Buch lesen: «Her Colorado Cowboy»

Chapter One

Lily Davis had lost her mind.

She loathed horses. Yet, somehow, she’d allowed her children to talk her into taking them horseback riding. What was she thinking?

Knuckles white, she guided her luxury SUV across the cattle guard of Abundant Blessings Ranch and Trail Rides, her gaze darting from the majestic mountains that backdropped the picturesque setting to the menacing red-and-white metal building that sat a short distance from the road.

She swallowed hard. Any other time she would have put her foot down, but she was desperate. They’d only been in Ouray for three days, and already her kids were begging to go back to their friends and electronic devices in Denver.

Okay, so it was her ten-year-old son, Colton, who did most of the complaining. He thought everything was boring. On the contrary, her seven-year-old daughter, Piper, had proclaimed Ouray, Colorado, the most beautiful place ever. Which was good, because returning to Denver before the end of the summer was not an option. Not if she wanted to save her son from following in his father’s footsteps.

She eyed her firstborn in the rearview mirror. With his sandy brown hair and green eyes, he favored her, though his blatant lies were a hallmark of his father. Something Lily found increasingly disconcerting. But learning of how he’d bullied another boy at school had spurred her into action. Because despite what Wade Davis might believe, the fact that they had money did not make them better than anyone else.

He’d agreed to let her take the kids away for the entire summer, instead of splitting the time the way they usually did. Whatever deal he was working must be big. She could only pray he wouldn’t change his mind before August 15, the date they’d agreed upon for the kids’ return.

Easing to a stop between another SUV and a sedan, she shifted into Park. Why couldn’t they have just gone on another Jeep tour?

The kids were out of the vehicle before Lily even turned off the engine.

“Hurry up, Mommy.” Piper’s excitement had her blonder-than-blond ponytail swishing to and fro. The perpetually cheerful child had always been eager to try new things. A trait Lily usually admired. Until she suggested horseback riding.

Too bad Lily hadn’t had the guts to say no.

Setting her booted feet onto the gravel, she rubbed her arms, eyeing the two chestnut-colored horses staring at her from the adjacent paddock. Did they know? Were they able to sense that another horse had once gotten the best of her?

“Aww...” Piper noted the pair. “Aren’t they cute?”

Lily cleared her throat. “Horses are some of God’s most beautiful creatures.” Not to mention frightening. Her kids didn’t see it that way, though, so she wasn’t about to pass her fears on to them.

She drew in a deep breath, the once-familiar odor of horse and hay tightening her stomach. How was she ever going to pull this off?

“This is boring.” Colton shuffled toward the entrance. “I want to ride them, not look at them.”

Lily’s gaze lifted to the mid-June sky. God, please help me. She glanced at her son. In every way.

Inside, the walls of the small but tidy lobby were lined with rustic wood planks. A couple with two boys who looked to be a little older than Colton sat on an old wooden church pew that hugged one wall.

“Mommy, look.” Piper pointed above the doorway of what appeared to be an office. “A horseshoe.”

“It’s a horse barn.” Arms crossed, Colton rolled his eyes. “They probably have, like, a million of those things.”

“I don’t care, Colton.” Hands on her hips, his sister glared at him. “I still like them.”

Before Lily could intervene, the sound of footsteps on concrete drew their attention.

She turned, feeling as though she’d suddenly stepped into a country music video. From his boots and Wranglers to the shiny belt buckle and straw Stetson perched on his head, this guy was all cowboy.

He stopped to address the other family. “If you all will head straight down this corridor—” he pointed to the long aisle behind him “—and to the right, Amber and Jackie are waiting with your horses.”

As the group departed, he turned his attention to Lily and her children. “Welcome to Abundant Blessings Ranch.” Tall and clean shaven, he tipped his hat back just enough to reveal dark brown hair and even darker eyes, like a rich espresso. He was older than she would have expected. Perhaps even older than her thirty-eight years, but not by much. And while his smile was pleasant enough, it did little to put her at ease. “I’m Noah Stephens. How can I help you folks today?”

Pressing one hand against her stomach, she fingered the silver chain around her neck with the other. “Um—”

“We want to ride horses.” Piper stared up at the man, looking very matter-of-fact.

“You do?” His smile grew wider, forming creases around his eyes. “Well, I guess you’ve come to the right place then.” He reached for one of a series of clipboards that hung on the wall. “I’ll just need your mother to sign these papers.” He handed the clipboard to her, along with a pen.

The knot in Lily’s stomach grew even bigger as she filled in the required information. Why was she putting herself through this? She should have simply said no in the first place.

But then Colton and Piper would have wanted to know why. She couldn’t bear the thought of telling them she was afraid. After all, she was their mother. The one who was supposed to be strong. And she was, most of the time. Right about now, though, she felt like that four-year-old girl who’d just been bucked off her first, and last, horse.

