The Cowboy’s Mixed-Up Matchmaker

by Valerie Comer

  “And that’s why you’ve hardly dated in the last decade? Because you’re carrying a torch for Lauren Yanovich and are just waiting for the end of some kind of self-imposed exile?”

  “Shh.” James glanced around the quiet coffee shop. Thankfully they were the only ones in the space.

  “You’re kidding, right?” asked Garret. “I know you guys tease me because I’m so gullible.”

  Kade peered into James’s eyes and shook his head slowly. “I don’t think we’re kidding. Are we, Carmichael?”

  “You make it sound so...”

  “Woeful? Because it is.”

  James took a deep breath and pushed his coffee cup away. He leaned forward on the table. “Look, here’s the thing. She’s not interested. Okay?”

  “Because she’s told you?”

  “Because it’s as clear as the nose on my face. Because she pushes all her friends on me and even women she doesn’t actually know, like that new waitress at The Branding Iron. She thinks she’s doing me a favor.”

  “Anna?” asked Garret. “She’s hot.”

  “Is she? I wouldn’t know. I haven’t put a boot in the door since Lauren told me about her.”

  “Listen to me.” Kade stared into his eyes. “Women are strange creatures, okay? Their decisions often don’t make any sense to guys. Trust me on this. Cheri vanished for years because she didn’t think she could talk to me, and we weren’t casual acquaintances. We were about to be married. In a week.”

  James nodded. He’d marveled when the whole story had tumbled out. What had Cheri been thinking? But, more to the point — for him, anyway — what was Lauren thinking?

  “So, what do we need to do to help you along?” Garret’s eyes livened with interest. “She needs to see what a great deal she’s trying to pawn off on a friend.”

  “Nothing.” James sliced his hand through the air. “Don’t do anything. You can pray for me. Not that it will help, but whatever.”

  “Need a refill, boys?” Abigail Evening stood at the end of the table, coffee pot in hand. “And another batch of peach muffins just came out of the oven. Your favorite, James.” She smiled brightly at him.

  What had she overheard? Anything?

  Garret pushed his cup down the table and patted his belly. “A muffin sounds great.”

  James nodded and gulped the last of his cold coffee before extending his cup.

  “I’ve got to go. I promised Cheri I’d pick up her list from Manahan’s and be home early.”

  Abigail beamed at Kade. “And those sweet children need their daddy. Let me send a few muffins. Tell Cheri to stop by next time she’s in town.”

  He chuckled. “More like my sweet wife has eighty decisions we need to make on the new house before next week. Who knew there were dozens of cabinetry styles, each available in ten kinds of hardwood with five hundred hardware options and who-knows-how-many countertops? And that’s only the kitchen.”

  Abigail laughed. “Don’t forget appliances and floors.”

  Kade pushed out of his chair as she poured for James and Garret. “Think how much easier it will be to build a house by yourself, man. Lay out all the options, close your eyes, and point. Done. Move onto the next decision.”

  “Just make Cheri do all the picking,” suggested Garret. “Why get involved at all?”

  “That’s not how it works.” Kade’s laugh lines showed around his eyes. “I promise, when you have a gorgeous wife like I do, you want to keep her happy. Really happy, if you get my drift.”

  “Get out of here and take your innuendoes with you.” James made a shooing motion. “Sheesh. Me ’n Garret don’t need you putting those thoughts in our virtuous heads.”

  Kade chuckled as he plunked his cowboy hat on his head and strode for the door, whistling.

  Whistling.

  James couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt like whistling. Everything inside him was so tied up in knots he could barely get through each day.

  Abigail slid a plate of muffins on the table and admonished them to holler if they needed anything else.

  “Mmm, good,” mumbled Garret around a full mouth.

  “Yeah.” James reached for a muffin and slathered some butter on it as Abigail headed for the kitchen.

  “So, is it true?”

  “Is what true?”

  “That you made a pledge with Lauren when you were kids.”

  “Teens. But yes.”

