Rodeo Daddy

by B. J Daniels

  Sam looked to her father.

  “Go with Chelsea and get something appropriate to wear for the wedding,” Jack said. “I have to take care of some business, then get something to wear myself.” He started to hand Chelsea a credit card.

  “Would you mind if I bought Sam a dress?” she asked. “I’d really like it to be my treat since it’s her first one.”

  He seemed to hesitate, then nodded. “That’s very…nice of you.”

  “Coming?” Chelsea asked Sam.

  “Comin’,” Sam said, still looking at her dad.

  “It won’t take long,” Chelsea assured Sam when they reached her Mercedes, which had been delivered the night before. She had a dress in mind, something that would knock Jack off his feet.

  When they reached the store, Chelsea let Sam look at the dresses while she made a quick phone call.

  “I’ll only be a minute,” she promised. She watched Sam amble uncomfortably around the store, looking out of place. Her heart went out to the girl and she promised herself that she would do whatever it took to get that look off Sam’s face.

  “Thank you,” she said the moment her brother answered the phone.

  “Chelsea, I assume?” he replied, his tone light.

  “Who else would be thanking you?”

  “It’s just such a new occurrence. And you already thanked me last night.”

  “It meant a lot to Jack,” she told him.

  “I was wrong about him being involved with Ray Dale and rustling,” Cody said.

  “You were wrong about him, Cody. I’m in love with him and his daughter.”

  “I kind of figured,” he said, not sounding happy about it.

  “There’s something I need from you.”

  She could almost hear Cody brace himself. She looked over at Sam, her courage wavering but only for a moment. “I want you to buy out my half of the ranch.” Even as she said the words, she could feel her heart break.

  “There must be something wrong with this phone,” Cody said.

  “I know you thought Jack was just after the ranch, but the truth is, the ranch and my money are the problem between us right now,” she explained. “The only solution I can come up with to solve it is to do away with them.”

  “Chelsea, do you realize what you’re saying?” Cody asked, still sounding in shock. “Give up the ranch for…a man?”

  She laughed. “I know it sounds odd—”

  “Oh, it’s more than odd. It’s nuts. And I won’t do it.”

  “Cody, I love this man. If giving up the Wishing Tree is the answer, then I’ll do it. I’ve already spoken to our lawyer. He’s drawing up the necessary papers. All you’ll have to do at Ashley’s wedding is sign them. Please.”

  “Sis, I know how much you love the Wishing Tree.”

  “Yes, but I love Jack and Sam more.” There, she’d said it. It was done. She hung up and fought back the sobs that threatened inside her. Taking a deep breath, she walked over to Sam. “Want to help me find a dress?”

  “I guess.”

  Chelsea found the dress almost at once. It was exactly what she had in mind. She took it into the dressing room while Sam opted to wait just outside.

  Once she’d pulled on the dress, she looked at herself in the mirror, surprised by the woman who stared back at her. She’d changed. Grown in ways she’d least expected this week. She’d decided to give up the Wishing Tree, but would it be enough?

  When she came out, she found Sam wandering through the racks of dresses, fingering a fabric here, touching a bit of lace there. Chelsea watched her for a moment, then asked the sales associate where she could find the girls’ department.

  “Have you ever played dress-up?” Chelsea asked as they wandered through the girls’ dresses.

  Sam shook her head.

  “It’s fun. Makes you feel like someone else.”

  The look Sam gave her was uncertain.

  Chelsea found a dress that suited Sam and held it up. The little girl stared at the dress, then Chelsea. “Okay.”

  “Here, let’s do something fun with your hair, too,” Chelsea suggested once they were in the large dressing room together. She wound Sam’s braid up on top of her head, tucking in the end to secure it. “There.” Then she pulled the dress from the hanger and waited until Sam had slipped out of her shirt and jeans before handing it to her.

  Sam’s fingers trembled as she slid the dress over her head. Chelsea stepped over to zip it.

  “It feels…funny.”

  “Funny ha-ha, or funny uncomfortable?” she asked.

  “Just funny, different.” Sam turned in a circle to let Chelsea see the dress.

