The Cowboy's Spring Romance

  By

  SHANNA HATFIELD

  The Cowboy’s Spring Romance

  Copyright © 2012 by Shanna Hatfield

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

  For permission requests, please contact the author, with a subject line of "permission request” at the email address below or through her website.

  Shanna Hatfield

  shanna@shannahatfield.com

  shannahatfield.com

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  Praise for The Cowboy’s Spring Romance…

  “I absolutely loved this book. I couldn't put it down and love a romantic, sweet ending.”

  Amazon Reviewer

  “Hatfield writes a feel good, make you smile romance story.”

  Amazon Reviewer

  “This is one of those romances that is like going home. It is easy and so comfortable.”

  Amazon Reviewer

  “This is a fun, light-hearted romance filled with large doses of respect for the characters in the courtship and those whose lives they touched.”

  Amazon Reviewer

  “I am a sucker for the nice romances & a little laugher never hurts! Get the whole series, I read them one after the other and thoroughly enjoyed them all!”

  Amazon Reviewer

  One lonesome cowboy needs a few lessons in romance...

  Trent Thompson doesn't have many secrets, except for the torch he's carried for the new schoolteacher since she moved to Grass Valley more than three years ago. Instead of asking her out, he’s dated every single female in a thirty-mile radius, giving her the impression he holds no interest in knowing her.

  Lindsay Pierce moved to Grass Valley to teach and quickly fell in love with the small community as well as the delightful people who live there. Everyone welcomes her warmly except for one obnoxious cowboy who goes out of his way to ignore her.

  Will Trent be able to maintain the pretense when he has to babysit his niece, who happens to be in Lindsay’s class?

  *

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  Shanna’s Newsletter

  Books by Shanna Hatfield

  FICTION

  HISTORICAL

  Dacey - Bride of North Carolina

  Baker City Brides

  Crumpets and Cowpies

  Thimbles and Thistles

  Pendleton Petticoats

  Aundy

  Caterina

  Ilsa

  Marnie

  Lacy

  Bertie

  Hardman Holidays

  The Christmas Bargain

  The Christmas Token

  The Christmas Calamity

  The Christmas Vow

  CONTEMPORARY

  Love at the 20-Yard Line

  The Coffee Girl

  The Christmas Crusade

  Learnin’ the Ropes

  QR Code Killer

  Rodeo Romance

  The Christmas Cowboy

  Wrestlin’ Christmas

  Capturing Christmas

  Grass Valley Cowboys

  The Cowboy’s Christmas Plan

  The Cowboy’s Spring Romance

  The Cowboy’s Summer Love

  The Cowboy’s Autumn Fall

  The Cowboy’s New Heart

  The Cowboy’s Last Goodbye

  The Women of Tenacity

  A Prelude (Short Story)

  Heart of Clay

  Country Boy vs. City Girl

  Not His Type

  NON-FICTION

  Farm Girl

  Fifty Dates with Captain Cavedweller

  Recipes of Love

  Savvy Entertaining Series

  Savvy Holiday Entertaining

  Savvy Spring Entertaining

  Savvy Summer Entertaining

  Savvy Autumn Entertaining

  To my fellow book club members -

  Thank you for your wild, crazy,

  and innovative ideas that spur my creativity.

  You girls are always so fun.

  I truly appreciate your support and encouragement!

  Chapter One

  Romance is everything.

  Gertrude Stein

  "What's a honeymoon?"

  Trent Thompson looked down at his five-year-old niece regretting, yet again, his decision to play babysitter while his brother enjoyed a trip to Mexico with his new wife.

  Slowly rubbing his hand across the back of his neck and trying to think of a suitable response, he didn't have time to provide one before he was pelted with another round of questions.

  "What do peoples do on a honeymoon? Do they play and have fun? What do they do, Uncle Trent?” Cass asked, standing on Trent’s feet with her arms wrapped around his knees, looking up at him with questions burning in her bright blue eyes. “How come I couldn’t go? Is Daddy going to kiss Mama like he does when they think I’m asleep? Is that why I couldn’t go? Why, Uncle Trent? Why?"

  He was going to die.

  Gently picking up the little redhead, he gave her a hug before setting her down on the kitchen counter.

  "Well, Cass..." Trent racked his brain for an answer. His standard response to her tricky questions was to tell her to go ask her mother. Now that he didn’t have an escape route, he was going to have to come up with something to stop her questioning. “People do go on a honeymoon to have fun. They usually go somewhere they can enjoy spending time together. You couldn’t miss school, that’s why you had to stay here with me and Uncle Travis.”

  Smug with his response, he hoped it answered Cass’ questions.

  “Oh, okay,” Cass said, swinging her feet on the edge of the counter, looking around the big kitchen. “Where’s Uncle Travis?”

  “He went out to warm up the pickup so you wouldn’t freeze your toes on the way to school.” Trent lifted Cass’ coat and helped her put it on. Being responsible for a little person was new to Trent. Actually, it was new to all of them.

