The Cowboy's Texas Family

Chapter Three

Darcy didn’t even know Corey, and still she wanted to do everything she could to take care of him. Make sure he was warm and fed a proper meal. There was something about the child that drew her—more than family ties. There was a lot of anger in Corey, but beneath it she sensed a need to be loved, or maybe she was just putting herself in Corey’s situation and projecting her emotions onto him.

As they drove away from Dry Gulch, where they’d left Corey with the neighbor, Darcy turned to Nick. “Where I live, I volunteer at a shelter and work with children to find solutions for their situations. I’ve seen families deal with a member who is an alcoholic and the toll it puts on them, especially the children. Some of the kids have to grow up so fast because they are left to fend for themselves. It breaks my heart.”

Nick waited at a stoplight to turn onto the highway that would return them to Haven. He slid a look at her, his expression still full of worry. “Me too.” Unspoken emotions dripped from those brief words.

“What do you think will happen to Ned?” Darcy asked the question she was sure was on both their minds. They had left Dry Gulch after the sheriff arrested Ned and hauled him to jail.

“He’ll probably only get a slap on the wrist. I’m more concerned about Corey. At least he’s with Mrs. Scott for the night.”

“Are you upset that Ned wouldn’t let you take Corey home?”

Nick gave her a tired smile. “Am I that transparent?”

“Well...yes.”

“Ned doesn’t want to be the father he should, but he feels threatened by my relationship with Corey. I’m glad Ned let Mrs. Scott take Corey without much of a fight. She’ll take good care of the child, and I’ll go to her house tomorrow morning.”

“But you wanted to take him home.”

“Yes, I feel responsible for him,” Nick said, although she hadn’t asked a question.

“Because of the promise to Doug?”

“Yep. When I give my word, I mean it. But it’s more than...” Nick’s voice trailed off in silence. “He’ll be all right. I’m glad she called the sheriff earlier. All Corey had with him was a thin blanket. He could have frozen tonight.”

There was something Nick wasn’t saying. What? “Ned could be looking at child endangerment and neglect. The state could step in.”

“I hope they do something this time.”

“What do you mean, this time?”

“I have reported Ned’s behavior before, but nothing was done. He left Corey alone overnight. Corey called me afraid because he heard a noise outside. I came over to be with him until his dad showed up in the morning. That’s when my precarious relationship with Ned turned from bad to worse. Thankfully Mrs. Scott has been able to step in more, but she’s had health issues. She’s a temporary solution but not a permanent one.”

“How about the boys ranch for Corey?”

“I know they have room for one more boy, and I’d much rather see Corey there, but Ned would never go for it.”

“Unless this time the state does something about it.”

“I volunteer at the boys ranch, and it’s done a lot for the kids who live there. I’m there several times a week. It would be so much better for Corey than living with Ned. The boys ranch isn’t like what Fletcher says. They aren’t hooligans but kids who need extra help.”

She wasn’t surprised that Nick would volunteer at the boys ranch. In the short time she’d been with him, she’d seen a man of action and heart. “Then I’ll pray to the Lord something is done for Corey.”

“In my experience He hasn’t helped much.”

There was something in Nick’s voice—pain—that touched her. Who did he turn to when he was in trouble or upset? She started to say something in reply to Nick’s last statement, but the tense set of his jaw and rigid posture indicated this wasn’t a good time. He wouldn’t hear her.

She didn’t want to leave Haven until something was done for Corey. How could she walk away from a child in need, a child she was related to?

She relished the silence as Nick drove toward Haven. Exhaustion weaved through her body, and she had to fight to keep her eyes open. But she perked up when he neared the place where her car had stalled. “Good. Slim must have towed my car.”

“He’ll be able to give you an estimate for fixing the car early tomorrow morning.”

“I hope he can fix it right away.” She only had a few weeks to discover what she’d come for, and after what Nick had told her about Fletcher trying to shut down the boys ranch, she wanted to see it too.

“At least the Blue Bonnet Inn is near downtown and within walking distance of most places, but Slim is gifted when repairing anything with a motor. The only thing that will hold him back is if he has to order a part. We don’t have too many suppliers in this area, but Waco will.”

