brides for brothers 04 - cowboy surrender (11 page)

“Oh? Did Mildred have any ideas?”

“Nothing that would work. I don’t suppose you could give me any ideas?” That would be a help, since she couldn’t think of a single thing to get him. And she hoped her question would distract him from what Mildred had suggested.

“Anything will do. I’ll pay you for it as soon as you buy something.”

She stared at him. “Why would you do that?”

He shrugged his shoulders. “No reason for you to waste your money on a gift for me.”

She was amazed to see his cheeks redden, as if her buying something for him would embarrass him. “Do your brothers give you presents?”

“We never did much for birthdays. We were a houseful of men, you know. Dad usually gave us each a savings bond.”

B.J. stared at him, picturing a little boy Toby’s age receiving a savings bond as his only birthday present. “Toby wouldn’t be satisfied with a piece of paper,” she murmured, smiling wryly at Jake.

“I need some ideas about a present for Toby,” Jake immediately said, a smile lighting his face.

“He likes toy trucks.” She couldn’t help smiling back. “How about you? Do you like trucks?”

“Only big ones.”

“Mmm,” she said, chuckling. “I think a big one is out of my price range.”

“That’s okay. Mine is in good shape. And I think I’d rather have something else from you.” The light in his eyes gave her a hint of his meaning.

“Like what?”

“Let’s go back to what Mildred suggested.”

“What are you talking about?” she said, but she turned to study the saddle hanging on the wall rather than look at him.

“I’m not sure. But whatever it is sure makes you blush. I figured it must be pretty good.”

“Jake, you’re teasing me. Don’t you have to get to work?” One thing she already knew about the big, handsome cowboy—he loved to tease.

“I guess you’re right. My brothers were already curious when I told ’em to go on without me.”

“Then I’ll be on my way, too. I’ve got some calls to make.”

When she started to move past him, he reached out and caught her shoulders. “Wait a minute. I’ve been good. I think I deserve a goodbye kiss.”

She swallowed, her throat suddenly dry. “There’s no one around to impress. I don’t see any reason to—”

“I do.”

His lips covered hers. Groaning, she gave herself up to the magical touch that always sent her heart soaring. She slid her hands across his chest, beneath his jacket, indulging her needs.

“Mommy, Aunt Mildred said—”

Toby’s piping voice intruded upon her bliss. She ripped herself from Jake’s embrace to find her little boy staring up at the two of them.

“Hi, Mr. Jake. Why are you kissing my mommy?”

J
AKE ALWAYS ENJOYED
spending time with Toby. But he wished the boy had arrived five minutes later. That might’ve given him enough time to enjoy B.J.’s kiss.

Instead, he noticed the stricken expression on B.J.’s face. Squatting down, he scooped Toby up in his arms, bringing him to his eye level. “Well, Toby, that’s something men do when they think a lady is pretty.”

Toby gave him a doubtful look. “I think Amber Lloyd is pretty, but I don’t kiss her.”

“Right, son. That’s because you’re not grown-up. When you’re a man—” he paused and looked at B.J., then turned back to Toby “—you sometimes kiss a lady because she’s special.”

“Mommy’s special,” Toby said, nodding.

“My thoughts exactly,” Jake agreed.

“Why are you here, Toby? What did Mildred want?” B.J. said abruptly, avoiding Jake’s eyes.

“She said I should see if you’re taking me to the bus stop this morning. If you’re busy, she said she could.” Toby didn’t even bother to look at his mother. He was examining Jake’s hat.

“I’ll take you.”

“Okay. What happened to your hat, Mr. Jake?” His little finger reached out to trace a crease B.J.’s truck had pressed into it.

“Um, it got run over, Toby. Looks kind of bad, doesn’t it?” Jake asked, but he looked at B.J. Sudden recognition appeared in her eyes, and she stared at his hat.

“I like your hat. When I grow up, I’m going to have one just like it.”

“Don’t you have a hat now?” Jake asked, an idea forming in his head.

“I have a baseball cap, but I don’t have a cowboy hat.”

“Toby, I think we’d better go,” B.J. snapped, as if she were angry with her son.

“Wait a minute, B.J.,” Jake said, stopping her. “I’ve got an idea. Why don’t the three of us go hat shopping this afternoon? I’ll get me a new one, and Toby could pick out a hat for his birthday. Would you like a hat as your birthday gift from me?”

“I can’t go this afternoon,” she immediately said.

