The Cowboy’s Outlaw Bride

by Cora Seton

  She’d run away from him when she’d seen him parking his truck.

  “Thanks for letting me know,” he said to Liam. “I’ll look into it.”

  “Sure thing.”

  Olivia was sitting at the kitchen table, picking at a toaster waffle and thumbing through the updates on her phone, when she came across a photo Carl had posted of Camila and Fila setting up their food tent for Noah’s tubing fundraiser. Ned was clowning in the background. All of them looked like they were having loads of fun.

  Olivia missed the days when Carl was just like another brother on her ranch. He’d evened things out around here in a way she hadn’t appreciated until he was gone. He was well-read, a genius at business affairs but never too busy to chat with her. A man like him could have considered her a country bumpkin, but he’d never condescended to her. He’d treated her as if they’d come from the same background, and she’d gotten a glimpse of a wider world than she’d realized existed before.

  She hovered her thumb over the photo, then clicked to like it. Why not? Carl and Camila had been nothing but kind toward her, and they weren’t any part of this feud. They were there to support the library.

  Which had been her idea in the first place.

  If she was honest, it was killing her not to be taking part. Last night she’d been angry enough she hadn’t cared, and she’d been far too busy with the gala to think much about it, but then Noah and his sisters had stopped Liam from ruining the evening, and she still didn’t know what to make of that.

  A text pinged, and she pulled it up. It was Riley Rudman, the proprietor of the bed-and-breakfast at Westfield Manor.

  Mind if we take your guests to the tubing fundraiser? There’s a hold-up with their flight.

  Olivia’s stomach sank. She’d assumed Fulsom’s party was gone already. Many of them had stayed overnight at the manor. Others had stayed in town. Riley’s husband, Boone, was supposed to oversee transporting them to the airport early this morning. She wasn’t prepared to entertain them for another day. Olivia hesitated, but what could she say? She didn’t know what she’d do with them otherwise.

  Sure. But… isn’t that a little rustic for them? Did they bring their swimsuits?

  She meant it as a joke, but Riley texted back quickly, Actually, they did. One of them overheard people talking about it last night, and they all want to go. You could come, too.

  I’d better not, Olivia texted back. Have fun, though. And thanks so much!

  We’ll get them to their plane when it’s ready. Don’t worry about a thing!

  Olivia pushed her plate away. She couldn’t help worry about the idea of a group of Silicon Valley types tubing down an irrigation canal. But Carl would be there, and he was the one who’d spearheaded the donor drive. He knew these people. He’d take care of it if things went awry.

  Still, this fundraiser was supposed to help the library, which she loved, so when her phone pinged again, she grabbed it impatiently.

  Your boy wants you bad, Camila had texted, adding a photo of Noah looking contemplatively at Pittance Creek.

  Olivia wasn’t in the mood for teasing. Not when she and Noah didn’t have a chance anymore. How did Camila know about their relationship, anyway?

  This day was going from bad to worse.

  Her phone rang, and when she saw it was Camila calling, Olivia nearly didn’t answer. She couldn’t fathom what the woman was up to.

  But she couldn’t ignore her, either.

  “Hello?” she said when she’d answered it.

  “You need to get over here,” Camila said without preamble. “We’ve got a crowd here, and it’s nuts. We need more help.”

  “No one wants me there.”

  “Yes, they do.” Camila’s voice became more muffled. “Noah certainly does.”

  “What is it with you about Noah?” Camila’s teasing was like sandpaper over a wound.

  “Stella came to talk to me. She told me Noah’s broken up over what happened between you. I think she was hoping I’d pass the message on.”

  “What message?”

  “Noah made a big announcement to his family this morning. He said he loves you, and he’s going to be with you no matter what they think.”

  Olivia’s mouth opened, but no sound came out. She swallowed and tried again. “Stella told you that?”

  “Uh-huh. And she said she’s down with it.”

  Olivia blinked. “Down with it.”

