To Catch a Texas Cowboy (Wishing, Texas Book 2)

by Julie Benson

  She had his emotions hopping around more than a Mexican jumping bean. One minute she irritated his skin enough to make him want to reach for Calamine lotion, and the next, he wanted to ask what put the haunted look in her eyes. The first he could handle. The latter left him shaking in his worn Ariat boots.

  By the time Grace reached the hospital, her senses had cleared. In fact, her brain had started functioning once AJ stormed off. But before, she’d been a confused mess. How could she have let him rattle her enough to bring up Derek’s legal troubles? Wishing wouldn’t be a fresh start when people discovered why she’d left New York. Then she’d be the hot gossip topic all over again, but this time with strangers. No doubt about it, self-preservation meant staying as far away from AJ Quinn as she could in a town of ten thousand people.

  An hour and a half later, the emergency room doctor pronounced her fit to leave, and Grace returned to the waiting room. When she reached in her pocket for her keys, she remembered her little Corolla’s fate, and called Cassie. “I’m cursed, and sorry to say you’ve been replaced as my best friend. Apparently trouble now has that distinction.”

  Though Grace tried to fill her voice with her typical sarcasm, she sounded maudlin. As she explained about the accident and her need for a ride, her voice bordered on pathetic. This wasn’t her. She’d been realistic, but never doom and gloom like this.

  Ten minutes later, when Cassie arrived, she took one look at Grace, gasped, and enveloped her in a tight hug. “Why didn’t you call me sooner? I could’ve helped. That’s what best friends are for.”

  “See what a mess I am? That never occurred to me. I guess I got caught up in dealing with everything.” The way she always did. She handled things. She coped. Of course she also wasn’t used to having Cassie, the only person she could count on to drop everything and actually come, close enough to actually help.

  Her friend pulled away and studied Grace. “When you called you said you had a minor cut. You forgot to mention the area around your left eye is an odd shade of eggplant mixed with peridot.”

  Laughter bubbled out of Grace, easing her tension. “Thanks. I needed that. Leave it to an artist to describe a black eye in those colorful terms. Anyone else would say purple and green.” She fanned her hair forward to cover more of her face. “Is it bad? I’ve been too afraid to look in a mirror.”

  “No, it’s not. I wasn’t prepared, that’s all.”

  “Thanks for lying. Too bad you’re lousy at it.”

  “Are you sure you’re okay? The doctors aren’t worried about a concussion or internal injuries?”

  “Trust me, I’ve been thoroughly checked out, and the doc said I’m fine to go. Here are the papers to prove it.” Grace waved the stack clutched in her hands, including the massive bill, the size of which almost made her faint. Thankfully, the hospital had been willing to set up a payment plan. “Now, get me out of here before something else happens to me.”

  Cassie looked at the modest-sized suitcase beside Grace. “Is the rest of your stuff in your car?”

  “This is it. Since I’ll be living at the inn, I sold most of my furniture. I put the few pieces I wanted in storage, and shipped the rest of my personal belongings. Those should arrive next week.”

  “You really do want a fresh start.”

  Grace nodded. “What good is a do-over if I literally bring all kinds of old baggage with me?”

  As they left the hospital parking lot and drove through town, Grace admitted Wishing had a certain appeal. People strolled around the town square, nodding at each other, and occasionally stopping to chat. No one appeared to be in any hurry to get anywhere. Unlike New York where walking meant a speed just below a jog.

  “How did your parents react to the news of your moving?” Cassie asked as she drove around the town square dotted with brick and wood buildings, some two story, some single. Norman Rockwell would’ve found a wealth of inspiration in Wishing.

  “I didn’t tell them. I said I was coming here early to clear my head and spend time with you before the wedding.”

  “Coward,” Cassie teased. “You’ll have to tell them sooner or later.”

  “I will. I just wasn’t up to dealing with any more drama. Telling them from here in a couple weeks sounded much easier.”

  Grace glanced out the window as they passed a worn brown brick building with rough wooden planks around the windows and the simple letters reading The Lucky Star Café above the door. Scanning the street, she noticed The Horseshoe Bar and Grill, Dress Like a Dream, and Wishes and Dreams. In fact, most local establishments possessed cute names fitting the wishing/good fortune or Texas theme. Was there a city ordinance on the subject? “You really like living here?”

