The Cedar River Cowboys

So, even before Aunt Violet’s accident, she was planning on returning to Cedar River. She wasn’t running away. She was starting over. Carving out a new life with new possibilities. To help Aunt Violet and fulfill the promise she’d made to Liz to always be there for her daughters.

And being at odds with Grady from the outset wasn’t going to make that easy. So she sucked up her irritation and took a breath.

“I don’t mean for us to always end up arguing, you know.”

Grady stilled when she spoke, tightening his grip on the lead rope as he stared at her.

“You don’t?” he queried and grinned a little. “It’s the tension thing, then?”

Earl snorted loudly and she took a wary step backward. She wasn’t much of a cowgirl. She didn’t even know how to ride. Liz had looked awesome in the saddle, and she knew Grady’s two oldest daughters had ponies of their own.

She dropped her arms. “It’s just that we...we...”

“We’ve never gotten along,” he finished for her. “Yeah, I know.”

“But I think we should try, for the girls’ sake,” she added. “They mean the world to me.”

“And to me,” he said quietly, and she couldn’t help but notice how the wind gently flipped through the hair at his collar. “And I do want them to know you, Marissa. There are things they can learn from you that they never will from me.”

Mother kind of things. Marissa didn’t miss the meaning of his words. Liz was gone and her daughters longed for a mother’s love. She knew that. She’d felt it every time she called them on the phone and the last time she’d come home for a visit. Breanna in particular had craved her attention and had cried when she’d left. It was a memory that had haunted Marissa for months. And Milly...she’d been so close to Liz, and Marissa knew she missed her mother terribly. As for the baby, Tina had no memory of her mom. It was tragic all around. And since one of the last things Liz had asked of her just before she died was for Marissa to look after her girls, she knew she would always endeavor to do exactly that. Liz was her dearest friend and had been a lifesaver when Marissa had lost her own mother.

“I’ll do whatever I can for them,” she said earnestly.

Grady was watching her with such burning intensity she was tempted to look away. But she didn’t. She met his gaze head-on. Steadfast. Resolute.

“Okay,” he said and kind of half smiled. “I’m sure they’ll appreciate any time you can spend with them.”

“I could take them out tomorrow,” she suggested. “Once I’ve settled in and stocked the house with some supplies. I thought I might take Breanna and Milly to see Aunt Violet.”

He nodded. “Sure. You can collect them from my mom’s around eleven. I always take them to her place Saturday morning.”

Marissa knew that. Liz had started that tradition years earlier. And she liked Colleen Parker a lot, too. Grady’s mother was one of those kind, forthright people who was always on hand for a cup of peppermint tea and a chat.

“Great,” she said. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

He nodded again and lingered, as if he wasn’t quite finished speaking to her. “Yeah...right.”

Tension returned and quickly filled the space between them. It was always like that. There was no remedy. No way of altering the fact that they rubbed each other the wrong way. It was instinct. Inescapable. It always would be.

“Goodbye, Grady.”

He stared at her. Through her. His deep blue eyes were unwavering and intense.

“So long, Marissa,” he said finally and urged the bull forward. He got to the gate and then turned. “And Marissa...it’s good to have you back.”

One brow rose. “You sure about that?”

“No,” he said candidly. “Not one damned bit.”

Then he walked through the gate and out of sight.

Chapter Two

“So...have you been seeing anyone lately?”

Grady rocked back in his chair and released a squirming Tina, who’d dropped her favorite stuffed frog on the floor and wanted it back. He picked up the toy and placed it into her arms.

He sat in his mother’s kitchen, drinking coffee and having a reasonably deep conversation with his younger brother, Brant, about the other man’s intention to purchase the Loose Moose Tavern. Or at least, what was left of the place after it had been partially gutted by a fire several months earlier. And he would have continued the conversation had his mother, standing by the western red cedar counter, not suddenly started grilling him about his private life.

“I see plenty of people,” he said mildly.

Brant chuckled and Grady glared at his brother. He loved his mother, but when she got into one of her moods and started asking questions about what she saw as his lacking love life, a wall inevitably came up. Colleen Parker was a gem of a person and a wonderful parent, but sometimes she pushed too far and too hard.

