The welcome dinner was their first look at the out-of-town rodeo attendees, especially the cowboys. This had been a do-not-miss event, and as teenagers, they’d saved money from their summer jobs to afford tickets.
“Looking for someone?” Zack asked from two seats away.
Her gaze sought his like a heat-seeking missile, locked on target and ready to make contact, something she’d avoided doing all evening. “Caitlin.”
“I haven’t seen her.” He stood. “Don’t see her. Sure she’s attending the dinner?”
“I thought so.”
Women seated at nearby tables eyed the handsome wrangler with interest, He wasn’t a rodeo cowboy, but Zack would have no trouble finding a hook-up tonight. Charlie’s stomach roiled. She wished she could blame the reaction on too much apple pie for dessert, but she knew that wasn’t the case. She focused on her absent friend.
“Caitlin said she was coming when I saw her two days ago,” Charlie added.
“Text her.”
“I have. Several times. No reply.”
Zack studied her, making her wipe her mouth with the back of her hand, thinking she had pie crumbs on her face.
“Did you try Noah?” Zack asked.
“No. He’s working tonight.” Charlie dragged her teeth over her lower lip. “Caitlin’s on her own.”
“You’re worried.”
Charlie nodded once.
“Give me a couple of minutes.” Zack rose then walked to the table where Nate and Ty sat. The three men spoke. Ty pulled out his cellphone and made a call. Sixty seconds later, Zack returned to his spot. “Ty spoke with Noah. Caitlin’s with him. They’re on their way back from Bozeman. Should arrive shortly.”
Charlie leaned forward until her ribcage hit the table. She straightened. “What are they doing in Bozeman?”
“No idea. But Ty assured me Caitlin is fine. Her phone died and she doesn’t have her charger. That’s why you haven’t heard from her.”
“Okay, thanks.” Charlie appreciated the answers but had questions. Noah was supposed to be working, and a trip to Bozeman had never been mentioned. Okay, the town wasn’t that far. Still… something felt off. “I wouldn’t have thought to call Noah. So glad you did.”
Zack’s smile crinkled the corners of his eyes making him look model gorgeous. Her stomach did somersaults, maybe a cartwheel and handstand, reminding her of her vaulting days on the back of a horse.
He winked. “That’s what family does for one another.”
Her heart pounded like the hooves of a stampeding herd. Too bad she wanted a different kind of family with Zack, one with gold wedding bands on their fingers and cooing babies in their arms.
She cleared her dry throat. “Appreciate it.”
Why did Zack have to be so nice? Why couldn’t he be a jerk like so many other guys in town? That would put an end to her crush ASAP.
Dan and Allie approached the table, walking hand in hand. “My stomach’s fuller. My wallet’s lighter. And my suitcase is going to be a whole lot heavier. Not sure a whole cow’s going to fit in there for the flight home.”
Allie shook his head. “Bidding on a cow? We hardly eat red meat. What were you thinking?”
Dan kissed her hand. “No worries. The money goes to a good cause. Someone we know will want the beef if we don’t.”
“Well, the kids like hamburger meat,” Allie said.
“They’ll have plenty of that.” Charlie appreciated Dan’s generosity tonight. He’d paid double what his two items were worth. “During the bidding, Brock Sheehan mentioned something about flash freezing the meat.”
Allie smiled warmly. “He’s such a nice man.”
The wranglers at the nearby tables nodded, including Charlie. Brock was not only a respected rancher, but also a special kind of guy. He’d helped Ty keep the Bar V5 from going under before Nate returned to take over. Brock deserved the good things happening to him. The widower and father of twins had remarried recently and his new wife, Harley, was expecting a baby in a few months.
“At least the Bar V5 gift certificate won’t take up space,” Dan said. “We’ll turn in the coupon before we leave and reserve a family vacation for next summer. The kids are going to love coming here.”
Zack shared a knowing look with Charlie. She knew what her fellow wrangler was thinking. The Hathaways would have returned whether they’d won the gift certificate or not. That was why the ranch often sold out for the summer by April. The same guests returned year after year.