  Cass’ mother died right after Thanksgiving. Trey and Cady, who also happened to be their cook and housekeeper, held a special interest in the little girl long before she became an orphan. After spending time with her, Trent had grown quite attached to Cass as well.

  It only took a few days of her staying with them after her mother passed away for Trey and Cady to decide they wanted to keep her on a permanent basis. They went to court to get custody, putting their blossoming romance on hold until they received the court ruling on keeping Cass.

  When they were granted custody just two days before Christmas, the lovebirds plunged ahead with their plans and began the New Year with a wedding. With the help of the judge who awarded them custody, Cass’ adoption papers were pushed through and finalized, making them a ready-made family.

  Now that Cass was settled into a regular routine, the newlyweds felt comfortable leaving her in the care of her two uncles so they could finally get away for a honeymoon.

  Trent didn’t blame his brother for wanting to take the trip. Trey and Cady rarely enjoyed the luxury of spending time alone and if he had a wife as pretty as his new sister-in-law, he’d want to take her off to some warm, sunny beach and keep her all to himsel
f.

  That thought conjured up an image of Lindsay Pierce, Cass’ kindergarten teacher. She was a leggy blonde with a beautiful smile, and a scent that reminded him of a walk through the woods on a warm afternoon. Not that he noticed these things, especially about Lindsay.

  The woman positively hated him.

  Annoyed with himself for thinking of Miss Pierce, Trent pulled Cass’ stocking cap on with a little more force than necessary and tugged the whole thing down to her chin.

  “Uncle Trent! That’s not how it goes!” Cass huffed, jerking the cap off and sending her head of red curls into a wild tangle.

  “Sorry, Cass.” Trent helped her put the cap on properly. Once he made sure her mittens were on, he set her on the floor, took her hand, picked up her backpack, and walked out the back door into the bright morning light.

  Although the sun was shining, it was bitterly cold outside. His breath came out in puffs and the packed snow crunched beneath their boots. It was a typical February day in Grass Valley, Oregon.

  Located between the deep canyons of the John Day River on the east and the Deschutes River on the west in north central Oregon, Grass Valley was a rancher’s paradise in the growing season with rolling fields of wheat and barley, as well as pastures full of cattle.

  Now, though, it was cold and barren as winter swept the landscape.

  After helping Cass to his pickup, Trent buckled her into the booster seat in the back, handed the backpack to her and climbed inside.

  Irritated at his younger brother, Trent didn’t know why Travis refused to take Cass to school. He knew how much Trent didn’t want to see Lindsay. Travis probably thought it would irk him to have to do it and unfortunately, he was right.

  For three long years, Trent watched Lindsay from a distance. She always looked at him as if he was something that stuck to her shoe while walking across a barnyard. He tried to ignore her, dated every single female in the area, and hoped to feel some interest spark with another girl.

  Instead, his playing the field seemed to increase Lindsay’s dislike of him and made Trent that much more fascinated by her.

  When she served as one of Cady’s bridesmaids, he assumed the time they spent together would help chip away at the icy wall she erected between them. His efforts at teasing her seemed to have only made things worse. After she called him a contemptible clod, he knew that meant he was not on her list of dating prospects.

  He managed to avoid her since the wedding, even though they attended the same church. Now, though, he was about to be forced into some form of interaction with her until Trey and Cady came home unless he could make it perfectly clear to Travis that school pick up and drop off needed to be on his list of “uncle duties.”

  Sighing, he pulled off the highway and turned down the lane to the school. Kids ran all around the playground, laughing, throwing icy snowballs, and enjoying the few minutes of freedom before it was time for their classes to begin. A quick glance at his watch confirmed the bell would ring any minute.

  He parked the pickup, got out and helped Cass climb down, handing her the little backpack.

  “Okay, goofball,” Trent said, using his pet name for Cass, making her giggle. “Give me a hug and off you go.”

  Cass hugged his long legs, hitting him at the knees, then turned her big blue eyes up to his face. “Please come in with me, Uncle Trent. I want you to see my desk. Pretty please?”

  Unable to say no when she turned those baby blues on him, Trent nodded his head and took her hand.

  At six-feet, five-inches, Trent tended to stick out in a crowd. With the cowboy boots he wore and the Stetson on his head giving him added height, and he looked more like a giant as he walked with Cass across the schoolyard. Kids stopped and looked his direction, then resumed their playing.

  “Come on, Uncle Trent.” Cass tugged on his hand. “Hurry before the bell rings.”

  He sincerely hoped the bell would ring so he could make an excuse and leave before he ran into Lindsay.

  When he stopped at the door to her classroom, Cass pulled on his hand. “Come see, come see!”

  Grateful the room was empty, Trent walked in, following Cass. She hurried over to one of the tiny desks and opened it, taking out a picture drawn in crayon.

