Loving Her Cowboy Boss Page 4

  Her eyes smarted. Her brother had put his experience fighting dyslexia and autism into a novel for young adults. A couple of weeks after his death, Sam had been going through his things to put them away when she found the manuscript. It was the first of several he was working on and the only one that was complete. She wished she knew more about writing, then she could complete them for him. “No. But he had interest. Listened to podcasts for screenwriters, studied the craft a lot.”

  “His accident was such a tragic waste of talent. He could have been one of the people who overcame dyslexia to become famous.”

  “Are you saying there’s a chance it will be accepted?”

  “There is. It might take a bit of reworking, but I think we can find this a home.” He tapped on the manuscript.

  “You have my undying gratitude.”

  “Don’t thank me yet until I get this in at the door.”

  “Even if it doesn’t get accepted, I’m grateful that you’re making an effort.” Their dessert arrived and they tucked into their treat. Minutes later, with promise to give her feedback in a couple of weeks, Keith and Chris gave her hugs and they headed to his car and she to hers.

  What if her brother had lived?

  That was why she vowed that no child needed to struggle like her brother did. Thought of that brought Andy to mind. Who knows, they may beat the four months mark the boy’s father placed on them.

  Grumpy as he was, he’d earned a point in his favor when she realized he’d given his housekeeper time off to care for her husband. Maybe he was a wee bit different. But he seemed like he had a good heart. Not that what he did or didn’t do was any business of hers.

  She climbed into her car and drove toward the park where she and her brother used to play way back when. It was a little distance from where her parents used to live before they sold it and went traipsing all over the world. She passed the town house and headed toward the park. Finding a parking space, she cut the engine.

  Night didn’t fall until past eight. Children played with their parents in different parts of the park. Sam found her usual spot in front of a waterfall and sat down watching families with little kids. She scoured the area. It was safe with people around. Though she didn’t plan to stay too late. But if Todd hadn’t conked out somewhere from his intoxication, he was not likely to come make a scene here where people who knew his family could see him.

  How had she not seen through all his calculated measures when they’d dated, until the point they got married? She didn’t know narcissism was a word until she met Renee who helped her make sense of the circle she had dealt with those years. She’d come out of the marriage feeling like she’d been put into the washer a thousand times over; her person, her self esteem trashed until all she saw was a stranger in the mirror.

  Switching her thoughts from there, she focused on the families who were having fun in the place. Not the kind of family she and her brother had as kids. Her parents had always been gone doing their own things while she struggled with her brother. No wonder she’d seen love in the monster who’d marked her and made sure no man would ever want her. And all the while, her parents hadn’t known. Their neighbor at the time was a nurse and she’d nursed Sam back to health after she’d been released from the hospital. Sam had made her promise not to tell her parents. Her mom only found out about her hospitalization by chance, not the details. But did that make her different? No. When her brother died, they’d only stayed home for four months and were gone again.

  If she were God, people like her parents shouldn’t have kids.

  Her phone vibrated, breaking into her dark thoughts. She frowned. Mr. Caruthers?

  Accepting the call, she said, “Hello.”

  “Is this a bad time?”

  “No.” Her gaze followed the father playing with his daughter. “I hope there’s no problem.”

  “Not at all. Andy wanted to talk to you. I’ll put him on.”

  Muffled voices sounded in the background and then Andy’s voice came on. “Hey, buddy. Are you okay?”

  “Yes. I have learned the word. Dad helped me.”

  She could hear the excitement in his voice. Sam had watched the joy build in him as he gradually got a grip on words. “He did? That’s great. What would you like for a reward?”

  “A train,” he said without hesitation.

  “You got it.” He went quiet. “Okay. See you tomorrow.”

  Chance’s voice came on. “We’ll see you tomorrow?”

  “Sure.” He too fell silent like his son. What was he thinking?

  “Bye, then.”

  “Yup.” Sam slipped her phone away.

