The Cowboy Meets His Match (14 page)

Erin knew something had changed at the hospital, but she couldn't figure out what.

“I'm encouraged by how good Dad looks,” she said, hoping to get a conversation going.

“Uh-huh.”

“And I'll talk to Mother about her bookkeeping.”

“That's good.”

“And I think I'll ride my horse right into church tomorrow to liven things up.”

“That's a good approach.”

She turned and faced him head-on. It took him several minutes to realize she had stopped talking. When he looked her direction, he said, “What?”

“Where are you, Sawyer? Because you're not here with me in this truck.”

“Things piled up on us today, and I'm just trying to sort them out.” He looked back to the interstate.

His explanation could've been the truth, but she had this feeling in her gut it wasn't the entire reason he was so far removed from her. She didn't try again. The words of caution he'd offered before about Tate rang again in her head.
Don't push
.

It went against her nature. She wanted answers, to sort out the situation now, but something inside her warned her, and for the balance of the drive, nothing was said.

He pulled into the ranch driveway. Following her out of the truck, he caught up with her in a couple of steps and caught her hand.

“Are you okay?” He studied her face.

“Yes. Are you?”

He pulled her into his arms and held her close, resting his chin on the top of her head. His hand rubbed her back. She found comfort in his action, but wondered if he didn't need the comfort, too.

“It's been a long day and seeing your dad was hard, I know.”

She noticed he didn't answer her question. Instead, he cupped her face and gently kissed her. It wasn't a kiss of passion but of comfort and solace. He brushed another kiss across her lips. “I'll see you tomorrow.”

She stared after his retreating form, wondering what was going on with him, because she didn't have a clue.

Chapter Eleven

S
awyer stared at the ceiling trying to find his way through the maze of conflicting emotions. It'd been a roller coaster of a day, from this morning around the Delong table with coffee and inquisitive minds, to the joy of talking with Erin about the bids that had come in, to his discovery of her mother's use of her. Erin had honestly listened to him without any recriminations.

Her reaction rocked him back on his heels, but the coup de grâce was meeting his mother face-to-face in Detrick's room at the hospital. His knees had nearly buckled when he'd heard her voice. He thought he might be hallucinating, but when he turned, it was his mother—a better, healthier version of his mother, much like she'd been when his father was alive. But there was something more in her demeanor that puzzled him.

What was it? She didn't seem nervous or unsure. She moved with confidence. A woman at peace.

That thought blew him away.

The nurse in Detrick's room physically resembled his mom, but she'd changed from the inside out.

He should call his brother and tell him what had happened, but he wasn't ready to talk to Caleb.

Sawyer thought about calling Pastor Garvey in Plainview to talk to him, but what would he say? He saw a woman who was a dead ringer for his mom but acted nothing like the woman he'd known. Besides, his mother wasn't a nurse.

People can change
,
the thought came
.

He rested his head in his hands and ran his fingers through his hair. He needed to know more before calling his brother.

* * *

Erin walked into the kitchen, where her mother stood making her special honey cake for breakfast before church.

“Did you and Sawyer finish the business you had in Las Vegas yesterday before you came to the hospital?” Mary asked. “You didn't mention anything about how things went.”

“We worked while on the road to Vegas and dropped by your store.”

“You two agreed on what needs to be done.” Mary looked up from the bowl with a knowing smile.

“We have. Sawyer's an insightful man.”

Mary smiled. “Did you ask him if he is part Navajo?”

Erin hoisted herself onto the counter and stole a few raisins from a bowl.

“No, I didn't ask him about that, but he asked me why I was doing your books at the store since you're such an insightful and capable woman, and why you didn't hire a bookkeeper or buy a software program that would track your sales and expenses instead of drafting your daughter into doing your books.”

Mary paled. “What did you say?”

“I blinked at Sawyer, realizing, for the first time, that he was right about what was happening.”

Mary pulled out a chair from the table and sat down. Erin jumped off the counter and squatted in front of her mother.

“What has frightened you, Mother?”

Mary cupped Erin's cheek, and her eyes glistened with moisture. “I realized that my firstborn was now a grown and very capable woman who had earned her undergraduate degree and is close to getting her masters.” Mary took a breath. “I guess I feared you would feel you no longer need your mother and leave to make your own way. I didn't want to face that.”

