Rough Rider (Hot Cowboy Nights, #2)(42)

“Mr. Dirk!” Cody squealed. “Did you see it? My daddy won! He’s the champion of the whole wide world!”

“I did see it, Cody. It was a great ride.”

“I’m gonna be a world champion too when I gwow up.”

“I’m sure you will be.” He ruffled the little boy’s curls and stood back with Janice while Cody entertained himself by climbing the panel of an empty pen. He watched her watching the boy, with love and more than a little sadness reflected in her eyes. He’d give anything in that moment to take her in his arms and make it all better. But he didn’t have that right. He’d given it to Grady. Now he’d never felt so helpless in his life. “You OK, Red?” he asked, trying to pose the question with just the right amount of concern and ease to open the door. He’d help her, if she’d let him. But that was a ridiculous thought. He couldn’t help her, even if she would let him. And she wouldn’t. Of that he was sure.

“Yes. It’s just overwhelming. We hoped of course, but with bulls, you never know.” She nodded to Grady and the autograph seekers. “Looks like he’s going to be a while yet. I need to get Cody home to bed. I’m afraid we’ll have to take a rain check on that dinner, but there’s a big after-party at the PBR Rock Bar. You should go with him, Dirk.”

“You aren’t going?” he asked in surprise.

“No. I can’t. Besides, I’m not much for parties, and this one is certain to get wilder than I like. I’m sure Grady’s going to be out all night celebrating.” She offered a weak smile. “You know how he is.”

“Yeah. I know all right.”

“Maybe you can look after him for me? I know he’s gonna get wasted. I can’t do anything about that, but I just want him to get home in one piece.”

“Yeah, I can watch over him—as much as he’ll let me, anyway.”

“Thanks, Dirk.” She paused. “Are you in town long? Will I—I mean—will we see you again?”

“Dunno. Don’t really have any plans.”

“Are you going home at all?”

“Nope. Not this time. It’d be too damned awkward.”

“Awkward? What do you mean? Oh.” Her mouth gaped. “I’m sorry…I’d heard about the wedding. I’m so stupid.” She shut her eyes with an embarrassed head shake.

“It’s nothing, Red. I wish Wade and Rachel well, but if I suddenly showed up…” He shrugged. “You know how it would be. It’s a small town. They don’t need any more fodder for gossip than they already have.”

“So you’re honestly OK with it? With Wade and Rachel?”

“They’re consenting adults. Besides, her father never thought I was good enough anyway. He once said he’d rather see her with Wade. I just hope they’re doing it for the right reasons.”

“Yeah. The right reasons,” she whispered. “Sometimes people make big mistakes. Huge life-altering mistakes. At the time they think they’re doing the right thing, but they realize later that it was for all the wrong reasons.”

He couldn’t help himself. He had to hear it from her lips. “Are you unhappy, Red? Has he hurt you?”

“Does it really matter?” Janice gave a fatalistic shrug. “I made my bed. And Cody here is late for his.”

“Has he hurt you?” he demanded, more insistent. “I want to know, Janice.”

“He doesn’t beat me, if that’s what you’re asking, but there are worse ways to hurt someone.”

His mouth thinned. “Like how?”

She looked away. “I really don’t want to discuss my marriage to Grady, especially not in front of Cody.”

“I understand. Do you need a ride somewhere?”

She hesitated, her gazed locked with his for a long moment before breaking away. “No. I don’t think that’s a good idea. But thank you for the offer. I’ll just take the truck back to the hotel if you can give Grady a lift later.”

He nodded. “I’ll see him back to you when it’s all done.”

Later that night he was glad he hadn’t promised her it would be in one piece.





Chapter 10


“Janice Lee Combes! You aren’t actually going out dressed like that, are you?”

“It’s Garrison, Mama. I don’t know why you refuse to say it. It’s only been my name for the past ten years.”

“You know I never liked that boy. Now that he’s gone, you should change it back.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Janice hissed. “And please don’t talk like that in front of Cody.”

“Like what?” Cody asked.

“Nothing,” Janice replied with a sigh. She was back home for good now, Grady was gone, and Cody was growing up just fine, in spite of her occasional clashes with his doting grandmother about his father.

“You didn’t answer my question either,” her mother persisted. “You aren’t wearing that to work, are you?”

“She always dresses up in funny clothes for work, Grandma,” Cody said.

“This is not your conversation, Cody. Now eat your peas.”

Cody scowled at his plate. “I hate peas.”