  He wasn’t thinking she’d change her mind, was he?

  Chapter Six

  Over the next few weeks, Chance left the house to work on the ranch as soon as Sam came, and only returned as she was leaving. He couldn’t deny the subtle changes he was seeing—glimpses of the old Andy, his excitement at seeing Sam even though he knew her presence meant studying. He was a far cry from the sullen boy he drove to school every day until he stopped. If there was anything, Andy took his grandfather’s soft nature until the last few months. Chance had been at his wits end with what to do. But, that nature was peeking out like the sun after a stormy day.

  Yet, in almost a month, it was too early to draw conclusions. And the truth was that, even though he and Sam didn't talk a lot, he looked forward to seeing her every day, with each weekend dragging out until she showed up on Monday. Not that he would acknowledge that to anyone. He wasn't ready to explore why, either.

  Chance pounded his boots on the ground to shake off the soil before cleaning them on the welcome mat. He opened the door to soft strains of a song he didn’t know.

  Setting his boots away on the rack by the door, he went through the kitchen. He listened as he washed his hands, filled a cup with water and drank to his fill. Chance wiped his sleeve across his mouth to catch the drips of water. He padded softly to the door of the study so as not to disturb them.

  They hadn’t seen him yet. So, he lounged against the door and watched them. Andy was pressing keys with his forefinger while Sam played and sang. She reminded him of Maria from the movie The Sound of Music as they sang “Doe, a deer, a female deer.” The Sound of Music was his sister’s favourite movie growing up. Sam sounded happy and he caught himself smiling at the pair. Chance loved the picture the both of them made. His eyes widened. Where had that come from?

  A bit taken aback at his thoughts, he moved from his spot. She was everything he didn’t want, everything that didn’t mix with his life—sophisticated, made for the office or school kind. He remembered her stilettos. She’d exchanged them for boots, but he could bet that was what made the bulk of her wardrobe. Her make-up was impeccable, with never a strand of hair out of place... He shook his head. That would be Teresa all over again.

  As he stepped in, she glanced in his direction and smiled. His heart tripped up. Not the kind of feeling he cared for. Escaping away had not dulled his awareness of the woman who sat at the keyboard playing tunes that were far from amateurish.

  A little taken aback at the unwelcome emotion, he ignored her. “How are you, buddy?”

  “Cool.” Andy displayed a gap between his teeth where he lost a tooth the day before. “Sam is teaching me to play.”

  “I can see that.” He ruffled the boy’s hair. Sam’s flowery perfume seemed to have filled the whole place. She played a few more notes and stopped. Avoiding her gaze, he grabbed the ledger on the table. No way, no how he’d let her warm her way into his heart. Instead of sitting at the table, he made to leave.

  “Since you’re back, I best be heading out.” And then to Andy. “You’ll work on your new word before you sleep tonight, okay?” Andy nodded. “And you know the deal. You get it right; I’ll get you a gift of your choice.”

  Andy’s head bobbed, a ready smile on his lips.

  Chance dropped the ledger back on the table. He could work here now. But as she headed t
o the coat hanger that evening, a realization hit him.

  He didn’t want Samantha Walter to go just yet. “I’ll be back, bud. Keep playing.”

  Andy nodded and kept playing.

  Chance fell in step with her. “You don’t have to buy him things. If you want to give him anything, just tell me what to pick up. I can get it ahead of time.”

  “It’s no big deal. He hasn’t asked for anything super expensive.”

  “All the same. I want to be responsible for that.”

  She looked at him and then shrugged. Sam stopped at the coat hanger. She grabbed her sweater and shrugged into it, pushing out her abundant curtain of hair. He waited while she grabbed her bag.

  “Somehow, I get this feeling that you want to say something but you’re holding back.”

  That shrug again. “I was wondering ... I thought you might want to get involved more than you are. I mean by the time my time is up, you want to be sure you have an idea what to look for in the next person you get.”

