Buy a Cowboy (22 page)

Baya nodded.

“You need to find a way to start a college fund now.”

Baya's eyes widened. “Like we have money coming out our ears. Which reminds me. How am I ever going to repay you for all you two have done?”

“We'll come up with something.” Dick taunted as he headed for the door. “We'll come up with something real good, too.”

“That's what I'm afraid of,” Baya muttered. “Hey, kids! Come get washed up for supper.”

They were too far away to hear him call.

He moved to the corner of the porch and pulled the bell rope.

At the first gong of the bell, Daniel jumped down from the rails of the paddock and ran toward the house.

Faith helped Hope down and they followed a little slower.

Baya smiled.

Home. They were home.

16

Bonnie sat on the porch swing shelling peas and thinking about Baya while watching him grade the road along the bunkhouse. With deep pathos, a country singer on the radio was asking if his love would go with him. His voice was better than Baya's, but carried the same deep timbre.

A sigh melted out of her. Shelling peas was a discouraging job; it took forever to fill the pot. Noticing how Baya shoved his hat back to peer at the roadbed, she wondered if they would ever come together as husband and wife.

Her mind trailed to thoughts of Todd. At least Baya and she had each other.

The solitary existence of the foreman stirred her tenderness. He'd come for the last two weekends without Dick.

Dick needed to see his family in Atlanta and judge a rodeo in Cherokee.

But Todd had come and worked, lessening the load Baya carried.

Sometimes, in the evening while the children were doing their chores, he'd sit on the swing and help her with the vegetables and fruit she was preparing for canning. The other night he'd commented that she had a lovely home. A sigh whispered through the rasp of his voice.

“It is a beautiful place.” She had chuckled at the thought of her recent blessings.

“I thought Dick was crazy to introduce you to the toughest knot
head I knew.”

She stopped snapping the beans and placed her hand on his arm. “I don't think of him as a knot
head,” she said softly.

He looked down at the gentle hand, a grimness stretching his face tight. “You've never seen him rodeo.” He rose and walked to the edge of the porch. “I thought he'd come to your valley and heal, and nothing more would happen.” Eyes narrowed against the setting sun as he continued. “He actually did it. Left the road and found a family.” Turning, he pierced her with his dark gaze. “You need to appreciate what you have, Bonnie. He's settled on this ranch the same way he climbed on the bulls. He's on ‘til the finish.”

“I know.” Her voice was faint. “I'm the one with trust issues.”

“That's why I'm giving you a heads up. He's a better man than you've known. Let him be the man you need him to be. Quit honing in on everything he has to say as though it needs testing. Just live, Bonnie.”

Silently she watched him as he pulled a pack of cigarettes from his pocket. A short string of beads slipped out too.

He held the strand of beads in a death grip and angrily shoved them back in his pocket before lighting the cigarette and walking to the corrals.

Baya had come around the corner of the building then, and she'd wanted to ask him about Todd. But, one look at his tired face made her put it off until another time.

That memory returned her attention to where the Cricket was turning around and grinding back up the hill, and she wondered if Baya would ever forgive her for calling Todd and Dick. He hadn't been tender with
her since they left. With a small shake of her head, she reached for a new handful of peas.

The children would be home from the first day of school soon.

These needed to be done by then.

~*~

School was the topic of the conversation. Faith was excited over an art project. Daniel had met the boy down the road and wanted to know if he could ride Phoebe over to visit him.

Baya and Bonnie looked at each other, and Baya shrugged.

“We'll have to see about that, Daniel.” Bonnie turned to the boy. “I don't think I want you riding off by yourself, yet. And there are chores and homework, too.”

“I could go with him,” Faith offered. “Dave's sister is a grade ahead of me but she said I could come see her horse.”

“You want to go now?”

“Me, too,” Hope put in.

“Mom, it's only a mile away,” Faith countered. “We could get there in less than fifteen minutes, and we'll be careful.”