“How much riding have you kids done?” The cowboy looked from Colton to Piper.

“I’ve never been on a horse.” Piper’s blue eyes sparkled. “But I can’t wait.”

“That’s good to know, because I want to make sure I pair each of you with the correct horse for your level of experience.”

“What does it matter?” Colton shrugged. “It’s just a stupid horse.”

The cowboy straightened to his full six-foot-plus height, and Lily froze. What would he do? Everyone knew cowboys didn’t tolerate disrespect. And her son had plenty. Would he tell them they couldn’t ride?

Wishful thinking on her part.

Arms crossed, the man stared down at Colton, his expression stern. “Actually, horses are quite smart.” His deep voice left no room for question. “And they’re able to sense what kind of people are riding them.” His gaze narrowed. “So you might want to keep that in mind, young man.”

Under different circumstances, Lily might have chuckled. But by the time she handed the completed paperwork back to the cowboy, her stomach was churning.

His brow lifted. “Are you all right, ma’am?”

“Yes.” However, the more she tried to psych herself up for this endeavor, the worse things became.

She grabbed a white-water rafting brochure from the rack against the wall and fanned herself, wondering when it had gotten so warm. All the while, the tossing and turning in her belly intensified.

This was not good. Not good at—

Just as the cowboy turned to talk with Colton and Piper, Lily bolted out the door. She rushed to the side of the building, her stomach in full revolt. Not once, but twice.

Standing there, doubled over, she heard someone behind her. Oh, no. God please don’t let it be—

“You look like you could use a little help.” That deep voice definitely didn’t belong to Colton or Piper.

Mortified, she glanced at the cowboy and managed to eke out, “Don’t let my children see me,” before hurling again.

When she finally collected herself a short time later, she leaned against the metal building, feeling more than a little embarrassed. And all over the mere thought of riding a horse. She wiped her mouth, praying she wouldn’t have a repeat performance.

Returning to the stable, she spotted Piper and Colton halfway down the wide corridor that ran between a small arena and some horse stalls.

“Where were you?” Colton eyed her suspiciously.

“I had something I had to take care of.” She forced a smile, hoping she didn’t look as pale as she felt.

Fortunately, the cowboy reappeared with two horses before her son could ask any more questions.

It pleased her that one of them was nothing more than a Shetland pony, and she wondered if they might have another for her.

The man stopped in front of them, looking far too serious. “We have a slight problem.”

Oh, no. Her kids were so looking forward to this, and now they weren’t going to be able to ride. All because of her. Her silly fear had blown it for all of them.

The cowboy continued, “We had another family that arrived just before you. Typically, we prefer not to have any more than six guests on a trail ride. With you three, that would be seven.”

Piper’s bottom lip pooched out. “You mean we don’t get to ride?”

“Man, we finally get to do something cool...” Colton kicked at clump of hay.

Lily’s stomach tightened again. If only she hadn’t panicked. Now she’d ruined everything.

“Of course,” the cowboy finally said, “if one of you would be willing to stay behind, the other two could still go.”

Lily jerked her gaze to his.

His dark eyes were directed right at her.

He was giving her an out. But why? Was he afraid she’d get sick again while they were on the trail? Or did he know she was afraid?

“I’m not staying,” said Colton.

“If Colton doesn’t hafta stay, I don’t want to, either.” Arms crossed, Piper peered up at Lily.

Looked like it was up to her to take one for the team. Something she was more than okay with this time. Thanks to Noah Stephens. However, it presented her with a new problem.

Mr. Stephens was a stranger. Colton and Piper were her greatest blessings. A gift from God she cherished with every fiber of her being. Could she trust this cowboy with her children?

Clearing her throat, she looked at her kids. Saw the disappointment etched on their faces. “I wouldn’t want the two of you to miss out, either.” She eyed the cowboy. He looked responsible. And he’d already shown he wasn’t the type to stand for Colton’s shenanigans. “Would it be all right if they went without me?”

He nodded. “So long as you signed the consent forms.”

She looked at her children. “Are you two okay with that, or would you prefer to wait until later when we can go together?” Not that she’d be any more enthusiastic, but she’d settle for less nauseous.

“I can watch Piper,” offered Colton.

“Yeah, Colton can watch me.”

Lily couldn’t help but laugh. For once her children were in agreement. “Okay. But I want you to be on your best behavior.”

“We will,” they said in unison.

The cowboy tipped his straw hat in her direction. “I promise to take good care of them.”

To her surprise, she actually believed him. Probably because he’d come to check on her when she was outside. Something she found very chivalrous. And as they walked away, she couldn’t help wondering what it would be like to be taken care of by someone like that. Someone strong, caring... Not self-serving like her ex.

