The Trouble with Texas Cowboys (25 page)

That Sunday morning was as cold as a mother-in-law's kiss, but there was no wind rattling through the mesquite. With layers of warm clothing and warm sunshine, it didn't seem as cold as the thermometer on the side of the bunkhouse said it was.

They'd run out of small bales of hay and were down to their last row of big bales. Sawyer drove the tractor with an enormous bale on the front fork. He set it down in the middle of the pasture and put the tractor in reverse. The double prongs left it lying right there, with cows gathered around like it was a big, round dinner table.

Jill shimmied down out of the passenger's seat, pulled clippers from the pocket of her overalls, and cut away the mesh wrapping so the herd could really get at the hay. “At least with the big bales, we don't have to do this but once a day. I'm going to talk to Aunt Gladys about making all big bales next year. There's a little more waste, but in dollars and cents, it makes more sense…”

“She's old school, so I doubt that she'll go for that idea, darlin',” Sawyer said. “The old ranchers don't feel like they can face winter without a couple of barns full of the old-fashioned hay bales. The round ones don't compute to them.”

“She and Aunt Polly are both too old to be doing work this hard. They should be retired and enjoying life, maybe taking one of those senior citizens' cruises. They could take Verdie with them and have a big time.”

“Good luck with that,” he said. “See that mesquite thicket over there? That's the one I want to clear off and plant more grass for grazing or for baling. If we make it another six weeks until spring without buying hay, we'll be lucky. The barn is empty.”

“I know, Sawyer. I vote we put in more acres of alfalfa for baling and wait another year to increase the herd. There's at least a quarter of the ranch we could reclaim, and then we'd be ready for more cattle.” She slapped a heifer on the flank, and the cow shifted a couple of feet to the left so Jill could make her way back to the tractor.

“I talked to Gladys, and she said for me to go ahead and see if Rhett was interested in a job right now. At first, he's going to help clear land.”

Jill's heart fell into her boots. Another man in the bunkhouse would mean a lot of changes, and she liked the way things were. She had free run of the whole place, including Sawyer's bathroom and bed. His cousin might be wild with his tat and ponytail, and he might not even blink at her coming out of Sawyer's room in the morning, but just thinking about it put high color in her cheeks.

“We can clean out the room I was going to make into an office for him.”

“I thought that was going to be my movie storage room,” Sawyer said.

“We can't throw him out in the yard with a blanket and a pillow.”

“Why? He's tough.” Sawyer chuckled.

“So when are you going to talk to him?”

“Maybe this evening when we get back from our second date,” he said. “Hey, do I get a kiss or maybe even get lucky on the second date?” He put his hands on her waist and lifted her from ground to tractor seat in one fluid movement.

“Lucky doesn't arrive until the fourth or fifth date, in my books,” she teased.

He kicked at the cold dirt like a little boy. “Well, shucks.”

“But we can find another antique to remember our second date by,” she said. “I really like that old ice tray. It's amazing how much easier the cubes pop out of it than they do when I twist one of the plastic ones. Never know about the lucky issue though. If that cute little bear with the daisy on her belly is still there and you buy her for me, I might rewrite the rules in my book, and you could get lucky on the second date.”

The smile on his face rivaled the sun when he looked up. “Then we'll definitely look for the bear. What makes you think it's a girl bear?”

He jogged around the back end of the tractor and climbed inside the cab.

“It's a girl bear because no self-respecting boy bear would have a daisy on his belly,” she answered.

Sawyer started up the engine and turned the tractor around. “Maybe he's not afraid of his feminine side. Maybe he even watches old movies.”

“Nope, it's still a girl bear, and her name is Daisy.”

“And if we buy Daisy today and bring her home, I might get lucky?”

“Maybe you won't, but I might,” she teased.

He stopped the tractor in front of the barn and pulled her across the bench seat to his side. “Lucky takes on a whole new meaning with you, Jill. I'm lucky for every single moment I get to spend with you.” He tipped up her chin, and she got lost all over again in his dark eyes. When his lips covered hers, the kiss was so sweet and so passionate that she had to keep the tears at bay.

