Winning Over the Cowboy Read online

  “I don’t want to take advantage.”

  Janice’s knowing eyes saw straight through her. “Why don’t you want to go? Come on. You can talk to me.”

  She’d been able to fake it in Aubrey—telling her family she was going with a friend in Denton. All the while, she’d left early on Sunday mornings, sat at the park until churches let out. Landry should have known that living and working in such close quarters, she’d never be able to get past Janice.

  “Spill.” Janice patted her hand.

  “I haven’t been to church since Kyle left me at the altar.” There. She’d said it. Admitted the thing no one knew. Except God.

  “Why?”

  “Because I’ve been so mad.” She hugged herself. “And bitter toward Kyle. I haven’t felt like going.”

  “Ah, I see.” Janice pulled up a tall stool and settled across the counter from her. “I remember how much you always loved church when you lived here with us.”

  “I adored everything about it. The hymns, the fellowship, the sermons.”

  “Don’t you think this bitterness is hurting you instead of Kyle?” Janice patted her hand again and stood. “Think about that. I’d better light a fire under that man of mine or we’ll be late.” She hurried through the kitchen doors.

  Such quiet wisdom. Landry missed church. Missed God. She stood, rounded the counter and bolted for her private quarters.

  “Whoa.” Chase met her coming out of the office. “What’s your hurry?”

  At least she hadn’t smacked into him this time. “I have to get ready for church.”

  “You’re going?”

  “If you’ll stop talking and let me get ready.”

  “By all means.” He stepped aside, ushered her on.

  God would forgive her absence. Maybe He could help her sort out her muddled feelings for Chase.

  * * *

  Sunlight streamed through the stained glass windows splashing the walls of the hundred-year-old church with color. As the sermon wound down and the pastor made his altar plea to the congregation, Chase’s mind wandered.

  He’d invited Landry to come last week, but she’d worried about disrupting the rest of the staff’s church attendance. Why wasn’t she concerned about the rotation schedule now? Was she so distraught over Kyle’s engagement, she needed God?

  His mouth went dry.

  Even if Kyle had driven her here, Chase was glad she’d come.

  The piano started as a backdrop to the pastor’s prayer, and several people went to the altar. Including Landry.

  Chase followed, knelt by her side. After a silent prayer for God to ease her hurt, Chase switched to his own needs. Lord, if this can work out with Landry, pave a way for us to run the ranch together. As his burden eased, he went down his usual list of prayers for his family and friends.

  Landry stood before he did, went back to their pew. A minute or so later, he followed.

  Over her head, he noticed his mom with a knowing grin on her face.

  No doubt about it. Mom was on to him.

  The music faded away, and a deacon closed the service with prayer.

  Conversations began as the congregation scattered, and Chase turned to Landry.

  “I’m glad you came.”

  “Me, too.” Her smile went all the way to her eyes.

  Something he hadn’t seen enough of since she’d arrived at the ranch.

  “You still got it?” The usual question from a gruff voice.

  With a grin, Chase dug the knife from his pocket and turned around.

  Dressed in his Sunday overalls, Wallace clapped Landry on the back solidly. Probably rattled her teeth. “She’s a church girl. I told you she wasn’t a scammer. You should go for her.”

  “Stop haranguing the young folks.” Ms. Fay patted Landry’s arm. “You’ll have to forgive him. He gets bored since he retired. I’m Fay, Wallace’s wife.” She offered her hand to Landry.

  “Landry Malone.”

  “Ms. Fay was my Sunday school teacher.” Chase gave her a hug. “My favorite one.”

  “I told you about her.” Wallace pointed at her. “She’s Chase’s girlfriend.”

  “No!” Their voices blended.

  “Business partner. Girlfriend.” Wallace harrumphed. “What’s the difference? If she’s not your girlfriend now, she will be. I can tell when a young man’s smitten.”

  “Stop it.” Ms. Fay sent a chiding glare at her husband. “You’re turning her downright purple. It was nice meeting you, Landry. We hope to see you again. Maybe next time, I’ll duct tape his mouth first.”

  Landry chuckled. “It was nice meeting you, too.”

  As they made their way to the exit, a dozen more people stopped to introduce themselves to Landry. A few assumed she was Chase’s girlfriend but accepted their joint protests.

  “Landry, I’m so glad you’re here.” Jed limped toward them. “I brought something I was gonna send home with Chase for you.” He dug in the shopping bag looped over his arm and pulled out a cedar box.

  “For me?” Landry clasped a hand to her heart. “It’s sooo beautiful. But I couldn’t. You could sell this.”

  “No.” With a sad shake of his head, he turned the box around.

  There was a gold plate with Eden’s name engraved into it.

  Chase’s throat clogged.

  “It’s a jewelry box. Here, help me with it, Chase.” He handed the box to Chase, opened the lid revealing little compartments and a removable tray. “I was making it for her wedding, but I didn’t quite get it finished in time. And then... I couldn’t possibly sell it, and I thought about giving it to Ms. Janice. But she doesn’t wear much jewelry. I noticed you did.”

  Tears filled Landry’s eyes, and she hurled herself at Jed. “I’ll treasure it.”

