Winning His Wife

by George H. McVey

  Winning His Wife

  Cowboys and Angels: Book 31

  George H. McVey

  Copyright © 2019 by George H. McVey All rights reserved.

  Cover design by Erin Dameron Hill/ EDH Graphics

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental or used fictitiously.

  Introduction

  Adelle Cordovia has gone from the frying pan into the fire. Hiring a gambler to escort her in secret from Denver, where her parents expect her to marry a man thirty years older than her, she ends up owing the gambler seventy-five dollars she doesn’t have. Now she’s indebted to the man who plans to collect his due from her body. Can she find a hero in Creede to help her, or is she destined to a life of being a soiled dove?

  Gavin Knight is a bronc buster who has never met a horse he can’t break. In challenge to a bet, he comes to Creede to break an unbreakable horse. If he wins the bet he’ll be a thousand dollars richer with a quality horse and a new job. When he sees a young woman tied to a gambler, he can’t help but step in. He’ll wager all his earnings on a single hand of cards. If he wins, he will have to marry the woman to keep her safe. If he loses, all his hard work and dreams of his own spread will be gone. What’s a Cowboy Knight to do?

  Can Gavin and Adelle make a life together or are the odds too stacked against them? Can Adelle trust that a man who won her in a card game has her best interests at heart? Can Gavin prove to his wife that he truly wants to love and protect her? Just what will it take for both of them to realize he’s Winning His Wife?

  Dedication

  For the readers who follow Bob and all the characters in my head as faithfully as I do. Yes they’re fictional but to us may they always be living.

  God bless you.

  Table of Contents

  Introduction

  Dedication

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  About the Author

  Books by George

  Chapter One

  “Here you go, five hundred dollars for breaking those hundred horses in thirty days just like you promised. I’ve never seen anything like it, and that last horse, no one thought that old stallion would ever be saddle-broke. I was just keeping him around for the strong Colts he sired.”

  Gavin Knight took the money and slipped it into the top of his boot, pushing it down until he was sure it wasn’t visible and would stay there. “I told you, Mister Kleburg, there ain’t a horse alive I can’t break.”

  The old rancher just rubbed his chin. “You willing to put your money where your mouth is on that brag?”

  Gavin shrugged his shoulders. “Ain’t a brag, it’s the truth. It may take a fall or two, but I can break any horse.”

  “I’ll bet you double what I just paid you against that five hundred dollars that I know a horse you can’t break.”

  Gavin stood still as he thought about that one thousand dollars. That would go a long way to buying him his own ranch where he could raise his own stock of horses. “Let me get this straight. You want me to bet you the five hundred dollars you just paid me for breaking one hundred horses, against a thousand dollars, that there’s a horse I can’t break?”

  The older man smiled. “That’s right. I have a buddy in Creede who has a horse that can’t be rode. Ain’t a cowboy yet who’s even been able to set on him more than a couple seconds. No one has made it eight seconds, and no one has rode him to a standstill. On top of the thousand I’m betting you, my friend has offered the horse and a job as head trainer to anyone who can break Diablo. So far no one has even come close.”

  “Where is this ranch and the devil horse?”

  “That’s the catch; Cooper White’s spread is just outside of Creede, Colorado. I’m headed up there next week to find a few good mares to add to my breeding program. If you take the bet, you’d travel with me and have to break the horse in the three days I’m there to buy horses.”

  And there was the catch. Gavin knew there would be one. Old Man Kleburg hadn’t become the most known rancher in Texas without always looking for the advantage. Three days to break a horse that no one could even sit on. “So I break this horse, I get another thousand dollars from you plus the horse and a job?”

  Mister Kleberg smiled at him and nodded. “That’s right, but if you don’t break him in three days I get back the five hundred I just paid you. What do you say?”

  Gavin looked at the rancher “What do I say? I say you have yourself a bet, Mister Kleberg. When do we leave?”

  “I’ve got a few things to finish up here on the King Ranch. Orders to be given and assignments to be made. Feel free to keep your bed in the bunkhouse. My Pullman and stock cars will be hitched to the train in two days. There’s a bunk car for the hands I’m taking with me; you’re welcome to one of those as well.”

  “I’ll be ready. Make sure you bring my thousand dollars. I won’t be coming back to Texas if I take this new job in Creede.”

  The older man laughed. “You sure are sure of yourself, son. I think I’m going to enjoy watching Diablo take you down a peg or two.”

  “I think I’m going to enjoy taking your money. I’ll break that horse and any other. The saying is true as gospel, there ain’t a horse that can’t be rode.”

  “You forgot the other half of that saying, youngster. There ain’t a cowboy that can’t be thrown either.”

  Gavin nodded. “Never said I wouldn’t get thrown. You saw it yourself this last month. I get thrown; the secret is to get back up on the horse and last just a few seconds longer the next time. There ain’t no quit in me and I’ll get back on a bronc’s back until I can’t stand up or they are done fighting.”

