The Cowboy Next Door--Includes a bonus novella

by R. C. Ryan

  When they had descended from the high country far enough to get service, Sam called the family on his cell phone and let them know they were on their way home.

  And then, to lighten the mood, he turned on the radio and began singing along with Willie, changing the lyrics to some bawdy words that had Penny laughing so hard, she had to wipe tears from her eyes.

  By the time their truck rolled to a stop at the back porch, their mood was considerably lighter.

  The family spilled out the back door and hurried down the steps to greet them.

  “How bad was the storm?” Otis called from the porch.

  “Bad enough,” Sam told him. “But we’ve had worse.”

  Penny hugged Mary Pat. “I’m sorry we couldn’t get word to you.”

  “No need.” Mary Pat stood aside to allow the others to welcome Sam and Penny. “We could see the storm clouds from down here and knew you were in the thick of it.”

  Mac nodded. “I figured as long as Sam was there to take care of things, you’d be safe.”

  “What could go wrong? I had my personal chef with me.” Sam exchanged a look with Penny. “We were snug and warm.”

  Needing to say something, Penny started toward the rear of the truck. “I need to get those supplies into the kitchen.”

  He dropped an arm around her shoulder and, without thinking, drew her close. “I know you’re dying for a hot shower. Don’t worry your head about this. Otis, Roscoe, and I can handle it.”

  When she turned toward the porch, she could feel the others watching with sharpened interest.

  Her cheeks were burning as she climbed the steps and let herself into the house.

  Penny descended the stairs feeling reborn. After a long hot shower, a chance to wash her hair and blow it dry, and putting on a soft denim shirt and jeans, she was ready to cook in a real kitchen again.

  As she stepped into the parlor, she saw the family had gathered in front of a roaring fire.

  Mac looked over. “Penny, you won’t be fixing anything for supper tonight. Finn phoned and said the jury just brought in a verdict. Finn’s client won and was awarded damages. I told him and Zachariah to meet us at Dolly’s in town to celebrate. We’re ready to leave.”

  Sam waited until everyone was gone before crossing the room.

  “You smell good.” He leaned close and nuzzled the back of her neck.

  “So do you.”

  “Nothing like a shave and a shower to make me a new man.”

  “I sort of liked the old one.”

  He winked. “That hairy old thing?”

  She touched a hand to his freshly shaved cheek. He caught it and pressed a kiss to her palm. But when he dragged her into his arms she pushed slightly away. “Sam, your family…”

  “It’s not my family I’m thinking of. Right now I’m remembering way too much. I’m just hoping when this day is over, you and I can take up where we left off last night.”

  “I can’t…”

  He wrapped his arms around her and pressed his mouth to her ear, stealing all her breath.

  Without thinking she turned and brought her hands to the front of his shirt, pulling him close for a quick, hard kiss.

  Caught by surprise, he dragged her against him and returned her kiss with one that had her breath backing up in her throat.

  Hearing footsteps on the stairs, he lifted his head and gave her one of those killer smiles. “I guess that will have to hold me until later tonight, Money.”

  He turned away and sauntered out the back door, whistling a little tune.

  She stood a moment, struggling to gather her thoughts.

  That cowboy did have a way about him. Right now, she wasn’t sure of anything except the fact that, with just a quick kiss, she was feeling thoroughly disoriented.

  She put a hand to her heart and reminded herself to breathe.

  Two ranch trucks pulled onto the interstate. Mac and Mary Pat were in the lead vehicle, with Otis and Roscoe in the backseat. Sam drove a second truck, with Penny beside him.

  She turned to him. “Why didn’t we ride with the others?”

  “Too crowded.” He glanced over with a grin. “Not that I’d mind being pinned up against you, but I figured we might want to stay in town after dinner.”

  “Why?”

  “Maybe I’ll give you a crash course on playing nine ball at the Hitching Post.”

  “No, thanks.”

  Seeing her little frown, he reached across the seat and caught her hand. “Hey. Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it. It doesn’t have to be anything more than a game.”

