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“Sure did. He said he’d call in a few days.”
Beau shoved Phillips’s contact information into the back pocket of his jeans. “How’s married life?” Heavy footfalls sounded overhead and both men looked up at the decorative tin ceiling.
“Married life is good. Real good.”
The bell on the door clanged and Ace Hart entered the store, wearing a scowl. Beau attempted to humor his cousin. “For a man who’s about to become a father, you don’t look too happy.” When the teasing remark failed to lighten Ace’s somber expression, Beau said, “Flynn’s feeling okay, isn’t she?”
“Aside from swollen ankles she’s fine, thanks for asking.”
“What’s the matter? You look pissed,” Austin said.
Ace stared pointedly at Beau. “Colt said you suggested Midnight compete in South Dakota next month.”
“A win there would increase his breeding value,” Beau said.
“I know better than anyone when Midnight’s fit to compete again.” Ace rubbed his brow.
Beau sympathized with the tough position his older cousin was in. Ace was under a lot of pressure to insure the family’s investment paid off. If the stallion got injured, had to be put down, or for some reason could not be bred, Ace could lose his livelihood. With a baby on the way, his cousin had to protect his interests.
“Are you saying Midnight can’t compete next month?” Beau asked.
“I haven’t made up my mind,” Ace said. “By the way, congrats on your win.”
Austin slapped Beau on the back. “You sure are lighting up the circuit since Duke quit.”
“Mind if I have a minute alone with Beau?” Ace asked.
“No problem. I’ll be in the storeroom.”
After Austin walked out of earshot, Ace spoke. “Colt mentioned you ran into Tuf in Wyoming.” The lines bracketing Ace’s mouth deepened. “Did he seem okay?”
“He said he’s working through some stuff.”
“Tuf needs to come home.”
For as long as Beau remembered, Ace had been the strong, confident one in the family. At times his cousin could be too rigid, too controlling, but there was no hiding the concern in the man’s eyes for his little brother. Ace cared deeply about his family and wanted Tuf home where he could be looked after.
The bell on the door clanged a second time. Sierra.
“Let me know if you run into Tuf again.”
“I will.”
Ace left, tipping his hat to Sierra on the way out.
Once the door shut behind Beau’s cousin, Sierra’s smile wilted.
“I was planning to stop by the diner after I talked with Austin,” Beau said, closing the gap between them.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt.” She grappled for the door handle.
“Wait.” Beau pried Sierra’s fingers from the knob but didn’t release her hand. “I finished my business with Austin. Walk with me?”
“Sure.”
He ushered Sierra outside then led her around the corner. Single-story homes lined the street and a small park sat in the middle of the block. “If you’re cold we can talk in the diner,” he said. The afternoon temperature was in the low forties, but there wasn’t a cloud in the sky.
“I’m fine. The sun feels good on my face.”
They strolled in silence, Beau holding Sierra’s hand. That she didn’t pull away stroked his ego. When they reached the park, he guided her to the lone bench near the swing set. “You don’t have to worry,” he said. “I won’t pressure you for an explanation about last night.”
“That’s generous, but…” She twirled a button on her coat then noticed her action and shoved her hand into a pocket. “How do you feel about your dad and my aunt dating?” she asked.
Amused by the delay tactic, he chuckled. Heck, no one was more surprised than Beau that his father was goo-goo eyes over Jordan Peterson.
“I’m serious, Beau. Are you okay with their relationship? Because I believe my aunt really cares for your father.”
He’d be a lot happier about the matchup if Jordan didn’t distract his father from his ranch chores, but Beau didn’t want to discuss the older couple. “They’re both adults. They don’t need anyone’s permission to date.” He opened his mouth to change the subject when a shout down the block drew his attention.
“Z-Zorro!” Duke’s stepson, Luke, chased Duke’s German shepherd. The dog sprinted, the leash flying in the air behind him. The seven-year-old was no match for Zorro and Beau made a dash for the sidewalk.
“Zorro, heel!” Beau extended his arm and the dog skidded to a stop, his legs becoming entangled with his leash. Luke caught up, his little chest heaving.
“Th-thanks, Uncle Beau.” Luke took the leash. “B-bad dog, Zorro.”
“Where’s your mom?” Normally Angie didn’t let her son out of her sight.
“T-talking with Dad in the jail. I was t-taking Zorro for a w-walk but—” Luke sucked in several breaths.
Pitying the kid’s miniature lungs Beau said, “Come with me. There’s someone who’d like to meet Zorro.” Beau steered Luke and the dog toward the park bench.
“Hi, Luke,” Sierra said. “I guess Zorro wanted a run, not a walk.”
Luke smiled. “He went after M-Molly.”
Sierra spoke to Beau. “My aunt takes her seeing-eye dog for a stroll around town in the afternoons.” She switched her attention to Luke. “Is Molly still with my aunt?”
“Yeah. M-Molly never runs off.”
Sierra rubbed Zorro’s head. “Poor boy…chasing after a lady who doesn’t want you.”
