All I want, Lord, she prayed as she stood mesmerized in the hall by the sight of her little boys wide grin, is for him to be healthy again. Thats all I want. Nothing more. All her lost dreams, the long string of workdays on her feet from dawn until dusk and the tatters of her heart were nothing by comparison.
He still held the plastic horse in one hand and hugged the stuffed bull in the curve of his other arm. He was thin. Hed lost weight, his appetite had dwindled, but his baby blues sparkled and pleasure flushed his face. He hadnt spotted her yet because his entire attention was fixed on the man telling a tale.
And then the bull gave one final kick. I ducked. Tucker crouched as if he were missing a bulls hoof by a hair and blew out a dramatic sigh of relief. A half inch closer, and I would have been in big trouble.
But you werent. You showed that bull!
I did, but Im not sure who came out the winner. Me or him. He gave me a good fight. Dont know how I managed to stay on as long as I did. Tuckers baritone vibrated with laughter. Back in the barns I paid a visit to that bull.
You did? What happened? Did he try to kick you? Enthralled, Owen leaned closer, squeezing the stuffed bull in the crook of his arm harder. Is he a mean bull?
Hes powerful. He spotted me coming and he remembered me. Sounded like a tall tale to her, but he was entertaining Owen so she didnt hold it against him. Tucker leaned closer to the boy, as if to make the story more intense. Dark hair dropped over his high forehead, and in profile the straight blade of his nose and the square cut of his jaw were impressive.
Not that she was noticing.
His eyes got big. His nostrils flared. Tucker raised one arm, imitating the animal. He pawed the ground, and I heard a low, menacing growl.
Wow. Oh, wow. Owens eyes became impossibly bigger. What did you do?
I pulled a handful of molasses treats out of my pocket like this. Tucker held out his hand, palm up. Slayer turned his head to glare at me with one eye, then he snatched the pellets out of my hand and let me rub his poll.
Wow. You tamed him!
Hes a good guy. Hes just very good at his job, which forces me to bring my A-game when the gate opens. Tucker was obviously good with kids. She didnt want to like him, but she couldnt find fault with him for that.
As if he had become suddenly aware of her, he glanced over his shoulder. A slow grin spread across his face, revealing those lady-killer dimples. You managed to stay away all of twenty minutes. We agreed on thirty. I want a full half hour.
One thing you have to learn about me, Tucker. Why was she smiling, too? I dont make it a habit to do what a man wants. Any man. Even you.
Duly noted. He crossed his arms over his chest, as if appraising her. You have to go away. Owen and I have ten minutes left. All my secrets have not been revealed.
Yeah, Mom. Were busy. Owen bounded on his knees, the rasp of his oxygen like a knife to her heart. She hated seeing him like this, but the happiness radiating from him was worth the step back she took.
Okay, fine. Ill go away. As hard as it was to leave her son again, she would retreat to the waiting room and knit a few more rows.
Well, now, I guess we dont want to drive you off. Tucker hooked the chair shed been sitting in with his foot and tugged it out of the corner. Maybe you can stay if you vow not to divulge anything you hear.
I make no promises.
Beware, Ive been known to charm the most cantankerous and ornery of animals. It might even work on you. His wink was a step away from downright laughter.
Im not ornery. She was so not sure about this man.
I didnt say you were, but you do look tired and I did ask you to take a break. Since you refused to listen, you might as well come put your feet up. I can always hope I bore you so much you drift off and take a nap.
As you are completely dull and lackluster, its likely to happen. She settled into the chair and set her bag on the floor. Is this all right, Owen? I dont want to intrude on your guy-time.
I guess, but weve got to talk about bull and bronc riding. Owen looked adorable, her little angel. Hes gonna teach me all about it.
I wont interfere. Promise. She held up her cup and took a sip. Now that she could see her son was all right and happy and her separation anxiety was eased, she did feel a little more relaxed. Go on with your tale.
My tale? I assure you this is the bona fide truth. Cowboys honor. Tucker laid a fist across his heart. Slayer and I arent friends exactly but we respect one another. Hes good at what he does and I am, too. Some days Im the victor and some days he is.
You talk to this animal? Thats how you know he respects you? So, she was giving him a little sass. Maybe he deserved it, maybe he didnt. But any man who looked that amazing and who had enough charm to disable half the female population in six states could use a little humbling.
