A Cowgirl's Heart Read online

  “A girl can dream,” Megan retorted.

  “I’m confused. Why did you say you were leaving then?” Frankie said.

  Deb sighed. She loved her friends dearly, but sometimes, they really were hard work. “I never said I was leaving, you guys presumed that. Which, to be honest, was kinda hurtful.” She assumed a wounded expression. “Especially given my fragile mental state.” She looked at the serious, worried faces that greeted her announcement. “Too soon?”

  “Most definitely too soon,” Frankie declared flatly.

  “Anyway, where was I before you all so rudely interrupted?” Deb paused to gather her thoughts. “That’s right. Where I see my future. Since we moved over here, I’ve just been kinda going with the flow. But since I’ve had Grace, I don’t want to ride the young horses anymore. I can’t risk coming off and getting hurt.”

  Frankie looked ashamed. “I’m so sorry that I didn’t think of it. It wasn’t fair to assume you would come back and want to keep doing it, you know, once you felt better.”

  “I wouldn’t have thought I would feel that way either till I had Gracie.”

  Gabi chewed her lip thoughtfully. “Megan, I know we keep asking this of you, but would you be able to continue keeping the horses in work when Frankie is away? At least for the time being. I know Frankie promised we would find someone to help, and I swear we will. But with everything that’s been going on, it kinda got put on the backburner.”

  “I can, but not if I’m still doing the stable stuff as well. It’s just too much. Plus, long term, I don’t see myself working the horses,” Megan replied.

  Gabi looked to Deb. “It might be best to split roles as the stud gets bigger anyway. So, if we made you Barn Manager and you looked after the day-to-day aspect of managing the horses”—she glanced at Megan—“and you just looked after keeping the horses in work, would everyone be happy? At least for the time being?”

  “Happy as a pig in mud,” both Megan and Deb said in unison.

  “I need to get out and meet more people,” Megan said sourly. “I’m even starting to sound like her.”

  Deb thumped her on the back heartily. “Can’t help it if my awesomeness is starting to rub off.”

  “Awesomeness wasn’t the word I was going for.”

  “Speaking of awesomeness, how was working with the spunky Carlos?”

  Megan gave her a look of disgust. “He was a perfect gentleman. Very professional.”

  “That’s a shame,” Deb said, giving her a sympathetic look. “Maybe next time, you can get him to forget he’s a gentleman.”

  “Are you two just going to sit there giggling or are you going to help?” Megan asked her chuckling friends.

  “When she’s teasing you, she’s leaving us alone,” Frankie said, obviously enjoying her discomfort. “Plus, I still remember how much you enjoyed it when she was giving it to me. Karma.”

  “I need to get new friends.” Megan threw a cushion Frankie’s way.

  Deb watched the interplay between her friends, grateful to once again feel like she was part of the tight bond they all shared. Sometimes miracles did happen.

  Chapter 16

  Deb smiled as she waved goodbye to Mitch, his truck rattling over the bumps in the drive. “You really should do something about that,” Megan said. “You know, now that you’re the Barn Manager and all.”

  “I’ll add it to my list. I swear you’ve bloody taken almost childish delight in adding to my list of chores.” Deb looked down at the monitor, her child still slumbering peacefully on the screen. “Was there anything in particular you wanted, or did you just come to give me an earbashing?”

  “Just wanted to say hi to Mitch before he left, but I see I’m too late. Not that I think he cares that much with you keeping him company. Did you ask him about those new shoes for Sampson?”

  “He said he doesn’t think they’ll make any difference. He just put the same type he always has on,” Deb said.

  “Cool, I’ll let Frankie know. So, everything is good with you guys?”

  “Yeah, as good as we ever were. Which is great, I guess.”

  Deb was at a loss to explain how she felt. She was grateful Mitch still wanted to have anything to do with her after everything that had happened, let alone to still be her friend. But lately, she found herself remembering how safe she had felt in his arms. No, it was more than that. She felt cherished.

  Megan looked intently at her friend. “What’s going on in that noggin of yours?”

