“Now I’m surprised. You don’t seem like the family-man type. I had you pegged for a confirmed bachelor.”
He stiffened at her verdict. It was hard to hear that judgment from someone else, even if he’d said it about himself many times. He really didn’t have a clue how to be a father. A good father. He’d been on his own too long. But people change. Could happen to him. Maybe.
“Seems we are both into stereotyping people. But it’s not worth arguing about, since whether we want kids or not isn’t going to affect this marriage.” But it was a provocative thought. Making a baby. With Mandy.
She nodded her agreement and turned her face toward the window.
She seemed more relaxed now than when they took off, when he was afraid she was going into panic mode, with her eyes clamped shut and all the deep breathing she’d been doing.
In profile, her patrician features were highlighted, like those high cheekbones, that straight nose. And then there was all that wavy hair spilling over her shoulders and down her back. She’d have beautiful children for sure.
“So that leaves just us, right now, this moment. And I say we make the best of this situation and enjoy the time together irrespective of the decisions with the business. I promise it will be enjoyable, Mandy.”
She didn’t respond. Instead, she kept her head turned toward the window.
Well, she might be able to avoid the topic, but she couldn’t avoid the nights.
Chapter 9
“Ben.”
Ty watched Mandy enthusiastically greet the middle-aged cowman who rose from behind his desk as they entered the small, paper-cluttered office in the back of the Abilene rodeo fairgrounds. The two exchanged hugs, and Mandy went right to work, asking after wife and kids and the cattle business as well as talking about the heat already roasting Abilene.
Ty waited for his introduction, feeling an unaccustomed awkwardness. He’d donned a white shirt and black jacket for this meeting, but he would have been right at home if he’d worn the T-shirt. Ben was dressed liked he’d just stepped off the ranch, in denims, a plaid shirt, and dusty cowboy boots.
“Ben Cornwall, I’d like you to meet Prescott’s newest partner, Ty Martin. He’s helping Prescott through this transition period.”
The introduction was smooth, even if she failed to mention that Ty was running the company. And her husband.
She seemed comfortable in this ambassador role, strengthening connections with people she’d obviously known most of her life. Ty shook the committeeman’s firm and work-roughened hand.
Ben gave Ty the once-over, like Ty was some heifer he was interested in buying but unsure of the price.
“You a stockman, are you?” Ben said, his hands now on his hips. The older man wasn’t being unfriendly, just curious—at least, that’s how Ty was going to take it.
“No. Harold Prescott is the stockman, and a better one you won’t find. I’m a businessman who owes my success to J. M. Prescott’s belief in me. I’ve stepped in to fill the gap created by his passing in order to help Mandy out. She’s the one who will make sure the rodeo will live up to Prescott standards.”
Ben kept his focus on Ty. “Being our event is at the end of the season, we’ve struggled to attract top talent. So naturally, we’ve had some concern about assuring a quality show now that JM is no longer at the helm.” He shifted his gaze to Mandy. “It’s a lot to take on if you don’t have the experience.”
“It is,” Mandy responded, standing tall and taking the man’s skepticism without flinching.
“But Prescott Rodeo Company is more than just one man, Ben,” Mandy continued. “It’s a family. JM made sure of that. As such, the Prescott family is as committed as ever to providing our rodeo councils the highest quality event with the best broncs and bulls. I feel fortunate JM started grooming me a decade ago. He understood he wasn’t going to live forever.”
Ben shook his head. “Geez, last year I’d hardly have guessed he was feeling poorly.”
Mandy’s throat moved in a hard swallow. “Neither did he. By the time they diagnosed it, it was too late.”
Ben nodded, probably having heard that scenario far too often. “Tucker not interested?”
Ben didn’t appear to notice, but Mandy stiffened. “He likes to ride ’em, not run ’em, but he’s part owner. This is a family affair, as I said,” she answered, gilding the truth a bit. “I didn’t mention that Ty is not only a business partner but my husband.”
If she fumbled those last two words, Ty could sympathize. It sounded strange to him too. He knew she’d emphasized family to stress continuity, and she’d only reluctantly included him to make that point.
Ben looked from one to the other as if trying to gauge the truth, and he blew out a breath. “Well, congratulations, you two.” Ben waved a hand toward the office doorway. “Let’s have a walk around outside and see if we can’t find Lyle Thorton. You remember Lyle, Mandy.”