A Cowboy's Dance (White Oak Ranch Book 1) Read online

  Seeming to sense his melancholy, Fire turned his head and rubbed against Cole’s side while he secured the saddle. Cole chuckled at the perceptive stallion and gave his head the scratch he was secretly looking for.

  “You ready to take me away for a little while and let me do some thinkin’ while in your company, boy?”

  Fire bumped Cole with his head, and Cole took that as a yes.

  “Well, all right then,” he chuckled softly, stroking the stallion’s neck. “Let’s get to it, you and me.”

  With a firm pat to Fire’s flank, Cole swung up into the saddle and gave the horse a squeeze with his thighs, enough to get them moving at a slow and easy pace.

  Chapter 2

  “What a clusterfuck of a day!” Everest Cooper grumbled under his breath, thankful that it was almost at its end.

  He lifted his hat from his blonde head and wiped the sweat from his brow for what felt like the hundredth time since he’d risen from bed far too early. His foreman’s call at two a.m., alerting him that one of their heifers was in labor and in distress, had Everest bolting upright and dressing in record time. It had taken them and their on-call veterinarian several hours to get the calf turned correctly and to help guide it into the world, so mother and babe were safe.

  As soon as those lives were preserved, however, another cow decided to drop her calf early and it, too, was breach. Everest had stayed with the small group of men and the cow, as they had the first, letting the rest of his hands complete the work necessary to keep his near-eighty thousand acre ranch running efficiently.

  Only it hadn’t run as smoothly as Everest wished it had that day. One employee after another had come to him and his foreman, Lum, throughout their time helping the heifers, asking for their advice. First, their questions were about the damaged sections of fencing after recent storms, and then about a tractor that wouldn’t start. Next, there was a horse that had thrown a shoe and, finally, his hands discovered that a key water tank had a small leak in its side. Once Everest saw the second calf born successfully, he had cleaned up and gone to help with the tank’s repair first before he checked on the other issues of the day.

  Now, he was good and tired. Ready for a cold beer and a juicy steak, if he had his druthers. But there was something that sounded even better to Everest than the supper of his choice – and that was the chance to see Cole Gentry. That, he wasn’t passing up no matter how weary his ass was.

  “Wanna ride over to Bo’s together?” Lyle, his younger brother, called out from across the lane. The gravel path led to their three barns and the house in which Lyle lived with his wife, Gail, and their newborn daughter, Sarah.

  Everest’s house was a quarter mile up the road which snaked its way through the ranch, tucked away in a nice stand of trees, giving him the privacy and solitude he craved. Their two older brothers, Burke and David, along with their wives and children, lived on the original Cooper ranch to the east of Everest’s spread with their parents. They were close, but still far enough away that Everest knew his place was his own.

  “Nah,” he said and waved Lyle off. “Gonna get another shower and then head over. You go on and let them know I’ll be along shortly.”

  “Okay.” Lyle shrugged and gave Everest his patented lop-sided grin. “See ya there!”

  Everest chuckled to himself as he watched Lyle’s long legs eat up the distance to his house. He knew Lyle wouldn’t be able to leave before telling his family goodbye one more time. Everest turned back toward the first barn, intent on checking in with his stable master who was watching over two horses due to foal within the week. Everest wanted to assure himself that they were well before he took his leave for the night and attended the local card games that went on with many who worked the neighboring ranches.

  Not that he truly cared two cents about playing poker or any other game. No. What Everest cared about – whom he cared about – was Cole. Cole and only Cole. Had for years now and as time went on, his feelings only grew stronger. So strong, in fact, that Everest knew he was ready to make his move at long last.

  It had not been easy to bide his time over the years as he had, waiting and watching from the sidelines, but it had been necessary. Not for himself, but for Cole. Cole was a senior in high school, only nineteen when the call came that his father had died while out in the field working with their largest herd. Cole had rallied around his mother, who was devastated by the loss of her spouse, and he’d made sure to keep his hands close, so the ranch continued to run despite the sorrow that filled the halls of their home.