Beau cringed. He hoped Sierra’s comment hadn’t been meant for him.
“Luke! Luke, where are you?”
“Here!” Beau waved at his brother and Duke jogged toward the group.
“What happened?” Duke asked.
“Z-Zorro s-saw—”
“Slow down.” Duke laid a hand on the boy’s shoulder.
“Zorro saw Molly and ran away.” Duke had a calming effect on his stepson and Luke stopped stuttering.
“Good thing Uncle Beau was here.” Duke glanced at Sierra and switched the subject. “Did you have car trouble yesterday?”
Face flushing Sierra mumbled, “Ahh…”
“Clive Benson thought he saw your car parked on the shoulder of the road outside town around eleven.”
“No,” Sierra answered, casting a quick glance at Beau.
He wasn’t spilling the beans about last night.
“Clive must have been seeing things, or had one too many beers at the Open Range Saloon,” Duke said.
The dog tugged on his leash. “Zorro wants to walk, Dad.”
Beau had yet to wrap his mind around his twin becoming a father and got a kick out of watching the father-son duo.
“See you later.” Duke walked off holding Luke’s hand and the dog leash.
“About last night—”
“Forget last night.” Suddenly Beau didn’t want to know the truth. “Will you have dinner with me tonight?”
“I have to close the diner.”
“We can eat a late meal. I’ll take you to Maria’s Mexican Café.”
Sierra wrinkled her nose. “Maria’s isn’t even authentic Mexican food.” She stood and Beau scrambled to his feet. “Come to the diner around eight-thirty. The least I can do is feed you a meal for the trouble I caused.”
“It’s not much of a date if only one person eats.”
“I’ll have dinner, too.”
“Okay, then, I’ll be there at eight-thirty.”
“If you run late—”
“I won’t.”
Sierra spun and walked briskly down the block. When she reached the corner she looked both ways then stepped onto the street. Car brakes squealed and for a split second Beau’s heart jumped into his throat. The driver lowered his window and shouted at Sierra before driving off, then she hurried across the street and disappeared into the diner.
Beau’s heart slid back into his chest. Dang, that woman had better pay attention to where she was going or she’d find herself in a world of hurt.
Maybe you distract Sierra.
Wouldn’t that be something.
Chapter Four
“There’s someone at the door, dear.” Jordan’s voice carried through the apartment.
Sierra glanced at her watch. Eight o’clock—Beau was on time. “I’ll be right out.” She’d snuck up to the apartment to change clothes for her date and had been studying her reflection in the bedroom mirror for the past five minutes. The black, short-sleeved knee-length dress flattered her full figure. The tight-fitting bosom showed off her feminine curves while the pleated skirt hid the extra few pounds she needed to lose.
Guilt pricked her for wearing a cocktail dress. She hoped to impress Beau but didn’t want him believing she was interested in dating, because anything long term with the handsome cowboy was out of the question. Keeping that in mind, Sierra intended to savor every moment of the evening.
After spritzing on perfume, she left the bedroom and waltzed past her aunt, who sat on the couch reading. Molly rested dutifully at her feet. When Sierra opened the door off the kitchen…wow.
Beau stood on the fire escape, holding a bouquet of daisies. He wore slacks and casual shoes—she couldn’t remember ever seeing him in anything but jeans and boots. Her gaze inched higher, taking in his button-down shirt and brown bomber jacket. Even in dress clothes, Beau’s chiseled looks screamed cowboy.
He held out the flowers. “The color reminds me of your eyes.”
The reference to her eyes triggered a mini heartache, but she ignored the pain and accepted the bouquet. “They’re lovely.” She waved Beau into the apartment, then searched through the cupboards for a vase.
“Who’s here, dear?”
“Sorry, Aunt Jordan. It’s Beau.”
“Hello, Mrs. Peterson.”
While Sierra arranged the flowers in a vase, Beau crossed the room and patted Molly on the head. “Heard my dad gave you a tour of the ranch a few days ago.”
“Driving around with Joshua brought back fond memories. Seems like only yesterday that your father and I snuck off to the fishing hole on the McKinley property.”
“I guess you’ve heard Earl McKinley leased his land to the Missoula Cattle Company.”
“Joshua mentioned that was the same corporation leasing acreage from Thunder Ranch.”
Her aunt’s knowledge of the Adams and Hart family business pleased Sierra. She doubted that Joshua would have shared the information if he hadn’t felt he could trust Jordan. For her aunt’s sake and Sierra’s, too, she hoped Joshua’s intentions were honorable. She worried that he might be caught up in reliving the past, then once the excitement wore off and he realized his former high school sweetheart was still blind, he’d end the relationship, leaving Jordan with a broken heart and a desire to return to Florida.
“I was wondering, Mrs. Peterson—”
“Call me Jordan, Beau.”
“Jordan. How far back do you and my dad go?”
“Your father pulled my pigtails in fifth grade, and from then on I was smitten.”
“So you two have known each other most of your lives,” Beau said.
“We went steady all through high school.”
“Why’d you break up?” Beau asked.
“I went off to college.”
