More Than a Cowboy

“For the last four months. Before that, I taught third grade at the elementary school.”

Deacon watched the woman as she and Mercer chatted. He’d seen her off and on, naturally, and noticed her staring at him, as did anyone who’d been around at the time of the accident. He’d ignored her stares. In hindsight, he should have paid more attention.

She was, he now recalled, Cassidy’s friend. Best friend. The few memories he could muster crystalized. One centered on a wedding at the arena.

“How’s that husband of yours?” Mercer asked.

Her voice grew quiet. “We’re not married anymore.”

“Sorry to hear that.”

“I have three children.” She brightened and turned a framed picture around on her desk for Mercer to see. In between, she cast Deacon hasty glances.

For a moment, he missed the way Liberty looked at him. There was no wariness or accusation in her eyes. Only kindness, humor and undeniable interest.

She wouldn’t have that same look today. Her tone during their phone call yesterday had been icy and distant. He anticipated similar treatment at their meeting.

The door leading to the barn opened. Sunny strode inside, accompanied by Cassidy. Neither woman noticed Deacon. They went straight to Mercer, who immediately rose.

“Sunny. Cassidy.” He removed his cowboy hat and took them in from head to toe. “Damn, it’s good to see you.”

They didn’t return his enthusiasm. Anything but. And no hugs were initiated.

“You look great. Both of you.” He’d included his daughter, but his attention never wavered from Sunny.

Deacon had to admit time had been her friend. A short-sleeved Western-cut shirt tucked into her jeans revealed a still trim and shapely figure. Blond hair a couple shades darker than Liberty’s was pulled up into an efficient ponytail. Her green eyes observed Mercer carefully.

Green. Hmm. Liberty’s eyes were blue, a deep shade Deacon could easily get lost in.

He mentally shook himself. This meeting was too important for him to abandon focus.

“Let’s go into Mom’s office.” Cassidy started for the connecting door. If she was feeling sentimental, she hid it well.

Deacon had barely stood when Liberty entered. An all-too-common jolt coursed through him. It intensified when their gazes locked.

She was hurt. He could see it in her face. There was no way to change that. No going back. Deacon had made his choice, though not without regrets. He hoped one day she’d understand.

“Liberty!” Mercer beamed. “How are you?”

Give the man credit. He acted as if their visit today was strictly social and nothing out of the ordinary.

She didn’t answer him and instead followed her mother and sister into Sunny’s office. They were presenting a united front. Even so, Deacon noted a slight underlying tension between the women. He imagined Liberty had posed a lot of questions to her mother yesterday. Perhaps not all had been answered, or answered satisfactorily.

There weren’t enough chairs in the office. Sunny sat at her desk, a position of authority. Cassidy dropped into the only available vacant seat. If her intent was to make their visitors suffer discomfort, she didn’t succeed.

Undaunted, Mercer said, “Be right back.” And he was, with the two chairs from the front office. Carrying one in each arm, he set them down and squeezed them together in front of Sunny’s desk.

“My dear.” He gestured for Liberty to sit.

She did, and when Mercer plunked down in the middle chair, he and his two daughters were practically rubbing knees. Deacon leaned against a four-drawer file cabinet, which put him directly behind Liberty and looking over her shoulder. She shifted uneasily, then, as if sensing him, turned. The hurt he’d seen earlier was gone, replaced by confusion.

He ignored the pang of guilt—he had to, really—and smiled. “Good afternoon.”

Her answer was to face forward.

All right, he deserved that. Tucking the envelope containing the demand letter and draft partnership agreement under his arm, Deacon powered up his tablet and readied to take notes.

“Just so you know, Sunny, I don’t want your money.”

At Mercer’s impromptu announcement, the three women sat suddenly straighter.

“Then why threaten me with a lawsuit?” Sunny asked, her voice ripe with indignation.

“I’d rather manage the Easy Money with you.”

Deacon swallowed a groan. Why bother with plans when his client was bound and determined not to stick to them?

Sunny’s eyes widened and her jaw went visibly slack.

Cassidy leaped from her chair. “You’re crazy!”

Mercer wasn’t the least bit put off by her rage. “Just hear me out before you go getting your panties in a twist.”

“Who are you to—”

“We all know you don’t have the money,” he said, cutting Cassidy off.