  “Or something like that. You know what I mean. She’s on your side. She said…” Camila paused. “She said she’s never seen Noah look like that. And she knew she couldn’t stand in your way. She wants him to be happy. Olivia, you’ve got to run with this if you care about him at all. I know what it’s like when people don’t want you to be with the man you love. It’s hard to go against your friends, but—you only get one chance. Grab hold of it.”

  “I don’t know…” Olivia gripped the phone so hard she was afraid it would shatter. “What if she’s wrong?”

  “What if she’s right? Come help us with the fundraiser. What do you have to lose?”

  Her pride, Olivia thought. Noah had betrayed her, after she’d reached out and helped his family gain a chance to win the Founder’s Prize. Sure, she’d done it so the library would be saved, but still—

  “Olivia, at least hear him out,” Camila said.

  Olivia took a breath and decided she could do that. She had nothing to lose at this point; she’d already given up on finding happiness.

  “Even if you don’t want to be with Noah, you still need to come. We’re swamped!” Camila pressed. “Come on. You and Carl are still friends, right? Even if he married an honorary Turner?”

  Olivia had to smile. “Yes, of course we’re still friends.”

  “Then get your butt over here.”

  “Fine. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

  “That’s more like it.”

  Olivia pocketed her phone and turned to find Steel watching her.

  “Where are you going?”

  “To the Flying W. To help with the library fundraiser.” Olivia lifted her chin. She wouldn’t let Steel stop her, either.

  He grabbed his truck keys from the set of hooks by the kitchen door.

  “What are you doing?” she demanded.

  “Driving you.”

  “Oh, my God.” Maya straightened from where she’d bent to pick up a load of inner tubes to throw in the truck bed and drive back to the starting point. She and Noah had been in motion for more than an hour keeping up with the demand. “Will you look at that? What are they doing here?”

  Olivia, Steel and Lance were striding toward them. Olivia was scanning the crowd of wet, happy tubers who were climbing out of the irrigation canal and heading back toward the start of the run. Noah dropped the pile of tubes he was carrying and went to meet her. When she spotted him, she faltered but kept coming.

  “Olivia. Lance. Steel,” Noah greeted them. Liam came to stand by his side, and Noah tensed, but his brother didn’t say anything.

  “What’s going on?” Stella walked over from where she’d been talking to a group of kids.

  “Camila called, said you could use a hand,” Olivia said when she came near. “Steel decided to come with me. Lance, too.”

  “We could use help,” Noah said.

  “But we don’t need any fighting.” Stella looked Steel up and down.

  He held her gaze. “We’re not looking to fight.”

  “Lance? Does that go for you, too?” Maya asked.

  Lance looked surprised she’d singled him out. “Uh… Yeah. I’m not here to fight.” He flushed a little. Maya looked pleased she’d rattled him.

  Stella turned to Liam. “Can you say the same thing?”

  “I’m not going to start anything.” Liam scowled.

  “Are you sure?” Olivia asked him.

  “Ah, hell,” Liam said. “Guess I owe you an apology about last night. Got carried away.”

  After a moment Olivia n
odded.

  “I’m sorry, too,” Noah told her, “about those letters—”

  “No, that was my fault, too,” Liam cut him off. “I had the idea. Jed helped me execute. We didn’t give Noah much choice.”

  Olivia nodded again. “Water under the bridge,” she said evenly. “What can we do to help?”

  “Camila and Fila are pretty busy,” Noah told her. Olivia wasn’t meeting his eye. He wasn’t forgiven yet, but at least she was here.

  “Okay.” She hurried off. A moment later Maya went back to collecting inner tubes, and Lance followed right behind, leaving Noah with Steel—and Stella.

  Steel folded his arms over his chest. “You treat my sister right.”

  “I will. Promise.” Noah understood suddenly that Steel was standing in for Olivia’s father—and that he meant to take the job seriously. “I care about her—a lot. I won’t let any harm come to her.”

  Steel held his gaze and nodded once, then turned to join the others loading the tubes into the truck.

  “Come on, Steel,” Stella said suddenly. “You can help us with the inner tubes.”

  Steel turned to her. Stella met his gaze. Held it.

  Steel shrugged. “Lead the way.”

