The Cowboy's Housekeeper Read online

  Lori Copeland

  This is a work of fiction. All the characters, organizations, and events portrayed are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

  The Cowboy’s Housekeeper

  Copyright © 2017 by Copeland, Inc.

  Published by Sunny Day Publishing. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise – without written permission of the author, except for brief quotations in printed reviews.

  Edited by Virginia Smith

  Cover by Sweet ‘N Spicy Designs

  PRINT ISBN-13:978-0-9854923-7-3

  Table of Contents

  One

  Two

  Three

  Four

  Five

  Six

  Seven

  Eight

  Nine

  Ten

  Eleven

  Twelve

  Thirteen

  Fourteen

  Fifteen

  Sixteen

  Seventeen

  Eighteen

  Nineteen

  A Note from Lori

  About Lori

  One

  The sound of a crowing rooster filtered through the thin shears hanging at Jessica Cole’s childhood bedroom window. Jessica nestled between the light blanket, smelling of sunshine and Tide. She drowsily opened her eyes to see the faint streaks of dawn breaking over the horizon. Her gaze scanned the familiar room, pausing on the small photograph sitting on her dressing table. The clear images of Uncle Fred, Aunt Rainey, and herself as a child smiled back at her. Tears momentarily welled to her eyes. For a second time this year the phone had rung in the middle of the night to summon her home.

  Aunt Rainey had followed Uncle Fred so swiftly in death that the fact made Jessica’s head spin. A brief six months ago she was home to help her aunt bury Uncle Fred under that same old spreading oak where they laid Aunt Rainey to rest two short days earlier.

  Sighing, she turned on her side, the faint light in the room growing ever brighter.

  One fact stood out clearly. Fred and Rainey had been well loved in this small Texas community. The love surrounding her the morning of her aunt’s funeral left no doubt the town felt the loss as much as she. She sat at the small grave site, her gaze roaming familiar faces. When her aunt and uncle opened their home to her as the child they were never able to have, the people of this town became part of her life. Just like Fred and Rainey, they opened their arms to a four-year-old orphan whose parents had just died in a boating accident.

  She could still hear Aunt Rainey’s weak voice, two days before her death. “You were ours as surely as if I had given birth to you myself. Fred and I were never blessed with the children we wanted,” she whispered in a tired voice. “Not that the Lord hasn’t been real good to us.” Her eyes had taken on a soft, misty look as she continued. “Each other was enough—for a while, but I’ve thanked the good Lord every day for you. There’s something special about a child in a person’s life. Makes them less selfish, able to think of others more readily. So, when God seen fit to send you to us, well…you’ve been a blessing, Jessie and we loved you.”

  “Oh, Aunt Rainey,” Jessica whispered. “I love both of you so much.” She couldn’t imagine a life without this woman to confide in, to lend hope when life got complicated. And life did have a way of getting complicated.

  She shifted beneath the sheets, her mind unwillingly returning to the tall man who had stood to the left of the old tree, his hat in his hand, his head bowed. The sun glistened brightly on thick golden-brown hair. And like the young schoolgirl that once loved him with every ounce of her being, her heart dropped to her stomach. Would there ever come a time when she could look at Jason Rawlings without remembering….

  He stood exactly a chin-length above her. Tall enough that she was forced to stand on her toes to kiss him—small price at the time. In contrast to his mist-green summer shirt, his skin held the warm tan of a man who spent a lot time outdoors. The shirt went well with his western-cut suit. Broad, straight shoulders—had he bulked up since she last saw him?—and a solid wall chest tapered down to a lean waist and slim hips.

  There should be a law against a man looking that good.

  It would be her luck for him to show up that morning. Good fortune hadn’t exactly frequented Jessica’s life lately. Her gaze traveled slowly back to Jason Rawlings, and she blushed as his brilliant jade-green eyes locked with hers. She quickly lowered her gaze to the casket and the large floral tribute she’d ordered two days earlier. Daisies. Aunt Rainey loved daisies and there were three dozen multi-colored blooms to accompany her into eternity.

