Rancher to the Rescue Page 9

  Her heart pounding, Kathryn noticed that the reins were knotted and Frankie grasped the leather strips on each side of the knot. He laid one side of the reins against the pony’s neck and clucked his tongue. When that didn’t produce the desired result, he slid his hand down and pulled on the opposite side of the reins. The pony reluctantly turned and plodded along the fence line.

  “Good job,” Jake called out.

  Frankie tried to push the animal to a faster pace. Eventually, the pony picked up its feet. By the second time around the fence, the pony was trotting. Frankie bounced along in the saddle but looked firmly in control. Kathryn relaxed somewhat.

  Jake rested his elbows on the top rail of the fence right next to Kathryn, watching Frankie ride. “Stark Burns was sure right about the new rig. Frankie couldn’t use his knees properly with the old saddle.”

  “Frankie seems to know what he’s doing now.”

  “He’s getting there.”

  After a few more rounds, Jake moved into the arena and called out instructions to Frankie, who responded with clear efforts. “Good job, son,” Jake called after a few more minutes. “Bring him in now.”

  Frankie obediently turned the pony and walked it to a halt next to his father. “Get your horse, Daddy?”

  “I don’t have time to ride out with you today, son. I’ll be working late tonight as it is. Maybe tomorrow, though, if you promise not to take off on your own again.”

  “I pwomise!” Frankie pledged loud enough to make the pony sidestep. Quickly tugging on the reins, Frankie stilled the little horse and turned a beaming smile on Kathryn. “I ridin’ good.”

  “You are,” she agreed, “and your pony is very well behaved, too.”

  Frankie leaned forward and patted the pony’s neck. “Good boy, Good Boy.”

  Kathryn laughed. Grinning at her, Jake told the boy to ride around the corral once more before they rubbed down the horse.

  As Frankie turned his mount, Kathryn said to Jake, “I’ve been meaning to ask you what movie we’ll be seeing next weekend.”

  Glancing at Frankie, Jake folded his arms atop the corral fence and leaned close. “Uh, I haven’t said anything to Frankie yet. Kid has no sense of time. You saw how he is about the puppies. If he knows what we’re planning, he’ll get up every day thinking it’s the day, and then I’ll just have to disappoint him over and over until the time finally comes.”

  “Right. Should’ve thought of that.”

  “Anyway, Frankie seems to generate his own mental movies, no matter what’s showing.”

  That sounded a little alarming to Kathryn. “What do you mean?”

  Jake turned and waved over Frankie. He trotted his pony back to the fence and brought it to a stop.

  “Son, tell KKay what your favorite movie is.”

  Frankie put his head back and exclaimed, “Big Puppy ’n Princess Fly Horses to Moon!”

  Kathryn blinked. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard of that movie.”

  “No one has,” Jake said softly, chuckling. “The big puppy, princess and flying horses are characters from some of his favorite cartoons. He’s developed elaborate stories around animated TV characters, and if you make the mistake of letting him tell you about them, you’ll be listening forever.”

  Chuckling, Kathryn nodded. “Got it.”

  “Big puppy hold wings,” Frankie began. “She climb on. Woosh! Up, up, to—”

  “There’s a reason we don’t let Frankie choose our movies,” Jake interrupted, sending a droll grin to Kathryn. Turning toward Frankie, he reached for the knot in the reins. “Your pony’s hot and tired. He needs a rest. You, too. Besides, KKay should get out of this hot sun.” As he spoke, he pulled the reins down over the pony’s head and began to lead it, with Frankie still in the saddle, toward the barn. “Tell Kathryn thanks for coming out to watch.”

  “Thanks you, KKay!” Frankie yelled before smacking a kiss into the palm of his hand and throwing it toward her with a broad, exuberant sweep of his arm.

  “You’re welcome,” Kathryn called, blowing her own kiss to him as she moved toward the house.

