THE COWBOY SHE COULDN'T FORGET Read online

  “I don’t want to hold you up,” she said.

  “You’re not. In fact, if I was home right now, I’d be pacing around.”

  The waitress appeared and they put in an order for burgers and fries.

  “You got a hot date later?” she teased.

  He shook his head. “My son is coming to visit me.”

  Ana was caught off guard by the announcement. “I didn’t know you had a son. You’re married?”

  Garrett shook his head slowly. “I’m no longer married. And yes, Brody is eight years old. He’s coming to live with me. I’m hoping it’s going to be permanent.”

  Ana was still caught up with Garrett having an eight-year-old son. How could that be? Garrett had been dating Josie back in high school and part of their college years before they’d suddenly broken up.

  Garrett saw her questioning look. “I take it Josie never told you why we split up?”

  Oh, boy. “Only that you met someone else.”

  “It hadn’t been the wisest behavior, but my son is a result of that action. Although my marriage didn’t survive, Brody is and will always be the joy of my life.” Garrett studied Ana. “I hope this won’t affect our business relationship.”

  She quickly shook her head. “No. This has nothing to do with the past. You’re helping us build our future. And besides, Josie isn’t going to be any more involved in this project than via phone calls. She’s already made that clear to me several times.”

  That seemed to make Garrett relax. “Then I guess we start work on Friday.”

  “That sounds perfect.” Ana hoped her words turned out to be true, or she could be in a lot of trouble, and not only with the ranch.

  * * *

  By late that afternoon, Vance had packed up most of his personal things, nearly twenty years’ worth. He’d send for the rest later, because he had only so much room in his truck. He just wanted to get the hell out of there, the sooner the better.

  He carried the last box outside and loaded it in the truck bed, then slammed the tailgate. He glanced around the compound and toward the big red barn where he’d first lived, in the apartment upstairs. His gaze moved to the bunkhouse, then to the corral where Rusty was prancing around, hoping someone wanted to go for a ride. Vance wished he could take his chestnut gelding with him, but for now he wasn’t sure where he would be living. Would he buy some land, or find another job as foreman?

  “Goodbye, fella,” he called, and waited to hear the answering whinny. Then he climbed into the truck and started the engine.

  He’d already said his goodbyes to the guys, and put Todd in charge of the ranch hands, knowing he’d get them to follow orders until Ana found another foreman.

  Putting the truck in gear, he drove the short distance up the gravel road to the house, but followed the circular driveway until he made his way around back. He parked by the kitchen door and sat there a minute, recalling so many years ago when he’d first walked inside the Slater house. All the meals he’d shared with the family, but nothing else.

  Over the years, Vance had done the work Colt gave him, and had stayed away from his daughters. He’d broken that rule recently, when Ana moved back home to help out. He must have lost his mind, because he finally admitted to himself that he had loved her all these years. He released a sigh. Well, it was past time for him to wise up. He didn’t fit in here, never had.

  He would leave, but not before he broke off the last tie to this place. He picked up an envelope from the seat, got out and walked up the back steps. Through the screen door he saw Kathleen at the stove, probably cooking supper.

  She turned when he walked in. “Hi, Vance. You’re early for supper.”

  “I didn’t come to eat, Kathleen.” He paused, then said, “I’m leaving.”

  She frowned. “For how long?”

  He shook his head. “For good. I’ve already cleared my things out of the foreman’s house, except for the furniture. You can keep that for the renters. Todd knows what to do for the rest of the week. The alfalfa is cut, and most of it’s baled. Todd will have the men finish the job.”

  He kept talking, because he knew it would be too easy to change his mind. Kathleen would try to convince him to stay.

  The Slaters’ housekeeper had been the closest thing to a mother he’d ever known, and he never doubted that she loved him. He felt the same way about her.

  “Vance Rivers, you stop this foolishness and tell me what’s going on.”

  “It’s for the best, Kathleen. I should have left here a long time ago. Ana is more than capable of handling things. She doesn’t want my help.” He had trouble getting the words out. “Wade can step in if she needs him. Besides, the other sisters need to pitch in, too. If I’m not here maybe they’ll come back to their home.”

  Kathleen didn’t look as if she believed any of his speech. “What about Colt? He’s being released in a few days.”

  Vance forced a smile. He still needed to talk with Colt. “That’s good. He needs to be home with his daughter. Not me.”

  “But you’re like a son to that man. You have to know that.”

  Colt had been good to him, but as he did with his daughters, the man kept everyone at a distance. At the very least Vance hoped something good would come out of this and Colt would repair the relationship with his daughters. Vance needed to leave for that to happen.

  “They’ll never be a family with me around. I’m part of the problem. It’s time, Kathleen.”

  Tears filled her eyes. “Where will you go?”

  He sighed. “I have a place for now, but I promise I won’t leave the area without saying goodbye.”

  He pushed away from the counter. “I’ll be right back.” He walked down the hall to the office, and placed the envelope on the desk. He returned to the kitchen. “I put something on the desk for Ana. Tell her...” He didn’t know what to say. “Tell her I’m sorry.”

