by B. J Daniels
Allie was surprised when she overheard Belinda and Megan discussing a recent lunch. While the three of them had spent some time together since Megan had come back into Allie’s life, she hadn’t known that Belinda and Megan had become friends.
She felt jealous. She knew it was silly. They were both single and probably had more in common than with Allie, who felt as if she’d been married forever.
“How are you doing?” Megan asked after Belinda left.
“Fine.”
“No, really.”
Allie studied her stepsister for a moment. They’d become close, but she hadn’t wanted to share what was going on. It was embarrassing and the fewer people who knew she was losing her mind the better, right?
“It’s been rough.” Megan didn’t know that she had been planning to leave Nick. As far as her sister had known, Allie had been happily married. Now Allie regretted that she hadn’t been more honest with Megan.
“But I’m doing okay now,” she said as she handed Megan another gift bag to fill. “It’s good to be working again. I love doing this.” She glanced around the barn feeling a sense of satisfaction.
“Well, I’m glad I’m here now,” Megan said. “This is good for Natalie, too.”
Good for all of us, Allie thought.
* * *
JACKSON LOOKED AT his brother aghast. “Mom’s dating?” He should have known that if their mom confided in anyone it would be Laramie. The sensible one, was what she called him, and swore that out of all her sons, Laramie was the only one who she could depend on to be honest with her.
Laramie cleared his throat. “It’s a little more than dating. She’s on her honeymoon.”
“Her what?”
“She wanted it to be a surprise.”
“Well, it sure as hell is that. Who did she marry?”
“His name is Franklin Wellington the Fourth. He’s wealthy, handsome, very nice guy, actually.”
“You’ve met him?”
“He and Mom are flying in just before the wedding on his private jet. It’s bigger than ours.”
“Laramie, I can’t believe you would keep this from the rest of us, let alone that Mom would.”
“She didn’t want to take away from Tag’s wedding but they had already scheduled theirs before Tag announced his.” Laramie shrugged. “Hey, she’s deliriously happy and hoping we will all be happy for her.”
Jackson couldn’t believe this. Rosalee Cardwell hadn’t just started dating after all these years, she’d gotten married?
“I wonder how Dad will take it?” Laramie said. “We all thought Mom had been pining away for him all these years....”
“Maybe she was.”
“Well, not anymore.”
* * *
“BUT YOU HAVE to go on the horseback ride,” Natalie cried.
As he stepped into the cool shade, Jackson saw Allie look around the barn for help, finding none. Hayes was off somewhere with his girlfriend, McKenzie, Tag was down by the river writing his vows, Lily was picking her parents up at the airport, Laramie had restaurant business and Hud was at the marshal’s office, working. There had still been no word from Austin. Or their mother.
Wanting to spend some time with his son, Jackson had agreed to go on the short horseback ride with Dana and the kids that would include lunch on the mountain.
“Dana promised she would find you a very gentle horse, in other words, a really old one,” Megan joked.
Natalie was doing her “please-Mama-please” face.
“Even my dad is going to ride,” Ford said, making everyone laugh.
Allie looked at the boy. “Your dad is a cowboy.”
Ford shook his head. “He can’t even rope a cow. He tried once at our neighbor’s place and he was really bad at it. So it’s okay if you’re really bad at riding a horse.”
Jackson smiled and ruffled his son’s hair. “You really should come along, Allie.”
“I have too much work to—”
“I will stay here and get things organized for tomorrow,” Megan said. “No more arguments. Go on the ride with your daughter. Go.” She shooed her toward the barn door.
“I guess I’m going on the horseback ride,” Allie said. The kids cheered. She met Jackson’s gaze as they walked toward the corral where Dana and her ranch hand, Walker, were saddling horses. “I’ve never been on a horse,” she whispered confidentially to Jackson.
“Neither had your daughter and look at her now,” he said as he watched Ford and Natalie saddle up. They both had to climb up the fence to get on their horses, but they now sat eagerly waiting in their saddles.
“I’ll help you,” Jackson said as he took Allie’s horse’s reins from Dana. He demonstrated how to get into the saddle then gave her a boost.
“It’s so high up here,” she said as she put her boot toes into the stirrups.
“Enjoy the view,” Jackson said and swung up onto his horse.
They rode up the mountain, the kids chattering away, Dana giving instructions to them as they went.
After a short while, Jackson noticed that Allie seemed to have relaxed a little. She was looking around as if enjoying the ride and when they stopped in a wide meadow, he saw her patting her horse’s neck and talking softly to it.
“I’m afraid to ask what you just said to your horse,” he joked as he moved closer. Her horse had wandered over to some tall grass away from the others.
“Just thanking him for not bucking me off,” she admitted shyly.
“Probably a good idea, but your horse is a she. A mare.”
“Oh, hopefully, she wasn’t insulted.” Allie actually smiled. The afternoon sun lit her face along with the smile.
He felt his heart do a loop-de-loop. He tried to rein it back in as he looked into her eyes. That tantalizing green was deep and dark, inviting, and yet he knew a man could drown in those eyes.
