Cowboy 12 Pack

by Cynthia D’Alba, Paige Tyler, Elle James, Donna Michaels, Shoshanna Evers, Randi Alexander, Cora Seton, Beth Williamson, Sabrina York, Sable Hunter, Lexi Post, Becky McGraw

  With the rash of random break-ins going around since before he’d taken over as sheriff, this call could be one of them. Money, electronics and tools had all disappeared from houses and ranches in unrelated locations. No one had been home at the times. Thank God. But sooner or later, that was bound to change. He had no idea how dangerous the perp or perps were and hoped to apprehend them before ever finding out.

  As the ranch came into view, he relaxed a little at the sight of the young deputy leaning against the back of his squad car, clothes and hair a little rumpled. Well, what do you know, the kid listened for once. There might be hope for him yet.

  That thought instantly nose-dived the second Kade stepped out of the jeep. The unmistakable odor of skunk filled the air, emanating from the young, frowning deputy.

  Okay, so this wasn’t a burglary.

  He stopped dead, eyes already beginning to water, and he was still a good ten feet from the kid. Even though he could hazard a guess, he had to ask, “What happened?”

  The deputy shrugged, glancing down at the dirt on his boots. “Old man Blackwell called in about a rustling in his barn. I’m sorry, sir. I found them in the south corner. I…I thought they were kittens. They were cute and furry with white spots. They didn’t have the usual white stripe on the back. Honest.”

  Doing his best not to laugh—or hurl—Kade cleared his throat and nodded. “Some western ones have spots, Donny. So, let me guess…” He waved a hand at the kid. “Momma wasn’t too happy you got close.”

  Donny nodded, brown hair flopping into his eyes. “Yeah, she came out of nowhere, hissing and rushing me like a banshee.”

  He could relate. Even though Brandi smelled a hell of a lot better, she did have that banshee move down pat this morning.

  “Did you call animal control?” he asked, stepping upwind, trying desperately to suck in a clean breath of air.

  The kid nodded, swiping the tears from his face. “Yeah, they’re on their way now.”

  “I’ll wait for them,” Kade said. “You go on home and get acquainted with some tomato soup from your mom’s pantry. It won’t do much good, but it’s better than nothing.”

  He knew this first hand, thanks to Cole and Kevin. Several times throughout their youth, he and Connor had been at the wrong end of a skunk.

  “Thank you, Mr. Sheriff Dalton, sir.” The kid practically tripped over his feet to get to his door.

  He shook his head. “Donny, what did I tell you about calling me that?”

  “Sorry, sir…I mean, Sheriff.”

  “That’s better.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Kade resisted the urge to close his eyes and groan. “And, Donny?”

  “Yes, Sheriff?” The boy looked up at him from the front seat.

  “Burn the uniform.”

  “Yes, sir.” The deputy shut the door, started the engine then drove off, kicking up dust in his wake.

  It was going to be months before that squad car didn’t reek.

  BRANDI’S MORNING FLEW by. After a less than gracious start at the Dalton’s, her day continued to stink. The couch she’d special ordered for the Garnett’s living room, the final piece of her masterpiece, arrived right on time…in a plaid pattern of bright pink. She was on the phone for a half-hour getting that mess straightened out. So much for finishing the job today. It was going to take another forty-eight hours before a replacement would arrive and she could finish the job.

  As if the Kade debacle and Garnett fiasco weren’t enough, she ran out of gas on her way to the Masters’. Thank God Jordan had been visiting her parents before work. Her friend had found her on the side of the road and drove back to retrieve a can of gas for the mower from her father’s garage. It had been enough to get Brandi to the Masters’.

  She parked, then set the empty can near the garage. Too bad her truck decided to share the fuel with her shoe. After she met with her new client, she’d head to the nearest gas station and fill up, then go home and clean up…if there was time.

  Right now, she needed the nearest bathroom to wash the gas off her hands. She glanced down at her foot as she rang the door bell. Unfortunately, a bathroom wasn’t going to help her shoe. Not hardly. Soap and water were no match for the gas-coated black pumps.

  Why couldn’t she have run out before she’d changed for work? Better yet, why couldn’t she have remembered to fill up when the damn light had dinged on her exit from the Dalton’s? Oh, right…probably because she’d been too preoccupied with thoughts of her encounter with Kade. Yeah, she was just full of brainpower today.

