The Bull Rider's Secret--A Wholesome Western Romance

by Jill Lynn

  Mackenzie had always been a daddy’s girl. What had the man thought when Jace left town after high school? He was afraid to find out. Jace had always respected Wade Wilder. Always wished his own father had been even a quarter of the man.

  Things progressed quickly once Pastor Higgin began the ceremony. When they repeated the vows, Gage choked up numerous times while promising to love Emma forever. And then again when she promised the same back to him, her voice clear and strong, her tender gaze glued to the man holding her hands in a grip so tight, it looked like it might hurt her.

  Jace didn’t know Gage very well, but if ever there was a man in love, who desperately needed the person across from him and looked as if he’d been granted a second chance in life, it was him.

  Mackenzie discreetly attempted to wipe under her lashes, but Jace caught the movement because he couldn’t keep his attention from wandering in her direction over and over again during the ceremony.

  After Gage and Emma were declared husband and wife, they kissed, then scooped up one-year-old Hudson on their way back down the aisle.

  An instant family, just like that.

  But families like the Wilders didn’t grow on trees. Jace knew. He’d practically forced himself into theirs in high school. He’d loved everything about the way they operated as a unit. Teased each other. Worked hard, played hard.

  After everyone had been dismissed from their rows and began mingling, Jace sought out Mackenzie. She was a magnet for him. He couldn’t resist being near her, even if the end of that was too close for comfort.

  “Kenzie Rae.” At her name, she turned from the punch bowl, a dainty glass cup in her hand that was in stark contrast to the strong, tanned woman. The dress she wore—no doubt while grumbling—only accentuated her toned arms.

  “Hawke.” She sipped her punch. “How did it go this afternoon?”

  “Fine. A few issues, but we handled it.”

  “What went wrong? Was it something with the McBanes? Because she said she wanted to talk to me yesterday, and with all of this going on, I totally forgot.”

  “No. Mrs. McBane only had good things to say. She wanted to rebook for next year. She didn’t realize that we give everyone the opportunity to do that before they head out. So she was fine. You just can’t handle not knowing everything that’s going on around here, can you?” Or was it that Kenzie didn’t trust anyone but herself to manage things?

  “That’s not true.” Mackenzie tried to take another drink of punch, but she’d already emptied it, since it held about as much as a thimble. Jace took it from her, refilled it and then returned it to her. She thanked him.

  “It is true,” he continued. “There was a chip in the tile in Cabin Nine. Boone and I finagled a fix as best as we could. It should hold through this week, but then we probably need to get a maintenance check on it.” Evan was the one who had any fix-it skills in their family, but Jace had muddled through.

  He could have called his brother to ask for advice, but he hadn’t because he’d been avoiding Evan lately. Pretty much since the injury. Evan had called a number of times, but Jace had either missed the attempts or dodged answering.

  He just wasn’t sure what his brother was going to say...or if he was going to tell Jace to quit. To retire.

  And Jace really didn’t want to hear it right now. Not when he was bent on getting better. Positive attitude went a long way, and he refused to entertain any other thoughts right now.

  “That’s not bad. So everything went okay, then?”

  “Yes. Everything went fine.” Only Mackenzie would be talking shop at her sister’s wedding. “If I thought I’d detected some tears from you during the cere—”

  “You’d be wrong.” Her reply was quick, humor flaring so fast, he almost missed it. “Allergies. They were really kicking up tonight.”

  “Ah. And yet they seem better all of a sudden.”

  Those glossy, distracting lips of hers broke into a curve. “Amazing, right? What were you doing watching me anyway, when Emma’s the bride? She looks so stunning, I’m surprised everyone wasn’t blinded by her beauty.”

  “She does look beautiful. But she’s no you.” Jace didn’t temper his words. He should be able to speak the truth at a wedding, shouldn’t he?

  Based on the confusion and softness cresting Kenzie’s features...maybe not.