  Time eased some of the initial pain that Bill Gentry’s passing brought, and with it, Cole grew into a strong and capable man. He sought out Everest from all the neighboring ranchers who offered their advice and help as Cole moved forward in the business, much to Everest’s delight, and he listened to what Everest told him.

  Listened and took Everest’s business plan to heart so that he was successful in his own right. Cole was a man now, standing on his own two feet and ready to be someone’s partner. Everest was just as ready to let Cole know that he very much wanted to be the handsome man’s companion in all ways and in all things, thereby dislodging the leech that had been hanging on to Cole for far too long now.

  Oh, Everest knew all about Robbie Paschal. Knew the younger man had all but tossed Cole away when he left town, yet still managed to keep his hooks buried in him enough to prevent Cole from moving on. Well, Everest was done watching another hurt the man he cared most for and wanted to claim as his.

  He had decided days ago that this would be the night he took the leap and invited Cole to his place for dinner the following evening. Once he had Cole under his own roof, Everest intended to tell Cole in private that he had deeper feelings than the younger man knew about and wanted more for them than the strong friendship they’d steadily cultivated over the years.

  Yeah, he thought with an inward sigh, it’s time. Long past time for their own dance to begin.

  Once Everest knew his mares were still doing well and he had taken a quick shower to wash away the day’s grime, he slid behind the wheel of his king cab diesel Ford and headed out for Bo Lawson’s ranch. One glance at his watch told Everest he would definitely be late, but since his only goal for the night was a private conversation with Cole, Everest wasn’t too worried about his tardiness.

  Old country tunes kept him company along the drive, some he even attempted to croon along with, though not very well. Everest had to laugh at himself a few times when he sang off-key rather badly, glad that his friends and co-workers couldn’t hear him. They’d probably give him all their winnings from the night to stop, Everest admitted with a rueful grin.

  When Everest turned into the long drive leading to Bo’s ranch, he felt his excitement grow and had to tell himself to calm down, lest he ruin what promised to be one of the most important conversations of his life. He didn’t want anyone else privy to what he said to Cole, nor did he want to alert them to their impending significant exchange the second he stepped foot in the door. The men would sense any change in his normally even temperament and seize upon it, demanding information, like a bunch of old gossiping busybodies.

  Everest shook his head at the thought.

  He rounded the final bend in the dirt lane and noticed two things straightaway. One – there were more trucks present than normal. And two – Cole’s old dual cab Chevy wasn’t among them. Everest almost put his vehicle in reverse and turned around, but seeing Mike Watkins’ truck parked on the far right stopped him from leaving. Everest knew if Mike was there, then he would be able to tell him why Cole was absent.

  Everest parked and made his way up to the two-story, white-sided farmhouse, stopping only to pat the hounds that intercepted him and wiggled, begging for some attention. He bent and gave them the scrubs they wanted and looked up when he heard the front door opening. Bo leaned against the frame, crossing his arms over his chest, and grinned.

  “About time you got your ass over here!” Bo chuckle
d and extended his hand to Everest as he scaled the few steps and reached Bo’s side. “How’s your last month been, Ev?”

  “Been just fine. Yours?” Everest moved into the foyer and past it to the kitchen alongside Bo.

  Bo chuckled again at Everest’s non-answer. “I’d say we’ve had a good one, too. The storms tore us up a bit, though. Lost a few heifers when the winds started throwing debris around like a mini tornado in the western fields.”

  “Sorry to hear that.” Everest raised his hand and gave Bo’s shoulder a slight pat before he let it fall back to his side. “We have some downed fences we’ll have to repair from debris and limbs.”

  “Hell, I’d take busted fences over lost cattle any damn day.” Bo blew out a breath in disgust.

  “I hear ya,” Everest rumbled.

  “Yeah, well… What are ya gonna do?” Bo shrugged and let the matter drop because there was really nothing more to say. They had no control over the weather, though sometimes they wished like hell they did.

