Healing a Cowboy's Heart (Cowboy Dreamin' 2) (21 page)

“I
will.”

She
closed her eyes and inhaled his scent.
Musk, man and horse.
She’d never be able to be around livestock again without thinking of him. “I
guess this is goodbye.”

“Yeah,
I guess so.”

She
stepped out of his arms and said, “Thanks for everything and I hope things work
out for the best with the land next door.”

“I
hope so too.”

“Just
know I did my best.”

He
tilted his head to the side with a look of confusion clouding his eyes, but he
didn’t linger. His boots sounded hollow on the tile floor beneath his feet as
he approached the door. With a quick look behind him, he returned the
sunglasses to his eyes and disappeared with a soft click of the panel behind
him.

* * * *

Jeff
watched from the barn as Terri loaded her suitcase into the car. He wouldn’t
ask her to stay. He couldn’t. His trust in her had been broken by the secrets
and lies she’d told even though his heart said they didn’t matter.

“You’re
an idiot, son.”

“Thanks,
Mom.”

Nina
stood next to him watching Terri slide into her car and shut the door. The car
started a few minutes before she backed out and slowly disappeared down the
gravel drive. They continued to watch together until her car disappeared from
sight.

“Have
you told Ben about Misha yet?”

“No.
I need to, but I’m not sure how.”

“Just
tell him the truth, Jeff.”

“What
is the truth, Mom? She didn’t love him. Not like a mother should.”

“I
wouldn’t tell him she overdosed on drugs since we don’t exactly know what the
cause of death is.”

“There’s
no denying it from what I heard from the paramedics. They found Meth crystals
and needles at her apartment. I’m sorry I didn’t notice track marks before or
the fact that she seemed wired every time I saw her.”

“It
explains her manic behavior when she showed up here earlier and her demand for
money.”

“Yeah,
it does.”

“Jeffery?”

“Yeah,
Mom?”

“Why
did you let Terri leave?”

“What
do you mean?”

“You’re
in love with her, aren’t you?”

He
pushed his hat back on his head. “No.”

“Yes
you are, son. I can see it in your eyes.”

“Even
through the sunglasses?”

“Jeffery.”

“It
doesn’t matter, Mom. I can’t trust her and without trust, there’s nothin’.”

“Why
do you say that?”

“Hello?”
He looked at his mom like she had two heads. “How can you ask something like
that? After what Misha pulled and knowing Terri was working for the developers
while they tried to put us out of business?”

“But
in the long run, she didn’t, right?”

“I
don’t know, Mom. We don’t know what they’re gonna do. They might still succeed
with their plans. Terri wouldn’t tell me what she told them in her report. It
was like she didn’t trust me.”

“Now
there’s a turn of the cards.
A woman not trust
you?”

“You
aren’t funny.”

His
mom brushed her fingers from his cheek to his ear like she used to do when he
was little. The soothing motion calmed his heart some. He knew he would always
have the love of his family to fall back on and now he didn’t have to worry
about Misha trying to take their son from him ever again. Was it wrong to be
glad she was dead?
Maybe.
He’d have to have a chat
with God tonight on his knees to beg for forgiveness.

“Honey,
you’re in love with her. Why don’t you admit it?”

“In
love with
who
?”

“Terri.”

“Because
it doesn’t matter what I feel for her. She betrayed me.”

She
exhaled through her mouth in a heavy sigh. “I wish I knew what to say to make
you see she’s the right girl for you.”

“She
might have been, but we’ll never know now.” He pulled his hat from his head and
raked his fingers through his hair. “I guess I’m destined to live alone.”

The
lunch bell clanged calling them inside. “We need to talk more after lunch. I
have something to tell you I think might make a difference and maybe even make
you go after her.”

He
frowned wondering what his mother might have to tell him. What could possibly
change his mind concerning Terri? “Why don’t you tell me now?”

Nina
patted his cheek with her hand. “Because I want to give the girl a head start
and give you the time to come to the same conclusion the rest of the family already
has. You’re very much in love with her, but you can’t see past the hurt in your
heart to see the wonderful woman she truly is.”

His
mother turned to head for the main lodge with him bringing up the rear with
slow, steady footsteps.
What am I
supposed to think? Obviously Mom knows something Terri’s done that might redeem
her in my eyes, but I can’t possibly think what.

Lunch
would be a noisy affair. The ranch was busy this week with guests. Every cabin
had a family or a group in it.
All but
Terri’s now.

Jeff
detoured toward her cabin. The door was unlocked so he slowly pushed it open.
The room smelled like her. Her soft scent enveloped him bringing his thoughts
back to the night they’d made love in this room. She’d given herself to him
without reservation. Took everything he’d dished out with a relish few women
he’d known could. It felt right. She felt right.

His
heart lay tattered in pieces in his chest. She’d come and gone taking it with
her as she drove down the driveway on her way back to Houston. Did she feel
anything for him? He didn’t know. Could she?
Possibly.
She cared for Ben. He was certain of that fact.

Would
she give him another chance if he asked? Could he put his heart out there like
that again hoping she wouldn’t betray him like Misha?

What
he wanted from Terri went beyond what he thought he’d felt for Misha. He’d
never loved Misha like this.

Terri
had his heart in the palm of her hand.

I love her.

The
thought brought a smile to his mouth. He loved her. His heart felt lighter than
it had in three years.

