With Cole's question still ringing in her ears, Joey threw herself into making everything right. Over the next several days, she helped make her parents comfortable, used Ellen and Marie as assistant decorators and tried very hard to help Greg get used to being the new kid at school.
      Cole watched her scurrying around, his eyes hooded and his expression giving nothing away. She felt as though she were on trial, and Cole her judge and jury. She wore herself out to prove that she could be his wife and handle the house, her family, and most particularly, her son.
      In spite of her efforts, juggling the demands of her family against the needs of her new husband and his family, particularly the hostile and puzzling Betty, wore her out and left her exhausted and stressed.
      Trying to help Greg adjust, she bought him jeans, Western shirts and boots, but he continued to wear his beach clothes deliberately, defiantly, flaunting his difference. She was tired of the never-ending argument with him.
      After another of his tirades against Montana, dumb cows and hated school, Joey sank down into one of the oversized leather sofas and stared up at the living room walls. It had taken hours, but she'd finally gotten every single one of those ghastly trophies down and wrestled them up into the attic. Cole hadn't mentioned the ones she'd already removed from the dining room. Chances were he wouldn't notice these were gone, either. Wiping perspiration from her forehead, she studied the walls, bare now above the wainscoting. The places where the trophies had hung showed pale against the darker walls. Fresh paint or maybe wallpaper?
      "What on earth have you done?"
      Whipping her head around at the sound of Betty's furious voice, Joey regretted it the instant her neck muscles spasmed. She sat up slowly. "Hi, Betty. How's Sam?"
      "Never mind Sam. What have you done in here?"
      Joey rubbed her neck. "Just what it looks like." She gestured to the walls. "I'm redecorating. What do you think, paint or wallpaper? Maybe some chintz curtains?"
      Betty ignored her questions. "Does Cole know?"
      "Well, of course, he knows," Joey tossed back, feeling just a tad guilty. He knew she wanted to make some changes, but maybe not quite this much.
      "Once you get tired of spending Cole's money, what next?" Betty advanced, fists propped on her hips, to stand over Joey. "Are you going to redo the barn, too?"
      Joey narrowed her eyes at Betty's stance. If she tried to stand and Betty didn't move, then they'd be in full confrontation mode. Just what they needed, more conflict. She made herself sit back and pulled her legs up under her, as though she were totally at ease. "I don't think you need to worry about that, Betty."
      "Oh, no? What's going to be left for Sam if you waste it all in here?"
      "Is that it?" Joey asked incredulously. She dropped her feet to the floor. "Is that why you dislike me so much? You think I'm going to strip Cole bare?" The very idea was laughable. If Betty could see the amounts she was running up on her own gold credit cards, she'd know Sam's inheritance was perfectly safe.
      "It doesn't matter what I think," Betty leaned forward. "It's easy to see what you're up to. When Cole finds out, you'll be out of here in no time flat."
      "You're wrong, Betty." Joey kept her voice calm though her insides were knotting at her accusations. And at the possibility that Betty could be right. "You might not believe me, but you'll see. Cole's-—"
      "Cole's too blind to see what's under his nose!"
      Joey paused. Maybe Ellen had a point. Maybe Betty did have "a thing" for Cole. "What's it to you, Betty?" she probed, hating the doubts that crept into her. "You're married to Sam. Why do you care what Cole does?"
      "That's for me to know." Betty threw a folder on the end table. Papers slipped out and sailed to the floor. "That's for Cole." She headed for the door and stopped long enough to say. "You can tell him for me all the figures are correct. I checked over Sam's work."
      Joey stood and went to pick up the mess. "What do you mean, you checked over Sam's work? What are these?"
      But Betty had left the room without an answer, leaving Joey to puzzle over her strange attitude. After dinner, she gave Cole the folder and repeated Betty's message. "What did she mean that she checked Sam's figures?"
      Cole raked a hand through his dark hair as he studied a spreadsheet. "Oh, Sam's never had much of a mind for business."
      "And Betty does?"
      "Guess so. She has a degree in Agronomics."
      "In what?"
      "Agricultural economics," he replied absently.
      Joey considered that. "What does she do on the ranch, Cole?"
      "Looks after Sam, I guess."
      She took the paper from him, forcing him to look up at her. "That's all? With a degree like that, why isn't she using it?"
      He reached for the paper, but she retreated, holding it away from him. "Cole," she said slowly, thinking her way through the situation. "Do you suppose Betty's upset because she hasn't got enough to do?"
      "Sure she does."