  “That’s amazing. I bet she thinks you’ve forgotten all about it.”

  “You’ve got your britches on backwards.” James laughed. “She’s the one who’s forgotten, not me.”

  “Delgado’s got a point, though. You don’t know that.”

  “It doesn’t matter. I’ll figure something out.” He needed a change of subject. Stat. “Hey, did Tori talk to you about her trail ride camping trip idea? You in?”

  “She did. I am so in. Who else is going?”

  “Lauren and Denae.”

  Garret’s eyebrows lifted.

  “Don’t even think it. Tori’s running the show. She invited Kade and Cheri, too, but they can’t get away. Same with Carmen. She asked a few other people, but it looks like just the five of us. Thanks for making me be not the only guy.”

  “It could be worse.”

  “Oh?”

  “It could be all guys with no women to do the cooking.”

  “I’m a decent hand at campfire cooking. It’s a skill every man should have.”

  Garret snagged a second muffin and inhaled it in three bites before rising. “I like my ignorance, thanks. I’ll be the one sitting by the campfire playing the flute while everyone else works.”

  He probably would be, too.

  * * *

  Lauren nudged Luna into a canter as Tori, mounted on Coaldust, led the way around the lake on the Flying Horseshoe. She hadn’t been riding in much too long and hadn’t been able to resist Tori’s invitation. Besides, she needed to get her muscles back in shape for next month’s long trail ride.

  Behind her, Denae whooped as Pippi Longstocking put on a matching burst of speed.

  Tori grinned over her shoulder.

  Now that girl looked like she was part of her mount. But then, she’d been raised on the place and probably rode every day. Lauren had to wait for an invite to one of her friends’ ranches. Garret’s family stabled horses for other townspeople, though. She should look into buying her own horse and boarding it at Canyon Crossing.

  She leaned forward and ran her hand over Luna’s black mane. Pretty sweet mare and likely very popular with guests. It wasn’t likely the Carmichaels would ever part with her.

  James would say Lauren was welcome to come ride Luna any time. She knew that, but it meant seeing James. Although, today she’d managed to escape the ranch yard with Tori and Denae without running into him. She should feel more relief at that. The guy twisted her in knots. Something had to give, and soon.

  When they trotted into a clearing on the far side of the lake, Lauren reined in and took in the view. The lake wasn’t all that big, but large enough for swimming, fishing, and paddling. The gang had met here all through their teen years. So many good memories.

  Back across the lake, the row of guest cabins marched along the shore, shielded from the ranch house by a row of trees. The corrals and stables lay closer to Creighton Road.

  She took a deep breath, inhaling the pine-scented air, fragrant with the new growth of early spring. Red-winged blackbirds trilled in the rushes at water’s edge. The mountain stream that fed the lake tumbled in just ahead, a sturdy log bridge offering safe crossing over the slippery rocks.

  The Flying Horseshoe was as close to heaven as possible on this planet.

  “...over here.”

  Lauren blinked back into the moment and nudged Luna up a small rise to where Tori gestured to Denae.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Where James is going to build. Creighton Road curves near here, which Dad says is important for
utilities. Plus, it’s not far from Meg’s place.”

  The middle Carmichael sibling had married last year and lived in the ranch’s secondary house with her small family. Meg had always been the wild one. Amazing she’d been able to snag a man as solid as Eli Thornton when she had a little kid in tow.

  Not that Lauren had anything against young Aiden. The sweetheart was in her Sunday school class along with Kade’s little guy, Jericho, and a host of others. Someday she wanted—

  No. She pulled her attention back to Tori and trotted Luna around the knoll and up the slight incline to the clearing. The view was even better from up here. Trees blocked most of the main ranch on the east side but left half the lake, while the drop-off to the west insured a view of a glacier high in the mountains.

  Pegs had been hammered into the ground with a spray of paint connecting them. And James said he hadn’t picked a layout yet? That had been a week ago. Obviously, she was behind the times. Her heart tightened a little more.

