And Then You Fly Read online

  Part of her was scared about being there. Zack had gone to the Air Force Academy. He was buried in the cemetery on the grounds. Everywhere she looked there would be reminders of him. Would she feel closer to him, or further away?

  Bree closed her eyes and imagined she was with…Jace. Not Zack, but Jace. He was her comfort. Whenever she felt worried, or sad, she thought of him. It was his arms she wished she was in, not Zack’s. What was wrong with her?

  She opened her book and read the same chapter she’d been trying to get through all day. When she didn’t get past the first couple of paragraphs without her mind wandering, she slammed the book closed. She had to find something to get her mind off Jace Rice.

  ***

  “We’ll go ahead of you boys,” Hank said to Jace and Tucker. “I want to spend a day at TZ Bucking Bulls with Billy before your mom and I go back to Montana. Bullet’s goin’ with us.”

  When they got back from Texas, Lyric was at the Flying R with her brother Bullet. Before Jace knew it, the other partners brought him into the fold, not as a partner, but it was assumed he’d be working for them in some capacity. Jace didn’t mind. Bullet was smarter than Lyric gave him credit for, and he knew a lot about the rodeo industry.

  As a group they’d decided to take half the broncs from Crested Butte to Montana, and work on bringing more bulls south as soon as they could.

  Billy had been talking to his father about setting up another operation in Black Forest. It would be smaller than the ones in Montana and Crested Butte, but even so, Billy’s dad would require help to make it work. That’s where Jace figured Bullet would prove most useful.

  “You stoppin’ in on your way home?” asked Billy.

  “Just for the night. I’ll stay with Tuck and Blythe, and get on the road the next morning.”

  Billy was chewing on a piece of straw, studying Jace.

  “Since when are you the relationship whisperer? I never figured you’d be one to meddle.”

  Billy grinned at Jace, and walked away.

  “That’s more like it,” muttered Jace.

  Chapter 11

  “Can you hold him for a minute?” Blythe asked Jace. “Tucker is unpacking our bags, and if he gets any further, I won’t be able to find anything.”

  “I can hold him all day,” Jace said, taking Cochran out of her arms. “We got a lot of catching up to do, don’t we little guy?” Cochran reached out and tugged on Jace’s hair. “Ouch,” he yelped, which made the baby giggle and do it again.

  “First sign you need a haircut,” said Blythe, walking out of the room.

  “Tell me, little man, you got your Aunt Bree’s heart in the palm of your hand, how’d you do it? Give your Uncle Jace some pointers, would ya?” Jace murmured to his nephew, once he was sure Blythe was out of earshot.

  When Cochran leaned in and put his head against Jace’s chest, it melted his heart. “You’re a charmer, that’s what you are. It’s that Rice blood runnin’ through your veins.”

  Jace leaned back and closed his eyes, Cochran stayed where he was, his head resting against Jace’s chest. It wasn’t long before both of them were sound asleep.

  That’s the way Bree found them when she walked in the back door of the house and through the kitchen. She was about to holler out to Blythe to see where everyone was, but she was glad she hadn’t.

  Blythe came around the corner and was about to say something.

  “Shh,” Bree put her hand over Blythe’s mouth. “Look,” she pointed to Jace and Cochran, sleeping on the sofa.

  “Let’s go outside,” whispered Blythe.

  “Oh my God I’ve missed you,” she practically screeched once they were on the porch, and hugged Bree.

  Bree hugged her back just as hard. “I missed you too. And that sweet baby boy. He’s gotten so big.”

  “He’s growing up too fast. You have to promise you won’t leave again for a long time. As in not until he’s in high school,” Blythe smiled.

  Bree didn’t.

  “What?”

  “I can’t make that promised Blythe.”

  Blythe hugged her sister again, even harder. “I know you can’t. I wasn’t really serious. I just missed you, that’s all.”

  “Um, I missed you too, but I’ve got to run. I just stopped in to say hello, and see when we could get together. Maybe later on?”

  Blythe studied her sister, all signs of her previous grin long gone. “Bullshit.”

  “What?”

