Fairgrounds in April.
Drew’s boss at Esteban Enterprises had granted him free rein on the project, although he’d insisted that Drew move in to the Rocking Chair Ranch for a few weeks, interview the old cowboys who lived there and write a few blog posts sharing their stories.
While Drew had graduated from college and certainly knew how to put a sentence together, he’d never considered himself a writer. But his promotion to VP of the company was on the line, so he’d brushed away his doubt and agreed to do it.
Besides, how hard could writing a few stories be?
His cell phone rang, the Bluetooth automatically shutting out the Brad Paisley tune. He assumed it was another business call, but when he looked at the dashboard and spotted his sister’s name on the display, his heart clenched.
Kara Lee had been going through a lot lately, so he’d made it a point to check up on her each morning and evening. To have her contact him in the middle of the day was a little unsettling.
He answered quickly and tried to keep his tone upbeat. “Hey, sis. What’s up?”
“Not much. I’m just bored, I guess. I called your office, and they said you were traveling. Not that it really matters, but I thought you would’ve mentioned something about it to me.”
He hadn’t meant to keep it a secret, but neither had he wanted her to worry about him being gone and unable to get to the hospital in time if she went into labor. She’d nearly lost her baby last week and was on complete bed rest now.
“Actually,” he said, “it’s a new assignment. I meant to tell you about it, but I had to cut our morning call short.”
“How long will you be gone this time?”
Longer than he wanted to admit, although he was looking forward to meeting the retired cowboys. “I’ll be gone for a few weeks, but I’m not far from Houston. If you need me, all you have to do is call. I can get there within a couple of hours.”
“I’m sure that won’t be necessary,” she said, but the tone of her voice betrayed her words. “I’ll be fine.”
He certainly hoped so. Kara Lee had wanted to be a mother for as long as she could cuddle a dolly. And after three miscarriages, she’d made it to the fifth month this time around. For each day the little boy remained in the womb, the better chance he had.
“So where’s this assignment?” she asked.
“The Rocking Chair Ranch. The rodeo will be sponsoring them in the spring, so I’m working on the promotion.”
“Is that the retirement home for cowboys?”
“And ranchers.” He’d been reluctant to mention anything about rodeos or cowboys since the night she found out her husband, rodeo star Craig Baxter, was having another affair. The stress from the confrontation with him and his lover had caused her to go into premature labor.
When Drew got word of the public blowup and learned that Kara Lee had been hospitalized, he’d wanted to beat the tar out of his brother-in-law. But Kara Lee had begged him not to, and he’d been reluctant to do anything to upset his kid sister, especially when the survival of her son was precarious. But that didn’t mean he wouldn’t be tempted to knock Craig’s lights out the next time he saw him.
Kara Lee had told Craig to pack his crap and to get out of the house, which he did. But she hadn’t yet filed for divorce, mostly because she wasn’t able to deal with the legal proceedings when she was lying flat on her back. But once the baby came, Drew would do whatever he could to facilitate a fair and amicable split. One of his friends was a divorce attorney in Houston, and he’d already mentioned the case to him. He just hoped his sister didn’t soften and take Craig back.
“You sure you’re okay?” he asked her again.
“Yeah, especially since I’ve made it to the twenty-sixth week. At least the baby now has a chance to survive.”
“That’s good to know.”
As silence filled the line, he decided to change the subject. “So what are you doing?” The moment the question rolled off his tongue, he wanted to reel it back in. Hell, what could a bedridden pregnant woman possibly do, other than read or watch TV?
She let out a sigh. “I wish I could work on the nursery, but I’ll have to wait until after little Robby gets here.”
“I’ll tell you what,” Drew said. “As soon as I finish this project at the Rocking C, I’ll spend a few days at your place. Make a Pinterest board of stuff you like. When I get back, I’ll be your hands and feet. We’ll have it done before you know it.”
“I love you, Drew.”
“Aw, for Pete’s sake. Don’t get all sappy on me, Kara Lee.” She’d been a tomboy when growing up—and a barrel racer in high school. So he wasn’t used to seeing her softer side. It must be her hormones.
“You’re the best, Drew.”
“No. I’m not.” He’d taken on a demanding job that required him to travel, so he hadn’t been there for her recently, like he’d always been in the past.
He kicked himself for that now. If he’d been around more, he might have talked her out of marrying Craig. But that was all muddy water under the bridge now. From here on out, Drew was going to be the brother she deserved.
If Kara Lee suffered yet another miscarriage, losing the baby she’d already named and loved, there was no telling what it would do to her.
“By the way,” he said. “I called an agency that provides home health services and asked them to send someone out to your house for a few hours each day. She’ll do some light cleaning and run errands for you while I’m gone.”
“You didn’t need to do that.”
“I know, but I wanted to. It makes me feel better to know someone is with you or at least just a phone call away.” He thought she might object, more out of pride than anything else. But she surprised him by accepting his effort to help.
“You know what, Drew? You’re going to make some woman a wonderful husband.”
He laughed. “My last two relationships didn’t fare very well, thanks to all my travel.” Well, that and the fact that he was beginning to enjoy being a tumbleweed, rolling through life on the whim of the wind.
Just like your old man? He winced, then discarded the thought as quickly as it came. He wasn’t at all like his father.
“Besides,” he added, “I’m not cut out for marriage, family or a home in the suburbs. If I was, I wouldn’t enjoy being on the road so often.”
“A woman who really loves you wouldn’t complain about you being gone.”
“I don’t know about that. You’d be surprised.”
“At least, you’d never cheat on her.” She paused for a beat. “You wouldn’t cheat, would you?”
“Me? No, I’ve always been honest with the women I date. From the very first time we go out,