Suddenly, Allie’s horse shied. In the next second it took off as if it had been shot from a cannon. To her credit, she hadn’t let go of her reins, but she grabbed the saddlehorn and let out a cry as the mare raced out of the meadow headed for the road.
Jackson spurred his horse and raced after her. He could hear the startled cries of the others behind him. He’d been riding since he was a boy, so he knew how to handle his horse. But Allie, he could see, was having trouble staying in the saddle with her horse at a full gallop.
He pushed his harder and managed to catch her, riding alongside until he could reach over and grab her reins. The horses lunged along for a moment. Next to him Allie started to fall. He grabbed for her, pulling her from her saddle and into his arms as he released her reins and brought his own horse up short.
Allie slid down his horse to the ground. He dismounted and dropped beside her. “Are you all right?”
“I think so. What happened?”
He didn’t know. One minute her horse was munching on grass, the next it had taken off like a shot.
Jackson could see that she was shaken. She sat down on the ground as if her legs would no longer hold her. He could hear the others riding toward them. When Allie heard her daughter calling to her, she hurriedly got to her feet, clearly wanting to reassure Natalie.
“Wow, that was some ride,” Allie said as her daughter came up.
“Are you all right?” Dana asked, dismounting and joining her.
“I’m fine, really,” she assured her and moved to her daughter, still in the saddle, to smile up at her.
“What happened?” Dana asked Jackson.
“I don’t know.”
“This is a good spot to have lunch,” Dana announced more cheerfully than Jackson knew she felt.
“I’ll go catch the horse.” He swung back up into the saddle and took off after the mare. “I’ll be right
back for lunch. Don’t let Ford eat all the sandwiches.”
* * *
ALLIE HAD NO idea why the horse had reacted like that. She hated that she was the one who’d upset everyone.
“Are you sure you didn’t spur your horse?” Natalie asked, still upset.
“She isn’t wearing spurs,” Ford pointed out.
“Maybe a bee stung your horse,” Natalie suggested.
Dana felt bad. “I wanted your first horseback riding experience to be a pleasant one,” she lamented.
“It was. It is,” Allie reassured her although in truth, she wasn’t looking forward to getting back on the horse. But she knew she had to for Natalie’s sake. The kids had been scared enough as it was.
Dana had spread out the lunch on a large blanket with the kids all helping when Jackson rode up, trailing her horse. The mare looked calm now, but Allie wasn’t sure she would ever trust it again.
Jackson met her gaze as he dismounted. Dana was already on her feet, heading for him. Allie left the kids to join them.
“What is it?” Dana asked, keeping her voice down.
Jackson looked to Allie as if he didn’t want to say in front of her.
“Did I do something to the horse to make her do that?” she asked, fearing that she had.
His expression softened as he shook his head. “You didn’t do anything.” He looked at Dana. “Someone shot the mare.” He moved so Dana could see the bloody spot on the horse. “Looks like a small caliber. Probably a .22. Fortunately, the shooter must have been some distance away or it could have been worse. The bullet barely broke the horse’s hide. Just enough to spook the mare.”
“We’ve had teenagers on four-wheelers using the old logging roads on the ranch,” Dana said. “I heard shots a few days ago.” Suddenly, all the color drained from Dana’s face. “Allie could have been killed,” she whispered. “Or one of the kids. When we get back, I’ll call Hud.”
* * *
JACKSON INSISTED ON riding right beside Allie on the way back down the mountain. He could tell that Allie had been happy to get off the horse once they reached the corral.
“Thank you for saving me,” she said. “It seems like you keep doing that, doesn’t it?” He must have looked panicked by the thought because she quickly added, “I’m fine now. I will try not to need saving again.” She flashed him a smile and disappeared into the barn.
“Ready?” Tag said soon after Jackson had finished helping unsaddle the horses and put the tack away.
Dana had taken the kids down to the house to play, saying they all needed some downtime. He could tell that she was still upset and anxious to call Hud. “Don’t forget the barbecue and dance tonight,” she reminded him. “Then tomorrow is the bachelor party, right?”
Jackson groaned. He’d forgotten that Tag had been waiting for them all to arrive so they could have the party. The last thing he needed was a party. Allie’s horse taking off like that... It had left him shaken, as well. Dana was convinced it had been teenagers who’d shot the horse. He hoped that was all it had been.
“Glad you’re back,” Tag said. “We’re all going down to the Corral for a beer. Come on. At least four of us are here. We’ll be back in time for dinner.”
Ford was busy with the kids and Dana. “Are you sure he isn’t too much?” Jackson asked his cousin. “I feel like I’ve been dumping him on you since we got here.”
She laughed. “Are you kidding? My children adore having their cousin around. They’ve actually all been getting along better than usual. Go have a drink with your brothers. Enjoy yourself, Jackson. I suspect you get little time without Ford.”
It was true. And yet he missed his son. He told himself again that he would be glad when they got back to Texas. But seeing how much fun Ford was having on the ranch, he doubted his son would feel the same.
* * *
ALLIE STARED AT her date book, heart racing. She’d been feeling off balance since her near-death experience on the horse. When she’d told Megan and Belinda about it on her return to the barn, they’d been aghast.