  For a moment, he was tempted to say he was reconsidering already, but refrained. It was probably still too early. “I’ll come in a bit early and we can talk over a pizza dinner. How does that sound?”

  She frowned and then that subtle shrug again. “That’s okay.”

  HER WHOLE BEING WAS aware of the tall man behind her. It was getting harder dealing with his change in attitude. The switch from treating her like he couldn’t bear her presence to offering to talk over her thoughts was almost magical, if she said so herself. Not that his attitude should’ve been a bother. Except that it did. What was up with that anyway?

  She slipped her feet into her boots just as her phone rang and she scouted through her mammoth bag and fished out the phone. When she reached for the flip-flops he gave her to use around the house, he signaled for her to leave it.

  Chance reached over and pulled the door open. Her gaze flickered to his before she accepted her call. “Hey, Chris.”

  Stepping out on the porch, she turned back and gave him a small wave. Andy came and hugged her jean-clad leg. “Chris, can you give me a few?”

  “Sure.” Sam put the call on hold and knelt before the boy hugging him close. First time Andy hugged her. Steps in the right direction. She hadn’t known they’d get along this quickly. Their first few days had been topsy-turvy. Putting him gently away, she tapped his nose. “Be a good boy for your daddy, okay?”

  “Okay.”

  Sam waved at Mr. Caruthers and headed towards her car. She removed the hold on Chris’s call.

  “Chance tells me his son is gradually settling in,” Chris said as soon as she came on the phone.

  “Yes. Faster than I’d anticipated.” She climbed into her car. Chance turned for the house when she looked in their direction. “But, it’s a good thing since all we have is a few months.”

  “Did he say why? Has he mentioned it recently?”

  “No, but I think it stands and that’s fine. He needs to see changes by then.” She shrugged. “That’s his reason.”

  “But you said you’re seeing changes.”

  Sam cranked the engine. “We measure achievements differently. What I think is improvement may not be what he thinks it is. Look, how about we do a catch-up lunch later in the week? I need to start heading into town.”

  “Lunch will be great. In the meantime, take care of yourself.”

  “I always do.” Call ended, and she pulled out of the driveway. A silhouette moved from the window. Her brows rose. Had Mr. Caruthers been watching her? Not likely.

  Switching to a favorite Christian channel, she drove through the gate. The feel of Andy’s small arms around her remained. Who would’ve thought that at twenty-six she wouldn’t be settled with little tykes of her own? Her little baby would’ve been two now. How could Todd ever expect her to forget that and get back together? How was he going to fix all her scars, the physical and emotional ones? Did he think of that? It’d always been about him, and he felt just being sorry fixed everything. It wasn’t even just the fact that he apologized, it was more because those were just words to him. And words were cheap.

  Until the last couple of years, even Sam couldn’t bear to look at the full imprint of the hot clothes iron that extended from her waist to her back. The one on her neck, was something she could avoid. She didn’t see it, except when she felt it. And he dared to threaten her. He was right on one count, though. Deep within her she couldn’t think of one man who would see those and want anything to do with her. But, she’d never be stupid enough to go back. Tears came unbidden, coursing down her cheek.

  Absentmindedly, she removed her right hand from the steering and felt the line of elevated tissue at the nape of her neck. One more scar she bore because she couldn’t summon the courage to flee an abusive relationship when she should’ve. One of several because she thought marriage was for better or worse and she had hoped that things would change when they had a baby. Except that it hadn’t made any difference. But she wasn’t the same girl anymore. She’d survived.

  And she wouldn’t give any man that kind of hold over her again.

  Chapter Seven

  After an hour of working with utilizing the sense of touch, with Andy tracing the letters and reading them aloud, Sam looked at her ward. “You look hungry.”

  “Mm-hmm.” He flashed the smile displaying the empty space in his front teeth.

  “What do you eat when you’re hungry? Not a snack. You’ve been snacking for weeks since we started learning.” She tickled his belly. “I mean real food.”