Jake didn’t know if she didn’t want him to buy Toby a hat or if she was genuinely busy, but he wasn’t going to give up. “How about tomorrow afternoon?”

“Please, Mommy?” Toby added.

Jake almost burst out laughing. If he’d asked B.J. to go shopping, just the two of them, he knew she would’ve turned him down flat. But when it involved Toby, her determination wavered.

“There’s no need for you to buy him a hat, Jake.”

Toby’s face fell, and he hugged the boy closer to him. “I want to buy him a present he’ll enjoy. A hat’s a lot more practical than a toy truck.”

Suddenly she capitulated. “Fine. Tomorrow.”

“Great. What time do you get out of school, Toby?”

“At lunchtime. What time is that, Mommy?”

“Twelve o’clock. But there’s no need to interrupt your day, Jake. We can meet you some place in town at four,” B.J. suggested.

“That’s no problem. Why don’t you and I meet here at eleven-thirty, drive to town and pick up Toby and have lunch at the sandwich shop? Then we’ll go shopping.”

“That’s not necessary. You’ve got lots to do and—”

“Everyone’s been riding me about not ever taking time off. If I want the afternoon off, then I’ll take it. See you then.” He set Toby on the ground and then leaned over to kiss her, briefly this time. It wasn’t nearly as exciting as their earlier kiss, nor as satisfying, but it beat nothing at all.

Before she could protest or change their plans, he left the barn. He strode over to the indoor arena, figuring to check on the hands working there. As he opened the door, he heard Toby’s little voice shouting a goodbye. He turned to wave at the pair.

B.J. didn’t respond.

But the thought of the next afternoon kept a smile on Jake’s face all day. He was pleased to have found such a good gift for Toby. Heck, the kid had lived on the ranch almost a year. He needed a cowboy hat.

Maybe some chaps, too. And a good pair of leather gloves. After all, he’d probably grow up and work on the ranch during his teen years for spending money. Might as well equip him right.

“Hey, Jake,” Brett called to him as he was heading into the house that evening.

He turned around to await Brett. A feeling of satisfaction filled him. A good day’s work, a good meal awaiting him and a lot to look forward to.

“You look mighty pleased with yourself,” Brett commented, watching him as he stepped onto the porch.

“Yeah,” Jake agreed with a grin. “It was a good day.”

“Great. Uh, is it okay if I take tomorrow off? Anna and I thought we’d spend it together.”

“If you don’t mind, why not wait until Wednesday? I’ve got plans for tomorrow afternoon, and we don’t want to leave the place too shorthanded.”

Jake opened the door and strolled into the kitchen, knowing Brett would follow.

“Plans? What are you doing?”

“Birthday shopping with Toby.”

The rest of the family was already in the kitchen, and Jake’s words stopped all conversation. Suddenly everyone was staring at him.

“What?” he demanded, frowning.

“Is B.J. going?” Anna asked.

“Of course she is. I’m buying Toby a cowboy hat, and we have to try them on, find one that suits him.” He ignored his family’s intense interest. “I’m going to clean up. I won’t be long.”

“Take your time,” Red said.

Once Jake was out the door, everyone started talking about his announcement.

“I wonder when he and B.J. decided this? Last night?” Janie asked.

“Probably this morning,” Red said.

“This morning? When did he see B.J. this morning?” Pete asked, frowning.

“When he left you, he went straight to B.J.’s house, then the two of them walked over to the barn,” Red reported, continuing to work at the kitchen cabinet, pouring green beans into a serving bowl.

“You spying on Jake?” Chad asked.

“Nope. Just working here at the sink, looking out the window. Couldn’t help but see.”

“Great,” Janie said, enthusiastically. “Let us know if you see anything else.”

J
AKE STRODE
from the house after dinner, wanting to check some supplies before he went into town the next day. Movement out of the corner of his eye caught his attention.

He turned toward B.J.’s house and saw what had distracted him. Toby.

His smile broadened. In Toby’s hands was the rope he’d given him last week to practice.

“Hold still, Spot,” Toby called to his dog as he swung the rope.

Jake realized he’d neglected an important detail in his roping instructions.

“Hey, Toby, how’s it going?”

“Mr. Jake! Look! I’ve been practicing.”

“I can see.” Jack squatted down and scratched behind Spot’s ears after the puppy wriggled his way to Jake. “But I forgot to tell you something.”

“What, Mr. Jake?” the little boy said, raising his gaze anxiously. “I’m holding it just like you said.”

