Wild Cowboy Ways

by Carolyn Brown

  Blake raked his hand down over his face. “Well, hell! I guess a man can’t outrun his past, can he?”

  “Just how wild were you?”

  “Just how married were you?” he fired right back.

  “Touché,” she said with the briefest of nods.

  “Guess we’re both lookin’ to make changes in our lives and forget the past,” he said.

  Did Allie hear him right? Did he say he wanted to make a change in his life? Could that possibly mean that Sharlene or Mary Jo weren’t in his sights for a one-night stand or even more?

  “Yes, sir. Would you please pass the cheese?”

  He handed her the plate. “Anything for a beautiful lady. Thanks for having supper with me, Allie. The evenings get long if you and Deke aren’t around.”

  Every time, without fail, that he called her beautiful her pulse raced and her heart threw in an extra beat. She took a deep breath before she spoke so he wouldn’t know what crazy things he did to her nerves. “I know exactly what you mean about getting lonesome. Lizzy is so involved with wedding plans and the evenings are tough for Granny. If she does have a lucid moment it won’t be after dark. And Mama gets dragged into the wedding business so even though there’s four of us over at our place, I still get lonely.”

  He gave her one of those brilliant grins that electrified the whole room. “Well, darlin’, you are welcome here anytime of the night or day.” He stood, walked over to move Allie’s clothes from the washer to the dryer, then came back to the table.

  She drew his robe even tighter around her chest, glad that the plush material covered up the effect he had on her aching breasts. She was flirting with the devil, but he was so damn enticing that even a glance drew her to him like a wayward saint to the warmth of hell’s blaze. Allie had sure never been any kind of saint, but she really should slow down and quit taking such giant steps toward the fire.

  “You’ve got that faraway look on your face again. Is Lizzy arguing with you?” Blake asked.

  “No, she’s been quiet this evening. It was me fighting with me,” she said honestly.

  “About what?”

  Blake picked up a pickle and bit into it. “Want to talk about it?”

  “No, I’m tired of analyzing everything to death.”

  Blake handed her the rest of the pickle. “It’s dill and I thought it was a sweet pickle. You finish it. You like dill.”

  Without even thinking about it, she popped the rest of the pickle into her mouth. Was that something that friends did? She didn’t share her food with Deke and they’d been friends for more than a decade.

  She was still chewing when the front door burst open and Irene stomped in wearing a pair of bright red rubber boots, a cowboy hat, and a long denim duster, all covered with snow.

  “Walter, where in the hell are you?” she yelled.

  Allie jumped up so quickly that the robe’s belt loosened and the top fell back, showing the top half of her breasts. Blake and Allie met Irene in the living room and she took one look at Allie, doubled up her fist, and shook it at Blake.

  “Damn it, Walter! I’m going to kill you with my bare hands for cheatin’ on me.”

  Allie took a step forward and grabbed her grandmother’s hands. When she did even more of the robe opened up.

  “Granny, this is Blake and I’m Alora Raine. I’m your granddaughter and this man is not Walter,” Allie said sternly.

  “You are naked under that robe,” Irene hissed.

  Allie continued to hold her hands. “Yes, I am. I’ve been working in insulation all day and my clothes are in the dryer right now. I’ll get dressed as soon as they are done. We’ll call Mama to come get you.”

  “My mama has been dead for years so you can’t call her. Silly girl, there ain’t no phones in heaven.” Irene eyed Blake seriously. “You aren’t Walter, are you? Who are you again?”

  “I’m your new neighbor, Blake Dawson. Allie is doing some carpenter work for me,” he said.

  Allie groaned when she heard a vehicle coming to a stop outside. Thinking about having to explain to her mother why she was wearing nothing but a robe was enough to make her want to run home in four inches of snow in her bare feet. If that old adage about how that man plans and God laughs was true, then the Almighty must be howling up in heaven right now.

  High heels on the wooden porch didn’t sound like her mother’s footsteps but then maybe Katy had gotten dressed up for the church thing and hadn’t had time to kick off her Sunday shoes. It didn’t matter if she showed up in rubber boots or her best dress shoes as long as she took Granny home and didn’t throw a hissy about the way Allie was dressed.