“I can get it,” Sunny interjected.

“How? A loan against the arena? Can’t do that without my signature.”

“A line of credit at the bank.”

“Which would be secured by the arena and also require my consent.” Mercer turned to Deacon for confirmation.

“Most likely.” Taking his cue, he withdrew the draft partnership agreement from the envelope.

“I own half this arena, Sunny. You can’t prevent me from managing it with you. What I’m proposing is that we do it with a mutually acceptable agreement in place rather than as hostile partners.”

Deacon almost chuckled at hearing Mercer use the term he’d coined earlier that morning in his office.

“What are the terms of this agreement?” Sunny asked cautiously.

“Mom! You can’t be serious.” Cassidy glared at Mercer.

“I haven’t said yes.”

Deacon gave Sunny credit. She was indeed a smart businesswoman, exploring her options with a level head.

What did Liberty think? he wondered. The rigid set of her shoulders led him to believe she wasn’t exactly tickled about the prospects of her father joining forces with them. But, unlike her sister, she kept her opinion to herself.

Reaching around her, Deacon passed the draft partnership agreement to Sunny. The demand letter remained in the envelope. They wouldn’t need it if Sunny consented.

As he withdrew his arm, Liberty turned. They were inches apart. She stiffened but didn’t glance away. Neither did he. Not for several seconds. She was so pretty, and those blue eyes...

Deacon went back to leaning against the file cabinet before he did or said something stupid. This, he decided, could turn out to be a long, long afternoon.

Sunny silently skimmed the documents. After a moment, she tapped the papers into a neat rectangle and cleared her throat.

“Can you excuse us for a few minutes? I’d like to talk to Mercer alone.”

“M-Mom,” Cassidy sputtered. She appeared on the verge of a meltdown.

Liberty, on the other hand, couldn’t exit the office fast enough. Deacon had to flatten himself against the file cabinet in order to let her pass. As she did, he noticed her earrings. Gold dangling things that made no sense for a working cowgirl.

Great. Yet another thing to like about her. Liberty flouted conventionality.

“Mercer?” Clearing his throat, he asked, “Would you like me to stay?”

“No need.” His client exuded pleasure. This turn of events must be fitting nicely into his plans.

Deacon waited for Cassidy to precede him out of the office. When a last-ditch silent plea didn’t sway her mother, she stormed off. Mercer closed the office door behind Deacon.

The reception area was empty. He debated sitting and waiting. His gut told him the meeting between the two exes was going to take a while. He decided to check on his horses and then maybe walk the arena grounds. Mercer would call Deacon’s cell phone if he needed something.

There were easily fifty head of horses in the main barn. Many of them nickered and stretched their necks over their stall door to investigate. It wasn’t mealtime but handouts were always a possibility.

Deacon stopped at the stalls housing his horses. Huck, a young bay gelding with, in Deacon’s opinion, potential to be the best cutting horse on the property, greeted him with a lusty snort.

“Hey, boy.” Deacon patted the horse’s long, smooth neck. In the stall beside him, Confetti pawed the ground, demanding her equal share of attention. “Just wait. You’re next.”

The spotted Appaloosa mare was his first choice for team penning. She had a natural instinct when it came to calves and could turn on a dime.

“Deacon!”

At the sound of his name, he pivoted.

Liberty stood not ten feet away. “Can we talk?”

“Sure.” He lowered his hand. “Not about the agreement. That’s confidential—”

“Why are you doing this?”

She didn’t appear inclined for a stroll, so he remained standing there, the horse nudging his arm in a bid for more attention. “I’m an attorney. Your father came to me seeking representation, and I don’t exactly have an abundance of clients.”

Because of her mother’s treatment of him after the accident. The unspoken words hung in the air.

“Are you out for revenge?” she demanded.

“I wouldn’t stoop that low.”

“Then why?”

“This isn’t personal, Liberty.” Only it was.

“You can’t deny your resentment toward my family is going to affect your dealings with my father.”

“I promise you it won’t.” If anything, his attraction to her was more likely to impair his judgment. “Like it or not, this is ultimately between your parents. Neither of us will have much to do with the outcome.”

“What do you think will happen?”

