3. Bowen
Chapter 3
Bowen
Avery was hiding something and it made me uneasy. God knows she’d hidden boyfriends from her father before, but that was an expected level of rebellion under the rule of an overprotective and intimidating man like Grady.
This was different. It rattled her—spooked her, despite her best attempts to keep calm.
After forty-two years of working with horses, the most important lesson I’ve learned is patience, and I’ve found it applies to humans just as well. No matter how trustworthy a horse might be, instincts took over when it felt threatened. Muscles tensed, ready to bolt. Fear clouded the brain with the all-consuming urge to run.
Avery hadn’t admitted to anything, but I could see it in her eyes. She was scared.
Since I had no proof, I couldn’t go to Grady with my suspicions. Without solid evidence to back me up, I wouldn’t cry wolf. Besides, he had all the tact of a bull in a china shop. There was a reason Avery hadn’t told him anything. So, I wouldn’t rat her out. All I could do was be here when she needed me.
On the morning of the auction, Beau showed up for work with a bundle wrapped in his arms. Under normal circumstances, all cowboys remained in the bunkhouse. The only exceptions to that rule were those that were married—like Beau, who had his own small house on the ranch as a wedding gift from the boss—and me, the foreman. I had a modest one-bedroom cabin a modest distance away from the bunkhouse.
“Boys,” Beau said. “There’s someone I’d like you to meet.”
Tugging a corner of the blanket aside, he revealed a rosy-cheeked baby. Only a month old, with tiny fists, and a thatch of wild, wispy curls.
“Say hello to Beau Jr.”
A flurry of activity filled the bunkhouse as everyone pushed their chairs back and scrambled around Beau to get a look at the newborn.
“What a handsome little devil,” Cody said.
“Spitting image of his mama,” I said.
“I hope to God he has Rory’s brains and not mine,” Beau said.
I’d known Beau for a long time—we’d worked this ranch together for years. Although I’d never seen him as proud as he was now, cradling his sleeping son’s head in his palm.
Just last year, this man had sworn he wouldn’t settle down. And now here he was, married to a sweet woman, with a home of his own, and a healthy baby boy.
I squeezed his shoulder.
“Congratulations, Beau,” I said. “We’re happy for you.”
“I hope you’re ready to chase this little guy around and teach him everything you know,” Beau replied.
“Are you sure he’d bother with a washed-up old cowboy like me?”
Before Beau could respond, the bunkhouse door opened and Avery stepped in.
“Beau Collins, how dare you hide that baby from me.”
Within seconds, she had Beau Jr. dozing in her arms. She cooed softly as she swayed in place with him.
“He’s the most precious little thing,” she whispered. “How’s Rory? Is she okay?”
“She’s doing really well,” Beau said. “There were no complications with the birth. The doctor recommended that she rest for a few more weeks before going back to work, but Rory won’t hear of it. She’s in the kitchen every morning, baking, no matter how many times I insist that I will take care of everything.”
“Birdie and I would love to drop by for a quick visit and say hello, but we didn’t want to crowd her. Would that be all right?”
“Please do. Rory would love it.” He nodded at his son. “It seems you’re a natural.”
Avery smiled and pressed her lips to Beau Jr.’s forehead, stroking his cheek with her thumb.
“Well, it’s easy when you have such a mild-mannered angel like this guy.”
My chest tightened while I watched Avery. Beau was right—she was a natural. And she looked so damn happy, completely enamored with that baby.
I thought I’d made peace with the fact that I’d missed the chance to have my own kids, but I had to admit there was a hollow ache in my chest now, wishing things could have taken a different turn.
“Are you thinking about making Grady a grandfather someday?” Beau asked with amusement.
Avery snorted.
“If Dad had his way, I wouldn’t date until I was forty years old. I can’t imagine what his reaction would be if I ever got pregnant.”
Then her gaze shifted to me. I clenched my teeth until my jaw throbbed. I couldn’t be that man for her—the father of her children. She could pine and flirt and hope all she wanted, but she had to find someone else.
…if I ever got pregnant.
I closed my eyes and turned away, inhaling a steadying breath. I knew better than to allow myself to slide down the slippery slope of that rabbit hole, but my brain went there anyway.
The vision of Avery became so clear in my mind. One hand resting on her rounded belly, carrying our child. She would press my palm to her stomach with a smile as the baby kicked and squirmed.
She’s strong, like her daddy.
Fuck, why was I torturing myself like this? It didn’t matter how much Avery dropped hints, conveying her interest. It didn’t matter that I wanted her in return. It simply wasn’t meant to be.
Two hours later, I had the trailer hitched to the truck, and the cattle loaded for auction. Grady was supposed to accompany me, but he was busy facing off with Avery outside the bunkhouse.
“Come on, Dad,” Avery said. “It’s just an auction. I can drop off the cattle myself.”
“I never said you couldn’t,” Grady countered.
“Then let me do this.”
“There’s plenty of work you can keep an eye on here.”
“Letting me go to the auction— alone —proves that I’m taking a more active role in the business of the ranch. You’ve spent decades networking with other ranchers and making connections.”
“And you have been by my side for many of those years,” Grady protested. “It’s not like you’re brand new to this, Avery. People will recognize you.”
She sighed and crossed her arms.
“Yeah, they’ll recognize me as the cute little kid who followed you around everywhere like a puppy. No one will take me seriously. Which means that no one will want to do business with me.”
Grady groaned and scrubbed a hand over his mouth. I ducked my head to hide a little smile. Avery had him backed into a corner.
“You know I’m right,” she pointed out.
“You don’t have to rub it in,” Grady grumbled.
“I wouldn’t have to rub it in if you would let me handle the auction on my own. I need to start making connections, too.”