  Allie let go of her grandmother’s hands and put the robe to rights. The cutesy little rap on the door sounded like da-da-da-da-da and then a da-da should have alerted Allie that it was not her mother.

  Blake yelled for the visitor to come on in. The door swung open and a cold north wind pushed Nadine into the room. She wore her best Sunday coat and high-heeled shoes, and she carried an apple pie in her hands.

  “Blake, darlin’, I brought you a pie. Oh. My. God!” She looked from Irene to Blake and then to Allie. “I didn’t know you had company.”

  Irene poked her on the arm. “What the hell are you doing here? Does Bobby Ray know you are out at this time of night flirtin’ with a married man? He’ll call off the wedding if he finds out and I’ll tell him next time I see him.”

  “Blake is married?” Nadine frowned.

  “I’m not married,” Blake answered.

  Nadine shoved the pie into his hands. “I just dropped by to bring you another apple pie and welcome you to Dry Creek.”

  “Thank you,” he mumbled.

  More noises out in the driveway meant Katy was really coming to take Granny home this time. After this shit with Nadine, it would be wonderful to get the whole ordeal finished and go home with her mama and Granny. Hopefully, her things would be dry by then.

  The knock came to the door and Blake opened it.

  “May I help you?” he asked.

  “Nadine?” Her fiancé, Bobby Ray, pushed his way past Blake and into the house. He stopped so quick that his boots squeaked on the floor. His eyes went straight to Nadine. “What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be at that ladies’ thing at the church?”

  “I came to see Allie,” she said quickly. “She wanted to taste my apple pie so I brought one to her.”

  Bobby Ray, a tall man with a full black beard and a beer belly, crossed his arms over his chest. “Why here and not over at Audrey’s Place?”

  “Lizzy was at the church meeting and said she was doing some work here and when I called her, she said to bring it here,” Nadine lied.

  “I asked about the pie recipe when she and Sharlene and Mary Jo came in the store yesterday for coffee. It’s awful sweet of you to bring one to me,” Allie said.

  Bobby Ray tilted his head toward Blake. “Why is Blake holding it and why are you dressed like that?”

  “He’s holding it because”—Allie nodded toward her grandmother and lowered her voice—“she thought it was for her and she hates apple pie and she’s on a tear tonight and we were afraid she would throw it at Nadine and ruin her coat.” The sentence came out in a rush. “And why I’m dressed like this isn’t a damn bit of your business, Bobby Ray.”

  “That’s right.” Irene slapped him on the shoulder. “Don’t you dare call my granddaughter a slut! What exactly are you doing here? Did you get drunk and lose your way to Audrey’s Place? Well, it ain’t a whorehouse no more but we all know that you chase anything that’s got a pair of panties up under their skirt.”

  “Granny!” Allie said.

  “It’s the truth.” Irene tilted her chin up defiantly.

  Nadine frowned as both hands popped on her wide hips. “Bobby Ray?”

  Bobby Ray’s cheeks turned fire engine red. “She’s off in another world. Don’t listen to her.”

  Nadine pushed him on the chest. “Have you been ch
eatin’ on me?”

  “Hell, no! If anyone is cheatin’, it’s you. I don’t believe this cock and bull story one bit about bringing that pie to Allie.” His voice got louder with each word.

  Irene took a step between them. “If you are going to shout in Walter’s home, then get the hell out in the yard. If you wake his cantankerous old bitch of a mama, I’ll shoot the both of you.”

  “I came over here to ask Blake if I could cut up some of that wood he’s givin’ away for free. I didn’t come to fight with you, Nadine.” Bobby Ray crossed his arms over his chest.

  Blake set the pie on the coffee table. “You’re welcome to all the wood you want. Herman and his crew have been taking a lot of it but believe me, there is plenty more coming soon as I can get it dozed down.”

  Allie heard another vehicle. It had to be her mother this time. Or maybe it was all the ladies of the church bringing another round of food to replenish what Blake had used. It didn’t matter. Tomorrow morning the fact that she was in his house, wearing his robe and nothing else, would be the headlines of the gossip vine.

