Jared's Texas Homecoming

“But I wasn’t. So no need to worry.” He took the cloth from her, but she didn’t pull away. She was close. So close he breathed in her scent, a freshness he couldn’t describe, but knew he could quickly become addicted to it. He raised his gaze to hers. Her eyes were a liquid green with tiny golden flecks in the center. His body began to heat up and he’d be lying if he told himself it had anything to do with the Texas weather. Finally he diverted his gaze.

She also pulled back. “I—I called Doc Turner anyway. He’s going to stop by just to check you out.”

Before Jared could argue that a doctor’s visit wasn’t necessary, he heard the door open and an older man walked into the kitchen. “Hey, you’re back from the bank already? They give you the loan?” Just then the man noticed they weren’t alone and his face reddened. “Sorry, Dana, I didn’t know you had company.”

“Bert, this is Jared Trager. Jared Trager, Bert Marley. We nearly collided on old Parker Road. I managed to get out of the way, but Jared’s truck hit a tree.”

Bert winced. “Well, jumpin’ jackrabbits. Ain’t that all we need. How bad?”

“His truck isn’t drivable,” Dana said. “But I’m more worried about Mr. Trager. The air bag went off.”

Bert limped over and examined Jared through his wire-rimmed glasses. “Looks like you got a nasty rash.”

“I heard that’s one of the drawbacks,” Jared said. “I was hoping I’d never find out, but I’ll survive.”

“Doc Turner’s coming out,” Dana said.

“What were you doin’ out on our road?” Bert scrutinized him. “Take a wrong turn?”

Jared didn’t miss the hostility in the man’s eyes. This was the opening he needed. But how do you just blurt out that you’re the brother of the man who left you pregnant? “No. I was headed this way.”

“Why?”

Jared felt the beads of sweat on his forehead. “I wanted to talk with Ms. Shayne.”

A grin spread across the old man’s weathered face. “So you come about the job.”

Jared was caught off guard by the question. He meant to say no, and tell the truth, but his answer didn’t come out that way. “I guess I could use the work.”

Later after supper, Dana went to her father’s office. What a day it had been. She hadn’t gotten to the bank to talk to Mr. Wilson about the mortgage. Instead, she ended up causing bodily injury to a stranger.

She was so grateful when Doc examined Jared and declared the man fit, then gave him cream for the rash. And by mealtime his headache was gone, too. All she had to do was send the drifter on his way. But something stopped her. Being a woman alone, she didn’t like hiring somebody she didn’t know. But thanks to her, the man was stranded. His truck would take nearly two weeks to repair so Trager couldn’t leave for the time being. She knew that he might get work somewhere else, but she owed him.

It felt like she owed everyone, including the bank. Dana shook the worrisome thought from her head. Not tonight. Nighttime was for Evan. She walked into the living room and found Jared sitting in her father’s chair with her son next to him as he read a story.

Dana’s chest tightened. The picture of the two seemed so perfect. Father and son. But in an imperfect world, Dana knew she couldn’t give Evan what he wanted the most. A father.

Jared raised his head and smiled at her.

Her son looked happy, too. “Jared was reading me a story, Mom. He’s good, and he don’t even have kids.”

Jared shrugged, looking a little uncomfortable.

“I guess it’s just a talent,” Dana said. The man probably had many other talents. “I think it’s time for you to go to bed, Evan.”

Evan started to argue but looked at Jared, who nodded. To her surprise her son said, “’Kay, Mom.” Then he climbed out of the big chair and came to her, giving her a hug and kiss.

Dana called to her son as he climbed the stairs. “I’ll be up in a few minutes to say good-night.” She then turned her attention back to Jared.

“I appreciate you spending time with Evan. He really misses his grandfather and…his father isn’t in the picture.” Why did she tell him all that? “About the job, if you’re serious about working for me, you need to know I can’t afford to pay you much.” She quoted him the wages. “But I’ll cook all your meals and you can stay in the bunkhouse.”

“Are you saying you want to hire me? I’m not an experienced ranch hand. I’m a carpenter by trade, but I can ride pretty well and I’ve spent time on a ranch.”

Dana hesitated, not needing any complications in her life…or her heart. But she had no choice. She did need a man. “That’s what I’m saying.”