  Noah watched them go. Had Olivia’s brother just given him permission to woo her?

  Things were looking up.

  It had been years since Olivia’s time as a waitress in Idaho, and she’d forgotten how much fun a serving job could be. She kept the orders flowing between Fila and Camila, who were cooking up a storm, and the customers waiting to eat. Mia Matheson was working the register, so it was Olivia’s job to run from counter to grill, and she talked to more residents of Chance Creek in a single hour than she had in the years she’d been back.

  To her surprise, most people chatted unconcernedly with her, like they might do with anyone, and Olivia began to wonder if it had been her own attitude that had scared people away previously.

  When Sylvia Atherton told her, “You should come join the quilting circle at Edna’s Odds and Ends,” the local fabric shop Olivia had never entered in her life, she thought she might faint.

  “Pretty young thing like that doesn’t want to quilt,” Sylvia’s friend Joyce told her. “She’s too busy for handicrafts. Wait until she’s old like us.”

  “I’m not old,” Sylvia shushed her, “and Olivia can make up her own mind, can’t you?”

  “Um… sure,” Olivia said. “I’ll give it a try. Probably won’t be any good at it, though.”

  “It’s easier than you think.” Sylvia picked up her order, and the two women went off happily.

  Olivia looked around to see if anyone had overheard them, but no one seemed to be paying any attention. In fact, for once there was a lull between customers.

  “I’m going to run to use the bathroom,” she told Mia. “I’ll be quick.”

  “You’d better be. Don’t leave me alone with the hungry hordes.”

  Olivia hurried off, knowing Mia was right; she’d have to be quick if she didn’t want customers piling up at the booth. She exchanged greetings with a half-dozen people as she headed toward the porta-potties set up in a nearby field and waved to Noah and Steel, who were helping to gather up inner tubes while Maya and Lance looked on.

  Focusing on getting back to the food tent as soon as she could, she quickened her pace but yelped when Devon Host stepped out from behind another booth to block her path.

  Olivia tried to sidestep around him, suddenly cold though the day was hot. She’d figured Devon would be furious about the missing lottery ticket and cash, but how on earth had he known she—

  He grabbed her arm, lifted his shirt and showed her the pistol tucked into his waistband.

  Olivia’s breath whooshed out of her lungs. He couldn’t mean he’d use that thing in this kind of crowd. But even as she thought it, she knew he would. The man’s jittery, brittle energy made it all too clear he was on something and didn’t care what happened next.

  “Let me go!” Olivia pulled back as he began to drag her forward.

  “You’d better cooperate.”

  “Or what?” As if she didn’t know. Devon shook his head, scanned the crowd, spotted Regan walking toward the creek, smiling and waving at everyone she knew, and pointed at her, cocked his finger and pretended to shoot. His gaze shifted to Ellie Donaldson, laughing with several other older women Olivia knew, and did it again.

  Olivia got the message. If she didn’t play ball with him, someone would get hurt.

  Someone innocent.

  And it would be her fault.

  “What do you want?” she demanded as he dragged her toward the field past the porta-potties where people had parked their vehicles.

  “What do you think I want? Where’s Caroline? Where’s my lottery ticket?”

  Relief flooded Olivia. So he hadn’t found Caroline yet. She hoped her friend’s family continued to cover for her. “I don’t know.”

  “Little bitch, you think I believe you? Caroline’s always talking about you. I told her not to hang out with a Cooper. I was right; you’re a bad influence.” He shook her and kept going. Olivia stumbled as she went, trying to slow him down.

  “I haven’t spoken to Caroline in ages.” That was stretching it, but they hadn’t spoken in days.

  “You’re lying.” He picked up his pace. “When I’m done with you, you’ll regret you ever interfered.”

  Desperation seized Olivia, but she didn’t know what to do. Devon clearly felt he had nothing to lose, and she worried he meant to take her and everyone else he could with him. If she ran, he’d shoot her. If she escaped, he’d shoot someone else. They were covering the ground too fast. If he got her into his truck—

  “Devon,” she begged. “Think what you’re doing. You don’t really care about Caroline. I know you don’t.”