      "No. Think about it. She didn't go to college to do dishes and wash clothes. She probably had a career in mind. If she's not using her degree to help you, I mean the ranch and Sam, then maybe she's feeling left out. Or that her skills aren't wanted."
      "Why are you so concerned about Betty after the way she's treated you?"
      She waved his question away. "Maybe she's upset about wasting her potential, not using her education."
      Cole thought about it. "What do you want me to do about it?"
      "Didn't you say that you and Sam traded jobs while he's recuperating?"
      He nodded. "So what?"
      "So," she said, warming up to her topic. "Why don't you have Betty do it instead of Sam?"
      "What'll Sam do then?"
      "Concentrate on getting better, getting back to what he likes to do. Last time I was over there, he was champing at the bit to get back to work."
      "Champing at the bit, huh?" Cole grinned at her choice of words. His grin faded. "What if Betty doesn't want to?"
      "Ask her, Cole. Give her a trial run. Ask her if she'd do the ranch paperwork, keep the books, do the buying and forecasting or whatever while Sam's laid up and you're doing his job," she coaxed. "When you're ready to take it back, then see how she's done."
      "What if she screws things up?"
      "Could she do worse than Sam?"
      His lip quirked. "Guess not. I'll talk to her in the morning. Wait," he demanded when she threw threw her arms around his neck. "Don't know why you're doing anything for her, but I like it."
      "Thanks, Cole." She kissed him silly.
      He deepened the kiss and then, taking the paper from her, tossed it down on the table. "C'mon, honey. All of a sudden I'm ready for bed."

      She sank back into the pillows, panting after their frenzied love-making. Cole flopped over onto his back, chest still heaving.
      When he could speak, he asked, "Not that I'm complaining, honey, but you trying to wear me out? Or yourself?"
      "What?"
      "You're running around here like a spooked filly. You in a race or something that you have to do everything in a week? And what the hell did you do with all the trophies?"
      Joey bit her lip. "I put them in the attic."
      "You did what?" he bellowed.
      "I hate them," she burst out. "All those poor animals staring down at me with big glass eyes. It's awful."
      "Hell, Joey. Those trophies mean a lot to me. Some of those are bucks like we'll never see again."
      "I'm sorry," she said, trying to control her quivering lip. She turned away from Cole, but couldn't stop her voice quavering. "I'll put them back."
      "Ah, honey, don't be like that." He put his hands on her shoulders and gently rolled her to face him. "I didn't realize you felt that way about them." He stroked a curl away from her forehead. "Did you touch the ones in my office?"
      "Not yet," she admitted.
      "Leave those alone," he ordered. "I guess I can live without the ones in the other rooms, but don't lay one finger on my office. You hear?"
      She nodded, content with the compromise. She rarely went into Cole's office. Snuggling closer, she murmured into his warm chest. "I can live with that."
      "What's with all the changes you're making around here."
      She pulled back to gaze up at him. "Don't you like what I'm doing?"
      "Hell, yes. I like it. The house looks good, like a home again. I guess I hadn't noticed how it was before."
      "Then what's the problem?"
      He blew air out. "It's a little sudden. A man likes time to think about things before they get all switched around."
      "Okay." She sighed. "I'll slow down. Anything else?"
      "You're wearing yourself out."
      "I'm just trying to make everyone happy."
      "Hell, Joey, what for?"
      She pushed away from him and sat up. The air was cool against skin heated by Cole's passion and his closeness. She pulled the blankets around her shoulders, trying to warm more than her skin. Cole's words left her cold.
      She sighed again, a long wearied acceptance of defeat. "It's not working, is it? I'm trying, Cole, I really am, but I don't seem to be getting anywhere."
      He put his hand on her thigh in an absent minded caress. "What is it you're trying to do, Joey?" "Make a home for us. Bring your family and mine together." Now that she put it into words, she realized how monumental a task she'd given herself.
      "In a week?" Cole echoed her thoughts. "C'mon, honey, be realistic."
      "I have to start somewhere," she protested.
      "But you don't have to redecorate the whole house. You don't have to-—"
      "I've been trying to keep it down, honest. I'm watching what I spend. It's just that things are-—"
      "It's not the money," he interrupted. "As long as you don't go overboard, spend what you have to."
      She started to tell him she'd been using her own money, but then thought better of it. She'd tell him later. "Then, what's the problem?"
      "Joey, haven't you figured out that I didn't marry you to change my house?"