  Only as she sat down at the sewing machine again did she realize that Jake hadn’t answered her question about what movie they would be seeing on Saturday evening. What difference did it make, though? As long as she was with Jake—and Frankie, of course—she’d have a good time. Even if she wound up walking Frankie around the lobby while Jake watched the movie undisturbed, she wouldn’t mind. She’d have almost as much fun people watching as movie watching. And she’d look good doing it, too.

  Even as she mentally prepared herself for the least enjoyable experience, though, a vision planted itself in her head, a vision of sitting next to Jake in the dark, Frankie snuggled into her lap, Jake’s arm spanning her shoulders as the movie played out on the screen in front of them. She wouldn’t have the nerve to lay her head on Jake’s shoulder, but maybe they would share popcorn and smiles from time to time.

  Maybe he’d even hold her hand.

  She shook her head.

  And Jake thought Frankie’s mental movies were far-fetched!

  Chapter Eight

  Jake repositioned his hat and straightened a crooked belt loop on the waistband of his dark jeans before lifting his gaze to the wreath hanging on Kathryn’s front door. He still couldn’t believe he was doing this. He’d surprised himself as much as her by suggesting this outing, but when she’d confirmed Meredith’s suspicions that she’d never been on a date, he’d wanted to smack every man who’d ever known her. What was wrong with the men around here?

  At the same time, Jake knew he shouldn’t be the one to ask her out, to let her know she was worthy of a date, which was why he’d brought Frankie into it. Somehow he’d thought he could have his cake and eat it, too, but how did you date a woman, make her happy and still leave her with the understanding that absolutely nothing could come of it? In a few months, maybe, if everything went his way and the garage was turning a profit, he could think about dating, but this was the worst possible time in his life for romance.

  Still, he couldn’t bear the idea of her sitting home alone weekend after weekend. If only he’d thought it through before he’d opened his big mouth, he might have come up with another way to resolve her situation, but he couldn’t seem to control his impulses where she was concerned. Yesterday, in front of the whole family, Tina had presented Kathryn with her first paycheck and mentioned that Kathryn had agreed to attend church with the family tomorrow. Jake had told himself that he would cancel their date when he drove Kathryn home and slipped her his check—he still hadn’t told the rest of the family about her raise in pay—but instead he’d arranged the time to pick her up tonight!

  To make matters worse, his family had to know it was happening. When he’d asked Tina to tend Frankie tonight, she’d agreed without even asking why or where Jake was going. No one had commented or so much as cracked a smile when he’d come downstairs in his best jeans and long-sleeved, button-up shirt. He’d left the collar open and rolled up his cuffs in an attempt to present a casual image, but everyone had to have known he was going out for the evening and who was going with him.

  Squaring his shoulders, Jake lifted his hand and rapped his knuckles against the door. It swung open immediately, as if Kathryn had been standing on the other side waiting for him to knock. The thought made him smile. Then he got a good look at her, and his smile died in astonishment.

  She wore a simple navy blue closely-fitted dress with a slightly scooped neckline, short sleeves and a hem that frothed around her slender calves. He thought he recognized that fabric from somewhere, but he couldn’t think where. He could barely think at all. She’d pulled the sides of her hair up and back, emphasizing her delicate ears and long, graceful neck. She didn’t seem to be wearing makeup, except for some gloss on her lips, but the overall look was sleek and polished, as if
she could walk into a boardroom or fancy luncheon with panache and confidence.

  Or as if she was ready to go out on a date.

  “Wow. I—I mean, you look fantastic.”

  “Why, thank you.” Blushing, she smiled and picked up a small handbag from the arm of the sofa. Moving forward, she caught the doorknob with one hand, pulling it closed as she passed through the opening. Jake stood there like a dumb lump while she took out her keys, locked up and dropped the keys back into her purse. His hand found the small of her back again as they walked across the porch and down the steps side by side. He walked her around to the front passenger door of the truck and assisted her as she climbed up into the seat. Suddenly eager to start their evening, he ran around to the driver’s side with long, loping steps and hopped in.

  She glanced into the back seat and asked, “Where’s Frankie?”

