Read Online The Bull Rider’s Keeper by Lynn Cahoon - Free Book Online

divorce, but we didn’t know that. One day we had a mother, the next we didn’t. Dad wouldn’t talk about it. He wouldn’t let us talk about her. We were just kids—James must have been six, me a year younger. Once she was gone, Dad fell apart, and raising me fell on James.” Jesse paused. “Then Dad died a few years ago while he was on the way to one of my rodeos. The police found an empty flask in the truck when they pulled him out of the river.”
    Taylor didn’t say anything. Jesse glanced over at her, wondering what she was reading on her cell. Instead, her gaze was focused on him, her eyes wide.
    She bit her bottom lip. “No wonder she acted funny. I’m so sorry, Jesse. I didn’t know.”
    “I’m okay. James is okay. But Mom, she likes to be called Angie, even by us. She’s kind of a mess about it.” Jesse stared at the road ahead. “I think she regretted leaving as soon as she got out of town, but Dad wouldn’t even let her talk to us. Hell, for years, James and I assumed she’d died somewhere along the way.”
    “How did you find her?” Taylor’s voice was quiet.
    “She’d been following me on the rodeo circuit. Believe it or not, Jesse Sullivan isn’t that common of a name.” Jesse grinned. “One day, after a ride, she showed up at a bar where I’d been celebrating. James had already turned in for the night.”
    “What, she came up and said, ‘Hi, I’m your mother’?”
    “Kind of. I thought she was a kook. Then we got talking and she knew too much. She had a picture of the four of us, taken just before she left.” Jesse turned on the air conditioner. “After that, I wasn’t an orphan anymore. She’s an interesting mom, that’s for sure, but I’m glad I have her.”
    “Did James feel the same way?” Taylor asked.
    “Not hardly. He’s struggled with the idea. But Lizzie’s helping, and Angie loves the kids.” Jesse paused. “I think he remembers the life we had before she left. And he missed her too much to just forgive a whim.”
    “Of all the things you could have told me about your mother, about your family, really, this wasn’t what I expected.” Taylor put her hand on his arm. “Thanks.”
    Jesse pursed his lips together. “Well, I wouldn’t have said anything, but Angie is kind of hard to accept if you don’t know the background. She’s got her heart set on this receptionist thing.”
    Taylor laughed. “I know, she was trying it out yesterday afternoon. I think she scared away more customers than came in.”
    “Sorry about that. Maybe you or Barb can take her shopping for work-appropriate clothes. Stuff that shows a little less cleavage?” Jesse grimaced. “I can’t believe I’m saying this about my mother. You’re lucky; Susan doesn’t embarrass you.”
    “Oh, if you only knew.” Taylor laughed. “Imagine being the kid whose mom brought paintings in for career day with nude models. The boys were always asking if I wanted to go play artist.”
    Jesse’s mouth turned up in one corner. “So I won’t get to first base by asking if you want to see my sketches?”
    “You may get a knee to the groin, à la two years of self-defense classes.” Taylor focused on the farmland outside the window.
    But I really do have sketches
, he thought.
Would Taylor think I was a psycho if she ever saw the studies I’ve completed?
One after another, trying to get the arch of her cheekbone just right. Or the line of her nose.
They were both silent for a while.
    She laughed. “Family can really mess with your head, you know?”
    Jesse smiled. “We have a lot in common, you and me. A lot in common.”
    • • •
    Taylor watched Jesse as he listened to the artist talk about the paintings they’d come to preview. The two men talked color, line, and light, like they’d been studying together for years. She had to admit, she was impressed. For a bull rider, the man knew his stuff about art. She’d been trying to sign Marvin to a show for years. He’d always put her