  “J.” Mackenzie’s eyes shimmered—with tears or “allergies,” he couldn’t be sure. “That was sweet.”

  He waved a hand over her hair. “I like what you’ve got going on here.”

  “Thanks, though you’ll probably never see it this way again. Emma’s friend did my makeup—” she motioned to her face “—and I didn’t have the heart to fuss. I was trying to be all Team Emma for the wedding. No complaining. Whatever she wants.”

  “You look like a celebrity. Like I should be standing in line to get your autograph. But I’m actually partial to the girl who treats makeup like a venomous snake and doesn’t know what to do with the smoky-powder stuff covering your eyelids. I like that Kenzie Rae a whole lot.”

  “I—” She faltered. “That’s the nicest thing you’ve said to me in a long time.” Her voice hitched, tender and low, sweet and concerned. “But shouldn’t we be...”

  Careful? Yes.

  Kenzie’s warning was spot-on. Jace was traveling into unchartered territory. Places they’d been careful not to go since he’d shown up at the ranch.

  And for good reason, too. It was just...with Mackenzie looking at him like she was, softening like she was...Jace couldn’t remember what any of them were.

  Chapter Twelve

  How long were weddings supposed to last? The reception had been in full swing for an hour and a half, and Mackenzie was as drained as if she’d been moving cattle all day.

  “You’re not supposed to show up the bride, you know.”

  Dad approached, smooched her cheek and hugged her. Just like that, all of her strung-tight muscles and nerves from having to be “on” tonight and engage in endless amounts of small talk unraveled.

  “Thanks, Dad.” His hair had grown grayer since the last time her parents had visited. His mustache, too. The man was the quintessential cowboy. Rugged and strong and dependable. “And thanks a lot for making me laugh at the beginning of the ceremony.” After Dad had given Emma away, he’d turned and flashed a goofy expression at her before retreating to his seat next to Mom.

  “I did nothing of the sort.” His attempt at innocence failed and fizzled.

  She motioned to her face. “Did you see they put all of this goop on me?”

  “You look pretty with it and without it.”

  “Well, aren’t you diplomatic today?” She looped her arm through his and watched as the guests mixed and mingled, leaning on him, wondering when she could trade all of this in for a movie and pajamas.

  “What’s on your mind, Kenzie-girl?”

  She straightened. “What do you mean?”

  He glanced sideways at her. “I mean, I know when something is going on with you. And something is. I’m just not sure what. With all of the wedding madness, I haven’t been able to figure it out.” He scanned the wedding guests, landing on Jace, who was talking to Vera and some other staff members. “Wouldn’t have anything to do with a certain bull rider, would it?”

  Was she that transparent? “No.”

  Her dad’s low chuckle warmed and comforted.

  “Maybe.” A golf ball lodged in her throat. “I tried to pretend like everything was okay when he left. That I was happy for him. And I am—was—happy he could chase his dreams. But his leaving broke me, I think. And I’m not sure if I can...” If I can... What? Get over him? Move on? Let him back in? All of the above.

  Dad patted her hand. “I’m not partial to anyone who hurts my kids. Any of them. Because of course I don’t have favorites.” He winked at her. “Th
e last thing I want is for you to be hurting, baby girl.” The endearment stemmed from when she and Luc had been in the womb—described as baby girl and baby boy—but her brother’s nickname hadn’t stuck like hers. “I think maybe...” Dad’s exhale held sorrow “...maybe Jace was just a kid doing his best back when he left for the rodeo. His dad sure didn’t set much of an example for him.”

  “True.” Victor Hawke had drunk himself into an oblivion for most of Jace’s upbringing, and then that same vice had brought about his demise when he’d been killed in a bar fight. Nothing like the childhood Mackenzie had been granted. But her sympathy and compassion for Jace didn’t make him safe. “I’m afraid to find out...” Why he really left. “I’m just...afraid.” A bitter taste swamped her mouth.

