Say Yes To The Cowboy. Vicki Thompson Lewis

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       Chapter Three

      Zeke woke at dawn. Early morning light filtered through the leaves of a tree outside the window and he enjoyed watching the patterns created on the west wall. Once Damon and Phil had installed new flooring in the two smaller bedrooms, he’d move into one of them. He’d be sorry to leave the master bedroom, though.

      Climbing out of bed, he headed into the bathroom. He rummaged in his shaving kit for a pair of manicure scissors and clipped off most of his beard. Then he took a razor to what was left.

      A hot shower relieved some of the tension in his neck and shoulders, but it came back the minute he dried off. He dressed in his nicest shirt and jeans, and polished his boots. His hat got a good brushing, too. He’d let it get dusty and that wouldn’t do for what he had in mind.

      Damon and Phil would arrive in a couple of hours with little Sophie, but they’d have to manage the baby without his help. He wrote them a quick note explaining that he had an errand to run at Thunder Mountain and couldn’t be sure when he’d be back. If all went well, he might be gone all day.

      Grabbing his keys, he locked up the house and walked out to his truck. It could use a wash, but he didn’t have the time. He used his hand to clean off the passenger seat before walking around to the driver’s side and sliding in behind the wheel.

      On the way to Thunder Mountain, he had the same feeling in the pit of his stomach that he always got right before he stepped into the arena for a performance. So he followed the same technique and, several deep breaths later, he was calmer.

      The academy kids were busy down at the barn taking care of morning chores when he pulled up in front of the house. He saw Cade and Herb with them, supervising. Cade looked up and waved. By now he probably knew the score. Herb would have filled him in.

      Zeke lifted a hand in acknowledgment before mounting the steps to the porch. He rapped on the screen door and opened it while calling out a greeting. For anyone who’d lived at the ranch, that was all Rosie and Herb required. The door was nearly always open for their family.

      Zeke had never let himself fully accept being a part of Herb and Rosie’s family. Counting on something to stay the same was a recipe for disappointment. While the other guys called Rosie and Herb “Mom and Dad,” he didn’t. They referred to the ranch as “home” but he hadn’t made the mistake of labeling it that way. Even so, he enjoyed the privilege of walking into the house whenever he wanted.

      “In the kitchen!” Rosie responded.

      He found her predictable breakfast routine a comfort, but he’d never taken that for granted, either. He could tell some of the other guys did.

      When he walked into the kitchen, it was just Rosie and Sharon, the cook they’d hired to help fix meals for the academy students. She was a middle-aged lady with short brown hair and a great laugh. No Tess.

      “Hey, Zeke.” Rosie turned from the stove to look at him. “Where’s your beard?”

      “Shaved it off.” He glanced over at Sharon and touched the brim of his hat. “Howdy, ma’am.”

      “Howdy, Zeke. I was growing partial to that beard.”

      “It was starting to itch. Can I help you two with anything?”

      Rosie handed him a bowl and a whisk. “You can scramble these eggs. Sharon and I have already delivered the food to the rec hall, so she’s ready to leave. Herb will be back from the barn shortly.”

      “See you two later.” The cook grabbed her tote bag out of the storeroom.

      “Bye, Sharon,” Rosie said. “Thanks!”

      Zeke waited until she went out the front door. “Tess isn’t up yet?”

      “Not yet.” Rosie eyed him. “You can start scrambling those eggs anytime now.”

      “Yes, ma’am.” He set the bowl on the counter and started in on them. “She told you, right?”

      “She did. And you’d better give me those eggs before you beat them to death.”

      He handed over the bowl and Rosie poured the mixture into the frying pan. Bacon sizzled in another pan and country fries were cooking away in a third. Normally he’d be salivating for one of Rosie’s famous breakfasts, but he wasn’t even slightly hungry.

      “Zeke, please don’t pace.”

      “Sorry.” He hadn’t realized he was doing it.

      “Would you like some coffee?”

      “No, thank you, ma’am.”

      “Well, I would, so please pour me a cup and sit down at the table. I’ll be there in a minute.”

      “Yes, ma’am.” He got her coffee, carried it to the table and took a seat.

      She turned down the heat under each of the pans and covered them with lids. As she approached the table, Zeke stood and held her chair for her.

      “Thank you.” She settled herself and wrapped both hands around her coffee mug. “I take it you have a plan.”

      “Yes, ma’am.”

      “Judging from how spiffy you look, I can guess what it is, but I should probably warn you that—”

      “Good morning.” Tess walked into the room wearing a soft blue button-up shirt and jeans.

      Zeke leaped to his feet again and knocked over his chair. “Good morning.” He righted the chair and gazed at her. She looked incredible. Her hair shone like gold and her cheeks were flushed as if she might be as nervous about their situation as he was.

      She stared at him. “What happened to your beard?”

      “It itched, СКАЧАТЬ