He stood. “Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me just yet. Around here our day starts at five-thirty. Breakfast is at six-thirty and you’ll be in the saddle by seven. And the day doesn’t end until everything gets done. Think you can handle that, Mr. Trager?”

He reached out his hand and took hers. “The name is Jared. And yes, I can handle it.”

Dana placed her hand into his callused one. Immediately she felt heat shoot up her arm, warming her entire body. Maybe he could handle the work but suddenly she had doubts about her ability to handle Jared Trager.

Chapter Two

He had to be crazy.

Jared tossed his duffel bag on the first bed in the bunkhouse. He’d had the perfect opening to tell her who he was, and he blew it. He puffed out a tired breath. Now what? He’d hang around a few days, help her out a little, make a few repairs. Maybe spend some time with the boy, then hand over the trust fund information and leave for Las Vegas.

“Damn.” Pulling his cell phone from his pocket, he punched in Stan Burke’s number. With the time difference, it was still early enough to catch him at the office.

The familiar voice came over the line. “Burke Construction.”

“Stan, it’s Jared.”

“Hey, Jared. Where the hell are you?”

“I’m afraid I’m not in Nevada. And I won’t be there for a while.”

“What’s the problem?”

“A couple of things,” Jared began. “I need to do some things for my brother and it’s going to take a little longer than I expected. Especially since my new truck met up with a tree.”

“Are you okay?” The sound of concern in Stan’s voice touched Jared.

“Just a headache and a little air-bag rash. I’ll be fine.”

There was a long pause. “How long will you be there? We have a tight deadline on the Black Knight Casino.”

“A few weeks. I’ll call a friend of mine—Nate Peterson. We’ve worked together before. He’s a good guy and a top-notch carpenter. He can be there late tomorrow and help out until I get out of there.”

“Sounds good.”

“Thanks, Stan. I’ll make it up to you when I get back.”

“All I want is my best carpenter back.”

Jared laughed. He’d been working for Burke Construction for the past three years. He liked Stan a lot. His friend was getting older and wanted to retire soon. Stan had offered to sell him the business. And Jared wanted to buy the profitable company. He’d have the money, but not until he’d receive his inheritance from his mother when he turned thirty-five or married. He doubted he’d ever marry, so that meant two more years of waiting.

“It’s nice to know I’m missed.”

“Always,” Stan said. “Besides, you’re going to help me reach those golden years of retirement.” There was laughter, then a long pause. “Is everything okay with you, Jared?”

No, everything wasn’t okay, but Jared had never been one to share his problems. “Yeah, just some family business. I need to be in Texas for a while.”

“Well, take the all time you need. Family is important.”

Too bad Jared didn’t know who his family was. He gave Stan the phone number of the ranch. Next, Jared dialed Nate. Luckily the carpenter was in between jobs, and was excited about spending time in Vegas.

After a quick goodbye, Jared hung up and turned to find Dana standing in the doorway. She had on the same print skirt and white top as earlier. Her hair was down, curls brushed against her shoulders. She looked wholesome and sexy at the same time.

“Sorry to disturb you. I just came out to make up your bed.” She walked inside, set sheets and blankets on the chair next to the single bunk, then began to make up the bed.

“You don’t have to do that,” he said. “I’m capable of making my bed.”

When she didn’t stop the task, Jared joined in. Accidentally their hands collided and Dana jerked back. Jared, too, felt the jolt, but continued to fit the pristine-white sheets and blanket over the lumpy mattress.

When finished, Dana glanced around the long room with five other empty bunks. “I think that’s everything. I put towels in the bathroom down the hall.” Her gaze shifted to his. “I’m sorry, but I couldn’t help but overhear. Did you just turn down a job? I thought you came here for a job.”

Jared froze. He could end this now if he told her the truth. Tell her the truth, then you can leave. “I couldn’t make it to Nevada in time. Had a family emergency.” He shrugged. “So I decided to stay in Texas for a few weeks. It’s okay. I can catch another job when I get there. There’s plenty of work in Las Vegas, especially in the construction business.”

Dana seemed relieved. “It’s not like that here. The small ranchers have been struggling for a while. I’m not going to lie to you. Most ranch hands want to work for the larger operations. They pay better.”

“You trying to get rid of me?”

