Pumpkins, Cowboys & Guitars

by Patti Ann Colt

  Giff snorted. “You would invite my little brother.”

  Shane looked at his hand. “Worried that he’ll win?”

  “Hasn’t yet. Ante up.”

  They went around the table and Shane folded. His eyes went back to Kennie. She looked up and gave him a flirty wink. He liked the smile that was on her lips, the flush on her face. A bit of anticipation fueled his return wink.

  He looked over the restaurant. The dinner crowd was gradually filling every table. Sully had redone artwork on one wall, sticking with his western theme. An idea dawned and Shane wanted to slap his forehead. This was where his western artwork could be put to good use. He opened his mouth to say something to Sully and stopped.

  Peyton Reid was walking across the restaurant. Looking fit and rested. Looking nervous. Looking sober.

  Shane rose and walked around the table to greet him. “Peyton. We’ve been worried. You okay?” He held out a hand and Peyton took it in a firm shake.

  “Yeah. Sorry I’m late. Traffic out there tonight is ugly.” Peyton shoved his keys into his pocket and pulled out the empty chair by Nick.

  Nick turned to him, anger burning in his eyes. “Where have you been?”

  The table grew silent, cards forgotten.

  Peyton grimaced. “Rehab. Thirty days.”

  “Good for you.” Shane patted Peyton on the back.

  Nick sighed and put out a hand. “You could have told us, you know.” His tone suggested the two men were going to have words later.

  Peyton shook his hand. “Decided at the last minute and checked myself in. Wanted to make sure I could get through it this time. Didn’t want to disappoint anyone. They don’t let you have your cell phone.”

  Sully got to his feet. “Welcome back. What is your drink of choice now? Coke? Sweet tea? Got some good raspberry stuff.”

  “Think I’ll stick to coffee.” Peyton dropped into his chair.

  Sully went to the bar and collected a mug for him.

  “Welcome back, Peyton.” Jess reached to shake his hand.

  “Thanks. So sorry, y’all. I didn’t mean to worry anyone, but I had to get my...” Peyton glanced at Amy Rose and Kendra at the other table and frowned. “…get my act together.”

  “Ante up. Ignore the girls.” Giff called the hand and took back all the cards. “Let’s start over.”

  He shuffled the cards and was about to deal when Diana Bell stormed up to the table. She wore a black A-line shirt and a light blue lacey blouse and had obviously come right from work. Her face was flushed and her eyes were a vivid, angry blue. She slapped Peyton repeatedly on the shoulder.

  “Where have you been? Another girl? A drinking binge?”

  Peyton rose and took her hands to stop her from slapping him. “I don’t think I owe you an explanation.” Color rode high on his cheekbones. A bunch of patrons stopped their dinner conversation to stare.

  Shane shifted over when Amy Rose came to Jess’s side. He slipped an arm around Kendra when she joined him.

  Amy Rose stretched out a hand. “Diana, let’s go in the bathroom and talk.”

  Diana twisted her hands away from Peyton, color washing from her face. “I don’t believe you.”

  “I don’t care whether you do or not,” Peyton hissed in her face.

  Tears flooded the woman’s eyes and she swiveled on black spike heels that should have had her falling and rushed to the restaurant’s main doors.

  Shane ground his teeth. “Pey, you could have explained.”

  “Not her business.” He gripped the coffee cup, his lips in a tight frown.

  “I need to go after her, Jess.” Amy Rose glared at Peyton and reached for Jess’s keys.

  “Be careful.” Jess kissed her.

  “I’ll go with you.” Kendra’s eyes questioned Shane’s. He nodded his agreement. He didn’t want Amy Rose going alone, either.

  Kendra went on tiptoe, kissed Shane and hurried back to the other table to retrieve her purse.

  He kept track of her to the door, tempted to go with them. But Diana might tell Amy Rose more than she’d tell him. He sat back in his chair and glared at Peyton.

  “What?” Peyton stared back with more than bit of belligerence. “That woman could drive a man to drink and I don’t do that anymore.”