  Cassie’s eyes glowed with pure excitement and wonder in a way Grace had never seen. “I’ve never been happier. Not that I loved Wishing the minute I arrived. I didn’t. It took awhile to get used to the slower pace, and I have to admit I still miss all the theater and fine arts the city offers, but now I can’t imagine living anywhere else.”

  This time when Grace looked out the window, she found the scenery had changed from quaint older buildings to pastures dotted with cows and horses. “That was it? The whole town?”

  “Yup. The rest of what’s in the city limits is pretty rural.”

  Rural as compared to? Siberia? The entire drive through town took two minutes. Lack of the theater and arts the city offered? To put it mildly. The town didn’t even have a Starbucks. That’s how far out in the middle of nowhere she was.

  “How are the wedding plans going?”

  “Thank goodness Zane’s grandmother, Virginia, is a wedding planner. If it weren’t for her and her assistant, Ty and I would say forget the big production, and go to the Justice of the Peace instead.”

  Cassie explained how the wedding would be a small, intimate affair at the Bar 7 with only family and their closest friends. “The reception will be at Ginny’s ranch. After her husband died, she sold the cattle, converted buildings like the barn and the tractor shed to hold wedding receptions, and now has a thriving business. Couples from all over Texas have weddings here.”

  As Cassie drove, they chatted about all the changes in her life, and how much she loved working with Ty. Her face sparkled when she talked about his family, and how much she loved them, too. “Having an extended family has helped Ella so much,” Cassie said. “For a while she got so worried when I wasn’t with her because I was all she had.”

  “That had to be scary for you, too.”

  Cassie nodded. “Not that they can make up for losing her parents, but Ty, his mom and his sister have filled some of the void in Ella’s life. Mine, too.”

  By the time they arrived at The Bluebonnet Inn, Grace found herself envying her friend’s life.

  The bed and breakfast was situated in a clearing, huge shade trees dotting the land around it, the sparkling lake wide and inviting behind it. The brochure pictures Grace had seen failed to do it justice. The Main House had two stories with big windows everywhere and a traditional wrap-around Southern porch. Visions of guests sitting in rocking chairs sipping sweet tea at the end of the day popped into Grace’s mind. “The first thing I’m going to do is revamp the inn’s brochures. The pictures in the current one don’t make the most of the inn’s appeal. I bet simply updating it will increase bookings.”

  “The packages Ty and I’ve created for tourists to stay at the inn and play cowboy have helped bookings, but we’re still not where we should be. I don’t have the time to work on the inn’s promotion, or implement the ideas I do have.”

  “How about we discuss my responsibilities over lunch and a drink. Though I need the latter way more than the former.” Grace glanced at her watch. “Oh, Lord. I said I need a drink, and it’s not even noon.”

  “Hey, it’s five o’clock somewhere, and obviously you’ve had a long morning,” Cassie said in a true-blue best friend fashion. Then she told Grace to leave her suitcase in the entry, and led her through the hous
e to the kitchen. “We’ll have mimosas, leftover quiche I made for yesterday’s guests, and pretend it’s Sunday brunch. No one gives a second thought to drinking then. As to work, that can wait until tomorrow.”

  The inn was as beautiful inside as out, combining antiques with more modern pieces, and a touch of western mixed in to remind a person she was in Texas. Chloe had possessed an incredible sense of style to pull off the decor without leaving the house looking like a mishmash. The walls and window treatments in shades of green and tans gave the house a relaxed, calm atmosphere. The perfect vibe for guests who wanted to unwind.

  Once in the kitchen, Grace sank onto a padded iron barstool at the rich tan and golden granite kitchen breakfast counter. “How’s the move to the ranch going?”

  “So far, so good, for Ella,” Cassie said referring to her niece. “She knows this house will always be here for her. We’ve told her we’ll stay at the inn whenever she wants. Plus, I’m keeping my studio here, so she can come over after school. But Ty’s office will be at the ranch. We need our own space. I don’t want to ruin a good thing with too much togetherness.”

