by June Faver
Leah laughed. “Maybe he does. He sure came in at the right time last night.”
Ty kissed her forehead. “Maybe.”
“Seriously, Ty. Your dad is a great guy.”
“I’m beginning to think so.” A smile touched his mouth and crinkled his eyes.
When they made it to the breakfast table, Leah was clad in one of Ty’s T-shirts and a pair of cutoff shorts. She embraced Gracie, who had spent the night in the room with Gran. She gazed around the kitchen, at the hum of activity and the morning bustle, at all the people she loved and had grown to care for. “Yes.”
Ty spun around to face her. “Was that a yes?”
Leah giggled. “Yes. What more could I ever want than this?”
“Yahoo!” Ty grabbed her and lifted her in the air. “She’s going to marry me!”
There was an uproar of voices in the Garrett kitchen.
Beau grabbed a saucepan and beat on the bottom with a large ladle, while Colton hooted and made drumming noises on the table.
Gran clapped her hands and said, “Thank heavens!”
Big Jim folded his arms across his chest and beamed his pleasure.
Gracie ran over to throw her arms around Ty’s legs. “Now you’ll be my daddy.”
* * *
Big Jim contacted a construction team out of Amarillo to build a home for his middle son and his bride. He claimed it was his wedding gift to them. He also gave them two sections of land.
Leah had asked what a section of land was, and Ty had whispered that it was six hundred and forty acres.
She swallowed hard. “You mean to tell me your father just gave us over twelve hundred acres? Just for us?”
“Just for us.” Ty squeezed her hand. “And for Gracie and her brothers and sisters.”
Leah laughed. “Just how many brothers and sisters did you have in mind?”
“Whatever happens is fine with me.” He suddenly sobered. “I would like to formally adopt Gracie. I think it would be nice if we all shared the same last name.”
“Oh, that would be wonderful. Gracie will finally have the daddy she’s always wanted.”
He stroked the side of her face. “Another thing…I thought we could build a little cottage for your grandmother, so she could be the queen of her own castle but still keep her close.”
She couldn’t stop grinning. “A cottage for Gran. She’s going to love that…and I will too.”
“And a chicken coop, of course.”
“Of course.” She felt as though a down pillow had exploded inside her chest. Everyone she loved would be gathered together. Family…
It seemed that Big Jim didn’t want to take any chances that Ty might slip away from him again. He became much more supportive of Ty’s musical career.
They hired a hand to live at the bunkhouse behind Gran’s house to take care of the property and farm the land for her.
The wedding was simple. At least more simple than expected.
Leah had wanted to wait until Ty was through competing on Texas Country Star, but he wouldn’t have any of it. She chose Sara Beth as her bridesmaid and Gran to give her away. Gracie, of course, led the procession down the aisle.
All the Garrett men were lined up and waiting for her at the altar. Ty was flanked by both brothers and his dad, and all wore enormous grins.
The most exciting moment of all was when Ty placed the wedding ring on her finger. It had belonged to his mother. Big Jim thought it should go to the next Garrett bride. Ty offered to buy her a brand-new engagement ring of her choice, but she was thrilled to wear the one his father had given his bride. She hoped Elizabeth Jane Garrett was looking on and that she would approve their union.
The wedding reception was held at the Eagles Hall in Langston, where a country band had been booked to entertain and the dance floor had been opened to the public after the reception.
Leah sat at a table with her new husband, her daughter and grandmother, plus her new in-laws. They were joined by Sara Beth and Frank and by Breck and his wife, Cami.
She couldn’t remember ever being so very happy in her life. It appeared that all the guests were enjoying this event nearly as much as Leah herself. This day was a culmination of all her dreams coming true at one time. Hitting the jackpot.
Big Jim Garrett surprised everyone by bringing a date with him. Celia Diaz looked really good on his arm, and when he took her out onto the dance floor, Colton and Beau clinked their longnecks together and toasted them. “’Bout damned time,” Colt murmured.
When the band took their first break, two strangers entered the hall. The woman had flame-red hair and a camera with a long lens clasped in her grip. The man who came behind her lugged some kind of tripod slung over one shoulder and a huge camera bag on the other.
Leah leaned over to Ty and whispered, “Are those people from around here?”
“The photographer is from Dallas. I don’t know where the videographer is from.”
She had no idea what a videographer was or what he was going to do, but he began to unpack his equipment and set up close to the stage.
The next arrival was a big, bearlike man with glasses and a beard. He entered, looked around, and made a beeline for the other new arrivals. There was hand shaking and back slapping, with the furry-looking man making gestures toward the stage.
Ty grinned broadly as the man strode across the length of the hall with a wide grin of his own. Ty stood up to greet him and introduced him as his friend Will. Ty made room at the table, seating Will on the other side of Leah.
Will gazed at Leah with open admiration but addressed Ty. “I can see why you were in such a hurry to get back here.” He gave a nod. “Man, she is an eleven on a ten-point scale.”
Ty snugged an arm around her. “She’s better than that.”
Such glowing praise brought a flush she felt as heat rising from her neck.
