Midnight Ride (12 page)

Chapter Sixteen

Janie glanced out the window of the kitchen door and saw the sun hovering just over the barn roof. It was getting late. Her gaze moved to the digital readout of the clock on the stove.

That was probably the hundredth time since getting home from church she’d checked the time. When she wasn’t doing that, she was checking the driveway, watching for Tyler’s truck to turn in.

With a sigh she went back to washing the blueberries in the strainer in the sink. They’d been ripe for a while but she’d put off picking them until today, when she needed something to occupy her mind.

Waiting for him was crazy. He never said he’d come to work today. He’d simply said he’d be back soon. But he’d been here every day so far, so why the change now? Maybe he didn’t work on Sundays? That was very possible, though ranchers generally couldn’t take days off since the animals needed tending every day, including weekends and holidays. Rohn employed a few hands. They could take turns covering the chores, she supposed....

Obsessing over Tyler and his work schedule was self-destructive behavior. Knowing she thought entirely too much about that man, Janie shook the water off the berries while scowling. She was upset not only at herself for looking for him all day, but because these berries were about to go into a homemade crust to make a pie in case he came over, which he might not.

Her gut twisted with expectation, nerves, anxiety, and very possibly a good dose of lust that she was trying to ignore.

Yup. She was definitely crazy. That didn’t stop her from flipping on the oven to preheat before she dumped the blueberries, sugar, and flour into the bottom crust.

Janie flung a handful of flour onto the counter and pounded the ball of dough for the top crust with the heel of her hand. The whole situation had her so crazy that it felt good to hit something.

Dealing with her attraction to him was bad enough, but the memory of that sweet kiss was impossible to forget. Not to mention his words, which swirled through her brain until she was exhausted.

When you’re ready to take a chance on me, you let me know
.

How could she give him a chance? She was too old. He was too young. She’d been married for too long to even think of these things. Yet it seemed it was all she could think of. She grabbed the rolling pin and slammed it against the lump of dough, using more vigor than she needed to flatten it.

“Crazy. Stupid. Insane.” She spat each word in time with the roll of the pin across the floured crust. When she lifted the dough, it was way too big and much too thin.

She was pitiful. Thoughts of him had her so crazy she couldn’t even roll out a simple piecrust. She folded it in half and then in half again. This time she went back to rolling with less force and held back the running verbal commentary. Only crazy women talked out loud to no one.

She used to find the process of baking very soothing. Almost like yoga or meditation. The careful measuring. The mixing. The kneading. The quiet of the kitchen. The heat of the oven and the smells filling the air. They would all work to calm and relax Janie.

It seemed baking a pie for Tyler did the exact opposite. His energy replaced the peace and quiet in the kitchen, just as he’d shaken up her world and her life . . . and she’d never felt more alive since meeting him.

That was exactly the problem, because when he was no longer around, when he’d moved on, what would she feel? Janie feared she already knew the answer. She’d go back to her boring life, and the fire he’d lit inside her would fizzle and die, leaving her feeling burned out. Charred. A black hole.

With a sigh, she lifted the crust for the second time. Happier with its size and thickness this go, she laid it across the berries. Crimping the edges, she spun the pie plate, pinching until it was picture perfect.

It felt better working the dough with her hands than it had when she’d used the rolling pin. In this final step, there was no potential to let herself get carried away and beat the crust into submission. She was feeling a lot calmer by the time she bent and slid the pie onto the top shelf of the open oven, until the crunch of gravel on the drive had her heart leaping.

Slamming the oven shut, she whipped around, toward the door. She recognized the white car she saw creeping slowly toward the barn. Her afternoon student, the one she’d forgotten all about, had arrived.

She blew out a breath. “Get a grip, Janie.”

There she was talking to herself again, but that was a worry for later. She had a student waiting for her. Janie grabbed her cell phone and scrolled through the apps. She found the clock utility and set the timer for the amount of time it would take for the pie to bake.