  Chelsea’s eyes widened, a small gasp of surprise and delight escaping her lips. The transformation was magical. With her hair up and no cowboy hat shadowing her face, Sam’s high cheekbones were more prominent, her eyes larger. “Sam, you look…beautiful.”

  Sam blushed as she glanced hesitantly toward the full-length mirror behind Chelsea.

  “Are you ready?” Chelsea asked, seeing the fear in the girl’s eyes as Sam nodded.

  With her gaze fixed on the hem of her dress, Sam slowly stepped past Chelsea to the mirror. Her eyes widened in alarm, her expression stricken.

  She hated the dress! “Sam?” Chelsea whispered behind her.

  “It doesn’t look like me.” The words sounded awed, her eyes huge and misty.

  Chelsea held her breath as she watched Sam study the girl in the mirror, turning this way and that, her gaze never leaving the image in the glass. Gone was the tomboy in her well-worn jeans, western shirts, boots and cowboy hat. In her place was a princess.

  “What do you think?” Sam asked after a moment.

  “I think the dress looks wonderful on you,” she said.

  “No, what do you think Dad will say about it?”

  That was the question, wasn’t it? “How could he not love it since it makes you look so beautiful?”

  Sam grinned and shook her head at the idea of being beautiful, as if it had never occurred to her any more than wearing a dress. Then she bit her lower lip. “I hope Dad likes it.” Her voice sounded small and scared, as if she were remembering his reaction to the makeup.

  If Jack didn’t like his daughter in this dress, Chelsea would wring his stupid neck. But she also remembered the makeup fiasco and began to worry a little.

  “I’d better take it off,” Sam said.

  “Would you prefer to look for one you like better?” she asked after Sam had dressed again in her shirt, jeans and boots.

  Sam seemed surprised by the question. “No, I like this one. But is it too expensive?”

  Chelsea shook her head. Nothing would have been too expensive for this little girl. “It’s my treat.”

  Without warning, Sam threw her arms around Chelsea’s neck and hugged her tightly. “I love the dress.”

  Tears welled in Chelsea’s eyes as she held the girl in her arms, knowing she’d made the right decision.

  The sales associate wrapped the dress in tissue paper, then put it carefully in a box. Sam watched the process closely, as if she didn’t want her dress out of her sight for fear it would disappear.

  Chelsea handed Sam her box to carry out to the car. The girl clutched it to her and smiled to herself as she walked ahead of Chelsea through the store, no longer intimidated.

  After they got Sam some shoes to wear with the dress, they drove back to the hotel. The realization of what she’d done, giving up the Wishing Tree, was sinking in. Chelsea tried to imagine her future. Even if it meant living in the motor home, she knew she would do it. It wouldn’t mean giving up her career—since she had a head for numbers, she could help Jack with all his scheduling and keep running stats for him.

  She thought about the late-night talk Jack had suggested after the wedding. Did he have something special he wanted to tell her?

  She’d wait until then to tell him about what she’d done with the ranch.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
>
  “ARE YOU READY?” Sam called from the adjoining hotel room.

  Ready as he’d ever be. He was anxious about the wedding. He’d be seeing people he’d hoped never to see again, people he’d resented for years. And he’d be taking Sam into the middle of it all.

  “Ready,” he said. Jack had vowed that even if Sam was wearing a little makeup, he wasn’t going to say a word. He wasn’t going to let anything spoil tonight.

  “Just a minute,” Chelsea called back. He heard giggling. “We’re almost ready.”

  Several minutes later, Chelsea opened the door a crack. “You’d better sit down,” she warned.

  “And close your eyes, okay, Dad?” Sam called.

  “Okay,” he said. Sam sounded older, different. He felt a little scared as he sat down on the edge of the bed and closed his eyes. He could hear the swish of fabric and smell Chelsea’s distinct perfume.

  “All right, you can open your eyes,” Chelsea said.

  He opened his eyes, his gaze going first to Chelsea, who stood a little to his right in an electric-blue dress that looked classy and sexy at the same time.