  Cassie retrieved the quiche, champagne and orange juice from the fridge. After placing the quiche in the microwave, she pulled two champagne flutes from the maple kitchen cupboard, filled them with a generous amount of bubbly, added orange juice and handed one to Grace. Then she retrieved the food. The delicious smell of warm crust, eggs and cheese made Grace’s mouth water.

  After one bite, she couldn’t resist teasing her friend. “You made this? I can’t believe you made something not only edible, but fantastic.”

  “Wait a minute. You had doubts?” Cassie said, irritation mixed with confusion in her voice as she settled onto the barstool beside Grace. “When I was worried about running this place, and especially scared about the cooking part, you assured me I could handle it.”

  “That’s what best friends do. We bolster each other’s courage to face what’s scaring the daylights out of us. And what does it matter? Obviously I was right.”

  “Nice save.” Cassie raised her glass. “Here’s to better times for you, too.”

  After clinking her glass to her friend’s, she responded, “And to a lifetime of wedded bliss for you and Ty.”

  Sipping her drink, Grace realized how her unemployment had changed her life in ways she’d never imagined. She’d discovered financial troubles acted like termites, crawling into every corner of a person’s life, devouring everything as they traveled, and the worries never ended. The fact left her feeling a little guilty over some of the things she’d said to Cassie when she first moved to Texas.

  “I owe you an apology. When you first moved and had all those financial problems, I said I understood, and I truly believed I did, but I didn’t. Losing my job has given me a new perspective. I know how worried I’ve been about keeping a roof over my head, and I don’t have a child to worry about. I can’t imagine how scary it was for you with Ella to care for. I must’ve sounded like a know-it-all then, I’m sorry.”

  “You didn’t. You were practical and logical. I don’t know what I’d have done without you. No matter what ungodly hour it was, you were there for me when I needed you. When I talked to you, I knew I wasn’t alone, and you helped me sort out the things overwhelming me, like whether or not to take the job Ty offered me.” Cassie placed her hand over Grace’s.

  “It’s good to know I wasn’t completely worthless.” Not that she felt better about how clueless she’d been. “And I’m thrilled to see you happy.”

  “We’re quite a pair, aren’t we?” Cassie said. “I finally get my life back on track, and yours falls apart.”

  “It is a mess, isn’t it?” Grace sipped her mimosa. “Can you imagine what would happen to us if our lives imploded at the same time?”

  “That’s too scary to consider,” Cassie said, her voice filled with horror. “I keep thinking I have to be dreaming because my life can’t be this wonderful. I have an amazing man who loves me, a great career, and Ella seems to be returning to her old self a little more each day. Then I remember Chloe and Jack aren’t here, and I feel guilty for being so happy.”

  “Don’t. They wouldn’t want you to. They’d be thrilled a blessing came out their tragedy.”

  “I hope so.” Cassie brushed away a tear, and then flashed Grace a big smile. “I’m hoping the move here will be good for you.”

  “Let’s hope my auspicious arrival isn’t an omen of things to come. Talk about getting off on the wrong foot. You wouldn’t believe some of the things I said to the guy I hit.”

  “You? The cautious, rational one? Maybe it wasn’t as bad as you think.”

  If only. Grace winced and scooped up the last bite of quiche. “This really is wonderful. I can’t wait to make this for guests.”

  “Oh, no. You’re avoiding my question. What on earth did you say?” Cassie paused, her brows furrowed. “Wait a minute. You never told me who was in the truck you hit, and I’m thinking that’s an important part of the story.”

  Grace glanced at her plate, and used her fork to scoop the remaining bits of crust into a tiny pile. “You know how no one will let you live down starting the fire in the oven?”

  “Yes.”

  “I think this morning is going to be my I-can’t-live-it-down event, because I literally ran into your chief of police. Or rather the back of his truck.”

  “AJ? He’s the guy you rear-ended? Is he okay?”

  The familiarity and concern threaded through Cassie’s voice told Grace her best friend and the chief were more than casual acquaintances. Figures. “I should’ve guessed you knew him. I hear in a small town everyone knows everyone, and he is the chief of police.”