Jake couldn’t resist giving the boy a hug. He’d enjoyed teaching Toby to rope last week. The boy’s serious concentration, emphasized by a frown on his forehead, had tickled him.

“You’re doin’ fine. But I forgot to mention that you shouldn’t use Spot as a target. You might hurt him.”

Toby’s eyes widened in alarm. “Oh, no!” He reached for his dog, clutching him to his chest. “I wouldn’t hurt Spot, Mr. Jake.”

“I know you wouldn’t. How about we set up a post over there—” he gestured toward the barn “—and you can practice on it? Then, when you’ve got it down, we’ll take you out and let you try to rope a real cow.”

Toby’s eyes widened again, this time in excitement. “Gee, Mr. Jake, that’d be neat! I’ll practice all the time!”

“But not tomorrow. We’re going shopping for a hat, remember?”

“I remember. I want a hat just like yours.”

“Not like this one,” Jake said, fingering his cowboy hat. He forgot Toby as he remembered how his hat had been flattened. And the kiss that had preceded it. B. J. Anderson was some kisser.

“Mr. Jake?” Toby tugged on his jacket. “Why are you smiling?”

Jake stared at the boy, trying to collect his thoughts. “Uh, I guess I was thinking about your mom.”

“Mommy?” Toby paused and then said, “Do you like my mommy?”

“Of course I do.” Jake’s mind flashed back to his previous thoughts. Yeah, he liked Toby’s mother. B.J. was a very attractive woman.

“I like you teaching me things. Mommy doesn’t know how to rope.” Toby leaned against his knee, and Jake put his arm around him.

“You’ve got a good mom, but there are some things that only guys know about.”

“Yeah,” Toby agreed. Then, with some hesitation, he continued, “Can I ask you a question?”

“Sure, Toby. You can ask me anything.”

“What’s a ho?”

Jake frowned. “Well, it’s a tool for digging in a garden.”

“Oh.”

“Why, Toby? Are you planning on planting a garden?” Not that there was anything wrong with putting in a garden, but cowboys weren’t farmers, and he’d thought Toby wanted to learn to be a cowboy.

“No. But when one of the boys at school called a girl that, our teacher made him go to time-out and told us not never to say it ’cause it was naughty.” Toby’s voice sounded puzzled.

Jake could understand his confusion. “Sorry, Toby, but I thought you meant a different word. The word you’re asking about
is
bad. Your teacher was right.”

“But what does it mean?”

Jake was tempted to tell Toby to ask his mother. But he couldn’t do that. “Uh, it’s a name men call women when they think they’re too—too friendly with other men. But a gentleman doesn’t use it, and he wouldn’t let anyone else use it if they’re talking about his woman. I mean, his friend.”

“He’d punch him in the nose!” Toby said with relish, his eyes lighting up.

“Yeah,” Jake agreed. “And don’t ever use that word yourself.”

“No, I won’t.” Toby put his hand on Jake’s cheek. “Mr. Jake, if someone called my mommy that word, would you hit him?”

“Is that who they were talking about?” Jake demanded, surprising emotion filling him.

“No. But if someone did, would you hit him?”

“Yeah, I would,” Jake admitted. “I’d flatten him before he knew what hit him.” He realized his hold on Toby had tightened, and he forced himself to relax. Then he thought about what he’d just said. Maybe that hadn’t been the best response to give an impressionable child.

He tried again. “Uh, Toby, fighting in school isn’t a good idea, you know.”

“I know, Mr. Jake. Our teacher told us.”

“Great. Well, I’ve got to go. check on some things.”

“I have to go take my bath. Mommy makes me,” Toby said in disgusted tones.

“That’s what moms are for, Toby. Besides, ladies like us to smell good.”

“Do you take lots of baths, Mr. Jake?”

“Well, usuallly I take showers, but, yeah, I take my fair share of them.”

With a resigned shrug, Toby replied, “Okay, then I won’t complain.”

“Good boy,” Jake said as he stood, patting Toby on the head.

“Mr. Jake?”

“Yeah?”

“If I have any more questions I can’t ask Mommy, can I ask you?”

Jake grinned. He kind of liked playing the role of mentor to the four-year-old. He only hoped B.J. wouldn’t mind. “Sure, Toby. Any time.”

The two parted, and Jake headed toward the barn with a smile on his lips.

Chapter Nine

B.J. had changed her mind the next day, deciding going into town with Jake wasn’t a good idea. When she tried to persuade him to her way of thinking, however, she met with solid resistance.

“No way. You’re just trying to steal my idea for a present, but I thought of it first.”