“Stop being smart with me,” she said and shook her head as she placed a sippy cup into Tina’s hands. “Are you dating anyone at the moment?”

Grady cocked his head sideways. “Do you mean since you asked me this same question last Saturday?” He shrugged a little too casually and knew his mother wouldn’t be fooled.

“Sarcasm isn’t necessary. It was a reasonable question.” Colleen came to the table and sat down.

Grady groaned. “Then no, I’m not.”

His mother tutted. “How are you ever going to get married again if you refuse to even date?”

“I’m not refusing to do anything,” he replied and sipped more coffee, keeping one eye on his youngest daughter as she wandered around the kitchen table. “I simply don’t have time for dating. Nor do I want a wife at this point in time.”

Colleen tutted again. “Your girls need a mother.”

“They have a mother,” he said, sharper than he’d intended, then softened his tone a fraction. “Just leave it alone, Mom. I’m fine, okay?”

“You’re not and I can’t,” she replied. “I’m concerned about you and my grandchildren. And as your mother, that’s my right. So stop fobbing me off with excuses like not having the time. You have to make time.”

It was the same old song. The one he heard every week. For the past twelve months his mother had become unwavering in her belief that he needed to get married again. But he wasn’t about to jump into anything. Sure, he knew the girls would relish having another woman in their lives...but marriage was a huge step. And he wasn’t sure he had the heart to give part of himself to someone new...at least, not yet. He liked his life...most of the time. Sure, there were times when he got lonely, but who didn’t? And there were nights when he would have liked someone to talk to, someone to curl up to and someone to make love with. But that didn’t mean he was about to get into a relationship he simply wasn’t convinced he was ready for.

He cracked a smile and looked at his mother. “Can’t you point that Cupid’s arrow of yours in his direction for once?” Grady suggested and hooked a thumb toward his brother.

Colleen grinned. “Once you’re settled, he’s next.”

Brant groaned loudly. “Leave me out of this, will you?” he said in a despairing tone.

Grady looked at Brant, who was two years his junior, and smiled. But in his heart he worried about his younger brother, who had recently left the military after a third tour of the Middle East. Grady knew his brother had brought demons home with him. He wasn’t sure what, but he felt it. Brant didn’t say much. He didn’t have to. They had been close all their lives. But something haunted his younger brother, something big. Only, Brant wasn’t talking, and Grady worried that his brother never would.

“Not a chance,” he said and laughed. “Now that you’re back you get to take your medicine just like I have to.”

They both laughed then and it felt good. He loved Saturday mornings at his mom’s. The girls adored their grandmother and their uncle Brant, and having family so close by helped fill the void left when Liz had died. Despite Colleen’s repeated matchmaking efforts, Grady knew his mom understood his need to keep his daughters in a loving and steady routine, without stress. She’d done the same when his own dad had died, even though he’d been twenty and Brant eighteen. Colleen had left the ranch twelve months later and moved into town, and Grady had taken over the family property. That was twelve years ago. Since then he’d married, had three children and buried his wife.

But his mother was always there. She’d been unfailing in her support after Liz had passed away and he knew he and the girls wouldn’t have coped as well without Colleen in the background.

But it was getting harder to keep her at bay, despite her good intentions. His mother was relentless when she wanted something.

There was a knock on the door and he quickly got to his feet, happy for the reprieve.

Marissa...

It was eleven o’clock. One thing about Marissa, she was always punctual. He admired that about her more than he was prepared to admit. “I’ll get it,” he said and headed down the hall.

When he opened the door, his stomach did a sudden “Marissa is close” plunge. She looked incredible in blue jeans, a bright green sweater and knee-high boots. Her blond hair framed her face and her cheeks were flushed with color. Her caramel-brown eyes were unwavering as they met his gaze. One thing for sure, Marissa Ellis was beautiful. And Grady experienced a strong surge of something that felt a whole lot like desire sweep through his blood. He pushed it back quickly.

Not a chance...

