Cowboy for Keeps

by Debra Clopton

  “He’s right, you know,” Seth said, slapping him on the back. “Little brother, this is a great day. Don’t think about anything but you and her. I’ll get big brother straightened out while you’re on your honeymoon.”

  Cole chuckled. “Thanks. It’s the greatest day, but it wouldn’t be happening if it weren’t for you, Wyatt, so its only fitting that I be thinking about you, too.”

  Cole’s grin was as big as Wyatt had ever seen it.

  “All I did was act on a hunch. You did the rest.”

  Seth thumbed his black hat off his forehead and settled speculative eyes on Chance. “You might want to get Wyatt to act on a hunch for you. After all, you aren’t getting any younger, you know,” Seth teased.

  Dark-headed like the rest of them, Chance had the Turner look of lean jawline and crooked grin, only his eyes weren’t shades of blue but as green as clover.

  He just shook his head. “I haven’t found a woman yet who was willing to put up with my schedule, and I’m not planning to stop my work.” They all knew that was how he felt. Chance took his work very seriously. “I love preaching to those cowboys before they ride. I’ve got Christian cowboys and unbelievers alike coming to services. God’s put me where He has and until He tells me different I’ll be standing right outside the turnout gate every Sunday when my cowboys ride.” He turned serious green eyes on Wyatt. “How about you? When are you going to settle down? I’m prepared to be a bachelor for the rest of my life if that’s what God has planned for me.”

  Wyatt respected Chance and his uncommon faith. Any man who thought God didn’t save the roughest of the bunch could just look at his cousin and they would know the redemptive power of God’s grace. Chance had dedicated his life to serving the Lord. He did so among the men he’d competed with and counted as friends for years.

  As for Wyatt, he hadn’t really thought about his marrying status until lately. He’d been so intent on getting his brothers married off so the Turner name could be carried on. And just because he felt responsible for them. He’d known his parents would want them to be happy and he’d been determined to see that done.

  Prior to the plane crash he’d been satisfied with his life tenfold. Now, he wasn’t sure of anything except that he’d caused Amanda pain.

  Yesterday he’d not been able to stop himself from kissing her. She’d made that statement about not thinking a man would want her—how could she think that? It had to have come from the breakup…and her lack of a leg? Maybe. The idea stunned him. How had Jonathan been so cruel? How had he been so cruel? He’d kissed her before he’d thought things through. He wasn’t ready to settle down. His life was in Dallas and Amanda’s life was wherever the next job took her. Even if he was ready to settle down, the logistics wouldn’t work. He’d cared for her for a while now, and he wanted the best for her. She deserved the best. Not another man messing with her heart.

  What was best for her was for him not to think about how she’d felt in his arms. Or how one touch of her lips… Wyatt stopped right there and pushed thoughts of kissing Amanda out of his mind. This was Cole’s wedding. He needed to focus on Cole and Susan.

  He did not need his brothers and his cousin asking him what was going on in his brain because he was too distracted to keep up with where their conversation had gone while he had Amanda on his mind.

  “Okay, it’s time, ladies,” Norma Sue commanded, entering the dressing room. She and Esther Mae were the wedding planners and were taking their positions seriously. Amanda had shown up early when she’d driven Wyatt to the church, and Melody and Susan had drawn her into the dressing room with them and Lacy. Melody was the maid of honor and Lacy was the bridesmaid. Amanda was hired to help and was having trouble. Had been since the kiss.

  “It sure is,” Esther Mae said, hustling in behind Norma Sue. She had on a purple dress topped off with a purple-and-white hat with a riot of morning glories encircling the rim. “You should see those men. I tell you, they marched out there in those black, Western suits and those black Stetsons and I thought I was going to pass slap out right there in the doorway.”

  Norma Sue had traded in her overalls for a pink striped dress without a hat. She ducked her chin and looked down her nose at her friend. “That would have been a catastrophe in more ways than one. We’d a had to just roll you out of the way and gone on with this wedding. After the plane crash we are not letting anything get in the way of marrying off these two.”

