The Cowboy's Last Goodbye (Grass Valley Cowboys Book 6) Read online

  Travis took her hands in his and gently pulled her to her feet as the rest of the men entered the room. “Want me to carry you out to the car?”

  “No, I do not. Besides, I need to make a pit stop before we leave. This child of yours has been practicing his dance moves on my bladder for the last thirty minutes. None of the girls possess the upper body strength required to hoist me off the couch.”

  Snickers echoed around the room as Tess disappeared into the guest bathroom. Travis glared first at Trey and then Trent. “Don’t you two laugh. You’ve been through this before.”

  “Yes, we have. That’s why it’s funny,” Trey said, slapping his youngest brother on the back. “Just wait until you try to take a trip somewhere with her. An hour drive will take three because you have to pull over at every rest stop and gas station.”

  “Is that right, boss man?” Cady said, giving her husband a pointed glare.

  “Not that anything like that happened when my gorgeous wife was expecting our two well-behaved, angelic tykes,” Trey smirked and snaked a hand around Cady’s waist, pulling her against his side.

  “Oh, give it up, bro. You’re already in trouble.” Trent waggled an accusing finger Trey’s direction.

  “I’ve been in trouble since the day Cady bewitched me with her smile.” Trey kissed his wife’s cheek.

  “Enough of that,” Denni said, giving Trey a nudge with her elbow. “You boys forgot we have company.”

  “We didn’t forget, Mama,” Travis said, grinning at Harper. “Haven’t you noticed we’ve been on our best behavior?”

  “Oh, help us all if this is good.” Denni threw her hands in the air and turned her face toward the ceiling.

  Hart rested a hand on her shoulder. “Give these boys a break, Sunshine. They can’t help it if you raised them to be romantics who fell head over heels in love.”

  “That’s right, Mom. It’s entirely your fault.” Trey offered his mother a charming grin as he moved toward the door. “But we really do need to head home.”

  “Where are the boys?” Cady asked as they stepped outside.

  “Helping Cass put up Rowan,” Hart said, glancing at his daughter-in-law. “If I’m not careful, your girl is gonna talk me right out of that mare.”

  “And you’re gonna let her, Hart Hammond, so don’t pretend otherwise.” Denni bumped her hip against his leg.

  “I appreciate you letting her work for the horse, but doing odd chores isn’t ever going to be enough to pay for Rowan and we both know it.” Trey studied Hart. “I’m happy to settle the difference with you.”

  “No can do, Trey. Cass has promised she’s going to work hard to buy Rowan and I’m going to let her.”

  Amazed by this family, so unlike any she’d ever known, Harper lingered at the back of the group.

  A warm, appealing presence settled next to her and she looked up at Ben. He motioned to his phone then pointed to her before he bounded down the steps and hurried toward his pickup.

  “Hey, thanks for dinner everyone. I appreciate the invite,” he said, walking backward to his truck. “Nice to see you again, Miss Hayes. Glad to see you out and about, Cletus. Catch you all later.”

  He jumped into his truck and drove off before Harper quite knew what had transpired.

  After bidding all the Thompsons goodbye and thanking them for a lovely evening, Harper whistled for General. He bounded into her pickup. Hart and Trent helped Cletus into the passenger side while Trey set his walker in the back.

  “Remember, you promised to come to the ranch sometime and check it out,” Trey said to Cletus, shaking his hand.

  “I might have Harper bring me out one evening. I haven’t been to your place since before your daddy passed away. I’d like to see what you boys have done out there.”

  “Come anytime,” Trey said, then shut Cletus’ door.

  Harper waved then put the truck in gear and headed home.

  Antsy to see what Ben had texted to her, she wanted to hurry Cletus along as he slowly moved up the walk and into the house.

  General still had his steak bone from dinner and dropped onto his rug by Cletus’ chair to continue chewing it.

  “Are you ready for bed, Uncle Cletus, or do you want to stay up a while?”

  “I’m about worn out, Harper. I’ll take my drugs and go to bed.”

