Chantilly’s Cowboy (10 page)

Bang.

Bang.

Bang.

Jack rolled over and got up off the bed. Jogging to the door, he prayed that nothing had happened to Stuart. With Chantilly giving him the silent treatment, a middle-of-the-night visit could only mean bad news. Good news saved itself for daylight when people were fully awake.

He opened the door and squinted out into the darkness. Chantilly. He stepped forward, and with help of the moonlight, he realized the grinning woman was Chantilly’s twin, and caught himself from going closer. He frowned. “What’s going on, Florentine? Is something wrong with the animals?”
Please don’t say something happened to your old man.

“Everything is right as rain, cowboy.” She leaned against the post, crossed her arms and giggled. “No wonder Chantilly’s always strolled around with a shit-eating grin on her face.”

He moved to the edge of the porch. “What’re you talking ’bout?”

“You.” She pointed her finger at his lower body.

He followed her line of vision and winced. In his worry, he’d walked out in only his boxer shorts. “Hang on, I’ll—”

“We don’t have time.” She waved her hand in the air. “I’ve got something for you.” She shifted out of the way of the steps. “’Bout five minutes ago Chantilly had something important she was gonna tell you, but as you can see…” Florentine shook her head. “She had too much to drink and appears to be asleep.”

“How much did she drink?” Jack stepped off the porch and approached the horse where Chantilly sat slumped against the animal’s neck.

“Almost two beers.” Florentine walked in front of the horse and over to the other side. “We all kind of coaxed her into having a beer tonight. It wasn’t her fault. Although she’s able to handle more alcohol than the last time I was home.” She laughed. “My sis is growing up.”

Jack rubbed the length of Chantilly’s bare calf. His hands itched to drag her off the horse and into his arms. It seemed like ages since he held her close.

“Don’t just stand there, cowboy, take her off my horse. I’ve got a party to get back to and she’s dead weight.” Florentine disappeared from view behind the horse.

“I can’t.” Jack reached up to adjust his hat, realized he wasn’t wearing one and shook his head. “I still can’t get her to talk to me. She wants nothing to do with me.” He stepped back toward the house. “Jesus, this is driving me nuts.”

Florentine rounded the horse and poked Jack in the chest. “Listen up. Chantilly loves you. She came to the conclusion that—” She threw up her hands. “Hell, Jack. This is her story to tell, not mine.” She swept back her hair. “On the word of a McDougal, the best thing you can do for Chantilly is to take her into the cabin, put her to bed or on the couch, it really doesn’t matter where. Talk to her in the morning.”

He nodded.

“Well, get to it. I’m ’bout beat, and the girls are waiting for me.”

It wasn’t hard to come to a decision. Whether it was the right thing to do or not didn’t matter. Getting the time to watch her sleep, talk to her and win her back was the most important thing at the moment.

Carrying her into the house, he placed her on the couch and unfolded the old quilt to cover her. She snuggled down farther in the cushions and mewed. Her lower lip, full and moist, stuck out in the cutest pout. Jack sighed. Even sleeping, Chantilly tugged at his soul. He wanted her. He loved her.

He’d prove to her that their relationship went beyond the promise he made to Stuart. He woke up thinking about her and went to bed with her on his mind. He wanted a future with her. With Chantilly, he learned how much he wanted a solid life, a healthy commitment where two people supported, loved and encouraged each other. He could no more give that up than he could quit breathing. He loved her, and he’d bet everything he had that she loved him that much too. He’d wait for her to come to the realization that she loved him. No matter how long it took.

Jake sat in the chair beside the couch and kicked his bare feet up on the coffee table. Leaning his head back, he gazed at Chantilly and smiled.
She’s always been the one.

A loud blaring noise woke Chantilly up. She sat up and gazed around trying to figure out why her room didn’t look the same.
How did I get…?

Someone cleared their throat. She turned and found Jack pushing out of the chair and hurrying out of the room. Snatches of last night came back, and she wondered if he’d forgiven her or if she made a total fool of herself. She glanced down at the quilt around her feet. She swallowed. Waking up on the couch must mean that he hadn’t forgiven her for pushing him out of her life.

The buzzing stopped and Jack came back in the room with his jeans on and carrying his socks and shirt. She picked up the quilt and proceeded to fold it.

“Chantilly?”

She paused and looked up.

“I’ve gotta get going and do chores early today. I need to pick Craig up at the train station over in Gratton. He’s coming to stay for a couple weeks.” Jack buttoned up his shirt.

“Jack…can I talk to you?”

He sat down and worked on his sock. “You can always talk to me, darlin’.”

Every nerve in her body relaxed and she sank down on the edge of the couch. “I’ve totally screwed up everything.” She bit down on her lip, sat up straighter and plunged on. “I lashed out when I should have thanked you instead. I wanted to blame you for what was happening with my dad, and that isn’t fair.” Her chest tightened. “You were there for him…and me.”