  This time there was no knock. A tall blonde plowed into the living room. Wearing a floor-length black leather coat, tight skinny jeans, and a gorgeous red sweater, the woman ignored everyone. She set her eyes on Blake and made a beeline for him, slung her arms around his neck, and kissed him. It wasn’t a sister kiss but a long, lingering one that involved lots of tongue and her leg wrapped around his.

  When the kiss broke, her eyes lit on Bobby Ray, standing there with his hands in his pockets and looking at the ceiling. “Bobby Ray Wilson. I haven’t seen you in a whole month, darlin’. What are you doing here? I swear the world gets smaller every day.”

  Bobby Ray stammered. “What brings you here, Scarlett?”

  “Long story but it don’t have anything to do with us, darlin’. I told you that we were through the last time I saw you, remember? I don’t date married men or engaged ones. You were a naughty boy. You should have told me you were engaged before we spent the weekend together,” Scarlett said.

  Nadine drew back her fist and if Blake hadn’t taken a couple of long strides forward and blocked it, she would have broken Bobby Ray’s nose right there.

  “Turn me loose. I’m going to kill him,” Nadine screeched.

  “Who is that screeching bitch, Blake?” Scarlett asked.

  “This would be Bobby Ray’s fiancée, Nadine,” Blake said.

  Scarlett slapped a hand over her mouth dramatically. “Oops.”

  Nadine shook free of Blake’s grasp and tiptoed so that her nose was only inches from Bobby Ray’s. “You son of a bitch.”

  “That would be calling the pot black after this little escapade, wouldn’t it? You’re running around taking pies to men after dark. I bet you didn’t make me a pie, did you?” Bobby Ray said.

  Scarlett ignored them. “And this one wearing my favorite robe, sweetheart? Who is she?”

  Allie would have taken the robe off and stomped on it with dirty boots if she’d had another piece of clothing underneath. “I’m Alora Raine Logan. I happen to be working on this house and it’s none of your business why I’m wearing this robe.”

  Scarlett looked down on Allie, her blue eyes so cold that Allie could feel the chill behind them. Her voice was sweetly sarcastic when she said, “It’s nice and warm and tickles all the right places, doesn’t it? Gets you real ready for the bedroom.”

  Allie met the challenge without backing down an inch. “Who are you?”

  “I’m Blake’s wife and this is my yearly booty call,” she said.

  Chapter Fourteen

  The entire room went so quiet that Allie’s ears ached. Did that hussy just say she was Blake’s wife? Allie whipped around and stared at him.

  “Ex,” Blake said quickly.

  A loud rap on the door frame took everyone’s attention in that direction. Katy Logan stepped inside without waiting to be invited. “Have you seen…oh, there you are, Mama. It’s time to go home now. What the…” Katy’s eyes came close to popping out of the sockets when she saw Allie.

  “It’s a long story,” Allie said. “Come on, Granny. I think it’s time for us to go home.”

  Irene sat down in the rocking chair. “Why? I like this party. It’s exciting. When are they bringing out the birthday cake and ice cream? I want cake.”

  “We’ve got chocolate cake waiting for us at home. I’ll get my boots and I’ll see to it your robe gets brought home tomorrow,” Allie said coldly without even looking at Blake.

  “Allie, let me explain,” he said.

  Her shoulder bumped his as she stomped toward the bathroom to get her boots, but she didn’t look back. “Enjoy your booty call. I’ll get my boots and get out of your way.”

  “Is this your new girlfriend?” Scarlett asked above the argument still going on between Bobby Ray and Nadine.

  “That is none of your business. All of you need to leave,” Blake yelled above the din.

  “Well, Walter, don’t go screamin’ at me like that. You invited me for cake and ice cream. I didn’t bring all these other fools. It’s not my fault,” Irene huffed.

  Allie marched back up the hall in boots that were unlaced, took her grandmother’s hand, and helped her up out of the rocking chair. “Come on, Granny. We’ll have cake and ice cream and you can even blow out the candles.”