  Jake lifted a hand to the back of his neck then got busy starting the truck and backing it out. “Uh, Frankie seemed happier staying home with Tyler, and I thought...” Bringing the truck to a stop, he briefly spread his hands. “You have no idea how long it’s been since I saw anything but a kid movie.”

  She looked at him with a completely blank expression, but then she laughed, prompting his own laughter. Relieved, he drove on.

  “I can’t even remember what movie I saw last,” he admitted.

  “I can,” Kathryn said.

  She named the last movie she’d seen in a theater. He tried to place the title, and it finally clicked.

  “That was...” Ten years ago. At least. But he didn’t say that because he didn’t want to risk sounding as shocked as he felt, so he simply went with “a good one.”

  She smiled. “It was. I can’t wait to see how everything’s changed. And I think Frankie’s well looked after by his aunt and uncles.”

  “You don’t mind the two of us going on our own?” Jake asked.

  She shook her head, eyes shining, and that was enough for him. He’d been right to do this. Nothing meaningful could come of it, of course, but at least she could say she’d been on a date. Besides, he really couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen a first-run movie, let alone one made for adults. He couldn’t think of anything else to say, so he said the obvious.

  “You’re right about Frankie being in good hands. Wyatt, Tina and Ryder treat Frankie like he’s their own.”

  “Well, he’s a great kid.”

  “Yeah, I know.” For some reason, Jake felt compelled to confide in her. “It bothers me, though, that Frankie sometimes doesn’t seem to draw much distinction between his dad and his uncles.”

  “Oh, but he does,” Kathryn insisted. “Do you know what he told me when I tucked him in for his nap after lunch the other day?”

  Jake shook his head.

  “He told me that his dad is a hero. And his mom, too. He is so proud of that. He called his uncle Wyatt a cowboy and said Ryder was strong.” She bent her arms at the elbows, her fists in the air, showing him the gesture that Frankie had made. “Then he said, ‘My dad’s a soldier. He’s a hero.’ That boy couldn’t be more proud of you.”

  Pleased, Jake chuckled. “I doubt he worded it exactly like that. We’re still working on his sentence structure.”

  “He got close enough. I certainly had no problem understanding him.”

  Warmth spread through Jake. He supposed all dads worried about their relationships with their kids to a certain extent, but maybe he didn’t have to worry about Frankie preferring his uncles to his father. In fact, he was putting that one little concern aside. Permanently.

  “Thanks,” Jake told Kathryn. Impulsively, he reached across to squeeze her hand. Smiling, she squeezed back, and that small gesture sent excitement rocketing through him, followed swiftly by doubt and alarm.

  Oh, Lord, he thought, what am I doing? And why haven’t You stopped me?

  The last thing he wanted to do was get her hopes up and then disappoint her.

  Just this one night. Then he’d level with her. He wasn’t looking for a wife. He’d been down that road already. Besides, he couldn’t afford even a courtship right now. He might not ever be able to, not so long as he stayed here. Those were just the facts of his life, whether he liked them or not.

  * * *

  Kathryn could not believe the size of the theater. Jake couldn’t believe how limited their choices were. Only when they stood in front of the box office window did either of them realize that the one upcoming showing of the film they’d both most enjoy was sold out. Jake sheepishly admitted that he hadn’t figured on the whole county turning up for a Saturday night movie.

  The only other suitable film would not begin for another half hour, so Jake bought their tickets, and they went inside to sit on a bench while they waited. At first, Katherine used the time by looking around, then a poster featuring a soldier coolly striding out of an explosion caught her eye, and she found herself asking Jake how he’d liked being in the military. Soon they were in deep conversation. Talk naturally progressed to his late wife.

  “Jolene was something,” he said, smiling. “All woman and all soldier. In some ways, she seemed indestructible. I mean, I thought about getting killed while I was away on deployment. You have to. And I even thought about her getting killed, but not really. You know? It just didn’t seem possible. Or maybe I just didn’t want to think about it.”