He might not have made love with a woman since forever, but that didn’t mean he was going to start thinking about Marissa in that way. That would be just plain stupid. And he wasn’t a stupid man.

“Hi,” she said, a little breathlessly. “I’m here.”

“So I see,” he replied and held the door back for her to enter. “The girls are waiting patiently in the family room. And on their best behavior,” he added. “The promise of a day with you had them up and dressed at dawn. Now they’re sitting quiet as mice—they’ve been watching cartoons until it was time to go.”

She laughed and the lovely sound echoed down the hallway. He watched her walk, couldn’t help but notice the gentle sway of her hips and the sexy-as-all-get-out boots. She had a style that was an intriguing mix of big city and small town. There was nothing obvious about Marissa; everything was understated and elegant. She was beautiful enough to grace a billboard but always looked just as much at home in jeans and sweaters as she did in a fancy suit or an evening gown.

Grady dismissed his wandering thoughts and ushered her into the kitchen. His mother and Brant both raised their brows when she entered, even though they knew she was taking the girls out for a few hours. His mom came forward immediately and drew her into an embrace.

“It’s lovely to see you, Marissa. I was so pleased when Grady told us you’d come back for good. And Violet must be delighted.”

“I hope so,” Marissa said and hugged his mother in return. “She said you’ve been visiting her this week, so thank you.”

“My pleasure,” Colleen said and smiled.

“You remember Brant?” Grady asked.

She nodded. “Of course,” she replied and flicked her gaze to his brother. “Nice to see you again.”

“Likewise,” Brant said, flashing her a grin as he sipped his coffee.

Grady watched as she made a beeline for Tina, who was now bobbing up and down with her hands outstretched. Marissa enfolded his child in her arms as though she was the most precious thing in the world, and something hot pierced his chest. It always moved him to see how attached she was to his daughters. Of course, Liz had been her closest friend, which would explain some part of it. And the girls were delightful. But there was an earnest, deep kind of love between Marissa and his daughters that rattled him in a way he couldn’t quite figure. And she was one of the few people he trusted wholly and completely when it came to the care and well-being of his children.

As if on cue, Breanna and Milly raced into the room and shrieked delightfully when they saw her. She hugged them both while still holding the toddler, and he realized it had been an age since he’d seen the girls so happy. Marissa brought out the best in them, and from the loving expression on her face, it was clearly mutual.

Grady glanced toward his mother and saw how keenly she watched the interaction. He knew that look. Great. His mother liked Marissa...but the last thing he wanted was Colleen getting any ideas that included him and Marissa being any kind of anything.

He excused them to follow the kids and Marissa down the hall, then he grabbed the girls’ bags from beside the front door, hauled Tina into his arms and headed back outside.

“I installed the car seat you gave me last time I was here,” she said as they walked toward the car. “You know, the one for Milly,” she explained as she unlocked the vehicle.

Grady was touched that she’d remembered. “Thank you.”

Once they were all in her Volvo, she spoke.

“I’ll have them back by four, if that’s okay?”

“Sure. Have a nice time.”

Then he waved them off and watched his daughters’ delighted faces through the window as the car eased away. He took a breath and hugged Tina close as he headed back inside.

“And you, honey,” he said as he kissed her head, “get to spend the day with Daddy.”

She laughed and gently grabbed a handful of his hair. Tina was such a placid and lovely child. Not as serious and temperamental as Breanna or energetic as Milly, but more like her mom. She’d been six weeks old when Liz died, and it saddened Grady that she’d had only such a small amount of time with her mom.

Once he was back in the house, he made for the kitchen to collect Tina’s princess backpack. His mother and brother were still sitting at the table, and both gave him an odd look when he entered the room.

“Marissa seems happy to be back,” his mother said, her lips curling in a smile. “And it looks as though she’s well and truly recovered from her divorce. She’s such a beautiful woman, don’t you think? And she’s so attached to the girls. I know Liz thought the world of—”

“Mom,” Grady warned gently. “Don’t.”

She sighed. “All I’m saying is that—”

“I know what you’re saying,” he said, cutting her off. “So just don’t.”

“I only—”

“No,” he said, a little firmer. “Never. Understand? Never.”