* * *

“I thought the preacher was going to talk forever. I've looked forward to this all week. It's our first date since we got married,” Callie said as the waiter seated them in the little café at the back of one of the antique shops.

“Blue plate special today is your choice of chicken-fried steak or meatloaf, served with mashed potatoes; your choice of okra, pinto beans, or green beans; and a basket of hot rolls,” the waiter said. “Or you can choose from the grill menu. You should try our onion blossom or jalapeño poppers for an appetizer. They're really good. I'll take your drink orders now and be back when you've decided.”

“Sweet tea,” Jill and Sawyer said at the same time.

Callie and Finn nodded.

“And bring us a double order of the poppers and an onion blossom,” Finn said.

“You hungry, darlin'?” Callie asked. “Or do you think we are?”

“Starving. My stomach was growling so loud, folks around me thought I was snoring in church,” Finn answered. “Hey, I thought Mavis and Naomi might lock it up right there in the church house after church. Anyone else see what happened?”

Jill shook her head.

“They came up to shake the preacher's hand at the same time. That meant one had to step aside,” Callie explained. “Even Verdie held her breath.”

“Why?” Sawyer asked.

“Because it would be like losing a battle in the war to whoever took second place, right?” Jill asked. “Which one lost?”

“Neither,” Callie said. “Verdie stepped between them and started talking. She steered them out of the church without stopping to visit with the preacher at all. She rambled on and on about Salt Draw and the kids, and neither of them said a word to her or to each other. When they were outside, they went straight to their own trucks.”

“Damnedest thing I ever saw. Verdie said that she did it because she didn't want our date ruined.” Finn laughed. “I love that woman.”

Callie touched his arm and looked up into his eyes. “As much as you do me?”

“Oh, honey, I don't love anyone that much.” He kissed her on the tip of the nose.

“How would two old women rolling around and tearing up their panty hose ruin our date?” Sawyer asked.

“I didn't ask. I just figured Verdie knew what she was talking about,” Finn answered.

“Sweet tea for everyone,” the waiter said at Finn's elbow. “The appetizers will be here in about three minutes. Have you decided on dinner?”

“Chicken-fried,” Jill said. “Steak fries, pinto beans, and ranch dressing on my salad.”

“Sawmill gravy or brown gravy?” he asked.

“Sawmill,” Jill said.

“Same for me,” Callie said.

Finn handed him the menu and said, “Make it three.”

“Meatloaf and mashed potatoes, corn, and ranch dressing,” Sawyer said.

“It won't be as good as Granny O'Donnell's,” Finn whispered when the waiter was out of earshot.

“Neither will the chicken-fried steak.” Sawyer grinned. “Did I tell you that they're all coming for Easter?”

“Mama says my side is coming to Salt Draw. I thought we'd have the egg hunt at Salt Draw, since we're the ones who already have kids,” Finn said.

Already
have
kids?
The line ran around in Jill's head in a continuous loop. Jill felt the color leave her face.

“Are you okay?” Sawyer asked.

Her head bobbed twice. “How many family members are you talking about?”

“Couldn't begin to get a head count,” Finn said. “My family is coming to Salt Draw, and then there's Uncle Cash's crew from over in Ringgold. They usually have Easter at their ranch, but Granny says since I'm the newest one married, everyone is coming to Burnt Boot.”

Callie laid a hand on Jill's shoulder. “Most of them came to see us a few weeks ago. Couple of the cousins were standoffish until they figured out that I wasn't some kind of crazy, pistol-toting woman. By the time they all left, I think they'd accepted the fact that Finn and I were married and adopting four kids fairly well.”

“If we have Rhett hired on at Fiddle Creek, his family might load up and come too. So that would be even more O'Donnells,” Sawyer said.

“Rhett is lookin' for a job? Why didn't you tell me? I would have put him to work weeks ago,” Finn said.

“Gladys said I can hire him, so don't you go tryin' to steal him from me. I need the help more than you do,” Sawyer said.