Nick parked in front of a three-story Victorian house with a sign saying Blue Bonnet Inn. Lights illuminated the long, partial-wraparound porch and its white wicker furniture. Darcy’s first thought was that it looked inviting, homey and peaceful. A perfect place to take her long-overdue, four-week vacation. She hadn’t realized how much she needed to take a break until this moment. She sighed.

“Ready? Knowing Carol, she’ll be up waiting for you.” Nick assessed her.

And usually when someone did, it made Darcy uncomfortable, but she must be too tired to even feel that. “It’s eleven. A lot has happened today.”

“More than you bargained for, but I appreciate your help.”

“Anytime. I hope you’ll let me know what happens with Corey.”

“Yes, ma’am, just as soon as I know.” Nick tipped the brim of his cowboy hat and then climbed from his truck.

Darcy did the same and grabbed some of the luggage he’d put on the ground near the tailgate. When he hefted the two bigger suitcases as well as her duffel bag, he looked loaded down but strong enough to manage. Yesterday when she’d packed, she hadn’t known what she would do once she came to Haven, so she’d planned for everything she could think of. Now she realized it appeared she was moving in rather than staying for a short vacation.

Darcy started for the entrance to the inn with her hands full too. “When I was trying to figure out what to bring, I read that the weather here can be spring-like one day and full winter the next.”

“So you brought all your clothes?” He paused on the porch, the bright light allowing her a good look at Nick McGarrett.

He was mighty attractive. “No, I left more than half my wardrobe behind.”

“You’re kidding?”

“I’m afraid not. I like clothes but especially shoes. The duffel bag is full of them.”

He shook his head and moved toward the front door. “I own a pair of tennis shoes and dress boots as well as work ones. That’s all.”

Over six foot three, he commanded a confident presence. His chestnut-brown hair peeked out from under his cowboy hat. She would have been able to tell his build was muscular even if she hadn’t known one suitcase was full of books she’d wanted to read but had been too busy to this past year. The angular planes of his face complemented his firm mouth, but what drew her full attention were his piercing blue eyes, reminding her of the Gulf on a sunny day.

“Men don’t have all the choices women have,” she finally said when she realized she was staring at him and he’d noticed.

“Don’t see a need for so many choices. Makes getting dressed much easier.”

The heat of a blush flooded her face. She opened the door and stepped into the inn, the scent of lavender filling the air and welcoming her in from the cold. Ah, someone who understood the importance of essential oils. Already she was letting go of her stress.

Darcy scanned the large foyer, glimpsing into a dining room on one side and a large living room on the other. Antiques, such as a bookcase, desk and end tables, were sprinkled among the elegant but comfortable-looking couches and chairs. She took a step toward what must be the heart of the inn, enthralled by the beautifully carved mahogany coffee table between two cream-colored sofas.

A middle-aged woman with auburn hair pulled into a bun came from the back of the house. “You must be Darcy Hill. I’m so glad you’re here. I’m Carol Thornton, the owner of the Blue Bonnet Inn.” Her eyes crinkled at the corners when she smiled.

Darcy immediately felt at home. “Yes, I am. You have a beautiful place.”

“It’s been in my family for years.” Carol turned to Nick. “How’s Corey?”

“Safe and staying with Mrs. Scott, his neighbor. The sheriff arrested Ned.”

“It’s about time they did something about that man’s neglect and drinking. If I can help, let me know, Nick,” Carol said, then shifted her gaze back to Darcy. “I called Slim, and he has your car. He’ll look at it first thing in the morning.”

“That’ll be great. Nick told me I could walk to the garage.”

Carol waved her hand. “It’s only a few blocks away, but then a lot of places are here in Haven. If you need a ride, I can help or my husband, Clarence, can. Speaking of my husband, he fell asleep an hour ago. He’s been fighting a migraine all day. Will you please—”

“Say no more, Carol. Where do you want me to take these suitcases?” Nick, still loaded down with Darcy’s bags, walked to the staircase. “Then I need to leave. Tomorrow will be here soon enough.”

“The second room on the right. Thank you, Nick. I knew I could count on you.”

