by Reece Butler
“That’s what Riley says,” added Jane. “They’re the same age. If half of the stories I’ve heard about them are true, his children are going to be wild.”
“They’re true,” said Lila, nodding. “Dad used Riley and Trey as examples of what not to do. He tried to overprotect me,” she explained to Katie. “Papa’s the rancher, and he has a more realistic view of things. He told Dad to back off so I could have hot sex with Jet and Houston and make grandbabies for the ranch.”
“You realize marriage is a package deal,” said Jane to Katie. “Whoever marries Trey gets Sam as well. Just like me with Riley and Travis, and Lila with—”
“Whoa!” Katie held up her hands. “Enough about marriage. I don’t want a husband, thank you very much, just to have some fun while I’m here.”
“Are you sure?” asked Jane slyly. “It’s double the laundry, but double the fun.”
Lila elbowed Katie. “You’re dressed to have a hell of a lot of fun, sister.”
Katie elbowed Lila back, heat flashing north and south. “You’re the ones who chose this outfit!”
“You could’ve said no at any time.” Lila’s smile faded. She took her foot off the accelerator. “You want me to take you back to the Rocking E? Your choice, Katie.” Being so much taller, she looked down at Katie. “Are you going to keep hiding the wild woman inside you, or are you going to stand up and roar?”
“You don’t have to do anything,” added Jane quietly. “You’re safe no matter what you wear, or do. The men here value women and treat them with respect.” She paused. “We’re all wearing outfits that say we’re ready for fun. Are you?”
Was she? Did she have the courage to demand what she wanted?
“Remember, they’re a bunch of horny bachelors who work hard and play hard,” said Lila. “I’m their cousin so I don’t count. Jane’s married to Riley and Travis, who’ll pound anyone who openly lusts after their wife. But you, Katie Winterbourne, are a sinfully single stranger, and fair game.” Lila raised an eyebrow. “So, do you want to go back, or do you want to be sinful tonight?”
Katie inhaled, again marveling that she didn’t pop out. This was it. She was a single woman in a town full of equally single men. She’d been shocked when she’d looked in the mirror. There was no trace of stodgy, boring Katherine Winterbourne. She had a sparkle in her eyes, a wicked smile, and a dress that begged men to throw her over their shoulder and carry her back to their lair to fulfill all her fantasies. Tonight she felt alive. And she was going to enjoy it. She pressed her shoulders into the seat back. Her dress gaped even further.
“Sinful!”
“Yes!” Lila pounded on the steering wheel, grinning widely. Katie and Jane rocked back when Lila jammed her foot on the accelerator. “This is gonna be a night to remember!”
“I’m not making any decisions until I see all the merchandise,” she warned.
“Smart move,” said Lila.
“How many cousins are we talking about?”
Gravel crunched as Lila pulled into a parking lot. She scanned the rows of trucks.
“Looks like we’ve got Jack and Brick Taylor, Ty Gibson, Dare and Grant McInnes, and Ross and Brody McDougal. Josh Gibson’s the sheriff, so he may stop by in uniform.”
“There’s also Luke Chambers, the new deputy, and the O’Keefe brothers, if they’re in town,” said Jane. “And Oscar and Dustin Peters.”
“That’s a lot of dancing!” Lila laughed and shut off the engine. Jane opened the passenger door. Cool air flowed over Katie’s overheated face and exposed chest.
“None of them will do anything inappropriate in front of the seniors,” reminded Jane, holding the door open for Katie.
“Unless they see Sam or Trey getting jealous,” added Lila as she came around the front of the truck. “Then they’ll pretend to be all over you.”
Katie looked forward to seeing if Sam would get jealous. She’d enjoy rubbing his nose in some competition. She picked her way carefully over the gravel so she wouldn’t turn an ankle in her high heels.
“I want to see Sam get all steamed.” Lila grinned widely. “Maybe they’ll push him enough to make him take a swing at someone. I would enjoy watching a good fight. It’s weeks until my wedding.”
Katie stopped to make her point. “No one would fight over me.” But you wish someone wanted you enough to prove it that way.
“I think losing his cool would be the best thing for Sam,” said Lila, for once serious. “He thinks he’s responsible for keeping everyone safe. That makes him a pain in the ass, especially when you want to kick up your heels.”
