Buy a Cowboy (7 page)

“Only the upstairs.”

She stepped into the hallway.

“Pretty bad, huh?”

“I love it. It's the home I always wanted.”

Silence wrapped around them as they stared at each other.

Relief flooded Baya and he smiled. She loved it!

“Mom!” The voice shouted up the stairwell. “Mom!”

Bonnie leaned over the banister. “Up here.”

The noise echoed in the empty space above stairs. Daniel raced upward, his dark hair an unruly mass of curls.

Faith moved slowly behind him, holding Hope by the hand as the little girl struggled with the steps.

Baya walked down the stairs to take the youngest in his arms, and Faith raced to catch up to her brother.

Feet pounded on the bare floors as they hurried to look at the rooms.

“Mom, see this! Wow! Mom, did you see this? Can I sleep here?” The echoing shouts from her son filled the air around them as he rushed through each room.

Hope squirmed out of Baya's arms to trail after him.

“Which is my room?” Faith waited patiently in front of them.

Bonnie took her into the suite of rooms on the eastern side of the house. “You may choose one of these. The front room faces the creek, outbuilding and barn. The back one has a view of the house there and mountains.”

“That's the cookhouse for the cowboys who stayed in the bunkhouse.”

The slim girl walked through each room. She traced the patterns on the fireplaces and poked her head in each of the closets. She crossed the hall and looked in the small nursery and the master bedroom. “Will you put Hope in the little bedroom?”

“Her or Daniel.” Her mother didn't try to hurry her.

“I think I want the front room. Dan will want to be close to the porch room. I'll be able to see Gadfly every morning.” She walked back to the room. “Will we change the wallpaper?' Her voice was calm, although her face betrayed the concern the faded flaking paper caused.

Bonnie moved to hug her. “We will probably paint the rooms. Wallpaper for a place this size would be too much money. We'll make it as pretty as we can.”

“I'm hungry.” Daniel was not interested in which room he would sleep in. “I'm gonna get my sleeping bag and sleep on the porch.”

Baya's eyes met Bonnie's over the heads of the children, and the smile they shared encompassed the entire family. “We'd better start unloading,” he suggested. “Do you know what you want for tonight?”

Bonnie nodded and began herding the children down the stairs. “I'll fix something quick to eat. I take it there are food stuffs in the kitchen?”

“Yep.” Baya swung Hope to his hip and began to descend the stairwell.

The children followed him.

Daniel was chattering away about nothing and Faith silently went down each step, her hand following the curve of the banister.

“Do you have them all or should I take Hope with me?” Bonnie asked. “She could help me cook while the other two work with you.”,

When Baya gazed up at her, his smile softened. The long blonde hair falling over one shoulder had caught the sunlight from the hallway window. He didn't answer immediately; content to watch her. There never would be enough of looking at her to satisfy him. She was beautiful, and, if all indications were true, she was as beautiful inside as out. She trusted him. With her children and her life. She trusted him.

He heard the children moving through the downstairs rooms. Feet running, now soft on rugs, and then loud on hard wood floors. Laughter and shouting echoed against the walls.

The littlest one leaned against his shoulder sucking her thumb. He could never let on he had no idea how to deal with children. Hope slipped a plump arm around his neck and burrowed against him, and that warm glow surrounded his heart.

“I think this one will be out like a light in a moment,” he answered. “I'll put her on the sofa in the living room.”

4

Baya lay in bed with his hands clasped behind his head, waiting for old injuries to quit aching. Once again, his mind ran through all of the things that needed to be done—he needed help. He'd been to the mountain meadow several times with the children this week, but there was no way he could make a gather alone.

He had tried to talk to Bonnie. She had it in her head that she needed to work on the house. While the radio played rock and roll through the house, the walls got primed and painted. She'd set mattresses in the middle of each bedroom and worked around them. The rest of her furniture was sitting in the middle of the living room.

