Jesse: Merry Christmas, Cowboy. Lynnette Kent

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СКАЧАТЬ to Cody for dinner?” He glanced at the empty seat across from her. “All alone?”

      “Hey, Jesse.” Her fingers curled into fists under the table. “Yeah, just a quick bite. I had some last-minute shopping.”

      He glanced toward the table behind her, then back at the empty seat in her booth. “I can keep you company a little while, if you’d like.”

      “Sure.” As he sat down, Janie wondered how she would manage to swallow a single bite. “You’re here by yourself?” Without meaning to, she looked down at the glass between his fingertips.

      “Uh, yeah.” Even as she watched, he took a long draw on the whiskey. “I had a…discussion…with the parents, and needed to loosen up a little afterward.”

      Janie could imagine exactly what was discussed. “That’s how it goes sometimes.” Then she thought about her own mother, no longer capable of ordinary family squabbles or any real relationships. “On the other hand, you miss them when they’re…not here anymore.”

      Looking back at her plate, she picked up her fork again, put the food in her mouth and chewed, even swallowed without gagging. When she lifted her chin, she found Jesse’s gaze fixed on her face.

      “Sorry,” he said. “I guess we don’t always appreciate what we’ve got till it’s gone. How’s your mom doing?”

      She couldn’t tell him the worst parts, not when they were supposed to spend a week in the same hotel. “Okay, I guess. She doesn’t remember much. And she sleeps a lot.” Maybe that would calm some of his fears about the upcoming trip.

      Janie only hoped she was telling the truth.

      “I, um, thought we’d leave about two, tomorrow afternoon.” Jesse avoided her eyes as he spoke. “Will that work for you?”

      She stared at him as he swirled the ice cubes around in his glass. Shadows rimmed his eyes, like bruises from a fist. Now that she considered, he looked like he hadn’t slept in days. But she couldn’t ask why not. “Shall we meet you at your airstrip?”

      Jesse kept his plane on the ranch, taking off and landing on the Codys’ private runway. That kind of luxury made it possible for him to compete in the biggest rodeos around the country in order to earn the points and money required to reach the National Finals while being home during the week to work at the ranch. Mark, on the other hand, drove almost everywhere and competed constantly, which meant he was away from home most of the time.

      Just one more example of the huge lifestyle gap between the rich Codys and the poor Hansens.

      “Why don’t I pick you up about one-thirty,” Jesse suggested. “You’ll need some help with luggage and…and stuff.”

      She wasn’t sure if that would be better or worse than having her mother see him for the first time at the plane. “That sounds good. Thanks.”

      Silence fell, then stretched between them because, really, what did they have to say? Janie couldn’t tell him what she felt, and as far as Jesse was concerned, she was his little sister’s buddy. Or else the sister of his archrival. He could take his pick.

      “I’m sorry,” she said abruptly. “I know this must be hell for you.”

      His sigh seemed to come up from the soles of his boots. “It’s not easy for anybody.”

      “Mark is a good man.” For some reason she needed to say that. “He won’t hurt your parents if he can help it.”

      “So Nicki tells me.” Jesse gave a faint grin then glanced at her plate. “You’re not eating.”

      “I’m not hungry.” She pushed the plate toward him. “Have some.”

      He didn’t wait for a second invitation, but picked up the salad fork she hadn’t used and dug in. From the way he ate, she might have concluded he hadn’t had a decent meal in months. Judging by the loose fit of his jeans, she might be right.

      The waitress stopped by to see if they needed anything, and Jesse ordered another double.

      “Don’t worry,” he said when Janie frowned. “I won’t have anything to drink after midnight. Eight hours is the FAA rule for private pilots, same as the airlines.”

      “What about the drive home?” A glance through the window showed the sleet had turned to snow which already coated the roads.

      “I can drive from Cody to Markton in my sleep.” He drained the dregs of one glass just as the server set down the new one. “And probably have, about a hundred times. If not more.”

      “I believe you. That doesn’t make it safe to drive drunk.”

      “It’s okay.” His words slurred a little. “I’m just another one of those intre…interchangeable younger Cody brothers. Mark’s got the hard job now. To Mark.” He raised his glass. “The old man’s pride ’n’ joy. His new pride ’n’ joy, that is.” Half the whiskey vanished with his first gulp. Jesse swallowed and then emptied the drink.

      “That’s a stupid thing to say.” Janie gripped the edge of the table with her fingertips. “Walker and Dusty and Dex have never been jealous of you. You don’t deserve a pity party any more than they do.”

      “You know so much.” He slid out of the booth, swaying a little as he straightened up. “S’hard to miss what you never had.”

      “Mark isn’t taking anything away from you. He just wants—”

      “To know his dad, right?” Stepping carefully, he retrieved his jacket and hat from the other table, then came back to stand beside her again. “He’ll find out soon enough that being J. W. Cody’s oldest son comes with a price. I hope your brother’s man enough to pay it.”

      The implied insult stung. “Why wouldn’t he be? He’s as much a Cody as you are.”

      In the process of thumbing through his wallet for cash, Jesse stilled. After a moment, he lifted his gaze to her face.

      “That’s the truth, isn’t it? I’ve got no more claim on J.W. than your brother does, except for a marriage license that didn’t seem to mean too much at the time.” He tossed a couple of bills on the table, an amount that would cover his drinks plus the dinner she hadn’t eaten twice over. “So maybe it’s my turn to get out from under the Cody yoke. Your brother—”

      “Your brother,” Janie interrupted.

      “Mark,” he growled, “can have all the honors. Hell, maybe he’ll just go on and take the championship while he’s at it.” He jammed his white hat on his head and shrugged into his heavy sheepskin coat. “I don’t really give a damn about anything or anybody. Not anymore.”

      And with that declaration, Jesse Cody turned on his heel and stalked out into the snowy night.

      Chapter Two

      The frigid wind hit Jesse like a brick in the face. He staggered, eyes narrowed against the prick of icy snow pellets.

      “Hell of a night for a drive,” he muttered, heading for his truck.

      Once СКАЧАТЬ