She nodded and stood, rattling the wedding band she still wore against the side of the cup in her hand. She was smiling. A typical Mom way of diffusing his impatience. There was no way he could get mad with his mother. She was all heart and the most generous person he had ever known. Even if she was set on interfering in his private life.

“Never say never.” She looked at Brant. “That goes for both of you. Now, skedaddle out of here so I can get to my quilting class.”

Grady said goodbye to his family and headed back to the ranch, determined to get his mother’s words and ideas out of his thoughts.

And failed, big-time.

* * *

Marissa had a wonderful afternoon with the girls. She took them to see Aunt Violet at the hospital and stayed for a while, then afterward they all got their nails painted at the beauty salon in town before going to the Muffin Box café for a shared plate of home-style sweet potato fries followed by pear-and-pecan-flavored mini cupcakes and vanilla bean milk shakes.

By the time she pulled up outside the ranch house, it was five minutes to four. Grady came out onto the porch, wearing jeans and a T-shirt that showed off his well-defined physique. He was broad in the shoulders and narrow in the hips and waist and well muscled. Not the kind of muscles from a gym as her ex-husband had boasted about...but from his years of working the ranch. From repairing fences and hauling hay bales and rounding up cattle on horseback. There was something so elementally masculine about him it was impossible to ignore. And the purely female part of her that registered an attractive man was on the radar was quickly on full alert, even if it was Grady. She’d have to be a rock not to notice he was attractive.

“Daddy!”

Milly was out of the car and up the steps in a flash, holding out her sparkly fingernails as if they were the greatest of treasures. She watched as Grady crouched down and examined Milly’s nails and then ruffled her hair. Breanna was a little more subdued, but still happy to share the day’s events with her father. She took out the girls’ pink and purple backpacks, grabbed her own handbag and walked toward the steps. The girls were now inside and Grady stood alone on the porch. There was such scorching concentration in his stare she could barely handle meeting his gaze.

“I take it a good day was had by all?” he asked as he came down the steps and held out his hand to take the bags.

“Yes,” she replied, suddenly breathless.

“Including you?”

She nodded. “Including me. They were very well behaved, even after I plied them with sugary food and drinks.”

His expression narrowed for a moment and then he grinned. “I don’t believe that for a second.”

She shrugged. “I took them to the Muffin Box, so it was a healthy alternative. We had healthy cupcakes and soy milk shakes. I see that the O’Sullivans bought the place from the original owners.”

“Yeah,” he replied and swung the backpacks over his shoulder. “Too much competition for the café they had added to the pub, so they bought them out. Now they have the monopoly in town.”

“Shrewd.” She crossed her arms. “I guess they’re happy about the towns merging?”

“They haven’t any reason to complain. They own the biggest hotel in town and bought most of the commercial real estate on the Riverbend side of the bridge. A bigger, more economically viable town means more money in their pockets.”

“I gather the relationship between you and them hasn’t changed?”

She knew Liz’s family hadn’t really approved of Grady. He was a rancher, a cowboy, and they had wanted their only and beloved daughter to go to college. But Liz had been adamant. She had wanted to stay in the small town and become a rancher’s wife. The O’Sullivans were old money from Riverbend, and as well as Liz they had three sons. One who ran the hotel and pub in town, another who was a doctor in Sioux Falls and the third who was a music producer in LA. It didn’t matter that Grady’s ranch was one of the largest and most successful in the county. They had wanted a certain life for their daughter, and since Liz’s death their resentment had amplified. Marissa admired Grady’s resilience, though, as he still ensured the girls spent time with Liz’s parents and siblings.

“No,” he said after a moment. “But I don’t get so worked up about it these days.”

“I’m not sure why they didn’t approve of you. Liz said it was because they wanted her to go to college, but she was never all that interested in hitting the books. She liked to be outside, in her garden or riding her horse.”

“Yes,” he said, shifting on his feet. “She sure did look good in the saddle.”

Marissa smiled. “I used to envy the way she could ride like that...sort of fearless.” She crossed her arms. “Now I’m back for good, I should probably learn how to ride. Maybe I can trade some babysitting duties for lessons?”