  “You’ve never been afraid of anything. As a baby, you climbed everything you could. Finagled a way out of your crib at a year old. I found you on the countertop more than once. You scared the living daylights out of me on more occasions than I can count.”

  “So you’re saying I’ve turned into a wuss?”

  Humor swept over her dad’s features. “I’m saying maybe this is important to you for it to matter this much. For it to scare you like this.”

  A sigh escaped. “I don’t like this conversation anymore.”

  He shifted to face her, his warm, strong hands squeezing her arms. “My girl can tackle anything. That much I do know. Especially with God by your side.” He gave her a pointed look—one that said, Dive all in. Go for it. Grab a little of Vera’s mind-set and leap.

  After another hug, he left her standing alone. No doubt so that she could follow through and stop chickening out.

  His message was right on, and Mackenzie knew it. She could handle the truth with God’s help, no matter what it was. And if what Jace had to say was horrible, at least that would give her a reason to steer clear of him, to stop falling for him all over again.

  * * *

  Ever aware of Mackenzie’s whereabouts, Jace watched her approach from across the crowd. She beelined for him, and his heart gave a big ole thump in his chest, so loud he was surprised wedding guests didn’t turn to see what had caused the ruckus.

  Kenzie stopped a step behind him, as if she didn’t intend to break up the circle of conversation he was a part of but wanted his attention.

  She had it. He eased back from the group, entering the Mackenzie zone that sucked him in like a black hole. “You okay?”

  “Can I talk to you for a minute?”

  About more work stuff? Why not. “Sure. What’s up?”

  Skittish. That was what she was, with her eyes flitting this way and that. Her hands wringing. “We might have to talk somewhere else. I’m not sure this is the best spot.”

  “Okay. Why? What’s this about?” Alarm bells clanged, his intuition on high alert.

  She released a pent-up breath. “I’m ready to know.”

  Jace angled his head. “Ready to know what?”

  “Why you left the way you did.”

  Mackenzie’s declaration blindsided him like a hoof to the back of his skull. All this time he’d tried to talk to her, to be open and honest with her, and now she wanted to have this conversation here? After he’d basically given up on forcing her to discuss anything regarding their past?

  “You want to talk about this now? At your sister’s wedding?”

  She shrugged. “Why not? Gage and Emma are so enthralled with each other, I’m surprised honey isn’t leaking from their pores. They won’t notice if we take off for a few minutes.” Her eyebrows arched. “Why? Do you need more time? It’s not like you have to get your story straight. I want the truth, Hawke. I can handle it.”

  She might be able to, but what if he couldn’t?

  When Jace had first tried to tell Mackenzie his reasons, she’d still been white-hot-ember mad at him. Any confession of how much he used to love her would have been safe because neither of them were remotely close to those feelings at that time.

  But telling her now that they were getting along... It felt like restarting something they were working very hard not to go anywhere near.

  Despite his stumbling earlier tonight, Jace’s plans still hadn’t changed.

  Still...he owed Mackenzie an explanation. So he’d just have to figure out how to be careful with her—with both of them—and speak the truth at the same time.

  * * *

  Two hours later Mackenzie dropped onto the couch in her cabin and used the remote to turn on the TV, then the DVD player. She’d fallen asleep during Tombstone the other night, so she cued it up to around the spot she’d dropped off. Not that it mattered. She’d seen the movie so many times she had it memorized.

  Earlier her conversation with Jace had stalled before it even had a chance to start, because Boone had interrupted them, panicked.

  Mackenzie couldn’t decide if she was relieved or annoyed by that.

  Probably a bit of both. Relieved that she didn’t have to hear the truth, especially if it was hurtful. Annoyed that they hadn’t just gotten the whole thing over and done. That she still didn’t know.

  But at some point it would happen. Jace would tell her his whys, and she’d either break or...not break.

  Boone had been rattled because he and some of the other staff had been—unbeknownst to Mackenzie—decorating Gage’s Jeep Grand Cherokee for the bride and groom’s departure.