When the musicians returned to the stage, the leader announced the addition of a local singer for the next set. He introduced Tyler Garrett as an emerging artist and a contestant on the upcoming Texas Country Star television program.
Grinning, Ty stood and sauntered to the stage amid applause and cheering.
Leah noted the photographer and videographer were on duty. She glanced at Ty’s father and was glad to see Big Jim applauding and beaming from ear to ear. He looked very proud of his middle son.
Ty took the stage with a confidence that amazed Leah. She couldn’t imagine how it would feel to be able to stand up in front of so many people without passing out from pure fright. Yet he grinned and adjusted the microphone to his height. He thanked everyone for their good wishes regarding his wedding earlier in the day and gestured to his “beautiful bride, Leah.”
Will nudged her. “Smile. This is being recorded.”
Leah sucked in a breath and froze as the crowd turned to her. The video guy and the camerawoman aimed their lenses in her direction. Leah bared her teeth in what she hoped passed for a smile, all the while expecting her heart to pop out of her chest at any moment.
Ty gave her a reassuring grin and patted his chest over his heart, a silent I love you. He sang a few songs made popular by other artists and then announced he was going to sing a song he had written for his bride. “Leah, you are the love of my life, and all my songs are dedicated to you.”
Tears filled Leah’s eyes as Ty sang a beautiful ballad he had written just for her. He sang about falling in love with her big brown eyes and sweet smile. He told the story of needing to leave but wanting to stay with her. His lyrics wrapped around her like a warm blanket.
For the first time in her life, Leah felt secure. She finally knew what love was and that it would endure through time, no matter what might lie ahead.
When he finished the song, he blew her a kiss, and everyone rose to their feet to applaud.
G
racie got out of her seat and threw her arms around Leah’s neck. “Mommy, I’m so glad we married Ty.”
Leah swallowed hard, her throat choked with emotion. “Me too, baby. Me too.”
Ty sang one more song. When that number ended, he returned to the table. Standing beside Leah, he held out his hand. “May I have this dance?”
Leah grinned as she put both hands in his and he pulled her to her feet. “I’m not all that good at dancing,” she protested.
He led her out to the middle of the dance floor, gently guiding her. “You’re in luck, because I’m really good at dancing.”
She giggled. “And modest too. I hope I don’t stumble all over you.”
Ty drew her close and led her around the floor in a two-step. He kissed her forehead and then her lips.
Leah relaxed against his chest, his arms tight around her.
“You worry too much,” he said. “Trust me. Everything is going to be just fine.”
Order June Faver’s next book in
the Dark Horse Cowboys series
Hot Target Cowboy
On sale January 2019
Read on for an excerpt from the next book in the Dark Horse Cowboys series by June Faver
Available January 2019 from Sourcebooks Casablanca
Chapter 1
Colton Garrett was late.
He hated to be late for anything, but most especially anything having to do with his father. He could already see the disapproval in “Big Jim” Garrett’s eyes and hear his huff of impatience.
As the oldest of the Garrett sons, Colt was somehow expected to set a good example for the others. To be perfect, it seemed.
Colt heaved a sigh as he pulled his truck in at the auction barn and located a parking space. He knew his dad would already be there with his youngest brother, Beau.
Well, Colt’s tardiness couldn’t be helped. Just as he was preparing to leave the ranch and had barely climbed into his truck, his middle brother, Tyler, called, and he could hardly hang up on him.
Tyler, a rising country-western star, was on his first tour with his recently formed band. As a newlywed, Ty missed his bride, Leah, but since Leah’s eight-year-old daughter, Gracie, attended the local elementary school, Leah couldn’t exactly run off and join him on the road. Ty was lonesome and didn’t want to make Leah feel bad, but getting everything off his chest to his big brother had apparently done him a lot of good…or at least that’s what Ty had said.
Colt climbed out of his truck and stomped through the unpaved parking area, roiling up a layer of dust with his freshly polished boots. He frowned, realizing he would have to give them another shine if he planned to go to the weekly dance at the Eagles’ Hall in Langston that evening.
He had hoped to enjoy a few beers at the bar and a few dances with some of the local talent. Friday nights were meant for dancing and an end to the seemingly endless toil of keeping up with the sprawling Garrett ranch.
Colt entered the auction barn, looking around for his dad and his youngest brother.
The smell of fresh hay and animals mingled with Texas dust. A familiar aroma to a working cowboy.
“Hey, Colt!” Evan Burke greeted him. “Going to be at the Eagles’ tonight?”
“You betcha,” Colt responded. “Hey, have you seen my dad?”
Evan rolled his eyes. “Hard to miss Big Jim. He’s on the other side of the show barn, inspecting some stock. He was lookin’ for you earlier.”
“Yeah, I imagine he still is.” He gave Evan a clap on the shoulder and strode off to meet his fate. Not that Big Jim was anyone for his sons to fear, but he had a way of expressing his displeasure that left the unfortunate offender with no doubt as to their shortcomings. Colton didn’t like to be that person.
As the oldest of the three brothers, Colton was also the biggest. He was six foot four like his dad and had the shoulders of a linebacker. Making his way through the milling crowd was slow going, but at least he could see over most of them. He started when he heard a feminine yelp.