Rising up on her knees, Erin wrapped her arms around her mother. “I will never outgrow my need for you. But I know you want to see me spread my wings and fly. You and Father made that possible. Everything was possible. If I could think it, I could try it. I knew this because of you and Father. Never did you put any limits on my imagination. I've talked with other girls in college and heard how they were directed in the way their families wanted them to go, never paying attention to their daughter's strengths. I found this so foreign and wasteful of their talents. I appreciated my parents even more.”

“So much has changed,” Mary whispered.

“True, but you always said there is a merciful Lord who walks with us.”

Mary laughed through her tears. “There is nothing more humbling than having to live by one's own words.”

“Sometimes we forget and need to be reminded.” Erin gently wiped the tears from her mother's cheeks.

Betty walked into the kitchen. She looked at them and asked, “What is going on?”

“The sharing of wisdom, Sister, and the reminder to live with one's words with grace.”

Betty looked from her sister to her niece and frowned. “What?”

Erin stood and wrapped her arm around her aunt, drawing her close.

Mary took a deep breath. “My daughter called me out on trying to keep her close. She assured me her love will continue, no matter where she is.”

Understanding lit Betty's eyes. “It's hard, Sister, to let the first one go. Talk to me, I will help.”

“Thank you, Auntie.”

* * *

Sawyer slipped into the back of the church. He'd overslept and thrown on his clothes and dress shirt. He'd missed the song service. Instead of parading down the aisle, making a show of himself, he sat in the next to the last pew and listened to the sermon. The preacher spoke about forgiveness and said that if you forgave the person who wronged you, that forgiveness would free you. No longer would you have to carry around the crippling weight that ate your soul.

Sawyer's gaze drilled a hole into the pastor. Obviously, the man didn't know what he was talking about. He hadn't had to sleep out in the field behind his house when his mother entertained her drunk boyfriend who was spoiling for a fight.

“Let loose and let God heal your heart.”

Sawyer folded his arms over his chest, throwing up a barrier. His heart and head weren't interested.

The pastor said the final prayer, and the organist played the closing hymn.

As people filed out, Sawyer didn't move from his place on the pew, still struggling with the message.

Tate sat beside him. “You plan to sit here all day? Church's over. I thought you were eating with us.”

When Sawyer looked around, he saw Erin, her aunt and mother standing at the end of the pew. They'd witnessed his struggle.

Fighting his awkwardness, he stood and pasted on a smile. “I'm ready.”

Mary cocked her head, studying him, as if she could read his confused heart. She nodded.

“I'll follow you to the ranch,” Sawyer told them. “I'd be more than willing to have Tate ride with me.”

Within minutes, they were on the road.

“Sis was worried that you might not show up today.”

Sawyer shot a glance at Tate. “She say why?”

“No. But she kept looking down the aisle while we were singing.”

“I overslept.”

“I hear you. One time I slept through my alarm for school and managed to get ready in five minutes. Amazed my mom and sister. Dad knew I could pull it off.” At the mention of his father, Tate seemed to deflate.

“Your dad looked good yesterday at the hospital.”

“Yeah, he did when I saw him, but Sis acted kinda strange when she came in last night. I thought something had happened with Dad.”

Hearing Tate alerted Sawyer that Erin had picked up on his agitation. “We did a lot yesterday. I think the relief your sister had after seeing your dad made her a little—uh—”

Tate grinned, waiting to hear Sawyer's explanation. “Yes?”

“Off,” he said, finally committing to a word. “But I expect you to keep this conversation between us.”

“You bet.” The kid folded his arms over his chest and kept grinning.

“Anything I need to know before your mom questions me?” Sawyer asked on the drive.

Tate stroked his chin. “Just be straight-up honest with her.”

“I hear ya.”

“I know. Believe me, I've never gotten anything by my mom, and I've tried.”

Sawyer laughed. He could see Tate trying to put something over on Mary. It was nothing like his experience with his own mom, who had managed not to be aware that her boys were even in the house.

“But Mom's fair.”

Sawyer wondered how fair Mary would be since he won the contract over her daughter. So far she'd been reasonable, but he hadn't spent much time with her. He knew his mom would've been out for his hide if he'd won over the person she wanted to get the job. Her sons weren't necessarily the people she backed.

The ranch house came into view. Tate's prediction would soon be put to the test.

* * *

Erin threw her purse on the desk in the kitchen and walked to the sink to wash her hands.

“How are you, child?” Mary asked, stopping next to Erin. Her mom had been watching her all through church. Erin felt guilty, but for what?

“I'm fine.” Her clipped response gave away the truth—she wasn't—but before her mother could pursue the topic, Tate and Sawyer walked in. Mary leaned close. “We'll talk later. We have much to discuss.”