  “This is amazing.” Denae turned her mount in a circle as she scanned the views. “A house up here with a view like this? Total chick magnet.”

  Tori giggled. “Now that’s good news. I’ve despaired of anything making him attractive enough to finally get himself a girl.”

  “Brothers. I know how it is.”

  Lauren didn’t. But there was nothing wrong with James’s magnetism. How could they even think that? “Although he’s not so bad even without the house. A voice like his? His guitar pickin’ skills?”

  Tori laughed. “A guy can’t sing and dance his way through life like in the musicals, and you still have to look at his ugly mug.”

  “He’s not ugly!” Lauren couldn’t help the words.

  His sister shrugged and turned away. “I call ’em like I see ’em. I could be biased against his looks.”

  Denae giggled. “I think he’s cute. Right, Lauren?”

  A flush crept up Lauren’s cheeks. “At least he’s a long way from ugly.” A really, really long way.

  “Right. You guys have been best friends forever,” Tori tossed over her shoulder. “I guess you’d have steered clear if he were that horrid.”

  “Best friends, huh?” Denae’s eyes gleamed.

  “Don’t get any ideas.” Lauren forced a chuckle. “A bunch of us have known each other since we were kids and never got over hanging out together. It definitely wasn’t just him and me.” She pointed back across the creek at the ring of rocks closer to the water’s edge, where a few lengths of charcoal showed through tufts of grass. “We all used to come out here, talk and sing around the bonfire until the wee hours. Didn’t you join us a few times in the summers you stayed with your dad?”

  Denae sighed. “I visited a lot when I was a kid, but by the time I was fifteen, I mostly lived with my mom. I had a summer job and friends in Cannon Beach. My dad didn’t push hard for me.”

  “What happened to change that?” Tori circled Coaldust around to face them.

  “I couldn’t believe it when Dad and Michelle sold Standing Rock to the Delgados. He didn’t even tell me ahead of time, just did it, as if them moving to Missoula wouldn’t even matter to me. I guess he had no way of knowing...”

  “Guys are terrible at mind-reading,” agreed Tori. “Never changes. Mom complains about that with Dad all the time. She figures something is obvious, but he’s totally oblivious.”

  Was that really a thing?

  “Yeah. My stepdad and little brothers, too. You have to spell everything out to them in words of one syllable. While making eye contact.”

  This sounded like male-bashing. But what if it were true? What if James had no clue how Lauren really felt because he couldn’t read her mind? On top of that, she sent mixed signals. She knew she did. She’d put herself forward a little and, when he didn’t immediately respond in the perfect way, she backpedaled so he’d never have a chance.

  What was she supposed to do? Grab a fistful of his snap-front shirt, look up at him, and tell him she’d loved him forever? Beg him to kiss her?

  Then she’d see either hilarity or horror spread across his gorgeous face.

  She couldn’t take the risk.

  Chapter Seven

  James strummed his guitar as Garret’s fingers flew over the keyboard nearby. This morning it was only the two of them leading worship… the new normal with how often Lauren had begged off in the past few months.

  Garret nodded at him, leaned into his microphone, and began to sing. James’s voice melded from the first word of the old hymn, and he kept an eye on his friend. Garret was known for varying the timing.

  Be Thou my vision, O lord of my heart. Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art — Thou my best thought by day or by night...

  James focused on the words, like he should have been focusing on God these past few months rather than on Lauren. Human love was great, or so he assumed, but he’d gotten his priorities whacked off course lately. The words and music heightened to a crescendo.

  Be Thou my wisdom, and Thou my true word, I ever with Thee, and Thou with me, Lord. Thou my great Father, and I Thy true son...

  His heart lifted within him at the thought. How had he become so nearsighted? So trusting in his own wisdom?

  Heart of my own heart, whatever befall, still be my vision, O ruler of all...

  Incomprehensible. To think of being so united with God that their hearts beat as one, of finding all his treasure in the High King of Heaven. Yet... comforting. He was too full of himself. Too focused on little Jamie Carmichael’s wishes and dreams.