“Watch it!”
He had smacked into someone and turned just in time to grab her before she rebounded onto the ground. He was staring into the face of the most beautiful female he had ever laid eyes on, much less held in his arms. “Um, sorry,” he said.
She made a growl in the back of her throat. “Honestly! Colton Garrett, you need to watch where you’re going. You could kill a girl just by stomping all over her.”
Perplexed, he gazed into her dark eyes, seeking some recognition, but was unable to place this lovely young woman. “I didn’t mean to step on you… Uh, do I know you?”
She huffed again. “Oh, for Pete’s sake. Of course you do.” She pushed away and gave him a scowl before tossing her long, dark hair and striding away.
Colt gazed after her, trying to place her in the long line of girls he had known over the course of his lifetime there in Langston. He was certain the long-legged beauty hadn’t been in his graduating class in school. He would have surely remembered her.
She was tall, with legs up to her neck. Her butt was round, and Colt couldn’t stop staring as her rear moved with each step in her faded Wranglers. She wore a sleeveless western shirt that snapped up the front and showed off her slim but well-toned arms to advantage. And her breasts…oh, yeah. She had ’em. Dang! Now he was standing in the milling throng of mostly male farmers and ranchers with a hard-on like a horny teenager.
Colt swept off his Stetson and held it waist high to cover his state while he raked his fingers through his hair.
But he couldn’t tear his gaze from the unknown female.
Her long, straight hair had been topped with a white, straw cowboy hat, and she wore an attitude as though she had a permanent case of get-the-hell-away-from-me.
Colt sighed. Casting back in his memory, he couldn’t think of any particular girl who had disliked him so openly. In fact, having been an all-star athlete in the local high school had made him pretty popular. Most of the local girls he knew had fallen all over themselves to make sure he was aware they found him attractive and totally desirable as a boyfriend. Of course, a lot of that had to do with the size of his father’s ranch. Girls who grew up in farm and ranch territory knew that God wasn’t making any more prime Texas real estate, and being a future heir to a considerable hunk of that land would have made him popular with the local female population even if he wore thick glasses and had buck teeth and a face full of zits.
Being a Garrett in this part of the world was generally thought to be a good thing. Why this particular girl didn’t think so was a puzzle to Colt. But he had no time to figure it out.
He followed along in the direction the mystery girl had taken, all the while keeping an eye out for Big Jim or Beau.
The latter individual hailed him with the wave of a hand. “Hey Bubba.”
Colt cringed at the nickname. “Don’t call me that,” he admonished.
His youngest brother gazed up at him, his intense blue eyes, a Garrett characteristic, twinkling with mischief. “How about Mud? That’s what I’m thinking your name is. You better go make nice with Dad. He sent me to find you.” He grinned. “Or, I should say, to ‘see if you had gotten your lazy ass out of bed yet.’”
Colt drew in a deep breath and let it out, shaking his head as he did so. “I’m in trouble?”
“Not so much. Dad’s got his eye on some horses. He wants you to take a look at the lot of ’em and give your opinion.”
Colt gazed at Beau with an exaggerated look of surprise. “Me? He wants my opinion?” He placed his hand on his broad chest.
Beau gave him a shove. “Don’t be an ass. Of course he does. The opinion of the lowly little brother counts for nothin’…but you…” He gave Colt another nudge. “You da big expert.”
Colt grinned, emitting a wry chuckle. “And you da lil’ bro who gets off easy.”
Beau raised his brows. “You think it’s been easy growing up in your shadow?”
Colt grunted. “You think it’s been easy breaking ground and paving the way for you two losers?”
The brothers kept up their good-natured teasing as they strolled toward the show barn.
Colt put his Stetson back on his head and looked around. “Hey, do you know who that girl is up ahead? The one with the long, dark hair?”
“And that bodacious backside?”
They both stared at the aforementioned rear with due reverence and fascination.
“Yup, that’s the one.”
“That, big bro, is Joe Dalton’s little sister. None other than the lovely Misty Dalton. What do you think? Pretty hot, huh?”
Colt felt as though he’d been sucker-punched. Joe’s little sister… She couldn’t be more than nineteen or twenty to his twenty-eight. Too young. Way too young. “Why haven’t I seen her around before?”
“Roll your tongue back in your head, Colt. You’re gonna trip on it.”
Colt took a long look. “She knew who I was, but I couldn’t place her.”
“You had graduated and were off at college when she hit high school. No reason you would have noticed her as a freshman… Hell, she’s a couple of years younger than me. For you, she would practically be jailbait.”
“Shut up.” Colt continued to fill his eyes with the rare beauty.
She walked with a certain graceful bearing that he found appealing, like a queen among her subjects. Head high, back straight. Her wide-set dark eyes flicked around the crowd as though she too searched for someone.
Colt felt a tug of something he was surprised to recognize as jealousy. He hoped she wasn’t looking for her boyfriend…or, worse still, her husband. He cleared his throat. “Do you know if she’s married or going with someone?”
Beau gave him a sharp glance. “Man, you’re not kidding, are you? Is this a case of that ‘love at first sight’ thing I’ve heard about?”