She’d recounted her tale right up to where Jackson had returned with the mare and the news that it had been shot.
“That’s horrible,” Megan said. “I’m so glad you didn’t get bucked off. Was the mare all right?”
Belinda’s response was, “So Jackson saved you? Wow, how romantic is that?”
Needing to work, Allie had shooed Belinda out of the barn and she and Megan had worked quietly for several hours before she’d glanced at her watch and realized something was wrong.
“The caterer,” Allie said. “Did she happen to call?”
Megan shook her head. “No, why?”
“Her crew should have been here by now. I had no idea it was so late.” Allie could feel the panic growing. “And when I checked my date book...”
“What?” Megan asked.
“I wouldn’t have canceled.” But even as she was saying it, she was dialing the caterer’s number.
A woman answered and Allie quickly asked about the dinner that was to be served at Cardwell Ranch tonight.
“We have you down for the reception in a few days, but... Wait a minute. It looks as if you did book it.”
Allie felt relief wash through her, though it did nothing to relieve the panic. She had a ranch full of people to be fed and no caterer for the barbecue.
“I’m sorry. It says here that you called to cancel it yesterday.”
“That’s not possible. It couldn’t have been me.”
“Is your name Allie Taylor?”
She felt her heart drop. “Yes.”
“It says here that you personally called.”
Allie dropped into one of the chairs. She wanted to argue with the woman, but what good would it do? The damage was done. And anyway, she couldn’t be sure she hadn’t called. She couldn’t be sure of anything.
“Just make sure that the caterers will be here on the Fourth of July for the wedding reception and that no one, and I mean not even me, can cancel it. Can you do that for me?” Her voice broke and she saw Megan looking at her with concern.
As she disconnected, she fought tears. “What am I going to do?”
“What’s wrong?”
Her head snapped up at the sound of Jackson’s voice. “I thought you were having beers with your brothers?”
“A couple beers is all I can handle. So come on, what’s going on?”
She wiped at her eyes, standing to turn her back to him until she could gain control. What the man must think of her.
“The caterer accidentally got canceled. Looks like we might have to try to find a restaurant tonight,” Megan said, reaching for her phone.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Jackson said, turning Allie to look at him. “You have some of the best barbecue experts in the country right here on the ranch. I’ll run down to the market and get some ribs while my brothers get the fire going. It’s going to be fine.”
This last statement Allie could tell was directed at her. She met his gaze, all her gratitude in that one look.
Jackson tipped his hat and gave her a smile. “It’s going to be better than fine. You’ll see.”
* * *
“I HOPE YOU don’t mind,” Allie heard Jackson tell Dana and Lily. “I changed Allie’s plans. I thought it would be fun if the Cardwell boys barbecued.”
Dana was delighted and so was Lily. They insisted she, Natalie, Megan and Belinda stay and Allie soon found herself getting caught up in the revelry.
The Texas Boys Barbecue brothers went to work making dinner. Allie felt awful that they had to cook, but soon saw how much fun they were having.
They joked and played around while their father and Dana’s provided the music. All the ranch hands and neighbors ended up being inv
ited and pretty soon it had turned into a party. She noticed that even Drew, who’d been working at one of the cabins, had been invited to join them.
The barbecue was amazing and a lot more fun than the one Allie had originally planned. Everyone complimented the food and the new restaurant was toasted as a welcome addition to Big Sky.
Allie did her best to stay in the background. The day had left her feeling beaten up from her wild horseback ride to the foul-up with the caterer, along with her other misadventures. She was just happy to sit on the sidelines. Megan and Belinda were having a ball dancing with some of the ranch hands. All the kids were dancing, as well. At one point, she saw Jackson showing Ford how to do the swing with Natalie.
Someone stepped in front of her, blocking her view of the dance floor. She looked up to see Drew.
“I don’t believe you’ve danced all night,” he said.
“I’m really not—”
“What? You won’t dance with your own brother-in-law? I guess you don’t need me anymore now that you have the Cardwells. Or is it just one Cardwell?”
She realized he’d had too much to drink. “Drew, that isn’t—”
“Excuse me,” Jackson said, suddenly appearing beside her. “I believe this dance is mine.” He reached for Allie’s hand.
Drew started to argue, but Jackson didn’t give him a chance before he pulled Allie out onto the dance floor. The song was a slow one. He took her in his arms and pulled her close.
“You really have to quit saving me,” she said only half joking.
“Sorry, but I could see you needed help,” Jackson said. “Your brother-in-law is more than a little protective, Allie.”
She didn’t want to talk about Drew. She closed her eyes for a moment. It felt good in the cowboy’s arms. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d danced, but that felt good, too, moving to the slow country song. “You saved my life earlier and then saved my bacon tonight. Natalie thinks you’re a cowboy superhero. I’m beginning to wonder myself.”
He gave her a grin and a shrug. “It weren’t nothin’, ma’am,” he said, heavy on the Texas drawl. “Actually, I don’t know why my brothers and I hadn’t thought of it before. You did me a favor. I’d missed cooking with them. It was fun.”
