Page 15 of A Cowboy's Convenient Marriage

He gripped the hand that was held out, and they shook.

“I wanted to know if I could talk to you for a while. I wanted to say a minute, but it’s probably going to take longer than that if you entertain my proposal at all. I... It’s a matter of some urgency.”

“All right. Is it so urgent that you can’t sit down and eat a bite with the family, first? We’re all sitting at the table. You caught us during mealtime.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to do that. I could wait outside.”

“No need. My wife said we had plenty, and if I know her at all, she’s got a spot set at the table for you right now.”

“Well, that makes me feel better that I’m not going to be taking food out of your mouth.”

“I don’t know how much you know about the Clybourns, but we’re a big family. We always have plenty of food. And it never goes to waste.”

That was true. Someone was always looking for a snack, or grabbing something from the refrigerator, or popping in in the middle of the afternoon because they missed lunch because they were out in the field trying to get the hay in before the rain or something.

“I knew you were a big family. I think I heard twelve kids?” Cash asked as they walked to the kitchen.

“That’s correct. All but three of us are married. You’ll meet those three at the table right now.” They walked into the kitchen, and Ezra introduced Alaska, his two sisters, and Rufus.

Maybe it was his imagination, but Cash’s eyes seemed to linger a little longer on Ada, and there was something odd in the air when they shook.

Ezra didn’t know much, and he knew his wife would have plenty to say after they were alone, but he thought Ada’s cheeks were a little bit more pink than they usually were.

He had been correct about there being a seat set for the visitor, and they sat down, passing food and talking about the weather and different events in town—the rodeo, the sale barn, the price of cows, the price of cars, which was a new one for Ezra, and the state of the economy, which seemed to be looking up.

Cash seemed like a nice guy, not dominating the conversation, but adding intelligent comments, and also telling a short story about a couple who had bought a BMW from his lot and then, inexplicably, had driven away in the cheapest and oldest car on the lot. Leaving their BMW sitting there running.

“They didn’t even realize it. I figured things out and called them the next day, and they had no idea that the car they’d driven home wasn’t the BMW they’d bought.”

It was a story for the adults, although the children seemed to enjoy listening to him as well.

Ezra found himself extremely curious as to what Cash wanted to talk to him about. Ranching? Was he interested in buying his own spread? Did he want to purchase some beef grown on the ranch? He had multiple people in town asking if they could purchase beef from him. They actually had started selling it in a small way and hoped to maybe eventually expand their operation to include internet sales as well. They just needed to find the time. As many people as they had working on the ranch, they had plenty for everyone to do.

Finally, they were done eating, and Cash gathered up his plate and silverware as he stood.

Ezra figured Cash had no idea how impressed he was over that. A lot of men expected to be waited on hand and foot and didn’t think about the mess that they were making until someone pointed it out to them.

Regardless, they helped the ladies clear up the table before his wife shooed him and their visitor away.

“I have a little study off the living room. We can go there.”

Cash nodded and followed him out of the kitchen.

Ezra tried to make sure that outwardly he was calm as they walked casually to the room, although inwardly he wanted to rush ahead. What in the world could this man want?

“Come on in and have a seat,” he said, waving his arm at the two chairs that sat in front of his desk. He turned on the lights, shut the door, which was a sign to all of his children and siblings that he was not to be disturbed, and walked around, sitting down on the other side of his desk.

Sometimes he left his desk a mess, when he got interrupted in the middle of something and had to jump up and go assist with a birth or fix a piece of farm equipment, but his wife always tried to make sure that she kept things tidy.

And he appreciated that, especially now as he sat down, noting the neat desk and the comfortable-looking space, with bookshelves full of farming and ranching books, a few little knickknacks that his wife had set around, as well as a plant in the corner that he assumed didn’t take much care, since he never gave it any. Again, his wife took care of that.

There were so many of her little touches around, things that she never mentioned, and he almost always didn’t notice. Did he take her for granted? If he asked her, he knew she would answer him honestly. He made a mental note to be sure to check in with her. He didn’t want her to feel like he didn’t appreciate her.

“Thank you for the food and the hospitality. It was unexpected but very much appreciated,” Cash started their conversation.

A man who wasn’t afraid to step out, taking the bull by the horns, so to speak, and lead. Ezra liked that.

He nodded. “Be sure to pass your appreciation on to my wife again.” He added the “again” because Cash had already thanked her. “Now, what can I do for you?”

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