of Travis as his baby brother and accept him as a friend and partner?
Hank took a long look at Travis, assessing him as a confidant. What he saw gave him a mild surprise. Sometime during the four years he’d been on the rodeo circuit, Travis had become a man. Why hadn’t Hank noticed? Travis looked like their dad in pictures taken when John Eden was young—except Travis smiled.
Open up
, Alex had urged him that night in the kitchen. With her it hadn’t been so hard. With her there wasn’t a history of acting as a surrogate father. And she’d be gone in a few weeks. Travis would be around the rest of his life. But maybe that was the reason he should confide in Travis. Travis was his brother, after all. And Hank couldn’t think of anyone he’d rather have as a friend.
, Alex had urged him that night in the kitchen. With her it hadn’t been so hard. With her there wasn’t a history of acting as a surrogate father. And she’d be gone in a few weeks. Travis would be around the rest of his life. But maybe that was the reason he should confide in Travis. Travis was his brother, after all. And Hank couldn’t think of anyone he’d rather have as a friend.
He leaned forward in his chair and cleared his throat. “She’s driving me crazy.”
Travis’s brow shot up in surprise at this disclosure, but he recovered quickly. “Hell, I’d be worried about you if she didn’t. A woman who looks like that, living here in the house with you?”
Hank’s eyes narrowed. “What the hell do you mean by that? She’s not that kind of woman, Travis, so you just keep your paws to yourself.”
The younger brother held up his hands in defense. “Don’t go getting riled up. I don’t want Alex. But you’ve sure got it bad.”
Hank ran a hand down his face. His anger subsided as quickly as it flared up. Jealous. Of his little brother. Damn, damn and damn again. He might be further gone than he’d thought. But he asked hopefully, “So you think it’s just a bad case of lust?”
“Hell, I don’t know after that. Sounds to me like Alex has been doing a little branding of her own.” Travis shifted in his seat. “But what’s the problem? It’s high time you got married.”
“No!” Hank winced at his own outburst. Bringing his voice back to normal, he continued, “She’s leaving in a couple of weeks. She’s got a job in California, studying under some fancy chef. She’s just here because her car broke down and she needed the money.”
“And you haven’t been able to talk her out of it?”
“I haven’t tried.”
“Why the hell not? What have you got to lose?”
Hank hooked an arm over the back of the chair. What did he have to lose? A shot at a world championship and a gold buckle along with it. The carefree life of a rodeo cowboy. The dreams of a lifetime. That’s all.
But he couldn’t tell Travis that without telling him about selling the Garden.
He frowned as he remembered Alex’s advice about letting people know what was going on. And now he had an offer that he could definitely live with. But the real estate agent said they could get more, so why tell them until things were final? It would only be another month or so. His brother and sister didn’t want to be bothered with the details of selling. Neither of them cared a hoot what happened to the ranch. They’d made that clear enough.
Hank ran a hand back through his hair. He should’ve known talking to his brother wasn’t going to solve anything. Travis couldn’t help the situation with Alex. Hell, nobody could. He was damned if he pursued Alex and would feel damned if he didn’t.
“Hank? Travis? Y’all still there?”
Hank started as Alex’s call sliced through his thoughts.
“We’re here,” Travis called back.
“Claire’s on her way down.”
“We’re ready, beautiful lady,” Travis said as they rose from the table and made their way to the bottom of the stairs.
Alex smiled down at him and amended, “Beautiful la
dies.”
She descended the stairs with the air of a princess. When she reached the bottom step, she turned with a flourish of her arm. “I now present the charming, the brilliant, the beautiful... Claire Eden.”
dies.”
She descended the stairs with the air of a princess. When she reached the bottom step, she turned with a flourish of her arm. “I now present the charming, the brilliant, the beautiful... Claire Eden.”
After a breathless moment, a vision appeared at the top of the stairs, dressed in a floor-length gown of deep blue that rose from a wide, flowing skirt to a sleeveless bodice that closely fit generous curves. Claire’s dark hair had been swept up into an artful arrangement of curls and her face made up to perfection. She looked down on them with a half-haughty, half-uncertain expression, this angel that was his sister.
