A Colorado Family

“Hey, Ryan. How’s that horse of yours? What’s his name?”

The boy grinned. “Cloud. He’s great. I can ride all by myself.”

“High five.”

The boy smacked Austin’s hand and giggled.

“Pretty soon Uncle Trent will have you chasing down calves.”

The boy looked at his aunt. After the boy’s mother died, Shelby took over the role of his mom. Once Cullen married Shelby last summer, he took over as the boy’s father. “Can I go do that, Mom?”

“I think you need to ride around the corral a little longer before we let you go on a trail ride.”

The boy smiled. “Okay.”

Shelby looked back at Austin. “I’m glad to see you out of bed.”

“It took a while, but I managed to get down the hall.”

“Any progress is good,” she agreed. “Are you hungry? I brought you some meat loaf and cheesy potatoes.”

He groaned. “Sounds delicious. A person can only eat so much delivery pizza.”

“Well, from now on, you’ll be eating much better. I’ll be bringing you some meals.” She walked to the ancient kitchen that was open to the living space, with only a counter separating the rooms.

“You don’t need to take care of me, Shelby.”

She gave a bright smile. “I know, but I cook for Ryan and Cullen and there’s always plenty. In case you didn’t remember, I’m a chef. It’s what I do.”

His brother did good, finding this sweet lady with the twinge of a Southern accent in her voice. Originally from Kentucky, Shelby was to come here with her sister, Georgia, and nephew Ryan for a job. Before they left their small Southern town, Georgia’s cop boyfriend killed her. Despite the tragedy, Shelby still brought Ryan here, where Cullen found her in the ranch house.

Why couldn’t he also enjoy some of his brother’s good fortune? “Well, if you insist.”

Shelby went to the cupboard, got a plate and transferred the food onto it. “Should I bring the food out there, or do you think you can eat at the table?”

He needed to keep moving. “The table.” He lowered his leg to the floor.

“I’ll help you, Uncle Austin.” Ryan moved his walker within reach.

“Thanks, Ryan.” Austin managed to stand, then began his journey, the boy right beside him.

Shelby set down a place mat with flatware and a tall glass of milk. “Looks like you have a helper.”

Austin managed a smile. “Yep, sure do.” His strength was a little shaky, but he kept taking each step. Breathing labored, he reached the scarred maple table and sat down.

Looking worried, Shelby sat down across from him. “Are you sure you’re not doing too much?”

He shook his head. “After the six weeks on my back, then another two weeks of restricted rehab at the hospital, the doctor deemed me fit enough to discharge me. It’s about time I get on my feet.”

“Sorry, I’m just worried about you, being out here all alone.”

He dug into his food and savored the spicy taste of the meat. “I doubt with all of you around, I’ll be alone much.” He winked at Ryan. “I plan to be watching Ryan ride his horse soon.”

The boy smiled at him. “Do you have a horse, Uncle Austin?”

Austin swallowed his food. “No, Ryan, I don’t. I’ve been riding bulls for a long time. Now that I have a place to keep one, a horse or two might be a good idea.”

His stepmother, Leslie Landry Brannigan, had died last year and left her ranch to her biological son, Trent, and her stepsons, Cullen and Austin. She’d loved all her boys unconditionally. Unlike his father, whom he hadn’t been able to get along with since he’d been a kid.

“Pops can find you a horse. He brings lots of horses here.”

Austin tensed. He hadn’t had a chance to see his dad since he’d moved in here. Right now, he didn’t want to deal with the old man.

Shelby’s voice broke into his thoughts. “Those are for the riding center, honey.” She turned to him. “Seems people have a lot of horses that need a home.”

“That’s good they have a place to go.”

“Kinda like us,” Ryan said. “We didn’t have a place to go, but the sheriff let us stay here and he married us. Now you’re here, too.”

Shelby grinned. “And we’re lucky to have you home. I want to keep you here, so I’ll send some food that you can heat up easily. Maybe I can bring muffins and bagels by, too, when I bring Ryan home from school.”

“Thanks—I’d appreciate it.”

“You’re very welcome. You need to put on some weight. To build muscle, you’ll need extra calories.” She watched him eat, then asked, “So Erin’s going to be working with you?”