“Not now.” Bonnie's voice hardened. “Do you have her telephone number?” At her daughter's nod, she continued, “I'll call her mother and see if you can get together over the weekend.”

“That's four days from now.”

Daniel jumped in. “But we made plans.”

She put up her hand. “Not tonight.”

Hope stopped chewing and looked around the table, her little face puckered in a frown. Ever since she'd come back from Ed's, she seemed nervous when they disagreed.

Baya swallowed before interrupting the argument. “I think we should call, and then all of us go over and meet the neighbors.” He turned to Faith. “Are these the people we bought the tractor from?”

She shook her head. “The ones we bought the tractor from have moved. Their place is for sale. Dave and Mary are nice—you met their parents at church. Remember? Mary has a horse, too. She said she's always wanted to try an English saddle, and I thought I'd take mine over and show it to her. She said there's a family further up the mountain who does events. She doesn't know them, but she thought we could ride up and meet them. I wanted to get more information.” She glowered at her mother.

“The people up the hill aren't leaving, so the weekend will be a fine time to meet them.” Bonnie continued to talk to Faith. “Faith, would you call and see if we could get together with their family? Daniel and Hope can help me clear the table.”

Hope shoved away from the table and carried her plate to the kitchen sink.

Baya and Daniel gathered everything together and brought more dishes as Bonnie started loading the dishwasher.

In a few minutes Faith came dancing in. “Guess what? They're coming over here! Her mom said she wanted to see you about volunteering for school things. She's the PTO president, and now that we're in school together, she wants to enlist you!”

Bonnie stared up at Baya, looking horrified. “We still have furniture to carry up stairs!”

“I don't think that will matter.” Baya turned to the kids. “Are your beds made? Do you have everything off the floor?”

As they shook their heads, he hustled them through the door and up the back stairs calling after them. “Faith, put clean towels in the bathroom. Daniel, be sure the toys are out of the tub. Hope, get your dolls out of the living room.”

He walked back just as Bonnie was closing the door on the dishwasher. Turning on the water, she squirted dishwashing liquid into the sink.

“Don't worry about the pots and pans now.” Baya turned her around surprising her with a kiss. “I'll do the dishes. Go and make sure the kids have tidied up. I'll come upstairs to shower.”

She blinked and scurried after the kids.

~*~

He turned off the water and walked to the apartment. After folding the mattress of the hide-a-bed sofa and clearing the room, he returned to wash up the few remaining pots and pans. He began putting them away when Faith came in.

“We need a dessert for company. I'm going to make seven-layer brownies,” she informed Baya.

Daniel appeared behind her. “What's ya doing?”

“Making seven-layer brownies.
?
'

“Does Mom know?”

“She said I could.” Faith pushed Daniel out of the way to turn on the oven.

Baya moved to intercept, but was jarred by the door Hope had opened.

“I can help,” she called.

Daniel scrambled up to the counter. “So can I.”

“Well, go get the can of milk then.” Faith pushed him away again.

Hope scooted a chair to the counter and climbed on it. “You put the butter in the microwave, Hope.” Faith gave her a square glass cake pan and stick of margarine.

Baya shook his head as he left.

Apparently, they knew what they were doing.

Grabbing a handful of clothes, he ran up the stairs to the bedroom. He found Bonnie pushing gold loops into her ears, and he paused to kiss her neck. “I need a shower. I'll be right back.”

“I have your clothes laid out.” Bonnie pointed to the clothes on the freshly made bed. Puzzlement and hope mingled with the unasked questions on her features.

Baya paused, testing how it felt to have someone make decisions for him.
My clothes are on her bed. When had she moved them?
As possibilities started popping about his brain in small explosions, his mouth drew taut in a satisfied grin. “I need to get these bundled away.” He hefted the clothes he held in his arms.

Floating up the stairs came sounds of dissension in series of sharps and flats.

“I'll have to go down.”

“Baya?” Something hit the floor with a resounding thump.