  He turned beet-red, patted her back.

  “I don’t have anything of hers.” Landry pulled away from him. “I mean, other than half a dude ranch, I guess.” She swallowed hard. “I’m honored that you want me to have this gift meant for her. Especially after meeting me only once.”

  “Eden wouldn’t have included you in her will if she didn’t love you. If she didn’t think you worthy.”

  “Thank you.” Her chin trembled. “You have no idea what this means to me.”

  Jed ducked his head, squeezed her arm and turned toward the exit.

  Landry swiped at her tears and reached for the box as if Chase might keep it from her. He handed it over, and she ran her hand over the smooth wood, clutched it to her chest. Her love for his sister glowing in her glossy eyes.

  “Let’s go home,” he said. It sounded good. Right. For them to share the dude ranch.

  When he’d learned about Eden’s will, he’d resented Landry and been suspicious of her motives. Now, within a week and a half of her arrival, he felt great respect for her.

  Maybe a friendship with Landry could fill the empty space his sister had left in his life.

  * * *

  With the Monday morning breakfast rush over, Chase stepped into the kitchen. Mom and Dad busily sliced and diced. Most of his life had been spent looking at the tops of their puffy white shower caps.

  But now they had a new addition. Pale red-gold tendrils curled out from beneath the pouf of Landry’s hat. A distracting addition.

  “I’m off to the fishmonger in San Antonio.”

  “Wow.” Landry adjusted her apron straps. “I forgot all about our fish.”

  “Ron took them in. All processed and ready to get picked up.”

  “I haven’t been to San Antonio since I finished school.” Her tone held a lilt of nostalgia.

  “Why don’t you go with him?” Mom’s perky tone strangled his last nerve. But she never looked up from her tomatoes. “Mondays are us
ually slow around here.”

  “I couldn’t. I already left y’all in the lurch last week.”

  “We’ve got this.” Dad whisked eggs in a huge bowl. “Go shopping or whatever young girls do these days.”

  “I’m not your typical shopper. I’m a flea market freak.”

  “Really?” Mom looked up at Chase, grinning from ear to ear. “Chase is, too. And there’s one about ten minutes from the fish market.”

  “Resa did tell me she saw some cowhides at a steal there.” Why had he admitted that? All he had to do was say he didn’t have time. Had pressing things to get back to. “Maybe I could lasso a few for the ranch.”

  “Still.” Landry nibbled her lip. “I hate to leave y’all shorthanded.”

  “Don’t take this like we don’t need you around here. You’ve been a great help to us.” Mom started on an onion. “But we managed fine before you came. We can manage one more day without you.”

  “If you’re sure.” Landry wiped her hands on her apron. “I’ll grab my purse. But this is the last time. At least for a week.” She hurried out of the kitchen.

  Chase waited until the door closed behind her. “I wish you’d stop forcing her on me,” he whispered.

  “Oh, pooh.” Mom waved her latexed hand through the air. “You both like to flea market. You’ll have fun.”

  “The last time I tried to avoid a woman the way you’re trying to shake Landry—” Dad shot him a wink “—I ended up marrying her.”

  “Think I’ll wait in the foyer.” Where it was quieter.

  Moments later, Landry exited the great room, clutching her purse. With her apron and shower cap still on.

  “You gonna wear that?”

  She glanced down. “Oh.” Color washed over her face as her hands went to her head. “Now I’ll have hairnet hair, which is always so attractive.” She pulled it and her apron off, stashed them in the kitchen.

  Back in the foyer, she bent over at the waist, hanging her head upside down, and combed her fingers through her hair, stirring up a watermelon scent. When she tossed it back in place, his breath stopped.

  “It looks bad, doesn’t it?”

  A mute shake of his head was all Chase could come up with.

  “Oh, well.” She shrugged.

  Effortless, unconcerned, no fuss. Yet beauty that took his breath away.

  “Let me load the coolers in the truck.” Like a man headed for the gallows, he grabbed his keys.

  * * *

  Landry sat in the passenger seat of Chase’s truck, wondering why he’d asked her to come along. He’d been standoffish with her since the start, but now he was okay with her company?

  Now that she thought about it, though, Landry realized he hadn’t really asked her. His mom had. So why had Landry been eager?

  Because she’d never been to the fishmonger? Because she loved flea markets? Yes on both. But even more so because for some reason, she enjoyed spending time with him.

  Why, when he didn’t want her around? He’d eased up a bit, maybe even trusted her, and they’d had that bonding moment at church yesterday when Jed gave her the jewelry box. But they still weren’t to the point of being friends.

  “Have you ever been to the River Walk?” Chase merged expertly into traffic.

  “Eden and I used to go there after our classes.”

  “What about the Alamo?”

  “No.”

  “And they haven’t stripped you of your Texas citizenship?”

  She laughed. “I just never got around to it. Maybe we can do that next time.” Now, why had she said that? He was only making conversation and obviously didn’t want there to be a next time.

  And to prove it, he didn’t comment.

  “Want to go our separate ways, call each other when we’re finished?” He eased into a parking lot, killed the engine.