He blew out a breath of frustration and glanced away. Then his gaze fell on me.
“You’re not going alone,” Grady said at last.
“Dad,” Avery said with exasperation. “If you come with me, that defeats the whole purpose—”
“Not me. Bowen. I always take him to the auction—or one of the other cowboys. You will do the same.” When Avery opened her mouth to speak, Grady held up his hand. “I don’t want to hear it. If you intend to be the boss one day, you have to learn how to delegate work. You can’t do it all yourself.”
She beamed and wrapped her arms around Grady’s neck. It never failed to amaze me that they could be at each other’s throats one minute, then hugging it out in the blink of an eye. I guess that was a testament to their security of their relationship. No matter how much they fought, they still cared about each other.
“Thank you, Dad. You’re the best.”
He patted her back.
“Yeah, yeah. Just don’t make this whole bullying-me-into-doing-your-bidding tactic become a habit.”
She flashed him an endearing smile.
“I learned from the best."
He grunted and waved her off.
“Go. Get out of here before I change my mind. Bowen is waiting for you.”
As Avery turned and started toward me, my mouth went dry. I was about to ride into town with her, while she was seated in the truck beside me. Her scent in my lungs on every breath. Her barely-concealed desire lingering between us, so thick and hot and…
God, this was going to be a long day.
As soon as Avery was settled in the passenger seat, I steered the truck onto the road. At least the cab was big enough that we weren’t pressed up against each other.
“So,” I said. “You finally wore him down.”
“Trust me, I know it won’t last,” Avery replied. “But I intend to enjoy my victory, whether it’s short-lived or not. Can we stop for coffee on the way into town?”
“You’re the boss.”
She thought about that for a moment and nodded with a small smile playing across her lips. I stole a sideways glance at her. She looked…content. Pleased with herself. Not at all intimidated by being in a leadership position.
“You love that, don’t you?” I asked. “Being the one to call the shots.”
Her dark brown eyes sparkled.
“It does have a nice ring to it.”
I tore my gaze away from her, focused on the road again. Avery was born for this—taking over the ranch, stepping into a position of wealth and power. For the past twenty years, I had done nothing with my life except work in the saddle, come rain or shine. And I would stay that way until the day I died. I hoped that if I kept reminding myself of the fact that I was going nowhere, it would dampen the butterflies in my stomach every time I saw Avery’s smile.
When we reached Ash Ridge, there was a line at Java Junction Coffeehouse, winding out the door and around the block.
“I like Bread & Butter Bakery instead,” Avery said. “I’ll pick up some pastries for Dad and Birdie while we’re there.”
Stepping into the bakery, we were greeted with the warm smell of rising yeast, sugar, and cinnamon. A line stretched from the front counter to the door, and every table was taken. Even though Rory was on maternity leave, it still felt strange when she wasn’t at the bakery, busy as a bee and coated up to her elbows in flour. She’d been the head baker here for years. If Beau was to be believed though, it wouldn’t be long before she was back at the bakery again.
The line gradually began to dwindle, and we were nearly to the counter when Avery suddenly went white as a sheet. She swayed into me until her shoulder brushed my arm. I flinched at the brief, innocent contact—the flood of heat as her bare skin touched mine. I gripped her elbow hard enough to make her look at me.
“Avery? What’s wrong?”
“I—I don’t feel well. Let’s skip the coffee.”
I scanned the room, searching for…I didn’t know what. Had she seen something to rattle her?
“What is it?” I asked.
Avery swallowed and shook her head again, turning toward the door.
“It’s nothing.”
Like hell it was nothing. A second ago, she was fine. Now she seemed to be practically green around the gills. And she was trembling like it was midwinter instead of warm early June.
Keeping a firm grip on Avery’s arm, I led her outside. As soon as we reached the truck, I turned to face her.
“You’re spooked.”
“No, I—”
I clenched my jaw, leveling her a look at her that said, don't fuck with me . Her gaze flickered back to the bakery. I glanced over my shoulder, but I still didn’t see anything to warrant her concern.
“Spit it out,” I said. “Something has you worried.”
Avery bit the inside of her cheek and shifted in place, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear. If I had to wait all day for her to talk, I would do it.
“There’s…a guy,” she admitted at last in a small voice.
The back of my neck prickled. I’d seen Avery date before—that was nothing new, and I kept my jealousy in check. What bothered me was the fact that this guy made Avery as shaky as a newborn lamb.
“I met him in college,” she continued. “He asked me out, but he wouldn’t take no for an answer. I blocked him. It didn’t do any good.”
I definitely didn’t like the sound of this.
“And now he’s here? You saw him?”
Avery’s gaze darted to the bakery again. That was all the answer I needed. I swore under my breath.
“Let me guess,” I said. “Grady has no idea.”
“He’s already overprotective enough as it is.”
“You need to tell him.”
Avery winced.
“I know. It just…won’t go over well.”
“I don’t give a damn. This guy followed you all the way from California to Colorado. Your father needs to know that you’re in trouble.”
Avery flinched and glanced away, chewing her lower lip.
“If I can’t handle this one creep, how will I run the ranch on my own, Bowen?”
I shifted closer and dipped my head until she reluctantly met my gaze.
“Hey. Grady has no doubts about how capable you are. This fucker won’t change your dad's mind, all right?”
She managed a small smile with a nod.
“You’re right. Thank you, Bowen.”
After helping Avery into the truck, I turned onto the road, headed for the auction. I glanced in the rear-view mirror, watching the bakery door in the hopes that someone would emerge. I wish I’d gotten a look at the guy so I could identify the prick who had scared her.
If Avery thought her father was overprotective, she was about to discover a whole new side to me that she wasn’t going to like. There was no way in hell I would let her out of my sight after this.