The Lionhearted Cowboy Returns (10 page)

“Look, Mommy,” Emily said, pointing to the horses. “She’s so pretty.”

“Yes, she is,” Lacey answered.

Jeff didn’t miss the longing in her voice.

“Can I have a horse like her when I get older?” the little girl asked.

“I can’t promise you that, Emily.”

“I bet you could train her, Mom.” Colin jumped into the conversation.

“I bet you could, too.”

They all turned to find Chance Randell behind them.
He shook Jeff’s hand. “Hello, kids. So you like my new additions?”

“They’re pretty,” Emily said.

“They’re much more than that.” He nodded. “The stallion is Ace in the Hole. He’s a descendant of my first quarter horse, Ace High. He was the reason I wanted this place, to build my dream of breeding quarter horses.”

“Looks like you got it,” Lacey said.

Chance grinned. “I got so much more. This place came with bonuses—my wife, Joy, and a baby girl, Katie Rose.”

Jeff glanced at Lacey. She didn’t have any idea how much he longed for the same kind of life. Her gaze caught his and he looked away. “Is Ace in the Hole for sale?”

Chance seemed to be caught off guard. He pushed his hat back and studied Jeff. “That all depends. What would your plans be for him?”

“I need a good saddle horse. Also another stallion in the barn wouldn’t hurt.” He looked at Lacey. “What do you think, Lace? Would Ace make a good addition?”

Lacey studied the handsome horse, trying not to act surprised that Jeff asked for her opinion. “Any horse bred by Chance Randell doesn’t need my approval.”

Jeff grinned. “So, Uncle, are you willing to part with him?”

Chance pushed back his hat. “I don’t know if I should. That would be feeding the competition.” He tried to hide his smile. “But I guess we can make some sort of deal.”

“And maybe a family discount?” Jeff asked.

His uncle slapped him on his back. “You are definitely a Randell.” They both laughed.

Lacey liked seeing this side of Jeff. It reminded her of their youth and those carefree days.

Planting the kids on the railing, Chance escorted Lacey and Jeff inside the arena. While Chance and Jeff went to see Ace, Lacey kept her attention on the filly.

“She’s a beauty, isn’t she? And a fast learner.” The young rider climbed down and raised his fingers to his hat in greeting. “Hello, I’m Will Hansen. My dad is Chance’s breeder and trainer.”

“Lacey Guthrie.” She patted the horse’s neck and the animal bobbed its head, enjoying the attention. “What’s her name?”

“Summer Mist. We call her Misty.”

The filly nudged her when she stopped the stroking. “So you like that, do you, girl?”

The two men joined them. “Looks like someone else has found a horse,” Jeff said.

She froze. “Oh, no. She’s just so sweet. Besides, we can’t afford another horse.”

Chance smiled. “Since she’s my youngest daughter’s horse, Misty’s not for sale anyway. Ellie’s away in England on a student-exchange program. But I wanted you to see her, and ask if you’d be willing to work with her.”

Lacey was taken aback. “But you train your own horses.”

“Saddle and cutters, mostly.” Chance rubbed the horse’s muzzle. “She’s special. Ellie wants Misty to compete in reining.” He turned back to Lacey. “And I think you’d be the best person for the job.”

Jeff came up behind her, placing his arm across her shoulders as if he did it all the time. “Looks like you’ve started your training business.”

A
N
hour later, they’d set a fair price for the horse’s training and made arrangements for Misty to be moved to the Guthrie Ranch. Jeff gathered the kids to the truck and asked if they wanted to go out to supper in town. Hearing the cheers, he smiled and they headed for a popular pizza place at the edge of town.

After everyone had ordered their favorite food, Jeff handed out coins to Emily and Colin with instructions that the older brother watch his little sister. Reluctantly, Colin guided Emily to the rows of video games while Jeff carried two iced teas to the booth in the corner.

This wouldn’t be the place he’d choose to take Lacey, but he liked them all being together. Not that this was a date, but he’d take any time he could get with her. It had been a long week without her and the kids. Yeah, he’d definitely missed Emily and Colin, too.

Since he’d insisted on leaving their house, he’d spent lonely evenings up at the cabin, with Chance checking on him now and then. He’d only seen Lacey when he’d gone to the ranch to work. At the end of the day, she hadn’t even invited him to stay for supper. Not that he blamed her for holding back on the invitations, not after
the way he’d acted as her houseguest. His idea of keeping his distance had well and truly backfired on him.

He placed the drinks on the table and sat down. “While the kids are busy at the machines, I want to talk to you.”

She looked at him with those big green eyes, causing him to lose his train of thought.

“Things moved pretty fast today at Chance’s place and I want to make sure you’re okay with training Misty.”

She leaned back. “It’s going to be tight, and it will take time away from Fancy, but I’d like to go for it.”