      She looked at him along time. His hair was rumpled, stubble showing dark against his cheeks, his eyes intent on hers. She wanted to run a hand over his jaw, then down the corded neck and through the hair on his broad chest. She wanted to move back into his arms and forget everything but the way he made her feel. "Why did you marry me, Cole? Really?"
      "You know why."
      "You could have said 'no' in Las Vegas," she reminded him.
      "It seemed like a helluva good idea at the time."
      His dry tone tore through her. "Was it just sex after all?" she whispered. "What happens when that wears off?"
      "Are we back to that again?" he grunted. "And why should it wear off? It's damn good sex. I keep you satisfied, don't I?"
      "Is that all there is between us, Cole? How about caring, affection, maybe even love?"
      "Do we have to talk about this, right now? I've gotta get up in a couple of hours."
      She wanted to thrash this out, but he obviously didn't. This wasn't the first time they'd spent most of the night awake. "Go to sleep, then."
      He rolled over, his breathing deepening, she lay in the darkness and thought. Cole might be satisfied with their relationship, but it wouldn't be enough. Not for the long haul. She could rely on instinct only so long. Pretty soon now, she'd want some definite indication that he needed her for more than sex. As good as it was, they needed more to keep them together. They both needed love.
      At first, the idea of loving Cole had seemed to be too improbable. After loving Tom for so long, how could she just stop and love someone else? But lately, she'd look up at Cole and see that certain look in his eyes, and a responding glow grow within her and she knew that maybe she wouldn't have to stop loving Tom in order to love Cole, too.
      And if she could come to that realization, and accept she was falling in love with Cole, then he could do the same. She didn't like to keep harping on it, but sooner or later Cole was going to have to admit that. Only question was, could she wait until the idea didn't scare him anymore?
      The next morning, she'd cleaned up the breakfast dishes and sat nursing a second cup of tea when Cole strode in, bringing with him a trace of brisk fall air. Tossing his Stetson on the counter, he came to her, lifted her out of the chair and nuzzled her throat. "Want to go riding with me?"
      It was as if they hadn't argued last night, hadn't gone to sleep on a bitter note. "Where?"
      The excitement in her voice made him smile. "Down by the creek, maybe a bit beyond. I've gotta check something out."
      "Give me a minute to change."
      He ran his hand down the silky material of her robe. "Put your jeans on."
      She pressed herself against him, enjoying the way the heat of his body flowed through his chambray work shirt, the flimsy robe and nightgown and into her. "Umm. Do that again."
      He stepped back. "Get that sweet little fanny upstairs and into some jeans before I get any other ideas."
      "Promises, promises," she teased.
      The sound of her laughter wafted back as she left the kitchen. Satisfied with himself, Cole poured himself another cup of coffee and waited for her.
      Like a kid with a surprise behind his back, Cole led her to the corral, where his stallion and a smaller, dainty mare waited. "Oh, you're beautiful," Joey crooned as she patted the mare's neck. "Where did you come from? You weren't here the other day."
      Cole hid his gratification with her pleasure. "You gonna ride or stand around chatting?"
      She turned to study his face, half hidden in the shadow of his Stetson. "Where did she come from?"
      "Bought her for you," he said laconically.
      "For me? Oh, thank, you, Cole!" She threw her arms around his and kissed him. She barely heard the horses shift restlessly, or the snicker of one of the ranch hands coming out of the barn.
      Cole did. Stepping back, his neck red, he gestured at the mare. "Let's go. You going to need help?"
      "I think I remember." She climbed into the saddle, glad that her childhood obsession with cowboys had resulted in riding lessons. It had been a long time since she'd done any riding, but it came back easily. Within minutes, she felt as if she'd never been away from horses.
      "Take it easy, now," he cautioned as he watched her put the mare through her paces. They walked, trotted, then cantered around the corral.
      She came to a halt in front of him and settled more comfortably into the Western saddle. She beamed at him. "No problem. I'm ready."
      "All right." He turned in his saddle and whistled. "Red!"
      The big golden retriever came racing from the barn, tail streaming behind him in a lacy plume. Several feet behind him, Romeo and Juliet followed, yipping and yapping. The three skidded to a stop beside Cole's stallion.
      It skittered nervously. Cole reined him in. He gave his dog a disgusted look. "What are you doing with those pint-sized excuses for dogs?"
      Red licked the top of Juliet's head, his big tongue almost obscuring her, then flopped in the dust. The two smaller dogs sat at his side, as though riding shotgun.
