The Cowboy Next door

  The Cowboy Next door

  Title Page

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  The Cowboy Next Door By Miley Stewart.

  Copyright © 2013 By Miley Stewart.

  This book is the copyrighted property of the author and may not be reproduced, scanned, or distributed for any commercial or non-commercial use without permission from the author. Quotes used in reviews are the exception. No alteration of content is allowed. If you enjoyed this book, then encourage your friends to download their own copy.

  Your support and respect for the property of this author is appreciated.

  This book is a work of fiction any resemblance to persons either living or dead is purely coincidental.

  Table Of Contents.

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Farewell Note

  Other Books By The Author In Smashwords

  The Cowboy Next Door

  ***

  Chapter One

  She was back.

  Tyler Jakes reined in his horse and watched Eden March's blue Tahoe stop in her grandfather's driveway. When Ira March had passed away two months ago, Eden had been home just long enough to take care of her grandfather's affairs before she'd left town, much as she was known to do. Staying in their small hometown of High Cotton, Texas, for any length of time wasn't her style.

  But now she'd returned—and she wasn't alone, he noted as a white Suburban pulled up behind her. He peered closer at the sign on the car: a real estate agent.

  What the…?

  If she had plans to sell, he would have a say in that. He'd leased the land from Ira to grow corn and had already plowed and prepared the land for planting. He needed every dime from those crops, and he wasn't about to let Eden cut him out of the deal.

  Kneeing his horse, Tyler galloped toward the barbed wire fence that surrounded the fifty-acre property. He dismounted, tied Champ to a post and strolled through the gate toward them. Eden was talking to the lady and didn't spot him until they turned and started walking to the house.

  Pushing her sunglasses to the top of her head, she frowned. "Why is it when I come home you're always here?" Her blue eyes flashed with anger as they often did when she spoke to him. Ira had called her his beauty, and she was certainly that, with flowing blond hair and features that had to have been created when God was in a good mood. No question she'd been blessed in the looks department, but in others…he'd always thought she was flighty and irresponsible, constantly flitting from one harebrained scheme to another. While he had to pick up the pieces.

  He cleared his throat. "I take care of the place."

  "Who gave you permission to do that?" The sun picked out the silver highlights of her hair and he was mesmerized for a second.

  "Your grandfather did."

  "Pa isn't here anymore and I'd appreciate it if you'd stay off my property." She marched up to the door, twisted the knob and pushed. The door didn't open. She tried again. No luck. She swung toward him. "It's locked."

  "Seems like it. Don't you have a key?"

  The smooth lines of her face crunched into a bigger frown. "I suppose, but I'm not sure where it is. Pa always kept the door open." Her baby blue eyes caught his. "I'm betting you have one."

  He jammed a hand into his jeans pocket for the key. Strolling to her side, he shoved it into the lock and opened the door. Eden didn't move. She stood right at his shoulder, and a delicate fragrance reached him. For a moment he had difficulty concentrating.

  She held out a hand, palm up. It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what she wanted.

  He laid the key in her palm.

  "Thank you. And from now on, please, stay away."

  But Tyler wasn't leaving it at that. Not when he had so much at stake. He offered his hand to the real estate lady, who seemed to be rendered speechless by the interaction between Eden and Tyler. "I'm Tyler Jakes. I own the property next door."

  "Mona Parker." The older woman eyed him. "Oh, yes. You're the rodeo guy."

  "Used to be. I'm a farmer and rancher now."

  "And he was just leaving," Eden said.

  Mona looked around. "How many acres with the house?"

  "Fifty," Eden replied.

  "That will be a big draw. People like a country setting where they can have horses and ride four-wheelers."

  "That is not happening," Tyler interrupted. "I lease those fifty acres and no one is riding ATVs over my crops."

  Eden stared at him, dumbfounded. "What are you talking about?"

  "I leased the land from Ira."

  "But Pa is dead, surely whatever agreements he made aren't still binding."

  "Ira's word is binding to me."

  Eden paled.

  "This is a problem," Mona said, pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose. "Do you have a contract, Mr. Jakes?"

  Tyler was about to respond and make darned sure that he quashed Eden's attempt to sell—or at least stalled it—when he saw Chance Hardin drive into his yard. Chance was the foreman of the Southern Cross ranch. If he was in Tyler's driveway, it probably meant he had a job for Tyler. The large Southern Cross ranch was located across the road from Tyler's small spread, making it easy for him to pick up extra jobs. And since he needed every spare cent, he had to cut this short.

  "I…I have to go. But I'd love to tell you all about my long-term agreement with Ira. Do you have a business card?"

  Mona fished in her purse and handed one to him. "We really should get this straight. Ms. March, didn't you say you were in a rush?"

  Before Eden could respond, Tyler suggested, "How about if we meet here at nine in the morning?"

  "That's fine with me," Mona replied.

  Eden stepped to the side so only he could hear. "If you ruin this for me, I'll never forgive you."

