Cowboys, Cowboys, Cowboys

by D'Ann Lindun

  “I’m off today.” R.J. hooked a thumb over his shoulder. “And so’s Nick.”

  “What do you do?” Noelle asked Nick.

  “I breed horses.”

  “He does more than just raise them,” R.J. said proudly. “He and Dad sell Suffolk Punches, a rare breed of draft horse.”

  Even clueless as she was about horses, Noelle realized that was impressive. One time a date had taken her to the National Western Stock Show in Denver to watch an event and she’d been mesmerized by the Budweiser Clydesdales. “Nice.”

  “These Hadley men and their horses. A love story, if there ever was one.” Amity shook her head. “We better get going, or we’ll be late.”

  With another lingering kiss, the lovers parted. R.J. mounted his horse and Amity climbed back over the fence. She and Noelle watched the three men ride away, then got into her car.

  Noelle shivered. “Brrr. Turn up the heat, will you? I’m freezing.”

  “You need a cowboy to warm you up,” Amity said. “And by the way Nick was looking at you I think he’d be all too willing to rev your motor.”

  He’s not the only one.

  “He’s really cute. I can’t believe he’s available.”

  “Free as a bird,” Amity said.

  “Women must be falling all over him,” Noelle murmured.

  “If they are, he keeps it a secret.” Amity slowed for a corner. “I’ve never seen him with anyone.”

  Before she could elaborate, a huge log house and a bunch of outbuildings came into sight. Pickups of every color and make sat in the driveway.

  “Did everyone in Black Mountain come here today?” Noelle asked.

  Amity parked behind a Silver Dodge Ram with a barrel racer logo in the back window. “No. This is mostly only family and close friends. Brace yourself. My biological father has half a dozen ex-wives and they don’t all love each other, although his daughters care deeply for one another. They’ve embraced me as one of their own.” Although the house was gorgeous, Noelle half expected sawdust and peanuts on the floor. “This is a hell of a lot different than the shower we threw when you were marrying Brad.” Held at a country club, it had been an elegant affair.

  Amity grinned at her. “You haven’t seen anything yet. The reception’s going to be in that barn.” She pointed to a giant structure to the south.

  Noelle opened and closed her mouth. “You’re joking.”

  “Nope. It’s perfect. Just wait until you see it. You’re going to love it, too.”

  “I’m sure I will.” Noelle stared at her friend. Who was this woman and where the hell had she hidden the real Amity Levore?

  Had her cowboy stolen her mind, as well as her heart?

  Not happening to her, Noelle vowed, no matter how sexy she found Nick Hadley. She was getting out of this Bermuda Triangle the same as when she came in.

  CHAPTER THREE

  As Nick, Trevor and R.J. entered Cody Utah’s house the guys greeted them with slaps on the back and hot coffee with a splash of Bailey’s in it. The structure was filled with friends Cody had made in Black Mountain, along with his best buddy from the PRCA—Luke Greer-who’d just won the world championship bull riding.

  “Come in, get out of the cold,” Cody invited.

  “That’s good,” Nick said after a sip. “Thanks.” He looked around “Where’s your boy?”

  “Which one?” Cody grinned broadly, his white teeth flashing in his dark face. He’d recently adopted Laney’s thirteen-year-old son, and she’d just given birth to their first child together. “Justin’s with some girl, and Laney took Wyatt with her to the bridal shower.”

  “You named your son Wyatt?” Nick could hardly believe his ears. Wyatt Ellis had been Laney’s first husband, and Justin’s dad.

  “It seemed fitting,” Cody said. “I wouldn’t have the woman of my dreams if he hadn’t died.”

  “True.” Nick punched his friend in the shoulder. “Congratulations on becoming a dad.”

  “It’s the best feeling ever.” Cody’s chest puffed out.

  Nick had no idea how being a father felt, but an image of Noelle pregnant with his baby danced through his head. Damn. He was losing it. She was the last woman he’d ever want to be mom to his kids. She was too much like his own mother, someone who hated small town life so much she ran off without a backward glance at her two sons, or their father. Her actions had caused R.J. to date every woman in the county with no intentions of ever settling down, and Nick to be so cautious of trusting a woman he’d never been intimate with anyone.

