Once a Cowboy (19 page)

“Mmm.” He slowly removed her blouse and lavished her breasts with sweet, warm kisses. She gave herself up to this man who she was going to love forever.

A
LONG TIME LATER
she lay cradled in his arms. He pushed up against the headboard and she sat beside him. He told her what had happened since he’d left.

“So you know who you are?”

“Yeah. I called George and Helen and told them. They just want me to be happy.”

“And are you?”

“Finally, yes.” He smiled and she leaned over to kiss his dimple.

“I’ve been thinking about having Braxton added to my name. It doesn’t matter to me, but it would please George and Helen.”

“You really have dealt with all this.”

“Yes. I respond to Brodie Hayes, so I’ve decided to change my name to Brodie Braxton Hayes. What do you think?”

“I love it.” She stroked his leg.

“And I really respond to that.”

She giggled as he pulled her into his arms and kissed her deeply. “Wait. I have to tell you something.”

He stopped his perusal of her mouth to look into her eyes. “What?”

She told him about her mother.

“Oh my God! And I wasn’t here when you needed me.”

“But you were with me in spirit. After trying to help you cope, I knew anger and bitterness would only cause more pain. I was actually very calm and in control. That is after I cried my eyes out.”

“Oh, honey. I’m so sorry.” He kissed the side of her face. “Strange though. After meeting Buck, it would seem more likely that you weren’t his daughter.”

“It’s not about biology sometimes. It’s about family—a family is usually what you make it.”

“You’re right. I thought my problems with Tom and Claudia grew out of us being so different, but they didn’t. My problems grew out of my anger. I see that now. I don’t want you to feel that kind of anger.” He caressed her arm.

“I don’t, believe me, and if you keep stroking me like that I’m going to start humming.”

“I love you, and from this day forward I will be here for you forever.”

“You better, cowboy.”

He nuzzled her neck. “Where would you like to live after we get married?”

She drew back. “The Cowboy Up Ranch, of course.”

“That was easy.”

“I love it out here. I came last night and fed the dogs.”

He frowned. “You’re kidding.”

“No. Why?”

“I was at your apartment waiting for you until midnight.”

She burst out laughing. “We’re two of a kind.”

“Soul mates.” He kissed her shoulder. “Never knew what the words meant until now.”

She swung her feet off the bed and grabbed her jeans.

He sat up. “What are you doing?”

“I’m going to drive your big old truck.”

“Alex.”

She ran down the hallway laughing, feeling young, happy and so much in love. Happily ever after was loving a cowboy with the bluest eyes in Texas.

One year later

Brodie Braxton Hayes had turned forty-one and the party at the Cowboy Up Ranch was in full swing. Family and friends spilled from the wood deck to the yard, laughing, talking, waiting for the barbecue simmering on a pit.

Brodie stood with Tripp and Colter talking about horses, cattle and ranching. Morris, the Danielses’ butler, and Tulley, the man who raised Colter, tended to the barbecue.

Naddy, Buck, Maggie and her husband, Steve, played poker on a card table. The kids played in the yard, trying to rope a lawn chair. Walker, Tripp and Camila’s son, was walking now and he didn’t like being left out. He managed to always get in the way. Jilly lugged him to Camila, but Walker always made his way back.

His parents sat talking to Griffin and Leona, Tripp’s parents. His closest friends and family were
all here, sharing his birthday. The only person missing was Cleo. She’d married Melvin and they’d moved to Austin to be near Melvin’s daughter. He talked to her every now and then to make sure she was okay. She would always be his aunt.

Alex, Marisa and Camila were on the patio, sipping tea and talking. He was sure it was about babies. A year had made such a difference. It was filled with happiness and any lingering pain they got through together.

Gwen passed away and they went to Lubbock for the funeral. Buck went, too. Alex now had a better relationship with her father because the truth had been revealed. And Brodie also had a good relationship with his parents. It hadn’t come easy, but he went the extra mile trying to ease their pain.

He’d legally added Braxton as his middle name. He didn’t have to do that, but for them, he did. The past forty years were gone and he couldn’t change that, but he could give them the rest of his life.

