Jared's Texas Homecoming

“She went into town. Bert’s watchin’ me.”

“I guess we should ask him. Then maybe you can help me carry some more wood from the side of the barn.”

“I’m strong, I can do it. Come on,” Evan called as he took off to the corral to ask Bert. A smiling Jared walked after him as the boy eagerly chattered with the older man, selling his case. Bert looked toward him. Jared nodded his approval and the foreman gave the child permission. He found he was looking forward to spending time with Evan. He was a great kid.

The next two hours flew by. Surprisingly, Evan didn’t get tired or complain about the work. The boy held tools, handed Jared nails and did just about anything Jared asked of him.

They were working on the third horse stall and Evan was still talking nonstop. The current subject was about some wild mustangs.

“Are there mustangs on the Lazy S?” Jared asked.

Evan shook his head. “They live in Mustang Valley, but that’s really close to here.” He pointed off to the west. “Over by the Circle B that Hank owns. He’s Bert’s friend. But Bert says Hank turned the ranch into a sissy dude ranch.”

Jared couldn’t help but laugh.

“They got a whole bunch of people who go there just to look at the mustangs. They pretend to be cowboys and cowgirls. Bert says it’s plumb crazy. That city people are loco.”

“How big is this place?”

“Real big.” There was a pause as Jared hammered in another nail. Evan handed him another one. “They want Mom to sell them some of her land.” The boy picked up the conversation. “But Mom never will ’cause when I’m growed up, the Lazy S is gonna be mine.”

“So Hank has been after her to sell?”

Evan shook his head. “No. She says it’s Hank’s boys. They aren’t really his boys, they just lived with him.”

Was someone pressuring Dana into selling? “How do you know they aren’t his kids?” Jared asked.

“’Cause Bert said they have a good-for-nothing daddy. Hank took them in and saved them from a life of crime.”

“Who are these boys?”

“The Randells.”

Dana finally had made it back into town. A lot of good it had done her. The bank hadn’t been interested in listening to her idea to expand the cattle operation. Worse, they refused her the additional money she needed, only allowing her a sixty-day extension on her current mortgage. Things didn’t look good. She turned off the highway and headed down the road to the Lazy S.

Why not just give up? She could sell part of the ranch to the Randells. Cade had talked with her several times about wanting the section that was attached to the valley and their property.

Dana wiped way her tears. She didn’t want to think about it now. There was still an outside chance that she could scrape up enough money when she sold off her yearlings. But what would she and Evan live on for the next six months? She could get a job in San Angelo. But what was she qualified to do? Work as a waitress? And besides, Evan would only be in school half days. Bert would probably be able to watch him. But how could she ask her dear sweet godfather to do more?

She pulled the truck up to the back door, disappointed when Evan didn’t come running to greet her. She climbed out and started for the barn, wondering what her son was up to. She was surprised to hear the sound of hammering greet her as she walked into the cool structure. She followed the noise and found her son…and Jared Trager.

The two had their dark heads together as they measured the piece of wood that was going to be a slat for the stall. Dana glanced around and discovered that several of the stalls had new boards and shiny new hinges. So this was what her new hand had been doing all day.

“Evan,” she called.

The boy turned and grinned at her. “Mom, you’re home.” He ran to her and hugged her. Dana relished having her son in her arms. It made her lousy day suddenly brighten.

Evan pulled back. “Look what me and Jared are doing.”

She glanced around at the three stalls with the new wooden boards and gates. “By the looks of things, you both have been busy.” What was Evan doing in here?

Jared stood. “I checked with Bert before I let Evan help me.”

The boy pointed to Jared. “Look at Jared’s tool belt, Mom. It’s cool.”

Dana’s gaze went to the area that had her son so fascinated. There were several kinds of tools that hung from a wide strip of honey-colored leather around Jared’s narrow waist and hips. But her attention lowered to his fitted jeans over long muscular legs. A sudden awareness rushed through her body, catching her off guard with the sensual direction of her thoughts. Her gaze shot upward to catch a knowing look in the man’s eyes.

“Yes it is,” she agreed, a little perturbed that he’d discovered her bold appraisal. “But you shouldn’t have bothered Jared, honey. He has chores to do.”

“I finished everything Bert asked me to do,” Jared assured her. “I don’t like to sit around. So I found a few things to fix.”

Dana stiffened. She didn’t needed him pointing out that the Lazy S was badly in need of work.

“Evan, why don’t you go to the truck and take the bag of groceries into the house?”

“But, Mom, I’m helping Jared.”

Before Dana could say anything, Jared spoke up. “Remember what I said, Evan. You have to do your other chores before you can work for me.”

The child frowned, but he nodded. “Okay. But I’ll be back.” He shot out of the barn, leaving the two alone.

Dana watched him go, then turned back to Jared. “I’d appreciate it if you talked to me before recruiting my son. Besides, I hired you to feed the stock and repair the fences.”

Jared stood there for a long time, then finally spoke. “I checked with Bert. He didn’t have a problem with Evan helping me. I wouldn’t let the boy get hurt. I only let him hand me some nails and help carry wood. I didn’t mean any harm, Dana.” He took a step closer and she fought the urge to back away. “What’s really bothering you? If you don’t want me around your son, just say so and I’ll leave.”

His gaze locked with hers and a warmth erupted in her stomach. She had overreacted. “It’s not that. It’s just…I can’t afford to pay you any extra.”

A smile spread across his face. “I don’t believe I asked. As I said, I finished the jobs you assigned me, and thought I could fix a few things.”

Dana blinked back threatening tears. She was acting silly. Was she jealous of this man because her son was drawn to him?

For so long, it had always been just her and Evan. He’d had a close relationship with his grandfather, but that was different. It wasn’t a secret Evan wanted a father. And as his mother, Dana was terrified her son would get hurt attaching himself to every man who he met. In walked Jared Trager and he was getting the brunt of her wrath just because Evan longed to spend time with him.

“You’re right. I apologize. I appreciate what you’ve done here.” She brushed back her hair. “I guess I just had a bad day.”

He cocked an eyebrow. “Any way I can help?”

She released a tired breath and shook her head. “This is something I have to handle on my own. The worst part is, it looks like there’s only one answer.”

Chapter Three

That evening, Jared walked toward the house for supper. Bert had gone up earlier and Jared had thought about skipping the meal and just staying in the bunkhouse. He figured if Dana hadn’t wanted him around the boy, she surely wouldn’t want him at her supper table.

It had been hours since she’d stopped by the barn and more or less told him to stay clear of her son. Normally, he’d never given a second thought to kids. But little Evan was starting to get to him. No doubt the boy was aching for a father. “He needed you, Marsh. You should have been here for him.”

Emotions tightened Jared’s throat and he stopped on the porch to pull himself together. Damn, he didn’t want to do this. He didn’t want to feel anything. Years ago he’d learned how to cover all the hurt his father dished out—he’d learned to turn off emotions. After he’d left home, he’d avoided any and all attachments. Whenever he’d hooked up with women, he told them up front not to expect anything permanent, nothing that would put him in danger of getting hurt. Now, he was smack-dab in the middle of this…mess. A fatherless boy who was his nephew. If that wasn’t enough, about ten miles down the road, there was a whole other situation.

Jared looked off toward the west in the direction where supposedly the Randells lived. The last thing he wanted—or needed—was more family. He’d never fit into that cozy scene. An anxiousness rushed through him. This was usually when he’d pack up and move on. Too late. After turning up a hero to a little boy, and wanting to help out the pretty mother, he was already involved.