  “Hi, Brandi. Come on in.” Mrs. Masters smiled as she opened the door wide.

  She returned the smile. “Thank you. I put the gas can by the garage like Jordan told me. Would you mind if I washed my hands?”

  “Of course not, dear. Go right ahead. You know where it’s at.”

  A few minutes later, she joined her friend’s mother in the great room where she sat having coffee with Mrs. McCall.

  “Hello, Brandi, dear,” the other woman said. “You look like you’ve had a heck of a morning.”

  So much for trying to mend her appearance. Apparently, she’d failed. Miserably. “Yes, it has been one of those days.”

  The petite woman, looking cool and collected in a sleeveless blue dress patted the couch. “Well, sit down, and have some coffee, dear.”

  “Yes, coffee always makes things better,” Mrs. Masters stated with a grin, already pouring a cup before Brandi could stop her.

  “Thank you,” she said, reluctantly sitting down. She didn’t want to stink up the house. “I can’t stay long. I have a few others to see.” And a sheriff to track down. “I just want you to look over the ideas one last time before things get started this Friday.”

  She pulled the electronic tablet out of her purse, called up the plans and set them on the coffee table.

  Her host leaned forward and scanned the screen. “Everything looks perfect, Brandi. Oh, I can hardly wait.” The woman slid the tablet back along with a check. “Thank you so much for fitting us in. I know you’re getting busy.”

  “Yes. Business is starting to pick up,” she replied, slipping the tablet and check into her purse before reaching for her cup. The amount of work Harland County was beginning to supply her was quite a pleasant surprise.

  “Word of mouth will do that.” The older woman pushed a strand of graying-brown hair from her eyes and winked.

  Mrs. McCall turned to her and frowned. “Was work good in Pennsylvania?”

  Music wise, great. Designing, nonexistent. Mainly because she hadn’t been allowed. Too bad she couldn’t say the same for the coffee. It not only existed, the beverage went down the wrong way, and she was now choking on the brew.

  After coughing and making a big spectacle of herself—because she never did things in a small way—Brandi wiped her mouth with the napkin Mrs. McCall had shoved in her hand.

  “Sorry, thanks.” She drew in a breath and forced a smile. “I worked a lot back in PA.”

  At least that wasn’t a lie. She had worked a lot, just not as a designer. After years of pleasing others, doing what they expected of her, she’d finally had enough. Who knew answering Jordan and Kerri’s ad would’ve led to her leaving her job, her home, her father, her brothers, her nephew…Ed.

  “Well, I for one am glad you decided to come down here and work,” Mrs. Masters said. “And dare I be as bold as to say a certain sheriff was, too?”

  “Kade?” She coughed, then coughed some more. Would’ve been smart to swallow before speaking. Another napkin found its way into her hand. She wiped her face, and cleared her throat. “W-why would you say that? We’re just…friends.” She used the term loosely. Very loosely. Especially seeing as the guy kind of hated her at the moment.

  “Oh, it’s just the way he looks at you sometimes,” the woman in blue answered, a knowing smile curving her lips while the other nodded.

  Her pulse hiccupped, but she shook it off. “He probably has indigesti
on.” The ladies were nice, but really needed to have their eyesight checked.

  “Oh, I don’t think so,” Mrs. McCall insisted. “Mark my words, he likes you.”

  Butterflies decided to take up residence in her stomach. That was new.

  “He’s a good man.” A warm hand covered hers. “You should give him a chance.”

  Okay. Yeah. No. Time to put an end to the tag-teaming. “I’m sure he is, but I didn’t come to Texas looking for a boyfriend. I came to work. I enjoy working, and look forward to getting started on your project.”

  Her host squeezed her hand one last time before releasing. “And I’m so excited for your design to come to life out back. Nate and I can’t wait to use the hot tub.”

  Brandi smiled, having initially been shocked by her customers’ request. But after observing the couple, and seeing how much they were still in love after being married for over forty years, the request made perfect sense, and she’d gladly worked in a five-person hot tub.

  “Neither can Alex and I,” the tiny woman added, a pretty blush covering her cheeks.