  Bo led Everest through the kitchen, handing him a cold beer, and on to the large den where everyone else was gathered and spread out at various collapsible card tables scattered throughout the room. A chorus of hellos and gentle ribbing echoed around him as Everest strolled through the room toward the table where his brother sat. He returned their greetings and good-natured teasing with ease, stopping to shake hands with several of his neighbors. Everest thanked the Lord above when he noticed that Mike sat at the same table as Lyle. Seemed someone was looking out for him after all.

  “We were starting to think you weren’t gonna make it,” Lyle said and smiled as he leaned forward to lightly slap Everest’s shoulder. “The mares still lookin’ good?”

  Everest dipped his chin. “Both are doing fine for now.” He slid his hat off and ran a hand through his hair, trying to restore some kind of order to it. He was past due for a trim.

  “Burke called to say he and David won’t make it tonight,” Lyle supplied.

  “Oh?” Everest knew that their elder brothers’ children had been battling terrible colds of late. It had probably made it to them now, too.

  “Yeah.” Lyle nodded and gave a little shrug. “They promised to be at the next game night.”

  “Okay.” Everest turned his attention back to the men around them. “Mike. Parson. Wyatt,” he said in turn, acknowledging the others at the table and shaking each man’s hand before he placed his hat on the back of his chair.

  “Ev, been a while, son,” Parson said, inclining his nearly bald head.

  “It has, sir. Glad you’re feeling up to being out for the night, though,” Everest commented.

  The older rancher had missed the previous two months due to illness and fatigue. Everest was pleased to see that Parson was well enough to join them again. Several of the others within their community had pitched in and offered their help when they learned the seasoned man was down for a prolonged spell.

  Parson chuckled dryly. “My wife told me if I didn’t come tonight, she was personally driving me here and leaving me. Seems I’ve been something of a bear while fighting off first the flu and then damned pneumonia.”

  “Something tells me that’s an understatement,” Mike said and laughed softly.

  “Oh, you know it,” Parson said without a hint of embarrassment or shame. “Laura deserves a medal for puttin’ up with me all these years.”

  “And then some,” Wyatt muttered, though his wide grin let Everest know his playful barb was intended to be heard.

  “Watch it,” Parson warned.

  He gave Wyatt a smack on his arm, and everyone laughed softly at the older man’s fire. Didn’t look to Everest as though illness was keeping him down any longer. Parson was as spry and quick-witted as ever. Maybe a little more so that evening because he’d been laid up and out of circulation for so many weeks.

  Speaking of someone being absent… Everest sat back, enjoying his beer, and listened to the others around him banter back and forth as they finished out the hand they were playing. He joined in their conversation where he could, waiting for the right opening to ask Mike about Cole’s whereabouts. Mostly, though, Everest simply watched and listened, finding he learned far more about the neighboring ranches and goings-on in town if he tuned in to the conversations scattered around him.

  His opening came when the game concluded, and both Parson and Wyatt excused themselves to hit the head before a new hand was dealt. Everest watched them walk away and then he turned his gray eyes Mike’s way. To his surprise, Mike was already looking right at him.

  “Y’all want something else to snack on?” Lyle asked as he stood and grabbed the empty bowl of salsa that sat at the table’s center.

  Everest glanced up at his brother. “Whatever you snag is fine.”

  “Be right back, then.”

  Everest watched him stroll away and then he returned his gaze to Mike. Mike continued to look his way, only now a slight smile curled the right corner of his thin lips up. The expression eased the man’s weathered features and made him look more approachable.

  “You wantin’ to know where my boss is, aren’t you?” Mike asked, his voice low so others wouldn’t overhear.

  Everest appreciated Mike’s discretion.

  He nodded. “Indeed, I am. Will you tell me?”

  Mike’s eyes roamed over Everest’s countenance, and then his probing stare met Everest’s once more. Everest felt as if the man was looking straight into the very heart of him and judging his moral fiber by whatever he was sensing. At almost thirty-two years of age, Everest was well-settled in his bones and confident in who he was. Knowing he wouldn’t be found lacking, Everest met Mike’s questing gaze steadily and waited the man out.