“And I can take care of these.” Darcy gestured to the few she’d set on the floor. Before Carol could say anything, Darcy picked up the bags and mounted the stairs behind Nick.

“Are you hungry?”

Darcy paused halfway up and looked down at Carol. “Starving.”

“When you’re settled, come down to the kitchen. I’ll fix you and Nick bowls of vegetable soup to tide you over until morning.”

“Thanks. It sounds delicious.” If she had the energy even to eat.

Darcy continued to trudge up the stairs, her body protesting with each step. When she reached the second floor, she noticed the door to the second room on the right was open. Nick came out of the entrance and retrieved two pieces of luggage from her.

“You look like you’re on your last leg.” He disappeared into her room.

How did he still have so much energy? She’d left hers back in Dry Gulch after getting Corey into Nick’s truck. Once they’d found the child, what she’d been functioning on drained from her quickly.

The second she moved into her suite all she wanted to do was go to sleep. Suddenly, not even food was enough to motivate her to go back downstairs.

“Will you please tell Carol that I’ve changed my mind? If I made it downstairs, I know I wouldn’t make it up here again. And I doubt she would want a guest sleeping on a couch in her living room.”

He stopped in front of her and removed the remaining bags from her grasp. His eyes locked with hers. “I know how you feel. I’ve been running on adrenaline the past few hours, and now I don’t have any left. I’ll tell her and let you know when I hear something about Corey.”

Fighting the urge to lose herself in his blue gaze, she was surprised she had the energy even to smile, but she managed somehow. She didn’t look away. “I appreciate that.”

For a long moment he remained in front of her. She couldn’t move. Nick attracted her. She didn’t know a lot about him personally, but she’d seen him in action tonight, trying to find a child. Too bad she wouldn’t be here more than three or four weeks before she returned to Alabama and her life there.

For the past two years, she’d been dating a guy who worked with her at the Legal Aid office in Mobile. They had so much in common—helping others, the same career—and she’d known him for years, but right before the holidays, they had mutually decided to be only friends. There was no spark between them, and she was beginning to believe there never would be.

She needed to focus on what she came to do, not a cowboy who made her start questioning her love life—or lack of one. She was just passing through Haven, here to learn about Fletcher and now any other family members. Then she would leave.

Nick strolled past Darcy and out into the hall. He gave her one nod. His actions dragged her away from her perfectly happy life in Alabama. Their gazes connected one last time. Her pulse sped while her lungs held her breath.

“Again, thanks for your help this evening. Good night.” His deep, husky voice wrapped around her, chasing away any lingering chill from earlier and confusing her even more.

The sound of his footsteps going down the stairs echoed through her mind until she finally shook herself out of her daze, plodded to the four-poster bed and collapsed on it. Her last thought as sleep descended was of Nick holding Corey as he tried to console the boy. He would make a great father.

* * *

After feeding the animals the next morning, Nick entered his house through the back door, stomping off the snow that had fallen lightly throughout the night. At least Darcy was comfortable at the inn and Corey was with Mrs. Scott. Nick would drive over to Dry Gulch after he ate breakfast. Then he could hopefully let Darcy know what would happen with Corey.

The events of the day before only reconfirmed he wouldn’t be a good father. Yes, he had found Corey, but he should have been there in the first place and stopped the child before he ran away.

Nick hung his overcoat and Stetson on a peg, noticing a beige hat and a black jacket on the remaining two hooks. The ever-present scent of coffee peppered the air. He loved that smell. The sound of shuffling footsteps coming toward the kitchen alerted him to his uncle’s presence.

“I didn’t hear you come in last night or get up this morning. I tried to stay up, but obviously I fell asleep in my lounge chair. You should have awakened me. How’s Corey?”

“We found him.” Nick went on to tell his uncle about Ned’s arrest and Mrs. Scott taking the boy.

“I figured he was okay or you wouldn’t have come home. What’s this about you picking up a stranger?” His uncle, a tall, thin man with graying hair, ambled to the refrigerator, removed a mixing bowl and poured its contents into a black skillet on the stove.

“How did you hear about Darcy?”