  When the mourners broke up, soft voices greeted others. Several old-time acquaintances stopped by her chair to offer condolences, a gentle pat on the arm and words of comfort. Pastor Franklin stepped to her side, taking her arm as they walked slowly toward the long black limousine waiting at the side of the county road.

  Jessica’s good-byes had been said at the funeral home the night before. Now it was a matter of getting to the car and driving away.

  Somehow the brief ceremony didn’t seem to be enough for all Aunt Rainey had given her, but Rainey didn’t want a fuss made. Her soft last words ran through Jessica’s mind. “’Hate those long drawn out good-bye’s. No big, sad service. Just bury me next to papa.’”

  Jessica looked back at the light-gray casket one final time. Drawing a deep breath, she turned and walked on.

  Moments later the long black car had pulled out of the cemetery onto the dusty road.

  This morning, the sun had come up as usual. Life went on. Jessica piled out bed and shuffled to the kitchen. The old house was falling apart; everything needed fixing—the roof, the plumbing, the windows. In order to sell the place, she would price the land, and insist the house be included.

  Spooning grinds into the old coffee pot filter—Jessica noticed the new Keurig coffee system she’d sent Rainey for Christmas was still in its box in the pantry— she then filled the pot with water, set the basket in the pot and placed the aluminum relic on the gas burner. Striking a match, she touched the fire to the jet, and sprang back when fire exploded. Her fingers flew up to search for eyebrows. Still intact, thank goodness. Adjusting the flame, she realized her mind was still on Rainey’s graveside service. Of course, a member of the Rawlings family would be in attendance, despite that one crazy incident eight years ago. Jason hadn’t attended Uncle Fred’s funeral, but his mother had come. The Cole property adjoined his parents’. Before the incident eight years earlier the two neighbors had been good friends.

  Those were good years. Really, good years. She’d had a crush on Jason Rawlings from the day she laid eyes on him. Her was six and she’d been around four. She’d given him a toad she’d caught near the well house. He’d taken it. From that day on she’d tagged after him, constantly under his feet. In turn, he bugged the daylights out of her. Grade school to high school, her heart leaped to her throat every time he rode over to talk business with Uncle Fred or to pay a visit to Aunt Rainey’s kitchen, where his favorite pie or cake always seemed to be cooling on Rainey’s kitchen windowsill.

  Shaking memories aside, she headed to the old bath, dreading the thought of another cold shower. The water heater wasn’t working properly. It ran tepid water that quickly reverted to well house cold if one lingered.

  There would be endless paperwork to fill out, death certificates to distribute. The Rainey’s personal affects needed to be sorted and given away. The old car, truck and tractor wouldn’t bring much, but they would have to be disposed of. She’d have to stop by Afton
Asher’s Realtor to list the farm and land, soon. Ashton would be delighted. The old coot had wanted to get his hands on this farm for years. Why, Jessica couldn’t imagine, except the acreage with its several spring-fed ponds and good grazing grass was well known in the area.

  She left the kitchen. Might as well face the cold shower and get it over with.

  The experience should be a great start to another perfectly miserable day.

  Two

  The sun still hung low in the morning sky when Jessica wrestled Uncle Fred’s rusty old truck down the gravel driveway on her way to town. This thing should have been replaced a decade ago, but Uncle Fred refused. “We’ve got college expenses coming up,” he’d say. “Why spend good money on a new one when this one works just fine?”

  Well, it didn’t work just fine. The gearshift lever took two hands to shove, and the gas pedal stuck. Besides, on a day like today some air conditioning would be nice.

  By the time she parked in front of the Baker’s house, her hair stuck to her neck and her makeup rolled off her face with drops of perspiration.

  Wilma Baker opened the door, giving Jessica a wide smile. Uncle Fred always said

  Wilma’s fanny looked like two wildcats wrestling in a gunnysack. Unkind, but true.