  “Maybe I’ve backed myself into a corner.”

  “With Mitch?”

  “Yeah. I think I like him.”

  “About bloody time you admitted it to yourself. So, how did he take it when you told him?

  “I haven’t told him.”

  “Ah, why?”

  “I haven’t exactly been making the best life choices lately. How do I know this isn’t another mistake?”

  “Because it’s Mitch, for bloody sakes,” Megan exclaimed. “You’re crazy if you let him get away.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “Look, I’ll admit I was jealous when he started showing you attention, but I was never in with a chance. You guys were always meant to be together. He loves you, and he loves that little girl of yours.” Megan blinked rapidly. “I must have some dust or something in my eyes.”

  “Aw, come here you big softie.” Deb pulled the resisting Megan into a bear hug. “It means a lot, you saying that.”

  “Well, don’t make me regret saying it to you. Go catch your cowboy.”

  “Hello,” Mitch’s voice came through the phone.

  “Hi, it’s Deb,” she said nervously, immediately feeling like an idiot.

  “I know. I have your name saved in my phone as Gracie’s mom,” he said, amused.

  Deb was taken aback in surprise. “Do you really?”

  “Fair dinkum. Do you reckon I would joke about something like that?”

  “That’s actually really sweet.”

  “I’m a sweet kinda bloke. Didn’t you realize?”

  “Ah, anyway, I was calling to see if maybe you would like to do something with me and Grace,” she said hesitantly, feeling sick as she battled with the anxiety rising up within.

  “Like a date?”

  “I mean, it doesn’t have to be.”

  “I’m just teasing. I would love to go on a date with my two favorite ladies. Tell you what, how about I make us a picnic lunch and we can go somewhere nice? You just pick a day and time and I’ll make it happen.”

  Relief made Deb let her breath out with an audible whoosh. She was fairly certain it was loud enough for Mitch to hear on the other end of the phone. “That sounds good. How about Saturday?”

  “I’ve cleared my entire day. Now, don’t eat a big breakfast. I’m going to make you girls a feast.”

  As Deb hung up the phone, a pleasant flutter of anticipation danced in her belly. Maybe she wasn’t making a mistake after all.

  Mitch gallantly offered his arm as he settled both of them into his truck, fussing to make sure the baby capsule was properly secured. On the drive to the secret picnic location that no amount of prodding had been able to pry from him, the conversation flowed easily and comfortably between them. Grace gurgled and chattered, happy to be in the midst of them. It came as a surprise when the truck came to a halt. Deb peered curiously outside to discover they had pulled into the botanical gardens. She gaped at Mitch in astonishment.

  “This is literally the last place I thought you would bring us today and yet, it’s kinda perfect.”

  “I try,” he said humbly. “Now, my ladies, shall we proceed and find a prime location to lay out our feast?” Grace giggled happily up at him. “That’s a yes from the little cowgirl.” He stared intently at Deb. “And what about her beautiful mom?”

  Deb gave him a smile, her happiness radiating from her. “I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else today.”

  He blinked as if blinded by the brightness that shone from her. For a moment, it
appeared as if he was going to say something, a look of intense yearning naked in his eyes, before he changed his mind. Giving a rueful little shake of his head, he smiled. “I think I know where we should head.”

  They walked past carefree butterflies that fluttered from flower to flower, their only care the next bloom upon which to land in the warm sunshine. Deb envied their jauntiness, thinking that, if she could somehow find a way to bottle it, she would be a millionaire. Grace was fascinated by the reflections on the water in the gardens, the willows kissing the surface like lost lovers as they crossed the arched wooden bridge. At last, Mitch selected a spot on the green parklands under a shady elm.

  “This, fittingly, is called The Horseshoe,” he said by way of explanation as he set the picnic basket down and proceeded to spread out the rug. Deb gently lowered Grace to the ground, her daughter immediately reaching to grab handfuls of the lush grass.

  Deb watched in awe at the mountain of food containers he emptied from the wicker basket. “How on earth did you fit all of that in there?” she blurted out. “And more importantly, did you actually make all of this?”