Sure I do. Slayer and I have had some good conversations.
You mean you like Slayer? Owen seemed amazed.
Just because he and I are adversaries in the pen doesnt mean its personal. Hes one of Gods creations, too. The lilt remained in Tuckers voice but his smile disappeared. Thats one of the first things my dad taught me. You dont be unkind to an animal. God gave them life for a reason and if He cares about the smallest sparrow, then He cares about all His creatures. Hes watching how you treat them. Hes trusting us to do it right.
I learned that in Sunday school. Owen nodded, seriously. We learned about sheep and the Shepherd, too.
Fine, so the cowboy secrets werent what shed expected, but she liked being privy to them. She leaned back in her chair and took another sip of her drink. It was chocolaty and soothing, the room was warm and the last few weeks of little sleep and incredible worry caught up with her. Exhaustion wrapped around her like a welcome hug.
Sounds like youre learning the right stuff. Tuckers deep voice rang low and pleasant. The thing about Slayer is he likes putting on a show and acting tough. You can see it in his eyes. He sizes you up before a run, like hes figuring out how fast he can get you to the ground.
But he tries to gore you. Owen sounded confused.
Sure, he gets carried away. He doesnt have reasoning powers the way humans do, but he isnt out to hurt you. He gets all wound up and his instincts take over. You cant fault him for that.
What about the horse that stomped you?
Tuckers voice grew blurry, one word rumbling into the next, hard to discern. Her eyelids felt so heavy. Maybe she should close her eyes. She could listen and rest at the same time, couldnt she?
The sound of Tuckers voice murmured pleasantly, growing dimmer and dimmer until there was only silence.
I learned to ride bulls and broncs on sheep. It was hard to miss the woman snoozing quietly, her chin tucked to her chest, sitting relaxed and slack and peaceful. She sure must be tired to drift off like that. That chair didnt even look close to comfortable. Shed been out a good twenty minutes by his count, maybe more.
On a sheep? Owen looked a little doubtful. You cant ride a sheep.
I learned to ride bulls and broncs on sheep. It was hard to miss the woman snoozing quietly, her chin tucked to her chest, sitting relaxed and slack and peaceful. She sure must be tired to drift off like that. That chair didnt even look close to comfortable. Shed been out a good twenty minutes by his count, maybe more.
On a sheep? Owen looked a little doubtful. You cant ride a sheep.
Sure, I cant now, but that was back when I was a little guy about your age. The kid seemed to be lapping up his stories, so he figured, why stop? He didnt want to disappoint the boy. And if he himself were facing heart surgery the next day, hed want to be distracted, too. I kept pestering my dad to ride like the rodeo, so he finally caved and borrowed a few of the neighbors sheep. I was a mite disappointed, I tell you, when my dad brought me out to the corral all pleased as punch. He figured Id be real excited but the truth was, I was thinking, a sheep? Thats not the same as bronco riding.
A sheep isnt a horse. Owen laughed, as if that was obvious.
Exactly. Then my dad put me on Fluffys back. That sheep took off like a wild thing and I slid right off. I landed on my backside in the dirt thinking that was the most fun Id ever had. The memory had him laughing. My dad chuckled and ambled over to me and dusted me off. He said, What did you think of that, son? You think thats a sissy ride now? All I wanted was to get back on that sheep and ride him better each and every time.
Wow. Owens face fell and he stared hard at the bull tucked tight against his chest. With his head bowed, his cowlick stuck straight up, making him look both cute and vulnerable. Whats your daddy like?
My dad? The question startled him. He shot a glance at Sierra, still asleep in the chair. He did his best not to notice what a beautiful woman she was and the pretty picture she made, there in her light pink sweater and well-worn jeans, like a snapshot to be treasured over time. Her warning popped into his head. He knew the boy wasnt bringing up the issue of his missing father, but it was implied in that question.
How did he handle it? He studied the kid for a second, taking in the downcast look and the wistful tone of his question. Couldnt hurt to talk about Dad. There wasnt a better father on this earth than Frank Granger.