He arched an eyebrow. Had the woman broken her word already? “She told you?”

“Oh, no. Cullen called me after Erin left here earlier. And I haven’t said anything, either. I know you don’t want anyone to know you’re staying here, but haven’t the media had your accident on the news?”

He cringed, remembering how the tape had become an internet sensation. “Yeah, you can’t do much these days without being recorded. I just don’t want everyone knowing the extent of the injury.”

“I’m sure your fans are worried about you.”

“My fans aren’t the problem. It’s the sponsors who pay me to be on the circuit and advertise their products. They don’t want to pay me if I’m not out there winning events.”

She smiled. “Maybe you can advertise for me and my bakery. A Sweet Heaven banner would look good across your back.”

Austin laughed, despite the pain in his leg. He glanced at the bottle of pain pills on the counter. Damn, he didn’t want to take them anymore.

“So you’re willing to take on a washed-up, over-the-hill bull rider?”

“Austin, you’re only thirty-two years old. Of course you’re not washed up.”

“I’m pretty old for a bull rider. It’s a young man’s sport. The life expectancy is usually about thirty. That’s why I have to stay on top, so no one questions it. Well, they do, but if you’re not making news, then you’re not doing anything.” He thought about what he’d just said and for the first time wondered why it mattered anymore. He glanced at Shelby and Ryan. He might have gotten a lot of money, but it seemed his brother was still richer.

* * *

THE NEXT AFTERNOON, Erin glanced at her watch as she walked out of the doctor’s office. She was still on a high after seeing the fertility specialist, Dr. Gail Evans, excited that she’d physically checked out for the IVF procedure.

At thirty-six, along with her previous failed attempts to get pregnant, she didn’t have the luxury to wait much longer.

Now all she needed was the money. Enough for not only the procedure, but to support her and her baby for a six-month leave from work. Now that she had the Brannigan job, she could possibly afford to do both.

She desperately wanted to start the series of hormone shots soon, but she wanted the money in hand before she began anything. So many things could go wrong. She still wasn’t sure about Austin Brannigan, or that working with him was a good idea. A bull rider? Correction—an arrogant bull rider. No doubt he was used to having his share of women on the circuit.

She climbed into her van, started it up and headed out of the parking lot. Maybe it was time to trade in the too-large vehicle. It had once been convenient for taking Jared around, and when she’d moved here to Hidden Springs, she’d packed nearly everything she owned in the back. For now, the cost of a new vehicle made her cringe. So she had decided to hang on to her van for a while longer.

She turned onto the highway, excited about her future for the first time in a long time. Her dream was finally going to become a reality. Someone with her DNA. Someone to claim her. A family.

She couldn’t let anything go wrong. She’d already talked to her supervisor, Shirley, about conflicts with the schedule. Shirley assured her there wasn’t a problem as long as she covered her shifts. Then she talked to the orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Kentrell, about Austin’s case.

So she was headed to the Circle R Ranch to see Austin Brannigan. She had some questions about the man, but she was going to try to work with him. This money was too good to turn down. All she needed now was to have her new client sign a contract, and they would be good to go to start tomorrow.

In another twenty minutes she’d arrived at the ranch and driven by the main house and onto the gravel driveway that led to Austin’s place. Coming around the grove of trees, she spotted something new parked beside the foreman’s house.

A large crew-cab Dooley truck, and behind it was a fifth-wheel trailer. What caught her attention was the array of colors. The base of the vehicle was silver detailed with gold and black, and then on the trailer the writing announced World Champion Bull Rider, Austin “The Ace” Brannigan, along with a head shot of the man’s face; along the bottom was a list of sponsors.

“There sure is no problem with your ego, Mr. B.” Erin climbed out of her van and walked up to the porch. What had she gotten herself into?

* * *

IN ONE OF the other bedrooms that had been converted into a workout space, Austin sat on the weight bench, lifting the ten-pound weights as he looked at his manager, Jay Bridges.

“I thought you’d be further along,” his manager said.

“Hey, the doctor only gave me the okay to start therapy last week,” Austin told him.

Austin glared at the fifty-five-year-old man in his standard uniform of a dark suit and cowboy boots, worn even at the rodeo grounds. “So stop pushing me.”

