Count on a Cowboy Page 5

  She wasn’t sure she could remember any of them because she was too distracted by the man on the horse. Trent Landry was impressive.

  “Just stay close to me,” he said as he rode up to her. “Cassie won’t run off.”

  Run off? Brooke swallowed hard and felt the horse shift under her again. She tensed.

  “Relax, Brooke. This is supposed to be fun.”

  Fun? She couldn’t remember the last time she’d just had fun. She nodded. “If you say so.”

  He grinned. “You’re going to do fine.” He covered her hands with his. “Remember, relax your hold.”

  She did as he asked.

  “That’s better. Come on, let’s go and see some of Colorado up close.” He walked his horse toward the gate.

  “Okay, girl,” Brooke began, “It’s time to go.” Cassie didn’t move right away. Instead, the seasoned mare swung her large head around, then finally gave a nod. Brooke couldn’t help smiling as Cassie started off.

  After a while Brooke began relax into the rhythm of the animal as the trail wandered through a grove of white birch trees. The sun streamed through the foliage, dotting the landscape with light as they made their way toward the foothills.

  Drawing in a breath of the mountain air, she let the scent of pine and damp earth fill her nostrils. She looked toward the pasture to see cattle grazing. Some of the bovines raised their heads as if to say hi, then went back to feeding. There was a cute white-faced calf running around the herd as if trying to get someone to play.

  Brooke couldn’t stop looking at the striking scenery, or comparing it to the desert where she’d grown up. Such a contrast. Suddenly she realized she was enjoying herself and got a silly grin on her face. She barely refrained from shouting, “Hey, look at me, I’m riding a horse.”

  When the trail widened, Trent dropped back and rode beside her. He smiled. “Like some company?”

  She tried not to tense up, but this man looked good on a horse, decked out in his Stetson hat and boots. Who was she kidding? Trent Landry would look good even without the cowboy props.

  “Sure,” she managed.

  They rode along in silence, then he began pointing out some landmarks. What she really wanted was to ask questions about Laurel, also Rory. Yet she didn’t want to give herself away. If Trent discovered her secret, he might not be so willing to let her stay and meet the man she’d never gotten a chance to call father.

  Laurel’s childhood had been so different from hers. Brooke couldn’t help wondering if they could ever find common ground, maybe become friends...even sisters. She felt a rush of emotion, thinking about her lonely years growing up.

  “You’re looking pretty serious again,” Trent said.

  She blinked, feeling the blush rise to her cheeks. “Sorry, I guess I get a little intense sometimes. It’s hard to turn it off. My job is pretty stressful.”

  Trent held the reins loosely in his hand and the horses walked slowly along the grassy trail. The easy rocking in the saddle was soothing. She could get used to this.

  “And taking care of your mother can’t be easy, either.”

  Brooke quickly came back to reality. “She has her good days.”

  “She’s probably happy to have you there with her.”

  Was she? Brooke had never been sure how Coralee felt. They’d never had the typical mother-daughter relationship. And now with the disease destroying her mother’s mind, she would never know. “I think she’s worried about seeing Laurel.”

  He nodded. “Well, it can’t be easy to give up a child.”

  And not tell the father that there were two babies. “No, it probably wasn’t, but I guess Coralee had her reasons. I just didn’t know them.”

  Trent gave a sideways glance toward Brooke. He was still trying to figure her out. Why did she call her mother Coralee sometimes? His instincts told him there was something she wasn’t telling him. As much as Rory seemed to distrust Coralee, Trent couldn’t help thinking there might be something else going on.

  He stole another glance at the pretty blonde’s profile, seeing more and more of a resemblance to Laurel. Although unlike Laurel, he didn’t feel toward Brooke.

  About fifteen minutes later, they came up on a creek, and Cassie quickly veered off the trail, heading in the direction of the water.

  “Hey, whoa.” Brooke tugged on the reins and looked back at Trent. “Why isn’t she stopping?”

  He followed after them. “It’s okay. Just let her go, she’s thirsty. I think we all could use something to drink.”