  “Norma Sue,” Susan said. “We would not have rolled Esther Mae out of the way.”

  “Now, Susan,” Lacy said, smoothing her pale blue dress down. “We would have had to because if we didn’t we wouldn’t have been able to get the door open to get you inside.”

  Esther Mae harrumphed. “I didn’t pass out, so hush, Norma Sue, and let’s get these gals lined up and ready so Adela can start playing the wedding march.”

  “Amanda, you got the train?” Norma Sue opened the door.

  “Yes, ma’am. I do.” Amanda carefully gathered up the short train and smiled at Susan, who suddenly looked nervous.

  “I’m so excited I can hardly breathe.” She placed a hand on her stomach and took a deep breath, meeting Amanda’s gaze with bright eyes.

  “Oh, that’s a good thing,” Esther Mae called, waving them toward the door like she was directing traffic.

  “Just don’t pass out or Norma Sue might send someone up that aisle for you…” She paused her traffic signals and grinned at Amanda. “We could always send Amanda in to marry Wyatt and then when you wake up we could continue with your ceremony.”

  All attention was suddenly riveted to Amanda. Lacy hooted behind her flower bouquet while everyone else laughed.

  Norma Sue hiked a brow. “We could do that even if Susan keeps her wits about her.”

  “Y’all are crazy.” Amanda laughed—it was the only thing to do. They never stopped. She wondered if Wyatt was getting harassment on his end. How embarrassing that would be. “Susan is the only bride in town today, so come on and let’s get her in there before the groom passes out.”

  Or before poor Wyatt’s hip and back gave out on him from having to stand for so long. He’d made great progress, but standing in one spot for long periods of time wasn’t good for him.

  As they all finally exited the annex building and started down the sidewalk, Amanda felt a surge of anticipation that rippled through her and settled in the pit of her stomach. Wyatt had looked fantastic in his suit. As they stepped up onto the church’s porch, Amanda’s knees felt weak thinking about him. Would she ever have a wedding?

  “Amanda,” Esther Mae said, “spread that out here and then you come stand by the door with me and Norma Sue while the vows are exchanged.”

  Lacy looked over her shoulder at her and winked. “Yeah, that way when Susan and Cole both pass out they can send you right on in as the pinch hitter.”

  Amanda laughed again. But the next second Norma Sue tapped lightly on the door and Applegate stuck his head in and gave a frown.

  “It’s about time,” he snapped. His voice cracked like a cannon over the soft music Adela was playing and the entire church of folks turned to look at them.

  “We about figured we had a runaway bride on the loose.”

  Chuckles erupted through the sanctuary.

  “Not hardly,” Norma Sue grunted. “I’d tell you to give the signal so we can get these two lovebirds married off finally, but you done alerted the whole place, so move out of the way. We’re coming through.”

  Adela switched music and Norma Sue practically shoved Lacy over the threshold. The wedding was on.

  But from the back of the bride Amanda had had eyes for only one person the moment Applegate had swung the doors open. Wyatt, broad-shouldered and taller by an inch than the others, locked his gaze on to her, too. For the life of her, Amanda couldn’t look away.

  Norma Sue patted Amanda’s hands, reminding her to let go of the train, as she leaned in close. “Uh-huh. That man can’t take his eyes off of y
ou.”

  “I think it’s romantic,” Esther Mae hissed in her other ear as the three of them scooted over to stand at the back of the church so they could see over everyone’s heads.

  Amanda looked from one beaming grin to the other as Adela ended the wedding march and everyone sat down. She felt the posse suddenly closing in on her as Esther Mae nudged her and Norma Sue leaned in again.

  “That’s a good man right yonder.”

  Amanda could have kissed Wyatt right then and there because he wasn’t looking at her. His attention was focused on Cole and Susan as they took hands—just as it should be.

  If he’d have been looking at her again she wouldn’t have had any kind of chance to stop the matchmaking plans spinning around in the posse’s heads.

  Thankfully, his attention was exactly where it should have been. It was her own that was misbehaving.