  “Fuck you. What do you know about it?”

  She knew she’d seen Caroline’s black eye, but she couldn’t say that. “If it’s money you want, take me to the bank. I’ll give you everything I have.”

  “You don’t have squat. You’re a no-good Cooper. Stop wasting my time.”

  He was right about the money. She searched for another way to stop him.

  “Olivia!”

  Olivia winced as Noah called after her. She didn’t want Noah interfering in this. Devon would shoot him, and she’d lose everything good she’d ever had—

  “Who’s that?”

  “No one.”

  “Damn it.” Devon stopped short. Olivia tried to keep moving. The last thing she wanted was a showdown between him and Noah.

  “Devon, I swear—I’ll get you money—”

  But Devon had drawn his pistol. Pointed it toward Noah. “Fuck that. Fuck all of you do-gooders. I’m not taking this shit anymore—”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Noah saw the gun. Dove to the ground as a shot winged over his head. He heard Olivia scream and scrambled to his knees in time to see Steel take Devon down with a move straight out of a football playbook. Olivia went down, too, Devon and Steel landing on top of her as the men fought over the pistol. Noah didn’t remember gaining his feet, but half a second later he threw himself into the melee. Together, he and Steel wrested the pistol from Devon’s hands.

  Olivia cried out again as Steel punched Devon in the jaw and the man fell across her. Noah tossed the pistol to Steel and hauled Devon up before punching him a second time. When Devon landed on the ground, Noah straddled him, flipped him over and maneuvered his arms behind his back. “I need rope. Whatever you can find,” he called out, and a moment later, Liam reached them and thrust a tangle of rope into his hands.

  “The sheriff is on his way,” Stella cried, running up to them. “Noah, you okay?”

  “I’m fine,” he told her gruffly. “Watch him,” he said to Steel and hurried to Olivia’s side. She was just pushing up from the ground into a sitting position. “You all right? Did he hurt you?”

  She shook her head. “I’m fi
ne.” But she was shaking as she stood, and Noah reached out to steady her, then pulled her into a rough embrace.

  “Hell, I thought I was going to lose you.”

  “How did you even know—?”

  “Steel and I were talking. We saw Devon grab you. Saw you stiffen when he said something. You’re no coward. You wouldn’t have gone with him if you’d thought you had a choice. We knew he was threatening you.”

  “I’m glad you got him.”

  “Steel was the one who made the plan. I distracted Devon so he could get close. Couldn’t have done it without him.”

  Olivia’s heart contracted. That was Steel, always looking after her. “Thank you,” she told her brother.

  He just nodded and dragged Devon to his feet.

  “You’re going to pay for this,” Devon snarled at him. “All of you.”

  “I don’t think so,” Steel said.

  “You’re the one who’s going to pay for threatening to kill my girlfriend,” Noah said.

  “Your girlfriend stole something that’s mine.”

  Noah moved to protest, but Steel turned to Olivia. “What’s he talking about?”

  “I didn’t steal anything.” Olivia kept her gaze on Devon. “Caroline needed some things from her house. I went and got them.” Steel didn’t budge. Finally Olivia gave in. “Including a winning lottery ticket she’d purchased and the cash he cleaned out of her account. It’s all hers, not Devon’s. I didn’t take a thing that belonged to him.”

  “Caroline’s my common-law bride. What belongs to her belongs to me.”

  “No, she isn’t—” Olivia started, but Noah spoke over her.

  “Caroline took your last name?” he asked Devon.

  “No—she’s Caroline Selwich, not Caroline Host,” Olivia answered when Devon didn’t.

  “She called you her husband?” Noah asked him.

  “No,” Olivia said again. “She only ever called him her boyfriend.”

  “Then you aren’t husband and wife,” Noah told Devon. “Not even common-law.”

  “We lived together for years,” Devon snarled.

  “That doesn’t matter—not in Montana. There are particular steps you have to take, and it sounds like Caroline didn’t take any of them. If she bought the ticket, it’s hers.”