Silver River Romeo (Western Cowboy Romance) (Rancher Romance Series #1) (11 page)

              “Massive amounts of cattle,” he said dryly. When Emma’s face filled with pity, he rushed on, “I’m sure if I’d really wanted it, my parent’s might have found a way. But it was a kid’s dream. I outgrew it and ranching fit me like a glove.”

              “Your parents,” Emma said, treading lightly. “What happened to them?”

              “My mama died when I was a lot younger,” Cole said. “Only fourteen. There was a car crash. Some tourist driving like a maniac. Her car went into a gulley. It...it took about two days to find her.”

              “Oh, God,” Emma murmured in distress. “Oh, Cole. I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry that it happened and so sorry I pried into your business like that. I never should have--”

              “As far as I’m concerned, my business is your business,” Cole said sincerely. “It’s been twelve years. It’s not raw anymore, even though it never really stops being painful to think about. As for my dad,” he said, after taking a sip of his drink. “He had a heart attack in the field a few years back. He was young for that sort of thing, but he always worked too hard and he never would go for his regular checkups. But he died doing what he loved though, and I guess that’s what we all want.”

              “I guess so,” she agreed. “I’m still sorry.”

              “Me, too,” Cole admitted. “But, I guess it is what it is. On a lighter note, how’s the pizza?”

              “Good,” she said. When he raised an eyebrow she added, “Ish. Good-ish. You were right.”

              “Of course I was,” he said with a cocky smile.

              She stretched her leg out and kicked him very gently in the shin.  “Do you need to call home?” she asked suddenly. “Won’t Marshall and Darrell worry?”

              “Darrell doesn’t notice who comes and goes,” Cole said honestly. “Unless he comes to the house for supper. Marshall probably knows where I am. They called this whole thing, you know. Probably made a bet about it.”

              “A bet?” Emma asked and Cole was relieved she was smiling as she questioned him.

              “Yeah. They have an awful habit of betting on my life. They think I don’t know, but I’m the smart one.”

              Emma giggled. “I doubt they bet on this. Cole...” she said, suddenly serious. “I’m really sorry for the way I treated you.”

              “I’m sorry we got off on the wrong foot,” he said. “I shouldn’t have been such a jerk that day in the seed and feed store. It was a bad day for me and I only made it worse by putting my foot in my mouth. I’m sure I made it a lot worse for you, too. I never want to make your day worse again, Emma,” he said sincerely.

              Her heart melted just a little more and she gave him a seductive smile.

              “Want to go back to my place?” she asked. “I’m getting a craving pizza just won’t fix.”

              Cole practically bolted out of his chair as he tossed some money down onto the tabletop and whisked her out of her seat.

              “Then let’s move along, Miss Emma,” he answered, before planting a kiss on her lips for everyone to see. Part of her wished Trish was there to see it but mostly, Emma just wished that the trip home was a shorter one.

             
“How’re things going with Emma?” Marshall asked a few weeks later as he dropped down on the back porch and handed Cole a beer.

              “Good,” Cole answered as he twisted the top off. “Thanks. And, okay, yeah, better than good,” he admitted when Marshall raised an eyebrow at him. “I’m proud of what she’s doing at Raven Branch. I think she’s going to have some good stock to sell when the time comes. She’s a real natural with those horses. Not so much with a hammer and nail, but I guess you can’t learn everything right away, can you?”

              “You’ve been over there a lot,” Marshall pointed out.

              Cole felt suddenly guilty. He wasn’t cutting corners in his work at Silver River, but he probably wasn’t giving it his all anymore, either. He wondered if his brother was about to point that out. Was that why he’d wanted to have this talk?

              “Have there been problems here I’m missing?” he asked.

              “I don’t think so,” his brother answered. “I’ve been feeling a little guilty though.”

              “Guilty? You? What for?” Cole was legitimately shocked.

              “Because Silver River isn’t successful enough for me to be able to buy you out. I’m not blind or stupid, Cole. I know you want to go.”

              “Have I--” Cole began, but his brother interrupted him.

              “You haven’t said it,” Marshall stated.  “You didn’t need to.  But we both know you’re never going to say it. You’re not screwing up here because you’re too good of a rancher to screw up on purpose. But we both know this isn’t where you want to be. You love horses and you want that field of soy and you love Emma.”

              “I haven’t said anything about that!” Cole said, looking closely at his older brother. “Not the part about Emma, I mean. I haven’t even told her.”

              “What are you waiting for?” Marshall asked logically.

              “You think I should tell her?” Cole asked hesitantly. “Not just that I love her, but that I’d love to help her run Raven Branch?”

              “Why the hell wouldn’t you tell her?” Marshall asked. “Still planning to run off with a chorus girl?”