His gaze widened. “You want me to teach you to ride?”

“Why not? You’re pretty good on a horse, right?”

His mouth creased at the sides. “I do all right.”

“And until you replace Mrs. Cain, you probably need all the help you can get in the babysitting department, right?”

“I guess so.”

“You get a complimentary sitter and I get to learn a new skill. I’d like to be able to go riding with the girls. They were telling me today how much they love their ponies.” She noticed he was watching her intently, and she wondered if she’d said something she shouldn’t have. It was impossible to tell with Grady. “Unless you’d prefer I didn’t. I mean, I know that was something Liz used to do with them and if you think I’m overstepping my—”

“I think they’d like it very much,” he said, cutting her off.

She nodded. “Okay. Although, I’ll probably end up landing on my behind. I’ve never been all that athletic. Liz used to beat my socks off in track in high school.”

“Yeah, she was quite the athlete. But if it’s any consolation, she used to envy your long blond hair.”

“My hair?”

He reached out unexpectedly and touched her hair for a second, twirling a few strands around his fingers, then quickly snapped his hand back, as if he’d come into contact with a hot poker. The mood between them seemed to shift on some kind of invisible axis. And even though there was a breeze, Marissa turned warm all over. It stunned her that he had that effect on her—and it made her want to run. But she stayed where she was and sucked in a breath.

“She always wanted straight hair.”

Marissa remembered Liz’s mass of fiery red curls fondly. Once, when they were teens, they had tried to iron it straight. She still remembered Aunt Violet’s despair at finding them in the bathroom, water running everywhere as they tried to douse Liz’s smoldering locks underneath the faucet.

“Her hair was beautiful,” Marissa said.

“I know that,” he said and smiled fractionally. “She was beautiful inside and out.”

There was pain and longing in his voice, and Marissa’s heart constricted. “I still miss Liz every day.”

“Me, too,” he said.

Marissa’s throat tightened. They’d talked about Liz many times during the past two and a half years, and yet she still felt the emotion rise up. It would always be like that. Liz was one of a kind. And her one true friend in the whole world.

“She was so...grounded. So sensible. Exactly the friend I needed as a teenager growing up. My mother had just died and since I never knew my dad... I guess that’s why I was drawn to her. Her life was so different from mine, and yet we became firm friends. I guess she seemed to have this picture-perfect family.”

“Nothing is perfect. Her parents put a lot of pressure on her. I think that’s why she...” His words trailed and he grinned ruefully. “You know.”

“Rebelled and married you? But she adored you.”

“It was mutual. She made loving easy.”

Marissa’s heart tightened. She’d longed for that kind of love. She’d never seen it firsthand until Liz and Grady had gotten together and married. Her mother had raised her alone until Marissa was twelve, and Aunt Violet had never married. Her father, whom she only knew was some random cowboy who’d drifted through town, was never mentioned. Whenever she’d asked Violet, her aunt had told her to leave the past where it belonged. When she’d married Simon, Marissa believed she’d found the kind of love and family she was looking for—until he betrayed her with another woman.

Shaking off the memories, she focused on Grady. “I know she did. Liz had a great capacity for love...and a big heart.”

“A weak heart, as it turned out,” he said soberly.

Marissa nodded. The car accident that had landed Liz in the hospital was a result of a virus that had caused a massive heart attack. At just twenty-nine, she died three days later from a second attack. Six weeks after the birth of her third child, with her husband and family at her side.

“I’ll always marvel at her strength that day,” Marissa said quietly. “She knew... She knew she was so very ill, and she still made the time to talk to me and Aunt Violet. The last thing she told me was about you.”

One brow rose. “It was?”

“Yes. She asked me to make sure you weren’t sad all the time.”

“Well, I’m not,” he said and smiled. “The girls make that impossible.”

“I know. And they adore you. You’re a good dad.”

He smiled. “Thank you. They adore you, too, by the way. I appreciate you taking the time for them today. Painting nails and cupcakes aren’t really my specialty. Heaven help me when they hit puberty.”