Proposal at the Lazy S Ranch Read online

  “I don’t think anything you have to say will change a thing.”

  He was big and strong, and he seemed to take up a lot of space in the room. “Josie, I don’t blame you for not wanting to see me again.”

  She raised a hand, praying he would just disappear. “I don’t want to talk about this, Garrett.”

  “Well, if you want me to leave then you’re going to have to hear me out first.”

  His gray gaze met hers, causing her pulse to race through her body. Darn the man. “Okay, talk.”

  “First, I’m sorrier than I can say for what happened all those years ago. I regret that I hurt you. But we broke up, Josie. We hadn’t been together all summer, and you wouldn’t even talk to me.”

  Just as it had been all those years ago, Garrett’s words were like a knife slicing into her heart. “Feel better now?”

  He released a breath. “Although I have many regrets about how things happened between us, what I’ll never regret is my son. He’s the most important thing in my life.”

  A son. She had to remember the innocent child. “I’m glad, Garrett. I’m glad you’re happy.”

  He gave a nod. “I just want us to be able to work together on this project.”

  She wasn’t even sure she could stay here. “Is that all?”

  He nodded, then turned to leave, but for some reason she needed to know. “Was she worth it?”

  Garrett paused and glanced over his shoulder. “I take it you’re talking about my wife.”

  Another pain shot through Josie. “Yes.”

  “Natalie was my son’s mother, so yes, the choice was worth it.” She saw the pain flash through his eyes. “But our marriage didn’t survive.”

  * * *

  The next day at the Temple Ranch, Garrett forced himself out of bed after a sleepless night. Josie Slater was back. He knew he couldn’t let her mess with his head, or his heart. Not again.

  Why was he even worrying? There was no room for her in his life. So for both their sakes, he hoped she was headed back to California soon.

  He walked down the stairs of his father’s home. Now, not only had it been Garrett’s for the past year, it was Brody’s, too. And this morning he’d taken off work from the construction site to spend time with his son. Soon the boy would be starting a new school, so today was going to be just for them. With Brody’s recent move to Royerton, he knew it was going to take some time to make the adjustment. And for Garrett to win his son’s trust.

  Since the divorce two years ago, it had been difficult on his child. Then his ex-wife’s recent death in a car accident had struck Brody yet another blow. Garrett hoped that a stable home at the ranch would help the eight-year-old. As his father, he was going to spend as much time as possible with his son now that he was the sole parent.

  Garrett finished tucking in his shirt as he walked into the kitchen. He found Brody sitting at the counter, eating a bowl of his favorite cereal.

  “Good morning, Brody.”

  He was rewarded with a big smile. “Morning,” his son murmured.

  Garrett smiled at the boy who was his image at the same age.

  Brody was tall and lanky, with a headful of unruly dark curls and big green eyes. The thing that tore at Garrett’s heart was knowing that his son would have struggles without having a mother around. As Brody’s father he’d vowed from the day he’d been born that he’d always be there for him.

  He walked to the counter and took the mug of coffee from the housekeeper, Della Carlton.

  “Thanks, Della.” He took a sip. “Sorry I wasn’t down earlier, but I needed to phone my crew foreman. How has Brody been this morning?”

  “A sweetheart. He does need his routine, though.”

  Garrett nodded. “Change is hard for all of us.”

  The short stocky woman had gray hair pulled up into a ponytail. “It’s so wonderful you brought him here. It’s been good for your father, too.”

  Garrett glanced around. “Speaking of Nolan, where is he?”

  “Jack Richardson came by and took him to a horse auction.”

  He frowned, thinking about his father’s arthritis. “Dad was up to it?”

  Della nodded as they watched Brody carry his bowl to the sink. “The new medication seems to be helping him a lot.”

  The main reason Garrett had moved back to the ranch was to help out his father. Relocating his construction company took longer, but business was picking up, and with his foreman, Jerry, they could still put in bids on long-distance projects. And now, Brody would be raised here, too.

  “Can we go get my horse now?” Brody asked.

  Garrett smiled. “Give me a minute.”