  “And I can’t wait until it’s done so you can all enjoy it,” Brandi said, placing her cup down before rising to her feet. “I’d better go and double-check to make sure everything and everyone is all set to get started bright and early this Friday.” She turned to her host. “You’re sure you don’t mind workers here over the weekend?”

  “Not at all,” her new client reassured. “I’m eager to get started. I know it will take a few weeks.”

  “No more than two.” The job was big, but not huge. She’d allotted a ten day time frame, two weeks should the weather turn uncooperative.

  The women exchanged a glance.

  Mrs. Masters turned to her and smiled. “Whatever it takes.”

  “Okay, then I’ll see you at the end of the week.” She shouldered her purse and nodded. “Thanks for the coffee.”

  Both women were smiling as they walked her to the door where she said goodbye before climbing into her white truck. They were sweet. And content. She’d seen the matchmaking gleam in their eyes, and understood it was because they wished that happiness for everyone. Of course, pairing her with Kade was a complete waste of time. A dead issue. But her friends’ mothers were nice, and she knew they did it out of the goodness of their hearts.

  As Brandi drove down the drive, she couldn’t help but wonder if her mother would’ve been that happy, and that happily married, if she’d still been alive.

  “WELL NOW, MAYBE getting Kade and Brandi together won’t be as hard as my sons,” Leeann McCall exclaimed, walking back into her friend’s great room for another cup of coffee.

  Hannah Masters followed close by. “I don’t know. I get the impression Brandi has just discovered her backbone and is not going to be so easy to budge.”

  “True,” she said, retaking her seat on the couch, smoothing a hand over her blue dress. “But we’ve faced adversity before, and prevailed. Twice.”

  Hannah sat down across from her and nodded. “So we have.” Her friend lifted her cup in a salute.

  “Brandi is in for a big shock if she thinks we won’t give her and Kade a little push,” she said, pouring coffee into her cup. Her sons were a lot more stubborn, and a lot harder to handle, although Kade had a much tougher childhood than her boys.

  Her best friend set her mug on the table and sat back. “If we managed to help Jordan along, there’s no way we can fail Brandi. Jordan’s stronger willed than a bull.”

  She hoped that were true. In the short time they’d gotten to know the designer, Hannah and her husband, and she and Alex were all in agreement. Brandi was a good-hearted woman who liked to help others, and was loyal to a fault. Exactly what poor Kade deserved. Besides, anyone with eyes could see the two were attracted to each other. They just needed a push. That’s all. A bit of a push.

  “Of course, there is a problem,” she felt inclined to point out. “Your daughter readily admitted she loved my thick-headed son practically from the get go. Both Brandi and Kade are closer to the opposite.”

  Her friend nodded. “Kind of like Kerri and Connor were in the beginning.”

  “Except I think Kade will be a lot harder. The poor guy was left behind by everyone he loved. I fear he won’t take a chance.” Her heart ached for the boy. Always had. Ten years ago, she’d made a vow to Sarah Dalton, his dying aunt, that she’d make sure Kade, Kevin and Jen were looked after, and she was not about to break it.

  “Well, we’ll just have to help him,” Hannah stated with a firm nod.

  Exactly what she’d been thinking. They’d helped her son, Connor, who was too stubborn at times to get out of his own way. And her son, Cole, who’d practically been unreachable. No. Getting Kade and Brandi together was definitely doable.

  “You’re right,” she said, several plans forming in her head. “And I know just the couple to help.”

  A HALF HOUR later, Brandi’s gas tank was full, but her stomach was empty. She pulled into the Texas-Republic lot hoping to rectify that and talk business with Jordan at the same time. Parking next to a familiar red pick-up, she smiled. Connor McCall was no doubt there to have lunch with her friend Kerri—his fiancée.

  She turned off the ignition and sat back. Since she seemed to have left her house without her smarts that day, she was now faced with the dilemma of her shoes. Which was worse? Going into the restaurant barefoot, or with gas on her shoes? Neither seemed sanitary or acceptable. She glanced around her truck. Nope. Nothing. An empty, low-cal snack wrapper was not going to work. Her cottage wasn’t too far away; maybe she could just run home quick.

  The muffled buzz of her cell phone jarred her thoughts, and she quickly pulled the vibrating device from her purse.