  His gaze quickly went to Sam as she came out and he caught his breath, tears rushing to his eyes. She stopped, frozen as a statue, waiting for his reaction. Her hair was wound around on top of her head and she wore a pretty white dress and white sandals. She looked taller than he remembered her being, and so pretty. So grown-up. She also looked like she might cry if he didn’t say something.

  “Honey, you are beautiful,” he said, his voice breaking.

  Sam burst into a smile and rushed to him, throwing her arms around his neck. “I thought you wouldn’t like it.”

  “I love it,” he said. “You look like a little lady.”

  She released her hold on him and brushed at the front of her dress. “Chelsea picked out one that wasn’t too girlie.”

  “The dress is perfect. Just like you.”

  She blushed but looked pleased, her eyes glowing. “Don’t you think Chelsea looks beautiful, too?”

  “Why don’t you get us an elevator?” he said, smiling at her. “We’ll be right with you. I have to tell Chelsea how beautiful she looks.”

  Sam laughed and went racing out to get an elevator.

  “You’re upset with me,” Chelsea said the moment Sam was gone.

  He shook his head, shaken. “I just didn’t expect to see her looking like that. Thank you.”

  “For what?”

  “For helping Sam. For the dress. For…everything.” He pulled her to him and slowly lowered his mouth to hers for a quick kiss. “Especially for…everything.” He chuckled and, putting his arm around her, walked her to the elevator. “By the way, you look incredible!”

  He felt off balance and had ever since he’d made love to her. But his heart—and the look on Sam’s face when she was around Chelsea—told him he was making the right decision.

  He had yet to discuss that decision with Chelsea, though, and wondered why he continued to put it off. Tonight, after the wedding, he’d talk to her. Chelsea had said she’d do whatever it took for them to be together. He just hoped she meant it.

  * * *

  THE UPSCALE San Antonio restaurant had been reserved for the wedding party. Candles glowed amid an array of pretty flowers and greenery reminding Chelsea of spring.

  “Wow,” Sam said as they were led to their seats.

  Chelsea felt the curious gazes of people she knew. No doubt everyone was wondering who Jack and Sam were. She glanced over at Jack. “Did I tell you how handsome you look in your tux?” she whispered.

  He smiled. “Thank you. You remembered that blue is my favorite color on you, didn’t you?” he whispered back.

  She smiled with pleasure. He seemed at ease and enjoying Sam’s excitement.

  Once they’d found their table, Chelsea led Jack and Sam over to the head table to meet the Garretts. The ceremony itself had been held earlier that afternoon, and the bride and groom were across the room mingling with guests. Chelsea spotted Cody in conversation with Dylan. She wondered how Jack felt about seeing her brother again, but he appeared unaffected.

  “Hello, Jack,” Cody said, extending his hand. “It’s good to see you.”

  Chelsea could have kissed him.

  Dylan got to his feet to shake hands with Jack and make introductions. “This is my father, William Garrett, my sister Lily, her baby daughter Elizabeth and her husband Cole, Max Santana, the foreman at the Double G, and his fiancée, Rachel Blair, and Gracie Fipps, our housekeeper and the best cook in Texas.”

  “This is my friend Jackson Robinson and his daughter, Sam—Samantha,” Chelsea corrected, even though some of the guests had known Jack when he’d worked on their ranch.

  “All the other weddings I’ve been to, they got married on horses,” Sam announced, and everyone laughed good-naturedly.

  After the usual small talk, mostly about Jack’s world championship bull riding, Chelsea, Jack and Sam returned to their own table with Cody, and were introduced to Mitch Barnes and Ernie Brooks.

  The wedding dinner was the best Texas could offer, and when the bride and groom came by to welcome Chelsea, she thanked her good friend Ashley for accommodating the two extra guests at such last-minute notice.

  Ashley gave Chelsea a quick hug and whispered in her ear, “I’m really hoping you’ll be next so I’ll do anything I can to make it happen!”

  If only, Chelsea thought wistfully.

  After dinner, Dylan pulled Chelsea aside for a moment.