  “Vance, you need to tell Ana yourself. At least tell her how you feel, and fight for her.”

  “She doesn’t want to hear anything I have to say.”

  “Then make her listen. If you care about her you’ll stay and help her through this.”

  “I wish that was possible, but it’s not. It’s too late.”

  But before he could leave, he heard the front door open and close. He froze, knowing it was Ana. He started to make his exit, but Kathleen grasped his arm.

  “You talk to her.” Her grip tightened. “Let her know how you feel.”

  He shook his head. “It would never work between us.” Not when Ana thought he was trying to take the ranch from her.

  The sound of the footsteps caught their attention. “Is that your pot roast I smell?”

  At the sound of Ana’s voice, Vance tensed and started to leave, but Kathleen stopped him.

  Ana walked into the kitchen, but her smile disappeared when she saw him. “Vance...”

  “Ana.” His gaze took her in like a starved man. Her dark hair curled around her face, but her pretty blue eyes looked tired. He started to speak and explain things, but he saw the hurt in her expression. He didn’t see that anything he could say would change anything. “Look, I was just leaving. Goodbye, Ana.”

  He’d blown his chance with her, and now it was too late. It was time to let the dream end. He turned and walked out.

  Ana could only watch as Vance left. The sound of the screen door hitting the frame made her panic, and for a split second she considered going after him. But what good would it do? If he truly cared about her wouldn’t he try to work things out?

  “It seems you could have talked to the man,” Kathleen said. “Hear him out.”

  “We’ve tried. Vance got what he wants.”

  “Oh, sweetheart, if you think that then you don’t know Vance as well as I thought. All he’s
ever wanted was to belong somewhere.”

  “So do I, Kathleen.”

  Ana fought tears as she walked out of the kitchen and down the hall to the office, where she closed the door. She could escape for now, but knew she would be seeing Vance often, even with her going back to work at the school. He would be at the house with Colt. How could she act as if everything was normal?

  She walked to the desk to email her sisters about the starting date for construction. Sitting down, she saw an envelope next to the desk from Wade Dickson, Attorney at Law. What was Uncle Wade sending her? She opened the envelope and took out the papers. On top was a note.

  Ana,

  It was never my intention to take anything from you. You were right, the land should stay in the Slater family.

  I only hope you can convince your sisters that Lazy S is more than just land.

  Good luck,

  Vance

  Her hand trembled as she set the note aside to glance over the papers, feeling her stomach tighten. Oh, God. It was the deed to all three sections of land, including the meadow, and they were all signed over to Analeigh Maria Slater.

  * * *

  Later that night, Colt was restless, so he took the offered medication to help him sleep. Lying in the dark, he still wasn’t sure if going home was a good idea. He’d liked having everyone come here to visit him, but what would happen when he got back to the house? Would Ana go live in town again? He wouldn’t get to see her every day like he did now.

  And what about Vance? There were problems between him and Ana, Colt knew. Problems that he had created when he gave the boy part of the ranch. Colt knew why he’d done it: Vance had cared about the Lazy S, and he’d earned it.

  In Colt’s eyes that made it right to give him part of the place. Colt hadn’t been able to take credit for much after his marriage failed, but putting Vance Rivers on a straight path had been his one shining accomplishment. He wasn’t going to apologize for giving the boy the land for his dedication and hard work. Only now, it had caused more trouble.

  Colt felt his eyes drifting shut and thought back to the decades of loneliness. If he had just held on to his little girls instead of pushing them away, how different things might have been for Ana, Tori, Josie and Marissa.

  He brushed a tear off his face.

  “Oh, Luisa,” he breathed. He could still see her beautiful face when he closed his eyes. He still dreamed of her, of them together. Thought about all their hopes of a future together. But their seemingly perfect life had quickly changed when Luisa walked away.

  “No puedo vivir sin ti. Te amo,” he whispered in the darkness. I can’t live without you. I love you. He’d said those words so often to his bride during their short six years together. It had been well over twenty years since they’d parted.

  He fisted his hands tightly. Why hadn’t he ever been able to put her completely out of his head, his heart? Why did he keep hoping she’d show up and beg him to take her back? Then he could tell her to get the hell out of his life.

  “Te quiero con toda mi alma. Siempre.” The female voice was a breathy whisper in the silent room. I love you with all my soul. Always.

  Colt froze, but didn’t open his eyes. He couldn’t even breathe when he heard the familiar words, “Tu eres mi vida.” You are my life.

  “Luisa,” he gasped, and jerked up as he glanced around the room, his eyes working to adjust to the darkness. He heard his heart pounding in his chest as he caught a faint female scent. His gaze searched every corner of the room, but found no one.

  He was alone, just like always.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  ANA SPENT THE night at the ranch, but she didn’t sleep at all, not after Kathleen told her Vance had resigned and moved out of the foreman’s house. Ana was haunted by the fact that she was the one who’d driven him away from his home. He’d given it all up.

  Because of her.

  She was ashamed that she had refused to listen to anything he had to say, and had believed the worst about him. In the end, Vance gave everything to her so she could be happy. Well, she was miserable, because he was the only thing she wanted.

