Page 22 of Unforgettable Cowboy
“In a limited way.It’s not like you’re going to be doing housework and cooking, and until we hire a guy, I’m not going to have time to do that either.”
Wade let out a disgusted breath and turned to look out the side window as Hayes pulled up to the light.The rodeo was a week away and the shops were starting to decorate.Trev was due to arrive home in a few days, and Jordan on the first day of the rodeo since he was cheering rather than competing.Hopefully Estelle would still be working for them at that time.If not, then Hayes was going to have to come up with plan B, which at the moment was a blank page.He had no plan B.
“I don’t want someone getting in my way.Cramping my style.”Wade’s dark eyebrows were almost touching.
Hayes frowned back.“I think your style is mostly going to be being immobile.”
“We’ll see about that.”
Hayes wished he would have been able to hire someone a bit burlier than petite Estelle Mendoza, because it was possible he was going to have a fight on his hands when it came to making his uncle follow orders.
“Don’t get me wrong,” Wade said, speaking to the side window, “I appreciate why you hired someone, but…” he sent an accusing look at his nephew “…you should have conferred with me.”
“So that you could have said, ‘No way in hell’?”
Wade nodded.“Exactly.”
Hayes was about to tell his uncle that this was a temporary thing when he spotted a cowboy wearing a distinctive blue-gray felt hat ambling down the sidewalk.He didn’t get a good look at the man’s face before he ducked through the door of Grey’s Saloon, but Hayes was certain he knew that hat.
“What’s wrong?”
“I thought I recognized the guy.I didn’t.”Lots of people could have a hat that color, he assured himself.He was only concerned that it might be Chance Meyers because Bailey never left his freaking thoughts.
“Who didn’t you recognize?”
“A tie-down roper Trev competes against.”
Wade made a scoffing sound.“Wouldn’t be that unusual to see a competitor in town what with the rodeo coming up.Speaking of which, am I going to be able to go?Or are you going to confine me to the house?”
“We’ll do our best to get you out of the house.”
They rode in silence until Hayes passed the city limits.Then his uncle exhaled.
“You understand, right?”Wade spoke with the same gruff softness he’d used when one of his boys was hurting and needed to be propped up.“You’ve been beat up by a bronc or two.Got confined when you didn’t want to be.”
“I might get beat up again at the Copper Mountain, and then we can heal together and be glad that we have a housekeeper.”
Wade gave a small harrumph.“I appreciate your help.You know I do.I just hate the idea of someone being in my house.”He never minded Vera in his house, but Vera had known how to work around Wade, and she wasn’t called upon to help him get out of a chair.
“Only for a while.Estelle will be there either until you’re out of the cast and can take care of yourself during the day or until the Parkers return.”
“Estelle?”Wade’s expression seemed frozen when Hayes glanced at him.
“Mendoza?”
Wade let out a strangled sound.
“What?”Hayes gave him a confused look.
“Total battleaxe.”
“Estelle Mendoza?Five foot three maybe?A hundred and ten pounds?”
“Force of nature.”
Hayes figured his uncle had to be joking but another quick look assured him that he was dead serious.WTF?
“She’s the only applicant and you need her.”Hayes spoke more sternly than he’d probably ever spoken to Wade, and surprisingly, Wade didn’t argue.He was quiet for the rest of the way home, leaving Hayes to wonder if they were indeed speaking of the same woman.It also left him time to wonder if the guy wearing the expensive hat was indeed Chance Meyers, or if having the palomino on the ranch was making him see things.