  Harper grinned as she filled a glass with water and handed Cletus his evening medication. For as long as she could remember, he called all medication drugs. When she was little, she and Ryan were convinced Cletus was going to be arrested or destroy his brain like the egg in the popular commercial by taking aspirin every day.

  “Sleep well, Uncle Cletus.” Harper patted him on his shoulder as he turned and shuffled down the hall to his bedroom.

  Cletus grinned back at her. “I had a good time, honey. Thanks for making me go.”

  Pleased he’d enjoyed himself, Harper knew better than to make a big deal out of it. She’d wait a few days then bring up a visit to the Triple T Ranch.

  As soon as Cletus closed his bedroom door, Harper whipped out her phone and read the text from Ben.

  Can you come outside for a while?

  Harper knew she couldn’t sneak off somewhere without her uncle hearing the truck start. She started to text back that she couldn’t, but changed her mind.

  Where are you?

  It took only a few seconds for Ben’s reply to arrive.

  Outside!

  Harper opened the door and glanced back at General. The dog looked up from his bone and she shook her head. “Stay here, Gen. I’ll be right back.”

  Quietly closing the door behind her, she crept down the steps and across the walk, contemplating when, exactly, she’d lost her mind.

  No strange vehicles were parked outside and the silent stillness of a summer evening settled around her.

  Her phone chimed with another message.

  Keep coming…

  Trying to peer into the darkness, she walked past her pickup and across the gravel of the driveway. She saw a light flicker a hundred feet in front of her as Ben tapped a flashlight app on his phone.

  Regardless of her plans to stay away from him, her feet flew across the ground and she found herself embraced in his strong arms.

  “Hey, Tinker Bell. Thanks for coming out to see me.” Ben lifted her up and held her close.

  Although it was dark enough she couldn’t see his expression, she could hear the smile in his voice.

  “Are you seriously going to call me Tinker Bell?”

  “I am, my beautiful little pixie. Or is it a fairy? I get confused, but don’t tell Cass because she’ll set me straight.”

  Harper laughed and wrapped her hands around the back of his neck. She gave him a quick kiss then leaned back. “You weren’t very friendly to me at dinner. It hurt my feelings.”

  “I’m sorry, Harper. You have no idea what would happen if my family found out we’re seeing each other.” Ben sighed. “It would be an unspeakable tragedy.”

  “Are you sure you just don’t want to put up with their teasing?” Harper wasn’t really upset with Ben. The way the Thompson boys all goaded each other, she understood his reasons for keeping quiet about their relationship. She also could see why he’d hidden the truth from his sister and the rest of the women. It wasn’t a far-fetched idea to envision all of them heading into matchmaker mode.

  “Well, there is that,” Ben said, planting a kiss on Harper’s neck and inhaling her fragrance. If he closed his eyes, he could picture a beach with warm, white sand beneath their feet and the ocean lapping nearby. The scent wafting through the air would be Harper’s.

  “What are you doing here?” she asked, barely able to discern the shape of Ben’s pickup parked at the end of the driveway. “Are you stalking me?”

  “Absolutely.” Ben pressed kisses along her jaw then worked his way up her chin to her mouth.

  “Seriously, Ben?” Harper pulled away from him. “After the way things ended the other night, I d
idn’t think you wanted to see me again.”

  Ben expelled a deep breath. “It’s not that, Harper. I want to see you. The problem is that I don’t want to give you the wrong impression.”

  Harper slid down and took a step back when Ben released his hold on her. “And what might that be? That you’re not interested in me? That you’re just another jerk who likes to toy with women?”

  A sigh rolled up from his chest. “I’m not a jerk and I’m not toying with you, Harper. I just don’t want you to think this relationship is going anywhere.”

  Harper’s laugh echoed around them, causing Ben’s head to snap up. “What’s so funny?”

  “You, Captain Morgan. What gave you the idea I want the relationship to go anywhere?”

  He took her arms in his hands, trying to study her face in the engulfing darkness. “You mean you aren’t already planning a wedding and what we’ll name our firstborn?”

  “Are you nuts?” Harper scowled at him. “I’m never getting married or having kids.”