  "Well, Eden, lucky for me that forgiveness is not something I need from you." He tipped his hat to the ladies and strode over to meet Chance.

  ***

  After Tyler and Mona left, Eden locked the door and flipped on a light. Her anger at Tyler disappeared as she stood in the living/kitchen area and soaked up the ambience of her grandparents. Two recliners sat facing a huge fireplace and a TV. The scent of Pa's pungent pipe still lingered. A moment of sadness and loneliness hit her. She ran across the hardwood floor, down the hall to their bedroom and fell into a big feather bed.

  It was soft, heavenly, and she could almost feel her grandmother's arms around her.

  "Everything will work out, Beauty."

  That's what she'd said when Eden's parents, after ten years of marriage, had decided to divorce and go their separate ways. There was just one problem—what to do with Eden. Without much thought they'd left her with her father's parents.

  After Eden got over the shock of their abandonment, she realized it had been a good decision. Her parents had argued constantly and her life had been in turmoil. Her grandparents, by contrast, had never argued. They were a stabilizing force for Eden. She went to school in High Cotton, made new friends and started a new life, blooming in the love and attention that her grandparents showered on her.

  But there was a big, pesky fly in her happiness—Tyler Jakes.

  He was a child of a single mom, his father having died when he was young. Pa had been an agriculture teacher and Tyler was one of his favorite stude
nts—which meant Tyler was at their house asking Pa questions about growing coastal and corn, and what was the best feed his mom should buy for their cattle, and on and on. Her grandfather doted on him. When he was around, Eden felt invisible.

  Even though Tyler was six years older, they always seemed to be competing for her grandparents' attention. She'd had a brief moment of happiness when Tyler graduated high school and joined the rodeo circuit. But two short years later, Tyler's mom had remarried and moved away, and Tyler quit the rodeo circuit to come home and run the ranch—which meant he spent even more time at their house, soaking up Pa's knowledge.

  She tried not to be jealous, but there didn't seem to be anything she was good at, nothing that made her feel special. Nothing in High Cotton, anyway. And by the time she turned eighteen, she couldn't wait to get away. She took fashion and design classes in Austin, still unsure what she really wanted to do. Her grandparents always told her how beautiful she was, so she changed courses and devoted every moment to studying acting and modeling.

  She headed for Hollywood to test her skills, but soon found there were thousands of girls more beautiful, more talented and more driven. But finally she landed a bit in a commercial and called home to tell her grandparents, wanting to prove to them that she could succeed. But they were more excited that Tyler had gotten married. She got a gig modeling for a catalogue and once again called home, only to be met with the news that Tyler and his wife had had a child. Everything she did seemed to pale in comparison to Tyler's life. A bit in a commercial and a brief job modeling did not equal success.

  But Eden March was nothing if not determined. She'd be a success yet. And now she had the ticket to that success. One day about two years ago, she'd gone to a craft store on a lark, bought supplies and started making her own jewelry pieces. People continually stopped her to ask about them and almost overnight she was making and selling her jewelry to craft stores and boutiques.

  Around the time her grandmother had passed away, one of the store owners had urged her to go to New York and sell her designs to the fashion industry. Eden knew as soon as the woman had said it that it would be her break. She'd gone home for her grandmother's funeral and to grieve with Pa, but hadn't said a word to him about her new career, wanting to have something to show for it first. Only he'd died before she could even get the money together. But that's why she was home—the sale of the house would give her enough capital to get started. It was her chance to prove to her grandparents, if only in spirit now, that she could be as big a success as Tyler. They would be proud of her. She was so close…and this time she wouldn't fail.

  She ran her hand over the handmade quilt on the bed. Her grandmother had made it. So many memories were in this old house. Could she let it go?

  Getting up, she walked into the kitchen and glanced out the window. She could see Tyler talking to Chance Hardin. Tall and lean, Tyler had brown eyes and hair and a swagger that was typical cowboy. She supposed he was handsome in a rugged sort of way. But she had never thought of him in that way.

  He'd always been her archenemy. And judging from the way he'd seemed intent on torpedoing her appointment with the real estate agent, nothing had changed. But this time, she'd be the one who came out on top.

  Chapter Two

  As Tyler galloped toward his house, he thought of the encounter with Eden. She was home to sell the property. He smiled. Evidently she hadn't read her grandfather's will. She was going to blow a gasket when she found out he had a say in any potential sale.

  Ever since Eden had left High Cotton seven years ago, her trips home had been sporadic. When her grandmother had passed on right before Thanksgiving about a year ago, she'd stayed through Christmas to help Ira adjust. Tyler had stayed out of the way, giving them time together.

  Almost a year to the day, Ira had followed his wife. Tyler had wanted to comfort Eden in some way, but getting close to her was similar to getting close to a porcupine. She'd made it very clear with sharp barbs that she didn't need him.

  But now she did. At least if she wanted to sell the house.

  He dismounted as he neared Chance and shook his friend's hand. "Hey, Chance. What's up?"

  "Are you in for a little cowboying?"

