Love All Out - The Complete Series (A Stepbrother Romance) (3 page)

“Around four, they’re going to wait until the kids get out of school. You know how much Lilly and Martin like visiting the ranch.”

Fantastic… there’s no point in cleaning or organizing anything until after the rugrats have left.

“Okay, let’s get the paddock ready first. I’ll make sure the water trough is clean if you’ll jump on the tractor and bring in a bale of hay. If we have the stallions out on the walker when the kids get here, we may be able to keep them outside. The barn looked like it had been hit by a tornado the last time they came out.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Matt agreed as we pulled up next to the hitching pole. Mayhem was still saddled and waiting patiently, but I knew I wouldn’t have a chance to ride again that day.

“What are you doing tonight?” Matt asked.

“Dinner with Daddy, I guess. Why?”

“Want to rent a movie and hang out? Something tells me that you’re going to need a drink or two when this day is over.”

I grinned. “Sounds like a plan.”

As promised, Renee showed up at the house bright and early the next morning. I heard the doorbell ring from my bedroom, took a deep breath, and vowed to keep my attitude in check. I knew Daddy was right about Matt and I needing help, but I wasn’t about to admit it to anyone but myself. I checked my reflection in my vanity mirror. My blue eyes stood out against my porcelain complexion and I was relieved that I didn’t look as tired as I felt. I tucked a few stray hairs behind my ear, and set off down the hallway. By the time I got to the front door, no one was there. I followed the sound of voices to the kitchen and found Daddy and Renee drinking coffee at the table. Daddy smiled when I entered the room.

“Good morning, pumpkin. You remember Mrs. Parker?”

Good God… do they expect me to call her Mrs. Parker? She’s an employee for Christ’s sake. And she better not even think about calling me pumpkin.

“Yes, of course,” I replied with a tight smile. “How are you… Mrs. Parker?”

“Please, Willow, call me Renee,” she said. Renee gave me a kind, broad smile and seemed perfectly at ease. The fact that she was so comfortable in our house irritated me, but I wasn’t sure why. “I’m doing well,” Renee continued. “I’m excited to get started today. I was just telling Cole how much I’ve missed working with horses. Believe it or not, I was quite the cowgirl in my day.”

“That must be where James gets it,” I replied. I walked to the countertop and poured myself a cup of coffee. “I hear he’s making a name for himself on the rodeo circuit.”

“That he is,” Renee confirmed. “But he didn’t get that from me. Horses are one thing, but when he climbs onto the backs of those bulls, my heart stops. Fortunately, he hasn’t been injured too badly yet… not that he’s told me about, anyway.”

“James is young,” Daddy chimed in. “I’m sure he hits the ground and bounces right back up.”

“It must be hard for you, having him away from home so much,” I observed. I leaned against the kitchen counter and drank my coffee.

Renee nodded. “It has… I’m ashamed to admit it, but I leaned on James a bit too much after Gus died. Now that it’s just me at the house, I’ve had a hard time figuring out what to do with myself. That’s why I’m so happy to be here.”

I remembered when James’s father died. Gus Parker had been a kind man, and very involved in his son’s life. He was a teacher and coached the Durango High football team. When I was in middle school, Gus was hit by a drunk driver and died on the scene. James was a sophomore in high school when it happened. That’s when he quit the football team and discovered bull riding.

Daddy reached across the table and squeezed Renee’s hand. “We’re happy to have you here.” There was a hint of affection in his voice that grated on my already frayed nerves. Renee gave Daddy a tender look that made me feel even more uncomfortable.

“Thank you, Cole,” she replied. They stared at each other for a moment and then suddenly dropped hands and broke eye contact. It was if they’d just remembered I was there.

“When will James be home?” I asked.

So you’ll have a reason not to be here all the time…

“Actually, he’ll be home this weekend. He’s riding in a rodeo in Pagosa Springs. After that, he’s going on the road for another two weeks and then he’ll be home for at least a month.”

My stomach fluttered at the thought of James being close by again. “You’ll have to bring him out sometime,” I suggested, trying to hide the eagerness in my voice.

Daddy and Renee exchanged a satisfied look. “I’m so glad to hear you say that,” Daddy told me. “I wasn’t going to mention this until all the details were worked out, but I’ve decided to add to our trail riding tours this year. Extreme survival tours are all the rage right now. Instead of taking people out on day trips, we’ll set up rustic camping areas and do overnight and weekend rides. I’m going to offer James a job as one of our guides. He’s great with animals and he knows the badlands like the back of his hand.”