  Wyatt knew. He listened to the vows that Chance spoke to Susan and Cole and his gaze kept locking on Amanda. She was standing in between Norma Sue and Esther Mae, and he caught her looking to him as frequently.

  “To have and to hold from this day forward.” When Chance spoke those vows, Wyatt knew Amanda was the woman he wanted to marry. How he knew it—when he hadn’t even realized he loved her—was a mystery to him. But just as he’d known when he met Melody and then Susan that they were the women for his brothers, he knew it with everything in him that Amanda Hathaway was the woman for him.

  He’d never felt the protectiveness that he felt with her. She was somewhat lost right now, and though he’d been deeply troubled when she’d come along, she’d helped him. She’d put away her own problems and pulled him back from the dark emotions he’d been trapped in. He hadn’t thought of his own problem since the morning he’d seen her running. The morning after she’d stood up to him and pointed out what blessings God had bestowed on him. The morning after she’d said all that and not pointed out anything about her own lost leg or the things she’d had to suffer through. She’d told him what he needed to hear and she’d done it without any self-pity whatsoever. He loved and admired that.

  He loved what she stood for. He loved how she stood her ground with him. But most of all he loved her spirit. She’d chosen to look at what God had in store for her and to move forward with a purpose.

  And now, though he knew something was eating at her, he loved the way she was fighting it…and he knew she was. She would have confided in him, or someone else, if it weren’t true.

  She was alone and he wanted her to know he was there for her…wanted her to know that she could lean on him.

  For the rest of their lives.

  He hadn’t given marriage a thought before now, but he knew he was going to marry Amanda.

  The wedding was beautiful. Chance gave a traditional ceremony, which was Amanda’s favorite ceremony and what she’d wanted for her own wedding.

  Wyatt was in great spirits as they drove to the wedding reception. He seemed more at ease and relaxed than he ever had, and she attributed it to the fact that he’d accomplished what he’d set out to do when he’d decided it was time to marry off his brothers. Again she was struck by what a romantic he was. Home and hearth meant everything to him.

  She’d struggled the entire service not to stare, but she’d known he was watching her. Even with Esther Mae and Norma Sue flanking her, he’d repeatedly found her gaze across the sanctuary. And each time her heart squeezed and her stomach filled with butterflies. Oh, how she wished…

  She couldn’t let herself finish that wistful thought. Life and love with Wyatt was not a possibility.

  “You did a good thing,” she said as she parked in front of the community center.

  He surprised her by reaching for her hand. “Are you all right?”

  Her skin burned where he touched her and she wanted to pull away but couldn’t. “Yes, I’m fine.”

  “I hope so. The ceremony didn’t bring back bad memories or hurtful ones?” His thumb was making gentle circles on the back of her hand.

  “No.” She could hardly speak. All she could think about was the feel of his hand on hers. The tender way he was looking at her and the overwhelming need to be in his arms. Being with Wyatt had helped her in so many ways. “I actually thanked God for not letting the marriage with Jonathan go through. I didn’t love him and I know that completely and clearly now.”

  Wyatt’s eyes darkened. “I’m glad. You deserve a man who is going to love you with all his heart and give you all the good things you deserve.”

  Amanda’s heart dropped. He was squeezing her hand ever so gently, his voice carrying on its husky tone something that confused her. “I’m not going to ever marry.” She hadn’t meant to say that.

  People walked by, laughing and talking as they headed into the reception. But neither of them made a move for the door.

  “Why do you say that?”

  “Because I have my reasons, Wyatt.”

  “And what are those reasons? And don’t say you can’t tell me, Amanda. You need to tell someone what it is that you are dealing with alone. Don’t you know I care for you and that with all that you’ve done for me, I wouldn’t do anything to harm you? God put you in my life to change me. And He has. In more ways than you know right now. But I believe He put me in your life to help you. Please talk to me. It’s time!”

  “We need to go to the reception.”

  He shook his head. “We need to get to the bottom of this.”

  “Wyatt, why does it matter to you?”

  “Because I care, Amanda—you’d be surprised how much.”