Callie moved her chair closer to Jill. “Let them argue like cousins. Tell me, how are things going? Any more trouble with the feud? It has kind of died down this week.”

“I think it's just simmering,” Jill whispered. “They've figured out they aren't getting Fiddle Creek through me and probably think that since Sawyer and I are going out on dates that he's angling to get it. But he's not that kind of man, Callie.”

“Don't know an O'Donnell that thinks like that. They are all the salt of the earth, which reminds me, don't be scared of them. I saw the fear in your eyes. They'll love you because you love Sawyer,” she said. “Now tell me more about this ice-tray thing. Finn told me y'all bought an ice tray on your first date.”

Jill had a moment of mixed emotions. First, she wondered if Sawyer told Finn everything they did, and it brought heat to her cheeks. On the other hand, she was glad that he was as excited about the ice tray as she'd been. And then her cheeks burned like fire when she realized that Callie had said that she loved Sawyer, right out loud in public.

Jill cleared her throat and tried to get control of the blush by talking. “We found the old metal ice tray and the cute little handmade bear on the same shelf. We bought the ice tray to remind us of our first date and how much fun we had.”

“And this week we're buying the bear,” Sawyer said.

“Is it in this antique store? The one we are having lunch in?” Finn asked.

“When did you two stop arguing and start listening to us?” Jill asked.

“When he convinced me that he needed Rhett more than I did, and besides, I think Rhett would be damn good at keeping peace in the bar.” Finn covered Callie's hand with his. “What are we buying to celebrate our date today?”

“I'll find something,” she said.

He brought her hand to his lips and kissed her fingers. “It can't cost any more than their ice tray.”

“We'll just see about that.” She smiled.

The waiter set an enormous onion blossom and a platter of jalapeño poppers in the middle of the table and refilled all their tea glasses. “Your food will be ready in about fifteen minutes. We've been really busy today. I apologize for the wait.”

“No problem. We're not in a hurry,” Callie said.

The waiter flashed a brilliant smile and headed off to another table.

“Is it?” Finn reached for a popper and dipped it in the sauce.

“Is what?” Sawyer followed his lead.

“Is the bear in this store?” Finn asked.

“No, it's in the one next door, but I want to look in this one when we get finished eating. This is really cool, having a café adjoined to the store, isn't it?” Jill answered.

She felt like she'd known Finn and Callie her whole life instead of a few short weeks. They felt like family, and she couldn't wait for the opportunity to spend time with their four kids.

Finn was probably right. The dinner was good, but it wasn't like Granny made. After they'd finished, they shopped in the store, and Callie bought one of those cute little jewelry boxes with a tiny ballerina that twirled when it was opened. Then she found a couple of old baseball cards for each of the boys.

The bear was gone when they reached the next store on the block. The man behind the counter that day told them that his wife had sold it the week before to a young couple who planned to use it in their nursery.

“Great minds think alike,” Jill said.

Sawyer planted a kiss on the top of her head. “We should have bought it last week.”

“At least it will make some little baby laugh.” Jill sighed.

Finn and Callie had just wandered off to the back of the store. Jill and Sawyer were near the middle, looking at cream pitchers, when she felt someone staring at her.

Kinsey Brennan wasn't six feet from her when she looked up. “Well, hello, Sawyer. I'd like you to meet my date, and my boss at the firm where I work part-time. Gage, this is Sawyer; Sawyer, Gage. And this is Jill Cleary. Her aunt has a little spread next to River Bend.”

Sawyer extended his hand. “Pleased to meet you. Y'all finding anything interesting?”

Kinsey looped her arm through Gage's, and he patted her hand. “Oh, yes, we found a lovely little side table for my office. I'm moving from part time to full time.”

A tall man, but not quite as tall as Kinsey, he wore a three-piece suit and loafers. His thick blond hair was styled in a perfect, feathered cut, and judging by the crow's-feet around his eyes, Jill would guess him to be ten years older than Kinsey.

“Y'all have fun now. See you later,” Kinsey said.

Sawyer waved and went back to the cream pitchers. “One down. One to go.”