  “I’m no good at games.”

  “You’ve said that before. But up at the cabin, you were all kinds of fun.”

  “It was fun.” She smiled, remembering. “It was like a dream vacation. And you’re right. Once I had the time, not to mention the place, I have to admit, it was fun learning to play.”

  “Now that’s a real shame, Money.”

  “That I learned to play?”

  “That it took you so long. Every kid ought to play.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Says the biggest kid of them all.”

  He threw back his head and roared. “You got that right.”

  Ben and Becca were already standing outside the diner, along with Finn and Zachariah, when they arrived. The minute their group walked in, Dolly was there to greet them, menus in hand.

  “Another evening in town?” She led the way to a table in the corner. As they settled in, she asked, “What’s the occasion this time?”

  Mac merely smiled. “Do we need an occasion to eat here?”

  “I should hope not.” She passed around menus before saying, “The special tonight is stuffed green peppers.” She leaned close to add, “Millie Spriggs had to hurry and clean out her garden before the snow flew and brought me a bushel of peppers.”

  When she walked away, Mac picked up his water glass and turned to Finn. “Here’s to you, son. I’m so glad you got the verdict you were hoping for.”

  Zachariah was positively beaming. “I wish you could have seen your boy, Mackenzie. The minute his closing argument was concluded, I saw the look on the faces of the jury. After such an impassioned speech, if Finnian’s client had been found standing over a body with a smoking gun, they would have refused to convict him.”

  “That good?” Mac clapped a hand on Finn’s shoulder. “I’m proud of you, son.”

  “Thanks, Dad.” Finn accepted congratulations from the entire family. After scanning the menu, he turned to Penny. “What’re you having?”

  “The house special. Stuffed peppers.”

  He set aside his menu. “Okay. I say, if a great cook like you is ordering it, I’d be a fool to order anything else.”

  Sam caught the flush on Penny’s face. It was plain she wasn’t used to getting compliments.

  He caught her hand beneath the table and squeezed.

  Though she smiled, she kept her gaze averted, content to let the others carry the conversation over the course of a long, lazy meal. A conversation that touched on Mary Pat’s restlessness as she considered her next trek to the wilderness, and concluded with Zachariah reenacting Finn’s courtroom drama, much to the enjoyment of the entire Monroe family.

  Mac sat back, taking it all in with a look of contentment.

  Penny glanced at the others, as they listened with rapt attention to the proud old lawyer.

  What an amazing family they were. Though not blood related, it was impossible for her to think of any one of them belonging anywhere but here.

  She thought of her brothers, now scattered, making lives for themselves far away. Not that she resented the distance between them. They had a right to pursue their own dreams. But ever since seeing Curtis drinking and gambling, she had to fight a nagging fear that she had somehow failed him, and possibly the others, as well.

  Heaven knew she’d done her best. But the needs of an aged great-aunt and the desire to protect three teenaged brothers from the truth
of their dad’s addiction had seemed beyond her ability. There had been plenty of times she’d gone on pure adrenaline, hoping it was enough.

  “What do you think?”

  At Sam’s question, her head came up sharply. “I’m sorry. What…?”

  He squeezed her hand. “Ben suggested that we head over to the Hitching Post. The old-timers want to head home.”

  “Who’re you calling old?” Mac asked with a mock frown.

  “You and the rest of these spoilsports.” Sam nudged Penny, causing her to laugh. He added, “As long as there’s room in your truck for Mary Pat, Otis, Roscoe, and Zachariah, Finn can ride home with us.”

  They walked out of Dolly’s and gathered around Mac’s truck.

  After many good night hugs, the older members of the family climbed inside, while Ben and Becca held hands and led the way down the street to the Hitching Post, with Finn, Sam, and Penny trailing behind.

  Chapter Twenty

  The din of voices could be heard out on the street even before the doors were opened. Once their group stepped inside, they were hit with a wave of sound. Men and women laughing, cheering, cursing. Above it all, a sound system blasted out Willie’s distinct wail, praising the woman always on his mind.

