by B. J Daniels
“Did I hear there is a bachelor party tomorrow night?”
Jackson groaned. “Hayes is in charge. I hate to think.” He laughed softly. “Then the rehearsal and dinner the next night and finally the wedding.” He shook his head as if he couldn’t wait for it to be over.
Allie had felt the same way—before she’d met Jackson Cardwell.
Drew appeared just then. “Cuttin’ in,” he said, slurring his words as he pried himself between the two of them.
Jackson seemed to hesitate, but Allie didn’t want trouble. She stepped into Drew’s arms and let him dance her away from the Texas cowboy.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Drew demanded as he pulled her closer. “My brother is barely cold in his grave and here you are actin’ like—”
“The wedding planner?” She broke away from him as the song ended. “Sorry, but I’m calling it a night. I have a lot of work to do tomorrow.” With that she went to get Natalie. It was time to go home.
Chapter Six
Allie was getting ready to go to the ranch the next morning when she heard a vehicle pull up. She glanced out groaning when she saw it was Drew. Even more disturbing, he had his mother with him. As she watched them climb out, she braced herself for the worst. Drew had been acting strangely since he’d seen her with Jackson that first time.
“Hi,” she said opening the door before either of them could knock. “You just caught me heading out.”
“We hoped to catch you,” Mildred said. “We’re taking Natalie for the day so you can get some work done.”
Not may we, but we’re taking. “I’m sorry but Natalie already has plans.”
Mildred’s eyebrow shot up. “Natalie is five. Her plans can change.”
“Natalie is going with the Cardwells—”
“The Cardwells aren’t family,” Mildred spat.
No, Allie thought, but I wish they were. “If you had just called—”
“I’m sure Nat would rather spend the day with her grandmother than whatever you have planned for—” Mildred broke off at the sound of a vehicle coming up the road toward them.
Who now? Allie wondered, fearing she was about to lose this battle with her in-laws—and break her daughter’s heart. Her pulse did a little leap as she recognized the SUV as the one Jackson Cardwell had been driving yesterday. But what was he doing here? Allie had said she would bring Nat to the ranch.
Jackson parked and got out, Ford right behind him. He seemed to take in the scene before he asked, “Is there a problem?”
“Nothing to do with you,” Drew said.
“Jackson Cardwell,” he said and held out his hand. “I don’t believe we’ve been formally introduced.”
Drew was slow to take it. “Drew Taylor.” Allie could see her brother-in-law sizing up Jackson. While they were both a few inches over six feet and both strong-looking, Jackson had the broader shoulders and looked as if he could take Drew in a fair fight.
Mildred crossed her arms over her chest and said, “We’re here to pick up my granddaughter.”
“That’s why I’m here,” Jackson said. Just then Natalie came to the door. She was dressed for the rodeo in her Western shirt, jeans and new red cowboy boots. Allie had braided her hair into two plaits that trailed down her back. A straw cowboy hat was perched on her head, her smile huge.
“I’m going to the rodeo with Ford and Hank and Mary,” Nat announced excitedly. Oblivious to what was going on, she added, “I’ve never been to a rodeo before.”
“Hop into the rig with Ford. I borrowed a carseat from Dana,” Jackson said before either Drew or Mildred could argue otherwise.
With a wave, Nat hurried past her grandmother and uncle and taking Ford’s hand, the two ran toward the SUV.
Allie held her breath as she saw Drew ball his hands into fists. She’d never seen him like this and realized Jackson was right. This was more than him being protective.
Jackson looked as if he expected Drew to take a swing—and was almost daring him to. The tension between the two men was thick as fresh-churned butter. Surely it wouldn’t come to blows.
“Are you ready?” Jackson said to her, making her blink in surprise. “Dana gave me your ticket for the rodeo.”
He knew she wasn’t planning to go. This wedding had to be perfect and let’s face it, she hadn’t been herself for some time now.
“Going to a rodeo is part of this so-called wedding planning?” Mildred demanded. She lifted a brow. “I heard it also entails dancing with the guests.”
“All in a day’s work,” Jackson said and met Allie’s gaze. “We should get going. Don’t want to be late.” He looked to Drew. “Nice to meet you.” Then turned to Mildred. “You must be Allie’s mother-in-law.”
“Mildred.” Her lips were pursed so tightly that the word barely came out.
“I just need to grab my purse,” Allie said, taking advantage of Jackson’s rescue, even though she knew it would cost her.
When she came back out, Jackson was waiting for her. He tipped his hat to Drew and Mildred as Allie locked the cabin door behind her. She noticed that Mother Taylor and Drew were still standing where she’d left them, both looking infuriated.
She hated antagonizing them for fear what could happen if they ever decided to try to take Natalive from her. If they knew about just a few of the so-called incidents...
Like Nat, Allie slipped past them out to the SUV and didn’t let out the breath she’d been holding until she was seated in the passenger seat.
“That looked like an ambush back there,” Jackson said as they drove away.