  “See the picture I drew?” Cass held it out to him with a beaming smile. “This is Mama and Daddy and you and Uncle Travis and Grammy.”

  “Wow!” Trent said, hunkering down next to her desk. “You got all of us in this one picture and look at all the colors you used. This is very creative, Cass.”

  The little girl beamed at him, making Trent glad he hadn’t dropped her off and hurried back home.

  She took more papers out of her desk and showed him what she was working on and pointed out some of her projects hanging on the walls around the room with the other students’ assignments.

  “You are doing just great, Cass.” Trent picked her up and gave her a hug. “Your mom and dad are so proud of you.”

  “Thanks, Uncle Trent.” Cass kissed his cheek then looked over his shoulder with another giggle. “Morning, Miss Lindsay.”

  “Good morning, Cass.” Lindsay Pierce purposefully strode into her classroom, carrying a box full of art supplies. “How are you today?”

  “I’m great. Uncle Trent and Uncle Travis are taking good care of me while Mama and Daddy are gone on a honeymoon. Have you ever been on a honeymoon?” Cass asked, wiggling for Trent to put her down, which he did reluctantly. Holding Cass gave him something to do with his hands beside jam them in his pockets or twirl his hat nervously.

  “No, I haven’t, Cass,” Lindsay said, as a slight blush rode her cheeks. Of all the questions for Cass to ask, it would have to be one about honeymoons while her obnoxious uncle was in the room.

  Trent couldn’t take his eyes off the teacher. With her blond hair, eyes the color of a summer sky, and golden skin, Lindsay attracted Trent as no other woman ever had. At six-feet tall and athletic, she was lean and lovely. If Trent had been a shorter man, she might have intimidated him. Instead, she drove him to distraction.

  Like now, with her hair shining like spun gold in the light streaming through the classroom windows, dressed in a sweater the color of summer peaches.

  Trent absently wondered if the sweater would be as soft as it looked, longing to run his hand up and down her arm. Quickly gathering his manners, he took off his hat and nodded in the direction of Cass’ teacher. “Hello, Miss Pierce.”

  Lindsay raised her chin a fraction and sniffed. “Hello, Mr. Thompson.”

  Unobtrusively working his way toward the door, Trent told Cass to be good and he’d be back to get her at noon when the kindergartners were released for the day.

  Before he could make his escape, Lindsay stopped him.

  “Mr. Thompson? A moment of your time, if you please.” Lindsay motioned him to join her at the front of the room.

  Lindsay didn’t know what had come over her, but walking into her classroom and finding none other than Trent Thompson holding Cass did funny things to her insides, let alone to her ability to think rationally.

  When she moved to the community three and a half years ago to take the position of kindergarten and first-grade teacher, the residents of Grass Valley welcomed her warmly.

  Except for Trent.

  He avoided her, rarely spoke to her, and when he did it was to offer some teasing comment or joke that she most often found insulting rather than humorous. On top of that, he had a reputation for dating any single female for miles around and had never once shown the slightest interest in her. Wounded pride was part of the reason she was uncomfortable around him. The man was, in her opinion, a certified boor.

  Never mind the fact that he was extremely tall and physically fit, that his blue eyes glowed with warmth and humor, or that he and his two brothers could all have modeling jobs if they wanted to give up their work as ranchers. It was unfair for one family to produce three such good looking, square-jawed, broad-shouldered men.

&n
bsp; Too bad her friend Cady snatched up the pick of the three, though. Everyone talked about Trey being the best looking, Travis being the daredevil, and Trent being the easy-going giant.

  Although Cady tried to convince her that Trent was just as solid and kind as Trey, Lindsay couldn’t quite believe it. He never failed to say something that irritated her.

  Lindsay was a bit of a romantic at heart. That was why she ignored the way Trent’s presence made her heart speed up and her palms grow moist.

  A romance with the arrogant rancher?

  The entire notion was nothing short of ridiculous. Positively ridiculous. She would bet he didn’t know the first thing about romancing a woman. He’d already proven that with his idiotic jokes and relentless teasing.

  As she watched Trent begin to exit the classroom, she spoke before her brain was fully engaged. What possessed her to call him to her desk? Frantically thinking of a reason, she glanced at the box she’d carried in moments earlier. Suddenly, a thought pushed through the muddled turmoil in her mind and made her smile.

  “Since you’re here anyway, would you mind hanging these decorations for me? It would save me a trip to find a stepstool since I can’t quite reach the hooks.” Lindsay held a glittery red heart by its satin ribbon and pointed to a series of hooks in the ceiling.

  Trent took a deep breath and walked to her desk, praying he wouldn’t say anything to stoke the fire of her animosity this morning.

  He didn’t know what it was about Lindsay, but he got so tongue-tied around her, the only words he could get out were lame jokes and teasing. It sounded stupid to his own ears, so he could only imagine what she thought. No wonder she went to great lengths to avoid him.