  The long scarred wooden bar was three-deep with cowboys reaching over heads to pick up a longneck or slapping a pal on the back after a raucous joke.

  At one end of the bar there was a heated discussion about the harsh winter recently predicted and the sudden snowstorm throwing ranchers into a panic, trying to get their herds down from the hills.

  Horton Duke, manning the grill behind the bar, saluted their party and pointed through a haze of smoke to a booth across the room.

  As they made their way through the crowd, Sam signaled to a waitress by lifting one hand. She was at their table with five longnecks as soon as they took their seats.

  “You got some live ones tonight, Char.” Sam passed a beer to Penny, and one to Finn, before handing two across the table to Ben and Becca. “What’s going on?”

  Charlotte Jenkins nodded a head toward the pool table, where a crowd had gathered. “It started out simple enough. Just a couple of cowboys playing for a free beer. Now it’s turned into a high-stakes game.”

  Sam tried to see the players, but the crowd around the table was too thick.

  “Who’re the players?”

  “The big guy is Dex Cantrel. He doesn’t stop in Haller Creek often, but when he does, he usually plays until there are no more challengers.”

  “Yeah.” Sam’s eyes narrowed. “I’ve played him a time or two. He’s good.”

  The waitress leaned over the table, keeping her voice just above the din. “Horton said he walked in with a stack of hundred-dollar bills so thick, he wouldn’t be surprised if Dex had a couple of thousand in his pocket.”

  “Yeah?” Sam grinned at his brothers. “Who’s the sucker playing against him?”

  “Some kid. He’s been in here a couple of times. Mostly he wins, but when he loses, he starts chasing his money.” She shook her head. “Horton says if Dex smells the kid’s fear, it’s all over.”

  Just then a roar went up from the onlookers, and Char turned away. “That’s my cue to bring them both a beer before the next game.”

  As she hurried away, Penny put a hand on Sam’s arm. “You don’t think Curtis would be playing, do you?”

  “I’m sure he’s learned his lesson by now.” Sam patted her hand. “You just sit here and I’ll take a look.”

  He crossed the room and pushed his way through the crowd. A few minutes later he returned, his smile gone.

  Penny clutched his hand even before he was seated. “It’s Curtis, isn’t it?”

  He gave a reluctant nod. “Yeah.” He closed his other hand over hers. “I got the scoop from Skeeter Norris, a regular here at the Hitching Post. He works with your brother at the Lazy K ranch. He said so far Curtis is holding his own against that shark.”

  “Shark?” Penny’s voice shook.

  “Dex.”

  “Do you think Curtis can beat him?”

  Sam could see both Ben and Finn watching him with matching looks of concern. “I think…” He chose his words carefully. “Curtis may be good at the game, but he may be too wet behind the ears to realize there are other ways to get beaten besides having skill with a pool cue.”

  “How?” Her fingers tightened on his arm.

  “If Dex can’t outplay him, he’ll try to outmaneuver him.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “You heard our waitress. The players have a standing order for longnecks after every game. Sober, your brother’s hard to beat. Drunk, he’s probably an easy mark. If I know Dex, he’ll set aside his beers and concentrate on his game. He’ll wait to drink until he has something to celebrate.”

  Her eyes widened. “This Dex person will wait until Curtis drinks too much and…”

  Sam nodded. “And move in for the kill.”

  She started to slide out of their booth. “I have to stop Curtis.”

  “Penny.” Sam’s fingers closed around her wrist. “That’s the worst thing you could do.”

  She pushed against his chest. “Let me go, Sam.”

  He stood and put his arms around her, holding her still. “Listen to me. I know you think big sister can still convince her little brother to do the smart thing. But if you make a scene, all you’ll do is make things worse. Curtis will not only lose his cool, but he’ll also be prodded to drink more and bet more, just to prove to everybody he’s his own man and doesn’t take orders from his bossy sister.”