  “Your decision, Pey.” Nick gave Shane a sympathetic look, but didn’t give Peyton the same ‘go after her’ lecture he’d given Shane.

  What was going on here? Shane glanced at Jess and he shook his head.

  The waitress brought the food they had ordered and the noise of the restaurant returned to normal Friday night levels. Sully sent the women’s food back to the kitchen to stay warm until they returned.

  Gifford took a few bites of his steak and shoved his plate aside. “Can we play now?”

  “Anxious for our money?” Sully took a bite of his burger.

  “If you must know, yes. Gonna breed one of my mares with one of Duke Logan’s stallions.”

  Shane choked on a French fry. “Duke Logan? The quarter horse breeder? He’s pretty well known around the rodeo circuit. Why?”

  “Well generally, that means you are getting serious about breeding horses.” Gifford took a sip of his beer.

  “You’re switching from cattle?” Shane struggled with the idea, knowing that three generations in his family had been cattlemen.

  Gifford sighed. “Not a big fan of raising cattle. Never have been.”

  “What did your dad say?”

  “We had a few words.” Gifford sat back, his mouth in a tight line.

  Shane glanced at Jess. He remained leaning back in his chair, no surprise on his face.

  Shane punched his arm. “You knew?”

  Jess leaned away from Shane and picked up his fork. “Yeah. You were busy getting Kendra to forgive you. Slipped my mind.”

  Peyton picked up the salt and pepper. “Good luck with that, Giff.”

  Giff shuffled the cards. “What I need is someone who has an in-depth knowledge of horse flesh for some breeding advice.”

  Shane leaned forward. “I might know someone.”

  “Yeah. Do tell.”

  “A friend of mine. I’ll see if he’s interested first. Don’t want to volunteer him if he isn’t.”

  “Fair enough. Can you check soon?”

  “Yeah. I’ll get back to you tomorrow or Sunday.” He and Kendra had already visited Bill again and were planning another trip the next day.

  “Business concluded?” Nick’s sarcasm made everyone laugh.

  “Yeah, yeah. I’ll deal.” Giff stopped to take a few more bites of his steak. Then he started another hand.

  Nick’s phone rang.

  “Seriously?” Sully wiped his face. “I think we should give up tonight.”

  Nick looked at the readout and frowned. He pressed the answer button. “Hello?”

  His face clouded. “Polly?”

  Shane looked at Jess. Jess shook his head. Jess looked across at Gifford and Peyton. They both shook their heads.

  “When?” Nick’s voice had taken on a desperate tone. His face lost all color.

  Sully leaned forward in his seat, concern etched in his face.

  Jess leaned over and whispered to Sully. “Who is Polly?”

  “Jenn’s mother.” Sully put a finger to his lips.

  Jess drew back in surprise.

  Shane tensed, remembering what Nick had said about Jenn.

  Nick’s fingers were turning white where he gripped the phone. “How soon are they flying her home from Germany?” He scooted back his chair and bent over. Gifford reached out a hand and gripped his shoulder.

  “You’ll call me? Please?”

  He was silent for several long seconds. “Thanks, Polly. I know you didn’t have to call. I appreciate it.”

  Nick disconnected his phone and sat hunched over. His hands had a death grip around the phone.

  Peyton leaned toward him. “Nick? Is it Jenn?”

  “Explosion in Afghanistan. She
’s hurt.” Nick cleared his throat. “They flew her into Germany. Polly’s on the next flight heading over there.”

  Peyton placed a hand on his shoulder. “You think you should go?”

  Nick sat up and drew in a deep breath. “I can’t. I’m not her husband anymore.” He carefully set his phone on the table.

  Shane shuddered. He’d never seen a more tortured look on anyone’s face.

  “You still love her though, Nick.”

  “Doesn’t matter. She wouldn’t be happy to see me. I won’t barge in there without knowing how badly injured she is.”

  “When will that be?”

  “Polly said she’d call me when she knew something. Probably late tomorrow.”

  Nick fumbled with his wallet and tossed a couple twenties at Sully. “I gotta go.” He pushed out of his chair. “I waited too long.”