He’d put his money on Mercer. What he said, however, was, “I can’t speculate. But I will tell you this. I don’t believe for one minute your father wants to ruin the arena or your mother’s finances.”

“And you’re really not out to get my family?”

“No.”

That seemed to satisfy her, and she walked away.

Watching her go, Deacon suffered another, more wrenching pang of guilt.

Revenge didn’t motivate him. It was redemption and exoneration. Deacon would prove his innocence in the accident one way or the other, and he wasn’t opposed to using his position as Mercer’s attorney to accomplish it.

He only hoped Liberty and her family didn’t get hurt in the process.

Chapter Three

Liberty pretended not to notice Deacon’s approach. Even if she wasn’t currently teaching a riding class of four-, five-and six-year-olds, she wouldn’t have acknowledged him. Not after the meeting yesterday.

“That’s right, Andrea,” she called out. “Put your weight in your heels and keep your back straight. Pay attention, Benjy. Look ahead and stop making faces at your neighbor.”

She suppressed a groan. Her nephew Benjamin was the self-appointed class clown.

Nephew! Did Mercer know he had a grandson? He must, right? In all the turmoil of the past two days, Liberty hadn’t once stopped to consider her sister’s young son. Okay, she had. But that was before Mercer threatened her mother with a lawsuit.

She’d naively assumed grandfather and grandson would be introduced over time and with plenty of preparation. Or not. The decision was Cassidy’s to make. Liberty had only wanted to meet her father. She hadn’t anticipated all hell breaking loose. And so fast.

Deacon knew about Benjamin, had seen him around the arena. He’d probably discussed Benjamin with Mercer. Could that be why he was approaching the arena, his attention fixated on...what?

Liberty’s gaze shot to her nephew. Too late now. She couldn’t very well send the boy away. That would only bring attention to him. No choice except to continue with the lesson and act normal.

“Morning, Liberty.”

Swell. He was addressing her. She should have moved to the center of the arena where she’d be out of earshot instead of standing along the fence.

She turned her head a mere fraction of an inch. “Deacon.”

He was early to the family meeting. Really early. Like, thirty minutes. He was evidently Mr. Prompt when it came to appointments. She’d gotten that much from the restaurant when they both arrived ahead of schedule. But a whole thirty minutes? And did he have to stand near the bleachers where the students’ moms and one dad were all seated?

“Nice day,” he said nonchalantly, petting one of the ranch dogs that had crawled out from under the bleachers.

“It’s hot,” she retorted, and returned to her class. “Dee Dee, even reins. That’s it.” Breathe, Liberty reminded herself. Relax. “All right now, I want everyone to trot in a circle. Then, on my cue, reverse and go in the other direction. Remember, no kicking your horse. Just a steady pressure with the insides of your calves.”

Horse was a loose description. Two of the students rode ponies and another a small mule. All the mounts were dead broke and reliable as rain during the summer monsoon season—which, judging by the clouds accumulating in the northeast sky, might start any minute.

Liberty liked teaching the younger children much better than the older ones. They were sponges, eager to learn and soak up all the knowledge she could impart. As they grew and gained confidence, they sometimes gave Liberty a hard time. Not that she let them get away with it. Rule number one during any lesson, child or adult: the instructor was in charge.

Feeling a tingling on the back of her neck, she rubbed the spot. A few seconds later, the tingling returned. Deacon! He was staring at her again. She’d experienced the same sensation yesterday in her mother’s office.

Then, he’d been standing right behind her. In the Flat Iron Restaurant, they’d been sitting side by side. Now, he was tracking her every move. The part of her that was still attuned to their mutual attraction went on high alert.

He looked good. Taller than when he’d worked here as a teenager and broader in the shoulders. He had a way of making jeans and a Western-cut dress shirt look professional. And his hat—a dark tan Resistol—was pulled down just a touch. Enough to lend a bit of edge to his appearance.

She fought the impulses charging through her. Deacon was her father’s attorney. He could be short, bald and ugly for all she cared.

Oh, but he wasn’t. She sighed and rubbed the back of her neck again.

The end of the lesson couldn’t come fast enough. Except, then they’d be having their “family meeting” in the house. Liberty and Cassidy would learn the details of the new partnership agreement between their parents and precisely what role Mercer would have in the operation of the arena.