  Amanda’s heart began pounding at his words. “Wyatt—” she said, but lost all train of thought when he touched her cheek.

  “Trust me, Amanda. I’m here for you.”

  “I have nothing to offer y—a man.” The words came out before she could stop them. Wyatt’s eyes sharpened and his hand stilled. She looked down, her gaze falling on the hand he still held. She loved Wyatt. She knew it, knew it wasn’t anything like what she’d thought she felt for Jonathan. She knew she loved this tender man and that there was absolutely nothing she could do about it.

  “You said that before. What makes you say that? You have everything to offer.”

  She took a deep breath; her insides were churning. “I lost more than my leg when I was hit… I lost my ability to have children.”

  Her words knocked the breath out of him.

  “What? Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “Hey, you two,” Seth called from the door. “Cole wants y’all in the picture with them cutting the cake, pronto.”

  Wyatt scowled.

  Amanda grabbed the door handle with shaking hands. “We need to go inside so you can be in the pictures with Cole and Susan,” she said, pushing her car door open. “Your family is waiting.”

  “I want to talk about this,” Wyatt growled, grabbing her arm.

  “No, Wyatt. This isn’t fair. Cole and Susan have waited for you long enough and you know you wouldn’t miss this for the world.”

  He let out an exasperated breath. “You’re right. But this is important, Amanda, and we will talk. You can bet on that.”

  Amanda got out of the car, closed her eyes, praying for help… It seemed hopeless, though.

  Chapter Seventeen

  He was tired of smiling. Wyatt had smiled for the camera over and over again so that when Cole and Susan looked back over their wedding pictures he wouldn’t look angry. He’d already caused them to wait this long to get married, he didn’t want to be responsible for ruining their wedding pictures for all of eternity.

  But the conversation with Amanda kept playing over and over in his mind. She couldn’t have children. She loved children. The thought of it broke his heart.

  He couldn’t imagine all that Amanda had lived through. Why had she been able to work with kids for so long and now she didn’t want to? Couldn’t.

  Moving to the corner of the room, he leaned against the wall and watched her serving cake with Adel
a. The reception was a success. Cole and Susan were happy and everyone was having a blast. Norma Sue and Esther Mae worked beside Amanda and Adela serving cake and punch as though it was a free-for-all. It even seemed that Amanda was having a great time as she placed sliced cake onto plates. She smiled at everyone and even laughed when cowboy after cowboy made some comment—flirting with her, no doubt. It hadn’t escaped his notice that she had an ever-growing army of admirers. He wondered if any of them could see past her smile to the heartache she was hiding.

  One thing about Amanda, she seemed to be able to shut her own needs away and focus on the needs of those around her. Watching her, he wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not.

  He wanted to storm across the room, take her in his arms and tell her that he loved her. That it didn’t matter if she couldn’t have children—was this the reason Jonathan had broken off their engagement? Had he known when he asked her and then changed his mind?

  The questions wrestled for answers—answers Wyatt would uncover as soon as he and Amanda were alone.

  It was late when they finally headed home. The sun was low in the sky and the roads to the stagecoach house glistened white as Amanda followed them toward home. Home. She’d begun to think of this as home in the short few weeks that she’d been here. She knew it was because of Wyatt. She loved him and couldn’t imagine leaving here. But she would.

  She’d made so many friends, even tonight she’d made more. For a town that only a few years ago had been dying, it was full of life now. Bustling with life. She felt good just having been in the middle of such a positive atmosphere tonight, even after practically breaking down in the car with Wyatt.

  Working with Adela had been part of that. “I loved working with Adela tonight,” she said, needing something to fill the silence as she drove. “She is a delight.”

  Wyatt had watched her all night. She knew that their conversation was inevitable. She’d expected him to practically interrogate her the minute the SUV’s doors were closed. But he’d been quiet, lost in thought. It was plain to see, by the distracted look she’d come to recognize in his eyes, that his mind was working overtime. Dread filled her. She’d wanted to tell him for so long about not being able to have children and now…now she’d told him. What was he thinking?