  Mitch looked guiltily at her. “I would like to say, as a disclaimer, that I was in the kitchen throughout the cooking and baking process for each and every item.” He held out his hand to show her a red painful-looking blister on the back of his hand. “I bloody well burnt myself on the oven getting the sausage rolls out and all Frankie could do was laugh,” he said indignantly.

  Enlightenment flared. “So, Frankie made this?”

  “She let me stir some things and wash up,” he confessed. “I just wanted it to be perfect and, well, I didn’t think Vegemite sandwiches were gonna cut it.”

  Overcome by the sheer amount of care and effort he had put into arranging the perfect day for them, tears began to well up in Deb’s eyes. Attempting to hide them, she ducked her head on the pretense of pulling some grass from Grace’s hand before it could find its way into her mouth. Fingers made coarse from work lifted her chin up gently as if she were made from the finest china.

  “I didn’t mean to make you cry. I deadset just wanted to make you happy. That’s pretty much all I’ve wanted for a long time now.” His voice was gruff from emotion.

  She sniffled. “These are happy tears.” She shrugged, her face turning sad. “I just can’t remember anyone ever going to so much effort for me.”

  He tenderly wiped the tears from her eyes. “Then you had better get used to it. I plan on doing it often, if you’ll let me.”

  Her heart lurched at the emotion in his voice. “I think I’d like that,” she said softly. Feeling as if she had finally climbed her way out of the dark, hope blossomed within her. Maybe she could have her happy ever after, after all.

  Deb closed the door gingerly behind her, the click of the door barely audible. “I think we plumb tuckered her out,” she whispered.

  “I think she had fun,” Mitch whispered back.

  “So do I.” A calm happiness glowed from her. “I had fun, too.”

  “Then my work here is done.”

  Mitch reached for her hand as they walked toward the door, the sweet gesture making Deb’s belly flip-flop. “Thank you for everything today. It meant a lot to me.”

  “I want to say something smooth and cool, but I’m just a bloke from the bush. So, I’m going to tell you how it is. I love you, and I love that little girl in there, and you know it. I’m hoping I’m not reading the signals wrong here. Do you want more? You know, more than just friends?” He looked down at their joined hands as if embarrassed at his outburst.

  Deb’s heart twisted in her chest, love gripping her for this man who stood before her who had never once given up on her. “I love you, too.”

  His eyes widened at her words, a slow beatific smile stealing across his features. “Strewth, I never thought I would live to see the day that you, Deb Burke, actually admitted you love me.” His smile turned mischievous. “But you’re only human, after all, and can’t fight my charms forever, I guess.”

  Deb gave an unladylike snort. “So humble.”

  His expression turned serious, somehow at odds with his usual larrikin expression. “Tonight, you’ve humbled me. I won’t ever take those words you said for granted.” His eyes never once leaving her face, he gently cupped her chin with his fingers, bringing her lips to meet his. Deb closed her eyes, losing herself to everything but the feeling of his skin against hers. As he pulled back, she slowly opened them, already mourning the moment that had passed. “I think I had better leave on that note. You need to get some sleep, young lady.”

  Deb laughed. “Only if Grace got the memo.”

  “Make sure you thank Megan and Gabi for making themselves scarce too,” he wryly observed.

  “Subtle, weren’t they?” She yawned.

  “Good night, Deb. Love you.”

  “Love you, too.”

  Deb closed the door and leaned against it feeling giddy as a schoolgirl. Well. Well, indeed.

  Chapter 17

  There certainly was something to be said for waking up with a bubble of anticipation of what the day would bring. The effervescence of happiness from last night still fizzed away in Deb’s heart. Who would have thought that Mitch, teasing little Mitch from Mrs Humprey’s class, could put such a smile on her face and a flutter in her heart? She glanced down at the monitor, relieved to see Grace was still sleeping peacefully.

  “Thanks for giving Mommy a chance for a coffee in peace.”

