A Family With the Cowboy (The Westons of Montana #1)

Chapter Six

B y the time Hayden returned to the homestead for breakfast on Saturday morning, he’d been up four hours. Turned out, if you really wanted to, there was a lot to do at four o’clock in the morning.

He couldn’t sleep. Kissing Laura was all he could think about. She’d fitted perfectly in his arms and against his body. Even looking at another woman hadn’t entered his mind over the past two years, let alone thinking of kissing one. Yes, he’d seen women around town, met women his friends had tried to set him up with, but it had been easy to smile and walk away.

And then, on an ordinary Friday night in Grey’s Saloon, he’d looked up and seen Laura. Everything had changed in that moment. Since then, she’d invaded his dreams, his mind, his body.

He shouldn’t have been in the Graff Hotel last night to begin with. And when he’d seen Laura was safely home, he should’ve driven away. But no, he had to get out of his car, walk up to her, and…he still wasn’t quite sure how the kiss happened.

What the hell had he been thinking? Apart from anything else, she was his son’s teacher, for heaven’s sake. There wasn’t time in the day to take a breath, let alone think about women or dating or sex. And now he couldn’t stop thinking about any of it.

He had no business kissing strange women. He’d been married to the love of his life and he still missed Madeline. Love? Why was the word even popping up in his mind? Nobody was talking about love, damn it.

He hadn’t had sex in a long time, and it was probably his body’s way of reminding him of his needs. Besides, he probably was a decade older than she was.

Muttering at his own foolishness, he walked into the kitchen, where the rest of the family was having breakfast. Becket’s dogs—Harper, a Labrador, and Jack and Sadie, two Golden Retrievers—got up and greeted Hayden as he entered.

“…and Miss Anderson says it’s okay,” Luke was saying, smiling, his eyes sparkling.

Willow laughed. “You like your new teacher, don’t you?”

“Yes, she’s very nice. And I like the books she reads to us.” He looked down. “I’m not so sad all the time anymore.”

Everyone around the table fell silent. Willow looked at him, widening her eyes. He should say something.

Dropping a hand on Luke’s shoulder, Hayden cleared his throat. “Good to hear that, buddy.” He sat down next to his son.

“Miss Anderson says Mom will always be in my heart. I like that.” He looked at Hayden. “Can I read after my chores?” he asked.

“May I?” Willow corrected with a smile.

“May I, Dad?”

“I don’t have a problem with you reading. But—”

“—chores come first.” Luke nodded. “Miss Anderson says so too.”

Hayden swallowed a groan. How the hell was he supposed to forget about the damn kiss if his son kept talking about Laura? “Don’t you want to invite friends over, though?” he asked.

“Nah, I’d rather read. Miss Anderson says she also likes reading better than people.” Hopping off his chair, he ran out of the kitchen, Jessie, as always, on his heels.

Willow laughed. “Well, rumor has it Miss Anderson seems to be keeping the Weston boys on their toes.” She looked at the three of them. “Care to tell me what happened last night? I thought Becket was taking Laura for dinner. But from what I’ve heard, Becket had to stop Susanne from scratching out Laura’s eyes. Then Hayden and Coop ended up at Laura’s table. And, Hayden, there are unconfirmed rumors that you stopped Aiden’s car in the middle of the street, grabbed Laura right out of it and took her home. Where you apparently—and there are numerous versions of this going around town—kissed her.”

Cooper looked at his watch. “It’s eight o’clock on a Saturday morning—where on earth have you heard all of that?”

Hayden was very much aware of Willow watching him, but he kept his eyes focused on his own plate. Ever since she was little, their sister had had the ability to read their minds. It used to freak them all out when they were younger. Still did, if he was honest. Especially in this particular moment, he’d rather not have anyone else know what was going on his mind.

“Well, as it turns out,” Willow continued, “Betty from the police dispatch was having dinner in the Graff, and apparently, Carol Bingley was driving down Collier Road around the time Hayden stopped Aiden’s car.”

“I didn’t stop his car,” Hayden said. “Aiden and Vivian dropped Laura off. I went to Laura’s house to make sure she was fine. It was all Becket’s idea, by the way, not mine.”

“And the rumor about the kiss?”

Hayden kept eating, studiously avoiding looking at his sister. “People should mind their own damn business.”

Laughing, Becket slapped Hayden on the back. “It’s about time you make the town gossip again, bro. I took Laura to dinner, Sis. We were having a very nice time talking about grazing…”

“Oh, really? Grazing?” Willow snickered.

“Really. She told me not to waste my baby blues on her.” Becket grinned.

“Smart girl.” Willow nodded.

“Anyway,” Becket continued. “Susanne arrived at the restaurant…”

Hayden tuned out his brother’s voice and tried to eat. He was tired and angry and wanted to punch something. Without really tasting anything, he finished eating.

“Before you all leave”—Willow stopped him from getting up—“remember the Winter Ball next Saturday night. We’ve bought a table for eight people. I’m taking Mom as my date, so you boys need to get someone to go with you. And Becket, please make sure no previous girlfriends will rock up and ruin another night, will you?”

“I’m taking Luke,” Hayden said quickly.