I get my animal sense from him. Tucker was surprised at the wash of memories that hit. He spent most of his adult life either on the road or keeping up his training. Riding was an art, one that required practice every day and kept him far from his childhood home. That was the way hed wanted it, so he was hard pressed to explain the beat of longing for family, for his dad.
Was he a rodeo rider, too? Owen asked, head up, eyes sad.
Nope. He is a hardworking rancher. He is a good dad. The kind thats patient and steady. He listens. He was always there taking care of Mom and us kids. He taught me to whisper to the animals.
Whisper? You mean you can talk to them?
Sure you can. You just open your mouth and say stuff.
That bit of humor almost distracted the boy from the father discussion. Owen broke a hesitating smile and rolled his eyes. I know that. Anybody can talk to em. But how do you do it in horse?
Thats a good question. Not everyone can. The memories came quietly and as welcome as a Wyoming summer, breezing through him stirring up images of his dad kneeling down, hands out, baritone rumbling like song. Frank Granger was a big man, several inches over six feet, and hed seemed like a giant to the six-year-old boy Tucker had once been. A gentle, powerful, able-to-do-anything father he could always lean on.
The secret is easy. Tucker said the same words to Owen that his dad had told him. You put your feelings in your voice and in your hands and you leave the door to your heart wide open.
Chapter Three
Sierra blinked, staring at the man, his words resounding inside her. Maybe it was sleep clinging to the corners of her mind making things fuzzy, but had Tucker Granger truly said that? She didnt realize that a man like himone who was always laughing, carefree and without a single tie in the world to bind himwould know anything about what lived inside the heart.
Look who is back with us. His smile warmed his voice, and shed never thought of a mans tone as cozy before, but his was. Sleeping Beauty is awake.
Sleeping Beauty. Really? Groggy she may be, but she wasnt that out of it. She shook her head. Is there an off switch to that charm of yours? Its getting a little much.
Ill turn it down a notch. Good humor sparkled back at her. The man dazzled, that was for sure, and it was hard not to hold it against him. Feeling better?
A little. Good thing shed kept her cup upright. It was tilting a bit but hadnt spilled. She took a sip of the lukewarm goodness to give her a moment to compose herself.
Just in time. He rose, tossing a smile at someone behind her shoulder. Looks like pizza is here.
Pizza? She hadnt ordered any. The delicious aroma of dough, red sauce and pepperoni filled the air.
Pizza! Owen looked beyond amazed. Really? Pepperoni and everything?
You betcha, little buddy. Tucker handed over a generous tip and took charge of the boxes and container of drinks. I can see by that big frown they forgot to clue in your mom. I had Janelle clear this with your team of docs.
Oh boy! Goody. Owen beamed joy. Thank you, Tucker. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Youre welcome. Im partial to pizza myself. He slid the boxes on the bed. When Im on the road, I eat way too much of it. Im on a health kick these days, eating well so I heal up right. I cant tell you how much Ive missed this stuff.
Me, too! Owen squeezed the stuffed bull in a big hug. My mom says pizza is not a food group. Youre only supposed to eat food groups.
Really? Thats just plain wrong. He hauled out a cup of cola from the drink holder and handed it over to her. While he was jovial, it was easy enough to read the understanding somberness in his impossibly dreamy eyes. Pizza has dough, so thats as good as a whole grain right there.
No, it isnt. This is a white-flour crust, she argued, laughing, too. There is a difference between processed flour and the real stuff.
Sure, he said, as if he didnt believe her one bit, his dimples deepening.
She set her coffee on the floor and reached for the drink he held out to her. Her fingers curled around the cold circumference of the cup and brushed the heat of his calloused, sun-browned hand. A spark snapped down her arm like an electric shock, startling her. He didnt seem to notice, pulled away and kept on talking, but the charge kept tingling and seemed to dig into the marrow of her bones. What was that? Her imagination? Static electricity in the air?
Theres the red sauce, Tucker went on, unaware of her reaction as he flung open one of the boxes. Thats made with tomatoes or tomato paste or something like that. That counts as a vegetable. And the cheese is dairy. Pepperoni is meat, so that sounds like four food groups to me.
Me, too! Owen was happy to agree, seeing as how he was about to benefit from the argument. Tucker? Which is the biggest piece?
Lets see. Tucker grabbed a napkin and considered the pie in front of him. This one, do you think?