  Blessed silence greeted her in the kitchen, a note on the table from Megan and Gabi informing her the stables had been done for the day and they would be back from Frankie and Luciano’s after lunch to hear all the juicy gossip from her date. Exuberance burst within her again, the smile on her face widening as she remembered the previous day. She stared, dreamy-eyed, as the kettle boiled. Checking that her daughter was still asleep, she blissfully walked down the stairs. It was too nice a morning to be cooped up inside. Caught up in fanciful thoughts, she barely glanced at her phone when it rang before answering it. Too late, she realized it was Tucker.

  “What the bloody heck do you want?” she greeted him harshly, the bubble of happiness well and truly popped.

  “Now, darlin’, is that any way to greet your baby’s daddy?” he contemptuously sneered thought the phone.

  Deb gripped the phone tightly, fighting the urge to hang up. “What do you want?” she demanded in a no-nonsense voice. “I don’t have time to deal with you today.”

  “I think you will make time. In fact, I can guarantee it.”

  Deb shivered at the unspoken threat evident in his words. “Just spit it out. Or are you planning on boring me to death with all your yabbering?”

  “You’d wanna watch how you speak to me, Deb.” The menace in his voice sent a trickle of apprehension dancing up her spine. “What I want is money. I don’t even want that much. You and your rich friends should have no trouble coming up with a measly $50,000.”

  Deb struggled to contain the hysterical giggle that fought to escape her lips at the situation. “Mate, you’ve seen my bank accounts. I don’t have that sort of money.”

  “You’ll find it. If you want to keep Grace, you will.”

  The breath fled her lungs at his words. “You’re not taking Grace from me. You don’t even want her except as a way to get back at me,” she cried frantically.

  “You’re right. I don’t care about you at all. But I do care about money. Now, be a good little girl and make sure I get it.”

  “No judge would ever give you custody.”

  “That’s where you’re wrong. I have videos, lots of videos, from when you were all whacked. You really were a bad Mommy. If I take that to court, no way will they leave Grace with a freak show like you. I mean, even the doctors say you’re crazy and have to take pills.” A black abyss opened at Deb’s feet, threatening to swallow her back down to the depths she had only recently crawled out from. “I’ll take it from your silence that you agree to
my terms. I’ll be in touch with details of a drop off for the cash.” The line went dead.

  She threw the phone away from her with all the strength she still possessed. Seconds later, it hit her. A tidal wave of despair, head-spinning, heart-wrenching, stomach-curdling, knee-buckling desperation. Tears fell down Deb’s ashen face as she struggled to draw in air. She battled against the panic, the tightening of her chest as if the muscles were trying not to let another breath in. Then a gasp forced its way in, shallow lungs unable to move against her heavy ribs, her mind static as she sunk against the wall.

  “Deb, is it not a beautiful day?” Senhor Eduardo said, appearing around the corner. He stopped short at the sight of her chalky complexion and tear-stained cheeks. “What has happened? Is the baby okay?”

  Her eyes clouded over. She raised them to meet his, her eyelashes spiked with the evidence of her despair. “Grace is fine, for now.” Her voice sounded far away. “I just don’t know what to do anymore, Senhor Eduardo. The more I try, the more I get knocked back down again. I’m just so tired.”

  Senhor Eduardo sat her down gently. “Life is a tiring journey. It’s not for the faint-hearted.”

  “I don’t think I can do this anymore,” she blubbered, ashamed at her failure.

  “You are strong. My own mae never thought she was strong. She never left her village. But she was the strongest person I have ever known. Getting through life with no scars is not strength, it is luck. Real strength comes from fighting, clawing at life until you bend it to your will. My mae, she had seven children to raise after my papai died. And she did it because she never cowered at life’s feet.” He handed her a handkerchief, his expression somber as he peered intently at her, searching for evidence she had heard him, or more than that, that she had understood his words.

  Deb wiped her eyes and blew her nose. “I never was one of those delicate weepy women. I’m an ugly crier all the way.”

  “There is no shame in your emotions showing, Deb,” he reassured her, giving her knee a squeeze. “Now, do you want to tell me what the cause of this is?”