LITMIR.BIZ

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of days Paxton helped on the ranch and worked on his rodeo schedule. He and his friends had ridden in a rodeo in Louisiana and at the Fort Worth Livestock Show and Rodeo. It was now February and he decided not to ride in as many rodeos as he had before. He was getting older and it had taken a toll on his body, so he would ride the big rodeos for the money and for a chance to make it to Las Vegas.

      After a hard day of working cattle, he showered and sat on the sofa still going over his schedule. He lived with Jericho in the bunkhouse and they got along well. Jericho never caused trouble and was a good friend to the Rebels.

      His brother Egan had met him in prison when Egan had been unjustly accused of a crime. He saved Egan’s life and they’d become fast friends. For saving her son’s life, their mother had offered him a job on the ranch and he had gladly taken it. He’d grown up on the streets in Houston and had been involved with gangs. But today he was a changed man and the Rebels trusted him completely.

      They took turns doing chores around the house. Tonight Rico had kitchen duty. Since they used paper plates for convenience, it was mainly pots, pans and utensils. Pax looked up from his phone and thought he’d talk about something that had been on his mind. He could trust Rico not to say anything.

      “I had this strange encounter with a woman.”

      Rico folded a dishtowel and laid it on the counter. He was well over six feet tall with long hair tied into a ponytail at his neck. A scar was slashed down the side of his face that made him a little off-putting to most. His nationality was a mystery, but Egan had said he was part white, Mexican, black and Indian. He was an intimidating figure.

      “You can forget it if you’re asking for advice. I don’t know a thing about women. I don’t think any man does.”

      “No, I don’t want advice. I met this woman while I was in Port Aransas. She was sitting on the beach and couldn’t get up so I helped her and that seemed to make her mad. She didn’t even say thank you. It was very clear she was ill, but she kept insisting she was fine. Then I went over to haul Miss Bertie’s calves and found out she’s Miss Bertie’s granddaughter. And Ezra McCray’s daughter.”

      “Man, don’t you see the sign? Stay Away is blinking in front of you.”

      “I know. I know. I’m not interested in her or anything. I’m just curious as to why she won’t admit she’s ill.”

      “What does it matter?”

      Paxton shrugged. “There’s just something about her.”

      “Oh, man, don’t you have enough girls chasing you around the rodeo circuit instead of getting involved with someone who’s gonna upset your mother?”

      “I already told Mom about her.”

      “What did she say?”

      He cleared his throat. “Stay away from her.”

      “Exactly. Listen to your mother, that’s all I’m going to say.”

      They heard a little voice they knew well—Jake, Phoenix’s almost-three-year-old son.

      A light tap sounded at the door and reminded Paxton of a rat scratching in a wall. He jumped up and yanked open the door. “Boo,” he shouted. Jake stumbled backward, giggling. Then he ran into Paxton’s arms, and Paxton swung him up into the air.

      “You ’cared me.”

      He noticed that Jake only had underwear and boots on and it was cold outside. “Where’s your clothes, buddy?”

      Phoenix and Rosie, who were standing in the doorway, came inside. “Tell him, son.”

      Jake looked down at his underwear. “I got underwear like Daddy’s. I’m a big boy.”

      “We’re potty training,” Rosie said. With her red hair and sweet personality, Rosie was a gorgeous woman.

      “I wasn’t aware Phoenix wore SpongeBob SquarePants underwear.”

      “Don’t start.” Over the years, he and Phoenix had teased each other a lot, but of the two of them Phoenix was always the big jokester.

      Paxton hugged Jake again. “I’m proud of you, buddy.”

      Jake hugged him back. “Me big boy now.” Jake noticed Rico and held out his arms. Rico took him. “Lookie, Rico.” Jake pointed to his underwear.

      “I see, big boy.”

      Jake smiled. “Gotta go show Grandma.” He wiggled down and ran to Phoenix.

      “We have to put on your coat,” Phoenix said.

      “He wouldn’t wear his clothes.” Rosie helped Jake with his coat. “He wants everybody to see his underwear.”

      Jake waved goodbye and Phoenix closed the door.

      “Do you ever think of having kids, Rico?”

      “Nah. I’m content the way I am.”

      “I always thought I wouldn’t want kids. They’re a lot of work, but every time I hold Jake I get this feeling that it would be great to have a kid.”

      Rico sank into his recliner. “That shouldn’t be much of a problem for you.”

      “I want to fall in love first.”

      Rico clicked on the TV. “Now that could be a problem.”

      “You don’t think I can fall in love?”

      “I think this discussion has gone on long enough.” He turned up the TV, and Paxton walked into his room. His cell buzzed with a message. He looked at the name. Lisa.

      It was time to cowboy-up and do the right thing—the mature thing. He touched her name and her cell rang. She answered right away.

      “Oh, teddy bear, I knew you’d call. I knew you’d realize we belong together.”

      “No, that’s not why I’m calling.” He took a deep breath. “I thought you would get the message if I didn’t answer your calls, but evidently the message has eluded you. When we broke up two years ago, it was final. It’s still final for me.”

      “I know I was a bitch back then, but I’ve changed and I know what I want. I want you in my life.”

      “I’m sorry, Lisa. That’s not going to happen.”

      “Have you found someone else?”

      He started to lie and put an end to this. But again, that would be the old Paxton and he was working very hard to change his bad habits. “No. It’s just the way I feel. Please don’t call me again.”

      “Paxton, baby. You don’t mean that.”

      “Goodbye, Lisa. I wish you the best.” He clicked off and blocked her number from his phone. It was over and it wasn’t as bad as he’d thought it would be. Maybe he should buy some SpongeBob SquarePants underwear, too.

      * * *

      THE NEXT MORNING in the office, Falcon was doling out orders.

      “Mr. Busby wants ten heifers. He picked them out two days ago. Elias was with me so he’ll remember which heifers to load.”

      “What?” Elias sat up straight in his chair.

      “Those heifers we looked at the other day with Mr. Busby. Did you lose your memory?”

      “Oh, yeah. Got it.” Paxton knew Elias and he knew every cow and calf on the ranch. He was just jacking with Falcon. Elias leaned over and whispered loudly to Paxton, “All heifers look alike, right?”

      “You’re an idiot.”

      Their mother’s cell rang before Falcon could figure out what Elias was saying. She clicked off and looked at Quincy. “That was Miss Bertie. She wants to know if you can help her with a cow whose udder is too big for the calf to suck. It was born last night and she’s

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