My heart raced and for a moment, I thought that my legs might collapse underneath me. I’d spent most of my teen years admiring James from a distance. Since he graduated, I’d fantasized about running in to him again. But I wasn’t prepared to see him every day.

“Expanding the rides is a great idea, Daddy,” I said. I hoped that my face wasn’t as flushed as it felt. Daddy’s done trail rides and hunting tours for as long as I can remember. We’d even had guests pay to stay in one of the empty staff cabins and do actual ranch work. The weekend cowboys always seemed like a nuisance to me, but Daddy loved them. They gave him the perfect excuse to avoid his real work and play on the mountain.

“I’m glad you think so,” Daddy replied. “I think it will be especially popular during hunting season. I thought we’d go to Pagosa Springs and watch James ride this weekend. I’ll offer him the job after the rodeo. Do you think you could map out some new trails before then?”

Sure… it’s not like I don’t have plenty of work to do already.

“Whatever you need, Daddy.”

“Fantastic. I thought we’d invite Dale and Bradley to join us, make a real night of it.”

I let out an audible groan. Dale was one of our neighbors. He and Daddy had been friends since I was a little girl and they were constantly trying to push me and Bradley, Dale’s son, into a relationship.

“Daddy, I love you… but you’ve got to quit playing matchmaker,” I insisted.

Daddy shrugged. “I don’t know why you’re so resistant to the idea. You and Bradley have so much in common. And it would do you good to spend time with someone other than me or Matt.”

“Oh Cole, back off of the poor girl,” Renee said with a good natured grin. She put her hand on his forearm and I stared down at my coffee. “I’m sure Willow will date when she finds the right man. No young woman wants her dad setting her up. And once James is here, she’ll have someone to hang out with besides you and Matt. Honestly, Willow, I’m hoping some of your dedication and work ethic will rub off on my wayward son.”

“I thought you said he’s doing well?” I asked, unable to stop the question from forming.

“He’s doing well enough… but he has no direction. I always emphasized the importance of education, but after two semesters at the community college, he dropped out. Said he needed time to ‘find himself’. He’s winning just enough money at the rodeos to stay on the road. Bull riding isn’t a long term career choice, and I’m terrified that he’s going to knock up a buckle bunny and ruin his life,” Renee finished with a sigh.

I blushed again at the thought of James hooking up with random rodeo groupies.

He probably has a woman in every city… he’s definitely pretty enough. I wonder if the women know each other. I wonder if they care that they’re just one of many.

I’d always thought James was hot, but I’d also known that he wasn’t the type of guy I could have a relationship with. He was too cocky, too sure that he was God’s gift to women. And from what I’d seen in high school, he thought his sex appeal entitled him to any woman he wanted. As hot as he was, the last thing I wanted was to be another notch on his belt.

“We’ll get him straightened out, Renee,” Daddy assured her. “A few weeks on the ranch and he’ll be a new man.”

“I sure hope so. I think you’ll be a good influence on him too, Cole. He’s been so lost since Gus passed.”

“I’d be happy to take him under my wing.”

Daddy and Renee grinned at each other like love struck teenagers and I had the overwhelming urge to escape.

“It’s getting late… shall we get to work?” I asked.

“Of course,” Renee agreed. She finished her coffee in one long gulp and carried her cup to the sink.

I turned to Daddy. “What’s on your agenda today?”

“The usual… I’m going to check the pastures for new babies and then shut myself up in my office. I may drive out to the Maxwell’s place after lunch. They’ve got a bull for sale that I have my eye on. Why don’t you two eat with me today? We’ve got plenty of Mary’s fried chicken left. Bring Matt too.”

“I don’t know…” I hesitated. Daddy already seemed too fond of Renee. I didn’t want to sit around and watch him fawn over her while I tried to eat.

“I doubt we’ll have time for a long lunch,” Renee replied. “I’d like to get trained as quickly as possible.”

If I hadn’t been so annoyed by her, I’d have been grateful for Renee’s excuse. “Renee’s right,” I agreed. “We’ve got a lot of ground to cover and I’d like to have her trained before Glory foals. And she could go any day now.”