  “Hey, guys,” Trevor called from the living room. “We’ve got some tapes from Luke’s winning ride in Vegas. He says come watch.”

  R.J. started toward the living room. “Come on.”

  Relieved to have something besides a snooty blonde to think about, Nick nodded. “Sounds great.”

  He found a spot on the on the couch between Luke and R.J. and glanced around. A Christmas tree with a mound of gifts sat next to a big window. A fire roared in the fireplace. Baby items were scattered around—a wooden cradle, a rocking horse too big for a baby yet and a box of diapers.

  Homey.

  Sweet.

  Something deep in his gut twisted with longing. He looked at his buddies. He’d never expected half the guys here to settle down and have kids. Certainly not his brother, or Trevor. Both had been single for a long time. Yet, both of them were happy as could be with the women they’d chosen. Even Luke Greer, wild man of the rodeo circuit, seemed content with Rayanne Whitfield—a school teacher, of all things.

  Nick had been in so many weddings he’d lost count. All his buddies from school—Adam, Russ, Shan. Now, he was best man in his brother’s upcoming nuptials. Unbelievable.

  Luke turned on the TV and a dark haired woman standing on a stage filled the screen. Nick fought a sudden urge to bolt.

  “I thought this was bull riding,” Cody grumbled.

  “It is, but I thought you all might want to see Maura Whittaker, too,” Luke said. “She sang the National Anthem opening night. Plus, she’s not too shabby to look at.”

  “Hey, it’s Nick’s girlfriend,” R.J. said.

  “Shut up.” Nick forced his features to an impassive mask. Most of his friends knew this was the one girl he’d lusted for half his life…all the while she wanted one of his best friends. Leave it to his brother to dig at him in front of everyone. He meant no harm, that’s what brothers did, but his teasing stung.

  Onscreen, Maura opened her mouth and sang so beautifully Nick’s throat clogged up. She’d made it big in Nashville. The likelihood of her returning to Black Mountain and falling for him was slim-to-none.

  “Did you bump into her in Vegas?” Cody asked Luke.

  “Nope,” Luke said. “She was too busy running around with music stars to pay attention to any of her hometown boys.”

  “Being seen is a big part of her job description,” Dillon Travers, country music superstar, said mildly. “She’s on her way up and the label wants to keep her in the limelight.”

  In the past, talk of Maura with another guy hit Nick like a punch to the gut. Today, it didn’t hurt as bad as usual.

  Maybe because of a certain blonde?

  He fought to focus. He’d have a good time with his friends today. Get R.J. married and off on his honeymoon. In a few days, Noelle would go back to her uptown life and he could forget about her. He was better off as he’d always been—alone with his carefully guarded heart.

  ~*~

  Starla Lee met Amity and Noelle with a hug. She looked enough like Amity to be her twin, although her eyes were green, not blue. “Noelle, I’ve heard so much about you I feel like I already know you.”

  “Thank you. Same here.”

  “Come in and meet everyone. We’re all dying to get acquainted with you.”

  Starla began introductions—Her best friend, Laney. Amity’s sisters, Shiloh, Sunny and Clancy. Older ladies who Clancy and Shiloh’s mothers—Doli and Racine.

 
Although Amity had been correct about the type of attire—everything from Wranglers and boots on Clancy to a designer outfit on Shiloh—Noelle’s fears about sawdust on the floor had been ridiculous—the house was stunning on the inside with leather couches and what looked to be pricey western art on the walls. A beautifully decorated tree sat in front of a bay window.

  Starla handed them each a mimosa. “I think everyone is here now. Eden isn’t going to make it. She’s having mild contractions and Adam is freaking out, of course. Joelle is with her, naturally.” She looked at Noelle. “One of our sisters had a stillborn baby last year. Joelle is her mother and Adam her husband.”

  “I’m so sorry,” Noelle said.

