Rescuing the Cowboy

“Take all the time you need,” Josh said.

“Tomorrow will be fine,” Cara added brightly.

Quinn grabbed the toolbox. He did need a shower and shave before the party. “I’d better get a move on.”

Josh and Cara left, heading for the house. Her satisfied smile was hard to miss. Did she assume he’d accept her job offer? If she did, she had good reason.

Quinn chuckled to himself as he returned the toolbox to the shed behind the horse stables. He’d just been had by someone skilled, and he didn’t mind. In fact, he liked it.

Forty minutes later on the dot, he left the tiny apartment over the stables where he bunked. Boots shined and wearing clean clothes, he walked into the living room at the ranch house and faced a roomful of people. Many of them were from neighboring cattle ranches. They might be the Dempseys’ competitors, but they were also good friends, having known August and Raquel for decades.

Quinn’s cousins, Josh and Cole, came forward to greet him, clapping his back and pulling him into friendly hugs. Their half brother, Gabe, was next. Though no relation, he treated Quinn like a cousin. There were more guests, a couple dozen at least. Quinn met each one but quickly began forgetting names.

He was conversing with Cara and Theo McGraw, the Dempseys’ neighbor and Gabe’s future father-in-law, when a pretty woman with freckles and strawberry blond hair entered the room. Quinn caught sight of her, and time came to an abrupt halt. It started up again when she met his gaze, a startled expression on her lovely face.

Her son accompanied her, hovering close to her side, and was much calmer than this morning.

“Look,” Cara exclaimed. “There’s Summer and Teddy. She’s my best friend and maid of honor at the wedding.”

Summer, like the season. Quinn decided the name suited her. She was bright as sunshine and vivid blue skies. Appealing as long, carefree days that stretched into warm, endless evenings.

Suddenly, he wanted to meet her. Officially. “Introduce us.”

“Good idea,” Cara said. “You’ll be spending a lot of time together, what with all the pre-wedding hoopla.”

Quinn wasn’t unhappy at the prospect despite the fact he had no business “spending time together,” as Cara had put it.

As they neared, Summer’s eyes widened, and he swore he could see her mind putting the pieces together. He wasn’t just the man she’d met earlier at the market, he was the guest of honor. Why else would Cara be escorting him over?

“Summer, I want you to meet Quinn Crenshaw.”

Cara might have surprised him with a job offer, but he had an even bigger surprise in store for her.

“We’ve met,” Quinn said.

Summer swallowed, then smiled tentatively in return. “Yes. Earlier today at the market. Except we each didn’t realize who the other person was.”

“Oh!” Cara drew back to study each of them. “Really?”

“He helped me with Teddy.” Summer extended her hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Quinn.”

“Same here.” He closed his fingers around her slim and deceptively strong ones, lingered for too long, then turned his attention to Teddy rather than give himself away. “How you doing, son?”

The boy peered up at him but didn’t meet Quinn’s gaze. He noticed Teddy favored his mother. Same color hair, same freckles and same hazel eyes.

“We’re doing much better,” Summer answered for him. “Shopping can sometimes be stressful. Thank you again.”

“My pleasure.” Quinn meant it.

Cara blinked in astonishment, taking the three of them in. “I really wish I’d been there. This sounds interesting.”

“Truly, it wasn’t.” Summer smiled somberly. “A woman touched Teddy, and, well, you know how he hates that. Quinn was kind and helped me out.”

“Man,” Teddy suddenly said. “Stow.”

“That’s right.” Summer beamed. “Mr. Crenshaw is the man we met at the store.”

Cara also seemed impressed. “Wow. He’s really talking more and more.”

“Between the learning center and the therapy program, he’s making incredible strides.” They chatted for several more minutes until Cara was called away to help with dinner. Summer smoothly changed the subject. “Quinn, I hear you’re a rodeo champion.”

At least she hadn’t said ex-convict. “Former champion.”

“Bull riding?”

“That was Josh and Cole’s event, though I did give it a go now and then. Mostly then. Bronc busting, bareback and saddle was my choice of torture, along with a little steer wrestling.”

“Torture?”

She glanced down at her son again, who continued to stare at Quinn’s left ear. It should have made him uncomfortable. For whatever reason, it didn’t.

“Rodeoing isn’t exactly easy.” But it was a hell of a lot easier than prison.

“Do you miss it?”

“Every day.” Quinn wasn’t sure why he felt compelled to be so forthright with Summer.

“I hear you’re taking to cattle ranching. Josh says you’re a natural.”

“Cara offered me a job. Helping with the mustangs and the therapy program.”

Summer’s mouth opened, then shut and thinned to a flat line. Whatever she was going to say, she’d changed her mind.

Her reaction bothered him. “Don’t feel you have to stay and keep me company.”

“Sorry.” Her denial was quick and not quite believable. “I should probably help with dinner, too. I don’t want to leave everything to Cara and Raquel.”

“Sure.” His ready acquiescence wasn’t entirely believable, either. Not to his ears anyway. Apparently not to Summer’s, either.

For the first time she faltered. “I... It’s not...”

“Is there a problem with me working for Cara?”

“No. What gave you that idea?”

“Because you changed the second I mentioned it.”

“I think it’s a wonderful opportunity.” When Cara called her name, she couldn’t escape fast enough. “Excuse me.” Checking on her son, she let out a soft, “Oh.”