Romancing the Cowboy. Judy Duarte
end it all.
Why else would he refuse to go to physical therapy?
If Jared had been the one laid low by shattered bones, he’d be champing at the bit to get better and back on his feet.
Now he was hoping that Matt’s love for Granny would pull him out of the depression that threatened to keep him in that damn chair for the rest of his life.
“I need your help,” he told Matt.
“What kind of help?”
In the past, Matt had always been just as protective and vigilant about the ranch and their mother’s well-being as Jared was, but believing he’d caused the accident that killed his fiancée and her son had crippled him worse than the injuries he’d suffered that fateful night.
“I need you to keep your eyes and ears open. One of the strays Granny took in is a thief, and I’m not sure which one.”
“What about the new bookkeeper?” Matt asked. “She has access to the bank accounts. Have you questioned her yet?”
“I wanted to do some poking around first.” A small part of him hoped the lovely, dark-haired beauty with the skill and the opportunity to rob Granny blind was every bit as ethical and efficient as she claimed to be, although he couldn’t say why. Someone was responsible for the missing funds, and heaven help whoever it was.
“Come on.” Jared stepped behind Matt’s wheelchair and began to push him out of the bedroom. “Let’s go have breakfast, although I gotta tell you it smells much better than it looks. I just hope it tastes okay. When I was in there earlier, I didn’t see any of the ranch hands go for seconds.”
As Jared and Matt entered the hall, they blocked the way of a tall, shapely redhead, who jerked back and gasped in surprise.
Jared opened his mouth to ask which of the freeloaders she was, but having already bumped heads with Sabrina, he decided to exercise a little more diplomacy this time. “We haven’t met. I’m Jared Clayton, Granny’s son, and this is Matthew, my brother.”
“Tori McKenzie. The new housekeeper.” Her gaze slid toward Matt, and curiosity played out on her face.
To her credit, she didn’t ask any questions, which Matt probably appreciated. He didn’t like talking about the car accident that had also ended his rodeo career.
“It’s nice to meet you,” Tori said.
“Same here.” Jared forced a grin, yet doubted his brother made the same attempt. Matt didn’t find much to smile about these days.
Tori stepped aside by entering the open doorway to the bathroom, allowing room for Matt’s wheelchair to pass, and Jared continued on his way to the kitchen.
“Well, now,” Granny said from her chair at the antique walnut table that had been in her family for years. “Isn’t this a treat? All we’re missing is Greg.”
The youngest of the three boys, Greg, had always been in the limelight, first as a star football player in college and now as a country-and-western singer.
“Greg’s on tour this month,” Jared said.
After Doc’s phone call last night, Jared had called his youngest brother, who was ready to cancel whatever shows necessary to come home, but Jared told him to hold off and that they’d keep him posted on the situation.
“Greg’s getting pretty popular,” Granny said.
“That’s true, but the last time we talked, he mentioned wanting to come home for a visit as soon as he could swing it. I have a feeling he’s going to surprise you one of these days soon.” Jared didn’t mention that the conversation had taken place last night.
The back door opened and shut, then a petite woman with short blond hair entered through the mudroom. She was attractive, Jared supposed, although he’d always been partial to brunettes.
Especially those with long dark hair—like Sabrina, he realized, although that was one attraction that wasn’t going anywhere.
“Can I freshen anyone’s coffee?” the blonde asked, as she headed to the sink and turned on the water to wash her hands.
Granny lifted her cup. “I’ll have a tad more. And now that you’re here, let me introduce you to my sons, Jared and Matt. Boys, this is Consuela Montoya. But she wants to be called Connie.”
“It’s nice to meet you.” The woman smiled shyly, then reached for the coffeepot and replenished Granny’s cup. “Anyone else?”
“Not yet,” Matt said.
“I’ll pass.” Jared studied the woman, noting that her hair had been dyed. Had she been a brunette who’d come in to some cash lately?
Highlights like those were expensive. He knew because his ex had emphasized the blond streaks in her hair that way. And nothing about Jolene or her tastes had been cheap.
“By the way,” Granny said, “someone made me an offer on the Nevada property.”
Jared wasn’t aware that she’d had any out-of-state land or holdings. “What property is that?”
“It’s a large parcel that Everett purchased years ago.” Everett was her late husband, a man who’d passed away just before Jared had been adopted, which meant Granny had owned the land for at least twenty years. “Didn’t I tell you boys about it?”
Jared looked at Matt, who shook his head.
“Well, I plumb near forgot all about it. Everett bought it ages ago, although I can’t remember exactly when.”
“And someone wants to buy it?” Jared asked.
“Yep. And he’s courtin’ me, too.”
Courting her? Jared furrowed his brow. “What do you mean?”
Granny laughed. “Not courting me like a moonstruck lover. He’s just calling and sweet-talking me some, hoping I’ll sell. And to tell you the truth, I think it’s time. Everett said it would be a good investment for our old age.”
“Where is it located?” Jared asked.
“Not too far from Las Vegas. Everett always thought the town would grow and that the property would be valuable someday.”
“So do you want to sell?” he asked.
“If they make me a decent offer.”
Jared feared, at her age, she might not be able to negotiate a real-estate deal—not without being taken advantage of. And who was to say what a “decent offer” was? “Why don’t you let me talk to that guy the next time he calls?”
“All right.” Granny took a sip of coffee, then watched as Connie took a platter of pancakes from the oven, where they’d been kept warm, and placed them on the table. Each one was an uneven shade of brown and shaped like the ink blots on a Rorschach test. Jared wondered if the hands had chosen the ones that looked more edible and left these behind.
“Hotcakes anyone?” Connie asked.
Matt merely stared at the stack, and Jared wondered if he’d make it until lunch if he didn’t eat any of them.
“Thanks,” Granny said, snagging one that was a little too dark around the edges for Jared’s taste. “They’re looking better each time you make them, Connie. I told you perfect flapjacks just take practice.”
It seemed pretty apparent that Granny hadn’t required her new cook to provide references.
Before long, they were joined at the table by Sabrina and her nephew, whose eyes widened when he spotted Jared. “We never get to eat with the cowboys.” Then his gaze lit on Matt and his wheelchair.
Jared had to give the kid credit for biting his lip, rather than commenting.
After Granny made the introductions,