She quickly shook away the thought. God and her children were her only priorities. Not love or any notions thereof. Especially with a cowboy.

* * *

“Mom, you should have seen it.” Colton met his mother in the lobby, his enthusiasm obvious. And that made Noah happy.

The kid was far too young to have the kind of attitude Noah had witnessed prior to their ride. Angry. Disrespectful. The type of kid Noah hoped to help. Not that troubled kids were the focus of his soon-to-open rodeo school at Abundant Blessings Ranch. Still, Noah knew firsthand the difference horses could make in the lives of troubled kids and adults dealing with loss. They’re what helped him get past the deaths of his wife and unborn child. And he had a feeling the root of Colton’s anger had to do with some sort of loss, too. During their ride, the kid had mentioned that his parents were divorced. Was his father involved in his life?

While Noah’s parents had loved each other until his mother succumbed to cancer three years ago, he’d had many friends whose lives had been impacted by divorce. He understood the pain and anger that came from such an experience. Especially when it was something they hadn’t chosen and there was nothing they could do to fix it.

If only he could help those kids deal with their feelings by giving them a way to channel their emotions into something else. Or perhaps the kids would simply benefit from spending time with a good listener. He knew for a fact that horses were very good listeners.

“We got to ride on the mountain,” Piper said.

Cute kid. Happy, smart, energetic... If his child had been a girl, he’d have hoped she’d be like Piper.

“Can I get a soda?” Colton watched his mother hopefully. “Noah said there’s a machine around the corner.”

The woman—what was her name? Some sort of flower. Lily? Yes, that was it—pulled a series of ones from the pocket of her jeans. “Okay, but no caffeine. And get one for your sister, too.”

She looked at Noah then, her green eyes void of the anxiety that had been there before. “Thank you for taking them. I...hated to disappoint them.”

“No worries, ma’am. I’m pretty sure they enjoyed themselves.” He turned his attention to her daughter. “Right, Piper?”

“Right!”

They both chuckled at her daughter’s exuberance.

He eyed the woman again. She’d tucked her long reddish-blond hair into a crude ponytail, making him wonder if she’d gotten sick again after they left. “I trust you’re doing all right?”

The pink in her cheeks heightened as she tugged on the hem of her fitted gray button-down. “I am. Thank you again.”

“Good.” Suddenly uneasy, he glanced down the corridor. “If you’ll excuse me, I have something I need to tend to.”

“Of course.”

With the voices of Lily and Piper echoing in his ears, he rounded the corner and headed down the corridor. Passing the alcove where the soda and snack machines were, he saw no sign of Colton.

Weird. Had Noah been so lost in thought that he’d passed him without even realizing?

Continuing on to the tack room, he spotted the boy. And his heart sank.

There, beside the bridle rack, Colton was stooped over a bucket of horseshoes. Horseshoes meant to be given to kids as souvenirs. Instead, Colton grabbed two, stuffing one into each of the pockets of his Nike hoodie.

He was stealing.

“Colton.” Noah kept his voice firm, all the while keeping it void of any accusation.

The boy jerked his head up. “I...couldn’t find the soda machine.”

“And the horseshoes?”

Colton looked everywhere but at Noah. “I was just looking at them.”

“If you want one, all you have to do is ask.”

The kid’s green eyes narrowed. “They’re just stupid old horseshoes. Who’d want one of those?”

Noah shook his head. He’d hoped the kid would at least acknowledge his curiosity. Instead, he’d lied. And there was no way Noah could tolerate that.

He took hold of Colton’s arm. “Let’s go see your mother.”

“Why?” The boy’s voice held a note of terror as he jerked free and started down the hallway.

“I think you know why.” Noah could understand the kid’s attitude, but lying was a different ball game altogether.

Rounding into the lobby with Colton in tow, he saw the bewildered look in Lily’s eyes as she rose from the old pew.

Grateful no one else was present, he said, “I caught this young man stealing.”

“I didn’t steal anything!”

Noah glared down at the boy. “Care to show me what’s in your pockets?”

Colton promptly turned his pants pockets inside out to show them empty. “He’s lying, Mom. I didn’t take anything. See?”

A confused Lily looked from her son to Noah.

Undeterred, Noah said, “And your jacket pockets?”

The boy hesitated then. “This is stupid, Mom. I didn’t take anything. You believe me, don’t you?”

His mother’s confused and seemingly pained gaze moved between Colton and Noah. Once. Twice.

Finally, “If there’s nothing there, then you should have no problem showing us, Colton.”

After a few moments, the boy pulled out the horseshoes and thrust them at Noah, the clanking of metal echoing through the small space. “They’re just stupid horseshoes. You have a ton of them.”

The look on Lily’s face flitted between horror, disappointment and panic in a matter of seconds.

