Her Forever Cowboy (12 page)

That got a big hoot on the other end of the line. “So y'all are getting along that well.”

“Well? We barely tolerate each other, but—” Cole broke off, shifted his weight from boot to boot, and frustration clawed at him. “Wyatt, I can't stay,” he blurted out at last.

“Why? Because you're attracted to someone?”

“Ha—like a moth to a flame!” He was doomed if he stuck around. It was a no-win situation.

“That's better than living half a life.”

“You have no idea.” Cole's temper was rising. As kids growing up, Wyatt had always been the leader. He took his position as eldest seriously and Cole knew it had taken willpower on his part not to step in and try to fix Cole's problems beforehand. He'd obviously realized that what ailed his baby brother was beyond even him. Cole hoped he kept thinking that way.

“Cole, I've stayed out of your business for six years. But I'm done. Talk to me.”

“You can't fix everything.”

“Maybe not but that doesn't mean I'm going to give up. You know me—when have I ever given up on anything that I thought was important?”

“Never.” It was true and Cole knew it. Cole suddenly had an uneasy feeling. “Wyatt, what have you been doing?”

“Whatever I needed to do. Do you remember I was at Seth's wedding, too?”

That was weird. “Well, duh.”

“Duh is right. I was standing beside you most of the night, remember?”

“Yeah, what does that have to do with anything?”

“You were only there in body most of the night. And then Susan walked in. For the first time in a long time, I saw life in your eyes when you and the Doc locked gazes. I sure thought it was interesting.”

“You would,” Cole drawled, but couldn't help smiling. The Turner men came from a long line of men who enjoyed “campfire stories.” Wyatt could hold his own up against the best of the best and often did in the courtroom.

Problem was, this wasn't the courtroom. This was his life and Cole wasn't exactly certain what to make of Wyatt's little fairy tale.

“You need to ask her out. The two of you need to talk.”

“No.”

“Ask her out, Cole. Not to work at the clinic or to work cows. Ask her out to a nice place. It'll remind you about what it's like to sit down in a nice restaurant with a lady and enjoy a good meal.”

Cole had just eaten with Susan and there wasn't anything about the experience that could be called pleasant. “If we went out to a restaurant, it would probably end in a public fireworks display, compliments of the temperamental doc. No, thank you.”

“Don't leave, Cole.” Wyatt's words resonated across the phone lines. All teasing was gone. “The Cole I grew up with was fearless and tenacious and had a heart that was ten times bigger than mine…. Stick around and
finish what you signed up to do for Susan. You can't run when someone else needs you. You've never done it before and I know you won't do it now.”

Cole looked at the floor and shook his head, hating that his brother knew him so stinkin' well.

T
he Mule Hollow Church of Faith was a quaint, whitewashed church built back when the older folks of town had been kids. It had always given Cole a sense of homecoming when he entered the front doors. He could still remember as a boy being hustled into the fourth pew on the left by his mother as she lined her family up to worship the Lord. His cowlick would have been slicked down at least four times before he'd picked up a hymnal. By the time the preacher got up to give the message Wyatt would have already told a couple of jokes under his breath to make Cole and Seth giggle…and their dad would have already shot them “the look” that said sit up and get right.

Memories here were good ones.

When he'd left for college, the town had been the color of dried-out cardboard, windblown and struggling. The church had held about a hundred and fifty people in boom times, but wasn't even half-full now. Most of the kids his age weren't planning on coming home after
college. Not unless they were like Seth, who'd never wanted to be anything but the man who kept their heritage alive for the next generation. People like Seth, Clint Matlock, Norma Sue, Esther Mae and Adela and their husbands had been the ones who kept the dying town alive for people like him to come home to…eventually.

“Can you believe the crowd?” Applegate said, meeting Seth in the doorway and handing him a bulletin. “It's done grown since the last time you were here,” he boomed, obviously without his hearing aid, since half the church would have been able to hear him if it hadn't been for Adela on the piano banging out “Give Me That Old Time Religion.”

“Yes, sir, it has,” Cole said, running a hand over the cowlick that seemed determined to relive old memories.

Seth stepped up beside him and grinned. “Mom had fits with that cowlick of yours.”

“Yeah, I've tamed it pretty good but walking in here always brings back memories.”

“You boys better hurry or your pew is gonna get taken.”

“We're waitin' on Melody,” Seth said. “She had nursery duty during Sunday school—”

“I'm here,” Melody called, coming up the steps in a rush. Her cheeks were a pretty shade of pink and her dark hair seemed to accent them.

Cole watched Seth kiss her on the cheek and give her a hug as she placed a hand on his brother's heart and whispered something in his ear.