  “We are, too, but this pregnancy seems to be progressing normally.” She brightened. “We’re all excited for a Christmas baby because Laney didn’t quite make it.” She changed the subject. “How do you like our little town so far?”

  “I haven’t seen much of it yet,” Noelle said. “I was in a hurry to get here last night, and then this morning, we came straight here.”

  “Guess who speedy ran off the road last night?” Amity asked.

  “I have no clue.”

  “Nick. He was driving the team on the road and Noelle almost collided with him.”

  Starla’s glass, halfway to her mouth, froze. “Everyone okay?”

  “Fine,” Amity said. “But Noelle gained a new admirer out of it.”

  Noelle fidgeted. Why had Amity shared that bit of information?

  “Nick?” Starla arched her brows. “Our Nick? The one who’s pure as the driven snow?”

  “The same.”

  “Good luck with that,” Starla said dryly.

  Noelle looked between them. They seemed to be speaking in some kind of code she didn’t understand. She’d pin Amity down later, but for now she smiled. “Nick’s a good looking man, but not really my type.”

  “He’s not anyone’s type,” Starla muttered.

  Amity laughed. “True.”

  Before Noelle could question them Starla said, “Let’s eat. I have a table set up in the dining room.”

  They moved into an oval room with lace curtains on the floor-to-ceiling windows. An enormous, round oak table was covered with a lace tablecloth. Glimmering candles, tiny, lit pine trees about six inches tall and scattered blue and silver ornaments decorated the surface. China plates with silvery folded napkins on them and crystal glasses sat waiting for drinks. White twinkle lights lined the edges of the ceiling giving the room a soft, romantic feeling. The scents of quiche, tangerines with cloves and various perfumes mingled together.

  Expecting a thrown-together mess of crepe paper and balloons, Noelle was suitably impressed. She leaned over to Starla. “This is beautiful. If you ever need a job, I could use someone like you.”

  Starla laughed. “Thanks. I love running my bar, but there have been so many weddings and new babies in the last few months that I’ve gotten a lot of practice putting these things together.”

  Amity’s blue eyes filled. “Don’t forget Clem’s funeral.”

  Surprised by her friend’s tears, Noelle patted her arm. From what Amity had told her, Clem Jamieson hadn’t been a father to any of his daughters. In fact, he’d stood up Amity when they were to meet. He’d been killed in a recent car accident, but Noelle hadn’t come to Black Mountain for the funeral. Now she wondered if she should have.

  “That, too,” Starla said. “Let’s eat before we all get depressed.”

  Amity took the seat at the head of the table. Starla sat on one side of her, Noelle on the other. Thirteen women filled the remaining seats, two of them with infants.

  Noelle’s gaze softened when she looked at the sleeping babies. Not normally a baby person, she suddenly had an almost unbearable yearning to snuggle one of them. She gulped the last of her drink and reached for the pitcher to refill her glass.

  She refused to be sucked into this Norman Rockwell painting.

  The food was delicious, the mimosas perfect. If there were tension among any of the family members, it wasn’t apparent by the casual chatter and easy camaraderie. Maybe everyone put aside sore feelings for the bride’s sake. Maybe the recent death of the clan patriarch had them all reflective. Or maybe it was just the season of joy and peace.

  Noelle gradually relaxed until one of the older women—Noelle couldn’t recall her name—spoke. “So, Amity, you’re not going to run off and leave R.J. standing at the altar, are you?”

  Instead of taking offense she laughed. “Not on your life. Wild horses couldn’t drag me away from him.”

  “Here, here.” Starla raised her glass. “To true love.”

  “To true love,” Noelle murmured as she clinked her glass with Amity’s.

  Starla looked around the table. “We’re all so lucky. Every single one of us has found the love of our life.” She chuckled and looked at the two older women. “Not saying all of us has held onto it, however.” Laughter erupted at her statement.

  No true love for her Noelle thought. She’d had relationships, but never found anyone she wanted to spend her life with.

  Had she been searching in all the wrong places?

  Amity hadn’t been looking for love when she found R.J; in fact, she’d been running away from it when she stumbled into him.