  Finally, Mike gave a quick nod, more to himself than to Everest. Everest recognized he had won this round with Cole’s foreman and that Mike was ready to extend a bit of his hard-won trust Everest’s way for something other than business. Based on his past interactions with the man, Everest also knew that could only happen with Mike after years of proving himself, not from just one night’s inspection.

  Mike leaned forward and propped his arms on the table. His slight smile fell away. “I’ll tell you,” he specified clearly, “and no other because I think you might be the one person who can do something about it. For the right reasons, that is.”

  “I’m listening.” Everest leaned in a little closer now too, resting his forearms on the thin table.

  Mike exhaled. “Don’t know exactly what was said, but Cole got a message from someone on that phone of his that caused an immediate reaction – and not a good one. He wanted to keep to himself tonight, thinkin’ he needed the solitude.”

  “Someone?” Everest murmured, arching an eyebrow.

  Mike hummed and took a sip of his beer. “After all these years watchin’ my young charge, I think you know, Ev.”

  So, Mike had noticed his interest in Cole after all. Everest smiled. He couldn’t help himself.

  “I most certainly do, Mike. And it’s about time that selfish son of a bitch hit the trail,” Everest growled, unable to stop his irritation at Robbie from showing.

  “Well, if you know about it all, then tell me, Ev… What are you gonna do about it?”

  Everest stared at Mike for a few more moments before he slowly rose and reached for his hat. He slipped the clean ivory Stetson on his head and touched its brim as he nodded. Everest leaned down, so their words remained private.

  “I’m gonna do what I’ve wanted to for years,” he rumbled.

  “And what’s that?”

  “Claim what’s mine,” he vowed.

  Mike leaned back and surveyed Everest’s face. “You ready for all that’s gonna entail? For you and for him?”

  “More than ready, Mike. I’ve been planning for this day for years.”

  “Yeah,” he drawled slowly and then stood alongside Everest.

  Mike extended his hand and Everest took it, feeling the silent promise they were making to o
ne another with that simple gesture.

  “I love him like a son, Everest Cooper. You do right by him, and you’ll have all the backing you two will need to make this thing work.”

  “Coming from you, that means a lot. And I intend to make this work for the long haul, friend,” Everest assured him. “I give you my word.”

  A broad smile stretched across Mike’s face and his eyes crinkled at their corners. “Then get your ass outta here and get to it!” he teased, slapping Everest’s shoulder as he shoved him back a step.

  “Where are you goin’?” Lyle asked, giving Everest a perplexed look as he returned, his arms loaded down with snacks and drinks. “You haven’t even had a chance to play.”

  Everest helped Lyle place everything on the table and then he clasped Lyle’s shoulder, giving his brother a slight shake.

  “I’ll play next time. Tonight, I’ve got something else far more important to see to.”

  Lyle studied Everest’s face and then his eyebrows rose high on his forehead. He looked from Everest to Mike and then back again.

  “You know I’ve got your back. No matter what, right?” Lyle whispered.

  Well hell, Everest thought! Maybe he hadn’t done such a good job after all of hiding his desire to build something permanent and lasting with Cole. Lyle and all their immediate family knew Everest was gay – had since he was sixteen. That was one truth he’d never hidden from those closest to him. But Everest had thought he’d kept his ardor for the other cowboy firmly tucked away until the time of his choosing. Apparently not good enough to escape his brother’s notice. Or Mike’s, for that matter.

  Still, he had their backing, and that was enough initial support to get Everest moving again. Moving toward the front door and to his truck.

  He murmured his thanks to his brother, gave Lyle a quick side-hug, and called out a brief goodbye to the host.

  Bo looked shocked momentarily, but quickly covered his expression and told Everest not to be a stranger as he strolled past. Everest grinned and gave Bo a wave over his shoulder as he hit the front steps at a jog. Now that he had made up his mind that he was going to get his man that very night, nothing was going to stop him. Not anymore.