The pie could bake while she was out in the practice ring. It would be fine as long as she didn’t forget to take it out. The loud and obnoxious alert on her phone should be enough to remind her, even in her distracted state.

With one more glance at the phone to make sure she’d actually turned the alarm on, she saw the little icon in the corner of the screen. That confirmed her pie would be safe. Confident, she headed out to the barn to meet her student, but not without another glance at the road to check for Tyler.

Dammit, she was a goner, and what the hell she was going to do about it, she had no clue.

Tyler’s truck was parked by the barn when she pulled into Rohn’s driveway late that afternoon.

Just the sight of it had Janie’s heart beating fast, hard enough it seemed to vibrate against her rib cage. If his truck was here, he must be here, too. Probably in the barn finishing up his afternoon chores, which was why he wasn’t at her house.

Feeling foolish that she’d obsessed over his not coming to her place today, when clearly he couldn’t because he was working at Rohn’s, she pulled her truck up next to Tyler’s.

Since there was a pie riding shotgun next to her in the passenger seat, it would have made more sense to park by the house. That way she could take it right inside. Nothing she did lately made a whole lot of sense. Why should where she parked be any different?

Janie cut the engine and swung the driver’s side door open. She’d find Tyler and then deliver the pie to Rohn’s kitchen, where the guys could all enjoy it.

Happy with that plan, she slammed the truck door and headed for the barn.

A figure stepping out of the building had her pulse quickening. It only took a few seconds for her to realize he wasn’t the cowboy she’d been looking for.

She smiled. “Hey, Rohn.”

“Janie. Good to see you.” Rohn strode forward and hugged her. “How you been?”

“Good.”

His stare focused on her for a few seconds, making her think he was trying to decide if he believed her answer or not. “Glad to hear it. Everything going all right over at your place?”

“Yeah, actually, that’s why I’m here. A couple of your guys did me a big favor the other day by telling me about my downed fence and then fixing it for me.”

“So I heard.” Rohn nodded. “They’re good kids. A little on the wild side, that Tyler, but both he and Colton are good-hearted souls.”

The offhand comment had Janie’s mind spinning as she absorbed all Rohn had told her about Tyler in two short sentences.

Wild. She’d guessed that already. Good-hearted. She’d figured that out, too. That was why he was helping her at her place.

Rohn had really only confirmed what she’d already known about Tyler, except for where he was.

“Tyler and Colton around?” She realized that sounded strange, even with her decision to add Colton to her inquiry so it didn’t sound like she was stalking Tyler. She scrambled to explain. “I baked them a pie. You know, as a thank-you. And a thanks to you, too, for letting them off work to come over to my place to help me.”

“It’s my pleasure, Janie. Anything I can do to help you, just ask. You know that.”

“Thanks, Rohn.”

“But to answer your question, no, they’re not here.”

She glanced at Tyler’s truck. “Oh. I thought . . .”

“They took the trailer. They hauled a load of stock to a rodeo in Elk City for me.”

“Oh. Okay.” A rodeo. Of course. Breeding and raising rough stock was a huge part of Rohn’s business. “You didn’t go?”

“Nah. The kids can handle it.”

Kids.
Rohn had reinforced her doubts about Tyler’s age with that one word. Even so, she could see Tyler was cowboy to the bone, and born to handle animals. “I’m sure they can. So, let me grab that pie out of the truck and let you get back to what you were doing.”

The pie she’d baked before she’d lost her mind from waiting for Tyler and decided to come find him. She suppressed her embarrassment at that knowledge, opened the passenger door, and grabbed the dish, still warm from the oven.

Rohn let out a groan when she turned and he saw the pie in her hands. “I haven’t had home-baked pie since . . .” He let the sentence trail off but Janie knew what he’d left unsaid. Since his wife had died.