“I should have stayed.” He headed for the door.

Bonnie placed a hand on his arm. “I'll go.”

He stared at the hand for a moment before transferring his gaze to her face.
So beautiful.
“I do need a shower badly. I only had time to wash my hands before supper, since the bus was late.”

“I know you need to use this shower so the neighbors don't walk in on you.” Her teeth worried her lower lip. “But, Baya…” She stopped and stepped toward the door. “I wish that you'd use it—always.” She fled before he could respond.

Firmly rooted to the floor, he stood until the weight of the clothes became noticeable. The bed creaked as he sat down, and he placed the bundle on the comforter alongside him.

She had decided to want him.

In the beginning, his thoughts were only on the physical, but somewhere along this journey, the excitement changed to concern. This was the biggest step of his life. It included more than snuggles with a beautiful woman.

There were children to be anxious for, and the children's father needed to be taken into account. Why hadn't he thought of all these things? He stared at the newly painted walls and his brow cleared.

They—the two of them—had been working. Each in their own field of expertise, it was true. She was making a home while he shored up the ranch for winter. Two different poles whose widening circles moved ever closer together.

The sound of Bonnie reprimanding the children had him rushing through a shower. His hands stilled and lather melted away. After only hearing the trickle of water, his voice startled him. “I don't know much about you, God. She has a powerful belief in you. If You really care about us as much as she thinks, You'd better help me here. I don't want to make that lady unhappy. That means I need help with the kids, too.” He stepped out of the shower, covering himself hastily with a quick glance around. “Right now would be good.”

The doorbell rang as he pulled on the clothes she'd chosen, and he headed for the stairs with a final tug on his boots. With closed eyes, he absorbed the feel of family from the sounds coming up the stairwell.

He could see them all in his head.

Daniel's voice rose and fell as he hurried his new friend to the old tire swing.

At the door, Faith was calmly inviting the family into the overstuffed living room.

Bonnie welcomed the arrivals as she explained her future decorating schemes.

They all turned at the sound of his footsteps coming down the stairs.

Hope sat on the bottom step glaring at a small boy.

Baya paused to pick her up before crossing the entranceway.

She pulled her thumb out of her mouth and stuck her tongue out at the visiting toddler.

Baya tapped her leg in warning and she put the thumb and tongue back in her mouth.

Recognizing the father of Daniel's tree climbing opponent, Baya grinned and stretched out a welcoming hand. “Howdy, we almost met under that scrub oak at church.”

The man narrowed a look at him before recognition dawned on the leathery face. “You're Baya McKnight.”

Now someone recognized him.

“Yes,” he said with a chuckle. “This is my family.” The words settled over him. Hope's arms wrapped around his neck and Faith smiled up at him. He moved to place an arm around Bonnie as the man stepped forward.

“I'm Gil Harmon. My wife Carol, and daughter, Mary. This is Brad.” The husky man helped the toddler scramble into his arms. “Dave is outside. Probably up another tree.”

“Come see my horse.” Faith caught her new friend's hand and they ran through the house together.

Hope wiggled her desire to follow and Baya put her down.

She was gone in an instant.

Brad scrambled back down his dad's frame and stood by the door watching her disappear.

Baya chuckled when he caught the grin on Gil's face. “Kids!”

“There's so much furniture in here, why don't we just have coffee and dessert in the breakfast room,” Bonnie said as she led the way.

Gil spoke into the silence as they followed her.

“I saw your bust up. That bull leaped at least four feet in the air. Someone said a horn caught you.”

The boy in the doorway turned to stare at Baya as the two men walked by.

“I fell on the horn,” Baya said quietly. “I was all right ‘til I hit the ground.”

“I thought you were a goner when he landed on you.”

Baya didn't answer. There was no way to explain the madness of the crazed killing machine Ready Up had turned into.

Bonnie was animated as she talked to Carol and placed the gooey brownies on the table.