  “I said bullshit. You didn’t just stop in. You came to visit and now that you’ve seen Jace, you’re leaving.”

  “Blythe—”

  “No,” Blythe stomped her foot on the wooden porch. “This is not how it’s going to be. Cochran is not going to grow up with one of the two of you leaving whenever the other is visiting. This is bullshit, and I’m not going to stand for it.”

  “Who are you yellin’ at?” Tucker came out on the porch. “Oh, hi Bree.” He hugged her. “You’re gonna wake the two of ’em if you don’t keep your voice down, and I’m guessin’ that’s the last thing Bree wants.”

  “Too late.” Jace walked out the front door with the baby in his arms. As soon as Cochran saw Bree he started kicking his legs and reaching for her. Jace walked over and handed him to her.

  He looked deep into her eyes. “Hi,” he said.

  He knew she wanted to focus all her attention on their nephew, but she didn’t look away from him.

  “Hi,” she answered. Cochran put his pudgy hands up to her face, and broke the spell.

  “Hello my sweet boy,” she hugged him close and showered his face with kisses, which made him giggle. She turned and walked down the porch steps, talking to Cochran all the while. Jace wished he could hear what she was saying.

  He turned around and saw both Tucker and Blythe had gone back in the house. He sat down on the porch steps and watched Bree walk around the front yard with the baby. She knelt down next to a whiskey barrel full of flowers and picked one for him. He took it in his hand and put his lips against her cheek.

  Jace envied the boy. He envied Bree too. Cochran was getting more comfortable with him, but nothing close to the way he was with her. She had such a way with him. Similar to Blythe, but different. Jace knew Aunt Bree would always have a special relationship with Cochran. They’d have conversations that no one else would be privy too. The boy would learn a lot from his aunt.

  She looked over then. Her cheeks turned pink when she realized he was watching them. She stood and walked back to him.

  “I’m sorry,” she said. “I didn’t mean to take him away from you. I just missed him so much.”

  “You didn’t. I like watching you with him. He loves you, that’s evident.”

  “It is?” She nuzzled Cochran’s hair. “I love him too, like no other love I’ve ever felt.”

  Jace felt a pang of envy somewhere deep in his belly. Cochran won her love so easily. Would he ever be able to do the same? Lord knew he wanted desperately to know what it felt like to have Bree love him.

  The baby was reaching for Jace again. He hesitated. She might not be ready to give him back.

  “It’s okay,” she said. “He wants who he wants.” She handed him the baby.

  He watched her, but her expression didn’t change, she was still smiling at the baby. “He’ll change his mind in a minute or two, won’t you baby boy?” She lightly pinched his arm, which made him giggle and hide his face in Jace’s chest.

  “Peek-a-boo,” she said, and went behind Jace’s shoulder. Cochran leaned to where he could see her, and giggled again. Jace kept turning his body so they could continue their game. He was dizzy from spinning around, but he didn’t want to stop. There was no better sound in the world than hearing Bree and Cochran giggling together.

  “This is how I imagined it would be,” she said, after they sat down on the grass to let Cochran scoot around them. “Aunt Bree and Uncle Jace.”

  He knew he shouldn’t, but he couldn’t help himself. He reached
out and tucked her hair behind her ear. “God I’ve missed you,” he whispered.

  She leaned her head into his hand and closed her eyes. “I’ve missed you too.”

  He wanted to ask her why she pulled away from him, but he stopped himself. He’d gotten more advice about Bree in the last couple days than he’d gotten about anything in his life. The person whose opinion resonated the strongest was Liv. She told him to slow down, and give Bree time. Billy and Ben both told him to go after her, but it was Liv he listened to.

  “Everything you told me was right,” he said instead. “He’s wonderful. And I feel the same way you do. I can’t begin to describe the love I feel for him. I’ve never felt anything like it before.”

  She smiled at him, picked Cochran up, and kissed his forehead. Jace leaned forward and did the same. As he was about to pull back, he stopped. She was too close and he couldn’t stop himself. He kissed her forehead too, and then pulled back.