      Cole swore. "They've ruined him. I swear it. A good hunting dog turned into a dog nanny."
      Joey laughed. "You can retrain him after my parents leave."
      "Looks like I'll have to," Cole muttered as he led the way out of the corral at a walk.
      When he was sure that she knew what she was doing, he nudged his horse into an easy lope. Laughing, her curls jouncing in the early morning sunlight, Joey followed.
      They rode side by side through several valleys until they came to a stream shaded by aspens, their bright yellow leaves quivering in the cool breeze. Taken by the serene beauty, Joey rested and studied the land. No wonder Cole wouldn't consider living anywhere else. The bounteous sky above, the never ending vista of rolling plain and pine covered mountains, all spoke to her of his deep seated roots in this land.
      If she wanted to be a part of his life, she would have to adapt. It was easier for her, since she admitted to herself that she was falling in love with her big cowboy, but what about Greg? He had no ties to Cole nor to this land. What was there here for him?
      "Why so quiet?"
      Cole's voice broke into her thoughts. She flashed him a smile. "I'm admiring Montana."
      "Well, that's nice," he drawled back. "That makes you sad?"
      Her smile faded. "You're getting to know me too well."
      "Good. Want to tell me what's on your mind?"
      She shook her head. "Just something I have to work out for myself."
      "I thought we weren't going to hide things from each other."
      "When I have it worked out, I'll tell you all about it."
      He frowned. "Guess that'll have to do. C'mon, I have to check some fencing before we head back."
      "Do we have to? I could do this all day."
      His lip quirked. "And tonight you'll cuss at me for making you so sore."
      She'd already noticed the stretching of her thighs. "Can we come back another day?" she asked, thinking how nice it would be picnic alone here with Cole. To have time to talk, to get to know each other better, without the distractions of ranch or family.
      "Whenever you want, honey."
      With Joey, Cole rode the fence line, every so often stopping to check the tension on the wire, shore up a post and once to free a calf who'd gotten stuck. With the mama looking anxiously on, Joey helped Cole free the small animal.
      "Thanks, honey. You're becoming a regular hand."
      Joey beamed her pleasure. "This is fun."
      He looked up from calf's hoof he'd been inspecting. "Especially when it's twenty below."
      "It gets that cold?" Joey shivered.
      "That's Canada due north. Beyond that is the Arctic. Hell, yes, it's get cold."
      "I've never been in a real cold winter, before."
      Cole stuck the pliers back in his hand pocket. "You'll get used to it." He stood and stretched his back. "I'm getting too old for this. Should have let one of the hands do this."
      "Why didn't you?"
      "They're busy. Besides," he gave her a long, slow smile, "How else am I gonna get you alone, Mrs. Lassiter?"
      He hadn't called her that in days. "Is that what you had in mind?"
      "Damn right."
      "It's a little nippy out here for what you're thinking."
      "You think I have sex on the mind?"
      "Don't you?" She looked at him curiously. A little miffed, too, that they were alone together and he had no interest in taking advantage of the situation.
      He chuckled. "With you? Always, but today I wanted to spend some time with you. Make up for last night."
      Her insides warmed. "That's nice."
      "Just you and me. No kids, no in-laws, nothing but us."
      "I'm glad."
      "You want to talk about what's bothering you?"
      Now that he had unexpectedly given her the opportunity, where did she begin? To give herself time, she suggested, "Why don't you start? Looks to me like you have something on your mind."
      "Yeah, I do." He stretched again, his gaze roving over the land.
      Joey watched him, content to wait until he was ready to speak. She liked him this way, at one with his land, with his heritage. More and more she saw how right it was that he stay and work his ranch. She kicked at a clod of dirt, and watched as the wind, a little stiffer now, blew the dust away.
      He studied the sky, watched the blue-gray clouds roiling up on the horizon, then tested the wind. Apparently satisfied, he hunkered down out of the breeze. She sank down next to him and crossed her legs, tailor fashion.
      "Any idea when your folks will be going home?" he asked at last.
      She pursed her lips. This wasn't what she had expected. "As soon as the doctor says Poppa can travel."
      He nodded.
      "You're feeling overrun with all the company, Cole?"
      "Yeah. Sorta. I mean, I like it better when it's just the two of us."
      She touched his arm, feeling the muscle beneath it tense under her hand. "No argument there."
      "Are you going to stay with me when your folks go?" he asked, his voice blunt and harsh.

Ready for the next chapter? Chapter Twenty-one -- posted May 30, 1998

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Last updated: May 30, 1998