“That attitude gets tiring very quickly,” added Jane.
“Oh, God, yes,” said Lila, grimacing. “Get pregnant and suddenly you can’t do anything fun.” She took Katie’s elbow. “Enough stalling. I can’t wait to see what happens when we walk in. Wanna bet which one goes for Katie first?” she asked Jane as they started to walk again.
“Of the cousins, I’d say either Dare McInnes or Brody MacDougal. I don’t know the other ones well enough yet to say.”
“Is this your chance at revenge for something Sam did years ago?” asked Katie.
“You got it.” Lila’s teeth gleamed. “I’ll make you a deal. If you flirt outrageously with my cousins tonight, I’ll do whatever you like if any of your relatives show up.”
The chance of that happening was miniscule, though seeing Uncle Walter face to face with this confident blond Viking as she told him off would make her life complete.
“Deal!”
“Let’s have Katie follow behind us,” said Lila to Jane. “The guys will be surprised enough when we arrive alone, dressed to kill. When all their eyes are on us we’ll step aside.” She rubbed her hands gleefully. “Seeing Katie should knock a few off their barstools!”
Katie’s steps faltered as they reached the back door.
“No chickening out,” warned Jane.
“How did you know?”
“I spent most of my life with no say in anything. I recognize the signs of fear in taking action,” replied Jane quietly. “This is your chance to have a wild night. Nobody here knows you. If you leave town, which we hope you won’t, you’ll want everyone to remember you as a confident woman who enjoys life with every cell of her being. When times are hard, you’ll remember this night and remind yourself you can do anything you set your mind to.”
“And you’ll knock that overbearing, insufferable Sam Elliott on his ass!”
Jane and Lila were right. Tonight was going to be a glorious success. She raised her chin and gave a brisk nod.
“Let’s do it!”
Chapter 15
“This place is packed,” said Trey.
He waited for Sam to find what he considered a safe spot to park. He had to put up with his older brother’s driving if he wanted to party and get home afterward. Even better, he wanted to take Katie home and do some partying of their own. That meant he shouldn’t say “I told you so” when Sam discovered Katie was inside and not having dinner at the MacDougal ranch. Sam insisted she was with his aunt and uncle, but Trey knew Marci would have made Katie leave a much more detailed note.
“There’s Lila’s truck,” said Sam, frowning. “And Jet’s. Why didn’t she drive in with them?”
“Riley’s here. Wonder if Uncle Lance brought Aunt Marci,” said Trey, acting innocent.
“Marci likes to sing. They probably just arrived.”
“And Katie added that bit about staying out late just to piss you off?” Trey climbed out.
“Me? What about you?” Sam shoved his door shut far harder than usual.
“You’re the one who insulted her about decorating. I’ve got nothing to apologize for.” He touched the hood of Lance’s truck. Cold, as he expected. If Katie had eaten dinner with his aunt and uncle, she’d done it here. “I agree with Katie. We need a lot of new stuff to fix up the homestead and attract a wife.”
“That can wait until after the haying,” said Sam dismi
ssively.
“Katie won’t. I’m going to give her a hug and kiss, enjoy a slug of whiskey, and then dance with her. Slowly, with lots of kisses. I’ll hold her close and rub—”
“Like hell you will!” Sam strode forward. “Out of the way!”
Trey hid his grin as he stepped aside. Sam shoved open the back door. Trey recognized the slow ballad. It was perfect for holding a woman close. Sam took three steps and stopped. Trey slid past on his right. The dance floor was packed. Many of his aunts and uncles were taking advantage of the music, snuggling tight under the mirror ball as if they were newlyweds instead of middle-aged ranchers who’d been married for more than thirty years.
He felt hollow, as if he’d been going through the motions instead of living his life. Trey suddenly understood what Uncle Lance meant the night he’d driven him home after a townie had damn near wrapped his truck against a tree. Trey had been riding shotgun, drunk as a skunk since it was a Saturday night. It was a miracle that neither of them were killed. Trey was badly bruised, but it was no worse than being tossed from a horse and stomped. He’d shrugged it off, refusing Uncle Lance’s offer of healing.
