Joanna Wayne - Unrepentant Cowboy

“Hi, yourself. What’s up?”

“I was just wondering how your day with your daughter is going?”

“Better than expected,” he admitted without explaining that he wasn’t actually with Effie.

“Does that mean you can escape that horrid ranch and return to civilization soon?”

“The ranch isn’t horrid,” he corrected her. He had nothing against fresh air, open spaces or even horses and cattle. “It’s the ranch’s owner I have a problem with.”

“Then tell him that and head back to Dallas.”

“It’s not quite that simple. My schedule depends on Effie.” And Joni’s truck that he sure as hell wasn’t about to mention.

“I have an offer neither you nor Effie can refuse,” Serena crooned in her sexiest voice. “If you leave for Dallas now, you’ll get home in time to show Effie how much more exciting Dallas society life is compared to hanging out with a bunch of smelly horses.”

“That would be a hard sell with Effie.”

“What if I throw in a fabulous outfit for her to wear? Just tell me her sizes and I can have one of the personal shoppers at Neiman’s pick out a dress and shoes and have them delivered to your condo.”

“What’s the occasion?”

“Mallory George called a few minutes ago. Her daughter and son-in-law canceled for the opera tonight and Mallory’s invited us and Effie to share their box.”

He tried without total success to keep from laughing. “You have about as much chance of talking Effie into an opera as I do talking you into a hoedown.”

“I’m not sure what a hoedown is but even the name sounds disgusting.”

“Exactly.”

“But I’m not just suggesting a musical performance,” Serena persisted. “Afterward, there’s a champagne reception for the world-famous soprano who has the starring role. It’s black tie. Glitz and glamour equal to any D.C. event.”

“I’m pretty sure Effie’s not high on glitz and glamour.”

“Nonsense. Any teenage girl alive would be thrilled with this opportunity. Your daughter will be so impressed, she’ll forget all about horses and that Dry Goon Ranch.”

“I wouldn’t count on that, and it’s the Dry Gulch Ranch.”

“Whatever.”

“Look, I appreciate the offer, Serena, but even if I wanted to give it a whirl, I can’t make it back to Dallas in time.”

“You could if you left now.”

“Sorry. No can do. This is Effie’s day, and she’s determined to spend it in the saddle. You go to the opera and reception and have a marvelous time. I’ll call you next week after Effie has flown back to California. We can get together then.”

And when they did, he’d be honest with Serena and try to explain to her and himself why he had no enthusiasm for continuing a relationship with one of the continent’s most beautiful women.

“After Thanksgiving I’ll be in Miami for two weeks on a photo shoot,” Serena said, sounding irritated. “And then I’ll be flying to London for a Vogue shoot. I won’t be back in Dallas until Christmas. I explained all of that to you last week. Did you forget?”

“Of course not,” he lied. “I’ll call you in Miami.”

“If that’s the best you can do, don’t bother.”

“I don’t think this is the best time to discuss this.”

“There’s nothing to discuss. It’s clear that I’m at the bottom of your list of priorities.”

That was about the size of it. Still he hated breaking up over the phone. It was kind of like leaving a note on the pillow the morning after. Zero class.

“We should talk, Serena, but now isn’t the time.”

“Save your breath, Leif. There’s nothing left to talk about.” She broke the connection.

He felt like a louse. A relieved louse. But to be fair, he’d warned her from the first he wouldn’t be putting a ring on her finger or going furniture shopping. He was not a forever-type guy.

His phone vibrated again as he slipped it back in his pocket. Evidently, Serena had more to say.

He took the call. “I’m sorry if I pissed you off,” he said, “but—”

“What?”

Damn. It was R.J. “I thought it was someone else on the phone.”

“Must have been a woman.”

“How’d you guess?”

“You started the conversation with an apology.”

“Good point,” Leif agreed. “Is the doc’s truck ready to roll?”

“Nope. Turns out the battery’s dying in my driveway might have been a blessing. That old jalopy has a slew of problems.”

“Like what?”

“An oil leak. Hoses that need replacing. An engine in desperate need of a tune-up. It’s a wonder the darn thing ran at all.”

“Sounds like Joni needs to become bosom buddies with the local mechanic.”

“Or else buy a new truck,” R.J. said. “In the meantime, I told Abe to go ahead and take care of what needs fixing.”

“Don’t you think you should have talked to Joni first?”

“Nope. No use to jaw about it when something has to be done. Can’t have a sweet thing like Joni riding around in a vehicle that’s likely to leave her stranded on some dark country road. When Abe’s finished, the doc’s ride should be as safe as a banker’s wallet.”

Leif had his doubts about that. He figured the only guarantee that truck would be safe was to replace it with a new one. “Did you get a cost estimate?”

“Don’t matter. Abe’s fair. He’s not gonna rip off anybody. I told him to bill the repairs to me. Joni can pay me back whenever she has some spare cash lying around.”

“That’s mighty generous of you.” And presumptuous. The same kind of controlling behavior that made R.J. think he could order his adult children around after ignoring them all their lives.

R.J. might convince Effie this sudden concern for family was genuine. Leif wasn’t buying it.

“Where and when do we pick up the truck?” Leif asked.

“Abe says it won’t be ready until late—maybe not until tomorrow. Just bring Joni back here with you and she can have dinner with us. After that one of us can drive her home if the truck’s not ready.”

There he went again. Making decisions for other people without consulting them. “Did it occur to you that Joni might have other plans for the evening?”

“Do you always go looking for complications, Leif? Sure you do,” he muttered without waiting for a response. “You’re a damned attorney.”

“I suppose you have a problem with that.”

“Don’t go getting riled,” R.J. said. “Didn’t mean it as an insult.”

Of course he had, but Leif didn’t give a damn what R.J. thought of him. “I’ll extend your invitation,” Leif said. “Whether Joni accepts or not is up to her.”

“Tell her Adam is grilling some Dry Gulch steaks. Hadley’s cooking up her twice-baked potatoes and Mattie Mae made a couple of her famous pecan pies. If Joni has plans, she’ll break ’em. Eatin’ don’t git no better than that.”

So Adam and presumably his wife and daughters and a woman named Mattie Mae would all be there. A family dinner; only they weren’t Leif’s family and never would be. Hopefully, Effie had come to that same conclusion after half a day with her illustrious grandfather and was ready to put the whole family togetherness scene behind her.

“Can you put Effie on the phone?”

“I could if she was around.”

“Where is she?”

“She and Hadley are riding the range. They’re liable not to show up back here before dark.”

“I thought Hadley had young children.”

“She does. Lacy and Lila are here with me and Mattie Mae. We got a mean game of Chutes and Ladders going.”

A doting grandfather—now that he was dying. “I’ll give Effie a call on her cell phone.”

“Capital idea. Let her tell you how much fun she’s having. That girl loves horses. Knows a lot about them, too. Bright as a new-mint penny and more spunk than you can hang on a barbwire fence.”