The gray-haired manager raised his hands as if he were innocent of any urging. “Whoa, you’re the one who wants to get back on the circuit.”

There was no denying Jay wanted his moneymaker back to making money. He’d built a reputation of being a go-getter. Austin had to admit he liked that about him.

Jay looked around the new equipment room. “I have to say, Austin, I’m impressed by all this equipment.”

“I told you I was going to get back into the arena. I hired a therapist/trainer yesterday.”

“I hope it’s someone you can trust not to sell your story to the tabloids.”

Before he could tell him any more, there was a knock on the door.

Jay frowned. “You expecting anyone?”

“Probably one of my brothers.” He continued to lift the weights.

Austin got to his feet, but by the time he got his walker, Jay was already headed to the door.

Erin smiled as a stranger appeared in the doorway. “Hello. I’m here to see Austin Brannigan.”

The older man held the door partly closed so she couldn’t see inside. “I’m sorry—you must be mistaken. There is a Cullen Brannigan at the main house.”

“I’m not here to see Cullen. I’m here to see Austin.” She cocked her thumb toward the truck. “You know, the guy whose face is on the trailer. That’s who I want to see.”

The older man cursed. “Well, that’s not going to happen. This is private property, and you need to leave before I have security remove you.”

She folded her arms. “Since Cullen Brannigan is the one who hired me, I don’t have a problem if you call the sheriff.”

“Jay, who’s at the door?”

Erin arched an eyebrow. “It’s me, Austin, your therapist?”

“Oh, Erin,” Austin called to her. “Please come in. Jay, let her in.”

Still the man held the door, then reluctantly stepped aside and allowed Erin past.

She stopped and turned to the man named Jay. “If you want to keep Austin’s location a secret, I suggest you hide that neon sign outside.”

She walked toward Austin as he made his way to the living area.

“Jay, this is my new therapist, Erin Carlton. Erin, this is my manager, Jay Bridges. He drove my rig here.”

Erin smiled at Austin. “I can see that. And I think the entire world will see it, too. Tomorrow, there’s going to be riding lessons in the corral with several parents bringing their kids. I suggest you move it, at least the trailer.”

Austin nodded. “I didn’t think about that. Good idea. Let me call Cullen and see if there’s room in the garage.” He sat down on the sofa and reached for his phone on the table. He punched in the number and began to talk.

Jay walked over to Erin. “What are your credentials for this job?”

“I’m a registered nurse, and I have two years of therapy training. And I worked with my disabled husband.”

“Enough to help Austin?”

“I think so,” she said. “Better yet, Austin thinks so. Since he only hired me yesterday, we haven’t even started yet. But I will work strictly with his doctor’s guidelines.”

Jay started to speak, but Austin cut him off. “Leave Erin alone, Jay. She’s been checked out by my family and by me. Besides, you aren’t going to win sparring with her anyway.”

Okay, maybe she was beginning to like this man. Her gaze moved over his shorts and tank top. Whoa. He was just as impressive today as yesterday. Sadness took over when she recalled how Jared once looked all trim and muscular.

“Now, go park the trailer in the garage behind the main house,” Austin said. “Cullen’s there and he’ll help you get it inside.”

Jay nodded. “Okay, but I’ll be back.”

Austin got to his feet. “No, Jay. I don’t want you here to distract me. I need to concentrate on my therapy. Cullen said he’ll give you a ride into town so you can rent a car and get to the airport.” He slapped the man on the shoulder. “Call me next week and I’m hoping to have something to tell you.”

Jay started to argue, but closed his mouth. “You better call me, or I’ll be on your doorstep.” He turned to Erin. “Take care of him.”

“I’ll do my best.”

Jay walked out, leaving them alone.

Austin turned to her. “I apologize for Jay. He’s a little possessive with me. I can handle it, because he believed in me. And all my endorsements are because of his hard work.”

What about the man on the back of the bull? Erin wondered. “So he’s the brains behind your talent?”

Austin laughed. “You can say that. The man has even helped me plan for retirement.”

“Well, since you don’t want to do that yet, maybe we should get down to business.” She reached inside her oversize purse, took out his medical folder and a piece of paper.

“I’ve talked with Dr. Kentrell. We went over your therapy schedule and exercises.” She handed him the piece of paper. “So I drew up a contract for my service. It’s pretty basic, but I need to protect myself.”