  “Okay. I’m going outside to wait.” The boy took off toward the back door.

  Garrett glanced at Della. The Temple men were lucky to have her here to help fill in with Brody. “We should be back from the Lazy S by lunch. If plans change I’ll call you.”

  The middle-aged widow nodded. “You just have a good time today.”

  Garrett knew today Brody would be meeting new people. He’d been so withdrawn since his mother’s death. “You think he’s ready for his own horse?”

  Della smiled. “I’m not an expert, but it seems to me this is the first thing I’d seen the boy get excited about since he’s come here to live. I’d say that’s a good sign, and isn’t horseback riding therapeutic?”

  “Dad!” Brody’s voice rang out.

  “Okay, I’m coming.”

  “You’re doing the right thing by the boy,” Della said. “You’re a good man, Garrett Temple.”

  Garrett felt a sudden rush of emotion, but managed a nod. He caught up with his son and headed toward his truck. They were going to see Vance to get a suitable mount.

  They climbed in the vehicle, and after buckling up, Garrett drove off toward their closest neighbor.

  Since Nolan Temple’s health had deteriorated most of the barn stock had been sold off. One of the jobs Garrett had taken on was to get the operation up and going again. Thanks to the ranch foreman, Charlie Bowers, and neighbor Vance Rivers, they now had a herd that was twice the size as last year’s, along with an alfalfa crop for the spring.

  Even his dad was feeling good enough to want to participate in the operation. Garrett enjoyed it, too, and he hoped the same for his son. He wanted a place where his boy would feel safe and secure again. He wanted that for himself, too.

  He glanced at the boy sitting next to him. “Vance has three horses for you to see, but that doesn’t mean you have to pick one of them. We can keep looking if you don’t find what you want.”

  Brody shrugged, looking down at his hands. “Okay.”

  Garrett was eager to get his son something to distract him from the loss of his mother. There had also been some big changes in his life. He just wanted Brody to know that he was his top priority. Not even work was going to distract him from rebuilding a life with his son.

  Then he’d seen Josie yesterday.

  All these years and she was back here. Seeing her again had been harder than he could imagine. But by her reaction toward him, he didn’t have to worry about her being interested in him. Besides, she was probably headed back to California really soon.

  * * *

  Josie had slept in until eight o’clock. After she’d tested the tenderness of her ankle, she managed to shower and rewrapped it. She dressed and was even able to put on a pair of canvas sneakers. Making her way downstairs, she went to the kitchen and was greeted by Kathleen’s big smile and hug.

  “Where is everyone?”

  “Your father is with his therapist, Jay McNeal.” The fiftysomething housekeeper glanced at the kitchen clock. “It’ll be about another hour. Afterward, Jay helps him shower and get dressed.”

  “How is Colt really doing? I mean, Ana hadn’t given a lot of details.” Maybe Josie just hadn’t been eager to listen. “Only that he’s improving.”

  “He is improving and very quickly. We’re all happy about that.” Kat
hleen sat down across from her. “But your sister still wants your help. She won’t ask you to, but she needs you to stay as long as you can spare the time.”

  Josie felt bad, knowing how much her older sister had taken on by herself. “I should have come sooner.”

  “Under the circumstances, I can’t blame you all for not wanting to come home,” she told her. “But I’m sure glad you’re here now. Please tell me you’re staying awhile.” The older woman squeezed her hand. “I missed you, Josie.”

  “Ah, Kathleen, I’ve missed you, too.” But two weeks was about all she could handle with Garrett. “I said two weeks. After that...” She hesitated. “Remember, Tori is handling my end of the business while I’m here.”

  “Maybe she’ll decide to come back, too.”

  Josie smiled. “As soon as I get back there, she can come home.”

  “So you still think of the Lazy S as home?”

  Josie shook her head. “Don’t start, Kathleen. Let’s just take this slow. I’ve been away a long time.” She finished her coffee. “Where’s Ana?”

  “She went out to the barn with Vance. They have someone coming to look at some horses this morning.” Kathleen checked the clock. “Then she had to go to work at the high school.”