  Oh, God. She had to find him, to get him to stay. To make him understand that he was the one who belonged at the Lazy S. She couldn’t imagine never seeing him again.

  At daybreak, she began calling his cell phone. Every time, it went straight to voice mail, but she couldn’t get herself to leave a message. Anything she had to say would sound so insincere. She needed to talk to Vance in person. At least to tell him she was sorry for those awful things she’d said.

  She came downstairs to the kitchen to find a flurry of activity. Three ranch hands were busy moving sofas against the walls in the living room, making space for the therapy equipment being delivered in a few hours. There was a delay, and Colt wouldn’t be coming home for a few more days. At least that would give Ana more time to get things together.

  Todd came over to her. “It’s good to see you, Ana.”

  “Hi, Todd,” she said pleasantly.

  The new foreman smiled. “I know you’ll be busy, with Colt coming home and all, so if there is anything else you need, let me know.”

  Bring Vance back, she cried silently. “I appreciate that, Todd. I hope everything is going smoothly with the operation.”

  He nodded. “Of course we miss Vance, but we’re handling things.”

  Did the men know what had happened? “Have you spoken to him?”

  He nodded. “I call him when I have questions.” The new foreman shrugged. “He’s been here so long, no one knows the Lazy S like he does.”

  Ana fought her tears. “I know. I’m hoping that, with Colt coming home, things will get back to normal.”

  A big grin appeared on Todd’s face. “The men are looking forward to the boss being home.”

  The young man went back to his task and Ana escaped to the kitchen, where Kathleen was busy mixing up a batch of her oatmeal raisin cookies to give the men for their help.

  The housekeeper wiped her hands on her apron and came around the table. “What’s wrong?”

  Ana shook her head. “Oh, Kathleen, I’ve made a mess of everything.”

  “Come on, we talked about this, Ana. Your father needs to take blame for this one. In fact, he and I are going to have a long discussion when he gets home. One that I wish I’d pushed for twenty years ago. Maybe things would have been different today.”

  “I don’t want to rehash the past. I want to start fresh with Colt, but I’m not sure I can until I get things straightened out with Vance.”

  “You will, honey. Give him some time.”

  “No, I can’t. I drove him away from his home.” Ana didn’t want to think of all the awful things she’d said to him. The man she cared about. The man she loved. Oh, God, she loved Vance so much. How could she have done this to him?

  Kathleen led Ana to a chair at the table and sat her down. “You’ve had a lot to deal with since your dad’s stroke. Your sisters haven’t been here to help you, either. Can’t blame them, though. There was a lot of resentment because of Colt’s neglect. You needed someone to blame.”

  “You would think as an adult I would understand that what Colt did was never Vance’s fault.”

  Kathleen sighed. “Do you think you stayed angry with Vance for another reason?”

  Ana wanted to deny it, but she couldn’t. She was afraid.

  Kathleen smiled. “I watched for years how Vance stood back from the family, but he always had eyes for you. A crush at first, but every time you came home from college, he seemed to make excuses to show up at the house. He went through a real dark mood when you got engaged.”

  Ana thought back to their first kiss, when she was fourteen, and how angry he’d been with her. “I didn’t think he liked me back then.”
<
br />   “You have to understand him. He was afraid of your father finding out. He fought to find a place to belong.” Kathleen leaned forward. “To not be that kid from the wrong side of town. He’s worked so hard to lose the stigma.”

  “Oh, God, and I put him right back there.”

  “No, Colt didn’t handle it right. He was wrong not to tell you girls, but he wasn’t wrong to give Vance part of this ranch. Don’t you think the man worked hard enough to have a place where he belonged?”

  Ana’s heart ached. She’d messed up everything and she had to make it right. “I need to fix this, Kathleen. Please tell me where Vance is. Please tell me he didn’t leave the state.”

  “No, he’s close by.” Kathleen sighed and hesitated, then said, “He’s staying at Garrett’s place.”

  “Working at the ranch?”

  “No, he took a job on the construction crew.”

  * * *

  Vance had been up since five that morning. He’d been at the lodge site, helping the men unload lumber off the flatbed truck and carry it to where the concrete slabs had been poured yesterday morning. Today they were going to frame the first floor of the structure, so there wouldn’t be any break in the workload anytime soon.

  He never minded hard work. It had gotten him through some rough times. Times when he hurt so badly nothing distracted him from the pain. Times when people thought he wasn’t worth saving, but he’d worked to prove them wrong. Times when he loved someone so deeply that he had to bury his feelings in work.

  Work wasn’t doing the trick to hide what he felt for Ana. That was why he couldn’t stay here.

  “Hey, don’t kill yourself. I have plans for you.”

  He looked up to see Garrett smiling at him.

  Vance removed his hard hat and wiped the sweat off his forehead. “I’m only doing the job you hired me for.”

  Garrett motioned for him to follow him off the site. Once under the shade of a tree, but before Garrett began to speak, Vance said, “Hey, I know I’m not as qualified as your regular guys, but I appreciate the work.”