  “Jessica Cole, come in here girl and let me look at you.” Wilma beamed. “Gracious me, you’re prettier than ever! I told the judge this morning, why you hadn’t run off to Hollywood to be one of them big movie stars is beyond me. Mercy sakes, Fred and Rainey was proud of you!”

  Jessica’s cheeks warmed at the outlandish praise. Steering the conversation into another channel, she asked, “I’m not too early?”

  “Heavens to Betsy, child, not if you don’t mind waiting until the judge finishes his lunch. He won’t be long now. Come in, sweetie, you can wait in his study.” She proceeded to lead the way through the comfortable old living room. The clock on the mantle was chiming and Edna’s birds were singing in cages hanging in the front window.

  They moved down the hall and paused in front of a large oak door. Wilma poked her head into the room and then motioned for Jessica to enter.

  “Now, you just make yourself at home. The judge will be with you in a bit.” Jessica sank into the overstuffed chair in front of the judge’s desk. Wilma patted her shoulder and then closed the door behind her, leaving Jessica to rediscover the room. She sat with her hands in her lap, gaze roaming down the long line of certificates hanging on the wall. She paused on Justice of the Peace. Judge Baker had married her and Jason that one special night….

  “Married!” Aunt Rainey, dressed in her nightgown and robe, had sunk weakly into the chair at the kitchen table when the young couple announced their news.

  “Well, I won’t hear of it,” Uncle Fred boomed out, his loud, deep voice echoing the room.

  Jessica had sought the comfort of Jason’s arm, panic filling her. She had never dreamed they would take the news this badly. They loved Jason!

  “Merciful heavens, boy. What in the world were you thinking?” Fred drew an exasperated breath. “She’s nothing but a child!” His features turned scarlet and his breath came in heavy rasps. “She’s not ready to take on the responsibility of a marriage.”

  “I know she’s young, sir.” Jason held tight to Jessica’s trembling hand. “But that doesn’t change anything. We plan for her to complete school and go to college.”

  “Jessica, dear, you can’t handle both.” Aunt Rainey pleaded, her pale eyes full of tears. “Marriage is a scared commitment—and college? Why, you’ll need every moment to study if you ever want to become a veterinarian.”

  Jessica had never felt so low. Or guilty. She was fully aware of Rainey and Fred’s dream for her. They never had an education, and for years they talked of nothing else for Jessica. It was as if they sought to relive their life through her.

  Jason shifted, his gaze searching Jessica’s.

  “The marriage will have to be annulled.” Uncle Fred sank wearily into his chair, his features pale and ashen. Moonlight streamed through the lace curtain.

  “Fred, take your medicine,” Aunt Rainey said between tears. She got up apparently to get the amber-colored bottle from the shelf.

  Jason spoke. “I’m sorry, sir, but Jesse and I love each other. I can’t allow you annul the marriage.”

  “You don’t have a darn thing to say about it, son. She’s under age.” The elderly man popped one of the tiny white pills Wilma handed him under his tongue. “I can’t let you destroy something we dreamed of and worked for all our life. You’re a fine man, Jason. I have no qualms about you as a person. I’ve known you all your life, but I’ll move heaven and earth to get this marriage set aside—annulled—whatever it takes. You can trust my word on that that. Jessica!”

  Jessica snapped to attention, her heart feeling as though it were being torn in half. “Yes, Uncle Fred?”

  “Go to your room. I’ll handle things from here on out.”

  Jessica glanced at Jason, tears filling her eyes. “Uncle Fred, I love him . . .”

  “I said go to your room, girl!” he roared.

  “Jessica.” Jason’s voice stopped her. “Stay here. Don’t leave. Somehow we’ll work this thing out together.” His beautiful green eyes reflected pools of living torment.

  “I’m sorry, Jason. It’s out of your hands,” Fred said. “Now go home and we’ll forget this night ever happened.”

  Rainey reached for Jessica’s hand. “Come with me, dear. Let your Uncle take care of this matter.”

  “No!” Jessica broke away. “Leave us alone—all of you. Leave us alone! We know what we want.”

  Uncle Fred gasped sharply and all eyes focused on him.