  Josie nodded, knowing the reason she came home was because of Ana’s job as high school counselor.

  She stood and tested her ankle. “Maybe I’ll walk down to have a look around, then come back to see Colt.” This was all so new to her. She was actually going to see her dad.

  Josie kissed Kathleen’s cheek. Grabbing her coat, she headed out the door and slowly made her way down the same path she used to take as a kid. Not that she’d been invited into the barn much. Colt had pretty much kept his daughters out of any ranch business. Even when they got older, he didn’t want them around. It had been some of the ranch hands who taught them to rope and ride. When Colt learned of it, he made sure they learned to muck out stalls, too.

  She stepped inside the large structure, where the scent of straw and animals hit her. She smiled, thinking a few days here might not be so bad. She looked down the rows of stalls where several horses were housed. She liked this. Walking down the center aisle, she passed the stall that had the name Blondie on the gate. Ana’s buckskin, Josie thought as she walked up and began to stroke the animal. Then she went to another stall with a big chestnut, Rusty.

  “Well, aren’t you a good-looking fella.”

  “That’s Vance’s horse.”

  Josie swung around when she heard a child’s voice. She found a boy who was about eight or nine. He must be the buyer’s son. “And I bet he’s fun to ride, too,” she said.

  The child didn’t make eye contact with her, but he wandered toward her. “Vance says he can chase down calves, too. That’s what he’s best at.”

  “We all have to be good at something.” Who was this child? “I’m Josie, Ana’s sister. And you are?”

  “Brody. Vance said my horse can be like Rusty if I train him.”

  Where was her future brother-in-law? “You have your own horse, Brody?”

  Josie watched the child nod, wondering why he looked so familiar. He nodded. “My dad’s buying me one. He’s brown with a black tail and mane. That means he’s a bay. His name is Sky Rocket.”

  “Cool name.”

  The child nodded, causing his cowboy hat to tip back. “I’m going to teach him to run really fast.”

  Josie smiled. “That sounds like a lot of fun.”

  She was about to say something to the boy when she heard another voice calling out from the other side of the barn. “Brody!”

  Josie looked at the boy. “Seems someone is looking for you.”

  The boy jerked around just as Garrett and Vance came walking down the aisle. “Brody Temple.”

  Temple. This was Garrett’s child. Oh, God, she needed to leave. The last thing she wanted was to see the man again.

  “Oh, no,” Brody said as he stepped closer to Josie. “My dad is mad.”

  Suddenly Garrett and Vance came up to them, and she knew she couldn’t ditch the boy.

  “Brody, you were told not to wander off,” his father said. “You’re too young to be around horses without someone older.”

  Suddenly, the kid threw her under the bus. “It’s okay. I was with Josie.”

  CHAPTER THREE

  GARRETT WAS BOTH relieved and surprised to find Brody standing beside Josie. His son didn’t usually approach strangers.

  He looked down at the boy. “Son, you know you can’t leave like that.”

  Brody stiffened. “I was careful,” he said defensively, but that changed when Vance walked up to the group. “You sure have a lot of horses here.”

  “We hope to have a lot more in the spring,” Vance said. “So we can keep selling them to other kids.” He looked at Josie. “Josie. What brings you out here?”

  “I came to find Ana.” She looked at the boy and managed to smile. “And found Brody instead.”

  That smile quickly died when she turned to Garrett. “Seems you spend a lot of time at the Lazy S. I thought you were busy building a lodge.”

  So she was going to stay angry at him. “I am. My foreman has everything under control.” He placed his hands on Brody’s shoulders. “I was taking the morning off to spend with my son. We’re picking out his first horse.”

  “I know. We were talking about Sky Rocket.” She sighed. “Look, I should get back to the house to check on Colt. It was nice to meet you, Brody.”

  Vance stepped in. “Don’t go yet, Josie, I was going to show Brody the new foal.”

  “Yeah, go with us,” Brody pleaded.

  Garrett knew it was inevitable he’d see Josie, but today he wanted to focus on his son, not his ex-girlfriend.

  He could see her indecision, but she finally relented. “I can stay a few minutes.”