He was to be a permanent fixture in their lives. Assuming he didn’t grow tired of them and leave. Liberty had yet to come to terms with how she felt. She’d wanted to get to know the man who’d fathered her. Not, however, under these circumstances.

The tangle of lies her mother had told was going to affect them all—possibly for years to come. Liberty tried not to judge her mother too harshly. She was having trouble with that. Her mother’s attempt to protect her—protect them—had backfired. Their livelihoods could even now be in jeopardy, depending on what Mercer wanted.

She tried to remain optimistic. He might be an alcoholic—a reformed alcoholic and sober for many, many years—but that wasn’t the same as a serial killer or a rapist. And he must care about them and the arena. If not, he would have made things difficult for them long before now.

She should have been told about him, Liberty thought with renewed frustration. Then, they wouldn’t be in this fix. Frankly, she didn’t know who to be angrier with—her mother, Mercer or Deacon. All had lied.

All right, maybe not Deacon so much. He hadn’t been under any obligation to tell her he’d taken on her father as a client. But he might have prepared her when they were sitting together in the Flat Iron, their knees brushing...their eyes locked—

“You’ve got a rebel on your hands.”

Deacon’s voice shook her from her reverie in time to spy her nephew kicking his mount into a lope in order to overtake the girl ahead of him, breaking not one but two of her instructions.

“Benjy!” she shouted, silently cursing herself for losing focus. “Trotting only.”

“But I want to race,” the boy complained.

“Maybe at the end of class, if you behave.”

He pouted but did as he was told and pulled back on the reins, his small body bouncing up and down in the saddle as the horse’s gait slowed. Luckily, Skittles was just about the laziest horse at the arena and more than happy to forfeit the race.

Ah, Benjamin. He was his mother’s child and liked nothing better than to test everyone’s patience. Liberty couldn’t say whether or not he resembled his father. Cassidy had taken a page from their mother’s book and refused to reveal the man’s identity. Liberty supposed her sister had her reasons, but without knowing them, she only felt sorry for the man who wasn’t getting an opportunity to be a part of his son’s life.

What about Mercer? Did she feel sorry for him, too? He hadn’t gotten to be a part of his grandson’s life either. Or Cassidy’s. Or hers.

Liberty bit down on her lower lip again. It was all so darn confusing.

The lesson continued for another ten minutes. When it was over, she headed to the gate and opened it so her students could exit the arena—single file except for Benjamin, who couldn’t resist cutting up one last time. As if connected by a string, the parents moved in a group to greet their children and oversee unsaddling the horses. When they were done, they’d walk with their children around the grounds, giving the horses a brief cooldown.

Some of the horses belonged to the Becketts and were used by students at various skill levels. A few were privately owned and either boarded at the arena or were transported in for lessons by trailer. Liberty herself owned three horses, including one very young, very green mare she hoped to eventually use for equine endurance competitions.

She hadn’t been bitten as strongly by the rodeo bug as the rest of her family. Though she’d competed in barrel racing up through high school, her passions were team penning and trail riding. At every opportunity, at any time of year, she rode into the nearby hills and mountains, seeking the most obscure, roughest terrain she could find.

“Come on, Benjy,” she called, her patience all but used up.

It was her job to make sure her nephew took care of his horse, just like the rest of the students. Afterward, Tatum had volunteered to keep an eye on Benjamin until the family meeting was over. Her children were close in age to him and the four frequently played together.

Liberty was sure Cassidy’s intentions were to keep her son out of Mercer’s sights. To that end, Liberty would make certain they walked Skittles behind the barn. “This way, Benjy.”

The boy was far more interested in entertaining his fellow students and refused to listen to his taskmaster aunt.

Deacon appeared from nowhere and fell into step beside Liberty. “Mind if I tag along?”

Please, tell her it wasn’t so. “What do you want, Deacon?”

“If you must know, Mercer asked that I make sure you’re at the meeting.”

“He thinks I’ll miss it?”

“He knows you’re...miffed at him.”

“Miffed?”

“His words.”

“Well, he’s wrong.” Liberty walked faster. “I’m not miffed. I’m furious. And hurt. With good reason, I might add.”

Deacon easily kept pace. “Don’t judge your father too harshly, Liberty. His intentions are good.”