  Nick started toward the entrance.

  “He shouldn’t be alone.” Jess started to rise.

  Peyton stood and grabbed Nick’s cell from the table. “I got this. I’ll take care of him.”

  Gifford gathered the cards. “Call us.”

  “I will.” Peyton took off after Nick.

  Shane’s phone pinged with a text message two seconds before Jess’s. Shane lifted his phone and read. “Girls caught up with Diana. She didn’t want to talk. They are going back to the ranch and want us to meet them there when we’re done.”

  Jess chuckled. “Amy Rose wants her food.”

  Shane grimaced. “Kendra wants the magazines.”

  Gifford picked up the chips. “Guess we’re done here for the night.”

  The men finished their meals and Gifford rose to leave. “Shane, you’ll call with this man’s name and number once you know?”

  “Yeah. As soon as I can.”

  “What a night. See you for sure in two weeks, maybe before.” Gifford waved at the three men and left.

  Sully had the tables cleared. Jess and Shane stacked the magazines on the women’s table while Sully went to have their food boxed.

  “Who is this friend you’re recommending to Gifford?”

  “Bill Fudd.”

  Jess stopped stacking. “That idea has a few problems.”

  “I know. But the man has serious horse knowledge, Jess.” Shane ran a hand through his hair. “Should he rot away in that house for the rest of his life because he’s paralyzed?”

  “I’m not saying that.”

  “You think Giff will have a problem with it?”

  “No. For all his roughness, he judges people by what they do and know, not what they look like.”

  “Let me ask Bill and Lexie. His health may not be strong enough. Let’s take one thing at a time.” Shane grabbed the last of the magazines.

  “What’s up with Peyton and Diana?”

  Shane sat in the booth. “I don’t know. I need to have lunch with Diana and find out.”

  Jess sat down across from him. “Think I’m going to pump Amy Rose. She already knows something. Let’s hope Nick gets good news. Dammit. That was the last thing he needed.”

  “He’s been waiting for her to get home so he could try to win her back.” Shane stared out the window, thankful Nick’s advice on his relationship with Kendra had worked. “Life sucks sometimes, but then there’s those moments.”

  Jess blew out a breath. “Don’t I know it.” He looked down at the cover of the baby catalog and grinned.

  Shane looked down at the bride on the front of his. “Four months ago…”

  Jess held up his hand. “Don’t say it. I’d rather look forward. Good things are coming our way.”

  Sometimes how much Shane felt for Kendra wouldn’t stay contained and now was one of those moments. Antsy, he wanted nothing more fiercely than to get her, hold her close and remind her how much he loved her. “Let’s go light a fire under Sully. I want to get going.”

  Sully came out of the kitchen with two big bags. “I had the kitchen make a new order.”

  “You’re too good to us.”

  “If I can’t be good to my friends and family, what is the point?”

  Shane stared across the full restaurant. “I may have something that can help you out.”

  “And that is?”

  “I have ten or twelve large western paintings in storage. You want them for here? I noted you redid that one wall.”

  “You serious? I saw some of that art. It’s expensive.”

  “I’m not using it. We could talk about a loaner. Someone should enjoy it.”

  Sully got a gleam in his eye. “Trying to upgrade this place a bit. That would help. Thanks.”

  Jess picked up the armload of magazines and grabbed one of the bags. “Let’s go home. I want to feed my wife before she falls asleep.”

  “I need to get Kendra home so she can sleep for a few hours before getting up to make Sully’s desserts.” He picked up Kendra’s magazines and the other bag.

  Sully waved them out of there. “Goodnight to both of you.”

  Shane drove them to the ranch. The two women were sitting in the rocking chairs on the front porch under the dim porch light.

  Shane parked and turned off the lights. “We’re lucky old cowpokes.”

  “Speak for yourself, brother. You’re the old one.” Jess opened his door and picked up the scattered baby magazines.

  “Wait a few months until you have three babies, then we’ll talk about old. How about I just say we’re damn lucky cowboys?” Shane grabbed the bags of food.