  Brody looked at Vance. “Where is it?”

  Grinning, Vance pushed his hat back. “Down a few stalls.” They all began walking. Garrett stayed back and let Brody and Josie take the lead, but once they got to the oversize stall, the boy waited, a big grin on his face, until the adults arrived before he got too close. He saw happiness in his child that he hadn’t seen in a long time.

  Garrett looked over the railing to find a dark chestnut mare. Close by was her pretty brown filly with four white socks just like her mama.

  “Oh, she’s so little,” Brody said as he looked through the stall railings. “How old is she?”

  Vance walked up and began to stroke the mare’s nose. “Just two weeks.”

  Josie asked Vance, “Do you think the mama will let us pet her?”

  Garrett enjoyed seeing the light in her eyes, the excitement in her voice. It had been a long time since he’d seen this carefree side of Josie.

  “Sure. Sugar Plum is a sweetheart.” He opened the gate, went inside and nudged the mare back and stood in front of her so the group could see the long-legged filly.

  “So what do you think of her, Brody?” Vance asked.

  Garrett knelt down away from the new mother, then reached out a hand to coax the filly, turning to Brody. “Come here, son.”

  The boy walked inside the stall and mimicked his dad. “She’s so little.”

  His son seemed to have no fear of animals as he reached out his hand to the foal. Surprisingly, the horse sniffed it and allowed the boy to touch her. Brody grinned. “She likes me. Josie, she likes me.”

  Josie moved in next to Brody. “Animals are trusting as long as you don’t hurt them.”

  Garrett couldn’t take his eyes off the exchange between his son and the foal, also between Josie and Brody. He felt a tightening in his chest. Josie always had an easy way, a knack to make people feel comfortable.

  Josie stood up and let Brody interact with the foal. There was a bond growing already. She glanced at Garrett, seeing the love and protectiveness he had for his child. She felt tears welling in her eyes as she thought about past regrets. What could h
ave been if only... She quickly blinked them away.

  “Hey, Brody,” Vance said. “Can you think of a name for our filly?”

  The child shrugged. “I don’t know any names for a horse.”

  Josie saw the boy begin to withdraw. “Maybe,” she suggested, “’cause her mom’s name is Sugar Plum, you can call her ‘Sweet’ something.” She shrugged. “You know, like Sweet Pea. Sweet Georgia Brown. Sweet Caroline. Sweetheart. Sweet Potato.”

  “Sweet potato?” Brody giggled. “That’s a silly name.”

  “Well, come up with something better,” she told him.

  The child continued to stroke the animal. “How about Sweet as Sugar,” he said. “My mom used to say that to me when I was little.” His voice faded out. “Before she died.”

  Oh, God. Josie’s heart nearly stopped as she shot a look at Garrett. He didn’t make eye contact with her. His gaze stayed on his child as he went to the boy. “I think your mom would really like that name.”

  Vance spoke up. “I think that’s a perfect name. It’s got her mother’s name in it, too. We’ll call her Sweetie for short. How do you like that, Sugar?” The horse whinnied and bobbed her head.

  Brody flashed a big grin and his green eyes sparkled.

  Josie felt a tug at her heart. “Yeah. That’s a good name. Sweetie.”

  Vance patted the mare’s neck as he winked at Josie. “Thank you. Good idea.”

  “Anytime, soon-to-be brother-in-law.” She smiled and glanced at Garrett. He was watching her, and she felt the familiar feelings, that warm shiver as his gaze locked on hers. She hated that he still had an effect on her, but she refused to let him see it. “I should get back to the house and Colt.”

  “We all need to leave,” Garrett said. “The mama has been patient long enough with her visitors.”

  Brody stood up. “Bye, Sweetie. Bye, Sugar.”

  After the stall gate closed, Josie turned to the child. “It was nice to meet you, Brody.”

  “Nice meeting you, Josie,” the boy said, then when she started to walk out, he asked shyly, “Will I see you again?”

  She was caught off guard. “Oh, probably. We’re neighbors. And your dad is building a lodge for us.”