  The older rancher nodded. “I’ll agree you have a stubborn streak unlike any bronc buster I’ve ever seen, but there’s always a first time, son. This horse in Creede might just be yours.”

  “I can’t think that way. I’ll climb on him and hold on tight. I’ll ride him until he drops or kills me, whichever comes first. If I can break him in three days, I’m a thousand dollars and a horse richer. If it takes longer, I might be out the five hundred for this job but I’ll still have the horse and a job. Sounds like a win either way for me.”

  The rancher slapped him on the back. “Get some rest. You’re gonna need it when we get to Cooper White’s ranch.”

  Gavin watched the owner of the famous King ranch walk away. It had been interesting working on the largest spread in Texas and he was sure that the spread in Creede wouldn’t be nearly as nice. But a chance at a thousand dollars, a horse of breeding and a steady job sounded too good to pass up. He probably should take the man’s advice and rest but if he was leaving Texas for a while he should close out his bank account and take his gear to the saddlery to be checked over and repaired. No sense losing the bet because his gear broke.

  He borrowed a horse and saddle from the King Ramada and headed into town. After that he’d get his things packed and be ready to head out with the King Ranch’s hands in two days. He felt something inside him spark. A new adventure in a new place. While he loved the roaming life of a bronc buster he w
as getting tired of not having roots to put down. All he wanted was a ranch to call his own and a good herd of horses. If not in Creede, maybe somewhere close. A ranch, a wife and a family of his own sounded just about perfect. But until then a steady job in one place for a while sounded good too.

  After getting his gear checked, he decided to head over to the nearest saloon to celebrate the end of a job well done. He grabbed a table and ordered food and a beer. He noticed several hands from the King Ranch playing cards at a table not far away. One hand seemed to stand out, an old fella well past his prime. He didn’t remember ever seeing the man around the ranch but there were hundreds of cowboys on the large spread; maybe he’d been in another bunkhouse or out at one of the line shacks. The man noticed his interest and folded his hand. The old timer walked over and took a seat at Gavin’s table. “Heard you’re heading to Creede with us.”

  Gavin nodded. “You heard right. Mister Kleburg told me of a supposed unbreakable horse there. I like a challenge and the incentives offered sounded good so I’m gonna break him.”

  The man laughed. “I like your grit, kid. You ain’t got quit in ya, do ya?”

  Gavin grinned. “Not even a little bit.”

  “Well Creede is an interesting place, youngster, iffen a young man was to keep his eyes open he might find everything he was looking for in that town.”

  Gavin’s eyes narrowed. “And just what should I be looking for, old timer?”

  “Name’s Cookie Bullfincher and I reckon a young man like yourself might be looking for a young woman in need of a husband and a place to call home. From what I’ve heard Creede might just be a good place to keep an eye out.”

  “Well then, Cookie, I might just do that but my main focus is gonna be on breaking that horse and winning me that job.”

  “Rightly so, iffen the rumor is correct you’d be winning some money as well. I’m just saying the right fella might win more than just a job and some money.”

  The old timer stood after that and nodded at Gavin. “I’ll leave ya to your vittles, time for these old bones to hit the trail.”

  Gavin nodded, then looked at the saloon girl who brought him his meal. When he looked back up the old trail hand was nowhere to be seen.

  Adelle Cordovia lay on her bed lost in the world of Sir Walter Scott’s Ivanhoe. Surrounded by knights and fair maidens she couldn’t help but sigh. Were there no men like that in all of Colorado? Men who stood up for what was right regardless of the cost. Men willing to fight for a lady’s honor? Not that she could tell anyway. The men her parents brought around to try and make a match for her were all men more interested in taking advantage of the inheritance her father promised her than wanting to find love or even a worthy cause to support. She wanted a knight in shining armor to come and rescue her from the life of drudgery she faced daily. She jumped as her door was thrust open and her mother stepped in.

  “What are you doing, Adelle? Why aren’t you dressed for dinner? Your father has an important man coming in just a few minutes.”

  Adelle sighed. “What has that got to do with me, mother? The two of them won’t even know if I’m there. They’ll spend the whole time talking business and making some kind of deal.”

  Her mother shook her head. “Not tonight they won’t. This dinner is all about you and your future, young lady. Now get up and put on your prettiest dress. It’s important that you look your best tonight.”

  “What? Why is it important tonight? Who is coming to dinner?”

  Her mother smiled. “Mister Masterson is our guest tonight.”

  The icy hand of dread slipped down Adelle’s back. Mister Masterson was her father’s best client. He was thirty years older than her and twice widowed but that didn’t stop the oily old man from looking at her like she was a tasty treat on his plate every time she saw him. “What possible bearing could Old Mister Masterson have on me and my future, Mother?”

  Adelle could see that her mother was not going to say anything, and the determined look that came over her face said that unless she wanted to be restricted to the house for the foreseeable future, Adelle better do as she had been told. She sighed and put the ribbon in her book and walked over to her wardrobe. “I’m dressing.”