“No. I need an extra hand now. I just wanted you to know that I can’t pay the kind of money you’re used to.”

“Let’s not worry about that. I don’t need much right now.” He raised an eyebrow, wondering how she could manage with only Bert. “How large is the Lazy S?”

“Ten sections now. Landwise I can handle more cattle, but we’re in a drought and it costs a lot for feed. And I had to sell off quite a few head last year….”

“Sounds like it’s been rough on you and Evan.”

“That’s what it’s like for most ranchers. Feast or famine.”

“Why stay in?”

Dana smiled and his heart tripped in his chest. “Ranching is all I know, and the Lazy S is the only home I’ve ever known. I don’t know if I could handle city life.” Those green eyes rose to meet his. “What about you?”

He hesitated. He hadn’t been ready for her question. “I’ve lived a lot a places over the last dozen years. Mostly large cities. Working in construction, I haven’t spent much time in the country.”

“We move at a pretty slow pace here,” she said. “After Las Vegas, think you can handle it?”

At the moment Jared couldn’t think of anywhere else he wanted to be. “Yeah, I can handle it,” he assured her. “And I’m used to getting an early start. Like in Nevada. It’s wise to start work before the sun gets too hot.”

Dana checked her watch. “We both should be getting to bed….” Color flamed in her cheeks. “Well…I should leave and let you get some sleep.”

He nodded, trying to distract himself from the picture she had alluded to. No, he couldn’t think about her that way—about wanting her. “You’re right. I’ll see you in the morning. Good night.”

“Good night.” Dana turned around and Jared couldn’t ignore the soft sway of her rounded hips. Desire shot through him. He knew the last thing he could do was get involved with Dana. She was off-limits, in more ways than one.

Jared sat on the bed, unlaced his work boots and pulled them off. Stretching out on the mattress, he stared up at the wooden slats in the ceiling. What had possessed him to take the job? He had no business being here. Well, what business he had wouldn’t take more than an hour. He needed to forget what Marsh told him about their mother and just get the hell out of Dodge.

Reaching into his back pocket, he pulled out the crumpled letter from Jack Randell. Hell, why couldn’t he just let it go? The last thing he wanted to do was find out he didn’t fit in somewhere else. He doubted the three Randell brothers wanted a bastard brother showing up.

But, damn, he had to know where he belonged.

Dana walked through the back door of the house. She couldn’t believe she had flirted with Jared Trager. And worse, she knew better. There was danger written all over the man, from his slow, easy saunter to his sexy grin. Besides, he had a home in Las Vegas. And probably a woman waiting for him.

As her father used to say, drifters come and go as fast as the seasons. If only she’d heeded those words when she’d met Marshall Hastings.

At twenty-three, Dana had had yet to experience love…until she’d met Marsh. A good-looking stranger who had come to the ranch, asking for directions. He gave her the attention she craved, but in the end he took off. Marsh hadn’t cared that he’d taken her innocence. But he’d left her a gift. Evan. Because of her son she would never regret what had happened between them.

Now, at twenty-eight, Dana had given up on finding what her parents had. Although their time together had been short, Kathryn and Drew Shayne had truly loved each other. But their daughter would never risk her heart again. Dana never wanted to feel that kind of pain for the second time.

If she ever got married, she was definitely going to play it safe. Look for a nice, safe guy…like Hal Parks. The local deputy sheriff was nice enough, not bad-looking, either. She’d known him all her life. He still came around to the ranch and it was easy to see that, with some encouragement, the shy deputy might ask her out. Was that what she wanted?

Maybe. She had Evan to think about. He was getting older, and he needed a father figure. Hal liked kids, even coached Little League.

“If there were just a few sparks,” she murmured, wishing she could get up some enthusiasm.

A warm shiver slid down her spine as her attention turned to her new ranch hand. Jared Trager sent off sparks with just a look from those bedroom eyes. What would his touch be like?

“Stop it,” she chided herself, shutting off lights as she walked through the quiet house. On the stairs, not wanting to wake Evan, Dana skipped the fifth step to avoid the squeaky loose board.

Once in her bedroom, she closed the door and turned on the lamp on the night table. A soft glow illuminated the room she’d slept in all her life. It was still painted a light pink, but she had exchanged the twin bed for a double. After her father’s death, she hadn’t seen any reason to move into the master suite.