As if his thoughts beckoned her, he heard the sound of bare feet hitting the floor and padding softly down the stairs. It was fast becoming his favorite pastime to watch her every morning. He deliberately slept with the door open in the little downstairs apartment so he could watch her prepare breakfast. The sound of her footsteps grew louder, and he rolled to his side raising his shoulder high enough to block his face but spread far enough he could watch her under his sheltering arm.

Her routine was the same each day. She walked to the counter, turned on the radio, and began preparing coffee for the morning. The music was so soft in the background he had to strain to recognize the song.

She moved to the refrigerator and bent over to pull out fixings for breakfast.

Every morning for the last week, he had watched. Every morning for the last week, he'd stifled a groan and wished he hadn't offered to let her have the upstairs bedroom alone. Cowboy chivalry be hanged. He didn't feel generous and patient. He felt things better left unsaid. Closing his eyes with a grimace, he soon heard the door of the refrigerator shut.

He opened his eyes, watching as she turned back to the counter carrying milk, eggs, and strawberries.

She began pulling canisters of flour and sugar forward. When she reached over her head to get a bowl from the cupboards he rolled further onto his back so his shoulder wouldn't obstruct his view.

After drawing the cutting board from under the counter she moved out of sight stemming and chopping before pulling the waffle iron out.

Baya moved restlessly and the bed creaked.

She turned to look into the shadowed room. “Are you awake?” She placed the waffle iron on the counter and peeked around the corner. “Do you want me to shut the door?”

He leaned back and placed his hands under his head, “No. I'm getting up.” His voice rasped with morning huskiness. “Should've been up, anyhow.”

“I didn't mean to wake you.” She stepped back to the kitchen.

He drew a deep breath as she walked back to the counter. He ran his hands over his head and face. A man shouldn't be allowed to make those kinds of decisions when he felt soft and cozy from rocking a baby to sleep.

Although Hope wasn't a baby, she was a cute little girl who still needed cuddling. She pestered the life out of her brother and sister and had a toddler temper. But when she was tired and crawled into his lap, she smelled like baby. She felt like baby, even though her legs stretched over the arms of the rocking chair. His mind wasn't right when he looked into her tired little face.

He stirred again wishing it were as simple with the other two children.

Daniel was wired on both ends.

Baya had to watch him constantly to prevent the kid from hurting himself or the others; the child had no concept of fear. He got something in his head and just did it without thinking of the consequences.

Faith still stood back and watched him distrustfully. She was polite, but watchful.

And Bonnie…what about her? He didn't know her any better than he had before the wedding.

He eased a leg out of bed and rolled stiffly through the painful job of getting up.

Bonnie was beating batter vigorously. She finished with the whisk and begin to pour batter into the hot waffle iron. The smell was instantaneous, delicious, and mouthwatering.

He twisted his mouth ruefully then raised an amused eyebrow.

~*~

Bonnie pulled the first of the golden waffles out of the griddle as Baya emerged from his room.

She did a double-take and took a deep breath. She had to get use to so much male strolling through her life.

He moved behind her and poured a cup of coffee.
When he turned around, his shoulder slid against her back. He leaned against the counter favoring his bum leg and watched her as he sipped. “Have you given anymore thought to going after those cattle? We have to have them down here before snowfall.”

“I'm almost finished with Faith's room. In another week, I'll have the rest of the rooms done.”

“Bonnie this is a ranch. We need to find the cattle. If the snow comes early they will starve up in those mountain pastures.”

“It's only July,” she protested as she lifted another waffle and put it on the stack.

Baya turned her toward him and frowned, a hint of frustration showed through his wary expression. He raised a hand to wipe flour from her face.

Her eyes closed and she turned her cheek toward his fingers. With surprising energy, his hand thrust into her hair and pulled her toward him.

“Mom, do I smell waffles?” The voice was accompanied by the sound of feet running down the stairs.

Baya's hands tightened, and he gave her a brief kiss before releasing her.

Daniel careened around the corner. “Are we having waffles?” The boy reached for one and Bonnie slapped his hand.