“Yeah, I figured you weren’t over here baking. I also remember what it’s like to have hungry farm hands around the place. Never enough to eat, so I figured it wouldn’t go to waste here.”

“It most definitely will not go to waste. I can promise you that.” He reached out and took it from her. “You want to come in for a cup of coffee?”

“Thanks, but I better be getting back.” To what, she didn’t know. But home was her default. Her safe place to run and hide since Tom’s death. Her comfort zone.

“All right. It was really good seeing you, Janie.” He glanced down at the pie. “I’ll return your plate as soon as I can.”

“Sure. Whenever. No rush, really. I have a couple. I’ve made lots of pies over the years.” She realized she was babbling, and stopped herself. “Well, I better get going. Have a good night.”

“You, too, Janie. And thanks again for the pie.”

“You’re welcome. Thanks for, uh, loaning me Colton and Tyler.” She nearly groaned at how stupid that had sounded.

He laughed. “You’re welcome.”

She gave a little wave and got into her truck, feeling foolish and just a step down from a stalker. Tyler made her do crazy things. She knew that, but she couldn’t seem to stop herself.

Chapter Seventeen

“Sushi.” Tuck was still grumbling when they reached the last stretch of highway leading to the ranch. “Of all things.”

“What?” Tyler asked, managing to sound innocent. “You like fish. You go fishing all the time.”

“Fried catfish is not the same as frigging raw, slimy . . . ugh.” A visible shudder ran through Tuck.

“Aw, come on. It’s good for you. All that raw fish and rice and vegetables is very healthy.” Tyler grinned while at the same time bracing himself, because at any moment, Tuck was likely to haul off and crack him one.

“Both of you shut the hell up. Jesus. For hours you’ve been fighting.” Colton shook his head. “Here’s the sign for the exit. Thank God we’re almost home. I couldn’t take you two another mile, I swear.”

Tyler grinned wider. Pissing off Tuck had been his main goal, but annoying Colton sure was a nice bonus. “What’s the matter, Colton? Don’t you have a brother you fight with?”

“I’ve got two brothers, but we sure as shit don’t act like you two. My da would’ve tanned my hide when I was coming up if I talked to either of my brothers the way you two do to each other.”

“Hmm.” Tyler pressed his lips together and considered that scenario. “Sounds pretty boring to me.”

“It figures you would think that.” Tuck shot Tyler a look and then leaned forward to address Colton. “I can tell you, after being his brother for twenty-four years, your house sounds pretty damn nice to me. Quiet. Peaceful.”

“Yup.” Tyler nodded. “Like I said. Boring.”

“A little boring would be real nice right about now.” Colton let out a deep sigh and flipped on the blinker for the turn off the highway.

As they passed the beginning of the fence that marked the start of Janie’s property, Tyler decided that a visit to her place would be a great end to a pretty good day, and seeing her sure as hell wouldn’t be boring.

Colton steered the big trailer rig into Rohn’s driveway, pulling slowly up the gravel drive. When Tyler saw his truck parked there, it reminded him that there’d be no stopping by Janie’s this evening. He had Tuck with him, and they’d driven over together in one truck. He’d have to unload the stock and then hit the road for home with his brother. Poor planning on his part, he supposed. He smothered a sigh.

There was always tomorrow. Besides his desire to see her, there was actual work to do there. He’d have to get his normal work done and then sneak over in the afternoon to get at least one field mowed. The weather was supposed to be nice.

Make hay while the sun shines, they always said. Whoever
they
were. That went for more than just hay. He’d have to make his move on Janie soon, too, and ask her out for real. Not just hint about it. He wanted to take her out on a date and prove to her he was serious before some other man scooped her up.

A woman like her wouldn’t be single long. Before the line formed, he intended to let his intentions be known. When she was in the mind-set to move on, he wanted her plans to include him.

Colton pulled the truck to the back pasture. They had the broncs in the top compartment of the trailer, the bulls in the bottom half, and in a small compartment separate from the bucking stock was Tyler’s roping horse.