Hank was amazed. Just like his brother had grown up without his having noticed, so had Claire. Seeing her now, Hank had no doubt she was a woman.
“I thought you said Claire was coming,” Travis said to Alex with a near-serious expression. “Aren’t you going to introduce us to this lovely lady?”
Claire’s face broke into a flattered, flustered grin. “It’s me, Travis. I think.”
“Of course it’s you,” Alex insisted. “You’re beautiful.”
Claire descended the stairs like a beauty queen. When she stood next to Alex, she lifted her eyes to Hank’s. “Is it okay?”
Hank felt his throat choke at her nervous question. “Honey, it’s perfect. You’re perfect.” He extended his hand. “May I have the first dance?”
“What—now?” Claire asked.
“Why not, kiddo?” Travis threw up his hands. “Does the stereo work?”
Claire nodded. “Alex and I have been wearing out Mom’s old Patsy Cline records while we clean.”
“I’ve got some tapes in the truck. Be back in a sec.”
Hank offered one arm to Claire, who took it with a smile, then the other to Alex, who shook her head, blushing. Determined, Hank stood patiently with his arm extended.
Claire looked behind him. “Come on, Alex. It’ll be fun.”
Alex shook her head. “No, this is a family moment. I’ll be in the way.”
“You think I’m going to be the only one dancing with these two?” Claire asked. “Oh, no. When cowboys want to dance, they dance until their partners drop. You’re coming, and that’s that.”
Alex sent a worried glance to Hank, and he smiled to reassure her. “You heard the lady. You’re not getting out of this.”
When Alex hesitantly put her hand on his arm, he escorted them into the parlor, then released them to push the furniture against the walls. Travis returned a moment later, handed a couple of tapes to Claire, then bent to help Hank move the heavy couch. By the time the dance floor was clear, Claire had found a lively tune on one of Travis’s tapes. Hank bowed formally to his sister, then swung her around the room.
Alex watched them with hungry eyes, just before trying to slip out. No matter what they said, this was a family affair, and she didn’t belong. She swallowed the lump rising in her throat. Would she ever belong anywhere?
Travis caught her hand. “You weren’t thinking of leaving, were you?”
“I...I was just going to check on Sugar. He’s—”
“Fine,” he finished. “So you’re going to dance.”
“But I—”
“No excuses.” Travis changed grips on the hand he’d captured and slipped an arm around her waist.
She shook her head. “But I don’t know how.”
“You can’t do the two-step?” Travis gave her a disbelieving look. “Every five-year-old in Wyoming can do the two-step.”
Alex turned her head to see Hank spin Claire under his arm. “Well, I’m a lot older than five and I can’t. So let go please.”
He shook his head. “Nope. It’s my patriotic duty to teach you. It’s simple. Only two steps. Watch Hank and Claire for a minute. Okay, you two, enough fancy stuff. Do the basic steps so Alex can see. Look—slow step, slow step, quick step, quick step.”
“It’s easy, Alex.” Claire laughed as Hank twirled her. “And fun!”
Travis positioned his arms. “Come on, let’s try. You go back, I go forward. I start with my left foot, you with the right. Now.”
Alex was grateful that Travis went slow because she had to count each step and look at her feet every fourth one. They made a slow circle around the room while Claire and Hank swirled around them, watching and calling encouragement. Knowing three pairs of eyes stayed on her made concentrating twice as hard.
“They’re not doing the same dance we’re doing,” Alex said after Hank pulled Claire around until they were both dancing forward, their arms entwined.
“Yes, they are,” Travis told her. “They’re just adding some spark to it. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll be able to do the same thing.”
“Right. That’ll be when chickens flour themselves and jump in the frying pan.”
Travis laughed. “You’re not doing bad.”
“I hope your toes say that tomorrow. Thank goodness the song’s over.”
Travis caught her as she tried to escape. “Where are you going?”
“I danced, didn’t I?”
“But now we change partners.” He put her hand in Hank’s and took Claire’s, all in one fluid motion.
That quickly, Alex stood within the circle of Hank’s arm. Shock kept her still, as warmth swept through her.
BOOK: Home Is Where Hank Is (Cowboys To The Rescue 1)
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