  Cassie frowned. “I swore I told you about AJ. He’s Ty’s best friend. They were roommates at Texas A&M. Ty, AJ, and two of their old squadron buddies from the Corps of Cadets get together at the Bar 7 every year for a guys’ weekend. You’ll meet Cooper and Zane next week. They’re groomsmen. AJ’s the best man.”

  Great. Absolutely wonderful. Squirming in her seat, Grace wanted to laugh. The fact AJ and Ty were best friends fit right in with how the rest of their encounter had gone, and shot a Texas-size hole in her avoid-AJ-no-matter-what plan.

  “So you rear-ended the chief of police. You’ll see tonight when AJ comes to dinner how it isn’t a big deal.”

  Laughter bubbled out of Grace. Not the funny kind, but the nervous, she-couldn’t-believe-her-luck-had-gotten-worse-when-it-already-pretty-much-sucked kind of laughter.

  “Considering our first meeting this morning, you might want to call and cancel.”

  Chapter Four

  Grace’s life had become a disaster movie or a nightmare. She couldn’t decide which. Any minute an alien or giant killer bunny from Hell would arrive and do away with her.

  The good news was either calamity would get her out of dinner with AJ.

  A dreadful thought occurred to Grace. “Please tell me you weren’t playing matchmaker.”

  “You know me. I wouldn’t do that.” When Grace glared at her, Cassie clarified. “Or I wouldn’t without talking to you about it first. I was simply introducing my maid of honor to my fiancé’s best man. I figured you’d appreciate knowing someone else in town. With him being new too, and being chief, he doesn’t have a lot of friends yet. That’s all I was thinking.”

  “I still say you should cancel.”

  “What happened between you two? Knowing you both, I can’t believe it’s as bad as you think,” Cassie said, her voice filled with reassurance.

  “You won’t sound so confident after you hear about our conversation.” Grace started with AJ’s insistence they call the police, and her efforts to talk him out of doing so. “I was afraid when they ran my license and plate number they’d find out I’d been questioned about Derek’s embezzlement.”

  Grace twisted the ring on her index finger. The simple band with a small denim lapis stone had caught her eye one day shortly before her par
ents divorced when she’d been wandering the mall to avoid going home. Not a big jewelry person, she’d never felt drawn to a piece that way before or since. Wisdom and fortitude. That’s what the shop owner told her lapis provided for the wearer. She’d bought it to remind herself she was stronger than her parents. That with wisdom and fortitude she wouldn’t repeat their mistakes.

  “Anyway, I went a little overboard trying to convince AJ not to call the police. When I did, he folded his arms over his chest, and asked if there was a reason I didn’t want the authorities involved. Then he looked at me like he could see everything I was thinking. It was unnerving.”

  The image of his broad shoulders and how his white T-shirt stretched over his abs flashed in her mind sending a flush through her. She ignored it, or at least gave it the good old college try.

  “AJ has a knack for ferreting out when things don’t add up.” Cassie refilled their empty glasses. “I think he learned to assess a situation and rely on his gut instincts during his tour in Afghanistan, or maybe when he worked for the FBI. Ty said AJ worked all kinds of top secret cases.”

  “He was in the military and the FBI?” Grace downed the drink Cassie had poured, and held out her glass. The muscles in her hands twitched around the stem, and she fought to keep from dropping the flute. “Fill ’er up and forget the OJ this time. No wonder the next thing I knew I was prattling on about how the police would complicate things and make a federal case out of the accident. I even said how small town cops do that to advance their careers.”

  Cassie gasped, and stared at her with wide eyes. “That’s unlike you. You never let any situation get the best of you. I’m the one who gets her knickers in a bunch. You’re the one who reminds me it doesn’t solve anything, and only makes me walk funny.”

  Well, the tables were turned now.

  “In my defense, he didn’t mention he was the chief of police right away. If he had, I wouldn’t have said what I did. I’m not a complete idiot.” A little off balance, not at her best, and certainly not thinking clearly, but not an idiot. “But once I did, he morphed into cop mode. ‘Sounds like you’ve had personal experience with the law,’ he said,” Grace spouted, imitating his Texas drawl.