What saddened Noah the most was that he would have given the kid the horseshoes if he’d asked. But Colton hadn’t asked. He’d simply taken something that didn’t belong to him. Then compounded matters by lying.

Noah knew what he would do if this were his son. Question was, what would his city-slicker mother do? Offer to pay for it? Call it a misunderstanding?

That was the problem with today’s world. Too many parents eager to bail their kids out instead of letting them face the consequences for their actions.

“Colton...take your sister to the car and wait for me there, please.” With her arms crossed, Lily’s eyes never left Noah’s.

Yep, she was going to pay for her son’s transgressions.

“But, Mom—”

“Now, Colton.” She watched as the two moved slowly out the wooden door, then faced Noah. “Any chance we could work something out?”

All that was missing now was the checkbook. “Depends what you mean by ‘work something out.’”

She hesitated. “I don’t want my son to grow up thinking that money is the answer. He made a bad choice. He needs to learn that there are consequences for bad choices.”

Her words had Noah taking a step back. He cleared his throat. “Yes, of course.”

“Some parents are all too happy to pay for their kids’ mistakes, but I’m not one of those people. I want Colton—and Piper—to know that every choice has a consequence. And I want them to learn now, while they’re young.”

Hmm... He couldn’t have said it better himself. “That’s commendable.”

She glared at him. “I’m not looking for any commendations, Mr. Stephens. I simply want my children to grow up to be good people.”

Okay, so he’d definitely underestimated her. “All right then. What if we had him work it off?”

The light in her green eyes shifted. “I like that.” She hesitated then. “Depending on what you have in mind.”

Ah, now he got it. Pay the consequences without really paying the consequences. “I was thinking he could come by tomorrow morning and muck out the horse stalls.”

Lily choked back a laugh. Something he found rather cute. “That’s perfect.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Of course, it’ll be ‘stupid.’” She made air quotes with her long fingers.

“Of course.”

Her expression softened. “But I think it’ll drive home the message.”

“That stealing is wrong.”

“Among other things, yes.”

The heel of his boot scraped across the concrete floor. “Okay, so what time can I expect him?”

“The earlier the better. How about seven?”

“In the morning?” Humph. He would have taken her for a not-before-ten kind of girl.

“You don’t think I’m going to let him sleep in, do you?”

“I...obviously wasn’t thinking. My apologies.”

She studied him, a smile playing on her lips. “I believe in teaching my children values. So I will see you in the morning.” With that, she turned and marched out the door, passing his father as she went.

Moving beside Noah, Clint Stephens watched after her. “She’s pretty.”

Noah made a quick left into the office. “Is she?” He grabbed the day’s consent forms. “I hadn’t noticed.”

His father followed him. “Since when have you been blind?”

Noah chose to ignore the remark. He wasn’t blind at all. But his heart belonged to his late wife, Jaycee. Now and always.

Dad paused beside the desk. “Newspaper called. Wanted to know about the ads for the rodeo school.”

Noah scrubbed a hand across his face. While the new building should be completed in time for Ridgway’s annual rodeo on Labor Day weekend, now that summer was here, he’d barely had any time to think about the grand opening that was supposed to coincide with the Ridgway event.

“Oh, and that Realtor called again.” Dad watched him. “Have you given any more thought to renting out the cabin? Might bring you some extra income.”

Noah tossed the forms into the file cabinet and threw the drawer closed with more force than he’d intended. He didn’t need the extra income. He’d earned plenty during his rodeo days, made wise investments and lived modestly. Dad knew that.

And you’ve put all your savings into the rodeo school. Even so, how the old man could think that he would allow strangers into the home he and his wife had once shared boggled his mind.

“Son, you know I’ve never been one to tell you and your brothers how to live your lives, but Jaycee’s been gone twelve years now. Don’t you think it’s time you started living again?”

“Living?” He gestured to the stacks of papers and plans for the rodeo school. “What do you call this?”

“Oh, you’re going through the motions, all right. It’s just...”

“Just what?” Hands on his hips, he tried to get a handle on his annoyance.

The man looked everywhere but at Noah, then let go a sigh. “It’s been a long time since you’ve been happy.” He didn’t miss the sorrow in his father’s tone.

“Dad, I love this place, you know that. And the horses... I can’t wait to get the rodeo school up and running.”

His father held up his hands. “No need to get defensive. I believe everything you’ve said. I’d just hate for you to be so stuck in the past you close yourself off to the future God has in store for you.”

Noah chuckled, wondering what had gotten into his father. After all, he was a widower, too. Perhaps spending so much time with his old classmate Hillary Ward-Thompson was finally getting to him. But Noah wasn’t about to head down that road again. He’d loved and he’d lost. And he never wanted to feel that kind of pain ever again.