Page 5 of Cowboy's Melody
Brooks
Teddi Wilde is the first woman to make my head spin in eight years.
She indulges Logan for a little while after breakfast while I take care of some chores around the ranch. The hard, physical labor helps me work through the thoughts circling in my head.
Both my mother and Linda have tried to fix me up with every pretty girl in Paulson and even a few who live in nearby towns. But when Logan’s mother, Samantha, died the only one who mattered was my daughter. Dating and marriage aren’t important when you’re raising a child alone.
But maybe it’s time to change. Logan is more independent and since we moved to the ranch, I finally have someone to help take care of her.
Before heading back to the main house, I drive out to my parents’ cottage. We own quite a bit of acreage and when Logan and I moved in, my parents moved to one of the cottages on the property.
As usual, my mom is outside working in her garden. I spy her bent over a row of tomatoes, plucking the red, ripe fruit from the stalks.
“Everything okay?” She calls out as I step inside the gate.
“Just fine. I was planning on taking Teddi out to see the ranch. Can you watch Logan for a couple hours?”
My mom smiles and I instantly recognize it. She’s got something up her sleeve and I’m not yet privy to her plan. “Sure. She can help me make salsa.”
“I’m sure she’ll love it.”
Except, Logan hates the idea of being left behind while I take Teddi out on one of the ATVs to see the ranch. She falls to the floor, bangs her fist and kicks out her legs. Her face turns as red as the tomatoes my mom brought over and tears stream down her cheeks.
“Daddy! You cannot do this to me,” she wails.
“It’s not safe, peanut, and you know that.” I try to reason with her but eight-year-olds don’t really understand logic.
Teddi watches all of this with wide eyes and her bottom lip firmly between her front teeth. “We don’t really have to go,” she says. “I’m happy just to hang out here and teach Logan to play a few songs on the guitar.”
“Yeah, Daddy, you don’t have to go.”
I roll my eyes because Logan is not winning this battle. “We’re going and you’re staying here with Grammy. You’re not a baby Logan, so stop acting like one.”
“You’re not my best friend anymore, Daddy,” Logan pouts. She gets off the floor and wraps her arms around my mom, who dutifully strokes the top of her head.
“Later on, we can take Teddi down to the river and show her where the cherries grow.”
All I get is response is a pointed “humph!”
“Sorry ‘bout that,” I tell Teddi when we’re out in the yard. “Logan’s just used to getting her way.”
“You don’t have to take me out to see the ranch, Brooks.”
“I don’t really get a lot of time to myself,” I admit but fail to mention it’s rare for me to be in the company of a beautiful woman.
I help her into one of the off-road vehicles we use to navigate the uneven terrain of the ranch. In addition to the rescue animals, we also raise our own cattle. Taking Teddi out isn’t any different than me going out to check on the animals. At least, that’s what I tell myself.
But I’m distracted by her yelps of excitement and the smile on her lips as we drive through acres and acres of land.
Paulson is a gorgeous little piece of the Flathead Valley I didn’t appreciate as a love-sick teenager, eager to get out from under my parent’s thumb. Samantha and I moved to Spokane as soon as we saved enough money but after she died, I needed my parents and this tiny little town when I realized I couldn’t raise Logan alone.
The vehicle starts to sputter until it finally stops, putting an end to my temporary trip down memory lane.
“Shit.” I mutter, hitting the steering wheel with the palm of my hand.
“What’s wrong?” Teddi’s eyes are big and her smile is gone.
“Don’t know.” The Polaris is an older model in desperate need of replacing. It was a stupid decision to bring this one all the way out here, so far from the main house, when there are newer models in the garage.