Willow laughed. “It’s going to be interesting watching you trying to ignore Luke’s beautiful teacher. You have a thing for her. I saw it on Tuesday night at Mother’s already.”

Hayden glared at her. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You can’t hide—” Willow began, but fortunately, Becket came to his rescue.

“I promise not to ruin the evening. Laura gave me an earful last night about my behavior.” Becket smiled sheepishly. “Don’t you start.”

“Did she now?” Willow smiled. “I like her more and more.” She pointed at Coop and Becket. “So, which one of you is going to ask her to the ball?”

Becket shook his head. “Something tells me the lady won’t be overly eager to go with any of us.”

Cooper got up. “She doesn’t have a problem with me.”

Hayden swallowed the “don’t” that nearly slipped out.

Cooper’s eyes met his. “Unless you have a problem with that?”

“Hayden?” Willow teased. “Do you have a problem with Coop taking Laura to the dance?”

Hayden turned away. “Why would I have a problem?”

“’Cause you kissed her?” Cooper said.

Ignoring them, Hayden walked toward the back door. “I’m in the barn.” He needed something to kick or punch. Or both.

His family’s laughter followed him all the way outside.

*

Saturday morning, just after ten, there was a knock on Laura’s front door. She hadn’t really slept last night. In between dreams of Hayden’s warm hands all over her naked body, she’d been drinking water, trying to cool down. In the middle of winter.

She’d gotten up early and had just finished unpacking the last of the boxes. Her heart kicked against her ribs. It couldn’t be Hayden, could it? Running on her socks to the door, she looked through the peephole. It was Arlene, his mother, thank goodness.

Combing her hair out of her face, she opened the door. “Arlene, it’s so nice to see you. Everything okay?”

“That’s what I came to ask you.”

Laura blinked. “Yes, I’m fine. Why?”

“I’ve heard about last night. Everyone is talking about what happened at the Graff.”

Laura opened and closed her mouth a few times before she opened the door wider. “Come on in. I’ll make tea.” In the kitchen, she switched on the kettle before she took out two cups and a teapot. “Let’s sit here at the table. I’ve heard about the town gossip mill, but my goodness, it’s only ten in the morning.”

“Willow heard about it before eight. I thought you may be sleeping late.”

“I was up early, still unpacking.” She smiled as she made the tea.

“So you’re fine?”

With her eyes on the teapot, Laura carried it to the table. “Becket and I are just friends. We were talking about the ranch when a woman approached him, crying. I don’t like the way he treats women or talks about them and I’ve told him that…”

Arlene’s eyes widened. “Good for you.”

Laura continued as she poured the tea. “It was an awkward situation. Your two other sons tried to make it less so by joining me at the table. That was it.”

“So when did Hayden kiss you?”

Laura just about choked on her tea and quickly put down her cup. “How on earth do you know that?” slipped out before she could stop herself.

Arlene’s eyes were twinkling. “You have no idea how happy I am to hear Hayden is kissing again.” Shaking her head, she sighed. “For the past two years, he’s been walking around like a zombie. We were all still struggling with Walker’s death when Madeline was diagnosed with breast cancer. Luke was only four. Hayden has always been the one who looked out for others. His biggest fear is that he won’t be able to protect the ones he loves. And then both his brother and his wife died. He’s erected such a hard shell around his heart, I’ve been worried nobody would be able to penetrate it. But something has changed over the last week. So what I want to know is, when are you seeing him again?”

Laura shook her head. “Apart from talking about Luke, there’s no reason to.”

“But what about the kiss?”

“You shouldn’t believe everything you hear,” Laura said, not meeting Arlene’s eyes. At that moment her phone beeped. Glancing at it, she saw it was a text from Ellie. She wouldn’t usually look at texts while talking to people, but she urgently needed to change the current topic of conversation.

Picking up her phone, she read the text and, thank goodness, without realizing it, Ellie had come to her rescue. “Oh great.” She smiled, “I’ve wanted to ask you—do you knit or crochet, and do you like books?”

Arlene blinked. “Yes, to all three, but…”

Putting down her phone, Laura leaned back in her chair. For the moment, she wouldn’t have to talk about kissing Hayden. “A new yarn shop has just opened in town. Did you know? I’ve met the owner, Ellie Campbell. We’ve just clicked. She’s one of those people you can’t help but like. We’ve talked about starting a book club in her shop where we’ll knit or crochet and talk about books. That text was from her—the first meeting of the book club is Tuesday at six. You’re welcome to join us, if you’re interested?”

“That sounds wonderful. Since I moved to town, I have more time on my hands. Have you decided which book you want to discuss?”

For the next half hour, they talked books and knitting. When Arlene got up to leave, Laura escorted her to the front door. She was just about to close the door behind Arlene when the older woman turned around. “Come for lunch tomorrow? I’m making my famous chicken.”

Laura hesitated. Would the rest of the family be there? “I…um…”.

Arlene’s eyes were twinkling. “I promise not to talk about Hayden kissing you. See you at twelve!”

Laura closed the front door. She should’ve said no. Arlene was the mother of the guy who had kissed her senseless, and the older woman was bent on getting answers one way or the other.

Books, she remembered, relieved, seconds later. They’d talk about books. She’d managed to sidetrack Arlene once; she could do it again.