She glanced back knowing she might have escaped this time, but there would be retribution. “They mean well.”
* * *
JACKSON GLANCED OVER at her. “Do they?”
She looked away. “With Nick gone... Well, we’re all adjusting to it. I’m sure they feel all they have left of him is Nat. They just want to see more of her.”
He could see that she felt guilty. His ex and her family had used guilt on him like a club. He remembered that beat-up, rotten feeling and hated to see her going through it.
In the backseat, Natalie was telling Ford about something her horse had done yesterday during her ride. They both started laughing the way only kids can do. He loved the sound.
“Thank you for the rescue, but I really can’t go to the rodeo. You can drop me at the ranch,” Allie said, clearly nervous. “I need to check on things.”
“You’ve done a great job. A few hours away at the rodeo is your reward. Dana’s orders. She’s the one who sent me to get you, knowing you wouldn’t come unless I did.”
“I really should be working.”
“When was the last time you were at a rodeo?” he asked.
She chewed at her lower lip for a moment. “I think I went with some friends when I was in the fifth grade.”
He smiled over at her. “Well, then it is high time you went again.”
“I want an elephant ear!” Ford cried from the backseat.
“An elephant ear?” Nat repeated and began to giggle.
“So Nat’s never been to a rodeo, either?” Jackson asked.
“No, I guess she hasn’t.”
“Well, she is going today and she and her mother are going to have elephant ears!” he announced. The kids laughed happily. He was glad to hear Ford explaining that an elephant ear really was just fried bread with sugar and cinnamon on it, but that it was really good.
Allie seemed to
relax, but he saw her checking her side mirror. Did she think her in-laws would chase her down? He wouldn’t have been surprised. They’d been more than overbearing. He had seen how they dominated Allie. It made him wonder what her husband had been like.
When they reached the rodeo grounds, Dana and Hud were waiting along with the kids and Tag and Lily and Hayes and McKenzie and Laramie.
“Oh, I’m so glad you decided to come along,” Dana said when she saw Allie. “Jackson said he wasn’t sure he could convince you, but he was darned sure going to try.” She glanced at her cousin. “He must be pretty persuasive.”
“Yes, he is,” Allie said and smiled.
Jackson felt a little piece of his heart float up at that smile.
Easy, Texas cowboy, he warned himself.
But even as he thought it, he had to admit that he was getting into the habit of rescuing this woman—and enjoying it. Allie needed protecting. How badly she needed it, he didn’t yet know.
It was the least he could do—until the wedding. And then he and Ford were headed back to Texas. Allie Taylor would be on her own.
Just the thought made him scared for her.
* * *
ALLIE COULDN’T REMEMBER the last time she’d had so much fun. The rodeo was thrilling, the elephant ear delicious and the Cardwells a very fun family. She’d ended up sitting next to Jackson, their children in front of them.
“I want to be a barrel racer,” Natalie announced.
“We’ll have to set up some barrels at the ranch,” Dana said. “Natalie’s a natural in the saddle. She’d make a great barrel racer.”
“Well, I’m not riding the bulls,” Ford said and everyone laughed.
“Glad you came along?” Jackson asked Allie as he offered some of his popcorn.
She’d already eaten a huge elephant ear and loved every bite, but she still took a handful of popcorn and smiled. “I am. This is fun.”
“You deserve some fun.”
Allie wasn’t so sure about that. She wasn’t sure what she deserved, wasn’t that the problem? She leaned back against the bleachers, breathing in the summer day and wishing this would never end.
But it did end and the crowd began to make their way to the parking lot in a swell of people. That’s when she saw him.
Nick. He was moving through the crowd. She’d seen him because he was going in the wrong direction—in their direction. He wore a dark-colored baseball cap, his features lost in the shadow of the cap’s bill. She got only a glimpse— Suddenly, he turned as if headed for the parking lot, as well. She sat up, telling herself her eyes were deceiving her. Nick was dead and yet—
“Allie, what it is?” Jackson asked.
In the past when she’d caught glimpses of him, she’d frozen, too shocked to move. She sprang to her feet and pushed her way down the grandstand steps until she reached the ground. Forcing her way through the crowd, she kept Nick in sight ahead of her. He was moving fast as if he wanted to get away.
Not this time, she thought, as she felt herself gaining on him. She could see the back of his head. He was wearing his MSU Bobcat navy ball cap, just like the one he’d been wearing the day he left to go up into the mountains—and his favorite shirt, the one she’d burned.
Her heart pounded harder against her ribs. She told herself she wasn’t losing her mind. She couldn’t explain any of this, but she knew what she was seeing. Nick. She was within yards of him, only a few people between them. She could almost reach out and grab his sleeve—
Suddenly, someone grabbed her arm, spinning her around. She stumbled over backward, falling against the person in front of her, tripping on her own feet before hitting the ground. The fall knocked the air from her lungs and skinned her elbow, worse, her pride. The crowd opened a little around her as several people stopped to see if she was all right.