  The song came to an end and Pastor Roland approached the platform. James lifted the guitar strap over his head and set his instrument into its stand at the back of the platform before following Garret down the four steps. They slipped into their seats on the side aisle, second row. Far from where Lauren sat toward the back with Denae. Yeah, he’d noticed. Sue him.

  “Does God have one perfect will for your life?” asked the pastor.

  This should be good. James hunkered down in the pew and gave over his full attention.

  * * *

  Well, duh. Of course, the answer was yes.

  Lauren crossed her arms and stared at Pastor Roland. Who didn’t want God’s perfect will for her life? Or his, as the case might be? To even suggest otherwise was nothing less than heresy.

  “There are several questions linked with that one. Is there one house and one job that God has earmarked for you? Is there one perfect person for you to marry?”

  Yes, yes, and yes. She might have messed up on the perfect house, but she had her perfect job. The perfect spouse seemed a tad out of reach at the moment, but she had faith. Faith that God would either grant her prayer... or get her ridiculous infatuation with James Carmichael out of her head when He brought her perfect match to her.

  Removing her love for James would require a lot of erasing, though. But God was big. Powerful. He could do it, even if He had to douse her with full amnesia to accomplish it.

  She didn’t want to forget everything. She wanted it to come true. It wasn’t going to, though. Time was ticking, and James was no closer to falling in love with her than he’d ever been.

  “Those questions are linked to fate, and they can cause a lot of stress. Imagine being seventeen again.” Pastor Roland cracked a grin.

  Lauren would rather not go there.

  “A high school senior is faced with a lot of decisions. Some of you are in that boat right now. Which college should you go to? What should you study? Maybe you should go to trade school or work a year first. To compound it, everyone around you has an opinion. Ask my son Matt.”

  “Don’t!” yelled a teenage guy from up a few rows.

  Lauren couldn’t help grinning as everyone laughed.

  “That’s right. Matt’s tired of the questions. He feels enough pressure inside himself that he doesn’t need advice from those not invested in his life. So, let’s break this down a bit, shall we?”

  “Your pastor is a bit od
d,” whispered Denae.

  Normally Lauren would step up in defense but, at the moment, she had to agree. She had a funny feeling she wasn’t going to like this sermon.

  “Is it wrong to want to do God’s will? Not at all. If we didn’t, we’d have to question our love for Him. The Bible is a book for the ages. We can search it for God’s will, and we’ll find verses that are very helpful.”

  A reference flashed up onto the screen.

  “First Thessalonians four verse three says, ‘It is God’s will that you should be sanctified; that you should avoid sexual immorality.’ So that’s very clear, and helpful for all of us.”

  The screen changed.

  “Likewise, First Timothy two, verses three through four say, ‘this is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.’ So, we know God’s will is for everyone to understand the truth.

  “Paul, in Ephesians five, lists several things as direct orders: ‘be careful how you live, make the most of every opportunity, don’t be foolish, do not get drunk on wine, be filled with the Spirit, and give thanks to God the Father for everything.’ In Micah six, verse eight, we see that God has shown us what is good. ‘What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.’”

  Pastor Roland leaned on the podium and looked around the sanctuary. “Anyone see anything in the scripture that says, ‘Matt, you should attend Montana State, study engineering, move to Helena and take a career with X Company, buy a house on Meadow Drive, and marry the first woman you meet at the coffee shop on the corner’?”

  Matt groaned into the silence following his dad’s question. A few people chuckled.

  “It’s not in there, is it? You’re off the hook, Matt. Greenwood Street is as good as Meadow. No problem.”

  Pastor Roland sipped his water. “Do you think that if Matt goes to U of M instead of Montana State, he’s sinning? That he’s so off-course from God’s will that he can’t get back on it for the rest of his life? That God has no backup plan? Imagine if Matt never enters that coffee shop on the corner. Will he miss out on the perfect woman God has for him? Is God’s will for his life that narrow?”