Jack had continued putting on his boots during her apology. Scooting back in the chair, he patted his thighs. “Come here, darlin’.”

She stood up and stepped in front of him. “Can you ever forgive me?”

“There’s nothing to forgive.” He pulled her onto his lap. “In your position, I’d have acted the same way. You have every right to be pissed off at the world right now.” He shifted her sideways on his lap. “What I didn’t like is how you shut me out. If we’re going to make this work…” He lifted her chin and drilled her with his gaze. “You can’t walk away every time something goes wrong. If I’ve learned one thing in my life, it’s commitment. I don’t want a seasonal fling. I won’t stand for my woman to come and go whenever the mood strikes. I grew up with parents who were there when they wanted and left when something else caught their attention. I don’t want that. You can be pissed off at me, you can tell me to go to hell if you want, but don’t walk away and give me the cold shoulder. If you love me…if you want me…it’s for life.”

Chantilly nodded.

“What also upset me is you forgot something.” He skimmed his lips over her mouth. Gentle, undemanding and in such a show of compassion, his touch humbled her. Tears leaked out of the corners of her eyes and her body shuddered. Jack laid his forehead on hers.

“What did I forget, Jack? Tell me, so I can make it right.” Her fingers dug into his biceps. “I’ll do anything.”

“You forgot…” He leaned his head back and gazed into her eyes. “That I love you. That’ll never stop, darlin’.”

“I love you too, Jack.”

One more kiss, and he lifted her off his lap. Grinning, he held out his hand. “How ’bout you and I get the chores done together and afterward you can go to the train station with me. I’d love for you to meet Craig.”

“Really?”

“Of course.” He nodded. “He’s gonna think you’re great.”

“What’s Craig going to think of our age difference?” She rubbed her arm. “I mean, it’s no big deal to us, but you’re his
dad
and I’m not much older than he is.”

Jack chuckled. “He’s an adult, darlin’. He’ll probably slap me on the back, congratulate me and secretly think I’m one lucky SOB.”

“I hope so. I want him to be happy we’re together.”

“Don’t worry. Everything will be fine. You’ll see.” He leaned over and gave her a quick kiss. “I’ll meet you in the barn.”

Chantilly moved over to grab her boots. He must have taken them off her when he put her to bed last night. “I’ll hurry.”

Jack moved toward the door, but she called his name.

“Yeah?”

“Thank you, cowboy.”

He winked, gave her one of his lopsided grins and strolled out the door. She blew out a breath that she felt like she’d held since the night she found out her dad had ALS.
Oh my God. I’m going to meet Craig.

Stuart stood beside Chantilly outside the round pen. She stepped onto the first rung and hooked her arms over the top of the fence. Craig sat atop one of the green horses after swearing it was his job to train the horse that Daddy gave him for the summer.

“Hold on tight, Craig. Don’t let him have his head.” Stuart guided him from afar.

Chantilly pointed. “Bring your right foot forward more.” She smiled. “Show ’im who’s boss.”

Jack spoke low to Craig, glanced over at Chantilly and winked. Chantilly leaned down toward her dad. “He’s really good with him, ain’t he?”

“Yup. Jack’s done a great job with that boy.” Stuart cleared his throat. “It’s nice to have some young blood on the ranch for a chance.”

“You calling me old, Daddy?” She laughed.

He harrumphed and turned his attention to what was going on inside the pen. She gazed at Craig as Jack backed up and joined her at the fence.

Without taking his sight off his nephew, Jack stepped up on the fence and balanced at the top. Far enough not to get in the way, but close enough he could help Craig if needed.

“Ready, son?” Jack’s low, husky voice sent her tummy to quivering.

Craig pulled his hat down tighter and gave a curt nod. “Yeehaw!”

The horse sprang straight up in the air and landed on stiff legs. Craig kept his seat in the saddle. Prepared for the quick spurt from the horse, he held tight on the reins and refused to let the horse control the moves.

“There you go,” she whispered. “Hang tight.”

Unable to unseat the trespasser on his back, the horse gave up on the back-crushing bunny hops and reared back. Craig leaned forward, pressing his cheek against the strained muscles of the horse’s neck. Chantilly gasped.

“He’s fine, darlin’.” Jack grinned. “The kid’s a damn good rider.”

The horse landed on all fours and took off like a shot across the short area, slamming Craig’s leg against the railing and trying to rid himself of his rider. Jack was right. Craig had his jaw set and had the horse under his control the best he could.

Horse and rider continued to struggle for dominance. Craig never once slacked off when the horse paused to rethink his tactics.
A little more…

In what seemed like a half hour, but more than likely didn’t last more than ten minutes, the horse took a tentative step, and then another until Craig had the horse trotting around the perimeter of the round pen.