  “But if we’re shopping for cowhides or anything else for the dude ranch—don’t we need to agree on it?” Maybe they weren’t friends, but they should make business decisions together.

  “You’re right. Sit tight—I’ll get your door.” He rounded the truck, opened her side and offered a hand as she climbed down. “Eden always gave me authority to make purchases for the ranch. But she knew me. Knew my taste.”

  Warmth spread through her as he kept her hand in his. Her gaze met his. He cleared his throat and let go of her. “Better get to shopping.”

  Do not fall for him, she warned her heart.

  He strode toward a huge metal building. “Resa said the cowhides are in the second aisle.”

  She tried to match his pace, but since three of her steps made up one of his, she practically ran to catch up.

  “Sorry.” He slowed. “Eden always said she had to gallop to keep up with me.”

  “I’ll bet. Her legs were shorter than mine.” She eased up, relaxed a bit.

  He opened the door for her, and they stepped inside the air-conditioned warehouse. Aisles lined the concrete. There was a stale smell of used furniture, old books and dust. But the market was neat and organized.

  “There they are.” He cut down the second aisle, examined a cowhide.

  “These are really nice.”

  “And about a hundred dollars less than the usual price you find. Let’s get two. If that’s okay with you?”

  “Just a curious question. What do we do with them at the dude ranch?”

  He grinned. “Walk on them.”

  “That seems like such a shame.” She ran her hand over the smooth hide. “Doesn’t it wear them out?”

  “Eventually. But then we get new ones.”

  “We could hang them on the wall. Then they’d stay nice.”

  “They’re rugs.”

  “Or wall hangings.”

  “Tell you what.” His sigh echoed exasperation. “We’ll get one for a rug and one for a wall hanging.”

  “Deal.”

  He reached for a black-and-white one.

  “Wait.” She set her hand on his arm but quickly withdrew when she felt his muscles beneath her fingers. “Where will they go?”

  “This one for the Cattle Baron Room, and another for the foyer.”

  “I remember rugs in both places.”

  “Several long-term guests have missed them. I’ve been keeping my eye out for a good deal.”

  “So these will get trampled to death. Especially the one in the foyer.”

  He closed his eyes. “It’s. A. Rug.”

  “Since you like the black-and-white and there are no other hides in the lobby, it can go there. But we should hang it on the side of the staircase and get a less expensive rug for the floor. Maybe from Resa.”

  “As much as I hate to admit it—” his gaze narrowed “—that actually makes sense.”

  “See? We might can get the hang of this compromise thing.” As long as her heart didn’t get compromised in the process. “The Cattle Baron Room has a brown-and-white bedspread.” She tapped her chin with her finger. “Doesn’t it?”

  “I reckon we should stick with that color scheme?” He pulled a sour face as if he’d just lost his man card by discussing such things.

  She flipped through the hides, found a nice brown-and-white one with lots of splotches. “What about this one?”

  “I’ll take them to the front so nobody nabs them.” He tugged the two hides they’d chosen down, folded them into a bundle as if the heavy skins weighed nothing and carried them to the register.

  Landry scanned the surrounding booths. A cameo necklace caught her eye. Peach and white, delicately carved with a filigree chain. Her breath stalled as she picked up the piece.

  “Find something?”

  “It reminds me of the one your grandmother used to wear.”

  “Me,
too. How much is it?”

  She turned it over. “Twenty-three ninety-five.”

  “Costume at that price.”

  “Granny’s was, too. Your gramps got it for her...”

  “Early in their marriage.” For once he didn’t seem annoyed that she knew so much about his family.

  They strolled the rest of the booths, and Landry found a handmade Victorian-style quilt sewn in a lovely yellow rose fabric. “This will look great on Granny’s bed.”

  “Your bed.” Resignation sounded in Chase’s tone. That Granny was gone? Or that he was stuck with Landry?

  They agreed on a wagon wheel wall hanging for the Desperado Room and took their purchases to the register. After Landry paid for her personal items, the clerk slid her necklace into a small sack.

  “I’ll take that.” Chase picked up all their bags along with the hides.

  “I can carry something.”

  “I’ve got it.”

  She followed him out and hurried ahead to open the back door of his dual cab pickup.

  Chase set the hides and the bag with her quilt in the seat.

  “My necklace?”

  “Let me.” He pulled the tiny sack from his pocket. “Hold your hair up.”

  “I don’t have to wear it now.” Her hand went to her throat.

  “I want to see how it looks.”

  She turned her back to him.

  “At least, I think I can latch it,” he said. The pendant dropped in front of her face, his massive hands holding each end of the fragile chain. “Don’t know why they make such tiny little clasps.”

  “They’re made for women.” She pulled her hair up for him.

  “Then why do women always have their men fasten their necklaces for them?” His hand grazed her neck.

  Shivers went through her. But he was not her man.

  “Because we can’t see what we’re doing.” He could not be her man. She would never allow herself to fall for another man.

  “There. Let me see.” His hands moved away.

  The pendant fell heavy at the hollow of her collarbone. She turned to face him.

  “I’ll tell you one thing.” His gaze met hers, then dropped to the cameo. “You’re not anybody’s granny.”