It took a little while to get the animals back to their proper places. They had to move the truck twice. Finally, Colton parked the trailer where it would remain until the next time they needed it as Tyler led his horse to the barn. One nice benefit of working for Rohn was being able to board his horse here for free. This was a good job all around. Even better now that he’d met the neighbor.

Tyler slid the bolt home on the stall door and turned to see Tucker. “Almost done. I just want to throw him a flake of hay, and then we can go.”

“A’ight. I unloaded your saddle and the rest of your gear before Colton parked the trailer.”

Surprised at his brother helping without being asked, Tyler said, “Thanks.”

Tuck took a step closer. “He’s a nice-looking horse. Where’d you get him?”

“At auction. He was pretty green and not all that well behaved under the saddle, so he went for cheap.” Tyler was good at finding a diamond in the rough.

The same thing was true of his truck. It had cost him only eight hundred dollars because it had looked like a piece of crap when he’d bought it used, but some tender loving care and he had himself a great vehicle that he could take pride in because he’d fixed it up himself.

Tuck leaned a forearm on the door, looking in at the chestnut quarter horse. “So you trained him?”

“I sure did.” Pride swelled inside Tyler. “Worked with him every day for over a year. Didn’t take long to see that once properly trained, he could be more than just a pleasure horse. He must have cutting horse in his bloodlines. He took to it like a champ.”

“He is a champ.” Tuck scratched beneath the horse’s forelock and got a snort and nuzzle in response. He glanced at Tyler. “You won the tie-down roping today.”

“Yeah, I did.” That his brother had admitted that out loud was pretty huge to Tyler.

It was almost a compliment, which was more than he’d ever expected. Tuck was certainly an enigma. At the arena after the bull riding, he’d been concerned and then went right to gloating. After the drive he’d gone from being cranky to giving compliments.

Tyler didn’t know what to expect from him next, but after a long day on the road, and a fall that had his shoulder aching, he was in the mood for a bit of peace. “Hey, wanna stop at Big Daddy’s for a burger on the way home? I’ll buy.”

Tuck’s eyes widened. “Oh, my God. I would love a Big Daddy burger.”

“All right. You got it.” Tyler grinned at Tuck’s enthusiasm. His brother was so easily bought. Just a big old hunk of beef could make the man happy. After tossing hay into the stall, Tyler brushed his hands together. “That’s it. Let’s head out.”

Outside the door of the barn, they found Colton. “Trailer’s parked. Just gotta check in with the boss and we’re done.”

Being done sounded good to Tyler. He turned toward the house and saw Rohn was already heading their way.

“Hey, boys. How’d it go today?”

“Good,” Colton answered. “That new bull bucked better than I’ve ever seen him.”

“Hmm, good to hear. He might earn his keep after all. How’d the horses do?”

Tyler fielded this question. “The roan was off. Second competition in a row he didn’t buck well. I don’t know if we’re gonna get the rest of the season out of him.”

Rohn blew out a breath. “All right. We’ll put him in the practice ring next week. I wanna see him before I make any decisions.”

“I’m up for it.” Tyler nodded. He’d take any chance he got to practice his riding. If it helped his boss at the same time, all the better.

“Well, thanks again for handling today. My hip is acting up pretty bad. All those hours in the truck would’ve done me in. And thanks for the hand, Tuck. I appreciate it.”

“My pleasure. I got to see my little brother ride, and I got to take some of his money as well as the purse in bull riding.” Cocky Tuck was obviously back.

Tyler rolled his eyes as Rohn said, “Congrats.”

“Thanks much.” Tuck grinned.

Rohn shot Tyler a glance, as if he knew it was killing him to have his brother tease him here on his own turf. “You boys head home. I’ll see you in the morning.”

“That you will.” Colton adjusted the angle of his hat. “Ty, see you tomorrow. Tuck, thanks for helping.”

