Shannon Vannatter - Reuniting With The Cowboy

“Do they bother you?” She grimaced. “The noise, I mean.”

“Not at all. You know I’ve always been an animal lover. In fact, once I get settled in, I plan to come over and adopt a dog or two, maybe a cat or three for the barn.”

“Really?” Excitement filled her eyes for the first time since he’d opened the door for her.

“Sure.” Maybe the way to reclaim their easy friendship was through her animals. Ally had always had a soft spot for all four-legged creatures. He could lend a hand with the critters in her shelter. Maybe help her find homes for them. But more than anything, he could use a friend about now. He opened a drawer and remembered he hadn’t even brought his utensils in yet.

“Why don’t you have any furniture or appliances?” She strolled around the large kitchen.

“My home’s been in the living quarters of my horse trailer for several years.” Maybe he shouldn’t have kept his move secret from his family. A furnished house might improve his rep. “I never needed furniture until now.”

Over the years, his humor had pegged him as the class clown. His yearning for freedom and travel made everyone assume he had Peter Pan syndrome. His years on the circuit had only solidified his image as someone who refused to grow up, to take responsibility and settle down.

Now he was out to show everyone there was so much more to him. Maybe if he morphed into a mature adult before their eyes, they’d buy his cover. That he wanted to retire and be a rancher. Not that he was forced into retirement and might not live to tell about it.

“I’ll be right back.” He shut the drawer. “My silverware is still in the horse trailer.”

“I have a better idea. Have you eaten supper?”

“Not yet.” Why was she being so nice after making a career of avoiding him over the years? “But I can have dessert for supper.” He gave her a sly grin. “I’m an adult.”

“Jury’s still out on that.” She rolled her eyes.

Yep, he had a lot of convincing to do.

“Come on over and I’ll warm up some taco soup.” She scurried toward the door.

“You’re making my mouth water. Lead the way.” It would be hard to keep up with her with his bad leg. But he didn’t want to let on, so he followed her out. He’d made it down the steps and a few feet farther when he stepped in a hole and his knee wrenched before he caught himself.

“Whoa.” Ally grabbed his arm. “Are you okay?”

Heat crept up his neck. “My doctor warned me to be careful on uneven surfaces. I’ve got a little hitch in my get-along these days.”

“Why didn’t you tell me to slow down?”

“I sort of forgot when you mentioned taco soup.” Actually, he’d wanted to hide his weakness.

“How are you going to run a ranch when you can barely walk?”

“Easy. With a great foreman and trusty ranch hands. I’ll be the brains behind the operation.” He shot her a wink.

“Okay, change of plans.” She put her arm around his waist. “Lean on me.”

A bum leg was worth getting this close to Ally. He slipped his arm around her shoulders. Her fruity shampoo tickled his senses along with vanilla and that fresh hay scent that had clung to her for as long as he could remember. The smell of Ally. He’d missed it.

“We’re gonna turn around nice and slow and take you back inside. Once you’re on solid ground, I’ll go warm up the soup and bring it over.”

“That’s too much trouble.” He really should tell her he could walk just fine. Just needed to use his cane and take it slow. But what he ought to do and wanted to do were two entirely different things.

“No, it’s not.” She helped him climb his steps. “I won’t have you hurting yourself for no reason.”

She cared and smelled good. But he couldn’t get used to leaning on Ally. Couldn’t get too close. Not until he figured out his future. If he had one.

* * *

A waft of steam rose from the bowl of warmed soup on Cody’s granite counter. Cody’s counter. How had Ally gotten herself into this? She’d had a momentary lapse of judgment—that was how. But if the way to a man’s heart was through his stomach, maybe the way to getting him to sell land was, too.

If only Mom could have brought the soup over. But by the time Ally got back to warm it, Mom had already showered and was in her pajamas.

As long as he’d been in the hospital and then rehab, Ally hadn’t worried about him. But obviously, she hadn’t realized how banged up he was. With him living next door and unable to walk across his own yard, he was like a magnet. Seeing him again, and seeing him in pain, had brought old feelings flooding back.

Staying away from Cody was the smart thing to do. But he could barely walk, much less cook. Especially with no appliances. He needed her help.

“So where have you been since you left the rehab center?” She leaned her hip against the breakfast bar.

“I stayed with Grandpa in Medina until this morning.” He stood across the island from her, making quick work of the soup.

“Medina is almost a six-hour trip. You should be resting.” She scanned the open floor plan, just to keep from looking at those mesmerizing eyes. Large roomy kitchen with a peninsula and a big eat-in area. The former owner had installed new cabinets and tiled floors a few years back, but Cody didn’t have a stick of furniture. No pictures or personal items, nothing on the paneled walls. Not to mention necessities like a refrigerator. “Do you at least have a bed?”

“Grandpa sent one with me from his spare room until I get my own.”

“So instead of resting in your borrowed bed—” she rolled her eyes “—you try and walk to my house on uneven ground after your doctor warned you to be careful? What were you thinking?”

“Taco soup.” He grinned, deepening the cleft in his chin. “And four-layer delight.”

Her heart did a flip. He seemed a bit more serious and mature than the Cody she’d always known. Until it came to food.

He wolfed down another spoonful of soup. “Mmm.”

Gravel crunched in the drive and vehicle doors opened, then closed.

“Expecting company?”

“No one knows I’m here.”

Ally peered between the miniblind slats. “A blue pickup.”

“Oh no, they’ve found me.” Cody hung his head.

“Who?” Ally frowned.

“My folks.” His tone was filled with dread.

Why? He’d always had a great relationship with his family. Unless something had happened between them. “They didn’t bring you home?”

“One of Grandpa’s ranch hands was headed to Fort Worth to buy a bull. I hitched a ride with him.”

“Why?”

“I don’t want to be fussed over.”

Audra Warren, Cody’s mom, entered first without knocking. “Cody, what were you thinking?” She splayed her hands. “Grandpa said you came home to surprise us.”

His dad, Wayne, followed. “We were worried when you didn’t answer your cell.”

“I forgot to charge it.”

Despite Ally’s attempt to blend into the corner, Audra noticed her. “Ally? How nice to see you.”

“You, too.” She waved her fingers.

“Why all the secrecy?” Audra’s attention swung back to Cody. “We had to call the local Realtor to even find out where you were.” Her eyes were teary, a testimony to a mother’s love and worry over her recently injured son.

“I just didn’t want a bunch of fuss.” Cody hugged his mother, evidently feeling guilty now for upsetting her. “I’m pushing thirty—I don’t need a lot of fanfare. And I figured y’all would insist I stay with you. I just wanted to come home. To a place of my own.”

“We love you, Cody.” Audra sniffled. “We merely want to help you get settled. But if you’d stay with us, we could at least gather the furniture we all have in storage and get this place livable for you.”