But it was Jackson who rushed to help her up. “Allie, are you all right?”
All she could do was shake her head as the man she thought was Nick disappeared into the crowd.
* * *
“WHAT’S GOING ON?” Jackson asked, seeing how upset she was. Had he said or done something that would make her take off like that?
She shook her head again as if unable to speak. He could tell something had happened. Drawing her aside, he asked her again. The kids had gone on ahead with Dana and her children.
“Allie, talk to me.”
She looked up at him, those green eyes filling with tears. “I saw my husband, Nick. At least I think I saw him.” She looked shocked as she darted a glance at the crowd, clearly expecting to see her dead husband again.
“You must think I’m crazy. I think I’m crazy. But I saw Nick. I know it couldn’t be him, but it looked so much like him....” She shivered, even though the July day was hot. “He was wearing his new ball cap and his favorite shirt, the one I burned...” She began to cry.
“Hey,” he said, taking her shoulders in his hands to turn her toward him. “I don’t think you’re crazy. I think you’ve had a horrible loss that—”
“I didn’t love him. I was leaving him.” The words tumbled out in a rush. “I...I...hated him. I wanted him gone, not dead!”
Jackson started to pull her into his arms, but she bolted and was quickly swept up in the exiting crowd. He stood for a moment, letting her words sink in. Now, more than ever, he thought he understood why she was letting little things upset her. Guilt was a powerful thing. It explained a lot, especially with her relationship with her in-laws that he’d glimpsed that morning. How long had they been browbeating her? he wondered. Maybe her whole marriage.
He found himself more curious about her husband, Nick Taylor. And even more about Allie. Common sense told him to keep his distance. The wedding was only days away, then he and Ford would be flying back to Houston.
Maybe it was because he’d gone through a bad marriage, but he felt for her even more now. Like her, he was raising his child alone. Like her, he was disillusioned and he’d certainly gone through a time with his ex when he thought he was losing his mind. He’d also wished his ex dead more than once.
* * *
ALLIE CAUGHT UP to Dana as she was loading all the kids into her Suburban. Hud had brought his own rig since he had to stop by the marshal’s office.
“Mind if I catch a ride with you?” Allie asked. “Jackson had some errands to run in town.” The truth was that after her outburst, she was embarrassed and knew Dana had room for her and Nat in the Suburban.
“Of course not.”
Allie had stopped long enough to go into the ladies’ room and wash her face and calm down. She knew everyone had seen her take off like a crazy woman. She felt embarrassed and sick at heart, but mostly she was bone-deep scared.
When she’d seen Jackson heading for the parking lot, she’d motioned that she and Nat were going with Dana. He’d merely nodded, probably glad.
Dana didn’t comment on Allie’s red eyes or her impromptu exit earlier, though as she joined them at the Suburban. Instead, Dana made small talk about the rodeo, the weather, the upcoming wedding.
They were almost back to the ranch before Dana asked, “How are things going?” over the chatter of the kids in the back of the SUV.
Allie could tell that she wasn’t just making conversation anymore. She really wanted to know. “It’s been hard. I guess it’s no secret that I’ve been struggling.”
Dana reached over and squeezed her hand. “I know. I feel so bad about y
esterday. I’m just so glad you weren’t hurt.” She smiled. “You did a great job of staying on that horse, though. I told Natalie how proud I was of you.”
Allie thought of Jackson. He’d saved her life yesterday. She remembered the feel of his arms as he’d pulled her from the horse—and again on the dance floor last night. Shoving away the memory, she reminded herself that once the wedding was over, he and Ford would be leaving. She was going to have to start saving herself.
“Did Hud find out anything about who might have shot the horse?” she asked, remembering Hud talking to the vet when he’d stopped by to make sure the mare was all right.
“Nothing yet, but he is going to start gating the roads on the ranch. We can’t keep people from the forest service property that borders the ranch, but we can keep them at a distance by closing off the ranch property. In the meantime, if there is anything I can do to help you...”
“Dana, you’ve already done so much. Letting Natalie come to the ranch and teaching her to ride...” Allie felt overwhelmed at Dana’s generosity.
“Let’s see if you thank me when she’s constantly bugging you about buying her a horse,” Dana joked. “Seriously, she can always come up to the ranch and ride. And if someday you do want a horse for her...”
“Thank you. For everything.”
“I love what you’ve done to the barn,” Dana said, changing the subject. “It is beyond my expectations and Lily can’t say enough about it. I’m getting so excited, but then I’m a sucker for weddings.”
“Me, too,” Allie admitted. “They are so beautiful. There is so much hope and love in the air. It’s all like a wonderful dream.”
“Or fantasy,” Dana joked. “Nothing about the wedding day is like marriage, especially four children later.”
No, Allie thought, but then she’d had a small wedding in Mother Taylor’s backyard. She should have known then how the marriage was going to go.