  Trent could see Brooke put slack in the reins and let the horse take her through the trees to the rocky edge. He was impressed with the way she sat in the saddle. It had taken a little while, but she’d finally let the tension ease and sat back to enjoy the ride. He wished he could say the same of himself. He felt the awareness in full alert whenever he got close to her.

  Once beside the creek under a large shade tree, the horses began to drink at the rocky edge. Trent went to Brooke, instructing her how to dismount. She managed to swing her leg over the saddle, but he didn’t think she realized the long distance to the ground, or that her legs wouldn’t hold her up. With her sudden cry, Trent gripped her by the waist.

  “I got you,” he told her as he steadied her. “It’s not unusual to feel a little shaky.”

  “I didn’t realize my leg muscles would turn to mush. We haven’t been riding that long.”

  Trent inhaled her soft scent and his body reacted quickly. “Riding isn’t as easy as it looks, and this is your first time on a horse.”

  “So the next time will be easier?” she asked as she looked at him from under her cowboy hat. Her big green eyes looked both leery and hopeful at the same time.

  “Maybe after a good long soak in a tub.”

  Aw, hell, why did he go and say that? Suddenly he conjured up a picture of her naked, covered in bubbles... He glanced away and helped her to the water’s edge. Once Brooke was seated, he went and checked the horses, then pulled a retractable tin cup from his saddlebag.

  “Here, use this.”

  She took the small cup. “Thank you.” She dipped it into the cool stream to fill it, then took a drink. “Oh, this is so good.”

  Her deep moan caused another reaction he didn’t expect. He pushed his hat back. “No need for bottled water around here.”

  She scooped up another cupful and his gaze was riveted on watching her long, slender neck as she swallowed thirstily. He fought to keep from reaching out and wiping the water that trickled down her flushed cheek. Once finished, she quickly ran her hand across her mouth and collected any traces of leftover liquid.

  “Guess I was thirstier than I thought,” Brooke said as she removed her hat and brushed her hair away from her face, exposing the dusting of freckles across her nose. She turned toward him and looked serious. “Something wrong? Is there dirt on my face?”

  “No.” Quickly he crouched down at the creek’s edge, cupped his hands, and concentrated on drinking the cool water. After his fill, he sat down next to her. Maybe not a good idea. He eyed her long legs encased in those slim-fitting jeans. He was far too aware of this woman, and that wasn’t good for either of them. Maybe he shouldn’t work all the time, just find himself a woman to go out with.

  Brooke interrupted his thoughts. “You have a pretty impressive backyard, Mr. Landry. Thank you for sharing it with me today.”

  “You’re welcome.” Trent readjusted his hat and stared out at the mountain range as a breeze rustled through the trees. He noticed the leaves were beginning to turn autumn colors, his favorite time of year. “I’ve probably explored about every cave and mesa around this property. My dad wanted to make sure his boys knew how to handle themselves.”

  “Boys? You have a brother?”

  He cursed under his breath for the slip. “Yeah. My younger brother...Chris.” Even though it had been nearly twenty years, a sharp pain sliced through his chest as if the accident had happened yesterday.

&nbs
p; “Does he live around here?”

  More pain, he swallowed hard. “No, he died a long time ago.”

  He couldn’t look at her, but heard her gasp. “Oh, Trent, I’m so sorry.”

  He could only nod as the details of that day flooded back. He shook them away and stood. “We should head back.” He went to retrieve their mounts.

  Brooke followed him and placed her hand on his arm. “I’m sorry if I brought up some bad memories.”

  He saw the sadness on her face. Although he didn’t deserve it, he wanted to take the comfort she offered. “There are no good memories when a young boy dies.”

  Not when his older brother didn’t have the time to watch out for him.

  * * *

  AFTER RETURNING FROM their ride, Trent took care of the horses, then he spoke with Ricky about the chores for the next day before he drove Brooke back to the Bucking Q. After dropping her off at the cabin, he drove next door, relieved that she hadn’t asked him any more questions about Chris.