“I’ll help as much as I can,” he told her, hoping she wouldn’t rebuff him. “Maybe it’s time you quit your job at the market.”

Her expression changed so quickly he had to clarify his reasons. “Before you start to argue, I’ve checked into group insurance packages, and with the extra money from the horses we’re boarding, and now your training, we can afford it. I have the feeling that once people know you’re working with one of Chance’s horses, other owners will take notice of your talents.” He glanced away. “I also talked with Will Hansen about working part-time for us. That will free up more time for you. He can also do the exercising and grooming.”

Lacey was silent for a long time. “What about health insurance for the kids?”

“It’s affordable since we’ve formed a partnership and it’s all in the package I mentioned.”

Lacey was silent for a long time, then said, “Seems like you’ve been making a lot of plans. I wish you had come to me about hiring Will.”

“I didn’t hire him, yet. I told him I had to check with my partner first.”

She nodded. “I appreciate that. One of the big problems Trevor and I had was when he tried to handle everything on his own. We all know how that worked out.” She looked so sad. “All I ask from you, Jeff, is that I get a say in making the decisions.”

He never wanted to cause her pain again. “I promise, Lace. I want this to work between us.”

Jeff pulled his truck up to the cabin. He shut off the engine and the outdoors suddenly went dark, but he waited for his eyes to adjust to the moonlight shining over the shack.

Home sweet home.

He definitely needed a generator. No, what he really needed was his own place. Even though he officially owned this land, he’d always intended to give it back to Lacey. That hadn’t stopped him from thinking about building a bigger place, a house on the prime piece of land. It would be across the creek, on the rise overlooking the area.

Of course, his granddad Hank owned one of the sweetest spots, Mustang Valley. A home to protect his wild ponies. It was also the site of Randell Nature Retreat for guests who wanted to enjoy the peace and quiet. Jeff glanced around. Even in the dark, he knew this place could attract people, too. He just wasn’t sure he wanted to share it with strangers.

He made his way to the porch, but didn’t go inside. The night heat kept him from being in a hurry. Though he valued his solitude, he found he missed the kids’ noisy chatter.

He mostly missed Lacey. The way she looked, the way she smelled, especially that fresh citrus fragrance of her hair. Even after she worked with the horses, it still lingered on her. His body stirred, and he didn’t like it. His entire adult life he’d been disciplined, except when it came to Lacey.

He heard a noise and tensed. It came from the side of the cabin where he kept the trash bin. He unlocked the door, grabbing a flashlight off the counter and the handgun from the shelf. He wasn’t sure what he’d encounter.

Hesitantly, he stepped off the porch and rounded the corner. His flashlight illuminated the area next to the cans. That was where he found the mangiest dog he’d ever seen. His brown and sable fur was matted and dirty, and worse, he was all skin and bones. The animal gave him a soulful look as he wagged his tail.

“Aren’t you a sad-looking thing?” He slipped the sidearm in the waistband of his jeans, knelt down and held out his hand. Country roads were a dumping ground for unwanted pets.

With its ears pinned back, the mutt took a tentative step and sniffed his hand. “You could use a good meal.”

Jeff went inside the cabin, lit the lanterns so he could see what he was doing, then began rummaging around the cupboard to see what he had to feed the animal. Way in the back of the top shelf he found a can of stew. He pulled it out and something fell down. Looking closer, he discovered it was some kind of book or ledger. He set it on the counter, then opened the can for his intruder. After he dumped the stew into a bowl, he set it on the porch, along with a towel for the dog to sleep on. If he was still there in the morning,
then he’d decide what to do. Until then the animal wasn’t coming inside. He closed the door and looked at the lone bunk.

Solitude. Wasn’t that what he’d wanted since coming home? Sure. He should be used to being alone.

He sat down at the table and rubbed a hand over his face. Tonight he was restless. His thoughts turned to his friend and Jeff got a sudden ache in his chest, making it hard for him to breathe. He missed Trevor, missed the years they could have had together if he hadn’t been so hung up on Lacey. Yet how could he have come back when he coveted someone else’s wife?

He went to turn off the lantern when he saw the notebook on the counter. It was probably left over from the years the Guthries ran cattle through here and kept track.

He opened it and discovered it wasn’t that at all. It was a journal, written by Trevor.

Jeff sank back into the chair, adjusted the lantern and turned to the first page. It was dated nearly ten years ago. He read through a few of the early entries. Trevor’s wedding. The day Jeff left for the army. The births of his children. His breath caught as he flipped to the last page and found a letter addressed to him, dated August tenth—nearly a year ago.

Another entry a week later.

Three days later.

Jeff had to put the book down at that moment. He didn’t think he could read any more about the life he’d envied for so long. What kind of friend did that make him?

The next morning, Jeff pulled up next to the barn two hours late. Since Will had started work today, he wasn’t worried that Lacey was left to do it all.