Austin sank back onto the sofa and began to read. Erin wrote down the one-hour therapy sessions, twice a day for five days a week, and the dollar amount. The double price he’d offered her yesterday.

He held out a hand. “Do you have a pen?”

She reached back inside her bag, pulled one out and handed it to him. He signed with a flourish and gave paper and pen back to her with a smile.

She felt the reaction clean down to her toes. She had to stop this. “Okay, let’s get to work.”

Chapter Three

It had been the week from hell.

Austin felt pain and soreness in every muscle in his body. Erin had worked him hard during every session. She didn’t believe in going easy, but that was what he liked about her. She’d shown up in the morning after her shift at the convalescent home ready to do her job.

At eight o’clock that morning, he made his way down the hall to the kitchen. He realized he was starting to move a little easier and able to put more weight on his injured leg. That made him hopeful.

He went to the refrigerator and took out some blueberries, then peeled a banana. After he tossed the ingredients into a blender, he added milk and powdered protein, then began to mix the concoction. As much as he wanted a cup of coffee, he needed the energy for his upcoming rehab session. The next hour would be grueling when Erin put him through the series of exercises. He smiled as he poured the smoothie into a glass. He was looking forward to it.

He had just finished his drink when he heard the key in the lock, and then Erin walked in. She was dressed in a pair of black tights and an oversize shirt. Her face was washed clean of any makeup, and her sloppy ponytail bounced as she walked toward him.

She smiled at him. Damn, she was too appealing. “Good morning, cowboy. Good to see you’re up.”

He shifted his stance. Oh, he was definitely up. “Yeah, well, I can’t afford any more demerits.”

“Good. I like your go-get-’em attitude.”

“Do I get extra points for that?”

“First, you have to show me some hard work today.” She walked up to the counter, took down a glass and poured some of the drink from the blender. “I’m gonna need something extra this morning.”

He frowned, seeing the fatigue in her eyes. “Rough night?”

“One of my patients, Hattie, was frightened and kept crying for her son to take her home.”

Austin’s gut tightened watching the tears in Erin’s eyes as she told the story.

“We had to restrain her.”

“Why didn’t her son come to be with her?”

She sighed. “He had been there most of the day, but Hattie only got more agitated with him in the room. That’s the awful part about Alzheimer’s patients—you don’t always know what’s best to do for them, and it can change every day. Patients get frightened because they can’t remember anything or anyone. It’s like they’re trapped with strangers.”

He could see Erin’s intense compassion and got a glimpse of the personal side of this woman. She must be one hell of a nurse.

As if she realized she was exposing a side of herself she didn’t want him to see, she turned away. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to dump on you.” She quickly offered him a smile. “Ready to get to work?”

He nodded and followed Erin into the bedroom. He sat down on the bench and removed his cast. He had a long knit sock to protect his calf and ankle and hide the ugly scar. She knelt in front of him and wrapped a small Velcro weight around his ankle. She looked up at him with those big green eyes. “Is that comfortable?”

He nodded, hating that she could get a reaction from him with just a look. “Yeah, it’s fine.”

With a nod, she began instructing him on how to do his reps. Moving up and down wasn’t easy, especially not when she had him pause and hold it. It didn’t take him too long to realize how weak he was, but he refused to cry uncle.

Over the next hour, Austin worked the weights, then the stretches as he labored to get through the series of exercises. He’d done some upper body strength training during his hospital stay, but nearly three months on his back had taken its toll. He’d always prided himself on his strength and agility. He didn’t have much of that right now. He felt weak as a kitten.

“Okay, you’re done for now.” Erin handed him a towel and a bottle of water as he sat up on the bench.

“You sure?” He wiped the sweat from his face. “I mean, you forgot to use the torture device.”

“I’ll bring that out next week.” She arched an eyebrow. “Come on, Austin. You knew this wasn’t going to be easy. You’re lucky to be standing on two legs. So don’t rush it.”

Okay, maybe she was right.

He took a drink and Erin did the same. She tipped her head back and took a long swallow of water from the bottle. A trickle of liquid found its way from her mouth to her chin, then down the long arch of her smooth neck.