  “I can understand that,” Kathryn told him, thinking how different Jolene must have been from her. Irrationally, she hoped that Jake wasn’t thinking the same thing.

  “Is her death why you and your brothers moved to Loco Man rather than let someone run the ranch for you?”

  He shook his head. “It was another tragedy that prompted our move, but that’s a long story.” He pulled out his phone then and checked the time. His eyes went so wide that Kathryn instinctively looked up at the clock on the wall of the theater lobby. The movie had started nearly thirty-five minutes ago!

  Jake jumped to his feet and threw up his hands. “What do you want to do? Go in late? Try another movie?”

  She didn’t know what to do. “How bad do you want to see a movie?”

  He just looked at her, then he started to laugh. “I don’t, really. Other than our original choice, I’m not sure there’s anything showing that wouldn’t embarrass us with bad language and other junk. These days you can’t tell unless it’s G-rated, though.”

  “I’m definitely a G-rated kind of girl,” she said, not at all disappointed. It wasn’t about the film for her, anyway. It was about... Finally, she faced the facts squarely. It was about spending time with Jake, getting to know Jake, and it always had been.

  He reached down to take her by the elbow and help her to her feet. “Let’s just go, then. We can, I don’t know, grab a couple of milkshakes maybe?”

  She could’ve danced out on air because he hadn’t said he’d just take her home, but she made herself nod serenely. “Sounds good.”

  He drove her to a chain restaurant famous for milkshakes. They sat in a booth, sipping the deliciously indulgent drinks, laughing about their lousy timing and discussing the general state of modern movies.

  After a while she said, “You never did explain what brought you and your brothers to our little corner of the world.”

  He told her about Ryder then, about the freak accident that had killed Ryder’s sparring partner. Kathryn was shocked and saddened by the story, but not disturbed. Ryder, in fact, disturbed her the least of all the Smith brothers. He was big and strong, yes, but less grizzly bear than teddy bear, all cute and no bite. Wyatt, on the other hand, as the eldest brother, was definitely the boss at Loco Man Ranch. He’d have intimidated Kathryn terribly if she hadn’t witnessed firsthand how caring and indulgent he was with his wife.

  “Ryder must’ve been horrified by what happened,” she mused. “He’s a gentle giant. I can barely see him as a martial
arts enthusiast, let alone a fighter.”

  “I know. Right?” Jake shook his head, as if still puzzled over how it had happened. “It’s not at all like him, but he let himself get talked into competing by a promoter. He didn’t want to hurt anyone and was determined to be a skills fighter. He believed that if he honed his skills enough, he’d win on the basis of technique alone. And it worked until that kid, Bryan—he was just barely twenty-one—broke his neck while they were practicing a new move. I can’t tell you how deeply it affected Ryder. The press wouldn’t leave it alone, even after an investigation proved Ryder had done nothing wrong.”

  “So you brought him to Oklahoma to get away from all that,” Kathryn surmised.

  Jake swirled the inch or two left of his milkshake, nodding. “Moving was Wyatt’s idea, but it felt like God was pointing us this way when we found out Uncle Dodd had left us the ranch. I considered staying behind in Houston, but for what? Who? We don’t have much family left, just some distant cousins and each other. And Frankie loves, needs, his uncles.”

  “I’m not surprised about Wyatt. As for Frankie, his uncles and you must be all the family he remembers. Of course, now he has Tina and Tyler, as well.”

  “True. But I’m not sure what you mean about Wyatt.”

  Kathryn thought about it before carefully answering. “Wyatt’s the decisive, authoritative, take-charge type. I’m not surprised he drove the decision to move here. I imagine he can be, well, forceful when it comes to getting his way about something.”

  Jake chuckled. “He’s more reasonable than you seem to think. Granted, he’s the big brother to his bones, and he’s used to running a business. Several, actually. He took over for our dad, in more ways than one, well before Dad passed on. And it’s true that he didn’t want me and Frankie to stay behind, but he wouldn’t have pressured me on it. Too much.”