  She looked at him, the smile left her face, but the look that replaced it was curiosity, not anger, or even confusion.

  He closed his eyes, and willed himself not to speak, not to tell her that he wanted this with her more than anything else in life. The two of them, holding a baby between them, a baby they both loved. Not their nephew, but their own baby. He bit the inside of his cheek, in an effort to keep his mouth shut and not let out the words that would scare the shit out of her.

  “How long are you in town?” she asked softly.

  “A couple days. We’re meeting with a rough stock contractor in Larkspur, and then with Billy’s mom and dad. We really want to start a satellite operation here. We haven’t talked about it, but maybe he and Renie want to settle back here full time.”

  “I doubt it, I know Renie’s happy being close to her mom.”

  “Guess so, since she’s pregnant and all.”

  “Who is? Renie?” Bree felt as though Jace just hit her. Renie was pregnant. Why did that make her feel…hostility? And envy. “That’s wonderful,” she said, although she couldn’t have meant anything less.

  “Billy told me last night. I get the feeling he wasn’t supposed to so, uh, don’t let on you know.”

  “No, of course I won’t. It must be early on.”

  “He said they’d be having a baby in eight months, so I reckon that’s early on,” he grinned at her.

  “You know enough about it Jace, to know it is. Even though you may know more about the gestation periods of horses and cattle.”

  “That’s right little lady. I’m a humble ranch hand.” He pretended to tip his hat to her.

  Tucker walked out on the porch. “Blythe wants to know how many for dinner,” he shouted over to them.

  “Oh good lord,” whispered Bree, “I hope she’s not planning to cook.”

  Tucker was closer to them by the time she finished her sentence. “We’re goin’ over to the Patterson’s for dinner. Dottie wants to know how many.” He winked at her.

  “Oh, uh, sorry—”

  “Go along Bree, you haven’t seen your sister, or this sweet boy in ages. I can get somethin’ in town.”

  “Don’t you want to go?” She looked wounded.

  Jace was glad to see Tucker walking back in the front door. He didn’t want witnesses to what was going on with Bree and him.

  “Of course I do, but…you know.”

  “Please don’t avoid me Jace.”

  “Oh darlin’,” he stroked the side of her face. “That’s the last thing I want to do. Please don’t think that.”

  “Then go to the Patterson’s with us.” Her cheeks turned pink. “Listen to me, inviting you along. They know you so much better than they know me. Maybe I should head back to Palmer Lake instead.”

  “Now, now, that’ll make me feel as though you’re avoiding me. You don’t want that do you?”

  He wanted so much to tug her closer to him, hold her tight, and never let her go.

  Instead he stood. “I bet Lyric’s comin’ tonight, with her brother. Have you met him yet?”

  “Uh, yeah. He spent the night on our couch the other night. That was interesting.”

  “Yeah? Hear tell there’s somethin’ about the cowboy women can’t resist. Don’t tell me he’s got you under his spell too.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous,” she snapped at him. “That’s just silly.”

  “You know what they say when someone protests too much. I’m thinkin’ you got a crush goin’ on that young man.”

  “Jace, you can’t be serious.”

  She looked perplexed, and he loved it. Here goes, he thought. He was going to walk away, and then keep his distance. She knew how he felt, he hadn’t hidden it, but he was going to show her they could be together, with their families, and he wouldn’t stalk her. He’d give her space, if that’s what she wanted. He prayed hard that Liv Rice was right, otherwise, he might be making the biggest mistake of his life.

  “I gotta go talk to Billy, I’ll see you later Bree.”

  He didn’t wait for her to answer, he just walked away. Talk about interesting. He seemed fine.

  He was so…easy-going. And relaxed. Why was he so relaxed? And that damn confidentswagger of his. He knew how hot he looked, and he used it to his advantage. He was just the sexiest thing…oh God, what was she doing? She was fantasizing about Jace Rice while she played on the grass with Cochran. Thank goodness he didn’t try to eat grass, or dirt, or worse—a bug. She hadn’t been paying any attention to her nephew, every thought had been on his uncle.