  “Aw, Tinker Bell, I think you might just be the perfect woman.” Ben hugged her to him again, nuzzling her neck. “I don’t want to get married or have kids, either.”

  “So, you’re okay with just hanging out when you’re around?” Harper wrapped her arms around his neck again. “Maybe locking our lips together a few dozen times?”

  “Positively okay with it. I just didn’t want you to think there was a chance for something more.” Ben’s lips tantalized a spot beneath her ear.

  The seductive attention he paid to her neck made her question if it might dissolve her bones. At the rate he was going, he’d have to carry her limp body back to the house.

  “No chance of that.” She pressed closer against him as he lifted her off the ground a second time. “Since we’re in mutual agreement that we’re friends with kissing benefits, stop wasting time. Uncle Cletus might discover I’m not in the house and the game will be up.”

  Ben smiled against her mouth as his lips brushed hers. “I’m not sure I can let you hang out with the girls. Their bossiness is wearing off on you.” The lopsided smirk he shot her made her heart do back flips. “Danged if I don’t kind of like it.”

  “Hush, Captain. Just hush up and kiss me again.”

  Happy to oblige her, he agreed. “Whatever you want, my demanding, delightful pixie.”

  Chapter Seven

  Why does it take a minute to say hello

  and forever to say goodbye?

  Author Unknown

  “Are you sure you want to go?” Harper stared at her uncle as he shuffled down the front walk toward her waiting pickup.

  “Yes. Why do you keep asking me? Do you not want me to go?” Cletus gave her a calculating glare.

  “Of course I want you to go, Uncle Cletus. I’m just surprised you want to, that’s all.” Harper watched as he hefted himself onto the pickup’s front seat. Dressed in a suit that might have been fashionable forty years ago, she wondered how Cletus had managed to suck in his potbelly long enough to zip the pants. She hoped he didn’t split them out before they made it to church.

  Determined to go to the services that morning, she had to clamp her mouth shut when her uncle came out to the breakfast table dressed in the suit.

  Every time she glimpsed the light blue polyester fabric, she had to bite her cheek to keep from laughing.

  Before they left for church, she made sure General had plenty of water and food to eat. She gave him a bacon-flavored chew toy as they left and cautioned him to stay at the house and be a good boy. Although she locked the gate, the dog could easily jump the fence if he really wanted out. However, she trusted General to behave himself.

  Cletus was quiet on the drive into Grass Valley, so Harper watched the familiar scenery pass by.

  When they arrived at the church, she pulled up close to the door and let Cletus out. Trent and Lindsay happened to be going in, so they stopped. Trent lifted the walker out of the back and promised to help Cletus inside while Harper parked the truck.

  She found a space and hurried into the church. It took only a moment to realize the Thompson and Morgan families occupied three pews near the front. A man who looked nearly identical to Ben sat next to a pretty woman with an adorable baby. Harper knew the couple had to be Brice and Bailey.

  Cletus sat further down the full pew next to Trent and Lindsay.

  Rather than try to squeeze in next to him, she started to look for a seat when a hand reached out and encircled her wrist, pulling her into the next pew.

  Harper glanced down at Ben as he grinned at her and scooted over, making room for her on the end of the pew.

  “Hello,” she whispered.

  “Hey, stranger.” His husky rumble made her heart skip a beat.

  Tess leaned around her brother and smiled in welcome.

  To the casual observer, Harper and Ben appeared to be nothing more than acquaintances.

  In truth, they sat throughout the service with their fingers entwined, hidden by the folds of her full skirt. More than once, Ben’s leg brushed hers. Each time it did, he looked at her with heat-filled sparks in his intriguing dark eyes that made her want to move onto his lap and kiss him senseless.

  Mindful of the direction her thoughts seemed determined to head, she forced herself to listen to the pastor’s sermon

  As she sat behind Trey and Cady, she admired how well behaved their rambunctious twins were during the service.

  From the rough and tumble way they played at Hart and Denni’s the other night, she expected them to be climbing over pews and causing all sorts of trouble.

