Count on a Cowboy (14 page)

Humiliated, Brooke shifted from one foot to the other. Just what she wanted, for her father to think she was easy. “Rory thinks I’m like my mother. He’s never going to let me see Laurel, let alone talk her into coming back to Las Vegas.”

Trent gave her a smile that had her aching in need. “You don’t know your sister. Laurel does what she wants to do. Besides she’s not a child any longer.”

“But she’s just gone through so much with her groom running off.” She didn’t want to add any more to the pile. “And what about your business relationship with Rory? I won’t come between you two. My mother will have to understand.”

Trent crossed the room to her, then reached for her, drawing her close. Brooke started to push him away, but she was weak and needed his strength. He cupped her cheek and leaned down and kissed her, causing her to have the same erotic feeling she’d had in the hot tub.

Before she got totally lost in Trent again, she managed to break his hold and stepped away from temptation. “I have to leave. I don’t want to cause you any more trouble.”

“So you’re just giving up so easily? I expected more of you, Brooke Harper.”

“Don’t you see it’s best for everyone? I stay and I’ll just cause more trouble between families that have been friends for years. Rory’s relationship with Coralee lasted all of one weekend.”

“What about your sister?”

She longed to meet Laurel, but at what cost? “I’ll write her a note and explain things.”

He shook his head. “You have to do more, Brooke. At least meet Laurel. If she wants you to leave, then go. Don’t let Rory’s anger keep you from your family.”

She looked at Trent and her heart ached. How did he feel? Did he want her to stay, or was he on her father’s side?

“You speak with Laurel and if she says no, I’m gone.”

Trent looked as though he wanted to argue, but said, “Fair enough. Come on, I’ll take you home.”

Whether it was a slip of the tongue or not, she wished she could claim Colorado as her home, and one sexy cowboy as her man.

* * *

T
HE FOLLOWING MORNING
after chores, Trent walked up to the Quinns’ back door as he had all his life. The house had been a second home to him, even after his parents split. This was the first time he felt awkward about the familiarity. Pushing his unease aside he opened the door, calling out as he stepped into the mudroom. He wasn’t going to let this come between them.

But it already had. He’d wanted to go straight to Brooke’s cabin this morning. They needed to talk also, but this had to be settled first, he owed that much to the Quinns. But after the things Rory had said last night, Trent wasn’t sure he could stay neutral.

Diane showed up at the doorway leading to the kitchen. “Hey, you.” As usual, she gave him a hug.

The pretty brunette had warm hazel eyes and an inviting smile. He realized he was examining her more closely today. There wasn’t any resemblance to her daughter. Now, he knew that was because Laurel looked like her biological mother, Coralee, and her half sister, Brooke.

“Is Rory around?”

“No, he drove into town. He should be back in a few hours.”

He wanted to straighten things out with Rory before too much time passed.

“I’ll come back.” He started to leave when Diane called him back.

“Thank you, Trent, for taking care of things here,” Diane told him. “I know we left in a hurry.”

“Not a problem.” He wasn’t sure if she was talking about the abandoned wedding or not, but he was staying on the safer topic. “Chet and some of the hands packed up the tables and chairs. We donated the food and flowers to a church shelter, except what we held back for the guys here. At least they got a great meal that night.” He glanced around. “How is Laurel doing?”

“You know her. She acts like things don’t bother her, and then she goes and takes off to be alone. Right now, she’s riding that crazy stallion of hers.”

“Capture the Wind?” Trent envied her the beautiful bay stallion. His good bloodlines were great for acquiring high stud fees.

Diane nodded. “I wish Rory would just sell the rogue. Do you know how many times she’s been bucked off the animal?”

Trent tried not to smile and lost. “She does love her horses. It’s part of her job.”

“Until she breaks her neck.” Diane went to the coffeepot and poured two cups. She handed one to him. “Rory said you were with that woman last night.”

Now his personal life was an open book. “That woman’s name is Brooke Harper. She’s Laurel’s sister.”

“She claims to be,” Diane corrected.

“Wait until you see her. The resemblance to Laurel is remarkable.”

The older woman looked sad. “Why did all this have to happen, Trent? First Jack, and now, this woman coming here. Laurel won’t even talk to me right now.”

“If you mean Brooke Harper, isn’t it Laurel’s decision to tell her to leave?”