  “Dad cooks when he returns from work.”

  “Would you like me to prepare something for you? That’s if your dad wouldn’t mind.”

  “That’d be cool.” He gave her a huge smile.

  “Great. Come show me the kitchen.” Sam took the boy’s hand and he led her into a kitchen double the size of the one in her house. Neatly stacked dishes sat on the island. Pans hung from the roof centrally. Everything from the kitchen island to the cabinets were made of polished brown wood, all rugged and homey. A Crock-Pot sat to one corner. Would he have the ingredients they needed? “Where’s your pantry?”

  He pointed to a door off to her left. On a whim she opened the door of the huge refrigerator. What will be the quickest food to make? She noted foodstuff packed in the fridge all labeled. She understood he was busy, but letting Andy feed off of biscuits and chips and juice boxes over and over didn’t seem healthy to her.

  If it upset him that she cooked for his son, then she’d know never to do it again. No harm, right? “Will butter chicken with rice do?” she asked even while wondering what his dad’s reaction would be.

  “Yeah,” he answered tentatively.

  “Come help me then.” She handed him the ingredients which he set on the island.

  When all that was set, she said, “Sit on the stool and watch me.”

  Andy complied. Knowing he talked very little, she did most of the talking. She pulled out a container labeled steamed rice and put it in the microwave to heat up. Then she heated up some ghee and oil in a frying pan, added onion and garlic. There was no ginger, so the two would have to do it.

  After cooking it for a few minutes, she added cumin, coriander, paprika and turmeric. Soon, the aroma filled the kitchen. She transferred the mixture to the slow cooker, added the chicken, yogurt, tomatoes and water. She covered it and set it on low. “How about we take a little stroll while the chicken cooks?”

  Andy climbed down from the stool and she slipped his light jacket on him. It wasn’t particularly cold, but some chill hung in the air despite the sun. Boots followed and they walked hand in hand out of the door. Not sure where to go, she followed her instinct.

  Grasses that had turned green over the past weeks spread before them. She’d never gone beyond the ranch house. Though isolated, Sam loved the quiet. A huge log house sat nestled among the trees, a couple of cabins a little distance from it. Paddocks lined to their left opposite a big red barn. Sam could see a c
ouple of people working in the distance.

  “There’s a stream out back from the Red Deer River. Daddy takes me to fish on Sundays when we return from church.”

  “Wow, that’s awesome.” That he took time to go to church and play with his kid earned him yet another mark in his favor. Todd used to complain it was his busy schedule that made him not go to church, and then they started dating, and he went all the time. That was until they got married and it became like pulling teeth. Over the course of their marriage, she’d thought he probably hood winked her into believing he really loved God and that it was his schedule that affected him.

  She’d been so in love she hadn’t seen through it. Yes, he was a hard worker, or so it seemed at the time. Yes, he had sometimes needed to travel when they had something outside the province. But... She sighed. She’d had to be watching her mirrors today. She wouldn’t put it past him to come around again.

  Andy pointed to some other things while they strolled the ranch yard.

  “You know what those brown cows are called?”

  “Nope.”

  He grinned. “They’re called Brahma.”

  “Awesome. Now you get to be the teacher.”

  He grinned, suddenly carrying himself tall so that her heart flooded with love for the child. Swiftly on the heel of that was sorrow for the baby she lost. One she would never see grow.

  Turning her mind from the melancholy, she looked back toward the paddock that seemed to have been arranged meticulously, like whoever did them wanted them really orderly. Several horses grazed here and there. She’d never been to any ranch, but this one spoke a lot about the owner. How he got time to put things organized in his home and then take care of the ranch, she didn’t know.

  Sam wasn’t particularly organized, neat but not put together. So, it was easy to spot that in people and admire them.

  Movement caught her attention towards the paddock on the far side of the big red barn. She turned Andy in that direction.

  Chance was trying to get onto a big horse and the animal kept running.