Saved By A Texas-Sized Wedding

“I know,” she agreed, keeping her composure.

“But chocolate cake might,” Hinney said softly. Both cowhands laughed and Suzanne smiled, but Walker continued to glare.

The cowhands recognized danger when they saw it. “Uh, reckon we’ll go on to bed, boss, if we’re finished.” The two of them headed for the bunkhouse without waiting for their boss’s response.

“They were just teasing,” she said calmly, wishing that would be all it took to get a good staff. “I need to talk to you, Mr. Walker.”

With narrowed eyes, he waved to one of the chairs the cowboys had used. “Have a seat, Ms. McCoy.”

She did as he asked, but she was uncomfortable, and she didn’t think he was happy either. “You told me to have my problem solved by the end of the week.” She paused, but he didn’t say anything. “I haven’t found even one employee, Mr. Walker, and I’ve talked to everyone I’ve met or even heard of. It’s as if someone told them not to help me. Yet, they’ve brought us food, visited with me and the children, offered advice on every topic but one. All they can suggest about finding employees is to talk to Ryan Walker.”

Again he said nothing.

“I know you don’t care about helping me, but please think of those two little children who have already lost their parents. Must they lose their home also?” She bit her lip to hold back the tears that threatened.

“I’m not the one who’s telling everyone to send you to me. It’s those damn women!”

“What are you talking about?” she asked, irritated by his response.

“Mabel, Florence, Edith and Ruth. They’ve been arranging marriages around the county for several years now. First they got all their sons married. Then they started helping out their neighbors.”

“But surely they wouldn’t try to ruin us. That’s not fair to Josh and Mandy. Please, can’t you help us?”

“Lady, I don’t know of anyone to hire. If I did, I’d hire them myself. I’m shorthanded.”

“But you loaned me Doug and Hinney—”

“I know. I’m not stone-hearted. But I’ve got problems myself. I can’t spend all my time worrying about your problems.”

“If one of them is Beth, I’ll be glad to baby-sit her. My place is closer than town. It would save you some time.”

“Yes, it would. But I need someone to cook and clean my house, too. I’m going to hire a housekeeper.”

“Have you found one yet?”

“No. I’m getting the same treatment you are.”

“Oh.” Suzanne didn’t know what to say. Finally she asked, “So tomorrow is going to be the last day Doug and Hinney come to my place?”

He gave her an exasperated look. “Don’t stare at me with those big chocolate eyes. I don’t have any answers.”

“But—” she began. But he cut her off.

“Go home. I’ll do some thinking about it tonight. In the morning I’ll tell you what I’m going to do. Maybe I’ll even have an answer for you. Right now, I need to think.”

Since she had no other choice, Suzanne nodded and went back to her car. She drove back to the Howe ranch, trying to figure out what he’d meant. Life would be so easy if she could take on the job of housekeeper, taking Josh and Mandy with her to his house and coming back home at night. Maybe she’d suggest that tomorrow morning.

She actually relaxed as she realized that would take care of all their problems. She wouldn’t take a salary and he could take care of the ranch. It even sounded like a fair trade to her.

Okay, in the morning, she’d explain her inspiration and all her problems would be solved.

RYAN PACED the floor until late into the night. The fool thing about it was that Mabel and Florence’s solution was the best one. From what the men said, the McCoy woman was a great cook. She was doing a good job with the children, and the house appeared clean to them. All the things he needed.

She also seemed happy with her lot in life. She wasn’t planning on running back to the city. She’d told them she was staying for the children. He could place Beth in her care without a worry. All he had to do was let her into his life.

As painful as that sounded, he supposed he could do it for Beth’s sake. He’d be rewarded with a clean house, decent food and a happy Beth. He’d even get his fair share of sex. It had been a while since he’d—best not to think about that.

He finally accepted, at least in theory, that marrying Ms. McCoy would be the smart thing to do, but he still couldn’t picture himself going through with it. He saw himself in his dusty jeans and worn boots, watching a football game on a Sunday, while she sat beside him in one of her suits, her makeup perfect and her hair untouchable, reading book reviews and finding art galleries for them to visit.

Damn! He’d be miserable. And so would she. It was ridiculous!

Then he’d start the logic all over again, trying to convince himself that marriage to Suzanne McCoy was the right choice. By four in the morning, he was punch-drunk with lack of sleep. He decided to wait until six o’clock, another two hours, before he told her what he had decided. Then he could come home and fall in bed for a couple or three hours.

Until then, he would pace the floor some more.

Chapter Three

Suzanne had been getting up at six-thirty each morning, even though the children slept until seven. That gave her time to have their breakfast ready. It also meant she had a few minutes of silence to gather herself for the long day.

This morning she didn’t intend to change her routine, but a pounding on the front door at six had her leaping from the bed in a panic, afraid there was an emergency. She grabbed her robe and threw it on as she ran for the door.

She gave no thought to her appearance. Something was wrong. She needed to find out what and deal with it. She swung the front door open and came face-to-face with Ryan Walker.

“What’s wrong?” she asked urgently.

“Nothing,” he answered, his voice slightly slurred. “Everything’s all right.”

“Are you drunk?” she asked, staring at him.

“No. Just worn out. I haven’t been to sleep.” He leaned against the doorjamb and Suzanne thought he was going to fall.

“If nothing’s wrong, why are you banging on my door?”

“I said I would.”

Suzanne swept back her long hair and Ryan followed the gesture with his gaze, making Suzanne conscious of her appearance. “Come on in. I’ll get dressed and make us some coffee.”

He stumbled in and she led him to the kitchen. He sat down at the table and she quickly filled the coffeepot. Then she turned to excuse herself to go change and discovered him sound asleep.

“Mercy,” she muttered. According to her neighbors, this man was her savior, the key to her finding men to work the ranch. But she was beginning to think he was crazy. Without waking him, she hurried to her bedroom. Five minutes later, in her usual jeans and shirt, she began making a breakfast that would satisfy any man. Bacon, sausage, biscuits and scrambled eggs.

When she was finished, she dished it all up, with a steaming-hot cup of coffee, and awakened her gentleman caller.

“Mr. Walker, breakfast is ready.”

He raised his head and stared at her blankly.

“Drink some coffee,” she said, nudging the mug closer to him.