  “Fred!” Rainey stepped to support his frame when he grasped his arm. Her eyes met Jessica’s. “Please,” she begged, “do as he says.” The lines in her face filled with pain and worry.

  Jason’s voice turned tense. “I don’t want to do anything to jeopardize Fred’s health. We’ll take this up in the morning. Jessica, call an ambulance.”

  “Go home.” Fred roared. “And stay there. Jessica is under age and you’re not wanted here.”

  “Jason.” Jessica reached for his hand. “Maybe you’d better go home. I’ll call you later.”

  “No. I’ll stay with you. We’ll get Fred to the hospital…”

  “Jason, don’t make me choose between you and them.” How could she choose between breaking Uncle Fred and Aunt Rainey’s hearts, maybe bringing on a fatal heart attack in the process—and giving up the man she loved more than her own life? The decision would tear her apart.

  Jason’s jaw firmed. “If you make me, I’ll go. But you need to think about the vows you took not an hour ago. You’re young, but I will take care of you. I love you.” His gaze met hers.

  Fred reached out to grasp Jessica’s hand. “Get me to the hospital, honey.”

  Her gaze switched from Fred to Jason. Jason to Fred. Rainey’s tear-filled eyes.

  Judging by the hardening of his jaw, Jason’s patience with the situation was wearing thin. “If I walk out that door without you, there’ll be no turning back. I know you’re in a heck of a situation, but together we’ll work through this.”

  Blinking to see through a watery veil, Jessica’s gaze swept the faces in the room, Aunt Rainey’s tear-streaked one, Uncle Fred’s sickly gray one, her beloved Jason’s. Death would be an easier choice for her at this moment.

  “I…. can’t leave Fred and Rainey right now.” She prayed to God she was making the wise choice.

  But it had been the worse choice she ever made.

  Mist swelled to Jessica’s eyes and she snatched a tissue from her purse. What was taking the judge so long? She drummed her fingertips on the arm of the old chair, staring at the wall in front of her, rapidly blinking back tears. She had no control over the memories or emotions that flooded her, and if she was ever going to get through the reading of the will, she would have to put the past firmly behind her.
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br />   She thought back to that black week before she left for college. Those days the worst in Jessica’s life. Fred recovered from the “incident” and life settled back to normal. She waited for the phone to ring, for Jason to call, but he didn’t. She spent hours staring at her cell phone, aching to call Jason to come after her. Every time she rejected the idea. She had bruised his pride. A deep resentment toward her aunt and uncle filled her heart, and she looked forward to the day when she would board the bus for Austin and fulfill their dream of her becoming a vet.

  Not hers.

  Her mind returned to the present. Why cry over spilt milk? She had grieved for Jason for eight long years. The time had come—past time—to get on with her life.

  The study door opened and Judge Baker’s voice filled the air. “Well, well, if it isn’t little Jessie Cole.” He circled her chair and bent to place an affectionate peck on her cheek. Mrs. Baker stood beside him, smiling. He straightened and moved to stand behind his massive oak desk.

  The years had been considerate. A thatch of snow white hair and eyes not quite the same bright hue, were the only touch time had given the man. His jaunty grin still had the impact of a youthful suitor.

  “My, my.” His eyes teased her with a twinkle. “What I wouldn’t give to be thirty years younger right now. Mama, I must warn you. You’d be a fool to leave me alone with a pretty little dumpling like this one.” He gave “Mama” a mischievous wink.

  “Oh, go on with you, Daddy. If you were thirty years younger, you’d still be too old for her. But,” Mama added, “I’d still be here.”

  He threw back his head and laughed. “No need to worry. I’ve had you for fifty years. My eyes are blind.”

  “Horse patoot, you old goat.” She laughed. “Go on with you. You’ll scare this little thing to death. Now, you behave yourself. I’ve got a cake in the oven and haven’t got time to stand around listening to your foolishness.” She turned and gave the judge a saucy grin, along with some parting advice. “Just remember your age, Daddy, and your heart!”