“No kidding?” Seth said, looking amazed by what she'd said.

“It's the truth. She just told me,” Melody assured him.

“Told you what?” Applegate bellowed, not in the least bit embarrassed for having butted in.

“You'll see. It's not for me to tell.”

“But ya told Seth.” Applegate's thin face fell in a cascade around the frown.

“That's because he's my husband and we're one and the same.”

Cole thought Seth was going to burst he looked so happy as he took Melody's arm. “That's one of the beauties of marriage. We better take that seat.”

He looked around the room for Susan, but didn't find her as he followed them down the aisle to an empty pew—not pew four but five—his brother was shaking things up, it seemed.

He shook hands with Stanley, who was sitting in pew number six with Pollyanna and Nate Talbert, and he shook Nate's, too. He was turning back around when he saw Susan enter the back door. She wore a red dress and when she smiled at Applegate, he wished it had been sent to him—a wish he didn't want to have. The notion was like a kick in the gut, so real that for a minute he lost his breath. He spun toward the front and stared at the choir. Made up of mostly cowboys and the matchmaking posse he found himself staring straight at Esther Mae. Her red hair was topped with a white hat with pink daisies that matched the hot-pink dress she wore. But it was her sparkling green eyes and her possum grin that had his attention. Beside her, Norma Sue, in her blue-striped dress, was smiling so big her plump cheeks
almost touched her eyes. He frowned, realizing the cowboys standing behind them had their eyes glued on Susan as she found a seat.

Cole's eyes narrowed on the cowboy at the end.

“You thinkin' of taking him outside?” Seth asked through the side of his mouth. “Or you just giving Norma Sue and Esther Mae something to talk about?”

“Huh.” Cole stiffened and saw the two singing ladies grinning at him. Okay so he was losing it—what had gotten into him?

“Yeah.” Seth chuckled. “I'd tone that down a notch if I were you.”

Cole scrambled to grab a songbook. Was he jealous? The question rolled around in his head the whole time. To be jealous you had to have feelings for someone. Did he?

Pastor Allen took the podium. God seemed to smile through him as his gaze swept the gathering. Seth hadn't been to the church since he'd taken over, but he could feel good vibes from the older man. “We have an exciting announcement this morning. Ashby and Dan went to the hospital last night and delivered a healthy baby girl!”

A wave of clapping ensued. “God has been good and is building the church and the town population. This is exciting. As you know, Lacy and Clint Matlock want a baby and have been trying for over a year now to do their part to build the congregation. Lacy, why don't you tell them?”

Everyone had already turned toward the couple. Lacy was beaming as she hopped to her feet in the middle
aisle. “God is just so awesome. We're finally having a baby, everyone!” she exclaimed and threw her arms around Clint and kissed him.

At the news, Esther Mae squealed like a schoolgirl and Norma Sue did, too. They scrambled over their husbands, practically knocking them down to reach Lacy and swallow her up in hugs. Adela left her pew beside Sam and followed them. She had the most satisfied expression on her genteel face as she took Lacy's face in her hands and kissed her cheek.

Melody leaned around Seth. “This is wonderful news! She wanted to surprise the ladies here in the sanctuary because she felt like God had brought them all together and it was important to share the blessing here to give Him honor.”

Minutes later, after everything had calmed down, the pastor gave a great sermon on giving God the praise and the glory even when times are rough or life isn't turning out as you expected. He used Lacy and Clint as an example, in that they'd been praying for a baby for some time, but they'd had to wait until God made the way. The pastor emphasized that the couple had walked the walk of Proverbs 3:5, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding.” That even when it looked like they might not have a baby, they'd worked hard to trust God in the situation. Even when it wasn't easy.

Cole swallowed hard as the words rolled around in his mind. He'd trusted the Lord and hadn't had a happy
ending…Oh, he'd gone on with his life, but there was no way he'd ever understand why sweet, spirited Lori had suffered and died so young.

 

“Come on Cole, stay for lunch and volleyball,” Norma Sue said after services, blocking the path to his truck.

“Sorry, Norma Sue, I'm not hungry and I haven't played volleyball in years,” Cole hedged, angling toward his truck.

“You might as well say yes,” Seth said. “Norma's not going to let you go. Don't you remember she gets every cowboy who ventures through that door out on that sandpit? Give it up, bro.”

“And besides,” Norma Sue snorted, “I remember you used to play a mean game of it, so pretending you don't know how won't cut it with this ole gal.”

That made him grin despite the disquiet churning inside of him. “I didn't say I couldn't play. I said I haven't played in years.”

