The Cowboy Comes Home

“Hi, Mol.”

“Morning, Jess.”

Molly Dayton had lived in Larkville all her life. That was how long she’d been friends with Jess. Molly had moved to Houston for college, and a few years ago when her parents had lost their ranch, she’d come home to help out. Now, her father, Ben, handled the shipping of all the bakery’s products. Molly’s mother, Carol, was her best baker. All ten of her employees were the best.

“Did Jerry deliver the café’s order?” Jess asked.

“Yes, even Mrs. Fielder’s birthday cake made it on the truck.” Molly set the tray down on the counter. It was laden with two carrot cakes and three of her double Dutch chocolate cakes. Jess smiled. “Looks like your mother’s been busy.”

The pretty brunette smiled. “Hey, be careful, or she’ll take over.”

Jess loved Carol Dayton. She had come in to help with her quickly expanding business, and now, Jess didn’t know what she’d do without her. “How is everything else going?”

Molly folded her arms. “You tell me, friend.”

“What happened?”

“A good-looking guy shows up at your ranch and I have to hear about it in town.”

CHAPTER THREE

JESS should have realized how fast word traveled in Larkville. With the population less than two thousand, everyone knew everyone else. A stranger coming to town was big news.

“I take it you’re talking about Johnny Jameson.”

“There’s another good-looking cowboy in Larkville?”

“Not that I’ve been looking, but I’d say there are several, especially with early-spring roundup coming soon.”

Molly opened the case and placed two cakes on the shelf. She paused and looked at Jess. “It’s a shame you have such a cynical outlook on men. It might be fun to fight you for him.”

Jess straightened. “This isn’t high school. If you’re interested in Johnny, go for it.”

Molly nodded. “Okay, I’m curious to know what he looks like. Maybe you can invite me to the ranch for supper and have this Johnny Jameson come, too?”

Jess didn’t want to spend any more time with the man than she had to. “Wouldn’t that be a little obvious?”

“Maybe, but there aren’t a lot of single men around here to choose from. The good ones seem to all be married, or they’re ranch hands and move around a lot. The last guy I dated seemed to have more loyalty to his horse than to me. And then he took off. I’m looking for a stick-around guy.”

Weren’t they all, Jess thought. “Well, don’t look at Johnny for stability. He’s got his truck, trailer and his trusty horse. Horse Trainer Will Travel seems to be his motto.”

Molly shrugged. “Maybe he hasn’t met the right woman, yet.”

Jess would hate to see her friend hurt again. One of the reasons Molly came back to Larkville had been because of a man who wouldn’t commit. And Jess knew all about that type of man. “Mol, just tread carefully.”

Her friend eyed her closely. “And you’re too careful, Jess. At least I’m out there trying to find love. It’s better than what you do, hide out from life.”

She glanced around the bakery. “You call this hiding out? Besides, I’m a little busy with a son and running a business.”

Molly gave her an incredulous look. “You have no idea how men look at you. Just about any male in town would swallow his tongue if you showed him some interest.”

Jess knew about some of them. “Most are far too old, and some of the others just like the fact that I’m Clay Calhoun’s daughter.” She had Brady to think about, too. “I never know if the interest is in me, or the Calhoun fortune.”

“Then go somewhere that’s never heard of Clay Calhoun.”

Jess smiled. “I guess I’d have to leave Texas, huh?”

Molly laughed. “Okay, I see your point.” Her friend grew serious again. “I know Chad did a number on you. He’s lower than a snake for walking away when you were pregnant. But, Jess, you can’t give up on finding that great guy.”

Jess stiffened. She’d heard this story before, and she could always push it off before when Brady had Papa Clay to take care of him. But now the man in both their lives was gone.

Jess didn’t want to deal with this now. “Why do you feel the need to give me this same pep talk about every six months?”

“Because I hate to see you close yourself up. Not all men are like your ex.”

“Chad never made me any promises.”

“Well, you should expect promises and more. So good riddance to him.”

The jingle of the bell rang over the bakery door. Thank God, a customer. She sent Molly back into the kitchen and went off to sell her goods.

She had her work and her son. That was enough for her. But was it enough for Brady?

Johnny had spent his first morning, along with a couple of the ranch hands, setting up a temporary sixty-foot round pen.

Once it was completed, he worked Storm for about an hour. This was only their second time together, and they needed to get used to each other. The stallion was leery—the pinned-back ears, the cocking of his hind leg whenever Johnny had gotten close. Storm’s body language said it all. Stay away.

Seemed similar to the signals Jess Calhoun gave him.

He shook off the mental interruption and put his concentration back on the horse.

After he’d finished with Storm, Johnny took the animal back to his stall, then drove into Larkville. He needed a break and to do some shopping to stock up on food. Most of all he wanted to get a look around. He’d never been to this part of east Texas. When he came off the highway he wasn’t surprised to see how small the town was. After all, it was a ranching community.

History had it the town had been founded by cattle baron William Scout Calhoun, who’d settled in Hayes County in the nineteenth century. Johnny read it on a plaque at the edge of Washington Park just before the center of town. Seemed that the next generations of Calhouns continued the tradition and made their money in cattle.

Johnny pulled into the lone gas station in town, Gus’s Fillin’ Station. He got out to pump as an older man came rushing out of the small building with a big smile. “Howdy.”

“Hello,” Johnny returned.

The man looked to be about sixty and walked with a lazy gait. His face was weather-beaten and a battered straw cowboy hat covered thin gray hair.

He took the nozzle from the holder and began pumping gas. “Fill ’er up?”

Johnny nodded. “Sure.”

“So, you stayin’ in town awhile?”

“Depends on how fast I can do my job.”