  An image of a handsome man in Wranglers flashed through Noelle’s head—Nick. Given half a chance, she could fall for the cowboy.

  Whoa, Rudolph!

  She was putting the sleigh ahead of the reindeer.

  She shook her head. The idea was ludicrous.

  He was attractive, but she wasn’t interested in pursuing more than a friendship. Maybe a little fling. And only with the understanding there would be no ties and no happily ever after in their future.

  The plates were cleared, and more drinks poured. One of the older women carried in a stack of brightly wrapped gifts and placed them on a side table. “Ready to open presents?”

  Amity clapped. “Oh, yes. Please.”

  These women must all have sex on the brain, Noelle thought, as one gift after another contained lingerie and naughty toys. Of course, if she were marrying a man as sexy as R.J. she might be tempted to bust out the hot stuff, too.

  Did his shy brother like skimpy lingerie? Somehow, Noelle thought he might if it were on the right girl.

  Amity held up a red lace ensemble that was so sexy it should be illegal. “I think R.J. is going to love this one.”

  “You’re going to give that boy a heart attack,” someone said.

  Amity laughed, along with everyone else. “I hope to make it pound anyway.”

  “I’m betting it’s not just hearts that will be pounding,” one of the sisters said as the group roared.

  “Oh, I’m so going to write a song about you two sex maniacs,” Shiloh said when she could be heard over the laughter. “It’ll be a number one hit for me.”

  Noelle laughed, too. She liked these women more than she’d ever expected to. They were warm, funny and most of all, they’d seemed to come to care a lot for Amity in just a short amount of time.

  Would she fit in as easily?

  They had welcomed her, but she wasn’t moving here, and she wasn’t marrying one of theirs. She might date one if he asked…

  She looked around at all the beautiful, successful women and wondered if Nick had ever gone out with any of them. The thought made her stomach pinch in a knot. She was being ridiculous. She’d dated plenty of men.

  There were no ghosts of past lovers hovering around her, so she had no business wondering if Nick had any haunting him.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  The day passed in a flash.

  Noelle enjoyed herself immensely getting acquainted with Amity’s family. She learned two of the sisters—Sunny and Clancy—also had upcoming weddings. Both planned June events, close together, for convenience of the families. She also found out Shiloh was climbing the country music charts and split her time between Nashville and Black Mountain.


  Amity cornered her as dark began to fall. “Having a good time?”

  “Wonderful,” Noelle said. “These are the nicest ladies.”

  “They really are. I love them all.” Amity slung her arm around Noelle’s shoulders. “But you’ll always be my bestie.”

  Tears formed in Noelle’s eyes and she blinked them away. “I’m glad.” To hide her emotions she said, “Something smells good.”

  “Brisket,” Amity told her. “The guys are all coming over here for dinner.”

  Noelle’s heart sped up. “Nick, too?”

  “I’m sure he will. He’s part of the wedding party.” She smiled wickedly. “Why? Are you into him?”

  “No,” Noelle said. “I’m just wondering if I’ll have to defend my driving again to baby brother.” She paused. “How old is he, anyway?”

  “Twenty-five.”

  “Two years younger than you and I. Why did Starla say he was pure as—what now?”

  Amity opened her mouth to answer, but before she could the two mothers approached, wearing coats. “Oh, no. Are you leaving?”

  “Yes,” Doli said. “I have to be to my shift at the sheriff’s department in about an hour.”

  “You don’t want us old folks hanging around for your party,” Racine teased.

  “Don’t be silly,” Amity said. “You’re more than welcome to stay.”

  “You’re the sweetest girl to offer.” Racine patted Amity’s cheek. “But I have chores to take care of at home. I’ll see you and R.J. at the wedding.”

  Both hugged Amity and Noelle, then left.

  “Sweet ladies,” Noelle said.

  “Yes. I hope they like my mom.”

  “I’m sure they will. For a bunch of women who have shared a husband and a dad, everyone gets along remarkably well,” Noelle said. “Not like my crazy family. Mom is in the Caribbean again, and Dad and his new family are in Aspen for the holidays.”