Carrillo's Cowboy by Tee Smith (classic novels to read .txt) 📗

her dad. Attended every rodeo. An old cowboy, these days he just watched.

“I can see when a man’s got it bad for someone, and oh, brother, has that boy got something for you,” he nodded, knowingly.

“Don’t know what you’re talking about, Wal.”

“Don’t think these old eyes don’t see things, Missy.” He tapped the side of his face. “Y’know, I reckon the ol’ boy would be proud of you, right about now.”

She knew by ol’ boy, he was referring to her father. “I hope so, Wal. I do,” she sighed.

“Right you are.” He tipped his hat. “See you next year.”

As he turned and limped away, leaning heavily on his cane, she hoped she would see him again, but she was doubtful. He didn’t look well. His wife had passed a year before she had returned to the Bend, and his health had gradually declined since. “The man is dying slowly from a broken heart,” her dad had told her. She wasn’t sure if that were true, but it hurt hers to see it.

Callie rubbed her eyes and leaned back in her chair. After everyone was paid, she had enough to make the bank payment she had arranged, with a little left over.

“Hey, boss lady,” Cody called from the door.

Looking up, she found him leaning forward with a steaming hot mug in his hand, which he placed down in front of her.

“I thought you might be able to use this. I called past the house; the kids said you had left before sunrise.”

“Lots of work to do,” she said as she lifted the hot coffee to her lips. “Thank you. You’re a lifesaver.”

“Is there anything I can do?”

“You know I can’t afford to keep you on,” she admitted dryly. “You’ve been a great help, and I appreciate all you’ve done, but I told you at the outset that I only had enough work for you until after the show.”

“You just said you have a heap of work to do, and it will be lambing season soon. I never finished that fence on the east boundary.”

“There’s no money, Cody,” she spat, defensively. “Dad left Carrillo Estate with a huge debt. He was a great man, but business wasn’t his strong suit. I didn’t know how bad it was until after he passed, and I finally sat down with an accountant to look at the books. He hadn’t paid his taxes for several years, and he owed the bank heaps.

Apparently, just after Adam and I married, Adam had him borrow against the estate for a business investment. It went belly-up, and dad lost all his money. Neither of them ever told me.”

“Shit! Can’t you sell up?”

She shrugged. “It’s not worth it. I’d end up still owing the bank. Besides, I promised dad on his death bed I’d stay on and run the farm. I’ve got the rodeo running in the black, that pays enough for the kids and me to live off, just. I’m hoping to build up the stock over the next few years and start making a dent in the debts. Right now,” she drew her hands down both her cheeks. “Ugh!”

“I’m sorry.”

She shrugged. “Me too, but I just have to stick with the plan. For now, at least, I’m going to have to do it alone.”

“I understand,” he stared at his feet. “I just wish things had turned out differently.”

“Me too,” she whispered, almost inaudibly.

“I guess I better go start packing my stuff.” He turned and walked back to the door.

Why did he keep doing that? Keep walking away from her? Why did she keep letting him?

“Cody,” she called to his back and rose to her feet, but he didn’t turn. Chasing him through the door, she reached him as he opened his car door. “Cody. Please wait.”

When he turned, a pained expression marred his handsome face, and it took a moment for her to find her words.

“Thank you for everything. For what you did for the kids and . . . stuff. I’m sorry you have to go.”

“Well, I wouldn’t have to if you let down your guard for a minute. Maybe swallow that damn stubborn pride of yours and admit you were wrong.”

“Why would I do that?”

“Because you are wrong. Because I was never interested in anyone but you. Because I fell in love with you, and now it’s too late.”

His words hit her like a raging bull, and she swallowed the lump that formed in her throat. A million thoughts raced through her head, and yet for once in her life, she was at a loss for words. This was the last thing she had expected him to say.

“When I landed in Harlow’s Bend, I thought it was a shit hole. I thought I’d stay for a bit, then move on. I didn’t know you. I didn’t know what it felt like to want to spend my every waking minute with another person. I didn’t know what it meant to want more for someone else.” He sucked in a deep breath.

His clear, blue eyes searched hers, and she wanted so much to tell him she felt the same, but he was leaving. He could say whatever he wanted; he was about to walk away forever.

“Why are you saying all this now?” she asked, cocking her head to one side and shielding her eyes from the sun.

“You never gave me a chance before. Hell, I didn’t even know before. Callie, I would do anything to make you see it now. I’ve never known this feeling before, and to be honest, it kinda scares me.”

“What am I meant to do with that?”

He reached for her hand, and she let him. His rough skin grazed her thumb, sending goosebumps over her sun-kissed skin.

“I don’t know. Maybe tell me you feel something for me too? I see the look in your eyes when your kids do something new. I know that’s love. Every time you walk in the room, I feel the same about you. I want to shout