“Of course you’d say that, you’re his attorney.”

“Give him time. There’s a lot to sort out.”

“That’s putting it mildly.”

They caught up with Benjamin at last. Skittles plodded along behind him, the reins dragging on the ground.

“Benjy, pick up the reins. What if Skittles runs off?”

“She won’t go nowhere.”

He was right, but that wasn’t the point.

“It’s a bad habit to get into. Horses are animals and unpredictable.” Liberty stood, her right foot tapping, and waited for her nephew to do as he was told. “Benjamin.”

Finally, he bent over and snatched the reins. As he did, his hat fell off. “Shoot!”

At least he hadn’t cussed. Benjamin was growing up around cowboys, and his language tended to be a bit riper than his mother liked.

Dropping the reins he’d picked up seconds earlier, he scrambled for the hat and again muttered, “Shoot.”

Deacon stepped forward, retrieved the reins and handed them to Benjamin. “That’s a fine mount you have there.”

The boy’s gaze went up...and up. He seemed to notice Deacon for the first time.

“Her name’s Skittles.” Benjamin accepted the reins from Deacon’s considerably larger outstretched hand.

Liberty’s heart beat erratically. This wasn’t going as planned. She’d wanted to keep her nephew out of sight and under wraps. Cassidy wouldn’t want him drawn into the situation with Mercer until everything was resolved. If it was resolved.

“I know,” Deacon said. “I remember her.”

“You do?” The boy’s eyes widened. “How?”

“I worked here a long time ago. Before you were born. Skittles was one of the horses the pickup men regularly used. I even rode her now and again.”

“Really? My mom says she’s old.”

“Older than you, for sure. But she’s a good horse. Treat her right, and she’ll be your best friend.”

Liberty’s nerves were about to tear her in two. She had to get Benjamin away before something happened.

“I’ll meet you at the house.” She took her nephew’s hand. “I promise to be at the meeting. You don’t have to babysit me.”

Before Deacon could answer, Liberty’s worst fears came true. The office door opened and, as if in slow motion, Mercer stepped outside, accompanied by her mother. His gaze went right to Benjamin, and he started forward. Sunny called after him, but he ignored her, making a beeline for Benjamin.

No, no, no! Liberty instinctively stepped in front of the boy. It was no use.

“Liberty.” Mercer was beaming by the time he reached them. “Is this my grandson?”

Benjamin looked up at her, his small brow knit with confusion. “Who’s he?”

The next instant, Cassidy rounded the corner of the barn and broke into a run. She wasn’t fast enough.

“Mercer, don’t,” Liberty said, her voice a hoarse whisper.

“This might not be the best time,” Deacon added.

Mercer had eyes and ears only for Benjamin. He went down on one knee in front of the boy. As Cassidy skidded to a stop in front of them, he said, “How do you do, young man? I’m your grandfather.”

* * *

IN THE SPAN OF a single heartbeat, everything went from slow motion to lightning speed. Cassidy swooped up her son and hurried him to the office where, Liberty suspected, he’d be deposited in Tatum’s care. Mercer rose, disappointment written all over his face. Sunny called over one of the ranch hands and instructed, “Take care of Skittles for me, please.”

At that moment, droplets of rain started to fall.

“Shall we head into the house?” Deacon posed the question more as a statement. When Mercer hesitated, his gaze lingering on the closed office door, Deacon helped him along with a tilt of his head in the direction of the house. “I have an appointment after this.”

Mercer’s shoulders slumped. “Just wanted to meet my grandson.”

“You will. Later. Don’t push it.” Deacon’s voice was mild but firm.

The older man ambled toward the John Deere all-terrain Gator they used to drive between the house and arena. Sunny went, too.

Liberty watched the entire exchange with interest. Mercer’s acute disappointment appeared genuine. And Deacon...this was hardly the shy, keep-to-himself teenager she remembered. He’d taken control of what could have been an explosive situation with tact and authority.

Apparently, he wasn’t done. Before Liberty could object, he grasped her by the elbow and briskly steered her across the open area. “Come on.”

Since they wouldn’t be riding with her parents on the Gator—it held only two people—the only other choice was to walk. She’d assumed Cassidy would be the one making the two hundred yard trek with her. Not Deacon.