Allie smiled. “I heard you have a great kids’ program.”
“We do,” Charlie offered. “During the summer months, children can participate in structured activities, rides, swimming and supervised play. That gives families options when they want to hang out together and when adults want to do something on their own.”
“Sounds like heaven. For the adults at least,” Allie clarified.
“Kids usually hate to leave,” Zack added.
A memory made Charlie smile. “Remember when that boy, Aidan, hid so his family would miss their flight and have to stay another night.”
Zack chuckled. “Took hours to find him in the barn.”
“The barn?” Allie asked.
“Dusty found Aidan in a small space where the cats sleep.” Zack shook his head. “Not sure how the kid crawled in there, but we had to remove planks to get him out.
“Did they miss their flight?” Dan asked.
“Oh, yes. His parents were not amused,” Charlie said.
“Good to know children have such a good time here,” Dan said. “But our kiddos better not pull a stunt like that.”
“They won’t,” Allie mouthed.
Servers removed dessert plates and empty glasses. People stood, ready to head to their trailers, home, Main Street shops, or the bars.
Cowboys rode hard and partied harder. Charlie didn’t go to Grey’s Saloon often, and she avoided the Wolf’s Den altogether—Ty’s advice when she turned twenty-one.
“We have vans heading back to the ranch on the hour from nine until midnight. If you have any questions or get lost, just call. We’ll find you,” Dustin announced with Zack and Ty at his sides. Several other wranglers and staff members joined them so the guests would know who to look for, but Charlie hung back because she would be on cleanup duty tonight and bringing up the rear. “Don’t worry if you want to go back to ranch early. You’ll have more time to shop and look around Main Street this weekend. Now, if you’ll follow me, I’ll point out the pickup location and show you Marietta’s Main Street.”
The guests rose from the tables. Ellie, the newest and youngest member of the staff, placed the five centerpieces won at the Bar V5 tables into boxes. Charlie checked to make sure no one had left a jacket, reading glasses, a purse, or cell phone.
“Find anything?” Zack asked.
Charlie jumped, not expecting to hear his voice. She placed her hand over her racing heart. At least she could chalk this reaction up to surprise, not attraction. Progress? Not really, but she’d take it. “I thought you were going with Ty.”
“Wanted to see if you need help.”
“No one left anything. That’s a good sign for this weekend.” She looked at the guests filing out of the tent. During past rodeos, she’d hunted for forgotten items at the rodeo arena and other places. But this group seemed like a with-it crew. “You off now?”
Zack nodded. “Ready to go?”
She gave one last look on the floor around the tables, nodded, then headed toward the tent’s exit. “I’m sure Grey’s is the place to be tonight.”
He fell in step with her. “You should stop by.”
Her heart leapt, only to have common sense tie down the organ with a stern “Get real.” Telling her to stop by wasn’t an invitation out. Zack was being polite, as usual. No reason to think anything else was going on. “Thanks, but I’m not much of a partier, and tomorrow’s going to start early and last way too late.”
“Lots of new faces in town.
”
“And some old ones.”
“Like?” he asked.
“You want me to name names?”
He shrugged, but she could tell by the gleam in his eye he was up to something. “If you’re thinking about setting me up…”
He held up his hands, palms facing her. “I haven’t lived here as long as you. Remember I grew up in Butte. Still trying to get to know people.”
What he said was true, but she wasn’t sure if she trusted him. Oh, her heart did, but her head… not so much. “You really want to know?”
Chapter Four
‡
Charlie walked out of the tent and into the park, the path lit by portable streetlamps brought in by the town. Zack had wanted to know. His interest surprised her, but no reason not to tell him.
“Well, I didn’t expect to see Jude Guthrie tonight,” she admitted. “After his parents died, he and his brothers sold their parents’ ranch. Never thought he’d be back, but Jesse’s here, so maybe he’s visiting.”
“Know Jude well?”
“No.”
“Want to get to know him better?”
Darn Zack. Not-trustworthy. Should have listened to her head. Heaven knew he’d led her heart astray, chasing a pipe dream for the past year. Her shoulder muscles bunched, tired from carrying that imaginary load.