              “I wish I’d never told you that. Would you let it go? I was eight!” When Marshall only grinned and shook his head Cole went on, “I guess I’m worried. I’m afraid she might think I only want to be with her so I can have the ranch.”

             
“I think she’s finally realized that, no matter how much you might look and sound like one, you’re not a jerk. She should know you better than that by now,” Marshall said.

              “Very funny, big brother. So, you think I should go for it?” Cole began peeling at the label of his beer bottle.

              “If you don’t, I will,” Marshall said casually.

              “The hell you will!” Cole said, turning to his brother in indignation, only to find Marshall laughing silently. “Oh. You’re doing that thing.”

              “What thing?” Marshall asked, still grinning widely.

              “That older, wiser big brother thing.”

              “I can’t help doing that thing,” Marshall said. “It’s what I am. Tell that girl you love her at least. We’ll work out the rest later.”

              “Okay,” Cole said. “I think I might--”

              “Yeah, go ahead. Darrell’s slept in for the past few years, he can get up and do your chores in the morning.” Marshall waved away Cole’s thank you and Cole headed to the barn to saddle Sheriff up.

              It was a homey feeling to see the lights from her kitchen spilling over the front yard and Cole realized that it wasn’t just nerves making his heart pound. There was also anticipation. Riding up to Emma’s front door felt right. He tied the reins to her front porch railing and knocked at her door.

              “Hey, Emma,” he began when she flung the door open. “I’m...what’s wrong?”

              Her face was blotchy and puffy around her reddened blue eyes.  “Nothing,” she answered, obviously lying.

              “Emma, come on now, that’s not true,” he said with actual concern in his voice and on his face. “Tell me what the problem is.”  He stepped in the door and wrapped his arms around her.

              She tried once more to pull it together, repeating, “I’m fine.”

              “Sweetheart,” Cole chastised.

              That was all it took. Emma began to cry as she clung to him. He felt her bury her face into his chest as she sobbed. He gathered her closer, and then slid a kitchen chair out with his booted foot. He sat down and pulled her into his lap, letting her cuddle as close as she needed to. He rubbed his hand up and down her slim back and let her cry for a bit.

             
When her sobs lost their intensity and died down to sniffles and gasps, he said, “Ready to talk about it?”

              “No,” she said defiantly as she sat up and grabbed a cheerful yellow paper napkin from the holder on her table. “I’m never going to be ready though,” she admitted when he raised an eyebrow at her. “My parents want to come see the ranch. They’re planning a visit in a few weeks.”

              “Oh,” Cole said, trying to sound like he understood why that had sent her into fits of sobbing. He knew that things weren’t good between her and her family, but he didn’t think a small visit would cause such hysteria.

              “You don’t understand!” Emma wailed.

Cole had no choice but to admit that, no, he actually did not understand in the least little bit. “How about you explain it to me,” he said. “I know that you and your folks don’t exactly get along, but how bad can it be? They aren’t staying for a month or anything, are they?”

              “No,” Emma said, blowing her nose. “Thank God, it’s only for a three day weekend. It’s just that...well...the ranch isn’t everything I wanted it to be right now.”

              “I thought it was exactly what you wanted to be right now. You’ve got the right amount of stock, the stables are all fixed up--”

              “The grass in the front yard is awful! I haven’t fixed up the guest room. I only have eight horses, Cole! Only eight! The flowers are dead.” When Cole gave her a quizzical look, she elaborated. “I planted a rose bush. It died. I can’t believe the horses have survived this long under my care.”

              “Horses are little hardier than your average rose bush,” Cole reassured her. “Sweetheart, I promise, you are doing fine. I was just bragging about you to Marshall less than an hour ago.”

              “Thanks,” Emma said with a sniffle. “I really do appreciate that. But they won’t think so. And, even though I know that I’m proud of what I’ve done, they won’t be and I’ll feel bad about it. I don’t want them making me feel badly about my ranch!”

              “I’ve got something that’ll make you feel good,” Cole said. “At least, I hope it will.”

              “What’s that?” she asked. “I’m sorry, Cole. I should have asked what made you ride over tonight.”

              “A man can’t want to see the most beautiful woman in the whole state out of the blue?” he demanded.

              “Apparently not,” she said dryly. “You said you’ve got something to make me feel better. If it’s chocolate or wine, I am so going to have to ask you to remove your pants.”

              “It’s not chocolate or wine. It’s...it’s just that...well...I love you, Emma Carson.”

              Her mouth dropped open and she stared at him.

              “You what?” she finally whispered.

              “I love you,” he said again, trying not to sound too nervous as he scrutinized her face. “I know we haven’t been seeing each other very long, but I--”

              His words were cut off by her lips. As her sweet mouth slanted over his, her body pressed close, driving him crazy.

              “Oh, Cole,” she whispered breathlessly when she finally tore herself free of the kiss. “That’s the best thing you could have said to me tonight.”