She went to the window and glanced down at the barn. Everything looked peaceful. Just the way she liked it. But for how long? How long could she hold on? How long would this ranch belong to a Shayne? The place was mortgaged and the payment was due soon.

A mortgage that her father had taken out when his only child had developed complications in her pregnancy and had delivered his grandson, Evan Andrew, six weeks early. At less than four pounds, her infant son had had to remain in the hospital for weeks. That had cost money, a lot of money.

When she’d told him of her pregnancy, not once had her father complained or lectured her. He’d never judged her when she said that her baby’s father was not in the picture. And from the day she’d brought Evan home from the hospital, he’d loved the boy.

Now, it was just her and Evan. And as a legacy to her father and her son, she couldn’t lose the Lazy S. She might not know what the future of the ranch would be, but she wasn’t going to give up easily. She would do whatever it took.

The next morning, Dana was putting breakfast on the table when Bert walked in the back door, Jared behind him. His chambray shirt and jeans looked as if they’d already seen plenty of work and it was only 7:00 a.m. If Bert had had anything to do about it, they’d been up well before the sun.

“I hope you’re hungry,” Dana said as she tore her gaze away from her good-looking new employee. “Have a seat.”

“Yeah, Mom made biscuits and her special gravy,” Evan said from his chair at the kitchen table.

Bert hung his hat by the door. Jared also placed a hat on the hook next to the foreman’s. She recognized the familiar battered straw that always hung in the barn. So her new ranch hand didn’t even own a cowboy hat.

“Is it someone’s birthday?” Bert asked as he walked to the table.

“I just felt like making biscuits and gravy,” Dana replied, a little too quickly. “Of course, I’m not going to force you to eat them.”

Bert grinned as he raised his arthritic hands in surrender. “Hey, I’m pleased as a calf in clover. Just surprised.” The older man glanced at Jared. “This girl here is the best cook around these parts.” He patted his rounded stomach. “I should know—been eating it for years. That alone should be enough pay to work here.”

Dana returned to the table with a plate of eggs and a basket of her butter biscuits. “Yeah, too bad that isn’t true. If it were, I’d have ranch hands lined up outside my door.”

“Mom, I’ll work for you,” Evan volunteered as he reached for a biscuit.

She ruffled her son’s dark head. “Thanks, but I’d be happy for you to pick up your room and give me a few kisses.”

He puckered up and Dana leaned down and took his offering. “Bert and Jared need to give you a kiss, too.”

Dana fought the heat flaming in her cheeks. She lost. “Oh, I’m pretty stingy with my kisses. I save them for my best guy. You.” She tickled his ribs, making him giggle.

Jared sat back and watched the exchange between mother and son. Marsh would be happy to see how good they were together. Once again he reminded himself he should leave. It had been a lot of years since he’d worked on a ranch. Just that short time right after he’d left Graham Hastings’s house some dozen years ago. He smiled to himself, recalling another time when he and Marsh were twelve and thirteen and attended a summer ranch camp for wannabe cowboys.

Maybe he’d just finish the week, then go and stay in town until his truck was repaired. While he was here he could replace some of the stall gates in the barn. How long could that take? He knew that Bert was limited to the amount of work he could do. Just feeding stock and keeping the fences repaired and upright was a full-time job.

That’s what they’d been doing since five this morning when Bert had come to get him. Having had a restless night he’d already been awake. He’d been thinking about Dana, and the direction of his thoughts were dangerous. That’s the reason he needed to finish this job and get going. His pretty boss was trouble.

“What ya doin’?” Evan asked.

Jared stopped his hammering and turned to find the boy standing behind him in the wide concrete aisle inside the barn.

“I’m fixing Sammy’s stall. Some of the boards rotted out and I thought I’d replace them. You don’t want your pony to get hurt, do you?”

The boy shook his head. “No, I love Sammy.” He glanced around the barn. “Where’s my pony?”

“I took him outside so the noise wouldn’t scare him.”

Evan gave the situation some thought. “Do you have a horse?”

“No, I don’t.”

“Do you want one?”

He pulled another rusted nail from the rotted wood. “I probably did when I was your age.”

“Do you know how to ride?”