  Her voice caught on a sob. “You heard Charlotte. His opponent walked in here with more money than Curtis could earn in months.”

  “Which is why he’s caught up in this. It’s the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. And right now, Curtis is in no mood to listen to anybody tell him he can’t have it all.”

  She lowered her head, shame washing over her. “I know you’re right, Sam. But I can’t bear to think about my little brother willingly stepping into such a mess.”

  “He isn’t the first. He won’t be the last.” Sam ran a hand down her back and could feel her trembling with fear and anger. Against her ear he whispered, “Stay here with the others. I’ll see what’s happening, and report back soon.”

  He settled her in the booth, and shot a warning look at both Finn and Ben before walking away and blending into the crowd.

  After watching the next game of nine ball, Sam returned to their booth and was greeted by somber silence.

  He slid in next to Penny. “I have to give it to Curtis. He’s good.”

  She brightened. “He’s winning?”

  “They’re staying even. He wins one. Dex wins one. But according to Skeeter, Dex keeps upping the stakes, and Curtis keeps agreeing.”

  “How much are they playing for now?”

  Sam shrugged. “Skeeter thinks it’s a couple of thousand. He isn’t sure anymore. Too much going on. Plus there are a lot of side bets among the cowboys watching.”

  “Thousands.” The word came out in a whisper from Penny. “Curtis doesn’t have that kind of money.”

  “With every win, Curtis starts to believe he’s bulletproof. Right now, a herd of mustangs couldn’t haul him away from the chance to win big.” Sam tossed some bills on the table. “I say we leave now.”

  Ben nodded in agreement.

  “I can’t go, Sam.” Penny’s voice wavered. “I can’t leave without knowing whether Curtis wins or loses.”

  “This could go on for hours.” He glanced around for help from his brothers.

  Ben nodded. “My night patrol starts at midnight. I need to get Becca home before I start my shift.”

  Finn added, “After the day I put in at court, I’m falling asleep in my beer.”

  Sam took Penny’s hand. Squeezed. “I’ll call Horton first thing tomorrow, and find out who won and who lost.”

  As their party got to their feet, a roar went u
p from the crowd, and Penny shot a stricken look at Sam.

  He turned her toward the door. “You go ahead with my brothers. I’ll see who won this round.”

  When she started to follow Sam, Becca wrapped an arm around her waist and began steering her toward the door, with Ben and Finn trailing behind.

  Once outside, the cold air slapped at them as they stood huddled inside their parkas until Sam stepped out the door.

  Penny looked over expectantly.

  He managed a smile. “Your brother took this one.”

  “Oh.” She put a hand to her heart. “Please tell me this is over.”

  Sam dropped an arm around her shoulders and started along the sidewalk leading to Dolly’s Diner, where they’d left the truck.

  When he said nothing, Penny dug in her heels and turned to him. “He didn’t take his money and leave, did he?”

  Sam shook his head. “I don’t really know. Dex ordered another round. Curtis didn’t look like he was ready to leave. He was in the corner of the room, talking on his cell phone.”

  “His phone?”

  Sam nodded.

  “Who in the world would he be calling?”

  Sam shrugged.

  Seeing the glint of tears in her eyes, he fought a wave of annoyance at the young cowboy whose pride had him heading for a terrible fall. A fall that would add another layer of guilt to Penny’s already overburdened heart.

  At the diner they bid good night to Ben and Becca before climbing into the ranch truck for the drive home.

  While Sam and Finn struggled to keep up a steady stream of banter to keep Penny’s mind off her troubles, she fell silent. As the truck ate up the miles, she stared straight ahead, watching snowflakes dancing against the windshield wipers.

  There was a time, she thought, that the sight would have had her heart soaring. She’d always loved winter in Montana. But tonight the view seemed as bleak as her thoughts.

  Curtis had changed from a fun, fearless little boy to a drunk and a gambler. All the years she’d spent trying to make up for the loss of their parents had now fallen by the wayside.

  What was it Aunt Lucy was fond of saying?