“Carol called me to let me know what was happening in case you forgot to. Of course, she knows you would have filled me in eventually. It was just an excuse to gossip, although she didn’t tell me a lot about this woman you rescued on the highway.”

“I don’t know a lot. She’s about my age. She’s a lawyer.” He wouldn’t tell his uncle how pretty Darcy was or he would make more of it. Uncle Howard was determined Nick would marry one day. Nick was just as resolved to stay single. Even when his mother was alive, his parents’ marriage had been volatile—not something he would want.

“Carol told me Darcy has the room booked for three weeks with a possibility of staying a fourth one.” Uncle Howard’s curiosity came to the forefront of their conversation as he scrambled the eggs and then popped some bread into the toaster. “Why would a young woman come here and stay? We don’t have too many coming through here, besides that Avery gal. And Avery has her own agenda.”

Nick chuckled. “Don’t know why.”

His uncle shook his head. “Did you find out anything else about her?”

“I figure Carol and Clarence will get the lowdown and tell you. You three are such gossipers. Darcy is probably being drilled right now by Carol.”

Uncle Howard propped one hand on his waist. “I do not gossip. I’m genuinely interested in the people around me.”

“And yet you haven’t discovered who is sabotaging the boys ranch or, for that matter, who messed with our fence a while back.”

“I’m working on it, but I ain’t no detective.” When two pieces of bread popped up lightly toasted, Howard buttered each slice and set it on a plate. “I don’t see why anyone would steal children’s saddles, especially from a home for troubled boys.”

“I could think of one—Fletcher. And the way the man feels about me bothering him about Corey, he could have sabotaged our fence too.”

“I’ve considered him, but he would just use his influence and money to shut down the ranch, not soil his hands taking the saddles or letting the calves loose. Don’t quite know why he’s so against the ranch when his dad did a lot for it. I’m glad Tucker isn’t alive to know what his son is doing. Now, our ranch might be another story. Fletcher ain’t too happy with you. When are you going to the boys ranch next?”

“Tomorrow for sure. Flint said there are two horses I need to look at.” Nick volunteered as a farrier when they needed one.

“I’m so glad he’s found someone. Lana is perfect for him and will be a great mother for Logan.”

“Married life will agree with Flint.” Left unsaid was that marriage wouldn’t work for Nick, especially with someone who wanted children. Seeing what Corey was going through only reinforced that notion.

“It’s good for a lot of men. Look at Heath and Josie.”

“Stop right there. Flint is the foreman at the boys ranch, and Heath is a Texas Ranger—they do all right for themselves. I’m struggling to make this ranch viable, and I don’t know how I could support a wife when this place needs so much. So quit trying to fix me up. I don’t have the time.”

“There’s always Avery Culpepper,” Uncle Howard said with a chuckle, while dishing up the scrambled eggs.

Several months ago, Cyrus Culpepper, one of the boys ranch’s earliest residents, had died and bequeathed his family place to the Lone Star Cowboy League. The larger property allowed the boys ranch to take in more kids. The only hitch to the inheritance was that the town had to find the four other original residents of the ranch, besides Cyrus. Also Avery Culpepper, Cyrus’s granddaughter, needed to be located. And she had been, but Lana didn’t think the woman who claimed to be Avery was the real one.

“Do you think she is for real?” Nick asked. If she wasn’t, the boys ranch wouldn’t meet all the terms of Cyrus’s will, and the ranch would be sold to a developer to build a strip mall. The boys would have to be moved again. If that wasn’t motivation to find everyone listed in the old man’s will, Nick didn’t know what was.

“I sure hope she is.”

“Avery has been cozy with Fletcher, and he wants the land to be sold.”

“I don’t see him behind what has been going on at the boys ranch.” Uncle Howard placed a plate in front of Nick and then went back and brought the coffeepot to the kitchen table.

“I agree. Stealing a therapy horse and saddles and letting out calves doesn’t make sense unless Fletcher has really stooped low and is resorting to these tactics to shut down the boys ranch. He’s a lawyer. He’ll seek a legal way if he can.”