The next morning he’d hauled his sorry ass out of bed at the usual time of half-past dark for morning chores even though his head pounded and his muscles complained. When Uncle Lance appeared mid-morning he was more than ready to accept his uncle’s healing hands. He wasn’t so big on the lecture.
Lance said Trey wouldn’t realize how empty he was until the right woman came along and made him feel whole. Trey insisted there was nothing the matter with him that another whiskey couldn’t cure. Uncle Lance had calmly replied that he’d think otherwise when he decided to live his life rather than going through the motions, like Sam. Trey had roared that he was nothing like his stodgy older brother, that he was alive while Sam was a robot.
As always, Uncle Lance had been right. Trey’s need to be wild was the other side of Sam’s need to keep to a very narrow line. They’d acted like the pendulum of a grandfather clock, both of them living at the farthest points of the arc. They’d let no one near, or allowed their lives to change. They’d just kept going, doing the same thing day after day.
Then he’d turned twenty-five, still alive in spite of all his crazy stunts. He’d cleaned up his act, or at least he thought he had. Watching his aunts and uncles dancing, enduring love shining on their lined faces, gave him hope for the future. He wanted to be them in thirty or forty years. He wanted a woman who’d still be cuddling up to him after going through good times and bad for decades.
Katie may not be the one, but she was a step in the right direction. She’d certainly been Sam’s wake-up call. After tonight, no matter how things went down, he doubted Sam would go back to sleep. He certainly wouldn’t.
As his eyes adjusted to the darkness Trey recognized couples who were sitting the song out. Jane and Lila sat with their men. Jane looked up, waved, and tried to stand. Travis put a hand on her arm which made her sit down. Jet hauled Lila onto his lap before she could escape. Both women received stern looks, which Trey expected meant they were not to interfere. That suggested something was going on. He checked out the dance floor again. Couples parted and Trey saw a flash of short, fiery hair.
“What’s Katie doing with Dare McInnes?” demanded Sam.
Katie clutched Dare around the ribs, her face plastered against his shirt, eyes shut, lips curved up. Trey was a year ahead of Dare and his twin brother, Grant. The three of them, along with Riley Adams, had had their fair share of fun. Grant had often been the designated driver, the one to stay sober and keep their backs.
“Dancing, looks like,” said Trey, all innocent.
Dare looked up, saw the situation, and grinned. He bent over, pulling Katie closer. His hand inched down from her waist. Dare got his nickname for a good reason.
“He’s going for her ass!”
Sam snarled the words, both fists clenched, forearm muscles tight. Trey gave the thumbs-up to Dare. Though he’d rather be the one hugging Katie, he approved of Dare stoking his brother’s fury. Dare had found a new girlfriend in the next town. Since Sam didn’t talk about much other than ranch work with the cousins, he wouldn’t know Dare was no threat.
“I’m going to wipe that grin off his face!”
Trey swept out an arm, whacking Sam in the gut before he could move. “No, you’re not.” Sam bared his teeth in a growl. “Katie is over twenty-one and is obviously where she wants to be. You got here late so someone else beat you to her. Tough shit, cowboy.”
The song ended. Dare, smirking at Sam, did not release Katie until she pushed back. She said something, keeping her back to them. Dare replied. Whatever he said caused her to plaster herself against him again. Dare leaned down, mouth opening.
“He’s going to kiss her!”
“So? Looks like the lady wants it,” replied Trey mildly. His easygoing tone was a lie. It was one thing to taunt Sam by holding Katie tight, quite another to kiss her. Trey made mental plans to take him down after Lila’s wedding. A fist would make sure Dare wouldn’t be kissing his girlfriend for a while.
“To hell with this!” Sam shoved Trey’s arm out of the way and moved forward like a D-9 bulldozer at full power. “Get your hands off her!”
The music stopped, as did all conversation. Katie swung around to face them. Holy Hannah! Trey knew Katie had a good rack. Now, thanks to her plunging neckline, so did everyone in Climax. Her dress, made of some soft material, settled above her knees.
“Or what?” demanded Dare.
“For God’s sake woman, cover yourself!” demanded Sam. Katie stared defiantly, hands on her hips, refusing to move. Sam ripped open his shirt, snaps loud in the silence. He hauled it off and shoved it at her. “Put this on!”