He gulped the cool liquid, but it wasn’t enough to chill his thoughts. Damn. He’d been without female company for too long, recalling the times when he could rodeo all weekend and have some left over for celebrating. And he meant all night with the women. He brushed aside the memories as he looked down at his scar. He groaned.

The sound got Erin’s attention. “Something wrong?”

“Just frustrated. I want to be able to do more, and not have it be so difficult to get there.”

“Then use that frustration to drive you to do more, to go an extra step.” She grinned. “You’ll need it when I turn your sixty-minute sessions into ninety. And I’m not even going to charge you for the extra pain.”

He straightened at her comment. Hell, she was right. He had to stop letting his pride get to him, or he’d never get strong enough to ride a bull. “Okay, you’re on. I can deal with whatever you dish out.”

“Good attitude.” Her smile quickly turned into a yawn. “I hate to end this party, but I need to go home and get a few hours’ sleep before I’m due back here.”

Suddenly he didn’t want her to leave. “Sure.” He glanced at the clock on the wall. “Hey, you’re not going to get much time.” He got a crazy thought. “Why not just stay here and sleep?”

Erin looked at him and tried not to be shocked at his suggestion. “Oh, I can’t.”

“Why not? There’s a bed in the other bedroom. It’s only a twin, but I think you’ll fit.” He raised a hand. “Before you argue, by the time you drive to your apartment, sleep, then drive back again for the later session, you lose nearly two hours.”

Erin couldn’t deny she’d like the extra time. She hadn’t been sleeping well lately. Maybe she was taking on too much. She’d rather it be that than this man distracting her.

“Okay, I’ll just lie down for a while.”

“No, you’ll sleep until our next session. That’s nearly six hours.”

That sounded heavenly. “Okay, I’m too tired to argue. I’ll stay. This one time.”

With a nod, he reached for his brace and put it on. He stood with his walker and started out the door. “I’m not sure if there are any sheets that would fit it, but you can make do with a flat sheet.”

Erin followed him out into the hall, and he opened a linen closet. There were stacks of towels and two sets of sheets for his king-size bed.

She took the linens from him, and their hands brushed in the awkward exchange. She jumped back and he frowned.

“I can make this work.” Was she crazy? The man was her client. Yet she found that the simplest touch from this man sensitized her nerve endings. Why had her dormant sex drive suddenly been reawakened?

She glanced at Austin. Or was her condition just the result of this sexy cowboy? It was pretty bad that a man with a walker turned her on. Either way, she needed to keep a safe distance from him. And if she weren’t so exhausted, she’d walk out the door. Instead, she was going to sleep in his house.

“I should go make up the bed.” She turned and walked into the small bedroom. There was a pillow and a comforter covering the mattress. She quickly went to work adding the sheets. By the time she was finished, there was a knock on the door.

She answered it. Austin smiled as he reached out his hand, holding a T-shirt and a new toothbrush. “I thought you might like something to sleep in.”

* * *

“WHAT ARE YOU doing back here?”

Later that afternoon, Austin stood in the doorway, blocking the entrance to keep his business manager from coming in. Erin was still asleep, and the last person he wanted around here was Jay. He already made too much of her being his therapist.

“What do you mean, what am I doing here? You’re not just my client, but also my friend, Austin.” With briefcase in hand, Jay stepped over the threshold and into the house. “And I wanted to make sure you’re doing okay.”

Austin wasn’t buying it. “I have two brothers and my father around.” Not that the old man cared about him. “My two sisters-in-law keep me fed. So enjoy your off-duty time. Go on a vacation.”

Jay frowned. “I wouldn’t do that, not when you’re still recovering. Besides, I need to keep all the fires going so people won’t forget you. We’re going to need to plan some big promotion for your comeback.”

Damn, why did that make him feel so old? Hell, he was old. He made his way to the sofa and sat down. “Let me get through this rehab, Jay. Then we’ll talk.”

The older man frowned. “Why? What’s wrong? I knew it—that therapist you hired isn’t working out. I can fire her for you. I know of this private rehab center outside Denver.”

“No, Jay. I told you, I want to stay here while I recuperate. This is my home, my ranch.” He realized he liked having his own place and his brothers around. “Besides, wouldn’t the media find me easier in a rehab center?”