She flashed him a not-going-to-answer look. Sticking out her tongue at him would have been better.
Zack held up his hands. “What?”
“Nothing.” Dropping this was best for both of them. She stepped onto Main Street. People covered the sidewalks and streets, not only the ones who attended the fundraising dinner. The town and folks in surrounding areas turned out in big numbers for the Marietta—rodeo weekend and the stroll, a Christmas celebration held in December.
“The town sure knows how to celebrate,” Zack said.
“Merchants will be smiling until Black Friday.” Storefronts twinkled with white lights. Front windows celebrated the 76th Copper Mountain Rodeo with decorations ranging from hay and boots at Main Street Shoes to Rachel’s gingerbread replica of the rodeo grounds at her bakery. “Let’s run by Sage’s shop. A salted caramel sounds good. Unless you want to go straight to Grey’s.”
“I’m in no rush. I’ll go with you.”
People filled the streets; safe from traffic thanks to barricades she’d seen being put up when they arrived earlier by sheriff deputies Dawson O’Dell and Scott Bliven. “Do you see Dustin or any guests?”
Zack looked around. “Nope. The stragglers will have to manage without you.”
“Not quite.” She raised her cellphone. “I programmed in everyone’s cell number and gave them mine.”
“You’re going to contact each one?”
“If they don’t make a van, yes.”
“That’s a lot of calling.”
“When has talking ever been a problem?” The second the words were out of her mouth she wanted to take them back. She and Zack hadn’t spoken much, except about the ranch or her leaving, since that night by the river. Embarrassment and self-preservation had been her excuses. She could only imagine his. On second thought, she didn’t want to. “I mean…”
“Charlie!”
The sound of Caitlin’s voice carried through the crowd. Charlie had never been so thankful to see her friend as she was now. She stepped out of the flow of traffic. Noah and Caitlin made their way through the people to them.
“What were you doing in Bozeman?” Charlie asked.
Caitlin beamed. “Noah got off early and surprised me.”
“You missed the dinner.”
“Any hot cowboys?”
“A couple may have caught my eye. No idea of their names.”
“That’s what the rodeo program is for.” Caitlin bounced from foot to foot. If not for holding Noah’s hand, she looked as if she might float way like a bouquet of helium filled balloons. “Before you tell me about the cowboys, I have something to show you.”
She stuck out her left hand. A solitary diamond ring in a gold setting graced her ring finger.
Charlie gasped.
“Squee!” Caitlin jumped up and down. “I’m engaged. I mean, we’re engaged.”
Charlie squealed, hugged Caitlin. “Oh my goodness. Congrats.”
Noah cleared his throat.
Charlie glanced his way. “You too. The ring is gorgeous. Good job, Noah.”
Zack shook the veterinarian’s hand. “Congrats, man.”
“Thanks.” Noah smiled. “Managed to surprise my girl. Not easy to do.”
Caitlin shimmied her shoulders. “Easy when I completely forgot today was the day we met until Noah reminded me.”
“And they say women have the best memories,” Noah teased. “We guys don’t do so badly.”
The pieces of the puzzle clicked together in Charlie’s mind. “You were at Montana State. That’s why you went to Bozeman.”
Noah nodded. “I figured I could propose at MSU in the exact spot where we met years ago or at the vet clinic where we found each other again in December.”
“I love the Cooper Mountain Animal Hospital, but trust me,” Caitlin said. “You made the right choice.”
“I need details,” Charlie said.
“Well, we were outside the library. He asked me if I remembered what happened here. I said this was where we met.” A dreamy expression formed on Caitlin’s face. “He wished me happy anniversary, then dropped down on one knee.”
Charlie rubbed her arms. “I just got a chill.”
“I know, right?” Caitlin glowed. “I was shaking. I was so surprised, I could barely breathe.”
“She’s not exaggerating,” Noah added.