  “Come on baby boy, let’s go find your mama before your Aunt Bree lets you wander off on your own.”

  Bree walked around to the back of the house, hoping Jace was still in the front. Instead, she came around the corner, only to see Jace climbing into his truck. He waved at her before he started it and drove off in the direction of Patterson Ranch. Great, he probably thought she’d come looking for him.

  It took every ounce of willpower he possessed not to jump back out of his truck, walk over and kiss the daylights out of Bree. Instead he closed his eyes, said a little prayer, and started the truck. Maybe he should skip dinner tonight. Staying away from her, keeping his hands off her, was going to be near impossible.

  For the next couple hours he had business to take care of, and he hoped to hell he could keep his mind on it instead of her.

  They were meeting in the dining hall down by the bunk house. Dottie and Bill were serving dinner to the cowboys who worked the ranch, and invited them to join in. He missed Dottie Patterson, not that he’d spent much time with her, but when he had, she always made him feel welcome, and boy, did she give good hugs. Jace was in need of a really good hug.

  “Damn time you showed up,” Billy smirked at him. “Thought maybe you’d be babysittin’ all night.”

  Jace slugged him. “As if you aren’t daddy of the year. Don’t give me any shit about wantin’ to hang out with Cochran.”

  “Cochran my ass. Tucker told me the two of you were with Bree. And you looked mighty smitten.”

  “Change the subject Billy. No kidding. The last person I want to be thinkin’ about right now is Bree.” He adjusted his jeans before he sat down on the bench, which only made Billy throw his head back and laugh.

  Ty Rinaldo was joining them for dinner. Ty raised bucking bulls in Larkspur, not too far from Patterson Ranch. Billy was pressing hard for his dad to bring more broncs to the ranch. He might not want to take on bulls too, but with TZ Bucking Bulls so close, he figured there was at least an opportunity for them to partner.

  “What about contracting to ranch rodeos?” Bullet asked.

  “Good question,” answered Billy. “What do you know?”

  “I like the idea of it. More old school. Buddy of mine did pretty well on bucking horses down in Amarillo earlier this year.”

  “Told you we should’ve stopped in Amarillo,” said Tucker.

  Billy rolled his eyes, and looked back at Bullet. “Might be interestin’ to consider. Bucking horses, and bucking bu
lls. Probably ain’t a lot of contractors who do it all.

  Jace recognized the look on Billy’s face. He was on to something. Maybe they could partner with Ty on a few bulls, but keep their primary focus on the broncs here in Monument. With the amount of rough stock and rodeo expertise they had combined, Flying R Rough Stock, the name they’d decided on, would be a new force in the industry. The operation was already so much bigger than Jace ever imagined it would be, and they’d barely started to scratch the surface of what they planned to do.

  “Who’s in Montana now?” Billy asked Hank.

  “Jace and I hired Yance Hatterburn. Best hand Montana ever saw,” answered Jace’s father.

  “Better manager than me and my dad combined,” added Jace. “No offense Dad,” he rubbed his dad’s shoulder.

  “None taken son.”

  “It doesn’t make sense for you to be up there all the time Jace,” Billy said to him. “You and me got too much work to do out on the circuit, gettin’ our name out there. Gonna be on the road pretty much non-stop.” Billy looked over at Renie who was talking to Blythe and Bree, and rubbing her stomach.

  “I can’t be gone all the time, you know that,” Billy shook his head. “I just can’t be.”

  “Nothin’ you have to tell me Billy. I get it,” he looked in the same direction, and caught Bree looking at him. Her cheeks turned pink. He loved it when he caught her, and she got embarrassed. He loved chipping away at that guard she kept snug whenever she was around him. He winked at her, which made her smile, then look away.

  “Maybe we can figure out a schedule,” Billy was saying. “But at first it’ll have to be both of us.”

  “What can I do to help?” asked Bullet.

  Billy looked at him, then at his dad. “We’re gonna need you around here for the time being,” he answered. “Right dad?”

  His dad was lost in thought, and Billy seemed annoyed by it.

  “You sure about this Billy?” Bill Senior asked.