  Instead, they quietly sat between their parents, scribbling with crayons in coloring books. When one of them turned to say something to the other, Cady placed a finger to her lips and motioned for them to be silent. Both boys returned to their coloring without saying another word.

  However, the moment the final hymn was sung and the congregation began to leave, the boys ran down the aisle amid much noise and clamor.

  Harper laughed when one of them scurried between the bowed legs of Cady’s uncle Joe on their way out the door.

  “Those two little rascals are something else, aren’t they?” Ben bent down and whispered near her ear.

  “I can’t believe how good they were during the service,” she said. The warmth of his smile and the inviting light in his gaze drew her into a place she never wanted to leave.

  When Ben swallowed hard, Harper wondered if he experienced similar longings.

  He cleared his throat, returning his attention to the topic of the Thompson twins. “Trey and Cady won’t put up with any nonsense in church or at the dinner table. The rest of the time, though, those boys are just like the rest of the Thompson men.”

  Tess stepped into the aisle and hugged Harper. “We’re so glad you could join us today, Harper. It’s nice to see you and your uncle again.”

  Tess looped arms with her, pushing Ben out of the way as they walked down the aisle.

  “It was a wonderful sermon. I’m glad we came.” Harper glanced back to make sure her uncle was doing fine on his own. Several community members he knew stopped to talk to him and shake hands. Since he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying himself, Harper smiled and continued with Tess toward the door. She’d just stepped outside when she felt a hand on her shoulder and glanced back at Cady.

  “Would you and your uncle join us for lunch? It’s nothing fancy, but we’d love to have you if you’d like to come.”

  “Oh, we wouldn’t want to impose,” Harper said, not certain Cletus would be up for another social outing so soon after the last one.

  “Please, Harper? We’d enjoy the opportunity to visit with you more and get to know you better.” Tess gave her a pleading look.

  “Okay, we’ll come, but only if Uncle Cletus feels up to it.”

  “Perfect. I’ll go ask him,” Cady said. She and Tess hurried over to where Cletus spoke with the pastor.

  At the women’s smiles and the nodding of h
er uncle’s head, Harper knew they’d eat lunch at the Triple T.

  “So, are you eating lunch with all of us?” Ben asked from behind her.

  She spun around and stared at him in curiosity. “Are you going to be there, too?”

  “Sure am. Cady invited all of us over for lunch.” Ben motioned to his brother. “Did you meet Brice?”

  “No, but I assumed by the resemblance that he had to be your brother. Bailey looks quite a bit like the Thompson family.”

  “Yeah, she does. Wait until you see Nana. Bailey looks just like her, at least what Nana looked like when she was young.”

  “I look forward to meeting her,” Harper said, brushing her palm on her skirt as Ben motioned to Brice.

  He and Bailey approached, both wearing welcoming smiles.

  “Brice and Bailey, this is Harper Hayes. She’s staying with her uncle this summer and working at the grain elevator in Rufus.” Ben took Maizy from Bailey and blew on the baby’s tummy, making her giggle and flap her chubby little arms in the air.

  “Harper, it’s a pleasure to meet you,” Bailey said, shaking her hand. “I bet you guessed these two were related as soon as you saw us in church.”

  “There is a definite family likeness.” Harper grinned when the baby reached out and grabbed Ben’s nose. He nibbled Maizy’s fingers. Happy, she giggled in response.

  “It’s nice to meet you, Miss Hayes,” Brice said, shaking her hand. He looked from her to Ben then back again.

  Suddenly, he started to chuckle.

  Ben gave him an odd look that only made him laugh harder.

  Bailey rolled her eyes. “Please forgive my husband. He seems to have indulged in a big helping of inappropriate behavior along with his breakfast this morning.”

  Brice laughed so hard, tears streamed down his face and he bent over, trying to catch his breath.

  “What is so funny, bro?” Ben asked, shifting Maizy to one arm and slapping his brother on the back.

  Brice edged away from him and tried to curtail his amusement. He wiped his eyes and turned back to Harper. “My apologies. Something just struck me as incredibly funny, that’s all.”