  “Is it my birthday?”

  “Not yet, but we’ll practice for when it is,” Allie said.

  The moment they were alone in the house, Scarlett draped her arms around Blake’s neck and rolled slightly up on her toes to kiss him on the lips. One hand braced against his chest while the other one worked on his belt.

  “A year is too long,” she whispered. “We have to start taking care of this every six months.”

  He pushed her away and ran a palm over his mouth, wiping the kiss away. “Get out, Scarlett, and don’t come back.”

  “You can’t resist me. You never could so don’t give me that song and dance. I’ve looked forward to this for a month. We always get together right after New Year’s to celebrate the fact that our parents were smart enough to get our drunken marriage annulled.”

  He opened the door and pointed. “Out!”

  “You can do a hell of a lot better than that mousy-lookin’ little creature.”

  “One more time. Out!” He raised his voice so loud that Shooter whimpered.

  “Okay, then,” she growled. “Since you are in a pissy mood, I’ll leave. Don’t tell me that someone is about to tame you. I didn’t think that could be done.” She headed toward the door.

  Blake locked the door behind her and threw himself back in the recliner. “Dammit! Maybe this place is unlucky after all.”

  Shooter gobbled down the apple pie and licked the glass pie plate clean. Then he curled up in front of the fireplace, his big brown eyes looking up at Blake.

  “You’re not in trouble, boy. I was going to heave the thing out in the yard,” Blake mumbled.

  Shooter’s tail wagged a few times.

  “Now I have to explain the whole thing to Allie.”

  The doorknob rattled and Deke yelled from the other side, “Hey, man, are you alone in there?”

  Blake rushed to the door and slung it wide open. “Where in the hell were you thirty minutes ago when I needed you?”

  “What do you need done?” Deke asked. “Or are we going somewhere to dance and flirt with the ladies?”

  “I needed you to referee.” Blake ushered him inside and told him the rest of the story.

  Deke removed his coat and tossed it behind the recliner. “Man, I can’t believe all that happened tonight but I’m damn glad that Allie and even Irene were here when Nadine showed up. If you’d been alone and Bobby Ray hadn’t decided to come around and ask about firewood, you’d have been in trouble.”

  “If I can tell Scarlett to go away, and Sharlene and Mary Jo, I reckon I could get rid of that redhead.” Blake plopped down on the sofa. “There’s st
ill food on the table if you’re hungry.”

  “Already ate but don’t put it away. I might get into it later,” Deke said. “Do you like Allie? I mean as in like her, not as in like her as a friend and neighbor? It seems to me you might have developed some feelings for her.”

  “Why are you asking?”

  The dog on the television barked and Shooter’s head popped up. “See, even Shooter thinks something is going on and he’s voicing his opinion. The reason I’m askin’ is because she’s like a sister to me and I don’t want to see her hurt, and you just now told me about this once-a-year booty call and I bet this is the first time you turned it down.”

  “I could never hurt Allie. I…” Blake hesitated. “Yes, I do like her a lot.”

  “You’d best be real sure before you make that statement because as good of friends as we’ve become, if you make her cry, I’ll have to hurt you,” Deke said seriously.

  Blake went to the kitchen and brought back two open beers. He handed one to Deke and downed a third of his before he settled into the rocking chair in front of the blazing fire. “You don’t scare me as much as this crazy feeling inside me. I didn’t move here with intentions of getting involved in any way with a woman. I should back away from her completely. She’s already got baggage in her past and she don’t need an old cowboy like me, and besides my brother and I have a rule about dating women too close to home,” Blake said.

  “That’s not your decision to make. It’s Allie’s.”

  “After tonight I’ll be surprised if she even comes back to finish the bedroom.”

  “Man, I would have loved to have been here to see it but I’m more than a little mad at you for kicking that tall blonde out in the cold. I would have gladly let her come to my house for a booty call.” Deke laughed.

  “Start talkin’,” Katy said the minute they were in the house.

  Irene clapped her hands like a child. “Cake and candles and ice cream.”