“Ellie, are you going to ride in the Founder’s Day Parade in Bramble?” Jilly asked.

“Yes. Daddy said I could and Mommy bought me a new outfit.”

“Great. Mama made mine and it’s totally cool. We get to carry the flags and lead the parade.”

“Wow!”

“And Cody and Amber are riding, too.”

They were all becoming very good friends.

Jack, Colter and Marisa’s four-year-old son, looked up at Colter. “Daddy, can I ride, too?”

“Sure, son,” Colter replied.

“By myself?”

Colter picked up his son. As if sensing what Colter was going to say, Jack whispered, “Don’t ask Mommy.”

Because of what happened with Ellie, Marisa tended to be overprotective of her children. That was the biggest problem that Marisa and Colter had, but they had a way of working it out.

“Now, son…”

“What is it?” Marisa called, knowing something was amiss. She made her way to them.

“Jack wants to ride in the parade by himself.”

“Oh.”

“Mommy, please. I’m big.”

“Okay. As long as you ride next to your daddy.”

Jack bobbed his head up and down.

They all laughed and Jack went into Marisa’s arms and she held him extra tight.

“I’ll watch him, too, Mommy,” Ellie promised.

“Thank you, baby.”

Walker stomped on Tripp’s boots and he swung him up in his arms. “Son, you’re scratching some mighty fine Kincaid boots.”

“Bring him to me,” Leona said. “I’ll hold him.”

“No. I’ll hold him,” Griffin said.

“That’s okay, Mom, Dad,” Tripp replied. “I got him.”

If Tripp and Camila had any problems, it was balancing a very large family without anyone getting their feelings hurt.

Camila and Alex came across the yard. “Mama, Mama,” Walker shouted, wiggling down. Then he was off.

Camila caught him and kissed his cheek. “Sissy.” Walker pointed to Jilly and he was off again. He knew how to dole out his affection.

Alex walked into his arms and he pulled her into his side, kissing her for a long moment.

“Happy birthday,” she whispered, tightening her arm around his waist. “It’s nice having everyone together.”

“Mmm.” Life was better than it had ever been all because of Alex and her love.

They all heard it at the same time—a baby wail from the mobile monitor Alex held in her hand. She made a sprint for the house, but Brodie overtook her. Helen was at the door, but she let them pass.

Brodie stared into the bassinet in the living room at their two-month-old son. “Hey, there, buddy. Did you wake up?” He carefully lifted him into his arms, but his son wanted something he couldn’t give him—milk.

Alex took the baby from him, sat down and opened her blouse. He latched onto to a nipple greedily. Brodie watched in amazement. Just looking at them he knew his world had been completed in a way he’d never even dreamed. He could never dream this good.

Alex laid the baby on her shoulder to burp him, patting his back.

Helen poked her head in. “Is he awake?”

“Yeah,” Brodie said. “Come on in.”

George followed Helen into the room and they stared at the black-haired, blue-eyed baby. “May I hold him, please?” Helen asked in a hesitant voice.

“Sure,” Alex replied and handed the baby to Brodie.

He took his son to his mother, placing him in her
arms. Helen cradled the baby to her. “I’m almost afraid to say his name.”

“Don’t be,” Brodie told her, tickling the baby’s cheek while laying the silver rattle next to him. “Say hi to your grandmother, Travis Braxton Hayes.”

Travis flashed his dimple and tears rolled from Helen’s eyes.

“Let me have him,” George said, his voice shaky. “You’re getting him all wet.”

The kids began to edge into the room, followed by the grown-ups, waiting to look at the new baby.

Over the top of everyone’s heads his eyes caught Alex’s. “I love you,” he mouthed.

She smiled and everything in his world was right. She made it that way by just being in his life. With her love, the broken cowboy had healed completely.

* * * * *

Look for Linda Warren’s next books from
Harlequin American Romance!
THE SHERIFF OF HORSESHOE, TEXAS
March 2009

And from Harlequin Superromance!
CAITLYN’S PRIZE
July 2009
MADISON’S CHILDREN
October 2009