  "Always. But don't you have your own cowboys who can do that?"

  "Yeah. But I got a situation that calls for an expert…so why not ask a national finals champion?"

  That always made him grin. "What's the problem?"

  "I got a Brahma bull calf with something in his foot. He's limping, but when we try to get close to the calf the momma charges. It's too far away from the corral and a hassle to take portable pens out there."

  "And you have a plan?"

  "The cowboys can cut the calf from the herd for a few minutes, but I need a good roper who can go in quick and get the calf down so I can examine his hoof."

  "Team roping?"

  "Yep. I'll be the header, but you'll have to be the heeler. It's going to take some magic to get the rope around his back feet, so that's your job."

  "I have to pick Jenny up from school in a few minutes. Will tomorrow work?"

  "Sure. I did mention this could be dangerous, that we only have a few minutes before the momma breaks loose?"

  He tipped his hat. "I can handle it."

  Chance glanced toward the March house. "Eden's back."

  "Yeah," Tyler replied without too much enthusiasm.

  "Wonder if she'll stay this time."

  "I doubt it. Her life is not in this small town."

  His friend watched him. "Still not getting along?"

  "Not even close," he admitted.

  "If I knew anything about women, I'd give you some advice. Since I don't, I'll keep my mouth shut. See you tomorrow."

  Tyler waved goodbye and noticed the real estate lady had left. He could go over and try to talk to Eden, but it wouldn't do any good. Once she contacted the lawyer, they'd be enemies forever. Which was fine with him. If the choice was between the money to feed his daughter and Eden March's current harebrained scheme, he'd fight her 'till the bitter end.

  ***

  The next morning Tyler was in a rush getting his six-year-old daughter, Jenny, off to school. He brushed her hair and gathered it together so he could loop a band around it. But it was the most difficult task he'd ever attempted. He couldn't seem to hold it long enough before strands slipped out. Roping a steer was much easier. God, he was inept at raising a girl. He was inept at being a father, period.

  At the third attempt, Jenny scrunched up her face.

  "What?"

  "You're not very good at this, Daddy."

  "No, I'm not," he admitted.

  "I can do it. I can do it."

  He handed her the brush. Things were so much easier when his mom was here, but Jenny was his responsibility. His mother had a right to her own life. She'd spent many years taking care of him.

  Still, being a single father was hell. He'd never expected Denise to run out on them. She'd said small-town life was stifling. They'd argued about moving to a big city, but his roots, land and job were here. Eventually the marriage ended and Tyler had refused to let Denise take his daughter. He'd been surprised when Denise had caved so easily.

  Oblivious to his dark thoughts, Jenny gathered her hair and whipped a band around it in two seconds flat.

  "See, Daddy." Big brown eyes stared at him. "It's easy."

  He hugged her. "You're growing up." But he hoped not too fast. "Now for the million-dollar question. Where's your jacket?"

  She shrugged.

  "Jenny." He sighed. "Daddy can't afford another jacket right now." Every time he turned around there was one more bill to pay. He was betting on the crops on his and Ira's land to get him back on his feet. That is, if Eden didn't sell Ira's land out from under him.

  Searching through Jenny's closet, he found an old denim jacket. "This will have to do."

  After she slipped it on, he gave it the once-over. It was a little tight in the shoulders and th
e sleeves were too short. His heart sank. He had to do better than this.

  "Don't worry." Jenny smiled, her two front teeth missing. "Everybody knows my daddy's a cowboy."

  A broke cowboy who was struggling to raise a little girl.

  "Let's go, pumpkin, or you're going to be late. I'll check with Mrs. Lofton. Maybe you left your jacket in her classroom."

  "'Kay." She followed him into the kitchen. "Do I have to stay 'til six today?"

  "Yes. Daddy has to work." The school had an after school program for kids whose parents worked, which was great for him but Jenny hated it. Once the crops were in from his land and Ira's he'd have more time for Jenny.

  After dropping Jenny at school and watching her run off in her too-small jacket, Tyler headed for Eden's, ready for battle.

  ***

  Eden was showing Mona around when Tyler walked in. He removed his hat. "Morning, ladies."

  "Mr. Jakes." Mona smiled at him. He seemed to have that effect on women. Damn him. "I was just looking at the house."

  "It's almost a hundred years old," he said.

  Eden glared at him. "Pa took very good care of it. He had it painted five years ago and the roof is new."

  Mona glanced at the floor. "Is this the original flooring?"

  "Yes," she replied. "Pa said they don't make wood like that anymore."

  "What a beautiful dining room set," Mona exclaimed as they walked around.

  Eden touched the dark oak. "It belonged to my great-grandparents." Every holiday they'd eaten at this table. Pa sat at the head, and Gran had her place at the end by the kitchen. Eden's seat was on the side and unless the planets were out of alignment, Tyler had sat across from her. And the conversation centered around Tyler and his accomplishments. Once she'd left for college and Tyler had gotten married, somehow she'd never been back during the holidays. Until her grandmother had passed away.