  Still angry, he climbed out and slammed the truck door. Damn. He hadn’t talked about what happened to his brother in years. Why now? And with a virtual stranger? Not that the incident had been a secret. Anyone in town who knew them could probably tell her about Chris’s tragic accident. But he didn’t want to dredge up memories of the awful day that still ate away at his gut.

  Once inside, Trent closed the door and ran a hand over his face. He’d spent years trying to rid himself of the demons that followed him even after he moved away to Denver with his mother. Then there was guilt over his parents’ divorce because Wade and Leslie Landry couldn’t get over their young son’s death.

  He could still remember the endless silence in the house that had once been so full of laughter with two rambunctious boys. His chest tightened as the raw emotions nearly strangled him.

  For years, the pain of coming back to the Lucky Bar L had been agonizing. He’d only returned when he was younger because the court ordered it, but he had trouble facing his father. He hated seeing the sadness in Wade’s eyes. He hated that he’d let his father down by not watching out for his brother.

  After graduating high school, Trent had gone straight into the army. He’d wanted to do something worthwhile. Maybe he could help save lives to pay for the brother he couldn’t save.

  A sob formed in his throat, nearly choking him. “Dammit. I’m not doing this now.”

  He needed a distraction. He walked across the room, pulled out his phone and punched in Cody Marsh’s number. Surely the PI had some news for him.

  Maybe it was his years of military training but he couldn’t help feeling there was something Brooke wasn’t telling. Okay, he was suspicious by nature. And he wanted to know more about Brooke Harper. Of course she looked too much like Laurel not to be her half sister, but... There were too many buts.

  “Hey, Rocky, how it’s going on the ranch?”

  Trent smiled at the familiar nickname that had been with him since boot camp. Since he lived in the Rocky Mountains, the men had deemed it just right for him.

  “You tell me, Swamp Man.” With Cody’s last name being Marsh, and him coming from Florida, this had seemed the perfect moniker for him. “You got any news for me?”

  “Some. Concerning Aldrich, there’s no police record, but he’d been married and was divorced about three years ago. Financially, he’s in debt up to his eyebrows. Some of his credit card charges show that he frequents the casinos around Denver. My guess is he took off with your money since he was being chased by the not-so-nice guys. Word is he owes money to the wrong people.”

  Trent cursed. He hated to think that Laurel could have been mixed up in that mess.

  “Now, for Coralee Harper. She’s been a resident of Las Vegas for thirty-two years. Over the years, she’s had numerous addresses and jobs, but hasn’t been employed since 2014. She now resides at the Carlton Caring House as an Alzheimer’s patient.”

  “Did you find anything about her having daughters?” Trent asked.

  “If she did, they weren’t born in Las Vegas. Coralee does have a daughter listed as a contact, Brooke Marie Harper. But I haven’t had a chance to check into Brooke’s history yet.” There was a tired sigh. “Sorry, Rocky, I’ve been working nonstop another case, and I’ll be off grid doing surveillance for the next forty-eight hours. I can hook you up with another PI, but that’s the soonest I can get back to you.”

  Trent didn’t like the delay, but he doubted Rory would be back in town before then, anyway.

  “No, I can wait. I’ll talk to you then. Thanks, man.” Trent disconnected the call and slipped his phone in his pocket.

  He walked into the cabin’s kitchenette. It was identical to the one Brooke was staying in, and there wasn’t much. He opened the refrigerator and saw beer, milk and a carton of eggs. There wasn’t much more in the cupboards. His appetite suddenly disappeared.

  He checked his phone for any messages from Rory, but he knew he wouldn’t hear from him until at least tomorrow. Hopefully by then, he’d say they were on their way home. Then he could return to the Lucky Bar L and get on with business and forget about Brooke Harper.

  He walked to the window and glanced out at the unfinished cabins off in the distance. He needed to come up with a way to complete the construction. The longer they sat like this, the more money they were losing.

  He checked his watch. There was about thirty minutes before the bank closed. Taking out his phone, he got the number from information and was connected to the loan department. When he ended the call, he had a three o’clock appointment with a Mr. Jason Parks to discuss another loan. A loan that might not pan out. His original investment in the hunting and fishing cabins had come from his savings. Years in the army allowed him to be able to build up quite a savings. That and the fact he’d invested in the stock market.