“It's just like riding a bicycle.”

Seth grinned, enjoying watching Cole lose the discussion.

“Besides,” she added, “we have to celebrate Lacy and Clint's news and if you leave that'd be mighty rude of you.”

It would be a distraction from the memories, too. “I'll stay,” he drawled. “But, be warned, I'm not going down easy. I remember that you might be short, but you set well and serve fierce.”

Over the top of Norma Sue's head he saw Susan out in the parking lot getting into her truck. “Hey, I'll catch
y'all inside if you don't mind.” He sidestepped toward the parking lot. He needed to talk to Susan. Norma Sue and Seth both glanced her direction.

“We don't mind at all. And fair's fair,” Norma Sue said. “You go grab that gal and bring her back here.”

“You do that.” Seth chuckled. “And don't take no for an answer.”

Cole dipped his head to them, spun on his heel and jogged the distance to Susan's truck. She'd already started the engine and he slapped the side to get her attention. “Hey, hold up,” he called, rounding the fender. “Where do you think you're going?” Skidding to a halt in the white rock, he smiled at her and placed a hand on her open window.

She lifted her hand to shield her eyes against the sun that was high and bright behind him. “I have too much to do at home to stay and play.”

He didn't miss the curt tone—and understood his behavior at the stable elicited it. “Nope. If I have to stay then you have to stay,” he coaxed, feeling lighter just looking at her, knowing he wanted to bring a smile to her face. Norma Sue had had a great idea; a play day would be good for Susan…and him. Might even help him forget some of the heavy things on his mind.

“Ohh, no. I certainly don't.”

“Okay, I get that hanging with me is the last thing you'd want to do. But c'mon, it's Sunday. You're supposed to rest on Sunday, remember?” He went to open her door but she grabbed the windowsill and held it in
place. “It'll be fun and you know it. Besides, Norma Sue told me not to let you go anywhere.” He tugged the door open as her eyes turned to cute, feisty slits. He smiled—couldn't help it. Man, he felt good suddenly.

Her shoulders sagged slightly. “Cole. I really don't feel like it.”

“Look, if this is about last night, you were right, I stepped over into your business. I still think you put yourself at risk, but it's not my place. This is your life. Stay. It'll be good for you and I'll leave if it'll make you feel better.”

She expelled a heavy sigh of frustration. “Don't be ridiculous. Your leaving isn't necessary. I'll stay.” She snapped the ignition off.

He pulled the door open wide and held out his hand to her. “Let me help you, ma'am,” he drawled.

“I can make it on my own,” she said and slid from the seat. “And
believe
me, a few minutes into this game, you'll be needing
my
help.”

 

Susan watched the ball descend toward Cole on the other side of the net. Taking a step, she gauged her defensive move to his. He stepped then jumped into the air—she left the ground a split second later, arms up. Just as he hit the ball, she hit it right back at him—he missed the shot and looked shocked as the ball landed at his feet like a cannonball.

“The girl can play,” Cole said, grinning.

“Ya don't need ta take his head off,” Applegate yelled from the sidelines as laughter and loud whistles erupted.

Susan ignored it all, intent only in keeping Cole Turner from making any points off her.

She hadn't actually wanted to hang around if he was going to be here. He'd made her so mad out at the barn the night before that she hadn't been able to sleep. But dad-gum the man sure was cute grinning back at her through the net.

As the game started up again, the voice in the back of her mind chattered like it had all night long—
he was simply concerned for her
.

It was nice to have someone concerned for her—or at least she'd
thought
it would be nice. She'd never thought about how a husband's overprotectiveness could hinder her work. Not that Cole was remotely being considered for the job—still, it had her disturbed more than a little bit.

“Susan,” Esther Mae exclaimed from the left of her. “Your ball! Your ball!”

Susan jerked back to attention and spotted the ball just as it whizzed past her head. “Sorry,” she grumbled.

“Where's yor head?” Stanley called.

“It ain't on her side of the net,” App grunted.

Susan cut her eyes at him. “I just lost my train of thought for a minute—”

“We saw that,” Esther Mae said. “Cole must be up there winking at you just like I told him to do.”

“What?”
Susan asked, glaring at Cole. He was grinning like a schoolboy.

“She suggested it, but I'm innocent. I told her a wink
from me would only make you madder at me and then you'd really whip us for sure.”

She arched a brow in agreement. “You got that right.”

His smoky-blue eyes brightened and he chuckled. Delight wrapped around her heart—unexpected and aggravating. She did not want this, but it was as if God was playing an April Fool's joke on her and she was falling for it hook, line and sinker.