Diane shook her head. “We can’t let Coralee Harper into our lives again. I suffered through the woman’s manipulation before. I won’t let her do it again.”

Trent couldn’t help wondering if Coralee had made trouble even after the custody agreement. “You do know Coralee is in a care facility with Alzheimer’s? She can’t hurt you.”

A tear found its way down Diane’s cheek. “She already has. I’ve lost my daughter.”

* * *

I
T WAS MIDMORNING
and Brooke hadn’t heard a word from Trent since he’d taken her back to the cabin last night. Sadness washed over her as she recalled the tenderness of his kisses, his touch. She shivered, but wouldn’t allow herself to linger over what would never be.

After Rory found them together in the hot tub, she knew any chance of her being welcomed here was gone. She tossed the rest of her clothes into her suitcase. No use waiting around to get kicked off the property. She had more pride than that.

Crazy thing. It didn’t matter if she didn’t want to leave. She had to. Trent wasn’t a man she needed to get involved with. Too bad for her that it was already too late to pull back on those feelings. She just had to make sure that no matter what, she didn’t jeopardize his relationship with the Quinns. If and when Laurel and Rory learned the entire truth, Trent shouldn’t be caught in the middle of everything.

She carried her bag out of the bedroom and glanced back at the bed. The sheets had been stripped off, and the blanket was neatly folded at the end. Walking down the hall, she eyed the spotless kitchen. She refused to leave a mess.

There was a knock on the door and she paused. She wanted it to be Trent, but then again, she didn’t, because saying goodbye to him was going to hurt.

Brooke released a slow breath, hoping she could find the words that would help her leave without making a fool of herself. She pulled open the door and was shocked to find a familiar-looking woman standing on the porch. They did look a lot alike.

Laurel Quinn was a tall, striking woman with long wheat-blond hair pulled back into a long braid. And big green eyes with long lashes.

She had an amused look on her face. “Well, damn. I guess it’s true when they say we all have a twin.”

Brooke’s heart pounded loudly in her ears. Did she know? “Excuse me?”

“I meant we do look alike,” Laurel clarified. “Hi, I’m Laurel. I hear you’re my long-lost sister.”

Emotions surfaced and tears formed in Brooke’s eyes. Her sister. She blinked them away. She never cried, not even when meeting her twin sister for the first time.

This was awkward. “I’m Brooke Harper.” Brooke held out her hand and Laurel seemed grateful to shake it.

She looked toward the porch railing and saw the magnificent stallion tied there. The horse’s body was a slick golden brown with a black mane and tail. Impatient, the animal stomped the ground. “Who’s your friend?”

“Capture the Wind. I call him Wind.”

The animal whinnied on hearing his name. “Typical man, wants attention all the time.”

Brooke had a feeling Laurel wasn’t just talking about horses. She walked to the animal. “May I pet him?”

“Sure.”

Laurel Quinn held the bridle so Brooke could run her hand over the equine’s forehead. She was glad they had the demanding stallion to concentrate on, because she had no idea what to say to her newfound sister. She couldn’t help staring at Brooke Harper. They did look amazingly alike for half sisters. Their eyes, the shape of their faces, even their height and build. She loved that fact.

Even only knowing for the past twenty-four hours hadn’t helped ease the excitement, or the pain of so many lost years. Yet, now she didn’t want to waste time harping on the secrets her parent had kept. For now, she only wanted to explore their chance to get to know each other.

The big horse ate up the attention. Laurel held on to the bridle so as not to frighten Brooke. The animal still managed to nudge her, causing her to stumble backward some, but she came back for more. Her sister just came up several notches in Laurel’s book.

“He’s beautiful,” Brooke said.

“And he knows it.” Laurel stroked the animal lovingly. “He’s also cocky as hell.” Giving Wind attention helped break the awkwardness between them. Finally she said, “Sorry I wasn’t here when you arrived, but you probably heard, I’ve been chasing after my runaway groom.”

Brooke’s gaze met hers, but there wasn’t any pitying look. “I’m sorry that didn’t work out.”

Laurel shrugged. “It’s for the best.”

Brooke sighed. “Then I show up and dump all this stuff on you. Please, come inside. Maybe we can talk a little?”

“Yeah, it seems we might have some catching up to do.”