Caitlin nodded. “And when he showed me this gorgeous ring…”
Her voice cracked with emotion, the same way Charlie felt inside. She was thrilled for her friend. Caitlin had been lonely for so long and deserved this, but Charlie wished Zack could take a lesson from Noah.
Her heart pounded with longing. She touched her chest. “So romantic.”
Caitlin sighed. “I know.”
The two men shared a glance, then a shrug.
“Well done.” Zack patted Noah on the back.
Noah grinned. “Thanks. Came off as planned. Well, except for the temperature being too warm to bring Mistletoe along for the ride. Couldn’t leave her in the car and she’s still not too happy wearing a harness and leash.”
“She’s doing better,” Caitlin said.
“I am so, so happy for you. Both of you.” The words flew from Charlie’s mouth like a bucking bronco out of the chute. “Way to kick off the rodeo with incredible news.”
Caitlin touched Charlie’s arm. “I want you to be my maid of honor.”
“Yes.” Charlie didn’t hesitant. She hugged her friend. “Of course, I’m honored, but you might have to explain to Jay why he’s not your man of honor.”
Jay Patterson was one of Caitlin’s best guy friends from high school, who was married to a great woman named Jen. They had two kids, Justin and Jasmine.
Noah laughed. “I’m asking Jay to be my best man so we’re good.”
“We don’t know much about the wedding yet,” Caitlin explained. “But we want a December date.”
Charlie’s heart dropped, plummeting like a rock off the top of Copper Mountain. “Three months away December or next year?”
“This December.”
Crap. Charlie’s stomach clenched, making her wish she hadn’t eaten her entire slice of pie. “That’s quick.”
“Yes. And no, I’m not pregnant,” Caitlin said matter-of-factly. “But we reconnected on Christmas Eve so want a Christmas wedding.”
“We don’t want to wait another year to get married,” Noah added. “And since Caitlin’s parents are planning to be in Marietta for the holidays. This works well.”
“Oh, that’s great they’re coming back.” Caitlin’s parents hadn’t returned home since they left over five years ago to RV across A
merica. Good for her friend, but Charlie’s skin itched, her head, arms, and legs. She fought the urge to scratch. “A short engagement makes total sense under the circumstances.”
For them.
But this was a big complication for Charlie.
“It really does.” Caitlin bounced from foot-to-foot, her excitement overflowing. “After the excitement and fuss surrounding the Great Wedding Giveaway this spring, I know I want something small and intimate.”
“Rachel and Nate’s reception at the Bar V5 was nice,” Zack said, surprising Charlie that he remembered the wedding. “The ranch looks pretty in the winter decked out in lights and decorations.”
Caitlin’s lips parted. She looked up at Noah. “Oh, a wedding at the lodge. What do you think?”
“Sounds perfect, just like you. I’ll speak with Nate and Ty,” Noah said.
The two were so good together. Happy tears stung Charlie’s eyes. “I can’t imagine a better place than the main house to get married. Mistletoe will be able to attend.”
“She can carry the rings if we get her more used to her leash,” Caitlin said.
Charlie rubbed the tears slipping from her eyes. “You’re going to be a beautiful bride.”
Zack handed her a bandana. “Here.”
Oh, no. Zack was seeing her cry. But he’d also kissed her and felt her up, something no other wrangler had done. Let him deal with a few tears. She took the cloth and dabbed her eyes. “Thank you.”
“We have calls to make. And I need to charge my phone.” Caitlin gave Charlie another hug. “We’ll talk more after the rodeo. I know three months is a tight timeframe, but with your help, we can pull off a wedding.”
Charlie nodded, but all she could think about was how could she help her friend if she moved to Colorado. She wouldn’t be around to do anything. Long distance wedding planning? Plane tickets to and from Bozeman were expensive, and flights limited. The drive would be weather dependent in the wintertime, and hard to make with her limited days off from the horse ranch.
What was she going to do?
“Have fun tonight.” Caitlin and Noah walked away, their gazes locked on each other, as if the crowd around them didn’t exist.
“You okay?” Zack asked.
Kiss Me, Cowboy (Montana Born Rodeo Book 3) Page 5