He wouldn’t be worth much today, anyway, since he hadn’t slept last night. He’d ended up sitting on the porch, thinking about Trevor, trying to put the past to rest, letting a silly mutt keep him company. There were still so many unanswered questions. He didn’t understand everything that Trevor had been trying to say.

Did he know of his betrayal with Lacey? They were so young and stupid back then. And in the end Lacey had chosen Trevor over him. She’d married him.

Jeff stepped down from the truck and looked back inside to see the dog, hesitating to get out. He knew the feeling.

After the dog had been checked out at the vet and had an extra-long bath and flea dip, the border-collie mix didn’t look too bad. And he had a home now.

“Come on, boy. There are a couple of kids that’ll be crazy about you.” He reached for the leash and helped the too-thin animal down to the ground.

He walked into the corral and saw Lacey working Fancy. This had become one of the highlights of his day, watching her with the filly. His thoughts also flashed to
Trevor’s journal. He’d kept calling Jeff
friend.
How could that be? Jeff had broken the code of honor when he’d made love to Lacey. Even if it were ten years ago, he knew the feelings for her were still there. For him anyway.

Lacey looked in his direction, then rode over to the railing.

“Who’s your friend?”

He tipped his hat back. “Not sure, he paid a visit to the cabin last night.” He glanced down at the dog sitting next to him. “I took him to my cousin Lindsey’s veterinary office to have him checked out. Then we went to the groomer’s.”

Lacey climbed down from the horse and tied the reins to the railing. She examined the dog closely. “He’s one pathetic-looking animal.”

Jeff didn’t think he looked so bad. “You should have seen him earlier. His coat was so matted they had to trim it short. He’s also missed a few meals.”

Lacey knelt down and held out her hand. The dog took a tentative step closer, sniffed and then licked it. “What’s his name?”

Jeff shrugged. “Don’t know. Should I ask him?”

“Very funny, Gentry. You have to call him something.”

“I’m not even sure I’ll keep him.”

She frowned. “You can’t take him to the pound.”

“Oh, a doggie,” Emily cried and came running.

Jeff held up a hand. “Easy, Emily, I’m not sure how he’ll act around kids.”

The child ignored him and began petting the dog. The mutt just looked up at the girl with those big soulful eyes. It was instant love.

Jeff glanced at the smile on Lacey’s face. He knew the feeling.

Colin joined them. “Hey, whose dog? Man, he sure is ugly.”

“He’s Jeff’s,” Emily said. “And he’s not ugly. He’s just sad. I wish we could have a dog.”

Jeff looked at Lacey.

“Oh, no, your friend is not staying here,” she said. “I have enough to take care of.”

“But, Mom, we’ll take care of him,” Emily said. “He can sleep in my room.”

Colin spoke up. “Oh, no. He’ll get lost in all your stuffed animals. And you’ll dress him up.”

As if the animal understood, he shot a look at Colin. “He can stay in my room,” the boy said.

Jeff caught another warning look from Lacey. “How about he stays with me for now? It gets lonely up at the cabin.”

“You can move back to our house,” Emily suggested.

He didn’t miss Lacey’s uneasiness. “I think old Lonesome here and I need to stay at the cabin for now.”

“I like that name,” Colin said. “Can we play with Lonesome now?”

“If it’s okay with your mother.”

She nodded.

They cheered and took the leather leash from Jeff. “I have food and water dishes in the truck,” he called to them. “Keep him out on the porch, I’m not sure he’s housebroken.”

The happy kids took off with the suddenly perky dog.

“You are such a phony,” Lacey began. “Mr. Tough, ex-military guy, takes in strays.”

He liked her teasing. His pulse began to race as his gaze moved to her lips. That wasn’t all he enjoyed about her. “It takes one to know one, Lace. You took
me
in.”

She didn’t seem to have a comeback for that. “I’d better get back to work.”

He nodded and followed her to the barn. He was wanting like hell to fit in here again. He wanted a home. But so much depended on Lacey. He knew the one thing he didn’t want was to be just one of her strays.

Two weeks passed before Jeff and Lacey were able to get out to Brandon and Nora’s place. The ranch had once been his cousin’s maternal grandfather’s spread with a small section that bordered Mustang Valley. Brandon had inherited it along with his two siblings, and they’d ended up dividing the land and the cattle operation between the three of them. Brandon had chosen law enforcement as a career, but had moved his new wife and her son, Zach, to the ranch about a year ago.

Jeff pulled up just as Nora and Brandon came out of the two-story yellow-and-white house to greet them.

He was used to the impressive Randell Ranch, but Lacey was busy taking in the numerous outbuildings and the pristine white fencing, not to mention the large house.

“This is unbelievable,” Lacey said.

“Someday the Guthrie Ranch will look like this.” He climbed out of the truck and came around to her side as Brandon came up to them.