Laurel knew that Wind wasn’t going to contentedly stay tied to the porch. She looked off in the distance to see Larry on one of the horses, then stuck her fingers in her mouth and whistled. Then when he turned to her she motioned for him to come to her.

“I’ll have Larry take Wind back to the barn.”

When the ranch hand appeared on horseback, Laurel handed him Wind’s reins and gave him instructions for the horse.

“Not a problem, Laurel.” The young man turned to Brooke. “Good to see you again, Brooke.”

“Nice to see you again, too, Larry,” Brooke said.

He rode off with the stallion in tow. And Brooke quickly explained. “I arrived when they were removing the tables and chairs from the wedding. I sort of helped.”

It was bad enough she had to live with a groom who didn’t show up, but the new sister had helped in the cleanup, too. “Wow, you drive all this way to meet me and the first thing you get put to work.”

Brooke shook her head. “I didn’t mind, really. And besides, your family gave me a place to stay.”

Laurel refused to comment on that statement. Instead she walked into the cabin and saw the suitcase. “The accommodations must be bad if you’re leaving.”

Brooke seemed to have trouble making eye contact. “Your father is pretty upset about me coming here. I thought it might be best if I went back to Las Vegas.”

Trying to hold on to her anger, she said, “I thought you wanted to meet me.”

“I did,” Brooke insisted. “I mean I do, but I seem to be causing problems, especially for your father.”

Her father’s recent actions were so unlike him. “Dad’s a little gruff sometimes. But he’s got a heart of gold.” Laurel sighed. “You see, I was a sick kid. Bad asthma.” She remembered how at the age of seven she’d begged her parents to allow her to learn to ride a horse like her friends. “I spent a lot of time in the hospital and both my parents have become a little overprotective.”

“That’s understandable,” Brooke agreed. “Would you like something to drink? I think there’s water.”

“Water sounds great.”

Brooke went to the small refrigerator and took out two bottles. They sat down on the sofa.

Laurel twisted off the lid. “So, you’ve been here since Saturday?”

“Yes, when I arrived at the house there were all these flowers and ribbons everywhere. I should have left, but instead went out back to find a beautiful setup for a wedding.”

Over the past few days, she realized she’d been more angry than sad. “It might have been if I’d picked a different guy to marry.”

“Sorry,” Brooke apologized. “I know this has to be painful for you.”

“Not as much as I thought. I’m just so angry.” Laurel waved a hand. “Tell me, how long have you known about me?”

“Not long, only a few weeks. I’m not sure how much you know about our...biological mother, but she has been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s. Six months ago, I had to put her in a care facility. That’s when she started talking about her baby Laurel. Of course, I thought she was just confused, because a lot she said lately hadn’t been making sense. But she mentioned your father, Rory Quinn.”

Brooke wanted to tell Laurel everything, but after their father’s reaction last night, she couldn’t. “Then I found your birth certificate and the legal papers, granting your father full custody of Laurel Kathryn Harper.”

“My father said he met Coralee at the National Rodeo Finals in Las Vegas. He also explained that he’d had a fight with my mother—I mean Diane—and they’d broken up.”

Laurel shook her head, looking a bit dazed. “It wasn’t easy to take this all in. Three days ago, I knew my family, my mother and father. Now I discover I’ve been lied to all these years.”

And Brooke didn’t want to add to the confusion. She was also afraid that she would say too much. “I don’t know much about what happened, either. And now Coralee’s memory is fading quickly. She wants to explain to you why she gave you away.”

“Seems both our parents neglected to tell us some important details about our lives.”

“Don’t blame your parents.”

“Who do I blame?”

“Coralee—she gave you away, but from what I can see, you were the lucky one.”

* * *

E
ARLY AFTERNOON,
T
RENT
was going over building plans at the construction site, but his thoughts weren’t on business. He hadn’t been able to get Brooke out of his head since he’d dropped her off at the cabin last night. It had taken every ounce of self-control not to follow her inside and finish what they’d started in the hot tub.

Waking up this morning on that damn airbed and aching for the woman wasn’t much better. Instead he’d gone to the Bucking Q’s horse barn to find Laurel. He found her busy, exercising her beloved quarter horses. Laurel’s way to handle problems. When she tried to say she was too busy to talk to him, he wouldn’t allow it. They needed to talk about what happened the past week.