They'd already talked. What now? Erin turned and walked away. It took less than five minutes for them to get dinner on the table, and then Mary motioned for them to take their seats. Sawyer sat next to Tate and across from Erin.

After a prayer, Betty dished out a lamb stew and placed a piece of blue corn bread on the edge of the bowl.

It took a moment of Sawyer studying the bread to ask, “Is this supposed to be this color?”

“It's Auntie's favorite blue corn bread. Try it,” Tate urged.

Sawyer had eaten worse. He took a bite and slowly chewed the corn bread. The sweet taste of the cornmeal raced over his tongue. “That's good.”

“Of course, so how was your trip to Las Vegas yesterday?” Betty asked.

Erin looked at her mother. “We got a lot of things ironed out at Mom's shop and with the different people working with the rodeo.”

They discussed how Detrick looked and the plans for this next week. They'd noticed a weakness on her father's left side, which they talked to the doctor about.

“On the way home from church, Sawyer said he'd like to ride this afternoon.” Tate turned to Erin. “Want to go with us, Sis?”

Erin liked the enthusiasm her brother displayed. More like the old Tate. Glancing at Sawyer, she saw him nod at her.

“You're more than welcome to join us, Erin.”

Oddly enough, she wanted to go out with them. “A ride this afternoon sounds like a good idea.”

“So, you are a championship rider, Sawyer?” Mary accepted her bowl of stew.

“Yes, ma'am. I won my buckles the summer of my freshman year in college. When I first got this job, Erin wanted to make sure I understood the needs of the men and women who compete in rodeo, so she questioned me.”

Nodding, Mary said, “I'm sure she did.”

Erin refused to look at anyone.

“My daughter has a heart for others and wanted to make sure those needs were addressed.”

“Mom, Sawyer doesn't need to hear that.”

“I've seen that strength myself,” Sawyer answered.

Erin's head jerked up, and she saw him smile.

“And, I know her single-mindedness.” He grinned, letting her know he was enjoying himself.

“Odd you should say so. Erin said the same thing about you.”

“Mom,” Erin protested.

Mary smiled calmly. “He complimented you, Daughter. He should know you hold him in the same regard.”

Nothing like having your mother reveal your deepest secrets.

Sawyer's eyes twinkled when they met hers. “I guess that's why we get along so well.”

Her heart fluttered. Sawyer was right. They understood each other on a deeper level. She had never felt this way about another man, and she didn't know exactly what to do with the feeling. Across the table, her mother and Aunt Betty grinned like satisfied cats.

Suddenly, Erin wanted to laugh, and, with her heart light, she couldn't wait to get out on the range, with the horse beneath her and Sawyer and Tate by her side.

* * *

The three of them rode west of the house. The high desert slowly descended to a small creek that ran through the property. The horses picked their way down the ridges left by previous flash floods.

The wind increased, and the clouds turned a greenish-gray color and looked as if someone had a giant hand mixer, churning them.

Her skin pricking at the sight, Erin said, “We should probably head back.”

“Let's get to the river, then we can turn back,” Tate replied. “It's not that far.”

Sawyer and Erin traded looks. In this part of New Mexico, storms were notorious for rolling in at an amazing speed, and they should turn around and head to the ranch, but for the first time in a long time, Erin saw her brother smile and joke, so she pushed aside her misgivings. At the river, they allowed the horses to rest and drink.

Thunder rolled across the prairie, shaking the ground where they stood. Their horses started to dance with nervousness.

Sawyer stroked his horse's neck. “Your sister's right, and we should start back. Our mounts sense something coming in.”

Tate didn't protest. Having ridden all his life, he knew to listen to his horse and the weather around. They mounted up and headed back. Starting up one of the sandy hills, a gust of wind hit Tate, and his mount lost his footing and stumbled backward, rolling over. Tate flew through the air and landed against a large rock. Erin and Sawyer dismounted and ran to him.

Sawyer got there first and gently rolled him over. Tate cried out. Looking at the odd position of his arm, Sawyer realized it was broken. The force of the wind pushed her into Sawyer. He caught her, steadying her. “You okay?”

Erin braced herself against his shoulders. “Yes.”

Lightning flashed across the sky, with the roar of thunder immediately following. Tate moaned and opened his eyes.

“Tate, how are you?” she asked.

“My head hurts and my arm.”

Sawyer looked around at the darkening horizon, taking in the swirling black clouds. “Normally, I'd say to wait for EMS, but with that storm barreling down on us, we can't.”