  Someone had decided they should fill the inside with balloons.

  Someone had sneaked Gage’s key fob from his bag inside the lodge, planning to return it without anyone being the wiser.

  And then someone had lost the key fob during the decorating.

  At first Mackenzie had thought the whole thing was a bunch of drama over nothing. Emma was happy and married, and if she and Gage had to leave in another vehicle, the smitten girl would barely even notice.

  But then Mackenzie had realized that Emma’s overnight bag was in the locked Jeep. She and Gage were staying at a bed-and-breakfast for the night, and Gage’s parents were watching Hudson at his place.

  The overnight bag being inside the Jeep turned the situation into a wedding emergency.

  Thankfully Emma and Gage had been—and still were—blissfully unaware of the crisis.

  Jace, the man who kept surprising her, had taken the lead for finding the key fob.

  He’d collected flashlights and directed them all in a methodical manner. And he’d been the one to finally find the fob—which had been buried in the grass underneath the vehicle, near the front-passenger-side tire.

  And just as strange as Jace taking over...Mackenzie had let him. Which for her was...big. Like it or not, she was letting him back into her life.

  The whole night had left her feeling abnormally emotional.

  Coming home to a cabin void of her sparkly, happy sister hadn’t helped anything. Emma’s things had been moved over to Gage’s earlier this week, and now with the snap of her fingers and a marriage certificate, she was gone for good.

  Having the two-bedroom cabin all to herself should be more appealing to Mackenzie, but it wasn’t. “Buck up, woman. Seriously. You’re turning into a whimpering fool.”

  This sentimental stuff was for the birds.

  But even with the changes, for the first time in a long time, Mackenzie still felt comforted. At peace. Her dad’s words tonight had hit home for her. With God by your side. The short phrase had reminded her that even when she felt alone, she never really was. Sure she’d been left behind a time or two, but never by God. He was her constant. Her strength.

  Rap-rap-rap. At the knock on her front door, she jolted upright. Who was still up? And what emergency was she needed for now?

  Mackenzie had changed into gray yoga pants and a T-shirt that read Country Roads Take Me Home after the wedding reception, removed the bobby pins, tossed her hair into a ponytail and scrubbed th
e goop from her face. She might not be ready for another wedding, but she was presentable enough.

  She opened the door to find Jace on her step. He had an Angela’s pizza box in his hands, and her taste buds clanged like symbols.

  He’d changed out of his button-up shirt, crisp jeans and boots into a more casual T-shirt and worn jeans. The earlier outfit... Well, she’d noticed him in it. That was for sure.

  This one had the same effect.

  The front porch light shone into his eyes, which were full of something Mackenzie couldn’t name if she tried.

  “What’s going on?” Everything from the wedding had been cleaned up. It was late and she was tired.

  He shifted from one foot to the other. “We didn’t get to have our conversation.”

  “It’s fine. Really. We can another day.” Mackenzie didn’t have it in her to do this right now.

  Jace raised the box. “This is your bribe. We walk and talk, then food. I had to call in a favor to pick it up late. Last pizza they made tonight.”

  Low blow. She was a sucker for Angela’s. And just like he seemed to know and remember all things about her, Jace had her figured out.

  “Either get some shoes or you can go barefoot.”

  Should she claim a headache? Aunt Flo? That second one would really scare him off. Or she could snatch the pizza box out of his hands and slam the door.

  Humor surfaced.

  “Oh, boy. Do I even want to know what you’re thinking?”

  “Probably not.” The pizza won her over. “Can you put that in the oven on low while I find some shoes?”

  “Put it in the oven still in the box?”

  “Sure.” She was already halfway to her room. “It will be fine. It’s just to keep it warm.” Mackenzie fumbled through her disorganized shoes. She found one rubber flip-flop, and it took her another thirty seconds to find the other tucked under a boot. She slid them on and walked out to find Jace fiddling with the oven.

  “Know what you’re doing there, Hawke?”

  “Think so.”