“You go set the table.”

“Ah, Mom!” He peered into the bowl of strawberries. “Strawberries, too!” His hand snaked out again only to receive another light rap.

“You're the first one up. Set the table.” She began pouring more batter into the waffle iron.

Grumbling, the boy turned away to the breakfast nook and began pulling out dishes and silverware.

Baya settled against the counter sipping coffee. “Looks like you've played that scene a time or two before.”

Her face grew warm. “Which scene?”

“With the boy.” His eyes crinkled at the corners and he grinned. “The little boy.” A deep chuckle escaped his chest.

She covered her embarrassment at having been caught mentioning the kiss. “He never learns—he just snatches and grabs. You would think he never gets fed. I do try to teach him manners, but I have never seen him use them. The girls learned table manners. He just shovels it in with both hands.”

“He's a boy, Bonnie. We snatch and grab.” Baya caught her chin and kissed her again. This time he lingered.

Her breath caught in her throat, and she stared at him as her lips parted.

“Don't burn the waffles,” he whispered as he kissed her softly again. He released her and walked away.

The shutting of his door released the moment of shock she was caught in. She turned back to the waffles, struggling to keep her mind blank and off the possibilities his kiss had wakened.

By the time Daniel had the table set the girls were up and helping carry food to the table.

She heard the door open and looked up, promptly tripping over Hope. Catching herself and steadying the little girl, she retrieved the butter dish from the tiny hands.

~*~

Hope ran to Baya, raising her arms.

He picked her up tossed her in the air and caught her as she giggled. Carrying her into the little room, he placed her in her chair.

Bonnie passed food around. Scolding gently, she monitored what went on each plate.

He had learned over the last two weeks that her rules were few but ironclad. The kids had to eat everything on their plate before they got more. They used manners at all times. Most of the conversation at the table was to remind Daniel of that fact. They weren't allowed to tilt the chairs.

His hidden smile deepened.

She avoided looking at him, too nervous or embarrassed, probably.

He had been bolder than the short time warranted, but a man shouldn't wake up each morning separated from a beautiful wife. They'd made the decision to be a family, and get to know one another first, but it was difficult.

Baya already loved Hope and Daniel, despite his antics, was wrapping himself around Baya's heart, too. But Bonnie and Faith, they were still weighing his presence in their lives. He sighed into his coffee.

She gazed at him, a wary question reflected in their depth. Beautiful eyes. Deep blue, clear and honest enough a man could trust them forever. Her mouth was meant for kissing. And dang, she could cook!

He smiled lazily back at her as he popped waffle and strawberries into his mouth.

She blushed and turned back to cutting Hope's waffles.

Hope wasn't having any of it. “I can do it.” She scrunched her face into a frown.

Bonnie's eyebrows rose as she handed the girl a knife. “Be careful and don't get anything on the floor, or you will have to clean it up.”

Hope tried to cut the waffle. She stabbed her fork into it and tore it apart with the knife. The piece she cut was too big for her mouth so she bit off as much as she could handle. The strawberries slid off the bite, and she dropped her gaze to look at the little pile sitting on her plate. With the oversized waffle still in her mouth she picked up a handful of strawberries and tried to put them in at the same time.

Bonnie turned her head away to hide a smile.

“Should we start singing
Oh, Susannah
?” The deep voice from the head of the table had her looking up at him with a questioning wrinkle of her forehead
.

“You know: ‘A buckwheat cake was in her mouth. A tear was in her eye.'” He smiled. Beautiful, generous, lovely.

She stopped laughing as she recognized the expression that filled his face.

The noise from the children faded around them as they looked at each other.

And then his voice rumbled. “Can you drive a tractor?”

She blinked. “What?” The question was no more than an escaped breath.

“Just a farm boy's observation, ma'am. You look good, an' cook good. Now if you could only drive a tractor you might be worth marrying.” He grinned. “Of course, if you had a tractor the other two wouldn't matter.”