  “Ace Winters still hasn’t been found, but his girlfriend, a woman named Terri Lyn Kessler, has reported him missing,” he told her. “She said he didn’t show for his ride in Oklahoma City. He was supposed to travel with her from Kansas City, but never returned after saying he had to meet someone and would be back. No one has seen him.”

  “You think he’s taken off?” Chelsea asked.

  “It’s beginning to look that way,” Dylan said. “Right now he’s wanted in connection with three deaths, Ray Dale’s, Tucker McCray’s and C. J. Crocker’s. I heard from my source inside the police department that before Crocker died, he told officers that he was attacked from behind near the corrals. He named Ace as the rustler on your ranch and said Ace had threatened him if he talked to anyone. The police also found evidence at Tucker McCray’s ranch that ties Ace to that death as well.”

  She felt queasy just thinking about flying with Ace that day. “He seems so…normal.”

  “Often killers are just guys who screw up and commit a murder,” Dylan said. “In Ace’s case, he tried to cover it up with more murders.”

  “It just seems odd that for ten years he’d gotten away with Ray Dale’s murder and now he seems to be making a lot of mistakes,” Chelsea said.

  “He just lucked out ten years ago. Now he has a lot more to lose. He’s probably acting on impulse and panicking. It happens. Just be really careful until he’s caught, all right?”

  She smiled. “Thanks.”

  “Save me a dance later.”

  As soon as she returned to the table, she told Jack what Dylan had said.

  “I guess I find it easier to believe than you do,” Jack said. “I know Ace, and I’ve never trusted him.”

  They saw Sam waving to them that it was time to go into an adjacent room for the dance. As they went through the formal receiving line, Ashley threw her arms around Jack’s neck.

  “I’ve forgiven you for that time you turned a hose on me,” she teased.

  “I’d forgotten about that,” Jack said, laughing. He glanced at Chelsea. “As I remember, you were spying on us in the barn.”

  Ashley’s green eyes twinkled. “Oh, yes, I remember it well.” She kissed Chelsea’s cheek and whispered, “I’m throwing my bouquet right to you. Don’t miss it!”

  Cody had saved a table for them in the reception room. Jack had expected to feel awkward around these people from his past, but it hadn’t happened. They treated him like a long-lost friend, and
Sam was having a great time. She’d met a couple of girls about her age and had gone off to help decorate the bride and groom’s car.

  He actually began to relax. What had changed? Was this Chelsea’s doing—finally being cleared of all that rustling business? Or was it that he’d changed?

  As the band struck up a tune, the conversation turned to weddings and marriage, two things Jack really didn’t want to talk about just yet. But it seemed that Max Santana, the foreman at the Double G, was getting married soon.

  “That just leaves you, Dylan,” Max joked.

  “And Dad,” Dylan pointed out, indicating his father, a handsome man in his sixties.

  “Yes,” Lily said, teasing. “I’ve seen the way you look at Gracie Fipps.” The Garrett housekeeper was up dancing with a nice-looking friend of the groom.

  “Gracie is a great cook—and a wonderful friend,” William informed them, “but that’s all, so don’t go getting any ideas. Some of us are just fine being single, thank you very much.”

  Everyone laughed.

  The band broke into a tune Jack had requested. “Would you like to dance?” he asked Chelsea. It was a slow dance, a song he thought she might remember. He wanted to get away from the table before the marriage conversation turned in their direction.

  Chelsea looked pleased that he’d suggested dancing as he took her hand and led her out onto the floor. “You remembered,” she said.

  “How can I forget?” And yet he thought he finally might be able to forget all but the good times they’d shared. He was willing to admit that he’d brought on a lot of the problems he’d had back then.

  They danced to the next song as well. Then Dylan cut in and Jack went to check on Sam.

  When he found his daughter, he led her out on the dance floor. “May I have this dance?” he asked.

  She looked stricken. “I don’t know how to dance. I’ll look silly.”

  “Don’t worry,” he said. “Just move your feet back and forth like this.”

  Chelsea had seen them come out on the floor. She turned to smile at Sam. “Just do what your dad does. This is how we all learned to dance.”

  Sam didn’t look convinced, but she watched Jack’s feet for a moment, then followed his movements. “I feel dumb.”