“Sure thing.” Tuck dipped his head in a nod.

The good-byes done, Colton headed for his truck.

“Ready?” Tyler glanced at Tuck.

“For burgers, more than ready.”

“All right. Let’s go.” Tyler spun on a boot heel, about to head toward his own vehicle.

Rohn’s voice came from behind him. “Oh, I almost forgot. Get here in time for coffee in the morning. Janie Smithwick dropped off a homemade blueberry pie today.”

Hearing her name alone stopped Tyler dead in his tracks. The fact she’d been here had him regretting he’d missed her as he spun back to Rohn. “Janie was here?”

“Yup. Looking for you and Colton. She brought over the pie to thank you for helping with the fence.”

She’d thanked them for that. She’d made them coffee and fed him dinner. Twice. And if she’d come here today, it was because she was looking for him. At least that was what he hoped was her motivation.

The information had Tyler ready to crawl out of his skin. He wanted to get into his truck and drive directly to her ranch, but he had Tuck with him, and he’d promised him burgers.

Wrestling his eagerness to a manageable level, Tyler forced himself to sound only moderately interested in Rohn’s news. “Sounds good. I’ll be here for pie and coffee in the morning. Even if your coffee sucks, the pie will still be good.”

“Yeah, yeah. I keep telling you, you don’t like mine, you can make the damn coffee yourself. Funny how you never take me up on it.”

“One day, Rohn. One day.” Tyler turned and waved a hand, heading for his truck even as his mind spun, trying to come up with some way he could get to see Janie tonight.

“Damn, now I’m craving blueberry pie.” Tuck laughed as he climbed into the passenger seat.

“Sorry. I don’t think you can get homemade blueberry pie at Big Daddy’s.” Ty slid the key into the ignition as an idea began to form. “Hey, you mind if we get those burgers to go instead of eating there?”

“Not at all. I’ve been gone all day. I should be getting home to Becca anyway.”

“Yup, that’s what I figured.” The thought that he could sneak back out and over to Janie’s without Tuck even noticing had him smiling.

She’d come looking for him and she’d brought pie. That deserved a thank-you in person. Tyler emerged from his thoughts about Janie to find Tuck frowning at him. “You’re fixin’ to dump me at the house and go back out, aren’t you. What? Some buckle bunny text you for a booty call?”

“There’s no buckle bunny. Did you see me even talking to any girls today?”

“No, I didn’t, but that don’t mean you haven’t got a few put away in reserve.”

Tyler probably had half a dozen girls’ numbers he could call if a tumble was what he wanted. But he didn’t want to call any of them. A quickie with some girl who was interchangeable with any other wasn’t what he was after.

Maybe it had been in the past, but not now. Not since Janie and her serious eyes and worried little frown and adorable pink cheeks had come into his life. She opened him up to the possibility of something deeper. To the existence of a woman capable of more than drunken flirting.

He’d be damned if he would tell his brother any of that. It sounded sappy in his own head. Out loud it would sound even hokier, and Tuck would surely mock him for it.

“You’re right, bro. Heading out for a booty call. Jealous?” Tyler glanced sideways. “You better not let Becca know that.”

“No, I’m not jealous, you ass. I just can’t believe after leaving the house at the crack of dawn, working and riding—and wrecking—you’re going back out to get laid.”

Tyler let out a short laugh. Little did Tuck know it was worse. That Tyler was going out to see a woman without the hope of getting any sex out of it. He was going just because he wanted to see her. “Well, you know me. I’m just a horndog at heart.”

“Yup.” Tuck let out a very judgmental-sounding sigh, like he’d given up on his wayward brother and his wicked ways.

This conversation was starting to suck the joy out of Tyler. He focused on the reality of seeing Janie again, not on Tuck’s perverted, overactive imaginings about what his love life was like.

Let Tuck judge all he wanted. Janie had come looking for him at Rohn’s. That was all that mattered.