Jared bit back a smile at the artillery of questions. “Probably not as good as you, but I manage.”

“I bet Mom will let you ride Scout. He’s gentle and doesn’t bite or kick.”

“That’s good to know in case, but I’m busy for a while repairing the stall.” Jared replaced his hammer in his tool belt.

“Wow, what’s that?”

“My tool belt.” Jared crouched down to show the boy his different tools and the pouches for nails and screws.

“That’s cool.”

“I’m a carpenter. I need to have a lot of different tools so I can do my work.”

“Can I help you? I know how to use a hammer. Bert showed me one time.”

Jared scratched his head as if thinking about it. “I guess I could use a helper. Maybe you can hand me nails and tools.”

The boy’s dark eyes lit up. “Really?”

“As long as it’s okay with your mother.”

“She went into town. Bert’s watchin’ me.”

“I guess we should ask him. Then maybe you can help me carry some more wood from the side of the barn.”

“I’m strong, I can do it. Come on,” Evan called as he took off to the corral to ask Bert. A smiling Jared walked after him as the boy eagerly chattered with the older man, selling his case. Bert looked toward him. Jared nodded his approval and the foreman gave the child permission. He found he was looking forward to spending time with Evan. He was a great kid.

The next two hours flew by. Surprisingly, Evan didn’t get tired or complain about the work. The boy held tools, handed Jared nails and did just about anything Jared asked of him.

They were working on the third horse stall and Evan was still talking nonstop. The current subject was about some wild mustangs.

“Are there mustangs on the Lazy S?” Jared asked.

Evan shook his head. “They live in Mustang Valley, but that’s really close to here.” He pointed off to the west. “Over by the Circle B that Hank owns. He’s Bert’s friend. But Bert says Hank turned the ranch into a sissy dude ranch.”

Jared couldn’t help but laugh.

“They got a whole bunch of people who go there just to look at the mustangs. They pretend to be cowboys and cowgirls. Bert says it’s plumb crazy. That city people are loco.”

“How big is this place?”

“Real big.” There was a pause as Jared hammered in another nail. Evan handed him another one. “They want Mom to sell them some of her land.” The boy picked up the conversation. “But Mom never will ’cause when I’m growed up, the Lazy S is gonna be mine.”

“So Hank has been after her to sell?”

Evan shook his head. “No. She says it’s Hank’s boys. They aren’t really his boys, they just lived with him.”

Was someone pressuring Dana into selling? “How do you know they aren’t his kids?” Jared asked.

“’Cause Bert said they have a good-for-nothing daddy. Hank took them in and saved them from a life of crime.”

“Who are these boys?”

“The Randells.”

Dana finally had made it back into town. A lot of good it had done her. The bank hadn’t been interested in listening to her idea to expand the cattle operation. Worse, they refused her the additional money she needed, only allowing her a sixty-day extension on her current mortgage. Things didn’t look good. She turned off the highway and headed down the road to the Lazy S.

Why not just give up? She could sell part of the ranch to the Randells. Cade had talked with her several times about wanting the section that was attached to the valley and their property.

Dana wiped way her tears. She didn’t want to think about it now. There was still an outside chance that she could scrape up enough money when she sold off her yearlings. But what would she and Evan live on for the next six months? She could get a job in San Angelo. But what was she qualified to do? Work as a waitress? And besides, Evan would only be in school half days. Bert would probably be able to watch him. But how could she ask her dear sweet godfather to do more?

She pulled the truck up to the back door, disappointed when Evan didn’t come running to greet her. She climbed out and started for the barn, wondering what her son was up to. She was surprised to hear the sound of hammering greet her as she walked into the cool structure. She followed the noise and found her son…and Jared Trager.

The two had their dark heads together as they measured the piece of wood that was going to be a slat for the stall. Dana glanced around and discovered that several of the stalls had new boards and shiny new hinges. So this was what her new hand had been doing all day.

“Evan,” she called.

The boy turned and grinned at her. “Mom, you’re home.” He ran to her and hugged her. Dana relished having her son in her arms. It made her lousy day suddenly brighten.

Evan pulled back. “Look what me and Jared are doing.”

She glanced around at the three stalls with the new wooden boards and gates. “By the looks of things, you both have been busy.” What was Evan doing in here?