  He shook his head. Although he’d known the time was right to retire from the military, he still wasn’t sure the ranch was home for him. But he hadn’t been looking for a home in a very long time. Could Hidden Springs be that place? Again?

  * * *

  BROOKE SAT ON the leather sofa in the cabin, her phone to her ear, listening as the care facility director and owner, Erin Carlton, went over her mother’s bad day.

  Not good.

  Then her mother came on the line. “Brooke, tell me all about Laurel,” Coralee crooned into the phone, her voice raspy from years of drinking and smoking. “Is she beautiful? I know she’s pretty because even as a baby she looked like me.”

  Coralee never told Brooke she was pretty. She should be used to her mother’s indifference, but the words still stung. “I haven’t had a chance to meet her yet, Mother.”

  “Is Rory keeping her from you?” Her anger was evident. “I bet he’s saying bad things about me. Don’t let him, Brooke. I had to give Laurel away. She was too sick for me to handle.”

  “I know, Mother. And you had your career.”

  “It was my chance to audition for the Golden Palace show with Jessica Bright. I know I was only one of the backup singers, but I could have got discovered.” Her voice was teary. “Now, I need to see Laurel. I have to tell her why I gave her away. Please help me, Brooke. If you love me you’ll find her.”

  A knife pierced Brooke’s heart. She should be used to her mother’s selfishness, but it never ceased to hurt.

  “I’m doing the best I can.”

  Coralee began to cry. “Please, I need to see her.”

  Brooke closed her eyes and heard a soothing voice talking with her mother, then Erin came back on the line. “Sorry about that, Brooke. Carol is putting Coralee to bed.”

  “Erin, should I drive back?”

  “No, your mother is doing fine, and although she’s been restless most of the day, she’s been lucid.” There was a pause, then Erin went on to remind her, “We’ve discussed this, Brooke. Coralee’s confusion and her frustration and anger are all part of the disease. And add in the possibility of seeing the daughter she gave away.
.. It’s a lot to handle.”

  Even before the Alzheimer’s took over, her mother could be difficult. “I wish I had some news for her, but Rory and Laurel are out of town. They won’t be back until tomorrow, or maybe the day after that.”

  “Then Coralee will have to deal with that,” Erin told her.

  Erin was only a few years older than Brooke, and they had quickly become friends over the past six months. Erin was a nurse working in a hospital until her military husband, Jarred, returned from deployment permanently disabled. Unable to leave him, she’d turned their home into a care facility. At the house Erin had also cared for her wheelchair-bound husband until his death a few months ago. Brooke felt blessed that she’d found a place for Coralee there.

  “Do you have a place to stay?”

  “Yes, I’m actually staying at the ranch in one of the fishing cabins, so I’m saving some money.”

  “But you haven’t talked with Rory?”

  “No, their neighbor Trent Landry is Rory’s partner.” She went on to tell her about the hunting and fishing business and a little bit about Laurel’s quarter-horse training.

  “Sounds like a nice guy.”

  And good-looking. Brooke thought about the man who’d taken her horseback riding today. She also couldn’t forget the sadness in his voice when he’d talked about his brother. “He’s retired army, Special Forces master sergeant.”

  Erin chuckled. “So a real hard-ass, huh.”

  “I wouldn’t call him that. He’s been nice to let me stay here.”

  “Oh, sounds like you’ve taken notice of the man. I bet he’s good-looking, in a military and cowboy sort of way. Lucky you.”

  Before Brooke could deny anything to her friend, a knock sounded. “I’ve got to go, Erin, there’s someone at the door.”

  “Hey, make sure you ask who it is.”

  “Yes, ma’am, I will. Tell Coralee I’ll talk to her soon. Good night.”

  Brooke walked to the door and pulled it partway open to find Trent standing on her porch. He was dressed in a black collared shirt and fresh jeans stacked on shiny black boots, and the familiar cowboy hat on his head. Her heart raced, but knew this was the last man she needed to be attracted to. “Trent. Is something wrong?”