“Nice and easy. Take her around a few more time and when you feel her muscles relaxing, give her a little breathing room.”

Full of confidence, Craig concentrated on keeping the control he’d gained. The horse blew out his nose and spit spewed from its mouth.

“Walk her out, boy. Wear her down and you’ll have yourself a helluva mount.” Stuart coughed to clear his throat. He elbowed Jack’s side. “I think that kid’s gonna give you a run for your money someday. He’d make a damn fine foreman with the right teacher.”

“Yes, he would.” Jack winked at Chantilly. “You think we can convince him to give up being a lawyer and wear clod stompers instead?”

Chantilly laughed and jumped down off the fence. “Nah, the kid likes to debate everything. He might be able to ride and rope like a pro, but he thrives off winning an argument.”

Stuart reached out and held on to the fence. His knuckles were white from the amount of strength he used to balance himself.
Oh, Daddy.

“I’m going up to the house to start lunch. You wanna come with me?” She placed her hand on Stuart’s arm. “You can keep me company while I fix your favorite sandwich.”

Stuart laid his arm over her shoulder and coughed. This new sign of his condition worsening worried her but was expected. The doctors had informed them all that the more he lost control of his muscles, the harder it would be for him to swallow. She didn’t expect the simple action of coughing to clear his throat to tire the rest of his muscles throughout his body so quickly, though. Any kind of exertion seemed to take all his strength. It wouldn’t be too long before he’d be in a wheelchair.

She gave her dad a squeeze and turned back to Jack. “Give me ’bout a half hour and bring Craig in to eat, ’kay?”

“Sure thing.” Jack gave her a quick kiss and glanced over at Stuart. “Make sure she doesn’t try putting any of that rabbit food on my meal, boss.”

“Don’t listen to him, Daddy. The man would live off meat and taters if I let him.” Chantilly walked slowly so not to rush her dad over the uneven ground.

After lunch, Craig followed Chantilly up to the foreman’s cabin while Jack headed out to mend fences and Stuart lay down to take a nap. She peered out into the field, but Jack must have ridden out to the C field to finish the daily chore of making sure the cattle were safe and content.

“You love him.”

Chantilly turned to Craig and lifted her brow. “Of course.”

He grinned. She smiled back. Craig had the same sexy way he lifted the corner of his mouth as Jack did, along with the hint of a dimple.
Oh Lordy, help all the girls who’ll fall under his charm.

“I’m glad.” Craig put the laundry basket on his other hip. “If anyone deserves love, it’s Jack. He’s put his life on hold for too long…for me.”

“He wouldn’t have it any other way.” She opened the front door of the cabin and stepped back, letting Craig enter first. “He’s proud of the man you’ve become. Jack talks ’bout you going to school and how you’ve worked hard to make it on the dean’s list all the time.”

She took the laundry basket of clean clothes from him and set it on the floor in the hallway. “Let me show you something.”

She led him outside and around the back of the cabin. Pointing at an old doghouse that had seen better days, she gave him a little push with her other hand. “Look inside.”

He tilted his head but didn’t question her. Squatting down, he peered into the darkened interior. Craig laughed quietly and reached clear in the back, extracting a hissing and spitting malnourished cat.

“It looks just like Frisky.” He held the feline away from his chest to keep out of the striking claws. “Geez, even the spots are the same.”

“She showed up a couple weeks ago in the barn. Jack set a trap and took her in to be spayed. I didn’t expect him to bring her back, but he arrived home stating that you would have wanted him to keep the cat.” Chantilly crossed her arms and rocked back on her heels.

“Jack doesn’t even like cats.” He placed the cat back at the entrance of the doghouse and chuckled as it scrambled to go back and hide.

“I know.” She waited for Craig to turn around. “He did it for you. Even when you’re not here, you influence every decision he makes.”

“I had no idea.” Craig ran his hands through his hair. “I worry that I’m a burden. I’ve tried to tell him that he doesn’t need to put me through law school. I can do that, it’ll just take longer, but I know I can do it.”

She shook her head. “Not at all. He does it because he loves you and you are his family. That’s the way it should be, right?”

He shrugged. “I guess.”

She winked. “Of course it is, and as far as my dad and I are concerned. You’re part of our family now too. Jack’s been wonderful through…everything.”

“Your dad…” Craig scrunched up his face. “He doesn’t have much time, does he? I mean, Jack’s filled me in, but just since I’ve arrived here I see a difference in the way he gets around.”

“Yes. The doctor said each case is different and some people with ALS can last years and others have a much faster course of the disease. From what we know, Dad’s shown signs of the disease for the last year and I’m afraid once his muscles begin to deteriorate and give up the fight, it’s only a matter of time before his heart…”

“Damn.” Craig squeezed her hand. “He’s a great man.”

“Yes, he is.” Chantilly’s smile wobbled.