He
spun around and headed for the main lodge. Going after her would be the right
thing to do. He would convince her he loved her and wanted her to come back to
Thunder Ridge with him if it was the last thing he ever did.

The
big heavy door on the side of the building gave way to his insistent push. The
crowd grew quiet as he walked toward the family table.
An
expectancy
hung in the air.

“I
love her!”

“It’s
about damned time you figured it out,” Jeremiah said with a laugh.

The
whole room erupted into cheers.

“I’m
glad you understand now, son,” Nina said, patting the chair next to her for him
to sit. “Eat lunch and then go after her. Bring her back here where she
belongs.”

Soon
the crowd of guests had their fill of food and the family took their places to
pile their own plates. Jeff sat down with his and Ben’s.

“Daddy,
did you ask Terri to be my new mom yet?”

“Not
yet, buddy, but soon.”

“But
she left and didn’t say goodbye.”

“She
told me to kiss you.” He leaned over and kissed Ben’s head. “And tell you she
loved you, but she’d see you again soon.”

“Yay!”
Ben clapped his hands.
“When?”

“Hopefully
before the weekend, son.”

“I’m
glad you’ve come to your senses, Jeff,” James added to the conversation.

“What
did you want to tell me, Mom?”

“Terri
saved the ranch.”

“Huh?”

“She
had a meeting with one of developers this morning. Because of the information
she gathered, they won’t be able to build on their land. It’s now a wildlife
refuge because of a rare bird she spotted. It’s useless to them now.”

“She
what?
Really?”

“Yeah.
They won’t bother us anymore.”

“Why
didn’t she tell me?”

“Because
she didn’t want your love based on something she did to save the ranch, I
imagine. You needed to come to the conclusion you loved her for herself. If you
couldn’t, then you didn’t love her enough.”

He
turned to face his mother. He needed to understand some things about women and
how they thought. Of course, it was probably too late for that. “So why tell me
now?”

“You
said you loved her. You’ve moved past the hurt Misha caused and found love
again with someone who will love you with all of her heart.”

“What
if she doesn’t love me? What if I drive all the way to Houston and she slams
the door in my face?”

“Do
you think that’s the truth?”

“I’m
not sure. She never said she loved me.”

Nina
patted his hand.
“Son, until you confess your love for her,
she’ll hold her love inside her heart and only bring it out when she’s alone
and can cry without worrying about someone wondering what’s wrong.
Women
do those kinds of things.”

“I
need to go now.” He jumped to his feet. “I have to catch her before she gets
home.”

“Sit
down and eat, Jeff. She doesn’t have much of a head start on you. Besides,”
Nina’s eyebrow rose over her left eye, “you’ll need her address to get to her
home, wrap her in your arms and never let her go.”

Mom is probably right. She’s been
right about everything so far.
He nodded at his
mother, who gave him a sly grin.
I knew I
should have paid more attention to her when I had the chance.

Lunch
couldn’t be eaten fast enough for him while he contemplated what he would say
to Terri when he caught her. Catch her he would whether it be somewhere along
the way or once she got home. She’d have a good hour head start on him, but
he’d catch her one way or another.

The
moment he finished eating, he grabbed his plate and set it in the dirty dish
bin. “I’m going now.”

“Go
get ‘
er
Jeff,” Joel said from his spot next to Mesa.
“I can vouch for the
bein
’ in love thing.”

“Shut
up, Joel,” Jonathan replied. “You’re sappy in love.”

“Just
wait until he comes back with her. He’ll be the same way.”

“God,
I hope not. Y’all are makin’ me ill.”

“You’ll
get your turn, Jonathan. Just wait.”

“I
need the address.”

“Wait
a second. I’ll be right back.” His mom disappeared for a minute before
returning with a sticky note. “
Here.
Be careful.”

“Watch
Ben, please,” Jeff asked his mom.

“Of
course, son.
We’ll see you in a couple of days.”

Jeff
hurried out the door to the cheers of the crowd in the dining room. The smile
spreading across his lips almost made his face hurt, but he was happy. For the
first time in a long time, he was happy.

After
jumping in his truck and turning the key for the third time, he knew he had a
problem. It wouldn’t start. His old reliable Chevy wouldn’t start.
Fuck!
He banged his hand on the steering
wheel before he pushed open the door and then slammed it shut again.

He
raced for the lodge to borrow his parents’ truck.
Damn it. I’m not letting her get away.

When
he hit the door, he almost ran into his mother coming out.
“Problem?”

“I
can’t get my truck to start.”

She
pulled the keys to theirs from her pocket. “Go!”

“Thanks,
Mom.” He kissed her on the cheek before rushing around the edge of the building
to where their truck sat.

Within
seconds he tore down the gravel driveway silently asking for forgiveness at
tearing up the rocks on his way out. He hit the gate opener on the visor above
his head, early enough to watch the wrought iron metal swing just wide enough
for the truck to get through.

The
ride to Houston would take three plus hours. He had a lot of time on his hands
to think about what he would say to her besides I love you. What did you say to
a woman who thought you didn’t trust her? I’m sorry would be a good starter, he
figured. Then I love you. He shook his head. He needed to beg for her
forgiveness. Tell her he trusted her and loved her with all his heart.

“Damn,
this is getting sappier by the minute.”

Flowers.
Good idea.