  Where are you?

  Sighing, she answered Kerri. Outside. Was just about to go home to change shoes. Pulled a Lucy. Spilled gas on shoe and don’t want to come inside restaurant with it.

  No, meet me upstairs.

  Kerri used to live in the apartment above the restaurant. Though she now lived at Wild Creek with Connor, maybe her friend still had a few things upstairs.

  Okay.

  Ten minutes later, Brandi walked into the restaurant with Kerri, wearing the only thing they could find. A pair of pink bunny slippers with big ears. Yeah, fashionable. Went well with her white, short-sleeved silk blouse and black pencil skirt. Which would’ve been only mildly embarrassing if it was just Jordan, Kerri and Connor in the pub. But sometime during her rummaging session upstairs, another costumer had arrived.

  The Harland County Sheriff.

  Chapter Three

  ‡

  JUST KILL ME now…

  Brandi’s day just kept getting worse. Of course the guy was here. It wouldn’t be the day from hell if he wasn’t, now would it? Having learned long ago to roll with the punches, she continued to walk next to Kerri as if wearing normal, big girl shoes. Which, of course, she wasn’t. No. Her feet were shoved into bright pink, fuzzy slippers with a smiling, white, over-sized bunny head and large pink ears leading the way.

  “Way to rock the slippers, girl.” Jordan winked, giving her two thumbs up from the table where she sat with Connor and Kade.

  The tall cowboy rose to his feet, along with the silent sheriff, and looked from her feet to her rapidly heating face as she approached with his fiancée. “I want to ask…I really do…but I won’t.”

  She smiled despite herself. “What? You don’t like my big bunnies?”

  Well, his fiancée’s bunnies. After all, they were Kerri’s slippers. And it was somewhere in between that thought and the men’s widening eyes that Brandi realized what she’d said. Then blushed accordingly.

  “I…um…I’m sure your bunnies are just fine, darlin’,” Connor drawled, slipping an arm around his fiancée’s shoulders and drawing her near. “But I prefer Kerri’s.”

  “Actually, they are hers. She let me borrow them because I spilled gas on my shoe,” she babbled.

  “Okay.
Makes perfect sense,” he said with a laugh that signaled otherwise. “Why don’t we all have lunch? I’m starved.”

  She chanced a glance at the sheriff. Amusement flittered through his eyes, turning them a light gray. An emotion she hadn’t seen there in quite a while. Her heart did that stupid rocking thing in her chest, so she quickly turned her attention back to her friend. Rocking was dangerous. The sheriff was dangerous. Dangerous to her pulse. She didn’t need danger in her life. No. Calm, strong and steady were more her speed and what she sought in the new lifestyle she’d worked hard to achieve. Entertaining thoughts about the sheriff was hazardous.

  “You’re always starved,” Kerri said, patting Connor’s stomach as she looked adoringly up at the cowboy.

  Watching the pair interact, Brandi noted their relaxed, confident demeanor exuded strong and steady. Not normally one to envy, she felt the faint tug just the same. Kerri and Connor had the strong and steady, but also managed the dangerous. The two had taken risks, put it all on the line for the other, and had come out on top. Not a common feat. Although, from what she’d heard, Jordan and her husband Cole had risked it all, too. Twice. Married twice. Lost a spouse and found the courage to take a chance again.

  Brandi wasn’t that strong. She couldn’t do it, and she’d never even lost a lover in that way.

  The tall cowboy displayed his trademark lopsided grin. “Of course I’m starved. Especially when I know I’m about to eat your delectables.”

  “Okay.” Jordan stood, coming to the rescue of her blushing sister. “On that note, I think it’s a good time for the three of us to go fetch lunch from the kitchen. Excuse us, gentlemen.”

  Looping an arm through hers and Kerri’s, the former cop ushered them out of the dining room with lightening speed. Which was a real feat considering Brandi’s skirt only allowed baby steps. She had the feeling she wasn’t the only one glad the Texas-Pub didn’t open to the public until four in the afternoon. Embarrassment could’ve had a much larger audience.

  “Alrighty.” The dark-haired beauty let go once safely inside the kitchen. “While my sister heats up the lunch she made for everyone, you and I can sit at the table in the corner over there and discuss my master suite.”