Page 53 of Cowboys Next Door

I crouch down in front of her, taking her wrinkled hands in mine. “I’m here now, Gran, and I’m not going anywhere,” I inform her softly. “It’s an adjustment for me, too, finding a family. My mother tried her best, even with all her flaws, but it was never like this, sitting down to dinner together, neighbors pulling their weight to help.”

Gran shoots me a sly smile. “Oh… you must know that the boys didn’t come out nearly as much before you came along, darling. Oh, don’t get me wrong—I wouldn’t still be standing if it weren’t for their help, but they certainly are making more appearances lately.”

I blush and drop my head, unsure of how to explain what’s happening between me and her three trusted neighbors. The bond that we’ve developed, poring over plans, only follows us after hours and into Connor’s house most nights, although we had used Eli’s for some midnight trysts when Gran was fast asleep and not apt to wake up.

It’s a small wonder that we all drink coffee by the gallon, sleep a long-lost luxury for all of us. I don’t know how they manage their own properties as well, even with Connor’s employees and Eli’s dismissive protests that the hay basically grows itself.

It’s going to be hard to hide our budding relationship from Gran’s astute vision.

She isn’t of my generation, but behind those brilliant, green irises, I read nothing more than compassion and understanding, as if she will always accept anything I tell her.

“That’s not the only reason they come to help,” I remind her. “They still do own part of the property. But how long have they all been in charge of their family’s ranches?”

“Eli has owned his parents’ estate since he left the fire department two years ago and they moved to the Florida Keys. Hudson put his father in a retirement home the moment Val got married and headed out of the house… going back four years now, I think—not that I blame him. Hudson’s father has been incorrigible for as long as I’ve known him. But Frank can’t care for himself anymore, so that was the real reason Hudson did what he needed to do.”

I have heard hints about the tyrant that Frank Walker was through Eli and Connor.

“But I digress… or maybe not. Both them and their parents had ample time to do whatever they wanted with this land. They chose to do nothing until you got here.”

“They’ve got jobs of their own, Gran,” I say, defensively. “And look how much work it’s turning out to be.”

“I’m not faulting them, Rosie. I’m grateful to them. They’re obviously burning the candle at both ends to see this through.” Her eyes glitter mischievously when she says this, and my cheeks flame crimson.

Does she already know about us? Would she say anything if she did?

“If Hudson’s father was such an ass—a bad guy,” I quickly correct myself. “Why did you go to him for help?”

Gran settles back in her chair and reaches for her steaming cup of tea as I fall back on my haunches to study her face. My grandmother releases a long breath of shame, and I wish I could take back the question. It’s still none of my business, but Hudson is still the biggest curiosity to me of all three of the men. He hasn’t talked about himself much, and aside from rumors and innuendos, I receive my background about him from Gran and his direct neighbors.

“I went to Connor’s father first,” she admits, answering my next question in queue. “But Jason didn’t have the means to buy at the time. He was a single father, raising his boy alone on a struggling ranch of his own. He was doing the best he could, but he just didn’t have the money.”

“What happened to Connor’s mom?” I ask, realizing I’ve never seen a photograph of her in his house. There are several of Connor’s father in the various rooms, participating in rodeos, fishing expeditions, and father/son outings. But never a woman.

“Rumor has it she ran off with one of the ranch hands when Connor was six or seven. It was quite a scandal at the time, but I never paid any mind to that nonsense. Half the time it’s just bored church ladies making up stories to fill the day.” She raises her head. “Where is he, speaking of Connor?”

I glance over my shoulder. “Probably still outside on the porch or with Eli and Hudson. Let me get your pills for you, Gran.”

I stand and stalk to the kitchen, my mind whirling with this new information, but I barely have time to process it when I hear my phone ringing from inside my purse. My heart leaps in anticipation.

Maybe Hudson has some news from the neighbors,I think, throwing the flap of my bag open. To my utter shock, I find myself staring at a grinning, familiar face pressed to mine in a display photo as the cell continues to ring. The image is obscene now, churning my stomach as I decide what to do.

Connor ambles through the back door at precisely the same second that I gulp, answering as if possessed.

“H-hello?”

“Holy shit! You answered! Where are you?” Tony rasps in my ear. “You moved out of the condo?”

I blink, temporarily speechless as my ex-boyfriend’s voice fills my ears, firing off questions without giving me a chance to answer.

“I…” Speechless, my eyes trail toward Connor, who is oblivious to the way the world is spinning around me.

“Rose? Are you okay? Are you there?” Tony demands loudly.

I quickly find my voice again, sure his higher pitched tone will catch Connor’s ears.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m here,” I sputter. “I just never thought I’d ever hear from you again.”

He laughs mirthlessly. “Yeah. I guess we left things kind of… bad.”

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