Katie looked at Sam’s good shirt as if it was a filthy rag that had just cleaned a dog badly needing a skunk bath. Sam shook it for emphasis. Instead of taking it as ordered, she checked out Sam’s naked chest.
“No, I think it’s best you keep yourself covered.” She turned back to Dare with an eager smile. “Now, where were we when we were so rudely interrupted? Oh yes, you were about to kiss me senseless.”
“If anyone’s going to kiss you, it’s me,” said Sam in a low growl.
Still cradled in Dare’s arms, Katie looked at Sam, and then Trey. His false jollity faded. Katie was no buckle bunny wanting to cross him off her rodeo list. She was an intelligent woman. Seeing her working, singing, and dancing in the kitchen had shown him what he was missing. It was one thing to think about finding a wife someday, quite another to watch a woman you cared about in the arms of a man other than Sam.
“Did you get a good look at my cousins tonight?” Trey asked Katie.
“Katie got more than a look, Trey, she danced with every one of us,” said Ty Gibson. Since Ty was too old for Katie, Trey didn’t mind his comment, or the friendly laughter that followed.
“Good,” said Trey, stepping closer. He was glad she’d checked out the competition. It brought a level playing field. “Katie, did anyone tell you that around here, if you slow dance and then give a fellow more than a peck on the cheek, it means you’re planning to do a lot more? And not just for the one night,” he added.
“Is that true?” she asked Dare, tilting her head up to do so. “If you’re wanting to kiss me like that, does it mean you want more?”
“I want more,” said Trey. “And so does my older brother, though he’s being an ass.”
“I can speak for myself,” said Sam in a low growl that penetrated the room. “Or I can speak with my fists,” he added, staring at his competition.
Dare straightened. He took a half step back to set his feet. He kept his hands on Katie’s waist as he took Sam’s measure. Trey figured the quiet mutters were bets being placed. Sam and Dare were fairly evenly matched but Sam’s fury would add to his power and determination.
“You’re actually suggesting that we go outside and beat each other up over who gets to kiss K
atie?” asked Dare. “And you want us to do this right before haying?”
Sam’s chest got even bigger when he inhaled. He narrowed his eyes. “If that’s what it takes to make you back off, then yes.”
“Well, hell.” Dare broke out in a wide grin. “Looks like the pretty little lady is melting the Iceman.” He leaned over her shoulder. “It’s up to you, Katie. I like dancing with you, and I’m happy to sing a duet with you any time. But I don’t plan to settle down any time soon.”
“Me neither!” Katie shared her glare between Sam and Trey.
“Why don’t we start with a dance and see how it goes?” asked Trey.
“With me,” said Sam belligerently.
“Don’t stick your nose in someone else’s business,” she retorted, throwing his words back at him. Sam winced.
“This is your chance to apologize,” said Trey to Sam. He kept his words low.
“Here? In front of everyone?” Sam looked around. “Uncle Keith is here!”
Trey shook his head, sighing at his idiotic older brother. “You just called out Dare McInnes, in public.” Sam jammed his teeth together. “Yeah,” continued Trey, “after losing control like that Uncle Keith might yank the honor of hay boss from you. And if you want Katie to do more than shoot daggers at you…”
Sam’s top teeth met his bottom lip in the first syllable of a swear word that would get him tossed out if he said it out loud. Trey snickered to himself. Big brother had backed himself into a corner. For once the wild and crazy younger brother was bailing out Mr. Calm and Cool.
“If you want Katie to do more than look at you in disgust, you’ll swallow your pride and tell her the truth,” added Trey.
“What truth?” Sam kept his words low enough for only the two of them to understand.
Trey stuck his thumbs in his belt loops and leaned back on his heels. “That you want Katie to be more than just another responsibility. Way more.”
* * * *
Sam’s gut and jaw hurt. So did his hands from clenching his fists and not hitting anything. This was not going the way he’d planned. Typical woman, complicating what should have been simple. Turns out she’d arrived early with Jane and Lila, then had fun with all the single guys she could handle. And now he’d acted like a jealous teenage chickenshit.
