Loving A Lonesome Cowboy
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“An ad on Manny’s bulletin board.”
“Good timing. When do the girls get here?”
“Tomorrow.”
Sam straightened. “Tomorrow?” He lifted his hat off his head, and mopped his forehead. “Tomorrow.” He grunted. “Isn’t that just like Jenny? No notice. No consideration.”
“She calls herself Jenna now.”
“Tough.”
Ethan smiled.
Sam looked away. He’d grown up with Ethan and his little sister. Only, the last time Jenny’d visited she wasn’t so little anymore, and her childhood crush on him hadn’t seemed so silly.
“I need a favor,” Ethan said. “Can you spare one of your men?”
Glad to have his thoughts pulled away from Jenny, Sam studied his friend. Normally he would have automatically said sure, or you’re the boss, but something told him to hold back. “What for?”
“To help Sara.”
“Clean?”
Ethan shook his head. “Mostly do the lifting.”
“Why can’t you do it?”
The flash of fear in Ethan’s eyes was like a ray of sunshine to Sam. “I’m busy,” Ethan said, shaking his head. “You just said we have fence that needs mending.”
“Not right away.”
“What about Bobby? Can’t you spare him?”
Sam massaged the back of his neck, frowning, in a show of concern. “I already gave him time off to go see his folks up in Albuquerque for the holidays.”
“And Gus? What about him?”
“He’s driving a herd to South Fork.”
Ethan rattled off a few more names. Sam made more excuses.
Ethan exhaled, long and slow. “You’ve got to have somebody.”
“Nope. Afraid I don’t.” The more panicked Ethan looked, the better it made Sam feel. It was good to see some life in his friend again. Damn good. “Unless…”
“Yeah?” Impatience and hope animated Ethan’s face.
Sam shrugged. “I suppose I could give her a hand. Maybe she’ll be grateful and have dinner with me.” He winked, then hid a smile at Ethan’s sudden frown.
“I thought you were busy.”
Sam shrugged again. “Shouldn’t take long. Anyway, I sure wouldn’t mind her company.”
Ethan silently stroked Thunder’s neck, his brows furrowed in thought. Finally, he sighed. A put-upon sigh. For Sam’s benefit, no doubt. “You’re right. Shouldn’t take long. Guess I can handle it.”
“You sure?” Sam kept a straight face. “I don’t mind.”
Ethan flexed a shoulder, a nervous habit he’d had since they were kids. “Nah, I can manage.”
Sam turned to his bucket of grooming supplies and busied himself with finding a brush before he started grinning like a village idiot. “Let me know if you change your mind.”
“Thanks.” Ethan sighed again. “I’d better get to the house and see if she needs me.”
Sam nodded, but didn’t look up until his friend’s scuffed boots were headed away from the stables and toward the house. He watched his retreating form, noticing the new life to Ethan’s step, and a lump swelled in Sam’s throat. It was so damn good to see traces of the old Ethan. God bless Sara Conroy. Sam hoped she did need Ethan. As much as Ethan needed her.
TEN MINUTES LATER, Ethan stood on the front porch of the house to which he’d sworn he’d never return and pressed the doorbell button. If he had half a brain in his head he would’ve let Sam deal with Sara. But that wasn’t right. Sam had carried the major burden of the ranch for the past six years. And Erika and Denise were Ethan’s problem…
“Ethan?” Sara had opened the door, startling him out of his thoughts. Her lips curved in a shy smile. “We just finished breakfast. Leftover chicken and biscuits, thanks to you.”
She stepped aside, and he had to force his feet to move over the threshold. The sun hadn’t been up long, but enough of its rays touched her auburn hair to turn the tips to gold. When he passed her, the scent of roses took some of the starch out of his knees.
“Well, what do you think?”
He looked blankly at her.
Her expression fell, and she cast a forlorn look over the family room. “Can’t you see the difference?”
Ethan slowly scanned the room. All the sheets were off the furniture, the brass lamps gleamed and the hardwood floor had been polished to a high shine. “I can’t believe you did all this already.”
She lifted a shoulder. “It’s amazing how much you can get done when there’s no TV to distract you.” She laughed self-consciously, the sound sweeter than pecan pie. “Come see the blue bedroom.”
He let her lead the way, bracing himself for the assault of tormenting memories. But as he stepped into the room, all he saw was how cheery it seemed. The drapes had been tied back, letting the early-morning sun stream in through crystal-clean windows. Without dust covering everything, the oak headboard and nightstands and dresser looked new and inviting. Something else was different, too….
“Well? Think the girls will like it?”
He slowly nodded, trying to figure out what had changed. “You probably didn’t notice, but I swapped the comforter for one I found in the linen closet. This yellow one makes the room cheerier.”
He remembered now. The other quilt was a navy blue and tan one his mother had made the year she died. Emily had used it as a remembrance.
“Is something wrong? Wasn’t I allowed to go into the linen closet? You hadn’t mentioned it being off limits.”
Ethan looked at Sara. She was wringing her hands, her eyes dark and wary. “No, I didn’t. I, uh, it’s fine, Sara. The room looks real nice.”
“Where are you going?” She hurried after him down the hall. He had the sudden urge to get out and breathe some fresh air.
“I forgot something in the truck. I’ll be right back.”
“Need some help?”
He stopped abruptly, and she nearly ran into him. He turned in time to grab her shoulders and avoid the collision.
Her wide-eyed gaze lifted to his. “I’m sorry.” Her breathy words fanned his chin.