  “That is God’s truth right there.” Jess marched up the driveway a few steps ahead of Shane.

  Kendra rose and walked down the steps. She passed Jess. “Not much poker tonight, huh?”

  “You don’t know the half of it.” Jess mounted the stairs and went to Amy Rose. He bent and kissed her forehead and put a hand on her slight stomach.

  Shane watched them murmuring to each other and smiled.

  Kendra came to his side and slipped an arm around him. “What happened?”

  “Long story.” He set the food on the ground and put his arms around her. “I love you.”

  She went on tiptoe and kissed him. “I love you, too.”

  “Will you marry me?”

  She held up her hand, wiggling her diamond. “Asked. Answered. Done deal.”

  He took her hand and kissed her fingers. “Not ’til the minister says so.”

  Kendra slipped her hands into his and squeezed. “No. It’s done now. I love you. This is our future. Right now. No piece of paper makes it more real. Only legal.”

  He gazed into her eyes. “Like I said, honey. I love you.”

  He picked up the food, laced fingers with Kendra and walked to the porch.

  Yes, the O’Hare brothers were lucky cowboys indeed.

  ∞∞∞ ∞∞∞

  THE END

  COPPER CANYON, TEXAS SERIES

  COMING NEXT

  COWBOY’S ANGEL

  COWBOY’S BRIDE

  The Rock Star’s Sheriff

  by

  Patti Ann Colt

  EXCERPT

  Leia took a deep breath, studying every nuance of Zach’s face. Then, she deliberately stepped into his space, just a hand’s breadth away from his chest, and glared up at him. “Who are you worried about, Zach? Carlee or yourself?”

  His breath caught on a snarl. She had one moment to wonder why she stepped into his web, one moment to see the shift in his eyes from reproachful fury to naked longing, one moment to move away.

  His lips slammed into hers, punishing in intensity. Her heart jolted, her pulse pounded in her ears. Being no one’s wallflower, she immediately gave back as good as she got. She slid closer and arched her arms around his neck, pulling him against her, toying with the hair at the nap of his neck. He groaned. His lips gentled, sliding across hers, the warmth caused tingles from head to toe.

  At that moment, it ceased to be about anger or defending herself to the furious sheriff. She met his tongue, tasting of sweetened coffee, a
nd let the moment take over, committing the rightness of it to heart. She could have stood there for eons with his mouth learning hers, cherishing hers, but Zach abruptly pulled away and deliberately set her a couple of feet away from him.

  Anger returned to his eyes.

  He spun and walked down the hall to the entryway, his boots pounding loudly on the floor. The front door slammed, the closing punctuation.

  She touched her lips, felt a slight swelling and her entire body revolted at the abrupt cessation of the kiss. Another rush of heat flooded her face.

  “Well, damn it all to hell,” she muttered to the empty house.

  DEDICATION

  To my brothers, Gary Fredericksen

  and Mark Fredericksen,

  for always being willing to read my stuff,

  for being on this journey by my side,

  for being amazing brothers to their baby sister.

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  Thanks to my writing partner, Kelly McCrady, for all her tinkering, questioning, editing, critiquing, polishing and all around patience and hard work.

  Thanks to my KLG Press business partner, Tiffany Aller, for unwavering support when I said I wanted to do this.

  Thanks to my daughters, AnneMarie Colt and Jamie Colt, for reading and correcting and reading and correcting.

  Any mistakes are my own.

  CHAPTER ONE

  Zach Murphy looked up from the paperwork on his desk and listened to someone tromp through the Parson County Sheriff squad room toward his office. He leaned to get a look. His twelve-year-old daughter flounced toward him in a temper with new black clogs on her feet. They clicked with a racket that made him want to toss them in a trash can and deliver a stern lecture to Uncle Beau for buying them for her.

  Carlee stopped inside the doorway and hissed at him. “Dad, how could you?”

  He leaned back in his chair and studied her belligerent pose. “How was school?”

  She huffed. “Fine. How could you?”

  He glanced through his glass office window and caught the eye of his brother, who was a few paces behind her. Beau shrugged.