“Fletcher has blinders on to the good the place does for kids who need help. But then the man doesn’t have any children.” Uncle Howard poured some coffee into his mug and then handed the pot to Nick.

“Neither do I, but I see the benefits of the ranch. He’s just plain mean-spirited.”

“He never used to bother you so much until you came home and began looking out for Corey.”

“How can someone who has plenty of money turn his back on family? Ned Phillips has no business being a father. No wonder Doug was concerned about Corey.” And no wonder Nick never wanted to be a father himself. He didn’t have the skills needed to be responsible for someone else.

“You’ve done what you can. Sometimes we just have to leave it in the Lord’s hands.”

“And look how well that has worked out,” Nick mumbled and drank a mouthful of his coffee.

“I wish I could have done more for you with your father, but I lived so far away. I failed you. I’m sorry.”

“You didn’t know. He was good at hiding his abusive behavior. Once I tried telling someone, and I learned the hard way to keep my mouth shut. As far as I know, Ned hasn’t physically abused Corey, but verbally he tears the boy down all the time. It breaks my heart.” Nick’s stomach roiled with thoughts of the boy’s situation and the reminders of what he had gone through when his father drank.

“That’s why I think you’d be a good father. You know what not to do.” Then before Nick could reply, Uncle Howard bowed his head and said grace. When he looked up at Nick, he said, “I’m not giving up on you.”

“I don’t need—”

The ringtone on Nick’s cell phone distracted him. Quickly Nick answered, noting it was Mrs. Scott. “Is something wrong with Corey?”

“The state is sending him to the boys ranch. They just came and took him. Corey threatened he would run away again.”

Chapter Four

The morning of her second day in Haven, Darcy stood at the inn’s front picture window in the living room, holding a warm cup of coffee and staring at the snow-covered street. The snowfall had only been a couple of inches, but for a Southern gal like herself, driving even in a small accumulation made her so nervous she was afraid she would cause an accident. She would stay at the inn or walk to where she wanted to go until the car part came in and Slim installed it, hopefully later this afternoon.

Still, sitting around waiting today made her antsy. Her time here was limited, and after Corey running away last night, she wanted to make sure he would be all right before she left Haven at the end of the month.

She took a sip of her coffee as footfalls sounded on the hardwood floor. When she glanced over her shoulder, Avery Culpepper entered the room. She had long, bouncy blond hair and wore a baby blue wool dress that matched her big eyes and spiked heels, as well as more makeup than Darcy put on in a week. Darcy had met her briefly earlier that morning.

Darcy smiled. “Good morning. Carol will have breakfast ready in five minutes. There’s coffee in the dining room.”

“I’ll get some later.” Avery joined Darcy at the window. “Thankfully there wasn’t too much snow. I’m meeting Fletcher this morning.”

“Fletcher Phillips?”

Avery brushed her hair away from her face. “He’s the only Fletcher in this town. He’s a lawyer who’s been giving me some advice for when I get my inheritance.”

“Inheritance?”

“From my grandfather, Cyrus Culpepper.”

“The one who bequeathed his land to the boys ranch?”

“Yes.” Avery glanced out the window. “I’ve got to go. See you around.”

Darcy watched as Avery headed toward Fletcher’s Lexus. He climbed out of the car and rounded the hood to open the passenger door for Avery. Darcy’s biological father wore a Stetson, a black suit and boots. She must have gotten her height from him because her birth mother was only five foot two.

He turned his head toward the bed-and-breakfast, and their gazes met and held for a few seconds. Because she was looking for it, she saw a resemblance between them in the eyes and chin. He had a cleft in it like she did. She pivoted away and moved from the window. Her heartbeat thudded against her rib cage.

What was Fletcher Phillips doing with a woman half his age?

She felt as though she’d stepped into the middle of a story and didn’t know what had already happened.

“I hope you’re hungry. Breakfast is ready,” Carol said from the living room entrance.

Darcy blinked and pushed thoughts of Fletcher from her mind. Besides Avery and her, there was only another couple staying at the inn. The husband and wife weren’t in the dining room. She was curious about the people of Haven, and from what she’d seen so far, Carol would be a great person to talk to.