Read Online Cowboy Trouble (The McCord Brothers 1.5) by Delores Fossen - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Delores Fossen
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, Adult, series, Western, Short-Story, Texas, ranch hand, cowboy, Bachelor, sensual, Novella, opposites attract, second chance, Past, elopement, Forever Love, Single Woman, Hearts Desire, Mistake, Spring Hill, Cattle Operation, Quickie Divorce, Still Married, Can't Marry, Father Chooses, Runion, Twelve Years, Rekindle Romance
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down? Or I can fix you some coffee.”
“That would be nice,” her mother answered at the same moment her father said, “We don’t want to sit down, and we damn sure don’t want any coffee. I want Natalie to come with us now. I’ve already arranged for someone to pick up her car from the McCord Ranch.”
But her mother ignored him, went into the living room and sat on the sofa. Again, as if this were a social call. Since things were about to get even uglier than they already were, Natalie went to her, took hold of her hand while Rico flipped on the automatic coffeemaker.
“Mom, are you all right? Is it okay for you to be here?”
“You mean because I should be in my special place.” Her mother smiled just a little, and it seemed slightly different from the smile at the door. “I can leave anytime I want, but it’s just easier there, you know?”
Yes, Natalie did know. Easier because her mother was sheltered from things that would upset her. Like this situation with Rico. But her mother didn’t seem upset.
“She’s on her meds,” her father quickly provided. “A larger dose than usual because I thought she would need it.”
Rico frowned, and after he came out of the kitchen, his hands went on his hips. “You overmedicated your wife all so you could bring her here to guilt-trip Natalie into coming home.”
It wasn’t a question. Not in Natalie’s mind, either. That was exactly what her father had done, and it was lowdown and dirty. Still, she didn’t want her mother to have to pay the price for her father’s manipulation tactics.
Natalie kissed her mother’s cheek. “It’s really good to see you, but I’ll be by Sunday for my usual visit. I’d love for us to have a long chat then.”
“Of course.” So polite. But Natalie didn’t know how much was real and how much was the medication.
“Mom, do you understand what’s going on between Rico and me?” Natalie asked.
“Sex,” her mother provided in a whisper, repeating Natalie’s answer that she’d given to her father. “I’m old and on meds, but I do remember sex.” Another smile. “Sometimes, it helps clear the head. Sometimes not. Which was it for you?”
“Both.” It was the truth, and Rico made a sound of agreement.
Strange, but this was the first time she and her mother had discussed sex in any way, fashion or form. And it was in front of a room full of men. Men who, judging from their scowls, weren’t in a sex-talking mood.
Natalie stood and looked at Marcus next. “Could you go ahead and take my mother to the car? I need to say some things to my dad.”
Marcus shook his head. “But you and I need to talk, too.”
“No, we don’t. I’m not marrying you, not ever. So there, that’s done.”
Marcus opened his mouth, no doubt to argue.
Natalie nipped that in the bud. “It’s over. Now go.”
She checked to make sure this wasn’t sending her mother into a tailspin. It wasn’t. Her mother had gone to the window next to the fireplace. There were security lights out there by the creek, and despite the rain, the view was still incredible.
“Mom, why don’t you go with Marcus?” Natalie asked her.
Her mother nodded, stayed a moment to continue looking before she finally came back toward them. She stopped, though, when she spotted the divorce papers on the counter. Natalie tried to take them from her, but it was too late. Her mother was already reading them.
“It’s true? You really aren’t divorced?” she asked.
Natalie wasn’t sure how much her father had told her, so she tried to keep things simple. “The courthouse clerk messed up the original paperwork. I’m sorry,” she added, only because she should be adding something.
“Your father will fix this,” her mother said like gospel, and then she turned to Rico. “Thank you for having me in your home.”
God, it cut at Natalie to see her like this. Of course, the alternative would have been for her mother to be having a freak-out episode.
“That would be nice,” her mother answered at the same moment her father said, “We don’t want to sit down, and we damn sure don’t want any coffee. I want Natalie to come with us now. I’ve already arranged for someone to pick up her car from the McCord Ranch.”
But her mother ignored him, went into the living room and sat on the sofa. Again, as if this were a social call. Since things were about to get even uglier than they already were, Natalie went to her, took hold of her hand while Rico flipped on the automatic coffeemaker.
“Mom, are you all right? Is it okay for you to be here?”
“You mean because I should be in my special place.” Her mother smiled just a little, and it seemed slightly different from the smile at the door. “I can leave anytime I want, but it’s just easier there, you know?”
Yes, Natalie did know. Easier because her mother was sheltered from things that would upset her. Like this situation with Rico. But her mother didn’t seem upset.
“She’s on her meds,” her father quickly provided. “A larger dose than usual because I thought she would need it.”
Rico frowned, and after he came out of the kitchen, his hands went on his hips. “You overmedicated your wife all so you could bring her here to guilt-trip Natalie into coming home.”
It wasn’t a question. Not in Natalie’s mind, either. That was exactly what her father had done, and it was lowdown and dirty. Still, she didn’t want her mother to have to pay the price for her father’s manipulation tactics.
Natalie kissed her mother’s cheek. “It’s really good to see you, but I’ll be by Sunday for my usual visit. I’d love for us to have a long chat then.”
“Of course.” So polite. But Natalie didn’t know how much was real and how much was the medication.
“Mom, do you understand what’s going on between Rico and me?” Natalie asked.
“Sex,” her mother provided in a whisper, repeating Natalie’s answer that she’d given to her father. “I’m old and on meds, but I do remember sex.” Another smile. “Sometimes, it helps clear the head. Sometimes not. Which was it for you?”
“Both.” It was the truth, and Rico made a sound of agreement.
Strange, but this was the first time she and her mother had discussed sex in any way, fashion or form. And it was in front of a room full of men. Men who, judging from their scowls, weren’t in a sex-talking mood.
Natalie stood and looked at Marcus next. “Could you go ahead and take my mother to the car? I need to say some things to my dad.”
Marcus shook his head. “But you and I need to talk, too.”
“No, we don’t. I’m not marrying you, not ever. So there, that’s done.”
Marcus opened his mouth, no doubt to argue.
Natalie nipped that in the bud. “It’s over. Now go.”
She checked to make sure this wasn’t sending her mother into a tailspin. It wasn’t. Her mother had gone to the window next to the fireplace. There were security lights out there by the creek, and despite the rain, the view was still incredible.
“Mom, why don’t you go with Marcus?” Natalie asked her.
Her mother nodded, stayed a moment to continue looking before she finally came back toward them. She stopped, though, when she spotted the divorce papers on the counter. Natalie tried to take them from her, but it was too late. Her mother was already reading them.
“It’s true? You really aren’t divorced?” she asked.
Natalie wasn’t sure how much her father had told her, so she tried to keep things simple. “The courthouse clerk messed up the original paperwork. I’m sorry,” she added, only because she should be adding something.
“Your father will fix this,” her mother said like gospel, and then she turned to Rico. “Thank you for having me in your home.”
God, it cut at Natalie to see her like this. Of course, the alternative would have been for her mother to be having a freak-out episode.
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