  “Good, when you’re finished come on downstairs. I’m going to make sure that the cook has everything ready for the dinner. Make sure that you put on your prettiest dress, my dear, this is an important dinner for all of us.”

  Her mother shut the door to her room and Adelle sighed as she opened the wardrobe. It wouldn’t matter that she didn’t want to eat with creepy old Mister Masterson with his eyes glued to her the whole time. She didn’t put on what she thought was her prettiest dress, which was green satin with black lace around the neckline, elbows, wrist and waist. Instead she put on her most conservative dinner gown with a neckline that touched the bottom of her chin and sleeves that covered her entire arms. She loosened her corset even more than it already was so that she didn’t have the desirable tiny waist so many men wanted and pulled her hair up into a severe bun trying to look stoic and put the man off from her appearance. Somehow she knew that nothing good was going to come from this dinner and her stomach was already churning with the thought of having to eat with that man watching her every move.

  Finally, knowing that her mother would be back up if she didn’t come downstairs soon, she took a deep breath and prepared herself for the ordeal that was to come. At least once dinner was over she could excuse herself and return to her room and her book. Father and his guest would probably retire to his study for cognac and cigars and whatever business they had to discuss, and she would have done her duty.

  As she reached the last stair her father looked up and smiled. “And here she is, the woman of the hour. Come say hello to our guest, Adelle. Reginald has been waiting for you to make your appearance.”

  What shocked Adelle was not that the lecherous old geezer was there but that the parlor was full of guests. This wasn’t a business dinner, this was a dinner party. Why hadn’t she been told they were having a dinner party?”

  Those cold fingers of dread were working overtime and the churning in her stomach was threatening to erupt into a volcano. Something very bad was about to happen. Her father took her by the arm and led her straight to Mister Masterson. “Here she is, Reginald, just like I promised. Your companion for dinner.”

  “So I see Harold, but did no one inform her that we were having a dinner party tonight? Her attire looks a bit severe for the occasion.”

  “I was told to wear my best dress, Mister Masterson. This is the best dress in my wardrobe.”

  The older man frowned at her. “Yes well, I guess we’ll have to see about changing that in the future.”

  Adelle was confused; what say would Mister Masterson have over the state of her wardrobe? She and her mother picked their own dresses when there was need for a new one. The man just got stranger every time she saw him and she could see by the light in his eyes that not even dressing like a schoolmarm was enough to dim his inappropriate leer. Worse than the look on his face was the one on several of the couples that had been invited to this dinner party. It was like everyone knew something that she didn’t and that just made the situation even more frightening. The older man took her hand and placed it on his arm. “Let’s go mingle with our guests until dinner is ready, shall we Adelle, my dear?”

  She pulled her hand away. “I am not really in the mood to mingle, Mister Masterson, especially on the arm of a man older than my father who takes liberties with my Christian name. I’ve never given you leave to call me by it and I would thank you to not do so again.”

  “Adelle!” her father snapped after several ladies had gasped at her outburst. “You are causing a scene. I think under the circumstances it is perfectly acceptable for Reginald to call you by your given name and you by his.”

  “Acceptable? We are not friends. He is your friend, Father, not mine. As you and Mother have stressed to me many times, the only acceptabl
e time for a man not related to me to call me by my given name is if we are courting, which we most certainly are not. Or if I was to be betrothed to the man and that is…” Her voice dropped off as she realized what this was. “No! Father, please tell me you didn’t do what I think you’ve done!”

  Mister Masterson chuckled in a very dastardly way. “Well my dear. The announcement wasn’t supposed to come until after dinner but since you are in such a hurry let us go ahead and make it. Harold, would you be so kind?”

  “Of course, Reginald, nothing would please me more.”

  Adelle tried to contain the tears in her eyes as she looked at the man who was supposed to protect her from things like this. “Father, please don’t do this.”

  Her father patted her hand. “It’s for the best, my dear, you’ll thank me later for this.”

  Then he cleared his throat. “As I’m sure most of you have surmised already, tonight’s celebration is in honor of Reginald Masterson and my daughter Adelle and is the official announcement of their engagement. The banns will be read Sunday and the wedding will be in three weeks when Reginald returns from his trip to San Francisco.”

  “Three weeks?” Adelle whispered as the hand of despair clenched around her. “We’re to be married in three weeks?”

  The old man was now holding her close to his side, his hand dangerously close to places it shouldn’t be, and he leaned toward her. “Yes, my dear. I couldn’t stand to wait any longer. It would have been sooner if I didn’t have to travel to California on business in the morning.”

  The rest of the party went by in a haze. Adelle was just there, she had no appetite, and when her fiancé mentioned it to her she told him she was trying to cut back to be thin for her wedding, all the while trying not to throw up on him. Very few of their dinner guest congratulated them but Adelle just thanked them automatically. She wasn’t even sure if she gave them a smile or not. Soon enough, the last guest had left and it was just her parents, Mister Masterson and her.