“Oh how exciting!” Renee exclaimed. “This is why spring is my favorite season. I love all of the baby animals!”

I studied Renee’s face for a moment, trying to figure out how she could possibly be so perky at eight a.m. I’d never met Gus, but it was obvious that James took after his father. With her blonde hair, blue eyes, and short stature, Renee looked more like me than her dark haired, dark eyed son.

“Then you’ll love being on the ranch,” Daddy told her. “When you’re done for the day, I’ll take you for a drive and introduce you to Aces High’s newest residents.”

“I’d love that!” Renee gushed.

I cleared my throat. “So… are you ready to get going? We can drive down to the barn, if you’d like.”

Renee waved off the suggestion. “Nonsense, what is it, half a mile?”

I nodded.

“Let’s walk it, I could use the exercise.”

“Okay… see you tonight, Daddy.”

“Have a good day, pumpkin, and take care of Renee.”

“I will,” I grudgingly promised.

When Daddy first told me he’d hired Renee, I thought he saw it as killing two birds with one stone: Matt and I needed help; she needed a job. But it was becoming more and more apparent that he had personal reasons for wanting Renee on the ranch every day.

I left the kitchen and made my way to the front door. I didn’t bother to turn around and check if Renee was following me. I didn’t want to watch her and Daddy exchange goodbyes. She caught up to me on the porch steps and I turned to her with a frown.

“Are you involved with my father?” I blurted out. “Is that really why you’re here?”

Renee blushed. “I’m fond of your dad, Willow. He’s been a good friend to me during some very difficult times. But I’m not here for him, I’m here to work.”

Unsure what to say, I stepped off the steps and started walking to the barn. Renee touched my arm and I stopped. “Cole warned me that you’re territorial about the thoroughbreds,” she said, her voice kind and gentle. “And I know that this was your mom’s specialty. I don’t want to come between you and your father, and I’d certainly never try to replace your mom. I’ve spent years cooped up in the clinic with its florescent lights and demanding patients. I miss being outside, working with livestock. All I want is to help with the horses. And if you give me a chance, I think you’ll find I’m quite good at it.”

Why does she have to be so patient and understanding? This would be easier if she was a bitch. Then I’d have a valid reason for this resentment I feel for her.

I studied Renee for a moment, trying to decide whether or not I could trust her. She stared back at me with kind eyes and I resolved myself to the fact that I was stuck with her, trust or no trust. I gave Renee a silent nod and then we walked to the barn to start her training.

***

“Oh my
God
! I can’t believe that James Parker is coming to work here. How in the world are we going to get any work done with such a beautiful distraction around?” Matt asked.

It was later that afternoon. I’d given Renee the keys to my farm truck and sent her to the feed store so Matt and I could have an hour or so alone together. We sat outside drinking lemonade that Mary had delivered to the barn.

“He won’t be working with us,” I reminded him. “He’ll be on the trails. And I’m sure that he’ll get restless after a week or two and head back out on the rodeo circuit.”

I hoped that James’s time on the ranch would be limited. I was certain that I’d make a fool of myself in front of him and I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life hiding in the thoroughbred barn out of embarrassment.

“James may not be working with us, but Renee is,” Matt continued. “I’m sure they’ll ride here together. I bet we see him every day.”

“Renee is doing a good job,” I said, trying to turn the conversation away from James. “I’m surprised by how much she knows.”

Matt nodded. “It’s a shame that her family doesn’t breed anymore. It sounds like they had a wonderful program.”

Renee had taken to the work quickly. I’d expected it to take a few days to train her, but all I really had to do was show her where we kept everything and explain our daily schedule. She mucked out the horse stalls without complaining and with the three of us working together, we’d finished the undesirable chore in record time.

“I appreciate her help and I’m glad she trained so quickly, but I’m not sure I’m happy that she’s working here,” I confessed.

Matt finished his first glass of lemonade and poured a refill from the thermos. “I know you’re having a hard time with this, but I really don’t think that Renee is going to try to take over. She probably could… she seems to know enough. But she also seems respectful of the fact that you’re the boss.”

“I’m not worried about her taking over the thoroughbreds. I know that Daddy was right, that we could use the extra help. And I’m actually looking forward to having extra free time. You saw how quickly we cleaned the stalls. We may actually finish our work at a decent hour today.”